I need Alaska Cruise insider information :)

[ThePicketts]

Help! I am trying to get my extended family to go on an Alaskan cruise in 2015 and some need a little persuading.
1. Is it almost a definite that DCL will be in Alaska 2015?
2. How cold is it in August?
3. Give me any testimonials that will sell the trip.
Thank you Obi Wan, you're my only hope.

 

[cruisecrasher]

Help! I am trying to get my extended family to go on an Alaskan cruise in 2015 and some need a little persuading.
1. Is it almost a definite that DCL will be in Alaska 2015?
2. How cold is it in August?
3. Give me any testimonials that will sell the trip.
Thank you Obi Wan, you're my only hope.

1. Nothing is definite until the 2015 schedule is released, probably after October this year. Actually, if they lengthen the Wonder in fall 2014 like they will be the Magic in fall of 2013, it will depend entirely on the completion of the expansion of the Panama Canal. Because the ship will be too long to fit through the old locks. Completion was pushed back from October 2014 to April 2015...it's kind of a we'll see situation.

2. Average highs in AK ports in August 60-65 Average lows 48-52. Depending on the port. Keep in mind, these ports can often include rain.

3. I'm not sailing AK until August 2014, but I look forward to others replies

 

[ThePicketts]

I'm sure they wouldn't close off the whole west coast

 

[summerblue]

We have cruised Alaska on another line, this July we will be on DCL ( thank you mom for your DVC points) we were there in August ( married on the cruise). Temps range but are very nice, especially if you are like us and want to escape the heat. Highs around 70 ish. Most days i wore a light long sleeve shirt without a jacket and got a little warm, it does rain a lot, middle of a rainforest. But the most beautiful views, on and off the ship. The air is so clean and fresh, which is a huge plus for a major allergy sufferer like me, i never had to take an allergy pill the whole trip. Also, mosquitos are not as bad in August, well to be perfectly honest the only bug we saw the entire trip was a little beetle scurrying across the ground around a picnic table, all the guides would joke about the big mosquitos but we never saw any. Alaska is definately a must do trip, we are finally going back after 10 years, and i wish we had gone back sooner, but we were waiting on DD to get just a little bit older.

 

[lady9]

We did the Alaska sailing in Aug. of 2011, and it was wonderful! Our Tracy Arm day was cool with a high in the mid 50s. It was sprinkling a bit. It was so beautiful I don't think I can put it into words. There are places you can sit outside to view the scenery. The CMs bring blankets and hot chocolate so you are comfortable. Deck 9 has plexiglass on the sides to protect from the wind. One of our port days was overcast with a few sprinkles but as long as you have long pants and a mid weight coat you will be comfortable. (We're from Ohio so we don't mind cooler weather and certainly didn't need winter coats.) Our Juneau day was mid 70s and solid sun, gorgeous day. We went whale watching which was a highlight of our trip. Ketchikan was mid 60s and partly sunny. If you dress in layers and have a waterproof coat, you are fine. I would do another Alaskan cruise in a heartbeat. You really can't understand the beauty of Alaska until you see it for yourself.

 

[antmaril]

I have cruised to Alaska twice (not DCL) -- once in August and again in late June. The weather in August was sunny and warm (except for Glacier Bay, of course). The weather in late June (last year) was cold and rainy. If I ever go again, I would probably choose August, but Alaska is always iffy. There is always a big possibility of rain and cold.

Alaska is amazing. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Have fun!

 

[CruznLexi]

I just saw the Panama Canal site and it is now to June. I have a feeling they will complete in August close to the 100 yr aniv. So that is iffy for Alaska 2015. Going on the Wonder next month will ask the capt at the gold and above get together and see what the answer is

 

[cruisecrasher]

I just saw the Panama Canal site and it is now to June. I have a feeling they will complete in August close to the 100 yr aniv. So that is iffy for Alaska 2015. Going on the Wonder next month will ask the capt at the gold and above get together and see what the answer is

Thanks

 

[ThePicketts]

I just saw the Panama Canal site and it is now to June. I have a feeling they will complete in August close to the 100 yr aniv. So that is iffy for Alaska 2015. Going on the Wonder next month will ask the capt at the gold and above get together and see what the answer is

Thanks!

