Tami...sorry to hear you've been under the weather...hope you feel better soon!   Sounds like the house is coming right along! Hang in there...it'll all come together before you know it!!   I am SOOOOOO ready for Alaska!!!!   Keep in touch and get those plane reservations made!!

Malinda  

Malinda

OK OK ........#1 thing to get done this week. Been under the weather the past few days....gonna take a break from "new house fixing" for a day or two.....carpet going, going, gone.....hardwood being delivered on Friday. Things are coming along slowly but surely.....

Tami 

Carolyn & T & S

I made our airline reservations about 1:00am this morning!   Yea!!!   Found one with a 2 hr layover in Chicago on way to Vancouver and a return flight at 11:40am on Sunday when we get back in port.   That one has a 3+hr layover in Chicago and we get back in Columbus at 11:10pm Sunday night!   Phew...glad that part's over!!!

Now I'll start checking out the hotel situation!!

Malinda

Carolyn & T & S 

I made our airline reservations about 1:00am this morning!   Yea!!!  Got one with a 2 hr layover in Chicago on way to Vancouver and a return flight at 11:40am on Sunday when we get back in port.  That one has a 3+hr layover in Chicago and we get back in Columbus at 11:10pm Sunday night!   Phew...glad that part's over!!!

Now I'll start checking out the hotel situation!!

Malinda

Malinda & Carolyn

We're stay'in at the Renaissance Hotel. Check it out.

T & S

Hi Jayne...The "Y" eh???  I have visions of us singin' & dancin' to the Village People in the halls of the Y!!!     I'll see what my traveling companions have to say...we're still waiting to see if one of us can get the time off school to join us on this cruise!  I'll let you know what we decide!

Malinda

Hi Tami & Soraya...

It was really great seeing everyone in Indy!!!  Had a great time!!  Can't wait to get together again real soon!  We don't have our airline tickets yet either!  I've been checking on Wednesdays too...I think we're planning on coming back on Monday because of the flight times on Sunday.  I'll let you know if i come across something that might work for you.  Guess I should start checking out hotels too, eh?!!  lol  How's the house coming along?  Hope to see you soon!

Malinda  

We don't have our airline tickets yet. Been checking the last few Wednesday's as that seems to be the day with the best prices. We both have airmiles with Delta but as of yet can't get a decent time on Sunday from Vancouver back to Detroit. Either too early to too late. This is getting fusterating! Just got our new house last week and have been sooo busy with that. Really just want to get tickets and then I won't have to think about that ONE thing anymore. Too much going on @ once!

T 

Glad to see that things are coming together for you.  Your plans sound great.

I can't believe the pre-trip that Olivia is suggesting and it will involve at lot of flying.........but folks say that Denali is worth it.

You can bet that there are organized day trips to Butcharts that will be bus and ferry and will probably be the easiest way to go.  The bus gets preference on the ferry and will drop you right off at Butcharts.  You won't get to see anything of Victoria, as the garden is about 20 Km north of the city and fairly close to the ferry terminal.

If you did take that float plane over you may want to spend the night and then hook up with a Butcharts tour that will take you back to Vancouver on the ferry.

The Garden is truly spectacular and worth the trip.  In September it will be dahlias and roses and hydrangesas other Fall flowers.  They change the appearance based on what is in season.

Now you are going to have to live up to the Aussies that were on the Western Caribbean cruise.  They were truly a fun bunch and livened up the whole cruise. 

H & G

Thanks for the link to the float planes web site, it's a great idea. Maybe we could fly one way and return by ferry. We are going to arrange our own pre cruise excursions in and around Vancover. Six of us are arriving by train on the Wed night so we will have three full days to explore.A definate is a  day trip to Capilano Suspension Bridge, a trip onboard the Whistler Sea and Sky Climb and if time permits a trip to Victoria, Angela would really like to see the Butchart Gardens.

After our long flight from Aust we are avoiding having any  more flights by catching the train from San Fran to Seattle. A night in Seattle and a chance to look around before getting the train to Vancover. On our way back down the coast we are getting the train to Portland, staying the night  with some great women we met on our  the last Olivia cruise, then back on the train again to LA. Get to see a lot more of the States than you do by flying and a lot less stressful than airports.     A flight plane flight would be the exception!! 

Heather and Georgette, 

We all really apreciate your helpfull advice , so thanks again, Jayne and Angela

Hi Joyce,

United is in an alliance with Air Canada....and Continental and US Airways, so they are probably your best bet for air travel.  Some folks are going to fly to Seattle and take the train up and then fly home from Vancouver.  That way they get some time in Seattle and it is much less expensive to fly within the continental USA.

The host hotel is quite close to the cruise ship dock and not far away from the gay part of town (look for Denman and Davie streets on Google maps).  The so called lesbian neighbourhood is around Commercial Drive and is not easy to get to from downtown.  You can take SkyTrain and then a bus up Commercial and the SkyTrain station is really close to the host hotel.  http://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps.aspx

The ferry to Victoria is a long way out of town...............almost to the US Border.  Alternatively there is a float plane that leaves from a dock about 5 minute walk from the host hotel.  It is a really neat way to go and drops you right in downtown Victoria. http://www.harbour-air.com/schedules.php  I wouldn't be surprised if Olivia doesn't do a pre-trip vacation stretcher that would include Victoria, but they haven't announced.

I don't live in Vancouver, but am close so let me know if you have any other questions.

Cheers,  Heather and Georgette