Thank you for all the good information. All the flights I find into Seattle are half the price of the flights into Vancouver, which for two of us is a difference of $700-$800 (or several excursions). For business class on the train it is less than $200 round trip for both of us. So I think we will go the Florida to Seattle then train to Vancouver option. Any thoughts on whether business class on the train is a big difference? I know it is on the European trains I have traveled on, but haven't done that much traveling via Amtrak. I was interested to see that the discount on American only applies to flights into Vancouver (not to Sea-Tac). But even with the discount into Vancouver AA wasn't the best bet.

Now to make some hotel decisions (not that I like to plan ahead or anything.....giggles).

 

Thank you so much for the info. Hope to see you on the cruise. You have been very helpfull  Thanks again.

 

We have always flown into Seattle a night (or two, or more) before…take the Amtrak train the next morning… the easiest way thru customs into Vancouver...the ride is fun & relaxing…the train goes up along the coastline.

Then we take the SkyTrain which is just across the street from the train station to Waterfront Station (next to the cruise port)…most of the hotels we have stayed in are a block or two easy walk.

We then fly home from Vancouver…which has US Border Preclearance…then you only do US customs there.

We got a nonstop out of Denver on United for a very decent price.  Some on the thread are considering flying into Seattle, which is really not Seattle; the airport is south of Seattle.  We did consider this option but were leery about renting a car in US and driving it over, leaving it, driving back to Seattle for flight home, etc, etc.  Seemed more hassle than it may be worth.  So, since we have plenty of time to pay for the trip, built the cost of flight directly to and from Vancouver into the plans.  We opted for not stressing about getting there/getting back and besides, we did get a fantastic price for a nonstop.  Flying in the Friday before embarkation and flying back Monday after disembarkation.  Gives us plenty of time to see beautiful Vancouver and have a stress-free, feel-free vacation!

No kidding about Southwest! We'd be all over that in a heartbeat.We're finding the best prices out of the Austin, TX area are on United. We'll be booking in the next week. Alaska, here we come!!!

Check out WestJet..........Canada's answer to SouthWest.  It may fly out of Windsor.

h

We're looking @ flights from Detroit Metro & Toronto to Vancouver.  Only issue with Toronto....it's a 4 hr. drive for us. Unless....we fly from Windsor to Toronto. But that sucks too!!! Yes... too bad Southwest doesn't fly to Vancouver. We are on the Western in January so once we get by that we can focus on Alaska. Any suggestions about flights are welcome.

Thanks

Tami

There are trains and buses that come from Seattle to Vancouver, but the can be time consuming, especially considering where SeaTac is in comparison to downtown Seattle.  FlaGirl maybe check out going through Toronto to Vancouver.  The snowbirds go the other direction in the Fall and you may be able to get a deal going the other way. 

Toooooo bad SouthWest doesnt come to Vancouver!!!!

 H & G

I've been checking out flights. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether the savings flying into Sea-Tac (or elsewhere) is worth it when considering cost of getting to and from Vancouver, and the convenience of flying directly to Vancouver?

 Thanks!

 

Some of us, me included, are either booking flights or getting close to booking.  Just remember, especially you newbies, make sure your return flight is after noon on Sunday.  You never know when actual docking and disembarkation will be, so Olivia always recommends booking return flights no earlier than noon.

Diana