Disney Cruise Line – Pre/Post Cruise Hotels and Ground Transportation

LAST UPDATE: 9/29/24

On this page we’ve collected some useful hints about Disney Cruise hotels and where to stay before or after your cruise, ground transportation (limo or rental car) and other pre/post cruise information.

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Disney Cruise Hotels: Where to Stay the Night Before Your Cruise

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Port Canaveral Hotel Options

For those who want to spend the night at Cape Canaveral before their Disney Cruise, there are four hotels very close (5 miles or less) to the port: Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral, Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach, Country Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral and the Radisson Resort at the Port.

These hotels are also good places to stay if you also want to visit the Kennedy Space Center.

If you will be arriving at the Orlando airport the day before your cruise (and we highly recommend this, so you don’t have to worry about missing your sailing), you might want to consider spending the night before your cruise at Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport. It is located inside the Orlando International Airport (MCO), so this can be a nice option if you are arriving later in the day. 

Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral

Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral is an all-suite hotel about 2 miles from the Disney cruise terminal.  It’s the newest hotel in the group nearest the port, and has a pleasant modern feel with a few Florida-inspired touches here and there. Your stay includes a FREE hot breakfast buffet every morning. On Monday – Thursday evenings from 5:00-7:00 pm, the hotel offers a FREE evening social with snacks, beer and wine. Rooms feature FREE high-speed internet access.

There are two room types: studios (bedroom with one king or two queen beds, living room area with full-size sofabed but not separated by a wall) and 1-bedroom suites (one bedroom with one king or two queen beds, separate living room with full-size sofabed). All sleep at least 4, but the two-queen 1-bedroom suites can sleep 6.

All room types include a full kitchen with two-burner cooktop (no oven), microwave, dishwasher and full-size refrigerator. Bathrooms have granite countertops.

This hotel does not have a restaurant (just a breakfast room where the complimentary breakfast and evening social is served), but there are several restaurants within a mile of the hotel.

The Homewood Suites offers “Park and Go” cruise packages that allow you to park your car in their lot during your cruise. The packages include two vouchers for the shuttle to Port Canaveral. If you are not on such a package, the hotel offers a shuttle to Port Canaveral for $5 per person each way. If you don’t want to use the shuttle, you can take a taxi to the port from this hotel for around $10. 

Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach

Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach is an all-suite hotel with a nice Florida-style ambiance and a heated pool and whirlpool. Your stay includes a FREE hot breakfast buffet. Rooms feature FREE high-speed Internet access.

There are three room types: studios (bedroom with king bed, living room area with sofa bed but not separated by a wall), 1-bedroom suites (one bedroom with two queen beds, one bath, separate living room with sofa bed) and 2-bedroom suites (two bedrooms, each with a king bed, two baths, separate living room with sofa bed).

All room types include a full kitchen with stove/oven, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator. Beds at the Residence Inn are equipped with high-quality mattresses and bedding. Bathrooms have granite countertops.

This hotel does not have a restaurant (just a breakfast room where the complimentary breakfast is served), but there are several restaurants within a mile of the hotel.

The Residence Inn offers “Park and Cruise” packages that allow you to park your car in their lot during your cruise. The packages include a certain number of vouchers for the shuttle to Port Canaveral. If you are not on such a package, you can pay separately for parking ($6/day) and the hotel offers a shuttle to Port Canaveral for $6 per person round trip. If you don’t want to use the shuttle, you can take a taxi to the port from this hotel for around $10. Thanks to Jamie D for additional info.

Country Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral

Country Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral is located virtually next door to the Residence Inn, so they are about the same distance from the port. Your stay includes a FREE hot breakfast buffet every morning. The hotel has a fitness center, FREE high-speed Internet access, outdoor heated pool, a waterfall hot tub, and a gas grill and fire pit. Shuttle service is offered to the port (for a fee).

There are five room types: standard rooms with one King bed or two Queen beds; family suites with one Queen bed and a separate kid’s room area with two twin beds; one-bedroom suites with one King or two Queen beds and a separate living room area with a queen sleeper sofa; whirlpool suites featuring one King bed with a whirlpool tub; and Captain’s Quarter suites with King bed, queen sleeper sofa, separate living and dining areas and a larger kitchenette with a toaster oven. All room types include a microwave, small refrigerator (except Captain’s Quarter suites, which have full-size refrigerators) and coffee maker.

