Sept. 23, 2012 Pacific Coast - Wonder Cruise

[erbie]

I called. Between losing our OBD and OBC, it would cost us about $800 to move to a VGT. Darn it! Just not worth it. Too bad, since if we just booked without the OBD/OBC, it would only be $244 more overall. Guess we'll see what's available at the port! Either way, I'm thrilled to be on the ship!

 

[glindamood]

Our fare, with the OBD is $1573.00 including the port charges for an 11B PLUS I have a $350 OBC because I am platinum (don't think they have taken that away) so, if I put those two things together, it gives me $1223.00. This is a port intensive trip (will be for me anyway as I have not been to or explored any or our stops) so we just won't be in the cabin enough to warrant the additional $700 dollars. Plus, as I said when they released these before - I am much too much of a control freak to just end up where they put me. I will take my sideways cabin and be a happy cruiser.

Well, got home to less of a smell in the house so I need to spray the Febreeze again. Everyone enjoy your evening!

 

[peja]

@glindamood

You have made a very good point about this being a very port intensive trip. I looked at the itinerary again, and most of the time we are on the ship will be in the evenings or on only 2 sea days, paying an extra 700 bucks might not be worth it as I do not foresee us in the rooms much. We also have my MIL travelling with us so she takes the kids 4 out of the 7 nights so that me and hubby can have some time together. And our time together in the evenings is usually spent at the adult only pool. I think I will stick to the 11B.

 

[erbie]

Okay I checked out the VGT. It works out to about 3200 for the four of us. We are presently an 11B stateroom, which we got with the Canadian discount at 2500 for the four of us. We are travelling with my MIL who is in another stateroom. DCL told me if I cancel and go the VGT route, their is no guarantee that we will be placed together cause the cruise is apparently filling up.

Should I upgrade and take my chances and pay the 700 dollar difference, or use the 700 difference on expenses on the ship??? What would you do????And did I get a good price for the 11B cat???

Renata

I just got off the phone and I asked the CM how full the ship was. She kind of chuckled and said "Well it's not exactly full!" Last we heard, it was half full. And frankly, if it were filling up, they wouldn't be offering a second round of OGT/VGT, and certainly not before the PIF date. So I don't what DCL told you at all. She also said that they're having a lot of trouble filling up the ships for the CA cruises, even with the Pixar theming and the discounts. I told her that I live in So Cal and had spoken to lots of people who didn't even know they had the ship out here, and I'd not seen a single billboard or heard any advertising on the radio or TV, so I attribute the poor sales to that. It's a shame, because it probably means no more DCL in LA. I hate flying, so this has been nice. (And so much cheaper for us too!)

Your Canadian discount is a good discount! Better than what we got from our OBD for the four of us in an 11B.

Only you can decide if the verandah is worth it. You may or may not be near your MIL, even if the reservations are linked, with the VGT. $700 is a lot of money. I just posted about deciding not to do it because it was about $800 more overall with losing our OBD and OBC, though we'd still have them for a future cruise.

And there's always the possibility of upgrading at the port. At the port, the price difference is per cabin, not per person, so it's usually a really good deal if they have what you want. That's what we're going to try to do.

Good luck deciding!

 

[socababy]

Dd and I are booked!!! She and I are both excited! I'm also relieved to have been able to get main seating for dinner and I even booked a brunch for me. We will be doing Legoland in San Diego and meeting my boys and the in-laws there. In San Fran, I am hoping to hire a car through Disney and take a trip to the Jelly Belly Factory on the first day there. I booked the fire engine for the 2nd day and then we'll play the rest of the day by ear.

I just told dd and the first thing she said is that we need to bring our "hanging thing" to get gifts. I had to break it to her that we won't be doing that this cruise. I still have to get our FE gifts ready for our August cruise and then start on our PC cruise gifts for Dec. I can't believe I just booked my 5th DCL cruise for 2012! I am so sad she'll be leaving the west coast for the majority of the year next year and maybe permanently after that.

