8 tips you need to know before cruising out of Vancouver

Getting to the Vancouver port from the airport is a breeze. But getting through the terminal and on to your cruise ship can be a miserable 3+ hour experience. Here are 8 tips to help you save time and grief on embarkation day.

📓 CHAPTERS

00:00 Start
00:30 Experience with port
01:03 Lesson 1: Delays
01:17 Lesson 2: Getting to the port
01:45 Port overview
02:09 Lesson 3: Cruise line communication
03:04 Lesson 4: No priority lanes
03:51 Lesson 5: Backup plan
04:13 Lesson 6: Capilano
04:29 Lesson 7: Luggage tags
05:25 Lesson 8: Luggage storage

🎬 RELATED VIDEOS:

#princesscruises #portofvancouver #alaskacruise #majesticprincess #vancouver

[rickinnes]

I love leaving from Vancouver. Such beautiful scenery. Here’s what we have done to avoid over crowding . We normally cruise with Celebrity.I book first time slot to arrive at check in and have completed on line check in . We show up at 10 am and breeze through check in, security and customs . It’s important to get first boarding times and fully check in on line . We where on the ship enjoying lattes by 11am . We stay at Pan Pacific hotel which is above cruise terminal . They offer luggage check in and show up in morning to take your bags . I have noticed later afternoon boarding avoids the big rush.

[johnbonar]

Left out of Vancouver on July 1 on Cunard and they did have priority lines for Grills Suites passengers.

[scotthodgin]

Sorry you had such a disappointing experience at the port of Vancouver. My wife and I went on an Alaska cruise from that port August 2023, and it was one of the easiest ports I’ve ever embarked from. I truly believe that one of our advantages was the fact that our cruise left on Wednesday instead of over a weekend. We stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel, which is right there at the port and literally walked down and was on our ship within an hour.

[AddisonLambert-yd]

Flew to Vancouver as part of crew many times.we went to a restaurant called the flying beaver. Ate and watched the seaplanes take off. Planes were at small airport across the street. When leaving, the railroad ties went across the street to stop traffic.seaplane crossed the street, went down the ramp into the water, and the flying beaver seaplane took off! Very cool!!

[paulbjorlin]

I have cruised out of Vancouver many times and have never had the problems you mentioned. I will admit the biggest problem I have had is the lines waiting to leave the ships. I hope to cruise out of Vancouver many more times.

[gerrygibeault]

I've also had some of my worst embarkation experiences at the Vancouver cruise terminal.

[ExploreTayo]

Great tips, thanks, we're cruising out of Vancouver for the first time in September.

[linettej.]

I’m glad you showed Skytrain/Canada Line as a great option to travel between the airport and cruise terminal. Vancouver is our home port, and we parked at the YVR value lot and took Skytrain in. So glad we did - we heard stories about the terrible traffic and saw the Uber/taxi lines afterward.
Also glad you mentioned the long processing time. It seems some people haven’t had that issue but they may have sailed with fewer ships in port.
All passengers from all ships in port get in the same line together to go through security and customs.
It might also be a thing that it’s worse early in the season with inexperienced staff.

[camilledextraze]

Sorry about your horrible boarding at Canada Place. The last time we were there, we were waiting to go through security to board a HAL ship. My husband, when he saw the crowd waiting togo through, informed me that it would take us at least 3 hours to get through the process. We were in our cabin about 20 minutes later!

[oceanside]

Good info. It's funny because i had zero delays on HAL from Vancouver. Everyone has different experiences on different days in similar places. Random mysteries of life.

[evelynlivingston]

We recently cruised out of vancouver and it could not have been more smooth. For us the worst part of the cruise began after we boarded the Crown princess. Out of 16 cruises, it was the worst. From the food to cold showers, lack of any decent entertainment, avoid that ship.

[georgecastro]

🚢My friend, I just found your channel today and thank you for doing such a great job explaining the port of Vancouver, Canada! Here’s a little tip for you… I have done five cruises to Alaska and I find it much easier to sail out of Seattle, Washington!🤔It’s a breeze and extremely fast getting onto the ship!🤗

[mikeklar]

We never had any problems with Holland swift and smooth

[CarlosAustin]

Thank you for the great tips! It's surprising that cruise companies haven't streamlined this process, considering they handle it week after week. It would also be beneficial for the city of Vancouver to invest in creating a truly efficient system for onboarding travelers.

You mentioned the porters—could you please let me know where they are located?

Thank you!
🚢

[Boffin]

Sorry about the lines, but for the most part it's beyond control of the cruise line and port. The UNITED STATES CBP pre-clearance (required because Alaska doesn't have the staff to clear that many people) is the slowest part. If you're an American, you can help the issue by asking your local representatives to properly staff their pre-clearance facilities; but the Canadians can't do anything about it.

[lynnewilliams]

It is US Customs so of course there is no priority for top tier cabins or guests. The cruise line has no control over this

[richardg]

Canada Place is beautiful but a failure as a cruise port. A glorious mess. Hard to believe you are directed to go outside and then back inside snaking through the building. The entrance and exit to the cruise port part of the building are through the garage area. Insane!
Skylink is fantastic.

[tonyvaninetti]

You are right. Avoid embarcation in Vancouver.

[ChristineKim-nvfe]

What is yellow sand? In Vancouver port. it looks like some kind of soil factory.

[Dead-Goldstar]

Love the video Vancouver port is very busy place to embark from I live in Winnipeg, Mb 🇨🇦 and we're considering flying to an American port and embark from there instead can you suggest any ports that would be a close alternative I have no issues flying to them than to Vancouver which I would of had to do anyway.