August 26, 2013 - Mickey Mouse, Midnight Sun & Whales!

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Hello everyone!

I'll start this out by saying there is a chance that I won't make this cruise as I do have the previous week (8/19/13) booked, so this would be the second half of a B2B.

However in looking, I noticed there was one of the "secret verandas" available so I moved a dummy booking. With the OBC and discount from an OBB, it made it quite tempting! Especially since I will be coming from the southeast US, I thought it might make that airfare more worthwhile. (don't I have great rational thinking? )

Is anyone else on this cruise?

 

[son3disfan]

Woohoo!
Let the thread begin!

I can't wait for this cruise!


I am overwhelmed with all the info I DON'T know....
This cruise is going to require TONS of research.
Good thing we have over 16 months to plan!

 

[son3disfan]

Phantomsgirl...

I hear you on the airfare!
We are from Canada and its looking like close to $3000.00 for airfare for us ( party of 5) and that's a domestic flight! Over Half the price of the cruise!

Might need to look into flying from Buffalo to Seattle, then taking a train or bus to Vancouver.
Like I said...tons of research needed for this trip!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

USEFUL INFORMATION LINKS:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2283011 Vancouver FAQ Thread. (Long but full of great information - a must read)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2509915 Older, but still very useful thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2901147 Cruising Alaska - Must Haves/Do

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2723087 Alaska Excursions - Post Your Reviews

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2905629 Camera for Alaska Cruise

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2904687 Binoculars for Alaskan Cruise

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I just posted the links that I put in the prior week's Meet Thread. The first one, The Vancouver FAQ Thread is especially worthwhile reading. It's very long - it took me several days to read it. Made my head spin with all the information, but well worth it!

I haven't yet decided where I will fly into - Seattle or Vancouver. It would be easier to go directly to Vancouver, but when they do release the airfares, I'll see what the difference will be. I am going solo, so the expense for airfare is just me. Nice for that, but of course I get stuck with the single supplement on the cruise...

In the meantime, I did add DCL air. I wanted that option just in case. That option was $855, but included airport transfers. The fly in a day early option wasn't available yet, but I will change it when it is. I can cancel the DCL air up to 75 days in advance. By then I'll know what other fares are like. I think ALL airlines charge for bags now with international flights, so that is a bummer.

I am not sure if Seattle will end up being cheaper, as since I am coming from Florida, I am not sure whether I'd end up needing to stay overnight in Seattle. I will NOT come into Vancouver on the day of the cruise, so there would be another hotel cost.

Still lots of time to decide, and hopefully by then we'll have more people on here to share info with.

Anyway, glad to have the party started!

 

[son3disfan]

Great links! Thanks for posting!

 

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

Have a great cruise!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Woo-hoo! We are "official"!

Now we just need a bunch more ready to sail with us.

 

[Donna3271]

Hi,
Just got off a 5 night Dream today, and booked this one!!! So excited!!! Booked the half plexi-half metal room on deck 8 and saved a bundle!!! I took a chance on the price not going up, and waited to book this onboard!!! Price was the same as opening day! So happy!!! There are 5 of us. Me, DH, DD's will be almost 8, and DS who will be almost 12.

 

[Donna3271]

I just posted the links that I put in the prior week's Meet Thread. The first one, The Vancouver FAQ Thread is especially worthwhile reading. It's very long - it took me several days to read it. Made my head spin with all the information, but well worth it!

I haven't yet decided where I will fly into - Seattle or Vancouver. It would be easier to go directly to Vancouver, but when they do release the airfares, I'll see what the difference will be. I am going solo, so the expense for airfare is just me. Nice for that, but of course I get stuck with the single supplement on the cruise...

In the meantime, I did add DCL air. I wanted that option just in case. That option was $855, but included airport transfers. The fly in a day early option wasn't available yet, but I will change it when it is. I can cancel the DCL air up to 75 days in advance. By then I'll know what other fares are like. I think ALL airlines charge for bags now with international flights, so that is a bummer.

I am not sure if Seattle will end up being cheaper, as since I am coming from Florida, I am not sure whether I'd end up needing to stay overnight in Seattle. I will NOT come into Vancouver on the day of the cruise, so there would be another hotel cost.

Still lots of time to decide, and hopefully by then we'll have more people on here to share info with.

Anyway, glad to have the party started!

ThePhantomsGirl,
You're a CUTIE!!! Check out Air Canada. We are flying in from the NYC metro area, and the fare (using dummy dates) is not that much more than to fly to Seattle (don't know about FLA). We TOTALLY AGREE! We are not flying in day of cruise. We want to explore Vancouver, and perhaps check out Grouse Mountain. WHOO HOO!! Thanks for starting thread!!!

 

[son3disfan]

Hi,
Just got off a 5 night Dream today, and booked this one!!! So excited!!! Booked the half plexi-half metal room on deck 8 and saved a bundle!!! I took a chance on the price not going up, and waited to book this onboard!!! Price was the same as opening day! So happy!!! There are 5 of us. Me, DH, DD's will be almost 8, and DS who will be almost 12.

Welcome!

We are a party of 5 as well, but with three teen boys, 16, 14 and 12, so we booked 2 inside rooms . The thought of sharing a family stateroom with them.......

A balcony is very tempting though.
But for $1800 more( that's just for ONE room) we just couldn't do it.
we opted to use that money for some really cool excursions.
Maybe we will try to upgrade at he port!

How did you enjoy the Dream?

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Ah...the Dream. Beautiful ship, but I found I really prefer the classic ships. There just were too many people. It may have been, too, that I found a 3 day much too rushed.

