2015 DVC Alaska Member Cruise 5/25-5/31/15

[poison ivy]

Hey for anybody Seattle bound, this is a great trip report!

JQ and I are drooling over all the great food and are definitely booking a tour thru savory seattle.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2945238

this may extend our stay overnight - we'll see how the times line up.
And if that's the case we might still take that early am Amtrak afterall.
But the van is on reserve!

After reading this, I'm honestly not going to be in a hurry to get out of there.

 

[Johnny Quest]

Our group has decided to book with "Weather Permitting Tours" out of Juneau. They run whale watching tours on a smaller 12 person max charter. Excursion runs 5 - 5.5hrs. Captain Harry gets great reviews. He even answered the phone when I called at 5:30am. Oops!

The cost for a 5 person charter is $890.00 or $178.00/person.
A 10 person charter is $1489.00 or $149.00/person.

Both prices include r/t transport to Mendenhall Glacier.

Web Site; weatherpermittingalaska.com

Upon researching this type excursion we felt that this family run company had a slightly larger, more comfortable looking boat.

We are a group of 5 adults willing to share a charter with up to 7 others (12 is maximum group). Any one interested please post it here.

Here is a link to some reviews:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...ting_Alaska_Whale_Watching-Juneau_Alaska.html

 

[Jay Kat]

JQ we are very interested. (Or at this point, I am ). Let me look into it a little more, but I trust you did incredible due diligence in finding the best. I just want to be sure that is what we want to do there, but seeing whales, bald eagles and glaciers is very very very high on our list. Could we tentatively reserve two spaces on the boat?

 

[poison ivy]

Jay Kat, so glad you are interested.

We can't accommodate too many and we really wanted to give an opportunity to anyone considering this excursion.

here's a recent trip report with a great write-up for whale watching with weather permitting.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51660909&postcount=88

Fodor's choice awards: 2011 2012 2013
This is a great company.

Owner and Founder, Capt Greg Brown, built his boat Weather Permitting specifically for whale watching.

Our boat is custom made by an Alaskan company and designed to combine speed, stability and strength with great visibility. Equipped with a bathroom, refrigerator, and cabin-heat... it has ample room to walk around, as well as large windows and a front deck for viewing. For those concerned with getting seasick, this is the most stable boat you can find. It is a catamaran and is over 13 feet wide and 32 feet long.

Not only is Captain Greg an expert captain with vast knowledge about humpback whales, orcas, eagles and other wildlife, he’s got the best whale-watching boat in Alaskan waters (a dual-hulled, ultra-stable catamaran with the most advanced safety equipment available). The cabin, which is more than ample for the maximum 6 passengers per tour, has large viewing windows and a bathroom. The large front and rear decks allow everyone to view (and photograph) the wildlife without having to fight for space as the people do on the large ship's tours.

Sadly, Greg Brown passed away last year.

But these two links are a wonderful tribute and testament to him and one of the many reasons we chose his boat and his company above the other choices:

http://www.ktoo.org/2013/09/03/juneau-wildlife-guide-advocate-greg-brown-passes-away/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmnYPlhQ7ZQ

 

[Jay Kat]

Owner and Founder, Capt Greg Brown, built his boat Weather Permitting specifically for whale watching.





Sadly, Greg Brown passed away last year.

But these two links are a wonderful tribute and testament to him

I wondered! I was looking at the website JQ posted and there were recent comments, but not about him. BUt the tributes speak well of him and what he built. VERY interested, and glad you found one that is not the highly publicized with this cruise.

 

[poison ivy]

Really great thread about the Sky Train on the regular cruise forum.

linking it here for future reference:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3312176

Make sure you check out that youtube video link:

fyi... Here's a vid about the Canada Line for YVR service.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ABsRbed-oo&t=5m31s

my favorite part though:

-check out FlyOver Canada located at the North End Pan Pacific/Cruise Ship terminal
-check out the many restuarants across the city
-the Olympic Caldron is waiting for your pictures 5 minutes west of the Pan Pacific
-do you like ice cream? Check out Bella Gelateria just outside the Pacific Rim hotel. Their award winning receipe is a must try.

“The gold medal winning flavour that we took and made in Florence, Italy was a toasted pecan with sea salt. We also took caramelized pecans to put in there and then topped it off with Canadian maple syrup.”
-News1130

 

[therina]

Just got back from Disney! Wow it was hot! Ready to start thinking about the cruise and colder weather! Will take a while to read all the posts! Also, still trying to get my 10 posts!

 

[NJMermaid]

I am starting to plan, maybe flying into Vancouver, prices are not too bad. My inlaws cruised two years ago to Alaska and told us May 25 is a good time to go, no mosquitos yet.

 

[poison ivy]

Another great thread running on the DIS right now titled
Vancouver - Any need for Canadian dollars? .

Since these threads tend to disappear so quickly, I'm marking it here for future reference.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3313449

once again xlxo offers a wealth of information worth noting:

Public transit buses need Canadian currency. Subway machines take credit cards. Parking meters take credit cards too. Whatever you do... DO NOT NOT GIVE THEM THE PENNY!

It really depends on the restaurant you want to go to. I had a cousin who tried to pay in US funds for a meal he was treating. I ended up with the bill when the restaurant refused his credit cards and American money. Yes, the US dollar is higher, but merchants must convert the currency and handling fees.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY6R90N5uvU&t=1m24s

Credit cards are great. However several restaurants have a signs that says "cash only" to save on credit card processing fees. Some places will demand a minimum amount like $5, $8, or $10 before they will allow a credit card to be used.

