Not getting off the ship in Victoria

[Travalerie]

Do you still have to go through customs?

[Langley Cruisers]

If you are asking because Victoria is on your cruise as a foreign port stop (sometimes just a few hours), then you actually will be cleared (or not cleared) by local authorities. Before the ship docks in Victoria, a Customs card is sent to each cabin; you fill this in and turn it into Guest Services. They, in turn, turn them over to the local authorities and all passengers are cleared before anyone gets off the ship in Victoria. This means all guests are cleared "behind the scenes" so to speak, and you do not actually meet with a border patrol agent face to face at this port stop. It saves a lot of time.

[Travalerie]

Thanks. I am asking for a friend who is doing an inside passage cruise out of Seattle. They stop in Victoria the last night. She is not planning on getting off the ship and just wants to know if she had to do anything extra or if she could just continue relaxing onboard.

[4774Papa]

Victoria is a great port, why miss it?

[Langley Cruisers]

Yes, she absolutely can stay on board and just relax, but please tell her Victoria is AMAZING and she absolutely doesn't have to do anything involving an excursion or money or anything. :) Victoria is beautiful and very "walkable". There are a number of threads here (with Victoria in the title) which she could read if she was at all interested in just stretching her legs.

[Travalerie]

I agree! I told her she should get off even if only for an hour or two. We enjoyed it on our cruises.

[trophy_23]

As a local(ish) Vancouverite, I have to agree, Victoria is a wonderful place to just go for a walk. It is a level, 15 or so minute walk to town, where from there you could really spend as little or as much time as you like just walking up and down the streets near the inner harbour and it is beautiful, especially in the summer when all the flowers are out.

[midwestchick]

As a local(ish) Vancouverite, I have to agree, Victoria is a wonderful place to just go for a walk. It is a level, 15 or so minute walk to town, where from there you could really spend as little or as much time as you like just walking up and down the streets near the inner harbour and it is beautiful, especially in the summer when all the flowers are out.

 

What is there to see and do in town? Are there shuttles or buses that will take you to town from the cruise port?

[meadowlander]

Yes, she absolutely can stay on board and just relax, but please tell her Victoria is AMAZING and she absolutely doesn't have to do anything involving an excursion or money or anything. :) Victoria is beautiful and very "walkable". There are a number of threads here (with Victoria in the title) which she could read if she was at all interested in just stretching her legs.

 

Amazing is a most appropriate description of Victoria and my opinion is formed only from the bus ride through the town onto Butchart Gardens. I "have to" get back to Victoria and experience the beautiful downtown area as well as the most beautiful Butchart Gardens!

[Lulubelle45]

What is there to see and do in town? Are there shuttles or buses that will take you to town from the cruise port?

 

From a simple walk along the Breakwater just to the right of the pier, to a 15-20 minute stroll along the David Foster walkway to the left of the pier and check out Fishermans wharf, where there are a family of harbour seals poking up to say hello, the Inner Harbour which includes the famed Empress Hotel, the Legislature Building aka Parliament bldg which offers tours. The Royal BC museum is spectacular. There are many tours from pedi cabs, harbour ferries, Hippo buses (amphibians) tour buses out to Butchard Gardens or city loops including Craigdarrock castle. . Or just stroll the quaint shops on Government Street north of the Harbour. The only people who should stay on board are locals, and even they get off to be a tourist in their own town!!

[NancyIL]

What is there to see and do in town? Are there shuttles or buses that will take you to town from the cruise port?

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g154945-Activities-Victoria_Victoria_Capital_Regional_District_Vancouver_Island_British_Columbia.html

 

If you book a tour with CVS Tours, you can be picked up at the cruise port or at the Empress Hotel: http://cvstours.com/

 

I'm planning an afternoon at Butchart Gardens (booked with CVS Tours), and either a morning ship tour or maybe the HOHO with Gray Line: http://www.grayline.com/tours/victoria/24-hour-vintage-double-decker-hop-on-hop-off-city-tour-pass-5888_1/