Do NOT purchase Princess Transfers

[Smokeyham]

 

I just took a pre-paid Princess transfer from Vancouver Canada Place to Seattle airport, most everything went according to plan.

 

What did not is, that out of 4 of us traveling together only 1 suitcase made it to the airport under our bus, so we had to wait many hours for the last bus to arrive with our luggage.(not sure why this happened:confused: other than our driver did not load all our gold 3 bags)

 

We had time on our side, but would have much rather waited after security in a nice restaurant/bar.

 

Other note- if taking Vancouver to SEA bus make sure it has a restroom onboard. Ours did so we made no additional stops, which was nice. Don't know how Princess can contract with a bus company with no restroom(the last bus arriving did not have a restroom onboard per the driver I spoke to) onboard for that long of a bus trip on a Saturday when all the Canadians are trying to also get across USA border. Not much traffic heading into Canada on a Saturday.

 

A couple of questions regarding the Vancouver to Seattle Bus Transfer....

 

Did you have an option as to which bus you got on? Was there a line of them, and you could just choose which one to board? If that is the case, can you watch to ensure that your luggage is loaded on that bus?

 

How do they handle Canadian, and American customs? Did you have to claim your luggage, go through Canadian Customs, and then walk through

American customs at Vancouver Place, or did you have to stop at the actual border and go through American customs there?

 

I had heard that the Princess bus from Vancouver to Seattle is a "sealed" bus, so you do not have to stop at the actual border, but can anyone confirm that?

[arizonaperson]

A couple of questions regarding the Vancouver to Seattle Bus Transfer....

 

Did you have an option as to which bus you got on? Was there a line of them, and you could just choose which one to board? If that is the case, can you watch to ensure that your luggage is loaded on that bus?No choice as to what bus we got on, it was according to luggage color. No, the luggage was already loaded, we could not watch it. We were escorted by dock rep. to hand in Canadian customs form in the building in Canada Place then went down an elevator to meet the bus, all escorted by a rep. The rep had everyone's name according to luggage color(i.e. Gold 3 people) on a clipboard and made sure we were all in line before going down to the bus.

 

How do they handle Canadian, and American customs? Did you have to claim your luggage, go through Canadian Customs, and then walk through

American customs at Vancouver Place, or did you have to stop at the actual border and go through American customs there?We did not claim any luggage in Canada, we stopped at the USA border and 2 agents got onboard the bus and scanned our passports.

 

I had heard that the Princess bus from Vancouver to Seattle is a "sealed" bus, so you do not have to stop at the actual border, but can anyone confirm that?

It is a "sealed bus", I did not see the actual" seal", but we did not let anyone on or off the bus until we got to the USA border. We left Canada Place at 7:20am and were in stopped traffic for 1hr. just prior to the border and arrived at SEA at 11:20am.No special bus lane really in traffic, we just inched along with all the rest of the cars/buses,etc. Edited June 5, 2012 by arizonaperson

[KDilly]

Absolutely cancel them. You will be charged $14/pp one way which equals $70. Even if you have to take 2 taxis, it will only be $30 for both.

 

 

Ouch that kinda stinks

 

-KD

[Pia1913]

A couple of questions regarding the Vancouver to Seattle Bus Transfer....

 

Did you have an option as to which bus you got on? Was there a line of them, and you could just choose which one to board? If that is the case, can you watch to ensure that your luggage is loaded on that bus?

 

How do they handle Canadian, and American customs? Did you have to claim your luggage, go through Canadian Customs, and then walk through

American customs at Vancouver Place, or did you have to stop at the actual border and go through American customs there?

 

I had heard that the Princess bus from Vancouver to Seattle is a "sealed" bus, so you do not have to stop at the actual border, but can anyone confirm that?

 

Just did it May 19th; disembarked the Diamond.

 

1. You received luggage tags according to your flight time; ours was late so we had the last bus.

 

2. Luggage was collected night before as usual and was supposed to already be on our bus. In our case, because of whatever, our luggage was stowed at the same time we boarded. I liked that, since I saw that our luggage was with us.

 

3. We stopped at the border; bus driver collected all passports. We were only 22 on that big bus. He then passed them thru his window to US immigration. I was in first seat, so watched US agent scan each one. Then agent got on bus to return passports individually while he looked at each face.

[Smokeyham]

Thanks so much for the info. on how the Vancouver to Seattle Transfer works. It sounds like a good system, and I think we will stick with it.

[Pam in CA]

Hyatt Place on 10th St

Embassy Suites 17th St

Renaissance on 17th St

 

These are within a few blocks of the pier and close to shops. ;)

 

Approx $15 cab from the airport to these hotels and maybe under $10 from these hotels to the pier.

FYI, that's Hyatt Place North. There's another Hyatt Place south of FLL. You want to be north of the airport.

 

The Hyatt has a free shuttle to/from the airport and the port. Breakfast is included and they have a self-serve laundry in case you need to wash anything. It's almost next to Embassy Suites so both have Total Wine and a supermarket right there, and a CVS a short walk away for last-minute items. I've even seen people at the CVS picking up prescriptions they forgot at home before going to their ship. The Renaissance does not include breakfast nor is there a shuttle to/from the airport or port. You'll need to take a taxi for both. Figure those costs in when comparing prices at these hotels.

