Safe flight time from YVR after Alaska cruise?

[NoWhiners]

One could take the Richmond-Brighouse train, but you would have to get off at the Bridgeport station (River Rock Casino & Hotel), and wait for the next train. They alternate, with one going into Richmond, the second going to YVR. Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary.

 

Also, I would count on around at least 1/2 an hour to get from the Waterfront station to YVR. It is totally easy to do, but it just takes time.

 

To sum, if you exit the Canada Place terminal and see the Skytrain entrance, by all means proceed down that escalator but do not get onto that train. Walk the length of the platform, follow the herd and proceed up the escalator at the end of the hallway. At the top of the escalator, make a right turn and you will be in a large atrium. At your 2:00 (Forward right), there will be an escalator/elevator/steps down. Go down there and you will go around a left corner. You will be on the platform for the Skytrain to YVR.

 

Aegis

 

This is great info, I am going to save it for our next trip to Vancouver. One additional question--do you catch the Skytrain at Waterfront Centre, Burrard Station or somewhere else? And, if you don't want to drag your bags, could you just take a cab to the station. I thought I read somewhere (back when the train first started operating) that there was a long staircase you had to climb unless you were on the correct side of the stree to get an escalator?

 

Thanks for any help

ML

Edited January 8, 2016 by NoWhiners
typo's

[POA1]

Does HAL still do the bus transfer from port to Vancouver international where they keep your luggage under seal so you don't have to clear customs again? They did it last time we cruised to Alaska, but that was years ago. Normally I'm not a big fan of the HAL airport transfers, but this was quite good.

[Lizzie68]

One could take the Richmond-Brighouse train, but you would have to get off at the Bridgeport station (River Rock Casino & Hotel), and wait for the next train. They alternate, with one going into Richmond, the second going to YVR. Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary.

 

Also, I would count on around at least 1/2 an hour to get from the Waterfront station to YVR. It is totally easy to do, but it just takes time.

 

To sum, if you exit the Canada Place terminal and see the Skytrain entrance, by all means proceed down that escalator but do not get onto that train. Walk the length of the platform, follow the herd and proceed up the escalator at the end of the hallway. At the top of the escalator, make a right turn and you will be in a large atrium. At your 2:00 (Forward right), there will be an escalator/elevator/steps down. Go down there and you will go around a left corner. You will be on the platform for the Skytrain to YVR.

 

 

Much as I love Vancouver - and believe me, I am always bragging about the city! - I never recommend that cruisers haul their bags to the airport by skytrain. Yes it's cheap, but for the sake of saving $30 it's so much less hassle and so much easier to just get a cab.;)

[Tom O.]

POA -

I am the kind of person that will get stressed very easily, if I think there is a chance of missing a flight.

I always arrive much earlier at the airport than I need to be. I also will not book any flight where I need to change planes and have less than an hour to do so. In fact I prefer flights where the layover is at least 1 1/2 hours.

There is nothing more stressful for me to try to rush from one end of an airport to the other looking for my next gate. This is especially true now that I don't get around as fast as I used to.

I don't mind waiting around an airport for a flight. I will grab something to eat and relax. As long as I am near my gate, I am stress free.

So I would take the later flight, as long as it had enough time to change planes at your next stop.

[POA1]

POA -

I am the kind of person that will get stressed very easily, if I think there is a chance of missing a flight.

I always arrive much earlier at the airport than I need to be. I also will not book any flight where I need to change planes and have less than an hour to do so. In fact I prefer flights where the layover is at least 1 1/2 hours.

There is nothing more stressful for me to try to rush from one end of an airport to the other looking for my next gate. This is especially true now that I don't get around as fast as I used to.

I don't mind waiting around an airport for a flight. I will grab something to eat and relax. As long as I am near my gate, I am stress free.

So I would take the later flight, as long as it had enough time to change planes at your next stop.

Thanks Tom. Our dilemma is that the 11:50 AM flight has a comfortable 90 minute layover for the connection. The 1:20 flight has a tight 48 minute connection. Both are in Texas (Dallas or Houston) but we're kind of at peak storm season in Texas. I think I'd rather have the time for the layover vs the extra time at YVR.

[Tom O.]

Thanks Tom. Our dilemma is that the 11:50 AM flight has a comfortable 90 minute layover for the connection. The 1:20 flight has a tight 48 minute connection. Both are in Texas (Dallas or Houston) but we're kind of at peak storm season in Texas. I think I'd rather have the time for the layover vs the extra time at YVR.

 

I agree with your reasoning. There are greater chances with something going wrong with that short layover, than not getting to the airport in Vancouver on time.

[1ANGELCAT]

Does HAL still do the bus transfer from port to Vancouver international where they keep your luggage under seal so you don't have to clear customs again? They did it last time we cruised to Alaska, but that was years ago. Normally I'm not a big fan of the HAL airport transfers, but this was quite good.

 

 

Yes. I did this on the Oosterdam last July.

However , I don't remember what the cut-off time was for the flight out of YVR.

