Return flight from Vancouver, what to do.

[xyankee]

I'm looking into booking a 7 day Princess cruise from Whittier to Vancouver, B.C. Return flights are at 11:30 am, 5 pm and 8 pm. I'm affraid the 11:30 am flight will be too early for me to get to the airport. The 5 pm and 8 pm flights both return home at the same time with longer layovers with the 5 pm flight. So I'm considering the 8 pm flight. What is there to do in Vancouver for all the wait time? Are there any hotels that offer "day rates"? Thanks for your response.

[Potstech]

Airport is 30-45 minutes from Canada Place dock. I would think you could make an 1130 flight if you were in first debark groups.

[mapleleaves]

is this an international or domestic flight? and what is the travel day ( in case there are big city events happening).

 

If your flight stops in Canada first, you could make the morning flight.

But if it's a direct flight to the US, you should be at the airport 3 hrs prior for an int'l flight. Can you easily manage your luggage to self disembark at 7:30?

Edited April 29, 2015 by mapleleaves

[Kamloops50]

Princess doesn't recommend any international flights before 12:30 .

If Princess arrives at 7:30 the earliest they start disembarkation is 8AM.

You have to clear Canadian customs . Travel to YVR is about is about 45 minutes. You need at least two hours to clear US customs and Airport security. This depends on the number of cruise ships in port . Saturday and Sunday would be the longest wait times .

The Fairmont at YVR rents day rooms if you don't want to take a Vancouver excursion thru Princess.

Edited April 29, 2015 by Kamloops50

[martincath]

I'm looking into booking a 7 day Princess cruise from Whittier to Vancouver, B.C. Return flights are at 11:30 am, 5 pm and 8 pm. I'm affraid the 11:30 am flight will be too early for me to get to the airport. The 5 pm and 8 pm flights both return home at the same time with longer layovers with the 5 pm flight. So I'm considering the 8 pm flight. What is there to do in Vancouver for all the wait time? Are there any hotels that offer "day rates"? Thanks for your response.

There are some hotels that advertise day rates, especially at the airport, but often they're poor value - if it's somewhere to relax or even shower, book some time in an airport lounge preflight. If you're a large group a day room might work out better - the airport Fairmont offers this service and it's located right at the terminal, doesn't get any more convenient.

 

As to what to do... really, what ISN'T there to do! Short of really old buildings and a zoo inside the city, Vancouver offers basically anything and everything you could want to do in one of the most beautiful urban settings anywhere on the planet. Eat & drink local stuff or most of the worlds cuisines; shop for high fashion or handcrafted Quidditch brooms; visit museums or galleries; take bus or boat tours; walk the Seawall; see Stanley Park on foot, by bike, by horsedrawn carriage; cross scary bridges; rent canoes and paddle around False Creek; lose some cash at the casino; go whale-watching in the wild or at the aquarium; edumacate kids of all ages at Science World...

 

Other posts above are all relevant re: making that early flight, but if you do decide to hang around for the day your hardest choice will be what to give up on doing so you can do the things you do do.

 

If you give some more info on the kind of stuff you & your party enjoy the most, any mobility limitations, phobias etc. that might prevent certain types of activities, what sort of budget you're willing to part with etc. I'm sure that many locals and frequent visitors to Vancouver will chime in with some relevant advice.

[Budget Queen]

Depending how you travel, the 11:30a flight may be an option. The necessary elements would require you to self disembark with all your own luggage, and take the Sky train to the airport. Must be able to handle all your own luggage, no issue with mobility limits, and packing light.

[bottom-dragger]

I just did a SEA-LON that included a 10 hour layover in Vancouver. We used the airport bag storage (~$5/bag) and hopped the rail into town to eat and walk and then the rail to Richmond to eat and walk and then back to the airport.

Edited April 29, 2015 by bottom-dragger

[mapleleaves]

Vancouver is a fabulous city ... stay overnight and take the 11:30am flight the following morning.

 

Did you look at flights out of SeaTac ? Perhaps there's a direct flight in the mid afternoon .... take the early Quick Shuttle bus that goes directly from the pier to SeaTac.

[travgurl]

Check out Land Sea tours in Vancouver. They will pick you up and all of your luggage for the day. There are a variety of tours to choose from. When you are finished they will drop you off at the airport. We are going on tours with them in early August, the Sea the Sky tour and the 4 hour city tour the next day. They have great reviews. Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

[xlxo]

Hmm...

