Vancouver Cruise Port

[azldw]

Taking an Alaskan Cruise on the Konigsdam out of Vancouver in July (yay!) I did search, but the last thread about the Vancouver Cruise Port is almost a year old. First time in Canada.  How do I need to prepare for embarkation?  We'll have gone through Canadian customs the day before - hen we go through US customs for the cruise?  And the day we leave, we go through US Customs at the airport, so no need to go through customs again when we fly through Seattle?  

[cruiseryyc]

You will go through US Border Services before boarding the ship.

 

Yes you go through it again at the Vancouver airport so you don't have to upon landing in Seattle, its considered a domestic flight.

[scottbee]

On 3/7/2023 at 12:24 PM, azldw said:

Taking an Alaskan Cruise on the Konigsdam out of Vancouver in July (yay!) I did search, but the last thread about the Vancouver Cruise Port is almost a year old. First time in Canada.  How do I need to prepare for embarkation?  We'll have gone through Canadian customs the day before - hen we go through US customs for the cruise?  And the day we leave, we go through US Customs at the airport, so no need to go through customs again when we fly through Seattle?  

 

Yes, prior to boarding you will go through US CBP; so that on your first Alaskan stop there are no formalities.

 

When flying to the (most not all flights) USA, you pre-clear US customs at the Vancouver airport, and then go into the E gates which are US destinations only.  You'll arrive into the USA as if you were a domestic flight.  HOWEVER, not that this extra step takes time, and the process is a little different than you're probably used to

Check In

Bag Drop (separate from checkin)
Security

US Immigration

 

If you're taking the 1st (6a) flights of the day, note that things don't really get going at US CBP until about 445-500a; so arriving at 415a is generally good, but later in the day it can get busy, and I've seen 1hr lineups at US Immigration before.

 

[arpie05]

On 3/7/2023 at 2:24 PM, azldw said:

Taking an Alaskan Cruise on the Konigsdam out of Vancouver in July (yay!) I did search, but the last thread about the Vancouver Cruise Port is almost a year old. First time in Canada.  How do I need to prepare for embarkation?  We'll have gone through Canadian customs the day before - hen we go through US customs for the cruise?  And the day we leave, we go through US Customs at the airport, so no need to go through customs again when we fly through Seattle?  

Did you check the West Coast departure board? there's tons of Vancouver stuff there.

[xlxo]

On 3/7/2023 at 12:24 PM, azldw said:

Konigsdam out of Vancouver in July (yay!)

Would this be July 1st by any chance when they have the port entrance closed for a major street festival?  Be afraid.

[Urban trekker]

If the port entrance is closed how do the people get on the ship?  Has it even been confirmed that there will be Canada Day celebrations there this year? If so you will access the entrance to Canada Place via Howe Street - the big entertainment stage is just to the west of the entrance to Canada Place - so while busy and crowded you will be able to board the ships in port that day.

[Heidi13]

On 5/10/2023 at 7:14 AM, xlxo said:

Would this be July 1st by any chance when they have the port entrance closed for a major street festival?  Be afraid.

 

That is not correct, as on Canada Day, they retain access to the cruise port and hotels. It will be even busier than a normal, although in previous years it is more towards the Exhibition Centre, which is West of Canada Place. 

[xlxo]

To clarify... much of the vehicle traffic is restricted by the terminal entrance on Howe, creating a massive bottleneck for pedestrians and vehicles (especially for embarkation).  Much of the vehicular traffic is redirected to Cordova (a block to the South).

 

From 2019... https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/canada-day-in-downtown-vancouver-what-to-know-about-parking-road-closures-transit

 

Street closures

Sunday, June 30 (5:00 p.m.) to Tuesday, July 2 (3:00 a.m.)
• 800 – 900 Canada Place Way (1/4 block west of Howe St. to Burrard St.)
• North side 800 – 900 W Cordova St., from Howe St. to Burrard St
• 1000 Canada Place Way (Burrard St. to Thurlow St.)
• 200 Thurlow St., from W Cordova St. to Canada Place Way
• 200 Howe St from W Cordova to Canada Place Way – Cruise Ship Traffic Only until 4:30 p.m.

---

Other

• Local access to hotels, parkades (999, 1038 & 1055 Canada Place and 200 Burrard St) and Canada Place cruise ship terminal will be maintained during the Canada Day at Canada Place events. It is expected access and egress could be restricted after approximately 8:00 p.m. July 1st due to crowds and safety issues.
• There will be barricades and Traffic Authority officers located at Howe & Cordova, Burrard & Cordova and Thurlow & Cordova streets beginning at 5:00 p.m. on June 30.

[Urban trekker]

That post even though it was from 2019 proves our point that you will be able to access Canada Place. In 2019 there was also fireworks in the evening which didn't happen last year and isn't known at this time.

"It is expected access and egress could be restricted after approximately 8:00 p.m. July 1st due to crowds and safety issues." Don't the cruise ships usually sail around 4 - 5 PM so that part of the post is irrelevant.