May 14, 2012 - Va-moose-ing to Vancouver!

[Bill Seattle]

The rate was OK when you broke it down. In general, this cruise is very affordable even booked direct since it seems like the Alaska cruises are already up to 4-5k for inside rooms. When I did the math it was slightly better than booking the pieces individually even at the lowest discounted prices.

The package included one-way airfare (airfares is about $100 now) and airport transfers and most importantly gratuity for only three hundred dollars more pp for a veranda over the regular oceanview cruise rate. The bad part is that a 3rd person (child) cost almost as much as the first two and much more than the standard $500 that Disney charges.

I am very confused about all the people in here booking TA rates (Fam rates?). I thought those were for travel agents??? But I am sure that is a topic for another thread.

 

[Goofy Adpi]

I've seen a couple of threads about upgrading at port, but I was wondering if any of you have done it before? It looks like our cruise is still wide open cabin wise (apparently even the royal suite is available), and so upgrading could be possible.

If you have done it, how exactly does it all work?

 

[dylan'smom]

The rate was OK when you broke it down. In general, this cruise is very affordable even booked direct since it seems like the Alaska cruises are already up to 4-5k for inside rooms. When I did the math it was slightly better than booking the pieces individually even at the lowest discounted prices.
The package included one-way airfare (airfares is about $100 now) and airport transfers and most importantly gratuity for only three hundred dollars more pp for a veranda over the regular oceanview cruise rate. The bad part is that a 3rd person (child) cost almost as much as the first two and much more than the standard $500 that Disney charges.

I am very confused about all the people in here booking TA rates (Fam rates?). I thought those were for travel agents??? But I am sure that is a topic for another thread.

Thanks for the specifics. Sounds like it benefited all & probably initiated a lot more GTYs! I am a TA, actually, and I guess quite a few others on the DIS board are as well - after all, we do get the best info here!! But am not working on this one - DH & I are just going for fun to Hawaii & this next cruise offer came up..... oddly, one of our biggest expenses in staying on the ship for this leg is boarding the animals!!

I've seen a couple of threads about upgrading at port, but I was wondering if any of you have done it before? It looks like our cruise is still wide open cabin wise (apparently even the royal suite is available), and so upgrading could be possible.
If you have done it, how exactly does it all work?

Just ask when you check in at the port. You need to check in first, and I would suggest getting there as early as possible!! We have asked several times about an upgrade at the port & they're only sometimes available. Even when the ship is relatively empty, they might opt to do some work in the rooms instead of sell them, but it doesn't hurt to check!!

It's quite a bit less expensive than upgrading on line though, so not a bad idea to check.

.

 

[gigi1313]

As fas as missing out - when they offer TA rates - they offer them on certain types of cabins but there is a limited number of cabins at that rate - when they are gone - they are gone.



They were okay - not nice enough for me to rebook and chance not getting my cabin B2B We want to stay in the same cabin for both cruise so we decided to stay put. When you do a TA rate - you are automatically GTY and take what they give you (you know what type of stateroom you are getting though) I think it's more along the lines that they offer only so many cabins and they go quickly.

i thought that the price (about $1100 for family of four in verandah cabin) was nice enough to entice me to take the cruise... had i known there was a big TA doing a tuesday a.m. booking deal, i would have booked monday night!

 

[Bill Seattle]

i thought that the price (about $1100 for family of four in verandah cabin) was nice enough to entice me to take the cruise... had i known there was a big TA doing a tuesday a.m. booking deal, i would have booked monday night!

That deal is amazing. We paid $3000 for three people which we were told was 1/3
the normal cost. Unless of course you are also a TA.

 

[dylan'smom]

i thought that the price (about $1100 for family of four in verandah cabin) was nice enough to entice me to take the cruise... had i known there was a big TA doing a tuesday a.m. booking deal, i would have booked monday night!

Well, if it makes you feel any better, the very last veranda offered was taken by Sat. afternoon! I booked on Sun. morning before 7 am (west coast time) & got the other option.

The CM who booked me had personally sold the last veranda the afternoon prior so was sharing that & how they went really fast. The rates stayed on the TA site through Mon. but not sure what was actually left by Mon. night. They may have just had very few available to begin with, but the CM I spoke with said they were flying on Sat., as soon as it was posted. I'm very sorry that you missed it I thought I was way ahead of the game on Sun. morning & almost missed it as well!!