The Country Inn & Suites does not have a restaurant (just a breakfast room where the complimentary breakfast is served), but there are several restaurants within a mile of the hotel.

This hotel offers Park & Cruise packages that allow you to leave your car at the hotel while you are on your cruise and take a shuttle to and from the port. If you don’t book a Park & Cruise package, you can still take the shuttle for a fee (currently $5/person). If you don’t want to use the shuttle, you can take a taxi to the port from this hotel for around $10. 

Radisson Resort at the Port

Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral is also close to the port. It gets mixed reviews. It’s an older property than the Residence Inn or Country Inn & Suites. Most rooms include Sleep Number beds and FREE high-speed Internet access.

There are three room types: standard rooms with one King bed or two double beds; King Jacuzzi suites, which include one room with a King bed, a whirlpool Jacuzzi, a separate full bathroom and one room with a comfortable living room area and a pull-out sofa sleeper; and Two King Jacuzzi suites, which are the same as the regular Jacuzzi suites except that they have two King beds in the bedroom. Suites include a microwave and mini refrigerator; regular rooms do not.

The Radisson has an elaborate waterfall pool, a koi pond and beautifully landscaped grounds. There are tennis courts and a fitness room. There is a buffet-style restaurant (extra charge) that has a nice atmosphere, with lots of windows, white-washed walls and high ceilings. The hotel lobby/restaurant entrance has a small lounge for evening drinks.

The Radisson offers some packages that including parking for your car at the hotel while you are on your cruise and a shuttle to and from the port. Alternatively, the hotel will charge you a fee to park your car in its lot while you are on your cruise, and provides a shuttle to the port for $5 per person, or you can take a cab for $10-12.

Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport

The Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport is an upscale hotel that is actually located in the Orlando International (MCO) airport terminal, so you don’t have to worry about traveling any further. Just collect your bags, take them up on the elevator, check in and you’re ready to start enjoying your vacation! Or, if you prefer, take advantage of their luggage retrieval service; for a small flat fee ($10, last we checked, plus tips for the bell staff at your discretion), Hyatt staff will retrieve your luggage from baggage claim and deliver it to your room. (The rooms are well insulated from the airport noise, by the way — we have stayed there several times and did not hear the planes.)

If you stay at the airport Hyatt instead of going all the way out to Walt Disney World, you are much closer to Port Canaveral. That means you can sleep in a little longer before heading off to the ship in the morning. You can choose from multiple dining options within the airport, or take a swim at the hotel. It’s great way to start relaxing right away.

The Hyatt has a relationship with Disney, so you can arrange Disney bus transportation to the ship from the hotel (or you can book a private car transfer or rental car if you prefer). If you arrange your transportation through Disney, your luggage is transported directly to your stateroom on the ship. Talk about convenient!

Fort Lauderdale Hotel Options

The Fort Lauderdale hotel below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a travel agent, contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Pre/post-cruise stays can be added up until 31 days prior to check-in date (after that time, you can be waitlisted). If you stay both before and after the cruise, both portions must be booked at the same hotel. Pre/post-cruise stays that are added to a cruise reservation must be purchased for ALL guests in the same stateroom.

Alternatively, you can book directly with this hotel through the links below, which may be less expensive and offer more flexibility:

Galveston Hotel Options

We would strongly recommend staying in Galveston rather than Houston pre-cruise unless you book Disney’s Houston hotel (the Marriott listed below) and Disney’s hotel-cruise transportation. It’s an hour or more drive to the cruise terminal from Houston, and traffic can double that, especially on holiday weekends. It’s best to fly in the day before the cruise, take a cab or shuttle to Galveston, and stay overnight at a hotel there. You don’t want to be sitting in traffic at 2 pm on the day of your cruise wondering if you’ll make it on time.

The Galveston hotels below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a travel agent, contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Pre/post-cruise stays can be added up until 31 days prior to check-in date (after that time, you can be waitlisted). If you stay both before and after the cruise, both portions must be booked at the same hotel. Pre/post-cruise stays that are added to a cruise reservation must be purchased for ALL guests in the same stateroom.

Alternatively, you can book directly with these hotels through the links below, which may be less expensive:

Miami Hotel Options

The best deal going in Miami seems to be Comfort Suites Miami Airport North. While it’s not fancy, this well-reviewed hotel offers reasonable rates along with some great benefits:

Comfort Suites Miami Airport North is a non-smoking hotel and rooms include high-definition flat-screen television with cable, microwave, refrigerator, pillow-top mattress, safe, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board.

