August 11, 2014 - Alaskan cruise on the Wonder

[disdoat]

My friend and I have been stalking this forum for months now waiting for someone to create this thread. I didn't want the responsibility of being the thread starter! There aren't responsibilities right?

Anyways. I (35 at time of sailing) will be sailing with a group of 5 other people. We all did a Bahamas cruise on the Wonder in May. This is a looooonnnng time to have to wait, but at least it's under 400 days now.

 

[dclwonderprincess]

Yay, I'm glad you started it, even if it's just the two of us. I will be 31 at the time of sailing & DH will be 33. 12 months 18 days 22 hours to go!

 

[dclwonderprincess]

I lied, I'll be 32 at the time of sailing.

 

[jetskigrl]

Woo Hoo - a thread I have been checking to see if anyone had started one yet I think this is the first time I have gotten in on the first page

Thanks for starting this one!! I figured that I would break down and start one if there wasn't one by the 1-year mark I shy away from responsibility too..whenever possible

This will be cruise number 8 for me (cruise number 7 being the 2-night cruise to nowhere out of San Diego next May). I will be cruising with my Mom, my DD (16 at cruise time) and my DS (11 at cruise time).

Nice to meet you

 

[disdoat]

Nice to meet you too, Jetskigrl!

 

[dclwonderprincess]

I'm glad to know we're not the only ones on the ship!

 

[jetskigrl]

I was beginning to wonder (no pun intended, LOL) where everyone for this cruise was hiding

We originally booked the one before this, then saw the prices and moved it to the one after this. Then saw we would have school registration issues if we kept that time so moved it to this one (lol - kept my TA busy, that is for sure).

What cruise is this for everyone?

DCLWonderPrincess - I peeked at your wedding link (lol - I'm nosy that way) How awesome that must have been to be married on the ship (and now going back on it)!

The Wonder is my favorite ship. We have done the Dream and Fantasy (just got off the Fantasy earlier this month) and really loved them, but the Wonder still holds my heart

 

[disdoat]

This will be my 2nd cruise ever. 1st was on Wonder. I kept my TA busy too because I wanted my same room again but kept accidentally putting a hold on it when I went to check if it was available.


I'm really looking forward to this cruise because the last one felt so rushed with no at sea days and fitting in Wedding stuff. And I wasn't even half as busy as dclwonderprincess!


After going through my pictures of the last cruise I realized my camera was awful and bought a new one for the cruise.....more then 400 days before the cruise. I'm just a little bit excited!

 

[jetskigrl]

This will be my 2nd cruise ever. 1st was on Wonder. I kept my TA busy too because I wanted my same room again but kept accidentally putting a hold on it when I went to check if it was available.


I'm really looking forward to this cruise because the last one felt so rushed with no at sea days and fitting in Wedding stuff. And I wasn't even half as busy as dclwonderprincess!


After going through my pictures of the last cruise I realized my camera was awful and bought a new one for the cruise.....more then 400 days before the cruise. I'm just a little bit excited!

Oh, so you were there with dclwonderprincess for her wedding? (trying to figure this out, LOL).

How fun to be able to cruise together again.

And it is never too early to buy cruise items. Hey, this way you will know how everyone on the camera works by cruise time (it always takes me a while to figure all the settings out)

Shoot, I'm already planning excursions

 

[disdoat]

And it is never too early to buy cruise items. Hey, this way you will know how everyone on the camera works by cruise time (it always takes me a while to figure all the settings out)

That was my reasoning!

Yes, I was there with dclwonderprincess for the wedding. Actually of the 8 people that went for her wedding 6 are booked on this Alaskan cruise.

I've been working on a spreadsheet of all the excursions. When I finally get it done I'll post it here. It's so annoying to look at that big long list and have to click on each item just to get the details.

 

[dclwonderprincess]

Alaska brings up all sorts of new planning issues because you'll need a good camera, waterproof jacket & shoes, etc. I can't wait to find out what the weather is like this August so we can start planning what clothes will be needed.

 

[jetskigrl]

That was my reasoning!

Yes, I was there with dclwonderprincess for the wedding. Actually of the 8 people that went for her wedding 6 are booked on this Alaskan cruise.

I've been working on a spreadsheet of all the excursions. When I finally get it done I'll post it here. It's so annoying to look at that big long list and have to click on each item just to get the details.

That spreadsheet sounds great! I think we may be doing non-DCL excursions this time. DS will be 11 so that makes him a "Disney Adult" but still a child by most other tour companies.

