Shuttle from Seattle to Vancouver Cruise Port

[Beth and Bailey]

It is much less costly and time saving for us to fly into Seattle from Kentucky.  

Our cruise is mid Sept out of Vancouver, BC. 

A local travel agent suggested checking with RC regarding the shuttle bus from Seattle airport directly to the cruise port.

On  hold for an hour... lol.  So thought I'd reach out to see if anyone had details.  Also looking online at transport services but they are generic and not RCI.

 

Thanks  much.

[Funky Fusion FoodsJ]

https://quickcoach.com/schedule/

 

[crzndeb]

I don’t know of any shuttle from Royal that goes between Seattle and Vancouver. 
Since Amtrak is running again, between Seattle and Vancouver, that would be first choice. But it also depends on timing. It is the most scenic. 
I live in the Seattle area, and took Quick Coach in May 2022, when trains weren’t running yet.

 

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, Beth and Bailey said:

It is much less costly and time saving for us to fly into Seattle from Kentucky.  

Our cruise is mid Sept out of Vancouver, BC. 

A local travel agent suggested checking with RC regarding the shuttle bus from Seattle airport directly to the cruise port.

On  hold for an hour... lol.  So thought I'd reach out to see if anyone had details.  Also looking online at transport services but they are generic and not RCI.

 

Thanks  much.

How much are you saving being dropped 3+ hours away by car (6+ hours by bus), in a different country,,, needing to cross the boarder with TBD wait time each way. 

[Beth and Bailey]

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

How much are you saving being dropped 3+ hours away by car (6+ hours by bus), in a different country,,, needing to cross the boarder with TBD wait time each way. 

Good question, but we are in Kentucky so no direct flights.  We have to hub in Dallas, Chicago, Philly.. a few others and we either have a 40 min. layover or 4-6 hrs.  Getting back to KY, there is not a flight from Vancouver that gets us back to Nashville till about midnight and then 2 more hrs home.  Could stay over in Vancouver and take an early am flight, but that's another  hotel night and they are PRICEY in Vancouver,  So a fair question, but the 3 hr bus trip after a direct flight and being able to delete 2-3 nights hotel as well as doggy sitter.. much better for us.   The Royal bus is 3 hrs.

[Beth and Bailey]

2 hours ago, crzndeb said:

I don’t know of any shuttle from Royal that goes between Seattle and Vancouver. 
Since Amtrak is running again, between Seattle and Vancouver, that would be first choice. But it also depends on timing. It is the most scenic. 
I live in the Seattle area, and took Quick Coach in May 2022, when trains weren’t running yet.

 

I called them,  yup, they have a shuttle.  3 hrs each way $70 round trip.  They need the flight info to make the reservation,

 

[crzndeb]

3 minutes ago, Beth and Bailey said:

I called them,  yup, they have a shuttle.  3 hrs each way $70 round trip.  They need the flight info to make the reservation,

 

That’s a decent price. I would probably just go with that for the ease. The only thing that might make the trip a bit longer, is having to get off the bus and drag your luggage through CBP at the border going into Canada. I had to do this with Quick Shuttle and there were 2 buses ahead of us, so I’m assuming it would be the same with Royal bus. 

[Beth and Bailey]

1 hour ago, crzndeb said:

That’s a decent price. I would probably just go with that for the ease. The only thing that might make the trip a bit longer, is having to get off the bus and drag your luggage through CBP at the border going into Canada. I had to do this with Quick Shuttle and there were 2 buses ahead of us, so I’m assuming it would be the same with Royal bus. 

Thanks for that .  We are making sure we've got new luggage with good rolling wheels. 

[wreckem2013]

Amtrak is cheaper, about $40 a person and you aren’t far from Victoria Place cruise terminal when you arrive.
 

That said timing could be an issues as the train is usually around 7:40am and arrives at 11:50am. So it depends on when you fly in. Another benefit of the train is you don’t have to get off at the border and wait for everyone to clear customs.

Edited February 3, 2023 by wreckem2013

[Tree_skier]

5 hours ago, Beth and Bailey said:

I called them,  yup, they have a shuttle.  3 hrs each way $70 round trip.  They need the flight info to make the reservation,

 

Do they get you there the day before and drop you at a hotel. I’d never fly in day if especially with the border crossing. 

