Alaska cruise question

BlondieinFL

Mouseketeer
Joined
May 5, 2015
Anyone who has sailed out of Vancouver and Port Canaveral that can compare and contrast the experience for me? We have only sailed out of Port Canaveral, but are getting ready for our first Alaskan cruise - and, I am wondering how the check-in and boarding process compares? And any other things of note?

Thanks!!
 
The check-in process is different in Vancouver from the standpoint that the cruise terminal is part of Canada Place, which means that the terminal is not a stand alone DCL one like in Port Canaveral. This means that the drop-off area is more crowded, especially is another ship in port that day. Additionally, when going through the security line, you not only get screened like in Port Canaveral, but after the walkthrough and X-ray machines, you then go through US Customs (prevents having to do it when getting to the first Alaska port) before getting to the check-in counters, so have all of your groups passports readily available. Once in the check-in area, DCL has its own waiting area, but it is not permanently DCL-branded like Port Canaveral.
 
Agree with scgustafson above, the Vancouver pier includes a hotel and perhaps 3 or more ships...can be a circus. Make sure you are checking in with DCL or you will be miss the Mickey Bars and get mostly just bars. Look for the big white hands!! We stayed in the hotel across the street (Fairmont Waterfront) and went to the pier the night before to scope it out. The hotel is a bit pricey, but super convenient. Good places to eat nearby, too. You will love the Alaska cruise...take a camera, coat and watch for whales and other critters along the way. Remember, the bear you see is probably not Baloo and not people-friendly. Cruise on...
 
We stayed at the Pan Pacific, the hotel attached to/above the Pier. The street side of the hotel is where taxis and buses drop off the cruisers. Mad-house when the clash of those getting off and those getting on the ships (yes, 3 ships on one day of our pre-vacation) meet and pass each other. There is a lower area (under the hotel) for parking, buses, and walk-on/drag-on. The in-processing for embarkation is behind and under the hotel (away from the street). Lots of lines and LOTS of walking to different points for baggage, check-in, customs, waiting area, etc. They have a system and it works very well. Look for the CMs with the big white Mickey hands and have a pen for filling out paperwork. Done 2 Alaska cruises and love 'em. Happy Cruis'in.
 


I found the videos below helpful before going on our 2017 Alaska cruise to show how check-in, immigration, and boarding process works at Canada Place. The videos were from late 2016 just after the port had changed the passenger routing path throughout the terminal. In 2017, the process was almost identical as shown in the video except Disney had moved the check-in desk orientation in the first big room in the video. I'm not sure if the process is still the same today, but I heard of no major changes to process last year.

Part 1:
--> Jump to time = 44 secs to see start of entry into Canada Place.

Part 2:
--> Boarding ends at Video time = 1 minute
 
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Anyone who has sailed out of Vancouver and Port Canaveral that can compare and contrast the experience for me? We have only sailed out of Port Canaveral, but are getting ready for our first Alaskan cruise - and, I am wondering how the check-in and boarding process compares? And any other things of note?

Thanks!!
Unlike Port Canaveral, Vancouver is a very beautiful and expensive city with many tourist attractions. There are fine hotels right by the ship port. You should spend the day before and/or after exploring the city's attractions.

The port itself is busier than the one at Port Canaveral, with more lines & procedures. But it's easy. Just have your documents prepared, walk in & they'll guide you through it. It's a very orderly place.
 
We have not had much trouble with boarding in Vancouver, took Canada Line to Waterfront station the morning of the cruise, and walked a couple of blocks to the cruise port. There is a sign by the port which directs you to the ramp going down a level, that is where you drop off your baggage. You are then directed to go up a level (or two?) where pass security screening and passport control area, and then directed to DCL registration.
As others mentioned, the experience in Vancouver will vary largely depending on how many ships are in port that day. We had company on both the embarkation and the debarkation days, and the latter was a zoo. It took a long time for our luggage tags to be called (they were adding one tag at a time, 10 in all), so passengers ended up waiting for as long as an hour after they were done with breakfast in MDR before they were allowed to debark. We had the second seating, our tags did not get called until around 9:45. Decks 3 and 4 were very crowded, with barely any space to sit down. Once we stepped out, there was a huge line for taxis (we did not need one, so no idea how long that would take).
 


