May 19 - 24, 2014 San Diego to Vancouver

[hamm1207]

I don't think there will be a pirate night on our cruise, right? Aren't thy doing the Pixar pals night instead?

I'm not sure yet. For some reason, there are no links to cruise activities posted in my reservation yet (there are for the AK cruise after this one). I know they are not doing a pirate night for the AK cruise--it's now the Pixar pals party. I'm not sure about the west coast cruise though.

 

[RayOfRedondo]

Merry Christmas Everyone:

Just bought myself the repositioning cruise for Christmas. I will join a party of eight in Vancouver for the Alaskan cruise.

Looking forward to the cruise, the FE gift exchange, and this will be my first cruise as a Platinum Castaway Club member.

Happy Holidays.

Ray

 

[Thnlk]

Just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

 

[scottrob]

Lucky Penny and I are booked on this cruise as well as the follow-on Alaska cruise. We have nailed down our flights, but not a hotel in San Diego yet. I am not so much concerned with being near the port as finding a good hotel somewhere we can wander around safely, restaurants, etc. We are going to arrive on the 17th and will likely spend the 18th at the Zoo, Sea World or somewhere else we have never been. Any thoughts or ideas would be most welcome.
Thanks,

 

[MassDisLovers]

Just came back from a wonderful holiday trip to WDW to see the decorations and celebrate a birthday. Now its time to concentrate on getting ready for this cruise! The winter is verrrry long here in north central Massachusetts, so it's good to have a cruise to look forward to! Happy New Year everyone!

 

[Thnlk]

Just came back from a wonderful holiday trip to WDW to see the decorations and celebrate a birthday. Now its time to concentrate on getting ready for this cruise! The winter is verrrry long here in north central Massachusetts, so it's good to have a cruise to look forward to! Happy New Year everyone!

How was WDW during the holiday? It on our list of things to do.

 

[hamm1207]

Just returning from a short getaway at Aulani. They did a wonderful job for the holidays and Aulani is amazing! Now it's time to pay off the cruises and focus on excursions and FE gifts.


On a side note: while we were walking down the hallway at Aulani, my husband referred to it as a deck! We got a good chuckle out of it!

 

[VowRenewal13]

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We are looking forward to the new year and our upcoming cruises. Our daughter will be joining us on this cruise. I have updated our information for the FE. Don't know how to add her to the roll call though. Her name is Chris and she is over 29 This will be her 3rd and 4th cruises with the mouse. She loves cruising as much as we do. 140 days and counting!!

 

[TMP5]

I hope this has helped some. Ask away with any questions you have, there are a lot of experienced DCL cruisers on this sailing. I imagine this board will get a little more active after the first of the year when the holidays are behind us.

Thank you! It does!

I have heard to pack your own water & alcohol? Is this something we should strongly consider?

 

[TMP5]

I'm not sure yet. For some reason, there are no links to cruise activities posted in my reservation yet (there are for the AK cruise after this one). I know they are not doing a pirate night for the AK cruise--it's now the Pixar pals party. I'm not sure about the west coast cruise though.

Oh! I better keep those Woody & Jesse costumes available rather than donate them as I was thinking of doing. When are the activities usually posted?

 

[sranes]

This is supposed to be in reply to TMP5
I am taking 6 year old grandson Ryan on the trip so the boys will likely meet up and have some fun. You should have a great time on the trip.
Re dress code, we have done several Disney cruises, and for formal night most people don't go over the top. I remember seeing very few tuxes, some sport coats or suits but mostly some kind of dress shirt or fancy Hawaiian style shirts and dress slacks for the men. For the gals, much dressier, but mostly short - appropriate for a really nice restaurant or holiday party but not full out glamour! One of the fun things about dressing up, they have a pre-dinner photo op with the captain that night and it is also a good time to get a fancier family picture taken (which you could order from Shutters, the photo store on board). Speaking of Shutters, they take pictures of everything and display the photos within about 12 hours and you can buy the photos. Also, the characters all have regularly scheduled photo times in the main promenade and the staff will take a picture for you with your camera while the Shutters photographer also takes a picture - which you can later buy if you want.
Everyone on our cruises seemed to love pirate night and dressing up for that but I have no clue about Pixar night. I am sad to see Pirate night go. I don't think Paolo requires a sport coat but does have a no jeans policy. The newer fanciest restaurants, like Remy on The Dream, are the only ones I know that require sport coats but they are very pricey and very elegant inside (extra $75 apiece vs Paola extra $20 apiece).
You can bring your own water and/or booze but you have to carry it on - it may not be in checked baggage.
Finally, you can board the ship before the rooms are ready so if the kids want to use a pool early, bring a swim suit along in a carry on and use the restrooms to change. Towels are provided poolside.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Just came back from a wonderful holiday trip to WDW to see the decorations and celebrate a birthday. Now its time to concentrate on getting ready for this cruise! The winter is verrrry long here in north central Massachusetts, so it's good to have a cruise to look forward to! Happy New Year everyone!

