May 24, 2014 Alaskan 9 night Wonder

[MousseauMob]

Hi! I know I'be been missing from the board for awhile. Things are just crazy busy, I've only had time to quickly browse the posts, wanted to reply to some, but just couldn't find the time. I sent mental "welcome's" to all newly joined, and good vibes and thoughts to everyone experiencing difficulties. I really wish I could start planning in earnest, but things are going to have to settle down a bit first. I kind of know what I want to do for FE's but need to order some supplies and try it out to see what I think, not sure when that will happen but hopefully soon.

Anyway, I got as far as pondering Brunch ressies for Palo, and took a peek at the itinerary and have a question, especially for anyone that has done an DCL Alaska cruise before. Do they offer brunch in Palo on Day 5 our Tracy Arm day, since it technically is a sea day?

Itinerary
1 Vancouver, Canada -- 4:00 p.m.
2 At Sea -- --
3 At Sea -- --
4 Sitka, Alaska* 7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
5 Tracy Arm, Alaska Cruising Cruising
6 Skagway, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 7:45 p.m.
7 Juneau, Alaska 6:15 a.m. 4:45 p.m.
8 Ketchikan, Alaska 11:15 a.m. 7:45 p.m.
9 At Sea - -
10 Vancouver, Canada 8:00 a.m. --

 

[disneyfaninaz]

From what I understand from reading some recent trip reports, Palo brunch is offered on Tracy Arm day as well as all other sea days. So that would be 4 in total.

 

[scottrob]

My bride (Lucky Penny) just booked us on this cruise and the repo. We did the 1st Alaska cruise this past May and can't wait to return.

 

[scottrob]

I was worried I was the only one. I'm a super planner and super excited about this cruise. As soon as I booked I read through every single Alaska port excursion. I'm sure the Sitka excursions won't even come out until 2 weeks before Platinum can book. But on another thread I was reminded by how thorough DCL is about choosing which vendors to use so I can wait.





I had to call DVC directly because the chart was not up yet on Opening Day. But it's up now if you are DVC. (I don't think it would be ok to post it here)

But yes, I was able to book both of us with points. This will be my 4th cruise but the 2nd I was able to book with points. How many points of course depends on what you want, when you want it and how you want to use them. After my most recent cruise, I decided no more verandahs for me because I was hardly ever in the stateroom to enjoy it. I was undecided between Cat9 or 10 for this cruise (I don't like that 11 doesn't have split bathrooms). I got lucky with a 10A being available and snagged it! Because of double occupancy and peak season I ended up using 648 total points for the 10A. But if my mom had decided to come with us this time (who pays cash for her portion) the points for my daughter would have been almost 100 less because she would have been considered the "3rd adult". On the NYE Fantasy I was able to get a Navigator's for 498 points because (even though it also peak) was it was a 7 night on a Caribbean itinerary and my mom was with us.

I'm sure some expert DVC members out there would find me foolish for doing it this way. But I actually just banked a bunch of points forward and was trying to figure out how to use them up before they expired so it was a win win for me.

We just booked this cruise (cat 9a, deck 6) using points. We had a bunch stacking up and decided we wanted to go back to Alaska more than WDW. We paid cash for the repo. Looking forward to meeting you all.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Hi everyone!

DH an i have just booked on this cruise and will be joining you all
We are doing a B2B with the California coast cruise. Look forward to meeting you all.

It is me - Shelley and DH - Carl

My bride (Lucky Penny) just booked us on this cruise and the repo. We did the 1st Alaska cruise this past May and can't wait to return.

aboard!

 

[scottrob]

Thank you.

Here is a link to some pictures from our 1st Alaska Cruise. They are in reverse order for some reason. Such beautiful and interesting country.

http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0092009/gp/23532988@N07/124Xyh

 

[MousseauMob]

From what I understand from reading some recent trip reports, Palo brunch is offered on Tracy Arm day as well as all other sea days. So that would be 4 in total.

