Vancouver answers from a Vancouverite (part 2)

thank you so much Putterduke

Can someone tell me how to get from Blue Horizon to Victoria using public transportation? Cost and time?

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Can someone tell me how to get from Blue Horizon to Victoria using public transportation? Cost and time?

 

 

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Here is the link toget to Ferry terminal from Blue Horizon

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Tsawwassen-Ferry-Terminal/Blue-Horizon-Hotel-Vancouver-BC-Canada

Here is the link to the BC Ferries Tsawassen to Swartz Bay Ferry

http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/tssw-current.php

Here is the link for Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to Victoria

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Swartz-Bay/Victoria-BC-Canada

Burrard st train station is about 5 to 6 blocks away (at the Hyatt) from Blue H. From there i would travel to waterfront Stn and switch trains to the Canada Line. Either one will take you to Bridgeport station (at the River Rock Casino) where you transfer to the 620 bus. It will take you to the ferries. This leg takes approx 1 hour. The ferry itself is 1 hour 40 min. Depending on the time of year, the ferries run hourly (summers and long weekends) or every 2 hours. So your bus will get you there on time or an hour early . The 2 zone fare is 6.75 pp and you buy the compass ticket at the kiosks in the train station or at the ferries. On the Island, the bus leaves the ferries at the top of the hour. The fare is $2.50, however if you plan on taking a second bus the same day, buy the $5 day pass from the driver. Exact change. Its about 45 min to downtown Victoria

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Can someone tell me how to get from Blue Horizon to Victoria using public transportation? Cost and time?

• Pay attention to the ferry schedule and frequency if you miss a ferry.
  
• Pay attention to the bus and bus connections to get to the ferry terminals. The late afternoon and early buses heading to the ferry terminal can get busy. It's not pretty when public transit drivers abandon passengers at the bus stop because they are full... forcing tourists to miss ferries.
  

Any suggestions how to get to the cruise terminal from Blue Horizon hotel considering road closures? What time (before or after the closure)?

Thanks in advance.

The road at Canada Place will be closed from 1015 to 1115 for the royals. The city is crowded this weekend with cruise ship passengers, trade show participants and royal watchers. My advice would be in a cab by 0915 and at the terminal by 0930. This one of these weekends everyone will be waiting.

Corrections to Translink zones & costs

Burrard st train station is about 5 to 6 blocks away (at the Hyatt) from Blue H. From there i would travel to waterfront Stn and switch trains to the Canada Line. Either one will take you to Bridgeport station (at the River Rock Casino) where you transfer to the 620 bus. It will take you to the ferries. This leg takes approx 1 hour. The ferry itself is 1 hour 40 min. Depending on the time of year, the ferries run hourly (summers and long weekends) or every 2 hours. So your bus will get you there on time or an hour early . The 3 zone fare is CAD$5.75pp or $2.75pp on weekends and you buy the compass ticket at the kiosks in the train station or at the ferries. On the Island, the bus leaves the ferries at the top of the hour. The fare is $2.50, however if you plan on taking a second bus the same day, buy the $5 day pass from the driver. Exact change. Its about 45 min to downtown Victoria

 

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Also NB: that the 'rome2rio' links posted above by K50, while very slick and surprisingly good at factoring in all forms of scheduled transport, are not accurate on fares that aren't exact multiples of $1. While it's sensible to round the values in the summary, I'm surprised that the detail links do not use the correct numbers - especially since public transit here and on the island is Exact Fare Only (as are many, many transit systems across the world).

It's a very nice tool to compare what your overall options are, but it does need careful reading - e.g. it includes the Pacific Coach/BC Ferry Connector services that take you from Vancouver to Victoria by bus and ferry as a package, but you would have to visit the specific website to see that a) they aren't part of transit system so you need separate tickets for the first leg on SkyTrain, but then PCL/BCFC sells the entire route Van-Vic with no need for a transit bus on the other end as they drop you in Victoria proper.

