Frequently Asked Questions

British Columbia Cruises

General	Alaska	British Columbia	Columbia & Snake Rivers	California Wine Country
Grand Asia	Japan	Panama Canal & Costa Rica	Mexico's Sea of Cortes	Ring of Fire	South Pacific

Arrival
Q. Where do I check in for the cruise?
A. Check-in for all Seattle cruise departures is at the Westin Hotel, located downtown at 5th and Stewart. Look for the Polar Bear signs at the valet drive-through off Westlake Avenue. If you are arriving at SeaTac Airport on the day of sailing, Cruise West has uniformed representatives in the baggage claim area starting at 9:30 a.m. If your flight arrives prior to 9:30 a.m. on the day of sailing, we will still meet you provided you have
given us your flight arrival information.

Our latest recommended flight arrival time is 1:30 p.m. on the day the ship departs. Our personnel will meet you at your baggage carousel and assist you to the downtown shuttle. The shuttle will drop you off at the Westin Hotel. If we miss you at your carousel, we will meet you at the south end of the terminal, baggage claim level, at door #6. Please make sure you have provided us with your flight number, city of origin, and flight departure and arrival times. Wear your blue and white Polar Bear button on your lapel.

Q. How do I get to the Westin Hotel by car?
A. Driving directions from Southbound I-5: move into the right lane as you approach downtown Seattle and take the Stewart St. exit. Follow Stewart to 4th Avenue and take a right. Turn right onto Virginia and right again onto 5th Avenue. The Westin is on the left side ofthe street.

Driving directions from Northbound I-5: Take the Olive Way exit. Turn left onto Denny Way, go over the freeway and take a left turn onto Stewart. Follow Stewart to 4th Avenue and take a right. Turn right onto Virginia and right again onto 5th Avenue. The Westin is on the left side of the street.

Driving directions from westbound I-90: Take I-90 until it ends just south of downtown Seattle. Turn onto Northbound I-5, then follow the I-5 instructions above. Please first check in at the Cruise West valet desk at the Westin Hotel, drop off your luggage, then park your car. Large vehicles should be parked at the airport, and you should make advance reservations with one of the local parking lots.

Butchart Gardens
Q. How long do we stay at Butchart Gardens?
A. The time at the gardens is approximately 2 hours.

Diving
Q. Can I scuba dive?
A. Scuba diving is not permitted from the ships and there are no scuba diving opportunities on this itinerary.

Packing
Q. What clothes should I pack?
A. We recommend you pack casual, comfortable clothes. Layered clothing with a good jacket will be the most versatile. Remember your fleece, raingear, hats, gloves, and thick socks. Flat, rubber-soled walking shoes are best for the outer decks on the ship. We will send you a more comprehensive packing list before you receive your final documents.

Victoria
Q. How do you book High Tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria?
A. Your onboard Hotel Manager can make a reservation for you. You do not need to wear formal attire for High Tea.

Q. How much free time do we have in Victoria?
A. After the included shore excursion you have the remainder of the day.

Weather
Q. What’s the weather going to be like?
A. This itinerary cruises in a temperate coastal climate. Plan for a full range of weather possibilities from cool to hot, rainy to dry. It can be very cool in the evenings, or when you are out on deck.

Whales
Q. Will I see whales?
A. Whales are always a possibility. Various species tend to migrate through British Columbia in mid-summer months but there are three resident pods of orcas in the San Juan Islands so there is a chance that you will see some whales on your trip.

Activity Level
Q. How active are the tours?
A. The activity level of this itinerary varies day by day with easy to moderate levels of walking. You are encouraged to participate in what you are most comfortable with. This cruise is best enjoyed if you are in good health, fit and able to enjoy comfortably paced, moderate walks over some uneven terrain and on paths and trails, which are sometimes slippery. Nature Walks are offered at a variety of distances and activity levels.

Wheelchairs
Q. Are Cruise West vessels wheelchair accessible?
A. Cruise West appreciates the differences in accommodation needs of our guests wishing to travel with us. However, our vessels do not meet all applicable standards of the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for buildings and facilities. Furthermore, guests should be aware that ships and operating conditions can always present challenges to wheelchairs or those with limited mobility and participation may not be possible for some activities and events. Ship interiors often have raised door thresholds, steep stairs and narrow passageways that can prevent wheelchair passage. Gangways between the ship and docks can be steep due to variable tide conditions. Inflatable excursion craft that do not accommodate wheelchairs are sometimes used for shore visits where no docks exist.

Land tours present a variety of physical environments including high altitude, uneven terrain, rocky trails, museums and buildings without elevators and stairways without handrails.

These conditions and guest expectations should be discussed in detail at the time of booking and confirmed in writing to ensure travelers will get the most out of their Cruise West experience.