Where to stay in Vancouver before a cruise: 10 best hotels + things to do

1. Pan Pacific Vancouver

🌟 RATING: 8.6/10 | 🏨 Check rates and availability

999 Canada Place #300, Vancouver, BC V6C 3B5, Canada

If you have the means, I urge you to book a stay in Pan Pacific Vancouver.

I’ve been to Pan Pacific during my first time in Vancouver (many eons ago) for my cousin’s wedding reception, and I was blown away by how opulent it was. When I slept overnight, I marveled over the super plus beds, large bathrooms, and stunning views of the water.

What makes Pan Pacific Vancouver the best hotel to stay in before your cruise is that it’s actually connected to Canada Place, the cruise terminal. That means you don’t have to take a shuttle or pay for a car transfer or Uber. You can just go downstairs and check in for your cruise!

If you are flying in from Vancouver International Airport (YVR), you can take the Canada Line in the SkyTrain all the way to Waterfront Station. From there, Pan Pacific is a 6-minute walk.

You’ll have an extra comfortable stay in Pan Pacific since there is a rooftop pool and spa, a gym, and three restaurants. The restaurants are Oceans 999, Coal Harbour Bar, and Five Sails.

All restaurants have views of the waterfront. Five Sails serves fine dining French-inspired cuisine, and Oceans 999 boasts of having the best breakfast buffet in Vancouver, and during their Saturday dinner buffet, they play live jazz music.

If you’re looking to book an Alaska cruise and sail out of Vancouver, I can make reservations at Pan Pacific on your behalf. I can also provide extra perks during your stay, like their cruise package, which includes free breakfast for two at Oceans 999, free luggage transfer to Canada Place, and free WiFi.

Click here to learn more about my travel planning services!

1. Fairmont Waterfront

🌟 RATING: 8.8/10 | 🏨 Check rates and availability

900 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L5, Canada

You can never go wrong with staying in a Fairmont hotel, but Fairmont Waterfront is one of the best Downtown Vancouver hotels for its location and coastal luxurious vibes.

Fairmont Waterfront is across the street from Canada Place and Pan Pacific Vancouver, so you can just walk to the terminal anytime. However, they do have a concierge who offers assistance with carrying or transferring your luggage to the terminal. This makes it super convenient for families traveling have a ton of luggage.

The hotel is a few minutes away from Gastown, one of the coolest spots in Downtown Vancouver. Make sure to check out the iconic steam clock, have coffee at Monaco Cafe, and have a pint in one of the many breweries.

What makes Fairmont Waterfront unique is their committment to sustainability; on the rooftop, they have a beehive and a herb garden, which they use in their dishes for their very own restaurant, ARC. ARC Restaurant serves fine dining West Coast inspired dishes; think oysters, Pacific salmon, grilled Canadian beef, pull-apart bread with honey butter. There is also poolside dining and room service.

Families and couples are going to love Fairmont Waterfront because of its 50-foot rooftop heated pool open yearly.

Fairmont Waterfront is also the perfect hotel for the health and wellness-conscious. There is a 24-hour gym that has state-of-the-art equipment, yoga and meditation classes on Wednesday mornings, running meetups on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and free cruiser bike rentals. You can even bike all the way to Stanley Park!

3. Hyatt Regency Vancouver

🌟 RATING: 8.7/10 | 🏨 Check rates and availability

655 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2R7, Canada

There is so much to do in Hyatt Regency Vancouver that you may not want to leave the hotel! Although I would encourage you to, because Vancouver is a world-class city with so much to do and see.

You can lounge all day by the pool or oversized hot tub, or sweat in the sauna. If you want extra pampering, the Retreat spa will be waiting for you with its menu of services such as massages, facials, manicures, hair blowouts, and waxes.

The gym, StayFit Fitness Centre, has a variety of cardio and strength training equipment to help you stick to your routine while traveling.

Hyatt Regency Vancouver has a variety of dining options. Grain Tasting Bar serves craft beer, wine, signature cocktails, and standard bar fare such as poutine, Parmesan fries, chicken wings, pizza, and burgers.

But if you want a fancier sit-down meal, make reservations at Mosaic Grille (which is famous for its chocolate cake). You can also order from Mosaic Grille to go, as room service, or poolside delivery.

There is also a Starbucks in the hotel, but if that’s not your thing, don’t worry; there are a lot of local coffee shops around the corner!

While Hyatt Regency Vancouver is a 10-minute walk to Canada Place, there are taxi services available that cost between $10—$20 CAD.

Hyatt Regency Vancouver is across the street from Burrard Station, making it super easy to get to if you take the SkyTrain. It’s also close to the Bill Reid Gallery of the Northwest Coast (where they have artifacts from Indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest), Robson Ice Rink, and Vancouver Art Gallery (both of which are in Robson Square).

