I have 7 or 8 days to spend in BC. I plan on flying into Vancouver from the states. Never been up this way and am looking for some itinerary guidance. Thinking I would like to spend a couple of days in Vancouver (I have Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt points). Would like to do lots of crusing -- maybe on the BC Ferry? Any help from the board on helping me plan my trip would be appreciated!

There's quite a bit of info on this board already but - tell us - what do you like to do? What are your interests?

I am mostly looking for site seeing. One itinerary I have thought of is this: Fly to Vancouver. Spend a couple of days there. Then go to Vancouver Island. Spend some time on that island -- Victoria and drive up the coast to Port Hardy. Then take the ferry to Prince Rupert and back. Then go back to Vancouver. I could stretch this to 9 days. I will fill in the specifics -- but need to get the overall sschedule down for my flights/hotels/ferry reservations. Does this sound do-able?

If it's scenery you want then up 'n back to PR will give you lots-maybe too much.Figure a day to Port Hardy then another very long day on the Ferry and then returning seeing the same scenery and then another long drive back to Vancouver-which involves another Ferry ride-tedious is the best term for the whole trip IMO.
Better to fly back from PR or better yet take the Coast Discovery route from Port Hardy to Bella Coola and then drive back through the Interior of the province.
www.bcferries.com

The ferry to Prince Rupert takes about 5 hours or more (I think - I'm prepared to be corrected on that but I think that's what I was told when I was in BC last month) and can go over some pretty rough water. I think Sam Salmon has given you good advice. Another possibility might be Quadra Island - very beautiful - there are some posts about that area on this board. We stayed at Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge and loved it.