Quickest way from pier to Vancouver Airport?

[jezz086]

We dock at 7.30am and have a domestic flight at 11am. What is the quickest and easiest way to get to Vancouver airport? Is it better to get our transfers through Princess or would we be better off catching a taxi? Can we choose to disembark at 7.30am or are we assigned a time? Thanks

Edited April 23, 2015 by jezz086

[Illyria]

If you're docking at Canada Place, the train station is a couple of minutes away. It's very easy to get to the airport by train. If you don't want to deal with public transit, you can get a taxi. I would absolutely NOT get a Princess transfer if you're on a tight timetable, they won't leave until the bus is full.

[jezz086]

If you're docking at Canada Place, the train station is a couple of minutes away. It's very easy to get to the airport by train. If you don't want to deal with public transit, you can get a taxi. I would absolutely NOT get a Princess transfer if you're on a tight timetable, they won't leave until the bus is full.

 

Thanks for the info on the Princess transfer. I also just checked the port schedule and noticed that 2 other ships will also be docked at Canada Place that day so train sounds much easier than a cab. Thanks!

[martincath]

If you are used to buying tickets at vending machines - with fairly intuitive, Plain English descriptions - then Skytrain is the way to go but with a couple of caveats:

 

Do not enter at the obvious access point just outside Canada Place - while this does lead into the right station, it goes to the wrong platform. You'll have to walk along it then up the escalator then back down onto the correct platform. Easier to instead continue past the entrance on Howe, turn left on Cordova, enter the station through the original entrance (look up at the pretty pictures around the top of the walls, it's actually quite an attractive station), buy tickets, then follow signs to CANADA LINE.

 

Second - only every second train goes to the airport. Both the train itself and the live boards ("next train in X minutes") indicate which trains go to YVR and which go to Richmond Brighouse. Announcements on the train also confirm destination - worst case you can get off, wait on platform for next train, reboard.

 

Third, Zones - if it's a weekend you need just 1 Zone tickets ($2.75pp). Weekdays you'll need 2 Zone tickets ($4pp) as YVR is outside Vancouver proper. Major credit cards are accepted, as is Canadian currency.

 

If you are organized, can wheel your luggage, and don't go in the wrong door you can be at YVR in 30mins from the pier. Even assuming you just miss a train and have to wait 6 mins it's probably a wash compared to waiting in line to get in a cab - but if the taxi queue is minimal you will get to YVR faster using a cab (mornings it's against rush hour traffic so usually under 30mins drive).

 

If you self-disembark you can get off when you choose, probably at 7am or very shortly thereafter. Otherwise unless you've booked air travel through the cruise line or have high status with them, you probably won't get the earliest disembarkation slots as they are in high demand.

[xlxo]

I'm going to vote taxi as the fastest way to get there...

• door to door service for $35 car load
  
• luggage friendly, no need to mix with rush hour subway commuters
  
• no need to try and understand those cryptic fare machines
  
  • one zone? two zones? three zones? add fare?
    
  • when is a child considered an adult?
    

  [*]no need to drag luggage three blocks to ride elevator to trains? Remember that first subway entrance takes you to the East suburbs away from the airport.

  [*]YVR vs Brighouse? No need to worry about boarding wrong train

If you find the taxi queue long and find yourself walking to the subway station. Look to the right at the Pan Pacific and Fairmont Hotels. If you see the lines shorter.... go there for the taxi to the airport! Waiting cruise terminal taxis are happy to pick you up a these alternate hotel locations.

Edited April 23, 2015 by xlxo

[jezz086]

If you are used to buying tickets at vending machines - with fairly intuitive, Plain English descriptions - then Skytrain is the way to go but with a couple of caveats:

 

Do not enter at the obvious access point just outside Canada Place - while this does lead into the right station, it goes to the wrong platform. You'll have to walk along it then up the escalator then back down onto the correct platform. Easier to instead continue past the entrance on Howe, turn left on Cordova, enter the station through the original entrance (look up at the pretty pictures around the top of the walls, it's actually quite an attractive station), buy tickets, then follow signs to CANADA LINE.

