**** Vancouver FAQ Thread **** A few updates in main post!

[pixie08]

Have you booked the cruise officially???

As of today...yes we did!I can't believe it. This is going to be so much fun. I can't believe we are all going to be on the same cruise again. I was just headed over the the cruise meets thread

 

[xrobmn]

Right now we are planning on flying to Seattle, taking the Amtrak to Vancouver and staying one night at the Comfort Inn Downtown near Nelson and Granville. Is a cab our best bet to get from the train station to the hotel? What about the hotel to the port?

Thanks!
Kim

Wow.. we are doing the same thing for the first Alaska Sailing.. Flying into Seattle on May 1.. Amtrek from SEA to VAC on May 2.. Staying at the Hampton Inn and Suites that night. and then hotel shuttle it to the port the morning of the cruise.. From what I've read, the Hampton has a shuttle that will pick up guests at the Amtrak station and drop you off at the port for free.

Then when done. amtrak back that night.. stay the Tuesday night in Seattle and fly home Weds..

Should be a blast!

 

[xrobmn]

Forgive me if these questions have been asked countless times already; I've gone back and read several pages but am trying to get an idea of the cheapest route to the port in Vancouver. My friends and family are hoping an Alaska Disney cruise is something we can pull off!

It's mad-expensive to fly direct from Orlando to Vancouver. However, much cheaper to fly to Seattle. I understand there are a few options. It'd be cool to take the train and seems relatively inexpensive. How far is the train station from the airport? Would we require a cab to get there?

Would folks recommend flying into Seattle the day before the cruise, then taking the train first thing in the morning? I gather that the train station in Vancouver is very close to the port. Do you think it'd be cheaper to stay overnight in Seattle than in Vancouver?

My wife and I took Amtrak.. terminal in Vancouver is about 2 or so miles (if that. googlemap is tough to guess ) and the price was right.. it was about twice the price to fly from Rochester, MN to Vancouver than Seattle.. So we're flying 2 days (Sunday) before the cruise to get to Seattle.. Spending Sunday night there and Amtrak the next day to Vancouver.. Then spending the night and then cruise time

Amtrak Casdades route was $177 for the both of us round trip (upgraded to first class.. was like an extra $35 or so to do that for bth of us for both ways.. ) Wife will be 22 weeks pregnant, so wanted her to go in style

If you have any questions, let me know.. or there appear to be a ton of other smart people in here

 

[smeecanada]

I posted a thread on the main board, but haven't had much of a response.. just wondering how early we can schedule flights after debarkation. I called DCL yesterday and they said nothing before noon. Unfortunately, that severely limits my options for getting back to the east coast. There's a 10:30 am flight, but if that's too early I can't get into JFK until the redeye!

We are also from LI, most likely doing Air Canada and taking an 11 am on debarkation day.

I personally wouldn't schedule a flight prior to 12 noon. It's an hour drive from Downtown Vancouver to the Airport. Most people are most likely taking an International flight, so recommended to be there 2 hours prior to boarding. It can take you at least an hour to go through checking in, security and customs before boarding your flight.

I'm heading through there in early March, so will time how long it takes us to go through the process.

 

[rsjj]

ok...time to plan, and do more research...but my apologies, if it's been asked numerous times before...

1) where will the boat be docked? trying to figure out our hotel stay.
2) will we need to rent a car? is public transportation pretty good in vancouver? we are flying into vancouver international...have 2 dss (12 & 9), plus luggage...

that's all for now, i think. thank you in advance!

 

[poohj80]

Ok...just noticed the Kids Sail Free offer in May and now thinking about changing from an Aug cruise to May. My biggest concern is I thought I'd had three more months to plan stuff and if we make this move final payment would be do now plus shore excursions reserved when I haven't figured out which I want yet.

Can anyone help convince me one way or the other?

Thanks!
PJ

 

[smeecanada]

ok...time to plan, and do more research...but my apologies, if it's been asked numerous times before...

