Vancouver Airport - Be Warned

[ajdegumbia]

Am up here in beautiful BC waiting on the Voldendam. Friends of mine who came through Vancouver Int'l Saturday had an upwards of a 3 hour wait to get through customs. Flights apparently all converged at the sametime (between 2 & 3) and I understand alot of hot tempers prevailed.

 

Please be warned and make your plans accordingly.

 

Weather here is terrific. Between 80 * 85. Saw the Statendam in port on Sunday, looks might nice...

 

Will write my review of the Voldendam on my return.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Vancouver airport

 

Thanks for the warning. A lot of people will appreciate hearning how bad it is up there. HAL has pretty much done away with flying people in and out of Seattle and then busing them to Vancouver. As a result the customas people at the Vancouver airport aren't used to handling several planes and many passengers at one time.

 

[localady]

Thank you for the warning!

We fly in at 10:30 am, I think this should be sufficient for our cruise. ( I sure hope so anyway We can now anticipate a delay and not get upset about it!

 

20 days till we sail!!!!

 

Happy Cruising!

 

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B

12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal

7/05 Prinsendam Baltic

11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

 

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

 

[NorthGal]

Vancouver International Airport is an international airport quite capable at handling and processing the enormous amount of international flights and passengers it receives. If you had bothered to watch the news on Saturday, you may have an idea of why delays occurred - instead you chose to make a response that could be perceived as somewhat insufferable and condescending.

 

The notion and perception that Vancouver is some backwoods frontier pioneer city unable to handle sophisticated Americans is becoming somewhat ridiculous, don't you think?

[Guest Anorak33]

We flew into Vancouver Airport at 12 o'clock lunchtime on May 9th, other flights were comning in just before and after us and we were outside the airport building in line for the bus to the port by 1'o'clock. Reached Canada Place by 1.45.

 

We thought that was very reasonable and the Immigration people and Customs were polite, as they invariably are in Canada in our experience.

 

Baggage came through quickly and the whole Vancouver Airport experience was efficient and pleasant.

 

Rather like Canada as a whole.

 

Please note that I have not said anything derogatory about US airports.

 

Statendam

QE2 (x2)

Regal Princess

Golden Princess

Royal Princess

Big Red Boat

[elmorejj]

I`m sorry there wasn`t anything on our news in Ohio about Vancouver, what was the problem?.....jean

[Krazy Kruizers]

Vancouver airport

 

There wasn't anything on our news in PA about Vancouver International Airport over the weekend so have no idea of what you are talking about in terms of delays, etc. this past weekend.

[ajdegumbia]

Northgal, I apologize if you took my message out of context. I am in Vancouver with 800 of my closest friends attending a tax function with all the members except for 5 or 6 coming from the US. I am just passing on information that many of these folks experienced. At no time was I trying to put down your airport, country or beautiful locale. I came through Vancouver at 6:30 on Saturday evening on Air Canada and we were the only folks in the airport. It was quite a pleasurable experience.

 

Again, I apologize if you mistook my comments for being negative.

[localady]

Wow Northgal,

 

No where do I read condescending remarks. In fact it is my experience that the more metropolitian the airport, the longer wait you can anticipate. Heathrow is one that you can expect to wait in que after que.

 

We flew into Vancouver last year and the terminal is absolutely first rate. I have found that Everywhere as security measures increase, time to get thru that security takes longer!

 

We plan to stay after our cruise at the Waterfront Fairmont, a fabulous and very metropolitan hotel! My DH and I love Vancouver and Canada in general and have no reason to be condescending to anyone. I am sorry I you took it that way.

 

Happy Cruising!

 

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B

12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal

7/05 Prinsendam Baltic

11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

 

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

 

[Globaliser]

I think it was this comment that NorthGal must have been referring to:-<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Krazy Kruizers:

HAL has pretty much done away with flying people in and out of Seattle and then busing them to Vancouver. As a result the customas people at the Vancouver airport aren't used to handling several planes and many passengers at one time.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>As Krazy Kruisers didn't actually have any idea what was happening (see their second post), that's simply offensive and patronising speculation. YVR probably handles more international arrivals than any airport in PA.