Hey there, MassDisLovers, do I have you listed in the roster on the first page? I didn't see your name, but it could be under another name, spouse maybe. If I haven't and you would like to be added, just let me know what you want me to add.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We are looking forward to the new year and our upcoming cruises. Our daughter will be joining us on this cruise. I have updated our information for the FE. Don't know how to add her to the roll call though. Her name is Chris and she is over 29 This will be her 3rd and 4th cruises with the mouse. She loves cruising as much as we do. 140 days and counting!!

I will get her added, no problem

Thank you! It does!

I have heard to pack your own water & alcohol? Is this something we should strongly consider?

I am extremely picky about my water, and I would say the ships water, straight out of the bathroom tap is superior to most any bottled water I have ever had. First cruise we took some water, but haven't done so for the last 5. I usually take some type of container (oversized water bottle) to fill with water and put in the chiller for ice water.

Now wine is another matter, we normally take a couple of bottles on board as we enjoy a glass in our cabin before dinner and I don't wish to pay ship's prices. I am not a wine connoisseur by any means, just prefer my prices at home.

Any beer/liquor/wine, etc. must be carried on board, cannot be put in your checked bags.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Happy New Year (almost) everyone.

I think I have the roster updated. If I overlooked someone, or if I left off any information, please let me know so I can get it fixed.

I guess it is time to start getting serious about this cruise, and I am just not ready.

 

[hamm1207]

In response to taking water on board...

We've ever carried it on. The water on board is fine and we've never had any problems. We have taken bottles of water ashore for excursions (we only did this when we got the free bottles of water in concierge).

 

[RweTHEREyet]

In response to taking water on board...

We've ever carried it on. The water on board is fine and we've never had any problems. We have taken bottles of water ashore for excursions (we only did this when we got the free bottles of water in concierge).

I usually take a couple of empty bottles on board so we can have them for excursions as well.

 

[hamm1207]

Do we have any info on the FE list yet? I'm looking for a general count so far so that I can start planning. Thanks!

 

[tripletsontherun]

What is the deadline to sign up for the FE? Thanks!

 

[hamm1207]

My husband talk to DCL today. He asked about pirate night and formal night stuff. He was told that there will NOT be a pirate night and that there WILL be a formal night on the second night (there is not normally a formal night on the 5 night cruises).

 

[RayOfRedondo]

I sailed the Wonder in October 2012 on the second California Coast cruise where we stayed two days in San Francisco. One day I decided to hike to Coit Tower and then to the Walt Disney Family Museum. 10 mile hike and well worth it (350 stair climb to the tower, too). I plan to reprise the hike, sans Coit Tower, on this cruise. The museum is wonderful and I encourage everyone to go.

Your post about walking across the Golden Gate bridge has piqued my interest. How do you suggest going about doing this? The bridge is not near the port.

Ray

I've never considered myself riff-raff...but then I did just return from a Carnival cruise and felt right at home. Aww man, what's happened to me?!?

In the eight months I lived in San Diego, I never found a good Mexican restaurant. My co-workers there said it's because the food down there is too authentic and that I should stick to Chevy's and El Torito. Maybe they were right.

A previous post had some good suggestions for San Francisco but I also wanted to say the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio is excellent. A walk across the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day is fantastic as well but I'm pretty sure there are only two clear days a year and they are usually in August.

Pier 39 is a very touristy place to go but there is a lot there to do including taking a ferry out to Alcatraz, taking a bay cruise, or visiting the aquarium.

And if you had so much in the 60's that you can't remember them at all, a nice stroll through Haight-Ashbury might be for you. Just don't try to bring any souvenirs you buy from there on the ship with you!

 

[RayOfRedondo]

When I sailed the Wonder in October 2012 the ship sailed beyond land sight. Sorry to disappoint.

It is interesting to get up early as we arrive in San Francisco. It was sooooo foggy that we did not see the Golden Gate Bridge until we were about 100 feet from it. Let's hope for a clearer day this time.

Ray

Does anyone know if while sailing up the California coast if you can see the coastline during the day or is the ship too far out at sea? Gonna ask on FB as well.