Princess Transfer from YVR to Canada Place pier - Luggage Question

[LenapeWolf]

Good morning!

 

I am familiar with the cruise terminal in Vancouver and have personally experienced the chaos and bad design of the place most recently in 2019.  That was on a Celebrity cruise to Alaska and it left a really bad taste in my mouth, especially with the insane baggage drop misadventure.  I must be suffering from a bit of craziness because I am booked on a Princess cruise this June that also embarks at Canada Place!  The port schedule has three ships in on the day I am leaving, so it'll be a busy port just as it was the last time.  BUT!  I would like to know if my choice to book an airport bus transfer from YVR to Canada Place direct with Princess was a smart attempt at beating the chaos this time.  And before anyone says something, I am intentionally arriving the day of embarkation because I can't get off work any earlier (it was booked with PrincessAir and comes with guaranteed boarding if something happens.)

My travel agent has gotten conflicting information from their Princess representative; the booking description and contract of carriage for the transfer specifically states that "passenger luggage must be tagged appropriately before being accepted by Princess Transfers personnel.  Transfers will include luggage handling to the ship."  We both read that as they'll be taken direct from the airport to our stateroom.  However the representative has said to my agent that baggage will need to be collected from the transfer bus on arrival at Canada Place and it is the responsibility of the passenger(s) to then check that luggage at the bag drop in the terminal.  Clear as mud, right?!

 

Hopefully someone on here has recent experience on using the bus transfer service from YVR to Canada Place and can say if their luggage was handled or is this just an overpriced bus ride.  If its the later, I am very tempted to cancel the transfer and use the SkyTrain to save a load of money if it does not save me any hassle at the dock.

 

Does the transfer really mean your bags are whisked away at the airport and you see them next in the stateroom?

 

Thanks a million, I look forward to hearing from someone with the experience!

[Lady Arwen]

Your luggage will be taken from you at the baggage pick up area by a Princess rep who will load your luggage onto the bus and then it will be off loaded at the terminal and put on the ship.  You will see your luggage when it arrives in your cabin.  Very easy.  Attach your luggage tags before your flight so the airline is aware you are going on a cruise.  This usually prevents misplaced luggage never being seen again.  We also put a copy of the luggage tags inside the bags, just in case.

[Arizona Wildcat]

3 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Your luggage will be taken from you at the baggage pick up area by a Princess rep who will load your luggage onto the bus and then it will be off loaded at the terminal and put on the ship.  You will see your luggage when it arrives in your cabin.  Very easy.  Attach your luggage tags before your flight so the airline is aware you are going on a cruise.  This usually prevents misplaced luggage never being seen again.  We also put a copy of the luggage tags inside the bags, just in case.

Also put your ship name and cabin number on a piece of masking tape and stick to your bag. Saves problems when the Princess tag tears off.

[Lady Arwen]

7 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Also put your ship name and cabin number on a piece of masking tape and stick to your bag. Saves problems when the Princess tag tears off.

We use luggage tags purchased from Amazon that are virtually indestructible and very inexpensive.  I doubt if many people still use just the paper tags attached with a cable tie or packing tape. Still, it’s good advice to use your idea, too.

[LenapeWolf]

29 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Your luggage will be taken from you at the baggage pick up area by a Princess rep who will load your luggage onto the bus and then it will be off loaded at the terminal and put on the ship.  You will see your luggage when it arrives in your cabin.  Very easy.  Attach your luggage tags before your flight so the airline is aware you are going on a cruise.  This usually prevents misplaced luggage never being seen again.  We also put a copy of the luggage tags inside the bags, just in case.

Thank you very much for your answer.  It makes me feel more confident that booking the transfer is worth it.  The luggage factor is always the biggest hassle on embarkation day for me; once the bag is taken care of then it is so much more relaxing.  

[Lady Arwen]

1 minute ago, LenapeWolf said:

Thank you very much for your answer.  It makes me feel more confident that booking the transfer is worth it.  The luggage factor is always the biggest hassle on embarkation day for me; once the bag is taken care of then it is so much more relaxing.  

Enjoy your cruise!  

[LenapeWolf]

26 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Also put your ship name and cabin number on a piece of masking tape and stick to your bag. Saves problems when the Princess tag tears off.

