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

[poison ivy]

No cruise docs here yet.

MathMagicland - thank you for sharing your Vancouver notes. I was looking at the Hop on Hop off trolley around Stanley Park as a great way to tour the area.
Too bad it doesn't run until June 1. I'll have to doublecheck as well, but in all likelihood it will impact our decision.

MarthaMouse - yes! you are signed up in Family Group C.

Has anyone decided on a cutoff to close the remaining open FE groups? We're just about within a month of travel

 

[maburke]

We got our cruise docs in Atlanta yesterday! Well, half of them. We have two cabins, and we received docs for one of the cabins. But still, so exciting! I hope the other comes today.

 

[maburke]

Is there an advantage to doing online checkin early? Do they assign board times based on when you checkin? Or do you choose? What is a desirable boarding time?

 

[WaylaLady]

Is there an advantage to doing online checkin early? Do they assign board times based on when you checkin? Or do you choose? What is a desirable boarding time?

When I did online check-in I was able to pick a Port Arrival Time, so that would be the advantage to doing it now, as the earlier spots are taken first. The first two time slots were already gone for me, and the earliest available was 12-12:30pm. This is not your boarding time, it's the time period when you're able to get "checked in" at the port. I would assume you'd be given a boarding segment (similar to boarding a plane) once you've checked in at the port.

I think the desirable times are really personal choice. If you'd like to be on the ship as soon as possible for lunch, ship tour, raffles, etc... then you'd go for the earliest times available. If your priority is avoiding crowds, go for a later time. It's really up to whatever you prefer.

 

[xlxo]

Is there an advantage to doing online checkin early? Do they assign board times based on when you checkin? Or do you choose? What is a desirable boarding time?

I vote for the earliest available time available to you...

• you can always show up late...
• the lunch trough closes at 2pm.... I want to saviour the experience.... you paid for it.
• more time at guest services to fine tune your cruise (change dining, get tickets)
• more time for character pictures at the terminal

 

[tidefan]

OK, crazy question:

Does anyone know of anywhere to donate clothing in Vancouver, or is anyone driving/close to Vancouver that would want to take some clothing donations to a Salvation Army, etc? Basically, we will be flying to Hawaii after this cruise and our strategy has been to purchase a lot of "disposable" clothing, i.e., we hit a lot of Old Navy clearance, etc., and bought like $4 pullovers, $1 toboggans. Also, we are taking old shoes/jeans that we can just leave on ship/in Vancouver, so that we don't have to fly with them.

I'd hate to just throw that stuff away. I'd really like to give it to a charity, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd be grateful!

 

[tidefan]

ATTN: MAIN / FAMILY FE GROUP C

May we please know everyone's favorite PIXAR character? We're down to the last part of our FE gift and this info will help with the finishing touch.
Thanks, Teri, Lori & Denise


1) tidefan: 2 AD / 1 DD (11) - Cabin 7136 (Deck 7 aft/port) -
2) LOLA2: 1 AD / 1 DS (13) - Cabin 6152 (Deck 6 aft/port) -
3) LOLA2: 2 AD - (DM & DD (19)) - Cabin 6145 (Deck 6 aft/port) -
4) lukikam: 2 AD / 1 DD (14) / 1 DS (10) - Cabin 7076 (Deck 7 midship/port) -
5) myxdvz: 2 AD / 2 DD (10)(8) / 2 DS (6)(3) - Cabins 6137 / 6139 (Deck 6 aft/port) -
6) maburke: 2 AD / 2 DS (17)(15) / 1 DD (11) - Cabins 2594 / 2596 (Deck 2 aft/starboard) -
7) stayfos: 2 AD / 1 DD (7) - Cabin 6581 (Deck 6 fwd/starboard) -
8) ExpeditionEverest: 2 AD - Cabin 2511 (Deck 2 fwd/starboard) -
9) MarthaMouse: 2 AD / 1 DD (10) / 1 DS (13) - Cabin 8026 (Deck 8 fwd/starboard) -
10) thenrichs: 2 AD / 2 DD (7)(2) - Cabin 7024 (Deck 7 forward/port) -
11) leslienish: 2 AD / 1 DS (11) / 1 DD (9) - Cabin 6054 (Deck 6 midship/port)
12) MMouse2: 2 AD - Cabin 6086 (Deck 6 aft/port) -
13) therina: 2 AD / 1 DD (11) - Cabin 2146 (Deck 2 aft/port) -
14) Tigger1313: 2 AD - Cabin 2629 (Deck 2 aft/starboard) -
15) BinkyABT 3 AD - Cabin 2105 (Deck 2 fwd/port) - WALL-E, GERI, DORI
16) chopstick: 1 AD / 1 DD (3) - Cabin 6141 (Deck 6 aft/port) -

For us:

DW: Mrs. Incredible
DD: Mike Wazoski
Me: Wall-E

 

[WaylaLady]

Is anyone considering using the Glacier Express bus to Mendenhall Glacier? It's not a tour, just a shuttle to and from the glacier. I'm still looking at ideas for Juneau that don't require me to book anything, and this sounds like a good idea. $20 for a round trip, no set amount of time at the glacier, lots of neat trails to walk, don't have to spend anything else unless you want to pay the $3 to go inside the Visitor Center. I've been wanting to find the best place to walk some trails in the rainforest, and I'm thinking this might be the easiest as it's clearly marked and doesn't require a guide. Plus... GLACIER! Lol.

 

[tidefan]

FYI, we received our cruise docs today!

