Welcome aboard, Jennifer!
I’m so happy you stopped by today with your questions about sailing to Alaska this summer. My family is on the Alaskan cruise right before yours, and I have just started to finalize some of our plans. So, let’s get this adventure started!
Disney Cruise Line recommends three hotels: Fairmont Vancouver Airport, Fairmont Waterfront, and Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel. You can
call Disney Cruise Line, and a reservation specialist will be happy to help you add hotel accommodations before or after your cruise. I also recommend Pan Pacific Vancouver. It’s located right at Canada Place Pier, where the
Disney Wonder docks. They even offer luggage transfers to the cruise ship. If you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, there are many great options just a few blocks away. Don’t worry if your hotel doesn’t offer breakfast. When visiting Canada, you must stop at Tim Hortons for a warm drink and a freshly baked donut – the Canadian equivalent of Starbucks.
Vancouver is very walker friendly. I would probably skip the car rental. From the airport to our hotel, we used the Canada Line, Vancouver’s rapid transit rail connecting the airport to the city. It was straightforward to use, even with all our luggage and a hungry and tired 6-year-old. You can also take a taxi or reserve private transportation to carry you to your destination.
I hope you have some time to explore Vancouver because it is an amazing city. My family really enjoyed the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. There is even a free shuttle. My son can’t wait to eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory on our arrival day. I plan to make reservations so that when we arrive, we can drop off our luggage and begin exploring the city.
As for
Port Adventures, there are lots to choose from. My top ones include whale watching, glacier viewing, and exploring nature. I recommend looking at the Port Adventures offered and filtering them by Ports of Call and Experience Type. This will give you a good idea of the unique experiences at each port. When planning our excursions, I also like to look at how long the tour lasts. I know that my travel crew will only last 4 to 5 hours before they want to head back to the ship.
Jennifer, I hope this information has helped you start planning some of the details for your
Alaskan Cruise. Sadly, I have read that you probably won’t see the Northern Lights, but Anna and Elsa are on board, so anything is possible!
Please feel free to stop back by and ask me any additional questions. I am always happy to help!
SEAS the adventure,
Tracie