[shellunderwater]

Biggest issue we see is departure time from Vancouver without doing an overnight flight to get to FL.  Not comfortable doing an AM flight on disembarkation day.

 

So, thinking about flight to Vancouver, then on way back take Amtrak to SEA, overnight in hotel, then fly next morning to FL.  That takes care of customs so we don't have to wait in lines at an airport hoping to make connections. 

[Rewind]

If taking the train, fly in a day early.  You don't want to get stuck on the tracks for hours due to a "trespassing incident".  Yes I know that probably barely (if ever) happens, but of course it happened to us.  
We were heading up a day early and had planned to explore Vancouver, but the three extra hours on the train took all our energy out of us.

[em-sk]

22 hours ago, shellunderwater said:

Biggest issue we see is departure time from Vancouver without doing an overnight flight to get to FL.  Not comfortable doing an AM flight on disembarkation day.

 

So, thinking about flight to Vancouver, then on way back take Amtrak to SEA, overnight in hotel, then fly next morning to FL.  That takes care of customs so we don't have to wait in lines at an airport hoping to make connections. 

 

What airlines are you flying?  If it is Southwest you may want to also look at the option of flying into Bellingham.  Bellingham is located halfway between Seattle and Vancouver and Quicksilver has a few stops there.  Draw back is few flight.  Advantage is few flights, and people in lineups.

 

[Beth and Bailey]

On 2/2/2023 at 9:42 PM, wreckem2013 said:

Amtrak is cheaper, about $40 a person and you aren’t far from Victoria Place cruise terminal when you arrive.
 

That said timing could be an issues as the train is usually around 7:40am and arrives at 11:50am. So it depends on when you fly in. Another benefit of the train is you don’t have to get off at the border and wait for everyone to clear customs.

My concerns are that if Royal makes the arrangements and things go askew.... somehow they'll (?? lol) correct it.  The flights we are looking at get us to Seattle at 9:30AM.  But still may think about flying in the day before.

[Beth and Bailey]

On 2/2/2023 at 10:37 PM, Tree_skier said:

Do they get you there the day before and drop you at a hotel. I’d never fly in day if especially with the border crossing. 

still have to make some decisions.  Since the hotels in Seattle are 1/2 the cost of Vancouver, we may opt to fly in day before.  

[em-sk]

14 hours ago, Beth and Bailey said:

still have to make some decisions.  Since the hotels in Seattle are 1/2 the cost of Vancouver, we may opt to fly in day before.  

 

To get from the airport your driving through Seattle.  Your subject to rush-hour traffic and all of that.

 

I would try to get a hotel in Vancouver.  Your not going to see a dramatic difference in cost between hotels in Seattle and Vancouver.   The downtown hotels within a block or two to Canada Place (the port) are expensive.  As you move out from their the price does go down a bit.

 

If your comparing hotels are you doing it in the same currency?

 

 

 

[Beth and Bailey]

7 hours ago, em-sk said:

 

To get from the airport your driving through Seattle.  Your subject to rush-hour traffic and all of that.

 

I would try to get a hotel in Vancouver.  Your not going to see a dramatic difference in cost between hotels in Seattle and Vancouver.   The downtown hotels within a block or two to Canada Place (the port) are expensive.  As you move out from their the price does go down a bit.

 

If your comparing hotels are you doing it in the same currency?

 

 

 

I had made a reservation for the Best Western downtown Vancouver.  To stay the night before and then the night after, the total in USD is $630 and that was with adding 12,000 BW points.  Just checked some Seattle hotels and the Comfort Inn (which is far from an elegant hotel but this is just a need for a clean bed).... is a total of $292 for both nights.

Edited February 5, 2023 by Beth and Bailey

[em-sk]

6 hours ago, Beth and Bailey said:

I had made a reservation for the Best Western downtown Vancouver.  To stay the night before and then the night after, the total in USD is $630 and that was with adding 12,000 BW points.  Just checked some Seattle hotels and the Comfort Inn (which is far from an elegant hotel but this is just a need for a clean bed).... is a total of $292 for both nights.

