North To Alaska--May 3, 2011 on the Disney Wonder

[bonzie1]

Question: Does anyone know if DCL participates in the US Direct Process from the port to Vancouver Airport?
http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/about/cruiseandtourism/usdirectprocess.aspx

Just got off speaking with DCL. Disney does not participate in the US Direct Process. (It sounds like a well thought out, streamlined process, that is already established.)

Disney will have their own transfers $49 round trip. Half of that for one way.

I asked again about excursions... nothing yet. I shared that many of us had been looking at other companies and liked what we saw. Being Disney's first Alaskan cruise we are excited, but concerned that tour availability may be limited and don't want to miss out. So, it will be in Disney's best interest to get the excursions out there for us to see.

Have a great day everyone!
Georgie

 

[rotary2808]

Just got off speaking with DCL. Disney does not participate in the US Direct Process. (It sounds like a well thought out, streamlined process, that is already established.)

Disney will have their own transfers $49 rount trip.

I asked again about excursions... nothing yet. I shared that many of us had been looking at other companies and liked what we saw. Being Disney's first Alaskan cruise we are excited, but concerned that tour availability may be limited and don't want to miss out. So, it will be in Disney's best interest to get the excursions out there for us to see.

Have a great day everyone!
Georgie

Georgie, did you see the excursion preview they had on Cruise Critic a couple of weeks ago. It didn't go into a lot of details, but it did at least give some insight into what they are planning for each port. I found the link on Facebook. I don't know if it was ever posted here.

 

[mishoe01]

That Cruise Critic teaser did nothing for me....seemed to just say what DCL would/could do for kids.

I'm hoping they get the info out soon.....I'm ready to plan!!

 

[Lynn G]

Don't know if it's been discussed here (OK...I have 2 vacations before this one so I'm not in the Alaska mind-set yet!)...but there will be and Adventures By Disney add on for the Alaska cruises. (just saw that in Erik & Jason's Med. blog comments section. They had done a presentation on the DVC members cruise and announced that)

I hope that since it was mentioned by DVC that it would be possible to use points - we were very disappointed recently when we tried to reserve AbD to Egypt on the adults only tour to be told that we could not book that one on points (it had been added after the original contract and was not in the DVC options - at least we think this is why - DVC will only say that not all AbD trips are available on points, but the only way to find out is to call and ask for a specific trip).

 

[rotary2808]

I hope that since it was mentioned by DVC that it would be possible to use points - we were very disappointed recently when we tried to reserve AbD to Egypt on the adults only tour to be told that we could not book that one on points (it had been added after the original contract and was not in the DVC options - at least we think this is why - DVC will only say that not all AbD trips are available on points, but the only way to find out is to call and ask for a specific trip).

Lynn, I heard something about that you wouldn't be able to use points for cruises, etc. anymore. Do you know anything about that?

 

[Lynn G]

Lynn, I heard something about that you wouldn't be able to use points for cruises, etc. anymore. Do you know anything about that?

Emily - from what I understand, there was a cap on the number of cabins that could be booked on points, no one ever expected to come near that cap, but it is getting close, or maybe even exceded, so there is a "moritorium" on booking cruises on points until (I think) Sept 2011. So it is not a permanent thing, just until they catch up on the cabins available for points, or until someone changes the contract to include more cabins available for points. Again, this is just my understanding from what I have heard - I may be totally wrong as to the reason, but I am pretty sure it is a temporary restriction.

 

[rotary2808]

Emily - from what I understand, there was a cap on the number of cabins that could be booked on points, no one ever expected to come near that cap, but it is getting close, or maybe even exceded, so there is a "moritorium" on booking cruises on points until (I think) Sept 2011. So it is not a permanent thing, just until they catch up on the cabins available for points, or until someone changes the contract to include more cabins available for points. Again, this is just my understanding from what I have heard - I may be totally wrong as to the reason, but I am pretty sure it is a temporary restriction.

I hope so. We were planning on booking the Dream for next Sept. on points for after the pin event. Since we can't book the room for the trip until a couple of days from now dad probably hasn't even thought about it and probably doesn't even know about it.

 

[Hygiene99]

Emily - from what I understand, there was a cap on the number of cabins that could be booked on points, no one ever expected to come near that cap, but it is getting close, or maybe even exceded, so there is a "moritorium" on booking cruises on points until (I think) Sept 2011. So it is not a permanent thing, just until they catch up on the cabins available for points, or until someone changes the contract to include more cabins available for points. Again, this is just my understanding from what I have heard - I may be totally wrong as to the reason, but I am pretty sure it is a temporary restriction.

I am on the wait list to use points for the First Alaska!

 

[rotary2808]

I am on the wait list to use points for the First Alaska!

You usually have pretty good luck with the waitlist thing, so you shouldn't have any problem.

 

[Lynn G]

I am on the wait list to use points for the First Alaska!

Peter, I thought you could change over to points if the original booking was before they started this new thing - when we were talking to a DVC rep, he offered to change our New Years Cruise to points before he realized it was not because of the new policy, but because it was a cruise not in the DVC contract that we could not use our points.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Our pal Holly was able to book this cruise now (she had been saving for the $1200 deposit!) for under $500 in deposits!

Welcome to the second 'leg' of the journey Holly!

.

 

[Hygiene99]

Lynn, I tried making new res, and swapping over!

Was told about wait list thinge>>>>>

 

[Lynn G]

Well, good luck to you Peter - by the way, we did get our waitlisted days at Saratoga, I was told we were "matched" when I called to see if either day was available, then later in the day it showed up on our reservation. But I probably would not have known if I had not been following your directions to call daily - I was just going to check it the day before I had to cancel the Coronado Springs reservation. Thanks for the imput!

 

[sdlong329]

After neglecting my responsibilities once again, I *promise* to NEVER shy away from DCL / DISboards ... especially with the sailing dates fast approaching!

 

[kris3kid]

The bering sea deadliest catch has their tours out now for next year, I booked last week because I hear that they fill up fast.

 

[sdlong329]

What is everyone doing for airfare? We are planning to go to Disneyland post cruise which is making my search for airfare interesting to say the least.

Booked Airfare today Southwest going out PHL to LAX $184 per person 4/23. Coming home Air Canada $344 per person - Air Canada 1 bag free and Southwest 2 bags free. Hope this info helps.

See you soon!
Donna

 

[rotary2808]

Booked Airfare today Southwest going out PHL to LAX $184 per person 4/23. Coming home Air Canada $344 per person - Air Canada 1 bag free and Southwest 2 bags free. Hope this info helps.

See you soon!
Donna

That's an excellent rate coming home. I hope we can find something like that. The main thing is finding an afternoon flight.

 

[bonzie1]

Air Canada has some flights into Phila (change planes) leaving at 12:00 and later. Their price is a good one compared to US Air, etc. Southwest is great flying out of Seattle, but you must get to Seattle (Cascades train, etc.)

 

[BobandLee]

Good Day.
Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends. Eh?


Now that I am back from vacation, I will do a roster update in the next few days.

 

[rotary2808]

Huntsville is a pain to fly in/out of. I looked at Seattle last week and it was a couple hundred dollars cheaper per person round trip, but we'd have to figure out how to get to and from Vancouver. Plus I didn't even look yet to see if they have an afternoon flight that would work.