A Voyage of Firsts! The WONDERful Journey North: LA-Vancouver-Alaska, 4/27-5/10 2011

[EllaEnchanted]

Bumpity bump!!! We were on page 4!!!



Sorry I didn't reply to your post, Deb!!!

We're planning on going to San Diego on the Friday as we'll probably be up bright and early due to flying in the day before - that way we can get a full day there.. TBH I wasn't thinking of hiring a car as the Amtrak appears to stop at a few different SD locations so I figured we'd pick the place we want to visit the most, get off there and then, if we want to switch to a different location, catch a cab.. It's just vague at the mo - I need a guide book to get some firmer ideas. So it's off to Amazon I go!!!

OK so you're going before brunch and we're going after....that won't work. But you can tell us all about everything you did at brunch. We'll end up driving down and back for one day on Monday. If we take the car, we're not stuck on a schedule and can drive around and see the area. Have fun on the train. I still wish we were travelling that way, but John drives and I follow.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

The San Diego Zoo is FABULOUS! ....just thought I'd mention that....


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Good morning, friends. I'm home today with a bit of a flu bug Guess I can at least get some vacation research done. If anybody is bored and wants to call me...my cell phone is right beside me!

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Thanks Jacks....I don't think we're going to have enough time to do the Zoo. It sounds like a full day. We want to see the area and John wants to go to Scripps Oceanic Institute because a friend retired from there and has a life size picture of himself when you walk in the door. John wants to see it and take pictures with it. Whatever! Then we'll explore. We'll save the Zoo for our second trip there. DCL seems to keep getting us out on the west coast. This is a good thing! I love it! So we'll be back again I'm sure.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Good morning, friends. I'm home today with a bit of a flu bug Guess I can at least get some vacation research done. If anybody is bored and wants to call me...my cell phone is right beside me!

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Sorry to hear this Jackie. Take good care of yourself and feel better soon.

 

[CustardTart]

OK so you're going before brunch and we're going after....that won't work. But you can tell us all about everything you did at brunch. We'll end up driving down and back for one day on Monday. If we take the car, we're not stuck on a schedule and can drive around and see the area. Have fun on the train. I still wish we were travelling that way, but John drives and I follow.

That's a shame but yes, I'll tell all at the brunch!!! I received a "Top 10 San Diego" guide book this morning and, having given it quick peek, I'm really excited to be visiting!!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

That's a shame but yes, I'll tell all at the brunch!!! I received a "Top 10 San Diego" guide book this morning and, having given it quick peek, I'm really excited to be visiting!!!

Let me know your top 3 things as you narrow them down. Naturally, we want to see everything.....hahaha.

 

[Tink rules]

Thanks Jacks....I don't think we're going to have enough time to do the Zoo. It sounds like a full day. We want to see the area and John wants to go to Scripps Oceanic Institute because a friend retired from there and has a life size picture of himself when you walk in the door. John wants to see it and take pictures with it. Whatever! Then we'll explore. We'll save the Zoo for our second trip there. DCL seems to keep getting us out on the west coast. This is a good thing! I love it! So we'll be back again I'm sure.

I'd love to see the Hotel Del Coronado (they inspiration for the Grand Floridian...) it's also where they filmed parts of Some Like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe...

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Hi Mon, where do we stand with the whale watching tour? I know we're supposed to make our own payments in advance and the sooner the better. I don't have any info. What date and time are we booking? What company are we booking with?

Has anyone thought about what hotel to stay at in Vancouver? How far is it from Vancouver to Seattle? Could we hire car service and a van for luggage? Let's assume we're all staying one night in Vancouver before heading to Seattle. Does that work for the majority? We would need a head count.

Just trying to finish making all my plans for this trip. Sorry Ian, I know you're not ready yet. But I have so much to do that I have to start getting ready early. I still have to:

Get a ride to and from JFK
I need car service in Cali for LAX to hotel, hotel to port
LAX car rental
Vancouver to Seattle hotels and transportation from/to

Then I can work on excursions and LA/San Diego.

Still lots to do to get ready.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Deb, regarding post Alaska, my and Monica's most recent plans are to stay two days in Vancouver and fly home from there. HOWEVER, this could change if little miss fancy pants ends up getting on a special travel agent cruise earlier in the year and has to move those two vacation days over to that event.

I believe she is still waiting for a response from Harv & Marv on the whale watching billing info. I think it's funny that you are so anxious to get that booked, while I am hoping the longer it takes to shell out the $$ the better!

