Wonder's Panama Canal Repo 2011 - AND WE'RE NOT BRINGING IT BACK!

[JLDSMD]

I still think they're going to do it with mostly adults... you get a quieter repo and it still sells out.

After the August 2008 EB Repo, that would be welcomed. There were some loud kids on that cruise. They came on almost daily to over the speaker addressing the situation.

 

[aan1701]

Well if DCL continues to be the creature of habit that we all know they are looks like a May 8, 2011 sail date is in line. Like a few posters have pointed out, spring break is now almost a two month time frame. I just can't see DCL trying to get a Spring Break family crowd with spring breaks being so spread out now.

 

[LuvBaloo]

Was it Cheri who ate all the pineapple?

I don't know about Cheri, but I definitely ate some straight and some on the DOD's.

 

[LuvBaloo]

Well if DCL continues to be the creature of habit that we all know they are looks like a May 8, 2011 sail date is in line. Like a few posters have pointed out, spring break is now almost a two month time frame. I just can't see DCL trying to get a Spring Break family crowd with spring breaks being so spread out now.

I can't seem them leasing the terminal 4 full months ahead of when they'd need it, but I really don't know.

 

[HollyTyler]

Long story. There was a group that traveled together last year that were dubbed the pancake sisters and the bunny is wearing a pancake. I know you will be shocked to hear there was some drinking involved. Thanks for the welcome. I have decided that I like planning trips a couple years in advance. Part of the fun is planning.

 

[HollyTyler]

Are you using the same TA as the PC cruise?

Yup! They were so wonderful, I wouldn't go anywhere else.

 

[HollyTyler]

Does anyone have feedback on how easy or hard it was to book it directly through DCL? Not sure if I want to chance leaving it in someone else's hands

I think I'd be more worried booking directly through DCL just in case the system gets bogged down making it impossible for me to get through. My TA told me last year that DCL released a large number of cabins to them right before booking (maybe the day before, I'm not sure, or maybe even the instant booking opens), so the TA already had a certain number of cabins and they then give them out to the people on the wait list. (That is, if I understand how they told me the process works).

 

[HollyTyler]

Hi guys. Just checking in here. DW found out about DCL going through the Canal again and wants to go.

We were on the Aug 2008 Repo back to FL and had a great time.

I see a few people from our cruise this October have checked in as well - Hi guys.

I have a question though on this cruise, if the new ship is due out in the first quarter 2011, and not knowing when the Wonder is up for Dry Dock again, could this possibly hit over Easter somehow in 2011? I know Easter isn't until April 24th, but what if the new ship comes at the end of March and the Wonder goes to Dry Dock for 2-3 weeks at that time?

Hate to see the prices if that happens.

Hoping for a late Jan or early Feb sailing, but will make whatever dates work if possible.

I don't have any answers for you, but welcome aboard!

 

[tom31b]

I can't seem them leasing the terminal 4 full months ahead of when they'd need it, but I really don't know.

Especially if they have to guarantee a certain number of sailings like the do at PC

 

[hawkaye19]

Evening all,

Those of you living in fear of what the cost will be for the cruise.....

put yourself in our (Canadian) shoes......right now we are looking at at .82 dollar....a $6000 Usd stateroom is $7249 cdn....ouch....

 

[HollyTyler]

evening all,

those of you living in fear of what the cost will be for the cruise.....

Put yourself in our (canadian) shoes......right now we are looking at at .82 dollar....a $6000 usd stateroom is $7249 cdn....ouch....

yikes!

 

[Tink rules]

Evening all,

Those of you living in fear of what the cost will be for the cruise.....

put yourself in our (Canadian) shoes......right now we are looking at at .82 dollar....a $6000 Usd stateroom is $7249 cdn....ouch....

Bruce... you can come and live at my house...

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Does anyone have feedback on how easy or hard it was to book it directly through DCL? Not sure if I want to chance leaving it in someone else's hands

The systems really got bogged down but if you hang in there..you got in. I know some people left it up to their TAs and some didn't..we booked ours direct and then flipped it to our TA. Since then I have become a TA so my hubby will book ours while I work on others' reservations. If you feel more comfortable booking your own - I say go for it - you can always transfer it to a TA for any OBC they are offering or to deal with any headaches after the initial booking.

So they won't be sharing the terminal with anyone else?

We share our terminal here with several cruise lines. I am not sure if they will get a section all to themselves or not as none of the other cruise lines do. We only have 3 loading areas and about 4 different companies already use them.

 

[Brooklyn]

After the August 2008 EB Repo, that would be welcomed. There were some loud kids on that cruise. They came on almost daily to over the speaker addressing the situation.

Really?!?!?!?!?!? Our first cruise was the EB TA in 2007. It was so nice bc instead of the normal 1,000 kids on board there was only about 400! Then we cruised the Mexicina Riviera last summer and there were kids EVERYWHERE!

I would love however for it to be later since we will just be coming off the WB TA Oct 2nd. I won't be complaining, just my check book!

