The Fantasy-class cruise ship has been beached ready for scrapping at the ship-breaking facility in Aliaga, Turkey.
Carnival Inspiration Beached
The Carnival Inspiration has joined three other cruise ships by being beached at the ship-breaking facility in Aliaga, Turkey. The ship was beached today after being anchored just off the coast for more than one day.
The ship has been squeezed in between sister ship Carnival Fantasy which was beached last week and the former Sovereign of the Seas which was beached on July 23. The former Monarch of the Seas is also seen beached which occurred on July 22. All the ships are being dismantled after being sold by their cruise operators.
Cruise Hive readers can watch video footage of the moment the Carnival Inspiration was beached below:
Carnival Inspiration has now reached the end and workers will soon begin cutting off large chunks of the ship. Carnival hasalready detailed plans so that the ship can be recycled in a safe way. Specialist Specialists EGE CELIK and SIMSEKLER will be dismantling the two Carnival ships and a recycling plan has been put in place.
In the coming weeks and months, Carnival Inspiration will no longer look like a ship and will soon be hard to believe that once thousands of passengers were enjoying a fun-filled vacation on her.
The ship has already been stripped of all her valuable and important items when she was docked at the Brion Wharf in Willemstad, Curacao in the first half of July. From there the ship sailed across the Atlantic directly to Turkey which has ended in today’s beaching.
It’s likely the remaining crew members had left before the vessel was beached with only a handful of staff onboard to oversee the ship being beached safely. A crane will be lowed onto the ship so the captain and other essential crew can leave.
Carnival Inspiration was not the oldest in the fleet and entered service in 1996. The Fantasy-class ship has a gross tonnage of 70,367 and a guest capacity of over 2,000 at double occupancy along with 920 crew members.
Carnival has announced details on Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration dismantling and recycling in Turkey.
Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration Recycling Details
Carnival has announced an agreement so that two of its retired Fantasy-class cruise ships can be dismantled and recycled responsibly. Specialists EGE CELIK and SIMSEKLER will take apart the two vessels at the ship-breaking facility in Aliaga, Turkey.
Carnival Corp has been working with Bellona Foundation which a lead partner in the NGO Shipbreaking Platform and SEA2Cradle to come up with an approach to safely and sustainably recycle both cruise ships.
Bill Burke, chief maritime officer for Carnival Corporation, said:
“Our highest responsibility and top priorities are compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the communities we visit and our crew.”
“That commitment extends to our cruise ships, starting from the moment a ship becomes part of our fleet and continuing all the way through to its retirement. In addition to limiting our vessels’ impact on the environment throughout their service time in our fleet, recycling our retired ships following the European Ship Recycling Regulation ensures we are applying the highest global standards and contributing to a sustainable cruise industry.”
The recycling companies will formulate a Ship Recycle Plan for each vessel – Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration – that goes beyond what is required by consulting with Carnival Corporation’s advisor Sea2Cradle to ensure optimal compliance with key national and international environmental standards.
Each plan will include a complete inventory of hazardous and regulated materials and the procedures planned for safely removing and processing the materials in an environmentally friendly way. Once these materials are safely removed and processed, the companies will begin dismantling each ship.
Ships will be stripped of machinery, electronic equipment, glass, wood and other materials that can be directly upcycled for reuse in new ships, used in ship repair or repurposed for other applications. Steel and metal scraps will be salvaged and recycled for direct use or be sent to the mill for producing other products and goods.
Working on behalf of Carnival Corporation and as an added assurance, Sea2Cradle will supervise ship dismantling and recycling at the demolition yards throughout the entire process to ensure the highest health, safety and environmental standards are maintained.
Sea2Cradle estimates that a significant percentage of the ship materials from both vessels will be reused, reclaimed or recycled.
Cruise Hive has already posted on the Carnival Fantasy recently being beached at Aliaga and as we write this, the Carnival Inspiration is just off the coast and will also soon be beached. Both ships have been sold for scrap due to the health crisis and the impact on the cruise industry.
