disembarking vancouver

[golf261]

We are doing a southbound Diamond Princess next year, disembarking in Vancouver. We are scheduled to arrive at 7:30 AM. What would you suggest as to the earliest time I should book a flight home? Thanks.

[Cheryl H]

We flew home from Vancouver after the repo cruise from San Diego to Vancouver. When we got to the airport, we were funnelled through a long long line and charged $20 per person airport fee. I think we got to our gate by lunchtime. They had glass panels separating us from the other side of the gates (hard to explain). Anyway, we got there in time to have a hotdog. If it were me, I'd book something just after lunchtime.

 

Have fun on your trip. We are planning an Alaskan one for next summer, but are trying to avoid Vancouver. Hoping to get one that is round trip from Seattle.

 

Off topic, but I used to live in Whiteland and attended Community Church of ***** before moving to Plainfield.

 

p.s. If you visit Victoria, stop in Rogers Chocolates! Their vanilla cremes are scrumptious. That was our all time favorite port.

[BigKahuna123]

Not before 11am.

[bunduo]

Check to see how many ships are coming into port the day of debarkation. If there are a bunch, you can figure on some very long lines...so plan accordingly.

[ProudFossil]

Check to see how many ships are coming into port the day of debarkation. If there are a bunch, you can figure on some very long lines...so plan accordingly.

 

We debarked in Vancouver last year. There was one other ship arriving at about the same time. There were THREE US immigration officers to check almost 4,000 people back into the states. You go through US immigration at the docks and are then bused directly to the airport. It was horrible. Luckily our plane did not leave until 1:30 but there were many people there who were missing their flights. It was bad enough to make us change our travel plans for another trip in order to bypass coming back through Vancouver.

 

Mike

[fti]

We disembarked in Vancouver last July about 8am, got to the airport with our own pre-arranged transportation, checked in and had plenty of time to spare for noon and 1pm departures. That was on a Saturday with at least two ships in port. Longest lines were US immigration and security but our lines moved quickly.

 

You don't want to rush and worry if you will miss your flight. Probably plan about 1pm if at all possible.

[RichardK]

So I guess my current thinking of:

 

*The ship docks at 7:00am;

*I'll take a taxi from Canada Place to the Airport (YVR);

*With an 11:08 outgoing flight..........

 

........might be cutting things too close??

 

Your opinion, please?

[bunduo]

So I guess my current thinking of:

 

*The ship docks at 7:00am;

*I'll take a taxi from Canada Place to the Airport (YVR);

*With an 11:08 outgoing flight..........

 

........might be cutting things too close??

 

Your opinion, please?

 

Personally, that would be a little tight. You could make it but everything has to go smoothly. First, the ship has to dock on time...usually not a problem. Then you have to get off the ship...always takes longer than expected. Then you have get a taxi to the airport...usually not a problem. Once you're at the airport the lines can be so long its mindboggling. Every line is long from check in, to customs to security. Seriously, the line to get through customs was one of the longest lines I had ever been in. Major stress when your at the back of the line inching forward. You will look at your watch every two seconds for two hours. If you miss your flight, it could really ruin the end of the vacation.

 

-Matt

[golf261]

Thanks to everyone for the information. I did check the cruise calendar and it appears there will be a total of 3 ships in Vancouver on May 26th, so if I leave from there, think I will book an afternoon flight.

 

Now another question: I am checking airfare from Indianapolis to Anchorage and returning from Seattle after the cruise. Currently airfare is around $500/person. Does this seem reasonable to those of you who have done this itinerary? Thanks.

[codyody]

Last time I checked from Cincinnati ot was around $650/person

[fti]

Thanks to everyone for the information. I did check the cruise calendar and it appears there will be a total of 3 ships in Vancouver on May 26th, so if I leave from there, think I will book an afternoon flight.

 

Now another question: I am checking airfare from Indianapolis to Anchorage and returning from Seattle after the cruise. Currently airfare is around $500/person. Does this seem reasonable to those of you who have done this itinerary? Thanks.

 

You might want to look into returning from Vancouver. Often it is not that much more than Seattle (other times it is a lot more). You might also want to go to one of the online travel sites and set up a fare watcher, where it alerts you when the fare does up or down. It is a good way to monitor the prices.

[bunduo]

Currently airfare is around $500/person. Does this seem reasonable to those of you who have done this itinerary? Thanks.

 

$500 isn't a bad fare at all. For comparison, we paid $667 out of Cincinnati in June 2005. We just snagged tickets for $545 with a direct outbound flight to Anchorage. I felt like I won the lottery. :)

 

For giggles, you can check to see how much a refundable ticket would be just in case fares go down or, like FTI said, set up a farewatcher on one of the travel sites.

 

-Matt

[keeponcruisin1]

I already have my tickets, purchased through a TA, leaving Vancouver at 12:15. I questioned her about the departure time and she said she had done it twice with no problems, and that the ship does customs before you debark, so you have a separate entrance to the airport. Does any of this make sense to anyone? I am worried now.

[LeftcoastBC]

I already have my tickets, purchased through a TA, leaving Vancouver at 12:15. I questioned her about the departure time and she said she had done it twice with no problems, and that the ship does customs before you debark, so you have a separate entrance to the airport. Does any of this make sense to anyone? I am worried now.

 

sounds like you are in/qualify for the Beat immigration plan.(Not the formal name)

As you are on a ship that has cleared customs into the USA you go direct from the Port to the Airport remaining "IN BOND" so to speak and you should have no problem making any connections.