1. I would take my luggage to cruise terminal's Priority Baggage and ask them to deliver to the airport (can anyone confirm if this service exists?)
   http://www.prioritybaggage.ca/index.html
   
2. look for some Dim Sum (Asian high tea) for brunch (Floata in Chinatown? Downtown Kirin?)
   
3. Get on the Grouse Mountain shuttle
   
4. Head to the Capilano Suspension Bridge
   
5. Granville or Stanley Park if there is excess time
   
6. Head over to the airport around 4pm to retrieve luggage
   
7. 5pm YVR check-in (you want to check in 3hrs in advance)
   
8. Dinner at one of the better airport restaurants before your flight
   

Of course if you enjoy Vancouver.... stay a few extra days as a Canadian before leaving...

[YOUTUBE]txO8VK4LaLQ[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]ZLL6du--lQA[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]vIvtsz1b60Q[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]AhuNhqaABmg[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]Gcyt8Xdvsgs[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]ky8bouLbbB8[/YOUTUBE]

Edited April 30, 2015 by xlxo

[Ashland]

For the poster above I don't believe there is any luggage valet aka priority baggage offered in Vancouver...at least not on RCI ships at this port of embarkation.

[Pumba's mom]

I guess it might be close but we booked our flight home to CT from Vancouver through Princess with Princess transfers to the airport and it leaves at 10:30am. It was the only flight that gets us home the same day and after two weeks away we need to get back to work. Hoping it all works out.

[cruiseryyc]

Sorry Pumba's Mom but that is way too early and I can't believe that Princess allowed you to book their transfer or that they booked that flight time. Chances of making it are very slim.

[thinfool]

I guess it might be close but we booked our flight home to CT from Vancouver through Princess with Princess transfers to the airport and it leaves at 10:30am. It was the only flight that gets us home the same day and after two weeks away we need to get back to work. Hoping it all works out.

 

This video may have an answer to how this is possible....http://www.yvr.ca/en/InnovativeTravelSolutions/AutomatedPassportControl/AboutAPC.aspx

Edited April 30, 2015 by thinfool

[Pumba's mom]

I would assume we will be one of first off the ship. I hope we make it because it's the only flight home that day. I will wait at gangway and take a taxi if we need to.

[Pumba's mom]

This makes me wonder if Princess has started their own version of US Direct, a now discontinued program that provided a 'closed' environment for cruise passengers "Plane to Ship" or "Ship to Plane"?

 

 

What does this mean? Never heard of this program.

[thinfool]

What does this mean? Never heard of this program.

 

That's because it is discontinued.

 

Watch the video in the link I posted when I edited that post. :)

[martincath]

For the poster above I don't believe there is any luggage valet aka priority baggage offered in Vancouver...at least not on RCI ships at this port of embarkation.

xlxo is referring to a totally different service offered by the company trading as Priority Baggage - where instead of just holding your bags at the pier, they send them to their storage facility at YVR. In years past there was a caveat that they won't guarantee the bags arriving before 4:30pm or so, but with an 8pm flight available to OP-, this service is ideal - as long as it is still being offered!

 

It has been offered consistently in previous years for $40 for the first 4 bags, but since PB are horrendously bad at updating their website, every new cruise season we eagerly await the first poster who actually uses their services to confirm that prices haven't gone up, times haven't changed etc.

[Pumba's mom]

Maybe I should have mentioned my first stop was in Toronto so I guess that would be considered domestic flight?!? Then Toronto to CT.

Also I called Princess today to inquire and after a brief hold they said my flight meets the guidelines because it had to be after 10:15 am. Also looking at the benefits of Ezair it states if the ship is late or the transfer is late Princess will work with the airline to rebook another flight.

[cruiseryyc]

The fact that you're flying domestically to Toronto does make a difference as you won't be going through US Immigration in Vancouver so don't require the extra time there. However, hope you have lots of time in Toronto as that is where you will go through US Immigration.

[Pumba's mom]

We have a 2 1/2 hour layover in Toronto....is that reasonable to get through customs?

[cruiseryyc]

We have a 2 1/2 hour layover in Toronto....is that reasonable to get through customs?

 

Perfect, shouldn't be rushed at all.