2015 sail dates?

[jdb in AZ]

I'm *this* close to booking a 14 night round trip Hawaii cruise on Princess. The prices can't be beat and it will be just myself and DH and though I love DCL, if they don't give me something to plan soon, they're going to lose me.

Three things to consider on a Hawaiian cruise, in addition to cost, of course:

1. Does it stop in Oahu on Sunday? The Polynesian Cultural Center isn't open on Sunday.

2. Does it have a night time sailing past the active volcanoes on the Big Island?

3. Does it sail past the Napali Coast?

We loved cruising to Hawaii with the Mouse, but they really "missed the boat" when they didn't offer the chance to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center, no night-time volcano viewing, and no Napali Coast, which are pretty much standard on other cruise lines.

 

[NancyIL]

Frenzy? Why I'll just email Dorothy from Dreams Unlimited (plug ) what I want and she'll handle everything. I get to sit back and enjoy the excitement. In all seriousness this may be a hard decision between the various baltics. The last few years have comparatively been pretty easy choices for us.

Yes, "frenzy"! I wasn't referring to the ease of booking with a travel agent, but rather the way people get worked up about booking as soon as new cruises are released - as we have seen here. It tends to be a "book ASAP and think rationally about it later" scenario - as the prices aren't published until bookings are open to the general public.

 

[Cousin Orville]

3. Does it sail past the Napali Coast?

For DCL to skip this is inexcusable. It's ideal for cruise ships since it's only accessible by the sea or a helicopter.

 

[Cousin Orville]

"book ASAP and think rationally about it later" scenario - as the prices aren't published until bookings are open to the general public.

Hehe. Probably a lot of truth to that. It's just exciting to guess and wait to see what trips are released. To a much lesser extent, the same thing happens on the ABD board when rumored trips come about and new trips are officially released.

 

[Tiggersisimtheonly1]

For DCL to skip this is inexcusable. It's ideal for cruise ships since it's only accessible by the sea or a helicopter.

You can hike it as well.

 

[COASTIEandMATE]

Three things to consider on a Hawaiian cruise, in addition to cost, of course:

1. Does it stop in Oahu on Sunday? The Polynesian Cultural Center isn't open on Sunday.

2. Does it have a night time sailing past the active volcanoes on the Big Island?

3. Does it sail past the Napali Coast?

We loved cruising to Hawaii with the Mouse, but they really "missed the boat" when they didn't offer the chance to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center, no night-time volcano viewing, and no Napali Coast, which are pretty much standard on other cruise lines.

We can see the cruise ships go by our house on their way to see the Volcanoes put on a show, but we would love to see it from the Wonder!!! Karen and Ron

 

[luv2sleep]

Hehe. Probably a lot of truth to that. It's just exciting to guess and wait to see what trips are released. To a much lesser extent, the same thing happens on the ABD board when rumored trips come about and new trips are officially released.

Do ABD trip prices go up after they are first released too?

 

[disneynme]

Looking at the dates we know, we might be interested in the "repositioning" cruise to Dover. We're thinking it would be from Copenhagen? What other guesses does anyone have about how long and where it would stop? I understand it's all purely speculative, but I like to imagine since I can't firmly plan right now.

 

[dllocals]

We haven't cruised the Wonder since Outlook was added. I've read reports that its difficult to see from there because people can stand outside and block your view. Did you have any problems with that? Curious to see whether DCL adds more 9 night itineraries. Crossing my fingers that prices aren't nuts!

Jodie

Far better to view outside the Outlook unless you are right up on the glass. Gotta see the ice floating by!

 

[Cousin Orville]

Do ABD trip prices go up after they are first released too?

Yes. Some much more than others.

 

[Calfan]

Frenzy? Why I'll just email Dorothy from Dreams Unlimited (plug ) what I want and she'll handle everything. I get to sit back and enjoy the excitement. In all seriousness this may be a hard decision between the various baltics. The last few years have comparatively been pretty easy choices for us.

That's what I am afraid of. That it will be too hard to decide. I got all psyched up for a B2B of the Norwegian Fjords and Baltics thinking they would just offer 7 night cruises of each, but I am going to be seriously tempted if they also offer a 12-night Baltics. I wonder if that one could be combined with the Norwegian cruise. Then there is the Norway ABD to factor into the equation.

 

[Cousin Orville]

That's what I am afraid of. That it will be too hard to decide. I got all psyched up for a B2B of the Norwegian Fjords and Baltics thinking they would just offer 7 night cruises of each, but I am going to be seriously tempted if they also offer a 12-night Baltics. I wonder if that one could be combined with the Norwegian cruise. Then there is the Norway ABD to factor into the equation.

I'm right there with you. I was thinking about doing the Norway ABD, but I'm very tempted to do the Fjord cruise.

