cruiseryyc

Wouldn't bother, don't know of any taxi cabs that don't have the ability to use credit cards. Quite frankly not many people carry cash anymore!

Use a credit or debit card for both the taxi and liquor - you'll get a much better exchange rate than converting USD into CDN cash. Tips onboard can be USD.

If you decide on the self-drive (best option) then I suggest you go over to Trip Advisor as there is lots of information and very helpful folks to get your planning underway.

You might not even be allowed to embark. Even though the cruise is starting in the US, the ship's manifest is sent to both US and Canadian Border Services before sailing; any issues will be flagged then.

This is very old news and has been discussed at length on this forum.

Yes but its for outgoing passengers not incoming flights. Plus duty free prices are not that much of a savings.

"Wonder how it would work to get back to Vancouver in order to catch the ship. " You would catch the BC Ferry Connector bus in downtown Victoria and it would drop you in downtown Vancouver. I highly suggest you get back over to Vancouver the day before your cruise, not the morning of. Ferries can be cancelled or delayed for many reasons and you don't want to be sitting on a bus waiting for a ferry when you should be on the ship.

Provincial Government controlled not Federal; some Costco's in Alberta have liquor stores,

Regarding your flight out of Vancouver on the Sunday, while I agree that two hours prior your flight should be enough, it might be worthwhile to check and see if any other cruise ships are arriving in town that morning. Meaning there could be thousands of cruise passengers trying to get through security too. Fairmont Vancouver Airport is a great place to stay, no need for a morning shuttle then just a walk through the airport.

Wow that is an early arrival, since most things don't open until 9:00 you really don't have a lot of time. I suggest you sleep in, have breakfast and then wander off the ship and have a nice walk into the Inner Harbour area (Legislative Buildings, Empress Hotel). I'm sure there will also be horse drawn carriage tours on offer right at the port. A walk through Beacon Hill Park would be lovely and within walking distance of the pier. If you wanted to see Butchart Gardens, only do that on a ship's tour as your timing is not great for finding your own way out there and back.

Also make sure your watch (phone) is set on SHIP'S time not shore time. A lot of ship's automatically switch to shore time, but ....

Not sure what your budget is, but here is another option - a pricey one 🙂 https://harbourair.com/tours/spend-the-day-in-victoria/

Here you go, lots to choose from on this website. If you end up doing it on your own, highly suggest you stay one night in Victoria; especially if you end up renting a car and driving over. https://vancouvertours.com/tour/victoria-butchart-gardens-tour/

When I used to cruise I had decided that I would wait until the last lifeboat to be on with ship's crew and captain - people who knew how to behave on a lifeboat. And if the captain decided to stay onboard and go down with the ship; well I'd be drinking all the Bombay Sapphire Gin on my way down.

Where are you staying that night? Might be easier to drop your companion off at the hotel with all the baggage and then you take the car to park. No worries with taking anything but yourself on the Skytrain.

The CBSA receives the passenger list from the cruise line long before you enter Canadian waters. Once you dock at a Canadian port, if there is an issue "Passenger So and So is requested to report to the Pursers Desk". Then CBSA officials will interview the individual and determine if they can go ashore or have to stay onboard. "various crimes and two dui's" - I highly doubt you're getting off anywhere in Canada.

However nowhere in the restrictions being lifted, does it mention cruise ships - that is under a totally different Order In Council. At the moment it appears that there are no changes to Covid requirements for cruise travellers.

The Government just have to find which karaoke bar Trudeau is singing in to get him onside!

"When it is quitting time they go home." Sadly that now seems to be the case of most service industries since Covid 😞

There are many of us on here and Trip Advisor that advise against the Rocky Mountaineer, as you said over-hyped and over-priced. If you're trying to see the Rocky Mountains, driving yourself is a much better option.

"If you’re flying in to join a cruise immediately, enter the address of your terminal." What part of this sentence do you not understand? You're going directly to your cruise, therefore enter Canada Place as your cruise terminal. Only required to do the one ArriveCan.

Nope - not going away anytime soon. What cruise are you taking at the end of October; I'm guessing East Coast.

If its truly on your bucket list, save your money and take a trip to Iceland or the Northwest Territories during winter months. Still not 100% you'll get to see them, but a lot better than from a cruise ship off Alaska in September.

Plus its being a polite tourist to actually have the cash of the country you are visiting on hand.

You don't need to respond, just do what's asked. I've also managed to respond without incurring charges, obviously your coverage doesn't allow that.