 

That is a good jump.  If the reservation has free cancelation you may want to check again when you get closer.  Vancouver downtown prices are high there is always a chance for some discounting to happen as it gets closer.

 

I believe some (or perhaps most) of the Quick Silver shuttles also stop at the River Rock Casino/Hotel in Richmond on the way.  Richmond would usually be a bit closer but you would pay more for a taxi/uber.  This is a skytrain station so the subway is also an option.

 

 

 

 

 

[Beth and Bailey]

2 hours ago, em-sk said:

 

That is a good jump.  If the reservation has free cancelation you may want to check again when you get closer.  Vancouver downtown prices are high there is always a chance for some discounting to happen as it gets closer.

 

I believe some (or perhaps most) of the Quick Silver shuttles also stop at the River Rock Casino/Hotel in Richmond on the way.  Richmond would usually be a bit closer but you would pay more for a taxi/uber.  This is a skytrain station so the subway is also an option.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much.  I appreciate all the information I can get.  

 

[Urban trekker]

Would you cruise happen to be on the Sept 8 - 10, 2023 weekend. If so there is a big bike race up to Whistler and the downtown core hotels will be packed. There are also likely to be two or three ships in port.

For the big bike event which I volunteer for I usually stay at a downtown hotel as my start time is earlier than transit - the price of my regular hotel is close to double it's regular price.

Dennis

[Tree_skier]

On 2/4/2023 at 7:12 AM, Beth and Bailey said:

still have to make some decisions.  Since the hotels in Seattle are 1/2 the cost of Vancouver, we may opt to fly in day before.  

 

On 2/4/2023 at 7:12 AM, Beth and Bailey said:

still have to make some decisions.  Since the hotels in Seattle are 1/2 the cost of Vancouver, we may opt to fly in day before.  

Another option to consider is flying into Bellingham if you are flying the day before.  The benefit is that you are two hours closer, the Bellingham Airport is small and super easy to get in and out of and there is a Holiday inn right there next to the airport that will be cheaper than a Seattle hotel.

Edited February 6, 2023 by Tree_skier

[Beth and Bailey]

On 2/5/2023 at 11:22 PM, Urban trekker said:

Would you cruise happen to be on the Sept 8 - 10, 2023 weekend. If so there is a big bike race up to Whistler and the downtown core hotels will be packed. There are also likely to be two or three ships in port.

For the big bike event which I volunteer for I usually stay at a downtown hotel as my start time is earlier than transit - the price of my regular hotel is close to double it's regular price.

Dennis

Thanks much.  We are 9/17 to 9/23

[Beth and Bailey]

For some follow up.  I had been told by the agent at RCI to provide my airline info so they could make the appropriate shuttle reservation for us to go from Seattle airport to Vancouver cruise port.  Called yesterday as we'd made the air tickets and was told that RCI DOES NOT HAVE A SHUTTLE THAT GOES BETWEEN.  ah what!!!.  I asked for the call to be escalated.  I spoke with another rep who understandably needed to verify .  Thank goodness sometimes for cell phones as I could give him the date/time and length of the call.   They were able to verify I was given misinformation.  So now I've rebooked into Vancouver.  Not happy as the flights to SeaTac were non stop but it is what it is.  At least they didn't cost more, which I would have made RCI pay the difference.  They will  have to do something about the difference in hotel rates.  Vancouver is much more than the Comfort Inn at the airport.  Also they'll need to get us to the hotel from the airport as we come in one day early and leave the day after. 

We'll see.......awaiting their response.

[Ferry_Watcher]

17 hours ago, Beth and Bailey said:

Also they'll need to get us to the hotel from the airport as we come in one day early and leave the day after. 

We'll see.......awaiting their response.

 

I would not plan on the cruise line providing you transportation the day before embarkation, or the day after disembarkation.

[Beth and Bailey]

On 2/8/2023 at 1:33 PM, Ferry_Watcher said:

 

I would not plan on the cruise line providing you transportation the day before embarkation, or the day after disembarkation.

When their agents give incorrect information ..  they need to take responsibility.  And so far, seems they are doing that.