Wonder Alaska Top Deck

[RedM94]

i just booked an Alaskian Cruise on the Wonder in a cat 9A. Question. On the DCL webpage, I select the Wonder and there is a beautiful picture of the ship going through the fjords. The top deck looks jammed packed, and I am now thinking I should get a veranda room.

How crowded does the top deck become? Are you jockeying for a spot like you have to for fireworks at one of the parks? Thinking I should just splurge. Thoughts?

 

[MUN]

i just booked an Alaskian Cruise on the Wonder in a cat 9A. Question. On the DCL webpage, I select the Wonder and there is a beautiful picture of the ship going through the fjords. The top deck looks jammed packed, and I am now thinking I should get a veranda room.

How crowded does the top deck become? Are you jockeying for a spot like you have to for fireworks at one of the parks? Thinking I should just splurge. Thoughts?

It can get crowded on top, but it's a long day and there is plenty of time for viewing. We enjoyed spending time on the 4th deck which seemed less crowded. We had 2 oceanview rooms and we loved them. I think they are much less expensive than verandas for the Alaska cruises.

 

[cruisehopeful]

It was crowded, but people are polite and and switch front/railing spots. The hot cocoa and warm cookies are served up there. I spent a good amount of time up there, then went down to deck 4 on the side that had no one. Minnie and Pluto came by for pics. The ship eventually turned around and it became a crowded spot. The point is, it's a very long period of time to be standing out in the cold (several hours) and people do move out of the way and there are plenty of places on the ship to avoid crowds.

Never had a veranda, but I don't feel one is needed based on my own experience in Alaska.

 

[xlxo]

The toughest part is finding a place to sit for the multi-hour trip in Tracy Arm. Standing was not an issue.

Veranda will offer privacy.... but you will only be seeing one-half of the arm at one time. Top deck will offer 360 experience.

 

[The Grays]

The plans for DW and DD is that I get them hot coco and cookies as they site on the veranda and then go up on deck at times. But they are looking forward to sitting there with their blankets and if they get cold step in the room to warm up.

 

[lorimay]

We stayed on our verandah 90% of the day for Tracy Arm, it was chilly and then as we got really close, it was freezing, 40 degrees freezing.
So being able to go back inside was great.
The captain did a complete turn of the ship and that was cool.
We got our lunch at Cabanas and ate on our balcony, it was a fun memorable day.
If you can splurge on a verandah, I say go for it!!!

 

[RedM94]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. Great information and insight. We have always booked verandah on DCL, but the Alaskan cruises are so damned pricey. Even with my 20% voucher, it is a difficult pill to swallow.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Even with my 20% voucher, it is a difficult pill to swallow.

How can I acquire a 20% voucher?

 

[MamaBear58]

Following this thread because I have the very same question.

One of the things that I HATED about the Fantasy was that top deck--never enough chairs in the right places during the day, never enough room at any of the deck parties. Very Disney park-like in that if you don't want to spend half your vacation arriving ridiculously early to get your place, forget a nice experience. And due to the crowds that experience often meant only 2 chairs at the pool for our family of 4 or no ability to see what was going on at deck parties--even trying to watch the screen at times was interrupted by rude passengers who felt the need to video EVERYTHING, so every photo of the deck party events has someone's arm and GoPro in it. Then there's also the folks that do arrive hours early, to their credit, but they save 10 seats and the other 9 folks show up just as the show is starting, trampling on your kids to get to their prime spot for GoProing. My 8 year old was so happy the entire SWDAS, and couldn't wait to go to that evening's deck party. We arrived a good 45 minutes early. As he walked out on deck and saw the crowd, his face fell and immediately turned around, asking to go to bed. It broke my heart. Now, we did have the bad luck of very windy weather, which meant going up one deck and looking down on the deck party was torture. But then doesn't that just emphasize the need for your own protected balcony in bad weather? And the truth is, even with good weather, I simply do not want to have to get up at 6 am to save seats if we aren't going to arrive at Tracy Arm or the Hubbard Glacier until 8 am. Or not be able to enjoy Palo brunch or a spa appointment in the morning because we are arriving at 12 pm and I need to be on deck by 10 am to secure my spot.

On the other hand, the average balcony is only going to seat 2 of us, so do the other 2 stand the whole time? Unless we pony up for a larger balcony, don't we have to go up on deck anyway? At that point the balcony's value is limited to unobstructed photos and cover in the event of rain/wind.

