The Wonder to Alaska - June 14 - 21, 2011 (from start to finish - 7/17/2011)

[Doingitagain]

Was Clayton still the cruise Director on the Wonder for your sailing?

Clayton became Cruise Director on the July 5 sailing when Christian went on vacation.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Since this was the last night on board, we were required to go to the main dining room for dinner (well, BBB wasn't open) so we were back in Tritons. We went by Promenade Lounge for one last chips-and-salsa time with Alex and Justin performing (I can't remember if I mentioned this, but earlier in the week, they came over and talked to us a bit - Alex had been on the Wonder as a performer and was in Toy Story the Musical as the back end of Slinky dog as well as being a "swing performer" meaning she could fill in for any of the stage shows).

Dinner was at Tritons and our last night, so things were a little hectic in the dining room. Our service was good, but the Til We Meet Again is not one of our favorite menu's. As it turned out, Zachary and I ordered the steak (minus the sauce) and enjoyed our dinner. Nathan couldn't decide but since they had a linguine-based pasta dish, we ended up ordering him a bowl of linguine, plain. Gary ordered the vegetarian dish which was a hot-mess and disgusting - I don't remember what it was called but I thought he had ordered it on our last cruise and didn't like it, but he ordered it again this time - and this time FOR SURE he didn't like it - it was awful. Zachary and I gave him our potatoes and vegetables plus he'd had the bread - our server brought out a chicken dish even though Gary had insisted he didn't want it. There just wasn't anything on the menu he wanted - he would've been better off with a bowl of noodles like Nathan. As it turned out, the boy at the table next to us ended up with a bowl of noodles like Nathan had after they spent five minutes trying to figure out what to order for him - they looked over and saw that's what Nathan had and ended up with that for their son.

And at the table on our other side, we'd enjoyed talking with them a bit - a grandma, mom, son-in-law, and granddaughter who was about two years old. They were very nice, but by this last night, the baby had had enough - and since dinner was taking long, she really had enough - and bless her heart, she tossed something and a glass broke and went everywhere. Our waitstaff plus head waiter were there in a flash to clean it up and they felt bad but it was just one of those things where you could tell that it was time to be done.

One of the questions I asked at the Captain's Corner was whether the Captain preferred the longer cruises over the shorter ones that the Wonder had been doing. He said he'd not done the shorter ones on the Wonder - in fact, one of his stipulations in coming to work for DCL was that he would be on the Magic for the longer cruises - so when they moved the Wonder to the west coast for the longer ones, he was willing to make the switch of ships.

Anyway, we made it through dinner and went out to just watch the scenery going by - our last night. Everything was done - I'd gotten all the paperwork we needed and filled out, the packing was done and suitcases ready to go out and it was time to just relax.

I wanted to go see the Platt Brothers do their adult program which started at 10:30. I met one of our friends in WaveBands for the show - much of it was the same as they'd done in the theater the night before but the stage is so much smaller and they adapted well. After the show, it was time for the Pub Skit which I've seen a time or two but it's always been done in a standing-room-only Diversions, so it was nice they went ahead and did it on the stage in WaveBands - our friend had not seen it before so it was fun to watch his reaction. It still cracks me up!

Then it was time to say goodnight and go to bed - early rise and shine in the morning for debarkation.

 

[Joanna71985]

Love the TR! I really, really, really want to do the Alaskan cruise. Hopefully next year

 

[nzdisneymom]

I'll go ahead and finish up now that I'm on a roll

Tuesday, June 21st - Debarkation Day

We always hate the last morning of the cruise. 1) We have to get up super early, usually after being up late the night before. 2) Our cruise is over. 3) We have to start paying in restaurants again. 4) We have to leave.

We had "Early Debarkation" because our flight was scheduled for 12:15. Earlier in the week, we'd had a notice to let Guest Services know if our filghts were before 12:30. Because we did our air through DCL, they already knew

Early debarkation meant we had to be in the Walt Disney Theater by 7:45 to wait until we were allowed to disembark the ship. We set the wake-up call for 6:30 to give us time to get breakfast, pack up the last of our stuff, and still be at the WDT on time. They had told us we would be in the first group off that they would call - we had the yellow chip and dale tags.

So off to breakfast, a quick walk around the ship for a few more pictures of Vancouver, and get ready to go. Around 7:30, they called for anyone who was carrying off their own bags that they could go. In hindsight, we should've done that - although it was fine to have them handle it for us. If we'd done it ourselves, we would've been able to just pack everything in the bags and not have to shuffle things around in the port terminal after getting our bags and before heading to the airport - that would've been easier - especially since we only had three rolling bags and each of us had a backpack/daybag - with four of us, we could easily manage.

Anyway, we went to the WDT and took a seat in the first row of the upper section so we had leg room and room to place our day bags. We had to wait there for about 30 minutes before they finally had the Yellow Tagged bags in the terminal and ready to be picked up. It was the longest half-hour of our trip - you know, I don't mind a wait when I'm where I need to be - but that waiting to leave part was tough. And they didn't have the tv's on to give you something to watch.