I know I had an early flight and had to fight to get this transfer even though Seattle accepted the flight time when the cruise was booked.

[jvalentine]

I vote for the 11:50 flight. We had that earlier this year and had no issue at all getting through everything. We did the early walk off and then took a cab to the airport with no issue. Had time to spare too. (I will say that embarkation was totally different...lots of lines for security there.) Just depends how speedy you think you can be...but for us 11:50 would be doable.

Edited January 8, 2016 by jvalentine

[Aegis1984]

Aegis

 

This is great info, I am going to save it for our next trip to Vancouver. One additional question--do you catch the Skytrain at Waterfront Centre, Burrard Station or somewhere else? And, if you don't want to drag your bags, could you just take a cab to the station. I thought I read somewhere (back when the train first started operating) that there was a long staircase you had to climb unless you were on the correct side of the stree to get an escalator?

 

Thanks for any help

ML

 

Waterfront station is the closest station to Canada Place. As for taking a cab from Canada Place to the Skytrain station, you could but you would probably wait longer for a cab than it would take you to walk.

 

In the attachment, the red line shows the route from Canada Place. If you are at all able-bodied, it is a 5-10 minute walk MAX. Also, it is mostly underground. The blue building in the attachment is where you want to get to, to get to the Canada Line train.

[martincath]

Does HAL still do the bus transfer from port to Vancouver international where they keep your luggage under seal so you don't have to clear customs again? They did it last time we cruised to Alaska, but that was years ago. Normally I'm not a big fan of the HAL airport transfers, but this was quite good.

The official service, US Direct, comes & goes. In a year it is offered YVR splashes the info all over before the ships begin arriving - and so do the participating cruise lines.

 

There have been occasional reports in years where the program is definitely not operating that sometimes you can still go from ship to airport under seal, but for that you would only be able to find out from the cruise line.

 

Agreed, bypassing two sets of customs/immigration checks makes the otherwise-horribly-overpriced cruiseline airport transfers a much better value proposition - but remember that if you do this you can't see any of Vancouver except the US departure gates:(

[martincath]

Thanks Tom. Our dilemma is that the 11:50 AM flight has a comfortable 90 minute layover for the connection. The 1:20 flight has a tight 48 minute connection. Both are in Texas (Dallas or Houston) but we're kind of at peak storm season in Texas. I think I'd rather have the time for the layover vs the extra time at YVR.

Sorry to post twice, but multi-quote is again arsing around on me.

 

Since you indicated you have Global Entry I have no hesitation in going with the 11:50am flight. Frankly even without it, a flight after 11am is doable - it just means you HAVE to get your sh*t together fast and self-disembark to beat the rush. With GE allowing you to bypass long security queue and fast-track thru' CBP I would never expect it to take you more than 45mins from curb to gate except in catastrophic circumstances (e.g. massive power failure or total system crash, simply not worth planning a buffer for). I've never spent more than 30mins getting thru security/CBP for US-bound flights out of YVR since we got Nexus.

[CGYCruisingFamily]

POA1 - have you checked Westjet flights? We live in Calgary and recently flew non stop from here to Orlando the from FLL post cruise direct to YYC. I only mention this because there might be other options of going through Canada which would allow you an earlier departure from YVR without US customs there.

 

If not, even though you have a tight connection, I would recommend the 1:20 flight. While you could make the 11:30, it might be a little tight with having to clear customs.

 

I'm from Vancouver originally (actually Richmond where the airport is). I have never taken the Canada Line. The drive from downtown on a Saturday morning would take about 25 to 30 minutes comfortably assuming there are no road cloures. If you were to get the earliest disembarkation, 11:30 is make able but I would still err on the side of caution for the 1:20 personally.

[Ricktan]

Does HAL still do the bus transfer from port to Vancouver international where they keep your luggage under seal so you don't have to clear customs again? They did it last time we cruised to Alaska, but that was years ago. Normally I'm not a big fan of the HAL airport transfers, but this was quite good.

 

 

What service is this? Would love to find out more....

[NoWhiners]

Waterfront station is the closest station to Canada Place. As for taking a cab from Canada Place to the Skytrain station, you could but you would probably wait longer for a cab than it would take you to walk.

 

In the attachment, the red line shows the route from Canada Place. If you are at all able-bodied, it is a 5-10 minute walk MAX. Also, it is mostly underground. The blue building in the attachment is where you want to get to, to get to the Canada Line train.

 

Once again, very helpful Aegis. We could easily make that walk, especially if underground and not on a bumpy sidewalk!

 

Thanks, again

ML

[cruz chic]

Once again, very helpful Aegis. We could easily make that walk, especially if underground and not on a bumpy sidewalk!

 

Thanks, again

ML

 

Well you are more brave than I am. I hate mass transit even though I have to use it a lot. Paying a cab or taking a Hal transfer is money well spent to me.

[NoWhiners]

Well you are more brave than I am. I hate mass transit even though I have to use it a lot. Paying a cab or taking a Hal transfer is money well spent to me.

