Alaska on July 19th, 2011 "Where a good tan is hard to find"

[Schachteles]

Darn, I didn't think to ask when I was on the phone! I'll add that to my list of things to look into next time I call.

I know it is close to the port, but probably too far to walk with luggage. Now that I think of it, does anyone know for sure that we will be leaving from Canada Place, and not the farther port?

Do they allow you to leave your car there while we are on the cruise?

 

[mouseclick1]

Do they allow you to leave your car there while we are on the cruise?

Sorry, I don't know the answer to that either! Since we are only going for two nights, we don't plan on renting a car.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Has anyone looked into Amtrak?

DW is checking into that and thinks it would be fun....not sure that I agree about 28 hours on a train being fun, but I've been wrong before.

 

[Schachteles]

Has anyone looked into Amtrak?

DW is checking into that and thinks it would be fun....not sure that I agree about 28 hours on a train being fun, but I've been wrong before.

Yeah I think I am going to side with you on this one Tom, there is NO way!!

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

It is pretty cheap though....unless you want a room in the sleeper car. I guess I could sleep sitting up.

 

[Schachteles]

It is pretty cheap though....unless you want a room in the sleeper car. I guess I could sleep sitting up.

I guess

 

["Got Disney"]

It is pretty cheap though....unless you want a room in the sleeper car. I guess I could sleep sitting up.

tell me it isnt so....you will be on a train for 28 hrs and not have a sleeperare you crazy...Um wait.....never mind


We are still planning on flying....we are hating spending what will be around $500+ each for Round trip from San Diego...but all the other options just seem like to much work.....it's not so much the traveling before the cruise....its after the cruise that I dont want to drive or get on a 28 hr train back.....YUCK! so for us I guess as much as spending over $2000 makes me cringe and cringe it does......the simpleness of it makes it worth every penny. Mostly heading into another country.

so Tom.......28 hrs ha.....my prayers are with you ...and your a better man than I am a woman

 

[Schachteles]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";37601886]tell me it isnt so....you will be on a train for 28 hrs and not have a sleeperare you crazy...Um wait.....never mind


We are still planning on flying....we are hating spending what will be around $500+ each for Round trip from San Diego...but all the other options just seem like to much work.....it's not so much the traveling before the cruise....its after the cruise that I dont want to drive or get on a 28 hr train back.....YUCK! so for us I guess as much as spending over $2000 makes me cringe and cringe it does......the simpleness of it makes it worth every penny. Mostly heading into another country.

so Tom.......28 hrs ha.....my prayers are with you ...and your a better man than I am a woman[/QUOTE]

LOL

 

[Schachteles]

Hope that everyone has an AWESOME weekend, we are going to be tiling our backsplash...fun stuff!

 

[MrsG]

Hi,

Just back from the Baltic and had a fabulous time. Now we can concentrate on our fabulous Alaska trip!!!! Does anyone know if there are any hotels we can use our DVC points in, either in Vancouver or Seattle. We're thinking of doing Seattle and then a few days in Vancouver for a few days before the cruise.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Hi,

Just back from the Baltic and had a fabulous time. Now we can concentrate on our fabulous Alaska trip!!!! Does anyone know if there are any hotels we can use our DVC points in, either in Vancouver or Seattle. We're thinking of doing Seattle and then a few days in Vancouver for a few days before the cruise.

Welcome back!!

 

["Got Disney"]

Hi,

Just back from the Baltic and had a fabulous time. Now we can concentrate on our fabulous Alaska trip!!!! Does anyone know if there are any hotels we can use our DVC points in, either in Vancouver or Seattle. We're thinking of doing Seattle and then a few days in Vancouver for a few days before the cruise.

Welcome back! last I checked this was available but may have changed.....also it was depending on availability....

Club Intrawest ; Vancouver Resort

 

["Got Disney"]

Thought this might be helpfull for those that are flying into Seattle and getting into Vancouver.....

The many ways to travel between Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver, B.C.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008116402_trthreecities17.html

From Seattle to Vancouver, B.C.

You'll need some kind of wheels to get between the two cities — car, train or bus. You could fly from Sea-Tac Airport, but that can end up taking longer, and cost much more than driving or taking the train.

Driving

It's a straight shot north on Interstate 5 to the U.S.-Canada border at the Peace Arch at Blaine and then onward to Vancouver on Highway 99. Driving time is about three hours, more if the border is congested (as it often is on weekends).

Signs on the highways near the border give wait times. If the main crossing at the Peace Arch is busy, head to the nearby Pacific Highway border crossing (also called the Truck Crossing but open to all vehicles) just a few minutes drive east. The turnoffs are clearly marked on both sides of the border (State Route 543 on the Washington side; Highway 15 in B.C.)

