Alaska in 2012? Help

[jkthorstad]

I know there are many threads on this already, but I feel like my situation is a bit different. I get extreme motion sickness, and therefore, I have been unwilling to take a regular cruise (carribean, mexico, etc). I thought that sailing Alaska would be better cuz not out in as much open water. Is this a good thought? If so, my kids would be 11 and 9 next year, and are DISNEY FANATICS! I have heard so much about the rotton itinerary for DCL in 2012, and will look into other options. My dillema is that this might be our one and only cruise ever, and our one and only trip to Alaska ever. Please let me know your thoughts on what we should do.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Yes, sailing the Inside Passage of Alaska is smoother than the open sea. When choosing an itinerary you would want to avoid the stretch of open water between Whittier (Anchorage) and the Hubbard Glacier. Disney doesn't go there. And your kids will be a great age for a Disney cruise. My biggest gripe about next year's itinerary is that it doesn't spend enough time in Victoria. But your kids probably aren't interested in Butchart Gardens anyway. And sailing round trip from Seattle means cheaper airfare. Anything else you want me to justify for you?

If this is your only opportunity to cruise Alaska, will Disney's itinerary be enough for you? Whatever ship you choose, you'll want a lower deck near the middle of the ship. Less rockin and rollin there.

 

[jkthorstad]

Any other thoughts out there?

 

[NancyIL]

In 2012 the ship will depart from Seattle, and it will probably sail west of Vancouver Island rather than between the mainland and Vancouver Island - as it has done this year. For a "one and only trip to Alaska ever" - I would NOT choose DCL in 2012.

 

[brewcrew]

In 2012 the ship will depart from Seattle, and it will probably sail west of Vancouver Island rather than between the mainland and Vancouver Island - as it has done this year. For a "one and only trip to Alaska ever" - I would NOT choose DCL in

Can you explain why not, please.

 

[NancyIL]

Can you explain why not, please.

Shorter port times out of Seattle in 2012 than from Vancouver in 2011.

 

[brewcrew]

I noticed that. I wonder why. We are booked for an Alaskan cruise next summer but am hoping the excursions will still be able to be done with the shorter times.

 

[tolemommy]

Hum I hadn't noticed that thanks for the tip. We maybe considering a family Alaskan cruise in 2013 if Disney is stilling cruising to Alaska.

 

[cari12]

In 2012 the ship will depart from Seattle, and it will probably sail west of Vancouver Island rather than between the mainland and Vancouver Island - as it has done this year. For a "one and only trip to Alaska ever" - I would NOT choose DCL in

Can you explain why not, please.

What this post is getting at is with the ship coming out of Seattle in 2012, it sails up the west side of Vancouver Island which is open Pacific Ocean-similar to the Mexican Riviera cruises. In 2011, when sailing out of Vancouver, there were longer excursion times but also the ship sailed on the east side of Vancouver Island between the island and the mainland which would be more sheltered waters.
Hence, Alaska 2012 is probably not a great choice for you if you are looking for calm seas.
I,for one, am hoping Disney goes back to Vancouver in 2013 for Alaska as the 2011 itineraries were way more appealing.

 

[NancyIL]

I noticed that. I wonder why. We are booked for an Alaskan cruise next summer but am hoping the excursions will still be able to be done with the shorter times.

The shorter port times are due to the ship sailing from Seattle rather than Vancouver. Because the ship will sail roundtrip from Seattle in 2012 (except for the first and last cruises), it has to make a foreign port stop - which it does the last evening in Victoria. In order to get to Victoria on time, the ship has to depart from Ketchikan in the early afternoon. In order to arrive in Ketchikan early in the morning, the ship has to depart from Juneau in the early afternoon.

