Victoria -- Butchart Gardens

[GOCOCKS]

We are planning our trip to Alaska for July 18, 2010 on NCL Pearl. I've just started looking at the excursions and am already confused. Since we have such a short time in Victoria, do you think we could just catch a cab to the Gardens instead of booking through the cruiseline. Since this is my first trip to Alaska, I'm kinda scared to book anything on my own but thought this one might be OK to do that.

Any thoughts??

Thanks!!

[Putterdude]

The cab option is pretty expensive, likely in the order of $50 each way plus your cost of admittance.

Other options would include taking the CVS Cruise Victoria shuttle from the pier (cost about $6pp rtn) to the Empress Hotel and then taking one of their buses to the Gardens; upon return they will take you to the pier....they just can't pick you up there and be competing with the ship's tours. The other option is to take the aforesaid shuttle the Empress and then do a Greyline shuttle to the Gardens. Public tranist is also an option but not a good one if your time is limited.

[Keith1010]

I know that some will not agree with me but since this is your first time there I would take the ships tour. I just think it is easier and you don't have to worry about getting fom place to place and getting back in time.

Keith

[alpal1993]

I agree with Keith .I know that most people on these boards are anti cruise tours.I am not.If you will have peace of mind book with the cruise.You will get there and back safely The ship will never leave without you.Besides it sounds like taking a Taxi will be very expensive

[AkSusan]

Originally Posted by Putterdude

The cab option is pretty expensive, likely in the order of $50 each way plus your cost of admittance.

Other options would include taking the CVS Cruise Victoria shuttle from the pier (cost about $6pp rtn) to the Empress Hotel and then taking one of their buses to the Gardens; upon return they will take you to the pier....they just can't pick you up there and be competing with the ship's tours. The other option is to take the aforesaid shuttle the Empress and then do a Greyline shuttle to the Gardens. Public tranist is also an option but not a good one if your time is limited.

Do you think we need to prebook this or would we be okay just waiting until we get there?

Haven't been there before so not sure if they only run one bus or multiple ones.

Susan in Anchorage

[Putterdude]

Originally Posted by AkSusan

Do you think we need to prebook this or would we be okay just waiting until we get there?

Haven't been there before so not sure if they only run one bus or multiple ones.

Susan in Anchorage

No need to pre-book, there will be a number of buses.

[AkSusan]

Originally Posted by Putterdude

No need to pre-book, there will be a number of buses.

That's great. That way if it's absolutely pouring down rain (though that doesn't stop us from doing anything in Alaska) we won't be committed.

Susan in Anchorage

[ctinct]

I was just on the Pearl 8/9 to 8/16 and took this tour. There were several busloads from the ship. Honestly, this is the only tour I wish I had not taken. The meeting time was 7:20, and we did not get there until after eight pm. That left very little daylight to see the gardens. The fire works were okay I guess (be advised that you want to either sit in the stands or in a place where you can see the ground, because some of the effects are on the ground); I just felt the cost vs time of this tour was out of line.

[PennyAgain]

Sunset time is an issue. I wouldn't do the Gardens if you don't have enough daylight. I think the tours in the dark are a rip off.

[AkSusan]

We're in Victoria 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. so we're safe in regards to light!

Susan in Anchorage

[GOCOCKS]

Thanks to all who responded. I'll probably stick with tours off the ship. Surely, we can't go wrong doing that!!! Especially for the first visit to Alaska!!

[Putterdude]

Originally Posted by PennyAgain

Sunset time is an issue. I wouldn't do the Gardens if you don't have enough daylight. I think the tours in the dark are a rip off.

Interesting, the gardens are illuminated on the nights they are open and regarded as quite spectacular by most visitors.

[thinfool]

Originally Posted by AkSusan

We're in Victoria 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. so we're safe in regards to light!

Susan in Anchorage

With that much time, you could also check into renting a car. Cost effective and you control how long you stay and where else you go.

[scottbee]

Originally Posted by PennyAgain

Sunset time is an issue. I wouldn't do the Gardens if you don't have enough daylight. I think the tours in the dark are a rip off.

If you have some time (actually you don't need THAT much time), you can get to the gardens for $2.25 (yes, two dollars and twenty five cents) each. It's not as fast as a cab, but it does a fine job.

Take the #31 bus from outside the cruise dock to the Royal Oak exchange, and transfer to the #75 bus which goes to Butchart Gardens.
http://bctransit.com/ for more details.

[Keith1010]

I realize that everyone has all these suggestions including buses.

Having visited this wonderful place several times I highly recommend taking the ships tour the first time around. Why, because it will make it easier to get there and to get back. No worrying about what happens if I get lost on the bus or the transfer does not come or worse yet I miss the ship. And I guarantee that the ships tour will include giving you a lot of history of the area and pointing out things to and from the port.

Keith

[Putterdude]

I would be careful of the the transit option if time is an issue, it takes about 80 mins to go the Gardens by transit in the afternoon and about 50 mins back. Also there is only 3 #71 buses back between 6:30pm and 9 pm with the last bus being at 9:01 during the week.

[crjack]

We just returned from the NCL Pearl to Alaska and went to Butchart Gardens in Victoria. We also booked through the excursion desk and did it late in our cruise because we were still uncertain prior to leaving.

I will say although the Gardens were beautiful it was much harder to appreciate them as it got dark. Yes there is lighting but it's not really strong enough to see the real detail of the displays and it was very crowded which made it difficult to navigate the paths.

One thing I didn't like is that the Pearl tour didn't leave as soon as we got to port so we lost a solid hour or more or daylight.

Outside of the ship (and there was a Princess ship right next to us in port) there were tons of drivers with antique cars, taxis, limos, etc. offering trips to the Gardens. Since we had booked through NCL we didn't ask them about pricing but it might be something to consider.

[Budget Queen]

With the extended all day port time, it will be simple to go on your own, via independent shuttle buses, pick up by the Empress, or the city bus, pick up on Douglas. I have taken both. BUT this is NOT the choice you want to consider if you are on one of those 5-6pm port times- do the ship excursion. A cab isn't a good choice in this case either due to cost, and necessary prior arrangements, and time being too tight.

[ammaoftheseas]

Originally Posted by scottbee

If you have some time (actually you don't need THAT much time), you can get to the gardens for $2.25 (yes, two dollars and twenty five cents) each. It's not as fast as a cab, but it does a fine job.

Take the #31 bus from outside the cruise dock to the Royal Oak exchange, and transfer to the #75 bus which goes to Butchart Gardens.
http://bctransit.com/ for more details.

Thanks for the info I sent you an email BECAUSE we will be in Vancover on Sept 11 and wanted to find our how to get to Victoria on the 12th we will be on our own time this will be after our cruise.

[scottbee]

Originally Posted by ammaoftheseas

Thanks for the info I sent you an email BECAUSE we will be in Vancover on Sept 11 and wanted to find our how to get to Victoria on the 12th we will be on our own time this will be after our cruise.

Umm, where exactly did you sent the email to? Cruise Critic doesn't have an email system.

From (downtown) Vancouver to Victoria by local bus, you will ride the new Skytrain to Bridgeport station, transfer to another Tsawwassen bus, and then board the ferry, 3 zones $5.

On the Victoria side (Swartz Bay) board the #70 Victoria bus for downtown $2.25