04/27/11 DCL's WONDERful LA-VANCOUVER REPO ON THE WAY TO ALAKSA

[MAGICFOR2]

True, but the WDFM is two bus rides from where the ship docks. And I am familiar enough with SF that it is no problem to get there.

And I understand the need to make a profit, but if the cost of going to Alkatraz through the cruise line is more than double the cost of doing it on your own, the markup seems excessive to me.



If you don't have a strong interest in riding across the Golden Gate bridge, then here's an alternative. First, look at the DCL website and note for yourself that their description of going to Alcatraz involves walking from the ship to the ferry. Next, go to Google Maps and search 'cruise terminal san francisco'. You will see the cruise ship terminal is at pier 35, and Alcatraz tours leave from pier 33 next door. You'll save a lot of money by not having somebody escort you half a block. If you want to go to Sausalito, the ferry leaves from pier 41 - also displayed on Google maps and about three blocks away from pier 35. I expect most cruise passengers will be walking that way regardless of the ferry in order to visit Fisherman's Wharf.



Since I don't drink alcohol, let's use the example of a restaurant. I can cook baby back ribs at home over five hours and have something better than restaurants can make for a lot less, or I can save a lot of time and spend a lot more. But gouging depends on how much more I am paying.



No, $75 for WDW doesn't seem excessive. To me, it seems a bit cheap compared to other theme parks. But paying $99 to get a $26 trip to Alcatraz and about a $20 trip to Sausalito seems excessive to me.

And this will be my last post on the subject. You and I obviously have very different opinions of what a fair price is. You also seem to think taking the time to get to know a destination is difficult, but I have enough leisure time - and enough desire - to want to learn these things. Before I get on an airplane I know roughly how to get from the hotel to my destination and I can quickly tell if the cabbie is taking a long route - or going in the wrong direction. I consider such information vital to personal security, and am willing to pay for this knowledge with my time.

Which one of us is right? In the case of San Francisco, probably both. You obviously have enough money that the extra money for DCL tours is no big deal; I am not as affluent. In the tourist sections San Francisco during the day, personal security information is not that necessary. Elsewhere your life can depend on it - a former coworker jumped out of a moving taxi to escape being kidnapped for ransom, ran two blocks to a safe hotel, and may have saved his own life.

While you are on the subject of safety, I just wanted to tell everyone that my nail tech got mugged at night down by the wharf, after someone had slipped her husband a mickey in his drink at a nearby bar. He could barely stand up, and she had gone over to a booth of some kind to try to get help or a taxi. She was beat up pretty badly. (I know most are probably from a large city and are used to avoiding situations, but we are from a small town and personal safety is not as much a concern. ) When you are in an unfamiliar environment and on vacation, sometimes it is easy to forget you are in the "real world."

 

[DL1957]

There are two schools of thought. DH and I have taken DCL 6 times and have always taken DCL tours because we had never been to the area and could not speak the language except in Naussa. We have always enjoyed them and the one time there was an issue DCL took care of it.
That being said we are originally from SF, (I actually will be there from 4/7 to 4/12 for the opening of the SF Giants flying back to the east coast and then to LA on the 27th) and because of this we for the first time are doing things on our own.
I have to say for folks who have never been in SF the tours being offered are great. The tour to Sonoma will be wonderful and I have been to the winery you are going to it is awesome! A piece of trivia David Lassiter has a home in Sonoma and lived there full time prior to take over as head of Disney annimation. Friends of DS are his neigbors.
If you can't get out to the GG Bridge remember we are doing what a lot of natives of the area have never done and that is to sail under it!
DH and I are getting very excited about this cruise and to meet everyone.
My BFF has told me that the cab ride to the WDFM is between $10 and $15 and the cabs take 4 people so folks can share the cost.

 

[njprincess]

There are two schools of thought. DH and I have taken DCL 6 times and have always taken DCL tours because we had never been to the area and could not speak the language except in Naussa. We have always enjoyed them and the one time there was an issue DCL took care of it.
That being said we are originally from SF, (I actually will be there from 4/7 to 4/12 for the opening of the SF Giants flying back to the east coast and then to LA on the 27th) and because of this we for the first time are doing things on our own.
I have to say for folks who have never been in SF the tours being offered are great. The tour to Sonoma will be wonderful and I have been to the winery you are going to it is awesome! A piece of trivia David Lassiter has a home in Sonoma and lived there full time prior to take over as head of Disney annimation. Friends of DS are his neigbors.
If you can't get out to the GG Bridge remember we are doing what a lot of natives of the area have never done and that is to sail under it!
DH and I are getting very excited about this cruise and to meet everyone.
My BFF has told me that the cab ride to the WDFM is between $10 and $15 and the cabs take 4 people so folks can share the cost.