[donaldsc]

We purchased Princess Transfers at a cost of $48 each. I just found out that we will have to wait at the airport for over 2 1/2 hours for them to shuttle us to the ship and on the return transfer, they said our flight was too early so they couldnt accomodate us. (FYI - the flight no where near too early).

 

The transfers are NON-REFUNDABLE so now we are left with a very long wait for a ride to the ship and even worse having to pay for a cab on the transfer out.

 

Princess Cruises did not notify us that our flight home was "too early" and the only way I found this out is because I called them to find out where to print the transfers. They said they sent us an e-mail notifying us. I can assure you, they did not do this. I read every Princess e-mail.

 

I requested to be reinbursed via on board credit and was refused. Conveniently, Princess Cruises was unable to allow me to give my survey at the end of this disturbing phone conversation.

 

Did you do your homework ahead of time? Apparently not.

 

DON

[fishin' musician]

FYI, that's Hyatt Place North. There's another Hyatt Place south of FLL. You want to be north of the airport.

 

The Hyatt has a free shuttle to/from the airport and the port. Breakfast is included and they have a self-serve laundry in case you need to wash anything. It's almost next to Embassy Suites so both have Total Wine and a supermarket right there, and a CVS a short walk away for last-minute items. I've even seen people at the CVS picking up prescriptions they forgot at home before going to their ship. The Renaissance does not include breakfast nor is there a shuttle to/from the airport or port. You'll need to take a taxi for both. Figure those costs in when comparing prices at these hotels.

 

AKA Hyatt Pier 66, however, the original request was for a pre-departure hotel (LAX/San Pedro).

[Pam in CA]

AKA Hyatt Pier 66' date=' however, the original request was for a pre-departure hotel (LAX/San Pedro).[/quote']I know that. :) I was just clarifying an answer about FLL.

[dread_pirate]

Just did it May 19th; disembarked the Diamond.

 

1. You received luggage tags according to your flight time; ours was late so we had the last bus.

 

My DH and I are on different flights out of Seattle; mine is several hours after his. Anyone know if we can be on the same bus?

[Pia1913]

My DH and I are on different flights out of Seattle; mine is several hours after his. Anyone know if we can be on the same bus?

 

Just return your questionnaire with one flight time.

[caribill]

And if they do not give you both the same assignment, go to the Purser's desk to have the later one changed to the earlier one, assuming there is room on that bus for you.

[PunkiC]

We have always stayed at the San Pedro Sheraton. Close to the pier and we found a great Damascus restaursant not oo far away.

 

~Doris~

 

You had me all excited as the closest Starwood property I could find was the Long Beach Westin. Then I learned that the San Pedro facility is no longer a Sheraton. Bummer.

 

Hopefully they will get another one close by.

[dread_pirate]

Just return your questionnaire with one flight time.

 

And if they do not give you both the same assignment, go to the Purser's desk to have the later one changed to the earlier one, assuming there is room on that bus for you.

Thank you both!

[Likes2cruise]

I am cruising with my mother--she uses either a wheelchair or walker--on the RT out of Seattle. This will be our first time flying into Seattle and using Princess hotel and transfers. The flight we would like to take arrives in Seattle at 9 pm. I am concerned about the availability of Princess reps at that time of night in the airport. Has anyone had experience with late arrivals in Seattle?

[lonig]

I always do my research at each port as to whether or not to use the cruise lines transfer. Was important in Rome, not so important in Miami. We are coming in a day early and doing some sightseeing in Houston. Will stay near the airport and go back the next morning to pick up the transfer. It says to come at 11:00 to the terminal so we will do that. That will get us to the ship about 12:30. It is far less for the transfer for the cruise line then to take a limo/shutle/taxi from Houston to Galveston. Have to do your homework. Have never had a problem with the transfer, just read the details on the web site to make sure timing is followed.

[ChiefBoats]

My DW and I have never had a problem with our Princess transfers. May be that we go through a regurlar TA and they let us know what was going on. Also we are not as pickey travelers as some who make comments complaining. Take your time ask questions (don't assume anything) and enjoy the trip.

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

On our last cruise our TA organised our tranfers, OK I should have known better, but they said it was a good company,

 

well when we got there, there was a bus load of us, and we wait and waited,

 

you see the transfer company ran only one bus per day,

 

Princess reps asked if we needed help etc which was nice,

 

but loads of Princess groups arrived jumped on buses and headed for the ship,

 

our group got there in the end but , but it took longr to wait for a bus compared to the flight to get there.

 

yours Shogun

[dread_pirate]

I took the Princess transfer from Vancouver to Seattle. Things went very smoothly and we arrive at SeaTac in reasonable time.

 

Of course, there were a number of passengers who booked flights much earlier than Princess recommended, and they were scrambling! But it wasn't the driver's fault or Princess's either; it was their own. Never did find out if they made it.