I am really torn on this one. I priced out a bunch of categories, and the largest jump is between 9A and 5C--that's $3483 to get a balcony that only 2 of us can sit on at a time anyway. Sigh. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[cruisehopeful]

On the other hand, the average balcony is only going to seat 2 of us, so do the other 2 stand the whole time? Unless we pony up for a larger balcony, don't we have to go up on deck anyway? At that point the balcony's value is limited to unobstructed photos and cover in the event of rain/wind.

I am really torn on this one. I priced out a bunch of categories, and the largest jump is between 9A and 5C--that's $3483 to get a balcony that only 2 of us can sit on at a time anyway. Sigh. Thanks for letting me vent.

The 2 seats might not really be a problem. It isn't likely that 4 of you will want to sit the entire time. It is several hours. Since you have to essentially take turns with viewing on the top deck anyway, you can just take turns with your own family. Besides, someone will need to open the door to let room service in if you order some hot drinks and maybe even some hot food to help warm your bones.

If you end up just getting the ocean view room, you will view from the decks and the Cove cafe. The Cove Cafe was always full when I did Alaska, but if you stand around and wait for a seat, you get it eventually. Deck 4 was really nice for viewing, too. Less people, nice cushy loungers and the characters came out there. Another bonus to deck 4 is that is very easy to get back inside if you need to warm up quickly. Personally, I don't like being in the same place for any length of time. I had a great day by eating lunch at the BBQ behind Beach Blanket, hanging out on the top deck with warm cookies, getting practically my whole own deck on deck 4 first by standing and watching for a long time, then wrapping up in a blanket on a lounger, and then viewing from inside the Cove Cafe. It I was locked into just one of those areas, I would have been bored and may have froze a few fingers off.

 

[MUN]

Following this thread because I have the very same question.

One of the things that I HATED about the Fantasy was that top deck--never enough chairs in the right places during the day, never enough room at any of the deck parties. Very Disney park-like in that if you don't want to spend half your vacation arriving ridiculously early to get your place, forget a nice experience. And due to the crowds that experience often meant only 2 chairs at the pool for our family of 4 or no ability to see what was going on at deck parties--even trying to watch the screen at times was interrupted by rude passengers who felt the need to video EVERYTHING, so every photo of the deck party events has someone's arm and GoPro in it. Then there's also the folks that do arrive hours early, to their credit, but they save 10 seats and the other 9 folks show up just as the show is starting, trampling on your kids to get to their prime spot for GoProing. My 8 year old was so happy the entire SWDAS, and couldn't wait to go to that evening's deck party. We arrived a good 45 minutes early. As he walked out on deck and saw the crowd, his face fell and immediately turned around, asking to go to bed. It broke my heart. Now, we did have the bad luck of very windy weather, which meant going up one deck and looking down on the deck party was torture. But then doesn't that just emphasize the need for your own protected balcony in bad weather? And the truth is, even with good weather, I simply do not want to have to get up at 6 am to save seats if we aren't going to arrive at Tracy Arm or the Hubbard Glacier until 8 am. Or not be able to enjoy Palo brunch or a spa appointment in the morning because we are arriving at 12 pm and I need to be on deck by 10 am to secure my spot.

On the other hand, the average balcony is only going to seat 2 of us, so do the other 2 stand the whole time? Unless we pony up for a larger balcony, don't we have to go up on deck anyway? At that point the balcony's value is limited to unobstructed photos and cover in the event of rain/wind.

I am really torn on this one. I priced out a bunch of categories, and the largest jump is between 9A and 5C--that's $3483 to get a balcony that only 2 of us can sit on at a time anyway. Sigh. Thanks for letting me vent.

I think you should skip the cruise and stay home.

Did you read the earlier posts? It's not that bad on Tracy Arm day. It's not the hell you seemed to have experienced on your Fantasy cruise. You won't need to get up at 6am to save your spots. It's a long day and there is plenty of room for everyone.

MUN

 

[ldo]

we've been on the larger ships over Easter. Loved our cruise, but pool, deck chairs, pirate party was just as described. Didn't even bother with ever getting in the pool. Got a deck chair @ 3pm. We booked an OV. My Mom went on another cruiseline in OV and said it was fine going up on deck, etc. as the crowd moves around after an hours or so, as PP noted. We need 2 rooms, so OV is it. My kids will get bored with sitting and looking (or standing and looking) afgter 30 minutes, anyway.

 

[RedM94]

How can I acquire a 20% voucher?

Everyone onboard the Fantasy in January when it had mechanical issues received the vouchers.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Everyone onboard the Fantasy in January when it had mechanical issues received the vouchers.

Do you get to add an additional 10% for onboard booking? So 30% off ?

