High Cruise Passenger Volumes Expected on May 19

Port Metro Vancouver Issues Transportation Alert

VANCOUVER, May 17, 2012 /CNW/ - On Saturday, May 19, 2012, cruise passenger volumes at Canada Place and Ballantyne cruise terminals are expected to peak, reaching 20,000 embarking and disembarking passengers. This peak will occur between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. On this high volume day, higher than normal vehicle traffic volumes are anticipated in the downtown core, along with increased demand for taxis and the use of public transportation.

In an effort to accommodate the high number of passengers, Port Metro Vancouver is working closely with cruise lines, the City of Vancouver, Tourism Vancouver, Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver taxi companies and other transportation service providers to raise awareness about the significantly increased demand.

In order to minimize congestion, it is particularly important that arriving passengers do not come to Canada Place or Ballantyne cruise terminals prior to their scheduled embarkation time in order to avoid further congestion while disembarking passengers are leaving their ships.

Given the significant number of passengers utilizing these facilities, Port Metro Vancouver is advising those going to the terminals to make transportation arrangements in advance.

Port Metro Vancouver will have additional staff on site at the two cruise terminals to assist with passenger inquiries. The Port's traffic staff will also be assisting with managing traffic and pedestrian flows at nearby crossways.

In 2011, the cruise industry contributed $1.3 billion to British Columbia's economy, $50 million in provincial taxes and provided over 7,000 jobs. Vancouver's cruise industry is an important contributor to the region's economy, stimulating more than $2 million in economic activity for every cruise ship call in Vancouver.

Port Metro Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified Port, trading $75 billion in goods annually with more than 160 nations, and generating 129,500 jobs nationally.

BACKGROUNDER

Transportation Options from Vancouver Cruise Terminals for Saturday, May 19, 2012

CANADA PLACE = EST 7,500 DISEMBARKING
& 7,500 EMBARKING PASSENGERS

Berth	Ship	Cruise Line	Est. Arrival - Est. Departure
East	Diamond Princess	Princess Cruises	06:00 -16:30
North	Sapphire Princess	Princess Cruises	05:00 -16:30
West	Zuiderdam	Holland America Line	07:00 -17:00

• All passengers embarking at Canada Place, after dropping off luggage, please report to Hall B in the Vancouver Convention Center - East.

BALLANTYNE PIER = EST. 2,500 DISEMBARKING
& 2,500 EMBARKING PASSENGERS

Berth	Ship	Cruise Line	Est. Arrival - Est. Departure
East	Norwegian Jewel	Norwegian Cruise Line	07:00 -16:00

• Private vehicles and large coach buses must access Ballantyne Pier through Clarke Street.  The Heatley Avenue entrance is only available for taxis, limos and designated shuttles.

Passenger Transportation Options to/from Canada Place

If passengers have not made previous transportation arrangements with their cruise line, the following transportation options are available at the Canada Place Ground Transportation Desk in the main lobby of the cruise terminal:

Shuttles to/from Canada Place (prices for a one-way ticket and in Canadian dollars)

• Vancouver International Airport & Richmond hotels: $14
  For more info & reservations, please visit: www.vancouvershuttle.ca or call 1.888.941.2121 (Toll free)
• Bellingham Airport: $28 (senior, student and child fares available)
  For more info & reservations, please visit: www.quickcoach.com or call 1.800.665.2122 (Toll free)
• SeaTac Airport: $57 (senior, student and child fares available)
  For more info & reservations, please visit:  www.quickcoach.com or call 1.800.665.2122 (Toll free)
• Victoria: $41.95 ($35.95 BC Senior) (student fares available)
  For more info & reservations, please visit:  www.pacificcoach.com or call 1.800.661.1725 (Toll free)

Taxis

Canada Place is serviced by the following Vancouver taxi companies:

• Black Top & Checker Cabs - Tel: [phone] or 1.800.494.1111
• Maclure's Cabs (1984) Ltd  - Tel: [phone]
• Vancouver Taxi Ltd  - Tel:  [phone]
• Yellow Cab Co Ltd - Tel: [phone]

For a list of estimated taxi fares to various locations, see summary below.

Public Transportation to/from Canada Place

• Canada Line to Vancouver International Airport and Richmond: 2 zones $3.75
• Skytrain to Vancouver, New Westminster, Surrey, and Burnaby: from 1 to 3 zones $2.50 - $5.00
• For customer information and schedules, please visit: www.translink.ca or call 1.604.953.3333

Passenger Pick-up

• Private vehicles are not allowed to enter the Porte Cochere area during passenger disembark.  Please make prior arrangements to pick up your party at either at P1 or P2 parking levels of Canada Place or at a designated meeting place outside Canada Place.
• Shuttles, buses, limos and taxis are able to pick up passengers in the Porte Cochere area.