Makes me wonder what has come & gone in the blink of an eye in the past!!

.

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

i thought that the price (about $1100 for family of four in verandah cabin) was nice enough to entice me to take the cruise... had i known there was a big TA doing a tuesday a.m. booking deal, i would have booked monday night!

I agree - that is a nice deal. I would definitely have taken that offer. I booked the day the cruise came out and the TA rate was only going to be about $150 less for me then what I was already booked into. Since I had to go GTY and I wanted to stay in the same cabin for both cruises, I just chose to stay put.

Congrats! Sorry for those that missed it

 

[onekindman]

A local celebrity TA with many thousands of followers sent out a package special on Monday for Tuesday morning booking specifically for the 5/14 sailing. They brought in tons of extra staff to handle the flood of calls so I would imagine that might have had an impact.

We jumped on this deal as did my parents. I had not planned to travel this year but due to the great deal, I went for it.

Oh that is interesting! I know DCL will work with their "big" agencies for really nice specials & packages & it sounds like they are one of their biggies.

Did you book with that special too? Just curious about what it was..... .

The rate was fairly close to the published rate, but the package included the on-board gratuities, transfers, and flight to LA either before or after the sailing.

That deal is amazing. We paid $3000 for three people which we were told was 1/3
the normal cost. Unless of course you are also a TA.

The only draw back so far is the the TA has not paid DCL yet, so although I now have a room (6510, one of the Deep-Six'rs for the guys and I, and my folks will be on the other side of the ship in 6010) I can't make a ressie for Palo or any of the excursions yet. This is the first time the TA has done a DCL trip, so they are learning. I hope they will be joining the board here as I directed them to it so that they will learn quicker.

I did find out today that the formal night will be night #2 (Tues) at sea, Pirate night/fireworks is night #5 (Fri) and Semi-Formal is the next night (Sat).

Look forward to chatting more when the guys are not around. (always a big secret to them or they would be packing right now and ready to go in 10 minutes.)

 

[gigi1313]

That deal is amazing. We paid $3000 for three people which we were told was 1/3
the normal cost. Unless of course you are also a TA.

Yes, I am also a TA.

 

[Bill Seattle]

I did find out today that the formal night will be night #2 (Tues) at sea, Pirate night/fireworks is night #5 (Fri) and Semi-Formal is the next night (Sat).

Excellent, we thought that was the schedule and that is what we put in the calendar so I guess it looks like this:
MON: Rotation / All Aboard
TUE: Formal / Golden Mickey's
WED: Rotation / SAN FRANCISCO till late
THU: Rotation / Toy Story
FRI: Pirate / Pirate
SAT: Captain's Gala (Semi Formal) / VICTORIA depart before dinner
SUN: Till We Meet Again / Remember the Magic / VANCOUVER
MON: Debarkation and VANCOUVER

Does that sound right?

 

[nbrmommy2005]

My DS (7) and I just booked this cruise.

Now I need to start planning what we want to do. Is there a good place to stay near the port?

We will be flying in on Saturday the 12th. I do not know what we will do on Sunday. I have never been to LA

 

[Bill Seattle]

My DS (7) and I just booked this cruise.

Now I need to start planning what we want to do. Is there a good place to stay near the port?

We will be flying in on Saturday the 12th. I do not know what we will do on Sunday. I have never been to LA

No need to stay near the port since you are coming in on Saturday. You can take transportation on Monday morning or use a one-way car drop off near the port from Enterprise (must call for rate) but for two people it is not as cost effective but worth looking into (think the rate is about $85 with drop off fee). I think 7 is a perfect age to enjoy the Disneyland park. but be careful not to exhaust yourself or catch a flu bug before the cruise. We usually visit the free Downtown Disney shopping area for just a taste before we jump onboard the cruise (but we have done Disneyland before). LA can be a challenge to get around quickly (it's easier on weekends) but it would be challenging to do all the major sites Hollywood, Universal, Disneyland, etc. all in just two days since it can take an hour just to travel between them.

