April 6th dcl announcement

[kaseyC]

That sounds very odd, to say the least. How are you supposed to know what the itineraries are, or the cost if they're not listed on the webiste?

It's very odd. Most of us wouldn't have even known they were available for booking if someone didn't post about it and the itineraries on these boards. I called that same evening and sure enough they were open for booking.

 

[NancyIL]

Wow, I did not know that, thanks. How pointless huh?!

A few hours are better than nothing! You live in Victoria and you haven't noticed a bunch of cruise ships there?

 

[CruznLexi]

We did the Vision of the Seas to Alaska in 06 and it did stop in Victoria. Also early May in Alaska is not very good weather. I would not see them ditching Alaska after just 1 season. It will be interesting to see who gets closest to the itinerary. Not interested in the Magic but it is the Wonder we are after with Sept Hawaii.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I don't know where you are looking, but on the DCL official site, there are no itineraries listed beyond August, 2012.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/reservations/booking

As others have said, you have to call DCL directly to get the itineraries and pricing. This is like old school (circa 2006) booking where you used to have to call a TA or DCL directly to get pricing!

As an FYI, we booked a December 2012 cruise in mid-February and the price has already gone up by about $300 per person!

 

[CodyBoy]

We did the Vision of the Seas to Alaska in 06 and it did stop in Victoria. Also early May in Alaska is not very good weather. I would not see them ditching Alaska after just 1 season. It will be interesting to see who gets closest to the itinerary. Not interested in the Magic but it is the Wonder we are after with Sept Hawaii.

UNless it wasnt as profitable as they hoped?

 

[smeecanada]

Most roundtrip cruises from Seattle are 7nights - and they make the obligatory stop in Victoria the evening before the cruise ends.

Yes, three of them every Saturday night. Holland America, Princess and Norwegian. Others during the week. We go down lots during the summer for ice cream and a walk along the breakwater to see the ships. 32 days until the Wonder is here.

 

[smeecanada]

A few hours are better than nothing! You live in Victoria and you haven't noticed a bunch of cruise ships there?

Very easy to do, if you are not in Downtown proper or James Bay. You wouldn't notice much difference at all.

 

[MrsMa]

I booked the April 2012 Radiance of the Seas 12-night Honolulu to Vancouver repo cruise. There are very few cabins left, and it is more than a year from now. I can see the Sept. 2012 Vancouver to Honolulu itinerary on RCI's web site, but it's a 10-night cruise, and the prices aren't out yet.

I talked to DH last night and we reviewed both the RCI itineraries Honolulu--Vancouver. It looks like if the Disney Wonder itinerary is not going to align with our plans to go to Hawaii or if the length is too long or pricing too high, we won't be going on a cruise at all next spring . Both DH and I have been on many cruises on other lines (HAL, Celebrity, Carnival, NCL, etc) before kids and from what I've researched and read on forum boards, Disney is really the way to go for the kids. We took our daughter for her first cruise experience on NCL in 2009 and it was just a disaster......especially with the MDR service and quality of food.

So, please please please DCL, let's not make it too long with high $$$$$ for a first timer here........

 

[smeecanada]

UNless it wasnt as profitable as they hoped?

I'd be surprised at that. We haven't seen much discounting on the Alaska cruises at all. The first few and that's about it. Ours at the end of August is more or less full - only a cat 4 available the last time I checked. No offers for BC residents.

A local TA commented to me that DCL is one of the best values out there for this year as far as Alaska goes.

 

[pillow]

That sounds very odd, to say the least. How are you supposed to know what the itineraries are, or the cost if they're not listed on the webiste?

Yes, its very odd, but true. I transferred a booking as well to Dec 15th, 2012 - great prices!

Jodie

 

[smeecanada]

I talked to DH last night and we reviewed both the RCI itineraries Honolulu--Vancouver. It looks like if the Disney Wonder itinerary is not going to align with our plans to go to Hawaii or if the length is too long or pricing too high, we won't be going on a cruise at all next spring . Both DH and I have been on many cruises on other lines (HAL, Celebrity, Carnival, NCL, etc) before kids and from what I've researched and read on forum boards, Disney is really the way to go for the kids. We took our daughter for her first cruise experience on NCL in 2009 and it was just a disaster......especially with the MDR service and quality of food.

So, please please please DCL, let's not make it too long with high $$$$$ for a first timer here........

I wouldn't do that length of itinerary with RCL. We did RCL back in 2009 to Alaska and their teen program was pathetic compared to DCL. Luckily we were travelling with extended family, so that kept the kids occupied.