So finally they radioed to the WDT that they could start sending us to the Atrium before they made the announcement to disembark. We had to have our KTTW cards, our passports, our Canadian customs form ready to go. They had DCL staff along the way and Port staff also checking forms - I had forgotten to have Gary sign ours - I had signed but he hadn't because I forgot to get him to - so he did that quickly in line. Clearing through customs was really easy and then we went to where the bags were. It took us a few minutes to find them, but they were all together once we located them. It was organized much like in Port Canaveral.

There are not porters but they have luggage carts (free) so you're welcome to just grab one to get your stuff on, get your bags, and then head out. We had DCL transportation to the airport, so we followed the crowd, found a DCL lady who checked our KTTW cards to see that we had the RPA (resort, port, airport) to show we had purchased transfers. They had four lines - they queued people up into the various lines to keep you in the order you arrived for getting onto a motorcoach to the airport. We had to wait about 15 minutes here before we were on a motorcoach - they had three or four that were going but it takes a while to load everyone and their bags.

It's about a 30-minute ride from the port to the airport in Tuesday morning traffic. They gave us information on the motorcoach about what to expect at the airport in terms of checking in, going through US Customs (it's a shared-border, so we got to do that in Vancouver), and that if we were more than three hours before our flight, we would have to wait in a lounge area rather than going on and checking in.

So we got to the airport around 9:30 which was 2:45 before our flight was scheduled. I had heard Christiaan say to go ahead and get a US Customs form from guest services and fill it out so you wouldn't have to do it at the airport and this was a good tip - they had a lady meet the bus and she told us what to do and had forms for those who still needed them - which was most of the passengers on our busload. Because we were done, we got to just grab our bags and go.

We were flying American Airlines and the check-in kiosks were right there - and they had agents that were helping - so we got checked through pretty quickly. Our bags were under 50 lbs (yay) and tagged, and then we were sent to security.

My boarding pass was tagged so that I was pulled for additional screening - so I had to get my carryon bag "chem checked" (they basically open it and run a wand through it) and I had to go through the full body scanner. In the meanwhile, I'd had to hand the boys and DH their passports while they took me aside. The boys weren't sure what was happening but I told them stay with Dad - they didn't take me away, it was all right there just off to the side. Then when Gary went through the regular thing, it went off so they had him go back through and then had him go through the full body scan, too. So finally we made it through and went to the next stop...

US Customs. This line took about half an hour to get through - lots of people. They checked that your form was filled out before you go in line - if it wasn't, they didn't let you in line. It was a bit tedious waiting through the line and by the time we got through, it was about 10:30 - so if you're keeping track, we've been at the airport close to an hour between arrival and getting to our gate area.

We found a place to sit at our gate, got some drinks, and settled in for the wait. Thankfully our flight was ready to board on time and there were no delays in leaving from Vancouver. We knew we'd be hungry when we got to Dallas but decided to not eat in Vancouver - for one thing, we weren't really hungry yet, and I had a bag full of snacks that our wonderful DIS group left in our Fish Extender all week!

The flight from Vancouver to Dallas was uneventful and we got there about 6:15 which our connection scheduled to leave at 8:55. We found our gate and noticed it said a 10:00 departure - so we double-checked and then got dinner at the TGI Fridays there. Then the long wait in Dallas. Flights were delayed because of weather in Chicago earlier in the day and our flight crew was arriving at 9:40 from Jacksonville.

Once we got on the plane, we had to wait another hour and 45 minutes because a storm came up and the high cross winds were too strong - and then there was the lightning and torrential rain. It wasn't too bad of a wait on the plane - I think we all dozed off or read (thank goodness for Kindle) and then we took off right around midnight.

I had called the hotel we were staying in at Atlanta to let them know we were for sure coming just a really super late arrival so they wouldn't give our room away. I also confirmed what we were to do about getting the shuttle from the airport to the hotel, and then settled in for the flight.

We arrived back in Atlanta just around 3 a.m. - about three hours later than our original 11:55 p.m. scheduled time. We collected our bags and then called the shuttle and went to wait where we were supposed to wait. As it turns out, the shuttle didn't come - but the shuttle from another hotel came by and took us and a couple of other people who were also going to the same hotel. We tipped him well.

We got to the hotel, checked in, asked about a late check-out (we had to call after 8 a.m.), asked for extra towels to go ahead and be sent up (why do they only set rooms for three when they could do it for four?). Got showers and hit the beds hard. Zzzzzzzz. I had had each of us pack what we needed for the night and next morning in our backpacks/day bags so the only thing we needed from the suitcase was the toiletry bags. We had left a change of clothes in the car but since we had such a late arrival, we were glad to not have to go get them. Smart thinking on my part, I'd say!

I woke up about 8:25 (it was after 4 a.m. by the time Gary and I had gotten to bed) and called the front desk. They answered "good morning, Mrs. D..., how are you?"to which I replied "Exhausted..." and then explained about our late arrival and asked for a late check-out - they said we could stay til 1 p.m. so I re-set the iPod alarm from 10:30 to 11:30 and went back to sleep.

