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LeftcoastBC

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    Beautiful BC Canada.. In the Fraser Valley

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  1. I left a clearly marked Cane on the Koningsdam in May. Used the lost and found like that HAL has. They reported after several other emails of "Nothing yet" to me that they could not locate it. Just for fun and something to do recently on a non busy time at the front desk after 4 days at sea from Hawaii I took the matter up with the front desk and they checked the Lost and found right then and there. I could learn of no other info from the limited english speaking Guest services agent. So who knows what they actually do at the end of a cruise with found objects. It was not in BB Kings either where I left it 🙂
  2. Day before .... for a 7th OCT cruise...any layer and I would have shown up with the luggage and assigned when we got on. Not a pleasant feeling atually.
  3. I forgot about Amtrack. Great suggestion now they are running again. Timing isn’t so great but it might convince you to come up a day nearly and spend some 60 % bucks, have used it a couple of times. Great trip."?..even came up once on a return YVR to SanFran. One still has to overnight in Seattle I think.
  4. I’m the Bob that the good doctor refers to. I indeed used a cane off and on in that mess and for good reason. My age and former occupation and too much fun has recently caught up to me. I started off boarding day with it secured to my roller. Then started to need it as we went through two lines. I have never hit anyone with it yet. The guiding lady surprised me by picking me out so we went with her as requested. Didn’t matter however cause where she took us didn’t have access to nexus just needed passport. So that didn’t save us any time in line at all really. when I used to read CC my experiences used to differ quite often with some of the sad tails. Jim the author here has not exaggerated anything . This experience has changed everything about my approach going forward. Most of us on this cruise just wanted to be onboard a nice well run ship at a reasonable price. The experience was on some occasions punishment . HAL’s fault for the issues onboard. Likely a combination for what occurred in Canada Place. It was not what I paid for and my worst experience in 20 yrs of cruising. I wish better stories for future cruisers in Vancouver. I miss Ballantyne Pier.
  5. The Pvsa does not apply to ships sailing from Canada. It’s a USA statue.
  6. Heres the full story on Parking. Normal drop off is drive under Canada Place to P2. Get dropped off with your bags and head for the Zoo. Our experience was the worst embarkation ever anywhere I have done in North America since 1994. Here Seattle ,Florida, California, Puerto Rico. Etc.. 2 plus hours of non-stop through separate checkin/Customs/ etc. to getting finally to the ship.(see thread by Dr. Koob here on CC). I haven’t read it yet but I’m sure it’s a beaut.). So back to parking > IF YOU. ARE GOING TO PARK you give your bags to specific ship handlers and go and park. Doing this bag drop and getting to the check in line took about 45 mins from the entrance. Then we started the 2+Hr check in. We entered around 12:30. We found space back near the entrance to P2. More folks came after us as we walked all the way back to where we passed the bag drop and started up to check in. There are lots of spaces across the full width of CP so best take a pic of your spot. Not sure if spots are avail for cruise parking on P1. On return you walk onto CP on Cruise Ship Level get your bags and go out towards the front of CP and it was a breeze today. About half way to the street on this level There is an elevator to go down to P1 and P2. As you breakout into the public area. Straight ahead with slight angle to the right and can be missed if you are not looking up at the signage. Getting off the ship well planned and timely as ship cleared when it was supposed to. BUT we came from a Canadian Port and did not have a clearance issue for enter into Canada. Most ships that do the return from CP leave a US port and will have some Customs delay or Procedure that we would have had in Prince Rupert. It was casual but our paper work was done after leaving Ketchikan and obviously almost precleared for Rupert. BTW A subject was arrested off the ship by Police in Prince Rupert. It was made pretty clear he would not be returned to the ship. Welcome to Canada.
  7. Just got home. Rolling dice would depend on how many ships are returning and how many pax are on them. A crew member who should know cause he is in the feeding end of things said for example the Koningsdam for the next 2-3 weeks for sure is almost overbooked (all beds full) so running around 3000 people plus exact would be on HAL website. So if a day you wished to cruise had say 3 full ships returning you could count on some movement in the number of spaces available. Only a small percentage of folks actually park put from now on the constant turn over of ships will keep things topped up. Today when we left there didnt seem to be many spaces available. But there were some. But you still might have to wait until later on in the day to make it. I dont think I would chance it. Reserve in advance or park elsewhere and cab/Uber. Depending on where you are driving from. Airport and Sky train.etc. Folks I spoke with Parked at the BC Ferry and bused in. Said it was easy. But that was packing for only 5 days of stuff to drag around.
  8. Thks everyone. Think I have a plan. Lol. HAL just backed up our boarding time to 1 pm with the ship planning departure at 3 Pm according to the Port site. It’s a three ship day on the first weekend + Monday. I t will be an interesting. Day I’m certain.
  9. Looking for specific instructions on Entering the drop off area under Canada Place. Dropping bags and then parking.? Is one still able to do that rather than bringing bags up from down below and back out into the area were bags for the different cruise lines are located. Any other tips for this year (23) which starts next weekend. Haven't cruised out of here for quite some time. Thks.
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