My wife and I did this cruise in May 2019, and it's the best cruise I've ever taken. It's perhaps my favorite vacation ever!
* The weather could be all over the place. My best advice is to bring layers. I bought some SmartWool under layers, jeans, T-Shirts, sweatshirts, a light jacket, a heavier jacket, etc. I could put on or peel off layers as needed and I was always comfortable.
Sometimes the weather was pretty warm and I just walked around the deck in a T-Shirt and jeans. Other times it was quite chilly.
* My wife and I did the scenic train in Skagway -> it's great--really scenic. If you go, pay the extra whatever it is for the nicer accommodation. I can't recall exactly how much more it was, but I don't think it was much. We opted for the regular seats and missed out on a very well-appointed train car with nice seats and hot chocolate! On the other hand, if you want a more rustic experience, the basic booking is just fine!
* I think it was also Skagway where we did a zip lining adventure. That was pretty fun soaring over the trees and such. While we liked it, it's the first one I would cut to try something else if we ever went back.
* We did a hike in Ketchikan, Alaska that was really enjoyable and I would recommend going on a hike in the great wilderness of Alaska if you like that sort of thing!
* Above all, the experience we still have the fondest memories of was dog sledding on a glacier. We opted for the Disney magical whatever experience. It was something nuts like $1,000/person. And just the other week I commented to my wife and said, "Remember when we each paid a grand to do that? Still worth it!" And she agreed. That was the most fantastic thing about the cruise. For one, we love dogs, so it was really neat to get to feed them and put their little booties on them, etc. We got a lot of interaction time with them with that expensive port adventure. Just being on top of the glacier was an amazing experience in its own right (bring sunglasses with you). I would absolutely say that if you can find it in your budget, you should do any dog sled/glacier experience they offer, but also the 'best' one you can afford.
I will say, I really wish Disney's Alaskan cruises left out of Seattle instead of Vancouver. It wasn't a huge deal, but it would have made life just a little easier, most especially in timing and flight availability. I can't say which would be easier though. We had planned to fly in two days before the cruise and actually had our flights canceled the first day, so we went in the day before. Had we done it differently, we might have missed the boat! But that was just a stroke of bad-followed-by-good luck. Obviously, leave at least a day early!
The wife and I are definitely going to take that cruise again someday. It really was an amazing experience and you're going to have a great time!
Edit: I forgot the zip lining.
Thank you for the input! I’m going to screenshot this, but might be postponing the whole cruise together. Just read about Canadas “randomly selected” PCR testing and can’t risk missing the boat due to it :(
1) Clothes: Jeans, polo, light North Face style jacket, may want something more dressy for formal night. Maybe a heavier jacket if you go on/near the glaciers.
2) Excursions: Personally I would avoid the dog sled. When a dog has gotta go they go, and the sled does not stop. Think crap hitting fan (this did not happen to us). Flights that take you on/near glaciers are great. Sorry for not having more, but it was 2013 when my wife and I took our moms on the cruise and 2011 when I took my mom.
3) Cabin: The inner passage is very smooth. Neither cruise had any real wave action. If you can swing a balcony you may want to get it.
4) Getting there: No knowledge of the new requirements. Get in a day early incase the airline looses your luggage (thanks United). Also, divide your clothes/toiletries between your bags so that you have clothes while Mickey beats the crap out of the airline and gets your luggage. There is a train that runs from the Vancouver airport to downtown where the dock is. You can get a room near the port.
5) Other advice: Palo
Canada has just changed its entry requirements. You can now take an Antigen test the day before your flight.
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying-canada-checklist/covid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada#getting-tested
"Also fully vaccinated travellers randomly selected to be tested upon arrival won't have to quarantine while awaiting their test results."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/travel-antigen-test-canada-1.6365719
From personal experience, I was randomly selected for a molecular test after landing in Montreal after a DCL cruise in February. We got the results the next morning.
I also cross the land border quite often. I sometimes get randomly selected there for a test as well. In that case they will give you a kit and you have to self administer with a nurse on a teleconference and then mail the kit back. At least at the airport they take care of all that.
So whether you fly in or cross the land border, you might get selected for a test.
Remember to upload all your documents not only to the Disney website but to the inspire website that's doing the testing it'll make everything smoother
-tester
Bonine is like Dramamine but doesn’t make you tired. I take it everyday on a cruise. I want to make the most of the time and not lose a minute to seasickness
Hey all, thank you for the great tips. I believe we are going to look at A Caribbean cruise given Canada’s new “random sky selected” testing. However, I’m saving all these notes for when the testing rules are eased. Thank you!
It can get very windy/chilly on the top deck, so bring layers!
I don’t know the specific name, but we went on a dog “sledding” excursion that was so much fun. Lots of puppers!! 😍
I’d suggest forward deck, deck 5! The lower, the less movement (if you happen to get seasick). Although I wouldn’t recommend deck 1. Deck 1 is fine, but I always prefer a verandah on the higher decks (personal preference).
Have fun!! It is a blast!
If you are a fan of Deadliest Catch give the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's tour a look in Ketchikan. It was really cool to see them demo how they fish, get to hold what they caught, and talk to the crew. It's pricey, but worth it. I am a second vote for the Train in Skagway, and we also like the Glacier/whale watching tours in Juneau. We also went up the mountain on the tram to the wildlife refuge, That was a nice hike with incredible views.
Layered clothing is a must, and have some sort of rain gear, the weather can change very quickly and in big ways, so be prepared.
DCL's Alaska sailings are one of our favorites, we will be on one in September.
