Question about Quick Shuttle

[jer_l]

We will be taking Quick Shuttle from Vancouver to Seattle when we disembark from our Alaska Cruise. The shuttle we are taking leaves Canada Place and doesn't stop again until Bellingham. Does anyone know if we clear US Customs prior to getting on the shuttle or at the Border?

[Langley Cruisers]

There is no pre-clearance. At the border, all passengers will disembark with luggage and carry-ons and go inside to produce your documentation.

[jer_l]

Thanks

[Putterdude]

With that express Quick Shuttle from Canada Place and with your advance reservation information passengers don't always have to get off the bus, it really depends on what the CBP people want to do. They may just get on the bus, check passports and away you go.

[jer_l]

With that express Quick Shuttle from Canada Place and with your advance reservation information passengers don't always have to get off the bus, it really depends on what the CBP people want to do. They may just get on the bus, check passports and away you go.

 

That would be really nice. I'm hoping that's the case the day we travel.

[langleyfld]

What time does the quick shuttle arrive in Seattle? Does it go directly to the airport? Would you happen to have the link to your info? We are trying to decide whether to fly from Vancouver or Seattle back to Virginia.

Thanks so much!!

[Urban trekker]

Here's the link to Quick Shuttle

 

http://www.quickcoach.com/schedule.htm

 

I have only taken it to their downtown hub so can't tell you if you have to change buses there are not.

 

Hope this helps somewhat.

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

[xmasteach]

Great service, had to do customs at border, and did have to clear the bus, and get luggage. There was one bus ahead of us.

[Mimosa09]

Done Quick Shuttle three times. The first time I was with my 82 year old mom. Lucky us! So busy at the border, customs boarded the bus, checked our passports (& probably checked out our luggage as well) & off we went to Seattle. Was dreading going thru the whole get off the bus, check the luggage & then reload with my mom who has mobility issues. We got lucky.

 

The other 2 times was with my husband. Once going up to Canada Place where you board the ship and once going back to Seattle after a cruise. The bus doesn't get in the usual line with the cars at the Canadian border. It is in a special line with trucks at the border - faster. Those 2 times we got off, took our luggage inside with our passports. Have to admit it was nice getting off to use the restrooms - just wish we could have left the luggage alone ;). Lots of work for the bus driver taking the luggage off & then reloading it!:eek: Our final destination was the Best Western by the Space Needle since our daughter picks us up from there.

 

Also, the shuttle will stop at a Casino area (hotel resort area) just across the border in Canada & the airport in Vancouver (unless they changed their stops or we were on the "milk run").

 

As for changing buses - I think the bus you are on will eventually end up at Sea Tac.

 

-Rose

[BCHappyGal]

Yes final destination for the Quick Shuttle buses is the Sea TAc Airport in Seattle

[Mimosa09]

What time does the quick shuttle arrive in Seattle? Does it go directly to the airport? Would you happen to have the link to your info? We are trying to decide whether to fly from Vancouver or Seattle back to Virginia.

Thanks so much!!

 

As I pointed out in my previous posts - there are a number of stops along the way. But perhaps they have changed things this year and there is a direct route to Sea Tac.

 

If there isn't a direct route, I will say, it will make for a very looong day with all the stops before getting to Sea Tac and then you are looking at a long flight back to Virginia :eek:!

 

Then there is the cost of the flight from Vancouver, BC, Canada to Virginia. There is a reason many find a way to SeaTac to travel back home. It is usually cheaper to leave from SeaTac and use the shuttle to get there. Have you looked into taking the cruiseline's transportation to Sea Tac?

 

On our last Alaska cruise we flew to Vancouver from Spokane. Of course, we went through customs. When we finally wound our way around all the hallways to the custom area (huge!) - I took one look and thought we are going to be here forever!! Multiple international flights had just landed (2 from China, 1 from England, another from Korea & I forget where else) plus more flights other than ours from the USA (more international flights!). I think we were in line only 40 min or less. They had a lot of custom officials and they kept things moving. We were impressed!

 

Just posting this info to help you decide which form of transportation you may want. Taking the shuttle will allow you to see some of the Northwest if you haven't seen enough up in Alaska. Another thing people are surprised about is the lack of freeways in Canada. You will be going thru a lot of residential areas & businesses before getting to Canada's 99 then "I-5" after the border in WA.

 

-Rose

[jer_l]

What time does the quick shuttle arrive in Seattle? Does it go directly to the airport? Would you happen to have the link to your info? We are trying to decide whether to fly from Vancouver or Seattle back to Virginia.

Thanks so much!!

We are taking the 9:00 am shuttle which doesn't stop until the border. It then stops only at Bellingham airport, downtown Seattle, and SeaTac (1:20 pm). The other two shuttles that leave Canada Place are an hour longer because of the additional stops.

 

We are taking the shuttle to downtown Seattle where our daughter will pick us up for a few days visit before our return to California. We have flown out of Vancouver which was quite easy, but it is sometimes a challenge to find a good price. We've traveled from Vancouver once before on a Celebrity transfer and twice by car after cruises and have always enjoyed the travel.

[Urban trekker]

Mimosa09 - I think you mentioned in your post about using the restrooms at the border - if I read it correctly you were entering Canada where there are restrooms for customers to use - the Americans have closed off there restrooms to the public so southbound travelers have to use the buses one.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[ssbeard1]

Consider renting a car at airport. We had a car rented, but decided after arriving at the airport to do the quick shuttle. We did pick ups downtown Seattle, took two separate exits on the way to the border for pick ups, took the exit after the border to drop someone off and went to what I believe was Chinatown in Vancouver and stopped at 3 separate personal houses to let people off. We then stopped at approximately 5 hotels.

 

We did check the quick shuttle route before booking and it was supposed to be direct service to Vancouver with only stopping at a couple of hotels once there. As we were leaving the airport on the shuttle the driver announced we were going to need to make a "couple of extra stops". Our trip took a total of 6 hours. I would NEVER take the quick shuttle again.

[jer_l]

We've rented a car one-way from Seattle to Vancouver many years ago and got a great price; however, the prices I have seen over the past few years have been quite high for those one-way rentals.

 

This trip we are flying to Vancouver from California, but returning from Seattle after spending time with our DD and family. Since we're already booked I think we are committed since they have a "no refund" policy.

 

The shuttle we booked is the only one that picks up only at Canada Place and is only for cruise ship passengers. While they may change that I would think that there will be enough coming off the ship to fill it so there would be no need to make other stops. (Schedules stops are Bellingham, downtown Seattle and SeaTac.) There is one leaving 15 minutes later that makes multiple stops in Vancouver (8) and in Washington (5). I'll let everyone know in August how it worked for us.