Official Disney Cruise Hotels

If you prefer something more upscale, the Miami-area hotels below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a travel agent, contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Pre/post-cruise stays can be added up until 31 days prior to check-in date (after that time, you can be waitlisted). If you stay both before and after the cruise, both portions must be booked at the same hotel. Pre/post-cruise stays that are added to a cruise reservation must be purchased for ALL guests in the same stateroom.

Alternatively, you can book directly with these hotels through the links below, which may be less expensive and offer more flexibility:

San Diego Hotel Options

The San Diego hotels below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a travel agent, contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Pre/post-cruise stays can be added up until 31 days prior to check-in date (after that time, you can be waitlisted). If you stay both before and after the cruise, both portions must be booked at the same hotel. Pre/post-cruise stays that are added to a cruise reservation must be purchased for ALL guests in the same stateroom.

Alternatively, you can book directly with these hotels through the link below, which may be less expensive:

Vancouver Hotel Options

The Vancouver hotels below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a travel agent, contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Pre/post-cruise stays can be added up until 31 days prior to check-in date (after that time, you can be waitlisted). If you stay both before and after the cruise, both portions must be booked at the same hotel. Pre/post-cruise stays that are added to a cruise reservation must be purchased for ALL guests in the same stateroom.

Alternatively, you can book directly with these hotels through the links below, which may be less expensive:

A hotel that isn’t part of the Disney cruise add-on program, but is well worth considering, is the Pan-Pacific Vancouver, since it is literally in the same building as the Cruise Ship Terminal, and they offer free transfer of your checked bags to the ship, which is a huge convenience. You should tip the bell staff a dollar or two per bag (they’ll take US dollars happily if you don’t have Canadian).

What to Do If Your Return Flight Leaves Late in the Day

You’ll be getting off the cruise ship early in the morning on the last day. If your flight doesn’t leave for hours, and you don’t know what to do with your day, here are some suggestions.

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Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Transportation and Parking at the Cruise Ports

Disney’s bus transfers to and from the port are convenient, but also pretty expensive, especially for a family:

Disney’s transfers must be booked a minimum of 3 days before the start of the trip through your travel agent (or Disney if you booked direct). At the airports, a Disney rep will be at the baggage claim area to help direct guests to the bus. Your luggage will go directly to your stateroom; you just need take your day bag with you to the cruise terminal.

One down side of using the Disney bus system is that you will arrive at the port with a big group of people and at a time dictated by Disney. The result is often a long wait in the check-in lines. You may also miss lunch on the ship, since the buses tend to arrive in the afternoon.

Below are alternate options that may be cheaper and/or more convenient.

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Port Canaveral – Shuttle By Happy Limo

Happy Limo, a private car and limo service we have recommended for years, offers a great shared-shuttle option for trips between Orlando International Airport and the Disney Cruise Line terminal at Port Canaveral. The base price per person is $19.99/person each way ($39.98 round trip), plus a $10 port fee (each way, per booking, not per person). The minimum booking is 4 people.

Happy Limo can also pick up passengers at Orlando airport hotels. The rate is $29.99 per person each way, plus a $10 port fee (each way, per booking, not per person). The minimum booking is 4 people.

Tips are at customer’s discretion (conventional tips these days for shuttle drivers seem to be about 15%-20%, or about $4.50-$6/person each way). For shared service for a family of 4+ to Port Canaveral, this is a better deal than Disney, and gives you more control over when you want to travel.

Airport to Port Canaveral

Shuttles leave Orlando International from Terminal B, level 1 (ground transportation), shuttle spaces B-5 through B-9. You must reserve a spot in advance for one of the available times: 10:00 am, 11:00 am or 12:30 pm. Your party must have a minimum of 4 passengers to book a shuttle. When you arrive at the shuttle spaces, you will need to check in via phone at (407) 856-1280. Expect arrival at the cruise terminal roughly 45-60 minutes from the shuttle departure time, depending on traffic.

Port Canaveral to Airport

Shuttles leave Port Canaveral from shuttle space #4, right in front of the terminal. You must reserve a spot in advance for one of the available times: 8:00 am, 9:00 am or 10:00 am. When you arrive at the shuttle space, you will need to check in via phone at (407) 856-1280. Expect arrival at the airport roughly 45-60 minutes from the shuttle departure time, depending on traffic.