 

LOL--We rarely get to use mass transit, so maybe that's why? We actually like saving the money and I love watching the people, and when we are above-ground, the scenery!

[Lizzie68]

LOL--We rarely get to use mass transit, so maybe that's why? We actually like saving the money and I love watching the people, and when we are above-ground, the scenery!

 

I still recommend a cab to the airport - but if you insist on using skytrain that walk is pretty grim. I used to do it every day from the commuter train to my office building. Much of downtown Vancouver can be walked underground, which is very convenient.

[DaveOKC]

I still recommend a cab to the airport - but if you insist on using skytrain that walk is pretty grim. I used to do it every day from the commuter train to my office building. Much of downtown Vancouver can be walked underground, which is very convenient.

The walk is very short - maybe 5 minutes from when you exit onto the street from the pier area to the Skytrain station. We have done this several times and it really is not bad and can be as fast or faster than a taxi (if the taxi lines are long or traffic is bad).

Edited January 10, 2016 by DaveOKC

[Tom O.]

Well you are more brave than I am. I hate mass transit even though I have to use it a lot. Paying a cab or taking a Hal transfer is money well spent to me.

 

I am with you, Cruz Chick. Although I will use public transport when time is not critical, I much prefer to take a cab when going to the airport or cruise ship. I would be a nervous wreck if I was on a bus trying to make a flight.

Once I was returning home from Connecticut, I was taking Amtrak to Boston to catch a plane. My train was 3 hours late do to some fire near the tracks. Once in Boston, I still had to take a bus from the train station to the airport.

Luckily, I had allowed several hours for any possible problems, and hoped to have a leisurely dinner at the airport. I arrived at the airport gate right at the last call for my flight. I had to have a couple of bourbons on the plane to help calm me down.

[CowPrincess]

I've done the Sky Train with luggage. Would prefer to not do it again :) unless I had only one bag. With two, it was (for me) challenging.

[Lizzie68]

The walk is very short - maybe 5 minutes from when you exit onto the street from the pier area to the Skytrain station. We have done this several times and it really is not bad and can be as fast or faster than a taxi (if the taxi lines are long or traffic is bad).

 

Glad you think so, Dave.:) I guess my doing that walk to and from work every day for years jaded my thinking about it. Still feel the same though! As for cabs, few lines, and if there are lines in the cruise ship centre, up to street level and across to the hotel and you get a cab quicker.

[DaveOKC]

Glad you think so, Dave.:) I guess my doing that walk to and from work every day for years jaded my thinking about it. Still feel the same though! As for cabs, few lines, and if there are lines in the cruise ship centre, up to street level and across to the hotel and you get a cab quicker.

 

I guess the $30 or so I was saving by using the Skytrain made my walk seem shorter!

 

Dave

[martincath]

Glad you think so, Dave.:) I guess my doing that walk to and from work every day for years jaded my thinking about it. Still feel the same though! As for cabs, few lines, and if there are lines in the cruise ship centre, up to street level and across to the hotel and you get a cab quicker.

I think it must have been your destination that was depressing you Lizzie; blame the job, not the walk! I find that those three blocks are among the most interesting in downtown, with an excellent contrast of architecture from the sails of Canada Place to the curvy glass of the Fairmont, about-as-old-as-it-gets-for-Vancouver midrise office blocks, seamlessly repurposed rather than demolished or just façaded in the Sinclair Centre, and finishing at the delightful Waterfront station (OK some boring concrete towers are in the mix too) - don't forget to look up occasionally when trudging to & from the office...

[Lizzie68]

I think it must have been your destination that was depressing you Lizzie; blame the job, not the walk! I find that those three blocks are among the most interesting in downtown, with an excellent contrast of architecture from the sails of Canada Place to the curvy glass of the Fairmont, about-as-old-as-it-gets-for-Vancouver midrise office blocks, seamlessly repurposed rather than demolished or just façaded in the Sinclair Centre, and finishing at the delightful Waterfront station (OK some boring concrete towers are in the mix too) - don't forget to look up occasionally when trudging to & from the office...

 

We were talking about the he underground route not the street route. But yes I agree with you. LOVE Vancouver even when going to work (loved my job too!)

[david,Mississauga]

Regarding tight connections, it is possible the ship's arrival might be delayed. There could be a weather-related delay, mechanical difficulties, a person overboard, a rescue of another vessel, etc. It is rare, and delays are usually brief, but it does happen. From personal experience I am just as concerned with a ship's late arrival as I am with getting to the airport or railway station.

 

Amongst the "anti public transit" comments, I am pleased to read so many positive comments about using the Skytrain. The Skytrain doesn't suit everyone, of course, but it is a good system. I am partial to trains but concede that if one has mobility issues or a lot of luggage it is not the most convenient.

 

In May we took the Sytrain from the airport to the pier - actually the hotel atop the pier because we stayed two days before the cruise. We intended on taking the train back after the cruise but we ended up booking the HAL transfer simply because we had a lot of OBC and a lot of time before our mid-afternoon flight to Toronto.