Aegis1984

I'll be doing this in a little over 14 hours; thankfully no delay-emails from HAL. If I find the time to come on, I'll let everyone know the process.

The short answer is......if you arrive at YVR at 0500 for a 0720 flight you should not have a problem. In fact I would be amazed if you are not sitting at the departure gate by 0600. There are a number of places to grab a light breakfast once past CBP and security including Starbucks and Tim Hirtons.

I would second this. A couple years back, we had a 10:00 flight after a whirlwind trip doing carry-on only. We left the hotel at 8:00, got to the airport at 8:30, did our check-in thing and headed to security. The security line was insane and we were through at 9:15. As soon as we were through, my better half decided to get to the washroom before we headed to our gate on the domestic WestJet side. The moment she walked into the bathroom, we heard a final boarding call page for our flight, so she had to hold it. We were running at that point. Thankfully they let her use the lavatory as soon as we got on the plane but holy smokes, there will be times the lineups will be insane.

Really? Just call the Mariner's Society and it should be rectified.

 

We pre-book a LOT of stuff and have always gotten credit.

I tried that, and was told because I was the 3rd guest in the room, I was S.O.L. Well, it's not like I'll ever be the 3rd/4th wheel again!

I would say it was less than a mile from the port and the Taxi was around 10$ CAD plus tip (they like to put the $ after the digits). Although the Taxis take credit cards, they can be vocal that they don't like to.

I love your post - I am always boasting about Vancouver - but I had a "Huh??" reaction to the part I bolded. Not sure who "they" is but it ain't true!

As a British Columbian who lives an hour's flight away from Vancouver, I'll second Lizzie's sentiments. The only folks who I am aware of using the dollar sign AFTER the price are in Quebec. The rest of us in Canada place the dollar sign before the price.

Wherever you got your information from, it is incorrect.

Our 2 week.cruise in oct/nov which travels.down the.western coast of spain and crosses transatlantically to florida.

It just dawned on Mr Wonderful(husband) that football season watching is seriously at risk.

He wanted me to.ask if there is any sort of live football watching on board?? Anywhere???

Please say yes:o

There's a Sports (casino) bar on the vista/signature ships by the casino. Not sure about the smaller ones.

Bear spray is a semi-controlled substance in British Columbia, where you will possibly be embarking. Retailers need to have a valid license/permit to sell it and some require you to provide personal information on a waiver. It is treated as a weapon, and it is an aerosol. The same goes for bear-bangers, which are an explosive charge meant to scare the bear away if used properly. (Improper use would be accidentally propelling it behind the bear, driving it towards you)

To make a long story short, as noted above, you cannot bring it onto the ship under any circumstances, and without sounding dramatic, you may actually be charged with concealing a weapon if you attempt to bring it aboard especially without declaring it.

If you require it on a tour, your guide will provide it.

Will be in Vancouver, downtown, for a few days prior to cruise. Is there a good place to purchase wine for us to take on board? Flying so really can't bring with us from home.

There's also Duty Free, unless you have transfers that require you to go through security prior to landing in Vancouver. Or you could hit up the private liquor store in the airport, prior to heading to your hotel.

http://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/shop-dine-and-services/333

Two more weeks! Still mulling over if I'll pop the question on the boat, but I don't wanna take away from my folks' anniversary...

Yes, the Fairway market is reasonably close to the Broadway dock. Google maps says about 200 metres. 4th and State. Big off-white building.

I know I have seen something on this, but I cannot find the post again so I am just going to ask. Is Discover widely accepted in Vancouver?

 

My Discover does not charge any foreign transaction fees, so would be great if I could use it, but was thinking I had read somewhere about Visa/MasterCard, but not Discover??

 

Thanks!

Usage is about the same as in the states. Most mom & pop retailers will only take Visa/MC, but the larger American based chains may. I'd be hesitant about only using Discover, however, and have Visa/MC as a backup. Foreign transaction fees would be the last thing on your mind if you found yourself stranded on East Hastings and needed a cab out, FAST.

We are anticipating staying at the La Quinta airport four days prior before leaving on a coastal transit. Can we buy a multi day pass for the train. Suggestions please?

 

 

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As far as I know, there are no multi-day passes unless you splurge on a monthly pass. There are two options. Load a Compass card up with $20 or so, or just purchase day passes each day you want to use transit.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Stored-Value.aspx

That's the website for Vancouver public transit info, including the Skytrain.

