Oh my goodness, our big summer vacation is approaching quickly! I can’t believe we only have 2 more months to go. I thought I would bring you all up to speed with our plans and remind you to follow me on Facebook and Instagram so that you can follow along on our adventures in real time!
First of all, does anyone else hate the update to the DCL app? DCL, please bring back the suitcase!
We are only 63 days out, and thankfully these arrived the other day:
It’s always such a huge relief when they arrive. Am I the only one that imagines all sorts of crazy things happening to prevent your passport from arriving in time? The girls’ passports are current, but mine and my husbands were set to expire next month so we had to renew them. FYI, it took 2.5 weeks from the time we mailed them to the time we received the new ones. Also, if you have questions about passports I have a post about it here.
Okay, now onto the good stuff. For the first time ever, we are doing 2 back-to-back cruises. Here are the itineraries:
For the first cruise, we will have 2 interior rooms on deck 6. Then, for the Alaska cruise, we will switch one of those rooms out for a verandah room across the hall. This will be our first time having 2 rooms that do not connect, so we will see how that goes. I am glad that one of our rooms is staying the same so that we can just put all of our stuff in there on the day that the cruises switch over. I think this will keep things pretty simple.
Originally, we were supposed to spend 2 days at Disneyland prior to the first cruise. I had already done all of my research and planned it all out (but not made any reservations) when my husband found out that he needed to be at work those days. So, the trip was shortened by 3 days but that’s okay, these things happen. We’ll make it to Disneyland one day!
Now I’ll take you through our plans day by day:
Tuesday, May 15: Fly to San Diego and take a taxi/uber to the hotel
Wednesday, May 16: Take a taxi/uber to the port and board the Wonder!
Here are some pictures from when we disembarked the Wonder in San Diego last May after our Panama Canal cruise. I hope we have better weather this time!
Thursday, May 17: sea day
Friday, May 18: San Fransisco. We will visit Alcatraz on our own.
Saturday, May 19: sea day
Sunday, May 20: Victoria, BC. We have hired a car to take us to Butchart Gardens where we will tour the gardens and have afternoon tea. We’ll use the rest of our time in port to drive around the city and see the sights.
photo courtesy of clippervacations.com
photo courtesy of gobi.ca
Monday, May 21: Since I’m not exactly sure how the back-to-back process is going to work, were going to have to play this one by ear. I know we have to leave the ship and re-check in at the terminal, so the plan right now is to walk next door to FlyOver Canada, which is a ride just like Soarin’ at Disney World & Disneyland but with scenes from Canada. It’s located at Canada Place along with the cruise terminal so I figure it can’t be a very far walk.
photo courtesy of bookings.flyovercanada.com
Tuesday, May 22: sea day
Wednesday, May 23: Tracy Arm day. For those of you who aren’t familiar, the ship sails up Tracy Arm Fjord (if sea conditions allow) and gives guests a close-up view of Sawyer Glacier.
photo courtesy of disneyparks.disney.go.com
Thursday, May 24: Skagway, Alaska. We have a jeep reserved with DIY Jeep Tours (formerly Alaska Green Jeep Tours). We will take a self-guided tour up the Klondike Highway and through the Yukon Territory!
photo courtesy of alaskagreenjeeptours.com
Friday, May 25: Juneau, Alaska. We have reserved a Juneau Whale Watch tour on our own. We chose the Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Watching Combo Tour which is 2 hours of whale watching followed by flexible time at Mendenhall Glacier. If we have time, we’ll go up the Mt. Roberts Tramway when we’re done.
photo courtesy of juneauwhalewatch.com
Saturday, May 26: Ketchikan, Alaska. We’ve reserved a tour with Alaska Hummer Adventures. We chose the Island Hummer Tour, which is a guided, customizable tour of the area.
photo courtesy of fareharbor.com
Sunday, May 27: sea day
Monday, May 28: We will disembark the Wonder and hopefully visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park for the day until our flight departs at 6:25 pm. There is a DCL port adventure that takes you (and your luggage) from the ship to the park and then to the airport, but it cannot be reserved in advance. It can only be reserved onboard, which I plan to do.
photo courtesy of capbridge.com
So there you have it! Those are our plans and I am getting more and more excited by the day. As always, I will write a full trip report after we return.