 

Second - only every second train goes to the airport. Both the train itself and the live boards ("next train in X minutes") indicate which trains go to YVR and which go to Richmond Brighouse. Announcements on the train also confirm destination - worst case you can get off, wait on platform for next train, reboard.

 

Third, Zones - if it's a weekend you need just 1 Zone tickets ($2.75pp). Weekdays you'll need 2 Zone tickets ($4pp) as YVR is outside Vancouver proper. Major credit cards are accepted, as is Canadian currency.

 

If you are organized, can wheel your luggage, and don't go in the wrong door you can be at YVR in 30mins from the pier. Even assuming you just miss a train and have to wait 6 mins it's probably a wash compared to waiting in line to get in a cab - but if the taxi queue is minimal you will get to YVR faster using a cab (mornings it's against rush hour traffic so usually under 30mins drive).

 

If you self-disembark you can get off when you choose, probably at 7am or very shortly thereafter. Otherwise unless you've booked air travel through the cruise line or have high status with them, you probably won't get the earliest disembarkation slots as they are in high demand.

 

Thanks martincath for your detailed response :)

[jezz086]

I'm going to vote taxi as the fastest way to get there...

• door to door service for $35 car load
  
• luggage friendly, no need to mix with rush hour subway commuters
  
• no need to try and understand those cryptic fare machines
  
  • one zone? two zones? three zones? add fare?
    
  • when is a child considered an adult?
    

  [*]no need to drag luggage three blocks to ride elevator to trains? Remember that first subway entrance takes you to the East suburbs away from the airport.

  [*]YVR vs Brighouse? No need to worry about boarding wrong train

If you find the taxi queue long and find yourself walking to the subway station. Look to the right at the Pan Pacific and Fairmont Hotels. If you see the lines shorter.... go there for the taxi to the airport! Waiting cruise terminal taxis are happy to pick you up a these alternate hotel locations.

 

Thanks xlxo, you made lots of good points!

[dreamer976]

Just need to add my 2 cents here. While I agree that "jumping in a taxi" is the way to go, sometimes the taxi line within Canada Place can get very long.

[csk0528]

How far is it to the airport, I am looking at a 11am flight also, we dock at 7am, our other choice would not be until 11 pm and that can be a long day, but don't want to stress about getting that flight, we are on Celebrity Infinity June 7th, thanks

[cruiseryyc]

11:00 am would be pushing it.

[scottbee]

I'm going to vote taxi as the fastest way to get there...

• door to door service for $35 car load
  
• luggage friendly, no need to mix with rush hour subway commuters
  
• no need to try and understand those cryptic fare machines
   
  
• one zone? two zones? three zones? add fare?
  
• when is a child considered an adult?
  

 

I'll vote the other way, Skytrain is pretty much the only way to go.

• $4/ea for a 4 minute extra walk
  
• luggage friendly, roll on roll off
  
• English speaking ticket machines as opposed to non-English speaking taxi drivers
  
• fixed fare to airport, no potential long-hauling (and the machines do the zone pricing for you)
  
• YVR; every other train. If you're going to the airport and don't know to pick the train "YVR Airport". Which is announced and on overhead signs and on the train
  

Edited April 26, 2015 by scottbee

[scottbee]

How far is it to the airport, I am looking at a 11am flight also, we dock at 7am, our other choice would not be until 11 pm and that can be a long day, but don't want to stress about getting that flight, we are on Celebrity Infinity June 7th, thanks

 

11a is pushing it if you're flying to the United States; it would probably be OK if you were headed anywhere else. Because American airports have such limited international arrivals areas, the USA requires major Canadian airports to have pre-clearance facilities, so you have to clear US Immigration/Customs prior to entering the E gates (transborder wing) of the airport. That extra step can take from 0 to 90 minutes, and you never know which one you'll get.

[no fuss travel]

If there are two other ships docking that day, the lineup for taxis will be horrible. We waited over 45 minutes for a taxi when we arrived and the lineup seemed to go on forever. Take the Canada Line, saves you a tip and it is an easy walk from Canada Place. You don't have to carry your suitcases down any stairs and you can roll them right onto the train. Just make sure your train says YVR airport or else the train will take you into Richmond.