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What is the best way to get to Vancouver from Seattle for Alaska Cruise


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Thanks martincath.  He could make a 7p train.  What I'm contemplating is that if the Mrs. and I ever do a northbound, we'd fly into Vancouver night before (from Chicago) and if he were to join us, thinking through his various Seattle to Vancouver options.  Sounds very doable with him leaving his car at home.  And Uber from his house to train might be $8 so all good.  Thanks again.  We need to get back and explore your city.  We've now spent 5-6 days getting to know Seattle since his move out there this past Nov and really enjoy visiting.

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On 1/19/2019 at 5:36 PM, klfrodo said:

We live in the Seattle area.

Daughter and her family and group of friends all missed their Vancouver cruise due to an Amtrak delay. Stuck on the train for 3 hours and Amtrak would not let them off.

Personally, I’d fly from SEA to Vancouver

I believe we would come a few days before the cruise so that shouldn't be a problem.  Maybe I should contact a travel agent..we have always booked everything ourselves but this seems to be a bit of a challenge...

 

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10 minutes ago, kentuckytravelgirl said:

I believe we would come a few days before the cruise so that shouldn't be a problem.  Maybe I should contact a travel agent..we have always booked everything ourselves but this seems to be a bit of a challenge...

 

Unless you already have a travel agent who a) you trust and b) knows the local area you won't get much in the way of relevant advice. Since it sounds like the cruise is already booked and therefore at most the TA will be getting commission on your flight, hotel (transportation between Seattle & Vancouver if you do book SW to SEA, but then if ypou book that on points they'll get diddly from the long flight) I predict that they'll recommend flying to YVR and booking the Pan Pacific or one of the other swanky hotels near the pier. And they won't be wrong since they'll be giving you the simplest way to do things... that also just happens to maximize their commission...

 

Unfortunately even the folks on these boards who have awesome TAs are forbidden to recommend them, so while we can continue to offer advice on your travel we can't point you at a TA:-(

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3 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

Quick and easiest - Quick Shuttle

 

Most scenic and comfortable - Amtrac train

Quickest - flying.

 

Easiest, most scenic and comfortable - one way rental car.

 

Easiest because almost all of the rental car companies allow one-way rentals, and you can leave when you want.

 

Most scenic - if you want - because you can take alternate routes that include terrific scenery, islands, cool state parks or ferries.

 

Comfortable because you can stretch out, stop for meals or nature breaks, play your own music...

 

It can also be the quickest once you count travel to the airport, check-in and security, immigration and customs, and ATC delays.  Depending on time at the border (can be short or long, but generally faster in a car than in a bus) the door-to-door travel time can be competitive with flying.

 

Generally the car pencils out as cheap or cheaper than the bus once you add any surface transport logistics, provided two or more are traveling.

Edited by Gardyloo
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Minor quibbles with GLs info: if you get off the highway and go see pretty things, agree car becomes most scenic but if you stick to the highway the train tracks are nearer to the coast, sometimes quite a lot nearer (though if you want to see a mattress store with a big cow on it, car for the win!)

 

Train beats car for comfort in legroom, being able to walk around while still moving, and the most important reason of all - you can get liquored-up on pretty decent booze without worrying about drunk-driving/open container rules;-) Plus food is also served while you move (though we do quite enjoy our stops at Shari's or Bob's Burgers & Brews when driving - have any pie you like at the former and the Squirrel sandwich at the latter).

 

Otherwise agree with the above!

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Amtrak on sale right now for travelling between March and July. The one way ticket on Amtrak Cascade from Seattle to Vancouver is only $31. The sales ends tomorrow and it will be back to $34. Not a big difference. The train that I booked has upper level panoramic seats. As it has always been recommended, one should arrive at least the day before the cruise. Train may be delayed, and so as flight too. Indeed, flights are more prone to weather situation.

Edited by Tourist1292
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2 hours ago, Tourist1292 said:

Train may be delayed, and so as flight too. Indeed, flights are more prone to weather situation.

 

As an FYI, fights up and down the coast are very seldomly affected by weather.  May be some delays due to fog and exceptionally high wind occasionally.  Fog is rarely an issue in Vancouver and Seattle.  Snow is an issue once every 5-10 years.

 

Fortunately, thunder and lightning (storms or otherwise) are almost never (if ever) an issue, nor things like hurricanes, excessive heat, tornadoes, etc.

 

Of course, this might all change.

 

 

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Plan to use Southwest points on return from Sea/tac.  So getting there from Vancouver?

It looks like One way rental car rates have come down alittle.

IF you don't mind picking up from YVR.

Hoping that Canada Place rental car Location will Open in time for our trip?

So far, the best deal is from the airport....

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8 hours ago, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

Wondering what our resident locals think about River Rock casino Hotel?

It seems to be a pretty good alternative price wise, to some of those closeby Canada place.

How it RR?

How is Location to YVR & Pier?  Thanks

 

 

Looking at the RR website, it appears to be right by the Canada Line Skytrain station, which would provide you with easy access to the pier area (2 blocks from it).  We have taken the Canada Line train several times and it is a good way to go and very inexpensive. plus it can handle a reasonable amount of luggage.  Can also use Skytrain to/from airport.

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On 2/1/2019 at 6:09 PM, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

How it RR?

How is Location to YVR & Pier?  Thanks

Dave got the location correct - in fact aside from the very pricey airport Fairmont it's the MOST convenient hotel for SkyTrain access as it's basically right next door to Bridgeport Station which means no AddFare applies and that you have double the train frequency compared to hotels further into Richmond. If the price is right, it's definitely going to be your least-annoying-and-time-consuming option for getting downtown of all the hotels out near the airport.

 

A buddy used to manage it so I always avoided any commentary on quality; now he's got a new job I can freely say that they've had problems with management of the entire complex for a while (partly why he left!) which may explain the price being keener these days. The casino is the big money-spinner, so service at the hotel used to be top-notch at least for the high rollers in suites but there have been various issues re: the casino, money-laundering, fewer customers due to new regulations etc etc etc that could quite legitimately explain why they would cut the room rates compared to back in the day (when they stayed pretty high but regular players would get free upgrades, comped rooms etc.)

 

If it's cheaper than downtown hotels, I'd be OK with booking it - but do look at the more modest downtown hotels not just the fancy places right next to Canada Place! If you fire up a map and look at distances, you'll find that there are literally dozens of hotels within a mile of the pier - and since it's downtown you have good sidewalks everywhere, making it often faster to just walk to your cruise than wait for a cab and sit in traffic due to the bottleneck at the entry to Canada Place (with the meter running...)

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I am going TO Anchorage Alaska for the south side cruise (Princess). What I am doing I am flying Southwest out of Kansas City Missouri to Seattle, stay overnight. Take Alaska Airlines day of cruise from Seattle to Anchorage. 

 

On the return, we get off at Vancouver. Taking quick shuttle to Seattle and hop back on southwest to go home. Southwest flights are completely booked on points, only paying for the Alaska Airlines leg. 

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