  • To reserve your shuttle time, you can book online here: Happy Limo Rates & Reservations, or call Happy Limo at (877) 642-7791 or (407) 856-1280.
  • MouseSavers readers get a rate of only $19.99 per person each way! Just mention MouseSavers when booking over the phone, or put “referred by MouseSavers” in the comments section when booking online.
  • Note: To book a shuttle, your party must have a minimum of 4 passengers. If there are less than 4 passengers, a towncar, limo or van must be booked.
  • Note: when booking online, for one-way trips from the airport or round-trips, use one of the three pickup times listed above as your pickup time, select “Airport Pickup” as your trip type, “Orlando International Airport” as your pickup location, “Port Canaveral” as your dropoff location and select “Shuttle” as your vehicle type (it’s the last one in the vehicle list). For one-way trips from Port Canaveral, reverse the pickup and dropoff locations and pick one of the Port Canaveral pickup times listed above.

Port Canaveral – Rental Car

Your most economical option may be to rent a car one-way between the airport and Port Canaveral. None of the rental car companies listed below have a one-way or drop-off charge except as noted. Depending on the rental car company, you can either take a shuttle or a cab to the port.

Renting a car gives you the flexibility to stop and grab some groceries or last-minute items, and you can arrive at the ship earlier than the bus passengers, which allows you to board ahead of the crowd and get yourself settled, make Palo and spa reservations, etc.

All the  major rental car companies have offices near Port Canaveral. When searching for a location, use “Cape Canaveral, FL” as the location. Alamo, National, Enterprise and Budget are very close to the Port Canaveral cruise terminal (but not close enough to walk). The others aren’t too far away. Keep in mind that between about 11 am and 3 pm on days when a cruise is leaving, all of these locations will be busy, and check-in may be slow. The shuttles to the cruise terminal will fill up fast, so it might take several shuttles before you can get one. Taxis and Lyft will also be super busy, so it may take some time to get one to the rental location. Allow plenty of time to get back to the ship, or get there before 11 am.

If you want to gas up your rental car on the way back to the airport, exit Florida 528 at Narcoosee Road, which is two exits before the airport exit, and turn right. There is a BP station about a block up on the right, with normal gas prices. Note that this exit is tolled, so you’ll want to bring your own windshield toll pass to avoid exhorbitant rental car toll fees.

The nearest gas station to the airport (“Landing Strip” aka “Suncoast Energy” on Semoran Boulevard, just north of the airport) is a complete rip-off. This station habitually charges nearly TWICE the normal price for gas and does not have signs to let people know the prices before they pull in. You won’t realize you’re paying a ridiculous price unless you look closely at the pump!

Port Canaveral – Luxury Sedan, Limo or Private Van/SUV Service

A fun, relaxing (and surprisingly economical) way to get from Walt Disney World or the Orlando Airport to the cruise terminal at Port Canaveral is to use luxury sedan, limo or private van/SUV service.

The great thing is, you can schedule the vehicle to get you to the ship earlier than the bus passengers, which allows you to board ahead of the crowd and get yourself settled, make Palo and spa reservations, etc.

A luxury sedan is generally cheaper than Disney’s bus transfers if you are transporting a family. For larger groups, a private van, SUV or limo is definitely the way to go. You’ll save money and time.

Port Canaveral – Cruise Port Parking

Parking at the port is $17 per day (not per night). You are charged for your arrival and departure days, even though they are partial days. The upshot is, this is what you’ll pay:

Check the Port Canaveral website for more information about parking and directions.

Be sure to check on deals at the hotels near the port. You can usually pay for one night and get a week of free parking in the hotel lot and often a complimentary shuttle ride to/from the cruise terminal. Usually there’s a special cruise hotel package you need to book to get the “free” parking, which will cost somewhat more than booking their lowest rate, but it’s nearly always going to be cheaper than parking at the port. Some hotels include the parking in the package cost, but charge extra for the shuttle. Even if the shuttle fee is included, the shuttle drivers are not shy about asking for tips, and the wait for the shuttle can be long, so we usually take a taxi or Lyft even if there’s an ostensibly “free” shuttle. From most of the Canaveral hotels to the cruise terminal is about a $5-7 taxi fare.

