Looking for info on travel northbound (and back I suppose). Public transportation like bus or ferry and prices and time to go from Seattle to Vancouver. Just looking to beat car rental rate. Going on a cruise from Vancouver.

Hi, Jim,
Plenty of Greyhound trips daily, also Amtrak service, 4 hrs. No ferries since the 2 cities are both on the mainland.

I'll take John's word for it that there's no ferry from Seattle to Vancouver direct, but having taken a ferry from Seattle to Victoria and then one from Victoria to Vancouver (not on the same day) I can say it is possible to make the trip by boat if you wish. However, you'll never make it in 4 hours! But the scenery is beautiful, and there's a good chance you'll see killer whales breaching or leaping or whatever the technical term, and if you love boats it's worth it. (Tho I'd add that Victoria, IMO, isn't worth a day trip, let alone an overnight.) We took the Victoria Clipper from Seattle to Vic. and then I think it was B.C. Ferries from Vic. to Van. (which cost less than $10 including the one-hour bus ride from port to town). I forget how much the Clipper cost.

The thing is, taking the ferry is chancy if you have to be somewhere at a certain time. I live in Seattle, and I would take the bus! You will have plenty of time to look at scenery as soon as you get on the Cruiseship. Ferrys are ofter overcrowded, and, depending on the time of day, you must wait in a long ferry line. The train is nice too, and lots of scenery along the way.

Check with Amtrak, but a few years ago they offered some sort of deal wherein you took the train up and the boat back, or v.v. In any case, it's a great and very inexpensive 3 hr. train ride.