August 16, 2011 – 7 Night Alaska Sailing

[pops711]

I am getting beyond excited to start this cruise. I have a friend that is getting on the ship next time it comes into port, and he will give all kinds of info

Did you all know that finding matching shirts for me my DW and my two 10 month old DD (at the time of the cruise) that we all like is just not gone happen. I am looking to make our own. I have a pretty good lead what we will do. Any input is welcomed

 

[aunursa]

My family prefers to dine early. We're used to eating duing the 6 o'clock hour ... and since we're morning people, a later seating would adversely affect our breakfast and lunch dining times. Alas, main seating was full when we booked, so we requested to be placed on the waiting list.

When I checked my reservation online several months ago, it indicated that my dining preference was for Second Seating. However when I checked again a month ago, it listed Main Seating. Hopefully this means that we were switched to Main Seating. Otherwise, I'll have to request it after we board the ship.

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

I am getting beyond excited to start this cruise. I have a friend that is getting on the ship next time it comes into port, and he will give all kinds of info

Did you all know that finding matching shirts for me my DW and my two 10 month old DD (at the time of the cruise) that we all like is just not gone happen. I am looking to make our own. I have a pretty good lead what we will do. Any input is welcomed

Have you looked at Zazzle? They have a ton of personizable Disney designs that you can to apply to various styles and sizes.

 

[pops711]

Have you looked at Zazzle? They have a ton of personizable Disney designs that you can to apply to various styles and sizes.

I will have to check them out. I am hoping to have the graphics tonight or tomorrow. after that I will order. I have a fellow DISer who has done a really cool back for me, now I just need the front.

 

[mellers]

I've added links to our hotels to The Big List--that way, if anyone still needs to decide on pre- or post-cruise lodgings, there is a way to see what other people on the group have chosen.

 

[G'sMaman]

Does anyone care to post a final last day update on sold out excursions for us new cruisers that get to book tonight? Just curious if I have to change my game plan at all - any heads up can help. I promise..this is the last time I'll ask!

Aby

Hi Aby - If you'd like, PM me with your email address and I can send you a print out of the Reservations for Shore Excursions form (includes availability and pricing, but not times). It's a long document - about 14 pages, but it will give you a good idea of what you're going to be looking at this evening.

G's Maman

 

[pops711]

I just read through 57 pages of this thread. Boy are my eyes tired!!!

* * * * *​

This will be my sixth cruise, and second to Alaska -- but my first one sailing with Disney.

I am 44, DW is 42, and DD is 10. Our stateroom is #2639. We'll be flying in on Monday and we'll be joined by 12 other family members to celebrate my niece as she becomes a bat mitzvah -- the ceremony will take place Thursday morning onboard the ship!!!

We've been looking forward to this cruise for almost a year. I'm so glad that I found this group.

-- Andy

Hey Andy Welcome aboard I know you guys will love DCL. what part of the Bay Area from??? We live in the East Bay. Look froward to seeing you around the ship

 

[aunursa]

Hey Andy Welcome aboard I know you guys will love DCL. what part of the Bay Area from??? We live in the East Bay. Look froward to seeing you around the ship

Hi Jerry, thanks for the welcome. I live in Southern Alameda County. I visited Concord a couple of months ago for a job fair. Regarding DCL -- we've been to Disneyland many times; it will be interesting to see how two of my favorite activities are merged.

 

[Aby]

Thanks for the update Mrs. Gumdrop & thanks for the offer to send me the print out G'sMaman - I sent you a PM!

Kgsmith - looks like you are staying at the Fairmont Waterfront as well! May I ask how long you are staying before the cruise? My hubby and I are just staying the 1 night before on the 15th. We will probably eat breakfast there on both days (we are arriving very early on the 15th) because I hear that they have an amazing breakfast buffet (I love made to order omlettes!).

Have you decided what you are going to do in Vancouver while you are there? I think we are planning a trip (either walking or via the city bus since are not renting a vehicle and hate driving anyway) to Stanley Park and the Aquarium. We are thinking of going to a nice steakhouse for dinner that is a few blocks down from the hotel and will probably also wander around the area and look in shops and stuff.

Getting so excited now!!!

Aby

 

[mellers]

We now live outside Seattle (Microsoft made us an offer we couldn't refuse ) but we all used to live in the South Bay--San Jose, near the Oakridge Mall and Almaden Lake Park.

 

[AppleGuy]

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. We are getting excited as the clock keeps ticking and we are only 2.5 months from sailing. Just wanted to let all of you know in the Pluto FE group, that our friends, Lee and Sharon, will be celebrating their 40th anniversary so any ideas in the FE's would be great and a surprise for them. They are in cabin 5136

Apple Guy

 

[kgsmith]

Kgsmith - looks like you are staying at the Fairmont Waterfront as well! May I ask how long you are staying before the cruise? My hubby and I are just staying the 1 night before on the 15th. We will probably eat breakfast there on both days (we are arriving very early on the 15th) because I hear that they have an amazing breakfast buffet (I love made to order omlettes!).

