Vancouver Info if needed

[martincath]

What is the best way to go to Granville Island from Pacific Central Station with the least amount of walking. We know where the Skytrain Station is across the street from Pacific Central Station.

 

The last time we did this we took the Skytrain to a station close to The Roundhouse then a ferry to Granville Island, but I don't recall the station name.

 

Thanks for the info.

Just walk beyond the Science World/Main Street Skytrain Station and get on a ferry at the Village Dock - map here. Either Aquabus or False Creek Ferries will take you to GI for $5.50/$10 return.

[pizzalady1]

Just walk beyond the Science World/Main Street Skytrain Station and get on a ferry at the Village Dock - map here. Either Aquabus or False Creek Ferries will take you to GI for $5.50/$10 return.

 

Well, that is easy--thanks!

[OC PAT]

Hi there. We will be getting off the Coral on 5/31, early am and training it to Seattle on the dinner time train. We were planning to do one of the hop on hop off tour after getting off the ship. Should we store our luggage at the train station or Canadian Place? I'm trying to figure out if we should taxi to the station right off and then find our way to the tour or vice versa.

 

Next question, do we need to get Canadian Money to do the tour, eat meals and buy gifities? If so where do we do this...On the ship, go to a Canadian Bank. Should I book the tour on line or wait until I get there?

 

Is one tour better than another? We basically want to see the sights and stop to explore one or two places that catch our fancy. I know the time limits us but I figured the hop ons would be the best way to see Vancouver. Agree?

 

Thank you for your time.

[Cruisin' Lisa]

I skimmed through the long thread, but just wanted to run some things by you to get your input and wonderful knowledge:

 

My hubby and I are leaving this thursday for vancouver to stay 2 days pre-cruise and then we depart May 17 at ballyntine pier (taking a b2b vancouver - seattle - alaska). Hubby and I have been here before but its been 10 years ago.

 

Staying at the Hotel at River Rock -- got it for $113/ night on Hotwire--which seems like a very reasonable price, esp since we wanted to stay somewhere near the skytrain.

 

1. Exactly where in the airport can we purchase the book of 10 faresaver tickets (1 zone) -- we will add to fare for second zone when needed. I think I read we can purchase these at the airport at the 7-11? Can we use our charge card -- or is USD better ?(if possible, would rather use cash so we dont incur a "foreign transaction fee" on our charge card).

 

2. I hear Richmond is well known for their chinese food, any places near the river rock casino within walking distance? esp for dimsum lunch? (There is "Sea Harbor" at River Rock-- is that a good place with reasonable prices for Chinese dinner?)

 

3. This Friday May 16, there is supposed to be an Asian summer street fair starting that night near the river rock -- would that be a good place to visit? OR is it mostly just vendors selling Asian food from stalls? Is this the street faire the one that charges a $3.00 admission price?

 

4. We've been to Stanley Park, the Granville district, Chinatown, and shopping area at robson. Any other places you would recommend for Friday during the day -- either in vancouver itself or richmond area?

 

5. When using the faresavers, I think I read that on sat and after 6pm weekdays, the fare for 2 zones ( eg from Richmond to vancouver) is $2,50 instead of $4.00. Does that mean we would only have to use 1 ticket without having to pay for zone 2 during those times?

 

6. On sat, how do we go to Ballyntine? Do we take the skytrain until it ends? After we get off, then where do we go since I hear Ballentyne is not really walking distance from the Canada Place pier?

 

Thanks for all your help.

[Hard-habit-to-break]

Hi,

 

I have looked at the Amtrak website but can't find a definite answer.

 

We plan to use the Amtrak train to go from Seattle to Vancouver on 1st September 2014. We will book tickets online very soon I think.

 

My query - I know we can check luggage in, how much carry on luggage can we have? We will have one checked in bag each (hubby and I) but probably will have a carry on each as well as camera etc.

 

We are planning to book business class, will we be able to take the carry on or do we need to check it as well?

 

Thanks.

[crusinbikers]

Hi,

 

I have looked at the Amtrak website but can't find a definite answer.

 

We plan to use the Amtrak train to go from Seattle to Vancouver on 1st September 2014. We will book tickets online very soon I think.