 

[RedSox68]

This was post on the Puerto Rico news paper:
"Como balance, indicó, para el mismo año 2012, la línea de cruceros Disney comienza sus visitas a los muelles de Puerto Rico. “Se está negociando para que la línea Disney vislumbre a Puerto Rico como ‘home port’ ”, dijo, lo que implicaría que los viajeros abordarían el barco en San Juan."

It means that in 2012 disney its going to start visiting PR and they are negotiating to make San Juan home port.

http://www.elnuevodia.com/royalcaribbeanreducesupresencia-928627.html

Disney is already going there next year. We are booked on a cruise for Thanksgiving on the Fantasy that stops in San Juan.

And as far as the comment about two new ships, it took Disney sooooo long to decide on the 3rd and 4th, I truly doubt they have anything planned for the next five years......but time will tell.

 

[UK-Simon]

Very easy to do, if you are not in Downtown proper or James Bay. You wouldn't notice much difference at all.

Yep exactly, and combine that with the fact I only moved to Victoria from Vancouver in January, the only boats I've seen are BC Ferries, and they are the bain of my existence!!!

 

[NancyIL]

I wouldn't do that length of itinerary with RCL. We did RCL back in 2009 to Alaska and their teen program was pathetic compared to DCL. Luckily we were travelling with extended family, so that kept the kids occupied.

I wouldn't expect to see many if any kids on RCI's repo cruises in April and September. I'm going on RCI with my son, who will be 21. I told him it's unlikely there will be many kids his age, but we're going to see Hawaii.

A local TA commented to me that DCL is one of the best values out there for this year as far as Alaska goes.

DCL...best values in Alaska? Someone's been hitting the bottle!

 

[smeecanada]

Yep exactly, and combine that with the fact I only moved to Victoria from Vancouver in January, the only boats I've seen are BC Ferries, and they are the bain of my existence!!!

Cruise season is from April to very early October. The Wonder will be in Port on May 2 and Sept 21.

 

[smeecanada]

I wouldn't expect to see many if any kids on RCI's repo cruises in April and September. I'm going on RCI with my son, who will be 21. I told him it's unlikely there will be many kids his age, but we're going to see Hawaii.

DCL...best values in Alaska? Someone's been hitting the bottle!

As far as round trip out of Vancouver they are.

 

[NancyIL]

As far as round trip out of Vancouver they are.

Of the 4 ships that do 7-night roundtrips from Vancouver in June 2011 (DCL, HAL Zuiderdam & Zaandam, and Celebrity Century) - DCL has the highest starting prices for inside cabins. About twice as many ships sailing from Vancouver do one-ways, and the majority of roundtrip cruises are out of Seattle.

**Sorry - I didn't think I had finished posting before I checked prices out of Vancouver!

 

[smeecanada]

Of the 4 ships that do 7-night roundtrips from Vancouver in June 2011 (DCL, HAL Zuiderdam & Zaandam, and Celebrity Century) - DCL has the highest starting prices for inside cabins. About twice as many ships sailing from Vancouver do one-ways, and the majority of roundtrip cruises are out of Seattle.

**Sorry - I didn't think I had finished posting before I checked prices out of Vancouver!

The only options really are Celebrity and Disney. Most people with kids don't even look at HAL. Plus, Disney is basically an all inclusive price - not extra add on for child care or pop. Yes, the itineraries are better from Seattle. But, you need to factor in the cost of getting there. It's over $100 one way just for us (family of 4) to take the ferry to the mainland - let alone stay overnight in Seattle. Plus, most people from here, don't want a Port stop in Victoria. So, Disney is the best deal out of Vancouver right now, for families.

 

[NancyIL]

The only options really are Celebrity and Disney. Most people with kids don't even look at HAL. Plus, Disney is basically an all inclusive price - not extra add on for child care or pop. Yes, the itineraries are better from Seattle. But, you need to factor in the cost of getting there. It's over $100 one way just for us (family of 4) to take the ferry to the mainland - let alone stay overnight in Seattle. Plus, most people from here, don't want a Port stop in Victoria. So, Disney is the best deal out of Vancouver right now, for families.

I wouldn't rule out HAL, especially on the Zuiderdam out of Vancouver.

 

[mca]

I will take a stab at the Wonder Repo.


LA - Honolulu - Hilo - Skagway - Juneau - Tracey Arm - Ketchikan and ending in Vancouver.

My estimate is 4 days to HWI, 2 days in the islands, 4 days to Alaska plus 5 more days in Alaska ending in Vancouver for a total of 15 days.

Then you would reverse in Sept.