5/31/11 -- Chilling on the Wonder

[NSDisneyGirl]

Mary Ellen, I don't think you should have too much trouble booking Palo at 75-days out, honestly. Certain time slots will be taken, but there should be plenty of availability. And since no one knows their dining rotation, there's always a lot of last minute shuffling of reservations once people get on board.

Anyway, hi guys! I'm new to the thread. We booked this back in August, but with the final payment due in a month, I guess it's time to get serious!

We will be the crazy people bringing our 3-month old on her first cruise. Yes, that's right, that means I haven't actually had the baby yet. I'm 32 1/2 weeks pregnant, due February 17. (And, yes, we got the travel insurance!) I'm an associate at a law firm (i.e., I work a lot), and I wanted to take advantage of my maternity leave to take a nice family vacation with no interruptions.

Our original plan was to fly to Vancouver on Saturday, 5/28 (Seattle just seems like too much of a hassle to me, especially with the baby, despite the fact that Vancouver airfare from the DC area is ridiculous), but I've discovered that we have enough miles to cover the trip if we fly on Sunday, 5/29 instead. So, we'll probably do that. No hotel reservation yet... I'll probably wait until significantly closer to the time, given the uncertainty the baby introduces.

We will have early dining... but we are going to play it by ear and just do the casual dining or in-room dining whenever we need to. (Again, bc of the baby!)

Welcome aboard!!!

 

[NSDisneyGirl]

Excursions are posted!!! We can't wait to read through them all and start planning! Can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts, opinions and choices!

 

[4boons]

Excursions are posted!!! We can't wait to read through them all and start planning! Can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts, opinions and choices!

Laura, Katie and I are working through all our options and will soon post our thoughts and plans.

Welcome to all who are just joining us and look forward to meeting all.

Bill

 

[4boons]

I hope this helps with the packing list.
Let the planning begin

- Bill

Weather Data

May 30 Victoria, BC
Avg. min. temp. 49 F
Record min. temp. 42 F (1999)
Avg. max. temp. 67 F
Record max. temp 75F (2007)
May 2010 avg. wind 7 mph, max. 29mph/max gust 41 mph

May 31 Vancouver, BC
Avg. min. temp. 52 F
Record min. temp. 48 F (2008)
Avg. max. temp. 67 F
Record max. temp. 75 F (2007)
May 2010 avg. wind 9 mph, max. 33 mph/max gust 41 mph

June 3 Skagway, AK
Avg. min. temp. 44 F
Record min. temp. 34 F (1991)
Avg. max. temp. 59 F
Record max. temp. 79 F (1997)
June 2010 avg. wind 9 mph, max. 37 mph/max gust 51 mph

June 4 Juneau, AK
Avg. min. temp. 45 F
Record min. temp. 33 F (1971)
Avg. max. temp. 60 F
Record max. temp. 80 F (1954)
June 2010 avg. wind 7 mph, max. 31 mph/max gust 43 mph

June 5 Ketchikan, AK
Avg. min. temp. 45 F
Record min. temp. 39 F (1955)
Avg. max. temp. 60 F
Record max. temp. 79 F (1958)
June 2010 avg. wind 8 mph, max 25 mph/max gust 34 mph

June 7 Vancouver, BC
Avg. min. temp. 53 F
Record min. temp. 46 F (1999)
Avg. max. temp. 68 F
Record max. temp 73 F (1998)
June 2010 avg. wind 8 mph, max 26 mph/max gust 33 mph

 

[4boons]

Pre-cruise is planned and booked

Day -3 (Saturday)
Arrive Vancouver 7:20 pm
Hotel: Fairmont Waterfront

Day -2 (Sunday)
Check out of Fairmont Waterfront (leaving cruise/larger luggage with bellman)
Transfer: Prince of Whales "Adventure Crossing" from Vancouver to Victoria (transit plus whale watching)
Hotel: Fairmont Empress (same hotel we spent our honeymoon 20 yrs ago)
Touring: Parliament building, Royal BC Museum, Inner Harbor, Fishermans Wharf (still working on)

Day -1 (Monday)
Check out of Fairmont Empress
Touring: Butchart Gardens (via Gray Line West Butchart Garden Express)
Transfer: 4:00 pm Harbor Air floatplane Victoria to Vancouver
Hotel: Fairmont Waterfront
Cruise: Check in with DCL at Fairmont Waterfront for morning transfer

Day 0 (Tuesday)
Check out of Fairmont Waterfront
Transfer: DCL transfer luggage from hotel to DCL Wonder
Walk hotel to DCL Wonder (terminal opens 10am, boarding starts at 1pm, all aboard 4pm)
Stateroom 6134

 

[4boons]

What port adventures look good to you.
So far my choices, not necessarily those of Laura and Katie, include

Skagway:
Best of Skagway

Juneau:
Dog sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter

Ketchikan:
Misty Fjords Boat and floatplane Adventure
The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Enhanced Show

Bill

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Hi everyone! We're getting closer! We haven't finalized our port excursions yet, but we already booked kayaking in Ketchikan directly through the company.

