June 21, 2011 - The Wonder breaks the Alaskan icebergs!

[ilovepumba]

We got all the excursions and spa stuff we wanted booked!
We're doing the Liarsville/Salmon Bake w/Disney Character in Skagway, Whale Encounter/Mendenhall in Juneau and BearCreek Zipline in Ketchikan.
There were no available Brunch or High Tea spots for Palo. Didn't get a chance to look at all the excursions, but did see that Disney Musher for a Day was not available.
Good Luck to everyone!
Good night! Joanne

 

[DenverVal]

My DD 18 is old enough for Palo and was looking forward to brunch, as are my DH and I, and in the past we've booked it with friends in a group of 6. So WHY are they only allowing groups of 1-2 for brunch??? I guess I will be calling. Couldn't even book Palo dinner for 3, but there was lots of availability for 1-2. Damn, that sucks.

Got the excursions we wanted, White Pass scenic railway in Skagway and Glacier View Sea Kayaking in Juneau. Couldn't book a second excursion even though there was an hour between excursions. The website made me choose one or the other.

 

[kveens]

Only two slots left for the 10 a.m. zipline in Juneau, so I guess we will need to book at 11 a.m. instead, as we need 4 slots.

Sorry to you folks who couldn't get Palo for more than 1 or 2 people. There are always more reservations available when you embark, but the hassle of going straight to Rockin Bar D is sometimes a pain. We got our 11 am brunch on Thursday, just like we wanted.

DH's birthday is sailaway day, so I guess we will celebrate in Palo a couple of days later. The kids begged us not to do dinner at Palo this cruise, as they didn't want to dine without us. Crazy kids!

Kerri

 

[PPFQP]

We got everything we wanted also. Dinner and brunch for Palo, spa appt., and the Takshanuk 4x4 excursion in Skagway. We're doing our other excursions with private companies.

There were 2 excursions that I could see were not available. Dog Sled Musher for a Day (Juneau) and Totem Traditions (Ketchikan). There were no high tea reservations for Palo, but plenty of dinner and brunch options when I was booking. Times were limited on the first sea day for brunch, but there was plenty on the Tracy Arm day and the last sea day.

Very excited!

 

[JulieM96]

DenverVal -- Like you, we wanted to take our DD21 to Palo, but I could only manage to get tea for three. When I first logged on, I couldn't understand why there were no 3-4 reservations for brunch -- but then I realized that it meant they were already booked! And by 12:30 all the brunch reservations (for 1-2) were gone as well. I didn't have a problem getting a dinner reservation for two. This is our first cruise with the different levels of Castaway Club, and I can really tell the difference. I guess I know what I'll be doing when I get on the ship.

We're also on the White Pass scenic railway in Skagway in the morning. Shore excursions were no problem to book. Glad I worked on Palo first!

 

[kveens]

Booking Palo and excurions last night makes the cruise seem more real. I plan to finish up half of my FE gifts today and pack them away. My kids are I are getting so excited!

 

[mousemom11]

Only two slots left for the 10 a.m. zipline in Juneau, so I guess we will need to book at 11 a.m. instead, as we need 4 slots.

Sorry we won't be able to zip with you.

I learned my lesson about booking Palo first on our last cruise. I booked my spa appointments first and when I went to make a Palo reservation, there were none left. So last night, I hightailed it to the Palo section right away. Even then, I don't think that there were any high tea spots left.

It's exciting to think that 3 months from now, we'll be on the Wonder together!

 

[PPFQP]

Yay! I got rain jackets for my girls today. They were on sale at Dick's Sporting goods -- Columbia brand. They were on sale for $50, marked down from $80 I believe. They had a good selection of colors.

If necessary, they will layer them with their fleece and North Face jackets if it is cold, but at least they will stay dry. My dd is going to put hers to the test tomorrow. She is rowing in a regatta and it is supposed to be in the 40s and rainy -- What happened to spring? We'd been enjoying 60s and lots of sunshine!!

 

[ratt1345]

12 weeks to go!!!!

Glad to hear that everyone got the ressies they wanted, for the most part. For those who didn't, check with them for any cancellations or when you get on the ship check then.

Sure would be nice to be somewhere cooler in June when it is 95 and 100% humidity here in FL.

Charlie

 

[ilovepumba]

Amen! We are also looking forward to cooler weather! Houston in June is hot and sticky!

 

[mousemom11]

I just did our online check in and got an arrival time of 11 am. What does everyone else have for arrival times?

 

[Ohana 4]

My online check in isn't until April 7...

 

[PPFQP]

I just did our online check in and got an arrival time of 11 am. What does everyone else have for arrival times?

I think ours was 10:30. I am confused about the online check-in times and the port arrival times and the boarding numbers. Reading all the threads about it, there seems to be no rhyme or reason. But, they are also talking about Port Canaveral and the other ships. So who knows how it will be in Vancouver!

I can't wait for the earlier cruises to start so they can report back and give us some more details.

 

[DCLInauguralXmas]

I am so ready for this cruise...I cannot wait!!!!

I am anxious to hear the trip reports for the earlier ones too!

I Love Pumba: It is about to get wild in Houston, are you ready for the final 4 and championship game? My daughter is heading down there for the games, she attends Butler University.

 

[Gilland18]

I just did our online check in and got an arrival time of 11 am. What does everyone else have for arrival times?

I took the 11 am time, too. They had 10:30 available when I checked in but I didn't want to get up too early.

 

[ratt1345]

Ok, I am going to ask a dumb question. Where do you find out what arrival time you got? If it was there when I did the online check-in, I don't remember seeing it!!! Now I feel like an airhead

We have about 5 to 6 weeks before the first Alaskan report shows up. I don't like not knowing what to expect.

Charlie

 

[mousemom11]

Ok, I am going to ask a dumb question. Where do you find out what arrival time you got? If it was there when I did the online check-in, I don't remember seeing it!!!

It's a part of the online check-in. If you have printed out your documents, then it's on them. If not, go back into the online check-in and look it up there.

 

[ilovepumba]

I took the 12:00 time. Don't know if that was a good choice. We haven't sailed with Disney since 2009 so getting a boarding time is new for me.

DclInauguralxmas: Houston is ready and the weather is beautiful. Today was 82 and not humid! Hope your daughter enjoys our city and the games!

 

[kveens]

I think I also took the 11 am check-in. I now have one duffle bag stuffed with FE gifts, and have been shopping for my son and daughter for some new wardbrobe additions, so it is becoming very real to me that this trip is right around the corner! I am like many of you, just impatiently waiting for the first Alaskan cruisers to return so we will know a bit more what to expect. Still need to make a few new magnets for the door. Mexico and Bahamas magnets just won't fit this cruise, LOL!

 

[DenverVal]

My online check in isn't until April 7...

Next week! The order you book makes a difference. Book Palo brunch first, dinner second, spa appointments next and excursions last. Pay attention to how many people you can book for Palo; I was trying to book 3 and there were only 1-2 available, so I wasted time. They go fast. Good luck!