Alaska * May 24, 2011

I am so anxious to see the navigators and read reports of the first Alaska sailing.
Anyone else stressing on what to pack? I am!

Welcome aboard! I'm not too stressed about packing, but I am SOOOO anxious/excited to hear from other Alaskan cruisers and see their navigators! --Amy
 
I am so anxious to see the navigators and read reports of the first Alaska sailing.
Anyone else stressing on what to pack? I am!

I'm with you. I'm hoping the early April cruisers will post detailed reports before we leave so we know a little about what to expect. We've only done the 4 night Bahamas/CC cruise so this is all new to us.

We're lucky that we can just drive up the day of the cruise and don't have to worry (for once) about packing light for the airline weight limits. I've already made a preliminary packing list, but I keep adding to it. I keep thinking of more that I might want to bring as I read about the Alaskan weather and ports, but I figure as long as I remember a warm, waterproof coat, my camera and some binoculars it will be a great cruise.
 
We are staying at the Fairmont Pacific Rim the night before. It is so nice not to have to worry about suitcase. Our local airline still allows 2 pieces per person. Love it
 
Dawncala,
Thinking you are really near where I am. If we just pack for this weeks weather here, we should be good in 2 months there.

The first Alaska cruise is May 3rd, only 3 weeks before ours. I am truly hoping to learn more then.

I also repeat the offer for anyone driving from Seattle to Vancouver that is staying a few days to act as tourguide the weekend before the cruise.

In a weird twist of fate, a teacher at school for a unit on the Klondike Gold Rush had a family emergency so I am now teaching that class. I called up to Skayway to request a teacher packet and get some info- so I picked her brain.

We are planning about 4 hours just for visiting the National Park and doing the short walking tours in town.

The ranger I spoke to said that Mendenhall can be seen in an hour or you could spend all day there doing longer hikes.
Skye
 

ok heres the brush.. We waited too long to book the airline.. We though we were going to drive but the cost of gas and wear and tear on the car has ruled that out.. What I need is some info on the train or bus out of Seattle on the 23.. We can save quite a bit of moola by going by Southwest instead of to Vancouver.. Any help on this would deeply be appreciated..Thanks a bunch
James
 
www.amtrak.com
SEA to VAC
Seattle King Street Station to Vancouver, BC
Roundtrip per person no discounts for May 23rd (AAA has a small discount)

Northbound
By train $72 roundtrip each
Leaves at 7:40 am arrives 11:40 am (same next day as well)

or
Leaves 6:50 pm arrives 10:50 pm

by bus $80 roundtrip each
leaves 10:45 am arrives 2:15 pm

leaves 1pm arrives 5 pm

leaves 9:15 pm arrives 12:20 am next day

Southbound
Return options are by bus (fare higher to $80 each)
leave 11:30 arrive 3:30
leave 5:00 arrive 8:30

by Train
Leave 5:45 arrive 10:10

Why it takes longer by train- beautiful along the shore views both directions.

Southwest is known for on time arrivals here and is on the Satellite hub so your luggage will be waiting by the time you get to baggage.

You will need to take transport to get to the train or bus. I'll post that info next.
 
I told the system http://soundtransit.org you wanted to go from SEATAC and arrive at Amtrak- King Street station at 6pm
You can choose arrival or depart times. I based it on being there 45 minutes before train. You might need a different arrival time at the train station
The good thing about Seattle is there is a barista on every corner so while you are walking there are coffee stands everywhere.

This amtrak station has checked luggage so you might be able to do that and go get a coffee.

Allow 45 minutes to transfer this way
5:12 to 5:45 light rail $2.50 each
plus walking .3 miles to Amtrak

or 1 hour 10 minutes
4:49 to 5:15 bus 1
5:26 to 5:57 bus 2
to get to the train station $5.25 each

Hubby did the light rail bus this summer with no problem pulling his luggage.

No idea on cab fare.

What times are you looking at for flights coming in?

We haven't decided the drive versus take the train idea yet. Our train would actually cost more than yours and would be a much shorter ride.
I dread arriving in Vancouver at 11 pm at night, but also not fond of 11:40 am and then having to do customs. It really comes down to do I want to hotel it the night before or not. Of course I could do that anyway if we drive.

