8/6/2012 - Mickey's Alaskan Adventure

[caitlinsdad]

Very well said. Thank you

 

[caitlinsdad]

I checked recently and it looks like if I were to book now, the same cabin would cost me about $900.00 more

 

[caitlinsdad]

Our weekly reminder

WE SET SAIL IN
30 WEEKS! ​

For our August 6 th, 2012 Alaska Cruise ​

Let the cruise planning begin!

​

 

[diznefan76]

Hey everyone...just thought I would stop by and share a couple vid's about our cruise that I found!

Disney Cruise Line Top Five: Exploring Skagway, Alaska:
http://youtu.be/7JnNm4VAiDY


Disney Cruise Line Top Five: Exploring Juneau, Alaska:
http://youtu.be/9qFX6RoPzYc


Actress Elizabeth Mitchell Sails with Disney Cruise Line to Alaska:
http://youtu.be/48_v3Apt2pc

 

[caitlinsdad]

Our weekly reminder

WE SET SAIL IN
29 WEEKS! ​

For our August 6 th, 2012 Alaska Cruise ​

Let the cruise planning begin!

​

 

[Calfan]

For anyone who has starting thinking about excursions for our cruise, I received the following info from DCL about our stop in Victoria. I wasn't sure which of the port adventures currently listed for Victoria would be applicable to our evening stop, so I put in an inquiry using the online form. I'm still not sure I believe the answer (afternoon tea at 6:15 or later?), but here is the info for what is worth:

The port adventures that are tentatively set to be offered in Victoria
when we visit there on August 12, 2012 are as follows:
•Horse Drawn Trolley
•Ocean Wildlife and Orca Exploration
•Private Carriage Tour
•Butchart Gardens and Short City Drive
•Butchart Gardens and Short City Drive—Adult Departure
•Creatures of the Air and Sea
•Butchart and Butterfly Gardens
•Craigdarroch Castle and City Highlights
•Grand City Tour and Empress Tea
•Victoria Ale and Brewery Tour (Adults only)
•Afternoon Tea and Butchart Gardens
•Waterfront Walking Tour

 

[caitlinsdad]

For anyone who has starting thinking about excursions for our cruise, I received the following info from DCL about our stop in Victoria. I wasn't sure which of the port adventures currently listed for Victoria would be applicable to our evening stop, so I put in an inquiry using the online form. I'm still not sure I believe the answer (afternoon tea at 6:15 or later?), but here is the info for what is worth:

The port adventures that are tentatively set to be offered in Victoria
when we visit there on August 12, 2012 are as follows:
•Horse Drawn Trolley
•Ocean Wildlife and Orca Exploration
•Private Carriage Tour
•Butchart Gardens and Short City Drive
•Butchart Gardens and Short City Drive—Adult Departure
•Creatures of the Air and Sea
•Butchart and Butterfly Gardens
•Craigdarroch Castle and City Highlights
•Grand City Tour and Empress Tea
•Victoria Ale and Brewery Tour (Adults only)
•Afternoon Tea and Butchart Gardens
•Waterfront Walking Tour

Thank you

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Beth:

Can you fill me in on the reduced pricing you mentioned? Has that been offered on other Alasak cruises? How reduced?

Separately, in response to the question about dinner seating, we are early. First time for us. On our previous two cruises we have been late. But we were concerned about the need to be off the ship early for the early port times and thought we would try early dining this time.

If you look at the last two sailings in August, those prices are a little less in each category, even concierge. They always have been reduced, probably because of school schedules. What happened last year was that DCL started offering KSF to fill up rooms. Wondering if this will happen this year too. it just seems to me that there is still lots of availability showing for Alaska. Most of the meet boards (mine included for 8/13) are very quiet. There seems to be much dissatisfaction with the reduced port times so it will be very interesting to see what happens with specials to get people to book.

All just my opinion, nothing scientific with my analysis. What do you all think?

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

Thank you

Thanks Ed for posting the Victoria excursions on the 8/13 board too. Afternoon tea at 6:15 seems a bit of a stretch, especially for some of us with the first seating for dinner.

 

[caitlinsdad]

Here is a view of Tracey Arm


I found this on tripadvisor

http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00a1-df12-1a76

 

[timmsli]

We are so thrilled to be joining the 8/6 cruise. Does anyone have links to the meet and greets an info on the FE.

 

[Tracyvp]

We are so thrilled to be joining the 8/6 cruise. Does anyone have links to the meet and greets an info on the FE.

Welcome to the thread and to the cruise! I'm afraid things have been really slow so far and there isn't yet an official FE coordinator nor any meets planned. YET. But hopefully things will pick up soon and we'll get rolling with some fun activities!

 

[caitlinsdad]

Our weekly reminder

WE SET SAIL IN
28 WEEKS! ​

For our August 6 th, 2012 Alaska Cruise ​

Let the cruise planning begin!

