HAL Transfer Canada Place Pier to Seattle

[fsdj1097]

Good day all. We are booked on an Alaska cruise, R/T Vancouver, but will be flying to and from SEATAC. We've used both QuickCoach and HAL transfers in the past, but it's been a few years. If we book the transfer through HAL, will our luggage be picked up the night before we disembark and be loaded directly into the bus? I seem to recall that this was the way it worked before, and the luggage compartment was sealed in hopes of expediting the border crossing process. Also, if anyone has recent experience with this process, approximately what time would we be disembarking the ship? Thanks, in advance, for any and all replies.

[RetiredMustang]

We just took the HAL bus transfer from Noordam on Aug. 12. We were given brown 2 tags in our disembarkation packet and left our bags outside the cabin the night before, as usual. We reported as directed next morning to the show lounge to wait to be called.

People with transfers to YVR were also waiting in the lounge for their buses, and were called before us. We were called, IIRC, about 8:45 a.m. or so, after being delayed a minute or two until the rep got word all our bags had been loaded. We were led ashore and were not checked by Canada officials but were taken directly to our bus, which was considered a "sealed" bus and we were not allowed to stop until we arrived at Blaine border station.

 

 

At Blaine, there was a long line of buses in front of us whose passengers had to take their bags and walk them inside for customs and passport inspection, so we were there about an hour until an agent was free. A CBP agent boarded the bus and went through while we held our passports, opened to the photo page, near our faces. He then collected the passports and went inside to process them. The bus driver came back about five minutes later and gave us our passports back, and then drove us away toward Seattle. We went directly to SeaTac, with some construction delays, and arrived at SeaTac around 2 p.m. There was a toilet on the bus.

 

A couple of things -- we had to be U.S. citizens and we had to have booked this transfer before the cruise; we were told we would not have been able to book it once we got aboard.

 

Dave

[frankc98376]

Last time we used the HAL transfer the bus driver handed our passports to the CBP officer from his window. There were seals on the baggage doors and the passenger door before we left.

 

The driver told us no Canada Customs as we were coming from the US and going directly to the US. We had already cleared US Customs in Vancouver before we boarded.

 

We made a stop at a rest area on Interstste 5 near Bellingham so everyone could stretch their legs.

 

We felt it was better than the hassles at YVR airport and we got back to Seatac earlier than we would have if we flew.

[fsdj1097]

We just took the HAL bus transfer from Noordam on Aug. 12. We were given brown 2 tags in our disembarkation packet and left our bags outside the cabin the night before, as usual. We reported as directed next morning to the show lounge to wait to be called.

People with transfers to YVR were also waiting in the lounge for their buses, and were called before us. We were called, IIRC, about 8:45 a.m. or so, after being delayed a minute or two until the rep got word all our bags had been loaded. We were led ashore and were not checked by Canada officials but were taken directly to our bus, which was considered a "sealed" bus and we were not allowed to stop until we arrived at Blaine border station.

 

 

At Blaine, there was a long line of buses in front of us whose passengers had to take their bags and walk them inside for customs and passport inspection, so we were there about an hour until an agent was free. A CBP agent boarded the bus and went through while we held our passports, opened to the photo page, near our faces. He then collected the passports and went inside to process them. The bus driver came back about five minutes later and gave us our passports back, and then drove us away toward Seattle. We went directly to SeaTac, with some construction delays, and arrived at SeaTac around 2 p.m. There was a toilet on the bus.

 

A couple of things -- we had to be U.S. citizens and we had to have booked this transfer before the cruise; we were told we would not have been able to book it once we got aboard.

 

Dave

 

Thanks so much for your reply Dave. That's exactly what I was looking for.

 

Kindest regards,

[Krazy Kruizers]

The luggage doors and passenger doors were sealed on our bus. There were 2 bus lanes at the border. One for the buses with the seals on them -- bus driver passed passports out his window. The person in charge just quickly glanced at them, gave them back to the driver and he passed them back to us. We were done in about 10 minutes.

We didn't get to SeaTac until 2:30. You are dropped off in an area where you have to get your own luggage to the various terminals. Quite a walk for some people.

Don't book a flight leaving until around 5 PM.

[fsdj1097]

The luggage doors and passenger doors were sealed on our bus. There were 2 bus lanes at the border. One for the buses with the seals on them -- bus driver passed passports out his window. The person in charge just quickly glanced at them, gave them back to the driver and he passed them back to us. We were done in about 10 minutes.

 

We didn't get to SeaTac until 2:30. You are dropped off in an area where you have to get your own luggage to the various terminals. Quite a walk for some people.

Don't book a flight leaving until around 5 PM.

 

 

Thanks so much KK. We will be overnighting at a hotel close to SEATAC and taking an early flight the next morning. If I recall from previous experiences with the HAL transfer, if you weren't flying that day, they would drop you off near your hotel. Is that still the case?

[hexdragon]

Just to throw a monkey wrench in the conversation.... When we did this we took the Amtrak train instead. I think it was much cheaper... :cool:

[fsdj1097]

Just to throw a monkey wrench in the conversation.... When we did this we took the Amtrak train instead. I think it was much cheaper... :cool:

 

According to the AMTRAK schedule, you can book the R/T AMTRAK Cascades train for $98 R/T from Seattle/Vancouver. The one way train is $67, and the HAL transfer is $69. However, the return train from Vancouver doesn't leave until 5:45pm arriving Seattle at 10:10.