1) where will the boat be docked? trying to figure out our hotel stay.
2) will we need to rent a car? is public transportation pretty good in vancouver? we are flying into vancouver international...have 2 dss (12 & 9), plus luggage...

that's all for now, i think. thank you in advance!

Port of Vancouver finally has their Cruise Schedule up. It's showing that Disney Wonder is docking at CANADA PLACE
.

Public transportation is really good in Vancouver. There is a rapid line train from the Airport to Downtown (basically the Port). However, with luggage I would recommend looking into a shuttle or taxi. The Canada Line train will cost you $7.50 per person.

 

[smeecanada]

Ok...just noticed the Kids Sail Free offer in May and now thinking about changing from an Aug cruise to May. My biggest concern is I thought I'd had three more months to plan stuff and if we make this move final payment would be do now plus shore excursions reserved when I haven't figured out which I want yet.

Can anyone help convince me one way or the other?

Thanks!
PJ

It'll be colder/possibly wetter in Alaska in May. Chance you won't get very far into Tracy Arm Fjord due to the ice. It'll be wetter in Vancouver in May.

 

[mmmears]

Port of Vancouver finally has their Cruise Schedule up. It's showing that Disney Wonder is docking at CANADA PLACE
.

Thank you for sharing this information!!! I'm sooooo glad it's at Canada Place since we'll be staying right at the pier!

 

[jilljill]

Ok...just noticed the Kids Sail Free offer in May and now thinking about changing from an Aug cruise to May. My biggest concern is I thought I'd had three more months to plan stuff and if we make this move final payment would be do now plus shore excursions reserved when I haven't figured out which I want yet.

Can anyone help convince me one way or the other?

Thanks!
PJ

If the savings is significant then I say move your cruise. It's less time to wait and you would have to make up your mind concerning excursions.
Don't forget to price out flights to see if they would be lower in May or August.

 

[poohj80]

If the savings is significant then I say move your cruise. It's less time to wait and you would have to make up your mind concerning excursions.
Don't forget to price out flights to see if they would be lower in May or August.

Thanks for the suggestions! I am looking at flights right now, but hadn't thought about weather. Has anyone researched the best times to cruise Alaska for best chance of good weather?

 

[wdhinn89]

July and August are the best months of the year to cruise Alaska.

 

[poohj80]

July and August are the best months of the year to cruise Alaska.

So maybe I should stick with what I have and hope they offer another Kids Sail Free since kids should be back in school by then as well.

 

[rsjj]

Port of Vancouver finally has their Cruise Schedule up. It's showing that Disney Wonder is docking at CANADA PLACE
.

Public transportation is really good in Vancouver. There is a rapid line train from the Airport to Downtown (basically the Port). However, with luggage I would recommend looking into a shuttle or taxi. The Canada Line train will cost you $7.50 per person.

thank you so much for the info!! really appreciate it! more planning for me.

 

[smeecanada]

So maybe I should stick with what I have and hope they offer another Kids Sail Free since kids should be back in school by then as well.

Don't count on it. We're on the second to last cruise and there was only one CAT available a few days ago. Plus, the majority of the schools up here don't go back in until after Labour Day.

 

[poohj80]

Don't count on it. We're on the second to last cruise and there was only one CAT available a few days ago. Plus, the majority of the schools up here don't go back in until after Labour Day.

I know it's a long shot, but we're on the last cruise and there are lots of cabins available in every category right now so never hurts to wonder.

 

[stsomewhere]

Don't count on it. We're on the second to last cruise and there was only one CAT available a few days ago. Plus, the majority of the schools up here don't go back in until after Labour Day.

There were more categories today open

 

[MinnieDiva]

There were more categories today open

Some of us were chit chatting about this the other day and it was brought up that the # in your party also affects availabity......

 

[okwjim]

Thanks for the effort.

 

[okwjim]

thanks