 

____________________________________________________________

 

Jewel of the Seas 1-3 May 2004 - see my review here, and my photos here.

[Guest Anorak33]

As far as condescending remarks go Krazy Kruizers from USA posted:

 

"A lot of people will appreciate hearning how bad it is up there."

 

What does he mean "up there" - some 3rd world country? Its Canada he's talking about!

 

 

Also - "the customas people at the Vancouver airport aren't used to handling several planes and many passengers at one time."

 

That is ridiculous - its a major, modern and busy international airport with numerous planes coming and going just like any other.

 

Now if those two remarks aren't condescending Localady then what are they?

 

Also no need to insult Heathrow Airport either, if you wait in queue after queue then it is frankly because you are an alien when you are there and as such subject to immigration rules which EU citizens are not.

 

Its not much fun for EU citizens (aliens in your country) waiting in line at US airports for up to a few hours while they have their fingerprints and photos taken - and thats after they may have spent $100 on a US Tourist Visa - something which is not inflicted on US citizens entering Great Britain.

 

Please try to look at both sides.

 

Statendam

QE2 (x2)

Regal Princess

Golden Princess

Royal Princess

Big Red Boat

 

[This message was edited by Anorak33 on 06-21-04 at 07:23 PM.]

[NorthGal]

Apologies and good intentions accepted and I understand that your intent was not how it was interpreted. It was all about perception!

 

I think the warning is that a two hour period of one particular day cannot be used as the *norm* for establishing a warning to other travellers. There were in fact 9 flights from various US States that were all late during that time period - something that Vancouver air traffic controllers are not responsible for. It just so happened that I was checking the arrival times board on Saturday for Vancouver because of another incident and found this out.

[iluvcruzin]

This sort of thing can happen at any airport regardless of the locale. Can we say "Weather??". Still, it's good advise. Always plan for the worse.. so there's no element of suprise.

 

Maureen

 

MS Maasdam 10/30/2004

Princess Sun 2/27/2005

Mariner of the Seas 10/16/2005

 

[elmorejj]

OK now, brothers and sisters from the UK and the US..play nice, hands across the sea and all that!....jean

[cruzlover56]

Last time I checked we were on the same continent and even though we didn't fight a war to decide we are not part of the UK

 

Julie

 

Zuiderdam 07/04

Maasdam 08/02

[ajdegumbia]

To all: I am probably the most easiest going individual and when things happen they happen. I don't try to put out negative posts because it doesn't help anyone. If anyone should have been really upset it should have been me.

 

I left Saturday a.m. or was suppose to leave Saturday a.m. out of Atlanta on AirCanada to Toronto, changing planes and arriving in Vancouver on 4:00 p.m. I am a past president of a tax organization and their was a special reception for the past presidents beginning at 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Well long story short, my original flight out of ATL to Toronto was cancelled, they booked me on the next flight 2 1/2 hours later. In the meantime, they lost my bag in Atlanta... Finally after 45 minutes of searching and the plane was boarded they found it. I couldn't get on the plane w/o a positive bag match. When I get on the aircraft they assign me a seat 3C no big deal right...problem was this aircraft had no "C" row seats at all. only AB, DF. Luckily the plane had 3 empty seats so they just had me take one of those. Finally arrive at YVR at 5:45 p.m. unfortunately the baggage took 45 minutes to offload due to some problem which we were never advised. Bottom line is got to my hotel at 7:35 so missed the reception. Did I care, did I get upset, no I just chalked it up laughed about and thought Hey I'm alive it must be a good day.

 

Positive attitudes are everything in llfe...My motto: Life goes On and Make lemonade out of lemons!!!

[sail7seas]

Would someone share what it is we were supposed to have heard on our television news. I didn't hear a word about Vancouver's Airport on the news in Boston.

