May 24, 2014 Alaskan 9 night Wonder

[RweTHEREyet]

Has anyone been able to book independent tours, not thru DCL thru Disney? I have tried a couple of vendors, and they seem to be booked already.

I am thinking that this is the way for me to go since this is my SILs first cruise and she can't book until just about time to board (exaggeration, I know, but it seems that way). We are Gold, but it is going to be hard to book and then wait for her to be able to, and I don't know that she will understand the need to book as soon as her window opens.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Has anyone been able to book independent tours, not thru DCL thru Disney? I have tried a couple of vendors, and they seem to be booked already.

I am thinking that this is the way for me to go since this is my SILs first cruise and she can't book until just about time to board (exaggeration, I know, but it seems that way). We are Gold, but it is going to be hard to book and then wait for her to be able to, and I don't know that she will understand the need to book as soon as her window opens.

Yes, our group has booked 2 independent tours in Juneau and Skagway. It seems like there are a lot of DCL veterans on this cruise and know the ropes about booking independently. So, I don't think the DCL excursions are going to fill up as fast. She may have some luck. JMHO.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Yes, our group has booked 2 independent tours in Juneau and Skagway. It seems like there are a lot of DCL veterans on this cruise and know the ropes about booking independently. So, I don't think the DCL excursions are going to fill up as fast. She may have some luck. JMHO.

While we have cruised with Disney a bit, we don't book a lot of excursions, so I don't know the "ropes" as much as I need to, it seems. while she may have some luck, it seems we may not have luck in booking things together. Starting to feel kind of bummed about this.

 

[pequele]

When I got to work this morning I also had a voice mail from the lady that sent me the e-mail regarding the pier information correction last Friday. I am getting ready to go into a meeting and can't call her back right now, but I sure wonder what is up now. Also wondering why she called my office no. and not my cell no.

Doesn't you boss know how important this phone call is

Has anyone been able to book independent tours, not thru DCL thru Disney? I have tried a couple of vendors, and they seem to be booked already. I am thinking that this is the way for me to go since this is my SILs first cruise and she can't book until just about time to board (exaggeration, I know, but it seems that way). We are Gold, but it is going to be hard to book and then wait for her to be able to, and I don't know that she will understand the need to book as soon as her window opens.

I am curious as well because I'd like to maybe do a couple of things in one day and the way Disney has timing so far, it doesn't seem to be a possibility.

 

[MousseauMob]

When I got to work this morning I also had a voice mail from the lady that sent me the e-mail regarding the pier information correction last Friday. I am getting ready to go into a meeting and can't call her back right now, but I sure wonder what is up now. Also wondering why she called my office no. and not my cell no.

Keep us informed! My TA called DCL again, I forwarded her the email text you posted, and she was still told Canada Place and they would let her know if it changes. Of course she did caution me that DCL often doesn't communicate in a prompt fashion, and that she believed the change info probably just hadn't been communicated to the DCL reps yet.

Thanks, I just wish we could see the times even if we can't book yet! Trying to plan if we can do 2 things in a day in some places.

I agree, I wish they would show the times, it sure would make planning easier.

Has anyone been able to book independent tours, not thru DCL thru Disney? I have tried a couple of vendors, and they seem to be booked already.

We booked one, but I don't think its with a vendor that DCL uses, so there was no issues.

 

[pequele]

I agree, I wish they would show the times, it sure would make planning easier. We booked one, but I don't think its with a vendor that DCL uses, so there was no issues.

Which port and with what company? I'm searching online and having issues with finding things.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

While we have cruised with Disney a bit, we don't book a lot of excursions, so I don't know the "ropes" as much as I need to, it seems. while she may have some luck, it seems we may not have luck in booking things together. Starting to feel kind of bummed about this.

I guess what I meant was that I don't think the DCL excursions will fill so that at even 75 days, she should be able to get the same ones you booked.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

When I got to work this morning I also had a voice mail from the lady that sent me the e-mail regarding the pier information correction last Friday. I am getting ready to go into a meeting and can't call her back right now, but I sure wonder what is up now. Also wondering why she called my office no. and not my cell no.

I have called the number she left twice now, and both times I got "your call is being forwarded to an automated attendant." I have left a message, so I will post if she calls me back.

 

[mrp4352]

What have people gotten for PATs who have been able to check in?

Sorry - but Platinum's don't get PATs. The Gold group will be the first one who can help you with this.

Has anyone been able to book independent tours, not thru DCL thru Disney? I have tried a couple of vendors, and they seem to be booked already.