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This trip looks amazing! I hope you enjoy your time in my “home and native land!” I can’t wait to see your trip reports.
Oh my goodness this looks amazing!!! Back to back cruises sound so fun! I’m already so excited to read your trip report. Thank you for bringing us along for your adventures!
Two questions: in your Panama Canal trip report, you said you switched from August to May for your travel dates Would you be willing to share your reasons? We would love to go on an Alaskan cruise but don’t really know where to start with the timing. Also, on the first cruise details, it says you have air travel for 3. Are yall arriving separately for this one?
We knew we either wanted to sail the first 2 sailings or the last 2 sailings of the season because they are a lot cheaper and we are not bound to school schedules. At first we decided August because I had heard that the weather may be better, but the more I researched it, the more I heard of people having great weather in May as well. That, combined with the fact that I had my eye on the previous sailing from San Diego as a back-to-back, made me change my mind. On the cruise details, we have 2 staterooms on each cruise and thus 2 separate reservations for each cruise (3 people on 1, 2 people on the other). I just showed one reservation for each cruise in the blog post, and happened to choose the reservation with 3 people on it for the first cruise and the one with 2 people on it for the second cruise. I hope that makes sense!
Oh my goodness, I knew you were doing Alaska but I didn’t know it was going to be a b2b with the San Diego-Vancouver cruise; we are on the first cruise with you!!! You are going to LOVE Alaska, we did it last summer and are doing it again at the end of 2019! Haha, I’m fan girling so hard right now, excited we are going to be on the same cruise lol Promise I won’t stalk you though 😉
Angela, that made me laugh! I am really a very ordinary person so don’t get your hopes up! In fact, some may even describe me as boring but I’m fine with that! Send me an email right before the cruise and we’ll pick a place to meet up and chat for a few minutes.
Haha, sounds good 🙂
Alaska is amazing, you are going to love it. When you visit SF, you absolutely should go to Alcatraz. Book your ferry rides now online. They sell out! Millions of tourists are disappointed every year. Skip Pier 39. I’ve been to Buchart gardens too and absolutely loved it, a very special place. enjoy!
Thanks for all of the tips Laura! I already have Alcatraz tickets so we’re all set. That’s good to know about Pier 39, I may have been tempted to walk over there after our tour but now I know not to bother. I think we’ll be ready to eat lunch after our tour – do you know of any good places to eat near the Alcatraz Pier (33) or where the ship docks (which I think is 27?)
The Ferry building is not too far from where the Alcatraz boat sails and I’d recommend going there to grab some food and see all of the cool shops! I recommend Slanted Door restaurant there if you like Asian food!
Thanks for the tip Erin!
Definitely second that recommendation. Slanted door is a very special treat, especially the shaking beef. But the great thing about the ferry building is there is all the best of northern california in one building, so you have so many options to choose from.
And if you are walking there from alcatraz and you have any time, I’d really recommend going to the Exploratorium, its an amazing kids science museum. Even if you don’t go in to see the museum there are a few exhibits for the public out on the pier that are definitely worth checking out. But the museum is definitely worth it.
And… while I stand by what I said about Pier 39, the sundaes at Ghiradelli are really good in a totally touristy way.
Thanks for the recommendation Laura!
My daughter and I will be on the 5nt from San Diego also and doing back to back with the 3nt Baja before, also deck 6 but midship – we are leaving Alaska for a few more years, as I plan on doing what your family are doing with the b2b from San Diego then Alaska. We are also planning on doing Flyover Canada the morning we arrive in Vancouver. It will be our third time in San Francisco, Pier 39 is very touristy, so we are heading down to Ghirardelli Square – we have been there a few times before. We are travelling from Australia. I found your website last year, really enjoy all your trip reports and your general information you provide. Might see you on the cruise.
