From a cruise passenger perspective (and an airline agent) I wouldnt arrive in YVR at noon for a 4 or 5 pm sailing same day. Too much stress as a passenger if something goes wrong and not enough planning for a problem from an agent perspective having to get someone from the East coast to YVR. However, having worked at a cruise port for many years, I can say that there would be a lot of people who would do this (and then b*tch about things when they go wrong.)
Tad, as someone who has been on 20+ cruises since 1980, let me say that the cruise passenger does not have a lot of say in the airline booking unless they make their own arrangements at their own expense--not a good idea because the cruise line gets bulk rates from the airlines. The cruise lines choose to bring people in the morning of the cruise so that they do not have to deal with them except at the airport and again at the cruise terminal.
The passenger has the option to fly in 1 or more days in advance (the cruise lines offer "packages" for pre-/post-cruise stays), but it is
at the cruise passenger's additional expense. I can tell you that these packages are no bargain.
Not only does the currently proposed schedule require an overnight stay in YVR on arrival for cruise passengers--all cruises out of YVR generally depart in the 1pm-4pm timeframe, but the return flight requires a 10-12 hour sit at the airport for returning cruise passengers. The cruise line will have them off the ship by 10am. Unless they have booked a post-cruise stay in YVR, the cruise line will bus them directly to the airport. The most disgruntled airport sit I ever had was only 5 hours at MIA, and at the time I had an Eastern Ionosphere club membership; so, we didn't have to sit out in the concourse. The airline cancelled the flight we were supposed to be on, and re-booked us on a later flight while we were on the cruise. We didn't know about the delay until we got to the airport from the ship that morning.
As far as the stress of arriving same day, the cruises out of YVR almost ALL make their first port call at Victoria, B.C. If you missed the sailing, the cruise line would just put you on the ferry or a flight to Victoria. You might even get there before the ship does.
That schedule does not really work for ski season either. It's a 2+ hour bus ride from the airport to Whistler-Blackcomb. I don't think any of the bus companies run that late to W-B.
