June 21, 2011 - The Wonder breaks the Alaskan icebergs!

[mousemom11]

Thanks for the link, Mousemom! It's been a while since I checked airfares, and I was surprised to see how much more it will cost to fly to Vancouver versus Seattle. Even with a round-trip fare of $99, it's still a savings over flying to Vancouver.

I've never been up that way. Mapquest estimates 3 hours.

You are quite welcome. According to the QuickCoach schedule, it takes about 5 hours from SeaTac Airport to Downtown Vancouver, including all the stops and crossing the border.

 

[CAprincess]

New to the Disboards, so excited to find other Alaska cruisers! Me (Karen), DH (Ross), DS (10-Ian), DD (8-Natalie) and DS (Helen) will be onboard next June 21. I'm so glad it is finally less than 1 year until our trip. It seemed like such a long way off when we booked last year. We can't decide if we will be spending any time in Seattle before or after so I haven't made any flight or hotel plans yet. Look forward to hearing everyone's plans.

 

[CarolAnnC]

New to the Disboards, so excited to find other Alaska cruisers! Me (Karen), DH (Ross), DS (10-Ian), DD (8-Natalie) and DS (Helen) will be onboard next June 21. I'm so glad it is finally less than 1 year until our trip. It seemed like such a long way off when we booked last year. We can't decide if we will be spending any time in Seattle before or after so I haven't made any flight or hotel plans yet. Look forward to hearing everyone's plans.

Hi and welcome to the DIS! We are planning on spending some time in Vancouver, though Seattle would be tempting. Just need to conserve the days I need to take off work.

 

[ratt1345]

DW and I were discussing our flight plans last night. We are still deciding on flying into Seattle or Vancouver. We are not sure about flying the 6 hours or so from Florida and then get on the bus for 5 more hours.
What to do!!!What to do!!! Also trying to figure out where to stay in Vancouver. We are looking at 7 or 8 places.

Charlie

 

[mousemom11]

DW and I were discussing our flight plans last night. We are still deciding on flying into Seattle or Vancouver. We are not sure about flying the 6 hours or so from Florida and then get on the bus for 5 more hours.
What to do!!!What to do!!! Also trying to figure out where to stay in Vancouver. We are looking at 7 or 8 places.

Charlie

I guess you'll have to weigh the difference in price between flying into Vancouver vs flying into Seattle and taking the train/bus to Vancouver from there. You're right, there is definitely a hassle factor in doing the latter. So the question you will need to answer is how much $ savings do you have to have to be willing to put up with the hassle?

As far as where to stay in Vancouver, are you looking for something close to the pier?

 

[carolmb]

DW and I were discussing our flight plans last night. We are still deciding on flying into Seattle or Vancouver. We are not sure about flying the 6 hours or so from Florida and then get on the bus for 5 more hours.
What to do!!!What to do!!! Also trying to figure out where to stay in Vancouver. We are looking at 7 or 8 places.

Charlie

We have decided to fly into Vancouver and are staying 3 nights at the Hampton Inn by the airport, then the night before the cruise at the Pan Pacific. I think that it will be cool to walk to the cruise ship straight from the hotel.

 

[fabumouse]

It seemed like such a long way off when we booked last year. .

Wait until 3 months from the cruise and you'll wonder where the time went for sure!

Welcome to the Disboards!! There is so much information here that it can be overwhelming, but the collective experience makes your cruise so much better.

Make sure you find a "what to pack for a DCL cruise" thread, b/c if you've never cruised before, things like "a clear over the door shoe holder" seem a bit out of place.... but I pack it first every cruise.

 

[fabumouse]

Oh, and as it gets closer, I'll organize the Fish Extender Exchange. PM me if you are interested.

Justhat and Ginamarie, don't worry - you're already on my list.

 

[Ginamarie]

Oh, and as it gets closer, I'll organize the Fish Extender Exchange. PM me if you are interested.

Justhat and Ginamarie, don't worry - you're already on my list.

Yay! Yeah, three cabins for my group. I still have to call DCL to swap my dad off of the cruise and the new baby onto the cruise.

 

[fabumouse]

and the new baby onto the cruise.

Yayyyy.

Are all 3 cabins going to be doing the FE?

I think we may be doing Whistler post-cruise. And yes, that's becoming a logistical issue too (not to mention, all my stuff will be stinky ).

 

[CarolAnnC]

Sorry to tell you all that we had to rebook this cruise due to a work conflict. I am sure you will all have a fabulous cruise, and I will hop on here sometimes to chat and to see how your cruise goes..we will be sailing in August.

Take care all..

 

[rsschneck]

Sorry to tell you all that we had to rebook this cruise due to a work conflict. I am sure you will all have a fabulous cruise, and I will hop on here sometimes to chat and to see how your cruise goes..we will be sailing in August.

Take care all..

I was reading your DVC post about the cruise. Were you finally able to switch your cruise dates without any problem?

Our family has also canceled this cruise due to a work conflict. We are sailing in January the Mexican Riviera and plan to rebook an August sailing for Alaska. I don't know which date in August yet and will decide that when we are sailing in Jauary.

 

[fabumouse]

Sorry to tell you all that we had to rebook this cruise due to a work conflict. .

I am bummed - I was looking forward to finally meeting you! Have a great trip in August!

 

[Gilland18]

We're on it, too. 18 people, 4 generations, ages 81 to 10 mos., 6 cabins on deck 5. Can't wait!

 

[mousemom11]

We're on it, too. 18 people, 4 generations, ages 81 to 10 mos., 6 cabins on deck 5. Can't wait!

Welcome! It sounds like a wonderful gathering. Where on deck 5 are you? We have 2 cabins aft portside.

 

[Gilland18]

We have 6 cabins forward portside. Should be handy for Flounders with the little ones.
Kim

 

[fabumouse]

We have 6 cabins forward portside. Should be handy for Flounders with the little ones.
Kim

Excellent! And welcome to the thread. Have you been on DCL before?

 

[Gilland18]

3 nites on the Wonder in 2003, part of a Land & Sea trip, and 3 nites on Carnival 20 years ago. Looking forward to 7 nights. It seems like we saw nothing of the ship on the 3 niter.

 

[fabumouse]

3 nites on the Wonder in 2003.... It seems like we saw nothing of the ship on the 3 niter.

I can totally understand that. We've finally been at sea enough days that our family has experienced the pools (although still not the goofy pool), the spa, the bars on Deck 3 (especially during the World Cup! ), a few movies at both theaters... but we still keep finding our way around.

A week gives you the time to at least remember your restaurant rotation.

 

[Ginamarie]

Yayyyy.

Are all 3 cabins going to be doing the FE?

I think we may be doing Whistler post-cruise. And yes, that's becoming a logistical issue too (not to mention, all my stuff will be stinky ).

Yes, all three will be doing the FE. We love that part of the cruise


I finally called DCL to take my dad off of the reservation and add the two expected babies. The funniest part was that they couldn't guarantee early dining rotation for the newest passenger (the baby!) So we have a six month old on the wait list to dine with the rest of us. It's totally logistics, so I'm sure it will be fine, but the thought of the baby having to dine alone just cracked me up.

We booked our hotel for the night before the cruise. We'll be at the Hyatt Regency (I got a great rate on priceline).