A Golden-Grand-Slam-Outta-the-Park Alaskan Cruise! COMPLETE 7/18!!!!!!

[podsnel]

The only Chihuly left-



I think I like this one better than the one that used to be on the Magic. The colors are brighter.

What was REALLY different on this cruise for us, as second seating faithfuls, was the light. The DAYlight. That was still there when we were going to dinner, and while we were AT dinner. Again, we really loved being able to enjoy the views so long into the night.



We waited our turn, because tonight was formal night, and it was also the Golden Mickeys. And where there are many Golden Mickeys, there is also only one.



See, I thought this was probably our last Disney Cruise together as a family for quite some time. Tyler would be 18 by next summer. So...out of Vibe. So I was not too sure he would want to go again. (But I can tell you he does still want to go largely due to what he saw on this cruise- namely that the 18-21s were hanging out still. Just not in a club. And that DCL put lots of meet times for them on the Navigator- so, that would be fine with him in the future. But only Disney, he says. Fine by me, Sparky!). SO...I wanted to make sure I had a pic of the last one with Mickey, just like we had on the first one with Mickey waaaay back in 2008-



Time REALLY flies, my friends. Don't waste a MINUTE!

Back outside at 8:15pm on August 12th-



We were in Parrot Cay tonight-





I wonder how this will change once they reimagine the ship? Our starters came...someone got the Crispy Cheese ravioli-



Carmelized Bay Scallops (although I don't see carmelized anything, do you?)







This was Timmy's- Yachtsman Steakhouse Grilled NY Strip-



Others had Ovenroast Duckling-



Jumbo Shrimp and Porcini Mushroom Tagliatelle-



I had that one, it was good! But I definitely prefer the pasta they serve on the last night of the 7 night cruises. No idea what was for dessert, as I forgot to take photos, but after dinner Pods and I had a mellow night enjoying the balcony and sipping wine. You could STILL SEE what was out there-





We turned in early tonight, actually, I think we watched a movie, although I do not recall which one- in anticipation of tomorrow's BIG day, Tracy Arm Fjord.

 

[MEK]

Holy cow. When you come back to writing TRs you don't waste any time, do you? I can't even catch up! I just spent the last half hour trying and I'm still not done.

Vancouver is a beautiful town. I have always wanted to travel there. Now I want to go even more.

The Wonder looks like a great ship. How cool that you could see her come into port right from your hotel. When we stayed in Cape Canaveral post cruise and watched the Dream go back out to sea, it really was amazing. Much more so than I thought it would be.

Yum to all the food porn pics. Love the pic of you guys from formal night and I loved the throw back picture. The boys were so cute when they were hunger, now they are just handsome.

I promise to catch up properly.

 

[franandaj]

Your boys grew up so quickly! I can't believe the two photos that you posted! I love the way that you reverse coordinated the boys ties and shirts! They all look great!

I think on the scallop on the left side of the dish, there is a tiny amount of Caramelization on the side that is tipped over. Your pasta dish looked like the winner of the night.

The scenery is so beautiful! You're making me want to get out my photo album from our trip. We went over the vacation spreadsheet today and looks like Alaska is going on the backburner. Fran wants to go to Aulani and DLP before we go back to Alaska.

 

[Mickdeb]

Ok- now you're just showin off...LOL!! That is REALLY great, so wonderful you got the VIP treatment.



Really? I couldn't tell. It's AMAZING!!!! You will love it- sooo nice- you can spend loads of time in your special chair on Deck 4.



It most definitely was- completely amazing, and unlike pretty much anything we have done before. A great, great state to visit- if you are into that kind of thing.

Haha, sorry to boast, things like that never happen to me!!!

 

[pillow]

Jumbo Shrimp and Porcini Mushroom Tagliatelle-

Are you sure those were real porcini mushrooms???

Jodie

 

[podsnel]

Love, love, love that you take so many pictures . This report is making me so ready for June 8th!!!

YAY!! I am so glad!

You and your boys looked WONDERful all dressed up.

Thank you- I felt like a Princess.

Holy cow. When you come back to writing TRs you don't waste any time, do you? I can't even catch up! I just spent the last half hour trying and I'm still not done.

HAHAHA! I guess I have the time right now so I can bang it out! Kind of want to before I am crazy-busy again!


Vancouver is a beautiful town. I have always wanted to travel there. Now I want to go even more.

