Disney Wonder September 3, 2012. Seattle to Vancouver 7 night Alaska Cruise!

[lesabrowning]

These are depressing links right now, but if anyone would like a shortcut to September weather for our ports, here are the links I have bookmarked:

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/seattle-wa/98104/september-weather/351409
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/skagway-ak/99840/september-weather/336751
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/juneau-ak/99801/september-weather/331728
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/ketchikan-ak/99901/september-weather/331730
http://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v5y/september-weather/53286?monyr=9/1/2012

Two weeks from today we will be waking up in Skagway! [/QUOTE]

Thanks for the links, good idea to bookmark them : )

I dont think they are depressing, just fall in Alaska. Remember, they are based on historic info still at this point so it can change. Besides, we will be on a Disney cruise ship... in Alaska! That can't be depressing!! LOL

 

[Cinderelley]

Thanks for the links, good idea to bookmark them : )

I dont think they are depressing, just fall in Alaska. Remember, they are based on historic info still at this point so it can change. Besides, we will be on a Disney cruise ship... in Alaska! That can't be depressing!! LOL

We'll just have to make our own sunshine

 

[Sedgha]

Not the best weather, and I don't know how far I'd trust a 14 day forcast.
but definately better than the historical from above.

Of course I can't post the link yet, but it's theweathernetwork Skagway 14 day forcast.

 

[Hollywood Glitter]

I just sent an updated list to everyone. If you didn't get it let me know

 

[Cinderelley]

I just sent an updated list to everyone. If you didn't get it let me know

We owe you big time! Do we put your FE gifts in the FE of your parents? I plan on making for them as well as you!

Thank you again so much for organizing all of this.

 

[lesabrowning]

I just sent an updated list to everyone. If you didn't get it let me know

Thank you so much. You have done so much work and really made this all so easy for the rest of us. I know we all appreciate it!

 

[Hollywood Glitter]

We owe you big time! Do we put your FE gifts in the FE of your parents? I plan on making for them as well as you!

Thank you again so much for organizing all of this.

Thank you! The fish extender outside my parents door has a pocket for me. We use the same one for all out trips.

 

[jennnnnn]

I see our boat on the live Juneau webcam

http://kroooz-cams.com/portcams/us/juneau1.php

 

[Momma2Jax]

For those of you coming in early, I will recommend some of our favorite places to eat...

@PikePlaceMarket: Lowell's (quick service; grab an upstairs table an enjoy the view); Etta's (you can't go wrong with Tom Douglas fare); 3 Girls (quick service; Generous portions/ sandwiches)...

Seattle Art Museum Taste - fun happy hour food selection

Belltown/ 1st ave: Macrina (wonderful bakery, better coffee than Starbucks)
Belltown/ 4th ave: Dahlia (reservations recommended; another Tom Douglas delight); Lola (across the street, also a Tom Douglas)
Belltown/ 5th ave: Top Pot Doughnuts (large, dense doughnuts; excellent coffee); icon Grill (quirky but homey; reservations accepted)

Lake Union/ Eastlake: Serafina (on Eastlake; reservations recommended); Lunchbox Laboratory (burgers & quirky/fun decor); Blue Moon Burgers (quick service); Serious Pie (Tom Douglas' take on Pizza- there is one in Belltown, too); Cafe Vivace (across from REI; easily best coffee/espresso in Seattle, possibly beyond)

Pizza: if you are a pizza connoisseur it is worthwhile to trek to the Northlake Tavern & Pizza house southwest of the University of Washington (note they only seat 21 & up, but you can order to go).

Bagels: the best Bagels in Seattle come from Blazing Bagels, open weekdays and during ball games at the location on 1st at safeco field (open daily in Redmond and weekdays in Bellevue) - yes you can take their food into the ball games.

Family pub: Pyramid Brewery (across from Safeco Field) has a small area where they will seat under 21 for meals.

This is not intended as an exhaustive list - others may give you equally great or even more popular/heavily visited ideas. Enjoy Seattle while you are here. There will be some tough traffic with home games at both Century Link Field and Safeco field on Saturday the 1st. Plus there is a game at 1pm at Safeco field on the day of departure which may impact late air arrivals (though I don't want to worry anyone ).

Whew that's a lot to read but planning is at least half the fun!

As far as eating around pike place and the waterfront, we ate at Pike's brewery 2 days ago, and it was very good! The beer drinkers in our group loved it! Food was very good, too!

Then last night we were at the waterfront (we have family in town, so we rode the ferris wheel and did the aquarium) we ate at The crab pot, which was excellent! We did a feast, where they dump food on the table and you pound crab on the table with a mallet....which the 3yo thought was he coolest thing we've ever done!

 

[AprilN]

I see our boat on the live Juneau webcam

http://kroooz-cams.com/portcams/us/juneau1.php

I'm sure glad I looked earlier, when there was a great view of our beauty - now some monstrosity is in the way.

