July 29, 2013 Wonder Alaska

[SpeedyWil]

Hey guys, my wife would like a final FE list. Can someone please post it. Also, we have been on a number of cruise with FE's, is someone going to just make a spreadsheet and post a link so we can download? It makes the process so much easier.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Hey guys, my wife would like a final FE list. Can someone please post it. Also, we have been on a number of cruise with FE's, is someone going to just make a spreadsheet and post a link so we can download? It makes the process so much easier.

I set up a spreadsheet in Google Drive. Here's the link.

 

[MacDisney]

Hello dis friends - so does anyone have an idea of what to pack? I'm feeling a little worried about how much winter attire we will need - especially since we are doing the helicopter/dog mushing excursion. Is anyone else OCD enough like me to have created a packing list ? Looking for some suggestions?

Also has anyone ever mailed items to the port in Vancouver? Should I try mailing it to our hotel - we are staying 2 days prior at the pan pacific?

Thanks - looking fwd to meeting all of you .

Alisa

 

[87Heel]

Still planning the packing, too. We are not taking any of the serious winter coats... layers will work just fine, I hope (pullover rain jacket for me). Adding a hat/gloves for Tracy Arm (or excursions) is the critical thing -- if your hands/ears are cold, that is miserable to me.
I'm not opposed to doing laundry, so hope that will help us, too. I don't like paying for lots of checked bags on our flights, so maybe the five of us can keep it under control!

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I'm sure I'll overpack.


2 years ago, we had beautiful weather in the ports, but I think we were pretty lucky. The cruises before us couldn't even do Tracy Arm.

 

[Never to old]

I am working on packing too! Since our bags don't fly free, I am trying to do it with 1 checked bag and carry ons. Since we are doing 4 days in Vancouver, I plan on doing wash on the ship. I need to review what cruise casual is for dinner. On our one cruise our table mates wore jeans. Sorry this might be us this time. At 50.00 a bag one way I will not be able to take everything that I would normally take. We are planning on layers and maybe a light coat and gloves. I didn't think about a hat. Might add that now.

 

[87Heel]

Well, DD15 can fit most of her stuff in her rolling carry-on. Wonder if the rest of the family can pack as well as she can?!

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Well, DD15 can fit most of her stuff in her rolling carry-on. Wonder if the rest of the family can pack as well as she can?!

She wins!

 

[Never to old]

Well, DD15 can fit most of her stuff in her rolling carry-on. Wonder if the rest of the family can pack as well as she can?!

Now that is impressive! I hope she packed some warm things. I am starting this week on figuring out what to take and what to leave behind. Anyone ever use those space saver bags? Do they really work? What do your clothes look like when they come out? A wrinkled mess? Can you use them more than once? Or do I need new ones for the trip home.

 

[87Heel]

Yep, lots of clothes, too. One thing we're all doing (or at least what I'm telling the kids to do!) is to wear at least one of the warm things (sweatshirt/fleece/sweatpants) and bigger shoes (sneakers/hikers) on the plane since they take up more luggage space. We have a 6 am flight, so no one will see us leaving for the airport (ha!) and it won't be too hot and muggy yet!

 

[Never to old]

Yep, lots of clothes, too. One thing we're all doing (or at least what I'm telling the kids to do!) is to wear at least one of the warm things (sweatshirt/fleece/sweatpants) and bigger shoes (sneakers/hikers) on the plane since they take up more luggage space. We have a 6 am flight, so no one will see us leaving for the airport (ha!) and it won't be too hot and muggy yet!

I will wear sneakers on the plane. Not sure I can survive the flight in warm clothes : )

 

[jrosstrinity]

My concern is what to wear for the cruise casual nights, as well. I will not be able to take warm layers PLUS 2 completely different outfits for each day PLUS formal and semi formal wear! I am leaning towards bringing one pair of nice, dark jeans and a nice sweater for cruise casual dinners and pairing them with a nice light (and easily packable) blouse each night. Add a few nicer scarves a nd some jewelry....that may be the best I can do. Hope I'm not the junkiest looking on the ship.....ha ha!

 

[Never to old]

My concern is what to wear for the cruise casual nights, as well. I will not be able to take warm layers PLUS 2 completely different outfits for each day PLUS formal and semi formal wear! I am leaning towards bringing one pair of nice, dark jeans and a nice sweater for cruise casual dinners and pairing them with a nice light (and easily packable) blouse each night. Add a few nicer scarves a nd some jewelry....that may be the best I can do. Hope I'm not the junkiest looking on the ship.....ha ha!

You definitely won't be the junkiest person. I think I will get that award. I just measured the bags we were going to use for a carryon and they were two big by a inch. DH says don't worry and try it. I say I am not paying the baggage fee if it doesn't work. I found 2 other bags that meet the size requirement. Still trying to get away with 1 checked bag. One bag is just 50.00 round trip. Add the second one and it jumps to 120 round trip. I called Disney to find out about formal night. I just laughed when they told me suit, Tux and gown. I said its not happening. They told me we wouldn't get turned away with DH wearing a shirt and tie. If we do its not like we will go hungry. I refuse to stress over clothing. Still haven't figured out what tops I will wear to dinner. I might have to go shopping.

 

[87Heel]

Hey Nevertoold,
I think you said you're flying to Vancouver on the 25th ... that's when we go, too. And if you're flying out of Philly, that would be even funnier if we were on the same flight!
Oh, but keep in mind-- if you have to check that second bag -- it's really the first bag for another person in the family, so (woohoo) you're down to $100 round trip for two bags.
I've been measuring carry-on luggage, too; I've got the Air Canada details bookmarked!! Two kids mostly packed now; third one still finishing her summer internship in another state. I should have my things figured out and set aside this weekend. DH will pack the night before, I'm sure!

