Disney withdraws from Glacier Bay, Alaska competition

[NancyIL]

Beautiful photos of Glacier Bay!

For once Disney didn't get something they wanted...imagine that! It makes no difference to me whether or not DCL goes to Alaska, because I wouldn't be on that ship any way (too many kids and too much $). But they do need to expand their itineraries if they want to keep their ships full, and there are other glacier areas in Alaska besides Glacier Bay.

 

[slg]

I am so disappointed. I've been wanting an alaskan cruise for years. Excited when DCL bid. Now I'll have to go with another cruise line and I can't stand the thought!

Which would you recommend in terms of comparable beauty, shows, family orientation, no gambling, and fun for boys ages 11,8,14.

Sigh.

I am really bummed out.

 

[NancyIL]

I am so disappointed. I've been wanting an alaskan cruise for years. Excited when DCL bid. Now I'll have to go with another cruise line and I can't stand the thought!

Which would you recommend in terms of comparable beauty, shows, family orientation, no gambling, and fun for boys ages 11,8,14.

Sigh.

I am really bummed out.

DCL didn't say they weren't interested in Alaska, just that they were withdrawing their application for Glacier Bay. They could go to Hubbard Glacier or Tracy Arm Fjord on roundtrip cruises, and College Fjord if they did one-ways (which I doubt they would do).

There are no other ships without casinos in Alaska, unless you go on the really small (and expensive) cruises like Cruise West and Lindblad. Royal Caribbean has a lot of activities for familes, and very pretty ships (prettier than DCL's - IMO).

 

[slg]

Does anyone here think that DCL might sail to Alaska without Glacier Bay?

I'll check into RCL. My cousin went on one last year, and he did a really great movie of this trip. But no one on the boat looked like they were having much fun and the shows didn't look very good.

I'll keep my hopes up that DCL will sail the Alaska itinerary without GB.

 

[dahuffy]

Well crud!!!

 

[awoltoday]

Does anyone here think that DCL might sail to Alaska without Glacier Bay?

Absolutely. But, I can't tell you which year that might happen

 

[mumom95]

I am so disappointed. I've been wanting an alaskan cruise for years. Excited when DCL bid. Now I'll have to go with another cruise line and I can't stand the thought!

Which would you recommend in terms of comparable beauty, shows, family orientation, no gambling, and fun for boys ages 11,8,14.

Sigh.

I am really bummed out.

We cruised the Coral Princess in July of 2006. It was just my dh and I and we really loved the beauty of Alaska. On our trip, it was rainy and cold every day we were on the ship, so you are pretty much just limited to indoor activities. And the crew members said that was pretty you have about a 50/50 chance of having weather like that. We had beautiful weather on port days and loved all our excursions. We were in our early 30's and I would say we were some of the youngest on the ship. The impression I got from the the few younger people we talked to was that they hated it. Princess definitely geared the cruise portion to the 50+ aged crowd. So, for your family, I would not recommend Princess. If it is just your dh and you, I'd say Princess is fine (there is gambling though).

Honestly, when I heard Disney was considering Alaska, after having gone, my first thought was "why would they go there, that's not a good cruise for kids." But that's just me, and I'm only basing it on my one cruise there.

 

["Got Disney"]

what a drag...I want to go to Alaska but wanted to do it with Disney. Looks like we will go with another cruise company than.

sure am wondering where they are planning on sailing with the new ships not to mention the 2 they have now.

I will be on the 2011 new ship. Cant wait. 2 more years to go

 

[Tink rules]

It does not mean that Disney will NOT go to Alaska...

Royal Carribean goes to Alaska and does not go to Glacier Bay... they visit the Hubbard Glacier... so it is a possibility that they can get in to cruise there...

So don't give up hope.

I'm hoping to go this summer on RC because my mom is 76 and wants to do this while she is healthy (not like she wouldn't go if DCL went also...) and RC goes to Hubbard - it's further up the coast from Glacier Bay but is also spectacular.

RC isn't listed for there either, but they cruise Alaska with several ships.

 

[smeecanada]

Well, that's a bummer.

We're doing Alaska in Aug with RCL. I wasn't too worried about the itinerary because of DCL's application. We're going to Tracy Arm Fjord and Icy Strait Point - I've seen photos from a friend who has done the cruise - they look amazing.

 

[Caropooh]

I live halfway between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, so I have been hoping for one of Disney's ships to come to the northwest for Alaska itineraries. I really hope this doesn't mean no Alaska for Disney!

