Holiday review.
Well lots of planning paid off and we didn’t have any significant problems all vacation everything went to plan.
I had in the year previous to the vacation researched all providers of services in our varuous places of call and I was so pleased everything came up to expectation or exceeded expectation.
Virgin Flights.
On time, good service, no issue, flight time on both were shorter than advertised, no problems.
Vancouver transfer.
Nice guy transferred us from the airport to the hotel, he was very chatty and it was like a Vancouver tour and a tour guide. We had arrived early and he met us in the arrivals hall, no issue.
Pan Pacific.
Very nice hotel, nice rooms connecting, Good views, no lets say great views, and on top of the cruise terminal.
Restaurants in Vancouver, plenty, the ones we booked on our limited time there were great.
Yancouver
Beautiful city, I wish we had more time here, we walked about in the evenings felt safe went to the shops to get supplies, sunglasses water for hotel overnight etc.
North Shore tour.
So lucky we had a former entertainments manager of another cruise line undertake our private tour of the north shore of Vancouver, she was so good, so informative a great day, saved a lot in the long lines she got us tickets etc, was a fantastic day.
Fly over Canada.
Like Soaring in Disney but more up to date better ride system, and stunning views, it was popular.
Disney Wonder.
Great ship.
Embarkation.
Smooth, in terminal at 10.15am, went through security check, then USA border control and to a waiting area, we went through with princess cruises, they took people for check in quickly, there was a slight wait for Disney.
Check in.
The Disney check in was a bit slow and the concierge line backed up as only one line and position was open, regular lines moved quickly. They after a long while opened a second position. They were good but mis informed us of the waiting area for the cruise, there is a concierge area but they didn’t direct us there, we found it by chance when we went to a rest room.
Embarkation.
Low key, most people by passed the embarkation photos went straight on and the PA announcement was name only for us, not location and a low clap and welcome. We then weren’t actually directed from that, so headed towards Beach blanket and a person ran up to us and said if concierge you can go to that meet and we went back to diversions. That meet was nice but we hadn’t booked much so not much to discuss.
They keep notes on us, as, as soon as I saw our concierge she said, ahh, Door Magnet man and you sailed Baltic and Med. Good detail I can’t believe was recalled from the last time on the Magic class. We had done the Fantasy in-between they didn’t know that but I didn’t have magnets on our door there as the new ships have wood over the metal in the suites and magnets do not stick.
A word on the magnets we had people visiting to view them, we could hear a noise outside our room and look through the spyhole and see a group outside viewing many times, in fact last night a boy came up and cried they had gone and the mum said they have to pack away the same as us!
Ship was clean and nice and it was sunny.
Walt Disney Room. 8030.
OK you would expect me to go wow, well I personally ‘liked’ the room yes, but it felt more like the mid ship Cat Ts, (Cat3), and there wasn’t the wow factor, service from stateroom host was great. We had some electrical faults on arrival; one phone was going off all the time as if there was a message pending but there wasn’t. The phone had to be fixed or would keep us up all night. (Like the calls by housekeeping and Palo and Concierge at all hours, leaving a red light flashing in your room at night).
The room is big, nice central sofa, but as said felt no bigger than a Cat T, the main bed felt a bit old not a nice night’s sleep, but the rest was great. It’s quite, with just a minimal bit of deck chair movements early morning, I think people moving not crew at cove cafe area and near that pool.
We had a door bell and only once did it ring and we went and no one was there, we just saw a kid run off. Midship Cat 3s have it worse as there near the midship lifts and easily seen and easy to run off.
We got free soda all cruise, used a reasonable amount, and free bottled water, we had free internet, and we booked the largest packages and three of us used our own and two of us had two of the largest package during the seven nights.
I see people who claim to be experts on cruising, claim the internet is poor, and I have a fast internet a home well of the places we went to, all of the hotels, and restaurants, the Wonders was the best, I could upload ten photos on three or four blog posts at a time and it went through in a flash and no rejects, so not sure why people say internet is slow, the only black out was Tracy arm day in the middle bit, not at the end where we got good connection and my saved posts went through.
Back to 8030, we didn’t notice being treated special or any different bar twice.
Once we went to Tritons for lunch everyone had the same idea as the weather had one dull morning, and we got there 12.20pm and we were told there is a forty minute wait, then we were asked if we would share a table. We said yes, there were a few others waiting as well and they were also told forty minute wait and left.
We stayed and we were asked for our room number and as soon as I said 8030, a table became ‘free’ and we were sat down in a minute and we didn’t share, I felt this was connected to our room number.
The other thing was on Tracy Arm day, we were invited to go to the non public officer’s deck forward deck 7, below the bridge and over the crew pool area on Tracy arm day. We could walk port, starboard forward and have stunning views, we thought the views from the Walt suite would be good but this was fantastic and gave us unrivalled views. This was a fantastic perk and we had coffee, tea hot drinks cakes and cookies, and also Minnie visit. That was worth the cruise concierge fare in itself.
We had gifts in our room regularly, cakes, cheese, flowers, cookies, and water bottles for shore trips. Palo dinner in our room was great, and also hot breakfast in our room.
