Alaska June 2019 - 1st Time Cruiser Ques.

[courtneykosh]

Hi all, I've read through pages and pages of this board (such great advice) and have a few additional ques.

1. We're booked in room 6522 - does anyone have experience with this particular room and/or floor? I tried to find one on a relatively quiet floor but options for rooms on each floor were pretty limited through Costco.

2. Everyone keeps talking about Palo brunch but I'm not sure how you book the meals? Is that through the Navigator app once on board, or can you book sooner than that? Do you have to be fully paid to book anything then?

3. So far, we are leaning towards a helicopter/dog sledding tour through M&M tours in Skagway, the Bering Sea Crab Tour in Ketchikan, but are uncertain about Juneau. Leaning towards the Wildlife Safari & Beach Exploration tour through Disney, but am hoping to book through an independent company so don't have to pay those Disney prices! Any recommendations? We're traveling with a 9 and 6 year old. My husband isn't keen on strictly a whale-watching tour, but wouldn't mind being in a boat where you happen to see some whales while doing something else. lol.

Also, did anyone successfully book the Bering Sea Crab Tour directly through the tour company vs. Disney? Looks like you can save a ton of $$ that way.

Any other can't miss advice, either on or off ship, would be greatly appreciated! This will likely be the only time we'll ever get a chance to go to Alaska on a Disney Cruise, so want to make the most of it!

 

[lilsonicfan]

I can only answer #2 which is that the specialty dining has to be booked either online when your activities booking date opens up (75 days prior to cruise) and yes you do have to be fully paid. You can also book on board - the Navigator that you get will tell you where to go in order to book Palo. Palo brunch is super popular so if you don't get it online, go right to the designated location to try for a time.

As for #1 did you book through Costco online or by phone? I only ask b/c inventory can seem limited online but if they were to call DCL, more rooms might be available. I would think deck six would be fairly quiet though.

 

[courtneykosh]

I can only answer #2 which is that the specialty dining has to be booked either online when your activities booking date opens up (75 days prior to cruise) and yes you do have to be fully paid. You can also book on board - the Navigator that you get will tell you where to go in order to book Palo. Palo brunch is super popular so if you don't get it online, go right to the designated location to try for a time.

As for #1 did you book through Costco online or by phone? I only ask b/c inventory can seem limited online but if they were to call DCL, more rooms might be available. I would think deck six would be fairly quiet though.

I did book online...that makes sense now. Thanks!

 

[Shanti]

Hi all, I've read through pages and pages of this board (such great advice) and have a few additional ques.

1. We're booked in room 6522 - does anyone have experience with this particular room and/or floor? I tried to find one on a relatively quiet floor but options for rooms on each floor were pretty limited through Costco.

2. Everyone keeps talking about Palo brunch but I'm not sure how you book the meals? Is that through the Navigator app once on board, or can you book sooner than that? Do you have to be fully paid to book anything then?

3. So far, we are leaning towards a helicopter/dog sledding tour through M&M tours in Skagway, the Bering Sea Crab Tour in Ketchikan, but are uncertain about Juneau. Leaning towards the Wildlife Safari & Beach Exploration tour through Disney, but am hoping to book through an independent company so don't have to pay those Disney prices! Any recommendations? We're traveling with a 9 and 6 year old. My husband isn't keen on strictly a whale-watching tour, but wouldn't mind being in a boat where you happen to see some whales while doing something else. lol.

Also, did anyone successfully book the Bering Sea Crab Tour directly through the tour company vs. Disney? Looks like you can save a ton of $$ that way.

Any other can't miss advice, either on or off ship, would be greatly appreciated! This will likely be the only time we'll ever get a chance to go to Alaska on a Disney Cruise, so want to make the most of it!

1. Costco has access to any room that DCL has available. Whether you are booking independently via DCL or via Costco, you have to call to inquire about exact room availability, as DCL does not show all available rooms online. The Costco phone rep will put you on hold while they check with DCL about availability.

2. You book Palo online after online check-in, or in person after boarding (they hold back slots for in-person booking onboard).

3. For Juneau, I recommend no formal excursions, but instead buying bus transfers in Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier (this is super easy- a free 3-minute shuttle takes people from the dock to Juneau, where sellers are hawking the transfers- it's very obvious). You'll then take the transfer bus to Mendenhall, and you'll be able to explore Mendenhall independently and return at your leisure (the transfer buses loop through the pick-up area every 30 minutes or so).

I also recommend taking the sky tram up the mountain at Juneau, and having lunch at Tracy's King Crab Shack. Juneau was the best port of call of our DCL cruise this June.

