July 26, 2011 – 7 Night Alaska ~ Bears, Whales, Eagles and Ducks. Oh My!

[3princessMommy]

I dreamed about our cruise last night! Been reading our travel agent's blog about the first DCL AK cruise. Sounds incredible!

Honestly, I'm counting down to our move at the end of June. Once that's done, I will be relaxed and on vacation until Aug. 8 when I have to report to my new office in DC.

Anybody have some good ideas for FE gifts? Seems we'll be having a pretty small group (will post the updated list today). Final deadline is June 15, so could still grow a bit.

We LOVE FE exchanges. Just bummed I won't have time to make anything this time. Will have to rely on the local market for some cool items I guess.

Is anyone interested in organizing a DIS meet onboard? In the past we've had the kids get together by the Mickey pool on embarkation day for Mickey bars and swimming. Anyone interested?

 

[3princessMommy]

Here's the latest list for everyone:

ScreenName.........................Names.......... ...Cabin #.......# of Adults...# of children......Ages........Girls/Boys...Restrictions
3PrincessMommy & BigAWL...Joann & Aaron...6024/6026...........2..................3.............9, 7, & 4........3 girls..........none
Brack................................Brack & Annette..........................2
" .....................................Brack & Jennifer...........................2
Kate2961...........................Kate........... .......7552................2..................1... ...............10............1 boy.........none
Memowse9.........................Lori & Dennis.......7130................2
Mikash.................................Shellie
MrsMork.............................Dennis & Angie............................2................ .1 ...............................1 boy..... .....none
Plutojudy.............................Fred &Judy........ 5122................2
Kwm...................................Cindi & Dan.........7564................2...................2..............7 & 9.......1 girl/1 boy......no princesses/loves Pooh & Cars
"....................................Grdma/Grdpa/Myk....7560...............3.....................1.................11.............1 girl...........no princesses/loves Stitch


Remember deadline to sign up is June 15! The more the merrier!!!!!!

 

[MrsMork]

Here's the latest list for everyone:

ScreenName.........................Names.......... ...Cabin #.......# of Adults...# of children......Ages........Girls/Boys...Restrictions
3PrincessMommy & BigAWL...Joann & Aaron...6024/6026...........2..................3.............9, 7, & 4........3 girls..........none
Brack................................Brack & Annette..........................2
" .....................................Brack & Jennifer...........................2
Kate2961...........................Kate........... .......7552................2..................1... ...............10............1 boy.........none
Memowse9.........................Lori & Dennis.......7130................2
Mikash.................................Shellie
MrsMork.............................Dennis & Angie............................2................ .1 ...............................1 boy..... .....none
Plutojudy.............................Fred &Judy........ 5122................2
Kwm...................................Cindi & Dan.........7564................2...................2..............7 & 9.......1 girl/1 boy......no princesses/loves Pooh & Cars
"....................................Grdma/Grdpa/Myk....7560...............3.....................1.................11.............1 girl...........no princesses/loves Stitch


Remember deadline to sign up is June 15! The more the merrier!!!!!!

Our grandson sailing with us is 11. I guess I forgot to include his age.

 

[2littlestitches]

Sorry, I'm not sure how to post a link, but if you do a google search for "Disney Alaska Cruise Blog", you will come across a video blog on cruisecritic.com.

It shows some neat videos of the ports and the ship in Alaska!

I'm getting pretty pumped up about it!

 

[3princessMommy]

Our grandson sailing with us is 11. I guess I forgot to include his age.

Thanks! I was going to PM you and ask.

 

[kate2961]

Is anyone interested in organizing a DIS meet onboard? In the past we've had the kids get together by the Mickey pool on embarkation day for Mickey bars and swimming. Anyone interested?

We'd love to have a DIS meet. I like the idea of the kids meeting at the pool.

Kate

 

[3princessMommy]

Well, we can plan on getting the kids together at the pool at 3pm on embarkation day - most folks are onboard and have had an opportunity to eat and get to their staterooms, but the lifeboat drill hasn't started yet.

Does anyone else want to plan a larger DISMeet on day 2?

 

[lbgraves]

I guess we are really going on this cruise! I just booked our hotel for Sunday & Monday in Vancouver and I just need to confirm our plane tickets tomorrow. We would like to fly in Saturday but need to figure out where to stay that night.

The navigators I have seen from the first cruise say that they haven't been opening up the rooms until 2. Has anyone seen others since then where it has gone back to the 1:30 time?

 

[2littlestitches]

I guess we are really going on this cruise! I just booked our hotel for Sunday & Monday in Vancouver and I just need to confirm our plane tickets tomorrow. We would like to fly in Saturday but need to figure out where to stay that night.

