Signing up for excursions questions

[Luckymommatoo]

Hi, I am wondering how signing up for excursions works -- if my sign-up day is April 11th, does that mean that at the stroke of midnight (EST? My time zone -- which is Pacific?) we can start signing up?

We are trying to coordinate excursions with several other branches of the family who are cruising with us, so I'm trying to get as much info as possible beforehand.

In addition, if anyone's window for Alaska cruises is already open, could you tell me what the departure times for the Glacier Explorers are? I have heard that there are usually two departure times. (We are on a seven-day cruise, if that makes a difference!)
thanks so much!
-e

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi, I am wondering how signing up for excursions works -- if my sign-up day is April 11th, does that mean that at the stroke of midnight (EST? My time zone -- which is Pacific?) we can start signing up?

We are trying to coordinate excursions with several other branches of the family who are cruising with us, so I'm trying to get as much info as possible beforehand.

In addition, if anyone's window for Alaska cruises is already open, could you tell me what the departure times for the Glacier Explorers are? I have heard that there are usually two departure times. (We are on a seven-day cruise, if that makes a difference!)
thanks so much!
-e

Your activity booking window (excursions/adult dining/spa/nursery/etc) opens at midnight Eastern time (whatever time that is where you live). That's also when you online check in window opens.

If all the rooms are linked, and all the rooms have the same Castaway Club level, one person on one of the reservations can do all the reservations for excursions. When you select an excursion, you'll be prompted to select who you are booking for. If all reservations are linked, all names will be there.

That's just for the excursion/activity bookings. Online check in must be done by each reservation individually. HOWEVER, if you have linked reservations, only one person can be logged into the reservation(s) at a time.

There may be 2 departure times, depending on how long the excursion is, and how long the ship is in port. Sometimes there is only one. Others may have 3 or 4 times.

 

[Luckymommatoo]

Your activity booking window (excursions/adult dining/spa/nursery/etc) opens at midnight Eastern time (whatever time that is where you live). That's also when you online check in window opens.

If all the rooms are linked, and all the rooms have the same Castaway Club level, one person on one of the reservations can do all the reservations for excursions. When you select an excursion, you'll be prompted to select who you are booking for. If all reservations are linked, all names will be there.

That's just for the excursion/activity bookings. Online check in must be done by each reservation individually. HOWEVER, if you have linked reservations, only one person can be logged into the reservation(s) at a time.

That's interesting -- either the Costco TA or someone at Disney told my dad he could NOT do that (book our excursions). We are linked, and we all have the same CC level (at least I think so. Second cruise for most of us, third cruise for one group.). I wonder if it will show us linked now somewhere on the site. I'll have my dad check. Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That's interesting -- either the Costco TA or someone at Disney told my dad he could NOT do that (book our excursions). We are linked, and we all have the same CC level (at least I think so. Second cruise for most of us, third cruise for one group.). I wonder if it will show us linked now somewhere on the site. I'll have my dad check. Thanks!

Costco should be able to tell him if the reservations are linked. I'm fairly certain he could call DCL and ask that question, if Costco isn't forthcoming with that information.

My experience is that I could book others in different rooms (linked to our reservation) when the booking window opened.

Yes 2nd and 3rd time cruisers have the same Castaway Club window.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If your group can't all get the DCL excursions they want, try booking directly through an Alaskan vendor. It's often cheaper and simpler.

 

[Luckymommatoo]

If your group can't all get the DCL excursions they want, try booking directly through an Alaskan vendor. It's often cheaper and simpler.

Yes, we have done that in some other ports, but Tracy Arm is one you have to book through Disney! Thanks.

 

[clten]

That's interesting -- either the Costco TA or someone at Disney told my dad he could NOT do that (book our excursions). We are linked, and we all have the same CC level (at least I think so. Second cruise for most of us, third cruise for one group.). I wonder if it will show us linked now somewhere on the site. I'll have my dad check. Thanks!

If you log into the DCL site and go under "My Disney Cruise" to "My Reservations" it should show your reservation and the ones you are linked to. If the rest of the family's reservations are not showing, you can link them right there. That "fully" links the reservations so you will be linked for dining and linked to be able to make reservation for people in the other bookings. If Costco/DCL only linked the reservations for dining, no your dad wouldn't be able to make excursion reservations for anyone except those in his room. But if you are fully linked, he could and as stated above only one person can be in the reservation at a time.

 

[ivanp91]

If your group can't all get the DCL excursions they want, try booking directly through an Alaskan vendor. It's often cheaper and simpler.

Only for certain excursions. I know of at least one (White Pass Rail in Skagway) that specifically states on their website that cruise passengers need to book through the cruise line.