ironz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2003
Hi, all...
Recently home from our second Disney cruise (both on the Wonder), so I will try to share some information, thoughts and opinions, and some photos from the first Wonder-ful cruise from Vancouver to Alaska of the 2017 season. Hope this is helpful and/or enjoyable for those reading.
Right up front, I want to thank my friend Anricat (DIS name) for her helpful reports, answering my questions, helping me not stress about the FE gifts, and just general Disney enthusiasm. Maybe one of these days our trips will actually coincide with each other!
A bit of background--
I used to do some contract work in Ketchikan, and always knew I wanted to do an Alaskan cruise and get to experience SE Alaska more as a tourist (relax mode). 5 years ago (May 2012) my then boyfriend came up to visit me in Ketchikan, and we took photos at the dock with the Wonder in the background, with the idea that one day, we would return on that ship. Dreams do come true! In 2014 we honeymooned on the Wonder to the Bahamas. We loved that ship and the experience so much!
Mind you, we're not young newlyweds-- I was 51 and he was 46 when we married. So this report will have the perspective of middle-aged folks. DH has grown kids and we have a baby granddaughter, although we did not take them with us. I'll be sure to invite them when we win the lottery--LOL.
We booked the cruise in April 2016, the first day that we could do so as Silver Castaway Cay members. Man, that felt like a long time to wait and plan, though we did save approximately $1000 on the Cat 7A cabin by doing so. It also was a strategy to save money by cruising in May, as opposed to the pricier summer options.
We booked our flights from Texas to Vancouver, thanks to the companion fare offered to Alaska Airlines Visa cardholders (less than $700 roundtrip for the two of us). Over time, and with some input from @anricat, we booked a hotel at the Blue Horizon in Vancouver for 2 nights prior to sailing.
Things we planned prior to the sailing:
--via a social media group, we found some people to share a whale watching charter in Juneau with Harv and Marv's. This saved us a little money compared to DCL prices, and also had the advantage of being on a smaller boat with about 15 people. Thanks to K for arranging that.
--At the time of online checkin, we booked the White Pass Snowshoe Hike and Train Ride for Skagway (offered seasonally), the Glacier Explorer for Tracy Arm day (though we went to Endicott Arm, which was lovely), Palo for night 7, and got tickets for the Princess meet and greet for our first sea day.
--I have friends in Vancouver, Juneau, and Ketchikan, so we had some communication with them prior to sailing to catch up.
OK... that's the background. Time for Vancouver with a few photos!
Recently home from our second Disney cruise (both on the Wonder), so I will try to share some information, thoughts and opinions, and some photos from the first Wonder-ful cruise from Vancouver to Alaska of the 2017 season. Hope this is helpful and/or enjoyable for those reading.
Right up front, I want to thank my friend Anricat (DIS name) for her helpful reports, answering my questions, helping me not stress about the FE gifts, and just general Disney enthusiasm. Maybe one of these days our trips will actually coincide with each other!
A bit of background--
I used to do some contract work in Ketchikan, and always knew I wanted to do an Alaskan cruise and get to experience SE Alaska more as a tourist (relax mode). 5 years ago (May 2012) my then boyfriend came up to visit me in Ketchikan, and we took photos at the dock with the Wonder in the background, with the idea that one day, we would return on that ship. Dreams do come true! In 2014 we honeymooned on the Wonder to the Bahamas. We loved that ship and the experience so much!
Mind you, we're not young newlyweds-- I was 51 and he was 46 when we married. So this report will have the perspective of middle-aged folks. DH has grown kids and we have a baby granddaughter, although we did not take them with us. I'll be sure to invite them when we win the lottery--LOL.
We booked the cruise in April 2016, the first day that we could do so as Silver Castaway Cay members. Man, that felt like a long time to wait and plan, though we did save approximately $1000 on the Cat 7A cabin by doing so. It also was a strategy to save money by cruising in May, as opposed to the pricier summer options.
We booked our flights from Texas to Vancouver, thanks to the companion fare offered to Alaska Airlines Visa cardholders (less than $700 roundtrip for the two of us). Over time, and with some input from @anricat, we booked a hotel at the Blue Horizon in Vancouver for 2 nights prior to sailing.
Things we planned prior to the sailing:
--via a social media group, we found some people to share a whale watching charter in Juneau with Harv and Marv's. This saved us a little money compared to DCL prices, and also had the advantage of being on a smaller boat with about 15 people. Thanks to K for arranging that.
--At the time of online checkin, we booked the White Pass Snowshoe Hike and Train Ride for Skagway (offered seasonally), the Glacier Explorer for Tracy Arm day (though we went to Endicott Arm, which was lovely), Palo for night 7, and got tickets for the Princess meet and greet for our first sea day.
--I have friends in Vancouver, Juneau, and Ketchikan, so we had some communication with them prior to sailing to catch up.
OK... that's the background. Time for Vancouver with a few photos!
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