August 26, 2013 - Mickey Mouse, Midnight Sun & Whales!

[lsutigger2]

Just got home a few hours ago from a 7 night cruise to the Western Caribbean on the Magic! And the best part is that we booked this cruise!!! We went to Alaska on the Wonder last June and really wanted to go back.

I'll be happy to share anything from that cruise with the group.

Is there a facebook group yet? You know it is only 331 days until we sail

Hoping to arrive in Vancouver on Friday and have the weekend to explore around. We didn't get to do that on our last cruise. (I got sick )

Looking forward to getting to know everyone......

 

[Keurigirl]

Hey guys! So I created a Cruise Roll Call so we can see who we're cruising with, and also so we can track FE Exchange participants. You can find the spreadsheet here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au6ZjSAKNCdBdEFiQlhnMjRqbVBGSVZTY19aTlNKckE feel free to add yourself!

Our new facebook group is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/276003899178095/

Can't wait to get to know everyone!

 

[lsutigger2]

Hey, tried to join the facebook group - not sure i did it right. No too good with Facebook protocol. Just let me know if i need to do anything else.

Thanks for getting it started.

 

[Keurigirl]

Is anyone else thinking about the cruise yet, or is it still too far away?

 

[Keurigirl]

Is anyone else thinking about the cruise yet, or is it still too far away?

Don't forget to add yourself to the roll call list, and sign up for the FE Gift Exchange as well!


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au6ZjSAKNCdBdEFiQlhnMjRqbVBGSVZTY19aTlNKckE

 

[lsutigger2]

Hey Stephanie: are the fe exchange list and roll call on one document??
if not, might be good to have two docs or add column to the roll call for those who are interested in fe.

Too funny: i was putting away some of the great fe's we got on our cruise in September. No sense in putting away things too soon after you return

Also, it is never too early to think about the trip!!

 

[son3disfan]

Don't forget to add yourself to the roll call list, and sign up for the FE Gift Exchange as well!


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au6ZjSAKNCdBdEFiQlhnMjRqbVBGSVZTY19aTlNKckE

Hi there!

Thanks for setting up the document, but I am not sure how to add to it.
Haven't used a Goole Doc before.....

 

[Cdaub]

We are also going on this cruise. It will be the 3rd DCL for me, dh and ds (11 at time of cruise). Also dh's aunt will be on her 2nd dcl and it will be my moms first.
We live in Seattle so we will just drive up that morning

We are all so excited and my son is already talking about the chicken strips by the pool - he loves those!
Looking forward getting to know everyone during all of the fun planning

Edited for spelling

 

[Keurigirl]

Hey Stephanie: are the fe exchange list and roll call on one document??
if not, might be good to have two docs or add column to the roll call for those who are interested in fe.

They are the same document - the last column in there is where you put yes or no for the FE. When we're closer I'll make up a new document just for the FE group with a list of the FE folks and cabins and whatnot

Hi there!

Thanks for setting up the document, but I am not sure how to add to it.
Haven't used a Goole Doc before.....

Just click in a square and add your name Nothing fancy!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au6ZjSAKNCdBdEFiQlhnMjRqbVBGSVZTY19aTlNKckE

 

[son3disfan]

Just click in a square and add your name Nothing fancy!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au6ZjSAKNCdBdEFiQlhnMjRqbVBGSVZTY19aTlNKckE

Wow....that was easy! LOL!
Not sure what I was trying to do....

So.....has anyone ever experienced second seating dining ( late ).
We have always had first, and with some of the late ports on this cruise, I thought I would give late dining a try. We are doing most excursions on our own, so o rush to get back on the ship.
Plus my boys are a bit older.
Not sure yet. I have main right now, trying to figure out the pros and cons to both

 

[son3disfan]

Also......

What excursions are you looking to book?

We just put our deposits down on two, and waiting to book our third.

We booked Harv and Marv whale watching for Juneau

And

Island wings flight seeing tour of the Misty Fjords in Ketchikan .

I heard these tours book up very quickly so we booked as soon as 2013 hit!

We are also looking into doing the Green Jeep tour ( privately ) in Skagway.
So much cheaper then going through Disney!

It doesn't appear that Alaska cruises are in high demand this year.
All catagories are still available for this cruise ....as well as most of the other earlier sailings too....not sure what to make of that.

 

[Keurigirl]

We would do late dining if my kids weren't so young (2 and 5). They are zonked by 8 at night... if I kept them up much later they'd be soooo cranky and that would not be fun for me. So if your kids are older, it works great! If you want, the kids club will come and take them after about 40ish minutes in the dining room (enough for them to eat) so you can have the rest of the meal to yourselves. I can't wait to utilize that when my kids get a bit older.

We haven't decided on excursions yet. We did the same Alaska cruise last year, and ventured out on our own, and it was great. We might just do that again. Except I forgot my husband did the fishing trip thing with the guys from Deadliest Catch.

In Skagway, I highly suggest doing some kind of sightseeing tour - you can walk the town in about an hour, easily, it's like 18 blocks by 6 blocks or something. Really small. So take some time to get out - go up white pass by car or train (it's amazingly beautiful) and see the sights! We did a tour bus and it was beautiful. I think we will definitely do something like that again, maybe longer this time.

Oh!!! I just took a look at the green jeep thing, it looks PERFECT!! I just sent them an email to see if they have any more availability for our dates.

Let's see, last time in Ketchikan I did a duck tour, maybe we'll see the lumberjack show this time? My kids would probably like that. I liked creek street too.

