ALASKA - August 30th, 2011 - Mickeys Mooseketeers & the last Alaskan Cruisade! New Th

[tracyvansmith]

Tony wanted the bunk on our first and only disney cruise. I liked that much better left the couch to sit on. I know he will be using it again this time.

 

[Politzania]

Really looking forward to getting on the ship, the temp is high 90's here with high humidity giving us 115 degree index

We've got heat warnings all week in central Indiana too - temps in the mid 90's w/ hi humidity - YUK!
I am SOOOO looking forward to standing out on the deck at Tracy Arm Fjord and actually feeling COLD again!

 

[poohj80]

DH had to go on an unexpected work trip to Alaska this week. He won't be where we will be going on the Wonder, but doing some general scoping out since none of us has ever been there before.

 

[PBader]

Tracey, the heat has been horrible. It was actually cooler in Florida than it was at home while we were gone. The heat caused a huge water main break while we were gone--my store had to close it's beverage bar down for 2 days becassue of the boil water advisory. Do what you can to stay cool

 

[disneyrick]

Pooh,
We were on the Dream in May and my Granddaughter loved it. She is six. I still think the Dream has a few bugs to work out. The day at sea had everything by the pools packed. DCL put the 2 pools together and that made for very crowded. With the aquaduck and all it actually decreased the space while adding 1600 more guests. One of the teen spa treatment folks spent 30 minutes giving my DD of 17 a treatment while telling her the entire time how bad it is to work on DCL and that the guests are rude etc.... They will get better but it has swayed the DW and I to think about the DCL classic ships for the near future.

 

[PBader]

I would have had a real problem with that spa staff member ----spa time is supposed to be relaxing...........................

I am really looking forward to our Fantasy cruise next year, but I am pretty sure that won't be many changes to fix the problems that people have talked about on the Dream. I am going with an open mind. I don't think I would be going if I were looking at booking today--prices have more than doubled from the fares we booked in October & January for June 2012. It will be 2014 before we cruise again and I am hoping that they have the Magic back in PC and are doing some 10/11 night Southern Carribbean cruises. We've only done the eastern (2002) once so I am looking forward to that, but will be the 4th Western--I need some new ports..............

Well time to head into work. I have a cooler door I need to rearrange for the 3rd time. RC is a PITA with all their out of stocks--honestly how can you consistently run out of Sunkist, Welchs, Hawaiian Punch...........

 

[MPS516]

I would have had a real problem with that spa staff member ----spa time is supposed to be relaxing...........................

I am really looking forward to our Fantasy cruise next year, but I am pretty sure that won't be many changes to fix the problems that people have talked about on the Dream. I am going with an open mind. I don't think I would be going if I were looking at booking today--prices have more than doubled from the fares we booked in October & January for June 2012. It will be 2014 before we cruise again and I am hoping that they have the Magic back in PC and are doing some 10/11 night Southern Caribbean cruises. We've only done the eastern (2002) once so I am looking forward to that, but will be the 4th Western--I need some new ports..............

We did the Dream over Easter Break and had a great time. The ship is beautiful and the people were just great to us. Yes they are training a lot of new people but a lot of those came from the park so already have Disney attitude (take care of the guest). There are also quite a few who transfered from other ships. We had no complaints and the food was an upgrade from the Magic and Dream.


We are booked on the Fantasy during Christmas break 2012 but am waiting to see if they add a Southern Caribbean, transfer to that in a heart beat. If nothing changes we will be doing the Eastern.

 

[PBader]

I have had several friends cruise the Dream and none of them have really complained about it--they all wanted a longer cruise. I think a lot of it has to do with the cruises being 3/4/5 nights. It's a BIG change going from a 7 night or longer cruise to a shorter one, coupled with trying to get your bearings on a new ship & just plain ole trying to cram everything in can lead to some frustration.

I enjoy talking to the cm and hearing about their families, but to go on about how bad DCL is to work for and how rude customers are just crosses a line. But at the same time I am sure there are always cm that sign on to work and can't wait for their contract to be up--it's certainly not a job for everyone. I think that is one of my favorite things about our Magic cruises--there were always cm that seemed like they were onboard for each of our sailings and they remember us. With the fleet expansion--it will take them awhile to get back to that on all the ships.

