Post cruise day in Vancouver

[cusematt4]

Hi all,

 

We are excited for our first ever trip to Alaska in June.  It goes from Alaska to Vancouver.

 

When we disembark in Vancouver, we will have a full day as our flight isn’t until 10pm.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for a full day in Vancouver?  We are open to anything, whether a tour or spending some time in some of the best areas.

 

So far we have been looking into the hop on and hop off tour.  If we book with Princess it’ll be $150pp and they’ll take our luggage to the airport vs $50pp if we book direct without the ability to have bags taken to and stored at the airport.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations on spending a day in Vancouver for first timers?

 

Has anyone done the hop on hop off tour?  If so how was it?  It looks like the bus run from 9-5 which would allow us to spend some time at a few of the stops after the tour itself.

 

If we don’t book hop on hop off with the cruise line, does anyone know what we could do with our bags?  It seems like a lot to pay an extra $100pp for the same tour except for the ability to have bags taken to and stored at the airport.

 

Thanks so much.

[DogLover]

Landsea Tours offers post cruise options - pick up at port, luggage stays with you on tour and drop off at the airport when the tour concludes. Perhaps the Highlights tour with a visit to Capilano Suspension Bridge would be of interest as a first timer to Vancouver.

 

Here is their website: https://vancouvertours.com/

[Gardyloo]

For around US$100 you could rent a car in downtown Vancouver for the day and return it at the airport later.  Get something with a trunk or covered storage (a tonneau cover in the back of an SUV, for example) for luggage safety, and visit some of the parts of the area that are more convenient with a vehicle.  For example:

 

- Drive up the Sea to Sky Hwy (BC 99) to Squamish - one of the most beautiful drives in North America.

 

- Visit the Granville Island market - farmers market, umpteen cool shops, cafes, pubs etc.

 

- Head out to Jericho Beach or the Spanish Banks for killer views of the city skyline with the mountains behind.  Continue on to the University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology on the UBC campus (due to reopen in June after modernizing and expanding.)  

 

- Head to the public gardens at Queen Elizabeth Park - stunning and free, and visit the (small fee) Bloedel Conservatory, full of tropical plants and free-flying tropical birds.

 

- Drive around, walk or spend some time in Stanley Park, Vancouver's legendary playground and one of the world's premier city parks.  The Vancouver Aquarium in the park is terrific.

 

- Head to Steveston (on the way to the airport) for some time in Vancouver's funky fishing port, where, by the way, the TV series "Once Upon a Time" was filmed.  (In fact, Vancouver is full of TV and movie filming locations due to the number of films and series shot in the city.)  

 

- Visit Lynn Canyon Park, a little north of the Capilano bridge.  The suspension bridge in Lynn Canyon is free as opposed to $$$ for the touristy Capilano one.  

 

- Visit the Punjabi market on South Main - colorful shops and Indian restaurants to die for.  

 

... I could go on.  

Edited April 7 by Gardyloo

[martincath]

The only suggestion I'd disagree with above is the bus tour - and only because it's far too short, not because Landsea are bad in any way! With a redeye unfortunately there are zero scheduled coach tours that work sensibly - you either get dumped at YVR so early you cannot even check your bags, or if it's the one possible really long day tour (to Victoria and Butchart by ferry and bus) you arrive back at YVR after your flight already left! If you still have to deal with your bags and transpo to the airport after your bus tour so you can kill time downtown, why even bother with a short tour - the HOHO is a far more practical option if you want a bus based tour.

 

The most sensible options are to do it independently, or if you were genuinely considering dropping $150pp look into a custom private tour! We have a ton of local guides with big cars and minivans who will drive you around with your bags for as many hours as you want to pay them for - check ToursByLocals.