Finally heading home from my week-long business trip - now I can get started on the final prep! First up is laminating (well, clear contact-papering) and trimming my magnets, which I printed out last week. You'll know for sure if we have changed cabins if you don't see our names on the door.

A close friend of my sister actually grew up in Ketchikan, and was just back there earlier this summer, bringing her new baby to visit the grandparents. She just sent me a short list of things to do, for both rain and shine. It's tailored towards families with younger kids (I asked her about playgrounds), but there are some shopping and dining recommendations. I'll post it tonight when I get home. Her brother runs a plane/boat tour of the Misty Fjords as well; I'll post that link too.

 

[AprilN]

OK, I've searched around quite a bit for this information, but have come up empty so far: how early does Pier 91 open for cruise check-in? I've got an assigned time (11:30), but since I'll be aiming for an upgrade, I'd like to get there ASAP, most likely with DH and DS dropping me off with the luggage and the passports around 9:30, and returning the rental car and taking the bus back to the port while I take care of check-in, etc. inside. But if I can't even get in until 10:30 or even later, this may not be worth the extra effort.

Does anyone know? Or know who to ask? Would it be worth calling Pier 91 directly?

I'll post the info on Ketchican tomorrow morning.

 

[Momma2Jax]

I have seen some people saying they have gotten in about 10:30. I think it would be worth giving them a call, to see if it's worth it!

 

[Cinderelley]

OK, I've searched around quite a bit for this information, but have come up empty so far: how early does Pier 91 open for cruise check-in? I've got an assigned time (11:30), but since I'll be aiming for an upgrade, I'd like to get there ASAP, most likely with DH and DS dropping me off with the luggage and the passports around 9:30, and returning the rental car and taking the bus back to the port while I take care of check-in, etc. inside. But if I can't even get in until 10:30 or even later, this may not be worth the extra effort.

Does anyone know? Or know who to ask? Would it be worth calling Pier 91 directly?

I'll post the info on Ketchican tomorrow morning.

Go for it! I've never had a problem getting in earlier than my assigned time. Of course, that was in Port Canaveral but I'd say it is worth a shot!

 

[mompaq]

Anybody know on what day, we are having the formal dinner?

 

[mellers]

Anybody know on what day, we are having the formal dinner?

I don't know about this year, but last year, it was on the first sea day.

 

[DizDragonfly]

I found it interesting that in the last email I got from Disney it said "Optional formal attire" under Packing for Paradise. And on the website, when you are logged in and looking at cruise specific info, on the Packing List, it states, "Dinner attire is "cruise casual," meaning no shorts, swimwear or tank tops. Diners at Palo, the adults-only restaurant, will want to dress up more than when dining at Lumiere's or Triton's. The Disney Cruise Line newsletter, Personal Navigator, will be delivered daily to your stateroom with attire advice for each night's dinner." Nothing about Formal Night at all, until you get your Navigator that day.

No wonder cruisers aren't dressing for Formal Night if Disney isn't talking about it until you get on the ship. It's not as if you can go shopping for that perfect dress onboard.

Plus, with the new baggage restrictions from the airlines, I can see how Formal Nights on DCL may become a thing of the past.

 

[mompaq]

I don't know about this year, but last year, it was on the first sea day.

Thanks for the info! I was hoping that it was a little closer to the end of the cruise. we have most of the FE gift done. I am sewing one of my daughter"s a formal dress and was hoping that if I needed to, i could leave the hemming until we were on the ship. So you just might see a woman sewing the hems of a formal dress at some of the activities on board that day.

 

[lesabrowning]

Didn't someone post a schedule for our cruise a while back? (I swear I saw it and I thought it was here, I was planning to go back and print but have not done it yet) On that schedule was both the formal night and a semi-formal night. How you define those two terms is of course completely up to you : )

 

[jennnnnn]

Anybody know on what day, we are having the formal dinner?

casual
formal
casual
casual
pirate
semi-formal
casual

Also- as for formal-wear, the girl who I asked at the Disney 800 # said they won't deny you if you are wearing jeans, but you might get some dirty looks from the husbands who were forced to wear a tux... hehe..

 

[Hollywood Glitter]

Didn't someone post a schedule for our cruise a while back? (I swear I saw it and I thought it was here, I was planning to go back and print but have not done it yet) On that schedule was both the formal night and a semi-formal night. How you define those two terms is of course completely up to you : )

I found my original quote on this for you...

We don't have a roll call for this cruise. Below is the info for the meet-up.

Mickey's Alaskan Adventure Meet-Up
3:15 Promenade Lounge
Deck 3, Aft

From what I understand there is no pirate night on deck but you do have a Special BBQ and a Special Pirate party in the Lobby Atrium

Daily recommended attire:

Monday: Cruise Casual
Tuesday: Formal
Wednesday: Cruise Casual
Thursday: Cruise Casual
Friday: Pirates or Cruise Casual
Saturday: Semi-Formal
Sunday: Cruise Casual

Hope this helps!