Alaska cruise: Is a 1:30 PAT too late?

[Disneyfriend]

We (myself, DH, kids 9 and 11) are new to Disney cruising, Alaska, and Vancouver . . . super excited and trying to squeeze a ton in without overdoing it.

We're staying in Vancouver for several days ahead of time, but still had a tough time fitting in everything we wanted to do. Just checked in for our cruise, and I couldn't get a PAT until 12:00.

This got me thinking that maybe we could fit in one of the Granville Island Market tours I had been wanting to do. The actual tour is 10:30-12:30, but with transportation and luggage retrieval, it would mean getting to Canada Place around 1:15-1:30 pm on embarkation day.

Is that too late? We don't have major dining changes we need to do. What are the possible disadvantages of starting the check in process that late?

ps - our tour is a food tour, so missing lunch on the ship that day is a non-issue.

Thanks!

 

[Geomom]

I don't see any disadvantages as you're already having food on your tour, and can just do quick service items on the ship if you're hungry before dinner. The lines will be gone by 12:30PM or so. If you board the ship at 1:30PM or after, your room should be ready and you can drop your carry on bags right there.

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts....

• if you are trying get to the welcome lunch trough that closes at 1:30pm... you will be missing that meal that you paid for.
• some have suggested arriving at 2pm or later to avoid the lunch hour terminal congestion when most people arrive. Just don't miss the mustard drill.

 

[jrabbit]

Sounds like a good plan to me.

I have heard that at times - the port can get very busy - depending upon how many ships are unloading / loading that day.

here is a link to the Cruise Ship Port Schedule for Vancouver. Well actually you will have to click on the cruise schedule link on this page - because the Wonder is shown in port on the page and ....

I took a quick look and there are several times when there will be 2 other ships along with the Wonder. Quite a few time just one other ship and sometimes just the Wonder.

I know that there was another thread this year about the boarding process (maybe it was the "Explain it to me like I was a 5 year old" thread). More info there.

 

[bcwife76]

If you're already eating on that tour then you don't have to worry about the lunch on board. You will sail through check in. Sounds like a win-win to me!

 

[bcwife76]

Thoughts....

• if you are trying get to the welcome lunch trough that closes at 1:30pm... you will be missing that meal that you paid for.
• some have suggested arriving at 2pm or later to avoid the lunch hour terminal congestion when most people arrive. Just don't miss the mustard drill.

Well if they do, they can always catch the Ketchup drill ;-)

Sorry, couldn't resist lol

 

[dcassetta]

We (myself, DH, kids 9 and 11) are new to Disney cruising, Alaska, and Vancouver . . . super excited and trying to squeeze a ton in without overdoing it.

We're staying in Vancouver for several days ahead of time, but still had a tough time fitting in everything we wanted to do. Just checked in for our cruise, and I couldn't get a PAT until 12:00.

This got me thinking that maybe we could fit in one of the Granville Island Market tours I had been wanting to do. The actual tour is 10:30-12:30, but with transportation and luggage retrieval, it would means getting to Canada Place around 1:15-1:30 pm on embarkation day.

Is that too late? We don't have major dining changes we need to do. What are the possible disadvantages of starting the check in process that late?

ps - our tour is a food tour, so missing lunch on the ship that day is a non-issue.

Thanks!

That sounds like a great tour. A 1:30 arrival will be fine.

 

[Dug720]

Well if they do, they can always catch the Ketchup drill ;-)

Sorry, couldn't resist lol

I was about ready to search for a picture of a "Mustard Drill". I'm sure someone has made one by now.

Along with Stewart - the cabin host who seems to be on every single ship!!!

 

[Dug720]

Yup.

 

[Disneyfriend]

dp

 

[Disneyfriend]

Oh thank you . . . you all are making me feel much better!

In case anyone is interested, this is the tour I am considering:

http://foodietours.ca/tour/granville-island-market-tour/

We stumbled upon a San Francisco food tour a few years ago, and discovered that food tours are a GREAT way to get to know a new city. This company gets excellent reviews. (not that I'm affiliated with them in any way.)

 

[amberwc]

We had a late PAT last year, it was so easy NO LINES. We were prepared for the worst and walked right through everything; we went straight to our room; kids went straight to check out the kids club. It was great. Enjoy your tour and your trip!

 

[bcwife76]

Oh thank you . . . you all are making me feel much better!

In case anyone is interested, this is the tour I am considering:

http://foodietours.ca/tour/granville-island-market-tour/

We stumbled upon a San Francisco food tour a few years ago, and discovered that food tours are a GREAT way to get to know a new city. This company gets excellent reviews. (not that I'm affiliated with them in any way.)