One caveat...

If you are the 3rd person on a booking, you will get nothing, even if you spend $1000.

Don't bother asking how I found that one out...

No, NO, NO! With the SBP, either purchased or included as in Explore4, the service charge can be ignored in determining which drinks qualify - it's the menu price only.

And to quote HAL's "Signature Beverage Package" option on the booking site,

7 Day Signature Beverage Package

 

Our convenient, affordable Signature Beverage Package allows you to select from a variety of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails (including non-alcoholic), sodas & coffee! Includes any beverage priced at a $8.00 or lower menu price. Up to 15 beverages...

Yes, you are wrong. The menu price must be $8 or less. The service charge has already been taken into account.

Meaning Black Label, at $7.25, is covered. Looking forward to that! Just like a Malibu and Coke will be covered too. Any insight on how they'd handle a double or a 'heavy pour'?

That trying to drink 15 Wang Wangs is not a smart thing to attempt ..

 

 

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Challenge accepted!

How about Captain and CD for Nieuw Amsterdam on Aug 27-Sept 3?

We've enjoyed the Skagway Brewing Co. for lunch (not a beer drinker either). We also visit the Alaskan Fudge Co (but for some reason prefer the one in Juneau)....however if you happen to be stopping in Ketchikan I actually like the fudge from Ketchikan Candies better :p

This one has my vote too. I enjoyed it the last time I was there, got my souvenir pint glass, and I plan to get another one when we are there in August.

It's been a couple years since I was in Skagway last, but to tack on to this thread, do many of the businesses close at 5? Our train ride arrives back at 4:30 if I'm not mistaken, and it'd be great to take my old lady out for some retail therapy after being stuck with me and my parents for the entire day.

There won't be any deals. On my cruise (Nieuw Amsterdam Aug 27th), the only categories left are Oceanview, Verandah and Pinnacle Suite ($7.8k pp), and the selection is poor.

I stayed in J1025 on the Zuiderdam and it was fantastic. Large, spacious cabin, and the only noise was my 2 cabin-mates snoring away. A word of warning though, under no circumstances should you sleep on the sofa-bed. It took a month for my (at the time) 28 year old, strong and healthy back to sort itself out again.

Yes, I know where it was, but it's spelled Caribou Crossing. :rolleyes: I don't normally correct spelling, but it's easier for people to google things on their own if they know how the correct name.

Cariboo Crossing is in the Cariboo-Central Interior of BC, in my neck of the woods. Don't want to get those two mixed up based on a typo!

Same question for Canada Place please. Thanks.

You can drop off your bags with the cruise line or with CDS to store while you wander around. My plan is to take my girlfriend and my parents to the terminal, drop off our bags, run upstairs to Fly Over Canada, then do the whole check-in thing. So long as it is after 10:00 when you drop your stuff off and there isn't a Noro situation, you should be golden to do so. All Aboard is by 3:30 for evac drill at 4:00 if I'm not mistaken on HAL, should be similar timeframes for other cruise lines.

What you can do is adjust your f stop. If you shoot at a high aperture, you aren't directing the viewers eye to anything except the entire shot. If you narrow your depth of field by using a lower f-stop value to isolate your subject, you will have better results telling your story. That's one of the reasons why 9 times out of 10 I have either my 24-70 f2.8 or 70-200 f2.8 lens equipped. Plus the beautiful creamy bokeh in the background.

It is normal for ships passing through the canal to lose paint along the sides. The only difference is the degree/length. We watched a Princess ship in the next lane earn a very long scrape. Both ships in the next port were parked side-by-side with paint rollers actively making repairs.

I'd second this. On our transit in April 2014, there was clearly too much/not enough slack on sets of lines and the ship took a hard bump into the side of the canal, enough to throw a few people off balance. When we docked in Colon, there was a visible gouge above the water line and a number of officers inspecting it. After the cruise, and I do not know if it was related, we had about a $20 refund due to 'adjusted canal fees' or something along those lines

Thanks for the pix. We're sailing on NA on August 27th. Would love to know when the "formal" nights are. Hope you're having good weather and a great time.

I'm on the same one as you. While it's up to the ship, on that route and in my experience, the gala nights are generally the first sea day (Aug 28th) and Glacier Bay day (Sept 1st).