The getting on is easy. Marked well. Follow the queues and DCL signs and you are good. It is the debark day that you need to be prepared for, like the previous post said. It was a rough experience and a sad way to leave such a beautiful vacation. We waited two hours to get a taxi once we actually got off the ship and got our luggage. You can’t use UBER in Canada only taxis. There were other ships debarking so the line was enormous. Thankfully our flight didn’t leave until 2:00pm so we had enough time. But it wasn’t fun standing in that line especially with children. Had I know I would have arranged other transportation to the airport. I also would have kept my luggage and been able to walk off the ship when we wanted. Just my thoughts. Alaska is amazing and my favorite Disney cruise thus far!
 
Thank you for all the information!! And the videos!

The getting on is easy. Marked well. Follow the queues and DCL signs and you are good. It is the debark day that you need to be prepared for, like the previous post said. It was a rough experience and a sad way to leave such a beautiful vacation. We waited two hours to get a taxi once we actually got off the ship and got our luggage. You can’t use UBER in Canada only taxis. There were other ships debarking so the line was enormous. Thankfully our flight didn’t leave until 2:00pm so we had enough time. But it wasn’t fun standing in that line especially with children. Had I know I would have arranged other transportation to the airport. I also would have kept my luggage and been able to walk off the ship when we wanted. Just my thoughts. Alaska is amazing and my favorite Disney cruise thus far!

So, are you able to just carry your luggage off of the ship (that's what we always do at Port Canaveral)?

We are staying in Vancouver for one night after the cruise - so, now I am wondering if we should arrange car transportation to our hotel, or just hope that we can get a taxi within a reasonable amount of time? May not help that we are a family of 5.

Also, is there a "best" time to check in? We usually arrive close to 1:00 at PC, but not sure if that's the best strategy in Vancouver? We are Platinum now - does that make a difference?
 
So, are you able to just carry your luggage off of the ship (that's what we always do at Port Canaveral)?

We are staying in Vancouver for one night after the cruise - so, now I am wondering if we should arrange car transportation to our hotel, or just hope that we can get a taxi within a reasonable amount of time? May not help that we are a family of 5.

Also, is there a "best" time to check in? We usually arrive close to 1:00 at PC, but not sure if that's the best strategy in Vancouver? We are Platinum now - does that make a difference?
Yes, you can do self walk-off, it won't be as early as in Port Canaveral, but you will be among the first ones to leave the ship.
Transit-wise, public transportation is the easiest option, but this depends on where your hotel is.
As platinum you will not have a PAT, I would just plan to get to the port about half an hour prior to start of boarding, so that you don't waste any time waiting in the concierge / platinum "corral" (unlike Port Canaveral, it's just a small area within the terminal separated by portable partition panels). The earliest PAT in Vancouver is 11:00, and they typically begin boarding the ship around 11:45-12:00.
 
I found the video's below helpful before going on our 2017 Alaska cruise to show how check-in, immigration, and boarding process works at Canada Place. The videos were from late 2016 just after the port had changed the passenger routing path throughout the terminal. In 2017, the process was almost identical as shown in the video except Disney had moved the check-in desk orientation in the first big room in the video. I'm not sure if the process is still the same today, but I heard of no major changes to process last year.

Part 1:
--> Jump to time = 44 secs to see start of entry into Canada Place.

Part 2:
--> Boarding ends at Video time = 1 minute
My God, that’s a lot of walking
 
We stayed at the Pan Pacific, the hotel attached to/above the Pier. The street side of the hotel is where taxis and buses drop off the cruisers. Mad-house when the clash of those getting off and those getting on the ships (yes, 3 ships on one day of our pre-vacation) meet and pass each other. There is a lower area (under the hotel) for parking, buses, and walk-on/drag-on. The in-processing for embarkation is behind and under the hotel (away from the street). Lots of lines and LOTS of walking to different points for baggage, check-in, customs, waiting area, etc. They have a system and it works very well. Look for the CMs with the big white Mickey hands and have a pen for filling out paperwork. Done 2 Alaska cruises and love 'em. Happy Cruis'in.

We are staying here pre cruise this summer

Did you have the hotel Pan Pacific transfer your luggage? If so is the next time you get the luggage at the cabin? or does the luggage have to stay with you? we will keep a few carryon's
This does sound like a lot of walking, we will be traveling with someone in a transport chair, would we just take the elevator from the hotel where we could walk on if we don't have to keep all our big suitcases? (which you refer to as lower area, under the hotel) I realize we will have to go thru security somewhere.

