Sept 20,2011 Wonder Repositioning Cruise

[CADZNYCHC]

Welcome Brenda.

Thank you!!!

Garlic capital of the world! LOL! Know it well... my sister used to live close to there.

Welcome to the meet thread!

Thanks!!! Yes good ole garlic!!!!

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Have read up thru page 11; and now I think I'll convince my friend that Amtrak out of san jose is the way to go leaving sat 17th arriving Sunday or maybe fri 16th with a days stop in Seattle - neither of us hv been there but still gives us a full day in Vancouver! Thx for the ideas my travel brain is in full gear right now!!!

Jennifer we will join the FE just need to finalize who will be going and then I'll get u that info

Whats up with Ensenada?? If it's dangerous port I don't think dcl will stop there....they hv canceled other stops because of high risk....

Looking forward to this cruise and the sea days - it will keep me going till jan

 

[M4travels]

Whats up with Ensenada?? If it's dangerous port I don't think dcl will stop there....they hv canceled other stops because of high risk....

I don't think of Ensenada as a dangerous port, but it's certainly not a pretty one IMO. We stopped there years back on a short 3-nighter on the old NCL Star. One of the excursions we did was a winery tour and it really was quite interesting to compare what CA did up in the Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties to what was going on in Ensenada. I haven't looked at the excursions but we'll probably find something to do!

Michael

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Garlic capital of the world! LOL! Know it well... my sister used to live close to there.

Welcome to the meet thread!

Where in the midwest are you located?? I'm originally from Nebr / Iowa....did your sister live in Morgan Hill?

I don't think of Ensenada as a dangerous port, but it's certainly not a pretty one IMO. We stopped there years back on a short 3-nighter on the old NCL Star. One of the excursions we did was a winery tour and it really was quite interesting to compare what CA did up in the Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties to what was going on in Ensenada. I haven't looked at the excursions but we'll probably find something to do!

Michael

oh in this case too bad we weren't stopping in San Diego then
i haven't even begun to look at excursions for Victoria or Ensenada...but maybe the 2 (or 4) of us will just stay on board in Mexico - def want to explore Victoria....wow if the majority stays onboard the ship at Ensenada, DCL may want to reconsider a stop there on future sailings....

Still looking at what day to leave san jose/and whether to take a day in Seattle or ride straight thru to Vancouver....humm - so many decisions!!! but so happy to have this cruise in the works. Have already alerted my TA as to what we want to book monday

 

[Steffy]

I'm going to do some sort of excursion in Mexico. Probably the shopping/wine or two vineyard tour. This is my first visit to the left coast, except for a short stay in Sacramento for a conference, so I want to explore. The shore excursions aren't that expensive and I like the crutch of Disney's blessing.

Now I love the Wonder and this will be the tie breaker cruise. But for me, a couple of hours in port won't be cheating. I hope to make it back in time for the spa special!

 

[~Dani~]

Hi everyone, and welcome to all those I haven't greeted! This thread has certainly increased since I last checked in!

Had a look at all the shore excursions and DH and I will probably do the castle one in Victoria and the tequila one in Ensenada.

We're still looking at hotels in both Seattle and Vancouver, but will wait closer to the time to book and see if there are any post-summer offers. For Anaheim, we're pretty sure we will stay at the Doubletree, as we stayed there before and really enjoyed it.

So excited now!

We also plan to book our next cruise while on board - Sept. 2012 from NY to Canada. Can't wait for this one either!

 

[Camonkeygirl]

Have read up thru page 11; and now I think I'll convince my friend that Amtrak out of san jose is the way to go leaving sat 17th arriving Sunday or maybe fri 16th with a days stop in Seattle - neither of us hv been there but still gives us a full day in Vancouver! Thx for the ideas my travel brain is in full gear right now!!!

Jennifer we will join the FE just need to finalize who will be going and then I'll get u that info

Whats up with Ensenada?? If it's dangerous port I don't think dcl will stop there....they hv canceled other stops because of high risk....

Looking forward to this cruise and the sea days - it will keep me going till jan

Brenda - will you be on the Coast Starlight? DH and I are leaving San Diego on Sat. the 17th and heading straight through to Vancouver to a hotel

 

[CADZNYCHC]

Brenda - will you be on the Coast Starlight? DH and I are leaving San Diego on Sat. the 17th and heading straight through to Vancouver to a hotel

We would board at San Jose station at 8;35 but we have to get off in seattle and then take a bus
OR pay another $40 to take the train up thru Vancouver....i just don't get that at all....but i'm going to call amtrak and see about going straight thru - maybe i'm reading something wrong. We would arrive Van about 12:20 am Monday a.m.
We want to tour Vanc Monday & tuesday a.m.

 

[Camonkeygirl]

We would board at San Jose station at 8;35 but we have to get off in seattle and then take a bus
OR pay another $40 to take the train up thru Vancouver....i just don't get that at all....but i'm going to call amtrak and see about going straight thru - maybe i'm reading something wrong. We would arrive Van about 12:20 am Monday a.m.
We want to tour Vanc Monday & tuesday a.m.

There is only a bus most nights that run into Vancouver. There is the Cascade that runs into Vancouver on set days. The Coast Starlight only runs to Seattle, which is it's last stop. We are doing to bus and the 12:20 arrival Monday Morning. We are hoping to get to sleep quickly and do some exploring also.

