Transportation from Vancouver Pier to YVR Airport

[Maddog11Capt]

My wife and myself are on the Summit sailing from Seward to Vancouver on August 24th. My parents are also with us (they are in their early 70's). This will be their first Celebrity cruise and their first Alaska cruise. We are all really looking forward to it. My question(s) are regarding transportation to the Vancouver airport.

 

After disembarking the Summit in Vancouver, we are scheduled to fly out of Vancouver airport at 11:30. Delta tells us that we need to be there 2 hours prior to departure or at 9:30 AM.

 

My questions are:

1) how early can we get off the ship

2) how's the best way to get from the pier to the airport

3) should we use Celebrity's own transportation to the airport or can they even get us there by 9:30

4) should we take our own bags with us off the ship? One of my parents is not able to lift much if at all.

 

Thanks in advance for any and all advice you can offer.

 

Maddog11Capt

[CaliforniaDreamin]

My wife and myself are on the Summit sailing from Seward to Vancouver on August 24th. My parents are also with us (they are in their early 70's). This will be their first Celebrity cruise and their first Alaska cruise. We are all really looking forward to it. My question(s) are regarding transportation to the Vancouver airport.

 

After disembarking the Summit in Vancouver, we are scheduled to fly out of Vancouver airport at 11:30. Delta tells us that we need to be there 2 hours prior to departure or at 9:30 AM.

Make it there by 9:30am if you can. If you get there by 10:00am you should be OK.

 

My questions are:

1) how early can we get off the ship

Unknown. Ship arrives at 7:00. Whenever customs clears the ship. Could be 8:00 if things go well, or later if there are problems. Be sure they know of your early flight and assign you an early debarkation number/color.

2) how's the best way to get from the pier to the airport

A taxi is probably your quickest and best way. About 45 minutes. Taxi line right outside of customs. From Ballantyne Pier (you dock there not Canada Place) about $30-35 Canadian. Now, with four people you will need 2 taxis as they are mostly small cars. Your other option would be to prearrange for a limousine or van to meet you at the pier.

3) should we use Celebrity's own transportation to the airport or can they even get us there by 9:30

I, personally, would not trust them to do it. They have to fill the bus with people and bags before leaving. If someone is slow getting to the bus, guess what.

4) should we take our own bags with us off the ship? One of my parents is not able to lift much if at all.

No, your bags will be lined up in an area before customs. You can pick them up there and also either get a couple of carts or have a porter take your parents bags on a cart to the taxi area.

 

Thanks in advance for any and all advice you can offer.

 

Maddog11Capt

 

You did not say whether your flight was arranged by Celebrity, but going by the early time, I doubt it was. Do you have Celebrity transfers? Or were you thinking of purchasing them?

[JuneauWhatIMean]

We just got off the Mercury a week ago and had an 11am flight, arranged by us. We were given Beige #1 (first off the ship) tags and were told to be ready to go at 7:50am. We headed down around 7:10 and were in a cab headed for the airport before 7:30. We arrived at the airport at 8. There were only about five people in front of us at airport security and the whole thing was a breeze. About an hour later the airport was really filling up.

 

So.............No need to carry your own bags off. Just make sure you're in the first group getting off the ship and grab a cab as soon as you can. Celebrity was very accomodating and disembarkation was super fast and easy. Have fun!

 

Just saw CaliforniaDreamin's post and it's right on the money. :D

[rolando]

We are on the same boat (.....:rolleyes: punn intended). We are on Princess one week later also arriving in Vancouver and taking the delta flight to Atlanta at 11:30am. We originally had Princess transfers as taking a taxi in Vancouver when a number of ships are in is next to impossible but when Princess found out that our flight departed at 11:30, they refused to sell us the transfers and deleted the return portion before we made final payment.

