Just back from Alaska, any questions?

[ssgtravel]

I can try to answer any questions about the Alaska cruise.

 

[happycamper47]

Hope your trip was as nice as ours have always been.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Did the characters come out in their Alaska outfits just one day

 

[tvguy]

Both of my Alaska cruises have been on HAL. Their naturalists were amazing. We really enjoyed how they had pots of hot split pea soup, coffee and blankets out on the top deck when you are cruising by the glaciers. Does Disney do anything like that?

 

[QueenW]

I saw a video on youtube from about a month ago that one of the glacier explorer excursions was cancelled due to an issue with one of the boats. Do you know if that happened on this cruise or if they all went out?

 

[bcwife76]

I saw a video on youtube from about a month ago that one of the glacier explorer excursions was cancelled due to an issue with one of the boats. Do you know if that happened on this cruise or if they all went out?

We were on the July 25-August 1 Alaska cruise and both excursion boats went out for both times (12noon, ours, and 3pm).

 

[QueenW]

We were on the July 25-August 1 Alaska cruise and both excursion boats went out for both times (12noon, ours, and 3pm).

Thank you. I think he went late June or early July. I figured it would be fixed asap but it is nice to hear that yours went! That's my #1 excursion so that makes me relax a bit

 

[ssgtravel]

Did the characters come out in their Alaska outfits just one day

I only saw them in their costumes on Dawes Glacier Day.

 

[ssgtravel]

Did the characters come out in their Alaska outfits just one day

I only saw them in their costumes on Dawes Glacier Day.

Both of my Alaska cruises have been on HAL. Their naturalists were amazing. We really enjoyed how they had pots of hot split pea soup, coffee and blankets out on the top deck when you are cruising by the glaciers. Does Disney do anything like that?

For the Dawes Glacier day, they had hot cocoa and coffee up on the deck and were selling spiked hot cider (I think). I believe blankets were available from the adult section near Cove Cafe.

 

[ssgtravel]

Did the characters come out in their Alaska outfits just one day

I only saw them in their costumes on Dawes Glacier Day.

Both of my Alaska cruises have been on HAL. Their naturalists were amazing. We really enjoyed how they had pots of hot split pea soup, coffee and blankets out on the top deck when you are cruising by the glaciers. Does Disney do anything like that?

For the Dawes Glacier day, they had hot cocoa and coffee up on the deck and were selling spiked hot cider (I think). I believe blankets were available from the adult section near Cove Cafe.

I saw a video on youtube from about a month ago that one of the glacier explorer excursions was cancelled due to an issue with one of the boats. Do you know if that happened on this cruise or if they all went out?

I'm pretty sure there were two boats and they went out twice. It was also very cold and raining.

 

[Drfate102]

Thank you. I think he went late June or early July. I figured it would be fixed asap but it is nice to hear that yours went! That's my #1 excursion so that makes me relax a bit

It was so amazing when we did it. the views were awesome. Such a great experience. And I got one really amazing photo of the ship.

 

[mlayton14]

I can try to answer any questions about the Alaska cruise.

How was the weather overall? Going the same week next year and late august has much more reasonable prices, but I believe august gets a lot more rain and a bit colder?

 

[ssgtravel]

I think that the weather in Alaska is very unpredictable. That said, our weather was nearly perfect; sunny and warm just about every day, except for Dawes Glacier. The kids were able to enjoy the pool every day. We were told that the weather we had was much warmer and sunnier than the rest of the season has been. Ketchikan had been rainy all summer. Two days before we arrived in Juneau there had been torrential rains which cancelled all excursions, and there were many other times during the season when the helicopters couldn't take off. My attitude was to go with low expectations for the weather, expect and pack for cold and rain, and hope for the best. Most expeditions run even when it is raining.

 

[brentm77]

We are booked for Sep 2023. Would you recommend port or starboard? We are currently on port side and I really like the room location, but I am wondering if one side is better. I read it doesn't matter, because what you don't see heading North, you see heading South - but does it really work like that? I imagine the ship is passing different areas and different times of the day and maybe one side really is better for viewing.

 

[jujubiee4]

Hope your trip was as nice as ours have always been.

I find Alaska mesmerizing and it has quickly become my favorite place to go. We just got
back in June and I want to go back in Sept!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Can you detail what excursions you did in each port?

 

[ssgtravel]

We used Alaska Shore Excursions in Skagway; Skagway Musher's Camp and Sled Dog Adventure and in Juneau; the Juneau Mendenhall Glacier Guided Walk via Helicopter Tour. The company is excellent to deal with. We had several last minute cancellations due to medical emergencies and they refunded our money, which was greatly appreciated. Both of these excursions were big hits with the entire extended family including grandparents and children. In Ketchikan, we did the Disney Knudson Cove Salmon Fishing. This was also great for a three generation family including a 10 year old; they all loved it.

 

[TestingH2O]

Did the characters come out in their Alaska outfits just one day

People in our family got photos of the characters in their Alaska gear on several days. They were only outside in those outfits on glacier day.

 

[RysMomma]

This cruise sounds amazing! My husband thinks he wants to do it in a few years! Was it wonderful?

 

[auntlynne]

This cruise sounds amazing! My husband thinks he wants to do it in a few years! Was it wonderful?

The happiest reports I read about cruising seem to be AK. I could just be biased. a lot of it is the destination and people (same can be said for a fly-in trip to Hawaii).

edit: I just realized that there is not a lot of in-your-face sales in either of these destinations.