Maybe we go the night before by car, get checked in and run a DISboard minivan service to the hotel? Hmmm. where are you staying? We could do train station pickup up in Vancouver.
 
We are arriving in Seattle on the 22nd and are thinking about doing Amtrak. We want to see a few sights around town on the 22nd (my birthday....51 ) and 23rd Any Hotels that are near Amtrak and not too far from say the Pik Place Market ??????


Squid
 
http://www.downtownseattle.com/content/visitors/Tips.cfm

http://www.seattle.gov/html/citizen/maps_seattle.htm

For how to get there from the airport this gives a good explanation
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60878-s301/Seattle:Washington:Arriving.And.Departing.html
(note: the end of the Light Rail line(LINK) is at Westlake Center.

There are hotels at Westlake and it makes a great base of operations. (but they are not by Amtrak)

From Westlake you can walk 4 blocks to Pike Street Market to watch them throw the fish. Westlake itself is a shopping mall if you need any last minute clothes items.
DOwn a few more stairs and you are on the docks. The Seattle Aqurium is here. Local species makes it unique to others I have visited.

Also from Westlake you can take the monorail to the Seattle Center----Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Experience Music Project and the Duck Tour

Westlake is on the Northern edge of the free bus area in downtown.

How practical is it to take the free buses?
Without luggage, pretty easy. Enough that we go downtown on the commuter train for school fieldtrips with 65 plus kids and use the the buses.

From Westlake:
You can take free buses to Pioneer Square for the Underground Tour, Klondike Gold Rush National Park.

King Street Station is near this area. I would cab it from the hotel to Amtrak on account of the luggage.

There are Starbucks everywhere- the original starbucks is located here. Personally, being from the east coast I don't like Starbucks (:offtopic:) I find it very bitter. So I go to Tully's instead-- not as many but still good.


Favorite things to do:
North
Space Needle- only go up if the weather is clear. Beautiful vistas make it worth it.
Ride the Ducks- they give a great tour, even the locals like to do this one over again.
Pacific Science Center (kids)

Central
Pike Street Market- a must do, but not sure why, we always take out of towners there and they love it.

Pioneer Square
Underground Tour- kids and adults alike enjoy it. A lot of history presented in a way it is one of THE most requested field trips by the kids. A MUST DO. does involves stairs as it is all down one flight of stairs to Old Seattle

Klondike Gold Rush National Park-Seattle Unit much cooler than it sounds as a lot of the Gold rush really started here.

Things to skip:
Experience Music Project
unless you must see the guitar of some famous musician, skip it. It's a bit overpriced- I was glad I was there on field trip discount as even that was high.
One exception--you are a science fiction fan, then the free science fiction tv/movie museum makes it worthwhile.
Other exception- you have to see the outfits the Supremes wore.
Kids like the making music section and the broken guitar sculpture.
 
Okay on that site you can select hotels by area. I put in Pioneer square and two came up.

The Marriot would allow you to take light rail to within a block or two (downhill walk.)

Then you are only a few blocks from the Amtrak King Street Station

For those just taking Light rail to to Amtrak use the International District- Chinatown You are trhen about 2 blocks from King Street Station

Also from Westlake you could take the lightrail to that station as well and avoid the cab.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/SEAPS?scid=20110310t170101000002&pid=corptbta
Putting this link in as it shows the local of the train station, light rail(LINK), the M is the hotel. You can grab and move the map to go north to Westlake. Find the lightrail station, look for Pike Street and go west (Pike Street Market is at the end) DOwn the stairs is the Seattle Aquarium. There is elevator access, but you have to ask for directions.

Follow 4th ave as it heads north. It will take you to the Seattle Center (the gray shaded areas with the words Key Arena and McCaw Hall are labeled) This is where the Space Needle, The Duck Tours, Science Center etc are located, also an Imax Theatre.
 
