Frozen Fireworks: Alaska on the Wonder July 2, 2012

[lucky1]

Thanks Lucky1 for the update.

Steves100 - What time zone is that in at 12:00 that can we book? I'm so there!


Anyone have any exciting door decorating plans? I think I'm going to attempt some magnet sheets.

Hi Cagirl767,

That is Midnight EDT... so for those of us in AZ, it will be 9pm MST (or PDT)

For anyone that doesn't know. AZ doesn't change time ever, so we are sometimes 2 hours behind the east coast and sometimes 3 hours behind the east coast.


I have plans to decorate and have done most of my magnets in the past with the printer magnet sheets... It has worked out well.

I haven't had time to do any specific magnets for this cruise. I did post a request on the main magnet board for someone to create a "frozen fireworks" magnet, but no one responded.


Laura

 

[ame]

I'm so excited about making reservations next week. But everytime I talk to 9yo DS he just rolls his eyes and goes yeah yeah mum!

The others (and DH) aren't interested at all as it's not their trip Me, I'm so excited. I so need a vacation!

I've got the date on my calendar to check in/ressies but I have to work out time/day differences. I think I'll be going online during the afternoon? the next day.

We're travelling with one suitcase (plus carryons) so going minimalist with decorating I'll get my mum to make sonething to function as a FE but it won't be fancy

 

[calihannah]

For us (CA), we'll be booking a week from tomorrow at around 9pm Here's what we're thinking:

Skagway: Glacier Helicopter
Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Quest (might be long for the kids though?)
Ketchikan: Neets Bay Bear Watch by Floatplane (first choice -- might not even be happening yet), Classic Misty Fjords Flightseeing (very limited, need backup) -- if not seaplane, just explore/shop on our own on foot (1 block walk to shopping area from dock) or else do a direct booking of a seaplane tour (any suggestions on tour operators?!?)
Victoria: Ale and Brewery Tour (Adults Only) or with kids the Creatures of the Air and Sea (butterflies and aquarium)

We are all SO excited here Except maybe DD1.5, since she's not old enough to grasp the concept yet, but it's her third DCL cruise, so I think she'll be pretty thrilled once we actually get there!

 

[Travelbee]

Just popping to say hello! Good luck on those booking on Monday - hope you get the Palo reservations/excusions that you are looking for. I checked DCL website and it seems like this cruise isn't selling very well. Every stateroom category is still available (maybe there's opportunity for some pixie dust). There's still availability for brunch, dinner AND tea for the sea day, Tracy Arm and Victoria too. I booked Palo brunch for the sea day, dinner for Tracy Arm and tea in Victoria.

My sister + family is leaning on coming (seriously... they only have 3 more weeks to decide)! Their preference is the carriage ride in Victoria so it looks like Butchard Gardens is out for us (if they come). They also want to see salmon in their natural habitat swimming upstream... does anyone know what the best port and excursion to do this? And opportunity to see a bear? Those are their main points of interest.

 

[calihannah]

Just popping to say hello! Good luck on those booking on Monday - hope you get the Palo reservations/excusions that you are looking for. I checked DCL website and it seems like this cruise isn't selling very well. Every stateroom category is still available (maybe there's opportunity for some pixie dust). There's still availability for brunch, dinner AND tea for the sea day, Tracy Arm and Victoria too. I booked Palo brunch for the sea day, dinner for Tracy Arm and tea in Victoria.

My sister + family is leaning on coming (seriously... they only have 3 more weeks to decide)! Their preference is the carriage ride in Victoria so it looks like Butchard Gardens is out for us (if they come). They also want to see salmon in their natural habitat swimming upstream... does anyone know what the best port and excursion to do this? And opportunity to see a bear? Those are their main points of interest.

I love it when the ship isn't full! We were in the Med last summer with only about 2/3 of the Magic occupied, and it was SO peaceful vs. the completely full MR cruise over NYE!

We are hoping for similar in terms of tea, dinner, and brunch. We usually try for a second Palo dinner once on board, too. Does anyone know if PJ is still on the Wonder for this summer? I seem to remember that he said he was going home for a bit.

 

[drgsjh]

Well, we're in. Finally got this thing booked tonight with my sister over the phone. We've got myself, DH, DD, DS, along with DSister and her DH, DS, DS, plus DGram. Celebrating my 40th and my mom's 70th. My family lives in WA but the others will be flying in for the cruise. DH and I have done Alaska on Royal Caribbean before but it will be everyone else's first AK. Almost everyone's first Disney Cruise. Super excited and apparently I have lots of work to do. Thinking about the FE if I can figure it out. Not sure I can get the rest of them to participate, though.

