No wbta 2013

[NancyIL]

We would LOVE to do that one day! Our honeymoon was on Hurtigruten and all our holidays have so far been to Scandinavia (from Norway to Estonia). Unfortunately the Iceland itineraries are not in our budget. Maybe in 20/30 (or 35... after we have retired) years. Now, while we are still repaying student loans and stuff, we will stick to the inexpensive TAs (and dream of HALs Viking cruises).

Try Hurtigruten 34 ports on a 7 day cruise. All right, some during the night and many as short as 30 minutes but no sea days at all. And scenery to die for! Another trip we will do again when we are "older".

I returned 5 days ago from a 12-night Royal Caribbean Arctic Circle cruise roundtrip from Amsterdam that went to North Cape and back. I considered the Hurtigruten, but that would've been much more expensive - especially since I cruised solo. I agree - the scenery was gorgeous!

 

[Piggeldy]

Now I am jealous.
Guess I should go to bed and hope that helps.

[We did Hurtigruten in December, all we could afford - 10 days of winter storms, missed all Lofoten ports on our way back to Bergen, loads of rain, nearly no snow, waves splashing all the way up to deck 9 and only one Northern Light that DH missed because he was in the shower It was horrible. We loved it!]

Anyways, now we want a good-weather cruise, sun, and beaches. After years of city trips (and freezing in a Stockholm hostel in December because they had no heating) and hiking and culture we need relexation.

 

[NancyIL]

Now I am jealous.
Guess I should go to bed and hope that helps.

[We did Hurtigruten in December, all we could afford - 10 days of winter storms, missed all Lofoten ports on our way back to Bergen, loads of rain, nearly no snow, waves splashing all the way up to deck 9 and only one Northern Light that DH missed because he was in the shower It was horrible. We loved it!]

Anyways, now we want a good-weather cruise, sun, and beaches. After years of city trips (and freezing in a Stockholm hostel in December because they had no heating) and hiking and culture we need relexation.

I don't know if I could do that cruise in December with so much darkness, but hey - you were on your honeymoon!

We had a lot of sunlight for our cruise, but it wasn't particularly warm. That's okay, because I was prepared for that. We had miserable weather when we docked at Honningsvag, and we could see practically nothing at North Cape through the fog and rain. When the weather cleared later in the day and we sailed around North Cape late in the evening, I got my photos of the lovely cliff. Our cruise didn't go to the Lofoten Islands, but I hope to return and see them. I was surprised by the amount of snow at higher elevations, and I'm glad I was there before it all melted.

For me - Alaska, Canada, and northern Europe are the perfect summer destinations. I prefer to save tropical climates for when it's cold at home, and vice versa.

P.S. Do you live in Germany? I spent a week there before traveling to Amsterdam for the cruise.

 

[LindaBabe]

Well, I signed up for a Vancouver Alaska and then Vancouver to LA repo in Sept 2013 - it will be too cold for Alaska, but it's something different - neither of us have been to Alaska, and my husband hasn't been to San Francisco, so that will work.

It's been fun, guys, but I'm signing off this thread now, so that I don't hold on to my disappointment.

See ya around.

 

[JustAnnieNotHazel]

Take care Linda x

 

[birkner]

If we decide to flip to the December PC cruise in 2013, which side of the ship should we choose, starboard or port for the best views through the canal?

 

[geffric]

I feel that Disney made what they feel is a good business decision. Obviously, the shorter cruises make more money and the longer cruises dont..

On the other hand, I feel that the message is to make a good business decision for me and DH. So we are going to look at other lines..I got a Princess brochure yesterday and they go great places and price is less..dont see a downside

 

[JessicasMom]

Without the DCL TA we will go for itinerary over ship/cruise line.

I think we're all in the same frame of mind today. I'm eagerly awaiting the EBPC this Dec., but next year will be another adventure on another line. So many possibilities to consider...maybe a TA, maybe not (Scandinavia looks amazing!)

Can't wait to see what the 2014 schedule brings . But for today, I'm just plain disappointed.

 

[sssteele]

What a bummer. We were hoping to book this cruise, but gave up and booked for the new Royal Princess ship.

Sailed with friends over Easter and booked the Barcelona to Venice and Venice to Fort Lauderdale as one cruise. Will be 30 or 31 days, and our 1st TA. Three nights is Venice is a good thing! Very excited, but still anxiously awaiting our 10/20/12 Fantasy sailing with friends.

I'm sure you'll all find something that works for you.

 

[Bareacuda]

If we decide to flip to the December PC cruise in 2013, which side of the ship should we choose, starboard or port for the best views through the canal?

