Passenger information, directions and transportation

Boarding

Passengers boarding a cruise ship at the Canada Place cruise terminal are encouraged to check travel documents before arriving at the cruise terminal to avoid unnecessary waiting. All passengers embarking in Vancouver will go through screening and U.S. Customs and Border Protection as you are considered to be entering U.S. jurisdiction upon boarding the cruise ship. Please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for more information and required travel documents

Baggage

Checking baggage is the first step of the boarding process. Baggage can be checked upon arrival at the cruise terminal, starting between 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST), for direct delivery to your cabin. When checking your baggage, please clearly indicate which vessel you are sailing on and ensure that your passports and medication are not packed in your checked baggage.

Upon disembarkation, baggage can be claimed in the baggage area in the cruise terminal.

Check-in

Check-in is the next step of the boarding process. Once your baggage is checked, cruise line staff will direct you up a set of escalators or an elevator to the cruise line check-in area, which is located one level up from the cruise terminal in Convention Centre Hall C. Once in the check-in area, cruise line staff will verify identification and boarding information and provide each passenger with a boarding card as part of the check-in process.

Passenger screening

Once passengers are ready to board, you must go through passenger screening, which is located on the cruise ship terminal level. Cruise line staff will direct you down a set of escalators or an elevator to reach the passenger screening area. At this point, passengers are required to provide attendants with your cruise ticket and identification.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

As passengers embarking in Vancouver are considered to be entering U.S. jurisdiction once they board the cruise ship, you will go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection immediately following the passenger screening process. Ten BorderXpress Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks are available for use by eligible US and Canadian passengers at the Canada Place cruise terminal with the goal of improving passenger experience. US Customs and Border protection is the final step before boarding your vessel.

Disembarking

Passengers who are disembarking in Vancouver are required to complete a declaration card and clear Canadian customs through Canada Border Services Agency. For those being picked up, the private car pick up location is different from the private car drop-off location.  Please see passenger pick up for more information.

Baggage Storage

Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing provides storage services at Canada Place cruise terminal. For security reasons, short-term baggage storage is available to cruise passengers only. For more information, contact Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing, phone 1-877-451-1777 or see this brochure.

Wheelchair and mobility scooter rentals

Mobility scooter and wheelchair rentals are available from Scootaround. To pre-book a rental, contact Scootaround, phone 1-888-441-7575.

Lost and found including lost baggage

See the frequently asked questions page, for information on how to locate missing items.

Service pet relief stations

There are two relief stations at the Canada Place terminal available for documented service animals traveling with cruise passengers: 

• An outdoor service pet relief area is located pre-security on the cruise ship level of Canada Place. Please follow directional signage. 

• A service pet relief area is also available in the secured area of the terminal after you have cleared security. Please follow directional signage. 

If you have questions related to these relief stations, please contact us at [email protected]. If you have questions about the requirements to bring a service animal on your cruise, please contact your cruise line. 

Canada Place cruise ship terminal address: 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 3T4

Printable maps with directions

Detailed downtown Vancouver map [PDF]
Metro Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) map [PDF]
British Columbia and Alaska map [PDF]

Driving to Canada Place from the U.S./Canada border:

• Cross the Canadian border via I-5 north
• I-5 becomes BC-99. Continue north on BC-99 until you cross the Oak Street Bridge
• Turn left on 49th Avenue. Turn right on Granville Street
• Proceed north across the Granville Street Bridge. Take the Seymour Street exit
• Proceed north along Seymour Street to West Cordova Street
• Turn left on West Cordova Street. Turn right on Howe Street
• You are now facing Canada Place

Driving to the Canada Place cruise terminal from Vancouver International Airport (YVR):

• Exit the airport via Grant McConachie Way
• Cross the Arthur Laing Bridge staying in the right lane
• Take the Granville Street exit and proceed north down Granville Street
• Proceed north across the Granville Street Bridge. Take the Seymour Street exit
• Proceed north along Seymour Street to West Cordova Street
• Turn left on West Cordova Street. Turn right on Howe Street
• You are now facing Canada Place

Getting to Canada Place cruise terminal from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) using skytrain/Canada line:

• Take the Canada Line (SkyTrain) from YVR-Airport Station Eastbound
• Get off at Waterfront Station (terminus station)
• Exit station and walk westbound on Cordova Street
• Turn right at Howe Street
• Follow sidewalk to the Canada Place cruise terminal

Contact TransLink for public transit schedules and route planning.

The Canada Place cruise terminal is serviced by regular shuttles and buses to major destinations, as well as city taxis, car rental companies, limousines and public transit. Booking transportation reservations in advance is recommended.

Shuttle and tours

Conveniently located at the Canada Place cruise terminal, the Ground Transportation Desk operated by Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing offers visitors private transfers or sightseeing tours. Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing can also arrange bus service from Vancouver to Bellingham, Washington, Seattle, Washington’s SeaTac airport and to Victoria, British Columbia.

Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing offers daily Guided Sightseeing Tours around Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler, as well as Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing Tours throughout downtown Vancouver, picking up right at the Canada Place cruise terminal.

Contact the Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing’s Reservation Contact Centre for more information, phone 1.877.451.1777 or email [email protected].

Car rentals

Rental car kiosks are on-site at the cruise terminal. It is highly recommended passengers arrange pick-up or drop-off with the rental company in advance of travel.

Ascent Car Rental and Tours – for more information, please call: Ascent at 604.416.4600

Avis/Budget – Passengers should proceed to the Avis location at 757 Hornby Street, Vancouver (walking: 14 mins; taxi: 6 mins). For more information, please contact Budget / Avis at 604-606-2868.