 

[Bunless]

They also want to see salmon in their natural habitat swimming upstream... does anyone know what the best port and excursion to do this? And opportunity to see a bear? Those are their main points of interest.

In Juneau you'd have to wait a few weeks in order to be able to see the salmon. The good bear sightings tend to go hand and hand with the salmon... which is why all of the bear adventures on DCL aren't available until the end of July.

In Ketchikan they won't happen until later in the summer, though I can imagine that Creek Street is stunning when it happens.

I'm not sure about Skagway.

It's too bad, because seeing the salmon is AMAZING. There is a great location close to Seattle in Issaquah. I had always heard about Salmon, saw photos and videos of the spawning... nothing compares to seeing it in person.

 

[Travelbee]

Does anyone know if PJ is still on the Wonder for this summer? I seem to remember that he said he was going home for a bit.

Don't know PJ but our server at Palo, Toni from Croatia, was AWESOME. We met him during brunch, liked him so much that we requested him for the rest of our Palo meals (two dinners & tea on a 10-day MR).

Well, we're in. Finally got this thing booked tonight with my sister over the phone. We've got myself, DH, DD, DS, along with DSister and her DH, DS, DS, plus DGram. Celebrating my 40th and my mom's 70th.

In Juneau you'd have to wait a few weeks in order to be able to see the salmon. The good bear sightings tend to go hand and hand with the salmon... which is why all of the bear adventures on DCL aren't available until the end of July.

In Ketchikan they won't happen until later in the summer, though I can imagine that Creek Street is stunning when it happens.

I'm not sure about Skagway.

It's too bad, because seeing the salmon is AMAZING. There is a great location close to Seattle in Issaquah. I had always heard about Salmon, saw photos and videos of the spawning... nothing compares to seeing it in person.

I noticed the bear excursions weren't offered... I guess we just have to keep our fingers crossed that we get lucky!

I'm recommending to DH and DSister to take that $16 RT shuttle and do Mendenhall Glacier on our own and maybe the Mount Roberts tramway in Juneau. I still have no idea what to do in Skagway and Ketchikan. DH gave the green light to splurge on one excursion - some kind of helicopter or float plane. Any experiences on those in either Skagway or ketchikan? I tried to read the Alaska excursion reviews on the Dis but always feel overwhelmed after a couple of pages.

 

[Tikifamily]

Thanks, Laura, could you add Liblady(Barbara), DH(Mike), DS(Jason), DDIL(Michelle). DS & DDIL will have their own cabin with the DGS & DGD, soon.

Update for our roster:

Tiki Family is Amy, DH (Hunter), and DD 9

I promise to be a better poster when school gets out.

 

[Tikifamily]

Question and answers...

Name and DIS Name Amy / Tikifamily

Where do you live? An island near Texas. The home port of the Magic this coming winter.

How many Disney Cruises have you been on? zip, zero, none. This is my first.

What is your favorite Disney Character? Cinderella

What will you be reading on the cruise (Ha.. if you have time to read?) I will have the kindle loaded, but I have to admit I will probably have my nose in my binoculars.

Coffee or Tea drinker or Neither? Why? Tea.

How are you getting to Seattle? Flying in the day of the cruise.

Plans in Seattle before or after the cruise? I wishwe had time. We will be taking the Griswald tour "Look kid, it's Pike Place" as we go to and from the airport.

What are you most looking forward to on this cruise? Bears and whales from my balcony.

How do you plan to stay warm on the cruise? layers, fuzzy slippers

Any Cruise inside information you want to know about or that you know and would be willing to share with the group? I am the sponge absorbing all of your great information.

Favorite Food/ Dessert (are you a foodie and looking forward to eating on the cruise)? I love baked goods and am a sucker for a pie, ut I am looking forward to it all.

Do you want to participate in FE? YES!!!

Would you be willing to coordinate FE? I don't know what that entails. I can be helpful after June 1.

Is Frozen Fireworks a good representation of our cruise name? Love it. Just wish we could have some.

 

[calihannah]

So I've been hearing from friends that it's actually so light out all night in July in Alaska that it won't be dark enough for fireworks at any point -- anyone know?!?

Tikifamily -- I've updated the roster

 

[ame]

I checked at timeanddate.com and it says that in Juneau around the dates that we'll be there, the sun will rise at 4am and set around 10pm. Wowsa. I thought they didn't do fireworks b/c of Alaska maritime regulations?

So excited to book excursions/check- in tomorrow. It's now Monday afternoon for me and I'll be doing port excursions tomorrow afternoon and check in at around dinner time! Such a civilised hour. Makes up for the ridiculous time I woke up to book our Europe 2013 cruise on opening day (opening minutes!).

