Jump to content

Going through customs in Vancouver with special assistance


rjdoc74
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hello everyone,

 

I am sending my parents in their mid-60s and my 6 year old son for a 4 day Disney cruise Vancouver to San Diego. They are flying from Los Angeles to Vancouver same day as the cruise (I know, bad idea- unchangeable at this point since the cruise is in 3 weeks). They were originally suppose to arrive at 10:30 am, but American Airlines changed their flight and now they are scheduled to arrive at 1:15 pm. They have to be on the ship at 4 pm. Seems like they can still make it granted there are no major delays. My mom also has some walking disability, so I was thinking there may be a disabled customs line in Vancouver to help them get through faster? Does anyone know if there is such a thing? Also, I figured once they are through, they can just grab a cab as the fastest way to get there? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

JR

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello everyone,

 

I am sending my parents in their mid-60s and my 6 year old son for a 4 day Disney cruise Vancouver to San Diego. They are flying from Los Angeles to Vancouver same day as the cruise (I know, bad idea- unchangeable at this point since the cruise is in 3 weeks). They were originally suppose to arrive at 10:30 am, but American Airlines changed their flight and now they are scheduled to arrive at 1:15 pm. They have to be on the ship at 4 pm. Seems like they can still make it granted there are no major delays. My mom also has some walking disability, so I was thinking there may be a disabled customs line in Vancouver to help them get through faster? Does anyone know if there is such a thing? Also, I figured once they are through, they can just grab a cab as the fastest way to get there? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

JR

You can arrange wheelchair assistance by contacting your airline. That's what we did. They will get them from the plane through customs and to whatever pick up point they are using to get to the ship.

 

One note, waiting for the wheelchair took some time (but I think it was due to a lack of personnel).

Edited by Shmoo here
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would be more concerned about that flight time than getting through customs. The ship most likely leaves at 4, not that they need to be on by 4. They most likely need to be on by 3:00, the latest.

With an arrival time at 1:15 to the airport, and the need to deplane, clear customs, and get to the port, your really pushing it. Add in now waiting for a wheelchair.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes there's help available, but I would do this myself not through the cruiseline as it sounds like you booked the flights yourself?

 

Also agree 100% with posters above that your flight needs changed if there is any way to do so. A 1:15pm scheduled arrival would only need to slide a little to have your parents & child miss the cruise entirely... Demand that the airline let you change flights - with that much of a change on your end they should be more than willing to allow changes without any fees regardless of the type of ticket you booked.

 

Last, hopefully you already know but better safe than sorry - you will definitely need to provide your parents with appropriate forms/letters confirming that they are allowed to take your child into Canada, onto the cruise (cruise line will have their own forms), and make medical decisions about your child on your behalf. They will be send back at the border if the documentation is not good enough.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does the ship depart at 4:00 or do they have to be on board by 4:00. If the latter, they may make it if there are no delays anywhere. If the former, they are SOL.

 

I would call the airline immediately to explain your problem. There might be an earlier flight that they can get you on. Calls to the airline worked for me when a schedule changed messed up a flight to Juneau via Anchorage. They changed my flight and also waived change fees.

 

DON

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, I called the airline (AA in my case). Unfortunately, this is the earliest flight for that day since they have cancelled my original flight I booked that was suppose to arrive to Vancouver at 10:40 am.

 

I guess we are stuck and will need to pray that the our flight is not delayed.

Edited by rjdoc74
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You might check on CruiseAir forum here for earlier flights on AAs partners. Gotta be one out of LAX. Tell AA of disability and cruise timing. Ask for supervisor. You have a good chance of missing cruise with current flight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All schedules I can find have Disney Wonder leaving Vancouver at 1600, that's 4pm. Not 5pm. You have a better than good chance of missing the cruise, as you have to be onboard, all checked in, an hour before sailing, which would be 3pm. With that flight, the only chance they wouldhave would be to fly without any checked baggage, so they dould get off the plane and head right for transportation to the pier. EM

Edited by Essiesmom
Link to comment
Share on other sites

All schedules I can find have Disney Wonder leaving Vancouver at 1600, that's 4pm. Not 5pm. You have a better than good chance of missing the cruise, as you have to be onboard, all checked in, an hour before sailing, which would be 3pm. With that flight, the only chance they wouldhave would be to fly without any checked baggage, so they dould get off the plane and head right for transportation to the pier. EM

 

The All Aboard for the Disney Alaska cruises is 4:00. At least that's what posted on their daily paper.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, I called the airline (AA in my case). Unfortunately, this is the earliest flight for that day since they have cancelled my original flight I booked that was suppose to arrive to Vancouver at 10:40 am.

 

I guess we are stuck and will need to pray that the our flight is not delayed.

 

I hope that when you called the airline you also informed them of the need for a wheelchair. This must be done ahead of time, not upon arrival at the airport.

Wheelchair escort will speed things since the entire party goes through as Special Needs.

 

Since it was the airline that changed the time you can have them do an earler flight, on previous day, for no fee charged for the change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK guys thank you so much for your time and feedback. I am glad I asked here instead of being completely oblivious to the situation. I've called American and changed the flight to day before. Now my parents and son will be arriving at 5 pm on 9/26. I booked a night at the SHERATON VANCOUVER WALL CENTRE, which, as I understand it, is right across from Cruise terminal. Now they can relax after the flight, sleep and be at the ship at 1 pm the next day with no hassle.

 

Thank you all again.

 

JR

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK guys thank you so much for your time and feedback. I am glad I asked here instead of being completely oblivious to the situation. I've called American and changed the flight to day before. Now my parents and son will be arriving at 5 pm on 9/26. I booked a night at the SHERATON VANCOUVER WALL CENTRE, which, as I understand it, is right across from Cruise terminal. Now they can relax after the flight, sleep and be at the ship at 1 pm the next day with no hassle.

 

Thank you all again.

 

JR

It's not just across the road, but it's a very short cab ride (since you mentioned needing a wheelchair at the airport I assume mom & pop wouldn't want to walk almost a mile rolling suitcases)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, I called the airline (AA in my case). Unfortunately, this is the earliest flight for that day since they have cancelled my original flight I booked that was suppose to arrive to Vancouver at 10:40 am.

 

I guess we are stuck and will need to pray that the our flight is not delayed.

 

 

You are not stuck. Fly in a day (or two) early and enjoy an absolutely beautiful city. Yes, it will cost you the ticket price differential. But, in all honesty, you made the mistake of booking for a same day arrival and now you are faced with the risk of missing the ship vs the cost to avoid that. BTW, we like the Marriott down by the waterfront in Vancouver.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...