Alaska 2022 - booking flights to Vancouver vs Seattle with covid uncertainty

[disneyholic family]

We have the Wonder booked for August, 2022.
It's part of a larger vacation that includes WDW and a Disney Wish cruise.

We already have the flights to the USA booked (to get us to Orlando), but we haven't yet booked Orlando to Vancouver (and then Vancouver to LA).

I was about to book delta last night, when i stopped to read all the covid restrictions regarding entry into Canada (via plane, train and automobile).

I suddenly worried about booking a flight to Vancouver.
What if Canada again closes its door to tourists and Disney has to move its cruises back to Seattle.
We'll be in a pickle if our flights are to Vancouver.
Plus we're probably going to need a covid test to get into Canada, but we'll have just come off the Disney Wish, so we won't really have time to do it before the flight (unless it's available at MCO).

So i was thinking of flying into Seattle on Friday (after disembarking from the Wish).
Staying in Seattle Friday night (and hopefully finding a covid testing place there).
Then take a train or bus from Seattle to Vancouver on Saturday.
Tour around Vancouver on Sunday.
Then board the Wonder on Monday.

I know i'm overthinking, but maybe not.

 

[MomOTwins]

We have the Wonder booked for August, 2022.
It's part of a larger vacation that includes WDW and a Disney Wish cruise.

We already have the flights to the USA booked (to get us to Orlando), but we haven't yet booked Orlando to Vancouver (and then Vancouver to LA).

I was about to book delta last night, when i stopped to read all the covid restrictions regarding entry into Canada (via plane, train and automobile).

I suddenly worried about booking a flight to Vancouver.
What if Canada again closes its door to tourists and Disney has to move its cruises back to Seattle.
We'll be in a pickle if our flights are to Vancouver.
Plus we're probably going to need a covid test to get into Canada, but we'll have just come off the Disney Wish, so we won't really have time to do it before the flight (unless it's available at MCO).

So i was thinking of flying into Seattle on Friday (after disembarking from the Wish).
Staying in Seattle Friday night (and hopefully finding a covid testing place there).
Then take a train or bus from Seattle to Vancouver on Saturday.
Tour around Vancouver on Sunday.
Then board the Wonder on Monday.

I know i'm overthinking, but maybe not.

I have an august Alaska DCL cruise and I think it is too early to book flights given the uncertainty. I feel like I can’t be certain my cruise will even happen and don’t want to commit to flights. I also think the Seattle + train plan sounds too complicated. They do have testing for a fee at MCO but you could also stay a night in florida and find a test there.

 

[lanejudy]

I think August is a long ways off, so much could change before then. Personally I'd wait to make those travel plans.

I highly doubt DCL will shift Alaska cruises to Seattle. Those berths are likely already spoken for. If Canada were to close the border again, DCL might need to cancel the Alaska cruises.

There is COVID testing available at MCO. If you will be debarking the Wish and flying to the west coast on the same day, you'll need to test at the airport. Or stay in FL for another night before flying west.

 

[tvguy]

Things are changing daily, so hard to say what the situation will be in 9 months. I would wait to book flights.

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

My parents are in the same "boat".

They booked a 7 day Alaska cruise out of Vancouver with a Canadian Rockies train tour for May 2022.

They booked their flights and hotel to Vancouver and now are seeing the articles about how Canada may not allow it by then and they'd have to switch to Seattle and would then not have the train portion.

Right now they are just in a holding pattern to see if there's an answer by their full payment due date which is some time in February otherwise they will probably end up cancelling as they don't want the stress.

Its hard to say what would be the best thing to do right now other than just book under the assumption that by August things will be back to normal.

 

[Colo17]

We generally fly into Seattle for Vancouver cruises and rent a car to Vancouver. Cheaper and easier to do than Vancouver. Bus is ok, although we didn't like taking all our luggage off the bus at the border. Train has never been timed right for us. Price out flights to both places, including car rental and bus/train but you have a few months before you need to book. Canada is just barely open now.

 

[allaboutthemouse]

We just changed our DCL Alaska in August to a Fantasy August sailing instead...too much uncertainty with testing (to get back and forth into Canada as of right now, two tests OOP times six people, restrictions, etc…we would be coming from the East Coast, would really suck if someone was asymptomatic positive at the port. The train from Seattle to Vancouver not running right now. Who knows when these things will be back? So many things, too much stress…this is a Christmas gift for the kids, so I wanted to make the decision now to give it to them for Christmas and actually be solid about what we were doing as much as I could control…it was a hard decision, because you know, Alaska!, but also a relief and now I feel like I can get excited for the Fantasy!

 

[disneyholic family]

My parents are in the same "boat".

They booked a 7 day Alaska cruise out of Vancouver with a Canadian Rockies train tour for May 2022.

They booked their flights and hotel to Vancouver and now are seeing the articles about how Canada may not allow it by then and they'd have to switch to Seattle and would then not have the train portion.

Right now they are just in a holding pattern to see if there's an answer by their full payment due date which is some time in February otherwise they will probably end up cancelling as they don't want the stress.

Its hard to say what would be the best thing to do right now other than just book under the assumption that by August things will be back to normal.

isn't it crazy that things are still so uncertain?
2 years ago when this all started, i was sure it would be over in a year.
We've already cancelled so many trips.

