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Vancouver Cruise Port Guide 2026

By U.S. News & World Report

Canada Place was originally built in 1927 as a railway pier and later transformed into its iconic five-sail design for the Expo 86 World’s Fair. Today, it serves as a bustling cruise terminal, convention center, and hub for attractions like the FlyOver Canada virtual flight ride. Along with stunning views of the harbor and easy walking access to downtown Vancouver’s best attractions, restaurants and hotels, Canada Place embodies an energetic, cosmopolitan vibe that’s the perfect kickoff or finale to your cruise vacation.

— Local currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)

— Time zone: Pacific Time Zone (PT)

— Official language: English and French are Canada’s two official languages. Virtually everyone in and around the port speaks English fluently.

Terminal Details

— Port name: Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal

— Port address: 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3T4

— Port website: https://www.canadaplace.ca/

— Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, restrooms, daytime luggage storage, baggage handling, wheelchair rentals and nearby restaurants

— Distance to city center: 0 miles (it’s located directly in Vancouver’s downtown)

— Shuttle service to city: No shuttle needed; the terminal is already downtown

— Accessibility: The port is highly accessible for wheelchair users and those with mobility concerns, with elevators and escalators widely available. Tendering is not required in most cases, as ships dock directly at the pier. The terrain inside the terminal is completely flat, and while Vancouver has some hills, the immediate waterfront area outside the terminal is very manageable.

Is Canada Place Safe?

Yes, Canada Place and its immediate surroundings are typically very safe.

— Credit card payments are universally accepted, so you won’t need to carry large amounts of cash or worry too much about currency exchange.

— As in any major city, there are areas of Vancouver that tourists should avoid for safety reasons, including the Downtown Eastside. This neighborhood just east of Gastown struggles with homelessness and drug use and generally isn’t considered safe for travelers. It’s best to stick to the area just west of Canada Place, including Coal Harbour, the West End and English Bay.

— Emergency contact number: 911

Transportation Options

The nearest major airport is Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which sits less than 10 miles from the cruise terminal. Below are the transportation options to and from the airport:

— Taxi: A taxi from the Vancouver airport to the cruise port operates on a flat-rate system, costing CA$46 (about $34). The travel time is typically 20 to 30 minutes.

— Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Uber and Lyft both operate in Vancouver. Rides from the airport to Canada Place cost between CA$44 and CA$64, depending on the size of the vehicle you request.

— Public transit: The Canada Line SkyTrain runs directly from YVR Airport to Waterfront Station (steps from Canada Place). Trains depart every 6 to 12 minutes, and the ride takes about 30 minutes. Tickets cost around CA$10.

— Port parking: Underground parking is available at Canada Place starting at CA$50 (around $37) per day. For cheaper rates (around CA$150 — or $108 — per week), consider private lots near the terminal, such as those operated by ParkChamp. Or, look for hotels offering parking packages specifically for cruise ship passengers, such as Atrium Hotel Vancouver.

Restaurants Near Canada Place

Thanks to Canada Place’s location in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the terminal is surrounded by a bevy of tasty restaurants — many with waterfront views.

— Miku Vancouver: Just steps from the terminal, this highly-rated spot is famous for its upscale Aburi (flame-seared) sushi and stunning waterfront views.

— Botanist Bar: Situated inside the Fairmont Pacific Rim (a 0.3-mile — or roughly seven-minute — walk from the port), this award-winning bar offers an upscale vibe with highly creative crafted cocktails.

— Cardero’s: About one mile (a 20-minute walk or five-minute car ride) from Canada Place, Cardero’s is well known for its lively pub atmosphere, Coal Harbour views and fresh seafood.

Things to Do Near Canada Place

— Granville Island Public Market: About a 3-mile (or 15-minute) taxi ride from Canada Place, this is a bustling, vibrant indoor market offering fresh local produce, artisan foods and unique shops.

— Stanley Park: A short bike or taxi ride away, this nearly 1,000-acre urban park offers the scenic Seawall (the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path) and Indigenous totem poles.

— Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: A popular excursion easily arranged through most cruise lines, offering a thrilling walk across a swaying bridge suspended 230 feet above a river canyon.

— Grouse Mountain: If you’re willing to travel a bit farther out of the city to North Vancouver, you’ll want to head to Grouse Mountain. It’s less than 10 miles from Canada Place, but feels worlds away. Known as the “Peak of Vancouver,” Grouse Mountain sits about 4,100 feet above sea level and offers a plethora of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, wildlife, a gondola, a tramway and more.

Top Hotels Near Canada Place

Whether you’re arriving a day early to explore Vancouver or lingering after your voyage, staying near Canada Place ensures a stress-free start or end to your cruise.

— Pan Pacific Vancouver: This stunning hotel is uniquely positioned directly on top of the Canada Place cruise terminal. You can arrange to have your luggage taken straight from your hotel room to the ship if you opt for the property’s cruise package.

— Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel by APA: Conveniently located in the Coal Harbour neighborhood, this hotel sits within walking distance of Canada Place. From here, travelers can also easily access Stanley Park and the Vancouver Seawall. On site, it offers a year-round outdoor heated pool, a fitness center, a spa and a restaurant.