Our trip consists of San Diego (boarding the Surfliner at 0615) to LA; LA to Seattle; then the bus from Seattle to Vancouver. We also have a roomette on the LA to Seattle leg, as it gives us a bit of privacy and a bed to sleep in and food is included

 

[CADZNYCHC]

There is only a bus most nights that run into Vancouver. There is the Cascade that runs into Vancouver on set days. The Coast Starlight only runs to Seattle, which is it's last stop. We are doing to bus and the 12:20 arrival Monday Morning. We are hoping to get to sleep quickly and do some exploring also.

Our trip consists of San Diego (boarding the Surfliner at 0615) to LA; LA to Seattle; then the bus from Seattle to Vancouver. We also have a roomette on the LA to Seattle leg, as it gives us a bit of privacy and a bed to sleep in and food is included

aweswome - so we are on the same train....what hotel (or have you) booked for Vancouver?

 

[Camonkeygirl]

aweswome - so we are on the same train....what hotel (or have you) booked for Vancouver?

We booked at the Ramada Limited Downtown Vancouver. It is about 1/2 way between the Train Terminal and the Cruise Ship Terminal and fit into our tight budget.

Are you going to have a room on the train or are you just doing the general seating?

 

[CADZNYCHC]

We are just going to book reg seats - they look like comfy recliners & trying to keep the costs down as much as possible

 

[Camonkeygirl]

We are just going to book reg seats - they look like comfy recliners & trying to keep the costs down as much as possible

They are equal to 1st class seats on the plane. maybe we can meet on the train. (sorry about the capitalization - it is hard to type with 2 cats on my lap - one is half on the laptop)

 

[CrystalS]

for those that are going to Disneyland after but NOT staying at a Disney hotel, have you decided on your transportation yet? If so what did you pick and why??

 

[yukongirl123]

for those that are going to Disneyland after but NOT staying at a Disney hotel, have you decided on your transportation yet? If so what did you pick and why??

Crystal, we did the MR cruise in March and ended up prebooking a shared van with Supershuttle online from the Port to the Candy Cane Inn. Supershuttle had slightly better reviews than Prime Time Shuttles

There was just the two of us, so the cost was less than $70 (I think). The down side to this-the weather was relly miserable when we got to Port, and we arrived an hour later than we should have. Also just because you have prepaid with Supershuttle, doesn't mean you get on the bus any sooner, you have to wait in line. We had to wait about 90 minutes outside in the rain.

Next time we go to DL from the Port, we'll spend the extra money and will just grab a cab to DL.

This we are doing B2B cruises, and heading straight to the airport...no DL until next April....

Janice

 

[yukongirl123]

It looks like i'll be adding on to this cruise.....SOOOO wanted to do Barcelona, but couldnt find anyone that could be gone that long (my DH refuses to cruise); DS will be back in college etc....so i have a good friend who will be joining, and possibly her daughter...and maybe even her DSIL...asked my DD too; but her little guy will only about 8 mos old, so doubt she'll go and her DH may want to be along for their son's first Disney cruise.

Anyway, this will be my 6th cruise (all Disney), and i have two planned for 2012 = Jan Mexican Riviera & Oct 2012 my 2nd Eastern but on the Fantasy!!!

Guess i need to go back thru the pages and get caught up with everyone!!
Will confirm next week if we're going for sure...

Welcome Aboard!

 

[yukongirl123]

I don't think of Ensenada as a dangerous port, but it's certainly not a pretty one IMO. We stopped there years back on a short 3-nighter on the old NCL Star. One of the excursions we did was a winery tour and it really was quite interesting to compare what CA did up in the Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties to what was going on in Ensenada. I haven't looked at the excursions but we'll probably find something to do!

Michael

I'm going to do some sort of excursion in Mexico. Probably the shopping/wine or two vineyard tour. This is my first visit to the left coast, except for a short stay in Sacramento for a conference, so I want to explore. The shore excursions aren't that expensive and I like the crutch of Disney's blessing.


Now I love the Wonder and this will be the tie breaker cruise. But for me, a couple of hours in port won't be cheating. I hope to make it back in time for the spa special!

I would love to do the wine tour, but I think this would not be Trevor's idea of fun...if it was up to him, he would stay on the ship and dance with all the princess's!

Janice

 

[rosiep]

They are equal to 1st class seats on the plane. maybe we can meet on the train. (sorry about the capitalization - it is hard to type with 2 cats on my lap - one is half on the laptop)

Hi!

I was considering taking the train from Portland. I love the rails. In the end I decided to fly and take some time in Vancouver.

I've take the train cross country twice...the sleeping cars are so expensive..but for a 3 day trip well worth it. (at least it was 17 years ago..I bet they're outrageous now.)

 

[KatiezMom]

for those that are going to Disneyland after but NOT staying at a Disney hotel, have you decided on your transportation yet? If so what did you pick and why??

We were going to stay at the Grand Californian which was my dream but have switched to the Annabella, we have stayed before and loved it and I get to at least walk threw the GC to get to the park (its something at least The $1200 savings paid for the flights and tickets into Disneyland with a couple hundred left over for shopping

As for transport, we are looking at a limo services from limo.com (suggestion from someone on the boards) and its looks like its going to cost around $120 for the 4 of us. I haven't priced out anything else at the moment so I am not sure how that compares to other ways to go.

Michelle

 

[Makayna]

for those that are going to Disneyland after but NOT staying at a Disney hotel, have you decided on your transportation yet? If so what did you pick and why??

We picked....... sister!