You clear US customs before you board
Northbound Alaska passengers go through US Customs and Border Protection preclearance inside the Canada Place terminal, before boarding. It adds a queue to embarkation, but it means the ship arrives in Alaska already cleared. The terminal typically opens around 11am and boarding runs until about 3-4pm; the lines assign check-in windows, and sticking to yours is the easiest way to avoid the worst of the line.
There is no official luggage storage at Canada Place, so on disembarkation day with a late flight the options are third-party services such as Bounce or Stasher nearby.
YVR is one train ride away
The Canada Line SkyTrain runs from Vancouver International Airport to Waterfront station, beside the terminal, in about 25-30 minutes. Pay at the gates with a contactless bank card or a Compass Card. A 2026 guide quotes CAD $10.70 on weekdays before 6:30pm and CAD $9.35 evenings and weekends, with a CAD $6.50 YVR AddFare applying to trips that start at the airport stations. The train is cheap and quick, but the walk from Waterfront station with several large bags is the part to think about.
Parking under the terminal fills on peak days
The underground garage at Canada Place is run by WestPark. As of 2026 it was about CAD $23 a day pre-booked (CAD $184 for seven days) and around CAD $30 a day turning up without a booking. On peak Wednesdays and Saturdays from May to September the garage can sell out, so book ahead or use the Waterfront Centre Parkade at 200 Burrard Street, a 5-10 minute walk away.
Sources: fanvancouver.com, fanvancouver.com