— Delta Hotels Vancouver Downtown Suites: A great option for families or groups traveling together, this all-suite hotel is within walking distance of Canada Place as well as the city’s Gastown neighborhood, which is best known for its historic steam clock, boutique shops and cocktail bars.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Ann Henson is the assistant managing editor for the Travel section at U.S. News & World Report. She has cruised out of Vancouver and visited the city throughout her life to see family and friends. She relied on her own research and recommendations from her mom, a Vancouver local, for this cruise port guide.

You might also be interested in:

— Best Cruises from Vancouver

— Alaska Cruise Packing List

— The Best Alaska Cruises for Families

— The Most Affordable Alaska Cruises

— When to Cruise in Every Region

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Vancouver Cruise Port Guide 2026 originally appeared on usnews.com

Trump secretly switched planes in Turkey amid security concerns, official says

By CNN
(CNN) — President Donald Trump secretly slipped out of Turkey last month on an alternate military plane, which he boarded while hidden inside a catering truck, as part of an elaborate ruse prompted by an Iranian threat, according to a US official.The clandestine security plan — first reported by the Washington Post and confirmed by CNN — underscored the lengths American officials went to in order to protect Trump from being assassinated by Iran.Trump had flown to Turkey on a new plane gifted by Qatar and meant to be used as Air Force One. But while he was on the trip, officials announced he would fly out on an older presidential plane, which CNN and others had previously reported was due to security concerns.That, though, was apparently part of the subterfuge. After boarding the older aircraft, a moment caught on camera, Trump secretly got off via the catering vehicle and moved to a smaller Air Force C-32A. The Qatari-gifted plane, the older aircraft used as Air Force One, and the C-32A then all departed separately for the UK. Once there, Trump got on board the Qatari-gifted plane and flew home.For the last month, much of the public discussion about the plane swap had been centered around the security capabilities of the Qatar-donated plane. Trump had boasted about the new aircraft — even though officials felt it was not as secure as other planes because it had to be retrofitted to serve as Air Force One — and the president seethed privately over coverage of its deficiencies, CNN previously reported.Now, attention is likely to shift to reporters and staffers unknowingly being aboard a decoy plane — and the nature of the threat that prompted such dramatic security measures.When asked about the reports of the secret plane switch, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung told CNN, “The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff. As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats.”Details from the presidential travel pool — a group of journalists who travel with the president and document his movements — provide a closer look at the unusual sequence of events surrounding Trump’s departure from Turkey following a consequential NATO Summit.Trump was aboard the old Air Force One in Ankara as of 8:26 p.m. local time, according to a pool report.Air Force One was wheels up at 8:43 p.m. local time, according to a subsequent pool report, 17 minutes later.The pool was also “advised to keep our window shades in the press cabin closed,” according to a print pool note from Politico’s Megan Messerly. This is extraordinarily unusual, and seemed indicative of a security situation; Trump would later say it was “because you’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleaze bags that we have to deal with.”A supplemental pool note from ABC’s Michelle Stoddart on Tuesday, sent in light of the secret plane revelation, noted that a Secret Secret agent came back to the press cabin to remind the media to keep the shades closed. When a photographer attempted to lift a shade, they were quickly told to lower it again. And when the press inquired with White House staff about why, they only said it was a request from Secret Service.Video shows what appeared to be a catering truck parked next to Air Force One at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport during that time, about seven minutes before the aircraft begins taxiing.The plane then was “wheels down” at RAF Mildenhall in England at 10:29 p.m. local time. But it wasn’t until roughly 20 minutes later that the pool notified news networks that an underwing shot — a camera angle from underneath the wing of the plane — was being set up to capture the president deplaning.That is an unusually long period of time — and it’s enough that Trump theoretically would be able to get off the smaller plane and back on Air Force One before cameras could capture it. For comparison, CNN was part of the pool on Sunday, when it took roughly eight minutes between wheels down and the underwing shot to be established.Trump was seen stepping off Air Force One about one minute after the pool alerted that the underwing shot was up.That timing was notably faster than what CNN crews typically experience. Usually, it takes several minutes for the president to deplane after the pool crew has assembled under the aircraft. The pool is generally in position before the first Air Force One door is opened and the stairs for the president are put into place.CNN reviewed pool video from Mildenhall that showed the stair car already in position and the aircraft door already open when the pool shot came up. There also appeared to be more security personnel on the tarmac than CNN crews are accustomed to seeing.Trump later boarded the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One at 11:01 p.m., according to pool notes. The pool captured video of the president walking from one aircraft to the other.CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and photojournalist Khalil Abdallah noted that when they traveled as part of the pool covering Davos and had to turn around and board a new aircraft due to what officials described as a minor electrical issue, the White House did not allow the CNN crew to film Trump transferring between planes. Instead, the crew was instructed to wait until he had boarded the new aircraft.During the flight on the Qatari gifted plane, Trump was asked what prompted the aircraft switch.Trump had said the change was to give US service members stationed at the base “a chance to tour the Aircraft.” Pressed on whether there were any other issues, Trump quickly responded, “no issues.”Trump was also asked why reporters had been instructed to lower the window shades on the aircraft.He said it was “because you’re probably on a dangerous flight.”“They didn’t ask me to close mine, but if they did, I would’ve done it,” Trump added.“But if I go, you go. Right?” Trump said. “Perhaps someday you want to change professions”Trump ultimately landed at Joint Base Andrews and deplaned Air Force One at 1:23 am ET.“He saluted and quickly loaded into the Beast,” a pool note said.This story was updated with additional reporting.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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