Vancouver Amtrak station customs

[Foxhill]

We are taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver to catch our cruise. I know we must have to go through customs at some point and am wondering if it will be at the Amtrak station in Vancouver (Canadian customs?. Will we then have to go through another customs inspection (U.S. customs?) upon boarding the ship?

[Langley Cruisers]

Post deleted -

 

 

Whoops - I beg your pardon! You said Amtrak - I replied as if you were travelling Greyhound bus! So sorry! (have since deleted reply as it doesn't apply)

 

But I did wish you a nice cruise. Alaska is beautiful. :)

[JennyT]

When you get off the train there'll be a long sidewalk, and all the bags will be set next to the fence along the sidewalk. You grab your bag/s as you walk by and then wait in line to go through customs. It generally goes pretty quickly. We often do the train to Vancouver from Seattle. Much easier than driving across the border! The only customs after that is when you disembark at the end of your cruise.

[c-to-sea]

Not quite - if you are taking an Alaska cruise, you will have to preclear US Customs and

Immigration (Border Services) at the pier before boarding. If you are returning to Vancouver,

you clear Canadian Customs and Immigration (Border Services) when you disembark.

Unless you are flying directly back to the USA from Vancouver the same day, you will then

have to clear US Border Services before reentering the US, either at the airport in

Vancouver (preclearence) or when actually crossing the border by road or rail. If your

cruise ends in Alaska, you are clear to return to anywhere in the USA without any further

formalities, other than airport security, if you are flying back.

[Foxhill]

Thanks for the information. We are boarding a ship for an Alaska cruise and will be flying home from Anchorage. I guess I was trying to get an idea of how long to estimate it will take us to pass through Canadian customs at the train station and then have to pass through US customs at the ship. Train arrives in Vancouver at 11:45 a.m. Do you think we would be on board the ship by 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. if all went well?

[BCHappyGal]

Thanks for the information. We are boarding a ship for an Alaska cruise and will be flying home from Anchorage. I guess I was trying to get an idea of how long to estimate it will take us to pass through Canadian customs at the train station and then have to pass through US customs at the ship. Train arrives in Vancouver at 11:45 a.m. Do you think we would be on board the ship by 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. if all went well?

 

 

Definitely as the train station is no more than at maximum a 10 minute cab ride from the dock and more likely about 5 mins depending of course on the # of red lights you hit & traffic....

[scottbee]

Thanks for the information. We are boarding a ship for an Alaska cruise and will be flying home from Anchorage. I guess I was trying to get an idea of how long to estimate it will take us to pass through Canadian customs at the train station and then have to pass through US customs at the ship. Train arrives in Vancouver at 11:45 a.m. Do you think we would be on board the ship by 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. if all went well?

 

Not a problem at all. Train is normally cleared in under 30 mins, and as someone else posted it's 5-10 min to Canada Place from Pacific Station.