Another option is the border crossing to the east at Lynden on State Route 539, also called Guide Meridian Road (Aldergrove and Highway 13 on the B.C. side). Get more border-crossing information, including wait times and Webcams, at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/border/

Train

Amtrak has two round-trip trains a day between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. It's a scenic ride, with long stretches along waterfront, that takes about four hours. Get information and make reservations at www.amtrakcascades.com or phone 800-872-7245.

Bus

QuickShuttle goes from Sea-Tac Airport and downtown Seattle to various Vancouver stops, including the airport, downtown hotels and cruise-ship dock: www.quickshuttle.com or 800-665-2122. Greyhound offers about four round trips daily between the two cities, www.greyhound.com or 800-231-2222.

Bus travel time is about 3 ½ to four hours each way, depending on the number of stops and border congestion. (Buses between Seattle and Vancouver can be booked through Amtrak at www.amtrak.com.)

 

["Got Disney"]

I posted this on the Vancouver thread and thought I would share it here just incase some of you are looking into doing this...

I have read that a lot of folks on here are planning on taking the train from Seattle (SEATAC) into Vancouver.....when I called I found out that the train only has 2 times....Airport is about 15 minutes away...fair is $118 i...or $70 if book early...this is round trip price.


LEAVING:
Leaving Seattle at 7:40am arriving Vancouver at 11:40am
Leaving Seattle at 6:50 pm arriving Vancouver 10:50pm

RETURNING:

Vancouver to Seattle at 6:40am arriving 11:05
Vancouver to Seattle at 5:45pm arriving 10:10pm

The reason for only 2 times is because they have the buses running in between...

Bus from Amtrax: 37.50 each way

leaving Seattle at 10:45am arrive at 2:15
1:00 pm arrive 5:00pm
4:45pm arrive 8:00pm

Leaving Vancouver 5:30am-9am
8:00-12:00pm
11:30am-3:30(cant remember if this time was am or pm)


The bus/train is approx. 4 hr ride.

1-800-872-7245....can get both train and Bus info at this number.

The train time makes it hard to catch the day of the cruise and the bus well....catching the bus the day of could be very risky....and with the train coming back well we disembark at around 8-9am...so the 6:40 am is out so you will have to wait for the 5:45pm and your flight will have to be at around midnight cause you wont get to the station till 10:10pm and than you need to still get to the airport from there.....

My flights from San Diego are around $500 each into Vancouver and back...into Seattle it is around $350...but what was even more interesting is that if we fly from San Diego to Seattle than to Bellingham, the round trip price is $175 for all the flights.....and still getting there faster than it would take on most of the flights...go figure

To take the train from Bellingham it is 2 hrs into Vancouver and leaves at 9:49 arriving at 11:40...and from Vancouver to Bellingham is 8:58pm arriving 10:50pm...the train is 8 miles from the airport.

Its a lot of work but check to see the price from where you live into Bellingham....I went when i saw that it was only $170 just to fly one more plane for a 40 minute flight.

 

[MrsG]

Thanks for the welcome back. It is good to be home.


Robin, you are the best! Thanks for the great info!!!!!

 

[MrsG]

Has anyone considered staying in Victoria? I see there is an nightly exchange through RCI if staying on points.

 

["Got Disney"]

Has anyone considered staying in Victoria? I see there is an nightly exchange through RCI if staying on points.

My wittle head hurts from all this planning to get to and from.....Its great that they are sailing out of Canada cause am looking forward to seeing the city and heading up to Whistler....however, it would have saved many many folks a lot of headaches if they had just sailed out of Seattle or somewhere like that in the upper North west


Heck if they sailed out of LA life would have been a box of chocolates ...they could have made it a 10 day cruise and also folks could have flown out here and did DL at the same time...ahhhhhhhhhh only if

 

[manascarfan]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";37659929]My wittle head hurts from all this planning to get to and from.....Its great that they are sailing out of Canada cause am looking forward to seeing the city and heading up to Whistler....however, it would have saved many many folks a lot of headaches if they had just sailed out of Seattle or somewhere like that in the upper North west


Heck if they sailed out of LA life would have been a box of chocolates ...they could have made it a 10 day cruise and also folks could have flown out here and did DL at the same time...ahhhhhhhhhh only if [/QUOTE]

I agree, it would have been so much easier! I haven't gotten to the planning for overnights yet, I still have to figure out our Feb cruise on the "Dream" plans. Maybe I should start!

 

[manascarfan]

Well I do believe it is time!

 

[manascarfan]

How about a