Thanks!

My bride (Lucky Penny) just booked us on this cruise and the repo. We did the 1st Alaska cruise this past May and can't wait to return.

Thank you.

Here is a link to some pictures from our 1st Alaska Cruise. They are in reverse order for some reason. Such beautiful and interesting country.

http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0092009/gp/23532988@N07/124Xyh

Great pic's thanks for sharing.

 

[chris31997]

Hi! I know I'be been missing from the board for awhile. Things are just crazy busy, I've only had time to quickly browse the posts, wanted to reply to some, but just couldn't find the time. I sent mental "welcome's" to all newly joined, and good vibes and thoughts to everyone experiencing difficulties. I really wish I could start planning in earnest, but things are going to have to settle down a bit first. I kind of know what I want to do for FE's but need to order some supplies and try it out to see what I think, not sure when that will happen but hopefully soon.

Anyway, I got as far as pondering Brunch ressies for Palo, and took a peek at the itinerary and have a question, especially for anyone that has done an DCL Alaska cruise before. Do they offer brunch in Palo on Day 5 our Tracy Arm day, since it technically is a sea day?

Itinerary
1 Vancouver, Canada -- 4:00 p.m.
2 At Sea -- --
3 At Sea -- --
4 Sitka, Alaska* 7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
5 Tracy Arm, Alaska Cruising Cruising
6 Skagway, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 7:45 p.m.
7 Juneau, Alaska 6:15 a.m. 4:45 p.m.
8 Ketchikan, Alaska 11:15 a.m. 7:45 p.m.
9 At Sea - -
10 Vancouver, Canada 8:00 a.m. --

Totally understand about being insane and busy. There is a total of 4. I was thinking of booking Brunch on Tracy Arm day, but the TR out there are saying there was a BBQ on deck that day. IF you can eat it while it was hot it was yummy. Well it was yummy period, probably better hot. But the views from being in Palo were suppose to be pretty good

Anyone who has done this cruise before want to help someone totally undecided???????????

 

[Jackson's grammie]

We will be joining this cruise on a BtoB. Really looking forward to seeing Alaska. This will be cruise 4 & 5 for us. We are Elaine - grandma; Heather - mommy and Jackson who will be almost 5. We really enjoyed the Panama Canal cruise last May and are hooked on the longer cruises. Looking forward to chatting with fellow travelers for the next few months.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I keep reading someone has created a FB account for our cruise. We had one for the EBTA cruise last month and it was very helpful. Will someone please send me the URL for the FB account?

Ray

Here ya go:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2014.Wonderful.Alaska/

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Hi! I know I'be been missing from the board for awhile. Things are just crazy busy, I've only had time to quickly browse the posts, wanted to reply to some, but just couldn't find the time. I sent mental "welcome's" to all newly joined, and good vibes and thoughts to everyone experiencing difficulties. I really wish I could start planning in earnest, but things are going to have to settle down a bit first. I kind of know what I want to do for FE's but need to order some supplies and try it out to see what I think, not sure when that will happen but hopefully soon.

Anyway, I got as far as pondering Brunch ressies for Palo, and took a peek at the itinerary and have a question, especially for anyone that has done an DCL Alaska cruise before. Do they offer brunch in Palo on Day 5 our Tracy Arm day, since it technically is a sea day?

Itinerary
1 Vancouver, Canada -- 4:00 p.m.
2 At Sea -- --
3 At Sea -- --
4 Sitka, Alaska* 7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
5 Tracy Arm, Alaska Cruising Cruising
6 Skagway, Alaska 7:15 a.m. 7:45 p.m.
7 Juneau, Alaska 6:15 a.m. 4:45 p.m.
8 Ketchikan, Alaska 11:15 a.m. 7:45 p.m.
9 At Sea - -
10 Vancouver, Canada 8:00 a.m. --

I have read several trip reports that have shared that they had Palo Brunch on Tracy Arm day.

