May 24, 2014 Alaskan 9 night Wonder

[MousseauMob]

I have to say, the one thing I am totally overwhelmed with is figuring out the excursions. I am not sure that even 14 months is going to be enough time for me to sort this all out.

The nice thing is there are SO many cool excursions, or for those that don't want to do an excursion there is so much right in walking distance. Ketchikan, Juneau, and Sitka are all so nice and easy to walk around. But of course they can get really crowded - as soon as the other cruise lines post their schedules we can check who will be in town with us. We were lucky to be the last cruise ship of the season in 2012 and were the only ship in town for our ports (except Sitka which we missed this go around), which was awesome! No crowds!

There's a great little museum in Ketchikan that is walking distance away, and KetchiCandies is yummy!

Juneau had the best spiced nuts right off the ship and the tram to Mount Roberts is right there. We've typically done an excursion in Juneau because they have such good whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier is always fun to see. Our first time to Juneau we did the fish hatchery, Mendenhall and Salmon bake - this was fun for the kids because they had a camp fire to roast marshmallows. This time, I want to allow more time to walk around and explore the town a bit.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Pequele,

I love that you have set up helpful links, however, this one does not work:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread....hlight=seattle

Can you check it out? Thanks!

 

[pequele]

Pequele,

I love that you have set up helpful links, however, this one does not work:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread....hlight=seattle

Can you check it out? Thanks!

yup I will look

ok I THINK it works now

 

[chris31997]

I'm another one looking for all the info I can get. I totally appreciate the "experts" sharing their info Love the pics. The ability to just walk off the boat to see something

Not sure about the oragami(sp) Mickey, but my DD decided on the spur of a moment to sew a Mickey pillow. Sew by hand To say we are Disney addicts, would be an understanment. The Military has been good to us also.

Swiming in Alsaka, now that would be something. The whole family has wet suits. They love diving and snorkeling. As for me, the fish might eat me so I stay out of the water and admire from the beach

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

I'm another one looking for all the info I can get. I totally appreciate the "experts" sharing their info Love the pics. The ability to just walk off the boat to see something

Not sure about the oragami(sp) Mickey, but my DD decided on the spur of a moment to sew a Mickey pillow. Sew by hand To say we are Disney addicts, would be an understanment. The Military has been good to us also.

Swiming in Alsaka, now that would be something. The whole family has wet suits. They love diving and snorkeling. As for me, the fish might eat me so I stay out of the water and admire from the beach

Ketchikan is great to just walk off th boat. There is a free bus which stops every 20 minutes right where you exit the ship. It runs in a loop around the town. It has like 4 stops.

1- the main one right by the ship and the Lumberjack show.

2- In front of the museum. This is also the local library, and Creek Street is right there as well.

3- The Totem Pole park. Not sure exactly what it is called. Also the salmon hatchery is right there as well, and there are 2 bald eagles at the hatchery.

4- Right by the giant wooden bald eagle. Worth the stop just for the photo op.

The bus driver is also a great source of knowledge about stuff to do near the bus stops.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

The pics of Sitka are amazing!! I am so very excited. Does anyone have an idea when Disney would come out with excursions for the new ports? I want to take a look at the HAL site for sure. Probably not tonight, I need to stay busy while I wait another 56 minutes to register for our May 2013 cruise. Sad, but my head keeps bobbing! That's it, I'm officially OLD

I may be wrong, and someone please correct me, but I don't think that they will post Sitka excursions until much closer to the sailing. And I don't think there is a sailing stopping in Sitka until we do or we could see what they are offered.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Guess What?

Less than a year until on-line check in is available.

How do you find out the exact date we can start booking excursions and Palo dining? Working on my calendar and what needs to be done when. I already have the check-in and final payment dates, but I think excursion and dining booking is different from either of these.

I found a post that says if you are gold, you can book 105 days prior to sailing, is that correct?

 

[MousseauMob]

4- Right by the giant wooden bald eagle. Worth the stop just for the photo op.

We call this the mooning eagle! A couple of pic's to show why!

BTW two interesting things we were told by a guide about that tunnel behind the eagle. 1 - its the only tunnel you can drive through, around, and over. 2 - when they wanted to build it they couldn't obtain funding for a tunnel, but there was funding for a bomb shelter, so they built it as a bomb shelter! Yes, that is a flight of stairs by it for the truly fit!

I may be wrong, and someone please correct me, but I don't think that they will post Sitka excursions until much closer to the sailing. And I don't think there is a sailing stopping in Sitka until we do or we could see what they are offered.

I think you're right on this. HAL's website can give some ideas of excursions, since most cruise lines use the same operators, I'll bet the list will be similar.

Guess What?

Less than a year until on-line check in is available.

How do you find out the exact date we can start booking excursions and Palo dining? Working on my calendar and what needs to be done when. I already have the check-in and final payment dates, but I think excursion and dining booking is different from either of these.

I found a post that says if you are gold, you can book 105 days prior to sailing, is that correct?

I believe that is correct. I think it is 120 for Platinum and Concierge, 105 for Gold and 90 for Silver. Of course you have to be paid in full first, so we always end up paid in full well before our payoff date so we can book things.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Guess What?