 

My query - I know we can check luggage in, how much carry on luggage can we have? We will have one checked in bag each (hubby and I) but probably will have a carry on each as well as camera etc.

 

We are planning to book business class, will we be able to take the carry on or do we need to check it as well?

 

Thanks.

We are also planning on taking the Amtrak Cascades up to Vancouver this summer.

Hope this link will help with some of your questions.

http://www.amtrakcascades.com/Baggage.htm

[martincath]

Hi there. We will be getting off the Coral on 5/31, early am and training it to Seattle on the dinner time train. We were planning to do one of the hop on hop off tour after getting off the ship. Should we store our luggage at the train station or Canadian Place? I'm trying to figure out if we should taxi to the station right off and then find our way to the tour or vice versa.

 

Next question, do we need to get Canadian Money to do the tour, eat meals and buy gifities? If so where do we do this...On the ship, go to a Canadian Bank. Should I book the tour on line or wait until I get there?

 

Is one tour better than another? We basically want to see the sights and stop to explore one or two places that catch our fancy. I know the time limits us but I figured the hop ons would be the best way to see Vancouver. Agree?

 

Thank you for your time.

Sorry for delay - I was cruising 8th through 18th.

 

If you're HOHOing (which is an efficient way to hit the highlights with a coupe, of stops as you suggest you want to do), I'd store bags at Canada Place - that way you only have to take one cab, at the end of your trip from there to Pacific Central train station.

 

Buying online in advance is usually no cheaper, but gets you a second day of HOHO use for free - not much use to you as you're leaving. You can pay with a credit card (Canadian or international) onboard. Any sit-down meal will cost enough to allow credit card use, and most souvenir-selling stores will also take CCs - mostly I see minimum purchase levels of $5, very rarely $10.

 

There are a ton of stores specializing in various degrees of tacky (amusing T-shirts & fridge magnets) to classy (native art, jade) all along Water Street and you can definitely use foreign credit cards in at least several of those. That said, if you want to change a small amount of currency for casual purchases you'll get screwed much less on the exchange rate of even the least-generous bank than the 'we take US Dollars at X cents' rates many local merchants offer (and give change in Canadian anyway).

[cruisinlawn]

we'll be returning into Vancouver on a Saturday. What is the earliest time we would want to schedule flight out of YVR? Could we make an 11:45a flight? We'd love to explore for a day or three but unfortunately need to return back east on our return day. TIA. :)

[LeftcoastBC]

The answer is Maybe.. if the ship is on time, if it's cleared on time if you "self" disembark and get transportation quickly.

 

Generally locals mostly agree on..... after 12 Noon but hey what?s 15 minutes.

 

Consider the recommended time that the airport and your airline want you to be there ahead of time.

 

Feel comfortable..... go for it.

[ell52]

we'll be returning into Vancouver on a Saturday. What is the earliest time we would want to schedule flight out of YVR? Could we make an 11:45a flight? We'd love to explore for a day or three but unfortunately need to return back east on our return day. TIA. :)

 

It should be okay if there are no unexpected delays and you are in one of the first groups off the ship (e.g. self-disembark; walk-off with bags).

 

If you're taking a taxi and the line is long, go up to street level and get a cab from in front of either the Pan Pacific or Fairmont Waterfront across the street. You could also take Canada Line from Waterfront Station.

[martincath]

we'll be returning into Vancouver on a Saturday. What is the earliest time we would want to schedule flight out of YVR? Could we make an 11:45a flight? We'd love to explore for a day or three but unfortunately need to return back east on our return day. TIA. :)

I would however always recommend an afternoon flight - while ships usually arrive a little early, Stuff Happens. The number of ships in port is more important than the day of the week - if it's a three- or four-ship day a very, very large number of people will want to do the same as you so taxi/limo & security queues will be longer... go check the port website to see who else is docking the same day you arrive.

[cruisnpat]

We are flying in on Sept 4th and have a hotel close to the airport. We have a cruise for the 5th. and I had things all figured out until RCI moves us from Canada Place to the Ballantyne pier. Now I need help with how to get to Ballantyne pier. We are staying at the Days Inn Airport. Thanks for your help.

