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Vancouver is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city located in the lower mainland of southwestern British Columbia. Renowned for its scenic beauty and diversity, it is considered one of the top 10 tourist destinations in North America. The Port of Vancouver is a popular gateway for cruise ships operating summer cruises to Alaska. Every year over one million cruise passengers on more than 300 sailings pass through the Port of Vancouver’s Canada Place and Ballantyne cruise ship terminals. Canada Place is Vancouver’s premier port located in the city center. A city landmark, Canada Place is designed to resemble a ship with five sails, and The Pan Pacific Hotel and the Convention and Exhibition Center share space with the 3 berth cruise ship facility.

The Ballantyne Pier is located a few miles east of city center in a rather seedy, less desirable industrial area and can accommodate 2 ships. The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is located about 14 km south of the city in Richmond.

Both cruise ship terminals are easily accessible from the airport. As a convenience to your clients, you may want to contact the cruise line to see if they participate in the US Direct program. Port Metro Vancouver, cruise lines and the Vancouver Airport Authority offer "Onboard Check-in” and “US Direct" streamlining Alaska cruise ship passenger processing US Direct allows passengers arriving at Vancouver Airport (YVR) to transfer directly to a same-day-departing cruise ship by participating in expedited immigration and customs clearance process. Onboard Check-in allows passengers arriving on a cruise ship and flying out of YVR on the same day to transfer directly to YVR by participating in an expedited immigration and customs clearance process. There is a $20 service fee per person, but if connections are tight, it is certainly something to consider.

--Taxis are most convenient and readily available on the International and Domestic Arrivals level curb outside the terminal. The ride will take approximately 30-35 minutes depending on traffic and presently costs about $35CAD.

--Limo: HighEnd Limo now holds the YVR contract for service and cost is presently $39 CAD + GST 5% and tip for a town car and $50CAD + GST and tip for larger limos. Reservations are not necessary and are available at both the airport and at the pier.

--Shuttle Service: The Airporter leaves the airport every half-hour, but also stops at the major hotels along the way. Cost for adults is $14CAD one-way and $22CAD round-trip/ child fare $6.75CAD one-way and $13.50CAD round-trip. The Airporter also offers a Family Fare (2 adults and 2 children) for $28 one-way or $44 round trip.

--Rental Cars: Avis, Budget and National have rental car kiosks at the cruise terminal.

--Skytrain: After Labor Day (2009) the new Canada line monorail will be available for clients that are able to handle their own luggage. They will be able to take the Skytrain directly from the airport to the Waterfront Station which is about 100 steps east of Canada Place for $3.75CAD.

--Parking: Onsite parking (770 spaces) is available in a two-level parking garage operated by VINCI Park. Rates are presently $20 per day. Off-site parking is available at Cruisepark (455 Waterfront Road) with complimentary shuttle service to and from the cruise terminal (Note: There is no shuttle service on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday). Reservations are strongly recommended and should be made 30 days in advance.

--Taxis: Taxis are readily available and cost will be approximately $35-$40CAD for the 30-35 minute trip.

--Limo: HighEnd Limo also services Ballantyne. Cost is $47CAD for a town car. No reservation is necessary from the airport to the pier, but reservations MUST be made for the return trip.

--Shuttle Service: The Vancouver Shuttle (note this is NOT the same as the Airporter) provides scheduled service to and from Ballantyne Pier, with hotel stops along the way for $13CAD per person.

--Rental Cars: There are no rental car kiosks at Ballantyne Pier. Your clients would need to pre-arrange drop off and pick-up with the rental car company.

--Parking: There is no long term parking onsite. Off-site parking is available through Cruisepark (see details above under Canada Place).

As one would suspect, as a world-class destination, Vancouver offers a myriad of world-class accommodations. This list by no means includes all the properties that are suitable for a pre or post cruise stay, but rather a list of those that have been frequently and consistently highly recommended by fellow agents and their cruise passengers for their location and cruise friendly amenities.

●Pan-Pacific Hotel Vancouver: (999 Canada Place) – If your clients are looking for luxury and convenience, this waterfront hotel is located directly on top of Canada Place. Condé Nast, Travel and Leisure and AAA consistently rate it as one of the best places to stay in the world. It is also highly recommended by cruisers and agents alike for its convenience.

●Fairmont Waterfront: (900 Canada Place) – This luxurious hotel is connected to Canada Place Cruise Terminal by an enclosed walkway and offers stunning views wherever there is a window. Excellent service is a benchmark of this hotel. As ratings go, this is another favorite of many cruisers.

●Sutton Place: (855 Burrard St) – Located steps from Robson Street this AAA Five-diamond property is as close as one can get to world-class shopping and close to the cruise terminal. Elegant and lavish, guestrooms offer a combination of luxury and European style.

●Wedgewood Hotel and Spa: If your clients are looking for the ultimate in luxury in a boutique style hotel, this is the place. Intimate and surrounded by gardens and waterfalls, the 83 balconied rooms are individually decorated with antiques and art from private collections. This is a great property for your clients willing to splurge on the best.

●Hyatt Regency Vancouver: (655 Burrard St) – Towering over downtown, this hotel is right beside the new Skytrain and close to the harborfront. The hotel provides all the standard amenities one expects from a Hyatt and frequently offers very attractive rates for cruisers.

