9-Night Alaskan or 10-Night Southern Caribbean?

[tink1970]

Another vote for Alaska, because having lived in TX heat (and humidity) and now in Florida...it is SO NICE to be out of it. While, yes, it might not be super cold, it is nothing like July in your neck of the woods. Oh, and beautiful, and fun, and all of the rest...
Honestly, if DH would let me I'd go every summer just to get a break (although since I've been to Scotland the past 4 years it's kind of similar ).

As for the Wonder, yes, she's smaller and has a few less bells and whistles but still a great ship.

Hope you have a great trip regardless

 

[xlxo]

Another vote for Alaska, because having lived in TX heat

As for the Wonder, yes, she's smaller and has a few less bells and whistles but still a great ship.

Come meet your sister.... Size matters...

 

[Shanti]

Come meet your sister.... Size matters...

That's not exactly a post that'll win a native Texan over. I think it counts for something that a lot more of our state is actually inhabited...

 

[xlxo]

We'll be staying at the Fairmont Airport Hotel, and will probably fly in the day before the cruise.

Haven't booked the flights as I haven't decided which cruise.

The Fairmont Airport is convenient.... but premium priced.... If you are arriving in the morning or early afternoon.... you may want to squeeze in some sightseeing before going to bed.

Comparing rates on booking.com for July 23 to 24th in USD...

• $384 Fairmont Vancouver Airport
• $172 Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport » my fav airport hotel with a $4 subway 20 minute ride into the cruise terminal. The train station is across the street.
  
  
• $85 YWCA
• $156 Days Inn » 3 blocks from cruise terminal, check online reviews for potential issues
• $199 Blue Horizon » a forum fav for budget travelers
• $222 Rosedale » suites!
• $235 Sutton Place
• $256 Holiday Inn
• $285 Auberge » 3 blocks from cruise terminal
• $290 Delta » 5 blocks from cruise terminal with suites!
• $392 Pan Pacific » you are sleeping above the cruise terminal.
• $576 Fairmont Pacific Rim » 3 blocks from cruise terminal...

Thoughts...

• if you can afford to stay at the Fairmont airport... consider staying at the Pan Pacific for convenience.... it does cost a little more
• if you are a value travelers.... consider the Raddison Vancouver airport where it's HALF price compared to the Fairmont
• airport to cruise terminal is about 35 minutes.... Vancouver is a very compact city. Downtown hotels are available with a $10 taxi ride with your luggage. Again, a downtown hotel offers sightseeing opportunities shortly after you check-in. Sunset is 9:05pm!
• YWCA, Blue Horizon for downtown savings..... Delta for the larger rooms and short luggage drag into cruise terminal the next day.

 

[lklgoodman]

Ok, that t-shirt is hilarious!!! I grew up in Oklahoma, but have family in Dallas/Fort Worth so I spent a lot of time hearing how great Tx is. I also vote for Alaska. Even if it has a warm spell during your cruise, warm in Alaska is nothing compared to TX heat. We went on an Alaska cruise 2 yrs ago and loved it. Have also been on 2 Carribean ones and loved them also, however Alaska is really special.

 

[NoodlesMom]

I vote for the southern. I'm partial since I just booked this cruise last week. I want to go to Alaska but I think it will be on another cruise line. This will be our 7th DCL cruise and the Fantasy is the only boat we haven't been on. We love the Dream and enjoyed the Magic but we really didn't like the Wonder. We sailed her in December post dry dock. I just really missed the bells and whistles of the newer ship.

I'm also from Texas so the heat is just something I'm use to.

 

[bcwife76]

The Fairmont Airport is convenient.... but premium priced.... If you are arriving in the morning or early afternoon.... you may want to squeeze in some sightseeing before going to bed.

Comparing rates on booking.com for July 23 to 24th in USD...

• $384 Fairmont Vancouver Airport
• $172 Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport » my fav airport hotel with a $4 subway 20 ride into the cruise terminal. The train station is across the street.
  
  
• $85 YWCA
• $156 Days Inn » 3 blocks from cruise terminal, check online reviews for potential issues
• $199 Blue Horizon » a forum fav for budget travelers
• $222 Rosedale » suites!
• $235 Sutton Place
• $256 Holiday Inn
• $285 Auberge » 3 blocks from cruise terminal
• $290 Delta » 5 blocks from cruise terminal with suites!
• $392 Pan Pacific » you are sleeping above the cruise terminal.
• $576 Fairmont Pacific Rim » 3 blocks from cruise terminal...

Thoughts...

• if you can afford to stay at the Fairmont airport... consider staying at the Pan Pacific for convenience.... it does cost a little more
• if you are a value travelers.... consider the Raddison Vancouver airport where it's HALF price compared to the Fairmont
• airport to cruise terminal is about 35 minutes.... Vancouver is a very compact city. Downtown hotels are available with a $10 taxi ride with your luggage. Again, a downtown hotel offers sightseeing opportunities shortly after you check-in. Sunset is 9:05pm!
• YWCA, Blue Horizon for downtown savings..... Delta for the larger rooms and short luggage drag into cruise terminal the next day.