 

[tnshsms]

I assume Deck 4 is less crowded because you dont get the 360 degree experience you would on the top decks? So its like having a veranda room without having a veranda room if you go to deck 4....

 

[MamaBear58]

The 2 seats might not really be a problem. It isn't likely that 4 of you will want to sit the entire time. It is several hours. Since you have to essentially take turns with viewing on the top deck anyway, you can just take turns with your own family. Besides, someone will need to open the door to let room service in if you order some hot drinks and maybe even some hot food to help warm your bones.

If you end up just getting the ocean view room, you will view from the decks and the Cove cafe. The Cove Cafe was always full when I did Alaska, but if you stand around and wait for a seat, you get it eventually. Deck 4 was really nice for viewing, too. Less people, nice cushy loungers and the characters came out there. Another bonus to deck 4 is that is very easy to get back inside if you need to warm up quickly. Personally, I don't like being in the same place for any length of time. I had a great day by eating lunch at the BBQ behind Beach Blanket, hanging out on the top deck with warm cookies, getting practically my whole own deck on deck 4 first by standing and watching for a long time, then wrapping up in a blanket on a lounger, and then viewing from inside the Cove Cafe. It I was locked into just one of those areas, I would have been bored and may have froze a few fingers off.

Good to know...it is a much more affordable way to go!!

 

[MamaBear58]

we've been on the larger ships over Easter. Loved our cruise, but pool, deck chairs, pirate party was just as described. Didn't even bother with ever getting in the pool. Got a deck chair @ 3pm. We booked an OV. My Mom went on another cruiseline in OV and said it was fine going up on deck, etc. as the crowd moves around after an hours or so, as PP noted. We need 2 rooms, so OV is it. My kids will get bored with sitting and looking (or standing and looking) afgter 30 minutes, anyway.

I think you have a good point about the kids getting bored easily....

 

[bcwife76]

We've got an inside room for our August 2017 Alaska cruise and plan on splitting our time between the upper decks and deck 4.

 

[Disneyteachers]

Following this thread because I have the very same question.

One of the things that I HATED about the Fantasy was that top deck--never enough chairs in the right places during the day, never enough room at any of the deck parties. Very Disney park-like in that if you don't want to spend half your vacation arriving ridiculously early to get your place, forget a nice experience. And due to the crowds that experience often meant only 2 chairs at the pool for our family of 4 or no ability to see what was going on at deck parties--even trying to watch the screen at times was interrupted by rude passengers who felt the need to video EVERYTHING, so every photo of the deck party events has someone's arm and GoPro in it. Then there's also the folks that do arrive hours early, to their credit, but they save 10 seats and the other 9 folks show up just as the show is starting, trampling on your kids to get to their prime spot for GoProing. My 8 year old was so happy the entire SWDAS, and couldn't wait to go to that evening's deck party. We arrived a good 45 minutes early. As he walked out on deck and saw the crowd, his face fell and immediately turned around, asking to go to bed. It broke my heart. Now, we did have the bad luck of very windy weather, which meant going up one deck and looking down on the deck party was torture. But then doesn't that just emphasize the need for your own protected balcony in bad weather? And the truth is, even with good weather, I simply do not want to have to get up at 6 am to save seats if we aren't going to arrive at Tracy Arm or the Hubbard Glacier until 8 am. Or not be able to enjoy Palo brunch or a spa appointment in the morning because we are arriving at 12 pm and I need to be on deck by 10 am to secure my spot.

On the other hand, the average balcony is only going to seat 2 of us, so do the other 2 stand the whole time? Unless we pony up for a larger balcony, don't we have to go up on deck anyway? At that point the balcony's value is limited to unobstructed photos and cover in the event of rain/wind.

I am really torn on this one. I priced out a bunch of categories, and the largest jump is between 9A and 5C--that's $3483 to get a balcony that only 2 of us can sit on at a time anyway. Sigh. Thanks for letting me vent.

We have a 9A for our Alaskan cruise this summer. DH didn't want a balcony with the kids and I was bummed until I saw the price difference. I'm pretty happy with what we have now and we have friends with a balcony so I figure worst case scenario we hang with them. I'm really not a sit in one spot for hours person anyway, so moving around on Tracy Arm day is okay with me.

 

[RedM94]

Do you get to add an additional 10% for onboard booking? So 30% off ?

@Snowwhyt

I booked another Caribbean cruise, on board, an hour after the discount was announced by the Captian. They did not know how to apply the 20% off since the code had not yet been entered into their system. They booked my at the standard 10% off onboard rate.

I kept that cruise active, and then used the 20% off to book the Alaska cruise. I now have two active cruises booked. Not sure if I will us the Carribean booking or not.