Palo Dinner in our room.
This was great we pre booked with concierge for 6.30pm dinner and choose our menu, from the menus in the room.
At 5.30pm an officer and a server set the room and the table up.
6.30pm prompt all starters and appetisers and pasta came.
Then about 25 mins later the main course came.
Then about 25 mins later desserts came.
OK appetizers, the soup was slightly cool not piping hot, but ok, the main course and the Palo soufflé was hot, not sure how they do it.
It was enjoyable on be on our own, in our room, attentive service, great food, looked after well and we had extra dessert a soufflé and another one.
So the cruise.
Stunning views leaving Vancouver. Do not miss these, weather good.
Overnight fog, and the ship standard horn going off all night for a warning to other marine traffic.
Tuesday, fog am, then cleared, and stunning pm views of the inner passage.
Wednesday, slight fog overnight.
We had Palo brunch and had stunning views outside, we saw whales at this time following us, the views up to Tracy arm are stunning. When in Palo they all asked how Palo dinner in our room was.
PM Tracy arm on our verandah and also forward on deck 7, stunning, stunning views, so, so good, we saw it with now crowds, people were up early when we went to brunch staking their claim to areas to view. Book a Verandah for Alaska stunning views each day.
We were told since 2011 this was the closest the Wonder had got to the glacier, the best views ever, and it was great weather sunshine and hot, we were reminded all the time how lucky we were.
So then a concierge evening meet and cocktail party, Minnie joined us again, it would be nice if the big cheese Mickey had put in an appearance.
Thursday Skagway
We got off early, and walked the town, easy, its just there at the end of the pier, some fog but lifted later.
We had a flight over glaciers and glacier bay, all went to plan stunning views again.
Then Lunch on ship and off for an afternoon tour.
Meet time was 12.45, we got off 12.15 and met our lady nearly there and then some 30 mins early. She added another waterfall in as we were early. The other good news as I booked pm and bus then train and others normally do morning and train then bus, we were buy ourselves all bus trip with a private tour! Fog came and went at leaves which spoiled it at times.
White pass rail was great, and enjoyable, I am pleased we did it one way only and again great views some fog here and there but still great.
Shopping in town for the third time as we did some pre plane, post plane at lunch and now post train.
Juneau.
First rule, do not let the fog put you off, second rule use all the time available and squeeze things in.
Arrival in port a little early we had Mount Roberts tramway tickets.
We had booked a helicopter tour and landing on a glacier for mid to late morning, this was the best time, early flights were cancelled re the fog.
So off 7.30am, now the ship doesn’t dock in town here but gives a free shuttle to Mount Roberts tramway which is the start of the town.
We were off, and on the free shuttle and got a gondola up mount Roberts at 8am, there was fog, but I am glad we did it. The fog was going through like clouds, so one minute there was fog, the next it was clear. So we were up by ourselves it was empty, no one there, we went around a trial. We got photos of the tow and the cruise ships between the fog. We saw wildlife as we were there by ourselves. Then we went back down to the town, shopping, and back on the free shuttle, we had time to nip on board have a snack and back off for our meet for the helicopter. We met them easily, they were clear to find, they said, we might not go as previous trips all cancelled. I could see the fog had lifted and then the call came we were ok! They said well done for booking then as all previous flights were stopped.
We were driven to the airport, now I am lucky yet again, I booked four seats on the helicopter it does take six and I hadn’t booked it private for us, there were other six party groups who went on their helicopters. We were a party of four with a pilot and we went by ourselves with him only. Again he said we booked a good time as previous flights were suspended. He said dog mush ones earlier had been cancelled.
This was a fantastic flight, the views stunning and then we touched down on our own part of a glacier. Our family and a pilot and no one else there for 35 minutes. I do not like to use the word but it was awesome.
So fantastic words do not describe the photos will not do it justice, but the glacier so big, the water running off so blue, the shapes in the ice so, well, ‘cool’. On the way back more glaciers and a great view of the cruise ships and town.
The helicopter company as a team looked after us concierge style with glacier boots and safety information coffee and tea, and rain coats if required. Very personal service with pick up and drop offs included.
We then went shopping and up mount Roberts a second time, the ticket is all day, not just once.
Up there it was more busy, less wildlife the only thing extra we saw was the local film they show, it hadn’t started at 8am, and the Eagle which wasn’t out at 8am, the views were hit and miss as it started to cloud in up there again.
Ketchikan,
I had seen on the port webcam that the Wonder often goes in early here, I planned for that.
You dock in the middle of town no walk and most things very easy to find.
We checked in for our flight and duck tour inside the visitors bureau, easy to find as we pulled up we saw it form our verandah and also could see the salon jumping up the river and under the bridge!!
We were off early, went shopping, took our purchases back on board and eat a light snack and back off for our flight to the ( not so ) misty fjords.
The weather was dare I say hot and sunny and after three days in Alaska we knew the advice on layers and bringing too many clothes was wrong and we over packed and over dressed, even locals were telling us and taking the Mickey and saying your over dressed take your coats off!!.
