Planning a trip that doesn't even exist

[Kandjandj]

We sailed the dream on the 13th and had a great time with our 2.5 yr old daughter. My husband and I had already agreed our next cruise would not be the bahamas/ Caribbean. Talking with our table mates that had booked Alaska for this summer, we decided on Alaska! Only, we can't afford it this year so we have to wait for the 2014 dates. The man who booked our dummy date said they would probably be released in March. So I started researching the 2013 prices and excursions to see how much this trip will cost us. That's when I noticed we would not be able to take our daughter on 2 of the 3 excursions that are must dos for us (whale watching and the deadliest catch tour). I hate to leave her on the ship but she will be 4 next summer so she could go to the kids club. When I add up all her expenses ( air, cruise) it doesn't seem worth it to bring her to leave her on the ship for 2 of the 3 port days. And next summer would be our 15 year anniversary. So I guess I would like to know pro and cons to taking a young child. If we don't take her we would definitely choose another line; seeing the character without her would make me miserable. If disney doesn't go to alaska in 2014, I would not take her on another line. I would not feel comfortable leaving her in another lines kids club while we are at port.

 

[BrennaM]

If you have stuff booked from being on board and have a dummy date that you are paying slowly into you can just keep calling in and rebook the cruise until the one that you want shows up. This way you can keep your OBC and discounts that you received when booking aboard.

I recently called in about this because we had a Med cruise booked for this year and time and money are just not allowing it to happen....but no 2014 med dates are set yet. They told us just keep calling in to rebook and they will keep the amount you have already paid in the loop. The fellow told me they still have ppl holding out for the Baltic cruise to happen again...so that means they booked in 2010 most likely.

It would be sad if you couldn't take your daughter with you...especially to the deadliest catch tour. It was phenomenal!

 

[Calfan]

We did the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's tour when we were in Ketichikan last summer on a Disney cruise. We booked directly through 56 Degrees North because it ended up being less expensive than booking the DCL Port Adventure, and there is only one boat that everyone goes on, whether you book directly or through DCL. My kids were 8 and 10 at the time, but I don't remember there being any age limit for kids. I just checked the 56 Degress North website and can't find anything about an age limit, but there is a phone number listed on the site you can call. I suspect that if you booked directly with them, you would be able to bring your daughter.

 

[kcashner]

No one knows whether DCL will have Alaska cruises in 2014. It is rumored that the Wonder ( which was altered to include more enclosed areas for Alaska) will be going to the Med and having an extended dry dock...which would mean that ship is not available. As above,. you can make a dummy booking and move it as needed.

 

[ekatiel]

It's your 15th anniversary. I would leave her at home just this once and take another line. From what I hear, Princess, HAL, and NCL are all good choices for Alaska. They are the only ones who consistently offer Glacier Bay, which is supposed to be incredible (never been, but I've done a little research since it's on my bucket list). Then, when she's nine or ten, go back and do Alaska with her. Just my two cents . --Katie

 

[Meghatron]

It's your 15th anniversary. I would leave her at home just this once and take another line. From what I hear, Princess, HAL, and NCL are all good choices for Alaska. They are the only ones who consistently offer Glacier Bay, which is supposed to be incredible (never been, but I've done a little research since it's on my bucket list).

My in-laws did Alaska on Princess and absolutely loved it.

 

[Mommy2Emmy]

This sounds like the exact conversation DH and I had today! Except it will be our 10th anniversary! Following along!

 

[bumbershoot]

If you go to book the Bering tour it says that 5 is the minimum age.

But I'm wondering if you booked the *whale* watching tour directly, if they would allow her? We never did cruise with DS when he was little, but I don't remember seeing age minimums on the whale watching sites I checked out. It might just be a Disney thing.

But I have to tell you, you just can't tell if a child will stay in the club. My cousins went on a cruise last year, fully expecting their 4 year old DD to be in the club and their son to want to leave, and it was exactly the opposite. Their gregarious outgoing vivacious daughter simply would not stay there longer than an hour, not even with her brother around.

Do you have any sane and healthy (not everyone does!) relatives that could go along with you as backup kidlet-watchers?

 

[JnDRader]

We sailed the dream on the 13th and had a great time with our 2.5 yr old daughter. My husband and I had already agreed our next cruise would not be the bahamas/ Caribbean. Talking with our table mates that had booked Alaska for this summer, we decided on Alaska! Only, we can't afford it this year so we have to wait for the 2014 dates. The man who booked our dummy date said they would probably be released in March. So I started researching the 2013 prices and excursions to see how much this trip will cost us. That's when I noticed we would not be able to take our daughter on 2 of the 3 excursions that are must dos for us (whale watching and the deadliest catch tour). I hate to leave her on the ship but she will be 4 next summer so she could go to the kids club. When I add up all her expenses ( air, cruise) it doesn't seem worth it to bring her to leave her on the ship for 2 of the 3 port days. And next summer would be our 15 year anniversary. So I guess I would like to know pro and cons to taking a young child. If we don't take her we would definitely choose another line; seeing the character without her would make me miserable. If disney doesn't go to alaska in 2014, I would not take her on another line. I would not feel comfortable leaving her in another lines kids club while we are at port.

Boy do I feel your pain. My wife and I both LOVE scuba diving so we went to Beaches Boscobel when our daughter was 2. It was ROUGH dropping her off that first morning to go diving.

Fast forward several years and we went to Beaches Turks and Caicos. Daughter was now 8 and son 5. Drop them off with no issues. Go to pick them up and our son starts screaming "No, no, no!!!!" because he was afraid we were going to take him out of camp. The boy practically lived at the Lab last year. Each kid is different but our son especially LOVES the camps. Now that our daughter is older she isn't as keen on them but she enjoyed them when she was younger.

Personally I'd say take her and leave her on the boat. While she might enjoy whale watching I doubt she'd enjoy the deadliest catch tour. You're not abandoning her. You're letting her enjoy her vacation too

 

[cwdefouw]

If you are intent on Alaska in 2014, you may want to have a backup plan. As mentioned previously, early speculation is that Disney may not do Alaska in 2014 as the Wonder is likely to go to Europe for the summer then get major drydock work in the fall. The Magic could be sent to Alaska, but more likely would go back to New York for the summer. They have already announced that they will return to NY and 2014 is the earliest they could do it.