Vancouver/Victoria to Orlando for a Cruise

[lozzypop]

Anyone from BC who has traveled to cruise the Caribbean?

My DD and I have visited Disneyland at least once a year for the past 10 years, and have done two California coast cruises on the Wonder. But with Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opening next year, we are tapping out from Disneyland for 2019. We have been itching to go on another cruise, and I really want to go somewhere with warm water!

I had no problem with selecting a 2019 cruise and was even able to stomach the spring break price. But trying to plan the flights is driving me crazy. I can't seem to get flights to work without having to spend 20+ hours travelling over two days at either end.

What was your experience with travelling from BC to Florida? Any recommendations for airlines or flight routes?

I am eyeing an alternative cruise in May thinking that it may be easier (and cheaper) to arrange flights mid-May. However, my daughter is in high school so I am reluctant to have her miss too many days of school.

I guess I am looking for someone to talk me down from the ledge so that I can commit to this cruise.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I’m from Vancouver BC! And we cruised out of Orlando in mid November. For flights, I would recommend following a Facebook group and/or blog called YVR deals as the guy who runs it often posts deals and I’ve seen Orlando pop up a few times. I also used the Hopper app to watch several dates for flights. Ended up adjusting my dates somewhat but Hopper found flights on United for $400 CAD each. I thought that was a great price. Later saw a YVR deal posted for $280, but anyway.

Westjet has some direct flights but they were pricey.

Flying out of Seattle was my second choice. Luckily didn’t have to go that route!

 

[lilsonicfan]

Our flights with United were fine, we connected in Houston and had about an hour layover which was a tad rushed on one flight and fine on another. Hopper does let you exclude flights that have really long layovers.
I also think it may be a bit early to find great flight prices.

 

[bumbershoot]

I like looking at kayak.com for flight ideas.

 

[Intr3pid]

Someone from BC who joined us on the Dream last year found very good prices on United from YVR and Southwest from SEA. And this was in the third week of December. Both had stopovers though - I think.

Direct flights are going to be expensive as you are flying all the way from Northwest to Southeast AND crossing the border.

And if you collect Aeroplan miles or AMEX MR, you should be able to find some cheap redemptions.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

May I make another suggestion? Why not go to French Polynesia? Plenty of cruise lines go there (we did the Paul Gauguin, which was amazing), it would, most likely, be easier to get to and French Polynesia is far, far more beautiful than anything you'll find in the Caribbean.

 

[gilsan]

Anyone from BC who has traveled to cruise the Caribbean?

My DD and I have visited Disneyland at least once a year for the past 10 years, and have done two California coast cruises on the Wonder. But with Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opening next year, we are tapping out from Disneyland for 2019. We have been itching to go on another cruise, and I really want to go somewhere with warm water!

I had no problem with selecting a 2019 cruise and was even able to stomach the spring break price. But trying to plan the flights is driving me crazy. I can't seem to get flights to work without having to spend 20+ hours travelling over two days at either end.

What was your experience with travelling from BC to Florida? Any recommendations for airlines or flight routes?

I am eyeing an alternative cruise in May thinking that it may be easier (and cheaper) to arrange flights mid-May. However, my daughter is in high school so I am reluctant to have her miss too many days of school.

I guess I am looking for someone to talk me down from the ledge so that I can commit to this cruise.

Have you checked Google flight https://www.google.ca/flights/ with just a quick search and not knowing your dates I found WestJet has a direct flight from YVR to MCO in March. It is a red eye but is only 5 and half hours long. There are lots of other options under 10 hours

 

[lozzypop]

May I make another suggestion? Why not go to French Polynesia? Plenty of cruise lines go there (we did the Paul Gauguin, which was amazing), it would, most likely, be easier to get to and French Polynesia is far, far more beautiful than anything you'll find in the Caribbean.

I appreciate the suggestion, but I doubt I will consider travelling on other lines. We are not a "cruise" family, we are a "Disney" family (hard-core Disney) I suggested to my travel agent several years ago that we try another cruise line and she said yeah.... no. She knew us and our travel style, and knew that we would not be happy without our Disney fix.

 

[lozzypop]

Have you checked Google flight https://www.google.ca/flights/ with just a quick search and not knowing your dates I found WestJet has a direct flight from YVR to MCO in March. It is a red eye but is only 5 and half hours long. There are lots of other options under 10 hours

I did find some manageable flights for the trip out, but the trip back is killing me. And it seems counterproductive to spend $300+ on a hotel when the amount you save on airfare doesn't justify the overnight.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Definitely try the Hopper app!

 

[kuhltiffany]

When we lived in Kelowna we drove to Seattle, flew from there to Washington, then to Orlando. Long day of travel! If we had done it again I would have taken a cruise out of Galveston instead...so much easier and same time zone too!

 

[shaunacb]

I wonder if you could connect through YYC. We fly direct YYC to MCO with Westjet. It leaves at 9:55 am so should be time to get an early morning connecting flight from YVR?

 

[bcwife76]

We are in Vancouver BC, flew to Orlando in January 2017 for the first time and this year we are going at the end of October. Unfortunately the direct Westjet flight is seasonal and we can never seem to match it up with our dates. This year we are doing two one-way flights with different airlines to bring the cost down. We are paying $1700CDN all in for the four of us, flying with United on the way there from Vancouver with a layover in San Fran and on the way back flying with American Airlines with a layover (much shorter) in LAX on the way home. We fly a lot from Vancouver and I have never found it cheaper to fly from Seattle. The cheapest direct flight from SEA to MCO for our dates I found was over $2400CAD after exchange.

 

[lozzypop]

We are in Vancouver BC, flew to Orlando in January 2017 for the first time and this year we are going at the end of October. Unfortunately the direct Westjet flight is seasonal and we can never seem to match it up with our dates. This year we are doing two one-way flights with different airlines to bring the cost down. We are paying $1700CDN all in for the four of us, flying with United on the way there from Vancouver with a layover in San Fran and on the way back flying with American Airlines with a layover (much shorter) in LAX on the way home. We fly a lot from Vancouver and I have never found it cheaper to fly from Seattle. The cheapest direct flight from SEA to MCO for our dates I found was over $2400CAD after exchange.

Thanks bcwife76, I was hoping you would chime in since I knew you had made the trip from Vancouver to Orlando at least once. I don't mind booking on separate airlines and so long as I can make it to Vancouver, I am sure I can connect with Victoria on AC or WestJet.

 

[PetePanMan]

we like to fly on Alaska out of Bellingham or Seattle.

 

[travelbug08]

We have flown SEA to MCO direct at Spring Break and in August. We very rarely fly out of YVR. Even with the exchange, I've almost never found flights that are cheaper from YVR (MCO or LAX) for our Disney trips. If you do the night flight out of SEA on Alaska, you don't need a hotel in Seattle. We have a cruise booked for March 2019 and I anticipate that we'll be flying from SEA again. I also like the ability to check our bags through to Seattle onboard or From WDW which is a perk you don' get if you're flying to Canada.