We live right south of Seattle. I was so hoping Disney was coming here. I guess it's still not out of the question, just doesn't seem as likely now.

 

[Inkmahm]

I would really have to disagree that it wasn't something to see. It was absolutely breathtaking!

I'd have to agree, Glacier Bay is a must for us on our Alaska cruises. We go with Princess because they have SO much experience in addition to beautiful ships. They also have wonderful lodges for the land portion of their cruisetours. I was wondering what Disney would do, if they would stick to just the water or also have land tours. IMHO, going to Alaska and only doing the cruise is such a waste. You really need to get into the interior to see Denali, etc. The ports are great, but you miss so much just seeing those.

I'll wait to see if Disney does Alaska anywhere near the quality of Princess before I'll book Disney. Princess is truly the gold standard for me for Alaska.

 

[dursin]

According to at least one Wall Street analyst, this is the wrong time for cruise lines to have as high exposure to expensive cruise itineraries like Europe and Alaska. Perhaps that had something to do with DCL's decision. Link to article in this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2062094

 

[m&m's mom]

I am so disappointed. I've been wanting an alaskan cruise for years. Excited when DCL bid. Now I'll have to go with another cruise line and I can't stand the thought!

Which would you recommend in terms of comparable beauty, shows, family orientation, no gambling, and fun for boys ages 11,8,14.

Sigh.

I am really bummed out.

Does anyone here think that DCL might sail to Alaska without Glacier Bay?

I'll check into RCL. My cousin went on one last year, and he did a really great movie of this trip. But no one on the boat looked like they were having much fun and the shows didn't look very good.

I'll keep my hopes up that DCL will sail the Alaska itinerary without GB.

I would not discount other cruise ships at all! The RCCL Radiance of the Seas was gorgeous! The outside elevator was all glass and you could literally whale watch while in the elevator. The ship was much more pretty than either DCL ship.
With kids your ages, I would choose RCCL over Princess. RCCL really emphasis' its kids clubs. My DD's who were 6 and 9 when we went to Alsaka loved the kids clubs. They still like them better than DCL's.

Well, that's a bummer.

We're doing Alaska in Aug with RCL. I wasn't too worried about the itinerary because of DCL's application. We're going to Tracy Arm Fjord and Icy Strait Point - I've seen photos from a friend who has done the cruise - they look amazing.

Wendy- I agree. You should love RCCL and Alaska.

 

[NancyIL]

I'd have to agree, Glacier Bay is a must for us on our Alaska cruises. We go with Princess because they have SO much experience in addition to beautiful ships. They also have wonderful lodges for the land portion of their cruisetours. I was wondering what Disney would do, if they would stick to just the water or also have land tours. IMHO, going to Alaska and only doing the cruise is such a waste. You really need to get into the interior to see Denali, etc. The ports are great, but you miss so much just seeing those.

I'll wait to see if Disney does Alaska anywhere near the quality of Princess before I'll book Disney. Princess is truly the gold standard for me for Alaska.

I cruised to Alaska in 2007 with Princess and in 2008 with HAL, and both did an excellent job. Both cruises were followed by independent land trips with a rental car. While I think doing a cruise plus a land trip is the optimal way to experience Alaska, I certainly don't think doing only a cruise is a waste! I wasn't planning to go to Alaska this year, but last week I booked a roundtrip from Seattle on the Golden Princess because of the great price. I have enjoyed Glacier Bay, College Fjord, and Hubbard Glacier (what I could see of it from a distance in the fog), and I'm looking forward to seeing Tracy Arm Fjord on this Alaska cruise.

 

[smeecanada]

Wendy- I agree. You should love RCCL and Alaska.

Thanks. We didn't have many choices as we are sailing with my inlaws and they didn't want to fly. So, RCI (Serenade of the Seas) round trip out of Vancouver was about our only choice. If I had been booking we probably would have gone with Princess out of Seattle in order to go into Glacier Bay.

We are going to celebrate my inlaws 50th anniversary or we'd be waiting for DCL to go. If something happens and we have to cancel Alaska, we still have our backup DCL Tortola ressie at the moment.

 

[wdwwishes]

That is disappointing. I was keeping my fingers crossed for 2011. I guess I'll have to be more open to sailing there on another line but the fact that DCL doesn't have the casinos on board is a big plus for us. It just gives a more family atmosphere.