Tips on getting through Vancouver Canada Place boarding

[SwissMyst]

I hope people will identify the day and if possible, how many other ships were also boarding when they tell their stories about Canada Place. This seems to make a big difference.

 

When there are three ships on a Saturday, it seems to be the worst. Other ships embark on weekdays and are the only one in port. Thanks for adding this detail to your reports.

 

Warning: Weekend and multi-ship departure days sound like a nightmare at Canada Place. Check out the Vancouver Port website to see how many ships will be in on the day of your departure. 5000-6000 people all converging anywhere will be a mess.

 

Yes, they do need to do something about this because ships are avoiding embarkations in Vancouver and that is major lost tourism business.

[kenseycat]

My boyfriend and I used the SkyTrain to go from our hotel to the waterfront for our May 14th cruise to Seattle. The station is literally 1-2 minutes from the terminal-super easy walk. In fact I think we took the long way out of the station. I think there is an exit that will put you out right on the street that heads towards the pier. A ticket costs $2.50 and is good for 1 1/2 hours.

Barb

[SwissMyst]

Canada Place, Saturday June 12 departure: Zuiderdam and Coral Princess - two large ships

 

Link for Canada Place cruise ship calendar:

http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/about/cruiseandtourism/cruiselineschedules.aspx

[PathfinderEss]

A couple of recent threads point out the good, bad and ugly about boarding at the very lovely looking Vancouver Canada Place. One with HAL suite privileges got to board early in the process very easily. Others got lost in the three ship mobs and spent hours getting on board, with no help from balky computers and failed port equipment.

 

1. Does anyone know how many ships are typically turning around on any give Saturday - when we board the Zuiderdam in about a month?

 

2. Is it better to be there very early since we are overnighting at the close by Fairmont, or wait until it is quite late and miss our special MDR Mariner's Luncheon that lets us avoid the Lido lunch hassles?

 

I do hate lines and crowds more than giving up the proverbial "free lunch". And we will be having a suite so get the priority boarding perks, but it seems when the crush of crowds come here it doesn't matter after a certain point what perks you might be entitled to have.

 

Thanks.

Pray you are on the only ship in port that day, if not, have a lot of patience.

We were at Canada Place on May 8th also, it was a zoo. Three large ships in port, 6,000 getting off, 6,000 getting on. We were on the Oosterdam getting off and transferring over to the Zuiderdam. It was a very long wait and you needed a lot of patience. I was fine but DH was having a hissy fit.

 

[luvcruisn']

I have mobility issues and have a wheelchair reserved for boarding and another will be waiting for me in our cabin. Do I need to rethink this also? I could try to get a wheelchair delivered to the hotel room. I'm not able to wait in long lines unless I'm sitting.

 

We waited in line approximately 45 minutes last August at the terminal at Canada Place. We were told that if someone needed assistance boarding, they would be escorted to the front of the line.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Not necessarily - all passengers have to go through US Customs once they get past security (this way, you don't have to do it at your first US port of Call). It takes a bit of time, but as a Canadian, it means you don't have to get hauled out of bed at 5am to meet US Customs in some place like Juneau or Skagway.

 

Canada Place is always a crapshoot. I've been there a few times where it literally took 20 or 30 minutes to get onboard - not bad at all. My recent experiences, though, haven't been as pleasant, and our 2-day cruise on the NCL Pearl last year was the absolute worst I've seen it, with passengers waiting in line for security in excess of two hours (the lineup eventually backed up from the terminal, through the parkade, up the ramp, and out in front of the Pan Pacific.

 

Best advice? Arrive at the terminal with lots of patience. I know now that it could be a 2-hour ordeal before I set foot on the ship, and that makes a difference. Bring a snack - don't arrive hungry or thirsty, or it'll seem worse!

 

 

Thanks Atomica...will arrive with a good mind set (also fed and watered :)) and hope for the best.

 

Line ups are DH's least favorite thing .... but hey we're going on a cruise so how bad can it be ?

 

Thanks for the great advice.

[sapper1]

Thanks Atomica...will arrive with a good mind set (also fed and watered :)) and hope for the best.

 

Line ups are DH's least favorite thing .... but hey we're going on a cruise so how bad can it be ?

 

Thanks for the great advice.

