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Embarkation from Hell in Vancouver BC


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Just to clarify the check in process will "usually" be in the conference centre at Canada Place for the remainder of this year. However, there may be some cruise days when the conference centre is not available to the cruise lines because it is in use by large conferences. On those days the system will revert to immigration first, check-in second. I can't tell you when those days will be because I don't know!

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However the early season "three (big) ship days" are done, - until we get to the end of season ones, anyway! Most of the multi-ship days in the next few months, include a smaller ship (e.g., Regatta, Crystal, Silver Shadow etc.) which only have a few hundred passengers and do not really add to the immigration backups.

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Priority for suites, frequent cruisers etc. only applies to the actual check in process (and the staff need to be able to see your status on your documents to get you in the right line up), and to any waiting area set up prior to actual boarding the ship in the morning for those that checkin early. (Guests in wheelchairs do get a separate checkin line and are usually expedited through to immigration, however only one "able-bodied" companion is allowed to go with them in into the immigration line, as the border officers dislike large groups in the wheelchair line.)

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Hope that helps ...

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  • 1 month later...

Sorry I am a little confused about the process when there is a 3 ship embarkation!

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Is this the current process:

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Before all else passengers have to go through security then if all goes well and the conference center is used passengers check in first with their respective ship before going through customs and immigration?

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so if one is a suite passenger you are on your own to get through security but then you will be directed to the suite section and will have priority going through immigration and customs and then boarding????

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If the above is not correct could someone who has experienced a recent (July-August) 3 ship embarkation please describe your experience in detail .

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thanks so much!

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In answer to Puli above, there is no set in stone rule on how the 3 ship days are handled - it depends on a lot of factors, i.e., are the conference centre rooms are being used for conferences and what combination of ships are in (as there are 2 companies that provide the checkin staff, and each company handles specific cruiselines, so you might have a day where the 2 companies combine staff to handle the ships, or one company might be handling all the ships in that day).

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Mid-season most (if not all) of the 3-ship days, involve one of the smaller ships (Crystal, Silver Shadow, Regatta), which only add in a few hundred guests so they are handled at a smaller checkin area, and they don't really affect the line ups at immigration, or the way the checkin is set up.

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Most recently, there are two main setups that could be used for a 3-ship day, where there are 3 of the larger ships involved.

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A. A "holding area" for guests is set up in the conference centre (upper level) and then guests are sent down in controlled groups to security and immigration and then to separate checkin desks (on lower level) depending on the ship; or

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B. Guests check in at separate areas in the conference centre, then asked to go to a holding area in a separate area of the conference centre, and then sent down to security and immigration and on to the ships.

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Sometimes they use option B, but without the holding area, depends on the number of guests (size of ships) involved - this is the usual process for 1 or 2 ship days - as long as the conference centre space is available.

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In either scenario, suite guests only get priority during the check in process, it does not help you with immigration or security. Early arriving Suite guests will get VIP treatment in the seating area while waiting to board, or will get an escort while boarding.

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Sorry I can't be more definite - lots of variables!

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My recommendation is always to go early (and in fact checkin has been opening earlier this year, as early as 9:30-9:45 am for some ships), however there can then be a wait for security/immigration to open and of course a wait for the ship to clear and be available for boarding.

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Luggage drop off (unless your hotel or transfer is taking care of the luggage) will always be the first thing to do and is on the lower level, you will then be directed by the staff as to which way to head next.

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Hope that helps!

Edited by westcoasttech
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We sailed out of Vancouver on Saturday, July 30 and had no problems. There were two ships in port - the HAL Nieuw Amsterdam and the Star Princess. We had a leisurely morning and lunch. I don't recall exactly what time we arrived at the port, but somewhere around 2 or 2:20PM. We dropped off our luggage and proceed upstairs to check in. There was a minimal wait of only a few minutes and then we proceeded to immigration/customs and security. I'd estimate we were through the whole process in 30-45 minutes although I didn't keep track. Our luggage was already waiting in out cabins when we arrived. Overall, I thought it was a very smooth and efficient process that day.

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We just received a notification from Princess indicating that there may be a long wait for embarkation when we depart. We are on the Island Princess on August 17 and the Volendam will be in port as well. Princess advises us to go early to embark (between 9:00 and 10:00 am) or later (2:00 or 3:00 p.m.). Is it really as bad as it sounds? We are probably going to opt for the earlier time. What time does Security/Immigration usually open? :confused:

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Not sure what time security/immigration opens - the bigger question is how many of the 14 kiosks operated by DHS will be manned - on my May 3 ship day embarkation - I went early - the check in with the cruise line went well - through the security went well and then the wait - there were only 5 DHS officers on duty to handle the early rush - they were fully manned for part of the day but by then the lines were long and the cruisers were complaining.