While pricier than actual transit & ferry a la carte, you may find the convenience of a comfy bus with luggage space a better bet than fighting your bags onto transit buses which have no storage and risking being kicked off or fined $150 if you block a seat, aisle, or wheelchair space with your bags. Basically anything you can't fit on your lap or under your legs is unlawful on Translink services, so travelling with more than a backpack/carryon size piece of luggage is against the rules for any travel involving a transit bus... not many transit cops, but drivers will often enforce the rules if the bus is busy.

Personally I'd also consider a rental car - and an overnight stay on the island (cheaper than Vancouver hotels in general, especially if you stay outside of Victoria's downtown core area). Room for luggage, flexibility in where you visit, when, and for how long, plus if you are 2+ people and willing to pay for the coach/ferry combo package you could actually save $ by taking a car over.

Any suggestions how to get to the cruise terminal from Blue Horizon hotel considering road closures? What time (before or after the closure)?

Thanks in advance.

Theoretically from BH it would only be an extra block to continue along to Howe instead of turning up an earlier street where the blockages would impact. Obviously the crowds of royal-spotters will make things busier too though. Personally I'd do exactly the same as I normally would - go late. If you want to see the Royals, great, go join the crowds - otherwise the sightseeing options anywhere NOT right next to Canada Place should be quieter than usual.

Free shuttles to Cap & Grouse may have to move or abandon their Canada Place pickup for a couple of hours, but if you're heading over there you can and should be on a much earlier bus than the closures. Edit - Cap shuttle website actually confirms no service to Central Library, but other stops normal this weekend. Otherwise heading down to Stanley Park or over to English Bay should be easy.

Wills & Kate do have three stops in downtown and East Van after the Jack Poole Plaza arrival and before they head to Kits, so depending which order they happen in there will be many short temporary closures for the motorcade between 11ish and 2ish that could briefly impact many possible intersections in the Gastown/Chinatown areas (their security team are not announcing the motorcade route). Probably best not to be touring that neck of the woods around lunchtime.

Corrections to PCL/BCFC route.

 

 

It's a very nice tool to compare what your overall options are, but it does need careful reading - e.g. it includes the Pacific Coach/BC Ferry Connector services that take you from Vancouver to Victoria by bus and ferry as a package, but you would have to visit the specific website to see that a) they aren't part of transit system so you need separate tickets for the first leg on SkyTrain, but then PCL/BCFC sells the entire route Van-Vic with no need for a transit bus on the other end as they drop you in Victoria proper.

 

While pricier than actual transit & ferry a la carte, you may find the convenience of a comfy bus with luggage space a better bet than fighting your bags onto transit buses which have no storage and risking being kicked off or fined $150 if you block a seat, aisle, or wheelchair space with your bags. Basically anything you can't fit on your lap or under your legs is unlawful on Translink services, so travelling with more than a backpack/carryon size piece of luggage is against the rules for any travel involving a transit bus... not many transit cops, but drivers will often enforce the rules if the bus is busy.

QUOTE]

 

PCL suspended their cross water connections route earlier this year and it is now offered by Wilson's Transportation Ltd. One of the real advantages of this service to the OP is that it picks up at the Blue Horizon.

 

http://www.wilsonstransportation.com/

If this has already been answered, I apologize for asking. I had read on either the HAL or Princess boards, that they have changed the process for embarkation onto ships at Canada Place this summer. Something about taking an escalator or elevator upstairs for check in and then back downstairs for Immigration and then back upstairs. Or perhaps I have this backward. Can someone enlighten me - am sailing on October 19th - Star Princess- and I think she is the only one in that day. Thanks. Barbara

If this has already been answered, I apologize for asking. I had read on either the HAL or Princess boards, that they have changed the process for embarkation onto ships at Canada Place this summer. Something about taking an escalator or elevator upstairs for check in ,security and then back downstairs for Immigration and then back upstairs. Or perhaps I have this backward. Can someone enlighten me - am sailing on October 19th - Star Princess- and I think she is the only one in that day. Thanks. Barbara

You don't go back upstairs to board . You stay on the same level as security and immigration. After check in you go thru security . If you haven't checked in (card given at check-in) you'll be sent upstairs . After security you go thru US Immigration (except if going to Hawaii). Then the holding area for your ship and cruise line.

