alaska questions

[50Disney1971]

We are taking our first AK cruise in June. Any suggestions on hotels in Vancouver pre/post cruise? Coming from the east coast and airline timing looks a little tricky. Any pro tips? Any thoughts on the dogsled excursion that was not on the glacier? Thx!

 

[50Disney1971]

Also, what are the covid protocols going into and out of vancouver? anyone know? do we test coming off the ship?

 

[tidefan]

The Pan Pacific is right at the cruise terminal and a number of people stay there. We stayed at the Hampton Inn (across from BC Place) and it had a free shuttle to the port.

 

[mjackson]

Check hotwire for hotel deals as the hotels near the port are expensive. You sometimes can get the same or similar one for much less. Vancouver is a great city so take a day or two before the cruise to enjoy it.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

The Fairmont waterfront is also near the cruise terminal and is another great hotel choice. The rooftop pool is fun for the kids and the rooms are nice. Being able to access the food court from the hotel was also a plus. Quick and easy breakfast before the cruise.

Pro tip for coming in from the east coast, plan on it being inconvenient! It's like when you leave the west coast too, all the flights are before 8:00am or after 10:00pm. (There are plenty of flights out of Vancouver heading east later in the day during cruise season, I just meant it as a generality). If you want to cross the country, it just ends up eating a day of travel. Having a hotel close to the Port means you can crash in your hotel room, and then not worry about getting up early the next day and hauling yourself to the Port. One less step. Just do the 1 haul from the airport to the port. Also don't stress to much about transportation if your family is able to fit in a Taxi. Just grab one once you exit the terminal at the airport.

 

[50Disney1971]

thx!

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We've stayed at both the Pan Pacific and the Fairmont Waterview. Two beautiful hotels and both (at the time) had Cruise Packages that included breakfast, luggage transfer, early check-in, and late check-out. Depending on your budget, many hotels in the vicinity cater to cruise guests.
Airlines are another thing. As @TikiThunderPirates stated, nothing is easy out of Vancouver. Both of our trips got us off the ship by 0900 hrs but the first flight was after 1500 hrs (3 pm). An all-day affair to fly due south (Vancouver to Albuquerque). Depending on the flights available, you may want to stay the day, explore Vancouver, a beautiful city, and leave the next day early.

 

[Chrispy97]

The Pan Pacific will look expensive now, but keep an eye on whether it goes "down" to a more competitive price as you get closer to time. I was able to move from another hotel to about the same price at the Pan Pacific close to our departure.

The biggest benefit to the Pan Pacific is that the bell services can be called to come up, take your checked bags, and they will take them straight to the ship. It made the boarding process significantly easier not to have to lug bags for a 7 day cruise (plus our before/after days!) around until we could check them in the morning.

Waking up, opening the curtains of the hotel, and staring at the Wonder docked a few floors down from the window was a great surprise as well.

Regarding flying out, we added a couple days ahead of time and spent some time in Victoria, then took a boat over from Victoria to Vancouver before going to the Pan Pacific the night before. Gave us a chance to adapt from east coast time before getting on the boat as well.

 

[Lillebelle]

We stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront in 2019 and it worked out great - super convenient to the port.

 

[Distinkt]

We stayed at the Delta Suites in 2019. They are in the Marriott family and they were very nice. We had a few days to spare to visit Vancouver and they were within walking distance of the waterfront, but we walk daily so if you are unable to walk a few blocks they might not be for you. Otherwise, we thought it was great, clean and modern. The parking garage was a pain to locate because it was across the street, but it sounds like you may not have a rental car anyway (and rental prices are astronomical now). The cruise was one of our best vacations ever, so enjoy!

 

[trivan]

Any thoughts on the dogsled excursion that was not on the glacier? Thx!

We did a private tour in Skagway, and one stop was at a smaller kennel where they raised dogs for dogsleding. There was no snow, but the dogs draged an all terrain vehicle (with some help). Honestly, the highlight was being with the puppies!!
Don't be afraid to use a private tour, the good ones have a lot of successful reviews and you'll save a lot of money. If you do choose to do anything helicopter based, have multiple back up plans as they do get cancelled frequently.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

If you do choose to do anything helicopter based, have multiple back up plans as they do get cancelled frequently.

Also a note that although rare, if something where to happen and your helicopter could not pick you up from say a glacier, the tour companies have plans in place to keep you safe, but not to get you back to the Wonder after it left. If you book a helicopter tour through DCL, they help with this. Now what is the likelihood of this happening? Pretty small I'd expect, but just something to note when deciding who to book with.

 

[trivan]

Also a note that although rare, if something where to happen and your helicopter could not pick you up from say a glacier, the tour companies have plans in place to keep you safe, but not to get you back to the Wonder after it left. If you book a helicopter tour through DCL, they help with this. Now what is the likelihood of this happening? Pretty small I'd expect, but just something to note when deciding who to book with.