I agree the Sonoma trip looks awesome! It's a beautiful area and a great intro to wine country. We have been there before, since we have friends/family in the area, so we are spending our time in the city. I had no idea John Lassiter lived in Sonoma!

Sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge and overnighting in SF bay was one of the things that attracted me to this cruise. Just hope the fog stays out of the way when we go under the bridge but if not, we will have an original SF picture

Also looking forward to seeing the sunset from Alcatraz. We booked a night tour on our own since Disney didn't offer one. We are also lucky enough to have a friend who lives locally to be our tour guide/transportation for the day. We just have to feed him

 

[padalyn]

I have taken a couple of DCL cruises that have stayed overnight at ports. In each of these cases all guests had to be back on board at specific times. In Barcelona I was traveling with someone who had family in the area and he requested to stay off the ship overnight - it was denied. He was told that if he did not return to the ship it would be considered AWOL and the remainder of the cruise was forfiet.

I do not know what DCL has decided since we are within our own country (for the most part) we will be allowed to stay off the ship later. In both of my prior cases the curfew was pretty early - 8 or 9 pm actually. This did not allow folks to experience the nightlife of the area at all.

Just a few thoughts...

1. Has anyone asked DCL if there is a curfew?
2. Will we be allowed to be off the ship until later at night - or even overnight if some want to be?

 

[trimix]

While you are on the subject of safety, I just wanted to tell everyone that my nail tech got mugged at night down by the wharf, after someone had slipped her husband a mickey in his drink at a nearby bar. He could barely stand up, and she had gone over to a booth of some kind to try to get help or a taxi. She was beat up pretty badly. (I know most are probably from a large city and are used to avoiding situations, but we are from a small town and personal safety is not as much a concern. ) When you are in an unfamiliar environment and on vacation, sometimes it is easy to forget you are in the "real world."

Thank you for the warning. I doubt I am the only one, but I often forget to consider the point of view of my audience. San Francisco is relatively safe for a big city, but there will always be threats to personal safety. You always need to be very aware of your surroundings and be reasonably careful. It is a far cry from cities in Mexico and elsewhere where criminals are willing to kill just to send a message or kidnap Americans for ransom money.

 

[trimix]

1. Has anyone asked DCL if there is a curfew?
2. Will we be allowed to be off the ship until later at night - or even overnight if some want to be?

I thought somebody had already called. But I asked a moment ago when I called to cancel ground transfers.

Meagan, the delightful lady I spoke with, wasn't sure so she asked her supervisor. They do not believe there will be a curfew, and I was told that in the past (Barcelona, for example) they were made aware of a curfew.

HOWEVER, I was clearly warned to double-check once onboard because issues with staffing the boarding point or the cruise terminal could force changes.

So, unfortunately, we probably don't want to make firm plans that call for returning to the ship late at night until we get a final word on the ship.

 

[padalyn]

good info...thanks for calling...

 

[Fellowship9798]

Just booked dinner at Palo the final night of the cruise. There are still some dinner slots left for us first time cruisers booking 75 days out.

 

[DL1957]

This will be our first B2B cruise. When we get off to clear customs and then get back on the ship are the DCL photographers there to take photos? We have the boarding photo from all of our cruises and want to have one from Alaska as well.
Thanks.......the clock it ticking and we are getting closer to leaving on our trip!
Sue

 

[padalyn]

This will be our first B2B cruise. When we get off to clear customs and then get back on the ship are the DCL photographers there to take photos? We have the boarding photo from all of our cruises and want to have one from Alaska as well.
Thanks.......the clock it ticking and we are getting closer to leaving on our trip!
Sue

should be....I am thinking I may wander around vancouver for part of the day.

 

[Lynn G]

This will be our first B2B cruise. When we get off to clear customs and then get back on the ship are the DCL photographers there to take photos? We have the boarding photo from all of our cruises and want to have one from Alaska as well.
Thanks.......the clock it ticking and we are getting closer to leaving on our trip!
Sue

If you take advantage of the B2B get off-check in-get back on procedure (if they do this) then the photo folks will not be set up yet (unless they really delay and do not let us back on until just before they let others on), but if you decided to get off the ship and walk around Vancouver and board with everyone else, then they will be there.