4. I recommend checking with Port Adventures once onboard for the disembarkation day excursion to Vancouver's highlights and the Capilano Suspension Bridge. You can only book this onboard. We did it and it was a super comfortable and easy way to see Vancouver and spend time exploring Capilano. It ended with us getting dropped off at the airport at 1pm.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I did book online...that makes sense now. Thanks!

You can definitely call if you have your eye on a particular room or just want to know what else is available. Costco will call DCL to check.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Last week, we rented a car from Juneau Car rentals. $90 for a four door car and we were all over the area. We beat the crowd to the Glacier then went further u the coast to the Shrine of St. Therese. Hidden Gem there. Back to the ship to drop the kids before DW & I headed back to town. The car pickup is right at the AJ dock, maybe three minute walk directly to the right when you go ashore. Definitely worth it to get the car.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Last week, we rented a car from Juneau Car rentals. $90 for a four door car and we were all over the area. We beat the crowd to the Glacier then went further u the coast to the Shrine of St. Therese. Hidden Gem there. Back to the ship to drop the kids before DW & I headed back to town. The car pickup is right at the AJ dock, maybe three minute walk directly to the right when you go ashore. Definitely worth it to get the car.

We did this as well. Super easy and saw so much more of Juneau in our own time. And way cheaper!

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Hi all, I've read through pages and pages of this board (such great advice) and have a few additional ques.

1. We're booked in room 6522 - does anyone have experience with this particular room and/or floor? I tried to find one on a relatively quiet floor but options for rooms on each floor were pretty limited through Costco.

2. Everyone keeps talking about Palo brunch but I'm not sure how you book the meals? Is that through the Navigator app once on board, or can you book sooner than that? Do you have to be fully paid to book anything then?

3. So far, we are leaning towards a helicopter/dog sledding tour through M&M tours in Skagway, the Bering Sea Crab Tour in Ketchikan, but are uncertain about Juneau. Leaning towards the Wildlife Safari & Beach Exploration tour through Disney, but am hoping to book through an independent company so don't have to pay those Disney prices! Any recommendations? We're traveling with a 9 and 6 year old. My husband isn't keen on strictly a whale-watching tour, but wouldn't mind being in a boat where you happen to see some whales while doing something else. lol.

Also, did anyone successfully book the Bering Sea Crab Tour directly through the tour company vs. Disney? Looks like you can save a ton of $$ that way.

Any other can't miss advice, either on or off ship, would be greatly appreciated! This will likely be the only time we'll ever get a chance to go to Alaska on a Disney Cruise, so want to make the most of it!

We were in cabin 6510 on the Magic last year and it’s a fantastic location! You did a great job picking that one. It was very quiet up there, we liked it a lot.

 

[dcassetta]

Hi all, I've read through pages and pages of this board (such great advice) and have a few additional ques.

1. We're booked in room 6522 - does anyone have experience with this particular room and/or floor? I tried to find one on a relatively quiet floor but options for rooms on each floor were pretty limited through Costco.

2. Everyone keeps talking about Palo brunch but I'm not sure how you book the meals? Is that through the Navigator app once on board, or can you book sooner than that? Do you have to be fully paid to book anything then?

3. So far, we are leaning towards a helicopter/dog sledding tour through M&M tours in Skagway, the Bering Sea Crab Tour in Ketchikan, but are uncertain about Juneau. Leaning towards the Wildlife Safari & Beach Exploration tour through Disney, but am hoping to book through an independent company so don't have to pay those Disney prices! Any recommendations? We're traveling with a 9 and 6 year old. My husband isn't keen on strictly a whale-watching tour, but wouldn't mind being in a boat where you happen to see some whales while doing something else. lol.

Also, did anyone successfully book the Bering Sea Crab Tour directly through the tour company vs. Disney? Looks like you can save a ton of $$ that way.

Any other can't miss advice, either on or off ship, would be greatly appreciated! This will likely be the only time we'll ever get a chance to go to Alaska on a Disney Cruise, so want to make the most of it!

I think your cabin location is fine, however if you'd like something different you can certainly choose that. Take a look at Disney's homepage, if there's a cabin you prefer just call Costco and they can arrange that through Disney.

You can book the crab tour directly through their homepage. We were told that they have to reserve a certain number of seats because of their contract with the cruise companies. As a result sometimes their own allotment sells out quickly. We thought it was a wonderful experience, so if you think that something you'd like to do book tickets early through them.

The other excursion I might recommend you take a look at is the small boat excursion while you're in Tracy arm. You get off of the big ship, and get a much closer glacier and wildlife experience.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

[QUOTE="dcassetta, post: 59694167, member: 126817"
The other excursion I might recommend you take a look at is the small boat excursion while you're in Tracy arm. You get off of the big ship, and get a much closer glacier and wildlife experience.[/QUOTE]

Yes! yes! This excursion is amazing!