5/31/11 -- Chilling on the Wonder

[Anjelica]

There are so many excursions to choose from I'm having a hard time narrowing it down. My brother, who is Army had his right leg amputated in 2008 so he does many things in wheelchair (sometimes crutches) therefore I'm trying to balance excursions that would be interesting to our party yet mobile friendly to him. I think there is at least one excursion where my daughter and I will do without him (and he is completely cool with) is the Dog Sledding in Juneau. I am a bit confused though as there are at least three different "offerings" of Dog Sledding in Juneau but I can't tell what the main differences are.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hi all
I just put a 3 day 'hold' on this cruise since they released the KSF deal. I'm not sure we can swing it esp after reading about so many excursions and seeing the prices. My head is spinning. We are used to doing maybe 1 or 2 excurisons per cruise in the Caribbean. Heck, sometimes even just stay on the ship. This would be our 7th DCL cruise. How can we just sit on the ship when there is so many neat things to do here?

May I ask a few questions to those of you who've been planning a while? How much are you budgeting for excursions? Where is a good place to stay pre/post cruise? What is proper attire for Alaska this time of year?

I'd love to be able to do this cruise but we already have a summer vacay planned to Williamsburg (relatively inexpensive but still some 'must do' things) and a b2b on the Dream in Nov. Also dh doesn't know it yet but I booked a surprise 3 nt Dream cruise for his birthday for just the 2 of us. The rest is all paid for but now seeing excursion prices and people talking about buying "Alaska-wear" at Sierra Trading Post and such I'm wondering if I should do this cruise when we have more time to plan. We do have miles and wouldn't have to pay for airfare.

Then again, ds will be entering HS next year and I feel like we wouldn't be able to let him miss a whole week of school if we wait, even winding down at the end of the year like this cruise.
Yet, we really do need a new driveway. From all the freezing/thawing/ice over the past 2 years, some tiny cracks grew and now it looks like a road map with so many.


Ugh! decisions, decisions....

 

[pouncingpluto]

DH might buy a few things, but I'm not planning on buying any "Alaska wear" myself. I feel like the outerwear I already own will suffice. And I'll just have to choose between sneakers and wellies for each excursion.

I personally think you should do the Alaska cruise. It's just such a unique experience, and the KSF code is fantastic.

We don't have a set budget amount in mind for the excursions, but we're also not doing the super expensive $600 ones. We will hopefully do one floatplane one (assuming Flounder's is open, bc we don't want to take an infant on it), and that will be over $200 each. But even there, there is a less expensive boat alternative (I'm talking about Misty Fjords) that we will do if Flounder's isn't open. I think there are a lot of options to choose from that will let you have a nice experience at a variety of price points. You might want to look into booking through private companies instead of the cruiseline or into things you can do on your own.

 

[famviramontes]

I think the price of these excursions do seem more expensive than in other areas. I have tried looking at doing several myself but some of the companies I would want to do refer cruisers back to the cruise site and don't list prices. I usually don't book with the cruise line because it is more expensive but may have to this time. With the money we are saving, I am not feeling so bad about it.

Even though we are from Southern CA, I don't think we are going to do much buying of extra clothes. We will just layer.

The KSF makes it really hard not to go because it ends up being a great deal. Hope to see you on board.

 

[adnil530]

I don't plan on buying any special clothing either. May pick something up on the end of the season clearance racks that we can use next year. As I was going through the threads, someone (was it you 4Boons ?) had posted the weather data for May 30-June 7. The averages look very comfortable.

I was looking at the excursions also. With 4 people, I will have to choose very carefully as it would be easy to go way over budget. We are pretty resourceful though and can make our own fun.

I read many posts back that there was some interest in a FE. Any interest now as we are getting closer? I've always enjoyed the FE and am willing to join in or compile the list. Any body else interested???

Also, has anyone compiled data on the kids? My DD's, 15 and 10, are asking about kids their ages. Thanks!

Looking forward to this cruise and to chatting it up with all of you.

Linda

 

[famviramontes]

They didn't have FE's the last time we sailed, a long time ago. I just showed my son and he is already planning our FE. If others want to do it, we are in.

 

[4boons]

I don't plan on buying any special clothing either. May pick something up on the end of the season clearance racks that we can use next year. As I was going through the threads, someone (was it you 4Boons ?) had posted the weather data for May 30-June 7. The averages look very comfortable.

I was looking at the excursions also. With 4 people, I will have to choose very carefully as it would be easy to go way over budget. We are pretty resourceful though and can make our own fun.

I read many posts back that there was some interest in a FE. Any interest now as we are getting closer? I've always enjoyed the FE and am willing to join in or compile the list. Any body else interested???

Also, has anyone compiled data on the kids? My DD's, 15 and 10, are asking about kids their ages. Thanks!

Looking forward to this cruise and to chatting it up with all of you.

