LIVE from Radiance in Alaska

[AFT_LOVER]

that is one great service in Vancouver. Wish RCCL would do it for all cruises.

 

Land at the airport, get off & see U S Direct rep with their green polo. She tells us where to walk to meet the group to leave for the bus. So we follow the U S Direct signs all through the airport. Short line for immigration with passports & onto bus. When it is full we are told that we are to stay onboard, if we exit we cannot reboard & must go through the regular immigration line & pay for a bus or taxi to the ship. Then the rep leaves, tapes the bus door shut & the Driver announces we are SEALED.

 

Then we drive about 40 minutes to the port, going thru security checkpoints with the driver stating WE ARE SEALED & they see the tap from U S Direct. Then we arrive at Radiance & are unsealed to board.

 

This was one great service, no pressure on anyone, and we were at lunch in under 5 minutes after getting Sea Passes & photos taken.

[Cheryl H]

that is one great service in Vancouver. Wish RCCL would do it for all cruises.

 

Land at the airport, get off & see U S Direct rep with their green polo. She tells us where to walk to meet the group to leave for the bus. So we follow the U S Direct signs all through the airport. Short line for immigration with passports & onto bus. When it is full we are told that we are to stay onboard, if we exit we cannot reboard & must go through the regular immigration line & pay for a bus or taxi to the ship. Then the rep leaves, tapes the bus door shut & the Driver announces we are SEALED.

 

Then we drive about 40 minutes to the port, going thru security checkpoints with the driver stating WE ARE SEALED & they see the tap from U S Direct. Then we arrive at Radiance & are unsealed to board.

 

This was one great service, no pressure on anyone, and we were at lunch in under 5 minutes after getting Sea Passes & photos taken.

 

Is US Direct something you booked through RCCL?

So you didn't have to get your luggage at the airport first?

[clbnlv]

Cheryl, here's the scoop on US Direct, applicable only if you are flying in the day of your cruise. A great program set up by the Canadian government (NOT RC) for U.S.travelers. We used it in September and it was a breeze.

 

Hope this helps!

 

"If you are brave and fly in the same day as the cruise, then the Vancouver Transfer Program-U.S. Direct Express Customs and Immigration Clearance is good. You must arrive before 3 PM and have the cruise ship tags on your bags. They don't transfer the bags after 3 PM.

 

It will save standing in the Customs line for up to an hour some times. Even if you choose not to do this program they still transfer the bags if they have the cruise tags on them up to 3 PM. The baggage doesn't say whether you paid for the transfer, so the bags with tags go to the truck.

 

You are directed to a special area from the plane and then taken by bus to the cruise ship and your bags go in a special truck at the plane, on to the ship. They do not go on the carousel but directly into a truck on the tarmac.

 

If you want to Be Sure your bags made the flight, then don't put the tags on them and collect them at the carousel yourself.

YVR has FREE luggage carts by the carousels and Porters to help you with your luggage.

 

There are cruise reps, only for the day of sailing, in the secure Baggage claim area to help you. NO one is allowed in this baggage area without a special badge.

Once you have your bags you give back your Declaration Card to the Customs Agent on the way out of the baggage area.

Once outside this area you will see All cruise line reps standing there to greet their passengers and assist them. If you have a transfer and exit this way they have their buses outside this area to take you to the ship."

__________________

 

Enjoy your cruise...

[Cheryl H]

Thanks for the info.