Using U.S. Direct to Disembark in Vancouver

[CruisinDoug]

We just returned from the Summit and used U.S. Direct to disembark. What a great service. We reported to the Celebrity Theatre at 7:50 AM and were sitting in the terminal in less than an hour. It was $20 each well spent and our bags were waiting when we got to our home airport.

[debjac]

I have never heard of this - can you give some details?

thanks!!!!

[FortyNinerLiz]

I have been waiting for info on this from Celebrity and they have not responded. How did you buy the $20 each way? Did you get it at the airport in Vancouver?

[CruisinDoug]

About three days before the end of the cruise you will get the papaerwork delivered to your stateroom. You take it to customer relations and they charge you the $20 per person. The night before disembarking you receive special luggage tags for your bags. They are picked up like the others but go directly to the airport, you don't see them until you get home. this means you don't have to sclep them through customs and sort through the pile of bags.

 

You go to the Celebrity Theater at your appointed time and receive your boarding passes for your flight and are bussed directly to the terminal. You do not have to deal with going through customs.

 

Let me know if you have further questions.

[CruisinDoug]

It is actually U.S. Customs and Vancouver who set this up. Celebrity only facilitates it. You will get your info on board.

[CruisinDoug]

Also, you can go the Vancouver web site and they give more detail and list the Airlines affiliated with this service. Almost all of them participate.

[debjac]

Thanks for the info - I have a question - we are cruising from San Diego in October and have a late flight home after the cruise. Is there a way to "check" our luggage through Celebrity and have them send our bags to the airport in the morning without us so we can spend a few hours sightseeing before going to the airport?

[CruisinDoug]

I don't know the answer to that one. Sorry!!

[Mancuso]

What if your flight isn't until the afternoon? Can you tour the city before going to the airport?

[CaptData]

Mancuso, depending on when your flight is you could book an excursion on board for the day of the flight. The tour will end at the airport. I think you can only book this on board. They put the bags on the bus and lock it for the tour. Enjoy.

[hermang]

Mancuso, depending on when your flight is you could book an excursion on board for the day of the flight. The tour will end at the airport. I think you can only book this on board. They put the bags on the bus and lock it for the tour. Enjoy.

If your flight is after 2:30 the answer is yes. BUT the excursion books up very quickly.

 

Our friends paid $20 bucks each for direct transfers and another $20 for US Direct as they were leaving at 11:50 - the comment was that it was the best $40 bucks they spent - it was flawless.

[Mancuso]

Our flight is at 1pm.

 

Is it possible to tour the city for a few hours on your own and then go to the airport or do you have to go directly from the ship, or ship operated tour, to the airport?

 

Thanks,

[SkyGuy747]

In the US Direct program, did you have to clear Canadian Customs and Immigration at the pier? US Customs and Immigration at Vancouver airport? Or did you bypass both and go directly into the US departure lounge?

 

Thanks!

[Truffle]

Does this service impose the same strict weight limit as the airlines do when you check your luggage in the normal fashion?

[CruisinDoug]

You do everything prior to getting on a bus at the pier and as you walk from the bus to the terminal. The important point is NO BAGS and you go through very quickly with no lines.