"DCL Klondike Kruisers" - August 23, 2011

[ME Steamboat Willie]

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1186

Cruise critic will be checking out some Disney excursions!!

Thanks for the link. I like what they have so far. Just wish the temp would get above 60 Degrees in Skagway. I have been following the temp all summer and did not see a day that it went above 60.

 

[smeecanada]

Thanks for the link. I like what they have so far. Just wish the temp would get above 60 Degrees in Skagway. I have been following the temp all summer and did not see a day that it went above 60.

We were there during the second week of August last year. The weather was similar to Vancouver/Victoria temps during the day when we were there. We actually had better weather in Alaska that what they had in Vancouver that week. Don't know the exact temps, but all we took with us were fleece jackets and sweatshirts. You definitely need layers if you are going near the glaciers and out on deck when we are going to Tracy Arm.

 

[HAPPY-AT-DISNEY]

I booked the hotel,,,going to the pan pacific..seems t be a nice place and close to everythng..got a great rate on line..used aaa discount..flying in sat.. now i just have to pick out the tours for vancouver..thinking of going to victoria also..cnt wait..
going to wdw end of this mnth, it is the food and wine festival at epcot..
take care
joanie

 

[Mozart]

I booked the hotel,,,going to the pan pacific..seems t be a nice place and close to everythng..got a great rate on line..used aaa discount..flying in sat.. now i just have to pick out the tours for vancouver..thinking of going to victoria also..cnt wait..
going to wdw end of this mnth, it is the food and wine festival at epcot..
take care
joanie

We're staying at the Pan Pacific too. Flying in on Saturday. Couldn't decide between there and the Fairmont Waterfront, but the fact the Pan Pacific is less of a walk from the pier (from what we can tell) did it for us. Prices at the two were identical.

I've heard Robson Street and Granville Island are can't misses. Probably will also check out Chinatown and Gastown, but I think I'll avoid E Hastings Street.

 

[cindy18]

We're staying at the Pan Pacific too. Flying in on Saturday. Couldn't decide between there and the Fairmont Waterfront, but the fact the Pan Pacific is less of a walk from the pier (from what we can tell) did it for us. Prices at the two were identical.

I've heard Robson Street and Granville Island are can't misses. Probably will also check out Chinatown and Gastown, but I think I'll avoid E Hastings Street.

So funny -- we just did the hotel search this morning and are leaning towards Pan Pacific too, because of location and price. But how did you get Waterfront to be the same price as Pan Pacific? When we searched online, Waterfront was A LOT more. What am I missing?

BTW, also planning to fly in Saturday and have all day Sunday and Monday to visit Vancouver. I think there's A LOT to do there, and there won't be anything like enough time for it all.

 

[Mozart]

So funny -- we just did the hotel search this morning and are leaning towards Pan Pacific too, because of location and price. But how did you get Waterfront to be the same price as Pan Pacific? When we searched online, Waterfront was A LOT more. What am I missing?

BTW, also planning to fly in Saturday and have all day Sunday and Monday to visit Vancouver. I think there's A LOT to do there, and there won't be anything like enough time for it all.

It makes a difference as to whether you book online or over the phone. We booked over the phone and that costs more, because of the fact that we weren't willing to put down a non-refundable payment quite yet. That's the way to save big bucks, but we preferred to pay extra and be able to cancel the reservation. Most online reservations are non refundable.

 

[piglet33]

I just booked the Pan Pacific too. Didn't think the rate was too bad since the hotel is attached to the Port. Can't wait for Southwest to release their dates through August so I can book our airfare.

 

[stsomewhere]

It makes a difference as to whether you book online or over the phone. We booked over the phone and that costs more, because of the fact that we weren't willing to put down a non-refundable payment quite yet. That's the way to save big bucks, but we preferred to pay extra and be able to cancel the reservation. Most online reservations are non refundable.

We are stying at Pan pacific, too. This is what my husband did. We will look discounted internet rates after we purchase airfare.

There is a convention booked for the weekend before our cruise and we wanted to guarantee we had reservations.

 

[ME Steamboat Willie]

I booked the hotel,,,going to the pan pacific..seems t be a nice place and close to everythng..got a great rate on line..used aaa discount joanie

We are looking to book here also. How did you put you AAA discount in? We looked all over for a place to enter it but could not find it on line.

