Question on new US Direct program in Vancouver

[Gumtree]

My friend is arriving in YVR the day of the cruise & was wondering about this service -- does anyone have any experience with it? Her concern is the airline losing her luggage and her not being aware of it until she arrives at this ship (?)

 

From Carnival website:

For Carnival Spirit sailings, effective June 1, 2005, Vancouver International Airport is pleased to bring you U.S. Direct. This new level of service is designed to get you to your ship as quickly as possible. With this program, guests can save up to two hours of Customs and Immigration processing time.

The program will enable guests who meet the qualifications listed below, to transfer directly from the airport to the cruise ship terminal without processing through Canada Customs or U.S. Customs Border Protection.

 

In order to meet the qualifications for sterile transfer, you must:

 

Be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (and present proof of citizenship)

Arrive in Vancouver on a direct flight from the United States prior to 3:00pm on the day of sailing

Possess a cruise line issued bus transfer

If you do not have bus transfers and wish to purchase them, please contact your travel agent or Carnival, no later than 14 days prior to sailing.

Place ship baggage tags on your checked baggage prior to airline check-in

Checked baggage MUST be pre-tagged for you to be eligible to participate. If you require additional baggage tags, contact your travel agent or Carnival.

Upon Arrival at Vancouver Airport

 

Upon arrival at Vancouver International Airport, follow the U.S. DIRECT signage to the transfer point. Please have your proof of citizenship and bus transfer voucher readily available.

 

Note: Do not proceed down the escalators to Canada Customs.

[CruiseIsGood]

There are no guarantees, but they've been great with my luggage with transfers even prior to US Direct. I wouldn't worry.

[flashdog_1]

Debarking a cruise ship in Vancouver, you can US Direct to the airport and bypass customs. There is some time restriction, which i've forgotten, but think it is that if your flighthome is after noon you may use it, but not if the flight is before. Read on this board that someone was disappointed because he had an 11:30 flight and could not use it. check on board for details.

[Gumtree]

Thanks -- our cruise ends in Whittier (Carnival Spirit) so we won't need it on the return. Hoping that all ship problems are fixed by then, also :)

[Tofutti]

As long as your friend is coming into Vancouver from the US and not a connection in, say, Toronto, or some other Canadian city, she should have no problem. I had posted some info on another thread about US Direct and I received this response from someone. Hope it helps.

 

"We were on the Radiance June 4-11, we flew from Boise-Seattle-Vancouver the same day we boarded the ship. When we landed in Vancouver, we saw NO signage at all for US Direct. We ended up down the escalator towards Customs. We talked to a supervisor, she had someone escort us up a back elevator to the US Direct waiting room. We were checked off on a list, then 5 minutes later had another 2 person escort to another US Direct area, where they checked our ID, Birth Cerficates, and we did have to have the customs form they give you on the airplane. Then we waited over an hour for a bus to the pier (Ballantyne). Customs did "seal" the door of the bus, before we left the airport. When we arrived at the pier, they directed us to around the back of the ship, but when we drove up, a zealous guard was yelling at the driver, "What are you doing?? You can't drive back here!!" The driver was upset, saying, "I have a busload of people I'm supposed to drop off here, what do you want me to do?" The guard didn't know, but firmly suggested the bus turn around and go ask where to drop off. The driver was really frustrated. We turned around and he asked another customs official what the heck was going on. Meanwhile, those of us on the bus were getting frustrated too, we could see the Radiance right there on the dock but we were stuck on this bus! The customs officials kept telling the driver, "Don't open the door! Whatever you do, don't open the door!" Finally they got the customs supervisor over and she was REALLY MAD at the guard. She got on a walkie-talkie and let him have it. We turned around again, went to the back of the ship/pier, Customs broke the seal on the bus door, they boarded the bus, and sincerely(!) apologized for all the mix-ups. Within 15 minutes we were off the bus, boarded the ship, SeaPass in hand, and eating at the Windjammer. Whew!! Hope they've worked out all those bugs by now!!

 

Amanda:)"