July 26, 2011 – 7 Night Alaska ~ Bears, Whales, Eagles and Ducks. Oh My!

[pjpoohbear]

Welcome aboard, I have added you to the roll call on the first post. Check out the News (and it's archive) section of the website, some fun information to read.

Pj

 

[brack]

.... Christmas on the front burner right now but this cruise is never out of my mind!

Planning my light setup and working on the various items when I "operated" on Mr. Christmas light sequencer .... the sound died! I just knew that my DW would not be happy but hoped that she would let me buy another one. They are $79 at Home Depot but they were out and had to be ordered. She then said: "go ahead and buy the Light O' Rama pro system that you have been wanting"! Watch out neighborhood!!

 

[pjpoohbear]

oh Brack, take a video I need to see the results!

 

[brack]

oh Brack, take a video I need to see the results!

I will!

I was able to get the software right away by download but I am having to wait for the company to ship the hardware. At first it was going to be two weeks! After a few emails they are putting another model in the mail today so I should get it by Tuesday. Hopefully I'll have the lights in place and ready to hook up.

 

[bbaltes]

Hey cruisers -

I'm looking at flying in on the 25th to Seattle, spending the night, taking the morning train to Vancouver, spending a couple of hours there, then hitting the port. Does anyone know when they start boarding there? Is it like it is in Port Canaveral where you can get on the ship at noon?

On the way back, I'm planning on renting a car at the port and driving back to Seattle to make an afternoon flight. If there is any family that wants to share the costs of a van, let me know. Any tips or rumors on debarkation procedures at this port would be appreciated, too.

Ben

 

[pjpoohbear]

bbaltes, confirm with your Canadian rental agency/location that they allow their cars over the boarder. Here in Toronto, almost none of the agencies allow for cross boarder travel.

Pj

 

[bbaltes]

Thanks. I will check that. I would think that we're not the only one in this predicament. Anyone have any other ideas? From what I've seen so far, it's expensive to fly directly into Vancouver, BC?

 

[brack]

I had to cancel my Dream cruise for February but we are not letting go of this cruise!!

 

[bbaltes]

Hi Shipmates -

Here's what we're thinking - fly into Vancouver on the 25th, stay overnight at the Pan Pacific - hop on the boat, then on the way back, take a 2pm flight out of Vancouver. It's expensive, but it's the same cost as flying into Seattle, hotel there, and taking the train, believe it or not.

What is everyone else thinking?

Ben

 

[MrsMork]

I'm thinking we will drive over. Spend the night somewhere in WA and cross the border in the morning and board the ship. We will need to check on parking at the port.

 

[pjpoohbear]

Here are some cruise parking sites.

http://www.cruisepark.com/home.php

They actually close the website for the winter, lol. They have a list of partner cruise lines, and Disney isn't on there yet, but they might be added come late winter when they re-open the site.

Here is information on both cuise ports and parking options,

The Port of Vancouver services the Alaska Cruise Ships through two separate Terminals.

Canada Place Pier
999 Canada Place Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2P9
Citipark (Canada Place) Tel: (604) 684-2251 Fax: (604) 684-2254 toll free: 1-866-856-8080

This pier is located within a few blocks of the Heart of Vancouver and therefore has easy access to exclusive shopping and hotels. This terminal was purpose built for the cruise industry and therefore has all of the amenities required.

Easy walking distance to downtown
Float plane and helicopter service to Vancouver Island and other destinations is also available.

Secure Parking is available within the terminals 770 stall 2 level parking garage and elevator service is provided to the cruise ship level. The parkade is open 24 hours, seven days a week. Individual baggage carts, food and drink concessions, full wheelchair access, full customs service, car and bus parking and taxi are available.
For long term parking or further information, contact Citipark (Canada Place) toll free at 1.866.856.8080

Ballantyne Pier
655 Centennial Road Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2P9
604-665-9000 888-767-8826

Ballantyne pier is further removed from the city center in a former industrial area. It tends to service the larger Alaska Cruise Ships. The terminal is functional but provides only limited surface parking. Access to downtown Vancouver is available through taxi or local bus transportation.

