Vancouver to Seattle via Amtrak

We arrive in Vancouver May 9 on Celebrity Infinity. Does anyone know the best way to get from the cruise pier to Amtrak station in Vancouver? And how long it would take?

Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Linda

We arrive in Vancouver May 9 on Celebrity Infinity. Does anyone know the best way to get from the cruise pier to Amtrak station in Vancouver? And how long it would take?

 

Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Linda

You will be arriving at the Ballantyne Pier (which isn't the main cruise terminal). From there a cab can take you the Amtrak station which is about a mile away.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=851+Centennial+Rd,+Vancouver,+BC+V6A+1A1,+Canada+(Ballantyne)&geocode=11219421675083708986,49.284108,-123.086471&dirflg=&daddr=Vancouver+Amtrak+Station,+Canada&f=d&dq=ballantyne+pier+loc:+vancouver+bc&sll=49.26047,-123.11394&sspn=0.05784,0.073706&cid=49284108,-123086471,9208805099624789835&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=0

Gee, thanks for the quick reply, loved the map. I've never been to Vancouver, so had no idea. Are there any coffee shops at the train station? Wish we could spend some time in Vancouver but need to get to Seattle since we have a flight home early the next morning. I hear the scenery is beautiful on the way to Seattle.

There is a little gift shop and a McDonalds inside the train station. The train doesn't leave til 6 pm, so you will have plenty of time to go somewhere else to eat, if you wish. Drop off your bags with the baggage check (they will hold for you for about $3.00 per bag), and make sure that you are back by not later than about 3:30 to get into line for 4:00 pm check in and 4:30 pm boarding is all you need to do.

There's a McDonald's right in the train station which is officially called Pacific Central station. Starbucks across the street by the Sky train station.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Dennis

We arrive in Vancouver May 9 on Celebrity Infinity. Does anyone know the best way to get from the cruise pier to Amtrak station in Vancouver? And how long it would take?

 

Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Linda

Thanks for answering Linda's questions - because you're answering mine as well! Only difference is that we are arriving May 9 on Golden Princess - will the information y'all have given Linda still apply to us? I'm not sure where our ship is docking.

Thanks in advance!

Princess docks at Canada Place. You can either take the Sky Train to the Science Center stop and walk across the train to the VIA rail station if you aren't overburdened with luggage, or you can taxi over for about $10.00 CDN (last time I was up there, anyway). It's not more than a few miles.

Since the train didn't leave until 6 PM when we did this, when we got off the ship we took a cab from Ballantyne pier over to the Vancouver train station and paid to store our bags with the baggage check. Then we took the Skytrain (across the street from the train station) back into the main part of Vancouver, walked around, ate some lunch etc. Took the Skytrain back to train station mid-afternoon in time to get our bags and check in.

http://www.translink.bc.ca/Transportation_Services/SkyTrain/default.asp

and I love the MapEasy map of Vancouver. It maps out all of the restaurants, shopping etc. Folds up neatly and doesn't cost much. You can usually find it at a local Barnes & Noble or online

http://www.mapeasy.com/products.cfm?location=132

Thanks for answering Linda's questions - because you're answering mine as well! Only difference is that we are arriving May 9 on Golden Princess - will the information y'all have given Linda still apply to us? I'm not sure where our ship is docking.

Yes, the fastest, easiest way from Canada Place to Pacific Station is SkyTrain (subway). At Canada Place terminal, exit the building and you'll see and escallator slightly to your left 100m (yards) ahead on the sidewalk labeled "WATERFRONT". Go down, buy a one zone ($2.50) ticket, turn left, go down one more time, and you're on the platform at Waterfront station. Get on ANY Skytrain (Millenium or Expo Line) and 4 stops/5 minutes later (Burrard, Granville, Stadium...) you're at 'Main Street - Science World" , which is across the street from Pacific Station [amtrak].

If you're taking the late train, vs the train-bus (noon), you can drop/check your bags at the train station (I've not done it as I live here, but I hear they have facilities for this), and if you want to head back into town, reverse the process using the same ticket you already purchased (it's good for 90 minutes).

Yep - we are taking the 6:00 train down to Seattle, so these posts are just what we needed! I can't tell you how much we appreciate all the info from those in the know! Thank you!

If we already have tickets for the 6 p.m. train, is it really necessary to be at the station by 3:30 as someone stated? What time does boarding actually begin? We had thought 4:30 would be enough time. What do you think?

Thanks, Mary

If we already have tickets for the 6 p.m. train, is it really necessary to be at the station by 3:30 as someone stated? What time does boarding actually begin? We had thought 4:30 would be enough time. What do you think?

 

Thanks, Mary

I take that train a couple of times a year. The issue isn't tickets, virtually everyone on it already has a ticket -- it is US Immigration, which you do in Vancouver station. That line snakes all around the station, and you get your seats assigned when you get to the head of the line.

You don't have to get there at 3:30, but every time I take it, I usually shoot for getting back to the train station by 4.

PS - when they are offering Business Class, Business Class has a separate (and shorter) line) and if I have a Business Class ticket (a big $9 extra) I don't get back to the station until 5. But Business Class isn't available until they get that train's normal Talgo equipment back from refurbishment, which won't be until sometime in the fall.

I'm a little confused. I saw where the "hours to check luggage" at the Vancouver BC station were almost all day on the day we were taking train (Friday). (see below) I imagined that we would check our luggage that morning instead of storing it. Then I read someone else say that you couldn't check the luggage until you were reading to board the train (due to going through immigrations).

Any ideas if we can check our lugguge and come back later in the day to finish the immigration/boarding process?

Checked baggage service is available during the following hours:

OPENCLOSEMonday4:30 pm5:30 pmTuesday08:00 am5:30 pmWednesday4:30 pm5:30 pmThursday4:30 pm5:30 pmFriday08:00 am5:30 pmSaturday4:30 pm5:30 pmSunday08:00 am5:30 pm

You cannot CHECK your luggage early, but they will store it for you for about $3.00 per bag until they are accepting checked luggage.

We arrive in Vancouver May 9 on Celebrity Infinity. Does anyone know the best way to get from the cruise pier to Amtrak station in Vancouver? And how long it would take?

 

Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Linda

just a thought.. after the ship drops you off it's going to seattle.. we depart seattle @ 1am for the inside passage trip... see if you can hitch a ride down to seattle?? don't know if they do this..

That would be a violation of the PVSA, and, thus, not permitted.