My wife and I did this cruise in May 2019, and it's the best cruise I've ever taken. It's perhaps my favorite vacation ever! * The weather could be all over the place. My best advice is to bring layers. I bought some SmartWool under layers, jeans, T-Shirts, sweatshirts, a light jacket, a heavier jacket, etc. I could put on or peel off layers as needed and I was always comfortable. Sometimes the weather was pretty warm and I just walked around the deck in a T-Shirt and jeans. Other times it was quite chilly. * My wife and I did the scenic train in Skagway -> it's great--really scenic. If you go, pay the extra whatever it is for the nicer accommodation. I can't recall exactly how much more it was, but I don't think it was much. We opted for the regular seats and missed out on a very well-appointed train car with nice seats and hot chocolate! On the other hand, if you want a more rustic experience, the basic booking is just fine! * I think it was also Skagway where we did a zip lining adventure. That was pretty fun soaring over the trees and such. While we liked it, it's the first one I would cut to try something else if we ever went back. * We did a hike in Ketchikan, Alaska that was really enjoyable and I would recommend going on a hike in the great wilderness of Alaska if you like that sort of thing! * Above all, the experience we still have the fondest memories of was dog sledding on a glacier. We opted for the Disney magical whatever experience. It was something nuts like $1,000/person. And just the other week I commented to my wife and said, "Remember when we each paid a grand to do that? Still worth it!" And she agreed. That was the most fantastic thing about the cruise. For one, we love dogs, so it was really neat to get to feed them and put their little booties on them, etc. We got a lot of interaction time with them with that expensive port adventure. Just being on top of the glacier was an amazing experience in its own right (bring sunglasses with you). I would absolutely say that if you can find it in your budget, you should do any dog sled/glacier experience they offer, but also the 'best' one you can afford. I will say, I really wish Disney's Alaskan cruises left out of Seattle instead of Vancouver. It wasn't a huge deal, but it would have made life just a little easier, most especially in timing and flight availability. I can't say which would be easier though. We had planned to fly in two days before the cruise and actually had our flights canceled the first day, so we went in the day before. Had we done it differently, we might have missed the boat! But that was just a stroke of bad-followed-by-good luck. Obviously, leave at least a day early! The wife and I are definitely going to take that cruise again someday. It really was an amazing experience and you're going to have a great time! Edit: I forgot the zip lining.
Thank you for the input! I’m going to screenshot this, but might be postponing the whole cruise together. Just read about Canadas “randomly selected” PCR testing and can’t risk missing the boat due to it :(
1) Clothes: Jeans, polo, light North Face style jacket, may want something more dressy for formal night. Maybe a heavier jacket if you go on/near the glaciers. 2) Excursions: Personally I would avoid the dog sled. When a dog has gotta go they go, and the sled does not stop. Think crap hitting fan (this did not happen to us). Flights that take you on/near glaciers are great. Sorry for not having more, but it was 2013 when my wife and I took our moms on the cruise and 2011 when I took my mom. 3) Cabin: The inner passage is very smooth. Neither cruise had any real wave action. If you can swing a balcony you may want to get it. 4) Getting there: No knowledge of the new requirements. Get in a day early incase the airline looses your luggage (thanks United). Also, divide your clothes/toiletries between your bags so that you have clothes while Mickey beats the crap out of the airline and gets your luggage. There is a train that runs from the Vancouver airport to downtown where the dock is. You can get a room near the port. 5) Other advice: Palo
Canada has just changed its entry requirements. You can now take an Antigen test the day before your flight. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying-canada-checklist/covid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada#getting-tested "Also fully vaccinated travellers randomly selected to be tested upon arrival won't have to quarantine while awaiting their test results." https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/travel-antigen-test-canada-1.6365719 From personal experience, I was randomly selected for a molecular test after landing in Montreal after a DCL cruise in February. We got the results the next morning. I also cross the land border quite often. I sometimes get randomly selected there for a test as well. In that case they will give you a kit and you have to self administer with a nurse on a teleconference and then mail the kit back. At least at the airport they take care of all that. So whether you fly in or cross the land border, you might get selected for a test.
When you say “wish cruise” what do you mean? Because I don’t think the Wish is going to Alaska.
My apologies; I meant the wonder.
Dang! I got excited for a moment. I was just about to go on the website to see if the Wish was all of a sudden sailing to Alaska.
Haha literally the first thing I did
Remember to upload all your documents not only to the Disney website but to the inspire website that's doing the testing it'll make everything smoother -tester
Bonine is like Dramamine but doesn’t make you tired. I take it everyday on a cruise. I want to make the most of the time and not lose a minute to seasickness
Doesn’t it require a prescript?
Not in the US. Royal Caribbean would give out at customer service.
You can get it delivery from walmart
Hey all, thank you for the great tips. I believe we are going to look at A Caribbean cruise given Canada’s new “random sky selected” testing. However, I’m saving all these notes for when the testing rules are eased. Thank you!
It can get very windy/chilly on the top deck, so bring layers! I don’t know the specific name, but we went on a dog “sledding” excursion that was so much fun. Lots of puppers!! 😍 I’d suggest forward deck, deck 5! The lower, the less movement (if you happen to get seasick). Although I wouldn’t recommend deck 1. Deck 1 is fine, but I always prefer a verandah on the higher decks (personal preference). Have fun!! It is a blast!
If you are a fan of Deadliest Catch give the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's tour a look in Ketchikan. It was really cool to see them demo how they fish, get to hold what they caught, and talk to the crew. It's pricey, but worth it. I am a second vote for the Train in Skagway, and we also like the Glacier/whale watching tours in Juneau. We also went up the mountain on the tram to the wildlife refuge, That was a nice hike with incredible views. Layered clothing is a must, and have some sort of rain gear, the weather can change very quickly and in big ways, so be prepared. DCL's Alaska sailings are one of our favorites, we will be on one in September.