Every year from May to September, cruise ships come and go between Vancouver and Alaska. And while we think Alaska is a magnificent and remarkable place, we think Vancouver is quite spectacular in its own right and deserves a day or two either at the beginning or end of your Alaska cruise.
With that in mind, we have created this page of useful information for Alaska cruise passengers who want to take advantage of being in Vancouver to see the city and have some fun.
Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminals
Vancouver's cruise ship terminal at Canada Place is downtown within easy walking distance of, or a short taxi ride from, major Vancouver sights and services.
The Vancouver Cruise Terminal is considered by many to be the best in North America.
Getting To / From the Cruise Ship Terminals
The Canada Place Cruise Ship terminal is about a 45 minutes from the Vancouver International airport (YVR). Ballantyne Cruise Ship Terminal is about 50 minutes from YVR. Some cruise ship companies arrange to have buses meet you at the Vancouver International airport and transfer you to the cruise ship terminal.
If that is not the case for your tour, you have some transportation options:
- The Canada Line Light Rail
Vancouver has a light rail train that runs between the airport to Waterfront Station. From there, you can walk the two blocks to Canada Place Cruise ship terminal or take a taxi either to Canada Place or Ballantyne terminal. The Canada Line costs about $6.25 per person and takes 26 minutes from the airport to Waterfront Station. It's the fastest and most economical way to get downtown from the airport.
- Taxi
For about C$35, taxis are available just outside the Arrivals Centre at the airport.
- Limousine
Limousines are available just outside the arrivals front entrance. They are $39 + tax and gratuity. If there are four of you with luggage, the limousine is a comfortable, economical way to travel.
If you are flying into Seattle rather than Vancouver, you can take Amtrak, Quick Shuttle, fly or rent a car.
To / From Seattle:
- Amtrak offers train service between Vancouver and Seattle twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. It leaves Seattle at 7:45AM and 5:45 PM each day and arrives in Vancouver at 11:40 AM and 9:45 PM.
Amtrak also offers bus service daily. Amtrak leaves Vancouver each day at 6:40 AM and 5:45 PM and arrives in downtown Seattle at 10:45 AM and 9:45 PM.
- Quick Shuttle provides bus transportation from Seatac Airport to Vancouver Airport, Downtown Vancouver and the Cruise Ship Terminals. Quick Shuttle provides complimentary doorstep service to all major Hotels. You can make your Quick Shuttle Reservations online.
- Horizon Air offers frequent daily flights from SeaTac to Vancouver International Airport.
- You can pick up a rental car at SeaTac, drive it to Vancouver, park it for a week, then pick it up when you get back from your Alaska cruise, return it to SeaTac and drop it off.
If you take the train to Vancouver, either Amtrak from Seattle and points south, or ViaRail from Edmonton and points east, you can easily get from Pacific Central Station to the cruise ship terminals by taxi or SkyTrain.
Pacific Central Station, where Amtrak, ViaRail and Greyhound arrive and depart, is only about half a block from the Main Street SkyTrain station.
The SkyTrain costs C$3.75 and takes you downtown in about 3 minutes or to Waterfront Station, only a 5 minute walk from Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal, in about 5 minutes.
An alternative is to take a taxi from the train station to the cruise ship terminal for C$7 - C$9. The SkyTrain doesn't go to Ballantyne Cruise Ship Terminal. Your best transportation option from Pacific Central Station to Ballantyne Cruise Ship pier is a taxi for about C$10.00.
From Victoria, you can get to the Vancouver cruise ship terminals either by float plane or bus and ferry.
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By Float Plane: The quickest and easiest way to get between Vancouver and Victoria is to fly. The trip takes 35 minutes and goes between downtown Vancouver (just west of the Canada Place cruise ship terminal) and Victoria's Inner Harbour. C$134 + 5% tax per person each way. (There are often summer sale prices on float plane flights.)
The luggage allowance on the float planes is 25 lbs per person. If you have more, you can bring it with you at no extra charge providing there is room. Call us at 604-990-9299 or 800-913-9207 to make float plane reservations.
You can also send some luggage ahead on an earlier flight or have if follow you on a later flight if there is no space on your flight for all your luggage. There is no charge for extra luggage whether it travels with or without you.
- Pacific Coach Lines transports passengers from downtown Victoria to the Cruise Ships once a day from May through October. The bus leaves Victoria bus depot at 10:00 am and arrives at the Cruise Ship piers at approximately 1:45 PM.
Things To Do in Vancouver
We do recommend that you plan to spend a day or two in Vancouver if you can spare the time because Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and there are hundreds of things to do. With that in mind, here are suggestions for Vancouver tours and activities.
Vancouver Bus Tours
- Vancouver Pre Cruise City and Capilano Suspension Bridge: This tour makes a perfect pre cruise tour. We can pick you and your luggage up from your hotel at 8:00 AM, take you on a tour of Vancouver and the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park and then drop you and your luggage at either cruise ship terminal in perfect time to board your ship, have a bite and get unpacked before your cruise begins.
- Vancouver Post Cruise City Highlights Tour: This tour makes a perfect post cruise tour. We can pick you and your luggage up from the cruise ship terminal at 10:00 AM, take you on a tour of Vancouver then drop you and your luggage at your Vancouver hotel, the train station or the airport.
- Victoria and Butchart Gardens: This tour takes a whole day and is best done when you are spending at least two nights in Vancouver.
- Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge: This tour also starts daily at 10:00 AM, and it makes an excellent post cruise tour. You will probably want spend the night in Vancouver if you take this tour since it doesn't end until about 5:30 PM.
- Whistler and Shannon Falls Bus Tour: Another full day tour, you will want to take this tour if you're spending two nights in Vancouver or if you want to spend a night in Whistler since we can take you to Whistler on one day and bring you back another for the same price.
Victoria Day & Overnight Tours - All these tours take a full day and so should not be planned on days you are leaving on a cruise or arriving from a cruise.
- Victoria & Butchart Gardens (Fly Both Directions)
- Victoria Day Trip with Float Plane & Ferry
- Victoria and Butchart Gardens
- Victoria and Whale Watching
- Victoria Overnight Trip with Float Plane & Ferry
- Victoria & Tea at the Empress Hotel
Vancouver Train Tours
Many people combine an Alaska cruise with a train tour to the Canadian Rockies. We are Canadian Rockies train experts and can help coordinate your cruise and train trip and put together the best of both at the very best price.
Vancouver Currency Exchange
In Vancouver, the best place to change money is Vancouver Bullion & Currency Exchange
near the corner of Hornby & Hastings
800 West Pender Street
Suite 120
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm
604-685-1008
Not only does VBCE have the best exchange rates in town, but they are conveniently located close to Canada Place Cruise Ship terminal.
Vancouver Luggage Storage
CDS Luggage Storage operates a luggage storage facility at Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal. You can leave your luggage at Canada Place after you get off your cruise or before you board. You can even have your luggage transferred to the airport so you can spend the day exploring Vancouver without having to lug luggage.
Carry-ons are C$4.50, suitcases are C$5.50 and oversize items are C$7.00 a day. Luggage storage is available from 5:00 AM-1:00 AM. Call 604-303-4500 for more information.
Cruise Ship Parking
If you arrive in Vancouver by car, pick up or RV, you can park in secure parking right at the Canada Place Cruise Ship terminal. For more information, contact Citipark at Canada Place: 604-684-2251 or 1-866-856-8080.