Sail through YVR: We answer your top questions for seamless cruise travel

YVR has plenty of great spots to experience local food before you fly, from Indigenous cuisine and fresh baked goods to tasty handmade burgers and familiar quick serve options. Read more about dining options here, and check the Dine page on our website for full listings, hours, and menus (subject to change).

Discover YVR’s collection of Indigenous art and visit the Musqueam Gathering Place, relax at Absolute Spa or Fairmont Vancouver Airport, or appreciate local plants and animals at the aquarium or open-air atrium. For details, read our guide to the top spots for rest and relaxation around the airport, or get inspired with our layover guides.

Head to the Domestic or International Arrivals areas to store your luggage with CDS Baggage. You can also book online in advance. They offer hourly, daily, and long-term storage as well as a cruise transfer service that delivers your bags directly to your cabin.

Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel was voted one of the top three airport hotels in the world at the 2026 Skytrax World Airport Awards. Get a solid night’s sleep with sound-proofed windows and pillow-top beds and enjoy access to the hotel’s health club and fitness centre. They also offer day use options great for a long layover.

Show your cruise ID or cruise documents at Duty Free shops to receive $5 off your purchase of $50 or more.*

Show your cruise ID or mention that you’re a cruise passenger at Vino Volo to receive a B.C. wine region tasting card highlighting the origins and characteristics of featured local wines in a Taste of B.C. wine flight.

Show your cruise ID or cruise documents to get a discount on your meal at Globe@YVR or Jetside Lounge, located inside Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel.

Show your cruise ship passenger ID or cruise ship boarding pass at Salmon n' Bannock On The Fly to receive a complimentary small Spirit Refresher with a minimum purchase of $20.

Cruise line representatives are available and clearly identified inside the Canada Customs Hall, just outside the Customs exit, and near Carousels 5 and 6 in the Domestic Arrivals area. You can also approach a Green Coat volunteer or customer care representative.

You will need to collect your luggage upon arrival. However, in many cases, cruise line representatives can assist by rechecking your bags and transferring them directly to your departing ship if you arrive on the same day your cruise departs from Canada Place.

Passengers have several options for travelling from YVR to their ship. These include cruise line–organized bus transportation, rideshare services, taxis, or taking the Canada Line SkyTrain to Waterfront Station.

Buses are located outside International Arrivals and on Level 1 of the Domestic Terminal.

If your flight is delayed, please check in with your cruise line’s team members upon arrival for further assistance. If you purchased airfare directly through your cruise line or provided your flight information during the cruise check-in process, the cruise line may hold the ship’s departure (though this is not guaranteed).

From Downtown Vancouver, catch the Canada Line SkyTrain bound for YVR–Airport. Waterfront Station, the departure point, is approximately a 3-minute walk from the Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal. Trains depart approximately every six minutes, and the journey to YVR takes 25 minutes. The fare to YVR from Downtown Vancouver is $5.10 as of July 1, 2026. You can buy a ticket from the machine at the station or simply tap your credit or debit card at the gate to pay. Alternatively, take a taxi or rideshare.

YVR’s new CT X-ray equipment gets you through security faster, with no need to remove liquids or large electronics from your bags. You can check current security wait times on our Operational Snapshot page. If you’re travelling to the United States, make sure to leave some extra time to go through customs, as YVR offers pre-clearance.

Biometric technology compares a live photo taken at the gate with images already associated with a passenger’s travel documents, allowing identity to be confirmed in seconds. New biometric boarding options enable you to securely board some flights at YVR without showing physical identification or your boarding pass at the gate. If you’re departing for a Canadian destination, sign up for Air Canada’s Digital ID program for hands-free boarding. For U.S.-bound flights, there’s no sign-up required.