All about Alaska

[Luvzmy3boys]

Thanks for the advice! Did they not list the characters in the navigator? Or did they list them but you didn't realize they were in the special costumes?

They did not list the characters while at Tracy Arm. We never saw any and only saw one photographer on deck 10. We were all over the ship too but on our verandah drinking coffeeand hot chocolate for some of the time too. Oh well. Still was great! We'd love to go again someday.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

• As mentioned in my previous post... I hope you have your downtown hotels secured in June to minimize problems with FIFA.
• June 21st has Round 16 prelim Fifa Women's game in the nearby BC Place statium
  http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/organisation/ticketing/
  
• OMG.... Sunday June 21st is also CAR FREE day. You might want to plan for a Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge day to avoid downtown congestion! This is NOT a day to use the Hop On services.
• Any Greek cruisers? The Greeks celebrate Vancouver on that weekend. http://www.greekday.com/
• post cruise.... have you considered staying extra two or three days in Vancouver? The Olympic Cauldron will likely be lit and evening fireworks will fill the night around the cruise terminal for July 1st.

What is car free day? We are getting into Vancouver Friday afternoon. I was thinking of going to Granville Island that afternoon, Saturday touring around Stanley Park with hop on hop off and ?, and then Sunday going to Capilano and Grouse. Does this seem okay?

 

[xlxo]

Car free day is when a half dozen neighborhoods shut down arterial streets for a party! This creates crazy gridlock when people are trying to get around. Davie and Denman are typically the roads closed, but it also messes up adjacent roads like Burrard, Thurlow, Robson and Georgia. Don't have exact details for 2015 yet, just the date.
http://www.carfreevancouver.org/locations/west-end/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_Free_Day_Vancouver

Anyone who's been to Vancouver in recent years will notice countless bike lanes have been introduced downtown with turning restrictions. Cab drivers may look like they are long hauling you, but they are trying to stay legal. Don't get me started about the last Friday evening of each month known as Critical Mass... If you are a cyclist... come to Vancouver for the last Friday to really explore the city.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=critical+mass+vancouver&tbm=isch

Yes going to Capilano and Grouse on Sunday is your best strategy. Need to double-check the start of the road closures, otherwise.... hit the shuttles before lunch to avoid problems. Another Grouse strategy is to use the Seabus and public transit to get out of downtown.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Car free day is when a half dozen neighborhoods shut down arterial streets for a party! This creates crazy gridlock when people are trying to get around. Davie and Denman are typically the roads closed, but it also messes up adjacent roads like Burrard, Thurlow, Robson and Georgia. Don't have exact details for 2015 yet, just the date.
http://www.carfreevancouver.org/locations/west-end/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_Free_Day_Vancouver

Anyone who's been to Vancouver in recent years will notice countless bike lanes have been introduced downtown with turning restrictions. Cab drivers may look like they are long hauling you, but they are trying to stay legal. Don't get me started about the last Friday evening of each month known as Critical Mass... If you are a cyclist... come to Vancouver for the last Friday to really explore the city.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=critical+mass+vancouver&tbm=isch

Yes going to Capilano and Grouse on Sunday is your best strategy. Need to double-check the start of the road closures, otherwise.... hit the shuttles before lunch to avoid problems. Another Grouse strategy is to use the Seabus and public transit to get out of downtown.

Thank you! Sounds like that will be our Sunday.

 

[xlxo]

Waiting for official June dates of the annual "naked bike ride". Have your cameras ready while you are stuck in traffic.
https://www.facebook.com/YVR.WNBR

 

[KatieMill]

WOW! Great info xlxo! Had no idea about this and we arrive on June 20th. Knowing ahead of time will definitely help me plan and at least be aware of what's going on! LOVE these boards!

 

[jeffbear]

Which sailing in July? Vancouver has evening fireworks on select days you might want to check out.

We'll be arriving in Vancouver on July 26th ahead of a 27th departure and will likewise be spending an extra day in Vancouver on the return leg on August 3rd.

 

[xlxo]

We'll be arriving in Vancouver on July 26th ahead of a 27th departure and will likewise be spending an extra day in Vancouver on the return leg on August 3rd.

Can you get to Vancouver a day earlier? You are missing out on a massive downtown fireworks show on the Jul 25th evening!
http://hondacelebrationoflight.com/

 

[LJC1861]

My partner Lisa and I are on the June 22 sailing as well! Glad I found this thread with all the good info about the FIFA tournament and the Car Free day!

 

[sharksfinatic17]

We are going to be starting our vacation in Seattle, and then heading to Vancouver for several days before the cruise. My question is where would be the best city to purchase our alcohol for the cruise? Seattle or wait until Vancouver? We will be taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver.

 

[xlxo]

We are going to be starting our vacation in Seattle, and then heading to Vancouver for several days before the cruise. My question is where would be the best city to purchase our alcohol for the cruise? Seattle or wait until Vancouver? We will be taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver.

Hmmm....

• normally I would say to get it at the border duty free for best value as Canada charges the most for taxes. Not an option on the train.
• In Vancouver
  • public liquor stores will be best value compared to private
  • public "signature" liquor stores will offer best selection. Bute & Alberni is my preferred location.
  • I wonder if you can order alcohol to be delivered to the cruise terminal like you can on a plane on Alberni
  • there's attempts to get alcohol sales in grocery stores.... it may be limited and difficult to find...
    http://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-letting-grocery-stores-stock-wine-on-the-shelves-1.2156317
• I wonder how much alcohol can you bring across the train.... would non-Canadians be limited to one bottle?

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Hmmm....

• normally I would say to get it at the border duty free for best value as Canada charges the most for taxes. Not an option on the train.
• In Vancouver
  • public liquor stores will be best value compared to private
  • public "signature" liquor stores will offer best selection. Bute & Alberni is my preferred location.
  • I wonder if you can order alcohol to be delivered to the cruise terminal like you can on a plane on Alberni
  • there's attempts to get alcohol sales in grocery stores.... it may be limited and difficult to find...
    http://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-letting-grocery-stores-stock-wine-on-the-shelves-1.2156317
• I wonder how much alcohol can you bring across the train.... would non-Canadians be limited to one bottle?

I was hoping I could just bring it on the train. Oh, well. In my research it was recommended to go to the Harbour Centre and go to the government liquor store. I see there is a BC Liquor store there. We are staying at the Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver Harbourfront (use to be the Renaissance). I checked and there is Bute Alberni downtown. So I guess I will just need to figure out which one is closer.

 

[xlxo]

I assume they will allow one bottle or a pack on the train to cross the border. But check the train's policy.

Bute@Alberni is also a government liquor store. The "signature" status means the store is bigger with more selection and same prices. I recommend going there and explore the Robson restaurants too!

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Bute@Alberni is also a government liquor store. The "signature" status means the store is bigger with more selection. I recommend going there and explore the Robson restaurants too!

We are going to have to eat, so that sounds like a plan. Thanks! I checked out walking directions and see that it is a pretty quick walk to Bute, so a win/win. Thanks!

 

[jeffbear]

Can you get to Vancouver a day earlier? You are missing out on a massive downtown fireworks show on the Jul 25th evening!
http://hondacelebrationoflight.com/

Yeah ... I was actually aware of that but we can't due to family obligations that weekend. You can only do what you can do ... shrug.