2015 DVC Alaska Member Cruise 5/25-5/31/15

[DisneyBelle99]

Thanks guys, I've taken care of this for you.

Some folks in the groups that are still open were asking about the cut off date, and I know Jim and Christine, you asked for some feedback. So far, there are a few votes for no later than MAY 10. If anyone expresses interest after that, I have seen other cruises offer to let them participate with no guarantees.....just that some participants with extra gifts may " gift " them, with no need to respond back. AKA " Pixie Dusting".
I also suggested anyone post their thoughts on this disboards thread about cut off dates.

On our way home from the Mohegan Sun Casino this week. ( NO winning!), we stopped at an outlet mall that had a Champion/Hanes outlet. Great prices, and we are done shopping for Jed. I also hit up a Macy's sale last week for 2 deeply discounted jackets, long anorak style, with hoods. Good thing I am a good shopper, and don't have to rely on Casino winnings to fund our clothes for this trip!

 

[poison ivy]

I love this packing discussion! I was also planning to bring an empty bag. BTW JQ will probably wear jeans to dinner a few nights with a nice shirt. I may do this once or twice myself, depending. It seems the Alaskan cruisers tend to be more casual so count us in!

We do have Palo brunch and dinner planned. Haven't gotten that far yet. You are not required to wear a jacket so I don't know what my DH will decide.
I have worn a dress for dinner in the past but may not this trip. who knows? Trying to keep it simple.

Outerwear is my main focus this weekend. I've got a great weatherproof lightweight LLBean jacket I wear in the winter now that I'm planning to pair up with a warm hoodie or fleece and a layer or two underneath. Hope that's warm enough to be outdoors on Tracy Arm Day.

 

[AngelaCruises]

ADULT FE GROUP B: (IS OPEN)

1) therina: 2 AD / 1 DD (11) - Cabin 2146 (Deck 2 aft/port) - (Anniversary / FE Groups B & C)
2) DebL: 2 AD - Cabin 2568 (Deck 2 mid/starboard) (39th anniversary)
3) caminosally: 2 AD - Cabin 7625 (Deck 7 aft/starboard) (**DH - allergy to eggs**)
4) MMouse2: 2 AD - Cabin 6086 (Deck 6 aft/port) - (Beating Cancer! / ALL FE GROUPS)
5) Mika: 2 AD - Cabin 5522 (Deck 5 forward/starboard) - (mother / daughter / DD - 22nd Birthday)
6) goff1029: 2 AD - Cabin 2519 (Deck 2 forward/starboard) - (no allergies)
7) SandraPoZ: 2AD - Cabin 7540 (Deck 7 forward/starboard)
8) Jim and Sue: 2AD - Cabin 6045 (Deck 6 forward/port)
9) FLNative: 1AD / DD19 / BF19 - Cabin 7544 (Deck 7 midship/starboard) (no allergies / FE GROUPS B & D)
10) Csquaredmickey: 2AD - Cabin 2027 (Deck2forward/port) - (3rd Anniversary)

22 people total

I'm so excited to find this group and find that the adult FE group is still open!

Please add us- we are a group of 4 adults - Angela, David, Becky, and Cassidy, cabin to be determined (GTY), no allergies or celebrations!

Thank you!

 

[poison ivy]

I'm bringing an empty bag too. I'd have no way to get gifts home without it. Hope everyone remembers that when planning!

In other news: I think I've officially lost it. I'm totally watching the Wonder on the Port of Miami webcam, it should be pulling out any minute. Once it does it's out for two weeks through the Canal, and closer to us in Vancouver!

I think it's great the Wonder is officially on her way to the Pacific Coast and Alaska! How great is this! Wish I had seen her leave yesterday.
Does anyone have that link to track the ship?

 

[WaylaLady]

I think it's great the Wonder is officially on her way to the Pacific Coast and Alaska! How great is this! Wish I had seen her leave yesterday.
Does anyone have that link to track the ship?

I use this page: http://www.cruisemapper.com/Disney-Wonder-schedule and then google port webcams. Or this one to look at the ships on a map: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/current-ship-locations/

 

[Johnny Quest]

I'm so excited to find this group and find that the adult FE group is still open!

