Customs in Vancouver

[CMcG]

Originally Posted by Putterdude

It's been a few years since I have been to Denver but yes you should find a duty free store inside of security, that is generally where they are located. However they often do not have much by way of a selection of wine, it is usually spirits, tobacco and perfumes that they concentrate on.

Probably just wait til Vancouver - I want a bit of a selection.

[CMcG]

Originally Posted by scottbee

Here's the info for DEN's duty-free
http://www.flydenver.com/shopdetails?URI=tcm:8-1100

And yes, there are no non-stops to Florida from Vancouver; however you can fly non-stop to Cuba..

We may pop in for a look if that's near our gate - thanks.

Sure you can get to Cuba non-stop from FL but can you get back?

There must be a special school for determining airline routes & schedules. I understand the idea of optimizing based on hub and supply & demand - but sometimes they are just ridiculous.

Last time we flew we had to go through Fort Lauderdale to get from Orlando to Las Vegas to get reasonable time & price. Luckily for both flights we were switched to a direct flight when we got to the airport.

[thecook]

CMcG, DH and I were just discussing how many cities there are that can't be accessed nonstop from Orlando. We chose to fly Air Canada to Toronto and then on to Vancouver...that route had better flight times for us! I understand that we will be going through customs in Toronto..anyone have any experience with that???

[Putterdude]

Originally Posted by thecook

CMcG, DH and I were just discussing how many cities there are that can't be accessed nonstop from Orlando. We chose to fly Air Canada to Toronto and then on to Vancouver...that route had better flight times for us! I understand that we will be going through customs in Toronto..anyone have any experience with that???

That is correct you will clear Canadian customs in Toronto....it's no big deal, you will be given a customs form to complete before landing, one form only needs to be completed per family but each family member traveling will need to sign it. You will clear customs with your passport and the form, then collect your luggage and as you exit the customs area you will hand the form to a customs officer. The time expended will depend upon the volume of people arriving when you do.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...s/e311-eng.pdf

[em-sk]

Originally Posted by Putterdude

That is correct you will clear Canadian customs in Toronto....it's no big deal ....

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...s/e311-eng.pdf

Done the transfer in Toronto many times. Some tips.....

- When you arrive in Toronto there are three customs area, one for passengers transferring onto international flights Asia/Europe/South America (their bags are automatically transferred), one for passanges going to the US (you clear US Customs before boarding your flight) and one for passengers making domestic connections or staying in Toronto. There are staff to guide you into the correct customs area.
- When you get into the line for customs if it is busy, they open up a fast line for connecting passengers such as yourself.
- If you did the duty free in Orlando you need to slip you liquids into your checked baggage before you put the bags back into the system.
- After you hand in your card and leave the customs hall to the left there is a hallway that leads to connections/baggage drop off. Air Canada agents are there to put your bags back into the system and rebook you if you missed a connection. There are flights between Toronto and Vancouver every hour.

[Tweedy]

Originally Posted by thecook

I understand that we will be going through customs in Toronto..anyone have any experience with that???

Yes, you will be going through customs in Toronto. You'll then carry-on to the luggage carousels to collect your checked luggage. Follow the signs for connecting flights and just after you go through the door, you drop off your luggage and continue on to your gate. It's been a year since I did this and I'm pretty sure we had to go through security again after dropping off our checked luggage.

[usviking]

Canadian Customs Question For Smokers.

For our b2b on the Island Princess in September, 2012 from Vancouver to Whittier and back, we will be flying into YVR a couple of days prior to embarkation. I am a tobacco user (smaller filter-tipped cigars) and will be packing enough for the two week cruise. The amount I am planning to pack will exceed the visitor's allowance of 50 cigars as shown on the Canadian Border Declaration Card and it says "Special Duty may apply."

Does anyone have any experience with how the Canadian Border Services Agency deals with travelers bringing in more than the duty-free allowance and how much the Special Duty might be? I have done some research, but find some of the information confusing.

