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

[MMouse2]

Thank you poisonivy

 

[poison ivy]

I tried to PM on Facebook but I'm still not on the FE sheet. Must be doing something wrong. Maybe if I make it to 10 posts here I'll be able to PM!

You can always take a quick shortcut to get to 10 posts thru the Test Board here on the Dis.

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=88

just create a new thread and call it "test" or whatever you want and keep replying to yourself until you get your post count up. You'll see a ton of these types of posts in that forum.

I've used it to learn how to add links to my signature and photos on my trip reports. Its a great help.

looks like our FE group is growing!! Hopefully the list will be updated soon so everyone who wants to join is noted.

 

[stayfos]

Thanks for the tip stayfos. So I did a quick check out of PHL for Alaska Airlines and of course all flights are routed as connections thru Seattle. Right now the prices are over 500.00 R/T but I'll check tomorrow to see if any Tues deals exist.

We're still looking at Southwest as our preference hoping the fares they list on the earliest release dates are around 175.00 or less each way.

I haven't found anything comparable anywhere in our area and since we need to buy 5 tix. the savings are big! United is still the cheapest PHL to YVR running around 460.00 r/t but once I factor in bag fees we're over 500.00. They still have a ton of seats to sell so for the past 6wks, the prices have remained unchanged.

Waiting for southwest to publish next May / June is requiring quite a bit of patience on our part but we're hanging in there hoping for much better fares.

Wow! The DC area fares are even crazier than PHL! I'm just not ready to commit to those prices if we can possibly avoid it.

The excursions are going to be expensive enough - especially all the great ones we're looking at!! Can't wait to start talking about them with everyone here.

Just received an email regarding a North American sale with Air Canada

EDITED: Sorry but the link doesn't work.... but try going on to their main site!

 

[Jay Kat]

I am on both FB pages...and one is a great deal more active than the other. One is DVC Member Cruise May 25, 2015 and has 47 members. We are pretty actively posting. The other is 2o15 DVC Alaska Member cruise. It only has 14 members and is not active at all. I think one is plenty!.

 

[tidefan]

Meh, I am not on FB. I prefer to come to the DIS....

 

[Let'sGoToDisney]

I have booked American Airlines, West Palm Beach ti YVR. $970 for both of us. Seemed too low to pass up. And I did not want to fly to Seattle. That sounded like too much work.
Janice

 

[poison ivy]

I have booked American Airlines, West Palm Beach ti YVR. $970 for both of us. Seemed too low to pass up. And I did not want to fly to Seattle. That sounded like too much work.
Janice

I think you did good for that price! How are your flight times?

 

[ExpeditionEverest]

I have booked American Airlines, West Palm Beach ti YVR. $970 for both of us. Seemed too low to pass up. And I did not want to fly to Seattle. That sounded like too much work.
Janice

You will be happy that you flew directly into YVR instead of Seattle. No car/train or border hassles.

 

[poison ivy]

Don't you still need to get from YVR to the port somehow? I thought it was at least a 30 min drive? So some form of car/train/taxi is still required no matter what mode of travel we select.

But I agree YVR is more convenient to already have crossed the border.

Did anyone receive their DCL planning guide in the mail yesterday for our cruise? We did.

 

[bobbiwoz]

?...

Did anyone receive their DCL planning guide in the mail yesterday for our cruise? We did.

I received it for the August 2015 MC!

 

[Let'sGoToDisney]

PBI to YVR 8:50am - 4:37pm with a 2 hour layover. YVR to PBU 5:19pm - 7:55am with a 3 hour 47 min layover. The home bound layover is a bit long, but otherwise I am pleased. I booked it over a week ago and I have not seen anything like it since then. That makes me happy I booked it early.

 

[eeyorejanet]

Don't you still need to get from YVR to the port somehow? I thought it was at least a 30 min drive? So some form of car/train/taxi is still required no matter what mode of travel we select.

But I agree YVR is more convenient to already have crossed the border.

Did anyone receive their DCL planning guide in the mail yesterday for our cruise? We did.

