Alaska?

[Disneybridewifemama]

We just finished our first disney cruise (8th cruise over all) a few weeks ago and are looking to book our 2nd, hoping for and Alaska 2015. We want to go over our daughters birthday in July.

We've only ever cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean. Any Alaska tips? Must dos? Is July a good time?

To afford it (based on 2014 prices) we'd have to do an oceanview room, which I'm disappointed about. We've only ever had a veranda room and I have always said if I went to Alaska, a veranda is a must do. But now after cruising Disney, I think it's more important to have the disney entertainment for our daughter (she's 4 now) and downgrade the room. Thoughts? Is it not worth going in a downgraded room?

 

[lanejudy]

July is peak time for DCL Alaska cruises due to schools around the country on vacation. That will impact pricing, so for July 2015 you'll want to book on opening day (as soon as itineraries are released).

We're fine with oceanview rooms and going to a public deck for outdoor time. Honestly, we spend very little time in the stateroom anyway.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I think it's only natural to feel like for Alaska the verandah is a must do and if you can swing it, I say go for it. BUT I also agree with others that have stated when this comes up, you want to be up on deck viewing the scenery 360 degrees. We don't regret paying the extra last year for our verandah however for 2015 we are likely going to do Oceanview as well to keep costs down and put that extra towards excursions.

Alaska is the best cruise ever!

Heather

 

[queendarvet]

We sailed the very end of July into the first week of August. The weather was perfect! The day we sailed into Tracy Fjord was a picture perfect day with sunny skies as was just about every other day of the cruise. We were in an inside room as we booked our cruise on DVC points. Never missed not having a window or verandah because we always wanted to be out on deck. The views during the entire cruise are breathtaking!

 

[ahain]

We just finished our first disney cruise (8th cruise over all) a few weeks ago and are looking to book our 2nd, hoping for and Alaska 2015. We want to go over our daughters birthday in July.

We've only ever cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean. Any Alaska tips? Must dos? Is July a good time?

To afford it (based on 2014 prices) we'd have to do an oceanview room, which I'm disappointed about. We've only ever had a veranda room and I have always said if I went to Alaska, a veranda is a must do. But now after cruising Disney, I think it's more important to have the disney entertainment for our daughter (she's 4 now) and downgrade the room. Thoughts? Is it not worth going in a downgraded room?

Would you consider either early June or end of season (rather than July) in order to get better pricing and maybe be able to afford the veranda?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We went in early August last year had fantastic weather photos in the link below and I had a blog available online with tips, and details of who we booked with.

 

[misseulalie]

Remember, excursions are a lot more expensive for Alaska. Most of ours are around $179 a person. Dog sledding is $400-$700.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

You can save a lot of money by booking direct snd getting the times you want.

 

[Plutofan]

We just finished our first disney cruise (8th cruise over all) a few weeks ago and are looking to book our 2nd, hoping for and Alaska 2015. We want to go over our daughters birthday in July.

We've only ever cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean. Any Alaska tips? Must dos? Is July a good time?

To afford it (based on 2014 prices) we'd have to do an oceanview room, which I'm disappointed about. We've only ever had a veranda room and I have always said if I went to Alaska, a veranda is a must do. But now after cruising Disney, I think it's more important to have the disney entertainment for our daughter (she's 4 now) and downgrade the room. Thoughts? Is it not worth going in a downgraded room?

Did you book a dummy cruise on board to get the potential 10% discount on your next Disney cruise? With the on board discount, travel agent credit and paying with Disney gift cards we were able to get a good price on our upcoming Disney Alaska cruise in July 2014.

 

[pillow]

I think it's only natural to feel like for Alaska the verandah is a must do and if you can swing it, I say go for it. BUT I also agree with others that have stated when this comes up, you want to be up on deck viewing the scenery 360 degrees. We don't regret paying the extra last year for our verandah however for 2015 we are likely going to do Oceanview as well to keep costs down and put that extra towards excursions.

Alaska is the best cruise ever!