Misty fjords I booked and private chartered a plane after lots of research and I was so so pleased I did. We were there some 30 mins early and they met us there and then so good. They looked after us well, I was pleased we booked a mid day slot for the best weather. A fantastic flight, beautiful views an landing in an can I call it alpine style lake in the misty fjords, in brilliant sunlight, and an informative pilot who kept talking all the time with local facts and sights.
Again only us and a pilot in the area, so quite so peaceful.
The only issue was lack of wildlife, we saw whales in the sea, and goats, and eagles but not bears we were told its too hot for them and they had gone off to rest after eating too much fish.
We then buzzed around some mountains for views, it was a bit up and down like a rollercoaster, stomach up and down but stunning close views.
We then went over our cruise ship and landed in the water.
It all went to plan we went shopping and again on/off ship and then went on a duck tour. I booked this direct as Disney didn’t offer the time I wanted. I had checked in at the visitors centre earlier. We were given stickers and again we got there early as the previous ‘duck’ went and a queue had already formed, in fact four people were bumped from the previous duck as the duck was full and they volunteered to step back to the next one. The queue was long in minutes.
Again advice always get there early for best seats the duck filled quickly and latecomers were separated up with some groups sitting at window seats only not two together.
The duck tour was fun and the hosts very good, its a bit corny not as bad as a lumberjack show but funny. We had a full ninety minutes there but a reasonable amount of it you could walk in town if you wished.
Sea day
Do not miss out on sea days the inner passage views from our verandah were fantastic. The beauty was we could view from inside our room outside on the verandah, and also if the webcam on the TV showed interesting places the other side we could walk about and come back. We had room service concierge gifts to tuck into whilst watching views, whales were seen as well. The bridge would announce it if they saw it.
We had a second brunch and the views were stunning, this time we didn’t do the introduction to the food just went first it so were first up and I got great photos. Same server as before and when taking photos the executive chef of Palo came to chat to me, he asked if I liked the layout and wanted to see my photos on my IPAD, he asked what food I liked. And did we enjoy dinner in our room.
Shows.
Great shows and entertainment each night, Toy Story was the best as I haven’t seen it before but Dreams good as it had different performers than we have seen before and Golden Mickeys updated with CEO Al Wiess now taking over from Whoopie Goldburg and Roy Disney.
Well worth seeing the shows.
Some bad saving going on, a young kid saving the whole middle aisle row for family who had sent her out in advance to secure say ten odd seats. Most people ignored this and sat down.
Food
Fantastic.
Palo, was 100% perfect, Beach blanket great bar two things, cold toast, and omelettes not made to order but pre paid at the central station and if you ask for ham and cheese they get you a pre made one, it was hot but slightly off.
Dinner was always great bar once our orders of soups were swapped over and one was fish and one yellow pea and hard to tell apart, with me having a seafood allergy registered it was a big mistake but sorted it self out fine but they need to take care.
Talks
The naturalist talks were fantastic, and well worth going to very informative.
Shops.
If you want a specific DCL hoodey go first night, I saw three styles first night, then when I purchased one Tuesday am post talk, only one was there. After one port of call all three were back so they must have had supplies in.
Disembarkation.
We did express walk off with luggage at 7.15am, at this time no announcements made. We had hot breakfast in or room and then went whilst other went ot the restaurants. No luggage was off ship in the area at that time we walked around it.
Border customs were non existent bar hand the Canada customs form to one person that’s it.
We had a quick transfer to the airport.
Air Canada
We flew to San Francisco the flight was on time and good and on arrival no issues bar one of our suitcases was damaged.
A transfer was organised to our hotel.
San Francisco
We were again lucky with the weather hot and sunny and dry with a bit of fog late evening, the cable cars had long queues ie an hour plus.
We had a booked tour which was great including the highlights of san Francisco, and the golden gate bridge and then Muir woods post lunch and a cruise. Then dinner at Hard Rock they messed up our order but gave us 20% off.
The next day we had a tour booked of Alcatraz, and then a bay cruise to the golden gate bridge. The aquarium, shopping and dinner.
Yosemite
I drove after collecting a hire car to Yosemite it took four and a half hour with a break for lunch fantastic views, we stayed in the valley, our hotel was good but our room wasn’t so good, of all of our stays this was the only bad room, we didn’t sleep well. The Wonder double bed was old but we could sleep.
We had a grand tour and it was fantastic well worth going even if the bed was bad. We had a upscale dinner in the hotel which was fantastic but a little expensive, but I did comment it was on par with Remy on the Fantasy and that’s $75pp and this was a similar cost.
Then we drove back to San Francisco and had a good flight home.
Summary, we planned well and did a lot, maybe too much, at least two trips and shopping and a walk in town on every port of call, all times went to plan, we got to places early and got excellent, service.
The extra cost of the Walt was paid for my our use on the free internet, the extra soda in the room and bottled water the exclusive use of the forward officers deck.
I would say everyone should think of cruising Alaska unless you are a sun and sunshine only person.
My blog has thousands of photos on it, enjoy.
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