Recently off Wonder any Alaska/Vancouver questions?

[Snowwhyt]

Here's what I did but I don't want to bore people with details. What would you like to know? I'd be happy to detail below.
I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin flew on Delta to Vancouver from Minneapolis. I traveled with the 16-year-old girl and two 73-year-old adults.
Took a yellow cab/van to our Sylvia hotel. Spent the next two nights before our cruise in Vancouver.
Use the hop on hop off Vancouver trolley. (English Bay, False Creek Ferries, Granville Island, Science World, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Steamclock, Canada Place, Stanley Park Aquarium, Prospect Point)
Took a yellow van/cab to the port($10 Canadian with 4 adults and 9 bags of luggage.) Boarded the Wonder in Vancouver on our fourth of July to Alaska.
Robert was our captain, Trent was our cruise director.
Went to Endicott instead of Tracy arm. Took the "Tracy Arm" ferry at the 3 o'clock slot.
Skagway we walked the town.
Juneau we took the Harv And Marv whale watching tour.
Ketchikan we had the Bering Sea crab fishermen excursion.
Got the photo disk.
Rented a SUV from at the ships port when we arrived back in Vancouver.
Capilano suspension bridge.
Two more nights in Vancouver at Holiday Inn and Suites.
I plan to update this first post as questions appear.

 

[minniebeth]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! Thank you so much for sharing your itinerary and helping out with questions!
First of all, I'm so glad everything worked out for you with your passports! I didn't comment on your thread, but I was sending tons of pixie dust your way! I think I bit off most of my nails on your behalf...seriously!

What time does the Wonder come back into port in Vancouver at the end of the trip? I'm sure it's early, just wondering approximately what time?

I have a DD similar in age to yours~ what did she like to do on the ship? Did she do any of the nature talks? Vibe? Does the Vibe have any special Alaskan oriented activities or are they all pretty much the same as on most of DCL's itneraries?

Did you book your Ketchikan excursion through DCL or on your own?

Thanks so much!!

 

[Snowwhyt]

I believe it is supposed to arrive at 6:45 but but was 45 minutes late I was told one of our fellow cruise members who is watching the ship come into port that morning. They were very late in calling off the first loading group. I believe it was near 12:00. I never found out why the delay. When we came back we had stopped to get fuel in the morning.

My daughter did go to the nature talks. But not the Vibe. She was kind of upset because the naturists second talk. He spoke about pets being eaten as if it were expected by wild animals. I think in the middle of our cruise we ended up with a different naturalist. I can't be sure though, because after that second talking my daughter got so upset she and my father never went again.

My daughter was most interested in doing the game shows offered for families.

Harv and Marv I booked on my own with a group from another social media chat site. The Bering Sea crab fishermen I booked through DCL and of course Tracy arm excursion.

 

[Bethanie1]

Glad you had fun! Did you like the photo package? How did that work??? Lots of places that take your photo? Will Disney people take photos with your phone/camera? Trying to decide if digital package is right for us.
Thanks! How was travel for 73 year olds? My mom is close to that age.

 

[AAAG]

Hi, a few questions.
On the Tracy Arm/Endicott excursion, did you happen to notice if there were young kids (ie < 7)? Or were they mostly older kids?
Where did you rent your SUV from? Was it walking distance from the ship?
How busy was Capilano Bridge on a monday?
Thanks!

 

[xlxo]

• Which sailing where you on?
• What was your PAT time? When did you get to the cruise terminal? When did you finally get to board?
• What was your debarkation time? When did you get to walk the plank? When did you get to the taxi stand to your hotel? Did you think debarkation was efficient or slow in any way?

 

[Snowwhyt]

Glad you had fun! Did you like the photo package? How did that work??? Lots of places that take your photo? Will Disney people take photos with your phone/camera? Trying to decide if digital package is right for us.
Thanks! How was travel for 73 year olds? My mom is close to that age.

Well I just got home last night and my husband wants all the suitcases empty and laundry done and put away. There goes my royalty complex. I was a queen for a week now I'm a scullery maiden.
While I was on the ship I checked out the first two days photos and they were all there. I'm assuming the rest are all there. This year my daughter and my parents said no characters. To my delight there were characterless options each night. I did not purchase the actual photos themselves, just the CD. I still have not used the last two cruises photos but I do make a photo book. If I print a few it would still be less than $20 worth. So I will get back to you on the photos.

