Alaskan Cruise Question

[Jen Blake]

Hello,

Our family will be going on our first Alaskan Cruise in 2017. We will have a room with balcony and wondering if we'll have better scenery if we pick the starboard side vs port side of the ship.

Also we'd like to participate in the fish extender for the first time. How early does the sign up usually start for this?

Thank you

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello,

Our family will be going on our first Alaskan Cruise in 2017. We will have a room with balcony and wondering if we'll have better scenery if we pick the starboard side vs port side of the ship.

Also we'd like to participate in the fish extender for the first time. How early does the sign up usually start for this?

Thank you

Since the ship is doing a round trip cruise, there's really no advantage to one side over the other. What one side sees on the way out, the other will see on the way back.

Fish Extenders are handed on Cruise Meet threads. You'd have to check over on the Cruise Meets board to see if there's a thread started for your cruise or not. They start whenever someone steps up and says that they'll maintain the FE list.

http://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-cruise-line-forum.9/

Look fore the "Find your 2017 Wonder Cruise Meet LINK here" thread. The first post there is a directory (by date) of the various cruises.

 

[Jen Blake]

Thank you so much! So there's not an advantage to being on one side vs the other for the day through Tracy Arm? You'll have equal viewing opportunity on both sides?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you so much! So there's not an advantage to being on one side vs the other for the day through Tracy Arm? You'll have equal viewing opportunity on both sides?

Well, the ship goes in forward, turns around a couple of times, and then heads out (again going forward). So, for example, the side of the arm that the port side sees on the way into the arm, the starboard side sees on the way out. Of course, it may not be Tracy Arm.

One point, we find that it's best to be up on deck, where you can cross back and forth for the full 360 view while doing the scenic cruising.

 

[xavier2001]

We went in June, I think that the Starboard side got a MUCH better glacier view. No ship has made it down Tracy Arm this year so they have been going down Endicott Arm. The ship only turned once, but the starboard side got about 3 times as longer as the port side and got to see the glacier first.

 

[Claireywalsh]

Thank you so much! So there's not an advantage to being on one side vs the other for the day through Tracy Arm? You'll have equal viewing opportunity on both sides?

You will get to see both sides of the fjord on Tracy arm day. It's truly spectacular, we were starboard side and it was amazing!! We literally sat out on the verandah all day, we saw seals on the icebergs and played the cloud spotting game but with the icebergs!! You get to see various waterfalls en route to the glacier. The views on both sides were equally as gorgeous enjoy, it's a trip of a lifetime!

 

[Peanutzz]

We went in June, I think that the Starboard side got a MUCH better glacier view. No ship has made it down Tracy Arm this year so they have been going down Endicott Arm. The ship only turned once, but the starboard side got about 3 times as longer as the port side and got to see the glacier first.

I can confirm that this was true on our cruise this summer as well. The starboard side faced the glacier for a longer amount of time. However, I've always found that the best place to view the arm was from the top deck anyway. Have a great trip!

 

[xavier2001]

I can confirm that this was true on our cruise this summer as well. The starboard side faced the glacier for a longer amount of time. However, I've always found that the best place to view the arm was from the top deck anyway. Have a great trip!

We sat on our balcony enjoying in peace and quiet until about 3, then went to the top deck which was virtually empty by that point and got a great panoramic view. I'm not much for crowds so it worked out perfectly for me lol.

 

[Agent 86]

I'm not up on my nautical terms, but on my cruise in June, the right hand side "faced" the glacier for much longer than the left hand side did after the ship was turned around.

 

[xlxo]

I vote for the port side...

• starboard side has little privacy in Vancouver. An elevated walkway allows people to look into your cabin from 25 feet away. Please keep your curtains closed.
• Ketchikan has some great port views of the town.

 

[Caroline Long]

We don't have a veranda. For Tracy Arm/Endicott day, would you guys recommend going to the starboard side of Deck 4 or prefer Deck 9? I've heard Deck 4 is quieter. Our DD's are 7 and 9 years old.

