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It’s approximately 60 miles or 118 km south of Vancouver and 60 miles north of Seattle, Washington. The shuttle buses drop cruise passengers on Government Street in front of the Fairmont Empress Hotel. This unique marine destination offers food kiosks, unique shops and eco-tour adventures amongst fishing vessels, pleasure boats with live-aboard residents, float homes, and commercial businesses. The Victoria Cruise Terminal at The Breakwater District is currently the busiest cruise ship port-of-call in Canada.
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Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle Reviews
Restaurants, activities, and shopping are all easily accessible without a car. The waterfront is gorgeous, and the summer weather is moderate. For that, you can thank the Passenger Vessel Services Act from 1886, which dictates that all ships leaving the U.S. must make a foreign stop. So, hop aboard as I take you on a journey to explore this coastal wonder. It’s perfect for adults and families alike and will top off your Alaskan adventure.
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Although the beauty of these gardens is best enjoyed during daylight hours, the twinkling lights transform the gardens into a magical wonderland past sunset. If your cruise departs from a port located within the United States (i.e. Seattle), a Passport is highly recommended but not necessarily required. If you do not have a Passport, you will require two pieces of ID, including Proof of Citizenship and a Government-Issued Photo ID. Photocopies or pictures of documents are not acceptable pieces of identification. Travel requirements depend on your country of origin and your cruise line. To avoid disappointments when travelling to your cruise port in Victoria British Columbia due to changing regulations, bring your Passport.
Juneau, Alaska
Leaving the cruise ship terminal, head to your right and pick up the trail that goes for miles along the shoreline. In addition to shopping or grabbing a bite to eat or drink, walking around the Inner Harbour takes you through all the action of a busy harbor including ships, ferries, sailboats and float planes. You can also check out the famous Empress Hotel and the photogenic British Columbia House of Parliament along with the abundance of flowers all over the place.
See The City By E-Bike
Besides Victoria BC, Alaska-based liners to Vancouver Island may also stop at Port Hardy (on the island's northeastern coast). The town provides access to popular wilderness vacation experiences and activities, such as kayaking, rafting, caving, scuba diving, surfing, nature camping. As with any travel destination, it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded or less-frequented areas. However, for those looking to store luggage ashore, some nearby hotels and businesses may offer storage services for a fee. As you embark on your journey, may the memories you craft in Victoria be as timeless as the city itself. Whether you’re here for a day or a week, let the city’s charm envelop you, and may you depart with a piece of Victoria forever etched in your heart.
More than just a stopover during an Alaskan or west coast cruise, this charming city boasts a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty waiting to be explored. Cycle BC Rentals, Pedego Electric Bikes, and Victoria Bike Rentals offer bikes, with the latter offering pick-up at the cruise port. Most travelers start at the Empress Hotel on Government Street. Stops include Old Town (and Chinatown), Christ Church Cathedral, Fishermen’s Wharf, Oak Bay Village, Cook Street Village, and the Ogden Point cruise terminal. The waters around Victoria are rich in marine life, so you can see harbor seals, sea lions, orcas, herons, and bald eagles.
While the essence of Victoria’s charm is best captured on foot, the city’s vastness means you’ll likely need some wheels to see it all, especially on a tight cruise schedule. Fear not, for Victoria boasts a myriad of transportation options tailored for every kind of explorer. The cruise ship terminal has a significant immigration and customs area to screen passengers in Victoria. The Victoria cruise ship terminal is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
All facilities are modern, with paved parking, passenger transport and cargo storage areas and currently accommodate cruise ships during the Alaska season. Up to four ships at a time berth at the Ogden Point cruise terminal, which is close to downtown and Inner Harbour attractions. Passenger services at the docks include gift shops, foreign currency exchange and pay phones.
The Ship Point marina is located in Victorias city centre, close to the provincial legislature, the famous Empress Hotel, and the Royal BC Museum. The Wharf Street floats are located north of the seaplane terminal. This marina offers year-round transient moorage, monthly moorage, and low season moorage from October to May. All facilities are modern, with paved parking, passenger transport and cargo storage areas.
If you prefer to stay close to the Victoria cruise port, a stroll along the Ogden Point Breakwater provides excellent views and a chance to watch the sunset. During the summer months, it’s still light until late, so you can see parts of Victoria in just a few hours. So, don’t stay on the ship; get out and wander around the capital of British Columbia.
For the 2022 cruise ship season, it welcomed its first vessel, the Caribbean Princess, on April 6th. The Crown Princess was the last ship was the last vessel to dock on November 3rd. It had 370 scheduled docking, with July being the busiest month. Ogden Point has two deep water berths close to downtown Victoria. However, the Victoria cruise terminal has welcomed four or five ships on certain days. Port Ogden Point has 2 cruise ship docks – “Pier A” and “Pier B”.
An excellent way to see all of the city of Victoria is by using the HoHo bus. For a single fare you can depart the bus at any of its scheduled stops and then re-board the next bus to continue your self guided tour. A stop at the cruise port in Victoria, BC, would not be complete without visiting the Fairmont Empress Hotel downtown. The iconic The Castle on the Coast hotel overlooks the Inner Harbor.
Government Street The heart of downtown Victoria, filled with boutiques and specialty shops. For a romantic Italian experience, sit on the patio at Il Terrazzo to enjoy the sea breeze and a full-bodied glass of red wine. The ambiance of Il Terrazzo, its deep-red brick walls, and upscale feel make for a good date night. Westsong Walkway is one of our favourites, although you can walk the David Foster Inner Harbour Pathway all the way from Ogden Point to downtown . Famous Gardens The Butchart Gardens Once nothing more than an abandoned quarry, these gardens have transformed the previously barren location into something out of a fairytale.
In addition to the shuttle bus you will find there is also a Marine shuttle service. This boat service will take you from the Victoria cruise ship dock to the Steamship terminal in downtown Victoria. Again, a ticket will cost you $6 CDN one way or $12 CDN return. This dock lies in the harbour of Victoria, about 2.5 km or 1.5 miles from the city center. For season 2018, Port Victoria BC was upgraded with an extended mooring dolphin allowing berthing for the ever-largest Alaska-based cruise liner Norwegian Bliss (NCL).
The Victorian-era Craigdarroch Castle looms over you as you arrive. Its hard to believe a castle this magnificent is located in one of Victorias neighborhoods on Rockland Avenue since it looks like something out of a period movie. Explore the nooks and crannies, tour the grand halls, and soak in the opulence while learning about the original builders and residents of the castle, the Dunsmuir family.
The Victoria cruise port welcomes numerous cruise ships returning to Seattle from Alaska. Cruise ships sailing to Alaska must dock at a foreign port in accordance with the “Jones Act.” Victoria, BC, is the obvious choice because it can accommodate larger vessels than Vancouver. Our ship arrived too late in the evening to take advantage of the free guided tours offered, but if you visit during the day, you should check them out.
