2026 Alaska sailing during the World Cup

[RICKSTER451]

We are slightly less than a year out from our 2026 Alaska sailing and it is incredibly difficult to find hotels at affordable prices. World Cup matches are taking place at the same time and we knew it would drive hotel prices up, but this is very discouraging. A larger family traveling with us had to book an Airbnb 50 miles from the port. Is anyone else having this issue? The Disney approved hotels are sold out for our dates when we tried to book directly. Would I have better luck going through Disney to book hotels? We had originally planned to spend a few days in Vancouver before the cruise but $700 to $1000 per night is making us reconsider. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Disnsyncey]

oof! is there maybe a city nearby of interest with a train/bus/public transit into Vancouver that day? I mean, I guess Whistler is sold out......Or even an early morning train from Seattle?

 

[AquaDame]

oof! is there maybe a city nearby of interest with a train/bus/public transit into Vancouver that day? I mean, I guess Whistler is sold out......Or even an early morning train from Seattle?

Seattle is also a host city…

 

[otten]

Oof. Hotel prices are already high enough in Vancouver to begin with.

Are you sticking to Vancouver proper? I’d suggest looking further away. Richmond (near the airport) has a lot of lower cost hotels and with the Canada line it really isn’t difficult to get into downtown. You can also look at hotels along skytrain.

This may be a time when going through Disney is a good idea. They probably have blocks of rooms reserved.

 

[sponica]

I would try to go through DCL to see if they have any hotels available for a pre-cruise stay.

 

[Disnsyncey]

Seattle is also a host city…

ack boo.....that's handy for them though! Are the dates of the games the same?

 

[behappyJules]

Some hotels haven't released reservations for next summer yet. We like to stay at one of the 3 Fairmont hotels in Vancouver and they are only bookable through May right now. I'm assuming once August rolls around, their June dates will be released. Not everyone appreciates how much us Disney planners like to plan in advance. Also, we've been to Vancouver twice in the last 4 years and their hotels, particularly the ones around the port, are more expensive than what we usually pay elsewhere.

 

[PsylockeSmythe]

ack boo.....that's handy for them though! Are the dates of the games the same?

Based on the current schedule, the dates in Vancouver are: 6/13, 6/18, 6/21, 6/24, 6/26, 7/2 and 7/7. The dates in Seattle are: 6/15, 6/19, 6/24, 6/26, 7/1 and 7/6.

So, while only June 24th and 26th are the same in both cities, the matches in both cities happen roughly every 3 days during the group stage.

Psy

 

[Disnsyncey]

oh ok so hopefully there will be a day that isn't as bad price wise! (I mean, crossing fingers for a VERY off day and whistler having openings because it's beautiful up there)

 

[AquaDame]

Based on the current schedule, the dates in Vancouver are: 6/13, 6/18, 6/21, 6/24, 6/26, 7/2 and 7/7. The dates in Seattle are: 6/15, 6/19, 6/24, 6/26, 7/1 and 7/6.

So, while only June 24th and 26th are the same in both cities, the matches in both cities happen roughly every 3 days during the group stage.

Psy

Plus even if they don't overlap hotels are unlikely to change the price much for off days between matches. Most people will stay a few days or a week and make a full trip out of it, and they know that.

 

[PsylockeSmythe]

Plus even if they don't overlap hotels are unlikely to change the price much for off days between matches. Most people will stay a few days or a week and make a full trip out of it, and they know that.

So true, I would figure anything starting the week before the WC matches to about a week afterwards to be higher than normal price.
Psy

 

[Girl of the South]

Did you try Whidbey Island? Quick ferry ride to downtown Seattle.

 

[RICKSTER451]

Did you try Whidbey Island? Quick ferry ride to downtown Seattle.

We didn't look at Whidbey Island, the cruise port is Vancouver and we're hoping for something a little closer. We are just paranoid of not showing up on time. We've had near misses with flights, especially through Miami and getting there and having a place to stay the night before takes a lot of stress out of traveling (which is stressful enough!). BTW this is our first time to Canada and first Alaska cruise. We are flying out of DFW. (airfare is another obstacle, but that's a story by itself!)

 

[Girl of the South]

So you’re flying into Vancouver? Sorry, I missed that. Even though it means renting a car and driving back into the states, maybe Bellingham Washington? It’s about an hour drive from Vancouver. Maybe you can at least book a refundable room there, and keep looking?

 

[Bunless]

Plus even if they don't overlap hotels are unlikely to change the price much for off days between matches. Most people will stay a few days or a week and make a full trip out of it, and they know that.

They've been anticipating that fans will be traveling back and forth between Seattle and Vancouver for the matches. I'm guessing that Amtrak will be replacing the Cascades cars with the Empire Builder ones (it happens during peak seasons anyway)... and they will probably still be full.

 

[Bunless]

So you’re flying into Vancouver? Sorry, I missed that. Even though it means renting a car and driving back into the states, maybe Bellingham Washington? It’s about an hour drive from Vancouver. Maybe you can at least book a refundable room there, and keep looking?

It might be worth it to look into Point Roberts. They've been hurting for tourism since the pandemic and it's only gotten worse this year.

 

[Disnsyncey]

It might be worth it to look into Point Roberts. They've been hurting for tourism since the pandemic and it's only gotten worse this year.

that place seems cool! haha I bet they will be thought of less when people are planning their travels surrounding the cup