It is spectacular- the people who live there are beautiful as well. Everything and everyone is attractive in Vancouver!

The Wonder looks like a great ship. How cool that you could see her come into port right from your hotel. When we stayed in Cape Canaveral post cruise and watched the Dream go back out to sea, it really was amazing. Much more so than I thought it would be.

Funny how you can get attached to a ship, right? Wait til you go on the next one- it just keeps getting better, I think.

Yum to all the food porn pics. Love the pic of you guys from formal night and I loved the throw back picture. The boys were so cute when they were hunger, now they are just handsome.

Thanks MEK- it is just too fast! I hate it!!

I promise to catch up properly.

PLEASE don't apologize! I have so much to catch up on YOUR'S!

Your boys grew up so quickly! I can't believe the two photos that you posted! I love the way that you reverse coordinated the boys ties and shirts! They all look great!

Thank you! I love all those ties- the colors were so pretty together-

I think on the scallop on the left side of the dish, there is a tiny amount of Caramelization on the side that is tipped over. Your pasta dish looked like the winner of the night.

Good eye! That was true, but it was not that good, that app. The scallops were not sweet- KWIM?

The scenery is so beautiful! You're making me want to get out my photo album from our trip. We went over the vacation spreadsheet today and looks like Alaska is going on the backburner. Fran wants to go to Aulani and DLP before we go back to Alaska.

Hawaii is great- I hope you visit some other islands when you go out there- they all offer so much!

Haha, sorry to boast, things like that never happen to me!!!

Boast away!! It is an AWESOME thing! Hopefully the start of a trend for you.....

Are you sure those were real porcini mushrooms???

Jodie

I am sure most of them were NOT porcini mushrooms- but there may have been 1 or 2 mixed in.....

 

[jedijill]

Stunning scenery! Those boys are growing like weeds! Looks like a wonderful day.

Jill in CO

 

[podsnel]

I missed a few! Sorry for going out of order-

Great first day, Ellen!
Starting a cruise off with sea days is just the BEST! And you did it perfectly in style, starting out with a Palo Brunch! LOVE all the photos, brings me right back to DCL.

I agree- it is the BEST way to start the vacation. Glad I could bring you back to some happy memories, Karin.

Some of your photos of your "framed" veranda remind me of the rivercruises that are offered here. I guess yours get FAR more exciting than a river cruise here.

See, I would love to take one of those rivercruises. I just am not quite in the demographic, yet. I need some more exciting nitelife than they offer- but they go to such beautiful places, we will eventually get there.

Your family is so familiar with cruising,
it is like you are speaking a second language talking about a Disney cruise. I know nothing.

LOL- well, only YOU can change that!

You are totally rockin the TR again.
I am skeptical too, I just don't know if I want to go somewhere cold in the summer. Wisconsin's summer's are just too short.

There was not even a semi-complaint about the weather from any of us. It is all too magnificent to worry about the weather. Would go again this summer if I didn't need our miles for Europe next year!

Actually our 2nd Disney Cruise (two years ago) we did Concierge on the Wonder. I had no problem going back to regular as Concierge on the Wonder doesn't really have that many perks. It was put to me this way, "would you rather go Concierge or go on twice as many cruises?"

Makes the choice very easy when you put it that way!

It was easy, instead of having a standing order for breakfast, I would put the little tags out every night, and with just a little hustling on the first day, we could book all the events. I didn't miss the private reception with Mickey that much and there just weren't enough perks. Now on the Dream or the Fantasy, I've heard that Concierge is like HEAVEN!

I have seen the lounge on a ship's tour- it was beautiful.So were the cabins!

There just isn't enough time to do everything that we want to do! BTW, I need to send you a PM, so you can link mine and Fran's reservation on the Wonder with Jenny's so that we can all sit at the same dinner table on our Cabo Cruise.

Ok! Send away-

 

[rentayenta]

I'm caught up on your posting crazy woman! I need to follow suit.

Vancouver looks stunning. Michael went in his late teens and still says it's one of the coolest places he's ever been. Admittedly I didn't read, just looked at your the pics because I couldn't wait to get to the Wonder portion.

Palo looks amazing. I hope Michael and I get to dine there on our cruise. I'm excited to do some of the more couple/adult geared activities. Cruising with Joshua was great but I am excited for the 5 of us.