[martincath]

Originally Posted by usviking

Canadian Customs Question For Smokers.

For our b2b on the Island Princess in September, 2012 from Vancouver to Whittier and back, we will be flying into YVR a couple of days prior to embarkation. I am a tobacco user (smaller filter-tipped cigars) and will be packing enough for the two week cruise. The amount I am planning to pack will exceed the visitor's allowance of 50 cigars as shown on the Canadian Border Declaration Card and it says "Special Duty may apply."

Does anyone have any experience with how the Canadian Border Services Agency deals with travelers bringing in more than the duty-free allowance and how much the Special Duty might be? I have done some research, but find some of the information confusing.

Sorry, no experience bringing cigars into BC - but you say 'we' above, so the other person(s) accompanying you can also have 50 cigars each as an allowance. There is no longer an age restriction on tobacco, so even if you're traveling with kids you can use their allowance.

If your companions are also smokers and maxing out their allowance with their own death-sticks, you could just contact CBSA by email or phone to ask them - part of the equation is dependent on actual value of the goods, part on how many you have for cigars, so without knowing exactly what you paid for the cigars it's impossible to run the calcs for you.

In general the hassles of paperwork mean the CBSA agents are unlikely to make you pay the duty if you are just fractionally over the allowance - we've come back from shopping trips with 5-10% extra a few times, declared that we have it, and just been waved through...

[martincath]

Originally Posted by CMcG

...Do we need to have prescriptions in original containers? Will they question the various vitamins that we usually put in baggies for each day? ...

Just read this post - saw others had replied about keeping your prescription containers etc. which is good. However, your vitamins in baggies could cause you major issues - I just head last week from a fellow diabetic traveling with their prescriptions, and even a medical letter confirming their status and need for drugs, glucose meter, stabs etc. who had done as you suggest, 'baggied up' each set of meds and supplements by meal and by day. They missed their flight because even with all of that evidence security insisted on having every tablet & gummy in the bags tested before they were allowed to board...

In short, never ever give any customs or immigration official any reason to make your life difficult!

Since you mention your prescriptions separately from your vitamins I'll assume you are taking the latter by choice rather than medical advice - if it's really that much of a hassle to bring the original bottles perhaps you could pick up a single bottle of broad-spectrum multi-vitamins in a pharmacy to last your vacation?

[usviking]

Thank you for your reply Martincath. I will contact CBSA.

[thecook]

Thank you all for taking the time to provide me with valuable information. I appreciate it!

[CMcG]

Originally Posted by martincath

Just read this post - saw others had replied about keeping your prescription containers etc. which is good. However, your vitamins in baggies could cause you major issues - I just head last week from a fellow diabetic traveling with their prescriptions, and even a medical letter confirming their status and need for drugs, glucose meter, stabs etc. who had done as you suggest, 'baggied up' each set of meds and supplements by meal and by day. They missed their flight because even with all of that evidence security insisted on having every tablet & gummy in the bags tested before they were allowed to board...

In short, never ever give any customs or immigration official any reason to make your life difficult!

Since you mention your prescriptions separately from your vitamins I'll assume you are taking the latter by choice rather than medical advice - if it's really that much of a hassle to bring the original bottles perhaps you could pick up a single bottle of broad-spectrum multi-vitamins in a pharmacy to last your vacation?

I would probably have sat down & cried. Do they have equipment right there to test or did they have to send it off somewhere for testing? And how quickly can they test that stuff?

We buy many of the vitamins in bulk so the bottles are quite large - all of them together take up about 10x15 inch space in kitchen cabinet. And for some reason one brand uses glass bottles - they get a bit heavy even empty. I'll look to see if I can get smaller quantity bottles.

I'll have to show your message to my husband. I could probably get by with multivitamin & extra calcium - have to see what he thinks he must have. I guess I could also look into shipping a box to myself at the hotel in Vancouver or to the cruise ship.