 

[Disneyana'sAunt]

Hi there - I know i have sailed with you before but can not remember which one it was this year - welcome! Just send me your info and I will put you on the roll call and the FE[/QUOTE]



Hi! We were on the Panama cruise last January. I think that is the cruise you were also on! Would you please add us to the roll call and the FE?
Thanks Janice

Janice(me)
Tammy(sister)
Disneyana(niece-12 years old)
cabin-GYT
Late dining
FE- Yes

 

[bbangel]

So am I counting right that there are 11 cabins total for the FE (or 10 plus the participant)?

This trip is getting closer and closer

 

[Goofy Adpi]

My DS (7) and I just booked this cruise.

Now I need to start planning what we want to do. Is there a good place to stay near the port?

We will be flying in on Saturday the 12th. I do not know what we will do on Sunday. I have never been to LA

I totally agree with Disneyland as a fun Sunday activity. But if that would be "too much" Disney (if that's even possible), then there are a lot of fun activities a DS would enjoy. In May it should be warm enough to go to one of the many beaches, but might not be warm enough to go into the water. The LA Zoo is wonderful. There's also the El Capitan Theatre, which I believe has a Disney Store and Soda Shop right next door. Long Beach has a wonderful aquarium. I grew up in LA, so if there is a specific interest your son has please feel free to send me a PM and I'll see if I can come up with something that he'd like.

So am I counting right that there are 11 cabins total for the FE (or 10 plus the participant)?

That's the number I have. Do you think we could discuss a "close date" for the FE again?

 

[bbangel]

That's the number I have. Do you think we could discuss a "close date" for the FE again?

I think we had agreed on Feb. 29 as the new close date but that may have just been a dream. I seem to be having a lot of vacation/cruise related dreams lately!

 

[onekindman]

Excellent, we thought that was the schedule and that is what we put in the calendar so I guess it looks like this:
MON: Rotation / All Aboard
TUE: Formal / Golden Mickey's
WED: Rotation / SAN FRANCISCO till late
THU: Rotation / Toy Story
FRI: Pirate / Pirate
SAT: Captain's Gala (Semi Formal) / VICTORIA depart before dinner
SUN: Till We Meet Again / Remember the Magic / VANCOUVER
MON: Debarkation and VANCOUVER

Does that sound right?

This does sound correct to me. The TA finally made the payment to DCL so I was able to get a Palo Ressie for the Thursday night. Amazingly there are still open brunch times too, but the High Tea slots are all gone already.

 

[lukekristi]

We live in Seattle and just booked the LA to Vancouver cruise in May. My husband and I have a very social ( and VERY ACTIVE) almost 3 year old . Her potty training goal is this trip . We are hoping to sneak her into the 3-10 year old program, but they are more likely (I hear) to do it if she has an older playmate. As a family we are VERY social and would LOVE to meet up with another family in the Seattle area before the trip!

 

[dylan'smom]

My DS (7) and I just booked this cruise. Now I need to start planning what we want to do. Is there a good place to stay near the port? We will be flying in on Saturday the 12th. I do not know what we will do on Sunday. I have never been to LA

We live in Seattle and just booked the LA to Vancouver cruise in May. My husband and I have a very social ( and VERY ACTIVE) almost 3 year old . Her potty training goal is this trip . We are hoping to sneak her into the 3-10 year old program, but they are more likely (I hear) to do it if she has an older playmate. As a family we are VERY social and would LOVE to meet up with another family in the Seattle area before the trip!

The more, the merrier!! I can't help with the clubs info, DH & I are on our own for this one, but hopefully someone else will know..here, or on the main board.

And DL is a great option for anyone!! As an AP holder, I may be biased, but we go at least 3 times per year & never tire of it - always find something new to try. Get their transportation if you don't want to mess with it & it will be very streamlined.

As for a place to stay near the port - we always use Doubletree there in San Pedro & do a park & cruise, beautiful view of the harbor & watch the Wonder glide silently across our window about 6:30 that morning.


.

 

[knittingmaven]

Hi Everyone,
I am new to the boards, but not new to the ship. My son is Onekindman and my hubby and I are joining them on this cruise. We did the same repo last year and had a great time. Looking forward to having a great time again and we are in 6010 across the ship from my son and his guys in 6510.

See everyone soon.

Knitting Maven