ESTIMATED TAXI FARES FROM CANADA PLACE

FROM: Canada Place PRICE RANGE:				TO: Downtown Hotels (range from 3 - 6 blocks) $3 to $10 (tip net included)
Hotels				Cross Streets
Days Inn Pender St.				Render- Hornby
Delta Vancouver Suites				Hastings- Seymour
Four Seasons				Georgia - Howe
Hotel Vancouver				Burrard- Georgia
Hyatt				Burrard- Melville
Le Soleil				Dusmuir- Hornby
Marriott Pinnacle				Hastings-Thurlow
Metropolitan				Dunsmuir-Howe
Ramada Pender				Pender- Homer
Renaissance				Hastings-Thurlow
FROM: Canada Place PRICE RANGE:				TO: Downtown Hotels (range from 7-13 blocks) $10 to $14 (tip not included)
Hotels				Cross Streets
Quality Hotel				Howe- Drake
Blue Horizon				Robson - Bute
Bosmans				Howe- Nelson
Buchan				Haro - Guiford
Burrard Motor Hotel				Burrard- Helmeke
Century Plaza				Burrard- Comox
Executive Hotel				Howe- Pacific
Georgian Court				Beatty- Robson
Greenbrier				Robson - Broughton
Hampton Inn & Suites				Robson - Beatty
Holiday Inn Howe				Howe- Helmeken
Landmark				Robson - Broughton
Listel				Robson - Jervis
Robson Suites				Robson - Bidwell
Rosedale				Hamilton - Robson
Sandman				Georgia - Gambia
Tropicana				Robson - Broughton
Westin Bayshore				Georgia - Cadero
Westin Grand				Homer- Robson
FROM: Canada Place				TO: Downtown Hotels more than 13 block*10- $15
FROM: Canada Place				TO:	PRICE RANGE:
				Bus Deport	$12-$15
				Airport	$35-$40
				Richmond Hotels	$35-$40
				Tsawwassen Ferry	$75
				Horseshoe Bay Ferry	$55
(Tourism Vancouver Recommended Tip 20x for Outstanding Service)

 Please contact taxi companies directly, to confirm fares

Passenger Transportation Options to/from Ballantyne Pier

If passengers have not made previous transportation arrangements with their cruise line, the following transportation options are available at the Ground Transportation Desk in the main lobby of Ballantyne Pier:

Shuttles to/from Ballantyne

• Vancouver International Airport & Richmond hotels: $14
  For more info & reservations, please visit: www.vancouvershuttle.ca or call 1.888.941.2121 (Toll free)
• Bellingham Airport: $28 (senior, student and child fares available)
  For more info & reservations, please visit: www.quickcoach.com or call 1.800.665.2122 (Toll free)
• SeaTac Airport: $57 (senior, student and child fares available)
  For more info & reservations, please visit:  www.quickcoach.com or call 1.800.665.2122 (Toll free)
• Victoria: $41.95 ($35.95 BC Senior) (student fares available)
  For more info & reservations, please visit:  www.pacificcoach.com or call 1.800.661.1725 (Toll free)

Taxis

Ballantyne is serviced by the following Vancouver taxi companies:

• Black Top & Checker Cabs - Tel: [phone] or 1.800.494.1111
• Maclure's Cabs (1984) Ltd  - Tel: [phone]
• Vancouver Taxi Ltd  - Tel:  [phone]
• Yellow Cab Co Ltd - Tel: [phone]

ESTIMATED TAXI FARES FROM BALLANTYNE

FROM: Ballantyne Pier				TO:	PRICE RANGE:
				Downtown Hotels	$15-$17
				Airport	$40
				Bus Depot	$10-$15
				Metrotown - Burnaby	$35
				New Westminster	$50
				UBC - Point Grey	$45
				US Border - White Rock	$100
				North Surrey	$70
				Langley	$110
				Tsawwassen Ferry	$75
				Horseshoe Bay Ferry	$55

Please contact taxi companies directly, to confirm fares

Public Transportation to/from Ballantyne

• To access the Skytrain and Canada Line, passengers at Ballantyne are able to take the following buses:
• 7 Dunbar (Westbound):  This bus stops on the corner of Heatley Avenue and Powell Street and can drop off passengers at Pender Street and Richards Street which is one block from the Waterfront Station.  The first stop is at 6:30 am with service at this location every 30 minutes.
• 4 Blanca (Westbound):  This bus stops on the corner of Heatley Avenue and Powell Street and can drop off passengers at Pender Street and Richards Street which is one block from the Waterfront Station.  The first stop is at 6:45 am with service at this location every 30 minutes.
• To access the Powell/Heatley bus stop, passengers are required to utilize the stairs located below the overpass and on the South end of Centennial Rd.  Passengers are strongly urged to follow directions/instructions given by port or cruise line personnel to ensure safe entry to the overpass.
• For more detailed information and specific schedules, please visit: www.translink.ca or call 1.604.953.3333.

Passenger Pick-Up & Drop Off

• Private vehicles and large coach buses must access Ballantyne Pier through Clarke Street.  The Heatley Avenue entrance is only available for taxis, limos and designated shuttles.

Barbara Joy-Kinsella
Media Relations, Port Metro Vancouver,
604-219-8250