June 25, 2012 - WONDERful 7 night Alaskan cruise

[Emmalily17]

Hi, My name is Emily. I've been lurking around, reading about cruising (and dreaming about our special cruise) for several weeks and finally decided to sign up! We're going to be with y'all on our very first cruise ever! My DH and I are going to be celebrating our 3rd anniversary on board and we're really excited! We can't wait till June!!!!

 

[Mean Queen]

Where are all the new people... I'm thinking that there is not going to be a problem getting a chair by the pool on this cruse...



BTW some good news today. We were initially going to drive to Miami (we live in west palm) to catch our flight due to cheaper airfare, but they changed a leg of our flight yeaterday. So I called today and told them I was a little dissapointed and asked if there was any change of changing us to departing and arriving out of West Palm as compensation. They said no problem, and no change fees....whoo hoo!!!!!

That's great you get to avoid the drive to Miami (and leaving out of Miami.) I hope the ship doesn't get too full, we still need to upgrade to a balcony.

Hi, My name is Emily. I've been lurking around, reading about cruising (and dreaming about our special cruise) for several weeks and finally decided to sign up! We're going to be with y'all on our very first cruise ever! My DH and I are going to be celebrating our 3rd anniversary on board and we're really excited! We can't wait till June!!!!

Welcome aboard! What a great anniversary trip. I'm sure you will be hooked on cruising after this trip.

 

[Bellecruiser]

Hi Emily,

Welcome aboard. We are excited about our cruise too.

All,
I talked to my DS and DSIL today, and explained FEs to them. I think some of our party we will be playing the FE game with you. Will let you know soon! So much fun!

 

[DCLShel]

Where are all the new people... I'm thinking that there is not going to be a problem getting a chair by the pool on this cruse...



BTW some good news today. We were initially going to drive to Miami (we live in west palm) to catch our flight due to cheaper airfare, but they changed a leg of our flight yeaterday. So I called today and told them I was a little dissapointed and asked if there was any change of changing us to departing and arriving out of West Palm as compensation. They said no problem, and no change fees....whoo hoo!!!!!

Are the pools even filled?!

Very nice that you got the change on your flight~

Hi, My name is Emily. I've been lurking around, reading about cruising (and dreaming about our special cruise) for several weeks and finally decided to sign up! We're going to be with y'all on our very first cruise ever! My DH and I are going to be celebrating our 3rd anniversary on board and we're really excited! We can't wait till June!!!!

Welcome, Emily!

How exciting that this is your first cruise! What a great way to celebrate your anniversary~

Please let me know your DH's name and I'll add it to the roster. If you're curious about this whole FE thing, let me know and we'll fill you in. Its alot of fun!

Be sure to ask if you have any questions. I think everyone on this thread has been on several cruises. We're here to help~

Shelly

 

[Emmalily17]

Please let me know your DH's name and I'll add it to the roster. If you're curious about this whole FE thing, let me know and we'll fill you in. Its alot of fun!


Thank you for the warm welcome! I sort of already feel like friends! My husband's name is David.

I am curious about FE...I like anything fun! Thanks

 

[Mean Queen]

I'm a little upset with DVC. When my DH booked the cruise, he asked specifically if we could upgrade to a balcony later on and was told that would be no problem. We used pretty much all of our points and cash to pay for our cabin, with the idea that we'd upgrade to a balcony with cash later on. When DH went back to surprise me for Valentine's day with the balcony upgrade, he got a surprise instead. The DVC person said the upgrade had to be half in cash, half in points. Not once did the person tell him that when he booked and asked about an upgrade. The DVC person who originally booked it would have seen we'd have no more points for the upgrade DH asked about. DH asked to speak to a manager, but instead the rep talked to the manager then told DH that there was nothing they could do. So apparently there is no way (according to that CM) that we can upgrade to a balcony for cash only. We'd have to cancel our reservation and repay at the current rate in cash, then end up with a lot of points we have to use before December. Anyone have any experience with this? I can't believe Disney would say no, we have the rooms, but we won't take your cash to upgrade.

 

[Bellecruiser]

We have booked on points and cash in the past, but have never asked to upgrade so I don't really know the answer. Maybe you can rebook if the ship isn't very full.

"Are the pools even filled?! "

We are looking forward to the hot tub after a long day of hiking around!!!