 

[wdwwishes]

We just did the Alaska cruise on July 12 and it was awesome, the water in the Inside Passage was like glass. As for shorter port times. We were in Juneau from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. We arrived the next day in Ketchikan around 12:30. I don't know if it takes that long to get there, it does seem to be a good distance on the map or if it has anything to do with hitting tides to make it through some of the passages at the right time. It also could be slower cruising to Ketchikan as it's a busy port and they probably need to stagger the ships. When we docked there were 3 ships docked already and one anchored tendering guests ashore. The amount of time in Ketchikan was enough for us to do our excursion, look around the town a bit and catch a bite to eat before getting back on board. For those hoping to do the Alaska cruise with DCL, I hope they go back to Vancouver as it's a beautiful city. We really enjoyed our time there before the cruise. I had heard the move to Seattle was because of cheaper port fees for the line and it's a bit easier for folks to get to.

 

[cari12]

We just did the Alaska cruise on July 12 and it was awesome, the water in the Inside Passage was like glass. As for shorter port times. We were in Juneau from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. We arrived the next day in Ketchikan around 12:30. I don't know if it takes that long to get there, it does seem to be a good distance on the map or if it has anything to do with hitting tides to make it through some of the passages at the right time. It also could be slower cruising to Ketchikan as it's a busy port and they probably need to stagger the ships. When we docked there were 3 ships docked already and one anchored tendering guests ashore. The amount of time in Ketchikan was enough for us to do our excursion, look around the town a bit and catch a bite to eat before getting back on board. For those hoping to do the Alaska cruise with DCL, I hope they go back to Vancouver as it's a beautiful city. We really enjoyed our time there before the cruise. I had heard the move to Seattle was because of cheaper port fees for the line and it's a bit easier for folks to get to.

This won't be the case in 2012 as the ship does not go up the inside passage, it takes the west side of Vancouver Island = open ocean. ANd the port times will be shorter. Please, please Disney return to Vancouver in 2013.

 

[brewcrew]

Ugh, should I cancel and hope for a better itinerary in 2013? Or will I still have a magical time? How long on the open ocean until we get to the inside passage? Is the Pacific ocean rougher than the Atlantic?

 

[NancyIL]

Ugh, should I cancel and hope for a better itinerary in 2013? Or will I still have a magical time? How long on the open ocean until we get to the inside passage? Is the Pacific ocean rougher than the Atlantic?

I would wait until the 2013 itineraries are released before making a decision about Alaska in 2012.

Looking at the itinerary and the map, you'll be in the open ocean from the night you leave Seattle until the morning of the 3rd day when you return to the Inside Passage to go to Tracy Arm. On the southbound return to Seattle, you'll be back in the open ocean as you sail west around Vancouver Island before docking in Victoria on day 7. **The map shows the ship returning to Vancouver, but it does that only on the last Alaska cruise on Sept. 3, 2012.

 

[girlpenguin]

We just booked the July 9 cruise for 2012. Any thoughts on if we will have enough time to go to Buchart Gardens in Victoria? It's a 3-hour stop...seems like they would almost HAVE an excursion there, otherwise, what else would people do there in 3 hours or less?

 

[jdb in AZ]

The ship will be in Victoria from 7:30 p.m. til 10:30 p.m. Even on a long summer day, that wouldn't give you enough time to get there and look around before it's too dark to see anything, and you'd have to turn around and head back to the ship all too soon.

Victoria is a picturesque town with lots of upscale shops and they love to see tourists. But if everyone tries to get on the shuttle at once, there just isn't enough time to get into town before you'd have to turn around and head back to the ship.

 

[NancyIL]

We just booked the July 9 cruise for 2012. Any thoughts on if we will have enough time to go to Buchart Gardens in Victoria? It's a 3-hour stop...seems like they would almost HAVE an excursion there, otherwise, what else would people do there in 3 hours or less?

If it were me and I really wanted to see Victoria, I would make arrangements to disembark in Victoria, spend at least one night there, then take the ferry to Seattle or Vancouver before flying home.

 

[brewcrew]

I just booked my Alaska cruise while onboard for the 10 percent discount. I know I will be able to transfer it to 2013 but when will they announce those dates and itineraries?