4. EXchange Hotel Vancouver

🌟 RATING: 9.2/10 | 🏨 Check rates and availability

475 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2B3, Canada

If you’re looking for a luxury boutique hotel in a prime location, you’re going to love EXchange Hotel Vancouver.

Located in the Financial District, EXchange Hotel Vancouver is also a historical building, as it was once the Stock Exchange Building. The architecture has remnants of Gothic and Medieval motifs, but is now renovated with a sleek twist.

The rooms have plush beds, bathrobes, heated floors in the bathrooms, a mini fridge, a smart TV, a work desk, and L’Occitane en Provence products. You also have access to the fitness center which is open 24 hours.

EXchange Hotel Vancouver has a Mediterranean restaurant called Hydra, where they serve Greek cuisine with locally sourced seafood. Hydra also has an elegant wine bar where you can sip on some of the finest wines along with Mediterranean appetizers.

You’re minutes away from Gastown, where you can go shopping, scope out art galleries, eat out at some of the best local spots, and have a drink at a craft brewery or a trendy cocktail bar.

EXchange Hotel Vancouver is perfect for cruisers since they offer a “Cruise into Comfort” special, which includes breakfast for two and $50 CAD dining credit. The hotel is also only a 5-minute walk to Canada Place.

Should you decide to book your stay at EXchange Hotel Vancouver, reach out to me because I also provide extra perks and I can create a personalized Vancouver itinerary before or after your cruise. Reach out to me here.

5. Auberge Vancouver Hotel

🌟 RATING: 8.8/10 | 🌊 Check rates and availability

837 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1B6, Canada

Auberge Vancouver Hotel is another gorgeous luxury boutique hotel situated near the waterfront.

The hotel is in the Terminal City Tower, named after Terminal City Club, a private social club that started in 1899. Today, Terminal City Club houses an indoor 25-metre pool and whirlpool, along with a gym. While the pool and gym are separate from the hotel, they are still in the same building and you can have access to them with your key card.

Terminal City Club also has an English pub called Lions Pub. They serve burgers, salad, poutine, and British bites like scotch eggs, bangers and mash, fish and chips, and Yorkshire pudding. Auberge guests can order food from Lions Pub and enjoy the bar (there is also outdoor seating available). Lions Pub is also available to order for room service.

There are also a few cafes and restaurants right outside the hotel, and in Gastown (Vancouver’s trendy historic district) which is across the street.

While Auberge is only a 5-minute walk to Canada Place, the staff assists with carrying your luggage to the hotel. This service is extremely helpful for families and large groups traveling.

6. Paradox Vancouver

🌟 RATING: 9.2/10 | 🏨 Check rates and availability

1161 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6E 0C6, Canada

Nightlife, spas, dining, and pools…Paradox Vancouver has it all, rivaling the resorts on the Las Vegas strip.

Paradox is deep in the heart of Downtown Vancouver, 15 minutes away from Canada Place, and 20 minutes away from Robson Street on the other side, where you can go shopping.

What Paradox has that other Vancouver hotels lack is its electric nightlife. It’s home to Mansion Nightclub, a South Beach-inspired, 9,000 square-foot nightclub that serves as a playground for partygoers and celebrities.

If you’re down for drinks and a good time without the loud music and bumpin’ and grindin’, you can chill at Karma Lounge. They serve brunch, lunch, and dinner but are known for their extensive cocktail and wine list (and Happy Hour every weekday from 2–5 pm).

Mott 32, a fine dining Chinese restaurant, is also nestled in Paradox Vancouver. The restaurant serves various takes on Peking duck, along with other mouthwatering dishes like crispy pork belly, dim sum, and other classic dishes from different regions in China.

Looking for more R&R? Paradox Vancouver has a large indoor pool that you can lounge by or take a dip in, as well as an outdoor hot tub. If you would like to splurge, you can get a massage, facial, or your nails done at the spa, Xylia. You can even do acupuncture!

Paradox also offers free e-bike rentals for their guests for up to two hours, making it perfect for you to bike along the waterfront, through the seawall and into Stanley Park!

The concierge also offers free shuttles to Canada Place at no extra charge.

7. Fairmont Pacific Rim

🌟 RATING: 9.1/10 | 🏨 Check rates and availability

1038 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9, Canada

Live like a queen (or a king) for the next few days before your cruise by staying in Fairmont Pacific Rim, one of the most luxurious stays in Vancouver.

This 5-star hotel is only a 5-minute walk from Canada Place, and the concierge offers assistance with luggage drop-off, making it easy for guests to check in.

In the meantime, there is so much to do and see in Fairmont Pacific Rim that you might forget to explore outside (I do recommend at least strolling around Gastown and Stanley Park).

There is no shortage of dining options in the hotel, from the upscale restaurant Botanist (which also serves breakfast to the Lobby Lounge & Rawbar, which serves cocktails and modern Japanese cuisine. And of course, there is always room service available.