[Urban trekker]

First you might want to check with RCL and see if they might be running a shuttle between Canada Place and Ballantyne Pier.

 

The distance from Canada Place to Ballantyne is fairly short - how had you planned to get from your hotel to Canada Place - taxi or Canada Line.

 

Are you staying at the Day's Inn at the airport for a reason - there is a Days Inn downtown - for the extra cost of getting in from the airport especially if taking a taxi it might be just as good to stay downtown.

 

Let us know your plans and us locals will be better able to suggest how to handle this.

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

[Cruisin' Lisa]

Pat

 

hubby and I was just in Vancouver last week and we sailed out of Ballyntine Pier Sat May 18th. We stayed at the River Rock Hotel near the airport, just off the bridgeport stop.

 

I'd recommend taking the canada line skytrain to the last stop -- waterfront stop-- and then take a cab (there is a taxi line there, so its easy to find a taxi). We did that and the taxi cost us $11 + tip. If you are boarding your ship on Sat or Sun, then taking the skytrain will cost you just a "1 zone" ticket per person .

 

We bought a 10 fare-saver book of "1 zone" tickets for $21 from the 7 - 11 at the airport (that way we didn't have to pay the additional $5.00 "airport fee"). If you are going 2 zones, you can use the one zone ticket and just pay $2.25 extra. . .or it will cost just the "1 zone" ticket regardless of how many zones you are going after 6:30pm Mon - Fri, or all day on Sat and Sundays.

 

I dont know if it was due to the start of the Alaska season and check-in procedures were still being ironed out , but it took 2.5 hours to get through check in and security. We arrived at ballyntine pier at 1 pm, and didn't get aboard our ship until after 3:40pm. If possible, I would recommend you get to the Ballyntine pier by 12 noon at the latest.

 

If you -- or anyone else-- is interested, I still have 6 unused "zone 1" sky train tickets that I can sell for $13 ($12 for the 6 tickets and $1 for shipping). Just let me know if you are interested.

[scottbee]

I dont know if it was due to the start of the Alaska season and check-in procedures were still being ironed out ' date=' but it took 2.5 hours to get through check in and security. We arrived at ballyntine pier at 1 pm, and didn't get aboard our ship until after 3:40pm. If possible, I would recommend you get to the Ballyntine pier by 12 noon at the latest.

[/quote']

 

Are you sure it was check-in and security that was the hold up? Unlike boarding a cruise almost anywhere else in the world you ALSO have to pass through US Immigration and Customs prior to boarding (so you don't have to in Alaska); and normally that's the bottleneck.

[sept10dsm]

Are you sure it was check-in and security that was the hold up? Unlike boarding a cruise almost anywhere else in the world you ALSO have to pass through US Immigration and Customs prior to boarding (so you don't have to in Alaska); and normally that's the bottleneck.

 

We had one of our quickest boardings last summer in Vancouver. Couldn't believe how smooth it went-especially going through both country's security.

[cruisnpat]

Thanks Dennis and Cruisin Lisa. We are getting into Vancouver late and just wanted to stay close to the airport and the Days Inn was a good price. Was going to take the Canada Line up to the last stop. Sounds like we should still do this and then see if RC has a shuttle or get a taxi and go over to the Ballantyne Pier. That sounds easy enough. Thanks again.

[mabinbk]

I sailed out of Ballyntine on May 8th and stayed at a Richmond Hotel. I booked the Vancouver Shuttle which picked me up at my hotel (River Rock), picked up at others (don't remember if Days Inn was one) and went to the pier, for $15 pp.

 

Check-in at Ballyntyne was awful. Took me over 3 hours, and I have priority check in with RCl. I would recommend getting there before 11, or after 2, if not later. I don't know if immigration is the problem, but it shouldn't be. The time it takes to get through immigration is less than security or checkin. Shouldn't add more than 15 minutes to the process, not hours. I doubt I will ever sail out do Vancouver again.

[LeftcoastBC]

I sailed out of Ballyntine on May 8th and stayed at a Richmond Hotel. I booked the Vancouver Shuttle which picked me up at my hotel (River Rock), picked up at others (don't remember if Days Inn was one) and went to the pier, for $15 pp.