 

Thanks if you'll share the .....rest of the story with the rest of us who are in the dark.

 

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

 

 

 

 

[Peter D]

There have been problems in at least one Canadian airport recently in Montreal, as a result of an ongoing labour dispute between the Canadian Customs employees' union and the Canadian Government. Canadian Customs employees at some US/Canada border crossings such as the one nearest to me, 50 minutes away ,at the Ogdensburg New York/Prescott Ontario location have conducted slowdowns. It is quite possible that required staff may have booked off sick in Vancouver as a strategic move to influence current bargaining talks. These occurrences are usually sporadic, but the actions of such individuals do make Canada look like a 'backwater 'at times. It should also be noted that even during these days of supposed increased security,Canadian college & university students are given lucrative Canadian Customs summer employment.

[localady]

I am convinced that there are people in this world that enjoy nothing more than to look and create conflict

 

Northgal- That was exactly what I was trying to say thank you for saying it so well!

 

Anorak- I considered refusing to even respond to your comments....but since you attacked me, I feel I should clarify my intent. I was trying to think of the largest international airport I could. I am not trying to be disparaging to anyone or any culture. Maybe I should have said JFK, yet it is so congested and unable to facilitate travelers, it was a poor example. My only point was that in the world as it is today, and with Security so high, we can expect long waits and delays anywhere we choose to travel, all of which for our safety.

 

Your comments are denegrating against US citizens in general. I judge people by who they are not where they were born or where their passport is issued, but by the person themselves. I would never judge your countrymen by your behavior

 

Happy Cruising!

 

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B

12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal

7/05 Prinsendam Baltic

11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

 

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[sail7seas]

Thank you for explaining about the labor dispute.

 

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

 

 

 

 

[captainmac]

Wow -- you guys need to chill out. I can't see what anyone could take offense over, but then I read the comments and can hardly believe how hard some people will look to find fault. The fact is that Vancouver has a wonderful airport. A wonderful airport at which I have, on more than one occasion, spent several hours trying to get out of -- both coming and going. But I've had similar problems at BWI, ERK, at Orly and Heathrow. What's the big deal. If you travel, there are going to be problems. Get a life.

[sail7seas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by captainmac:

 

 

Wow -- you guys need to chill out.

 

 

 

Get a life.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

 

What a shame you had to start and end your post with these two phrases. What was written between was helpful.

 

Telling anyone to "get a life" is horrid IMO

They obviously are alive and are living life as they choose. Who is anyone else to suggest they are not living as they should? (sorry....that phrase always sends me into orbit.)

 

As to chill out.....why? Because they expressed their opinions? They can...they have that right.

 

 

Thanks for the "meat of the post" in the middle of the sandwich of phrases.

 

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[srpilo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by captainmac:

Wow -- you guys need to chill out. I can't see what anyone could take offense over, but then I read the comments and can hardly believe how hard some people will look to find fault. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic, where unforunately its become a way of life.

 

Srpilo

[jhannah]

Off topic ... but since we're talking airport problems I just have to share this. Yesterday, the DW and I were returning to Las Vegas from Sacramento. About the time everyone got on and was settling in, some yo-yo on the ground pulled the service plug to the aircraft. Lights went out. Not just that, but the onboard computers all suffered a hard shutdown and had to be reprogrammed. You understand that today's modern aircraft run almost entirely on computers. We were two hours late leaving Sacramento!

 

Stuff happens no matter where you are.

 

'Vegas Jim

[Thoth]

IMHO Vancouver is a lovely city and I have had nothing but complementary remarks concerning this fine city and our good friends from Canada.

That said, last year at the airport was a nightmare. All these pax come through and out at one time. The lines were very long so it was a good thing I had a hotel booked on each end of my cruise.

By the way, I have had some bad days at US airports as well. New York and LAX come to mind.

Let's face it, air travelers have to suffer the consequences of 9-11.