Thoughts on my travel plans for Alaska cruise from Vancouver

[NCTribeFan]

I should've booked flights weeks ago.  Prices are way up, but I just can't seem to figure out my details.

 

I'm sailing HAL 6/1 and 6/8 B2B.  I picked these hoping mid-week sailings would have lighter pax loads in ports.

 

Airfare RT to Vancouver is just too high for my tastes as are hotels.  But I don't really want to fly RT RDU-SEA either.

 

So, Alaska Airlines early morning flight to Seattle; book hotel through HAL because it includes transportation to Vancouver the next day.  Yes, I could take a bus on my own for much less but getting to the port is something I don't want to worry about.

 

Fly home from Vancouver.  Don't like the idea of a redeye but there really aren't many options for mid-to-late afternoon flights (unless I want to pay double, which I don't).  I'm looking at Alaska Airlines again.  They have flights connecting thru Seattle (SEA-RDU departs at 9:55 pm).  Options YVR-SEA are 1:20, 2:44, and 5:20.  I'm leaning toward the later flight.  That would mean much less stress with getting off the ship and clearing customs (which I had totally forgotten would be necessary).  I'd still have >3hrs in Seattle, which would give me time to eat and have a drink.

 

I would love to be able to disembark on the turnaround day (Wednesday, 6/8) and explore Vancouver, but have no idea what that would involve, time-wise.  Or what a hassle getting on and off the ship might be.  Seems a shame to finally take an Alaska cruise and really not see much of Seattle or Vancouver.  FTR, I'm sailing solo the first leg.  Have friends boarding for the 2nd, so would probably just have that morning to wander around.

[em-sk]

13 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

I should've booked flights weeks ago.  Prices are way up, but I just can't seem to figure out my details.

 

I'm sailing HAL 6/1 and 6/8 B2B.  I picked these hoping mid-week sailings would have lighter pax loads in ports.

 

Airfare RT to Vancouver is just too high for my tastes as are hotels.  But I don't really want to fly RT RDU-SEA either.

 

So, Alaska Airlines early morning flight to Seattle; book hotel through HAL because it includes transportation to Vancouver the next day.  Yes, I could take a bus on my own for much less but getting to the port is something I don't want to worry about.

 

Fly home from Vancouver.  Don't like the idea of a redeye but there really aren't many options for mid-to-late afternoon flights (unless I want to pay double, which I don't).  I'm looking at Alaska Airlines again.  They have flights connecting thru Seattle (SEA-RDU departs at 9:55 pm).  Options YVR-SEA are 1:20, 2:44, and 5:20.  I'm leaning toward the later flight.  That would mean much less stress with getting off the ship and clearing customs (which I had totally forgotten would be necessary).  I'd still have >3hrs in Seattle, which would give me time to eat and have a drink.

 

I would love to be able to disembark on the turnaround day (Wednesday, 6/8) and explore Vancouver, but have no idea what that would involve, time-wise.  Or what a hassle getting on and off the ship might be.  Seems a shame to finally take an Alaska cruise and really not see much of Seattle or Vancouver.  FTR, I'm sailing solo the first leg.  Have friends boarding for the 2nd, so would probably just have that morning to wander around.

 

If you chose to get off in Vancouver the cruise ship terminal is in the downtown core.  Lots of venues to look at with in walking distance.

 

Given you will have to clear into Canada and then pre-clear through US customs I suspect you may be required to get off if only to present passports etc.

[NCTribeFan]

I booked my air yesterday, so I hope this goes as planned.  Hate having a redeye flight but it is what it is.  I don't really sleep on flights but the good news is I'm not working this summer (finally semi-retired) so I can sleep when I get home!

 

I could book a city tour/airport transfer through HAL for disembarkation day but it's stupidly expensive (imo).  Sort of defeats the purpose of finding affordable flights.  And it would probably put me at the airport before noon anyway.  We'll see.  If I win big in the casino, maybe I'll do that. 🤣

[erinsmom03]

On 4/3/2022 at 7:10 AM, NCTribeFan said:

I booked my air yesterday, so I hope this goes as planned.  Hate having a redeye flight but it is what it is.  I don't really sleep on flights but the good news is I'm not working this summer (finally semi-retired) so I can sleep when I get home!

 

I could book a city tour/airport transfer through HAL for disembarkation day but it's stupidly expensive (imo).  Sort of defeats the purpose of finding affordable flights.  And it would probably put me at the airport before noon anyway.  We'll see.  If I win big in the casino, maybe I'll do that. 🤣

 

We finally booked airfare for our July cruise on RCCL. It's also from Vancouver. I couldn't find any good deals for flying into Vancouver, and definitely didn't want a red eye for flying home. We ended up deciding to fly into Seattle on the Friday before a Sunday cruise. We are arriving very late, and will stay at an airport hotel with 24 hour airport shuttle service. Then on Saturday morning, we will take the bus into Vancouver (wish it was the train, still waiting to see if that starts up again!). That will give us time to explore Vancouver on Saturday. An overnight at a hotel in Vancouver then we board the ship on Sunday.

 

On the way home, we disembark on a Sunday. We will take the bus/train back to Seattle. Drop our luggage at the hotel, take the light rail into the city to show our friends around briefly. Stay the night at a hotel, then fly home on Monday morning. 

 

We will have 3 nights at a hotel, but we often try to enjoy new cities/ports when we cruise, and this was the best I could come up with... very difficult to plan for sure!