Awful Celebrity airport transfer at YVR

[GottaKnowWhen]

Sorry for your awful experience. Looks like you learned the same lesson that we did 5 years ago with a X transfer in Puerto Rico. ... Rather than waste the leftover credit, or sit in an airport, or drag our bags around PR, we booked an excursion that would take us, along with our bags by bus to El Yunque rain forest for a tour and lunch, and then take us to the airport. ... The bus driver asked those on the bus what airlines they were flying. ... he promptly drove past and took us to a gate over a half mile away, where he discharged all his passengers, ... our luggage was sitting, unattended and in the pouring rain, on the sidewalk OUTSIDE the airport.

On our first ever cruise 4 years ago, on Royal, we had the same experience. Probably the same local company providing both excursions. We booked the El Yunque excursion for disembarkation day. Our luggage did not go with us but was somehow transferred to the airport directly. At the end of the day all of us were dropped next to an unattended pile of luggage on the sidewalk outside some terminal. At least we had no rain. And we weren't flying out that day so only had to get a cab to Old Town where we were staying for a few days. I was definitely unimpressed with that service.

[Luvcrusn]

On our first ever cruise 4 years ago, on Royal, we had the same experience. Probably the same local company providing both excursions. We booked the El Yunque excursion for disembarkation day. Our luggage did not go with us but was somehow transferred to the airport directly. At the end of the day all of us were dropped next to an unattended pile of luggage on the sidewalk outside some terminal. At least we had no rain. And we weren't flying out that day so only had to get a cab to Old Town where we were staying for a few days. I was definitely unimpressed with that service.

Not to mention that in the post 911 era it was inviting a catastrophe. That's why we examined our bags. We just prayed that our fellow passengers did also.

 

Sent from my SM-G930V using Forums mobile app

[GottaKnowWhen]

... The entrance to the cruise is through the car park under the Pan Pacific hotel. There is always an attendant at the parkade entrance when there are cruise ships loading/unloading and all the cabbie has to say is that he is taking in cruise passengers, you go right inside to an area where the porters are taking the luggage for the cruise...I hope this didn't affect your perception of Vancouver. This is not the first thread I have seem regarding airport transfer issues with Celebrity in Vancouver and I find it very concerning. I want you all to have the best time ever in my home town!

We did a b2b on Millennium last August with the turnaround day in Vancouver. We had a great leisurely day. Walked to Stanly Park, did a carriage ride/tour. Took a bus to the area with the antique clock, had a fine lunch. Walked back to the pier. Fortunately we had about 2 hours before boarding closed! I am a fairly clever guy and quite well traveled. But it took 30-45 minutes to find our way into that place. Walked in. No indication of where to go to get on a ship. After asking several people, we were directed to an elevator to the parking garage. Really? We are supposed to walk in through the parking garage? Once in the garage we more or less followed the other clueless-but-hopeful cruisers, went up a few levels and then an escalator IIRC to the customs clearance area where we were told to go back down and check in. We went back down, eventually found a check-in line that we didn't need to be in because were b2b. That was straightened out 10-15 minutes later and we went back up the escalator and assured the guards at the top that we had properly checked in. I don't recall the whole sequence now but I think it was at that point that a Celebrity staff took us past several long lines to a desk where they we were holding our new Sea Passes. From there our In Transit pass allowed us to magically bypass the remaining lines.

How much of our adventure was due to the very poor signage and lack of any provisions for pedestrians, and how much was due to Celebrity, I don't know. All I know is that what should have been a simple walk in, show our pass and ID, and walk on turned into a rats-in-a-maze experience. Only saving grace was that we had plenty of time.

I might like to go back and spend more time in your city. But I don't ever want to see that cruise port again!

 

Stan

[the_dylaness]

I sympathize with the O.P..

 

If they buy a transfer from Celebrity the service provided should be up to Celebrity "Standards" A small taxi which can't provide the comfort for 3 people with luggage won't pass muster. A driver who does not where to go isn't what they paid for.

 

The O.P. bought the transfer from Celebrity and expected a certain standard, it's not really their problem that Celebrity didn't have enough customers for a proper van or bus.

 

Agree. Cruise line transfer does not equal escorting you to the taxi line.