For the Wilson transportation where do I want to take the transportation to from Blue Horizon to visit downtown Victoria?

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For the Wilson transportation where do I want to take the transportation to from Blue Horizon to visit downtown Victoria?

 

 

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I am not trying to be smart but may I ask where you want to go in Victoria? If it's downtown then I would go to the bus depot.

For the Wilson transportation where do I want to take the transportation to from Blue Horizon to visit downtown Victoria?

Wilsons are the current franchise holders of the Van-Vic bus service now referred to as the 'BC Ferries Connector' (that used to be run by, and is still commonly referred to as, the 'Pacific Coach Line' bus service). Relevant website with schedule & pricing is here - the main Wilsons site is just for booking group travel coach charters.

Most BCFC services depart from Pacific Central Station (SkyTrain from Burrard Station as mentioned above by Lulubelle is cheapest at $2.75pp; a cab would be approx $15). Either way, once you're on the BCFC bus it will take you all the way to downtown Victoria via the ferry route between Tsawassen and Swartz Bay. ~$61pp for the Bus Station to Bus Station route, and you can get off at several intersections around downtown Victoria not just the main bus station.

There are some very limited (once a day, early) pickups at Canada Place and downtown hotels, including Blue Horizon (choose the Vancouver - Victoria Crosswater service on the website, and you'll see a dropdown with multiple pickup options including 'Vancouver Hotels' - choose that and you'll get a list of hotels incl BH). Using a dummy booking it seems like it's a ~$5 premium for hotel pickup, $10 extra for cruise terminal pickup, and you can't go on any of the later services just the <9am.

NB: that even taking the earliest bus and coming back on the latest one does not give much time in Victoria - at most a little under seven hours. It's a crappy way to see Victoria IMO - much better to do an overnight visit, especially if you want to see more than just a couple of things. Pricewise with 2+ people you may well find a rental car and ferry is as cheap or even cheaper and way more flexible than doing an RT on the crosswater coach.

You don't go back upstairs to board . You stay on the same level as security and immigration. After check in you go thru security . If you haven't checked in (card given at check-in) you'll be sent upstairs . After security you go thru US Immigration (except if going to Hawaii). Then the holding area for your ship and cruise line.

Putterdude - Forgive my "senior momentitis". In summary, one hands off the luggage, then goes upstairs to check in, then downstairs for security and immigration. Have I finally got it correct? Thank you. Barbara

Putterdude - Forgive my "senior momentitis". In summary, one hands off the luggage, then goes upstairs to check in, then downstairs for security and immigration. Have I finally got it correct? Thank you. Barbara

If it works right that is what should happen. On our Sept 9th Celebrity cruise what you described first is more what happened to us. In over 30 cruises it was the most fouled up embarkation ever, and none of it was Celebrity's fault, it was all the people working in the port area. Loved Vancouver though.

See this post for the description of what happened. This poster's experience pretty much mirrors exactly what we and hundreds more went through that day.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=51183038&postcount=4

I had read on either the HAL or Princess boards, that they have changed the process for embarkation onto ships at Canada Place this summer. Something about taking an escalator or elevator upstairs for check in and then back downstairs for Immigration and then back upstairs. Or perhaps I have this backward. Can someone enlighten me - am sailing on October 19th - Star Princess- and I think she is the only one in that day. Thanks. Barbara

Thoughts...

• got there at 11:20am. On board and heading for lunch by 12:30pm. Just over an hour.
  
• Avoid the peak noon to 1pm port arrival. Processing delays are worst at that time.
  
• Don't worry about getting lost if you are asked to go upstairs. There's terminal and cruise staff at every point to guide you. If you have problems with escalators.... there's elevators.
  
• again, I was there for a 3 ship day. In previous years on a 1 ship day.... processing occurs after security and customs just before you board the ship.
  
• I've thought the ship registration changes started last summer when they got the escalators built.
  

Was there on Monday and can confirm that's what happened on a three ship day.

 

Thoughts...

• got there at 11:20am. On board and heading for lunch by 12:30pm. Just over an hour.
  
• Avoid the peak noon to 1pm port arrival. Processing delays are worst at that time.
  