Was it less hectic on a 5 day?

I am going on the Fantasy in 18 days, and that one is a 7 day cruise, so I'll see how I feel.

Anyway, welcome to our humble thread!

 

[son3disfan]

ThePhantomsGirl,
You're a CUTIE!!! Check out Air Canada. We are flying in from the NYC metro area, and the fare (using dummy dates) is not that much more than to fly to Seattle (don't know about FLA). We TOTALLY AGREE! We are not flying in day of cruise. We want to explore Vancouver, and perhaps check out Grouse Mountain. WHOO HOO!! Thanks for starting thread!!!

I wanted to add that flights in Canada do not include a RIDICULOUS amount of tax in their listed price....
So a flight listed at $239 each way is actually closer to $700 round trip!
That is why so many of us Cannucks travel to Buffalo or Detroit !
But, by the time you pay for some sort of shuttle, or bus service from Seatle ( for a family of 5) plus hotels...it might work out to be the same as flying from Canada.
We are hoping to spend a few days in Vancouver as well!
So looking forward to this cruise!

 

[Donna3271]

Ah...the Dream. Beautiful ship, but I found I really prefer the classic ships. There just were too many people. It may have been, too, that I found a 3 day much too rushed.

Was it less hectic on a 5 day?

I am going on the Fantasy in 18 days, and that one is a 7 day cruise, so I'll see how I feel.

Anyway, welcome to our humble thread!

TPG,
I agree!!! I prefer the classic ships as well. It was HUGE!! We were in room 10582, and the SCREETCHING of the deck chairs from 3:30 to 4 am every night was atrocious! It must have been the scheduled cleaning time for that area. 5 nights is rushed, and too short. I am looking forward to the Wonder again. It will be our 5th, so I may squeeze on in before so I can wear the Gold lanyard in Alaska (LOL!!!) I may do the Fanatasy in Nov. You have to fill us in on your trip!!!also agree... too many people. My husband likened it to a cattle call.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I'm going to try and do a trip report (and maybe even finish it this time) I looked up my 2007 TR as someone had questions about the Tullum Ruins tour and noticed I never did finish the report - LOL)

Anyway, just 13 days until my cruise, so I'll let everyone know what I think of the Fantasy. I am hearing that they are much better organized and ready than they were for the Dream's MV and first few cruises.

 

[Donna3271]

I'm going to try and do a trip report (and maybe even finish it this time) I looked up my 2007 TR as someone had questions about the Tullum Ruins tour and noticed I never did finish the report - LOL)

Anyway, just 13 days until my cruise, so I'll let everyone know what I think of the Fantasy. I am hearing that they are much better organized and ready than they were for the Dream's MV and first few cruises.

TPG,
Great! Looking forward to it! Let us know about the new water areas (e.g. satellite falls, etc..)

p.s. My daughter got attacked by red ants at Tulum!!

 

[Donna3271]

I wanted to add that flights in Canada do not include a RIDICULOUS amount of tax in their listed price....
So a flight listed at $239 each way is actually closer to $700 round trip!
That is why so many of us Cannucks travel to Buffalo or Detroit !
But, by the time you pay for some sort of shuttle, or bus service from Seatle ( for a family of 5) plus hotels...it might work out to be the same as flying from Canada.
We are hoping to spend a few days in Vancouver as well!
So looking forward to this cruise!

Ugh!!! I know! Those pesky taxes!!! It may be a hassle for us to do the light rail from Seattle. We will prob. just fly into Vancouver a couple of days before.

 

[son3disfan]

Ugh!!! I know! Those pesky taxes!!! It may be a hassle for us to do the light rail from Seattle. We will prob. just fly into Vancouver a couple of days before.

I am thinking the same.....
I checked out some prices for a family of 5 by train or bus, from Seatle airport to Vancouver port....and it's about $350 roundtrip. Plus a Seatle hotel ,Vancouver hotel, food, and the hassle of it all...
Who knows at this point.

We want to spend a few days in Vancouver as well.

Did you know that it is actually cheaper to fly from buffalo , ny to Vancouver, then it is to fly through Canada? ( Toronto or hamilton, Ontario)
I priced out air Canada and West jet for our dates , but for This year.

Maybe booking ahead is the key, although westjet had some last minute deals....

 

[Donna3271]

I am thinking the same.....
I checked out some prices for a family of 5 by train or bus, from Seatle airport to Vancouver port....and it's about $350 roundtrip. Plus a Seatle hotel ,Vancouver hotel, food, and the hassle of it all...
Who knows at this point.

We want to spend a few days in Vancouver as well.

Did you know that it is actually cheaper to fly from buffalo , ny to Vancouver, then it is to fly through Canada? ( Toronto or hamilton, Ontario)
I priced out air Canada and West jet for our dates , but for This year.

Maybe booking ahead is the key, although westjet had some last minute deals....

WOW! That's crazy! I can't believe it costs LESS than an international flight! Air Canada had some decent fares about a month or 2 ago, and now it went through the roof. Cathay Pacific has a really cheap price out of JFK (NYC) that is $332 plus tax (about $90 more), but the problem is that it is an overnight flight. My kids are going to be so cranky!!!

LOL!!! I'm doing the same thing! Pricing this years dates too!!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I've been looking at the prices this year too. So far from MCO (Orlando) I've seen around $650 to $700. Of course then there are the pesky baggage fees as most international flights charge for every checked bag. With the transfers, at this point, DCL air is looking more favorable. But we are so far out that this may well change.