●Westin Bayshore: (1601 Bayshore Dr) – This is a particularly nice property for families or those who are interested in exploring Stanley Park. It is connected to Stanley Park via the seawall, has an indoor and outdoor pool and features their “Westin Kids Club”. More like a luxury resort than a hotel, the Westin Bayshore adds that “vacation touch” to an otherwise typical hotel stay. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the Robson Shopping District.

●Best Western Downtown: (718 Drake St) – This BW offers a Park n Sail package which includes overnight accommodations, complimentary hot breakfast, transportation to both piers and up to 8 days of free parking. The hotel is located at the entrance to Yaletown and is a good choice for a budget hotel. With the urban transformation that this once industrial area is experiencing, the hotel is now situated in what is considered an OK area. Qualify your clients, as it may not be suitable for all, but based on recommendations from frequent Alaska cruisers, it appears on this list of choices as a good option for clients needing an inexpensive, yet clean and well-managed property and/or in need of parking.

●Blue Horizon: (1225 Robson) – If your guest are looking for a nice hotel, with good rooms, centrally located in the heart of the shopping district that is moderately priced, then this is a good choice. This is also a stop on the Vancouver HOHO Trolley and the hotel provides discount coupons for its guests.

●Hampton Inn & Suites: (111 Robson St) – This hotel is recommended as a good value in a prime location, central to all Vancouver attractions and within walking distance to the Canada Place cruise terminal. They provide a complimentary shuttle to the port (but make sure your clients sign-up for the shuttle in the AM as it is on a first-come, first serve basis).

●Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites: (1110 Howe St) – Free wi-fi, an indoor pool open 24 hours, kids eat free and special kids program and activities make this a great choice for families. Robson shopping district is only a couple blocks away and the cruise ship terminal is less than 1 km from the hotel.

●Hotel Le Soleil: (567 Hornby St) – With a quiet, boutique like ambiance and traditional European décor, this all-suite hotel in the heart of the shopping district may be a perfect fit for your budget-conscious clients looking for an upscale experience. It is five-star hotel that offers three-star pricing specials.

Vancouver is a world-class city that has much to offer your clients and deserves at least a day or two to explore. From the massive green space of Stanley Park to designer shops in the heart of the city known as Rodeo Drive of the North, Vancouver has something to please everyone. Your clients can pick up free maps and information at the tourist booths inside both terminals.

There is no better place to start than Stanley Park, Vancouver’s main tourist attraction. With over 1,000 acres and a 5+ mile paved seawall to explore on foot, by bike or via the free horse drawn carriage, your clients can watch totem pole carving, relax at one of the beaches, enjoy a picnic at one of the scenic locations such as the rose garden or beaver pond, take in the view from Prospect Point, play at the children’s farmyard or visit the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center.

Exploring the ethnic diversity that abounds in the city is a great way to spend a day. Historic Gastown, located about 5 blocks from Canada Place is a quaint neighborhood of cobblestone streets, trendy boutiques, antique stores and even a working steam clock. Just a couple blocks farther east and clients can visit Chinatown, second only to San Francisco in North America. If they happen to be there on a week-end in the summer, Chinatown comes alive with a bustling night street market beginning at 6:30 PM. Known to many as Vancouver’s little Soho, Yaletown is the newest trendy and bohemian quarter with bars, clubs, galleries and shops to explore in downtown Vancouver. Located on the north shore of False Creek, this once heavily industrialized area, is now one of the biggest urban regeneration projects in history. It is definitely a neighborhood to see-and-be-seen. Granville Island, just across False Creek offers its own charm. A visit to the Granville Public Market is quite a treat, as are the artist studios. For your clients that are shopaholics, they can just follow Burrard Street south from Canada Place a few short blocks to Robson Street to get their fix. Upscale shopping, trendy restaurants and chic boutiques line the streets in both directions.

Just outside of the downtown district on the other side of the Lions Gat Bridge is Grouse Mountain. Grouse Mountain offers a year round recreational environment accessed by its ski gondola that will take your clients to the summit where they will be rewarded with an excellent overview of Vancouver along with access to lots of activities including hiking and mountain biking.

Perhaps one of the best ways to explore the city in a short period of time is via the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour or the Vancouver Trolley HO-HO Tour. Both have a convenient stop at Canada Place and make continuous circular routes throughout the city. Either choice will include all the major tourist stops, such as, Granville Island, Stanley Park, Chinatown, Gastown and the Robson Shopping District, to name a few. Harbor cruises and ferry tours are other options for getting an overview of the city.

The Greater Vancouver Visitors and Conventions Bureau offers helpful tools and resources to travel agents. Tourism Vancouver (www.tourismvancouver.com ) provides various collateral materials, a monthly newsletter for the travel trade, travel assistance planning and offers training and FAM opportunities to assist travel professionals in increasing their bottom line.

Nancy Norris
Owner, Portside Travel
Cruise Editor

Nancy Norris, a former editor of CruiseReviews.com and PortReviews.com where her reviews are still the top performers, is the feature writer for The Heart of Lake County Magazine's travel section, contributing author of travel guide books for consumers and educational resources for agents. She is a home-based travel agent specializing in cruising and maintains a strong presence on the Internet as administrator and moderator for various travel agent forums.


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