Help with US Direct

H

H2O babe

Guest
We disembark the Spirit on Wed., July 8th in Vancouver and have a flight home to MSP at 12:05. I am trying to arrange for US Direct and Carnival keeps telling me they don't offer that program from pier to airport, just airport to pier.

BSeabob - can you give me any guidance here? If US Direct is not an option for us do you recommend we self-disembark and take a taxi to the airport? I'm kind of nervous about this noon flight now! Thanks.

K.
 
B

BSeabob

Guest
It's Up to your cruise line to be involved with USA direct. If they aren't then there is no option.

A 12.05 PM flt. from Vancouver is always questionable. Due to a lot of things like ship being late into port. late being cleared you know the usual. General advice from out here is 1 PM earliest.........

BUT: If you did get to carry off in the first bunch and were able to get a cab and leave right away I think you could do it. It's mid week right ? Piers make a difference also. Are you at Canada Place ? Ballantyne is generally slower for cabs but once in a cab it's quicker to the airport from there.
Something else to consider is, are there other ships in at the same time? My ship calendar won't load from "Port of Vancouver" site just now. .. they have upgraded and left some of us behind. You can check that here <http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/about/cruiseandtourism/cruiselineschedules.aspx>

So the long answer is........... likely if all is on time. Depends on your comfort zone if you want to try it. I know that people do.

Let me know if there is something else you may wish to put into the mix.
 
H

H2O babe

Guest
Thanks for the link - I did check it out and see that we are disembarking at Canada Place East and the Volendam is disembarking at Canada Place West. Yes, we arrive in Vancouver on a Wednesday morning.

We will plan to be up early and ready to go self disembarking and hope for the best I guess.

Are taxis lined up at Canada Place just waiting or can you pre-arrange pick-up?

Thanks BSeabob!!
K.
 
B

BSeabob

Guest
They are there lining up same as ports all over. But I see no reason why you couldn't try a pre arranged pick up.
I do know that some folks skip the line at the taxi area on the disembark floor and go directly to the front of the Pan Pacific up two floors from near the vehicle entrance to the area.
But it is like all other ports. There will be a line and when the first folks hit it disappears as they get used and then one has to wait for arriving cabs that are dropping off.
I do know that LimoJet the service that I use from the airport will not take reservation from the Port and likely everyone else is like that too. It's a problem getting a time from passengers because of what we have discussed here already and we all know that if you are walking through the area and see a cab empty you will be gone in it in a flash..... And you will be too early to get the cabs that are bring people too the port on a regular basis.

YOu might try an email to a cab company Yellow, Blacktop, MacLure are the three biggies asking, ...recognizing their limitations and asking if a call to them from just outside customs which would mean you are ready to go would find a cab quicker say up on the Hotel level or some other point close by. (Assuming you have a cell phone) It's not hard to walk out and up to the street.... a little awkward with luggage but doable.

Let me know how you make out.
 
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