Less than a year until on-line check in is available.

How do you find out the exact date we can start booking excursions and Palo dining? Working on my calendar and what needs to be done when. I already have the check-in and final payment dates, but I think excursion and dining booking is different from either of these.

I found a post that says if you are gold, you can book 105 days prior to sailing, is that correct?

Dates for Check In, Excursions, Spa and Palo Dinings:

New Cruisers (75 Days) - March 10, 2014

Silver CC Member (90 Days) - February 23, 2014

Gold CC Members (105 Days) - February 8, 2014

Platinum CC Members/Concierge (120 Days) - January 24, 2014

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Dates for Check In, Excursions, Spa and Palo Dinings:

New Cruisers (75 Days) - March 10, 2014

Silver CC Member (90 Days) - February 23, 2014

Gold CC Members (105 Days) - February 8, 2014

Platinum CC Members/Concierge (120 Days) - January 24, 2014

Thanks for confirming this for me. Going to go and update my calendar now.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

yup I will look

ok I THINK it works now

Thanks Stephanie, it works!

Hope you got what you wanted last night!

 

[pequele]

Thanks Stephanie, it works!

Hope you got what you wanted last night!

Yup got our dolphin experience. That was really all since it is just 3 days. First check in time too but we will be taking the bus from animal kingdom so I'm sure we will have no problem. At least I hope.

Thanks for the calendar dates. I'm going to jot them down too. I feel so discombobulated between a wdw trip with cruise this May, another wdw trip in Oct and then this cruise in May 2014! Too many dates to keep track of!!!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Yup got our dolphin experience. That was really all since it is just 3 days. First check in time too but we will be taking the bus from animal kingdom so I'm sure we will have no problem. At least I hope.

Thanks for the calendar dates. I'm going to jot them down too. I feel so discombobulated between a wdw trip with cruise this May, another wdw trip in Oct and then this cruise in May 2014! Too many dates to keep track of!!!

No problem. Feel free to add the dates to your first post as they apply to everyone on this cruise.

 

[pequele]

No problem. Feel free to add the dates to your first post as they apply to everyone on this cruise.

oh yeh good idea! So if we are making payments we have to be fully paid by the day we can book right?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

oh yeh good idea! So if we are making payments we have to be fully paid by the day we can book right?

Correct.

 

[pequele]

ok I added that in there, added another thread that Moon suggested as well. I am excited that I may have talked a friend into coming on the trip with her daughter who is my son's age. She's checking things out right now!!! YEAH!

 

[MoonDaughter23]

Ketchikan is great to just walk off th boat. There is a free bus which stops every 20 minutes right where you exit the ship. It runs in a loop around the town. It has like 4 stops.

1- the main one right by the ship and the Lumberjack show.

2- In front of the museum. This is also the local library, and Creek Street is right there as well.

3- The Totem Pole park. Not sure exactly what it is called. Also the salmon hatchery is right there as well, and there are 2 bald eagles at the hatchery.

4- Right by the giant wooden bald eagle. Worth the stop just for the photo op.

The bus driver is also a great source of knowledge about stuff to do near the bus stops.

Thanks for this! Wow, a free bus! Sounds like a very tourist friendly town.

I may be wrong, and someone please correct me, but I don't think that they will post Sitka excursions until much closer to the sailing. And I don't think there is a sailing stopping in Sitka until we do or we could see what they are offered.

Although you never know (Pixie Dust may bring it sooner ) I agree with MousseauMob. I don't expect to see any PA choices for Sitka until just before the 120 day mark. Someone on another thread explained to me that for DCL's brand new ports, Disney puts vendors through a double vetting process before they are approved worthy of being one if their Port Adventures. When I was waiting for San Juan PAs on the Fantasy there was only one sailing before us, so our group watched their dates but nothing came up until a bit before their 120 days. Same for my upcoming Med cruise on the Magic. Athens, Mykonos and Kusadasi PA choices did not post until just a few days before booking was open to our Platinum members. The official Disney stamp of approval could definitely be a looooooooooooong wait.

We call this the mooning eagle! A couple of pic's to show why!

Love the "Mooning Eagle". Definitely an easy way to remember the stop.

ok I added that in there, added another thread that Moon suggested as well. I am excited that I may have talked a friend into coming on the trip with her daughter who is my son's age. She's checking things out right now!!! YEAH!

Nice! I hope that works out for you! I'm trying to talk a few friends into going too, but no luck so far with any. None of them share my excitement for Alaska. Or Disney.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Pequele, the link for the B2B cruisers is not working either, probably just missing something at the very end.

 

[pequele]

Pequele, the link for the B2B cruisers is not working either, probably just missing something at the very end.

I wonder if something happens when I go into edit mode?

ok I think it is fixed...I think haha

 

[RweTHEREyet]

For those of us that are doing a B2B and are first taking the May 19th San Diego to Vancouver in 2014, I have created a Meets Thread as well and here is the link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3070167

I hope we are able to get information on hotels for the night(s) before in San Diego, things to do in the surrounding area and maybe where to buy some wine, etc. before getting on the ship on Monday.

So, come join me over there as well, too, ok, or it is going to get kind of lonely very quickly.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled meets thread for Alaska.