 

Check-in at Ballyntyne was awful. Took me over 3 hours, and I have priority check in with RCl. I would recommend getting there before 11, or after 2, if not later. I don't know if immigration is the problem, but it shouldn't be. The time it takes to get through immigration is less than security or checkin. Shouldn't add more than 15 minutes to the process, not hours. I doubt I will ever sail out do Vancouver again.

 

Well for sure after September of this yr you won't sail out of Ballantyne ..it's being closed as a cruise facility. Thanks for coming.

 

Understanding the flow problems at our facilities is hard for us that live here as usually the cause is as explained above and just a staffing issue.

[martincath]

Are you sure it was check-in and security that was the hold up? Unlike boarding a cruise almost anywhere else in the world you ALSO have to pass through US Immigration and Customs prior to boarding (so you don't have to in Alaska); and normally that's the bottleneck.

I share this opinion in general SB, but our 8th May Ballantyne on the Pearl was almost 100% down to (deleted several unpleasant sweary words) sheer muppetry on behalf of Ballantyne staff running the Security side, not Canadian or US I&C officers.

 

Virtually no wheelchairs available - folks were coming out and onto the buses to warn anyone who needed a wheelchair but didn't have their own that the port refused to provide them and were blaming the cruiseline for not having enough. Meanwhile (I assume different individuals!) security staff were telling the Pearl they were not allowed to take any wheelchairs from the Pearl into the pre-Security area.

 

There was a herd of the affected passengers hanging around in a seating area while the able-bodied among their groups joined the almost-two-hours-when-we-showed-up-at-12:30pm-queue. When those folks got to the front of the line, staff would attempt to help the less-able passengers from their chairs over to the x-ray machines for processing. A couple of wheelchairs were employed, but only to take them to, not through, the gates: post-Security they were able to get into Pearl wheelchairs.

 

From there, with only one prior NCL voyage we still got a slightly preferential queue - 10 minutes vs. probably 15 if you were a first-timer. By this point the Gold/Suites queue was completely empty.

 

Then upstairs to US Customs/Immigration - we literally did not have time to sit down here. We were handed a number, spotted a couple of chairs, moved toward them and *bam* our number was called. Never been processed faster by any US officer at any border crossing, even with NEXUS - literally did not ask us a single question! All the folks sitting around were non US/Canada passport holders - not sure how much extra they had to wait for.

 

We heard from a ton of folks on-board for the long haul what a bunch of douchebags the Ballantyne port folks were in terms of making them leave the vessel and reboard; had an interesting couple of chats with the Staff Captain on board about how their staff were treated - seems like there was some element of douchebaggery from Canadian I&C staff, but mostly it was also down to problems with Ballantyne staff from his perspective too.

 

When I heard about the closure of Ballantyne for cruising, I was not sad...

[Urban trekker]

While the closing of Ballantyne pier next year will be greeted with thunderous applause by many people it may be creating a whole bunch of new challenges at Canada Place - they are going to extend the pier on the east side to allow for another ship to berth and make some changes to the check in area but the fact remains that there will still be only one entrance into the check in area - down the ramp - unless they have some other idea to get people to the ship - so just think - 4 ships = 10,000 people trying to get into the pier early while 10,000 + people are trying to get out of the terminal.

 

Could be interesting.

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

[Putterdude]

I am a little amused by the some of the recent post re the situation at Ballantyne Pier earlier this month but on the other hand I wasn't standing in the lines. However, a person can almost set their watches by it, following the two repositioning weekends each May the forums will rife with complaints about the lines and the threats of never returning.

 

I have experienced the lines at Canada Place on repositioning weekends and I know they aren't fun. But me thinks we have to understand that both the port and the cruise lines have a lot of new hires in the terminals for the first time and it is one thing to be trained and other to have to face a bunch of angry passengers for the first time.

 

Earlier there was some comments about a lack of wheelchairs in the terminal....well unfortunately I know a fair amount about wheelchairs and I don't recall any port authority providing wheelchairs. The only ones we have ever seen or used have been provided by the ship. You may on occasion see one with another ship's name on it but that is about it.

