My girlfriend and I were on this sailing with you. We had a 12pm check in time and arrived by 11:30am. We didn't get on until about 1:30. We had a fantastic cruise, and the weather was amazing, with the exception of a little rain in Sitka. The reason we got on so late, YESSSS...the boarding process at Canada place was AWFUL!!! This was my 9th cruise and by far the worst port we dealt with ever! Royal's Radiance of the Seas was also boarding that day, as well as a Sebourne ship. Canada Place just could not handle it. If I ever sail out of Vancouver again, I will make sure there are no other ships boarding. I let Royal Caribbean know about it in my post-survey. I did note that it was not Royal's fault. We spent two days prior in Vancouver and loved it, with the exception of that boarding chaos. We felt so bad for the elderly who had to wait on that terrible long slow line! Shame on them for such an unorganized lousy experience!
We did have to absolute BEST weather for that Cruise, didn't we? Sounds like you had as great a time as we did!!! Glad you enjoyed everything....except that crazy check in.
@@balconyviewswithbj984 It was our first time in Vancouver, Alaska and Seattle. We loved ALL OF IT!! Two weeks after this cruise I was at work still day dreaming about the entire trip. Next to our first time sailing to the Caribbean in 2017, the Alaska cruise was one of our best vacations! We will be back, especially since we live in Los Angeles. Flights are not too costly, only 3 hours and there is no jet lag.
Absolutely. I visited Vancouver from the UK, and stayed in Burnaby. I used to take the transit R5 to downtown Vancouver, passing through East Hastings. Its like the apocalypse.
We cruise from Vancouver often, never having problem. You started off with...leaving for checkin too early. Checkin is on main promenade, you go down elevator or escelator, thru customs, then onto ship. If you drop off luggage...elevator to park garage, then back up to checkin to continue on.
I wonder if you cruised from a different port. First of all, Vancouver is a fairly safe place to be. Gastown is esPECIALLY SAFE, China Town area can be a bit sketchy. The cruise dock here is the most easy one we have ever used. It was very organized and quick. If you need a mobility device you should pre arrange boarding. My last cruise I used a scooter. No problems. Sorry you had a bad time but it may not have been Canada Place problem.
Sounds Like Canada Place needs to send upper management to Port Canaveral to learn how to operate a port. Sounds like a ship show I have heard this on several videos about this port being so awful and disorganized and not caring pretty much.
Yes, and it's a shame as the port is really a beautiful building in a gorgeous area. If they would just get better organized, then it could be an amazing experience.
Great Info! I live in Vancouver and I agree about the "other area's" of the city. Hit me up for recommendations if you'd like, but where you stayed is the best choice. I'll be taking my first cruise out of Vancouver this October and I have always wondered about this. I'm also Subscribing today!
We walked a few blocks away from Canada Place looking for a supermarket to purchase sodas for the cruise and came to the corner of Carrall street and E. Hastings that was completely shoulder to shoulder with homeless for at least a block in every direction. There were people laying on the sides of the sidewalks everywhere with used needles and pipes in there hands. No one harassed us, but it was rather uncomfortable for all of us.
I'm from Vancouver....if you go East....you will be going down "Gastown"...Once you reach "Carrall"...you want to to a 180 and walk back towards the ship....the author is correct, you DO not want to go North...that will take you to Hastings, where the homeless are, stabbing with pencil knives happens every so often....stabbing not to rob you, they just stab people for the heck of it (b/c they're on drugs). When you get off the cruise terminal...instead of turning left (that would be East)...you can go straight (South) and that will take you to downtown Vancouver...if you go West, that will take you to Stanley Park (Good 30 min walk). Walking to Stanley park is safe, but watch out for traffic... do not jaywalk, and cross with the walk sign...you will be fine. Basically where to avoid is "Hastings Street", between Main and Carrall. If you want to visit Chinatown, take a uber/taxis...safer than walking.
My girlfriend and I were on this sailing with you. We had a 12pm check in time and arrived by 11:30am. We didn't get on until about 1:30. We had a fantastic cruise, and the weather was amazing, with the exception of a little rain in Sitka. The reason we got on so late, YESSSS...the boarding process at Canada place was AWFUL!!!