The navigators I have seen from the first cruise say that they haven't been opening up the rooms until 2. Has anyone seen others since then where it has gone back to the 1:30 time?

How exciting for you! It's going to be a great cruise! It just keeps getting closer, and I'm getting more and more excited!

 

[3princessMommy]

Anyone know what the dining rotations are for the Alaska itinerary? We'd really like to be in Tritons on Formal night.

 

[ariel39]

I guess we are really going on this cruise! I just booked our hotel for Sunday & Monday in Vancouver and I just need to confirm our plane tickets tomorrow. We would like to fly in Saturday but need to figure out where to stay that night.

The navigators I have seen from the first cruise say that they haven't been opening up the rooms until 2. Has anyone seen others since then where it has gone back to the 1:30 time?

Which hotel did you choose? We are still looking at hotels...help.

 

[jlacobb3]

I guess we are really going on this cruise! I just booked our hotel for Sunday & Monday in Vancouver and I just need to confirm our plane tickets tomorrow. We would like to fly in Saturday but need to figure out where to stay that night.

The navigators I have seen from the first cruise say that they haven't been opening up the rooms until 2. Has anyone seen others since then where it has gone back to the 1:30 time?

I'd also love to know which hotel you booked. Any thoughts yet on where you'll stay on Saturday night? We're thinking about booking through Hotwire for Sunday and Monday night, but if we do this we'll need to find somewhere for Saturday night. Our reason for only booking Sunday and Monday night is we want a 5-star, which is not available on Saturday night.

 

[lbgraves]

I went through Hotwire and got the Sheraton Wall for Saturday night and the Pan Pacific for Sunday and Monday night. The Sheraton was 4 stars, 90% approval @ $127 and the Pan Pacific was 5 starts, 90% approval @ $142. It had disappeared on Monday but is listed again today at $145. I figured with the Hampton Inn going for almost $200 that was a great rate. I went with the Pan Pacific because of the reviews here and how convenient it would be. When I first looked it up I saw the rates and closed the site. Glad that a friend convinced me to try Hotwire.

Last June we stayed a a really nice hotel in the middle of DC when DH went to a work conference there. We told the kids enjoy it because they wouldn't stay in a place like that due to the rates. When I booked the Pan I asked DS if he remembered me saying that and he said yes but that he doesn't have any complaints about where we stay. I then told him that we would be staying in a nicer hotel and then showed him the website. His reaction was worth it -- can't wait to see it in person.

I figure that we would have to take a taxi the morning of the cruise if we stay at the Sheraton all three nights so it will be more relaxing to do that another day instead of that morning. We can check in at the DCL desk in the lobby after bell services takes our luggage down to the port and relax.

Plane tickets are finally done too! All the years of DH traveling so much for work paid off big time. We are flying from our small town airport into Vancouver. The points were the same for Vancouver and Seattle so the choice was easy. It cuts a day off of our travel time coming home which is great because now the kids will only be missing 8 days of school instead of 9.

 

[kate2961]

I'm so sad.

I tried to order the Chocolate Tower (Item 2030, $39) from DCL's Gifts and Amenities. I thought it would be nice to surpise my DH and DS and receive it in our room for the cruise. And I love chocolate....

But when I tried to place my order the nice cast member told me that they were out of the 3-tiered chocolate tower treat for the rest of the Alaska sailings this year.

Kate

 

[MrsMork]

We are heading to WDW for a week!! We drive to Spokane today and fly to Orlando tomorrow.

 

[lbgraves]

Have fun Angie!!! Safe travels.

 

[ariel39]

I went through Hotwire and got the Sheraton Wall for Saturday night and the Pan Pacific for Sunday and Monday night. The Sheraton was 4 stars, 90% approval @ $127 and the Pan Pacific was 5 starts, 90% approval @ $142. It had disappeared on Monday but is listed again today at $145. I figured with the Hampton Inn going for almost $200 that was a great rate. I went with the Pan Pacific because of the reviews here and how convenient it would be. When I first looked it up I saw the rates and closed the site. Glad that a friend convinced me to try Hotwire.
.

I really want to stay at Pan Pacific but can't seem to find that cheap rate, HELP!!

 

[lbgraves]

What dates, how many people adults/kids? The availability shows up now and then and will disappear for a few days. It can change over the course of a day also.

 

[lbgraves]

I just checked and it is showing now for 7/24-26/11 with a rate of $136 for up to 2 adults & 2 kids. 5 stars, 90% approval. Good luck!

 

[MrsMork]

We get to see Brack today!!!!