And if I had read one post further, I would have seen that DisneyfaninAZ had already answered this for you.

 

[MousseauMob]

Totally understand about being insane and busy. There is a total of 4. I was thinking of booking Brunch on Tracy Arm day, but the TR out there are saying there was a BBQ on deck that day. IF you can eat it while it was hot it was yummy. Well it was yummy period, probably better hot. But the views from being in Palo were suppose to be pretty good

Anyone who has done this cruise before want to help someone totally undecided???????????

Thanks! I haven't had time to read any of the TR's yet - good to know about the BBQ. Decisions, decisions...

I have read several trip reports that have shared that they had Palo Brunch on Tracy Arm day.

And if I had read one post further, I would have seen that DisneyfaninAZ had already answered this for you.

Thanks, it's worth repeating, and I do this all the time.

We will be joining this cruise on a BtoB. Really looking forward to seeing Alaska. This will be cruise 4 & 5 for us. We are Elaine - grandma; Heather - mommy and Jackson who will be almost 5. We really enjoyed the Panama Canal cruise last May and are hooked on the longer cruises. Looking forward to chatting with fellow travelers for the next few months.

I hope everyone is keeping cool - this heat wave is killing me.

 

[Saratoga75]

Booked the cruise last week. May 24,2014 can't come soon enough!

 

[RayOfRedondo]

Here ya go:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2014.Wonderful.Alaska/

Thank you so much. Ray

 

[JimB.]

Plane tickets booked! United using some ff miles. Flying in the day prior, flying out the day after. Gonna' hang in Vancouver an extra night to catch some sights/sounds. But mostly because we could not get a flight out after 11 am on debarkation day....... But should still be lotsa' fun! Only have the hotel to go............

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[MousseauMob]

Plane tickets booked! United using some ff miles. Flying in the day prior, flying out the day after. Gonna' hang in Vancouver an extra night to catch some sights/sounds. But mostly because we could not get a flight out after 11 am on debarkation day....... But should still be lotsa' fun! Only have the hotel to go............

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

and all I did today was order some FE supplies. Once you decide on the hotel, I'd love to hear which one you chose and why!

 

[JimB.]

Probably looking at the Pan Pacific or the Fairmont Waterfront. Pricey, but I'm looking at the convenience of just getting up in the morning and walking to the Cruise Terminal........

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[pequele]

Hey there. I posted this on the FB page. But in case you aren't over there I will copy it here for info. The link I will take out as a link so I don't get in trouble but if you pm me I will let you know.

Ladies and gents! Just wanted to let you know that I got a sales alert from United yesterday. I forgot to look last night so I peeked today and saw it is still going on. I just held (because I don't have all my cc's at work!) a flight for the 2 of us. The price together was cheaper than I have been seeing for 1 of us! $750 total from Boston to Vancouver the day before and the day after (23-3)! Woohoo.

If the United sale doesn't work for you I would suggest signing up for alerts from (pm me and i will tell you the link if you aren't on the FB group ahaha) we use them a lot especially for MCO.

 

[MousseauMob]

Probably looking at the Pan Pacific or the Fairmont Waterfront. Pricey, but I'm looking at the convenience of just getting up in the morning and walking to the Cruise Terminal........

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I've been leaning the same way, being able to walk to the Terminal sounds awesome, especially with the cruise parking right there as well.

Isn't the Fairmont Waterfront being offered by DCL, and how does that work? I've never booked a hotel through the cruise line. I went to the site, but couldn't see how to do this. If anyone has experience with this I would greatly appreciate any details you can give me.

 

[tink1963]

Probably looking at the Pan Pacific or the Fairmont Waterfront. Pricey, but I'm looking at the convenience of just getting up in the morning and walking to the Cruise Terminal........

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

We stayed at The Pan Pacific when we sailed in 2011. I agree it is price, but the convenience of having our bags taken from our room and not having do deal with them again until we unpacked in our cabin was wonderful. And just an elevator ride down to the terminal was nice too.