Vancouver Question

[jeff33436]

Hi-

We will be getting off our cruiseship early morning and don't have a flight home until 2:30. We have a couple of hours to walk around and do a bit of exploring. Based on where the airport is in comparison to the port, would it make more sense for us to go immediately to the airport, drop off our luggage and then go back out to explore, OR stay near the port (we will have to store our luggage somewhere) and explore from there until close to flight time?

 

We know we won't have a lot of time either way, but looking for the easier option.

 

Thank!

Jeff

[cruiseryyc]

Actually you may think you have a couple of hours to spare but unfortunately you don't. You will have to go through Canada Customs when you get off the ship; then you will have to travel to the airport (45 minutes); once there you have to check in with your airline, go through security and then through US Customs (can take up to two hours). The Vancouver airport on cruise ship turn around days is a zoo, so I suggest you forget about sight seeing.

[jeff33436]

Yikes! I never thought of all that and just assumed we had time. Thanks for the info!!

[Putterdude]

Your ship will be in at 7am but the first pax won't be off until about 8am. If you can handle your own baggage then you can self-disembark and that could have you on the curb as early as 8:30 otherwise it maybe closer to 9:30am. If you are arriving at Ballantyne my thoughts will be a bit different but if you are arriving at Canada Place then you can check your bags at CDS Baggage Service at the terminal and then have about 1.5 to 2 hrs which will allow you to stroll into gastown and perhaps go up to the Observation tower at Harbour Centre. YVR is a full 30/35 mins from downtown and you need to be there a full 2 hrs pre flight time so you need to be in a cab by 11:30.

If you are coming into Ballantyne then you will want to catch a cab to Canada Place and then carry on with the above.

[jeff33436]

Thanks so much!

[bondscruisegal]

We self-disembark, carrying our own luggage off the ship. The scheduled docking time was 7 am, but the ship actually docked earlier. By 7:35 am we were off the ship and by 7:50 am we had cleared customs and were getting into a cab. Maybe we've been lucky, but we've done this twice--- disembark, clear customs and are on our way in less than half an hour.

[cruiseryyc]

bondscruisegal - you have been incredibly lucky! Was this in Vancouver or another port? I would never plan a flight home based on potential luck.

[scottbee]

We self-disembark, carrying our own luggage off the ship. The scheduled docking time was 7 am, but the ship actually docked earlier. By 7:35 am we were off the ship and by 7:50 am we had cleared customs and were getting into a cab. Maybe we've been lucky, but we've done this twice--- disembark, clear customs and are on our way in less than half an hour.

 

Even in your perfect solution, it took you an hour to get off the ship;

 

"7am but docked earlier" to "7:50am getting into a cab" is not less than "half an hour"

 

Understand that in Vancouver, flying to the United States, it's somewhat different than almost any other flight you've ever taken;

 

 

1. Check In
   
2. Clear US Customs/Immigration (w/ luggage)
   
3. Drop checked in Luggage
   
4. Clear Security
   

As you pre-clear US Immigration you wont have to do it when you land back in the USA, but understand it adds time to your departure. I've seen 1 hr line ups in Vancouver for step #2 above.

[bondscruisegal]

cruiseryyc - Both times were in Vancouver. If I was lucky, just hope my luck holds.

[Putterdude]

We self-disembark, carrying our own luggage off the ship. The scheduled docking time was 7 am, but the ship actually docked earlier. By 7:35 am we were off the ship and by 7:50 am we had cleared customs and were getting into a cab. Maybe we've been lucky, but we've done this twice--- disembark, clear customs and are on our way in less than half an hour.

 

I can see this happening if you are off the only ship at the pier or the frist at the pier...but it is nothing that anyone should depend on or plan a fight around.