 

[glindamood]

Okay I checked out the VGT. It works out to about 3200 for the four of us. We are presently an 11B stateroom, which we got with the Canadian discount at 2500 for the four of us. We are travelling with my MIL who is in another stateroom. DCL told me if I cancel and go the VGT route, their is no guarantee that we will be placed together cause the cruise is apparently filling up.

Should I upgrade and take my chances and pay the 700 dollar difference, or use the 700 difference on expenses on the ship??? What would you do????And did I get a good price for the 11B cat???

Well, I would use the $700 toward expenses and keep what you have but that is me and this is a really personal thing. You felt you would be comfy in the 11B when you booked so I would hold on to it. Just think what the extra funds will get you - even if you put that toward a future booking while onboard. They will get my money somehow - via my cabin or my bar tab or Shutters or the Spa or Palo and frankly, I would rather it be with the other items.

 

[erbie]

Oh, and I also asked again about the theme nights. She said what a couple of others have heard. Monday semi, Thursday formal and Friday Pirate. All others cruise casual. Also, she said there will be fireworks.

 

[socababy]

Anyone know what number I can call to ask specific questions about different port adventures?

 

[dennisbryce]

We finally booked our flights I could not decide whether to fly in the night before or the day of and chose the night before. Too many things can happen.
Now on to the hotel and transfers???? Where to stay and how to get to the "Mickey Boat"

 

[BigDisneyOE]

I dunno, I wake up and check the emails, check DCL site and see a VGT, do a post to let people know and then go for a 10km run. I get back and there's a flurry of activity!

I can't believe the ship is filling up, why do two rounds of VGT and on OGT? I'd say they'd be lucky to get 75% capacity at this rate on sail date.

Erbie is sounds as if your port upgrade is the best way to go, don't want to lose money out of a VGT.

Socababy I think you ring the normal DCL number. We aren't doing DCL excursions, booked private and saved a heap.

Right I'm off to get a proper strap for my thumb, tubigrip is no good and the earthquake must have done more damage than the doc thought as it was stinging and sending rays of pain down to my elbow while out running.

 

[glindamood]

Right I'm off to get a proper strap for my thumb, tubigrip is no good and the earthquake must have done more damage than the doc thought as it was stinging and sending rays of pain down to my elbow while out running.

That doesn't sound good at ALL but hopefully it isn't broken. But good that you have gone and pixie dust that the news is good and the healing can begin.

 

[peja]

I just got off the phone and I asked the CM how full the ship was. She kind of chuckled and said "Well it's not exactly full!" Last we heard, it was half full. And frankly, if it were filling up, they wouldn't be offering a second round of OGT/VGT, and certainly not before the PIF date. So I don't what DCL told you at all. She also said that they're having a lot of trouble filling up the ships for the CA cruises, even with the Pixar theming and the discounts. I told her that I live in So Cal and had spoken to lots of people who didn't even know they had the ship out here, and I'd not seen a single billboard or heard any advertising on the radio or TV, so I attribute the poor sales to that. It's a shame, because it probably means no more DCL in LA. I hate flying, so this has been nice. (And so much cheaper for us too!)

Your Canadian discount is a good discount! Better than what we got from our OBD for the four of us in an 11B.

Only you can decide if the verandah is worth it. You may or may not be near your MIL, even if the reservations are linked, with the VGT. $700 is a lot of money. I just posted about deciding not to do it because it was about $800 more overall with losing our OBD and OBC, though we'd still have them for a future cruise.

And there's always the possibility of upgrading at the port. At the port, the price difference is per cabin, not per person, so it's usually a really good deal if they have what you want. That's what we're going to try to do.

Good luck deciding!

I called again just now after reading all the posts and I got a totally different response from the DCL staff about capacity. A while back I called and they told me it was at 50% capacity, I called earlier today and they told me that it was filling up. I just called now and they told me that they have no way of really figuring out the capacity of the ship because most of the ship is based on Guaranteed Status therefore rooms are not assigned. Category 11B only has a few rooms available, otherwise shows lots of rooms for the other categories. I guess we will just have to see how full the pools are when we get there.

I have decided to stay with 11B and then try an upgrade at port. DCL told me not to ask for an upgrade at check in but once I get on the ship to go directly to Guest Services!?! IS THIS CORRECT???

