Castaway Club status change question...

[Dug720]

I know that for a B2B you change status on debarking leg 1 so you are the new status for leg 2 - but any activity booking would be done under the old status.

My question is this... I have a Wonder Alaska cruise booked for 8/19/19. I am currently Silver with 4 cruises completed, so the booking window would open 5/21/19.

BUT I am 99% sure I'm going to take another cruise Presidents' Week 2019, which would then become my 5th cruise, making me Gold well before the Gold booking date for Alaska of 5/6/19. So would it update that online check-in/activity booking to the Gold status automatically when my status updates? Or would my TA need to call them for it to be manually changed?

If this was just the Double Dip or the Eastern I'd initially had booked/changed to I would not really stress it. But I know Alaska activities sell out pretty quickly, so those 15 extra days could be important.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know that for a B2B you change status on debarking leg 1 so you are the new status for leg 2 - but any activity booking would be done under the old status.

My question is this... I have a Wonder Alaska cruise booked for 8/19/19. I am currently Silver with 4 cruises completed, so the booking window would open 5/21/19.

BUT I am 99% sure I'm going to take another cruise Presidents' Week 2019, which would then become my 5th cruise, making me Gold well before the Gold booking date for Alaska of 5/6/19. So would it update that online check-in/activity booking to the Gold status automatically when my status updates? Or would my TA need to call them for it to be manually changed?

If this was just the Double Dip or the Eastern I'd initially had booked/changed to I would not really stress it. But I know Alaska activities sell out pretty quickly, so those 15 extra days could be important.

Once you've completed your 5th cruise, you status will upgrade. Usually within a day or two. If it doesn't it only takes a call to the Castaway Club phone line to fix it.

 

[Dug720]

Once you've completed your 5th cruise, you status will upgrade. Usually within a day or two. If it doesn't it only takes a call to the Castaway Club phone line to fix it.

Cool. And that would update the check-in dates of any other cruises booked but not to the check-in point yet?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Cool. And that would update the check-in dates of any other cruises booked but not to the check-in point yet?

It should.

 

[Dug720]

It should.

Thank you!

 

[Shanti]

I'd like to add that I'm a silver and when I booked our Alaska excursions a few months ago, I don't remember seeing anything sold out. For example, we got the Glacier Explorer for Tracy/Endicott Arm without any problem. Don't know if that's typical but I thought it might help you worry a bit less.

 

[Dug720]

I'd like to add that I'm a silver and when I booked our Alaska excursions a few months ago, I don't remember seeing anything sold out. For example, we got the Glacier Explorer for Tracy/Endicott Arm without any problem. Don't know if that's typical but I thought it might help you worry a bit less.

Thank you! I've picked 3 for each port, so surely at least one of those will end up working out either way. It does help, because I'm also pondering Aulani once those rates are out and I can compare to the Feb cruises (though I know airfare will be the absolute killer for Aulani).

 

[lorenni]

We booked Alaska as Silver then took a NYC cruise which bumped us to Gold. DCL system automatically bumped status to gold for Alaska cruise, and booking window for Alaska was updated accordingly. No action required by us.

That said - we didn’t book a single DCL excursion in Alaska. Everything was done a while ago via third party providers. We did book mixology, Palo brunch, character breakfast and Knight for a day and I had no trouble booking for exactly when I wanted.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If the DCL Alaskan shore excursions are sold out, you can book them in each port at kiosks set up right at the dock, usually for a lot less $$$.

 

[mmmears]

We went to Alaska on DCL a few years ago as Silver CC members and didn't have any issue getting the excursions we wanted. We booked 2 through DCL and one on our own (an adventurous day climbing up onto a glacier). I think because the classic ships hold fewer passengers and the Alaskan ports are really all about the cruise ships during the summer so it's usually not an issue to get something you really want. Sailing as gold will should make it easy to get what you want.

We loved Alaska! Hawaii is also wonderful, in a very different way. I've been many times, but not to Aulani. Personally, now that we are a family of adults I wouldn't mind staying at Aulani but I don't think I'd spend an entire week there. Other places can be a bit more quiet and relaxing. Of course, YMMV. Happy planning.

 

[Dug720]

If the DCL Alaskan shore excursions are sold out, you can book them in each port at kiosks set up right at the dock, usually for a lot less $$$.

As a solo traveler, "private" excursions are generally NOT less expensive.

And there are some that I would NEVER do not ship-based because weather can strand you from flying back out. DCL (or other cruise lines) will for sure cover getting you back to the ship if that happens (because it can be overnight that you're stranded) whereas the company you booked on your own is under no such obligation. And yes, I have spoken with someone who worked on a cruise line (HAL - and no she was not trying to sell their excursion because it was going on as our whale watching was) where it DID happen and the guests on "private" excursions ended up having to foot a good portion of the bill for the musher's camp overnight and getting themselves back to the ship while those on the HAL-based excursion were covered by HAL.

 

[mmmears]

You're right about private making more financial sense for a larger group. The one excursion that we booked privately was with Above and Beyond Alaska and they also offer it as a per-person priced group tour. Private is also a good way to go when kids are under the age for a group tour, which is how we found about this co. I agree about being cautious if you're planning to fly anywhere since weather changes occur so quickly in that region. Ours was a kayak trek with a tiny bit of driving and I didn't feel like we were taking a big risk in terms of getting back in time. Of course you should only do what makes you comfortable. Our trip wasn't offered by DCL, but it came recommended by 2 families we knew, so it was an easy decision.

 

[lorenni]

As a solo traveler, "private" excursions are generally NOT less expensive.

And there are some that I would NEVER do not ship-based because weather can strand you from flying back out. DCL (or other cruise lines) will for sure cover getting you back to the ship if that happens (because it can be overnight that you're stranded) whereas the company you booked on your own is under no such obligation. And yes, I have spoken with someone who worked on a cruise line (HAL - and no she was not trying to sell their excursion because it was going on as our whale watching was) where it DID happen and the guests on "private" excursions ended up having to foot a good portion of the bill for the musher's camp overnight and getting themselves back to the ship while those on the HAL-based excursion were covered by HAL.

So - one thing that was different about the excursion operators in Alaska is that the ones we used guaranteed that they would get us to the next port if we miss the ship. Probably because the stops are not that far as the crow flies, and they have so many planes?

 

[Dug720]

So - one thing that was different about the excursion operators in Alaska is that the ones we used guaranteed that they would get us to the next port if we miss the ship. Probably because the stops are not that far as the crow flies, and they have so many planes?

They may have had to start including that after the experience I was told about. BUT will they cover the expenses of overnight lodging?? That's the big question.

Some people are comfortable with independent operators. Others are not. That is fine. You do you. I'll do me.

 

[ACQUADUCK]

So - one thing that was different about the excursion operators in Alaska is that the ones we used guaranteed that they would get us to the next port if we miss the ship. Probably because the stops are not that far as the crow flies, and they have so many planes?

Agree and for good operators that's been there for years, I know from 2013.

We greatly enhanced our Alaska cruise with private arrangements, 2 in each port, the times we wanted, the experience we wanted. All guaranteed times. DCL Wonder tours, did sell out or popular times went, and due to their booking policy, trying to do two excursions in one port when it blocks out an hour extra post a PA, we wouldn't have been able to do everything we wanted.

I occasionally book port adventures on our cruises but 99% are private.

For small or single groups combine with a cruise meets group. Our Iceland cruise has chartered 3 private tours for 49 people reduced cost for all, the time we want, no meeting wait on ship, we all know each other, and we direct our own tour.