As it turned out, we were all up before 11:30 and ready to go by noon - and headed out to get the car. DH and the boys took our stuff out while I checked out and then settled up with the parking attendants who gave us a break on the extra nights that were not part of our park-n-fly rate.

We didn't come directly home but went to visit DH's father which gave us time to come down from our vacation-high - and get some rest from our travel back. We got home on Sunday the 26th and back to work on the 27th - it was nice to have a couple of days to readjust to the time zone (although his dad is in Central and we're in Eastern - but it's better than the 3-4 hour difference we'd had in Canada and Alaska).

We had a wonderful vacation and I appreciate your indulgence in posting the details - the good, the exciting, the mundane!

As always, if you have any questions or whatever, please let me know and I'll try to answer the best I can.

To our fellow DIS-meet travelers - it was a pleasure to meet each of you and please know that our acquaintance made this an even more memorable trip!

 

[dkmjgal]

Loved your trip report! Thanks for taking the time to share your adventures with us! I can't wait for our cruise (Aug. 16th)!

 

[KathyM2]

Great TR. And also good tip about carrying your bags off yourself!

 

[brewcrew]

Thanks for all of the great information! Sounds like you had a great trip! Two questions, what is the pub skit and are you cruising next year?

 

[nzdisneymom]

Thanks for all of the great information! Sounds like you had a great trip! Two questions, what is the pub skit and are you cruising next year?

The pub skit is something the cruise staff does that is If I Were Not Upon the Sea... There is probably a you tube of it.

And yes, we are cruising next summer on the Fantasy.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Loved your trip report. That sucks that your flight from Dallas to Atlanta got delayed. Happy late birthday to Nathan!!

 

[SuzPasq]

Really - no life jackets required at the safety drill. They tell you that when it's time to go - no need to bring them. At least not in Canada

We were on the Magic in November and needed them, and then on a preview cruise in January were happily surprised when a crew member told us we could go back to our stateroom and leave the life jackets!

 

[SuzPasq]

Thanks so much for such an interesting, thorough trip report. We are in the early stages of planning a cruise for next summer, and I've saved a lot of the info you provided to help me as we finalize our details.

Overall, did your children feel there was enough to do without spending time in the pool (I'm assuming here, but based on the research I've done regarding the weather, it's generally too chilly for the pool even in July, right?)? I feel like my kids spend 3-4 hours in/around the pool each day on our sailings, and I'm wondering if there would be enough other activities to keep them occupied. They don't particularly care for the kids' clubs. Well, my little ones don't that is--they are 4 and 8. My 13 year old of course wants to spend every minute possible away from us!

 

[HiMagicFan]

Thank you very much for a wonderful and very informative review! So appreciate your sharing.

 

[tarazandra]

Thank you for this trip report! We took the Wonder to the Mexican Riviera in March and loved it so much we want to do Alaska next year! You not only told me some things we didn't realize (chips and salsa every night? We were hankering for something like that!) from our previous trip and gave wonderful tips for an Alaskan trip. Thank you again for taking the time to complete it

 

[nzdisneymom]

Overall, did your children feel there was enough to do without spending time in the pool (I'm assuming here, but based on the research I've done regarding the weather, it's generally too chilly for the pool even in July, right?)? I feel like my kids spend 3-4 hours in/around the pool each day on our sailings, and I'm wondering if there would be enough other activities to keep them occupied. They don't particularly care for the kids' clubs. Well, my little ones don't that is--they are 4 and 8. My 13 year old of course wants to spend every minute possible away from us!

Yes, my children found plenty to do - in fact, they didn't spend a moment in the pool, although there were a lot of children in the pools. They both enjoyed the Vibe (and have enjoyed the Ocean Quest - guess it's now the Edge as tweens) but one wasn't quite as thrilled with the Lab back in the day. There are movies, there are family activities, board games, food, ice cream, shuffleboard, etc. throughout the day. You may find that they enjoy the programming by the time you go next summer

 

[seamour]

I forced formal night on my family on our first cruise and the younger boy got sick all over DH's suit plus nobody was happy in any of the pictures. They revolted. So if I want to go to formal night, I can go by myself. However, I prefer dining in shorts and t-shirt in BBB / Topsiders and being all relaxed while everyone else is all dressed up.

I TRIED to pull a Cindy D and offered my family the choice to opt out of formal night, figuring we had enough extra clothing to bring with for this trip. I was totally shot down by all 3 of them! Of course now that we are packing....I am getting some different stories.

 

[seamour]

duplicate

 

[seamour]

thanks for the great report Cindy, it was awesome!

 

[nzdisneymom]

You're welcome! This trip was the highlight of our year. We have talked to so many people who have gone to Akaska this summer.

 

[Chilly]

Thanks for sharing, 2 months till I sail

 

[caitlinsdad]

Great trip report, I have over a year to plan at this point, was sailing in 2012, but switched to 2013. Will be going out of Vancouver so this report helps a lot.