 

[NJMermaid]

Yes, bus to Mendenhall glacier for me sounds great, I want enough time to walk to the falls without sprinting. Two suitcases were purchased today, and cruise documents arrived today, things are looking good.

 

[therina]

Ok, I think that I figured out that we are signed up in Group C. (Someone please tell me if I am wrong. So excited!

therina: Dad(Mike) -Goofy Mom(Amy) - Miss Piggy, Russell (anything UP), DD(Ella) - BayMax

Thanks so much!!! I'm so excited I can't wait!!!!!

therina: Dad(Mike) -Goofy Mom(Amy) - Miss Piggy, Russell (anything UP), DD(Ella) - BayMax

Thanks so much!!! I'm so excited I can't wait!!!!!

Guess I should pay more attention... didn't see PIXAR. Here are our favorites.

Dad - Lightning McQueen
Amy - Russell (UP)
Ella - Joy(Inside Out - even though she has only seen the trailer) - maybe we'll get to see a Sneak Preview on the cruise!

 

[therina]

FYI, we received our cruise docs today!

We're in B'ham too and we didn't get our docs today.

 

[xlxo]

OK, crazy question:

Does anyone know of anywhere to donate clothing in Vancouver, or is anyone driving/close to Vancouver that would want to take some clothing donations to a Salvation Army, etc? Basically, we will be flying to Hawaii after this cruise and our strategy has been to purchase a lot of "disposable" clothing, i.e., we hit a lot of Old Navy clearance, etc., and bought like $4 pullovers, $1 toboggans. Also, we are taking old shoes/jeans that we can just leave on ship/in Vancouver, so that we don't have to fly with them.

I'd hate to just throw that stuff away. I'd really like to give it to a charity, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd be grateful!

Here's some ideas...

• https://www.google.ca/search?q=vancouver+clothing+donation
• http://www.miss604.com/2010/11/warm-clothing-donation-sites-in-vancouver.html
• FireHall #6? White Spot Georgia? http://www.thriftstore.ca/british-columbia/drop-bin-locations
• My Sister's Closet? http://www.yelp.ca/search?find_desc=Clothing+Donation&find_loc=Vancouver,+BC
• scroll down to clothing... http://westendcleanup.com/how-to-recycle/

 

[maburke]

We got our cruise docs in Atlanta yesterday! Well, half of them. We have two cabins, and we received docs for one of the cabins. But still, so exciting! I hope the other comes today.

Our second set still hasn't arrived. Strange.

 

[DisneyBelle99]

If you are Rachael Ray fans, DH and I were at a taping of her show this week that will appear Tuesday. We were in the second row, so maybe you will see us on TV. I am sitting between my brother in law, and my husband who were the only men in sport coats, and maybe the only men over 60? Anyway, my husband is crazy about
Rachael Ray, and it was our first time seeing her. It was nasty out, and I was having a bad hair day! So if you see a good looking tall blonde woman, a gray haired good looking man, a bad hair day reddish haired shorter lady, and a blond/gray haired man with a mustache.....there we are!

 

[Csquaredmickey]

Hello! Brand new member! my husband and i are going on this cruise for our 3 year anniversary and just heard about these fish extenders! what a beautiful idea! is it too late to join in?? is there going to be a headcount? do you just walk around the ship looking for the extenders on doors? or are we supposed to give out room numbers? how many different gifts do people usually make per cruise?? sorry for ALLLLL the questions but im SO excited for this cruise!! thanks!!

 

[Zommy]

Is anyone considering using the Glacier Express bus to Mendenhall Glacier? It's not a tour, just a shuttle to and from the glacier. I'm still looking at ideas for Juneau that don't require me to book anything, and this sounds like a good idea. $20 for a round trip, no set amount of time at the glacier, lots of neat trails to walk, don't have to spend anything else unless you want to pay the $3 to go inside the Visitor Center. I've been wanting to find the best place to walk some trails in the rainforest, and I'm thinking this might be the easiest as it's clearly marked and doesn't require a guide. Plus... GLACIER! Lol.

We were on the cruise last year and did this. The buses are not too far from the cruise ship. We did not check out the visitors center. We hiked out to the glacier which doesn't take much longer than 20 or 30 minutes if you don't stop to take pictures, etc. it is really beautiful. We walked right up to a waterfall and felt the super cold rushing water. Apparently drinking the water out of the fall is not advised since it has some kind of parasite. But before you get off the bus, find out how often they return (every 15 or 20 minutes). We barely missed a bus and were standing out in the very cold rain for at least 20 minutes waiting for the next one.

 

[Zommy]

Zommy, Welcome to the cruise meet. I have added you to the Family FE list. Have fun.


It's time to start thinking about a closing date for the remaining FE lists... Any ideas?

Hi. Our cabin number has changed. It's now 2562, but not too far from where we were. Thanks!

 

[WaylaLady]

We were on the cruise last year and did this. The buses are not too far from the cruise ship. We did not check out the visitors center. We hiked out to the glacier which doesn't take much longer than 20 or 30 minutes if you don't stop to take pictures, etc. it is really beautiful. We walked right up to a waterfall and felt the super cold rushing water. Apparently drinking the water out of the fall is not advised since it has some kind of parasite. But before you get off the bus, find out how often they return (every 15 or 20 minutes). We barely missed a bus and were standing out in the very cold rain for at least 20 minutes waiting for the next one.

Thank you! I definitely want to have the time to go out to the waterfall. I'll be sure to find out the return times before I get started.

 

[Csquaredmickey]

Hello! We are stateroom 2027 and there are 2 adults in our party. Please add us to a list before they close! This would be our first FE and we would love to participate! Thanks!!