Dude, I LIVE here and I've never done this tour! And it looks fantastic so yes do it!! And thank you, now I might take my family downtown to do it this summer lol Or maybe we will do it before OUR Alaskan DCL cruise at the end of August ;-)

 

[Pens Fan]

That tour looks like fun! Thanks for the link. We may have to check that out this summer. As for your plan for a later PAT, go for it. Honestly I think the whole "get there as early as possible" thing is over rated. By the time you get to the port, the lines will be gone, you can check right in, and your cabin will probably be ready. Enjoy!

 

[TestingH2O]

That tour looks amazing! We did something similar in Falmouth on our spring break cruise and had a great time. Please write back with a review!

 

[Disneyfriend]

Dude, I LIVE here and I've never done this tour! And it looks fantastic so yes do it!! And thank you, now I might take my family downtown to do it this summer lol Or maybe we will do it before OUR Alaskan DCL cruise at the end of August ;-)

Oh how fun! It does look like fun, doesn't it? Hope your cruise is wonderful as well!

 

[Disneyfriend]

That tour looks like fun! Thanks for the link. We may have to check that out this summer. As for your plan for a later PAT, go for it. Honestly I think the whole "get there as early as possible" thing is over rated. By the time you get to the port, the lines will be gone, you can check right in, and your cabin will probably be ready. Enjoy!

Thank you for the encouragement! I honestly wasn't sure if I might be missing something about the importance of getting there early. I've cruised just once many years ago, and I was still under my parents' roof and not worrying about logistics.

 

[monkeybird]

Which sailing are you on, @bcwife76 ? We're on 08/14.

 

[Racer X]

I guess im going to play devils advocate... depending on the ages in your party i could see a lot of rushing and worrying about getting back, etc. These cruises are mucho expensive! Why not get on the ship and enjoy and relax? I am always being accused of being "the one more thing guy" to the point where you are rushing so much your aren't living. Like i said, just had to bring some "yang" to the discussion. Have fun with whatever your decide.

PS: Just re-read your initial post with ages... Nope... not for me... the kids are going to be exhausted before you even get on board not to mention yourselves. You already said your going to be there a few days... don't be that "one more thing" person.

 

[Disneyfriend]

I guess im going to play devils advocate... depending on the ages in your party i could see a lot of rushing and worrying about getting back, etc. These cruises are mucho expensive! Why not get on the ship and enjoy and relax? I am always being accused of being "the one more thing guy" to the point where you are rushing so much your aren't living. Like i said, just had to bring some "yang" to the discussion. Have fun with whatever your decide.

PS: Just re-read your initial post with ages... Nope... not for me... the kids are going to be exhausted before you even get on board not to mention yourselves. You already said your going to be there a few days... don't be that "one more thing" person.

RacerX, thank you for your thoughtful reply. I definitely think you bring up some valid concerns - and appreciate you taking the time to give me a "devil's advocate" point of view. Ha, you're right - I do tend to be the "one more thing" person in our family!!

That's what is awesome about the DISboards . . . people who get it and help each other figure out these kinds of issues. When I first joined these boards, back in 2001, I was trying to figure out our first WDW trip - and these boards have been an invaluable resource for our many WDW trips over the years. Now trying to figure out a completely different trip, and am once again the compete newbie.

If anyone has any additional thoughts or input for me, here's some more details:

We are staying at the Fairmont Waterfront, across the street. We can get bell services to pick up our tagged luggage the morning we leave, and the next time we'll see it is on the ship. (Just confirmed this with the Fairmont yesterday.) So I figured we'd pack up, get our luggage picked up around 9 that morning (not crazy early), get bell services to hold our carry-ons, and take a taxi to Granville Island. Maybe leave the hotel around 9:30 to be extra safe.

We'll do the tour from 10:30-12:30, take a taxi back and arrive around 1 pm. Retrieve our carry-ons from bell services, and walk across the street to the cruise terminal. We should easily be inside no later than 1:30 pm.

Admittedly, that would be getting to the terminal maybe 60-90 minutes after I'd originally wanted to. The trade off would be getting to take the tour and see Granville Island.

Alternatively, we would have a super leisurely morning at the hotel, probably eating a nice breakfast at the hotel. We could see Fly Over Canada and wait for our noon PAT. I think we'd end up getting antsy and showing up at the terminal very early, probably standing in line and waiting quite a bit as a result.

Grrrr, I think option #1 (taking the tour) is a little too rushed/over scheduled. And I feel like option #2 (killing time at our hotel most of the morning) is a little too low-speed. I know I'm probably over thinking this.