 

15 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

We use luggage tags purchased from Amazon that are virtually indestructible and very inexpensive.  I doubt if many people still use just the paper tags attached with a cable tie or packing tape. Still, it’s good advice to use your idea, too.

I'm pretty confident I use the same luggage tag holders; very stout vinyl pouches with metal eyelets connected to the luggage with a braided stainless steel cable.  I've always put them on the bags after the flight, but I suppose there is no harm doing so when checking in at the airport either.

[Lady Arwen]

9 minutes ago, LenapeWolf said:

 

I'm pretty confident I use the same luggage tag holders; very stout vinyl pouches with metal eyelets connected to the luggage with a braided stainless steel cable.  I've always put them on the bags after the flight, but I suppose there is no harm doing so when checking in at the airport either.

Yes, put the tags on before checking into your flight.  One of our members recently posted that a friend, who works at a large airport, told them that the luggage handlers always try to prioritize cruise luggage because they know the ship will leave without it.  I had no idea!  But, it makes sense, right.

[memoak]

38 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

We use luggage tags purchased from Amazon that are virtually indestructible and very inexpensive.  I doubt if many people still use just the paper tags attached with a cable tie or packing tape. Still, it’s good advice to use your idea, too.

We have plastic holders with a hole in them that get attached through our luggage locks. 

[LeeW]

4 hours ago, LenapeWolf said:

And before anyone says something, I am intentionally arriving the day of embarkation because I can't get off work any earlier (it was booked with PrincessAir and comes with guaranteed boarding if something happens.)

 

Luggage transfers will be fine but the "guarantee" doesn't work for Alaska one way cruises to Whittier.  If you miss the ship in Vancouver and the next stop is a US port you can't get on in any port due to PVSA rules.  Not allowed to travel from one US port to another on Alaska routes.  So don't miss sailing! 

[cr8tiv1]

8 minutes ago, LeeW said:

 

Luggage transfers will be fine but the "guarantee" doesn't work for Alaska one way cruises to Whittier.  If you miss the ship in Vancouver and the next stop is a US port you can't get on in any port due to PVSA rules.  Not allowed to travel from one US port to another on Alaska routes.  So don't miss sailing! 

 

You can join the ship in Alaska....IF....

You booked by EZ Air and missed the ship.  They will/should guarantee that you arrive at the next port AND they should pay for the PVSA.

 

If you didn't use EZ Air, be prepared.  The immigration line could be as long as 1 to 2 hours to get through at the airport. Then it is another 30 minutes to Canada Place.

[LenapeWolf]

1 hour ago, LeeW said:

 

Luggage transfers will be fine but the "guarantee" doesn't work for Alaska one way cruises to Whittier.  If you miss the ship in Vancouver and the next stop is a US port you can't get on in any port due to PVSA rules.  Not allowed to travel from one US port to another on Alaska routes.  So don't miss sailing! 

 

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

You can join the ship in Alaska....IF....

You booked by EZ Air and missed the ship.  They will/should guarantee that you arrive at the next port AND they should pay for the PVSA.

 

If you didn't use EZ Air, be prepared.  The immigration line could be as long as 1 to 2 hours to get through at the airport. Then it is another 30 minutes to Canada Place.

The cruise is booked with the Princess EZ Air package; it was less expensive than booking direct with Air Canada (for the way to) and Alaska (for the return home) if you can believe it. 

 

Princess guarantees that they will hold the ship for as long as possible or fly us to Ketchikan along with lodging and food comps if boarding is missed due to a covered event.  They will handle the PVSA documentation with USCIS as well, as it is their responsibility.  This is possible because as passengers we are on the manifest for the Canadian departure, it is not a case of joining a foreign-flagged vessel at a US port to then travel to another US port.  The intent was to board at a Canadian port to then go to the United States, is documented as such, and there is a valid reason for having to join the ship in Ketchikan (or what ever the first port of call is for your particular voyage.)

 

Yes, you'll probably have to stand your ground a little bit with a low-wage agent in the Phillippines and do the run-around.  It will be really frustrating and stressful too.  Yes, the best option is to always make the ship in time and enjoy the sail-away party!  But if the airplane breaks and you don't get to the dock on time, its not the end of the vacation.