 

With regard to in-transit (or b/b) passengers having to leave the ship and pass through immigration, this is quite normal. CBP (not sure about CBSA) require the ship to be "zeroed out" when coming from a foreign port we have to go through it quite regularly. The practice also allows the ship officials to ensure that every one has disembarked or accounted for....sadly we had a situation a few years ago where a person had committed suicide by leaping from the ship and this wasn't determined until the ship had been zeroed out two days after the event.

[Urban trekker]

PD - very true words about Ballantyne Pier - I came through there on my Grand coastal disembarkation and the time from leaving the ship - which was 15 minutes EARLIER than scheduled - to getting in a taxi was less than 15 MINUTES - mind you we didn't have to clear customs as we did that in Nanaimo - I was home a half hour after leaving the ship.

 

Well there are some pluses about living in the downtown core.

 

I have been in Fort Lauderdale when there were 11 ships in port - that was a mess and that is a port that is suppose to be used to handling a large number of ships

 

There were 8 ships in port in Rio at Carnival time - all line up one behind the other and only one exit point from the port area.

 

Cheers and how is the golf game - the weather is suppose to improve next week.

 

Dennis

[mopedmom1]

Last Fall I brought my daughter and her friend to Vancouver for a repositioning cruise to L.A. We spent a wonderful pre-cruise day due in large part to the incredible advice from Martincath, Urban Trekker, and Putterdude. You guys were so helpful that when we had the opportunity to see "Queen" in concert this summer we chose your fair city to spend our travel dollars in! Alas, there is no cruise involved this trip.

 

We will be arriving early in the day Friday, June 27th, via our own vehicle and departing early afternoon Sunday. Despite Putterdudes great disdain we have reservations at the Best Western Ch. Granville. It fits the budget, and has the sleeping accommodations that we require. I will have my husband with us to ward off the less than savory and we have earplugs! I like BW for the loyalty points, but if you have any other suggestions that would work at this late date I will certainly take them under advisement. The main thing would be easy access to the Rogers Stadium Saturday evening. My husband will be our chauffeur as he refuses to go to the concert and he is not one to sit in a pub while he waits for us.

 

We are interested in seeing:

 

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge (Saw Cap last fall, amazing but expensive)

Grouse Mountain

Stanley Park

Granville Island

YaleTown

China Town

Gas Town

 

Any helpful tips, hints, driving advice, etc would be greatly appreciated. Your incredible and invaluable info made our last trip so seamless right down to finding the 7-11 at the airport to purchase our transit tickets!

 

I would also appreciate any dining info you can give. We did not make it to the Swiss Bakery for the frissants so that is TOP of the list. Our food preferences are mid-priced, not a chain, not too fussy. My daughter and I are much more adventurous than the hubs, but if they serve chicken without a lot of spice he will be satisfied. OY! :p

 

And one last question... Will there be any early Canada Day festivities that weekend that we should be aware of?

 

Thank you for all the wonderful work you do here. You truly are ambassadors for your amazing city!

[martincath]

Even if you found a decent hotel rate including parking, number one piece of advice for attending a Rogers Arena concert is - don't drive. There's a network of one-way streets around the area, during hockey matches/big concerts the streets are full of folks looking for parking, pulling in & out of traffic without signalling, driving too slow, pedestrians thronging the crosswalks so only one car gets to turn per light etc. etc. Getting back to the hotel GPS will also probably send him along Expo, which is partly covered (= may lose satellite signal in slow traffic).

 

The one piece of good news about traffic is that the football game at BC Place next door should be finished (3pm start) so it's just the ~20,000 concert attendees you need to worry about... even so, I'd say take the C23 Community Shuttle. It goes from right outside your hotel to Expo & Abbott, right outside the stadium. Which neatly leads me to...

 

Second piece of advice - enter the stadium from Dunsmuir, not Georgia. The vast majority of people always use the entrances on the Georgia side (it's closest to most of the available parking), which leads to huge crowds that can take well over an hour to get inside (Bruce Springsteen was the last sellout gig we went to at Rogers Arena, doors opened an hour early and the show started ~15 minutes late and there were still hundreds of people pouring inside for at least another 15 minutes after the gig started). We walked around to the other side of the stadium and literally straight in the door - the extra couple of hundred yards on foot saved us soooooo much time. If you do come by bus, the Abbott/Expo stop is the right side to be on - Dunsmuir is the street above your head, so just climb up the stairs and head for Gate 2.

