I'm not sure if anyone on our sailing is/was considering the Adventures by Disney add-on for our cruise. I was eagerly awaiting word on whether one would be offered, and discovered earlier this week that ABD is indeed offering adventure add-ons for the Alaska cruises (including the Aug. 6 sailing). However, the pricing for the add-on is the same as last year's -- even though the port times in Juneau and Ketchikan are shorter (and so the ABD add-on offers fewer activities). In addition, the add-on does not have any activities scheduled for our stop in Victoria. I wrote the following letter to ABD to express my disillusionment with the add-on pricing and itinerary. I encourage anyone who has similar views to follow suit:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Having booked a 2012 Alaskan cruise on the Disney Wonder some time ago (in fact, when we were on board the Disney Magic last summer during an 11-day Mediterranean cruise), I was eagerly awaiting an announcement from Adventures by Disney about a trip add-on for the 2012 Alaska cruises. I was quite excited to discover earlier this week that ABD is indeed offering an Alaskan Wonders Family Cruise Vacation applicable to my sailing date. However, when I called
Disney Cruise Line to receive pricing information for this adventure, my excitement quickly turned to disbelief and disappointment. The pricing quoted by
DCL is $2,299 per adult and $2,069 per child.
My understanding is that this pricing is virtually identical to the pricing for the ABD add-on for the 2011 Alaska cruises. However, due to the issues created by using Seattle as a departure port for the 2012 Alaska cruises versus Vancouver for the 2011 cruises, the port times in Juneau and Ketchikan for the 2012 sailings have been significantly shortened. Given the reduction in the port times (and the resulting reduction in activities associated with the ABD add-on in these ports), I would have expected a corresponding reduction in the price of the ABD add-on for the 2012 cruises. In addition, the 2012 cruises make a stop in Victoria, and I do not see any activities listed in the ABD itinerary for this port. Another option would have been to increase the content offered with the 2012 add-on (such as higher quality excursions or attractive activities on sea days, such as exclusive ships tours or food or beverage tastings, or perhaps stateroom upgrades).
Given the reduced number (and apparent quality) of activities in Juneau and Ketchikan, and the lack of any activities in Victoria, it seems a more realistic price point for this add-on would be something like $1,500 per person. At that price point, I would seriously consider the add-on for my family. But I find it very difficult to justify a cost of $8,736 for my family of four (two adults and two children) given the reduced number of activities in Juneau and Ketchikan and the lack of any activities in Victoria. In pricing out the most comparable excursions for Skagway and excursions we might otherwise choose in Juneau and Ketchikan (such as the helicopter and dog sledding trip, which is a glaring omission from the 2012 itinerary, since it was part of the 2011 adventures, and by all accounts a favorite among the 2011 adventurers) and adding back the costs of the extras that are included in the ABD trip but would otherwise be paid for separately (such as the ships gratuities, the photo CD and the case of water), I arrive at a total cost of approximately $4,832. Surely the access to the adventure guides, the welcome and farewell receptions and a session with the ships naturalist cannot close the gap of the almost $4,000 difference in price! I realize there are intangible benefits to the ABD add-on (and probably other tangible extras and surprises that I have not catalogued), and indeed, these are part of the allure of the ABD product, but I continue to struggle mightily to find the additional $4,000 in value that the price of this ABD add-on suggests. As DVC owners, frequent Disney Parks visitors and veterans of two prior Disney cruises (Alaska will be our third), we are clearly great fans of the Disney product. We are seriously considering the Emerald Isle adventure for 2013 and were hoping to get our first taste of the ABD experience via the Alaska cruise add-on. But I have to say that the pricing and itinerary for this adventure leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
If I have missed something regarding the benefits offered by the ABD add-on relative to the cost, I welcome enlightenment (indeed, I would so like to find a way to justify moving forward with this add-on). You can reach me by phone at **** or by email at *****. Otherwise, I strongly encourage you to reconsider the pricing for this adventure so that it is more in line with the number and quality of the activities offered.
Here is the address for ABD:
Adventures by Disney
190 Center Street Promenade
Anaheim, CA 92805
Attention: ABD Management
Re: DCL Add On