Carnival Cruise Line recently retired one of the most iconic ships in its fleet, Carnival Fantasy. On July 13, 2020, the cruise ship was sold and then, not a month later, on July 29, it was beached in Aliaga, Turkey, where now the ship awaits its fate as scrap, alongside its sister ship, Carnival Inspiration, as well as two former Royal Caribbean cruise ships also at the Aliaga ship breaking facility, Monarch of the Seas and Sovereign of the Seas.
Some speculate that the sale came about due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, in which Carnival was forced to suspend its service on all ships starting March 14. The cruise line had every intention of resuming service by April 10, but of course the suspension was then extended into the fall. However, it’s not fair to blame the sale of the Carnival Fantasy cruise ship entirely on the coronavirus pandemic.
By 2020, Carnival Fantasy had become the oldest cruise ship across Carnival’s entire fleet, at 30 years old, and as any seasoned cruiser knows, when a ship reaches that age, it’s difficult to continue dry docking and updating it in a way that will be profitable.
However, regardless of the reason for Carnival Fantasy’s eventual retirement and sale, there’s no denying that this cruise ship made an impact on the industry.
The Carnival Fantasy Cruise Ship: A Brief History
The Carnival Fantasy cruise ship was floated out on December 9, 1988, but was not completed until 1990, when it left its first home at the Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland.
Compared to much of the newer cruise ships out there today, Carnival Fantasy was on the smaller side, with a gross tonnage of 70,367 GT and a length of 855 feet, with capacity for 2,675 passengers and 920 crew members.
Still, Carnival Fantasy was the very first and the namesake ship of the Fantasy class of cruise ships, which proved to be a very popular class for the line, made up of eight separate ships, with Carnival Fantasy setting the standard. Fantasy-class ships include Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise.
The entire Carnival Fantasy class stood out as being the last cruise ships built with lifeboats on the upper deck only, and recent passengers could even still see some remnants of Carnival’s pre-Fantasy class ship designs, as the Fantasy-class ships featured cabins mostly in the hull and very few balcony cabins and suites, a design choice more similar to what could be seen on the Holiday class of ships, which Carnival had launched in the 1980s.
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive
Primarily serving the Caribbean, Carnival Fantasy operated out of the Port of Miami for the first few years of its life, before relocating to Port Canaveral in 1993. In 2006, Carnival Fantasy was moved to Louisiana and New Orleans, making it the first Carnival cruise ship to return to the region following Hurricane Katrina. At that point, the cruise ship began serving itineraries to Mexico.
In 2008, Carnival Fantasy underwent a much needed dry docking period, before going on in 2009 to operate out of Mobile, Alabama, and then on to Charleston, South Carolina.
Another extensive refit occurred in 2016, at which point the ship returned to Mobile. Most recently, the ship was refitted in 2019 — which, honestly, does seem a bit of a waste, since the ship would be sold just a year later (which, though, does lend some credence to the theory that Carnival wasn’t exactly expecting to retire the ship, but was forced into the decision due to the changing and tumultuous cruising industry influenced by 2020’s coronavirus pandemic).
What’s Next for Carnival Fantasy?
So what happens to a ship when it’s sold and goes on to the ship breaking facility?
After the ship is beached, it’s dismantled, beginning with the interior. All of the furnishings are removed for scrapping and items that can be sold, are. After anything with any monetary value is removed and sold, then the ship is disassembled, cut apart piece by piece. Steel can be sold to scrap metal dealers and then melted and reformed into other products.
What Could Cruisers Expect from a Carnival Fantasy Cruise?
Even in most recent years, some cruisers still preferred Carnival Fantasy to some of the newer ships among Carnival’s fleet, for the simple facts that the ship was on the smaller side, it gave new cruisers an easy and simple introduction to the Carnival brand and there was plenty of classic cruising fun and experiences to be had.