I thought I'd start a fish extender list soon. I guess I will just post an updated list of names right here in the thread every so often. The op of the thread isn't joining us anymore so they can't keep updating the first post.

If anyone else has any suggestions, just let me know! We're getting excited!

 

[pouncingpluto]

I'm not sure we'll be able to decide on excursions until we log in to book them, since that's when we'll be able to log in and see what Flounder's reservations are available.

Ketchikan-- I'd like to do the Misty Fjords floatplane, but only if Flounder's is available. If not, we'll do the Misty Fjords boat and take DD with us.

Skagway-- I think the Yukon Expedition sounds great, and it's very mild, but I still think 8 hours may be a bit long for DD (either to go with us-- a long day out-- or to be at Flounder's for that long). So we might do something that's more like a half-day but similar-- railway and bus, taking DD with us.

Juneau-- Mendenhall Glacier + Whale Watching

 

[4boons]

Laura and I were looking through the gifts and amenities section on the DCL website. Laura wants to know where the Diet Dr. Pepper package is?

They have beer, wine and water packages but she could not find the Diet Dr. Pepper package.

 

[alohaprincess]

Santa brought us this cruise for Christmas and we are so excited! I've already learned so much from all of you!

 

[4boons]

Santa brought us this cruise for Christmas and we are so excited! I've already learned so much from all of you!

Welcome aboard from the 3 of the 4boons, Bill, Laura and Katie.

 

[4boons]

Just a note to everyone.

Check with your credit card companies for the cards with the lowest foreign transaction fees.

When booking travels and tours in Vancouver we forgot that the Disney Visa has a higher foreign transaction fee than some of our other cards that we usually use for foreign travel.

Laura, our international travel for work expert in the family, is going to check to make sure we have the hotels booked with the card with the best foreign transaction fee.

Hope everyone is having a great week.

Bill

 

[lcoasterdizfan]

I booked this cruise as a solo and I am also doing the Adventures by Disney add-on package.

I am interested in participating in the FE and any other activities we can cook up.

It will be my first time in Alaska so I am trying to gather all the tips and suggestions on these boards.

It should be an amazing cruise!

Leslie

 

[NSDisneyGirl]

What port adventures look good to you.
So far my choices, not necessarily those of Laura and Katie, include

Skagway:
Best of Skagway

Juneau:
Dog sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter

Ketchikan:
Misty Fjords Boat and floatplane Adventure
The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Enhanced Show

Bill

Great choices! And your pre-cruise plans sound amazing!

Thanks for the weather data - that will be really helpful to decide what to take.

We're not sure on the excursions yet, we know we definitely want to try zip-lining, just not sure at which port yet, as well as a whale watching excursion - lots of decisions to make!

 

[NSDisneyGirl]

Santa brought us this cruise for Christmas and we are so excited! I've already learned so much from all of you!

Welcome Aboard!

 

[NSDisneyGirl]

I booked this cruise as a solo and I am also doing the Adventures by Disney add-on package.

I am interested in participating in the FE and any other activities we can cook up.

It will be my first time in Alaska so I am trying to gather all the tips and suggestions on these boards.

It should be an amazing cruise!

Leslie

Welcome!

 

[shwarren70]

Santa brought us this cruise for Christmas and we are so excited! I've already learned so much from all of you!

Very Cool Christmas gift! Welcome aboard....

We also have a Caribbean cruise booked for Jan 2012 to surprise our kids with for Christmas 2011... Keeping that a secret for so long is going to be hard!

 

[shwarren70]

I booked this cruise as a solo and I am also doing the Adventures by Disney add-on package.

I am interested in participating in the FE and any other activities we can cook up.

It will be my first time in Alaska so I am trying to gather all the tips and suggestions on these boards.

It should be an amazing cruise!

Leslie

Welcome Aboard!

 

[speakupjc]

My husband, myself and our 8 year old daughter will be cruising with ya'll.
Is anyone cruising with children around the same age?

 

[4boons]

My husband, myself and our 8 year old daughter will be cruising with ya'll.
Is anyone cruising with children around the same age?

Welcome aboard.
Sorry we can't help you out, DD will have just turned 17 days before we sail.
Bill