 

[erbie]

I have decided to stay with 11B and then try an upgrade at port. DCL told me not to ask for an upgrade at check in but once I get on the ship to go directly to Guest Services!?! IS THIS CORRECT???

Not any time I've gone. You wait in the check in line, get all checked in, and then you ask the person helping you if there are any upgrades available. They will walk you or send you over tithe supervisor desk and the person there will tell you what's available and how much it would be for each category upgrade you're interested in. They have a grid that shows the difference. You decide if there are any rooms to your liking and pay the difference, (which is 1/3-1/2 what it would be if you booked before that), and then they issue you new key cards and move all your stuff. Your luggage will likely be late getting to your new room, so you might want to pack a day bag if there are things you will need before dinner.

There's no way this date is getting full. Just the fact that there are still Palo brunches available tells me that. I've not been able to book a Palo brunch before boarding except for the PC repo, because the gold and platinum usually get all the ressies before silver even has a chance. Excursions and spa treatments are also wide open. Also, theres a royal suite and a ton of one bedrooms, and those are always gone quickly. And there is a second round of OGT and VGT.

 

[socababy]

Anyone know if Ghiradelli is within walking distance from where we will be docked?

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Anyone know if Ghiradelli is within walking distance from where we will be docked?

Oh yes my friend, it is certainly walking distance! My two are looking forward to it already and have chosen off the menu. You know they are at Disneyland too now right?

 

[BigDisneyOE]

That doesn't sound good at ALL but hopefully it isn't broken. But good that you have gone and pixie dust that the news is good and the healing can begin.

Thanks Gail. Probably haven't helped it pulling the good stuff off coriander all afternoon. Too much pinching movement but you have to get the stuff while it's good and freeze it.

 

[erbie]

Oh yes my friend, it is certainly walking distance! My two are looking forward to it already and have chosen off the menu. You know they are at Disneyland too now right?

My youngest is, shall we say, a complete and utter chocolate fiend. She is very much looking forward to Ghirardelli again. The big vat of chocolate is her idea of heaven, if she could only climb in and live in it.

 

[BigDisneyOE]

My youngest is, shall we say, a complete and utter chocolate fiend. She is very much looking forward to Ghirardelli again. The big vat of chocolate is her idea of heaven, if she could only climb in and live in it.

Your youngest should have come with us to the local chocolate factory when they had a tour on Wednsday, there was vats of the stuff (all Belgian) everywhere and the kids got to see how they make Easter eggs. DH always says 'what would you do if you won Lotto?' to me and the first thing I can think of is filling the bath with Jaffa lollies, just cause it'd look pretty and smell so good. (this is what they look like http://www.cadbury.co.nz/about-cadbury/cadbury-new-zealand.aspx)

 

[glindamood]

Thanks Gail. Probably haven't helped it pulling the good stuff off coriander all afternoon. Too much pinching movement but you have to get the stuff while it's good and freeze it.

You are correct there - need to strike while the iron is hot. I was sorely afraid you would come back and report you were in a cast so that part is good. And it is so hard to try and do anything with the other hand. Hopefully the coriander is done, nothing else will come in for a bit and you can heal.

Well, well, WELL! Everyone most certainly has been busy. We are getting closer - 11 weeks from today we will be at the Detroit airport waiting on our connection (still can't believe that flight #1 leaves at 5:35 AM). Also need to figure out what to do with the Alcatraz tickets, it is so hard when to figure with the timing, just wish I could buy a ticket and show up when we are ready.

Well, another grandpup day today! DS and his DW are headed to a wedding this afternoon so I said I would keep him so he didn't have to be in his crate all day - I am SUCH a good grandma! Tomorrow I will have to work (at the office) so I need to get my chores done at home today so I best get moving.

Have a good one!

 

[glindamood]

Totally forgot to ask. So we are doing semi-formal night on Monday evening and formal on Thursday night with Pirate night of Friday - correct?? I wonder if that means (Ha!Ha! - no pun intended but sorta works ) it will be 'lobster night' on Monday as well? Typically those each have their own menu so I am hoping that part follows suit and it remains. Guess I should go and move my brunch to Thursday.