 

[DCLShel]

I'm a little upset with DVC. When my DH booked the cruise, he asked specifically if we could upgrade to a balcony later on and was told that would be no problem. We used pretty much all of our points and cash to pay for our cabin, with the idea that we'd upgrade to a balcony with cash later on. When DH went back to surprise me for Valentine's day with the balcony upgrade, he got a surprise instead. The DVC person said the upgrade had to be half in cash, half in points. Not once did the person tell him that when he booked and asked about an upgrade. The DVC person who originally booked it would have seen we'd have no more points for the upgrade DH asked about. DH asked to speak to a manager, but instead the rep talked to the manager then told DH that there was nothing they could do. So apparently there is no way (according to that CM) that we can upgrade to a balcony for cash only. We'd have to cancel our reservation and repay at the current rate in cash, then end up with a lot of points we have to use before December. Anyone have any experience with this? I can't believe Disney would say no, we have the rooms, but we won't take your cash to upgrade.

Any resolution to this problem yet? I have read all over these boards about people calling DCL and getting different answers from different CMs. I would try calling back and see if you get the same info. I would also insist on SPEAKING to the manager instead of through the CM.

Good luck!!

 

[DCLShel]

Doing the Happy Dance!! As of this morning, we are Paid in Full! I upgraded to the Premier Disney card so we'll be getting 5% rewards for this. And, we can start booking excursions & Palo on Sunday!

Its getting closer!!

 

[Mean Queen]

Doing the Happy Dance!! As of this morning, we are Paid in Full! I upgraded to the Premier Disney card so we'll be getting 5% rewards for this. And, we can start booking excursions & Palo on Sunday!

Its getting closer!!

Are you platinum or staying concierge? I do plan to call back and see if we get a different answer. I think DCL eventually takes over the reservation, I'll try again then. If not, maybe they'll give us a free upgrade. It happened once.

 

[Deb in IA]

Wow, Deb - you got a good price on your flights! We're flying SW out of St. Louis and ours was $423/pp. Luckily I had miles to use so we only had to pay for one round-trip ticket.

When are you flying to Seattle? We're flying out of STL on Friday, June 22nd. Coming back on July 3rd. We might be hanging out at the SW terminals together - haha!

Shelly

Maybe we are on the same flight!!

We are also flying to Seattle on Friday. We are on the 3:45 pm flight, #2168 nonstop from St. Louis to Seattle.

Coming back, we are on the 1 pm flight from Seattle to Vegas, #1279, then the 5:35 pm flight from Vegas to St. Louis, #543.

Just booked our rooms at Seattle.
Boy, that was harder than I thought!

I was reading Frommer's, and I wanted something near the Pike Place Market and the Westlake shopping center, so that we can get on the monorail to the Space Needle and the EMP.

I was hoping for either the Inn at Pike Place or the Mayflower Park Hotel, but both of those didn't have any 2 double bed rooms left!

I then looked at the Westin, but at $301, that was still a bit more than what I wanted to spend.

Then the Warwick popped up. It was only $179 for 2 double beds, and is 5 blocks from Pike Place and 2 blocks from the monorail! It got good reviews from Trip Advisor, so I booked it! I haven't heard much about it, so I hope I didn't make a mistake!

Now, I just have to find a good hotel near Lambert Field when we get back.

What hotels are the other DIS'ers staying at???

 

[Mean Queen]

We haven't booked yet, but DH insists we stay at the Edgewater. He is a bit obsessed with it after staying there before. Though I'm hoping we get a really good deal, the price is around $300 a night. Though I guess we can just put that balcony upgrade money towards it and not worry about it. (still sad about the upgrade problem.)

 

[Deb in IA]

We haven't booked yet, but DH insists we stay at the Edgewater. He is a bit obsessed with it after staying there before. Though I'm hoping we get a really good deal, the price is around $300 a night. Though I guess we can just put that balcony upgrade money towards it and not worry about it. (still sad about the upgrade problem.)

Oh, yeah, so sorry about the upgrade thing.

I was considering the Edgewater too. It looks beautiful, but it is a bit pricy for us.

(Although DH would have loved staying where the Beatles stayed! Rumor is that they actually fished from their room.)

 

[Mean Queen]

Oh, yeah, so sorry about the upgrade thing.

I was considering the Edgewater too. It looks beautiful, but it is a bit pricy for us.

(Although DH would have loved staying where the Beatles stayed! Rumor is that they actually fished from their room.)

