Because of our upcoming Alaska cruise (details here), I’ve had Alaska on my mind lately so when a friend offered to share a little bit about her DCL Alaska experience from last summer, I jumped at the chance! This is part 2 of a series (you can read part 1 here) about sailing on Disney Cruise Line to Alaska from someone who’s done it before. I’m hoping it provides some valuable planning tips for those of you planning a trip of your own!
The following is a guest post from Leta, a Disney superfan and authorized Disney travel agent:
Alaska: Big Views and Larger than Life Experiences
In the last post I discussed why a trip to Alaska is truly the vacation of a lifetime. There’s so much to see, do and experience – the voyage is truly unmatched by other destinations.
The first part of your experience is getting there, as Alaska isn’t as easy to travel to via a quick road trip like other popular Disney ports (i.e. Port Canaveral). It’s certainly accessible though, and that’s part of the fun.
When we sailed onboard the Disney Wonder in June 2017, we departed from Vancouver. We flew from our home airport in Central Illinois into Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Wow! This is an experience in and of itself. The airport is welcoming and filled with that heritage vibe of the Northwest (totem poles, woodwind music). The airport is easy to navigate and maps are accessible online.
Note that you if you are a United States citizen, you will need to travel through customs during your voyage. Whether you arrive via air, or via train from Seattle (another popular option among cruisers sailing out of Vancouver), you will need patience while you shuffle through the lines during both your arrival and departure. If you have only sailed out of US Ports, you should be aware that this experience is also a bit different – and longer! Never fear, your adventure awaits onboard and you will soon realize that the temporary hassle was well worth the wait.
Before we get to Alaska, let’s talk about Vancouver. This seaport city in Canada is filled with majestic views and activities to experience before departing on your Alaskan voyage. Our hotel accommodations were at Pan Pacific Vancouver, which is literally located right above the Canada Place cruise terminal. No shuttle needed! On departure day we simply took the escalator to the lower level for check-in.
Canada Place at night
We planned our stay to include two full days to explore the Vancouver area and it was so worth it. We would love to have stayed longer. The area is rich with shopping and entertainment, close to historic Gastown and the 200 shop Pacific Centre Mall, and of course, nature! Plan to visit Grouse Mountain, the Peak of Vancouver, for breathtaking views. You can enjoy walking tours, bus tours, and even take a trip to Chinatown. There’s plenty to see and do! My aunt and her two friends (we called them The Golden Girls) enjoyed Vancouver on foot.
Meanwhile, the rest of us decided to relax and take in the views 😉
Now, if you aren’t too exhausted from exploring Vancouver, it’s time for your cruise! Fast-forward through the customs until you are finally onboard the gorgeous Disney Wonder.
The first stop nearly everyone makes is their home base for the week – your stateroom. I am often asked which type of stateroom is best – my answer is, it depends on a number of factors. That said, on this voyage we had both Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms and Inside Staterooms located directly across the hall.
My husband prefers the open air, so we chose a stateroom located near the aft (back) of the ship with a Navigator’s Verandah, which means the veranda is sheltered more than a standard verandah. This actually came in handy since the wind could get a bit chilly.
My sister and her two teenagers had the Inside Stateroom. They had plenty of room for the week. When they wanted to take in the views, they would go to one of the decks, or hang out with us.
Shipboard activities are much like other Disney sailings – music, games, towel folding, etc. What’s different about an Alaskan voyage is the focus on education about Alaskan wildlife from known experts in the industry. These educational sessions were offered throughout the week in theatres and on the decks. In addition, Alaskan culture merchandise was available for purchase, which made this trip extra special.
By far the best onboard experience was dining at Tianna’s Place! Singing, dancing and music from the Crawfish Crooners offers the perfect backdrop for a night of entertainment.
As we sailed through the Tracy Arm fjord, the water was like glass. The ship moves slowly, allowing passengers to take in the majestic views. We did spot some whales and dolphins. The views are simply amazing, and these pictures fall short of doing justice to the scenery. The water is a tranquil blue, and the ice chunks from the calving glacier are eerily interesting to see. One of the onboard educators shared the fate of Alaska’s glaciers; it is incredibly sad news to hear that they may be completely vanished in the next few decades.
Waterfalls, wildlife and family fun all await you on an Alaskan voyage. Next time, we’ll discuss port adventures and walking tours around Alaskan ports.
Bon Voyage!
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Leta Gail Doerr is a Personal Vacation Advisor with Magical Vacation Planner, an authorized Disney Travel Agency. Email Leta Gail via l.gaildoerr@magicalvacationplanner.com, and Facebook.com/LetaGailMVP for expert, free travel planning assistance for all of your vacation needs. Leta Gail specializes in Disney Cruise Line®, Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland ®, Aulani- ® A Disney Resort in Ko-Olina, Hawaii, Adventures by Disney ®, Universal Studios®Orlando, and Royal Caribbean International®.
We are looking forward to our 3rd Alaska cruise on the Wonder this July. You’re right about the views starting with the sail away deck party. Deck 10 is a good viewing spot especially going under Lion’s Gate bridge, so festive. Everyone waves at people on shore and the bridge walkway, they wave back and it starts your week long trip with a big smile that never leaves. My husband who took his first cruise ever on the Wonder to Alaska last year commented that people were smiling the whole trip, no yelling, no language. A pleasure, that’s why we sail with the mouse and we’re going back on a 9 night trip this July. So looking forward to it.
Love this article. We are planning an Alaska cruise on the Disney Wonder in September of 2019 and are looking forward to every minute of it. We are also from Central Illinois (Champaign-Urbana area) can I ask how you flew what was your path? We are currently looking at Indianapolis, Saint Louis and O’Hare and have never thought about flying local. Thanks!