Please add us- we are a group of 4 adults - Angela, David, Becky, and Cassidy, cabin to be determined (GTY), no allergies or celebrations!

Thank you!

Welcome to the Dis.

DVC doesn't sell GTY cabins on the Member Cruise. Maybe you should check your reservation. There must be some mistake.

 

[AngelaCruises]

Welcome to the Dis.

DVC doesn't sell GTY cabins on the Member Cruise. Maybe you should check your reservation. There must be some mistake.

Yes, I misspoke I'm sorry! Hubby is handling it and I thought he was pulling my leg about it and gave him a hard time so he "guaranteed" me we have a cabin and I thought he was saying it's a guarantee cabin. lol I will get the cabin number asap! Please do add us - it is the right cruise!

 

[AngelaCruises]

On another note, I think I'm losing my mind. I've been reading here for months before I finally joined in order to join this group and I swear there was a whole forum about fish extender gifts with pictures and ideas and I can't find it anywhere now? Help?

 

[Jay Kat]

On another note, I think I'm losing my mind. I've been reading here for months before I finally joined in order to join this group and I swear there was a whole forum about fish extender gifts with pictures and ideas and I can't find it anywhere now? Help?

There are a lot..this is has some good ideas

http://www.disboards.com/threads/best-fish-extender-gift-received.2919223/

 

[Johnny Quest]

Yes, I misspoke I'm sorry! Hubby is handling it and I thought he was pulling my leg about it and gave him a hard time so he "guaranteed" me we have a cabin and I thought he was saying it's a guarantee cabin. lol I will get the cabin number asap! Please do add us - it is the right cruise!

I will add you to the Adult FE. I can see that it's you and your Husband, but what relation are Becky and Cassidy?

 

[AngelaCruises]

I will add you to the Adult FE. I can see that it's you and your Husband, but what relation are Becky and Cassidy?

Hubby's Mom and sister. Both adults over 21

 

[Johnny Quest]

Hubby's Mom and sister. Both adults over 21

Thanks and welcome! I'll include this info in the FE list. Don't forget to post your cabin #!

 

[poison ivy]

I use this page: http://www.cruisemapper.com/Disney-Wonder-schedule and then google port webcams.

So interesting - when I click on that cruisemapper link, our cruise is missing!
I've been using this link to track her on the map: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/
The Wonder has left Cozumel en route to Cartagena

We are the 4th cruise in line after this one!

 

[tidefan]

So interesting - when I click on that cruisemapper link, our cruise is missing!
I've been using this link to track her on the map: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/
The Wonder has left Cozumel en route to Cartagena

We are the 4th cruise in line after this one!

It's because ours is a charter, i.e., not a publically available cruise. It doesn't show up on the ports schedule in cruisett either...

 

[WaylaLady]

So interesting - when I click on that cruisemapper link, our cruise is missing!
I've been using this link to track her on the map: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/
The Wonder has left Cozumel en route to Cartagena

We are the 4th cruise in line after this one!

Woot! I like that Marine Traffic site, too. It's fun. I keep checking for ships in the ports we're going to. The first ship of the season is due to go to Tracy Arm tomorrow, the Celebrity Solstice. I'm wondering how we can find out if it, or any of the ships after it, make it all the way in! This is the site I'm using, it's awesome because you can see who we're in port with and which dock we're at! http://claalaska.com/?page_id=318

As mentioned, our Member Cruise is not listed because it's a charter. We're special.

 

[ExpeditionEverest]

Caught up! I didn't see an answer for how to get Candian money for tipping? Didn't even think of this. Would they not like dollars? Still need to book the Quick Shuttle to Seattle...last time I checked they still weren't taking bookings. FEs done and packed! I am freaking out about how to efficiently pack since we have 2 full train days, night in Seattle and night in Vancouver to pack for before we even get on the ship! This will be a challenge. Anyone have any sites with Alaska packing tips?

Most places will take US Dollars and give you the change in Canadian Dollars. You can go into a larger chain store and buy something small.
Best tip I got for Alaska packing is to layer, layer and layer some more. This tip has come in very handy for my previous cruises up to Alaska.