 

[ThePicketts]

So is the canal being expanded for modern shipping?

 

[cruisecrasher]

So is the canal being expanded for modern shipping?

Has been for the last six years. They're adding a new set of locks to accommodate larger vessels.

 

[CruznLexi]

Part of the probelm with the expansion is that they can not dredge during the rainy months. So they can only work on parts of the canal a little at a time and blasting has to be done inbetween ships. I saw this on the history some time ago. I think that is part of the dealy. The hundred year ani is also in August of 2015

 

[lbgraves]

Alaska was DH's favorite cruise, even over the PC repo. It is nothing like the Caribbean ports. We can't wait to go back one day. We stayed on decks 4 & 10, so definitely had the heavy coats on and sometimes wrapped up in the blankets they provided. We didn't care for deck 9 because the plexiglass got in the way of the pictures. Also, on deck 10 you had a panoramic view -- especially good for whale watching. The land is so close when you are going through the inside passage. It was just breathtaking!

 

[CruznLexi]

I would not count Alaska out in 2015 but it will be very interesting to see what Disney will do. There are many other cruise lines looking to bring the big ships through the canal to do Alaska too. It is just a wait and see.

 

[Spwhoney]

They better have Alaska in 2015. That's when we are planning on going!

 

[ThePicketts]

They better have Alaska in 2015. That's when we are planning on going!

I'm sure that will be taken into consideration

 

[aan1701]

If you want to go to Alaska on DCL I think you better go next year. I say as of now zero chance of them there in 2015. I know that is a bold statement but I will explain why i say that. First off there is no reason to think they will not do the same stuff to the Wonder as they are doing to the Magic. They are trying to make the old ships more in line with the new ones. That being said, the Wonder will be getting her 20 extra feet in length. Also since by law the Wonder must go to dry dock next year,l it will be somewhere on the east cost or maybe even Europe because the Wonder is heading back to PC next Sept. then disappears from the schedule in Oct. Second the expansion project is not months but years behind schedule. It was already supposed to be done. I talked to the retired canal pilot that DCL brought on in the Outlook Cafe the night we were anchored outside the canal on this years WBPC. I asked him if he had heard through his connections at the canal the status of the project. He said it looks like 15-17 months after the Oct 2014 date as of now. I asked cause I was really hoping to do another Hawaii cruise with DCL in 2015. Even that looks like its not going to happen. I will end with this. I hope this post is wrong and it is done by 2014 , but I am not holding my breath.

 

[Spwhoney]

If you want to go to Alaska on DCL I think you better go next year. I say as of now zero chance of them there in 2015. I know that USA bold statement but I will explain why i say that. First off there is no reason to think they will not do the same stuff to the Wonder as they are doing to the Magic. They are trying to make the old ships more in line with the new ones. That being said, the Wonder will be getting her 20 extra feet in length. Also since by law the Wonder must go to dry dock next year,l it will be somewhere on the east cost or maybe even Europe because the Wonder is heading back to PC next Sept. then disappears from the schedule in Oct. Second the expansion project is not months but years behind schedule. It was already supposed to be done. I talked to the retired canal pilot that DCL brought on in the Outlook Cafe the night we were anchored outside the canal on this years WBPC. I asked him if he had heard through his connections at the canal the status of the project. He said it looks like 15-17 months after the Oct 2014 date as of now. I asked cause I was really hoping to do another Hawaii cruise with DCL in 2015. Even that looks like its not going to happen. I will end with this. I hope this post is wrong and it is done by 2014 , but I am not holding my breath.

NO, NO, NO, NO It wont be true, it wont be true. My heart is breaking say it aint so.

 

[aan1701]

NO, NO, NO, NO It wont be true, it wont be true. My heart is breaking say it aint so.

So sorry. I was just as upset as you, but it's out of my control.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using DISBoards

 

[ThePicketts]

Thank you! Any other testimonials?