.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Deb, regarding post Alaska, my and Monica's most recent plans are to stay two days in Vancouver and fly home from there. HOWEVER, this could change if little miss fancy pants ends up getting on a special travel agent cruise earlier in the year and has to move those two vacation days over to that event.

I believe she is still waiting for a response from Harv & Marv on the whale watching billing info. I think it's funny that you are so anxious to get that booked, while I am hoping the longer it takes to shell out the $$ the better!

.

Hi Jackie, so everyone is pretty much on their own post Alaska. That works too. I already bought airline tickets to LA and from Seattle. I need to do a little at a time and pay for it as I go. I would be completely overwhelmed timewise and financially if I had to do it all at once close to leaving date. I need to think about packing then. I need to keep taking one step at a time and making steady progress. My goal is to have time to relax before taking off.

 

[Tink rules]

Hi Jackie, so everyone is pretty much on their own post Alaska. That works too. I already bought airline tickets to LA and from Seattle. I need to do a little at a time and pay for it as I go. I would be completely overwhelmed timewise and financially if I had to do it all at once close to leaving date. I need to think about packing then. I need to keep taking one step at a time and making steady progress. My goal is to have time to relax before taking off.

Deb... I'm wondering why you are SO efficient at all of this... I mean don't you have just like... 1 or 2 trips in the planning???

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Deb... I'm wondering why you are SO efficient at all of this... I mean don't you have just like... 1 or 2 trips in the planning???

Just five trips total....counting Eastwood Manor.

You should see the size of my travel folder.

 

[Tink rules]

mine looks like something shredded it...

 

[gydell]

Do you think that DCL would make a big cake for DH's b'day?

 

[Tink rules]

It may be a special order... but you could try... I'm sure lots of us would be there to share with you!!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Do you think that DCL would make a big cake for DH's b'day?

How BIG do you mean? They have the cakes that are in the celebration packages (which you purchase). If you are looking for a free one, you might not be able to order one in advance, but once you were on the ship and spoke to your head server, it could happen.

We actually had a full cheesecake brought to our table one night. All 7 of us were celebrating something (birthdays/wedding/retirement/anniversary). The first night when our head server asked if we were celebrating anything I think his eyes rolled back in is head when we told him! I then told him we didn't want any of the 'cakes' brought for anything, as we were all more interested in the desserts on the menu. He said he'd just bring us something special on the last night...and he did! We ended up sharing the cake with some of our special friends at the table beside us!

.

 

[gydell]

It's going to be dh's 60th b'day.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Do you think that DCL would make a big cake for DH's b'day?

I cruised on John's birthday in January and didn't want the "ship cake" so I requested a custom made cake. I paid for it, but I got what I wanted. It was worth it. I had a cat 3 so concierge took care of it for me, but I'm sure if you call DCL they will put you in contact with the right person. They would love to do it for you.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

How BIG do you mean? They have the cakes that are in the celebration packages (which you purchase). If you are looking for a free one, you might not be able to order one in advance, but once you were on the ship and spoke to your head server, it could happen.

We actually had a full cheesecake brought to our table one night. All 7 of us were celebrating something (birthdays/wedding/retirement/anniversary). The first night when our head server asked if we were celebrating anything I think his eyes rolled back in is head when we told him! I then told him we didn't want any of the 'cakes' brought for anything, as we were all more interested in the desserts on the menu. He said he'd just bring us something special on the last night...and he did! We ended up sharing the cake with some of our special friends at the table beside us!

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This is great to know.....thanks Jackie. We often have many celebrations at dinner tables and we're all tired of that "ship cake"....unless Sukie and Nana are with you....then we want the ship cake......hahaha.

I think requesting a cheescake on the last night is a special way to celebrate everyone. Nice.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

It's going to be dh's 60th b'day.

We just did John's 59th this past January. It was freezing and I got sick.

We'll be doing the Dream maiden voyage in January 2011 so we'll celebrate John's 60th onboard. Let me know who your contact is and I'm sure I'll want to use them for John's 60th.....we're not going concierge.

 

[gydell]

I cruised on John's birthday in January and didn't want the "ship cake" so I requested a custom made cake. I paid for it, but I got what I wanted. It was worth it. I had a cat 3 so concierge took care of it for me, but I'm sure if you call DCL they will put you in contact with the right person. They would love to do it for you.

Thanks!

We just did John's 59th this past January. It was freezing and I got sick.

We'll be doing the Dream maiden voyage in January 2011 so we'll celebrate John's 60th onboard. Let me know who your contact is and I'm sure I'll want to use them for John's 60th.....we're not going concierge.

Sure will!