 

[karaeric96]

Woot! I like that Marine Traffic site, too. It's fun. I keep checking for ships in the ports we're going to. The first ship of the season is due to go to Tracy Arm tomorrow, the Celebrity Solstice. I'm wondering how we can find out if it, or any of the ships after it, make it all the way in! This is the site I'm using, it's awesome because you can see who we're in port with and which dock we're at! http://claalaska.com/?page_id=318

As mentioned, our Member Cruise is not listed because it's a charter. We're special.

We are special!! I love it. Thanks for sharing that Alaska Port schedule site WalaLady! Very interesting. So we will be sharing ports with 2-3 ships at each, and it looks like the port times spread out for each ship. Most unfortunate is Skagway, the only port where we will be one of FOUR ships in town that day. The good news is we pull in first, so as the Mouse is accustomed to, we will have the best port spot. But Skagway is a tiny town, that will make for a pretty crowded shoping/browsing experience. Be prepared with extra patience (no something I'm well known for, LOL!). I'll be on my bestest behavior...promise!

Looks like we share port with one ship for all of our stops except Tracey Arm. Does anyone know the Pacific Princess? I'm wondering how many she holds...

Another interesting fun fact (at least according to that schedule) - We sail into Tracy Arm last, so we show as being there from Noon to 6pm. I'm not sure if that is total time all the way into the bay, viewing the glacier itself? I may shift my spa time for that day knowing this timing. The other ships show 5-9am and 7am-1pm...so we should have some good time in there to ourselves for great pictures. Plus, it may be a little warmer than if we had the super early time slot!

 

[nunzia]

Most places will take US Dollars and give you the change in Canadian Dollars. You can go into a larger chain store and buy something small.
Best tip I got for Alaska packing is to layer, layer and layer some more. This tip has come in very handy for my previous cruises up to Alaska.

That is my plan so far.. Going to start with the lists today. Could not get into Palo on the day I wanted (Tracy Arm), so no worries there and for evening I do skirt or slacks with fluffy type shirts. Will bring an extra bag for goodies since I guess we get those from Disney as well as FEs. What exactly are Loonies and toonies? Canadian dollar and 2 dollar pieces? or what? The only thing I plan on spending money in Vancouver for is Taxi tips. Would they hate dollars? If so it's off to try and decipher loonies and such,.

 

[WaylaLady]

We are special!! I love it. Thanks for sharing that Alaska Port schedule site WalaLady! Very interesting. So we will be sharing ports with 2-3 ships at each, and it looks like the port times spread out for each ship. Most unfortunate is Skagway, the only port where we will be one of FOUR ships in town that day. The good news is we pull in first, so as the Mouse is accustomed to, we will have the best port spot. But Skagway is a tiny town, that will make for a pretty crowded shoping/browsing experience. Be prepared with extra patience (no something I'm well known for, LOL!). I'll be on my bestest behavior...promise!

Looks like we share port with one ship for all of our stops except Tracey Arm. Does anyone know the Pacific Princess? I'm wondering how many she holds...

Another interesting fun fact (at least according to that schedule) - We sail into Tracy Arm last, so we show as being there from Noon to 6pm. I'm not sure if that is total time all the way into the bay, viewing the glacier itself? I may shift my spa time for that day knowing this timing. The other ships show 5-9am and 7am-1pm...so we should have some good time in there to ourselves for great pictures. Plus, it may be a little warmer than if we had the super early time slot!

Hopefully those other two ships will clear a path so we get all the way into Tracy Arm, too! The Googles tells me that the Pacific Princess holds less than 900. A significant group of folks, but not nearly as bad as it could be!

As far as Skagway, I guess this means I'm not getting that photo looking down Broadway at the Wonder without a few hundred of my new best friends in it!

 

[Zommy]

That is my plan so far.. Going to start with the lists today. Could not get into Palo on the day I wanted (Tracy Arm), so no worries there and for evening I do skirt or slacks with fluffy type shirts. Will bring an extra bag for goodies since I guess we get those from Disney as well as FEs. What exactly are Loonies and toonies? Canadian dollar and 2 dollar pieces? or what? The only thing I plan on spending money in Vancouver for is Taxi tips. Would they hate dollars? If so it's off to try and decipher loonies and such,.

Last time we were there, we paid our taxi in US dollars. He didn't mind.