:tinker:Hi everyone:mickeyjum
WE bit the bullet and booked our flight into Vancouver today.. We tried every way we could to really make it work but the times just were not there.. We are flying Air Canada into Toronto to change planes into Vancouver, then on the way back we go through San Francisco and change to Virgin Atlantic back To Dallas.. This works as the hotel we are at the night before has a shuttle from the airport and to the cruise terminal.. Afterwards we are hoping to stay at one of Disney's exchange resorts in Vancouver for 4 days afterwards but, I do have a backup hotel if they don't come through.. I want to thank everyone for their help in trying to get me straightened out.. I will update the list Manana . Doing pretty good after my surgery and started today with some real food but, only very small portions..:rotfl: Hope to be back up to speed by the cruise.. I saw someone on the Passporter web site today who is on the cruise and will invite them to the website as soon as I can..

Bye for now

James:sail::firefight
 
Hi Everyone:banana:
The never ending saga of the travel agency continues with them billing us twice on our account after we changed the time of our flight in San Francisco.. After 3 hours of wrangling with a call center in another country:offtopic:and my DW beyond mad due to tranfers with no answer from a superviser, I called them back and demanded to speak with a supervisor. It took me 5 minutes to be connected (don't figure):scared1:I explained what they had done charging me double plus charging againg for the insurance:scared1:The supervisor put me on hold for 10 minutes and when he returned he said the overcharge had been returned and they would also return the insurance money they charged extra too..:woohoo:Little late but at least I have some satisfaction:banana:.I am upgrading the list for everyone, and hope it is correct..:cheer2:

Here is the updated list..
1. jrp*DH- James-55*DW-D.Anne-50*30th Wedding Ann.*#7136*DVC*FE= Y
2. fireplug*DH-Steve-50's*DW-Coleen-50's
3. teemsum*DH-Alex*DW-Angela*7th Wedding Ann.
4. wilderness gal*Me-Karen*DM-
5. Mulljac*DW-JoAnne*DH-*DD-*DS-*DVC&30th Wedding Ann.*DD-College graduation.
6. Lori 1035*DW-Lori-46*DH-48*DD-21*DS-18-HS GRAD*DSF-18-HS GRAD*DMIL-BD*DFIL*DM*DSF
7. NWmom*DW-Skye-44*DH-Kevin(The great)=50*DS-Broderick-17*DD-Kitty/Katie-*9
8. Tearem*DW-*DH-*DD-8*10TH wedding ann.*
9. Schmoopiecat*35th Wedding Ann.
10. Amy Fran*DW-Amy*DH*Steve*DVC*6082
11. disnanny*DW-Retirement*DH-*DVC*#7528
12. Natlovesarielpiins*DW-Natalie-25*DH-Pedro-30
13. 2BNDisney*Blake-45
14. Christy May*DW-*DH-*DS-
15. Stitch Lover Sith*DW-*DM-*DS-*DG-
16. Dawncala*DW-*DH-*DD-12*DS-10
17. gonecrusin*DW-Susan-54*DH-John-54*DD-Emily- 21*DDBF-Lauren-20*35th Wedding Ann.*DVC
18. happyDSL*
19. Heard02*DW-35*DH-41*DD-5

If there are any more lurkers on here:laughing:just let me know and I will add you to our "Alaska 3 Hour tour cruise":boat:

Bye for now

James and D.Anne:dance3:
 
Hi Everyone,
I buzzed through the news so far on this thread and thought I'd stop lurking and introduce myself. I'm Gonecruisin's oldest daughter (and DH) and we'll be joining the fam and all of you aboard! I'm Stephanie - 26, will be celebrating my 27th birthday on the red-eye back on June 1 and DH Chris - 28. We live in Rochester, NY. This will be my fifth or sixth Disney Cruise and this will be the first Disney Cruise for DH Chris! I've been doing a lot of reading and research and can't wait for vacation!! Are we there yet? How about now? Now? 60-some days and counting!
S&C
 
We are getting so close to our cruise.... we have booked our
dog sled and zip line excursions.
Me- Christy 46
DH - Roy 51
DS- Justin 20
DD - Brandi 24

We just celebrated our 27 anniversary last week.
Our daughter will be celebrating her 24th birthday on the boat.
Looking forward to meeting everyone.
:cool1:
 
:cool1:Hi ALL
I see a coouple of newbies on here and want to say :welcome: I am adding you to the lsit:worship: of the "3 Hour Tour".. I think things will pick up on here now that we are getting closer to the appointed time:hourglass.