How to you plan to get to Ghirardelli Square? I might look into that. And if you see me onboard please say hi!
Hi – we are planning on walking, google maps shows it being a 19min walk – we have walked it before, but from Pier 39 only. Fingers crossed it is a lovely day – I am looking forward to an early start that day as I want to be on deck 9 or 10 when we go under the Golden Gate and of course, the Lions Gate bridge when you get to Vancouver. I will definitely say hi if I see you on board.
Sorry it is actually about a 30min walk from Pier 27 to Ghiradelli Square
My husband would LOVE to go to Alcatraz, but the rest of that itinerary does not appeal to me at all? maybe I will change my mind after reading your trip report. Have you ever seen San Francisco on the itinerary of any other cruises?
I didn’t choose that sailing based on the ports, I just wanted to be on the ship longer than 7 nights (our Panama Canal cruise got me spoiled!) and this was the sailing right before it that would allow us to to a back-to-back and make a longer cruise. But, I do think Alcatraz will be interesting and I am starting to get more excited about Victoria. The Wonder usually stops in San Fransisco twice a year, on the way to and from Alaska for the summer. I think in the past it has even overnighted there before, but don’t quote me on that – I’d have to look it up to be sure.
I will also be on the repositioning cruise. Booked the Alcatraz tour on my own as well. I’ve been to San Francisco many times but never taken that tour.
If you see onboard please say hi! We are on the 10:00 tour, how about you?
9:10 Are you part of the FB Disney Cruising group for this cruise? Envy you going on to Alaska. I’ve been with the Wonder two times and I’ve booked the 9-night for 2019.
I think I joined the Facebook group, but I don’t do Facebook much outside of my blog page so I haven’t been following it. I’ll try to check it out later today.
A nice way to get to know folks beforehand. I know several of us will be on the 9:10.
You have excellent plans. Yes the fly adventure is on the upper deck of the cruise line dock in the same side that the Wonder docks. Don’t miss the Olympic torch on the other side of the large with a living roof you’ll see from the stern of the Wonder. Plenty of great places to eat there too. If you have time a free shuttle, you catch it in front of Canada place to see the park with totems. Be aware though ALL ships leaving on that day have to go thru the one same customs entry. Have passports ready and if there are two or more ships plan an extra hour to get thru the line. Make sure to go to Canada Place sun deck, just off Looby at top of escalator you’ll get a great view and picture op.
Thanks for the tips and the reminder to see the Olympic torch – I definitely want to see that! There will be one other ship in port that day, so I will be sure and budget an hour to get through customs.
Also saw when in Juneau you’re going to Mendenhal Glacier. Don’tiss the bear viewing platform near the left side of parking lot. Learned about that from the excellent naturalist lectures on the Wonder. Those lectures are a do not miss event on the ship. It is so nice to know what you’re looking at when you get to the real thing. He also speaks on the ship’s PA when going Tracy Arm and he has a talk on the pool deck when they snag some glacier ice and bring it on board for hands on experience. I know you won’t miss a thing being the planner that you are, but this is a cruise that you have to wake up early for to really take it all in, my husband really enjoyed watching the coming into ports and the ship manuvers. Deck 4 near the bow crossover doors is a great place out of the wind to view land as you said by. Enjoy!
Thanks for the tips, I am writing them all down. It’s funny that you mention getting up early because I had a feeling that was the case, and was just thinking to myself the other day that I’m going to have to mentally prepare myself for not sleeping in every morning like I do on most cruises!
Check out the timing for sunsets, spectacular is an understatement. Although late in the evening around 10:30 or 11 in May. Sunrise very early but worth it and great with a special coffee from the adult coffee bar, make sure to get the coffee card since this is an extra cost so you get your free one. Speaking of free remember the pastries are freebie there. Another all inclusive on cruise are the bread bowl soup/chowder they pass out on decks 10 and 9 (upper and pool deck) when you go up Tracy Arm. Servers walk around with trays so you don’t have to miss anything on deck so get a warm up snack. So many tips so little time. Bye for now
Thank you for more great tips!