So as for the near 73....
Couple of things to be considered.
Is she an early riser?
Does she need to sleep in?
Does she take naps? If you miss a nap, can you keep from missing one the next day? (2 days in a row can be too hard.)
There is a time change, if your from the east coast the ships breakfast may be served at your normal lunch time. As for us, we were always walking home from dinner at 1 AM. Eating late can cause people digestive problems. Be flexible to visit the buffet instead of main dining rooms for dinner. Also use the food service around the pool area or room service. I'm saying, think about Plan B and be willing to use it.
Excursions can sometimes have more activity than you plan.
The Ketchikan Bering Sea crab excursion, I took my parents on, required kind of a quick walk. My dad has no feeling in his diabetic feet. We fell behind, compared to the rest of the group. You can often fit 2 or maybe 3 excursions in a day, but my parents were spent after one. So see if your mom wants to have some time to rest or just walk around town a little at a slower pace.
If you can tell me a little more about her, I'll be happy to help you with scenarios that you should consider.

 

[Aby]

Did you keep copies of the navigators that you could post for us?

Glad you had a great time - 29 days left to wait for me!

Aby

 

[Snowwhyt]

Hi, a few questions.
On the Tracy Arm/Endicott excursion, did you happen to notice if there were young kids (ie < 7)? Or were they mostly older kids?
Where did you rent your SUV from? Was it walking distance from the ship?
How busy was Capilano Bridge on a monday?
Thanks!

To be honest I can't remember any young <7 kids. I don't imagine it would seem very different to them or carry any more special meaning than the view from the ship. It may not be worth taking them if they enjoy the clubs.
Renting the SUV was SO easy. I was shocked. I had just picked up our luggage and walked through the next door and there was National/Avis/Alamo/??? It was only one small desk but they all in one spot. I had a car reserved but 9 suitcases required more room so I was able to upgrade. And I just dropped it off at the airport.
Capilano Bridge on a Monday. I drove there about 6 or 7pm. No lines later in the day, but I can see they are prepared for big lines. I see they offer an evening special so if you can go later is better. But it's tons of walking and even more stairs. Have anyone who can't walk visit the gift shop(it's huge) while you check out the trails on the other side of the bridge. Be sure to plan about 3 or more hours to see the trails on the other side of the bridge. Otherwise one hour visit will let you see the bridge and walk the short trail/walkways by the gift shop. Bring bug spray, they looked at me like I was asking for a third eye for my forehead at the gift shop.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Did you keep copies of the navigators that you could post for us?

Glad you had a great time - 29 days left to wait for me!

Aby

I do have navigators and the shopping papers too. But they weren't any different than the ones from earlier in June. Did you see those? What were you looking for?

 

[Snowwhyt]

• Which sailing where you on?
• What was your PAT time? When did you get to the cruise terminal? When did you finally get to board?
• What was your debarkation time? When did you get to walk the plank? When did you get to the taxi stand to your hotel? Did you think debarkation was efficient or slow in any way?

4th of July, I just got off 5 days ago.
The ship got in about 45 or more minutes late.
I got there at 10:30 got group 6 and it all went very quickly but tons of walking, until it came to a screeching halt. Around 12:00 group 1 got to board after family of the day. Then every 7-10 minutes they would call group 1 & 2, then 1, 2 & 3, then 1, 2, 3 & 4, it was about every 5 minutes at the point when we went. People were skipping the photo lines. I got right to lunch and then my meet and greet by 1:45.
My debarkation time was super late. I think it's because I was staying at a local hotel. My breakfast was at 8:45 think I was the second to last one off the ship.
If I was to give a debarkation comment; luggage was a problem on the ship at breakfast. A large number of people, in a good sized hallway, with extra large luggage that should have been off the ship the night before. People MUST walk right past the luggage once they get off the ship. I can understand 1 piece of luggage but when the whole families brings everything. There is no room for that.

I did not take a cab away from the port. I rented a car and dropped it off at the airport 2 days later.

 

[Mrs Green]

To be honest I can't remember any young <7 kids. I don't imagine it would seem very different to them or carry any more special meaning than the view from the ship. It may not be worth taking them if they enjoy the clubs.
Renting the SUV was SO easy. I was shocked. I had just picked up our luggage and walked through the next door and there was National/Avis/Alamo/??? It was only one small desk but they all in one spot. I had a car reserved but 9 suitcases required more room so I was able to upgrade. And I just dropped it off at the airport.
Capilano Bridge on a Monday. I drove there about 6 or 7pm. No lines later in the day, but I can see they are prepared for big lines. I see they offer an evening special so if you can go later is better. But it's tons of walking and even more stairs. Have anyone who can't walk visit the gift shop(it's huge) while you check out the trails on the other side of the bridge. Be sure to plan about 3 or more hours to see the trails on the other side of the bridge. Otherwise one hour visit will let you see the bridge and walk the short trail/walkways by the gift shop. Bring bug spray, they looked at me like I was asking for a third eye for my forehead at the gift shop.