 

[poohj80]

The only issues we had with the Dream were crowd control related. We hope the it gets better with a few more cruises under their belt.

 

[HiMagicFan]

I probably won't be sailing on either the Dream or Fantasy until 2013 and will be very happy when they get all these kinks out. Am working on figuring out how to book on board for those discounts and obc as I want to do a combo wdw/dcl for january when my sis & I go for our wdw half marathon.

Do I have this right? Since they don't have the 2013 out yet. I use a 2012 date similar to the cruise I want. I pay $200 deposit ($100 for ea of us?) and will get 10% off the cruise plus an obc. Then when the 2013 comes out and we confirm what we want we transfer that from 2012 to 2013 and there is no penalty.

What if we can't go at all? Can I get my money back. I am just starting to read the boards looking for information on this.

Thanks!

 

[poohj80]

I probably won't be sailing on either the Dream or Fantasy until 2013 and will be very happy when they get all these kinks out. Am working on figuring out how to book on board for those discounts and obc as I want to do a combo wdw/dcl for january when my sis & I go for our wdw half marathon.

Do I have this right? Since they don't have the 2013 out yet. I use a 2012 date similar to the cruise I want. I pay $200 deposit ($100 for ea of us?) and will get 10% off the cruise plus an obc. Then when the 2013 comes out and we confirm what we want we transfer that from 2012 to 2013 and there is no penalty.

What if we can't go at all? Can I get my money back. I am just starting to read the boards looking for information on this.

Thanks!

You don't have to book for around the same time in 2012 that you want to cruise in 2013. I would recommend booking a date as far in advance as possible to ensure you don't get too close to the payment in full date or no refund date due to cancellation. You may even mention to the crew member what you really want to do and they may have suggestions.

 

[PBader]

PJ is right, just tell the booking agent you are booking a dummy cruise. IF you decide later not to go DCL will refund your $$ back you just have to call and cancel it. Also if you normally book with a TA, give them that information at the same time (quite a few of them give reduced OBC if they are not listed at time of booking because their commision is reduced on fare). I have used 2 TA's in the past Dreams Unlimited seems to gives the biggest OBC----that is in addition to the OBC credit you get from DCL.

 

[MPS516]

You can also transfer your reservation to Dreams Unlimited after you book and they will help with the future transfer to the dates you really want.

Our December 2012 Fantasy reservation is a dummy booking because the east Caribbean dates for Christmas break are not out yet, we will probably end up going early Jan 2013. If DCL does a southern Caribbean anytime in 2013 we will hold off and switch to that itinerary.

 

[seaulater]

You can also transfer your reservation to Dreams Unlimited after you book and they will help with the future transfer to the dates you really want.

However, just because Dreams Unlimited sponsors this board, don't feel obligated to transfer your cruise to them. There are many travel agents out there who give terrific personalized service for Disney Cruise Line, I use one of those agents, and have been 100% satisfied, never liked the way Dreams handled reservations on opening day, and they never got me what I asked for, and use email to correspond with you. I like talking to real persons!

 

[PBader]

Linda, that's why I don't use them anymore. I like talking to people

 

[PBader]

Hey Rick, Cedar Brook lodge shows up for August 30th @ $82----hopefully we only have another week or so before it shows up for the 6th

 

[disneyrick]

I bit the bullet and made a hotwire resi at Hawthorn for 65 this weekend. I will probably kick myself in the backside but I got worried

 

[PBader]

I totally understand!!!!! I may end up doing the same thing if if doesn't show up in a couple weeks

 

[poohj80]

For anyone interested in seeing videos from some of the excursions plus the cruise in general, Andi from the Disney Mom's Panel has posted a series of videos from her family's experience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zSxsfG255U&feature=youtu.be

Please understand, I am assuming they had some private excursions since they were filming and were able to do more excursions in a port than we will be allowed based on schedules, but it is nice to see some footage of the actual excursions we can book.

 

[disneyrick]

Paula,
My 2 DD will be parking across the street from your station for the concert tonight. Are they ok there?