Here is the updated list..
1. jrp*DH- James-55*DW-D.Anne-50*30th Wedding Ann.*#7136*DVC*FE= Y
2. fireplug*DH-Steve-50's*DW-Coleen-50's
3. teemsum*DH-Alex*DW-Angela*7th Wedding Ann.
4. wilderness gal*Me-Karen*DM-
5. Mulljac*DW-JoAnne*DH-*DD-*DS-*DVC&30th Wedding Ann.*DD-College graduation.
6. Lori 1035*DW-Lori-46*DH-48*DD-21*DS-18-HS GRAD*DSF-18-HS GRAD*DMIL-BD*DFIL*DM*DSF
7. NWmom*DW-Skye-44*DH-Kevin(The great)=50*DS-Broderick-17*DD-Kitty/Katie-*9
8. Tearem*DW-*DH-*DD-8*10TH wedding ann.*
9. Schmoopiecat*35th Wedding Ann.
10. Amy Fran*DW-Amy*DH*Steve*DVC*6082
11. disnanny*DW-Retirement*DH-*DVC*#7528
12. Natlovesarielpiins*DW-Natalie-25*DH-Pedro-30
13. 2BNDisney*Blake-45
14. Christy May*DW-Christy-46*DH-Roy-51*DS-Justin-20*DD-Brandi-24
15. Stitch Lover Sith*DW-*DM-*DS-*DG-
16. Dawncala*DW-*DH-*DD-12*DS-10
17. gonecrusin*DW-Susan-54*DH-John-54*DD-Emily- 21*DDBF-Lauren-20*35th Wedding Ann.*DVC
18. happyDSL*
19. Heard02*DW-35*DH-41*DD-5
20. ChriStephanie*DW-Stephanie-26*DH-Chris-28

Thanks Everyone:thanks:

James:firefight
 
:yay::cheer2::dance3:

Not sure who is more excited and doing the cruise countdown

The kids or the parents
Skye
 
Hi jrp aka keeper of the Fish extender list,

I'm not sure if everyone on the DIS list is participating in the FE. Will you be cutting the list off at some time and confirming participation? I want to get started with my gifts but of course it will depend on the number how I am going to do this.

:confused3
 
I'm pretty much been lurking on this thread but as we get closer and closer the more excited I get! So yay! I am opening up! hahaha!
Anyone staying the night before in Vancouver? We booked the Pan Pacific so I think all we do is walk down and get on. Can't be easier than that I don't think.
I am so anxious to see the navigators and read reports of the first Alaska sailing.
Anyone else stressing on what to pack? I am!

Me-35
DH-41
DD-5
Layers and more layers. We were just in Disney last week and many of the DVC guides kept saying take layers. Fleece, sweatshirt and rain gear or something water repellent. We enjoyed the sun and 85 degrees everyday I started to question why I was going to Alaska.
 
Dawncala,
Thinking you are really near where I am. If we just pack for this weeks weather here, we should be good in 2 months there.

The first Alaska cruise is May 3rd, only 3 weeks before ours. I am truly hoping to learn more then.

I also repeat the offer for anyone driving from Seattle to Vancouver that is staying a few days to act as tourguide the weekend before the cruise.

In a weird twist of fate, a teacher at school for a unit on the Klondike Gold Rush had a family emergency so I am now teaching that class. I called up to Skayway to request a teacher packet and get some info- so I picked her brain.

We are planning about 4 hours just for visiting the National Park and doing the short walking tours in town.

The ranger I spoke to said that Mendenhall can be seen in an hour or you could spend all day there doing longer hikes.
Skye

We are flying into Seattle on Saturday and taking the Amtrak to Vancouver on Sunday morning we are staying at the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Sunday and Monday night. There are six of us (all adults 20's-50's) and this is our first trip to this part of Canada. If you don't mind I would love to talk about things to do, not to do and so on.
 

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