Most cruise ports have hotels near the ships, but in Vancouver there's one hotel that is actually inside the cruise terminal that is the most convenient pre-cruise stay I've ever had.
The Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel is unique in that it sits atop the cruise terminal building, and it comes with a tight integration too.
From the moment I took my first Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska, I was hooked. So I was eager to get back again and immediately booked a stay at the Pan Pacific for our stay.
For $600 a night (including breakfast), I had a prime location with views of Vancouver harbor, convenient access to the ships, and probably the easiest embarkation ever. I paid for my own hotel and was not comped in anyway.
The Pan Pacific Vancouver is an exceptional place to stay because where it's located.
There are always lots of hotel options in any major city, but the Pan Pacific Vancouver is a luxury hotel that's right on the waterfront.
Canada Place cruise terminal is part of the same building, so cruise ships literally pull up next to the building. There's a good chance when you wake up on any morning, there's a cruise ship within view.
Plus, the hotel is located near some of the best neighborhoods and upscale shopping districts within the city.
My room was more expensive for two reasons: I visited in the summer during the high tourism season, and the FIFA World Cup had games to be held in the city.
I chose the Pan Pacific because they take care of your luggage getting to the ship.
The best perk of staying at in this hotel is you can have your luggage sent from your room to the ship.
Anywhere else I've cruised from, I have to drag my luggage from hotel to the cruise terminal. Not a terrible ordeal, but once you've stayed at the Pan Pacific, it's a really neat change.
The morning of your cruise, you can call bell services to come to your room and take your luggage. I'm not exaggerating when I say I waited less than 5 minutes for them to arrive to get our bags.
I printed my own luggage tags (and attached them with luggage tag holders), but the bellhop can attach tags if you need them.
He takes your bags from your room as early as 7am, and ensures they get on the ship.
All you have to do is take an elevator downstairs to start the embarkation process.
The lobby of the hotel has a contemporary and timeless look.
We took Vancouver's Canada Line rapid transit rail from the airport, and it goes directly to the waterfront area. We walked out of the train station and across the street from the hotel.
The hotel sits atop a convention center and the cruise terminal. Bell hops wait outside and took our luggage for us while we went to check-in.
Two escalator rides up, and you emerge into a beautiful atrium with giant windows facing Vancouver harbor.
My room came with floor-to-ceiling windows.
We booked two rooms next to each other. Both rooms were quite large, and they had great views of the city.
You could pay more for a room with a view of the harbor, but I was fine with the city view to save some money.
It was relaxing to watch the city skyline from my comfortable king-sized bed.
After a day of traveling across the country for this trip, it felt so nice plopping down on the king size bed.
Because we had such large windows, it allowed for unfettered views of the city.
If you felt like getting up and getting closer to the windows, you could people watch quite easily.
To the left of the main room, the bathroom was enormous.
While I love to cruise, I can always appreciate a good hotel shower.
This was a big bathroom with a rainfall shower head.
The morning of the cruise, we took an elevator downstairs to board the cruise ship.
After our bags were picked up from our hotel room, all we had to do was head downstairs to the lobby.
Walking through the convention center, there is a slightly unusual check-in process.
The check-in takes place in a convention center space, shared between many cruise lines. You're directed to the Royal Caribbean section, where the actual check-in is similar to other ports.
However, things are different as you proceed. You walk through a maze of corridors and walkways until you reach security. This looks more like an airport TSA security checkpoint than what I've seen in other terminals.
In addition, you have to go through U.S. customs check here because we're headed to U.S. ports in this cruise.
Rather than conduct a customs check upon arrival in Alaska, it's done in Vancouver to make things easier once in Alaska.
The Pan Pacific is expensive, but it's perfect for anyone that values convenience over everything else.
There's one reason to pick the Pan Pacific when you cruise from Vancouver, and it's how easy it is to get on the ship from the hotel.
There are arguably better values around Vancouver, and certainly more luxurious options. But I booked the Pan Pacific because it reduced the logistical needs considerably.
Some people prioritize convenience factor over saving money, and the time saved was enormous. Plus, it was just easier having the bellhop come get our bags.
The hotel had fantastic service from start to finish, and it's undeniably located in the heart of Vancouver. It's exactly the hotel you'd imagine when wanting to do a pre-cruise visit to this Pacific Northwest city.
