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

[poison ivy]

every time I look up airfare I run into a roadblock.

So just for the heck of it I checked Spirit out of ACY. Very cheap. $273.18 r/t
Downside - they don't fly any further northwest than Portland, Ore. which I believe is 2.5 hrs south of Seattle.

We're also debating flying one leg by way of a mini visit to San Diego where our daughters live. Flight prices and times are really great between SeaTac and San Diego.

gotta love those Spirit Fares!

 

[ExpeditionEverest]

Without traffic, Portland to Seattle is 3 hours. With traffic, 4 plus hours.

every time I look up airfare I run into a roadblock.

So just for the heck of it I checked Spirit out of ACY. Very cheap. $273.18 r/t
Downside - they don't fly any further northwest than Portland, Ore. which I believe is 2.5 hrs south of Seattle.

We're also debating flying one leg by way of a mini visit to San Diego where our daughters live. Flight prices and times are really great between SeaTac and San Diego.

gotta love those Spirit Fares!

 

[xlxo]

Without traffic, Portland to Seattle is 3 hours. With traffic, 4 plus hours.

Hah... the Wonder departs from Vancouver, not Seattle. Budget 5.25 hours from the Portland airport to Vancouver. That's non-stop with no bathroom, rest or food stops.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...8Ftykh4OIknXGGVDEJYciF4H8Ftw&mra=prev&t=m&z=7

Add another 1 to 3 hours for the Sunday evening border crossing. At 8:30pm in Vancouver tonight. The Peace Arch crossing is over 1 hour wait. Good thing it's not a long weekend when the border wait can be 5 hours long! Note, if the border wait is long.... there is NO bathroom facilities on the highway... just a ditch and bush. Pack some adult diapers.
http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/border/

Should I mention the 3 hours time zone change with the 5 hr flight? You might save some money.... but you are looking for punishment.

I recommend paying a premium for the direct East Coast flight and save money instead by staying at rural Vancouver hotel by the airport.
http://www.expedia.ca/Vancouver-Hot...2015&chkout=25/05/2015&rm1=a2#rooms-and-rates

BTW... there is also the Bolt bus from Portland to Vancouver... I see rates for under $50 for early December one-way trips.
https://www.boltbus.com/

 

[poison ivy]

I hear you both and don't disagree.

just rechecked Air Canada and they seem to have dropped their fares with decent flight times - probably due to the 11/9/14 incident.

Base fare: $ 529 r/t

add on:

$ 50 r/t 50 lb. checked bag fee + 1 free carryon and 1 free personal
$ 20/p r/t cab fare ?????

= $599.00 / p

Not a bad price since it does fly in/out of YVR at decent times.

And just ran a quick comparison to Spirit :
$9 fare club base fee - $ 273.18

add on:

$ 50 r/t 40lb bag fees - w/ no free carryon allowed + 1 free personal
$130 /p incl. meals (1 nt. stay in Seattle - arrival)
$15/p (car rental est. - arrival)
$50.00/p (Bolt bus - return)

total = $ 518.18 / p

A ton of hassle to save $400.00. (5 tickets)

I know everyone has their pricing points.
Given the 2 options I'm going with Air Canada.

Haven't checked United direct but Southwest is almost double this and only flying to Seattle.

I think we're going to book Air Canada - how does everyone feel about this airline right now?

 

[Johnny Quest]

Just a few negatives about flying Spirit;

Yes it's cheap... but you get what you pay for.
Spirit seats recline a whopping 0".
Absolutely NO legroom.
They can't spare a can of soda for you even for a 5+ hr. flight.
If you want to board early you must pay for a carry on.
You must pay for a carry on.

Positives;

The restroom is still free!

Air Canada in to YVR is definitely worth the $91 up charge.

 

[poison ivy]

Good Morning Everyone!

Just want to wish you all an early Happy Thanksgiving as we get ready for the holiday.

Some quick updates - as you may be aware, the FE google doc is no longer an acceptable link on the DIS so we are required to post and maintain our FE groups directly on our meet thread.

If anyone wishes to volunteer for this please do!! JQ doesn't have two seconds these days.

also - we never did book any airfare.
So all bets are off as to where we're flying in to as of right now.

Lastly, is anyone considering booking a one-way Skagway Rail excursion outside of Disney? and if so, do you know if this is possible without a visit to a dog camp?

 

[DisneyBelle99]

No airfare for us either, yet. Was planning on dealing with it next week, I hope. Happy Thanksgiving to all! Deb and Jed

 

[xlxo]

With Black Friday this week... I wonder if there are sales... I think everyone should double-check Friday morning for good opportunities.

If you haven't heard.... YVR just picked up an award from Bloomberg...
http://www.businessweek.com/interactive/2014-best-worst-airports/#overall

 

[Jay Kat]

No airfare here yet either, but will use SW points and stop in Seattle to see our daughter. When and how to get to Vancouver are still in the air. We are buying $300 worth of Target gift cards on Black Friday for 10% off then using THOSE cards to buy Disney gift cards (yes you can do this). Hope all is well with the group. One more month until I can share this big secret with my significant other!
Oh, and the train interests us too. Seems like we are on the same wavelength.....

 

[MMouse2]

Happy holidays everyone, May certainly can't arrive fast enough for us!!

