Gaming By Sea
Summer 2022
Travel Notes
Hello Fellow Vacationers,
This is a rather lengthy set of “notes”, but we wanted to ensure you had all of the travel notes we could think of in one place, in (roughly) the order you will need to consider them.
You can find a PDF of this document here. Note that some of these links may not work as well from the PDF as they will from here or the email (due to split addresses, shortcut names, etc.)
- Passport:
- You will be traveling into both Canada and the United States, so please be sure to have your passport.
- Visit here for information from Royal Caribbean on required travel documents: https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/embarkationForm/identification.do?faqQuestionName=What%20travel%20documents%20and%20identification%20will%20I%20need%20for%20domestic%20sailings?
- Vaccines and Tests:
- Since requirements are changing, please be sure to visit here for information from Royal Caribbean: The Healthy Sail Center | Healthy & Safe Cruises | Royal Caribbean Cruises
- As of the moment this is being written, here is a very brief summary of the information:
- Masks: Optional
- Vaccinations: Proof that all guests 12 and up, are fully vaccinated
- Testing: All guests 2 and up must be tested no more than two (2) days before boarding.
- Pre Cruises Testing | Royal Caribbean Cruises
- Accepted Tests: Where Do I Take A RT-PCR Test And Submit The Results Before Cruising? | Royal Caribbean Cruises
- Vancouver: Rapid Antigent Test https://www.empowerclinics.com/covid-19-testing/
- Cruise Planner
- As a reminder, using your cruise line reservation number, you may create your Royal Caribbean account by visiting royalcaribbean.com/cruiseplanner.
- There, you will be able to create your rewards accounts, order various Drink, Meal, and WiFi packages, schedule some shore excursions (those offered through Royal Caribbean, only, see below for another option), and find more information about the cruise and the ship.
- *Check your name(s) and date(s) of birth on Cruise Planner to ensure everything matches your ID.*
- Entry into Canada: Travel to Canada: Requirements for COVID-19 vaccinated travellers
- Prepare you ArriveCAN documents
- Upload Proof of Vaccination
- Cruise Ship-specific Requirements: COVID-19: Cruise ship travel – Travel.gc.ca / https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/cruise
- Flying into Vancouver?
- Arrival: If flying, it is safest to schedule your flight to arrive the night before (or earlier) to avoid issues with flight delays. If planning to arrive the same day as the cruise departs, please arrive as early as possible.
- Departure: Although the ship is scheduled to return early in the morning on Sunday, July 17th, remember that it can take hours for everyone to disembark and then you need time to reach the airport and pass through security. Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get to the airport.
- Arriving at the Cruise Port and Moving Around Vancouver
- Airport to Cruise Port: In addition to RideShare and Bus options, Vancouver offers public transit and a train from the airport to a station near the port for a very reasonable fare:
- Airport (YVR) to Waterfront Station on the “Canada Line”
- Waterfront Station: Located along W. Cordova St. near the intersections of Granville and Seymour Streets, just a couple blocks from the Cruise Port. Usually a 45-minute trip from the airport to the port (including a 10-minute walk – it is not immediately adjacent to cruise port)
- Transit Maps:
- System Transit Maps | TransLink and pdf (translink.ca)
- SkyTrain Schedules | TransLink
- Downtown Vancouver: cc_2022-01-03.pdf (translink.ca)
- Port Location – Directions: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/driving-directions-port-vancouver-british-columbia
- Shore Excursions
- See Cruise Planner for Royal Caribbean-affiliated excursions
- Follow this link for a 3rd-party provider:
- Excursions for Your Cruise (shoreexcursionsgroup.com)
- They guarantee Worry Free Travel and promise that you will be back at port in time to board the ship before it departs or they will arrange and pay to get you to the next port of call and pay you an additional $1,000 per customer.
- What Should I Pack other than games?
- Visit Royal Caribbean’s “What should I pack for my cruise vacation?” for more information on packing and luggage for your cruise: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-packing-clothing-recommendation
- Temperature: Keep in mind that it can be chilly in the evenings and does not get hot on average in Alaska. The southernmost point of your trip will be Vancouver, BC, which has July lows averaging 14.1 C / 57.4 F and highs averaging 22.0 C / 71.6 F.
- Bringing Alcohol Policy: Find Royal’s Rules here… https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-alcohol-guest-policy
- When are you Arriving in Vancouver (Day/Time) and are you staying after the cruise?: We may meet the night prior to departure at Rain City Games in Downtown Vancouver (Rain City Games: Vancouver and New West’s friendly local game store – Rain City Games) for a mixer and a hello if there is enough interest
- Special Accessibility / Dietary Needs: Let us know if you have any dietary or accessibility needs.
- Guarantee Rooms: If you have a room marked “Guarantee” or “GTY”, these will be assigned at check-in.
- Gaming Center: We will be located on Deck 5, Port Side, Forward, in the Conference Center – The Baltic (enter here), Adriatic, and Caspian Conference Rooms.
- Airport to Cruise Port: In addition to RideShare and Bus options, Vancouver offers public transit and a train from the airport to a station near the port for a very reasonable fare:
Gaming By Sea
(404) 590-6882