Sure, some of the decor was a little outdated, hearkening back to a 1980s era of cruising, but the experiences made up for that fact (if you even considered it a con in the first place). In fact, many of the cruisers you could see on a Carnival Fantasy cruise were senior citizens who probably were already pretty well familiarized with the world of cruising as it was several decades ago.
In terms of amenities at its sale, Carnival Fantasy offered complimentary dining in two main dining rooms, at a traditional cruise ship buffet and at several dining options that were added during the handful of the ship’s dry-docking periods, including Pizza Pirate, Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina.
For-a-fee dining simply included a coffee bar and the Chef’s Table experience that you can find on all the other Carnival ships. While this selection might seem extremely limited to cruisers accustomed to 20 or more dining options on a ship at one time, when Carnival Fantasy launched, this range of options was pretty standard.
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive
Similarly, Carnival Fantasy’s entertainment options were pretty par for the course as well, at least compared to other cruise ships from that era. There was a 1,400-person theater and lounge, where you could expect not only shows, but also family-friendly, interactive entertainment (including the HASBRO The Game Show experience, which Carnival added a few years ago, as well as the family-favorited Dr. Seuss experiences). Music-heavy, Vegas-style shows were popular.
Daily fun was, again, more of that classic cruising entertainment led by enthusiastic staff members who encouraged all cruisers to get involved and compete in fun little games around the pool and in the more populated common areas.
As for nighttime fun, the cruise ship didn’t boast the bevy of bars and lounges you might see on some of Carnivals’ newer ships, but there was something to be said for the casinos, karaoke parties and comedy shows. There were actually more bars on the ship than there were restaurants, however, including an Atrium Bar, piano bar, club-style bars and the newer RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar, among others.
Outdoor fun at the time of the ship’s sale included a WaterWorks water park, one main pool and sun decks, as well as a mini-golf course. Other amenities included your standard spa, gym, shopping and children’s programming.
In terms of cabins, you couldn’t expect the ritziest, latest and best in terms of decor, but things were certainly a blast from the past, with that cheery cruise line combination of oranges, yellows and reds across the carpets, walls, drapes and more.
Carnival Fantasy Over the Years: Significant Dry Docks
Of course, as with every cruise ship, the features and amenities that Carnival Fantasy debuted with didn’t hold cruisers’ attention forever. Updates and dry docks were needed to maintain the ship’s appeal, and changes were made until the ship evolved into what was seen right before it retired and made its way to the Aegean Sea.
Some of Carnival Fantasy’s most notable dry docks took place during 2008 and 2015.
In 2008, Carnival Fantasy, as well as all Fantasy-class ships, received refurbishments under Carnival’s Evolutions of Fun initiative. All refurbishments were completed in 2010, to the tune of $250 million.
For Carnival Fantasy, Evolutions of Fun changes included the addition of the new WaterWorks water park, some adults-only areas, a redesigned main pool and a new preteen childcare center for cruisers aged 12 to 14.
At the time, the Evolutions of Fun changes included the addition of the longest water slide at sea to the Fantasy-class ships; the 300-foot-long spiral water slide was part of the Carnival WaterWorks water park. The dry dock also added the Serenity adults-only deck. The ship’s limited number of suites received new wall coverings, bathrooms, carpeting and more.
In 2015-2016, upgrades were made to restaurants and child care areas. This dry docking period was probably Carnival Fantasy’s most significant dry dock in terms of bringing the ship up to modern standards, because it refitted the ship according to the Funship 2.0 standards that Carnival put in place slightly before.
The Funship 2.0 initiative brought in new restaurants and new entertainment across a good portion of Carnival’s fleet, adding restaurants and bars that soon became cruiser favorites, such as Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Tequila Bar and RedFrog Rum Bar, as well as new water park features.
In fact, the Funship 2.0 initiative improved Carnival Fantasy so much, according to cruisers, that the initiative won Carnival Fantasy the Most Improved Ship award from cruseilne.com in 2018.