 

[Never to old]

Hey Nevertoold,
I think you said you're flying to Vancouver on the 25th ... that's when we go, too. And if you're flying out of Philly, that would be even funnier if we were on the same flight!
Oh, but keep in mind-- if you have to check that second bag -- it's really the first bag for another person in the family, so (woohoo) you're down to $100 round trip for two bags.
I've been measuring carry-on luggage, too; I've got the Air Canada details bookmarked!! Two kids mostly packed now; third one still finishing her summer internship in another state. I should have my things figured out and set aside this weekend. DH will pack the night before, I'm sure!

Unfortunately we are flying United Airlines out of Harrisburg. DH said the same thing about the bags, but it doesn't appear to work that way. United has a fee calculator, when I put in our reservation number the fee it gave for 2 was 120.00. Doesn't appear they are going person. But I will double check. I just bought some space saver bags. I am trying one now over night. My DH will pack the day before too, I am sure.

I just spent the last couple of hours looking at the Capilano bridge, Grouse Mountain, Fly over Canada and Stanely Park websites. I was going to purchase dinner at Grouse mountain since it gave you the Alpine experience for free. However, dinner seems really pricey. Everything was al carte. Then you still have to add on if you want to do the eye of the wind. I contacted Grouse Mountain and found out they offer a 10% AAA discount if you show your card at Guest Services. I think I am just going to wait and purchase things on site. I am wondering if the other attractions may offer a AAA discount and you just need to ask for it. We found this to be true when we were in Halifax. Decisions, decisions, just once I would like DH to plan a vacation. He doesn't know how easy he has it.

We are staying at Pan Pacific? Where are you staying?

 

[87Heel]

I guess we'll all make the luggage thing work somehow!
We are staying at the Times Square Suites (Robson /Denman). It has awesome reviews on Trip Advisor, and it's kind of a cross between small apartments and a hotel (same general rates as hotels in Vancouver). We'll be close to Stanley Park and tons of restaurants... and we can fit our family of five in it, plus we will have a kitchen and our own washer/dryer (so there will be Sunday night laundry to restock the bags!!)
Pan Pacific would be great for the convenience, but we just don't fit!

 

[Never to old]

I guess we'll all make the luggage thing work somehow!
We are staying at the Times Square Suites (Robson /Denman). It has awesome reviews on Trip Advisor, and it's kind of a cross between small apartments and a hotel (same general rates as hotels in Vancouver). We'll be close to Stanley Park and tons of restaurants... and we can fit our family of five in it, plus we will have a kitchen and our own washer/dryer (so there will be Sunday night laundry to restock the bags!!)
Pan Pacific would be great for the convenience, but we just don't fit!

That sounds lovely. We will be doing wash on the ship, lol

 

[april1401]

Unfortunately we are flying United Airlines out of Harrisburg. DH said the same thing about the bags, but it doesn't appear to work that way. United has a fee calculator, when I put in our reservation number the fee it gave for 2 was 120.00. Doesn't appear they are going person. But I will double check. I just bought some space saver bags. I am trying one now over night. My DH will pack the day before too, I am sure.

I just spent the last couple of hours looking at the Capilano bridge, Grouse Mountain, Fly over Canada and Stanely Park websites. I was going to purchase dinner at Grouse mountain since it gave you the Alpine experience for free. However, dinner seems really pricey. Everything was al carte. Then you still have to add on if you want to do the eye of the wind. I contacted Grouse Mountain and found out they offer a 10% AAA discount if you show your card at Guest Services. I think I am just going to wait and purchase things on site. I am wondering if the other attractions may offer a AAA discount and you just need to ask for it. We found this to be true when we were in Halifax. Decisions, decisions, just once I would like DH to plan a vacation. He doesn't know how easy he has it.

We are staying at Pan Pacific? Where are you staying?

Hey, if you are looking for discounts it may be worth your time to order the Entertainment Coupon book for Vancouver BC. Right now it's $8.99. I bought it about 6 weeks ago for $15 (free shipping). I figured it will pay for itself with one dinner or even 1 of the few attractions that are in the book. There are coupons in their for a museum my son wants to go to and restaurants near out hotel. Plus there are still coupons I can use here at home like Bed Bath and Beyond.

 

[Never to old]

Hey, if you are looking for discounts it may be worth your time to order the Entertainment Coupon book for Vancouver BC. Right now it's $8.99. I bought it about 6 weeks ago for $15 (free shipping). I figured it will pay for itself with one dinner or even 1 of the few attractions that are in the book. There are coupons in their for a museum my son wants to go to and restaurants near out hotel. Plus there are still coupons I can use here at home like Bed Bath and Beyond.

Do you think I would get it in time?

 

[april1401]

Do you think I would get it in time?

Yes it should get there in time, if you order by tomorrow no later than Monday. The shipping is free and this week the books are $8.99. You may be able to do express shipping if you are worried

I did this once several years ago when I spent a week in Hawaii and saved tons of money with the buy one get one free. We used it for meals, submarine rides, horseback riding and lots of other things.

There are not a whole lot of museums in the book, but I was happy to see a few my son wanted to go to (Vancouver Maritime Museum, MacMillan Space Center, Stanley Park Horse Drawn Tours, etc.). Plus if I save on a restaurant or 2 I will be delighted!

Go for it! At worse if you don't use any of the coupons in the book in Vancouver there should be some in there you can use at home (National Coupons).