Hmm, Juneau we saw Mendehall Glacier. We ran into a mama bear and two baby cubs as we were walking to the visitor's center. And when I say ran into, I mean, she was crossing the small path between my husband and my son, and myself and my daughter. It was crazy and scary! She didn't mind us, just kept walking, but it sure freaked me out.

 

[son3disfan]

We would do late dining if my kids weren't so young (2 and 5). They are zonked by 8 at night... if I kept them up much later they'd be soooo cranky and that would not be fun for me. So if your kids are older, it works great! If you want, the kids club will come and take them after about 40ish minutes in the dining room (enough for them to eat) so you can have the rest of the meal to yourselves. I can't wait to utilize that when my kids get a bit older.

We haven't decided on excursions yet. We did the same Alaska cruise last year, and ventured out on our own, and it was great. We might just do that again. Except I forgot my husband did the fishing trip thing with the guys from Deadliest Catch.

In Skagway, I highly suggest doing some kind of sightseeing tour - you can walk the town in about an hour, easily, it's like 18 blocks by 6 blocks or something. Really small. So take some time to get out - go up white pass by car or train (it's amazingly beautiful) and see the sights! We did a tour bus and it was beautiful. I think we will definitely do something like that again, maybe longer this time.

Oh!!! I just took a look at the green jeep thing, it looks PERFECT!! I just sent them an email to see if they have any more availability for our dates.

Let's see, last time in Ketchikan I did a duck tour, maybe we'll see the lumberjack show this time? My kids would probably like that. I liked creek street too.

Hmm, Juneau we saw Mendehall Glacier. We ran into a mama bear and two baby cubs as we were walking to the visitor's center. And when I say ran into, I mean, she was crossing the small path between my husband and my son, and myself and my daughter. It was crazy and scary! She didn't mind us, just kept walking, but it sure freaked me out.

Yep, the Green Jeep tour is very cool.

The bears would be a little frightening....
We booked the whale watch and they have the option of a drop off at the Mendehall Glacier when the tour is over. We will just find our own way back to the ship. I will hope to see a bear , but from a far distance!

I must say, the excursions on this trip are almost as much as we are paying for the cruise!!! Not quite, but almost. So much more then the Carribean or Mexican Riveria!!!
But I can't imagine going to Alaska without experiencing some of the exciting excursions offered.
It is our 20th wedding anniversary celebration.....so we are going for the memories!

 

[Cdaub]

We did Late seating on our first cruise ans main last time. For us we liked main better. With the late seating we all were so tired right after eating that we would go to bed on a full stomach, but with main we would still walk around and find something tondo after dinner. I am a bit concerned with port times, but we will just figure that out.

Mynhusband and son really want to do d dog mushing (super expensive but thinking once in a lifetime). They also are thinking of a fishing one. I should start looking into this more soon.

 

[son3disfan]

We did Late seating on our first cruise ans main last time. For us we liked main better. With the late seating we all were so tired right after eating that we would go to bed on a full stomach, but with main we would still walk around and find something tondo after dinner. I am a bit concerned with port times, but we will just figure that out.

Mynhusband and son really want to do d dog mushing (super expensive but thinking once in a lifetime). They also are thinking of a fishing one. I should start looking into this more soon.

I did a lot of research into the dog sledding....I would LOVE to do that. But with 5 of us.....out of the question.
The best price, for a reputable company I could find was Coastal .
Apparently Disney uses them, but it is cheaper to book on your own. Here is the website if you are interested....
http://coastalhelicopters.com/dog_sled_tours.html
$495 a person.

If we win the lottery before we go....I will be on this tour.

 

[Keurigirl]

Aww Happy 20th Anniversary!! We'll be celebrating our 9th anniversary on the trip.

It is so true that excursions are crazy expensive in Alaska. I don't know why.

There are some cheaper dogsled experiences, but you won't be actually doing it in the snow. They take you to the dog sled camp, take you on a wheeled sled, etc - heard those were fun too.

It's pretty easy to find your way back from Mendenhall. There are "blue buses" that you pay to take you right from the dock to the glacier and back, so I am sure you can take them just one way.

 

[son3disfan]

Aww Happy 20th Anniversary!! We'll be celebrating our 9th anniversary on the trip.

It is so true that excursions are crazy expensive in Alaska. I don't know why.

There are some cheaper dogsled experiences, but you won't be actually doing it in the snow. They take you to the dog sled camp, take you on a wheeled sled, etc - heard those were fun too.

It's pretty easy to find your way back from Mendenhall. There are "blue buses" that you pay to take you right from the dock to the glacier and back, so I am sure you can take them just one way.

So funny you mentioned the DOG CART excursion.....I have been spending the afternoon researching how to get there on our own, if we rent the green jeep.
We can do a 30 min ride on the cart for $39.00 each. Plus, the kids can play with the puppies. Did I say kids??? I meant..ME!!

 

[Keurigirl]

Wow if you find out, please, please let me know! I think my kids would love that, and I'd love to see it, and $40 is way more reasonable. Heck, I want to see the puppies too.

 

[son3disfan]

Wow if you find out, please, please let me know! I think my kids would love that, and I'd love to see it, and $40 is way more reasonable. Heck, I want to see the puppies too.

Here you go......

http://www.cariboucrossing.ca/dog-cart.html

And it's a 15 min ride for the price I quoted.......not 30min. But still pretty cool.

 

[Keurigirl]

Thank you!!