Carnival Fantasy Over the Years: Significant News Events
Unlike some of Carnival’s other cruise ships, Carnival Fantasy mostly avoided bad press throughout its long existence.
One of its more notable headlines was made just recently, in 2019, when Carnival sent the ship to the Gulf of Mexico to assist the U.S. Coast Guard in rescuing 23 Cubans traveling in a powerless wooden boat between Cuba and Mexico.
What’s Next for Carnival?
Unfortunately (or maybe, not so unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), the selling of Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration are just one of many changes that Carnival Cruise Line has recently announced.
Carnival is overall reducing its capacity (possibly in response to reduced demands) and is focusing on its newer ships. This means that, in addition to selling the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration cruise ships, other vessels Carnival Fascination and Carnival Imagination are going into a long-term, lay-up status. Other ships will be moving to new ports, and itineraries are being adjusted to meet cruiser demand.
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive
On the positive side of things, though, we will get some new, updated ships as part of all these upcoming changes. A November 2022 delivery date has been set for the yet-to-be-named, second, Excel-class ship, which will join Mardi Gras and feature many of the same exciting amenities, such as the first roller coaster at sea. It’s expected that itineraries for the unnamed ship will go on sale later in 2020.
Additionally and similarly, Carnival Radiance will make its home in Long Beach in spring of 2021, following a $200 million refurbishment in Europe. Anyone who booked a Carnival Imagination or Carnival Inspiration cruise for sailing after 2021 will be re-booked on Carnival Radiance.
Carnival Fantasy FAQ:
What year was the Carnival Fantasy built?
The Carnival Fantasy cruise ship was floated out on December 9, 1988, but was not completed until 1990, when it left its first home at the Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland.
When was the Carnival Fantasy refurbished?
Carnival Fantasy underwent dry docking and refurbishments in 2008, 2015 and 2019. The most notable of these refurbishments occurred in 2008 and 2015. In 2008, Carnival Fantasy, as well as all Fantasy-class ships, received refurbishments under the Evolutions of Fun initiative.
Evolutions of Fun changes included the addition of the new WaterWorks water park, some adults-only areas, a redesigned main pool and a new preteen childcare center for cruisers aged 12 to 14. In 2015, the Funship 2.0 initiative brought in new restaurants and new entertainment across a good portion of Carnival’s fleet
What other cruise ships are the same class as Carnival Fantasy?
Carnival Fantasy was the very first and the namesake ship of the Fantasy class of cruise ships, which proved to be a very popular class for the line, made up of eight separate ships: Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise.
When was Carnival Fantasy sold?
Carnival Cruise Line recently retired one of the most iconic ships in its fleet, Carnival Fantasy. On July 13, 2020, the cruise ship was sold and then, not a month later, on July 29, it was beached in Aliaga, Turkey, where now the ship awaits its fate as scrap, alongside its sister ship, Carnival Inspiration.
Video footage was captured of the moment the Carnival Fantasy was beached in preparation for scrapping at Aliaga, Turkey.
Carnival Fantasy Beached
The Carnival Fantasy cruise ship which is the first in her class has officially reached the end as the vessel as been beached at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Turkey. She joins the two former Royal Caribbean cruise ships of Monarch of the Seas and Sovereign of the Seas.
The former Carnival cruise ship arrived just off the coast of Aliaga on Tuesday morning and was anchored until she was able to be beached today. The ship will be taken apart, and her metal will be sold off. The ship has already been stripped of all important items when she was docked in Curacao 15 days ago.
As you can see below, the cruise ship is now right next to the former Royal Caribbean and Pullmantur ships where they all await to be scrapped. They will soon be joined by the Carnival Inspiration cruise ship, which is already on its way towards Aliaga and currently in the Meditteranean.
More cruise ships could be beached and scrapped as the global health crises continue to impact the cruise industry around the world. The Carnival Imagination and Carnival Fascination are also going into a cold lay-up as the cruise line plans on a phased-in return to service.
