Vancouver Cruise Port

The centerpiece of Vancouver's gleaming downtown waterfront is made of graceful white "sails," which create a translucent pavilion above the Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal, gateway to the majestic glacier-carved fjords of the northern Pacific Coast. The city itself is stunning, a sparkling metropolis of glass spires and lush city parks atop the Burrard Peninsula, cradled in the snow-capped North Shore Mountains, just visible in the distance.

More than half a million happy passengers cruise through Vancouver Port each year, headed to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and Alaska, some of the most fantastic coastal scenery in the world. Yet many of these intrepid travelers soon realize, after spending only a day or two here in Vancouver, that this charming Canadian city is the place to which they most want to return.

How to Get to Vancouver

The Port of Vancouver has two cruise ship terminals, Canada Place and Ballantyne Pier. Canada Place is in the heart of downtown, surrounded by excellent hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and other attractions. The port is served by public transportation, taxis, and limousines, as well as rental car kiosks.

Isolated Ballantyne Pier is located just east, behind the container terminal, with few services and no hotels. Walking from Ballentyne to Canada Place is possible, but passes through a very sketchy area of town – best to pay for a taxi. Some hotels and cruise lines run shuttles to downtown.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is about half an hour away from either terminal; metered taxis charge around C$40. From Canada Place, you can take the Skytrain directly from the Fairmont Waterfront to YVR.

One Day in Vancouver

Consider a pre-cruise tour of the city, taking in the Stanley Park totem poles, Gastown, and other iconic Vancouver locations; or the North Shore for more natural attractions.

Day-trippers who want to see more of the city, should explore Vancouver's lush gardens, or escape the urban environment with a visit to Grouse Mountain, accessible by gondola. The stunning alpine ski resort of Whistler, gorgeous year round is also an option, as is a wine tour of Fraser Valley. All of these are fabulous ways to use your limited time in Vancouver.

Practical Info

If you arrive at Ballantyne Pier, your best bet is to grab a cab directly to Canada Place, in the heart of downtown. The official currency is the Canadian dollar, available from ATMs surrounding the Canada Place terminal; in 2010, there was still not an ATM at Ballentyne, but you could pay taxis with credit cards. Vancouver's official language is English, but French (along with dozens of other languages; this is one of the world's most ethnically diverse cities) is widely spoken.