MUSH! Going to Alaska - August 19, 2013 7 Night from Vancouver

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Wow, I can't believe I am actually getting to start a Cruise Meet Thread!

I just booked this today. Actually, it is a cruise that I have been moving around now for quite some time for many reasons. But this is where I am pretty sure I am settling down.

Since I will be cruising solo, I decided I wanted to go somewhere a bit more exotic than just the Eastern or the Western. So Alaska it is!

I realize that at the moment, I am really just talking to myself. Hopefully sooner or later some others will show up here. If not, guess I just keep talking to myself.

This cruise is going to make me part of the Grand Slam Club. I will have sailed on all four ships.

So MUSH!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

This space reserved for useful information links

Vancouver FAQ Thread Started in 2009 but still useful!

The 2011 Alaskan Thread Older, but still useful thread

Cruising Alaska - Must Haves/Do

Alaska Excursions--post your reviews here From previous cruises

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2905629 Camera for Alaskan Cruise

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2904687 Binoculars for Alaskan Cruise

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

This space reserved for info on hotels and airfare information

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

ROLL CALL:

(1) ThePhantomsGirl
Holly, Solo cruiser

(2) Socababy
Socababy and kids
Age 10
Age 8
Age 5

(3) Socababy's Friends:
DW
DH, & Kids
Age 10
Age 5

(4) Tink1963
Tink
DH

(5)Michellekcm
Michelle
DH & kids
Age 4
Age 1

(6)Aby
Aby
DH

(7) Mndisneygirl
Sheree
(DH) Dave
(DD) Sarah 12
(DD) Paige 10

(8) LisaG250
Lisa
(DH) Darrell

(9) Sister & Niece of LisaG250
(DS) Jen
(DN) Lila (11)

(10) Aunt and Friend of LisaG250
(DA) Kathi
(DF) Carol

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Okay, so I'm still happily talking to myself! Hmmm, what if I end up being the ONLY DIS'er on this cruise?

Anyway I'm in a really good mood this morning. I just was able to snag cabin #7120 for this cruise. One of the "secret" verandas that was a Cat 5, but reclassified as a Cat 7 because of a slight obstruction. Saved me about $723.

Had to be on hold for quite awhile, but it was worth it. The DCL rep kept singing to me! I'd said "chances are" in relation to something and he started singing the song. He said he'd heard that song on the way into work and it stuck in his head. And then I came up with that phrase. I love it when DCL reps are fun!

I did add on DCL air but chances are lmao: ) I will cancel it. I just wanted to book it just in case.

If anyone is reading this - hello! If not, guess I am just having a great time all by myself (strains of "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen).

 

[socababy]

Hello! My kids and I are also booked on this cruise! My kids will be 10, 8 and 5 at sail time. As of right now, I have my friend, her Dh and her 3 kids (same ages and gender as mine) also going on this cruise. I have a feeling though that her family will have grown by cruise time!

My DH and I cruised to Alaska on Holland America with our boys back in July of 2006. It was an awesome trip, so beautiful! Hopefully the kids will get more enjoyment out of the sights more so than last time since they were so little. I'll post pics of our trip periodically to help with everyone's excitement! We sailed out of Seattle for that trip but I am looking forward to spending a few days in Vancouver before this cruise.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Welcome!

I was beginning to wonder if anyone would be on this cruise with me. So thank you for joining in!

 

[tink1963]

HI I am also booked on this cruise.

It is just me and DH.

We sailed DCL to alaska last year on the Aug 23rd cruise. Booked a dummy on board and got lucky as the dummy was one of the MR cruises that was cancelled. Which gave me an additional OBC for the "inconvience". Moved to this cruise when dates were announced, which was my plan all along.

ThePhantomsGirl, we had 7120 last year. This year I went with 7620.

Looking forward to chatting with you all as time goes by and we get closer to our sail date.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Hi Tink!

I'm so glad to have a previous Alaska cruiser, and someone who did near the same time frame as this one.

I'm sure we'll ask you tons of questions as the time gets nearer.

 

[tink1963]

Hi Tink!

I'm so glad to have a previous Alaska cruiser, and someone who did near the same time frame as this one.

I'm sure we'll ask you tons of questions as the time gets nearer.

Ask away. Last time the weather was good and animal sightings were amazing which is why we chose the same time of year again. We are even planning on doing the same excursion in Ketchikan again.

Heres a quick run down on our cruise plans from last year. Spend a few days in Seattle (flew in there), train to vancouver where we spent a day and half before sailing. Quick shuttle back to seattle and flew home the next day.

 

[michellekcm]

Hi. We'll be on this cruise too.

There's myself, DH, and 2 kids. One will be 4, and the other will be just under 1. Also, my mother is coming, and hopefully my sister. I've booked for her, but she isn't ready to commit just yet. We've booked 2 cabins across the hall from each other - we wanted a balcony, but my mother was happy to have an inside cabin and just share our balcony, so that worked well.

DH, myself, and our daughter did a DCL Caribbean cruise last year, and decided that one day we wanted to do Alaska. My mother has always wanted to do an Alaska cruise as well, but her partner isn't interested, so we figured she might as well come with us. And, I was very jealous on our last cruise of all the people with grandparents there and their ability to have a small break. Don't get me wrong, I love our daughter, and the point was to have a family holiday, but it would have been nice to have one dinner without constantly chasing after her, or one of us taking her out to the lounges, etc. At least this year she can go to the kids club.