This was my 9th cruise and by far the worst port we dealt with ever! Royal's Radiance of the Seas was also boarding that day, as well as a Sebourne ship. Canada Place just could not handle it. If I ever sail out of Vancouver again, I will make sure there are no other ships boarding. I let Royal Caribbean know about it in my post-survey. I did note that it was not Royal's fault. We spent two days prior in Vancouver and loved it, with the exception of that boarding chaos. We felt so bad for the elderly who had to wait on that terrible long slow line! Shame on them for such an unorganized lousy experience!
We did have to absolute BEST weather for that Cruise, didn't we? Sounds like you had as great a time as we did!!! Glad you enjoyed everything....except that crazy check in.
@@balconyviewswithbj984 It was our first time in Vancouver, Alaska and Seattle. We loved ALL OF IT!! Two weeks after this cruise I was at work still day dreaming about the entire trip. Next to our first time sailing to the Caribbean in 2017, the Alaska cruise was one of our best vacations! We will be back, especially since we live in Los Angeles. Flights are not too costly, only 3 hours and there is no jet lag.
As Vancouverite... East Hastings, near Main is bad. Wouldn't recommend going east of Gastown
Yep, we found that out the hard way
Absolutely. I visited Vancouver from the UK, and stayed in Burnaby. I used to take the transit R5 to downtown Vancouver, passing through East Hastings. Its like the apocalypse.
We cruise from Vancouver often, never having problem. You started off with...leaving for checkin too early. Checkin is on main promenade, you go down elevator or escelator, thru customs, then onto ship. If you drop off luggage...elevator to park garage, then back up to checkin to continue on.
Just curious, but how did I leave for check in "Too Early" when my check in time was 10:30am???
I wonder if you cruised from a different port. First of all, Vancouver is a fairly safe place to be. Gastown is esPECIALLY SAFE, China Town area can be a bit sketchy. The cruise dock here is the most easy one we have ever used. It was very organized and quick. If you need a mobility device you should pre arrange boarding. My last cruise I used a scooter. No problems. Sorry you had a bad time but it may not have been Canada Place problem.
I suppose we will have to agree to disagree.
Sounds Like Canada Place needs to send upper management to Port Canaveral to learn how to operate a port. Sounds like a ship show I have heard this on several videos about this port being so awful and disorganized and not caring pretty much.
Yes, and it's a shame as the port is really a beautiful building in a gorgeous area. If they would just get better organized, then it could be an amazing experience.
Great Info! I live in Vancouver and I agree about the "other area's" of the city. Hit me up for recommendations if you'd like, but where you stayed is the best choice. I'll be taking my first cruise out of Vancouver this October and I have always wondered about this. I'm also Subscribing today!
We absolutely LOVED the Pan Pacific! You can NOT go wrong staying there! Thank you VERY much for subscribing and I hope you have a wonderful trip!
I've heard from multiple sources that Canada Place is chaotic
That is an accurate assessment
What part of the city is less desirable to visit or stay in?
We walked a few blocks away from Canada Place looking for a supermarket to purchase sodas for the cruise and came to the corner of Carrall street and E. Hastings that was completely shoulder to shoulder with homeless for at least a block in every direction. There were people laying on the sides of the sidewalks everywhere with used needles and pipes in there hands. No one harassed us, but it was rather uncomfortable for all of us.
I'm from Vancouver....if you go East....you will be going down "Gastown"...Once you reach "Carrall"...you want to to a 180 and walk back towards the ship....the author is correct, you DO not want to go North...that will take you to Hastings, where the homeless are, stabbing with pencil knives happens every so often....stabbing not to rob you, they just stab people for the heck of it (b/c they're on drugs). When you get off the cruise terminal...instead of turning left (that would be East)...you can go straight (South) and that will take you to downtown Vancouver...if you go West, that will take you to Stanley Park (Good 30 min walk). Walking to Stanley park is safe, but watch out for traffic... do not jaywalk, and cross with the walk sign...you will be fine. Basically where to avoid is "Hastings Street", between Main and Carrall. If you want to visit Chinatown, take a uber/taxis...safer than walking.