Wonder in Alaska!!! May 27, 2013

[chiburple]

Oh thank goodness I'm not the only one! Breathing a sigh of relief now...

I feel like I just received cruise planning therapy.

I just kept picturing this horrible scenario where all the hotels fill up and the flights are booked solid and we never even make it to the ship!!!... Breathing now... Feeling better... for a while at least.

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

I am hoping we see whales from the ship!! (and not pay extra for a tour!!)

what part of Hawaii do you live in? We cant wait to go back in 2014!!

Hi! We live on the Big Island about an hour away from Kona. Ron is retired from the Coast Guard and told me 28 years ago that someday we would move to a sleepy little fishing village called Kona! Well it is a little bigger now but we love living here, Aloha, Karen and Ron

 

[genequeen19]

Don't worry about not being prepared for the cruise. We gave this cruise as a gift to my brother, Matt for Christmas. As soon as the secret was out, I presented the rest of my family a list of things to be decided for the cruise and their were a little overwhelmed. However, we have started to check this off the list. So you will get there. For excursions, has anyone looked at the possibility of renting a car?

 

[charwac1]

That's Andy and I.

We haven't even started booking flights, looking a dis-stuff, etc. Is there a fish extender group?

This is our first platinum. Our last cruise was Hawaii.

 

[genequeen19]

There is an fe list going. Look through the pages and contact the person in charge. On our last cruise, the fe sign up was on the first page of the thread that linked to the sign up. Maybe we should do the same thing......

 

[Stitch1313]

Hi dolphingirl,

I just sent you a PM asking to be added to the Facebook page.

Thank you.

Stitch1313

We have also done precious little about this trip so far. I have 4 nights booked at Villas at Grand Californian before the Repo cruise, but we may stay with friends and I may cancel this. I am looking at flights, but so far the fares are still too expensive. Our post cruise plans depend entirely on where we end up flying back from.

Corinna

 

[Stitch1313]

I haven't seen any countdown posts in a while, so decided to add one. Just think, only 140 days from tomorrow, we will be sailing under the Lions Gate Bridge on our way to beautiful Alaska. Don't know about you guys, but that is serious motivation to keep going on the exercise bike.

Is anyone going into Vancouver the weekend before and touring the city sites? I've found numerous things to see and do (gardens, parks, etc.). Just haven't booked a hotel room yet. I did find out that the price of a room doubles from what it is per night now to the per night rate on that weekend.

Still haven't decided on any excursions, but can't book them until 2/11 anyway, so no worries yet.

 

[Magic3forme]

That's Andy and I.

We haven't even started booking flights, looking a dis-stuff, etc. Is there a fish extender group?

This is our first platinum. Our last cruise was Hawaii.

I am in charge of the FEs.

feel free to send me a PM with your name, cabin number and email address!!

 

[Brumbie13]

Is anyone going into Vancouver the weekend before and touring the city sites? I've found numerous things to see and do (gardens, parks, etc.). Just haven't booked a hotel room yet. I did find out that the price of a room doubles from what it is per night now to the per night rate on that weekend.

We are going to be there on Saturday and Sunday before the cruise.
Don't know what we'll do yet, but as the time comes closer, we'll figure it out.

 

[MattFromBuffalo]

Don't worry about not being prepared for the cruise. We gave this cruise as a gift to my brother, Matt for Christmas. As soon as the secret was out, I presented the rest of my family a list of things to be decided for the cruise and their were a little overwhelmed. However, we have started to check this off the list. So you will get there. For excursions, has anyone looked at the possibility of renting a car?

I am said brother, and by the looks of it, I am the only one doing any sort of research for this trip.

Is anyone else planning on spending time in Vancouver before we sail? We are planning on getting in early the day before and I found a bunch of things to check out:
- The Grouse Mountain Skyride
- The Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Brockton Point Lighthouse
- Edgewater Casino (maybe a trip there will pay for an excursion )

Has anyone checked out the price of hotels in Vancouver and found a relatively cheap one? I was looking at them the other day and

 

[genequeen19]

Adding to the Vancouver list for us at least is the Boucher gardens and the science museum.

We also called to disney to inquire about their connection with hotels and they are just as expensive.

Has anyone on this board been to Vancouver before and can offer some tips?

 

[Magic3forme]

We are flying in Friday to Seattle, then I think taking the train into Vancouver. ( John has Marriott rewards, so we will stay there.)

I was in sticker shock for the Dog Sled/ Helicopter tour..579.00 a person... think we are going to find something else.

 

[chiburple]

Also going to Vancouver that Saturday but still have no clue what we're doing there.

You say there's a Casino there? I know it's a long shot, but any idea what the rules there for Blackjack might be?

 

[charwac1]

A friend of mine may be looking for a roommate for this cruise. (I PM'd disneybeachprincess based on her message last May.)

I think that she's platinum and if she isn't, I am so we can link and get that if necessary.

FWIW, she's a planning wiz.

 

[MattFromBuffalo]

You say there's a Casino there? I know it's a long shot, but any idea what the rules there for Blackjack might be?

Hey Marise-
There are actually several casinos there. I would post the links to them, but I am unable to due to me being a newbie on here. I didn't check all of the sites, but the River Rock Casino has rules for its blackjack tables on there.

 

[megsablue]

Adding to the Vancouver list for us at least is the Boucher gardens and the science museum.

We also called to disney to inquire about their connection with hotels and they are just as expensive.

Has anyone on this board been to Vancouver before and can offer some tips?

I lived in downtown Vancouver for over 5 years (now live in a suburb about half an hour away), so if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I've grown up in this area my entire life, so know the area pretty well.

Since that weekend is Memorial Day weekend, I'm thinking the prices for hotels are going to be pretty steep since a lot of Americans come up for a quick weekend getaway (and it's right when cruise season starts).

If you're thinking of Butchart Gardens, just be aware that's in Victoria, which is on Vancouver Island, so you'll have to either fly over to Vancouver Island or rent a car and take the ferry The Royal BC Museum there is really really cool too.

 

[megsablue]

Question for the more experienced cruisers - we're going to participate in the FE, but I'm wondering how that works if we upgrade at the port (looking at the cabins available, there's still quite a few open) and our cabin number changes. How do you let everyone know that it's changed?

Also, since there's quite a bit still open, after we do our final payment, does that up our chances of fairy dust?

 

[Brumbie13]

Question for the more experienced cruisers - we're going to participate in the FE, but I'm wondering how that works if we upgrade at the port (looking at the cabins available, there's still quite a few open) and our cabin number changes. How do you let everyone know that it's changed?

We'll plan a small reception to meet everyone soon after boarding, it is there that people can mention if their room numbers changed.

 

[charwac1]

Question for the more experienced cruisers - we're going to participate in the FE, but I'm wondering how that works if we upgrade at the port (looking at the cabins available, there's still quite a few open) and our cabin number changes. How do you let everyone know that it's changed?

Someone usually puts a list of room-changes on their cabin door.

FWIW, I'm a bit concerned by the (small) number of folks signed up for fish-extender. We were planning a gift that has a 250 piece minimum order.

 

[MattFromBuffalo]

We'll plan a small reception to meet everyone soon after boarding, it is there that people can mention if their room numbers changed.

I am already excited to meet everyone! Is it May yet?