 

We have ended our cruises in Vancouver several times and have had wide ranging experiences. When we were the only ship in town, getting a cab to the airport was a breeze. When we were one of several ships, it was a nightmare and we waited over two hours for a cab in a huge line, and yes, we missed our flight. Since that day, I look at the port schedule for the day we arrive, and if more than one ship is in, I either arrange cruiseline transfers or private transfers.

 

We have a big group with us this time, and one of the ladies had a recent DUI (5 years ago) so Canadian officials would more than likely not allow her into the country given their recent (and much broader) access to US criminal records as part of our Homeland Security efforts. The group's hope was that since we all leave the same day and were using Princess transfers (and hopefully the US direct program), she would not have any issues......but c'est la vie!!!! Too bad Delta recently changed the flight schedule to an earlier departure. It's private transfers for us this time (and hope our friend can join us and not have to accept a personal escort by a Canadian official :eek: !!!)

 

My recommendation is that you look at the cruiseship schedule. If more than one ship is there that day......arrange for private transfers and you should have no problem making your flight. If yours is the only ship in Vancouver that day (all piers), you should be fine with a taxi and early debarkation.

 

Good luck

[Fblack]

You can do a few things. First, see how many ships are in port. See if your ship uses Balentine or the main cruise terminal. Balentine is not used as often. I have friends who just got off at Balentine and said taxis were no problem.

 

You might see if you can get a slightly later flight. If you miss the flight, it will be hard to get out that day. If not I would be very demanding of the cruise line to get you off the ship in the very first call. Then hustle to the taxi area.

 

You could pre-arrange private limo service. Then there is no rush for a taxi.

 

http://www.cruisecal.com/dnn3/

[dam1050]

Princess ships dock at Canada Place Pier, while the Summit, Infinity & Royal Caribbean ships (Radiance and Serenade) dock at Ballantyne Pier.

 

To ascertain which ships will be where, and how many in town on a particular day check out the port of Vancouver's website at:

http://www.portvancouver.com/vanAlaCruise/content/schedule/index.php

 

Vancouver doesn't currently have the number of taxis that a city of our size should have and there is a lot of construction going on around the city - so be prepared and give yourself extra time if travelling on the weekends.

[califmamabear]

We are sailing on the Summit 6/29-7/6. We booked our own flights and have a 3:00 out of Vancouver. How late can we be on the ship before we are "shipped" off? Also does anyone know if breakfast is served on the last day?

[Member]

For those look for private transfer, check VancouverShuttle dot ca. Its schedule/price seems good. And your Vancouver airport hotels might also have good contact.

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Another good Vancouver site: http://www3.telus.net/cruise_watch/info.htm#SHIP

[ATV Boy]

We used the US Direct plan ($ 20/pp) on the Summit last May. If I remember correctly, you will get your boarding passes and baggage tags on the ship. Your baggage will be delivered directly to the airline and you will bypass canadian customs and immigration at the airport. We were among the first off the ship and had no trouble making an 1130 flight.

[Mary El]

They do not do the Valet service with your luggage in Vancouver. Just got off the 1 June sailing from Seward to Vancouver. You have to pick up your bags at the terminal.

 

There is a dearth of taxis in Vancouver and a very long line waiting for taxis. There were two other cruise ships in port at Canada Place where most of the taxis were. We had a 12:10 flight out, made the flight but not comfortably.

 

Next time if we do an Alaska cruise and arrive in Vancouver we will probably use Celebrity transportation. I think you ought to seriously consider it.

[Lois R]

We just got off the Mercury a week ago and had an 11am flight, arranged by us. We were given Beige #1 (first off the ship) tags and were told to be ready to go at 7:50am. We headed down around 7:10 and were in a cab headed for the airport before 7:30. We arrived at the airport at 8. There were only about five people in front of us at airport security and the whole thing was a breeze. About an hour later the airport was really filling up.

 

So.............No need to carry your own bags off. Just make sure you're in the first group getting off the ship and grab a cab as soon as you can. Celebrity was very accomodating and disembarkation was super fast and easy. Have fun!