I guess this is true but when I went, I read and the learned DCL basically charters from the same companies and then tack on a few hundred person. You could be on the same choper as a cruise customer. They just can’t advertise it. I never read any person being stranded (Not saying it hasn’t happen), but I think it’s largely fear mongering by the cruises. Our guide (not helicopter as it was cancel due to bad weather) said the community is so small when something does happen eg car breaks down, everyone chips in to help. I believe that given what I saw and the people I met. They are all friends and a committee trying to make a years salary in a few months. I guess each person has to do what they feel comfortable with.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I guess this is true but when I went, I read and the learned DCL basically charters from the same companies and then tack on a few hundred person. You could be on the same choper as a cruise customer. They just can’t advertise it. I never read any person being stranded (Not saying it hasn’t happen), but I think it’s largely fear mongering by the cruises. Our guide (not helicopter as it was cancel due to bad weather) said the community is so small when something does happen eg car breaks down, everyone chips in to help. I believe that given what I saw and the people I met. They are all friends and a committee trying to make a years salary in a few months. I guess each person has to do what they feel comfortable with.

I can report on our EBTA cruise a few years ago, there were many excursions late getting back to the ship in Dublin. The ship HAD to leave due to the tides, and many people were left behind. Those on DCL excursions were put on the night ferry to Liverpool (our next port) at no cost to them. Those who were not on DCL excursions, while on the same night ferry, had to purchase their own tickets.

 

[Intr3pid]

If you haven't visited the Vancouver area before, I highly recommend flying in a few days early and touring the city and its amazing natural setting - or do it post cruise. Vancouver isn't just a port - it's one of the allures of an Alaska cruise.

Pan Pacific, Fairmont Waterfront, and Fairmont Pacific Rim are all next to the cruise terminal. Here are my thoughts having stayed in or visited all of them:
- Fairmont Pacific Rim is consistently rated one of the top hotels in the country - but it's also the priciest. Maybe do it for one night post-cruise to leave the trip on a high.
- Pan Pacific is older and more cost effective. Located right on top of the terminal - very convenient but also more foot traffic.
- Fairmont Waterfront is in the middle - literally too!

Among the Marriott brands, JW is the best in the city if a little further away. Viable option if staying in town for a few days prior to the cruise. Marriott Pinnacle is closer to the terminal, and Delta is a few blocks away. There is also a Sheraton skyscraper that has all-glass walls giving you an amazing panoramic view from top floors.

Finally, Shangri-La is another property you can sample while in Vancouver. It's a great Asian brand that, unfortunately, we can't find in the US yet.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We are east-coasters. Planning our trip for our Alaska cruise was challenging. We wanted to see both Seattle and Vancouver while out that way. We flew from Boston to Seattle with a short stop in Denver. We spent a couple of days touring Seattle (Space Needle, Chiluhly) and then took the train up to Vancouver. That was a sublime trip with beautiful scenery that I absolutely loved. Vancouver is a beautiful city and we spent a couple of days there. We blew the budget and stayed at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. Amazing hotel, right at the port. The nicest place I have ever stayed in my life~Justin Trudeau was even staying there when we were there and I got his picture. It was pretty fun. Post cruise, we stayed another night in Vancouver. After disembarking, we stored out luggage and toured the city. We then used public transport to the Fairmont at the airport and overnighted there. We had a non-stop Air Cananda flight back to Boston early the next day. We left Vancouver at 9am and arrived in Boston at 5pm or so. So With flight time and time change-all day to get home. We opted not to do the red eye. So no quick ways there and back. Padding our trip with space to see the cities we were interested in made it fun and a bit more relaxing. No easy or quick way there and back.

 

[TNewman1024]

We have done Alaska on the Wonder 5 times out of Vancouver. Pan Pacific was the easiest.

but what we usually do is:

Vancouver has a really good light rail from the airport. We usually arrive a day before and light rail to the River Rock Casino. Train is like $5 a person. You can get a day pass that allows you to get back on later that evening to venture out for a different area for dinner. The Rock Casino Its like 2-3 stops away from the airport. Nice Hotel and fairly decent rates depending on when you book. It has a nice little harbor on the river and you can watch the boats in and out. Good restaurants and its really a nice stay.

Then the next day we have done one of 2 things. Either take the train to port which is I think $5-7 per person, or we have also taken the train back to the airport for a Disney Transfer to the port. Again its only 2-3 stops back tot he airport. Walk up to the Arrivals area there will be DCL folks with the "Mickey Hands" give them your bags and you are all set. They will put you on the bus to the port and you are good to go.

To be honest this was the most stress free as the train airport to Casino Hotel and back was just a couple minutes ride, then you get lined up with the Disney ground transport and don't see your bags again until they are in your stateroom.

Pan Pacific was nice but a bit more expensive you are essentially right there at the port. We woke up and saw the Wonder pulling into the port.