Mobile App Procedures (Ride Hailing)

Pick-ups

Ride hailing vehicles are not permitted to pick-up cruise guests at Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal. All guests will be directed to street level, where they can be picked-up by ride hailing vehicles in the designated guest pick-up zone(s) outlined by the City of Vancouver.

Drop-offs

For cruise guest drop-off, ride hailing vehicles must enter the Cruise Terminal on Waterfront Road via the Main Street overpass or the Cordova Street tunnel. Entrance, from Waterfront Road, is accessed from the East side of Canada Place. Under no circumstance should cruise ship guests to be dropped off on Canada Place Way, Howe Street or Cordova Street.

Public transport

The Canada Place cruise terminal is conveniently located adjacent to the public transport system at Waterfront station, which is serviced by Skytrain rapid transit, buses, the SeaBus (to North Vancouver) and the West Coast Express commuter train. Skytrain’s Canada Line provides rapid transit directly to Vancouver International Airport.

Contact TransLink for public transit schedules and route planning.

Limousines

For passengers wanting to pre-book a limousine themselves, please be advised that there are driver and vehicle requirements for all companies accessing Canada Place Cruise Terminal.  Upon disembarkation, cruise passengers are required to check-in with a traffic attendant at Door D to have their limousine dispatched to the Cruise Terminal.   Limousine companies that do not adhere to procedures will not be given access to the terminal and will need to find their pre-arranged cruise guests at street level.

See below for a current list (as of 2023) of companies that have been approved to provide service at Canada Place Cruise Terminal:

Taxi service

Taxis charge a metered rate based on time and distance travelled. Standard rates from the Canada Place cruise terminal to the following locations are (October 2023):

• Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – $41.00
• Downtown hotels – from $16.00
• Pacific Central Station (Greyhound and bus terminal) – from $16.00

Taxi companies servicing Vancouver and the Canada Place cruise terminal:

Black Top and Checker Cabs, phone 1.800.494.1111
MacLure’s Cabs, phone 604.831.1111
Vancouver Taxi, phone 604.871.1111
Yellow Cabs, phone 604.681.1111

Air transportation

The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) hosts 55 international and regional air carriers, servicing 125 destinations around the world. Vancouver city centre is approximately 30 minutes from the airport. Local flights to a variety of destinations, including Vancouver Island and Whistler, are available from the heliport or seaplane base adjacent to Canada Place. Shuttles, taxis and limousines and public transportation are readily available to transport passengers to and from the cruise terminal.

Vancouver International Airport, international and regional flight services, phone 604.207.7077
Harbour Air, local floatplane services, phone 1.800.665.0212
Seair Seaplanes, local floatplane services, phone 1.800.447.3247
Helijet, local helicopter services, phone 1.800.665.4354

Instructions for picking up passengers – Two options

Option 1: Park and meet cruise passengers in main lobby of cruise ship terminal

1. Enter Canada Place cruise ship terminal via the vehicle ramp which is accessed off the foot of Howe Street.
2. A Port of Vancouver traffic attendant will greet you and provide instructions near the top of the ramp.
3. Proceed down the ramp, keeping to the left lane, into the parkade.
4. Park on level P1 or P2.
5. Pay for parking at a designated kiosk or download the Indigo parking app to pay from your mobile phone.
6. To access the cruise terminal, red elevators are clearly marked with the cruise ship symbol and located near the center and the west side of the parkade.
7. Take the elevator to the passenger greeting area located in the main lobby on the cruise ship terminal level of Canada Place.

Option 2: Pick-up and immediate loading of cruise passengers

1. Enter Canada Place cruise ship terminal via the vehicle ramp which is accessed off the foot of Howe Street.
2. A Port of Vancouver traffic attendant will greet you and provide instructions near the top of the ramp.
3. Proceed down the ramp, keeping to the left lane into the parkade and go directly location the traffic attendant directed you to.
4. Follow the signs to the orange zone (P1 Level) which is for IMMEDIATE passenger loading ONLY. Signage will indicate the location of the orange zone.
5. Pull through into the lane for immediate pick up. Passengers must be waiting in the adjacent waiting area. If they are not within the area, please park close to the red elevator and follow instructions 5 & 6 from above. Vehicles left unattended in the orange zone will be towed at the owner’s expense.
6. Please leave the orange zone as quickly as possible to be entitled to 15 minutes of free parking.

Ride Hailing vehicles are not permitted to pick up passengers on P1 or P2 levels. See Mobile App Procedures for more information.
Please note that parking fees apply after the first 15 minutes.

Instructions for dropping off passengers

1. Enter Canada Place cruise terminal vehicle ramp, accessed from the foot of Howe Street, and proceed to a Port of Vancouver traffic attendant.
2. Receive passenger drop-off instructions from traffic attendant.
3. Proceed to the designated drop-off location and work with the traffic attendant to move your vehicle into a designated drop-off space. At that time, your baggage will then be collected by baggage collection staff.
4. When checking your baggage, please clearly indicate which vessel you are sailing on and ensure that your passports and medication are not packed in your checked baggage.

Long-term parking

Convenient long-term parking is available at Canada Place for regular height vehicles only. Maximum height is 6’9″. Indigo may be able to provide options for over-height vehicles at other off-site locations.

Contact Indigo parking guest services directly for more information, local phone 604.669.7275 or toll-free long-distance phone 1.800.469.4169.

Short-term parking

Canada Place has short-term parking available for picking up and dropping off cruise passengers. Like the arrivals and departures areas of an airport, drop-off and pick-up areas are based in different locations at the cruise terminal. Short-term parking in the Canada Place parkade is free for vehicles not exceeding 15 minutes.