Make sure your husband has his current pocket book handy to read while in line. It keeps them quiet. :DHow soon do you leave? We will be arriving in NYC two weeks from yesterday, which gives me a full day to shop before the cruise. ;)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Make sure your husband has his current pocket book handy to read while in line. It keeps them quiet. :DHow soon do you leave? We will be arriving in NYC two weeks from yesterday, which gives me a full day to shop before the cruise. ;)

 

 

We are not sailing until Sept 4 ,hopefully what ever has been ailing Canada Place will be sorted by then( not sure what can be done if multiple ships are in port)

Shopping in NYC ... lucky lady.. have a wonderful cruise:)

Is this the Bermuda cruise I was supposed to go on.??:D

[sapper1]

We are not sailing until Sept 4 ,hopefully what ever has been ailing Canada Place will be sorted by then( not sure what can be done if multiple ships are in port)

Shopping in NYC ... lucky lady.. have a wonderful cruise:)

Is this the Bermuda cruise I was supposed to go on.??:D

 

Probably not because we are on Hal and they were not going there last year when you had to cancel.

[Gone_Again]

When I boarded in Vancouver through Canada Place, I didn't find it that bad at all. Although that was a couple years ago, maybe it has gotten worse. I seem to recall there was two ships.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Probably not because we are on Hal and they were not going there last year when you had to cancel.

 

 

No it was a TA with Celebrity we had to cancel ,we thought about Bermuda but Alaska won (DH is in love with Alaska:)).

 

Pardon us for chit -chatting folks.. we'll stop now:o

[bobalink]

Another helpful CC member provided me with the information I was looking for on the Canada Line SkyTrain. Looks like a great option to get to Canada Place from the Vancouver Airport YVR.

 

Thanks, scottbee, for the detailed information.:)

 

Allow me ...given I took the pictures

map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...,0.528374&z=12

photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/vancouve...erfrontStation

 

At YVR simply follow the crowd of people toward the car park out of the international arrivals. As soon as you cross the street, take the elevator or escalator to the top floor (of the car park), which is where the station is. Skytrain takes you all the way downtown to 'Waterfront Station'. At the final stop, DON'T follow the mass crowd down the hallway, but do a 180 and there's an elevator/stairs "Exit to Granville Street", take that and you're at the corner of Granville and W.Hastings. From there you should be able to see your ship at Canada Place (which will be 2 blocks north, 1 west of where you are). This particular photos shows you what I mean, that's the exit to the street: http://picasaweb.google.com/vancouve...60022220047170

[Bill S]

Bobalink--wow! Thank you for the excellent photo tour of the Canada Line from YVR. That may really help us come this September, especially if our hotel winds up being near Canada Place--sure cheaper than taking a cab or town car. Plus, the Canada Line looks like a fantastic system.

One question though, will it be problem using the Canada line if DW and I each have two rolling suitcases? What is your recommendation?

[bobalink]

Hi Bill S,

I can't take credit for the SkyTrain information. Another CC member, scottbee, is the one who should get the kudos. All I did was post the information that he gave me so that it may help others.

 

Maybe scottbee will see this post and he can answer your questions.:)

 

I will be using the SkyTrain for the first time in September.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

[Rainbow Bridge]

Later is better - we stayed at the Waterfront three weeks ago before our cruise....the luggage needs to be picked up in your room by 11:30 or so to be transferred to the ship by the bell staff.....we checked out of our room but didn't leave the hotel until almost 2:30 - lines were short, three of four suitcases were already in our cabin when we got there, and I had unpacked evverything before the safety drill. Other times we have gone to the terminal as soon as the luggage goes - not this time and never again. Lunch at the Waterfront is good!

[Davidson Duo]

Bobalink--wow! Thank you for the excellent photo tour of the Canada Line from YVR. That may really help us come this September, especially if our hotel winds up being near Canada Place--sure cheaper than taking a cab or town car. Plus, the Canada Line looks like a fantastic system.

 

One question though, will it be problem using the Canada line if DW and I each have two rolling suitcases? What is your recommendation?

 

There should not be a problem with 2 rolling suitcases. You are getting on at the airport which is the beginning of the line, so there should be room. And Waterfront Station is the end of the line, so most everyone will be getting off, so you should be able to get off with your luggage without having to run the gauntlet!

 

My family often use the Canada Line to get to and from the airport and have a varied selection of luggage that is taken. If my mid 80's parents can handle luggage for a 30+ day cruise (4 times so far) on the Canada Line with no hassles (they actually quite enjoy it) then most people should be able to use it with ease.

 

It is a very easy, efficient system and MUCH cheaper than a taxi. And a benefit for families traveling together is that you all can travel in the same vehicle! No need for 2 or 3 taxis to get you all there at the same time.

 

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy Vancouver - and your cruise. :)

[Davidson Duo]

sorry - duplicate post.