 

[cathicool]

we are a group of 7.....coming from NY (Long Island)...we're in connecting cat 10B's cabins: 2607 and 2609

me cathi 41 in 2011
DH jeff 40 in 2011
DD alassia 11 in 2011
DS zach 9 in 2011
DD victoria 6 (just shy of 7) in 2011
and my parents! ginny 66 and jim 80

we're very excited about seeing Alaska! I'm thinking my mom, the kids and I will fly to Seattle several days before the cruise. I'm also thinking we may stay in Vancouver for a few days after the cruise. kids are off from school, so we're flexible. My husband probably won't have the same flexibility with work....

we just switched from the 8/16 sailing which i booked on 9/23/09. This sailing was WAY less money. DH freaked out over the 8/16 sailing price and said we couldn't go , so I had to do some evasive action!


__________________

 

[stsomewhere]

Flights are booked! We found a great deal!
The cruise is seeming a little closer now.
We will be arriving on Saturday afternoon and staying at Pan Pacific.

 

[chickflick]

We are flying in on Sunday with a short stay at Pan Pacific too!
Can't believe the great deals on Delta :thumbsup

Thanks for the heads up you guys!

Not too long now!

Now just looking into activities and food in Vancouver for Monday.

 

[stsomewhere]

We are flying in on Sunday with a short stay at Pan Pacific too!
Can't believe the great deals on Delta :thumbsup

Thanks for the heads up you guys!

Not too long now!

Now just looking into activities and food in Vancouver for Monday.

No problem! Glad to help.

 

[jel0511]

We booked our flights yesterday. We're flying into Vancouver on the 14th staying in Vancouver for 4 nights, then heading to Seattle for 4 nights then coming back on Mon before the cruise. We'll be at the Westin Bayshore when we arrive, ad the night before he cruise, we're staying at the Hampton Inn at the airport. We have to return our rental and are thinking of using DCL transfers, so this was convenient. The cruise seems so close now, that air is booked!!!!!

 

[tink1963]

Plan on booking our air in about a week. (waiting on bonus check) We are flying into Seattle Thur night and then treking to Vanouver on Sunday. Still need to work out our hotels.

Does anyone have info on DCL hotel transfers. (something like the have from the orlando Hyatt)?

 

[smeecanada]

Does anyone have info on DCL hotel transfers. (something like the have from the orlando Hyatt)?

If you are staying in downtown Vancouver - most likely much quicker and cheaper for you to get a cab than DCl transfers. The Port is right there - not 45 minutes away like in Port Canaveral.

 

[ydrj]

If you are staying in downtown Vancouver - most likely much quicker and cheaper for you to get a cab than DCl transfers. The Port is right there - not 45 minutes away like in Port Canaveral.

Smeecanada, is it doable to take a 10:30am flight out of Vancouver after our ship gets back on the 30th? We're gonna take the DCL transfer back to the airport.

 

[smeecanada]

Smeecanada, is it doable to take a 10:30am flight out of Vancouver after our ship gets back on the 30th? We're gonna take the DCL transfer back to the airport.

I wouldn't recommend it - do later if possible. It's approximately a 30+ minute drive in good traffic to the airport. We will be dealing with commuter traffic as it's a weekday.

You have to check in, go thru security and if you are flying directly to the USA - go thru customs. It can be quite backed up. I think it took us at least an hour+ when I did it in July and that was with minimal wait at the customs area. I have missed a flight before - with the custom delay.

 

[stsomewhere]

Smeecanada, is it doable to take a 10:30am flight out of Vancouver after our ship gets back on the 30th? We're gonna take the DCL transfer back to the airport.

DCL recommends a flight noon or later.

 

[smeecanada]

All this talk about booking hotels/flights etc. Reminded me that I took a few photos when we were over in Vancouver earlier this year.

This is Canada Place cruise terminal

This is the front of the Cruise Terminal

I took the first photo (the cruise terminal) to the right of this photo. It shows you how close everything is. To the right upper corner is the Cruise Terminal/Pan Pacific Hotel Entrance. To the left upper corner is the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Entrance. To the lower left corner (not shown) is the exit from Waterfront Station - the ligth rapid transit that runs from the Airport to Downtown.