Vancouver Disembarkation - Canada Place to Amtrak Via station Pacific Center

[molole]

The ship NCL Jewel docks at 8am and the train departs at 3pm.  My plan is to stay on the ship as long as possible and then take SkyTrain to Pacific Center.  

 

I am assuming I will have plenty of time but just wondering if there are anything I should be aware of?  I can self disembark if needed.  

[martincath]

First thing to be aware of is that there's no 3pm train! Only two trains daily - the morning one is too early, and will have left before your ship got under the bridge. The evening train is at 5:45pm, ETA Seattle 10:10pm.

 

All other Amtrak departures are buses, and frankly I don't recommend them in any circumstance except that you are connecting to another Amtrak service downline (i.e. so you are 'in the system' from the beginning in case of any problems connecting). They have the crappiest bus fleet and the highest prices! For the less money you can get the more convenient QuickShuttle service direct from the pier at 9am, or for much less money you can get Bolt or Greyhound buses from Pacific Central. The train is great - no border hassles, only way to booze while traveling, nicer views than from the highway so if arriving after 10pm isn't a dealbreaker I'd stick to Amtrak evening train and enjoy a day of sightseeing. If you have to arrive earlier, Bolt have the nicest bus fleet, the fewest stops en route, and free WiFi on all their vehicles so it's a total no-brainer that they're the best bus option - there will be at least 2 departures before the 3pm Amtrak too.

[molole]

@martincath

 

Thank you you for the info.   I am taking the Canadian with VIA rail, Vancouver to Toronto.  It's more expensive than the cruise itself and I don't want to miss it.  Lol

 

it requires me to check in 90 mins before so I need to arrive by 1:30 pm.  I travel light and will only have a carry on and a backpack.  

 

Just wondering if there is any tips I should know .  

 

My plan is to get off the ship late, likely around 10am, then take the Expo line from the Waterfront station to Science World station.  I wont have any Canadian change, but I do have $5 Canadian bills.   I believe I can use a credit card to buy the ticket at Warerfront, am I right?

Edited June 6, 2019 by molole

[martincath]

Well that's a whole different kettle of fish!

 

No issues whatsoever with meeting the VIA Canadian from a ship. Really the only issues would be with SkyTrain - this is the original commuter line and there is no luggage storage whatsoever, so the only legal place to place any bag is under your feet or on your lap. If your carry on is light enough you can sit with it on your lap for a few minutes no worries (Main Street is the station to get off at - head to the escalator near the front of the train, as that takes you over Main and into the park which saves waiting to cross the street when you're heading to the train station). If your bag is heavy enough you don't want to have it on top of you the risks of getting hassled for putting it in the aisle or on the seat next to you are slim (automated trains, so it's rare to see staff present to enforce the bylaws, plus you are going against commuter direction to there should be plenty of empty seats) - but if you want to play it totally safe a taxi to the station would only be about $12. Paying for SkyTrain may also need a 'Chip & PIN' or 'tap & go' chipped Visa/Mastercard - which not all Americans have, but most other countries and of course Canadians won't have a problem - whereas taxis take any Visa/MC chip or not.

 

However you get to Pac Central you should be able to check your bags in long before your check-in time, so I'd be inclined to do that and then go wandering. Straight up Main Street brings you into Chinatown, west along Terminal takes you to ScienceWorld and the Seawall, ferries to Granville Island. I don't believe lunch is included on boarding day even if you booked fancy class, so eat before you come back to check-in.

[molole]

Thank you @martincath

 

I have chipped credit cards so I am thinking iwill be fine there as long as the ship docks as scheduled.  

 

hopefully there will be no fog delays or things like that in Vancouver as in Tampa.  

[martincath]

2 hours ago, molole said:

Thank you @martincath

 

I have chipped credit cards so I am thinking iwill be fine there as long as the ship docks as scheduled.  

 

hopefully there will be no fog delays or things like that in Vancouver as in Tampa.  

Fog's rarely an issue in the mornings, more overnight - really the only risk you have of failing to get to the station in time for a 3pm train is if the ship has a truly catastrophic issue, one of the once-in-a-blue-moon engine failures, collision with a dock so they are delayed while safety inspections happen, that sort of thing. Even if you hit a whale it won't delay you getting into the harbour, just getting back out again - a Princess ship sailed in (on time!) with a whale impaled on the bows a few years back!

[david,Mississauga]

On 6/6/2019 at 2:19 PM, molole said:

@martincath

 

Thank you you for the info.   I am taking the Canadian with VIA rail, Vancouver to Toronto.  It's more expensive than the cruise itself and I don't want to miss it.  Lol

 

it requires me to check in 90 mins before so I need to arrive by 1:30 pm.  I travel light and will only have a carry on and a backpack.  

 

Just wondering if there is any tips I should know .  

 

My plan is to get off the ship late, likely around 10am, then take the Expo line from the Waterfront station to Science World station.  I wont have any Canadian change, but I do have $5 Canadian bills.   I believe I can use a credit card to buy the ticket at Warerfront, am I right?

 

Just to add to the helpful information you have already received: in reality you don't need to check-in 90 minutes in advance for the Canadian. Unless they have recently changed the rules, the limit for checked baggage is 30 minutes before departure.

 

There is a comfortable station lounge for sleeping car passengers and a section of that is for those who have booked the pricey Prestige service. On our last trip one couple had splurged on Prestige and they were told to check-in 90 minutes before. We all did so at that time and they sat with us in the "poor section" of the lounge. The same beverages and Peak Frean biscuits were available to both regular and premium sleeper passengers.  Prestige passengers were escorted to their "suites" first (about an hour before departure) and soon after the basic sleeper passengers were called to board.  Whether in Prestige or basic sleeper, it is a great trip.

[xlxo]

On 6/6/2019 at 10:02 AM, molole said:

My plan is to stay on the ship as long as possible and then take SkyTrain to Pacific Center.  

 

I am assuming I will have plenty of time but just wondering if there are anything I should be aware of?  

 

Be aware "Pacific Center" is a shopping center about a 7 minute walk from the cruise terminal.

  https://www.cfshops.com/pacific-centre.html

 

It's "Pacific Central" that you catch buses and trains to Seattle.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Central_Station

 

It's important to know the difference if you get disoriented and asking for directions.

Edited July 5, 2019 by xlxo