Just booked Alaska 2018! Dining time and insurance questions

[Trip planner]

we just put a deposit on a June 2018 Alaska cruise! I am super excited but I have a few questions .
1. Our TA scheduled us for second dining. I know everyone recommends that is Alaska, BUT we have two kids who will be 10 and 7 and we live on the East coast and I don't think they will make it to second dining given the time difference. Does anyone have personal experience bring east coast kids to Alaska and attempting second dining? We visited Utah last summer and my kids were VERY ready for dinner at 5:00pm.

2. Are there travel insurance recommendations? This will be the most expensive vacation we have ever planned.

 

[kid-at-heart]

Alaska is our favorite place to cruise. My suggestion is to ask your TA to put you on the waitlist for early dining and then if that does not work, go the first day on the cruise (as soon as you can) and see if there are any main dining openings. We are adults from the EST zone and still had problems making it to late dining and then we crashed immediately afterwards.

We tend to use Allianz Ins for cruising but only because it has been the cheapest quote for what we wanted each time. There is a site to do a comparison, maybe someone else will jump in and let you know or maybe I can search later and edit this posting. The first time we used Allianz our child (age 15 then) was covered for free, the second time and third time, she was considered an adult so we had to pay for her also. We did not utilize the medical portion 2nd & 3rd times since I called our insurance company (Blue Cross) and was informed that for where we were traveling we would be fully covered, including ship evacuation if needed.

Kate

 

[Trip planner]

Alaska is our favorite place to cruise. My suggestion is to ask your TA to put you on the waitlist for early dining and then if that does not work, go the first day on the cruise (as soon as you can) and see if there are any main dining openings. We are adults from the EST zone and still had problems making it to late dining and then we crashed immediately afterwards.

We tend to use Allianz Ins for cruising but only because it has been the cheapest quote for what we wanted each time. There is a site to do a comparison, maybe someone else will jump in and let you know or maybe I can search later and edit this posting. The first time we used Allianz our child (age 15 then) was covered for free, the second time and third time, she was considered an adult so we had to pay former also. We did not utilize the medical portion 2nd & 3rd times since I called our insurance company (Blue Cross) and was informed that for where we were traveling we would be fully covered, including ship evacuation if needed.

Kate

Is it really possible that main dining is already "sold out" 10 months in advance? Yikes!

 

[Pens Fan]

We have never had an issue of adjusting time zones when traveling in Alaska from the east coast. If you are worried that it will be an issue, I'd recommend staying in Vancouver for a few days to adjust. Actually, I recommend doing that even if you aren't worried about the time change! There is so much to do.

We found ourselves staying up later than normal in Alaska as it's still light out so much later than at home. Our son was 14 the first time we went, and he had no issues at all with second dining or adjusting to the time change. Everyone's different though, but that's our experience for what it's worth. We love late dining and would never want the first seating. It's way too early for us, especially when we are on vacation and so busy during the day.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I concur on second dining being far better. No rushing, see the early show, have a late snack to hold over until dinner if needed, have a drink before dinner. Kids can always go to club right after they finish dinner so there is adult alone time. I've tried early dining once. Never again. We are from Chicago and usually eat between 6 and 7 at home.

 

[Minnie & Daisy]

I think that the automatic default for dining is second seating, which is at 8:15 PM, I believe. First seating, or the main dinner seating, is at 5:45 PM. I would have your TA change you to the main dining time now, while you can still get into it. No one knows your children better than you do. This is your vacation and if you want the first seating, have your TA change it. As far as the trip insurance goes, we always just add on trip insurance with Disney, but that is entirely up to you. Fortunately, we have never had to use it. Alaskan cruises are definitely more expensive, but so worth it. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

 

[msmama]

I have a 9 year old and no way would I attempt 2nd seating. If you're more comfortable with first seating, don't let anyone tell you what works best for your family.

I, personally, have never felt any of the reasons people have for preferring 2nd seating apply to me. I have never felt rushed getting ready for dinner. I prefer dinner then a show (and then bed, we don't keep super late nights, it just doesn't work for us). One day getting up super early for breakfast (debarkation day) doesn't bother me and if it did, I'd eat at Cabanas (honestly, when we dock, I'm ready to get off and get to wherever I'm going after).

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Shanti]

Is it really possible that main dining is already "sold out" 10 months in advance? Yikes!

Yes. We booked a June 2018 Alaska cruise about a month ago, and main dining was already sold out. We wanted second seating anyway, but just fyi. If you want main dining and it's sold out, ask to be added to the waiting list, and you'll probably get switched to main dining sometime before the cruise. If you're not, you can go to dining changes upon boarding and request to be switched to main dining.

 

[Trip planner]

Yes. We booked a June 2018 Alaska cruise about a month ago, and main dining was already sold out. We wanted second seating anyway, but just fyi. If you want main dining and it's sold out, ask to be added to the waiting list, and you'll probably get switched to main dining sometime before the cruise. If you're not, you can go to dining changes upon boarding and request to be switched to main dining.

Darn! I totally regret not booking this cruise back in March when we first considered it! The cruise is costing us $300 more too so I guess it's double darn!

 

[Geomom]

Yes, check with your TA to see if main (early)dining is available, if not, ask to be placed on the waitlist...if it doesn't get filled try to switch when you board.

We did the 8/8/16 Alaskan cruise. We're from Massachusetts and normally eat around 6PM in our own time zone--we had booked the cruise within the first 2 weeks of it opening and had our TA put us down for Main dining--it worked well for us, and I also preferred doing dinner and then a show vs. show and then dinner. I too had the same fears as you about doing late when coming from the East coast. We did fly in 3 days early to adjust a bit, but still wouldn't have been able to eat a full dinner at 8:15PM...as I can't even do a full dinner at that time at home!

For insurance, I go to an insurance comparison website to compare policies, then book through that insurance company. I do not suggest doing insurance through Disney as they will only cover anything you've purchased through them--and most people don't do airfare through Disney. A big thing I looked for was evacuation coverage, as well as air, etc.

Enjoy your cruise!