After looking at your Vibe photos, I am sure Joshua will enjoy it more than the Edge. Gabby will be 18 so that'll be tricky but the Vibe looks waaaaay cooler than the Edge.

I love how dressed up you all get. We didn't touch semi formal attire on ours unless you count a collared shirt for Joshua and a Banana Republic cardigan for me. I know my guys won't wear suits but maybe I can talk them into a tie. Maybe......

The scenery is just gorgeous. Wow! Looking forward to you getting into the thick of Alaska.

So proud of you for walking and taking the stairs. It really does help.

 

[Jillpie]

Gorgeous pictures!!!!!!! Thank you for posting each and every one, love your pictures!

 

[podsnel]

So that saying, early to bed, early to rise? Well, it turns out it's true!



We decided to go up on deck and have a look around before grabbing some breakfast at Beach Blanket.



Lots of people were up there doing the same thing, including the naturalist- once again, he was making himself available to anyone who wanted his thoughts on what we were seeing.

LOVE Doug Jones. THIS guy even MORE!!



We found just the right seat for breakfast...



Look! I finally got a Mickey waffle, lol!



Yummy Mueslix-



Buffet pics-



They were easy to take because it was so early, really no one was up there!







We did a little walking on Deck 4...



We stopped back in the cabin I guess-



Before the 9:30 am Doug Jones presentation-



He mentioned that they had seen some Orcas out there this morning- but we were not with him when that happened. Actually, that was the only animal we never saw on this cruise- we saw everything else, though! Including our first humpbacks of the cruise this morning. After Doug, I think I went to the shops, and then we went back outside. Our server Luisa was working that morning-



This was a ferry-





This was our first iceberg-



We ended up sitting in Cove Cafe for a bit, it was VERY busy in there today. Anyway, today I knew all the characters would be out and about in their special Alaska-wear, and I was SO excited when I saw the one I wanted a pic with most, Minnie! I took off and ran down the stairs and had her all to myself!





Pretty sure she was a little more busy once she went through that doorway-



Just love her little outfit- too cute!

Ok- that's it for now- time to upload more pics!

 

[podsnel]

Stunning scenery! Those boys are growing like weeds! Looks like a wonderful day.

Jill in CO

Yea, it's really something when you see the photos back to back like that, huh?

I'm caught up on your posting crazy woman! I need to follow suit.

And I need to catch up on yours!!

Vancouver looks stunning. Michael went in his late teens and still says it's one of the coolest places he's ever been. Admittedly I didn't read, just looked at your the pics because I couldn't wait to get to the Wonder portion.

You're too funny! And honest!

Palo looks amazing. I hope Michael and I get to dine there on our cruise. I'm excited to do some of the more couple/adult geared activities. Cruising with Joshua was great but I am excited for the 5 of us.

It's nice to look forward to- especially because you know how great it is, and they don't yet- you must be crazy excited for the 3 first timers! And a romantic dinner at Palo sounds like a great idea-

After looking at your Vibe photos, I am sure Joshua will enjoy it more than the Edge. Gabby will be 18 so that'll be tricky but the Vibe looks waaaaay cooler than the Edge.

My kids liked both Edge and Vibe- but were happy to get to Vibe when they did. I hope Joshua loves it- also hope you all go on another cruise on the Dream/Fantasy- Vibe is crazy fun on them!

I love how dressed up you all get. We didn't touch semi formal attire on ours unless you count a collared shirt for Joshua and a Banana Republic cardigan for me. I know my guys won't wear suits but maybe I can talk them into a tie. Maybe......

LOL- I love dressing up, and when else do you get the chance?

The scenery is just gorgeous. Wow! Looking forward to you getting into the thick of Alaska.

Great!

So proud of you for walking and taking the stairs. It really does help.

We always do- it is my favorite form of exercise, stairs and Deck 4 on the Wonder or any ship!

Gorgeous pictures!!!!!!! Thank you for posting each and every one, love your pictures!

You are SO welcome, I am really glad they make you smile. Thanks for telling me!

And PLEASE tell me about your river cruise! I want to go on one very badly, but am worried about nite time entertainment on board. They go to such beautiful places- I would love to do almost all of their itineraries.