​

 

[caitlinsdad]

So with 2013 Cruises being announced today. looks like Disney will be sailing again out of Vancouver instead of Seattle. Will longer ports times, tempt you to switch.

For us it comes down to Money, Will not know if 2012 is going to be possible until early March, May need to switch

Do like longer port times and cruising inside straight.

Time will tell.

Ed

 

[tinkerbelltwins]

So with 2013 Cruises being announced today. looks like Disney will be sailing again out of Vancouver instead of Seattle. Will longer ports times, tempt you to switch.

For us it comes down to Money, Will not know if 2012 is going to be possible until early March, May need to switch

Do like longer port times and cruising inside straight.

Time will tell.

Ed

Ed -- You posted over on the 8/13 thread so here I am posting on yours. The port times in 2013 are significantly longer except for Skagway. Hmmmm.

Day Port Guest Ashore Guest Onboard
1 Vancouver, Canada — 4:00 p.m.
2 At Sea — —
3 Tracy Arm, Alaska — —
4 Skagway, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 7:30 p.m.
5 Juneau, Alaska 7:45 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
6 Ketchikan, Alaska 12:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
7 At Sea — —
8 Vancouver, Canada 8:00 a.m. —

 

[Calfan]

Ed -- You posted over on the 8/13 thread so here I am posting on yours. The port times in 2013 are significantly longer except for Skagway. Hmmmm.

Day Port Guest Ashore Guest Onboard
1 Vancouver, Canada — 4:00 p.m.
2 At Sea — —
3 Tracy Arm, Alaska — —
4 Skagway, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 7:30 p.m.
5 Juneau, Alaska 7:45 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
6 Ketchikan, Alaska 12:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
7 At Sea — —
8 Vancouver, Canada 8:00 a.m. —

Here are the port times for our Aug. 6 2012 sailing:

Day Port Ashore Onboard
1 Seattle, Washington — 4:00 p.m.
2 At Sea — —
3 Tracy Arm, Alaska Cruising Cruising
4 Skagway, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 7:30 p.m.
5 Juneau, Alaska 7:45 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
6 Ketchikan, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
7 Victoria, Canada 6:15 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
8 Seattle, Washington 09:00 a.m. —

So it looks like 2.5 hours longer in Juneau in 2013 and 2 hours and 15 minutes longer in Ketchikan in 2013. As twinkerbelltwins notes, Skagway port time is identical. A compelling reason to switch to 2013? Not for us. Plus the 2013 cruises don’t have the stop in Victoria. We are sticking with 2012.

 

[caitlinsdad]

Here are the port times for our Aug. 6 2012 sailing:

Day Port Ashore Onboard
1 Seattle, Washington — 4:00 p.m.
2 At Sea — —
3 Tracy Arm, Alaska Cruising Cruising
4 Skagway, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 7:30 p.m.
5 Juneau, Alaska 7:45 a.m. 2:00 p.m.
6 Ketchikan, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 12:30 p.m.
7 Victoria, Canada 6:15 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
8 Seattle, Washington 09:00 a.m. —

So it looks like 2.5 hours longer in Juneau in 2013 and 2 hours and 15 minutes longer in Ketchikan in 2013. As twinkerbelltwins notes, Skagway port time is identical. A compelling reason to switch to 2013? Not for us. Plus the 2013 cruises don’t have the stop in Victoria. We are sticking with 2012.

Not sure how last night in Victoria is gonna work out for people.
Most times people are packing and should have there bags outside door by 11 pm. about 4hrs in port not sure how much people can see at night.
Between getting off and back on board ship could be less than 4hrs

 

[Calfan]

Not sure how last night in Victoria is gonna work out for people.
Most times people are packing and should have there bags outside door by 11 pm. about 4hrs in port not sure how much people can see at night.
Between getting off and back on board ship could be less than 4hrs

True, but even if it is just a quick walk around town or enjoying the view of Victoria lit up at night from the ship, I still think of it as a "bonus" to the typical last night.

 

[blossomz]

I spoke with DCL yesterday and they assured that Disney has worked out everything with the excursions people and we should be able to do pretty well with what is offered. I wish there was more definitive info in print though. It makes it hard to start thinking about which excursions. I also called DCL about Adventures by Disney and they said what is posted is accurate for what you will see. I also called about pre and post stays. Decided to make my own arrangements at the Sheraton, use the shuttle available from airport to hotel and back again, and taxi to and from hotel and terminal. We are going to spend 2 days exploring Seattle after the cruise. Anyone else starting to plan?

 

[Calfan]

We are planning to arrive in Seattle the Friday before our cruise (Aug. 3) and have booked a hotel -- Courtyard Seattle Downtown/Lake Union. I have been looking at airfares but am taking a wait and see approach because it looks like deals will likely be available from OAK to SEA if I wait and book 3 or 4 months out. I've been looking at the Port Adventure descriptions and have made a list of our top choices. Now just waiting until the May date when we can start reserving...