We have sailed out of PC six times, which seems extremely easy compared to this.
 
Vancouver was a breeze! In Port Canaveral, I felt like there was so much waiting, and pushing and shoving to get past people who were crammed in at the doors trying to be the first to board the ship even though they were boarding group 10 or whatever.

Vancouver was nothing like that. We were busy and moving almost the whole time, save for the 5 minutes we spent sitting whilst waiting for our row of chairs to be escorted to the ship.

Debarking was a dream, too! Walked off the ship, went through customs super fast, found a taxi, and we were at the airport so early, we weren't allowed to go through security! We had to wait 2 hours (?) at the airport before we could go through security. Then another 2 hours before boarding the plane. It was so easy, like Miami (Royal Caribbean's terminal).
 
Thank you for all the information!! And the videos!



So, are you able to just carry your luggage off of the ship (that's what we always do at Port Canaveral)?

We are staying in Vancouver for one night after the cruise - so, now I am wondering if we should arrange car transportation to our hotel, or just hope that we can get a taxi within a reasonable amount of time? May not help that we are a family of 5.

Also, is there a "best" time to check in? We usually arrive close to 1:00 at PC, but not sure if that's the best strategy in Vancouver? We are Platinum now - does that make a difference?

Read above... we walked off the ship with luggage and were in a taxi and at the airport in no time at all. Super easy! This was on Holland America, but I am sure it is the same on any cruise line there. It was so incredibly quick and easy. Taxis were plentiful. Ready and waiting.

We stayed at the Pan Pacific, at the port, so we just went downstairs and walked into the port when we were ready. No worries about timing etc. Again, we were not on Disney, but it was fine. Spent almost no time waiting to board. Super easy!
 
We are staying here pre cruise this summer

Did you have the hotel Pan Pacific transfer your luggage? If so is the next time you get the luggage at the cabin? or does the luggage have to stay with you? we will keep a few carryon's
This does sound like a lot of walking, we will be traveling with someone in a transport chair, would we just take the elevator from the hotel where we could walk on if we don't have to keep all our big suitcases? (which you refer to as lower area, under the hotel) I realize we will have to go thru security somewhere. We have sailed out of PC six times, which seems extremely easy compared to this.

We only use carry-on luggage for all of our cruises (airlines lost our luggage one time and we swore never again), but PP can handle yours. Check the Pan Pacific web site https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pp-vancouver/offers/alaska-cruise-package.html . We got a great rate, free breakfast, wifi, and transfer (but didn't use it) as part of a special "cruise package".

Yes there is about as much walking as PC (from down stairs security to up stairs, cattle-run lines, security, waiting area, hike up the gangway, and into the ship) plus one more line for customs.

Use the hotel transfer for luggage in your case. It's just the same as dropping it off at PC with the luggage handlers: thrown in a huge pile, loaded into the ship and distributed like everyone else some time around dinner at your stateroom door. I don't know how they treat the checked luggage for security and customs.

They really keep the lines moving so there was hardly any standing around waiting.
 
We only use carry-on luggage for all of our cruises (airlines lost our luggage one time and we swore never again), but PP can handle yours. Check the Pan Pacific web site https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pp-vancouver/offers/alaska-cruise-package.html . We got a great rate, free breakfast, wifi, and transfer (but didn't use it) as part of a special "cruise package".

Yes there is about as much walking as PC (from down stairs security to up stairs, cattle-run lines, security, waiting area, hike up the gangway, and into the ship) plus one more line for customs.

Use the hotel transfer for luggage in your case. It's just the same as dropping it off at PC with the luggage handlers: thrown in a huge pile, loaded into the ship and distributed like everyone else some time around dinner at your stateroom door. I don't know how they treat the checked luggage for security and customs.

They really keep the lines moving so there was hardly any standing around waiting.

Thank you for the information. We do have the cruise pkg rooms booked already. Since an elderly person travels with us we push her in a transport chair, similar to a wheelchair,
using elevators sometimes takes you out on the way more, and can be a longer wait, after watching the videos and reading the explanations it did seem more complicated. That's another reason why we want to send the luggage right from hotel.
 

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