 

[tdashgirl]

Love, love, loving your TR! We are going to Alaska in August (our 1st Disney cruise and 1st cruise with a kiddo) so I'm doing lots of research. Your TR is wonderful -- so many great photos, stories, and tips! I keep jotting things down in Evernote

 

[dvc4life]

Ellen, what can I say, but I am definitely living this through you. I love all the scenery and your photos are just outstanding. But, I'm having a hard time convincing myself of going to Alaska on a cruise. I really, really hate the cold weather any more. So, I am just loving seeing it through your eyes and Ellen Hagerty's. You guys absolutely make Alaska for me. Thanks.

Also, your boys are so handsome. I was literally in tears seeing the boys today and then from 2008. They have grown up so much. I am so glad to have gotten to meet them, and you and Pods, in person on our New year's eve cruise. Sure hope we are able to meet up again in the future.

 

[jenseib]

Minnie is so stinking cute!!!!!
How was the weather? I see you have a jacket on and the decks look wet.

 

[rentayenta]

Could those pics of you and Alaska Minnie be any cuter?

 

[rndmr2]

Just found this one today and Enjoyed reading everything so far. Can't wait to read more and see more beautiful Pics!

 

[MEK]

That ice berg looks like a plastic trash bag.
What a fantastic view for breakfast!
Alaskan Minnie is adorable. Love her! Yay for being the first one to see her.
So now I think I must do an Alaskan cruise. It looks amazing.

 

[podsnel]

Love, love, loving your TR! We are going to Alaska in August (our 1st Disney cruise and 1st cruise with a kiddo) so I'm doing lots of research. Your TR is wonderful -- so many great photos, stories, and tips! I keep jotting things down in Evernote

Hi there! I am so happy you are enjoying the TR- I know there are not too many of them, unfortunately, so I wanted to do this one for sure! You will have a fantastic time, such a beautiful and amazing experience. Thanks for reading!

Ellen, what can I say, but I am definitely living this through you. I love all the scenery and your photos are just outstanding. But, I'm having a hard time convincing myself of going to Alaska on a cruise. I really, really hate the cold weather any more. So, I am just loving seeing it through your eyes and Ellen Hagerty's. You guys absolutely make Alaska for me. Thanks.

I LOVE Ellen Hagerty! I met her this fall at Food and Wine- it was kind of in the middle of some craziness, and she saw me having a near melt down in the Festival center over a tequila tasting, lol. She is just so lovely, wish I had seen her for a longer/ better time!

And this is NOT cold weather- especially to YOU from Iowa- this is cool weather. The coldest was probably 52. It was never time for a winter coat. Not even walking on a glacier. I promise.

Also, your boys are so handsome. I was literally in tears seeing the boys today and then from 2008. They have grown up so much. I am so glad to have gotten to meet them, and you and Pods, in person on our New year's eve cruise. Sure hope we are able to meet up again in the future.

Oh, Chris- you are so dear. I feel so fortunate to have met YOU and YOUR family- I truly hope we are cruising together once again someday. We need to make that happen-

Minnie is so stinking cute!!!!!
How was the weather? I see you have a jacket on and the decks look wet.

The CUTEST Minnie ever, right???? I was as excited to see her and get pics with her as I was to see the wildlife in Alaska- REALLY!!!

Today was rainy and cool- but it did not matter. I know that is hard to believe, but truly it did not matter- the fog and mist were really nice to see in the fjord- it made it magical. We had 3 rainy days, and these are the 3- Tracy Arm, Skagway and Juneau. Skagway was not too bad, just overcast, and Juneau was a downpour- we were soaked to the bone on our whale watch.

Could those pics of you and Alaska Minnie be any cuter?

Awww....

Just found this one today and Enjoyed reading everything so far. Can't wait to read more and see more beautiful Pics!

Hi there! Thanks for finding me- lots more - well, millions more - pics to come!

That ice berg looks like a plastic trash bag.
What a fantastic view for breakfast!
Alaskan Minnie is adorable. Love her! Yay for being the first one to see her.
So now I think I must do an Alaskan cruise. It looks amazing.

What??? It wa definitely not a trash bag- there was none of that up there, lol. Minnie in Alaska is beyond adorable. Love her! And yes, you DO need to cruise Alaska- you would GREATLY enjoy it, I have no doubt.

 

[jedijill]

Ellen Hagarty is a wonderful lady! She was on my Southern Caribbean cruise and I got to spend some time with her.

Jill in CO