I bought the flights to the USA as the airline we're on offers full credit.
Actually, this was already a credit on a flight to LA in 2020 that was cancelled because of covid.
If we have to cancel again, they'll just give us a credit again.

But your parents are right. It is a lot of stress!!

 

[disneyholic family]

good to know there's a rapid covid testing place in MCO!!

 

[disneyholic family]

We just changed our DCL Alaska in August to a Fantasy August sailing instead...too much uncertainty with testing (to get back and forth into Canada as of right now, two tests OOP times six people, restrictions, etc…we would be coming from the East Coast, would really suck if someone was asymptomatic positive at the port. The train from Seattle to Vancouver not running right now. Who knows when these things will be back? So many things, too much stress…this is a Christmas gift for the kids, so I wanted to make the decision now to give it to them for Christmas and actually be solid about what we were doing as much as I could control…it was a hard decision, because you know, Alaska!, but also a relief and now I feel like I can get excited for the Fantasy!

we booked this when it opened, when it never crossed our minds that this would be the situation in 2022!!!

 

[Sykes]

While I'd personally wait to book flights, if it's important to you that you get flights locked down now just be sure to book the Orlando to Vancouver and Vancouver to LA bits with a US airline so you can change pretty easily if it swaps to Seattle. If you book with Air Canada then you'd be in much worse shape if you ended up needing to go to Seattle instead.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The waiver for the PVSA that allowed Alaska cruises to leave from Seattle without a Canada stop has expired. As a result, DCL cannot just move a cruise to Seattle. It requires an Act of Congress.

 

[Sykes]

It requires an Act of Congress.

Which is entirely possible. Canada is considering another international travel ban right now, and I guarantee that if the cruise lines want another PVSA exemption then they'll be able to get it without much difficulty.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Which is entirely possible. Canada is considering another international travel ban right now, and I guarantee that if the cruise lines want another PVSA exemption then they'll be able to get it without much difficulty.

The bill to make the AK bypass permanent is held up, however. Can't even get a committee hearing.

 

[bcwife76]

Which is entirely possible. Canada is considering another international travel ban right now, and I guarantee that if the cruise lines want another PVSA exemption then they'll be able to get it without much difficulty.

Today's announcement from the Federal Govt (Canada) is just putting back in place the "advisory" for CDN citizens to avoid non essential travel for the next 4 weeks. So nothing has really changed right now. This advisory was in place until they removed it mid Oct and many CDN citizens (my family included) still traveled outside of Canada and it was fine. I would just wait to decide a bit longer re:flights into YVR vs SEA.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I've booked our flights for June Alaska cruise. The airline I booked with will allow changes with no fees (or cancel and the fare I paid is held as a credit to be used for another flight later). It's the airline we almost always fly everywhere, so I would be able to use the credit at some point should the cruise get cancelled. If you cannot get a similar guarantee, I would not book yet, or I would get insurance that would cover this situation (not sure whether that's even possible though).

 

[tvguy]

The bill to make the AK bypass permanent is held up, however. Can't even get a committee hearing.

I'm not sure given current circumstances that this will even be a determining factor.

 

[o&smom]

We have the Wonder booked for August, 2022.
It's part of a larger vacation that includes WDW and a Disney Wish cruise.

We already have the flights to the USA booked (to get us to Orlando), but we haven't yet booked Orlando to Vancouver (and then Vancouver to LA).

I was about to book delta last night, when i stopped to read all the covid restrictions regarding entry into Canada (via plane, train and automobile).

I suddenly worried about booking a flight to Vancouver.
What if Canada again closes its door to tourists and Disney has to move its cruises back to Seattle.
We'll be in a pickle if our flights are to Vancouver.
Plus we're probably going to need a covid test to get into Canada, but we'll have just come off the Disney Wish, so we won't really have time to do it before the flight (unless it's available at MCO).

So i was thinking of flying into Seattle on Friday (after disembarking from the Wish).
Staying in Seattle Friday night (and hopefully finding a covid testing place there).
Then take a train or bus from Seattle to Vancouver on Saturday.
Tour around Vancouver on Sunday.
Then board the Wonder on Monday.

I know i'm overthinking, but maybe not.

Hey, Beth, Marni, here. We met on the Western Europe cruise. Happy to see you still planning Disney Cruises. Hope all goes well for you. Looks like we will just miss each other on the Wish. We are scheduled for July 8-11 and 11-15. Hope to see you on a cruise again some day! Wishing you and your family a great vacation.

 

[MomOTwins]

OP: not sure if you saw but final payments for cruises through September just got extended to 60 days before the cruise. Good news for us August Alaska cruisers! We now should be able to see what happens with the end of May Alaska cruises before being locked in to payment.

 

[soniam]

isn't it crazy that things are still so uncertain?
2 years ago when this all started, i was sure it would be over in a year.
We've already cancelled so many trips.

I bought the flights to the USA as the airline we're on offers full credit.
Actually, this was already a credit on a flight to LA in 2020 that was cancelled because of covid.
If we have to cancel again, they'll just give us a credit again.

But your parents are right. It is a lot of stress!!

It does seem illogical and surprising. However, if we look back to the Spanish Flu, it apparently took a few years, about 3 I think, to have it become "not a big deal". I know they didn't have vaccines, but with variants, not enough global vaccine uptake, and greater domestic and international travel, we are sort of in the same boat. Who would think that we would be in the same boat as people in the early 1900s, considering our great technological and health care advances