Disney Wonder Alaska past cruisers...I NEED YOUR Input!

[sweetlovin']

We want to do the dog sledding so I guess let's start saving! Lol

This was the best excursion I did and my brother just texted me, yesterday, in Juneau (on NCL) and said it was the best thing they had done thus far.

One note, if your dog sledding excursion gets cancelled go into town and find a different company that is able to do the excursion. There are a lot of different glaciers in Juneau. So, one might not have weather safe enough to land a helicopter, but that is not all of them. Each glacier has it's own weather (so to speak) and different companies fly to different glaciers.

So please keep that in mind. I ran into a family that had just been cancelled as I was walking out to my dog sledding excursion. I almost told them to come with me, however, I was nervous because at that point, I wasn't sure if mine had been cancelled as well. Needless to say, I was able to go, but I had booked a different company.

 

[shanhop]

My trip report is in progress...

Best excursion was glacier walk/helicopter flight in Skagway. Absolutely out of this world.

Whale watching was over rated and I was disappointed. (We did private with Harv and Marv. I don't think it was their fault, I had high expectations)

Vancouver is wonderful, I could have used a third day to see things there.

 

[DisneyHelen]

My favourite excursion was White pass railway and lunch on our own at Alaskan Brewing Company in Skagway. My husband loved Knudson Cove salmon fishing in Ketchikan.

 

[SnowWhite2]

Check for any Adult only excursions. We did a glacier and whale watching tour and it was great. Only 19 of us on a smaller very fast boat. We got to see whales up close. The "regular" tour was on a larger boat with many hoards of people with difficulty seeing out of the boat.

 

[silverangel879]

Thanks you guys!!!!
Taking notes and planning!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We went in August no bugs and we had great weather, it had a little mist on white pass and some early mornings but mostly was fine and sunny, Tracy Arm was great, see photos here.

 

[Fusco2009]

This is all wonderful information. We are planning an August 2015 cruise and this stuff is super helpful!!!

 

[silverangel879]

This is all wonderful information. We are planning an August 2015 cruise and this stuff is super helpful!!!

What is your traveling dates? We William be in The August 31st

 

[tink1970]

I went 2 years in a row- July 2011 and May 2012 (my DH got sent overseas in 2011 so well, I just HAD to go again with him ).

I am not a big one on excursions, so I didn't go whale watching in '11, thinking I'd see several just cruising...nope. My DM did, and she said they were plentiful and active and just amazing. So I went in May '12, and they were out, just focused on eating I think Still, that was my favorite thing, I'm not too jazzed about glaciers but took an excursion to Mendenhall, which I think most people enjoyed. I also took a floatplane to look for bears, but it was too early in July. The ride was fun, though. The highlight for my DD and DF was their sled dog excursion.

So...
DM/DH/me-favorite was whale watching
DD/DF-favorite was sled dog

Lesson learned-don't look for bears unless the salmon are running (um, yeah, kind of obvious in retrospect)

Looking back, seems like the best way to do everything is go more than once
Have a great trip!

 

[travln1234]

I've been to Alaska 3 times. Once in August and twice in June (this past June being our latest trip and first trip on DCL). Depending on your interests, I'd say whale watching is high on the list and visiting the visitor center or doing a helicopter tour up to Mendenhall is high on our list, also (because, really, where else are you going to see a glacier around home?). We've done both the ship's whale watching tour and we went with Harv & Marv this past trip. I can't recommend Harv & Marv enough and let's just say, I'll never take a ship-sponsored whale watching tour again.

My only wish is that we'd spent more time at the glacier, and that I'd booked 2 tours on Harv & Marv!! And I wish we'd had more time to spend in Vancouver.

I chronicled our trip on a blogging website, if you're interested. The link is in this post: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3308313 and in my signature.

 

[jtba]

travln1234, you wrote:

> We've done both the ship's whale watching tour and we went with Harv & Marv this past trip. I can't recommend Harv & Marv enough and let's just say, I'll never take a ship-sponsored whale watching tour again.

May I please ask you to elaborate on that? We're planning our Alaska excursions too, and would love to get the details from someone who's done both DCL and non-DCL tours.

Did you see more whales / animals through Harv & Marv? Were they less expensive (which I hear is generally the case), more friendly, funnier, ...etc.?

Thanks in advance.

 

[gmalinois]

Anyone have experience/advise as to best way to fly from Texas to Vancouver? Take flight to Seattle, then train to Vancouver, or fly direct?

 

[disfamilyfun]

Anyone have experience/advise as to best way to fly from Texas to Vancouver? Take flight to Seattle, then train to Vancouver, or fly direct?

It was cheaper in 2011 to fly from Houston to Seattle and take train to Vancouver. We even stayed for a few days in watch place and adding the hotel still cheaper. Mind you that was 2011

 

[xlxo]

As a crab addict....

Must go in Juneau (new location next door this year). I ordered 1/2 lb.... I'm ordering 1 lb next time!
http://www.kingcrabshack.com/

There's a few other places in Ketchican dock, but Tracy is better.

The Wonder also a King Crab night... the appy is NOT enough for me.

After getting back to Vancouver... King Crab 3 or more flavors at one of the many Chinese restaurants!
http://www.followmefoodie.com/2014/04/dynasty-seafood-restaurant-alaskan-king-crab-dinner-vancouver/
http://www.sunsuiwah.com/en_kingcrab.html

 

[brookmey]

Anyone have experience/advise as to best way to fly from Texas to Vancouver? Take flight to Seattle, then train to Vancouver, or fly direct?

We flew from Houston to Seattle, visited the city for a few days, then took the train up to Vancouver. We had a nonstop flight on United. The taxi to and from Canada Place was a short ride, only about $10.

 

[brookmey]

My favourite excursion was White pass railway and lunch on our own at Alaskan Brewing Company in Skagway. My husband loved Knudson Cove salmon fishing in Ketchikan.

I second Knudson Cove in for fishing. It was pretty rainy that day and excursions were getting canceled due to weather, but my DH and DS still went. The waves were calmer in the cove and there were less boats there. DH liked the captain and he was really good with my DS, who was 7 and on his very first fishing trip. They caught quite a few fish and didn't have to worry about competing with lots of other boats.

 

[shanhop]

Anyone have experience/advise as to best way to fly from Texas to Vancouver? Take flight to Seattle, then train to Vancouver, or fly direct?

We flew directly to Vancouver. It was more expensive, but Vancouver was SO much fun. I'm glad we paid a little more to spend some extra time there rather than traveling from Seattle. The only issue was the lack of a direct flight to Houston after noon. We connected through Denver, which made a long day.

 

[ohMom]

What is your traveling dates? We William be in The August 31st

come join our meet group! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3257961&page=2

 

[angb1970]

We loved Alaska!! We did Liarsville, it was lots of fun for our 7-year-old, and we really enjoyed it, as well. Skagway is very small, with lots of little shops to explore. In Juneau, I would recommend the Red Dog Saloon. It is a sight to behold!! Again, lots of little shops. Taku, a smokehouse and gift shop was my fave. In Ketchikan, we saw the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. It was a really well-done show.
And, don't forget to try the Alaskan Brewing Company beer on-tap on the Wonder!!!

 

[silverangel879]

we are planning to travel to Seattle on Fri, and drive to Vancouver on Sat or sunday! And stay in a Hotel closer to the port.

We know we want to do whale watching and the glacier/dog sled tours....but will see!

I enjoy all the tips! Thanks a lot!