 

Just saw CaliforniaDreamin's post and it's right on the money. :D

 

Ali, welcome back:D ...so how was the cruise? Was Juro still

in the Martini Bar? Did you have a good time?

Waiting for a review!:)

[Lois R]

We are sailing on the Summit 6/29-7/6. We booked our own flights and have a 3:00 out of Vancouver. How late can we be on the ship before we are "shipped" off? Also does anyone know if breakfast is served on the last day?

 

Hi:) Breakfast is served both in the dining room and

the buffet on the last day. Usually between about 6am and 8am..

or 8:30ish....the specific hours will be printed in your Daily.

[CAPRI]

Just wanted to share my experience disembarking Summit this past Friday in Vancouver. I agree with what others have posted here, that it can be a breeze or a bit rough, depending on factors beyond your control. I would take the advice of others to book a private shuttle, and to be assertive with the front desk about getting one of the first color disembarkation tickets.

This friday Summit did dock at Balentine, and if you do find out that you are there(rather than Canada Place) and that there are other ships in town, then I worry that you might find a very long wait for taxis if you are not among the early group off the ship.

We docked around 7 am and I believe the passengers carrying their own luggage (express?) were leaving just before 8. We disembarked with Purple tags, not at all in a hurry. We left around 9 ish I believe. By this point, the line for taxis was a joke. The porters told us that where we were in line would be about a 2 hour wait. I found that difficult to believe, so I went to the front to observe what was going on. It seemed like there was a very long delay between taxis, with one arriving about every minute or so. The line must have had several hundred people in it at this point. I spoke to one of the security guards directing traffic, and after some prodding, she concurred that indeed the line could sometimes take more than 2 hours. I still cant believe it, it doesnt seem possible does it? I wouldnt know for sure, because at this point we called someone we knew at our hotel, and our friend arranged a pick up for us. So we only waited about 30 min.

Also, the taxis are small, so the advice above about getting two taxis makes sense. Perhaps if you book a shuttle, you can prearrange a van or large vehicle, so the 4 of you can ride together. That alone could make it more worthwhile than taking chances on the taxi line.

I do think if you can get off the ship straight away, you wouldnt have such a long wait for a cab.

 

Just as a comparison, I was on a Holland America cruise a couple weeks ago that disembarked at Canada Place. I chose the express walk off, pulled my own luggage, and was off ship at 7.40 am. I showed up at the rental car desk before they even had opened. I was in rental car and driving thru Vancouver by 8.10 am. So I can understand those who report a very smooth and easy disembarkation in Vancouver. I think the dock and time you disembark can make a difference.

 

Good Luck:)

Lisa

[Mary Ellen]

We've used Limojet Gold a few cruises (both to and from the Vancouver airport) with great success. The taxi line at Canada Place can get looooooooooooooooooong.

 

We just let the 'limo dispatcher' at the pier know we had reservations. There are different limo services at the pier. The couple behind us (after having given up on the taxi line) was quoted a much higher price by the 'dispatcher' for the one-way to YVR than we had paid for the round-trip. I don't know if the 'dispatcher' gets kick-backs from the different services, but we were certaintly glad we had reservations.

[ArtM]

In my experience, an 11:30 AM flight is playing with fire. As all the replies have stated, if there are no problems, there will be no problems.

 

On our cruise on the Infinity, there was rough weather so we arrived two hours late. There were two other ships in port, so there was another delay while Customs and immigration got to the ship. Finally, with three ships in port, there was an endless line waiting for a cab.

 

If one of our traveling companions hadn't tracked down a limousine, we would not have made our 3 PM flight. The other thing that saved us is that we flew back via Toronto so we did not have to pre-clear US immigration before we got on the plane at YVR.

 

Given the traveling situation described by the OP, it makes sense to try to get a flight at least an hour or two later because even one foul up is going to create major problems.

 

Art