Vancouver?Victoria

[Salgal]

Has anyone every hired a driver/shuttle for the day to be picked up at the port and ferried over to Victoria to tour gardens and the city area. I am thinking that with 11 of us it might make sense to travel this way. Thoughts??? Ideas???

 

[lizardstew]

I haven't ever hired a driver, but the gardens are a must see! Victoria is such a beautiful city....it may not be a bad idea to do it this way so you can stop and see things at your leisure. There is one grassy spot (I think it's on the opposite side of island from the cruise ship dock) where you can see the Olympic Mountains of the western coast o Washington. It makes for a really neat picture with you, the ocean and the snow-capped mountains!

If memory serves, they have a pretty good public transportation system...you may want to look into that unless someone in your party doesn't get around easy....I know everyone doesn't like the public transportation avenue....but it's an idea!

If you like coffee, there is a place just down from the Empress hotel called Sam's Deli...they have really good mochas and pastry treats! We live in Arizona and my mom was standing in line somewhere the other day and she heard the two guys in front of her talking about it....small world!

 

[p.g.]

Salgal, are you planning to do this while in Vancouver port just for the day, or are you planning this as pre or post cruise trip. I live in Victoria and you need to know the logistics involved. The trip form the port in Vancouver to the ferry terminal to the island is about an hour, can be more during rush hour, the ferry is 1 hr 35 minutes and then the drive into Victoria is about 40 minutes,( only 30 minutes to the Butchard Gardens) .
Victoria is beautiful, and totally worth the visit,the gardens are incredible( and I'm not even a " garden " person) .
Yes Sam's deli is famous, the best sandwiches in the country for sure, ( and HUGE) .
Also Murchies for cakes and coffees and teas.
Rogers Chocolates( hand made in store) .
The Inner harbour of the city is lovely , you don't need a car once you are there , the Empress hotel, the Royal British Columbia Museum( yes worth seeing, great sections on our First Nation people) the Parliment buildings and shopping are all with in walking distances.
It is all doable in a day, but a long day, I would recommend taking the ships tour if you are only in Vancouver port for the day. If doing it on your own , then I think taking a bus tour to Victoria and Butchard Gardens is a great idea. Greyline bus company probaly has tours that you can take that are cheaper then the crusie line sponsored pre or post cruise tours.
Tthe other option is renting a car, ( or in you case two mini vans. ) the driving is very sane here, so not scary at all.

 

[Beryl]

Salgal, Whatever way you get there, do make the effort to go over to Victoria! It is a little jewel. If I was doing a night or two pre-cruise it would definitely be in Victoria!!! (Sorry to all you Vancouver fans...Vancouver is nice too but in my opinion not as easily absorbed as our beautiful capital!)

The Butchart Gardens are absolutely beautiful and a must see at least once. p.q. really hit the highlights of downtown and I would take the advice to rent 2 mini-vans!! Shopping on Government Street is a pure delight. If you have a rental car or a driver be sure to take a trip to the Oak Bay Area of the city. There is a little restaurant there called "The Blethering Place" and it is a wonderful spot for afternoon tea....not nearly as elegant or expensive as The Empress but a "real" Victoria experience.

I want to go back!!