The heated rooftop pool is located on the 6th floor alongside a jacuzzi, both of which are open all year round.

Looking for a pampering sesh? You got it with a spa onsite, offering treatments like massages, facials, spa rituals (which include time in the sauna and baths), and Reiki. Hotel guests have open access to the spa for $54 for up to three hours, to use the mineral bath, jacuzzi, cedar sauna, and. steam room. If you booked a facial, you can use the spa two hours before your appointment.

If you have a regular workout routine, you’ll be delighted to know that there is a 2,100 square feet gym with state-of-the-art equipment such as cardio and strength machines, and free weights. There is also a dedicated studio for yoga, Pilates, and stretching.

Pacific Rim also offers yoga classes every Thursday and Saturday at 8 am for $29 CAD.

This is not a hotel for the penny-pinching traveler. If you’re seeking to splurge for the most plush room and the extra amenities, consider Fairmont Pacific Rim your home for the next few days before or after your cruise!

8. Delta Hotels Vancouver Downtown Suites

🌟 RATING: 8.7/10 | 🏨 Check rates and availability

550 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6H6, Canada

Just steps away from Gastown, Delta Hotels Vancouver Downtown Suites is an award-winning hotel that only has suites. Talk about a super cozy stay before your cruise!

While Delta Hotels lacks the fancy bells and whistles that the other hotels may have, it’s clean, comfortable, and it feels like a second home. There’s laundry on-site, which is perfect for those who plan to stay post-cruise and want to wash their clothes.

There’s a gym on-site for those with a workout routine they don’t want to break, even on vacation.

For delicious bites and craft cocktails, Delta Hotels Vancouver has a restaurant/bar called Stock and Supply, which is on the pricier side. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and happy hour.

Stock and Supply is best known for its stock boards, which are elevated charcuterie boards that come with sourdough bread, beetroot, hummus, house pickles, and chili citrus olives. You also have to add extra things to your board, and there’s a variety of bites such as scotch eggs, brie cheese with jam, meatballs, and salmon dip. I will warn you that those board bites are $50.

While the hotel is a 9-minute walk to and from Canada Place, they offer a Cruise Package, which includes a $10 transportation voucher to the terminal, complimentary luggage handling, and $40 in hotel credit.

If you want to stay in Delta Hotels Vancouver Downtown Suites and avail of the Cruise package, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me here!

9. Azur Legacy Collection Hotel

🌟 RATING: 9.1/10 | 🏨 Check rates and availability

833 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1K7, Canada

If you’re looking for a 5-star hotel just a few minutes away from Canada Place and expect warm, personalized hospitality, hurry up and book a stay at Azur Legacy Collection Hotel!

The luxurious Azur Legacy is dripping with opulence with its Art Deco motifs, brass and bronze accents, heated marble restrooms in each room and suite, and an art gallery featuring pieces from local artists.

It’a not just the decor that makes Azure Legacy a posh stay; their dining scene adds to that vibe. DAHLIA, the hotel’s restaurant, fuses Italian and West Coast cuisines. It’s no surprise that you’re going to spend a pretty penny on these dishes, but DAHLIA’s bar has Happy Hour from 3–6 pm.

During Happy Hour, they serve small bites like marinated olives with sourdough bread, buttermilk fried chicken, 1/2 dozen oysters on the half shell, and tater tots. If those aren’t enough to fill your belly, don’t worry; the French onion burger is on the menu.

There’s also Lavantine Rooftop Restaurant & Skybar, located on the 14th floor with sweeping views of Downtown Vancouver and the waterfront. Lavantine serves cuisine from the Levant region (Eastern Mediterranean regions such as Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine).

Lavantine also has an extensive cocktail, wine, and spirits menu. While the drinks are pricy, they also host Happy Hour with cocktails ranging from $10—$20.

10. Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver

🌟 RATING: 8.8/10 | 🏨 Check rates and availability

645 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2Y9, Canada

While Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver is further away from the terminal than other hotels (like 10 minutes compared to 3–5), it offers a sweet cruise package which includes an upgrade to a guesthouse or suite, $50 food and beverage credit,

That food and beverage credit goes to whatever you order at Diva at the Met, the hotel’s in-house restaurant, which sells upscale international cuisine, including but not limited to Asian, Italian, Mexican, and American dishes.

The Met has a heated indoor pool that guests can use with towels provided, along with access to a 24-hour gym with a sauna and a steam room.

Need to go last-minute shopping? CF Pacific Centre, one of Vancouver’s top malls, is just across the street. Whatever clothes you may have forgotten to bring, you can to find anything from their 100+ stores.

You can also find last-minute essentials at London Drugs (a Canadian drugstore chain), which is a 5-minute walk from the hotel. If you need toiletries, snacks, over-the-counter medicine, and electronics.