[ccotting]

We did a b2b on Millennium last August with the turnaround day in Vancouver. We had a great leisurely day. Walked to Stanly Park, did a carriage ride/tour. Took a bus to the area with the antique clock, had a fine lunch. Walked back to the pier. Fortunately we had about 2 hours before boarding closed! I am a fairly clever guy and quite well traveled. But it took 30-45 minutes to find our way into that place. Walked in. No indication of where to go to get on a ship. After asking several people, we were directed to an elevator to the parking garage. Really? We are supposed to walk in through the parking garage? Once in the garage we more or less followed the other clueless-but-hopeful cruisers, went up a few levels and then an escalator IIRC to the customs clearance area where we were told to go back down and check in. We went back down, eventually found a check-in line that we didn't need to be in because were b2b. That was straightened out 10-15 minutes later and we went back up the escalator and assured the guards at the top that we had properly checked in. I don't recall the whole sequence now but I think it was at that point that a Celebrity staff took us past several long lines to a desk where they we were holding our new Sea Passes. From there our In Transit pass allowed us to magically bypass the remaining lines.

How much of our adventure was due to the very poor signage and lack of any provisions for pedestrians, and how much was due to Celebrity, I don't know. All I know is that what should have been a simple walk in, show our pass and ID, and walk on turned into a rats-in-a-maze experience. Only saving grace was that we had plenty of time.

I might like to go back and spend more time in your city. But I don't ever want to see that cruise port again!

 

Stan

 

You can get in through the building and should not have been directed through the parking. Your point about the signage is entirely fair however the facility serves 3 purposes which means the focus of the site is not just on the cruise port. The ship is docked at a Convention centre with an attached hotel. Pedestrian entrance is through the convention centre. Conventions are all year, the cruise period in Vancouver is generally May to September. Ground staff support is the responsibility of the cruise line.

 

Personally I like that facility a whole lot better than many cruise ports I have been in. I have been in much worse in many other countries. Places where you bussed from the ship to the terminal then walked an age through various confusing corners to get out. Immigration that took forever with only 1 or 2 agents for a large ship.... The Vancouver cruise terminal was not built for 3 larger ships of today's size at once. Cruise traffic in Vancouver has exploded from when the facility was envisioned and built in 1986. Did you cruise in 86? How big was the ship? In Vancouver we are now at a point where the cruise traffic requires an additional facility (no downtown land available) or major changes so large ships could dock (think way way out at Point Roberts container pier). The larger ships such as the RCI Voyager class cannot clear the bridge. So one option is to put passengers away from the city centre which is not the best for passenger experience.

 

And, one of the advantages the port has, the ability to clear US customs prior to boarding the ship is one of the biggest causes of congestion. They are not generously staffed nor do they hustle.... My sympathies remain to the OP and the poor ground service they received.

[budbo]

We were also aboard the May 17th sailing of the Solstice and embarkation that day was crazy! We felt it was like the perfect storm of embarkations. It was very early in the season, so lots of rookie Celebrity staff....some being trained on the job while we were checking in. There were certainly not as many Celebrity employees as we're used to either, usually it's overkill with so many staff stationed around the facility giving directions but at check-in that day we were hard pressed to find anyone to even ask for directions. Finally we got help from Canada Place custodial staff. Signage was either non-existent or well hidden by the masses of passengers. We waited in line for over an hour to get thru security/US immigration as there were only 4 lines open. There were 3 jumbo ships in port that day but I think that passengers from only 2 ships were going thru those lines.....still, it seemed endless! We are still "semi young" and get around pretty well but many of the older passengers were really struggling with standing for so long. It took us just over 2 hours from taxi drop off to boarding, which was really quick compared to many other stories we heard. There were some really unhappy passengers on the Solstice that day. Fortunately we had an awesome Captain who "addressed the elephant in the room" right away and managed to turn most attitudes around with his joking about it.

We really enjoyed Vancouver though! One of our favorite things was "Fly over Canada", which is right at Canada Place. I highly recommend it if you have the time.

[sergeant655]

I was at Canada place for a tour of the millennium and noticed they have Redone the signs near the escalator to the convention centre hall c where the check in is located. The departures signs at on a blue background and shows the process step by step as you travel on the escalator signs for arrivals are on a light green background and shows which way to different modes of transportation. The private car pick up zone is on. P1 of the parking garage and can be accessed by the elevator that is visible as soon as you exit customs. Upon exiting the elevator on p1. Follow the painted green feet. The escalator is the way to exit for public transit and exit to city