Bank machines are great for Canadian currency... do you expect to be tipping 20 or 100 dollar bills for everything? Oh check the bill... large groups in restaurants might have the tip PRE-ADDED in the total. Look closely at the bill.

You might want a few Canadian bills as souvenirs. There's a reason some called it monopoly money. The new bills are not even paper... it's plastic (you don't want to leave the bills in a hot car as they will melt).

Yah, there's a few coffee shops that take BitCoins.

BTW.... they don't call it a dollar. It's called "Loonies"! "Toonies" for the $2 coin! If you have lots of coinage at the end of your trip.... use it for public transit or vending machines for water or soft drinks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi1yhp-_x7A

Good luck with your planning everyone!

NJMermaid: keep us posted on what you decide re: airfare. We're in S. Jersey flying out of Phila or Newark and still researching options.

 

[therina]

Finally got cruise document and made it to 10 posts! Can't wait for May!

 

[leslienish]

hi everyone!

So I ended up purchasing the fish extender on etsy so I wouldn't be too stressed about making one. I would have probably spent more money attempting to make something pretty than purchasing one.

Now to figure out what to make for the exchange!!!

 

[DisneyBelle99]

This Morning, when I logged into the Disney Cruise line site, I see the itinerary
is there, not sure if that is news to anyone else, haven't been on the site for a couple of weeks. Anyway, it says Friday, May 29 is Pixar Party Night.

Has anyone ever been to this? We certainly made the most of Pirate Night
I convinced DH that we would have more fun if we dressed up...he went along with it, and we have great pictures to show for it !

Do any of the alleged grown ups dress up for this one? It might be harder, since the Pirate thing is open to varying levels of participation, whereas Pixar has specific costumes. Or maybe we can do our own spin on that, too.

 

[ExpeditionEverest]

This Morning, when I logged into the Disney Cruise line site, I see the itinerary
is there, not sure if that is news to anyone else, haven't been on the site for a couple of weeks. Anyway, it says Friday, May 29 is Pixar Party Night.

Has anyone ever been to this? We certainly made the most of Pirate Night
I convinced DH that we would have more fun if we dressed up...he went along with it, and we have great pictures to show for it !

Do any of the alleged grown ups dress up for this one? It might be harder, since the Pirate thing is open to varying levels of participation, whereas Pixar has specific costumes. Or maybe we can do our own spin on that, too.

I believe the Pixar Party Night is new-ish. Dress up if you want to as I am sure that some will. The majority will probably be taking photos with the Pixar characters, especially the ones which don't make many appearances in the parks.

 

[DisneyBelle99]

Since we don't have grandkids yet, and our "kids" are grown ups, we have to catch up on the Pixar stuff. So, between now and the cruise, I am planning to watch some more cartoons, so we know some more characters.

The Head Animator on Frozen went to school with our oldest son. He just left Disney to go to Paramount, though. I just saw the movie this summer, enjoyed it so much. Still need to see UP and Monsters U, and more.

 

[Jay Kat]

The Head Animator on Frozen went to school with our oldest son. He just left Disney to go to Paramount, though. I just saw the movie this summer, enjoyed it so much. .

My three year old Granddaughter loves Frozen. She watches it over and over. We will love seeing anything having to do with that.

 

[poison ivy]

did anyone get this email today from DCL?

Good Afternoon,

We are glad that you have booked a Disney Cruise Line vacation.

We were notified by Disney Vacation Club that you may be interested in staying at one of our partnering hotels in Vancouver, before and after your sailing on the Disney Vacation Club Member Cruise aboard the Disney Wonder on May 25, 2015.

Disney Cruise Line will be partnering with two hotels while sailing from Vancouver, The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel and The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. Price ranges are listed below and vary based on occupancy. We are able to provide a maximum of three pre-cruise and three post-cruise hotel nights.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel

$307.00 USD - $414.00 USD per room/per night

The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel

$353.00 USD - $462.00 USD per room/per night

If you are interested in reserving a hotel package directly with Disney Cruise Line, please contact us at 1-866-224-8250, and we will place you on our waiting list. Due to limited availability, payment would be due in full for the hotel stay at the time of booking.

Sincerely,

Resort & Travel Operations
Disney Cruise Line

 

[eeyorejanet]

did anyone get this email today from DCL?

I haven't. The last correspondence I got was the DVC member cruise info letter.

 

[NJMermaid]

My family will be staying at the lovely Pan Pacific before our cruise. AAA harborview room with breakfast for two. Less than $300.00 USD per night, works for us. Booked with hotel directly, they recommend taking a taxi from airport to the hotel. On cruise day, we call bell services, they come and take our bags to the cruise. I especially like their rooftop saltwater heated swimming pool, and the location cannot be beat.

 

[Johnny Quest]

My family will be staying at the lovely Pan Pacific before our cruise. AAA harborview room with breakfast for two. Less than $300.00 USD per night, works for us. Booked with hotel directly, they recommend taking a taxi from airport to the hotel. On cruise day, we call bell services, they come and take our bags to the cruise. I especially like their rooftop saltwater heated swimming pool, and the location cannot be beat.

We are also staying at the Pan Pacific in a "deluxe double" for $238.00usd. This is the AAA b&b pkg. And includes breakfast for 2.

I will probably carry our bags to the ship however.

 

[poison ivy]

The August 24 Members Cruise sets sail today on the Disney Dream.

Don't forget to watch her live on the webcam this afternoon!

http://portcanaveralwebcam.com/