Port of San Diego – Rental Car

If you will be taking a West Coast Disney cruise and you are also planning to make a “grand tour” of Southern California, with a visit to Disneyland as well as other Southern California tourist destinations, a rental car is definitely your best bet. Taking taxis, limos or shuttles between the major attractions would cost a fortune because the distances are significant. For instance, it’s a 1.5 hour drive between SeaWorld San Diego and Disneyland. Southern California is a very car-oriented culture, with relatively poor public transportation. Trying to get between a number of different attractions without a car can be an exercise in frustration.

If you are flying in or out of San Diego International Airport (SAN), all of the major rental car companies have locations there. See the Rental Cars page and check the company that interests you for more information.

It is never cost-effective to rent a car at SAN and leave it at the port during your cruise. Parking near the port is expensive. The airport is very close to the cruise port, so it’s better to rent the car at the airport either pre- or post-cruise and return it to the airport so you’re not accruing both rental fees and parking charges during the cruise.

Port of San Diego – Lyft, Taxi, Luxury Sedan, Limo or Private Van/SUV Service

The cruise terminal is very close to the airport as the crow flies, but because of the road layout and potential traffic, it’s about a 5 mile trip and takes about 15-20 minutes. Disney offers bus service, but the quickest and sometimes the least expensive way to accomplish your transfer will be Lyft, a taxi or a private limo service.

The great thing is, you can schedule the vehicle to get you to the ship earlier than the bus passengers, which allows you to board ahead of the crowd and get yourself settled, make Palo and spa reservations, etc.

Port of San Diego – Shuttle

If you need to transfer between the San Diego Airport (SAN) and the Port of San Diego, your least expensive option is usually a shared van service. The shuttle will make multiple stops, so allow plenty of time.

However, for the ultimate in convenience and luxury, consider using a private towncar or limo transfer. It may cost a bit more than a shuttle, but it is much more comfortable and efficient.

Port of San Diego – Parking

Parking for a San Diego cruise, is, in a word, messy. There is no official parking lot, just a lot of independent lots nearby that also handle other parking business and can fill up. If you can get a reservation, the parking at the Wyndham across the street from the cruise terminal is convenient. If not, most of the long-term parking in the area (including many of the airport long-term lots) offer a shuttle to the cruise terminal, or you can get a cab from the parking lot.

Port of Vancouver – Transportation

The simplest way to get to Vancouver, BC is to fly to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). However, there are more flight options available to Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA), which is just 3-4 hours away from Vancouver by train or bus. Airfares to Seattle are often much cheaper, even when you factor in the cost of the extra train or bus ticket and other costs, and the trip from Seattle to Vancouver is quite scenic. Traveling via Seattle can add 5-6 hours to your trip, however. To make the Seattle option work well, it’s really best to stay in Seattle at least overnight, then take the train or bus up on another date. It is possible to fly into Seattle and get onto a ship in Vancouver the same day, but the connections are super tight — there’s not a lot of room for error and we wouldn’t recommend it.

Flying To Vancouver Directly

The closest airport is Vancouver International (YVR). You can get a taxi to the Canada Place cruise terminal for about $45-$60 CAD (plus tip), which takes 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic. Vancouver now has Lyft service, and that’s going to run $30-40 CAD.

You can also book a limo or town car. The official town car company for the airport is Aerocar, which charges a flat $64 CAD (plus tip) for a sedan from YVR to the cruise terminal.

The cheapest and usually easiest way to go is the SkyTrain Canada Line, a light rail train that goes directly from the airport to Waterfront Station. The SkyTrain station is right across from the airport entrance – ask someone to direct you if needed; the signs are not as clear as one would like. Get on any train; the track begins at the airport and all trains head to Waterfront, so you can’t get on the wrong train or the wrong direction. When you reach Waterfront station, take the Cordova Street exit from the station, turn right and walk down about a block and a half to Howe. Turn right and the cruise terminal and Pan Pacific hotel is right there. The cash fare is only $7-9 CAD per person (depending on whether you’re going peak or off-peak). You do not need cash; the ticket kiosks take credit cards. It takes about 25-35 minutes. Keep in mind that the trains don’t have any luggage racks, so if you have a lot of luggage, SkyTrain may be a bit of a hassle.

Flying to Seattle Then Train To Vancouver

You’ll want to fly to Seattle-Tacoma airport (SEA). If you want to make it on your cruise ship that same day, you’ll need to arrive very early, probably before 6:15 am, as the morning train leaves at 7:45 am and there isn’t another until 7:00 pm. If you plan to arrive a day or more early, obviously you can take the later train or the early one the next day.

