Seattle-Victoria-Vancouver

[Italy52]

Tossing around a few ideas here and wondering if you all might be able to give me some help. We have been to Alaska many times before but never get the opportunity to spend much time in Victoria due to a preferred Alaska itinerary. So, we thought that when we cruise again we would do a pre-cruise visit to Victoria giving us that much wanted time there before we took our cruise.

We live in Northern California and thought about taking a flight to Seattle, taking the ferry over to Victoria and spending a few days there --- but, how do we get back to Vancouver with luggage to board a ship out of Canada Place. We have never traveled by ferry and will have approximately 2-3 pieces of luggage with us. Also, is May or June better weather-wise?

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Karen

[Urban trekker]

Yes it is doable - Scott Bee is our local who lived in Victoria for a number of years and knows the transportation better but I can think of two options.

One would be to use Pacific Coach lines - from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver or two - you could go by public transit - bus to the ferry in Victoria and then bus from the ferry terminal south of Vancouver to the Canada Line rapid transit station in Richmond which will get you to within a couple of blocks of Canada Place - all of those bus routes and the Canada line can handle luggage as ferry and air passengers makes up a good portion of the ridership.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Dennis

[cruising cockroach]

If money is less of an object, you could always fly float plane (not sure if bags/weight may be an issue however), harbour to harbour and the Vancouver terminus may be near your cruise port.

There is also a ferry from Seattle to Victoria (Queen Victoria?)

[Italy52]

Thank you both for the helpful information, I appreciate it.

cruising cockroach -- baggage would be an issue as we would be taking suitcases for cruise that followed trip to Victoria --- well over the 25 lb limit.

Karen

[cruiseryyc]

Actually Pacific Coach Lines has a scheduled run from downtown Victoria to Canada Place cruise terminal. See link below. Hop on the bus in Victoria, your luggage goes underneath, bus drives right onto the ferry, you get off the bus and go topside to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, then back on the bus and get dropped off at the pier - couldn't be easier.

http://www.pacificcoach.com/Travel-w...minals-Service

[Italy52]

Originally Posted by cruiseryyc

Actually Pacific Coach Lines has a scheduled run from downtown Victoria to Canada Place cruise terminal. See link below. Hop on the bus in Victoria, your luggage goes underneath, bus drives right onto the ferry, you get off the bus and go topside to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, then back on the bus and get dropped off at the pier - couldn't be easier.

http://www.pacificcoach.com/Travel-w...minals-Service

Thanks for the post. The idea of being on a bus for an extended period of time didn't sound too exciting --- but, the idea of getting off the bus on the ferry sounds pretty doable. Will definitely put this idea in my planning folder.

Karen

[cruisingrightalong]

This is great...our kids live directly across from Victoria in Washington State and we take the ferry to Port Angeles. So we can do this from landing in Vancouver versus Vancouver to Seattle to Port angeles! Thanks for the Pacific Coast info.

Lou

[scottbee]

Originally Posted by Italy52

Tossing around a few ideas here and wondering if you all might be able to give me some help. We have been to Alaska many times before but never get the opportunity to spend much time in Victoria due to a preferred Alaska itinerary. So, we thought that when we cruise again we would do a pre-cruise visit to Victoria giving us that much wanted time there before we took our cruise.

We live in Northern California and thought about taking a flight to Seattle, taking the ferry over to Victoria and spending a few days there --- but, how do we get back to Vancouver with luggage to board a ship out of Canada Place. We have never traveled by ferry and will have approximately 2-3 pieces of luggage with us. Also, is May or June better weather-wise?

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Firstly, you might want to consider just flying straight to YYJ/Victoria. United have 2x/daily from SFO, and there are good connections through SEA on Alaska Air.

Pacific Coach have service from the Victoria bus depot. it's a 45 minute bus ride, followed by the ferry crossing, followed by a 55 minute bus ride, cost is around $50 all in ($35+$15ferry).


If you have no troubles dragging your luggage through an airport, you can also do it on the city bus system for quite a bit less ($7.50 + 15 ferry)

Downtown -> Swartz Bay ferry terminal on the #70 "SWARTZ BAY" bus (leaves hourly). $2.50
Walk on for Ferry Crossing. You can drop your luggage in the luggage chute and pick it up on the far side, so no need to drag it around the ship. $15 (approx)
Tsawwassen -> Downtown. First take the #620 bus from the ferry to Bridgeport Station, then transfer onto the Canada Line subway. There are escalators and elevators between the bus and Canada Line levels, and the subway is roll-on roll-off. $5

From Waterfront station downtown, it's then a 3 block walk to Canada Place.

[Italy52]

Originally Posted by scottbee

Firstly, you might want to consider just flying straight to YYJ/Victoria. United have 2x/daily from SFO, and there are good connections through SEA on Alaska Air.

Pacific Coach have service from the Victoria bus depot. it's a 45 minute bus ride, followed by the ferry crossing, followed by a 55 minute bus ride, cost is around $50 all in ($35+$15ferry).


If you have no troubles dragging your luggage through an airport, you can also do it on the city bus system for quite a bit less ($7.50 + 15 ferry)

Downtown -> Swartz Bay ferry terminal on the #70 "SWARTZ BAY" bus (leaves hourly). $2.50
Walk on for Ferry Crossing. You can drop your luggage in the luggage chute and pick it up on the far side, so no need to drag it around the ship. $15 (approx)
Tsawwassen -> Downtown. First take the #620 bus from the ferry to Bridgeport Station, then transfer onto the Canada Line subway. There are escalators and elevators between the bus and Canada Line levels, and the subway is roll-on roll-off. $5

From Waterfront station downtown, it's then a 3 block walk to Canada Place.

Thanks for the great information, I appreciate you breaking down the options for me. Definitely will put this in my planning file.

Karen

[BCHappyGal]

The ferry ride from Vancouver Island (Swartz Bay) to Vancouver is beautiful and takes about 1.5 hours... the ferry is large and has White Spot Restaurant on board for dining as well as a shop and several nice lounges .. You have ample choice of where to sit to view all the wonderful scenery you will be passing you might even se a whale if you are very lucky.

I would recoomend the Pacific Coach lines downtown to downtown service as then you do not have to worry about your luggage.

[Putterdude]

A fun way to get to Victoria from Seattle is via the Victoria Clipper. During the cruise season Pacific Coach Lines offer a service directly from Victoria to Canada Place which is very popular with lower Vancouver Island cruisers and saves you having to handling your luggage.

http://www.clippervacations.com/

http://www.pacificcoach.com/About-Us...-Pacific-Coach