And that's why my DH is obsessed with it. Plus, it's very plush and the views of the water are amazing.

 

[Deb in IA]

Well, according to Bill Seattle, we are coming in on one of the busiest weekends of the summer, and that's why the hotels are going to all be pretty high. Great.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=44114820#post44114820

Oh, and this person also says that there will be a Seattle Pride rally at Seattle Center on Sunday, with about 10,000 people!

 

[MN Dis Fans]

Well, according to Bill Seattle, we are coming in on one of the busiest weekends of the summer, and that's why the hotels are going to all be pretty high. Great.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=44114820#post44114820

Oh, and this person also says that there will be a Seattle Pride rally at Seattle Center on Sunday, with about 10,000 people!

Sorry it's been so long that I have posted. This weird thing called work is getting in the way!

I guess I'm glad that we decided to stay out near the airport. Pretty amazing on the timing, as we happened to be in Vancouver last summer the weekend the parade took place. We're only coming into town on the Sunday. The in-laws are arriving about 6 hours after us, and I had planned on taking in the Air Museum with the boys while we waited for the in-laws flight to arrive. The DW was on about going downtown to the original Starbucks. I wonder if 10,000 visitors will change her mind on that one.

We're all paid up as well, and will be on line this weekend hopefully booking PALO, and the few excursions we will be booking through DCL.

The DW says she is up for FE exchange. The FIL & MIL (Ken & Anna) will be in 6154. We'll be in 5522 & 5524 (Paul, Missy, Chad, Johnny) Our date is definitely getting closer.

 

[Deb in IA]

Ooops, I missed a "0".

Actually, he says there will be 100,000 marchers, with another 250,000 people watching the parade!!

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=44090220&postcount=15

 

[Mean Queen]

Ooops, I missed a "0".

Actually, he says there will be 100,000 marchers, with another 250,000 people watching the parade!!

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=44090220&postcount=15

Wow! With that many people, I doubt we'll be able to see much of Seattle. It'll be way packed to check out the standard tourist sites. I hope we get all we want done on our first two days. And we better hurry to book a room before there isn't any left!

 

[DCLShel]

Maybe we are on the same flight!!

We are also flying to Seattle on Friday. We are on the 3:45 pm flight, #2168 nonstop from St. Louis to Seattle.

Coming back, we are on the 1 pm flight from Seattle to Vegas, #1279, then the 5:35 pm flight from Vegas to St. Louis, #543.

Now, I just have to find a good hotel near Lambert Field when we get back.

What hotels are the other DIS'ers staying at???

I'm totally cracking up! Deb - we're on the same flight to Seattle! We're staying in Seattle on the 2nd. My DH likes direct flights and it leaves at 12:20pm. I read on the boards that the ship doesn't start debarkation until 9:00 in Seattle so I wasn't sure if we could make that flight. We're just going to stay at a hotel by the airport and fly out on the 3rd.

I'm booked at the Hilton Garden Inn, Lambert Airport at the end of March. Its a brand-new hotel. I've got a 6:35am flight to Orlando (for the MV of the Fantasy!) on the 30th so I'm going down the night before. I can let you know what I think when I get back. It was $155 including tax. The hotel has a free airport shuttle, too.

Right now, I've got two hotels booked for our pre-cruise stay in Seattle - Homewood Suites, Downtown & Residence Inn, Lake Union. I still haven't decided which one we'll stay at but I'm leaning toward Homewood Suites. Its closer to Pike Place Market.

I also checked out the Edgewater - and if we weren't staying 3 nights before the cruise, I would have booked it. But, given the nightly rate I saw, I just couldn't pay that rate - especially when I factor in the amount we'll probably spend on excursions.

Deb - thanks for starting the Seattle thread! Otherwise, we might not have known about the Seattle Pride weekend until we got there. Makes me thankful that I've already got hotel rooms, too.

 

[DCLShel]

Are you platinum or staying concierge? I do plan to call back and see if we get a different answer. I think DCL eventually takes over the reservation, I'll try again then. If not, maybe they'll give us a free upgrade. It happened once.

This will be my 2nd cruise as Platinum! My DD (Kiley) is excited about being able to go to the "short" line at the port - haha!

Has anyone else checked availability on this cruise? It seems like there are still alot of rooms available. We have an oceanview room but might try to upgrade to a verandah when we check-in.