Linda

Weather
Page 10 post #144

 

[Disneyfalcon]

They didn't have FE's the last time we sailed, a long time ago. I just showed my son and he is already planning our FE. If others want to do it, we are in.

Awesome! I'm going to post a list of who we have sinned up so far later this week.

 

[4boons]

Awesome! I'm going to post a list of who we have sinned up so far later this week.

Put the 4boons down for FEs

General info.

4boons
Bill
Laura
Katie (turns 17 days before we embark)

Room 6134

Dining - second seating

 

[poohj80]

Just found the Kids Sail Free offer and am considering switching our August cruise to this one. Has the excursion window opened for Castaway members yet? When is final payment due (or has it passed already)?

Thanks!

 

[famviramontes]

FE Infor

famviramontes

OT
Stephanie
Robert (turns 17 two weeks before we sail)

Rm 6110

Second seating for dinner

 

[adnil530]

Awesome! I'm going to post a list of who we have sinned up so far later this week.

Yea!!! Sign us up!

Linda & Mike
Michelle (turns 15 on May 16)
Laura ( 10)

Second Dining
Stateroom 6618

I can't wait for the first navigators to come out either. Do you think there will be a pirate night? Fireworks? Will there be Tea with Alice? High tea at Palo's? I guess we will know about brunch and tea at Palo's when the bookings for excursions open up. I am still a Silver so I won't be able to book until 90 days out. Gold can book 105 days, Platinum 120 days out. Platinum can book tonight at midnight right? Any Platinum members sailing? Is there a High Tea at Palo's to book? We have never done the tea. Maybe this trip though.

 

[pouncingpluto]

Sign us up, please! Never done a FE before (this will be our fifth DCL cruise-- woohoo, Gold after this trip).

Kerry and Charles
Danielle (3 months-- unless she is born tomorrow, in which case she will be four months ).

6634, late dining but waitlisted for early dining

To the person who asked above-- tomorrow is the final payment deadline (for those who have already booked, of course)! I'm not sure about excursion windows-- I think ours, as silver, opens in late Feb. So the platinum or gold one might open soon.

 

[4boons]

Sign us up, please! Never done a FE before (this will be our fifth DCL cruise-- woohoo, Gold after this trip).

Kerry and Charles
Danielle (3 months-- unless she is born tomorrow, in which case she will be four months ).

6634, late dining but waitlisted for early dining

To the person who asked above-- tomorrow is the final payment deadline (for those who have already booked, of course)! I'm not sure about excursion windows-- I think ours, as silver, opens in late Feb. So the platinum or gold one might open soon.

Y'all have the other deck 6 secret veranda room.
We felt lucky to book, on the first day, the other cat 6 for a cat 7 price secret veranda room.

 

[auntlynne]

Awesome! I'm going to post a list of who we have sinned up so far later this week.

I usually ignore spelling mistakes, but this one made me laugh - I think you'll probably have to put all our names on the list of those who have sinned.

 

[auntlynne]

...I'm not sure about excursion windows-- I think ours, as silver, opens in late Feb. So the platinum or gold one might open soon.

I'm gold and its Feb 15
Based on that, the dates should be around
Platinum & Concierge: 120 days = Jan 31
Gold: 105 days = Feb 15
Silver: 90 days = March 2
Precious Newbies: 75 days = March 17

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I usually ignore spelling mistakes, but this one made me laugh - I think you'll probably have to put all our names on the list of those who have sinned.

Oh my word! I am guessing I spelled signed wrong and my ipad auto corrected! I didn't even notice!

I will post a list of those who "signed" up later this week!! I'll comb through the thread as well as all the newbies who just signed up!

 

[pouncingpluto]

Y'all have the other deck 6 secret veranda room.
We felt lucky to book, on the first day, the other cat 6 for a cat 7 price secret veranda room.

Yeah! We love these "secret" verandah rooms. We got this one back in August. We managed to keep it when we rebooked last week due to the KSF code, though we lost our main dining seating. But we figure we're probably going to eat room service or BBB a lot anyway, with the new baby, unless she's really good at sleeping through our scheduled dinnertime. We'd rather save our Flounder's hours for excursions and Palo.

 

[poohj80]

I'm gold and its Feb 15
Based on that, the dates should be around
Platinum & Concierge: 120 days = Jan 31
Gold: 105 days = Feb 15
Silver: 90 days = March 2
Precious Newbies: 75 days = March 17

Thanks for the help! It's really a difficult decision as I have been reading the weather may not be as good in May as August. What to do, what to do???

 

[speakupjc]

We are in for the FE's if the group decides to do them. Just let us know and we will get you our information.

We are also looking for a family with child (ren) in the age range of 5-12 to sit with for dinner (second seating). Is anyone interested? Our daughter will be 8 at the time of the cruise.