I think I'd be more worried booking directly through DCL just in case the system gets bogged down making it impossible for me to get through. My TA told me last year that DCL released a large number of cabins to them right before booking (maybe the day before, I'm not sure, or maybe even the instant booking opens), so the TA already had a certain number of cabins and they then give them out to the people on the wait list. (That is, if I understand how they told me the process works).

That would be wonderful!

I would hope they'd sail it at least once before going on a Repo. Look at the issues the Magic had last fall after its Dry Dock.

And if this does straddle Easter, you will see a LOT of families on it. They would only have to take one week off since most will have the week before or after off anyways.

We are moving to Norfolk this summer, too bad we can't be stowaways on the Wonder back to FL before the PC! I would be happy to test all the new things to get the kinks worked out!

 

[Timon]

I think I'd be more worried booking directly through DCL just in case the system gets bogged down making it impossible for me to get through. My TA told me last year that DCL released a large number of cabins to them right before booking (maybe the day before, I'm not sure, or maybe even the instant booking opens), so the TA already had a certain number of cabins and they then give them out to the people on the wait list. (That is, if I understand how they told me the process works).

The systems really got bogged down but if you hang in there..you got in. I know some people left it up to their TAs and some didn't..we booked ours direct and then flipped it to our TA. Since then I have become a TA so my hubby will book ours while I work on others' reservations. If you feel more comfortable booking your own - I say go for it - you can always transfer it to a TA for any OBC they are offering or to deal with any headaches after the initial booking.

Evening all,

Those of you living in fear of what the cost will be for the cruise.....

put yourself in our (Canadian) shoes......right now we are looking at at .82 dollar....a $6000 Usd stateroom is $7249 cdn....ouch....

Wow, hard call to make. Well the only TA I know that is a Disney expert is Dreams. For those of you who booked through DU, did you get first tier pricing? Are they starting a waitlist already??

Like hawkaye19 was saying, depending on the exchange rate, we Canadians will be paying quite a bit more so it's pretty important for us to get first tier pricing. I don't know that we could afford it with 2nd or 3rd tier pricing

 

[awoltoday]

Especially if they have to guarantee a certain number of sailings like the do at PC

The guaranteed number in LA equates to 30 round trips at about 75% occupancy.

The port has agreed to make several cosmetic changes to accommodate the Disney standard (2 of the 11 items have to do with X-ray machines not being visible to guests). It will be interesting how 'Disney' DCL can make it on Sundays.

 

[granmaz]

Wow, hard call to make. Well the only TA I know that is a Disney expert is Dreams. For those of you who booked through DU, did you get first tier pricing? Are they starting a waitlist already??

Like hawkaye19 was saying, depending on the exchange rate, we Canadians will be paying quite a bit more so it's pretty important for us to get first tier pricing. I don't know that we could afford it with 2nd or 3rd tier pricing

We booked with Dreams and didn't get first tier pricing. We only requested a quote a couple of weeks before, so I think we were at the end of the list. This time I will have the request in earlier and hopefully a better price. I did think the prices rose very very quickly though.

 

[BluegrassBelles]

I think we have broken our record for how long we started chatting about our cruise....if I remember it was 361 days.....wow

Lol......well we hope they drop Aruba and Acapulco....how about this for a suggestion

when we get to the Pacific, the Capt hangs a left and we cross the equator before we head up the Mexican coast

Anyone for a Crossing the Line Ceremony???????

(showing my former career as a Naval Officer)

I am all for crossing the equator!!

 

[JLDSMD]

I think we have broken our record for how long we started chatting about our cruise....if I remember it was 361 days.....wow

Lol......well we hope they drop Aruba and Acapulco....how about this for a suggestion

when we get to the Pacific, the Capt hangs a left and we cross the equator before we head up the Mexican coast

Anyone for a Crossing the Line Ceremony???????
(showing my former career as a Naval Officer)

How about they schedule the cruise so that this event will occur in March on the day of the Vernal Equinox (should be March 20th). Now that would be cool. Maybe cross the line going north at the same time the sun will.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Hi Denise....I'm Deb and me and my DH John did the 11 night Southern in Sept of '06. That's where I learned about the disboards and joined as soon as I got home. Were you on the Southern in Sept???

Have you been looking to do another Southern since your last one? I loved the ports the most. Better than Eastern, Western or PC ports. We're currently booked on the 2010 Christmas 11 night Southern cruise. It's way too expensive because it's Christmas. But we love all the ports. Then when we talked about this coming up in early 2011, we decided that we'll transfer our deposit and do this one instead. We'll be reunion Thieves. We did the WBPC repo in May'08. We decided the people are more important than the ports. It's also half the amount of money for a longer cruise.

I would still like to book a Southern again, just not on a holiday so it won't cost so much. I'll have to keep checking the new itineraries.

Hi Deb!

Yes, Steve and I were on the 11 Southern. It was a fantastic cruise. The ports of call were awesome howeever after eating a banana on the island of St Lucia, I was spoiled. It's still hard to eat the bananas we get here!

The Southern was such a hit I'm surprised they don't do more along that route....I could hope!