Carnival Fantasy is the first ship in her class and entered service in 1990 at 70,367 gross tons. She helped grow to what it now the world’s largest cruise line. Carnival Cruise Line “did” have a total of eight Fantasy-class vessels.
Royal Caribbean-owned cruise lines are replacing the traditional safety drill and implementing a new virtual drill that reimagines the process.
New Virtual Royal Caribbean Safety Drill
Royal Caribbean Group has announced it’s ditching the traditional safety drill and moving forward with a new virtual drill which is the first of its kind and even patented. The new process is more personal and allows for improveds social distancing and higher levels of safety.
With Muster 2.0, the key elements of the safety drill – including reviewing what to expect and where to go in case of an emergency, and instructions on how to properly use a life jacket – will be accessible to guests on an individual basis instead of a group approach that has been followed historically. New technology, eMuster, will be used to help provide the information to guests via their mobile devices and interactive stateroom TVs.
Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said:
“The health and safety of our guests and crew are our number one priority, and the development of this new muster process is an elegant solution to an outdated, unpopular process.”
“The fact that this will also save guests time and allow the ship to operate without pause means that we can increase health, safety and guest satisfaction simultaneously.”
“Muster 2.0 represents a natural extension of our mission to improve our guests’ vacation experiences by removing points of friction,” said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean Group’s senior vice president of digital. “In this instance, what’s most convenient for our guests is also the safest option in light of needing to reimagine social spaces in the wake of COVID-19.”
Travelers will be able to review the information at their own time prior to setting sail, eliminating the need for the traditional large group assemblies. The new approach also enables everyone on board to maintain better spacing as guests move about the ship, and it allows guests to enjoy more of their vacation with no interruption.
Image Via: Royal Caribbean
After reviewing safety information individually, guests will complete the drill by visiting their assigned assembly station, where a crew member will verify that all steps have been completed and answer questions. Each of the steps will need to be completed prior to the ship’s departure, as required by international maritime law.
The cruise company has been working with the relevant authorities to make sure the new drill procedures comply. Muster 2.0 is being implemented across Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara. TUI Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line will be able to use the new patented safety drill.
When cruises start to resume from October guests will be using the new procedure which is part of a much larger change with new measures to keep guests and crew safe before, during and after a vacation at sea.
Two former Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been beached in Turkey ready to be scrapped, new video footage shows the moment.
Sovereign and Monarch Reach End of the Line
As seen in the above photo by Nautica Goods, two cruise ships that have been covered a lot recently since operator Pullmantur Cruises went out of business have now reached the end of the line at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Turkey.
Monarch, which is formerly known as Monarch of the Seas, was beached yesterday at Aliaga, which is just north of Izmir in Turkey. The last remaining crew members, apart from the essentials, were already transferred to Celerity Infinity. The crew will be taken on by Royal Caribbean, which is some good news. Valuable items and equipment were already removed when the ship was docked in Naples recently.
Video footage has been captured of the moment the Monarch was beached and the final time the engine will be used as she’ll be taken apart bit by bit. A sad ending for a vessel that has such a long history, which those who love cruise ships will appreciate.
This morning sister ship Sovereign which is also formally known as Sovereign of the Seas was beached too. The ship will now await scrapping after already being stripped of important items in Naples, Italy recently. The crew were already transferred to the Celebrity Constellation cruise ship on July 20.
Another vessel which was part of the Pullmantur fleet named Horizon is just one step behind and also set to be scrapped. The ship is current off the Greek coast after being stripped of all important items. The ship will soon join Monarch and Sovereign on the beach at Aliaga.
Pullmantur was forced to close its business due to the impact of the suspension of operations. The Spanish cruise line was no longer able to continue and Royal Caribbean partly owned the operator and took back control of the fleet before selling the ships for scrap.
A lot of memories for many cruisers on these ships. Sovereign of the Seas was first in her class and at the time she entered service in 1987 was the new mega-ship of the industry. The vessel was constructed at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France and is over 73,500 gross tons with a passenger capacity of over over 2,800 at double occupancy
Monarch of the Seas was the second in the Sovereign-class for Royal Caribbean and was also built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard. The ship debuted in 1991 and is over 73,900 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 2,700.
