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

[jrabbit]

due to where you are staying - and that you are arriving several days before the cruise, I think that you will be FINE with your plan. The logistics seem to be very simple and therefor make the tour very doable.

Too bad you don't have someone that would be able to (like to) stay with the kids while you go on the tour. But the tour is kid friendly and what kid (or adult or any sane person really) wouldn't want to partake of the worlds BEST DOUGHNUT!!!

And you are right about too much downtime in the morning waiting to be able to board. In January we ended up having to wait for a couple of hours at the hotel because of morning fog (but nothing like the cruise before ours had to deal with) in Galveston. We stayed at the hotel until about noon. So we checked out and waited in the lobby. A bit boring after the hurry up - get up - get packed - then getting the "Oh Crap" e-mail / text from DCL ...)

 

[mmdreamer]

I live in Vancouver and go to Granville Island often. If you feel the tour would be too rushed, you could easily do it on your own. You can wander through the main market snacking along the way. For the cost of the tour, you could buy A LOT of Lee's donuts and yummy baked goods from Terra Breads or some great soup from The Stock Market. These are all located inside the main market which is great for just strolling around at your own pace stopping at booths that interest you. Along with food, there are arts and crafts booths in the main market as well as shops out in the Net Loft which is across from the entrance to the market. The kids would probably like to check out the Kids Market which is at the entrance to the island.

Granville Island is a very busy place and moving through the market with a larger group would take some time! I think you could easily see everything that you would on the tour and more in the same amount of time. If you get there by 9am or earlier, you could easily make your 12pm PAT and not feel rushed. You could have breakfast there and lunch on the ship.

Have a great time in Vancouver! I hope the weather is nice and sunny for you!

 

[Disneyfriend]

I live in Vancouver and go to Granville Island often. If you feel the tour would be too rushed, you could easily do it on your own. You can wander through the main market snacking along the way. For the cost of the tour, you could buy A LOT of Lee's donuts and yummy baked goods from Terra Breads or some great soup from The Stock Market. These are all located inside the main market which is great for just strolling around at your own pace stopping at booths that interest you. Along with food, there are arts and crafts booths in the main market as well as shops out in the Net Loft which is across from the entrance to the market. The kids would probably like to check out the Kids Market which is at the entrance to the island.

Granville Island is a very busy place and moving through the market with a larger group would take some time! I think you could easily see everything that you would on the tour and more in the same amount of time. If you get there by 9am or earlier, you could easily make your 12pm PAT and not feel rushed. You could have breakfast there and lunch on the ship.

Have a great time in Vancouver! I hope the weather is nice and sunny for you!

Thank you mmdreamer! I think touring on our own would be a good alternative!

What is the Kids Market, please?

Thanks for the good wishes. Hoping for sunshine too, but mostly just looking forward to visiting your beautiful city and getting to know it a bit.

 

[mmdreamer]

The Kids Market has a bunch of great toy stores that sell some very unique things for kids. This is a link to their website - http://kidsmarket.ca/#stores.

Granville Island is so easy to explore on your own and it will be far more relaxing if you know you can control what time you leave.

Another fun thing to do is take one of the False Creek Ferries from Granville Island over to David Lam Park or Yaletown. You will then be back on the downtown side of False Creek where you can catch a cab back to the cruise terminal. You would need to leave a bit of extra time to do that - probably 30 minutes.

http://www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca/mobile.html

It has been an extremely wet spring here, so hopefully it can only get better! I have heard weather predictions that the summer is going to be hot and dry.

 

[Disneyfriend]

The Kids Market has a bunch of great toy stores that sell some very unique things for kids. This is a link to their website - http://kidsmarket.ca/#stores.

Granville Island is so easy to explore on your own and it will be far more relaxing if you know you can control what time you leave.

Another fun thing to do is take one of the False Creek Ferries from Granville Island over to David Lam Park or Yaletown. You will then be back on the downtown side of False Creek where you can catch a cab back to the cruise terminal. You would need to leave a bit of extra time to do that - probably 30 minutes.

http://www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca/mobile.html

It has been an extremely wet spring here, so hopefully it can only get better! I have heard weather predictions that the summer is going to be hot and dry.

Oh, thank you so much for kindly posting the Kids' Market link. The virtual tour was very helpful! The market looks like a delightful place to wander and shop; I'm sure my children would love it.

Thanks again for your help and advice!

 

[bcwife76]

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

Sorry just saw this now (was in Vegas this past week, woohoo!) We are sailing two weeks after you, August 28th.