Ahoy Courtney!
What fabulous news that you’ll be sailing to Alaska! My family couldn't wait to set foot onboard the Disney Wonder for our
Alaskan itinerary. Hands down, this voyage was our number one cruise destination so far. It’s hard to beat seeing whales and glaciers and getting to take photos with Disney characters with snow-capped mountains in the background. Best days ever!
Did you know that you can book your pre-cruise or post-cruise hotel stay directly with Disney Cruise Line? Current partner hotels include the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, the Fairmont Waterfront, and the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel. The Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel is actually IN the Vancouver International Airport and steps away from U.S. and International arrivals, so that makes a great choice for Guests arriving late in the day. When you book a hotel stay with Disney Cruise Line before your cruise, you will receive additional information about transportation to the Canada Place Cruise Terminal upon check-in. Just one less thing to worry about so you can concentrate on exploring Vancouver in your free time!
Alternatively, you can make hotel arrangements and
book ground transfers from Vancouver International Airport to the Vancouver Port Terminal for embarkation. Current pricing for a one-way transfer is $25 per person and can be added to your reservation by
contacting Disney Cruise Line at least three days prior to your sailing. Be sure to add ground transfers in advance because availability is limited. Since you are arriving a day early, you will have to figure out logistically how to get from your airport hotel back to the airport if you plan on using Disney Cruise Line ground transportation.
The third option is to choose a downtown Vancouver hotel that is in close proximity to the Canada Place Cruise Terminal. My family chose the St. Regis, a boutique hotel located a few blocks away from the port so we could walk around Vancouver the day before our cruise. But we did have to use private transportation to get to the port the next morning with all our luggage. Many hotels are within walking distance to the cruise terminal, but they may also have a premium price tag. So look at all the options and decide what works best for your family!
Believe me,
Vancouver is so worth the extra time if you can work it into your schedule. We had a glorious day touring Stanley Park, visiting the Vancouver Aquarium, and walking around the waterfront the day before our Disney Wonder departure. You have a great idea to come in a day early for your cruise, so why not explore the area?
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cruise planning...or should I say glacier because we're talking Alaska? Either way, cruise back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel if you have any additional questions about
Port Adventures, special events, and naturalist presentations. Wishing you a WONDERful adventure in Alaska!
Happy Sailing!
Sherry