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Haven't heard of many problems lately so perhaps things have improved.

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Keep in mind that if you finish all the check-in, security and immigration too early you still may have to wait to board the ship with often doesn't start til around noon.

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Cheers!

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Dennis

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We just received a notification from Princess indicating that there may be a long wait for embarkation when we depart. We are on the Island Princess on August 17 and the Volendam will be in port as well. Princess advises us to go early to embark (between 9:00 and 10:00 am) or later (2:00 or 3:00 p.m.). Is it really as bad as it sounds? We are probably going to opt for the earlier time. What time does Security/Immigration usually open? :confused:

All Dennis' info looks good to me, but I'll also add that if you go too early you may have to wait to be able to drop your bags (the very first step). The earliest official time for bag drop starting is 10am - it may start earlier, I've seen a few folks mentioning 9:45 or even 9:30am this season, but anything pre-10:30am is a bonus (the official start time is 'between 10am and 10:30am' but that's really just to cover the very busy three ship days, with two in port I would have every expectation that you can drop your bags at 10am).

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I'm a fan of late boarding - but even if you're an early bird, showing up at 9am is a recipe for disaster and frankly a ludicrous suggestion by Princess that will lead to another round of complaints about how Vancouver is a terrible port to embark from. Between 9 and 9:30am many pax will still be leaving the terminal (heck, there will still be some on the ship until then!), porters will be busy, bag drop virtually guaranteed not to be available for at least 30-45mins, lines of people waiting for cabs will confuse folks trying to come downstairs to drop bags... In short - chaos.

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I'd say the absolute earliest you ever want to show up is 9:45am - at least then the realistic worst case is you wait 15mins to drop your bags and on a 2 ship days odds are good you can probably hand them over right away, then 'enjoy' your ~2 hours of sitting around waiting to get on board!

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As a guide, here is the schedule for Canada Place for the rest of the season - hopefully it will help those who wonder how many ships are in on their day. :)

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http://www.portvancouver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Cruise-Schedule-2016-April-27-F.pdf <--Click here, 2016 Canada Place cruise ship schedule, scroll down to your date

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.

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When I was 5 years old, I started kindergarten.

Every morning I waited for the school bus to arrive.

My schoolmates were constantly pushing and shoving to be first in line to board the bus.

Why?

They wanted to get the "choice seats", behind the bus driver.

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It took me about 6 months to realize that these " choice seats" we're no better than the others.

I learned that standing at the end of the queue to get onto the bus was far more calm and enjoyable.

The ride to school was the same - regardless of the seat I occupied.

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That was a life-changing lesson.

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I try to board a ship just one or two hours before departure.

There are no waits and no queues.

The staff is relaxed, friendly, smiling, and welcoming.

I usually have a very nice lunch on shore, before boarding, so I am quite happy as well.

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To those of you who try to "eat your money's worth", it really is not worth the bother to be first onboard. Rarely is embarkation buffet or lunch anything more than a mass feeding free-for-all that resembles a mediocre wedding party dinner. Is it worth the stress to fight to board early in order to have a meal my cat would not enjoy?

To those of you who want to get the best return for your beverage package, is it really worth it to get stressed out boarding a ship early in order to save a few dollars? Life is too short for nonsense like that.

To those who must board early to "check out the ship", you have a computer. You can do it online anytime before the cruise. You also have plenty of time after the ship departs.

You arrived early and have no place to store your bags? No problem. Hire a taxi for a few hours or leave them with a hotel bellman.

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If you stroll up the gangway at 3 pm, after a very nice meal at a local restaurant, you are relaxed, calm, in vacation mode, your stateroom is fully ready. There is a very good chance that your suitcases will be waiting for you at your stateroom. Your cabin steward has survived meeting all the frantic newbies, and is now calm and hospitable. He has time to talk and handle any special requests.

Cruise ship employees instantly recognize the amateur tourist and the experiencend traveler.

The experienced traveler almost always receives better considerations and better service.

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I was fortunate to learn this lesson at age 5.

There is still time for you.

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Cruise ship employees instantly recognize the amateur tourist and the experiencend traveler.... The experienced traveler almost always receives better considerations and better service.

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Bruce, I know you are in the business, but I find your comments and advice almost condescending. We have been on many cruises and land vacations and are nowhere near amateur tourists. Just because we enjoy getting to the pier early and getting on board as soon as possible (because we have paid for that first day) does not mean we are not experienced travelers, nor does it mean we receive inferior service from any crew or staff. What works for you does not work for everyone, and for you to say "I was fortunate to learn this lesson at age 5. There is still time for you." is really just belittling, in my opinion.

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