 

[MousseauMob]

Three things to consider on a Hawaiian cruise, in addition to cost, of course:

1. Does it stop in Oahu on Sunday? The Polynesian Cultural Center isn't open on Sunday.

2. Does it have a night time sailing past the active volcanoes on the Big Island?

3. Does it sail past the Napali Coast?

We loved cruising to Hawaii with the Mouse, but they really "missed the boat" when they didn't offer the chance to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center, no night-time volcano viewing, and no Napali Coast, which are pretty much standard on other cruise lines.

I totally agree! The nighttime sailing by the volcano was AWESOME on another line! Unfortunately we missed Kauai on that cruise due to flooding, so I was really hoping when we did DCL they would sail the Napali coast. But alas.

 

[woody73]

. . . The nighttime sailing by the volcano was AWESOME on another line!

My two all time favorite cruise experiences are:

• Hawaii: Watching the molten lava flow into the ocean at night, and
• Alaska: Seeing and hearing glaciers calve

Woody

 

[woody73]

DCL definitely monitors the DIS! One example of this is when the gangway collapsed at PC and pictures were posted here - including one of the Captain on the outside bridge in civilian clothing, the Captain sought out the DISer that night at dinner who posted the pictures to see what others he had.

I remember when the Port Canaveral gangway collapsed, and the photo of the Captain.

I thought it was good that the Captain responded so quickly to the emergency. I heard that his cabin is next to the bridge.

To me, it didn't matter he wasn't in uniform. After all, it wasn't as if he was in his Foot of the Loom briefs.

Woody

 

[kimchey12]

Wow when was that would like to see those pictures.

 

[kimchey12]

B

 

[Melcatfish]

This is rather a sweeping statement, it's over 60 years since war spread to surrounding countries in Europe. Whilst there are conflicts that break out it is usually a civil war and problems within each country such as happened with Yugoslavia. It is the stability of the EU which won it the Nobel peace prize last year. Whilst the situation is concerning in the Ukraine it will only be Black Sea ports affected. No countries (UK/US/Russia or any others) are in any hurry to get into a war with each other. Putin is just flexing his muscles just to let everyone know he is still there. At worst it will mean the Crimea area separates from the rest of the Ukraine as they are the strong Russian supporters. There is no reason that this should have any effect on the Baltics.

While I agree with you that there really is no reason for this to affect the Baltic cruises my point was more that Disney are traditionally very cautious of going to areas remotely linked to any conflict.

Plenty of people are still holidaying in Tunisia but it made a brief appearance on the DCL itineraries in 2010 (and was very popular, many of the Americans onboard were very excited to dock in Africa) but it was pulled from future itineraries when there was unrest in the country and surrounding areas. It hasn't made it back onto itineraries in the 4 years since.

Obama has already said there will be consequences for Putin if they take troops in to Ukraine. No matter how much that it turns out to be muscle flexing I would imagine that if the scenario doesn't quickly calm down Disney will be at least giving thought to a Plan B, if for no other reason than the perceptions of their main demographic that it might be dangerous.

JMHO (which I hope is wrong as I still want to do the Baltics!)
Mel
x

 

[JoyB-UK]

While I agree with you that there really is no reason for this to affect the Baltic cruises my point was more that Disney are traditionally very cautious of going to areas remotely linked to any conflict.

Plenty of people are still holidaying in Tunisia but it made a brief appearance on the DCL itineraries in 2010 (and was very popular, many of the Americans onboard were very excited to dock in Africa) but it was pulled from future itineraries when there was unrest in the country and surrounding areas. It hasn't made it back onto itineraries in the 4 years since.

Obama has already said there will be consequences for Putin if they take troops in to Ukraine. No matter how much that it turns out to be muscle flexing I would imagine that if the scenario doesn't quickly calm down Disney will be at least giving thought to a Plan B, if for no other reason than the perceptions of their main demographic that it might be dangerous.

JMHO (which I hope is wrong as I still want to do the Baltics!)
Mel
x

I have no problem with people being concerned about the Baltics, at the moment it is rather uncertain. I was commenting on the statement, not by you, about Europe being so condensed that war would spread to other countries and the suggestion that this happens all the time,which is clearly not the case.

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

... Plenty of people are still holidaying in Tunisia but it made a brief appearance on the DCL itineraries in 2010 (and was very popular, many of the Americans onboard were very excited to dock in Africa) but it was pulled from future itineraries when there was unrest in the country and surrounding areas. It hasn't made it back onto itineraries in the 4 years since. ...

DH and I were two of those people! We loved Tunisia, it is one of the stops we remember most fondly as we had a great experience there. But, DH does always joke that Disney caused the Arab Spring by stopping there; and I think you are right, they won't be going back any time soon.
I also think you make a good point about Disney shying away from the Baltics for similar reasons. I just hope things are too far along in the planning and they see that the Baltic ports won't be effected. I am crossing my fingers for a 12-Day Baltic/7-Day Norwegian Fjords cruise! That would just be perfect!
Come on Disney!