Carnival Inspiration is currently heading towards the scrapyard in Turkey after already being stripped of important items and equipment.
Is Carnival Inspiration Being Scrapped?
Even though Carnival Cruise Line has not yet announced anything, it’s pretty much confirmed that Carnival Inspiration will become the second ship in the fleet to be scrapped.
After spending several days docked at the Brion Wharf in Willemstad, Curacao the ship has now departed the southern Caribbean island and her heading is Izmir, Turkey. Just north is the large ship breaking facility at Aliaga, a place which is often the final destination for cruise ships.
According to the Cruise Ship Tracker, her destination is showing Izmir, Turkey, which is following in the footsteps of other recent cruise ships that are being scrapped. She’s already been stripped of all the important things at the cargo dock in Curacao which the port recently confirmed.
Carnival Inspiration is following sister ship Carnival Fantasy which has also been sold and scrapped. Carnival Fantasy already departed the Caribbean island and currently heading across the Atlantic to Turkey.
It’s a sad ending for Carnival Inspiration as one of the oldest in the fleet but due to the suspension of cruise operations, it was to be expected. Parent company Carnival Corp already announced that a total of 13 vessels across its cruise brands would be disposed of and nine of them in 90 days.
The ship follows other vessels that have been confirmed to leave Carnival Corporation, including MS Maasdam, MS Veendam, MS Amsterdam, MS Rotterdam, Oceana, Costa Victoria, and Costa neoRomantica. Carnival Fantasy is also leaving but the cruise line has not yet announced it.
Carnival Inspiration was delivered to Carnival Cruise Line in 1996 is part of the popular Fantasy-class. She has a gross tonnage of 70,367 and has a guest capacity of 2,697 at double occupancy, along with 920 crew members. The ship’s last refurbishment was in 2018 and another dry dock was scheduled for 2021.
Carnival Cruise Line has revealed that the new Mardi Gras cruise ship won’t be arriving until February 2021, and all of the ship’s cruises until then are cancelled.
Carnival Mardi Gras Cruises Cancelled
The Miami-based cruise line has revealed and confirmed much speculation that the new Mardi Gras cruise ship has been delayed. The largest-ever cruise ship to be constructed for Carnival now won’t be arriving until February 2021.
The ship, which is the first in the fleet powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), will debut out of Port Canaveral on February 6, 2021. That means all previously planned cruises from November 14, 2020 to January 30, 2021 are cancelled.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said:
“While we had hoped to make up construction time on Mardi Gras over the summer, it’s clear we will need extra time to complete this magnificent ship. We share our guests’ disappointment and appreciate their patience as we work through this unprecedented time in our business and the lives of so many people. We remain committed to working with government, public health and industry officials to support the response to the pandemic and to return to operations when the time is right.”
The cruise line has already started to send out communications to those guests impacted by the cancelled sailings. Compensation is being offered in the form of a 100% Future Cruise Credit along with $600 of onboard credit per stateroom if a new cruise is booked by May 31, 2021. Cruise Hive readers can read the full communication from Carnival below:
This news comes as no surprise as Carnival has already said in the last few weeks that new cruise ship deliveries will need to be delayed. This also applies to other new ships for sister brands, including the new P&O Iona for P&O Cruises in the UK.
Mardi Gras is currently in the final stages of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The yard has been hit by the global crisis, which has resulted in work being delayed on the vessel. The suspension of cruise operations has also not helped and cruise lines are struggling to come up with funds to keep the business going.
It’s pretty bad news for those guests who were looking forward to enjoying one of the most advanced and newest ships in the world. Mardi Gras features the world’s first roller coaster at sea, which has been much anticipated along with many new onboard spaces and experiences.
Some guests have been hit even harder after they re-booked the Mardi Gras for a second time before next year. This is because the ship has already been delayed once due to the complex construction of the ship.
