Choosing Alaskan Cruise activities - help, please - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Next Monday I'll need to book my cruise activities. I've been on 5 cruises so I'm Gold status, and I've done this before but feeling a little overwhelmed this time. I need to book: Palo, character meets, excursions, and tastings. I've never been able to book meets or tastings online before.
First - I am logging in at Midnight, right?
Of those mentioned above, should I jump on any first? How would you prioritize? Is there anything in particular that is more likely to fill up? Should I do excursions first, dining?
Palo: I'd like to take advantage of dinner twice by booking the first and last night. Also brunch: Is there an advantage to booking it on Tracy Arm day vs either of the other 2 last sea days?
TIA for any advice you can offer
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Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know, tomorrow, the dream that you wish will come true.
If you want Palo brunch, grab that first - that is the hot ticket these days on board Disney cruises. We had brunch on the Tracy Arm day last time we did Alaska and you certainly got beautiful scenery with icebergs passing right me you. It was so neat.
Then go for the tastings - they go quickly as well.
Oh and the character breakfast - be prepared to be rushed... we were in and out in less than an hour the last time we did it. We haven't bothered since.
Yes, booking starts at midnight, so you have a late night ahead of you.
Thanks, Cheryl. It makes sense now that I think of it I doubt the excursions would be filling up if I'm booking Gold status. Its so nice to be able to book the character meets and tastings online, rather than having to complete that task on boarding day, but it does add a little more to my to-do here.
Palo brunch on Tracy Arm day sounds lovely and frees us up for the DVC meetup on the first sea day. I choose to believe that I will win the $200 onboard credit
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Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know, tomorrow, the dream that you wish will come true.
Last edited by Lumieregirl; 04-22-2018 at 03:45 PM..
Thanks, Cheryl. It makes sense now that I think of it I doubt the excursions would be filling up if I'm booking Gold status. Its so nice to be able to book the character meets and tastings online, rather than having to complete that task on boarding day, but it does add a little more to my to-do here.
Palo brunch on Tracy Arm day sounds lovely and frees us up for the DVC meetup on the first sea day. I choose to believe that I will win the $200 onboard credit
Yeah, we always go in thinking that too... sadly it never seems to work for us.
What kind of excursions are you interested in? And what are your ports of call? I live in Alaska (though not in Southeast where you will be cruising) and I might be able to help a little on those.
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Thanks, Jennifer - I've actually aleady read a lot of your past comments while searching old posts Our ports are Skagway, Juneau, & Ketchikan.
I'll likely be booking most excursions independent of DCL. We're planning on a whale-watching excursion from Vancouver pre r post-cruise.
DH's bucket list item is a helicopter ride to walk on a glacier. It's offered in Skagway for Meade (less expensive than in Juneau but we'd have to forego the Whitepass Railway), and in Juneau for Mendellhall. Any thoughts there?
Other than that we're torn. We want to see wildlife more than anything else, and we're moderately active.
No solid plans for Ketchikan yet.
I know everyone says in Skagway the railway is a must-do but I don't want to not consider other options either. If we book it I will thru DCL because there is an adults only option, and I read HollyH's comments about being eligible for refund if its a total fog-out.
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Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know, tomorrow, the dream that you wish will come true.
Last edited by Lumieregirl; 04-23-2018 at 01:08 PM..
DH's bucket list item is a helicopter ride to walk on a glacier. It's offered in Skagway for Meade (less expensive than in Juneau but we'd have to forego the Whitepass Railway), and in Juneau for Mendellhall. Any thoughts there?
I think from memory there's a better selection of helicopter tours to the glacier from Juneau for Mendenhall.
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Other than that we're torn. We want to see wildlife more than anything else, and we're moderately active.
No solid plans for Ketchikan yet.
I know everyone says in Skagway the railway is a must-do but I don't want to not consider other options either. If we book it I will thru DCL because there is an adults only option, and I read HollyH's comments about being eligible for refund if its a total fog-out.
Ok, we did the railway on our first Alaskan cruise and loved it, but we had a good day weather wise. On our second Alaskan cruise, we did the evening wildlife expedition and oh my goodness, it was the best shore excursion we've ever done. Now admittedly there are no guarantees, but we saw seven bears (if I remember right) including cubs and it was just unbelievable. If you want to see wildlife, I'd recommend that one.
Okay...so I reviewed the excursions offered by Disney...
These would be my choices or at least what I would chose from since you can't do them all
Juneau:
5 Glacier by sea plane
Salmon Bake (but you are getting amazing food on the cruise so not NECESSARY)
Zipline / Glacier tour
Dog Sled Summer Camp (can't go to Alaska and not ride on a dog sled)
Any helicopter trip
Glacier hike / Mt Roberts tramway
Ketchikan:
Wildlife Expeditions
Zipline
Hunting for Halibut (if there is anyway to get the fish home)
Skagway:
Horseback riding adventures
White Pass Railway
Gold panning/Dog Sled/Railway tour
Zipline
Suspension Bridge tours
So...I only included 1 wildlife expedition because, unlike AK Safari, they cannot guarantee that you will see wildlife. The moose, bears and sheep can be rather finicky and may or may not decide to show themselves!!