We're coming from Australia, so it will be part of a bigger trip including Disneyland and visiting friends in various parts of the US.

 

[Aby]

Hi everyone!

My hubby & I (thirty somethings!) will be joining you on this cruise! We went on the August 16th Alaska cruise last year and absolutely LOVED it and can't wait to go back. It will just be the two of us

If anyone has any questions for us, I'd be happy to answer. I even have the navigator's from last years cruise saved if anyone wants some information off of those.

Looking forward to getting to know you all over the next year and a half!

Aby

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Welcome MicheleKCM and Aby!

I'm so happy to find out that there are actually people coming on the cruise with me!

Wow, we have return Alaskan cruisers! I suspect you will be invaluable to us newbies. I have been trying to read any threads about previous cruises.

Right now I am trying to figure out when and where, as far as getting there. I am coming from the Orlando area so it's a long flight, so there is no way I would ever consider coming in the same day. There are many options:

Fly into Vancouver a day or two early.
Fly into Seattle and train to Vancouver

The hotels in Vancouver are really pricey. I looked at the Pacific Rim's rack rates and in August of this year it's almost $500 a night! However, I think past cruisers have found better rates on Priceline or Hotwire.

I'm also thinking I might like to do one of the train rides to Whistler.

As far as the cruise itself, not sure yet what I'll do for port adventures. A helicopter tour sounds exciting.

Holly

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

For the previous Alaskan cruisers: Have any of you spent any time in Whistler?

At the moment, I am thinking that not only might I want to do a train trip to there, I might like to stay a day or two. The spa springs look heavenly, and I'm someone who just loves beautiful scenery. I'm not very athletic due to balance issues and sometimes use a cane. So, won't be doing any heavy hiking or stuff like that. But Whistler looks beautiful!

 

[Aby]

As far as the hotels in Vancouver, yes, they are usually pricey. However, last year I booked through Disney and got a beautiful room at the Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront right across from the port for 279$. I was able to literally watch the boat pull into the harbor the morning of the cruise! It was well worth the money and very close to a little hub for all the trolly's and sight seeing buses.

Check out the view!

I would highly recommend giving yourself at least a full day in Vancouver before the cruise. The morning of the cruise I wouldn't count on doing anything else but ogling the ship and counting down the minutes till you can get on! We had a good time riding the trolly around Vancouver, checking out the aquarium and just wandering downtown and relaxing, but we really felt we could use another day so we will probably add one on this time if we can.

Aby

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Thanks Aby!

Okay, for hotels in Vancouver either the Pan Pacific or Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront are my top choices. I'll try either AAA rates or Hotwire when the time comes that I can book.

I definitely will come in early! Right now it depends on what I can afford. My dream plans would be to spend two days in Whistler, and then two in Vancouver.

 

[socababy]

How far out do hotels typically let you book? ONce you book, can you get credited if the price goes down? I like the idea of staying right there at the port because from what I have read from past TRs, it is just a walk across the street to the ship!

 

[Aby]

Most hotels let you book at least a year in advance online, and some allow even further out than that by phone. Also, if you book online, most hotels don't require a deposit unless you are booking their "pay in advance" rate, which is typically lower than all other rates but requires full payment at time of booking and is non-refundable, and not able to be changed in any way. So if you book a room, and you see a better rate later, you can always call and see if they will give you the better rate, and if they won't, you can rebook and cancel the first with no penalty as long as you are outside the penalty window (for most hotels, 3 days).

I loved staying at the Fairmont right across from the port - you're right - it was wonderful just walking across to the port and we were able to save a bit of money as we could just wheel our luggage over with us!

Aby

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I'm trying to find that out myself. I've been reading the very long, but VERY informative Vancouver FAQ thread that I put the link for in the #2 post on here.

It seems that you can book and cancel as long as you do it within the hotel's guidelines. (probably a number of days) and then try for Hotwire or other deals. **I just looked on the Pan Pacific site and they have a Best Rate Guarantee! They will match and give an extra 10%.

**I see Aby was answering this too while I was typing!**

I also like the idea of staying right near the port. They even will take your luggage TO the ship for you, and DCL appears to have a check-in desk right at the Pan Pacific, and maybe the Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront too as that is one of the hotels DCL uses. As a solo traveler with a slight mobility issue (cane) that would be worth a lot to me for ease.

I'm thinking the hotels release maybe a year out?

 

[tink1963]

As far as the hotels in Vancouver, yes, they are usually pricey. However, last year I booked through Disney and got a beautiful room at the Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront right across from the port for 279$. I was able to literally watch the boat pull into the harbor the morning of the cruise! It was well worth the money and very close to a little hub for all the trolly's and sight seeing buses.

Check out the view!

I would highly recommend giving yourself at least a full day in Vancouver before the cruise. The morning of the cruise I wouldn't count on doing anything else but ogling the ship and counting down the minutes till you can get on! We had a good time riding the trolly around Vancouver, checking out the aquarium and just wandering downtown and relaxing, but we really felt we could use another day so we will probably add one on this time if we can.

Aby

I so agree with Aby, we are thinking about adding an additional day . We had 1 1/2 days in vancouver. We stayed at the Pan Pacific at 149.00 per night on AAA rate. I just kept checking daily until I found the rates I thought was good and book through the hotel web site. It was nice on the day of boarding cause the Bellhops will come and take your luggage down for you, so all we had to deal with was our carry ons. On our free days before sailing we did the Hop on Hop off bus. spent some time on Granville Island. Would like to spend more time in Stanley Park on this upcoming trip.