We booked privately in Sitka with Sitka Wildlife Tours. However, we chose to go through Disney in Skagway and Juneau. Those are both repeat excursions for us and they went so well last time, we didn't want to try anything else.

 

[pequele]

Sorry - but Platinum's don't get PATs. The Gold group will be the first one who can help you with this.

Oh dang it that's right! Ok, when is Gold booking starting haha

We booked privately in Sitka with Sitka Wildlife Tours. However, we chose to go through Disney in Skagway and Juneau. Those are both repeat excursions for us and they went so well last time, we didn't want to try anything else.

Hmmm I will have to search more because I'm looking for Skagway and Juneau. This is making me crazy. I'm sure I will just wind up doing one thing a day. Do people do 2 things a day if time allows?

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Oh dang it that's right! Ok, when is Gold booking starting haha

I am gold, and if my memory is correct, it will be Saturday, Feb 8.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Hmmm I will have to search more because I'm looking for Skagway and Juneau. This is making me crazy. I'm sure I will just wind up doing one thing a day. Do people do 2 things a day if time allows?

Have you looked at Trip Advisor? They rank tours and activities for each of those places.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Keep us informed! My TA called DCL again, I forwarded her the email text you posted, and she was still told Canada Place and they would let her know if it changes. Of course she did caution me that DCL often doesn't communicate in a prompt fashion, and that she believed the change info probably just hadn't been communicated to the DCL reps yet.

I agree, I wish they would show the times, it sure would make planning easier.

We booked one, but I don't think its with a vendor that DCL uses, so there was no issues.

I also forwarded my TA the email you posted. She was going to give them another call today with that information. She asked again when she made my final payment the other day and again was assured (by a supervisor) that is was Canada Place! I told her I just want confirmation that there will be a shuttle to take me to Ballantyne from the Pan Pacific (Canada Place)!

 

[pequele]

I am gold, and if my memory is correct, it will be Saturday, Feb 8.

Ok goody. It's getting closer. I still have 27 days.

Have you looked at Trip Advisor? They rank tours and activities for each of those places.

Oooo no I didn't think of that. Cool. Thanks!

I also forwarded my TA the email you posted. She was going to give them another call today with that information. She asked again when she made my final payment the other day and again was assured (by a supervisor) that is was Canada Place! I told her I just want confirmation that there will be a shuttle to take me to Ballantyne from the Pan Pacific (Canada Place)!

I should do the same with my TA. I do want to be sure there is a shuttle for us if not as our plans were based off this Canada Place pier.

 

[MousseauMob]

Which port and with what company? I'm searching online and having issues with finding things.

Sitka Wildlife Tour with Gallant Adventures.

Do people do 2 things a day if time allows?

I think I've only been successful booking multiples through a cruiseline once. When I wanted to do multiples I've had to book independently.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Sitka Wildlife Tour with Gallant Adventures.

I think I've only been successful booking multiples through a cruiseline once. When I wanted to do multiples I've had to book independently.

I tried Gallant for our party of 4 and he wrote me back he was pretty booked, except for a shorter tour that probably wouldn't make it to the whales and it also got back at 4:00 which was a little too close to All Aboard to suit me.

 

[MousseauMob]

I tried Gallant for our party of 4 and he wrote me back he was pretty booked, except for a shorter tour that probably wouldn't make it to the whales and it also got back at 4:00 which was a little too close to All Aboard to suite me.

Oh I'm sorry, that would be the tour after us, and I agree, that's cutting it a bit too close.

 

[RayOfRedondo]

Sorry - but Platinum's don't get PATs. The Gold group will be the first one who can help you with this.



We booked privately in Sitka with Sitka Wildlife Tours. However, we chose to go through Disney in Skagway and Juneau. Those are both repeat excursions for us and they went so well last time, we didn't want to try anything else.

I am not familiar with the acronym PAT. Will someone please tell me what this is?

Ray

 

[MousseauMob]

I am not familiar with the acronym PAT. Will someone please tell me what this is?

Ray

I believe its Port Arrival Time.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I am not familiar with the acronym PAT. Will someone please tell me what this is?

Ray

Yes, PAT = Port Arrival Time, but if you are Platinum, which I believe you are, then you don't have to worry about it because you can board whenever you wish.

By they way, what do they give to the Platinum folks to show when boarding. We lowely non-Platinum people get a boarding number telling us what group we are in, so I am curious what Platinum people have to show to get thru those Mickey ears.