She was originally scheduled to debut on August 31, 2020, out of Copenhagen. The date was then pushed back to debut out of Port Canaveral on November 14, 2020. Let’s hope the further delay will be the last and cruisers can enjoy the new mega-ship next year.
Mardi Gras will be 180,800 gross tons and have a guest capacity of 5,282 at double occupancy, along with 1,735 crew members.
Most people taking cruises from Vancouver arrive by air at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). There are several ways to get from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port, and we have full details of all the options below. You should allow about 30 minutes for the journey, whether you choose to transfer by road, shuttle, taxi or SkyTrain.
Vancouver Airport is 8 miles (13km) southwest of downtown Vancouver. This award-winning international airport manages at least 22 flights to and from the USA every day, and a further dozen or so from international destinations.
As you would expect of any leading city, the airport is modern and efficient. It offers a good range of transport options to get to downtown Vancouver and the cruise port.
Taxis
Taxis are always on hand for transfers from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port. On arrival, you will find the taxi stands on Level 2 of the domestic and international Arrivals area.
Fares are calculated by zone on a fixed price basis. The journey takes about 30 minutes, traffic permitting. The standard fare is CAB$35. If you are traveling as a family or group, this is the cheapest and most efficient way to travel to and from the cruise port.
Limousine Meet and Greet
To start your Alaskan cruise in style, book a private limousine to take you and your luggage in opulent comfort from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port.
Some services include a Meet and Greet service, where your chauffeur will greet you inside the terminal and help you and your luggage reach the waiting vehicle. For other services, follow signs to the Ground Transportation Area where the limos are waiting just outside the door.
A larger luxury limo vehicle or stretch SUV is a surprisingly cost-effective option for those traveling as a group from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port. Rates with Aerocar are quoted as follows:
Limo Sedan CAN$ 64
Luxury SUV (6-seater) CAN$ 77
Luxury Van (8-seater) CAN$ 103
Royal Limo and City Limousine also offer an airport service with a gleaming chauffeured limo waiting curbside for you at the airport terminal.
They are customized with all kinds of neat extras, which may include surround sound, Apple TV, a mini-bar with soft drinks (consuming alcohol in a moving vehicle is illegal in BC), leg rests, and heated seats with massage settings.
Your professional driver will provide a discreet and attentive service, making that final leg of your journey particularly comfortable and easy.
All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the VIP service from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port. Reservations are required and full details are available on the relevant company websites.
SkyTrain connects Vancouver Airport to Cruise Port
The Canada Line Rapid Transit SkyTrain is a very convenient way to get from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port. It is the oldest and longest driverless rapid transit system in the world. This fully automated transport system has three lines: The Expo Line, the Millennium Line, and the Canada Line, which connects the airport with the cruise terminal in downtown Vancouver.
Canada Line routes
The Rapid Transit Station at Vancouver Airport is located between the international and domestic terminals; just follow the signs for SkyTrain or Rapid Transit System. There is a covered walkway to the station with escalators and elevators to make the short walk very easy, even with baggage.
To go from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port, you need to take the Canada Line, which has two routes. One route runs from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port on the waterfront, and the other route serves the City of Richmond, so make sure you get the SkyTrain in the right direction for your cruise port destination! There are 13 stations on this route, starting with YVR Airport.
If you are traveling from the airport to the cruise ship, you will be getting off at the final station, “Waterfront.” From the station, it is an easy 4-minute walk along W. Cordova St and Howe St to Canada Place.
Frequency/times
The Canada Line SkyTrain journey between Vancouver Airport and the cruise port takes 26 minutes. It runs every 6 minutes at peak times. In the early morning and evening, the service is reduced to every 12 minutes. Late at night and at off-peak times such as weekends and holidays it operates a 20-minute service.
The SkyTrain shuttle service begins at around 5 am (4.48 am from the waterfront and 5.07 am from the airport). Last SkyTrains are around 1 am (1.05 am from the waterfront and 12.56 am from the airport). You certainly won’t have to wait long to travel by this efficient mode of transport.