Heather

Heather, I didn't realize you had already been on an Alaska cruise!!?? Have you done a land trip? I'm beginning to think Alaska needs to be done as 2 separate vacations - 1 land, 1 sea.

Jodie

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

We found our verandah to be a must for our Alaskan cruise- and we've cruised DCL in every category from inside to concierge. We found a cat 7 Navigator's Verandah to be affordable early June. There are "secret verandah" cabins that have just a very minor obstruction- they look like the 5C category cabins next door, but have a cat 7 price.

We spent so much time on our verandah, watching the view! We spent most of Tracy Arm day on the verandah, listening to the narration on the TV. That would be a great way to spend Tracy Arm day with a 4 year old!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Once you've had a verandah it's hard to go back to an ocean view. We tried it and felt claustrophobic. I really missed stepping out for a breath of fresh air without having to get dressed and go up on deck.

The end of July/early August, the salmon will be running. It's fascinating watching them swim upstream to spawn, especially when they climb the "ladders" at the hatchery in Juneau.

The Alaskan fireweed -- the bright pink flowers are also blooming then, which signals the end of summer.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Heather, I didn't realize you had already been on an Alaska cruise!!?? Have you done a land trip? I'm beginning to think Alaska needs to be done as 2 separate vacations - 1 land, 1 sea.

Jodie

Hi Jodie! Yep we cruised last June and loved it so much we want to return in 2015. I would love to do a land/sea combo but feel it would price us out. Let me know what you end up with. I know we are still waiting on DCL so hopefully soon!

Heather

 

[EeyoreIsMyName]

We just finished our first disney cruise (8th cruise over all) a few weeks ago and are looking to book our 2nd, hoping for and Alaska 2015. We want to go over our daughters birthday in July.

We've only ever cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean. Any Alaska tips? Must dos? Is July a good time?

To afford it (based on 2014 prices) we'd have to do an oceanview room, which I'm disappointed about. We've only ever had a veranda room and I have always said if I went to Alaska, a veranda is a must do. But now after cruising Disney, I think it's more important to have the disney entertainment for our daughter (she's 4 now) and downgrade the room. Thoughts? Is it not worth going in a downgraded room?

We went twice in July. The second time, we had Deluxe Family Oceanview stateroom with large porthole-cheaper than verandah, but nice view out the window and we could stay warm in our stateroom during Tracy Arm. Here is a link to my trip report for more information about weather, dining, excursions, shopping...:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3150787

You will LOVE Alaska!

 

[jkluttrell]

You can save a lot of money by booking direct snd getting the times you want.

Totally off topic but your signature says you have written blog posts with your pictures in them. I would love to read and see it but I don't see the link. Can you post it? Or pm it to me if you are not allowed to post it.
(I can't read trip reports on the DIS at work bc photobucket is blocked and well reading a trip report without seeing the photos is kinda pointless to me)

 

[pillow]

Totally off topic but your signature says you have written blog posts with your pictures in them. I would love to read and see it but I don't see the link. Can you post it? Or pm it to me if you are not allowed to post it.
(I can't read trip reports on the DIS at work bc photobucket is blocked and well reading a trip report without seeing the photos is kinda pointless to me)

If you go to his Alaska trip report, there is a link to his blog there. His Alaska pictures are wonderful!

Jodie

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Totally off topic but your signature says you have written blog posts with your pictures in them. I would love to read and see it but I don't see the link. Can you post it? Or pm it to me if you are not allowed to post it.
(I can't read trip reports on the DIS at work bc photobucket is blocked and well reading a trip report without seeing the photos is kinda pointless to me)

Yes I have been told I can't post them here a lot of people have read them ( over 150,000) enjoyed the photos, and my old live blog from the cruise, but I can't link them here.

You can google me, Andrew, or look on cruise critic who allow it.

Sorry.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

If you go to his Alaska trip report, there is a link to his blog there. His Alaska pictures are wonderful!

Jodie

Jodie thank you for your very kind comments, I have had to take my links down by the Webmasters.