The Salmon Bake and Halibut trip would be amazing, but you are getting fed very well on the boat - so not really a must-do. Wild caught Alaska salmon is one of the best things you will ever taste!! And it truly is "hunting" when you got after halibut. Depending on the size of the fish, you may be require to actually shoot it before bringing it into your boat!!! Believe me...I've caught that size fish and you don't want to chance it thrashing around after you get in the boat.
Glaciers are a must-do! However you get to one, you need to do it. Mendenhall is beautiful.
There are railways in several parts of Alaska (not all connected to one another) and all of them have amazing scenery. This may be one of your best opportunities to see some wildlife. We have taken a train from Anchorage to Seward multiple time and always see moose and bear and sheep as well as eagles.
As you can tell from my suggestions...I love zip lines! If you are wanting a little thrill...Go for it!!!
Well, I hope that helps out a little. I wouldn't worry about going on any whale or ocean animal viewings...you will hopefully get to see some from the cruise ship and as you mentioned you are going in Vancouver. Good luck!
One last thing...you are going to be in the part of Alaska that is considered a rain forest...you may not see the sun...Sorry, just the nature of the beast down there. Keep your fingers crossed and maybe you will get some decent weather. If it's not raining (even if it's cloudy and overcast) - count your blessings. And if it is raining...just go with it! Wear a poncho/rain coat and have fun!!!
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Jennifer / Eeyore is my favorite!! OMG - He's sooooo grown up!!!! And an EAGLE SCOUT!! I can still remember my cute little Tiger Cub! 2016 Reading Goal - 75 books
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Well, tonight's the night, and thanks so much to you we have FINALLY chosen our excursions. This has been the hardest cruise to choose for; there are so many options. And then I struggle with 'opportunity cost' as well, but I'm trying to not look back this time.
Cheryl, you've sold DH on your Evening Wildlife excursion from Skagway, and in doing more research on it, we even found your article here on PP about your experience (although I'd read your TR too but that was years ago). A big draw here was that it's seasonal, only offered in Aug & Sept, so probably not alot of folks get to take advantage of it. Here's hoping our sightings are half as good as yours were.
Having chosen that for Skagway meant our helicopter glacier tour would be in Juneau.
Now I think this may be new since you've cruised Alaska but we'll be doing a small ship excursion in Tracy Arm that departs directly from the Wonder at sea and goes up close to the glacier and in the fjord.
For Ketchican we chose the well-priced "let's just walk around", as our wallet was screaming at this point. We might go for something else later but for now this is the plan.
Thanks again and I hope to share in detail in my TR (yes I WILL do one, and finish it). Finger crossed that I'm able to get everything I want, as well as Palo, etc.
__________________
Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know, tomorrow, the dream that you wish will come true.
Last edited by Lumieregirl; 04-29-2018 at 09:33 AM..
Well, tonight's the night, and thanks so much to you we have FINALLY chosen our excursions. This has been the hardest cruise to choose for; there are so many options. And then I struggle with 'opportunity cost' as well, but I'm trying to not look back this time.
Cheryl, you've sold DH on your Evening Wildlife excursion from Skagway, and in doing more research on it, we even found your article here on PP about your experience (although I'd read your TR too but that was years ago).
Oh I'm so glad you went for that. We both loved it and still talk about it to this day. I hope you have as much luck as we did with the wildlife - for that.
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Having chosen that for Skagway meant our helicopter glacier tour would be in Juneau.
Now I think this may be new since you've cruised Alaska but we'll be doing a small ship excursion in Tracy Arm that departs directly from the Wonder at sea and goes up close to the glacier and in the fjord.
I just read this to my DH and we both said in unison "about time"! We'd seen departures like that from other ships and wondered why Disney didn't do it. I'm so glad they finally are. We want to do Alaska again one day (so much for once in a lifetime! ) and we'd love to do that.
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For Ketchican we chose the well-priced "let's just walk around", as our wallet was screaming at this point. We might go for something else later but for now this is the plan.
Ketchikan is a fun place to wander around with lots to see. I' sure you'll be fine with that.
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Thanks again and I hope to share in detail in my TR (yes I WILL do one, and finish it). Finger crossed that I'm able to get everything I want, as well as Palo, etc.
I can't wait to read all about it! Have a wonderful time!
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Thanks for the crossed fingers - they worked! After an initial shock that I couldn't choose anything at all I remembered the DCL does not like Chrome. I switched over to IE and got everything I wanted. I also snagged a Princess meet and a Frozen meet - I'm really looking forward to meeting Olaf and I"m so glad this can be reserved online now.
__________________
Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know, tomorrow, the dream that you wish will come true.
Thanks for the crossed fingers - they worked! After an initial shock that I couldn't choose anything at all I remembered the DCL does not like Chrome. I switched over to IE and got everything I wanted. I also snagged a Princess meet and a Frozen meet - I'm really looking forward to meeting Olaf and I"m so glad this can be reserved online now.
Just as a heads up, on my recent Frozen meet on the Wonder (Panama Canal a couple of weeks ago), Olaf was not included. I was so disappointed.
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that I'm able to get everything I want, as well as Palo, etc.
for that. 
We'd seen departures like that from other ships and wondered why Disney didn't do it. I'm so glad they finally are. We want to do Alaska again one day (so much for once in a lifetime! 
I remembered the DCL does not like Chrome. I switched over to IE and got everything I wanted. I also snagged a Princess meet and a Frozen meet - I'm really looking forward to meeting Olaf and I"m so glad this can be reserved online now. 
I was so disappointed.
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