[RickEk]

I am cruising with my mother--she uses either a wheelchair or walker--on the RT out of Seattle. This will be our first time flying into Seattle and using Princess hotel and transfers. The flight we would like to take arrives in Seattle at 9 pm. I am concerned about the availability of Princess reps at that time of night in the airport. Has anyone had experience with late arrivals in Seattle?

 

Just make sure that Princess knows what time you will be arriving in Seattle. If you booked your hotel through them, they'll be there to pick you up.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Transfers can be good or horrible. It depends on the city you're flying into, the staffing, the number of buses, and the number of people flying in at the same time.

 

The Princess reps decide when the bus can leave and that depends on a number of things. We've sat on a bus for 2.5 hrs. waiting for only 3 couples to join it. Although our flight arrived before noon, there were so few people arriving after us, that we ended up being the last bus to the ship. If the reps had told us about the long wait in the beginning, we would've paid for a taxi to the ship and just forgot about the transfer money we spent.

 

One place the cruise line transfers DO really work well is in Southampton to LHR/LGW/Victoria Station. They do them so often, have many people who use them, are staffed well and equiped well with many buses and really get moving to the destinations quickly. It's like a well-oiled machine there. It's one place that is worth it if there are only 1-3 of you traveling together. If there's more than that, private transfers become more cost-effective.

[PunkiC]

We have always found other transportation options from LHR to Southampton. Once we did an International Friends tour that picked us up at the ship and handled us (and our luggage) all day long for 45 pounds. It took us first to Salisbury Cathedral, then on to Stonehenge and Windsor, before delivering us and our bags to our hotel in London. This was a great tour.

 

We have also had good luck with the National Coach to and from LHR to Southampton. The National Coaches are, BTW, equipped with free wifi.

 

We are considering a Princess transfer from Galveston back to Bush airport for our February cruise. There really aren't many other options.

 

I wonder if it will be any easier when the ships move to Houston?

[DrivesLikeMario]

We have always found other transportation options from LHR to Southampton. Once we did an International Friends tour that picked us up at the ship and handled us (and our luggage) all day long for 45 pounds. It took us first to Salisbury Cathedral, then on to Stonehenge and Windsor, before delivering us and our bags to our hotel in London. This was a great tour.

 

We have also had good luck with the National Coach to and from LHR to Southampton. The National Coaches are, BTW, equipped with free wifi.

 

We are considering a Princess transfer from Galveston back to Bush airport for our February cruise. There really aren't many other options.

 

I wonder if it will be any easier when the ships move to Houston?

 

I agree about International Friends! I did their tour at the end of my cruise and it was really fantastic. What a great value and an easy way to get back into The City!

 

For Galveston, there are some limo companies that charge just slightly more than taxis and they're a good option. This time, we're renting a car because we'll be coming in a day early and want to make a few stops. There are other options there, but the transfers are a good price too.

[Stevesan]

We have always found other transportation options from LHR to Southampton. Once we did an International Friends tour that picked us up at the ship and handled us (and our luggage) all day long for 45 pounds. It took us first to Salisbury Cathedral, then on to Stonehenge and Windsor, before delivering us and our bags to our hotel in London. This was a great tour.

 

We have also had good luck with the National Coach to and from LHR to Southampton. The National Coaches are, BTW, equipped with free wifi.

 

We are considering a Princess transfer from Galveston back to Bush airport for our February cruise. There really aren't many other options.

 

I wonder if it will be any easier when the ships move to Houston?[/quote]

 

The airports are closer:

 

Bayport Terminal

22 miles from HOU

 

(42 miles to Galveston Cruise terminal)

==========================================

48 miles from IAH

 

(78 miles to Galveston Cruise terminal)

==============================

Bayport Cruise Terminal

4700 Cruise Road

Pasadena, Texas 77586

[railman]

When we took an Alaska Cruise/Tour it worked like clockwork. We arrived in Anchorage, took our bags off the belt at the airport and walked about 10 steps when a Princess rep saw our luggage tags and immediately took them from us and escorted us on to the bus. After about 15 minutes or so we departed for the Hotel.

 

When the Cruise ended at Vancouver we had purchased a post cruise hotel package for 2 nights including transfers from ship to hotel and hotel to airport. We were assigned to one of the later disembarkation time slots and as soon as we cleared customs our bags were taken from us and we were escorted on to a bus which departed about 10 minutes later. Upon arrival at the hotel we were given taxi vouchers to use on the day we departed for the airport. It all worked like clockwork.

 

Last March we were on the Caribbean Princes trip when the propulsion motor broke and we spent most of the time tied up to the dock in San Juan. We had purchased a transfer from the ship to the airport. At the time we booked that flight it was supposed to depart at noon, but American Airlines moved it up to 10:30. Princess should have picked up on it since we had listed the flight, but they gave us a 9:30 disembarkation time which would not have worked. The rep at the passenger services desk gave us a credit to the on board account and changed us to self disembarkation.

 

We are now scheduled for the January 12th trip on the same ship from FLL. We will be flying to FLL on Friday 1/11 and have purchased a pre-cruise package at the Embassy Suites which includes all transfers. We also have purchased a ship to airport transfer at the end only because we see there are five ships in the port that day and we were concerned about the availability of taxis. Time will tell how well it works.