Both sides! Really... we walked all day seeing both sides, something intresting everywhere for us.

Annie

 

[birkner]

Both sides! Really... we walked all day seeing both sides, something intresting everywhere for us.

Annie

Thanks Annie!

 

[Bareacuda]

Thanks Annie!

welcome.

 

[annichan]

Really sad to hear there won't be a WBTA ... It seems like we will fall back on our plans to do the LA-Vancouver repo b2b with the first Alaska cruise in 2013 instead.

Don't get me wrong, those cruises are bound to be fantastic so it seems like there wasn't any reason for me to be sad ... But with the cost of the cruises and the airfare, this is just way more expensive than the WBTA would have been, so there still is very much a real possibility that we won't be able to do it.

Guess I'll just have to get even more disciplined about saving money until then - and work on convincing DH a bit more

 

[Piggeldy]

P.S. Do you live in Germany? I spent a week there before traveling to Amsterdam for the cruise.

Yes I am.
Did my accent give me away?

I am "from the North" - northwest really, close to the Dutch boarder and the North See but had to move further south to go to university and now seem to be stuck here (due to permanent position).

So many possibilities to consider...maybe a TA, maybe not (Scandinavia looks amazing!)

Scandinavia is amazing!
Though I really always advocate for getting an Interrail ticket (or similar railway ticket) and experiencing more than "just" the coastline.

But with the cost of the cruises and the airfare, this is just way more expensive than the WBTA would have been, so there still is very much a real possibility that we won't be able to do it.

Airfare is bad. And the flight home takes forever. We would love to see Alaska but it's just really, really far away and if you aren't lucky the airfare nearly doubles the price of the cruise.

Eh. When we have retired Alaska's nature will hopefully still be there. And we wouldn't have to rush there and back in three weeks.

 

[annichan]

Yes I am.
Did my accent give me away?

About the airfare: Yes, it is pretty bad. But then again, we have never seen the American West Coast before, so we could get a lot of "first trips" all rolled into one: the Pacific Ocean; LA; San Francisco; Vancouver; Alaska. So it would be worth paying a bit more airfare for.

It's not like it actually doubles the price of the cruise, anyway (though it's obviously no bargain either!): I've found prices around 850 euros per person for an open-jaw flight from Germany to LA, and then back from Vancouver to Germany. That's not all that horribly much more than what we are paying to get to New York this summer ...

Anyway, I have updated my signature already with a countdown ticker for that cruise, so that means it's really going to happen and we can't cancel it anymore. What a relief.

 

[NancyIL]

About the airfare: Yes, it is pretty bad. But then again, we have never seen the American West Coast before, so we could get a lot of "first trips" all rolled into one: the Pacific Ocean; LA; San Francisco; Vancouver; Alaska. So it would be worth paying a bit more airfare for.

It's not like it actually doubles the price of the cruise, anyway (though it's obviously no bargain either!): I've found prices around 850 euros per person for an open-jaw flight from Germany to LA, and then back from Vancouver to Germany. That's not all that horribly much more than what we are paying to get to New York this summer ...

Anyway, I have updated my signature already with a countdown ticker for that cruise, so that means it's really going to happen and we can't cancel it anymore. What a relief.

Here's hoping DCL doesn't pull the rug out from under you and decide NOT to go to Alaska in 2014!

 

[annichan]

Here's hoping DCL doesn't pull the rug out from under you and decide NOT to go to Alaska in 2014!

Thank you! But we have booked Alaska for 2013, so we're not too worried about that!

EDIT: I just saw that I did indeed write "2014" earlier (changed it now) - I never knew my brain could even think so far ahead when it came to vacations!

 

[NancyIL]

Thank you! But we have booked Alaska for 2013, so we're not too worried about that!

EDIT: I just saw that I did indeed write "2014" earlier (changed it now) - I never knew my brain could even think so far ahead when it came to vacations!

I'm always thinking about trips WAY down the road. I booked two cruises for 2014 in the past month - obviously NOT on Disney!

**I just noticed that I didn't even quote the right post where you mentioned Alaska!

 

[valbob89]

Although they haven't announced a WBTA, have they announced there won't be one? I had to call DCL yesterday on another issue and I asked if they have been told to say there isn't going to be a WBTA. The rep said no they weren't told that, they were told that info on a WBTA was be announced in the future.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Although they haven't announced a WBTA, have they announced there won't be one? I had to call DCL yesterday on another issue and I asked if they have been told to say there isn't going to be a WBTA. The rep said no they weren't told that, they were told that info on a WBTA was be announced in the future.

Promising