We are considering staying the night of May 24 in Bellingham, WA and leaving early the next morning to drive straight to the cruise terminal...has anyone done this before and/or do any of you live in the area and have any guidance?

I look forward to any input and thanks in advance

 

[xlxo]

Some thoughts...

• Bellingham will be cheaper to stay than at the Pan Pacific. Bellingham hotel rates are similar to hotels around Vancouver's airport (Richmond).
• You might find Vancouver more interesting place to explore overnight compared to a small town (Bellingham).
• takes about 1 hour to drive continuously from Bellingham airport to cruise terminal.
• Congestion Risk 1.... border crossing. May be heavy in the mornings as it's the start of the week.
• Congestion Risk 2.... George Massey Tunnel, Oak, Knight, and Alex Fraser can be heavy in the mornings prior to 10am, especially if there is an accident or a "ferry dump".
• Are you using a rental car? How much of a premium are you paying to store a vehicle in Vancouver or driving one way?
• Which rental car company have you choosen? I like Alamo/National because they have offices in the cruise terminal.
• At $20 each, Quick Shuttle offers pickup at Bellingham airport at 9:30am and drops off at the cruise ship terminal at noon.

 

[MMouse2]

Wow, thank you for all the information. We are actually driving our own vehicle and, unless we find something safe and reasonable, are going to pay to park at the cruise terminal. We need to park for two weeks...I checked into one hotel that has a stay & park program but only for one week. We went on a cruise out of Vancouver in 2011 and stayed at a hotel out of town and rode the sky train about 45 minutes to the terminal...that was fine getting there but getting back and lugging our luggage around the block and over the freeway to get back to the car wasn't fun. Bellingham is about a 12 hour drive from our houses so I was thinking it would be a good stopping point. We do, however, have a relative near Bremerton, WA that we may possibly visit the night of the 21st, in which case it would be easier to drive into Vancouver on the 22nd but then there's the delimma of where to stay and where to park as cost effective as possible.

 

[xlxo]

I faintly remember there was a place to park during the cruise, but I forgot where. I'll let someone else jump in.

Otherwise the airport is $96 a week (cheaper than a 1 night hotel room stay)...
http://www.yvr.ca/en/jetset.aspx

Found a link to the cruise terminal parking... nearly double compared to airport...
http://www.vinciparkcanadaplace.ca/index.html

Found this park and fly in Richmond... you can catch the shuttle to the airport for the train. Or just pay $35 cab fare to cruise terminal each way.
http://www.holidayinnexpressvancouverairport.com/vancouverairportspecials.aspx

 

[poison ivy]

took advantage of air Canada's cyber Monday 15% off sale and booked first flight out PHL to YVR on 5/24 for $188.00.
code today only: CYBERMONDAYUSA

Still working on the return trip. May fly to San Diego from Seattle to visit our daughters.

 

[MMouse2]

Thank you so much, I will look into those...parking at the airport sounds like a great possibility!

 

[xlxo]

Bellingham is about a 12 hour drive from our houses so I was thinking it would be a good stopping point. We do, however, have a relative near Bremerton, WA that we may possibly visit the night of the 21st, in which case it would be easier to drive into Vancouver on the 22nd but then there's the delimma of where to stay and where to park as cost effective as possible.

Some thoughts...

• avoid trying to cross the border Northbound between 5pm and 10pm (especially weekends). Waits can be a few hours with day shoppers. Use this site to monitor congestion...
  http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/border/
• Do you have an ATT phone? Bring it as you can use the phone in Alaska.
• Take advantage of Richmond hotels (some offer free parking during your stay) instead of staying downtown to save money. Again my fav hotel is the Raddison for free parking, lots of shopping and restaurants, and subway access across the street for 20 min arrival downtown.
  http://www.expedia.ca/Vancouver-Hotels-Radisson-Hotel-Vancouver-Airport.h14039.Hotel-Information

 

[Jay Kat]

OK group....it is getting close to Christmas, in which I will surprise my spouse with this cruise. Any ideas on how I should do it? I will be calling on you right before the big day to welcome him to the thread, so when he goes back and catches up he will see your well wishes. Thanks for any gifting ideas!

 

[xlxo]

Thank you so much, I will look into those...parking at the airport sounds like a great possibility!

Here's another thought if you don't want to drive in Canada...

• Park at one of the Bellingham airport lots for $2 to $8 a day. That's half price compared to YVR.
  http://www.bellinghamairportparking.com/
  http://www.airport-parking-cheap.com/airport_parking_for_bellingham_international_bli.html
• Go to the Bellingham airport to catch the 9:30am Cruise terminal shuttle for $20 per person.
  http://www.quickcoach.com/schedule.htm

 

[Johnny Quest]

OK group....it is getting close to Christmas, in which I will surprise my spouse with this cruise. Any ideas on how I should do it? I will be calling on you right before the big day to welcome him to the thread, so when he goes back and catches up he will see your well wishes. Thanks for any gifting ideas!

Jay Kat,

I'll give you my idea now.

I think you should give him a nice all weather jacket or something weather related and in that same box wrap a small gift box containing the confirmation pamphlet from DCL.

He is in for a great Christmas!

 

[xlxo]

How about ordering a scenic travel calendar of Alaska and BC to start the new year?

What about having an Alaskan King Crab meal to announce the news?

Personally I prefer... pack... we leave tommorrow.