Alaska brings up all sorts of new planning issues because you'll need a good camera, waterproof jacket & shoes, etc. I can't wait to find out what the weather is like this August so we can start planning what clothes will be needed.

This will be a packing challenge, for sure. Plus we are doing a couple of nights in Seattle and then taking the train home (takes 2-days, 1 night) so we will be stretching our trip to almost two weeks. I'm going to be doing some laundry, I guess

One thing I need to remember is to pack less t-shirts than I usually do. I came home with about 7 new t-shirts from my last cruise. So I will be wearing my new t-shirts this time instead of old ones that I packed

 

[dclwonderprincess]

Shoot, I'm already planning excursions [/QUOTE]

I already have Skagway & Juneau picked out. I'm not overly excited about any in Ketchikan.

 

[jetskigrl]

Skagway was easy for us. We all love trains so doing the White Pass Railway was a given I think we are going to go with Chilkoot Charters for that one so we can do the bus up, maybe let the kids do the dogsled ride and then take train back down.

For Juneau, we want to do whale watching and the Mendenhall Glacier. I may book one of the tour places recommended here on the DIS for the whale watching and then just have them drop us off at the Glacier (and take the bus back to the ship). I have to make sure we have enough time for all that though.

For Ketchikan, I originally wanted to do the Bear Country excursion but I have read a couple not so good reviews. So I'm waiting for more reports from this season on that one. We also may decide to just use that day to explore around town, etc.

 

[QRS]

Hello fellow cruisers! I too have been stalking for a couple of months now, looking for this thread. Glad you started it. I may be able to help out with some organizing if anyone needs a hand...

My DW (43 at sailing), DD (9 at sailing), and I (53 at sailing) will be embarking on our second DC. We went to Tortola on the Magic in 2009 for our 10 year wedding anniversary and this will be our 15 year anniversary present. We are already getting excited about the cruise. Amazon has already graciously sent us a pair of binoculars... LOL Let the planning begin!

 

[jetskigrl]

Hello fellow cruisers! I too have been stalking for a couple of months now, looking for this thread. Glad you started it. I may be able to help out with some organizing if anyone needs a hand...

My DW (43 at sailing), DD (9 at sailing), and I (53 at sailing) will be embarking on our second DC. We went to Tortola on the Magic in 2009 for our 10 year wedding anniversary and this will be our 15 year anniversary present. We are already getting excited about the cruise. Amazon has already graciously sent us a pair of binoculars... LOL Let the planning begin!

Hi, and welcome to our little group!!

Oh binoculars...something that I need to add to our packing list

Funny but I was just doing some online shopping for DS yesterday and found two long-sleeve henley shirts for him. He rarely wears long sleeves here but I bought them in a size bigger thinking they would be great for the cruise.

I was going over details with my Mom two days ago. Should we stay one night or two in Vancouver, one night or two in Seattle, dog sled ride or no dog sled ride, etc, etc, etc. I guess I'm excited about this one

 

[IrishCowboy]

I have added your thread to the cruise meet list

Have a great cruise!

 

[dclwonderprincess]

I've read on a few other cruise meet threads that some groups do a recipe exchange in addition to FE's. Is this something anyone else is interested in?

 

[M&M-Mommy]

So excited to see a group finally created for our cruise!!

I can't believe..1 year from today..we will be getting on the ship!! WOO HOO Super excited!!

This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise!! It will be myself, DH and our DD, who will be celebrating her 6th birthday on the cruise!!
Looking forward to taking my family to Alaska..where I was born and raised!! Have not been back in over 20 years! WOW!!
Interested in doing another FE Exchange this trip too!!

 

[jetskigrl]

So excited to see a group finally created for our cruise!!

I can't believe..1 year from today..we will be getting on the ship!! WOO HOO Super excited!!

This will be our 3rd Disney Cruise!! It will be myself, DH and our DD, who will be celebrating her 6th birthday on the cruise!!
Looking forward to taking my family to Alaska..where I was born and raised!! Have not been back in over 20 years! WOW!!
Interested in doing another FE Exchange this trip too!!

Hi and Welcome!!!! And Happy 5th Birthday to your DD (who must be celebrating right about now if she will be celebrating on the cruise next year)!!

How cool to be going back home for you!!

WOO HOO - one year from today!!! I was just going over the details of the trip with my Mom yesterday so we can get our finances in order. We can book our train portion next month Cruise is booked. I need to see when we can book our hotels. We want the Pan Pacific for two nights before the cruise but if I try to book it, it says no rooms available. I'm assuming they just don't book this far ahead (I hope, LOL).

What is everyone else planning pre and post cruise?