 

[DL1957]

If you take advantage of the B2B get off-check in-get back on procedure (if they do this) then the photo folks will not be set up yet (unless they really delay and do not let us back on until just before they let others on), but if you decided to get off the ship and walk around Vancouver and board with everyone else, then they will be there.

If we go back on the ship after the check-in can we get off when the photographers are in place to get photos and reboard?

 

[brandonbr]

It looks like the Pan Pacific AAA rate of $150 is sold out. Where else are people staying in Vancouver that are good hotels and value?

 

[tig82174]

If we go back on the ship after the check-in can we get off when the photographers are in place to get photos and reboard?

Yes, you shoudl be able to do. That is what Jason and I did in Barcelona between our Med and TA. We got off with the B2B group in the morning to get checked back in and got right back on the ship. Then we waited a couple hours and got off just to take pictures in the port with Mickey and then the embarkation photos.

We're huge photo-fiends, too (usually buy the CDs) and so we'll be taking the embarkation photos in both LA and in Vancouver, as well (although we're going to try to book a DCL tour of Vancouver aboard the ship, too).

 

[erbie]

Any GTYs get a stateroom assignment yet? We're in a 6A GTY and we're dying to know where we'll end up. This will be our first verandah/4th DCL cruise. Looks like there are still several categories above us open, so who knows? Maybe we'll get some pixie dust, though I was kind of hoping for one of the accessible 6A rooms, since the verandahs are so much larger. Another in our party is also in a 6A GTY and hasn't been assigned yet.

 

[nskjerven]

We were cat 5 gty and got our room assignment when I paid this weekend Still hoping for that ever elusive upgrade

 

[ibouncetoo]

We were cat 5 gty and got our room assignment when I paid this weekend Still hoping for that ever elusive upgrade

Nan, If you'd like to share that number with me, I'm making a little card with our friend's stateroom numbers that can be slid inside the lanyard pouch (a WAVE phone directory, so to speak).

ALSO let me know about the tea info you are researching, as it would be fun to do it with you

ALSO, Did the McD's get or did they have to cancel? (Peg really wants to try early dining, btw.)

Finally, how were the pancakes?




To Everyone:

I noticed on the Sonoma Wine excursion there is a 75 minute break for lunch at Sonoma Town Square (lunch $ not included in excursion cost) and says someting about a choice of restaurants. Any of you California folk familiar with Town Square and have any guesses what those eateries might be?

.

 

[DL1957]

Nan, If you'd like to share that number with me, I'm making a little card with our friend's stateroom numbers that can be slid inside the lanyard pouch (a WAVE phone directory, so to speak).

ALSO let me know about the tea info you are researching, as it would be fun to do it with you

ALSO, Did the McD's get or did they have to cancel? (Peg really wants to try early dining, btw.)

Finally, how were the pancakes?




To Everyone:

I noticed on the Sonoma Wine excursion there is a 75 minute break for lunch at Sonoma Town Square (lunch $ not included in excursion cost) and says someting about a choice of restaurants. Any of you California folk familiar with Town Square and have any guesses what those eateries might be?

.

I will get back to everyone on this my DS BFF has lived in Sonoma all of her life so she will have some great recommendations. I will have them early next week.

 

[hamm1207]

I was just wondering if there is a deadline for the FE list, roster and what not. Our move to Washington state has been put on hold, so we might end up crusing on this cruise! I really hope we get to cruise!

 

[nskjerven]

Nan, If you'd like to share that number with me, I'm making a little card with our friend's stateroom numbers that can be slid inside the lanyard pouch (a WAVE phone directory, so to speak).

love that idea since I'm a dork with room #
we are #6108
ALSO let me know about the tea info you are researching, as it would be fun to do it with you

I'll get on the tea tour this weekend and update ya on what I find. I think it will be the same as DCL just cheaper on our own. We've been to Victoria before so we are comfortable doing it alone.
ALSO, Did the McD's get or did they have to cancel? (Peg really wants to try early dining, btw.)

Finally, how were the pancakes?

really good Molly's trip is a small group 6 boys and 14 girls - but packed with fun - they go to PA, Wash DC and NYC really I wish I could go too I told her Science teacher she was taking this break for travel - happens to be in the middle of testing too
To Everyone:

I noticed on the Sonoma Wine excursion there is a 75 minute break for lunch at Sonoma Town Square (lunch $ not included in excursion cost) and says someting about a choice of restaurants. Any of you California folk familiar with Town Square and have any guesses what those eateries might be?

.

on the sqaure a few walk in places sandwich shop etc...and resturants that are yummy for dinner - I guess some serve lunch too