 

[Agent 86]

We don't have a veranda. For Tracy Arm/Endicott day, would you guys recommend going to the starboard side of Deck 4 or prefer Deck 9? I've heard Deck 4 is quieter. Our DD's are 7 and 9 years old.

In June, we spent a LOT of time at the glacier. At least three hours, if not more. So, I would say the top deck, noting that it will be extremely busy at first and then become quieter as time goes by.

Like you, we were worried about how long we'd be able to see the glacier. So, we were at the very front of the ship (in the biting cold) as it headed towards the glacier and then ran around to the RHS once it was stationary. There was no need to do either (although it was fun being caught up in the atmosphere).

 

[Snowwhyt]

Well, the ship goes in forward, turns around a couple of times, and then heads out (again going forward). So, for example, the side of the arm that the port side sees on the way into the arm, the starboard side sees on the way out. Of course, it may not be Tracy Arm.

One point, we find that it's best to be up on deck, where you can cross back and forth for the full 360 view while doing the scenic cruising.

I was on the July 4 cruise this year. I was on the ship when it made its turn. But it never turns around "a couple of times"
It makes one full rotation like a roundabout/cul-de-sac. The Wonder takes its time about making the full circle and pauses a little more like a drifting is sorts.

 

[Snowwhyt]

We went in June, I think that the Starboard side got a MUCH better glacier view. No ship has made it down Tracy Arm this year so they have been going down Endicott Arm. The ship only turned once, but the starboard side got about 3 times as longer as the port side and got to see the glacier first.

Thats what I kinda feel too. But when you think about the pause they had as they entered the view was to port side but the angle wasn't great. They did take it slow into the space, it was then where port got a view, and then again, while leaving. But it was a view that was from much further back than starboard had. Starboard was the better option I'm sure. The amount of time and proximity to the glacier was much better. Maybe not twice as long when you consider the full entry and departure. But still not as good.

 

[Peanutzz]

We don't have a veranda. For Tracy Arm/Endicott day, would you guys recommend going to the starboard side of Deck 4 or prefer Deck 9? I've heard Deck 4 is quieter. Our DD's are 7 and 9 years old.

I would definitely choose Decks 9 and 10 over Deck 4. On Deck 4 you can only see one side of the arm at a time. The top decks are nice because you can see both sides at the same time and you can easily change sides when something interesting appears.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I would definitely choose Decks 9 and 10 over Deck 4. On Deck 4 you can only see one side of the arm at a time. The top decks are nice because you can see both sides at the same time and you can easily change sides when something interesting appears.

^This

 

[jubjubrsx]

Call me crazy I'm glad I didnt get a verandah/balcony for our alaskan cruise...its ALWAYS SUNNY! like it never got dark outside, I actually had some problems sleeping. My sleep schedules were so out of whack.

just bringing it up so you can bring some trash bags or something to dark out the room if you have that problem to.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Call me crazy I'm glad I didnt get a verandah/balcony for our alaskan cruise...its ALWAYS SUNNY! like it never got dark outside, I actually had some problems sleeping. My sleep schedules were so out of whack.

just bringing it up so you can bring some trash bags or something to dark out the room if you have that problem to.

Why does having a verandah have anything to do with it being too sunny?

We've always found the window curtain cuts the light enough. I just remember to bring a clothespin to clip them together avoiding any gaps.

 

[jubjubrsx]

^^ for me it would let to much light in. I actually have to completely black out my windows at home to get to sleep. since the sun never really went down, or always kind of light outside I had issues. some people are more sensitive to the light than others, was just trying to mention it just in case thing because most people arent used to it being pretty light out all hours.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

^^ for me it would let to much light in. I actually have to completely black out my windows at home to get to sleep. since the sun never really went down, or always kind of light outside I had issues. some people are more sensitive to the light than others, was just trying to mention it just in case thing because most people arent used to it being pretty light out all hours.

OK, I get it. But, I believe, that your stateroom host could have assisted in this. Surely he/she could have gotten some dark plastic, or blankets to be hung over the window. Did you ask?