 

Non-concert advice - call ahead to Swiss Bakery to preorder your Frissants. I popped in a month or so ago and they are still selling out every day's batch. They're open seven days, so grabbing these on your way out of town Sunday might make the most sense - there's free street parking all along 3rd ave.

 

As for the rest of the activities - with all day Fri, daytime Sat, Sun morning available you could probably fit in all of your listed places. Gas/China/Yaletown is a half-day on foot at a leisurely pace; Lynn Canyon & Grouse are not as convenient to each other as Grouse & Cap, but with your own car are still easily done in the same day (I'd do this Friday if the weather behaves, and the canyon first, as there's much less parking here than at Grouse).

 

Depending how much of Stanley park you want to explore on foot you could spend a whole day there - but again with having your car, paying for a day's parking and strategically moving the car around would save time. Saturday morning here, then the afternoon walking around Gastown etc. - in fact you could save some hassle by having dinner in Gastown then walking to the stadium directly instead of going back to your hotel. Save On Meats Diner would certainly do something simple for the hubster - if you & your daughter will dine separately on concert night then Calabash is also just a few minutes walk to the Arena (NB: it's very close to the core of the Downtown Eastside at Carrall & Hastings, but you won't see anything worse than you do in downtown Portland...)

 

Granville Island I'd be tempted to leave until Sunday morning - it's quieter and much easier to find parking if you were planning to take your car. It's also easy to go from here up to Swiss Bakery for those Frissants - you're on the right side of False Creek. Follow 4th ave, which turns into 6th then 2nd, all the way to Quebec and hang a right up one block to 3rd (turn left onto 3rd and you're right on the same block as Swiss Bakery).

 

Food around the hotel area is plentiful - Granville Street doesn't have much high-falutin' stuff but there are plenty of pubs that will definitely meet your hubby's needs. My fave Izakaya, Alpha, moved up onto Granville just a block from your hotel - their menu has plenty of pub staples like wings, pork chops, sausages along with some excellent sushi rolls and decent sashimi. Twisted Fork bistro right across the road is mostly known for brunch, but does serve a full menu. The Fish Shack is just a block up from you if you fancy fish & chips.

 

Last Fall I brought my daughter and her friend to Vancouver for a repositioning cruise to L.A. We spent a wonderful pre-cruise day due in large part to the incredible advice from Martincath, Urban Trekker, and Putterdude. You guys were so helpful that when we had the opportunity to see "Queen" in concert this summer we chose your fair city to spend our travel dollars in! Alas, there is no cruise involved this trip.

 

We will be arriving early in the day Friday, June 27th, via our own vehicle and departing early afternoon Sunday. Despite Putterdudes great disdain we have reservations at the Best Western Ch. Granville. It fits the budget, and has the sleeping accommodations that we require. I will have my husband with us to ward off the less than savory and we have earplugs! I like BW for the loyalty points, but if you have any other suggestions that would work at this late date I will certainly take them under advisement. The main thing would be easy access to the Rogers Stadium Saturday evening. My husband will be our chauffeur as he refuses to go to the concert and he is not one to sit in a pub while he waits for us.

 

We are interested in seeing:

 

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge (Saw Cap last fall, amazing but expensive)

Grouse Mountain

Stanley Park

Granville Island

YaleTown

China Town

Gas Town

 

Any helpful tips, hints, driving advice, etc would be greatly appreciated. Your incredible and invaluable info made our last trip so seamless right down to finding the 7-11 at the airport to purchase our transit tickets!

 

I would also appreciate any dining info you can give. We did not make it to the Swiss Bakery for the frissants so that is TOP of the list. Our food preferences are mid-priced, not a chain, not too fussy. My daughter and I are much more adventurous than the hubs, but if they serve chicken without a lot of spice he will be satisfied. OY! :p

 

And one last question... Will there be any early Canada Day festivities that weekend that we should be aware of?

 

Thank you for all the wonderful work you do here. You truly are ambassadors for your amazing city!