Infinity Alaska Disembarkation Question

[Mouthdoc]

We're scheduled for our first Celebrity cruise - Infinity, 7 day Alaska next summer. I'm currently making my plane reservations. With the estimated arrival time in Vancouver at 7:00 a.m., does anyone have any opinions on whether or not I could make a noon flight out of Vancouver? :confused: How long does the disembarkation process take? How difficult is it to get to the airport from the docks? Also, does the Infinity dock at Canada Place or at the Ballantyne cruise terminal? We'd like to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the dock the night before the cruise.

 

Thanks!:)

[Pisces11]

We were on the Summit in September and we could have made a noon flight. We took the transportation bus from the ship and since we stayed in cc cabins, we were one of the first off the ship. The problem was at the Vancouver airport. It was chaotic. We loved our cruise but will never take one again leaving from Vancouver. With 2 cruise ships unloading passengers, United only had one person behind the counter. The lines were looped around the terminal. Then we had to go through customs. I'm sorry I don't remember the name of the dock. We stayed in a hotel around the airport the night before and took the transportation bus to the terminal so I didn't pay attention. Have a wonderful cruise and you should make that flight. Just don't book one for earlier in case the ship is late docking.

[judyfssw]

I think that, depending on your airline, you can get your boarding passes on the ship and your luggage will be sent to the airport and you won't see it again until you arrive at your destination. If this is true, you will only need to go through security and you would make a noon flight. I would also take a cab to the airport as it might be faster. I think that you'll be just fine.

Does anyone know which airlines participate in this?

[magmagee]

We're scheduled for our first Celebrity cruise - Infinity, 7 day Alaska next summer. I'm currently making my plane reservations. With the estimated arrival time in Vancouver at 7:00 a.m., does anyone have any opinions on whether or not I could make a noon flight out of Vancouver? :confused: How long does the disembarkation process take? How difficult is it to get to the airport from the docks? Also, does the Infinity dock at Canada Place or at the Ballantyne cruise terminal? We'd like to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the dock the night before the cruise.

 

Thanks!:)

 

 

I was on the Summit on an Alaskan cruise and we arrived in Vancouver on schedule at 7am. What I did, because I was not sure what would be the best time to book my flight, was I booked a late afternoon flight at 5pm because I have been on other cruises that had some unforseen delays and if we would have booked an early flight we would have never made it. What we did was ask to be put on a stand in list and we were so lucky because by the time we settled into a seat in the terminal waiting for our later flight we were called to board an early plane. We got lucky I guess. I was just more relaxed booking the later flight because the disembarking process can take a long time and then you have to get on the bus and then traffic. We have been on a cruise when there was a disembarking problem and people did miss there flights because they were too early. We stayed at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver and the dock was right across the street. It was great. I have been on the Infinity twice to Alaska and can not wait to go again. Have a great cruise.

[cechase]

Op, we were on Infinity in September for a 10 night Alaska cruise, not a 7 night cruise. The difference is that you embark in Vancouver and disembark in San Francisco.

 

Infinity was berthed at Canada Place, and the embarkation process was for us a breeze because we had a suite. The Express Pass line was very congested with over 200 pax there.

 

Can't tell you about disembarking in Vancouver, but disembarking at Pier 35 in San Francisco was a joke. Both Infinity and a huge Princess vessel were disembarking at the same time. You thought that you were in a mad house looking for and getting luggage. Getting a taxi outside was utter chaos, with some people waiting an hour or hour and half to get a cab.

 

We were off of the ship before 9:00 a.m., but were one of the first groups to disembark.

[C-Lark]

Please allow enought time to get to the airport...

 

We had a cruise on Infinity which arrived at Ballantyne Pier with another

Celebrity ship. 3 years ago

We had a transfer to the airport ( reserved by cruise line)

Were told that our luggage would be transferred to airport and we could go through customs there..........

At airport, no luggage

So after many anxious inquiries, and over 1 and 1/2 hours, the luggage was traced back to the ship.

We had to hire a cab to pick up the luggage and transport to the airport -

at our expense

Then we had to go through customs before checking luggage to be transported to plane.

Our plane reservation was scheduled for 3:20 p.m.

 

If we had an earlier flight we would have had to ship our luggage home,

or miss the flight.

Know you will enjoy the trip and you should not have a problem like we did.

[Pisces11]

Judy, We had signed up to have our luggage taken to the airport but the cruise ship lost our paperwork so we were out of luck and had to carry our own suitcases to be checked in. I personally carried the paperwork down and handed it to the person behind the desk. I know that United and American Airlines participate in this program. I'm not sure about the other airlines.

[GORDONCHICK]

In most cases, noon would be doable, but I would hate for you to be the one exception to that. If you do decide to go for it, please arrange your own transportation to the airport, because the cruiseline shuttles don't leave until they are full and you will wait and wait for that to happen.

[Nurse Bambi]

MouthDoc, Last year the Summit docked at the Ballantyne pier. I am not sure if it is the same for Celebrity ships this year or not. There are hotels in San Pedro and Long Beach. We rented a car at the Airport and droped it the next day (day of our cruise) at Long Beach and took the hotel shuttle to the pier. Hope this helps.

[Nurse Bambi]

MouthDoc, Last year the Summit docked at the Ballantyne pier. I am not sure if it is the same for Celebrity ships next year or not.

Sorry, I was having a "senior moment" and got the port at San Pedro mixed up with the port in Vancouver. Please disregard the LAX/San Pedro info. If you leave from Balalantyne, I am not aware of any hotels close to Ballantyne pier. As I recall it is kind of an industrial area. Some car rental companies may take you to the ship, if you rent a car. We had good luck with Avis this year.

[red knight]

X leave from Canada Place. Have for years, I was on Infinity about 4 years ago Vancouver to Vancouver, and on the Summit last year Vancouver Anchorage. I saw them at Canada Place again this summer. Maybe a 1 off went from Ballentine, but not on a regular basis!