 

[Doingitagain]

I remember from last year that Maritime regulations do have something to do with not having fireworks. There are noise rules, which fireworks would definitely cause issues with. They had to be careful how loudly they played the narration on deck 9/10 the day we were in Tracy Arm.

 

[lucky1]

I checked at timeanddate.com and it says that in Juneau around the dates that we'll be there, the sun will rise at 4am and set around 10pm. Wowsa. I thought they didn't do fireworks b/c of Alaska maritime regulations?

So excited to book excursions/check- in tomorrow. It's now Monday afternoon for me and I'll be doing port excursions tomorrow afternoon and check in at around dinner time! Such a civilised hour. Makes up for the ridiculous time I woke up to book our Europe 2013 cruise on opening day (opening minutes!).

Ame, No fireworks for Alaska cruise. Noise pollution. I know I went to the all star game in Seattle and even at 9pm it was still too light, but they shot off the fireworks. Just isn't as spectacular as on a dark sky.

We get to book at 9pm our time and then check in will be at midnight. Not sure I can hold out for Midnight checkin since I have to be up at 5am the next morning.

 

[Travelbee]

So excited to book excursions/check- in tomorrow. It's now Monday afternoon for me and I'll be doing port excursions tomorrow afternoon and check in at around dinner time! Such a civilised hour. Makes up for the ridiculous time I woke up to book our Europe 2013 cruise on opening day (opening minutes!).

Which European cruise did you choose for 2013? We booked 6/15 Greece and 6/27 Venice and will have to decide which one to keep later. Our friends prefer Greece but schedule work better for us 6/27.

 

[calihannah]

We're on the west coast, too, so we'll be doing excursions tonight around 9pm and then fortunately DH is a night owl and works quite late, so he'll handle check-in around midnight.

Unrelated to our Alaska trip, but still you're all DCL fans so you'll understand...Just realized that the last day of school *next year* is the day before we're supposed to be getting on the ship for the Med cruise Just emailed our travel agent to see if we can get on the later summer cruise instead... We want to do the itinerary with Greece, as we did the 2011 Med and loved it. Sigh....

 

[ame]

Which European cruise did you choose for 2013? We booked 6/15 Greece and 6/27 Venice and will have to decide which one to keep later. Our friends prefer Greece but schedule work better for us 6/27.

We had many discussions about that one. I prefer the Greek itinerary but the Venice dates work better and I was outvoted! So we're on the 6/27 Venice.

Funny thing about that cruise finishes on the same date as the Alaska one this year 7/9. This is also two of my DSs birthday so they're very excited! The DS who will be with me on this cruise turns 10 on the last day and on our cruise next year turns 11 on the last day. My husband is very worried about 2014 cruise dates

 

[ame]

Unrelated to our Alaska trip, but still you're all DCL fans so you'll understand...Just realized that the last day of school *next year* is the day before we're supposed to be getting on the ship for the Med cruise Just emailed our travel agent to see if we can get on the later summer cruise instead... We want to do the itinerary with Greece, as we did the 2011 Med and loved it. Sigh....

that's a little disappointing for you. Hope you can get the room you want on the later cruise. It's hard when you're planning so far out.

The Greece itinerary looks awesome. Wish that I wasn't outvoted on it!

 

[calihannah]

that's a little disappointing for you. Hope you can get the room you want on the later cruise. It's hard when you're planning so far out.

The Greece itinerary looks awesome. Wish that I wasn't outvoted on it!

Thanks! Yep, anxiously waiting to hear back from our travel agent We're set on Greece, so if it's July before we get to go, so be it! This is from one of our dummy reservations from an onboard rebooking...I feel like we've been moving it around from cruise to cruise for ages now!

 

[ame]

Thanks! Yep, anxiously waiting to hear back from our travel agent We're set on Greece, so if it's July before we get to go, so be it! This is from one of our dummy reservations from an onboard rebooking...I feel like we've been moving it around from cruise to cruise for ages now!

fingers crossed for you.

Similar thing here with our Med cruise. We sailed last April to the MR on our first cruise. DH had always sworn that he would never cruise, but I convinced him.. (Actually I think Disney mad DD convinced him, she gets whatever she wants from daddy) On that cruise we booked this one for DS & I and a Christmas Galveston on Magic for 2012. Both on a whim. I swear no alcohol was involved, not even a captain's appletini

When we got home we researched how to get to Galveston and found that it wouldn't be so easy and there wasn't much to do around. It would cost us the same to go to Orlando, but we weren't ready to do an East Coast Christmas. So we changed to a Christmas MR cruise. Then it was cancelled so we sat in limbo on a dummy cruise. And then Europe!! So exciting to finally have one (hopefully) set in stone.