• Don't worry about getting lost if you are asked to go upstairs. There's terminal and cruise staff at every point to guide you. If you have problems with escalators.... there's elevators.
  
• again, I was there for a 3 ship day. In previous years on a 1 ship day.... processing occurs after security and customs just before you board the ship.
  
• I've thought the ship registration changes started last summer when they got the escalators built.
  

That's all well and good BUT,

A. The terminal staff WAS the problem.

B. They had blocked off the lanes allowing cars to go to the level where you are supposed to drop the luggage so no taxis or other cars could get to the proper level.

C. They were not allowing anyone to use the escalators and forced people to use the elevators.

At some point they allowed cars to go to the proper level. It was the early arrivers that had all the trouble.

Did you look at the link I posted? It's not exaggeration.

Have a couple of questions about Canada Place boarding. Does HAL use the upstairs check in with only one ship in port? Is there still a suite waiting area for NS/PS passengers on HAL?

Have a couple of questions about Canada Place boarding. Does HAL use the upstairs check in with only one ship in port? Is there still a suite waiting area for NS/PS passengers on HAL?

Check in is on the second floor. Waiting area in on level where security . There is a separate area for suite passengers. They get to load first.

We arrive in YVR next Monday at 10:30. I'm travelling with an 80 year old so was planning to take a taxi to the Pan Pacific as it's challenging to manage luggage and a cane for her, and handling the rest of the luggage for me when taking the train. We wanted to go to Van Dusen Gardens after dropping off the luggage (and lunch). For that, we were considering transit. Now I'm wondering about our fare options (and our return trip to the PP). I see that we can take the #17 bus from Canada Place to Van Dusen. However, for the return trip, it looks like every option shows the Canada Line which seems to have an additional fee above the fare paid on the bus. We were planning to pay cash for the fares but I see there are other options like a DayPass, and Concession rates for seniors. Can we, as non residents, use the Compass Card and only load it for what we require? We will only require transit on the one day. What is the most economical option for us given the situation described above?

Also, how much time should we allow for Van Dusen?

Thank you for your help!

I will start to answer some of your questions - for Van Dusen - the bus or Canada Line fare will be the same - where the difference is - the Canada Line travels through two zones so a higher fare will be shown - but your part is in the first zone so it's one fare zone only - buses are one fare zone regardless of whether they cross zone boundaries.

Anyone over 65 gets the concession fare - $1.75 - doesn't matter where you live.

No you don't need to buy a compass card and load it - you can purchase a one trip ticket on either the bus or from a vending machine.

If you aren't planning on any other travel a day pass would be more expensive.

Hope this helps - some of the other locals who use transit more than I do can probably provide more details.

Cheers!

Dennis

Thanks, Dennis. That's the type of info I was wanting. The reason I thought it cost more to take the Canada Line is that there was a Fare Alert on the TransLink website: Fare Alert: Customers paying with cash or FareSavers on buses will need to purchase a Compass Card or Ticket if transferring to SkyTrain or SeaBus services. Visit our Compass Card page for more information. The routing for the return trip indicates that we need to take a bus and then the Canada Line and gives us the higher rates.

I will start to answer some of your questions - for Van Dusen - the bus or Canada Line fare will be the same - where the difference is - the Canada Line travels through two zones so a higher fare will be shown - but your part is in the first zone so it's one fare zone only - buses are one fare zone regardless of whether they cross zone boundaries.

 

Anyone over 65 gets the concession fare - $1.75 - doesn't matter where you live.

 

No you don't need to buy a compass card and load it - you can purchase a one trip ticket on either the bus or from a vending machine.

 

If you aren't planning on any other travel a day pass would be more expensive.

 

Hope this helps - some of the other locals who use transit more than I do can probably provide more details.

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

Further to this info.If you take the #17 to Van Dusen gardens the #17 should also be able to take you back to Canada Place. Some one might have more info. The web site shows the #17 going north past the Gardens as well. The stop is just across the street from the gardens . The crosswalk is light controlled..

As for going from the airport . Ask for a Van cab . It can hold the two of you plus all the luggage. The price is the same as a regular cab. Just a couple of minutes untill one arrives.