I'm glad to know renting a car after the cruise is easy, as that is what we are doing too. The logistics of luggage, kids, getting the car had me a little nervous but it sounds like we will be fine.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I'm glad to know renting a car after the cruise is easy, as that is what we are doing too. The logistics of luggage, kids, getting the car had me a little nervous but it sounds like we will be fine.

Getting the car is easy but parking once you get it is a costly endeavor. There is no free space in Vancouver. Take a picture of your plates on your phone to carry it with you. You will park your car and locate a parking station where you will enter your plate and then your credit card. I only found a few that take money but it's $7-8 for about 3 hours. Your coins are of no use.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

We were hoping to use: http://www.cdsbaggage.ca vs. renting a car. Anyone know the cost? Any positive/negative experiences? We don't have to be at the airport until shortly before 5 after the cruise.

 

[xlxo]

Car rental ease in Vancouver depends on who you choose.

• National, Alamo, and Enterprise has a small fleet at the cruise terminal. You want to reserve those vehicles a few month in advance to secure availability. Luggage friendly minivans are the first to be sold out.
• Hertz likes you see luggage dragged three blocks to the Pacific Rim hotel
• Avis likes to see their customers wait for the shuttle.
• Others are best with a cab.

Suburb hotels offer free parking. I recommending planning days with and without a rental car to save money on parking.

CDS luggage is around 7 to 9 CDN dollars to hold bags at the cruise terminal til 4pm. CAN$10 a bag to sent to a hotel or airport (min 4 bags). If you want your bags sent to a hotel/airport.... the shipping occurs after 4pm (or when the truck is full).

Some have said the CDS line can be long as they are super popular.

Some say the nearby hotels will hold your bags for a little less.

 

[Snowwhyt]

We were hoping to use: http://www.cdsbaggage.ca vs. renting a car. Anyone know the cost? Any positive/negative experiences? We don't have to be at the airport until shortly before 5 after the cruise.

I had a friend take this option and he loved it. $10 a bag and they were right at the airport. Then he later that day took the train to the airport for $7. He was very pleased.

 

[micknme]

Thanks for all your info Snowwhyt. You have been a big help. I do have a question for you. Are their any luggage carts in the terminal? There appears to be a lot of walking before we get rid of our luggage and since we have a senior with us, a luggage cart would be so helpful.
Thanks again.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Thanks for all your info Snowwhyt. You have been a big help. I do have a question for you. Are their any luggage carts in the terminal? There appears to be a lot of walking before we get rid of our luggage and since we have a senior with us, a luggage cart would be so helpful.
Thanks again.

It would sound that way, but it's not. I got out of the cab underground at Canada Place and a (Disney/Vancouver Port Employee) took our luggage except for the one we wanted to carry. Even before my parents got out of the van!
Vancouver was nothing like PC except you can get rid of luggage in the parking lot by the door and at PC you go into the door and turn over your luggage.
PC you go up the escalator and stop once to finish your paper work.
Vancouver you go up an escalator after a short walk, and start the process with Disney employees then...things get fuzzy for me.

Here was what I read on this board before I went on that another cruiser had posted. Seems like I had more walking after #3 with another 2 "show your passport areas then keep walking" each time I went through a door.
"""We arrived around 10:15 or 10:30 with a 11:30 PAT. The order was:

1. Bag drop off (simple)

2. Directed to the Disney check in room
- We had to wait about 10 minutes for the check in lines to open, and then about 10 mins in the Castaway Club line. The first timer line was quicker for my brother and his wife!

3. A long walk outside backtracking to US Customs -- mostly harmless. But this was a change in the order from above. Maybe by putting customs after check in, it slows down the pace naturally and doesn't create a big backlog.

4. Directed to another waiting room before the boarding room since we were so early.

5. After a bit, directed to sit in the boarding room. Mickey showed up a little while later for pictures, and then we boarded when our number was called.""""
We started the same as the person above but nobody boarded much before 12:00. Ship got in late and the seating area was very crowded when they finally called out first family, Platinums and then group 1.

 

[micknme]

Thanks again. Sounds like luggage won't be a problem and I guess maybe we can grab a wheelchair if we think the walk might be a problem for our senior.
You have really helped clear up all our questions so we think you are awesome for taking the time for such a detailed answer!!!

 

[Snowwhyt]

Thanks again. Sounds like luggage won't be a problem and I guess maybe we can grab a wheelchair if we think the walk might be a problem for our senior.
You have really helped clear up all our questions so we think you are awesome for taking the time for such a detailed answer!!!

I wonder if you could call and have one reserved? If the older member that your concerned about said they think they can do it, remind them they will want to use their energy to explore the ship(or take long walks going the wrong way to find your stateroom) A relaxing cruise can be a lot of walking, my parents told me.