Have you decided what you are going to do in Vancouver while you are there? I think we are planning a trip (either walking or via the city bus since are not renting a vehicle and hate driving anyway) to Stanley Park and the Aquarium. We are thinking of going to a nice steakhouse for dinner that is a few blocks down from the hotel and will probably also wander around the area and look in shops and stuff.

Getting so excited now!!!

Aby

Aby -- We are spending two nights in Vancouver. We are also planning to walk/bus to Stanley Park on Sunday afternoon or evening (our flight gets in at noon). My son wants to go to the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain, so that is our plan for Monday. I've been looking at hop-on hop-off tours that would let us do these things, as well as show us other parts of Vancouver.

I'm trying very hard not to overplan our time in Vancouver -- I tend to overplan and then get upset when it doesn't go exactly as planned. (I had a bit of a meltdown on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom a few years ago . Nobody wants a repeat of that!)

A lot of what we do will depend on my son. This trip will be the first time he's traveled outside of our time zone (eastern). Any tips on changing time zones for kids are welcome!

Aby, I hope you get all of your excursions tonight!

 

[disneymath]

Well, I've logged in to the DCL site ... no brunch or high tea reservations available for Palo at this time, so I'm off to sleep. Dinners were available.

Hope everyone manages to get the excursions they want!

 

[aunursa]

I booked dinner at Palo for Day 4 (Skagway) ... and the Juneau City & Mendenhall Glacier Tour. (We're joining my sister-in-law and her family.)

 

[Aby]

I am SOOOOO happy! I managed to get all the everything that I wanted!

Here is a breakdown of our cruise!

Day 1 - Just enjoy being on the ship!
Day 2 - Couples Choice Spa Villas
Day 3 - Pedicure & Manicure for me, Swedish Massage for DH
Day 4 - White Pass Scenic Railway
Day 5 - Alaska Whales and Rainforest Trails
Day 6 - Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure
Day 7 - Exotic Rasul & Palo Dinner

We are not 100% sure that we are going to do the Couples Choice Spa Villas (it's pricy ), if we do, I'll cancel the Swedish Massage on Day 3 for DH.

So glad that I got all the excursions I really wanted - I had others picked out but I really had my heart set on these. YAY!

I did notice however, that my manicure ends right at 8:15pm, which is when second seating begins. Do you think it would be okay to be a few minutes late for dinner (I'd just go straight down afterwards)??

How did everyone else do?

Aby

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

That's great Aby! This is going to be such a great trip for all of us!

 

[aunursa]

I did notice however, that my manicure ends right at 8:15pm, which is when second seating begins. Do you think it would be okay to be a few minutes late for dinner (I'd just go straight down afterwards)??

Aby

Just notify your waiter the night before.

 

[kgsmith]

Congratulations, Aby! I'm happy that you got what you wanted. I couldn't get a Palo brunch, but I got the spa appointments we were hoping for:
Day 7 -- Couples Choice
Day 6 -- Manicure & Pedicure for me and massage for DH

Once we are onboard, we will have to see if we can change the times for either the manicure/pedicure or the massage. I scheduled them both for 8:00am. This morning I looked at the Navigator for Day 6 and realized that the kid's club doesn't open until 9:00am, so there is no place for DS to go while DH and I are in the spa. If one of the appointments can't be rescheduled, I'll have to cancel. I'll keep checking the DCL website until then!

 

[godalejunior]

Well I did ok I guess...the two excursions we wanted I already knew were booked so I only booked the Yukon Expedition through Disney...the others are on our own. I was able to get a dinner at Palo. As soon as I was logged in I checked and there was no time slots for brunch! We will try to get a brunch once we get on the ship. I still think iyts strange they do not hold ressies back for first timers to book online.

 

[Inkmahm]

Well I did ok I guess...the two excursions we wanted I already knew were booked so I only booked the Yukon Expedition through Disney...the others are on our own. I was able to get a dinner at Palo. As soon as I was logged in I checked and there was no time slots for brunch! We will try to get a brunch once we get on the ship. I still think iyts strange they do not hold ressies back for first timers to book online.

I didn't get brunch on our first DCL cruise, either. They pretty much go to the higher level CC members. They also don't fill the restaurant for brunch or high tea. For brunch, maybe a third of the tables are used. For high tea, they use just the tables at the windows and not even all of them. Not sure why that is, but it's been true every time I'm in Palo for brunch or high tea.