garvii

We are on the June 14 sailing. Junior suite.

 

 

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Aw, we're on the June 21 sailing. :D

No info to impart, but I'll share in your excitement! Just booked for June 2019 on Ovation in Alaska as well, for myself and my daughter (9 at sailing). Wonder if we are on the same sailing...

I've sailed Disney twice, NCL 3 or 4 times, Princess a couple times, Carnival 3 times (I think), and Celebrity once. Phew - I should pick a line and stick with it!

Hi everybody. I'm a first time cruiser and in the planning stages. For awhile, my wife and I discussed taking the kids on a disney, cruise and had put money aside. It looks like an amazing time, however, my wife sadly passed about 6 months ago so I'm wondering if traveling alone with 2 young children would still work. I know Disney may be best being so child friendly that there may be more understanding people on board as I presume many will be traveling with children. I am trying to choose itineraries for winter to escape the cold a bit and maybe have some fun to distract from the holidays that will obviously be somber this year for me. So my questions really are: has anybody sailed alone with children? Was it too difficult at meal times/managing buffet? If the kids are in a kids club do you think enough activities for a solo adult? I guess I should clarify ages, I'm 29 and my kids would be 5 (girl) and 3 (boy) by the time of sailing.

 

First time posting here and hope to research what I can so any advice about the line in general I'm open to hear so please point me in the right direction if I should be looking elsewhere. Thank you in advance!

I'm late to the game but wanted to also share my condolences with you. Unfortunately, I find myself in the very same boat you are (no pun intended). My DH passed unexpectedly 8 months ago. We had booked a DCL cruise way back in May 2014 for this October. For a while, my DD (5 yo) and I considered cancelling, but about 4 months ago she told me she wanted it to be a girls' trip, that Daddy would want us to enjoy it.

To your questions, I can't help yet with logistics of buffet dining, etc., but I agree with you that DCL would be just about the best first cruise experience your kids could have. They are around the same age so could be in the Club together, allowing you time to decompress and grab a coffee.

Another thing to mention - I joined a Facebook group set up by others booked on my cruise, and I threw it out there -- single (widowed) mom with a small child. Will I feel out of place on a family-oriented ship? There were several folks in the group who responded that they were also single parents, and there were multiple invitations for linking reservations in order to enjoy dinners together, Palo brunches, etc. So I would recommend joining a roll call or Facebook group to gather support. You will also make friends that you may join at the buffet who can take turns with you watching the kids while the other adult(s) serve themselves from the buffet.

If you'd like, send me a PM and I will update you when I come back about how we managed.

Jessica

Sorry it's taken a few days to reply; been out of town.

 

Yes, you have luggage storage options - while you could do so at the airport, with such a short timeframe going out to YVR and back again would eat too much of your time IMO. That leaves you with the options of:

 

1) Priority Baggage at Canada Place - who will send your bags to YVR for you at a flat rate ($40 for up to 4 bags last year) or store on-site ($7 a bag, a buck or so less if they're small bags) but you have to come back for them by 4pm. I think the former option is good for you, as your flight is late enough the bags will definitely make it out to YVR in plenty of time for you (recommended to be at YVR 3 hours pre-flight for International/US flights, 2 hours for Domestic).

 

Or, 2) ask a hotel bell desk to keep them for the day (most flexible in terms of time you collect them again, but no guarantees - though a preemptive tip offered at the Pan Pacific or Fairmont Waterfront seems to give good results).

 

Must-sees in Vancouver? Stanley Park is a big draw for anyone who appreciates trees, flowers, etc. The park shuttle will probably be running unless you're an early or late season cruiser, and stops at just about everywhere in the park. Local HOHOs all make several stops inside the park now - the Trolley just driving around and the others transferring you from a big bus to a small one for the in-park stops - so you can see the 'big hits' inside the park like the Totem Poles, Rose Gardens, Prospect Point.

 

HOHO may be good in general for you - stops at most major downtown attractions, you can choose to get off and stay around at a particularly interesting stop unlike a regular tour.

 

Our North Shore attractions - Capilano Bridge and Grouse Mountain - could eat up your day if they seem like your kind of places. Free shuttles run from Canada Place, so leaving your bags/returning work well with these sites.

 

You could also easily spend several hours just walking around some of our more interesting neighbourhoods like Gastown, Chinatown, Granville Island.

 

If you want to use taxis, any driver will undoubtedly be happy to drive you around but their utility as tour guides will be very random - some may know next-to-nothing about the city except major routes, others could be a font of local knowledge. All use meters set by local rules, same for all cab companies, so you'll pay the same rates regardless of who you use.

 

If you have any specific interests, post some more details and I'm sure you'll get some more focused replies.

This is great information! We are in the same boat (LOL), except our flight leaves at 5:00 pm, and our ship docks at Ballantyne. Do they have the same luggage storage service? Can you suggest any activities for a family of 3, the youngest being 4 1/2?

Thanks!!

Coming out of lurkdom and can't believe nobody else commented on this! Nah, this isn't a picture of your shadow -- it's a picture of a cat taken in Brainy Brad's honor by a very obviously NOT TIPSY Drama Queen. Only it was moving too fast (laying down, hahahaha) for you to capture its head in the frame, too!

Love your reviews!