SkyTrain fares
Fares start at CAN$3 for 90 minutes of travel by SkyTrain in Zone 1. The fare from the airport to downtown cover two zones and starts at CAN$4.25. There is an additional surcharge of CAN$5 YVR Addfare for eastbound trips only from the airport.
Therefore, the cost for an adult one-way trip eastbound from Vancouver airport to cruise port is CAN$9.25 (which includes a YVR surcharge of CAN$5).
The return trip is just CAN$4.25 as the surcharge does not apply to westbound trips from the cruise port to the airport.
How to pay for SkyTrain shuttle transport
The easiest pay to pay is by using a contactless credit card or mobile wallet with a tap-to-pay feature. Tap your card on the reader once when you board the SkyTrain and, most importantly, tap again when you exit. This way, your card will only be charged for the length of time you traveled (up to 90 minutes per single fare).
You can also purchase a single-use ticket from vending machines at the SkyTrain station in the airport, or you can purchase a day pass if you want to use public transport (such as buses and other SkyTrain routes) around the city for the rest of the day.
You can pay by Compass Card, which is reloadable, but it is only worth getting a Compass account if you plan to stay in the city for a while. It is valid for SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express, as well as some ferries.
Cruise Line Shuttles
Some cruise lines operate a shuttle service for cruisers to and from the cruise ship. There is a fee and seats must be booked prior to your arrival. Each cruise line has its own schedule and fees, so contact them directly once you have booked your cruise and flight.
Ace Chartersruns a daily shuttle service from Vancouver Airport hotels to the cruise port. It has a pick-up/drop-off point outside the Pan Pacific Hotel at Canada Place.
There are several stops along the way at various airport hotels, including the Four Points Sheraton, Holiday Inn Vancouver Airport, Executive Inn, and several others.
It is ideal for those planning an overnight stay before heading to the cruise terminal. Check out the shuttle timetable and book your seat online or call 1-844-776-3722. The fixed price is CAN$18 per person.
Car Rentals
If you plan to spend a few days in Vancouver exploring the area before your cruise, you will find car rental desks for most major car rental companies at the airport.
Avis includes a pick-up and drop-off service and one-way rentals. You can pick up your car on arrival at the airport and drive to Vancouver City along the 99 highway. Once you have finished with your car rental, you can arrange to have it picked up from your hotel or from Canada Place cruise terminal.
Disabled Facilities at Vancouver Airport and Cruise Port
Vancouver prides itself on being one of the top most livable cities in the world. It ensures that visitors with special needs have easy access to public transport and every facility. Travelers with a disability or mobility issues will find helpful accessibility services at both Vancouver Airport and the Cruise Port.
If you want to rent a mobility scooter for the duration of your cruise, you should book one ahead of time from Scootaround. They also offer wheelchair rentals, powerchairs and oxygen concentrator rentals. Call 1-888-441-7575 to book your rentals which will be delivered to Canada Place Cruise terminal ready for your sailing.
Vancouver Airport
You can arrange a wheelchair for use within the public areas of the airport. You should contact your airline representative to arrange this. Service counters are adapted for wheeled mobility users and restaurants have seating with and without arms.
The airport also has a 15-minute curbside parking rule for vehicles with an official disabled badge to allow for passenger and luggage pick-up and drop-off. The airport terminal has low resistance carpeting for easier movement for wheeled mobility devices and those using walking aids. There are also disabled-accessible washrooms and toilets with an emergency call button.
Cruise Port
The award-winning cruise terminal at Canada Place is designed to make it easy for everyone to navigate the terminal, even those with wheeled mobility devices or special needs.
If you have any special requirements or need assistance during embarkation and debarkation you should contact your cruise line ahead of time. On arrival at the Canada Place Cruise Terminal, the Information Desk will be able to assist with any inquiries regarding special passenger needs.