[SwissMyst]

 

........ all the way downtown to 'Waterfront Station'. At the final stop, DON'T follow the mass crowd down the hallway, but do a 180 and there's an elevator/stairs "Exit to Granville Street", take that and you're at the corner of Granville and W.Hastings. From there you should be able to see your ship at Canada Place (which will be 2 blocks north, 1 west of where you are). This particular photos shows you what I mean, that's the exit to the street: http://picasaweb.google.com/vancouve...60022220047170

 

What about the underground passage from Waterfront Station and the Fairmont Hotel to Canada Place. I didn't think you had to exit and go up to the street from Waterfront Station but could stay underground after the station all the way to the ships. Thanks.

[judgejaclyn]

How much is a taxi from the VYR airport to the terminal? How long does it take?

 

thanks in advance,

Jaclyn

[CowPrincess]

How much is a taxi from the VYR airport to the terminal? How long does it take?

 

thanks in advance,

Jaclyn

 

Around $35 to $40 plus tip to Canada Place. Vancouver cabs are small and most of them can hold 3 pax. The luggage capacity is small, too. Length of time depends on time of day and # of ships at the terminal -- the streets around Canada Place can be a horror. Or not -- hard to predict.

 

For more exact info, try asking on the West Coast Departures board.

[RoupMom]

We will be driving from the Seattle area on a Wednesday to embark our cruise (yeah!). On the HAL website they suggest using cruisepark, which provides shuttles to Canada Place. Has anyone used them? How did it work out? There will be 6 of us -- DH, DS, DDIL, and 2 grandsons 4 and 6. Should our son drop us off at Canada Place and then go park? Or are we better off to go directly to Cruisepark and all of us take the shuttle? I'm a little concerned after what everyone's said about a long wait and no restroom facilities. Lunch for my diabetic husband we can deal with, but no restrooms? That would be after a 2-1/2 to 3 hour drive.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[judgejaclyn]

Thanks for info on cabs. The train sounds better as to traffic - where do you put the luggage???

 

thanks in advance,

Jaclyn

[CowPrincess]

Thanks for info on cabs. The train sounds better as to traffic - where do you put the luggage???

 

thanks in advance,

Jaclyn

 

I have not tried the Canada Line yet. Was going to for my upcoming cruise out of Vancouver, but I think my pre-cruise travel plans are changing. :( We'll likely be taking a cab, despite the extra cost. I only have 2 hands, and will need to manage luggage for 2 people. So for us, I think the cab will be the solution.

[Moosesheed]

We are leaving on June 12th out of Canada Place. I haven't read anything good about it so far this season. What time did you arrive? We won't have a car, we were planning on taking a taxi. Do you have any suggestions that might help the process?

 

This is off topic but was the Zuiderdam on code red during your cruise?

 

How was the rest of your trip despite the long lines at the beginning ?

 

Thanks for any info .....

 

Tried to drop car off at noon but the transit police just closed off access to Canada Place for all private vehicles. Tickets for Zuiderdam said embark at 1pm but as I said, it was nearly 4pm for us.

 

Traffic to Canada Place was congested mainly around Waterfront. If you were coming from the West, there were some roadworks causing a snarl up. If you are prepared to walk a couple of blocks, maybe getting dropped off at the Westin Bayshore could be an option? As others have said, Canada Line is very good if you are able to handle your luggage on and off the trains.

 

If you are lined up outside, there is a McD's, Tim Hortons and a few other shops across the road from Canada Place (also a Starbucks at CP). Anyone wanting something more substantial should try Steamworks brewpub at the east side of Waterfront Station.

 

Ship was code red for first couple of days but didn't bother us, best to be safe than sorry. All the staff are fantastic, very friendly and helpful. They all work damn hard.

 

Problem for us was our young son was too young for any kids activities. Absolutely nothing for under 2s, even a soft play would've occupied him each day. If BC Ferries can provide simple play areas for infants, surely HAL can!

 

Enjoyed Alaska and glad we experienced the cruise but we are just not cruise people. Felt trapped during the days at sea and every day was a routine focussed around eating and drinking. If we ever vist Alaska again, it'll be through BC and Yukon and the ferry system at our own leisure.

 

No criticism of the overall experience, just didn't 'float our boat'!

[jeniferlyn]

It sounds like you had a good trip even though you found out cruising might not be for you. I appreciate the information on your experience at Canada Place. I have told everyone in my group to expect long lines and we might have to wait a couple of hours before boarding. I want them to expect the worse and hopefully we will be surprised with short lines!