Not yet. :-(

 

[poison ivy]

check you mail everyone!!

yesterday we received from the DCL the standard blue cardboard pamphlet sleeve with the glossy planning guide insert for our Alaskan cruise. This is the same one they send out for every cruise.

today we received two confirms - 1 for each room from the DVC for the Members Cruise.

the confirm numbers match so I have what I needed to login. Problem is: the DCL website login for existing reservations was down all morning. I haven't tried it again this afternoon.

It's official

 

[DisneyBelle99]

Yay! We got our confirmation today, too! Haven't tried logging in today, but I was able to do it a few days ago when we got the folder.

My son tells me that the Fairmont friends and family discount is not available until 6 months or less before the arrival date, so he recommends we make our hotel reservation now, just in case the hotel sells out, and we can't get it. We will probably come in on the Friday or Saturday, and give us a day or so to look around Vancouver, and get used to the time change. We did OK with Hawaii, so hope it is not a big deal.

Flights are going to be expensive if we want a non stop. Air Canada with a stop in Toronto might be it. At least we can choose between JFK (closer to us) and Laguardia (only another 20 minutes or so). The only nonstop is from Newark, too far away to ask someone to get up that early and drive us. And that is a Holiday weekend....not a good idea. Bridges and traffic not good..........so the search goes on. Hoping to use some points, too. Have to see if Air Canada deals with Amex points?

 

[eeyorejanet]

check you mail everyone!!

yesterday we received from the DCL the standard blue cardboard pamphlet sleeve with the glossy planning guide insert for our Alaskan cruise. This is the same one they send out for every cruise.

today we received two confirms - 1 for each room from the DVC for the Members Cruise.

the confirm numbers match so I have what I needed to login. Problem is: the DCL website login for existing reservations was down all morning. I haven't tried it again this afternoon.

It's official

I got a DVC letter with the reservation number on it, nothing like what you received. Maybe because we're first time DCL cruisers?

 

[ExpeditionEverest]

Don't you still need to get from YVR to the port somehow? I thought it was at least a 30 min drive? So some form of car/train/taxi is still required no matter what mode of travel we select.

But I agree YVR is more convenient to already have crossed the border.

We are on the same page. Transportation will be easier when dealing with just one country

 

[stayfos]

You will be happy that you flew directly into YVR instead of Seattle. No car/train or border hassles.

I totally agree! I know it costs more to fly into our beautiful country, but the other transportation requirements are just added stress, time and cost…. it is worth it in books!!

 

[stayfos]

Don't you still need to get from YVR to the port somehow? I thought it was at least a 30 min drive? So some form of car/train/taxi is still required no matter what mode of travel we select.

But I agree YVR is more convenient to already have crossed the border.

Did anyone receive their DCL planning guide in the mail yesterday for our cruise? We did.

Yes you still have to get to the port, but it is very simple to take the sky train Canada Line directly from the airport to the Waterfront and then a quick little walk to the port. Yes you would have your luggage with you, but honestly, thesis the most cost effective and stressless way. You could take a cab, limo or shuttle as well, but the will cost you quite a bit more and you could end up stuck in traffic (Vancouver has some of the worst traffic in Canada!!)

 

[stayfos]

Yes you still have to get to the port, but it is very simple to take the sky train Canada Line directly from the airport to the Waterfront and then a quick little walk to the port. Yes you would have your luggage with you, but honestly, thesis the most cost effective and stressless way. You could take a cab, limo or shuttle as well, but the will cost you quite a bit more and you could end up stuck in traffic (Vancouver has some of the worst traffic in Canada!!)

WOW I should really review my typing skills before posting!!

 

[poison ivy]

I got a DVC letter with the reservation number on it, nothing like what you received. Maybe because we're first time DCL cruisers?

I think my description may have overstated a bit how uneventful this mailer really is. Its a tiny one page folded insert with our sailing, ship, room #, confirm and castaway club id number at the bottom. Basically a printout of our reservation details on the DCL website absent the payment information.

I don't think it's limited to repeat cruisers.