There are two Amtrak trains per day from Seattle to Vancouver, which you can book in advance on the Amtrak website. Prices start at $34 per person, each way, and the trip takes 4 hours (though allow extra time, as it often takes longer). As seats sell out, only the higher fares remain available, and they go as high as $86, so book early. Be sure you book the Amtrak Cascades train trip; Amtrak also books their own “Thruway” bus service which is not usually the best bus option.

You will also need to get from the SeaTac airport to the King Street train station in downtown Seattle, and from the Vancouver Pacific Central train station to the Canada Place cruise terminal.

In Seattle, the taxi ride is $40 (flat rate, plus tip) from the airport to anywhere in downtown Seattle, including the train station. Allow 30 minutes for the trip, longer on weekdays at rush hour. You can also take the Link light rail for $3/person from the airport to the International District station, which is 3 blocks from the King Street Station, but there are no luggage racks, so it can be a hassle if you have multiple bags. Seattle also has Lyft service available.

In Vancouver, a taxi from the train station to the cruise terminal is about $12-$15 CAD (plus tip) and takes about 15 minutes, or you can walk a couple blocks from the train station and take the Expo Line from SkyTrain Main Street station to the Waterfront station for around $2.75 CAD. When you reach Waterfront Station, use the Howe Street exit and you come out right in front of the cruise terminal. Again, there are no luggage racks on SkyTrain, so not a great option for those with many big or unwieldy bags. Vancouver also has Lyft service available.

Flying to Seattle Then Bus To Vancouver

The closest airport is Seattle-Tacoma airport (SEA). To make it onto your cruise that same day, you’ll want to get in before 9:00 am in order to make it on a 10:00 am bus. If you plan to arrive a day or more early, obviously you can take a later bus.

The Quick Coach bus service is the most convenient, since it drops off directly at the Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver. If you book at least 24 hours in advance, you can have them drop you directly at any downtown Vancouver hotel. Fares start at $50 one way or $95 round trip for adults, with discounts available for children and seniors. There are significant charges for baggage over and above one purse-sized personal item. The trip takes about 4.5 hours.

The Seattle-Vancouver FlixBus (owned by Greyhound) goes from several Seattle locations (including SeaTac Airport) to the Vancouver Pacific Central train station, with advance fares as low as $30 each way, including one large bag and one personal item (purse-sized). The trip takes about 4.5 hours from SeaTac or 4 hours from downtown Seattle. You still need to get from the Vancouver train station to the cruise terminal or your hotel. See the section above on train travel to see the various options on each end.

Flying to Bellingham Then Bus or Train to Vancouver

An often-overlooked option that can work for some people is to fly to Bellingham, WA which is the closest major city in Washington to Vancouver, BC. Sometimes it’s only a little more expensive to fly to Bellingham than to Seattle, and a bus or train from Bellingham takes less than half the time (just under two hours) and has a much lower fare than the same bus or train from Seattle. The connections aren’t as tight, and it’s more reasonable to try to fly into Bellingham and get on your cruise ship the same day, though given the vagaries of modern air travel, we still suggest getting in a day early if you can. All of the options from Seattle, including Quick Coach, FlixBus and Amtrak can also be taken from Bellingham. For Amtrak you have to get to the Bellingham train station, and FlixBus picks up at Western Washington University or near the ferry terminal, but Bellingham is so small that the cab to any location is unlikely to be more than 5 minutes and about $10.

If you end up staying in Bellingham, or driving through at lunch time, our favorite fish & chips joint there is the Web Locker (map link). Whether it’s a good idea to have a lot of fried fish before getting on a cruise is a judgment call you’ll have to make for yourself. We can never seem to skip it. We also are very fond of the Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro (map link), which is closer to the freeway. It has a bit of a brewpub feeling, but is family-friendly and serves a lot of comfort food like burgers and sandwiches.

Not all cities have good, reasonably-priced flights to Bellingham, but it can be worth checking out. The primary airlines that service Bellingham are Allegiant, Alaska and Horizon.

Port of Vancouver – Parking

Parking is available for roughly $27 CAD per day (tax included) at the Port of Vancouver Cruise Terminal (Canada Place). Indigo Neo operates the parking garage, and requires guests parking at Canada Place Parking Garage for anything longer than one day to make a reservation online via their website, or by calling them at (800) 469-4169. The garage is right there in the cruise terminal; to get to the ship you just take an elevator to the embarkation level and walk a few hundred feet.