It is suggested to use the services of Cruisepark which offers off-site and valet parking and a complimentary shuttle from Cruisepark's lot for both Canada Place and Ballantyne terminals. For further information, contact Cruisepark Alaska Cruise Parking Inc. toll free at 1.800.665.0050 or visit their website at www.cruisepark.com

 

[jlacobb3]

We'll be joining y'all on this cruise -- me, my DH, DD (12 years old) and my in-laws. We're in cabin #5628. They're on Deck 7 -- not sure of the cabin number. We were originally booked on the July 19 sailing; however, we decided to move it since my daughter might be playing in a fastpitch softball tournament in Panama City on July 10 - 16.

We just booked our flights using Delta SkyMiles. We'll be flying into Vancouver on Saturday, July 23 to spend a few days sightseeing. We'll fly home (to Atlanta, GA) on Tuesday, August 2. Now I need to work on booking a hotel room. Suggestions?

Does anybody know of any train excursions we can do while in Vancouver? We flew into Seattle the last time we did an Alaskan cruise and we loved the train ride from Seattle to Vancouver.

Lisa

 

[brack]

Christmas is over and I can finally start working on this cruise!

 

[pjpoohbear]

brack, although I am not sailing, i have been keeping an eye on the DCL site and will post links on the site directly to the Alaskan port excursions, hopefully this will make it easier to plan.

PJ

 

[sherjoy]

Hello all you expert cruisers out there I have been lurking the boards ever since my hubby brought up the whole cruising Alaska for our Summer Vacation. You all have been a wealth of awesome information! Thank you! Thank you! Seriously could not thank you enough!

Finally booked a cruise today. We were a bit weirded out by the system for booking rooms. The GTY threw us for a loop since we are trying to travel with some family and friends and would really like to be all together. Not easy with the various ages and interests, etc. Hopefully things will work out for the best, and we can at least get the same dining rotation *crossing fingers.*

Anyway like the subject suggests this is our first Disney Cruise. Please throw information my way even if you feel you may be discussing something common knowledge. Chances are I have no CLUE

 

[pjpoohbear]

Hello all you expert cruisers out there I have been lurking the boards ever since my hubby brought up the whole cruising Alaska for our Summer Vacation. You all have been a wealth of awesome information! Thank you! Thank you! Seriously could not thank you enough!

Finally booked a cruise today. We were a bit weirded out by the system for booking rooms. The GTY threw us for a loop since we are trying to travel with some family and friends and would really like to be all together. Not easy with the various ages and interests, etc. Hopefully things will work out for the best, and we can at least get the same dining rotation *crossing fingers.*

Anyway like the subject suggests this is our first Disney Cruise. Please throw information my way even if you feel you may be discussing something common knowledge. Chances are I have no CLUE

Welcome, I know that many on this thread love the planning as much as the vacation and are always willing to help with questions.

On the dinning rotation, just have your TA or call DCL (if booked directly with DCL) after everyone in your group has booked excursions and ask that your group's cabins be linked for dinning. They will need all the reservation numbers and possibly the lead name on each as well.

Check out the website linked to in the first post, I will be putting any information on the alaska cruises that catches my eye in the news section. And if you have questions on any of the news posts, please send a comment and I will attempt to help out.

PJ

 

[brack]

brack, although I am not sailing, i have been keeping an eye on the DCL site and will post links on the site directly to the Alaskan port excursions, hopefully this will make it easier to plan.

PJ

 

[brack]

Hello all you expert cruisers out there I have been lurking the boards ever since my hubby brought up the whole cruising Alaska for our Summer Vacation. You all have been a wealth of awesome information! Thank you! Thank you! Seriously could not thank you enough!

Finally booked a cruise today. We were a bit weirded out by the system for booking rooms. The GTY threw us for a loop since we are trying to travel with some family and friends and would really like to be all together. Not easy with the various ages and interests, etc. Hopefully things will work out for the best, and we can at least get the same dining rotation *crossing fingers.*

Anyway like the subject suggests this is our first Disney Cruise. Please throw information my way even if you feel you may be discussing something common knowledge. Chances are I have no CLUE

Welcome aboard! You will fall in LOVE with DCL!

 

[brack]

The exitement is growing!

 

[brack]