For those dates Pan Pacific is coming out cheaper than Fairmont Waterfront (when booking directly through the hotels' websites). Surprisingly enough! $509CAD vs $649CAD. Still, ridiculous prices. Thanking for once we live here and can just leave home at 10am and be downtown 45 minutes later for our August Alaskan cruise

 

[cruisehopeful]

Those are my main 2 wish I could go on cruises. Based on your pros/cons, I am suggesting Alaska. That 9 day cruise is the best Alaska itinerary I've ever seen for DLC - even compared to other cruise lines.

I know what you mean about Wonder being smaller and not having as many things to do as the larger ships. That works out to be both a good and a bad thing. I get bored on sea days. I love one sea day and then I am ready for something else. The Alaska sailings have gorgeous views all the time. Do not feel bad about having an inside cabin. All the action is on decks 4 and 9/10. You'll be spending a lot of time out there and will have much better views on those decks than you would on a veranda.

EDIT: Disneyland will have a new ride in DCA -Guardians of the Galaxy. They are also in the process of adding fast passes to Matterhorn and Toy Story Mania. You'll be there at a good time.

 

[jrabbit]

Re: Sea Days in Alaska

They are not like Sea Days anywhere else. Closer to the Panama Canal Transit. Most of the time DCL sails the Inside Passage, meaning that you are Surrounded by land. Therefore "more to see at sea".

You can spot whales (both Orca and humpback), Dolphins, Salmon, Bears, Eagles and many other critters while cruising between ports. Bring Binoculars!

 

[FtWildernessCamper]

We've sailed on DCL to Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean and Alaska (and we are also native Texans). Alaska was not only the best cruise we've ever been on - it was the best vacation we've ever taken. Hands down, Alaska!

 

[AquaDame]

Another vote for Alaska..! I also hate the cold, but loved Alaska so much we've done it twice! Hubbard (RCCL) had far more activity than Endicott (DCL - bad ice meant we diverted) did for us. When we go again - yes, Id go a third time - I want to go to Glacier Bay. This year we are trying out the Norwegian Fjords... again, I do not like the cold but it is so gorgeous that I will gladly bundle up and enjoy the sights.

 

[Trera]

I think we are about to pull the trigger on the 11 night southern carribbean cruise now that it is on an FLR rate. Huge savings over the prevailing rate.

 

[AquaDame]

I think we are about to pull the trigger on the 11 night southern carribbean cruise now that it is on an FLR rate. Huge savings over the prevailing rate.

That is a decent rate for staterooms to be sure...! At a starting price of 8K we couldn't justify even thinking about it...

 

[Shanti]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I've decided to stick with the Wonder cruise to Alaska. Learning that Curacao has an active oil refinery just behind the city center, and that Aruba has a currently inactive oil refinery on the coast, knocked me off the fence for this one. I don't want to see or smell refineries while on vacation- it's just not my cup of tea.

I'm excited for us to sail on a new ship, visit Alaska, see glaciers, walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge, "Fly Over Canada", then head to Disneyland for a couple of days. What an adventure lays ahead!

 

[NancyIL]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I've decided to stick with the Wonder cruise to Alaska. Learning that Carucao has an active oil refinery just behind the city center, and that Aruba has a currently inactive oil refinery on the coast, knocked me off the fence for this one. I don't want to see or smell refineries while on vacation- it's just not my cup of tea.

I'm excited for us to sail on a new ship, visit Alaska, see glaciers, walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge, "Fly Over Canada", then head to Disneyland for a couple of days. What an adventure lays ahead!

I'm really glad you chose Alaska! I have cruised to Alaska 4 times, and will be on back-to-back Alaskan cruises on Royal Caribbean this May (9-night and 7-night). I've never had a balcony in Alaska (I'll have one inside and one oceanview in May), and I don't feel I've been deprived.

If you want to go whale watching, I suggest you do it in Icy Strait Point - as there are far fewer tour options in ISP compared to Juneau. Enjoy your trip!

 

[xlxo]

I'm excited for us to sail on a new ship, visit Alaska, see glaciers, walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge, "Fly Over Canada", then head to Disneyland for a couple of days. What an adventure lays ahead!

Once you finalize your flight and YVR arrival time.... we can help build a suggested sightseeing itinerary. Hint: Think an earlier arrival to maximize your sightseeing opportunities post-flight at your bonus port.

 

[jrabbit]

I haven't done the Capilano bridge yet, but have been up Grouse Mountain a few times. I enjoy spending many hours there: the bird show, lumberjack show, they have some bears there and in general walking around in some beautiful scenery.

I have not done the Zip Lining there yet - is it good?

20 years ago there was an aquarium in Vancouver - still there?

How is Stanley Park these days?

 

[xlxo]

Grouse depends on when you arrive and can fit the afternoon show schedule. Yes the aquarium is still there. The shows will be different in 2017 with two star attractions passing.

For zip line enthusiasts..... must go to nearby Whistler to check out the sasquatch!
https://whistler.ziptrek.com/tours/sasquatch/

 

[DizMagic]

I loved the Vancouver aquarium. One of the best (albeit smaller) ones I have been too. Glad you picked Alaska - I was rooting for it. I actually considered the 9 night sailing myself, but still paying off my Alaskan Adventure by Disney trip from last year.

 

[jubjubrsx]

alaska atleast once.....i hate the cold/snow I'm glad I did it once, but in the future Caribbean for me.