[martincath]

According to the AMTRAK schedule, you can book the R/T AMTRAK Cascades train for $98 R/T from Seattle/Vancouver. The one way train is $67, and the HAL transfer is $69. However, the return train from Vancouver doesn't leave until 5:45pm arriving Seattle at 10:10.

You chose too close a date - booked enough in advance Saver fares are $32pp each way (and no discounts for return fares). Totally doesn't work for a same-day flight though - the morning train leaves before most ships arrive, let alone start letting people off! For folks with a night to spend and flight next day, it's the nicest way to make the trip IMO - no driving, no border hassles, and you can get liquored-up on board!

 

As noted, even a sealed bus gets stuck at the border with other traffic - there's one bus crossing, and if the car backup hits about 40mins+ they cannot reach their dedicated bus lane even if there's no delay for bus processing. The train you do immigration at the station in Vancouver - northbound does not even stop at the border, southbound there's a token five minute pause while CBP walk a dog and Geiger counter through the train just in case their colleagues posted up here got sloppy.

 

NB: for SEA flights, also factor in cost of getting to and from train stations. Cruise shuttles, whether sealed or not, go from pier to airport. QuickShuttle ($59 one way at this time) likewise. Train and other buses like Bolt & Greyhound go from downtown to downtown - approx $12 in cab fare on this end and $30 on the Seattle end. 2+ people splitting cab fare and buying Saver tickets can easily save enough to pay for a round of drinks or two on the train;-)

[fsdj1097]

You chose too close a date - booked enough in advance Saver fares are $32pp each way (and no discounts for return fares). Totally doesn't work for a same-day flight though - the morning train leaves before most ships arrive, let alone start letting people off! For folks with a night to spend and flight next day, it's the nicest way to make the trip IMO - no driving, no border hassles, and you can get liquored-up on board!

 

As noted, even a sealed bus gets stuck at the border with other traffic - there's one bus crossing, and if the car backup hits about 40mins+ they cannot reach their dedicated bus lane even if there's no delay for bus processing. The train you do immigration at the station in Vancouver - northbound does not even stop at the border, southbound there's a token five minute pause while CBP walk a dog and Geiger counter through the train just in case their colleagues posted up here got sloppy.

 

NB: for SEA flights, also factor in cost of getting to and from train stations. Cruise shuttles, whether sealed or not, go from pier to airport. QuickShuttle ($59 one way at this time) likewise. Train and other buses like Bolt & Greyhound go from downtown to downtown - approx $12 in cab fare on this end and $30 on the Seattle end. 2+ people splitting cab fare and buying Saver tickets can easily save enough to pay for a round of drinks or two on the train;-)

 

I chose the business class for June 2019. We've done the R/T train before, but didn't care for having to store our luggage for several hours, then not getting into Seattle after 10pm. Made for a long day.

[hexdragon]

We had a hotel in Seattle both coming and going. It was about a mile from the train station (one of the cabbies was not happy on the short fare). It was also a block from a light rail station that we took from/to the airport. It was a pain dragging the luggage across the airport parking garage to the station...

[martincath]

I chose the business class for June 2019.

That explains the price differential then; but the Bus. Class product on Amtrak is not a fair comparison to any bus travel. Amtrak regular coach seats are nicer than any of the charter buses used, or the fleets of QuickShuttle, Greyhound or even Bolt (who have a little more legroom than others).

 

Even a 6-footer with a big butt like me finds the Bus Class fare increase poor value on VAC-SEA runs, as the regular seats are more than sufficient for comfort and the only 'service' improvement is a $3 voucher for the same cafe car everyone uses. No at-seat service like with some European trains, and you don't get off any faster - all doors open in Seattle instead of doing it carriage-by-carriage with the first emptied before the next is opened.

 

Coming northbound Bus. Class does get priority disembarkation, which is worth paying for if you have a tight schedule so you get to immigration first.You do get to use the short queue to Preclearance when boarding - but NEXUS or Global Entry get you in that too, at no charge.

[corkpopr]

:cool: question, why would you fly from Seattle? Vancouver is a fantastic airport.

[frankc98376]

:cool: question, why would you fly from Seattle? Vancouver is a fantastic airport.

 

Many have said that cost of flying out of SEA is much lower than YVR. We paid almost $200 each last year to fly from SEA to YVR

[knittinggirl]

How much does HAL charge for Canada place to SeaTac bus transfers?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[frankc98376]

How much does HAL charge for Canada place to SeaTac bus transfers?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Normally $69 per person

[martincath]

:cool: question, why would you fly from Seattle? Vancouver is a fantastic airport.

Cash! While a big saving doesn't happen that often, there are some occasions when it's remarkably cheaper to fly out of Seattle (first time we did it was a friend's wedding in Boston, booked long in advance, and we saved enough on two tickets to pay for our entire hotel stay - a downtown 5* - plus a night in a cheap SEA hotel). If you actually do consider the 'niceness' of the airport as a factor, savings would need to be a LOT higher - SEATAC sucks!

[Crew News]

If you are flying Southwest out of SEATAC, check the prices for delaying your flight until Tuesday. Could be a chance to see Seattle for a few days and save $$$$

 

 

 

Example SEATAC to Nashville on Sunday $404 p/p and Tuesday $202 p/p = $400 savings for two.

[corkpopr]

:cool: Yes but it is SouthWorst. In all fairness we are on the west coast so L.A. to Seattle or Vancouver is about the same price.