Thanks for all your help - I still marvel over the walking maps you put together for me to get to Chinatown from Westin Bayshore!
Cheryl

[Putterdude]

Originally Posted by usviking

Canadian Customs Question For Smokers.

For our b2b on the Island Princess in September, 2012 from Vancouver to Whittier and back, we will be flying into YVR a couple of days prior to embarkation. I am a tobacco user (smaller filter-tipped cigars) and will be packing enough for the two week cruise. The amount I am planning to pack will exceed the visitor's allowance of 50 cigars as shown on the Canadian Border Declaration Card and it says "Special Duty may apply."

Does anyone have any experience with how the Canadian Border Services Agency deals with travelers bringing in more than the duty-free allowance and how much the Special Duty might be? I have done some research, but find some of the information confusing.

I have been known to smoke the occasional cigar on the golf course and each spring bring back more than 50 cigars....I bring in 50 and DW brings the other 25 or 30, no problem. I probably shouldn't encourage you but there is a shop in Canada Place that sells Cuban cigars....you can do what you wish with that information. There are also a number of cigar stores in downtown Vancouver.

[usviking]

Thank you Putterdude for your input.

I appreciate all the input that you and others with first-hand knowledge regarding Vancouver have provided here on CC. This will be our first time through Vancouver and really looking forward to being there.

[em-sk]

Originally Posted by Putterdude

I have been known to smoke the occasional cigar on the golf course and each spring bring back more than 50 cigars....I bring in 50 and DW brings the other 25 or 30, no problem. I probably shouldn't encourage you but there is a shop in Canada Place that sells Cuban cigars....you can do what you wish with that information. There are also a number of cigar stores in downtown Vancouver.

Canada has more open trade with Cuba than the US. The reason Cuban cigars are legal in Canada. Also the reason Cuba is a common (low cost) vacation resort area for Canadians.

The Canada customs/immigration people are more interested in people entering Canada illegally, trying to bring things illegally into Canada or goods to be re-sold. They not going to look that closely at the average vacationer getting on a cruiser ship. That said a lot of it depends on the person you get that does the first screening.

[kenish]

Originally Posted by em-sk

The Canada customs/immigration people are more interested in people entering Canada illegally

That's for sure, based on my last entry to Canada in October to visit a Vancouver friend for a few days. The immigration officer asked a lot of questions that seemed to reflect a concern that I might be seeking employment. It wasn't a "grilling" or anything, I've never experienced that many job-related questions entering any country.

The whole exchange was congenial...his last question was "So, your current job in the States is secure?" I answered, "Fortunately..." He chuckled and waved me through.

[Skiah]

Flying from Boston to Dallas to Vancouver for a Princess cruise in July. Any idea of average time to clear Customs at Vancouver International? Then there is another Customs check at Canada Place, is that right?

Thanks,

Murf

[cruising cockroach]

Originally Posted by Skiah

Flying from Boston to Dallas to Vancouver for a Princess cruise in July. Any idea of average time to clear Customs at Vancouver International?

Depends on time of day when you arrive. If it's the evening arrival, it shouldn't take too long.

[scottbee]

Originally Posted by Skiah

Flying from Boston to Dallas to Vancouver for a Princess cruise in July. Any idea of average time to clear Customs at Vancouver International? Then there is another Customs check at Canada Place, is that right?

You clear Canadian Immigration & Customs at YVR. Should be 15 minutes typically, as long as your flight doesn't arrive at the exact same time as 3 jumbos from Asia. and according to yvr.ca it doesn't look like too much else international arrives around that time.

At Canada Place, you will clear USA Immigration & Customs prior to boarding (so you don't have to when you get to Alaska). The time taken depends on the number of ships departing that day.

[zephyr17]

Originally Posted by em-sk

...There are flights between Toronto and Vancouver every hour.

Just an FYI, there are hourly flights from Toronto to Vancouver on both Air Canada and WestJet. I flew WestJet Toronto to Vancouver last year, and it was one of the best flights I have ever had. They are a great airline. I wish they could open up a US subsidiary to offer domestic US flights.