They are here! (Summer 2025 I mean)

[bobbiwoz]

was curious if anyone did the 9-day vs 7-day Alaska is it worth it for the 2 days? The big difference is the 2 days in Icy Strait Point, Alaska, and Victoria BC. I found some old threads but was curious.

I have always found things to do in Victoria.
Icy Strait Point, for me was one and done.

 

[AquaDame]

I have always found things to do in Victoria.
Icy Strait Point, for me was one and done.

Same - it really felt built for cruise passengers and even then, not much to do.

 

[JM_97]

10 night on the Magic sounds awesome but I doubt I could swing that one. Definitely might do a 5 night.

Was kind of hoping for a 7 night on the Magic. One for throwback purposes since she's back in Port Canaveral, but also because I'm not a huge fan of the Wish/Treasure class ships.

 

[WDWBride04/19/2010]

So excited! This will be our first cruise!

 

[European]

was curious if anyone did the 9-day vs 7-day Alaska is it worth it for the 2 days? The big difference is the 2 days in Icy Strait Point, Alaska, and Victoria BC. I found some old threads but was curious.

What about Sitka? It looks like the 8-day and 9-day go there, but not the 7-day.

 

[reliev]

What about Sitka? It looks like the 8-day and 9-day go there, but not the 7-day.

yeah, I noticed this after the post.. decisions.

 

[Joel0917]

My TA said none of the summer are blacked out

 

[Cfabar1]

Our next cruise is in early April.... How much higher will prices be if we wait until then to book?

 

[Calantha]

Our next cruise is in early April.... How much higher will prices be if we wait until then to book?

Probably depends on the cruise. Also a lot of cruises may even be PIF at that point. Or there might be deals.

 

[auntlynne]

I was so excited to see Alaska but looking at the Barcelona cruise....has anyone done a Barcelona Disney Cruise? How were the excursions? I love Barcelona in the summer...hmmmm.

Edit:
I found the threads about excursions lol

I sailed to Barcelona on a TA and then did an 11-night Med cruise RT Barcelona.

I got to do a sampler of the Med, visiting new ports during the day and returning to my floating Magic hotel (which felt like home to us).

There are several itineraries out of Barcelona. Do any of the cities appeal to you? If there are no excursions available, would you still want to visit and do a private tour or on your own? We did a mix of ship excursions and DIY depending on the port.

My favorite cruise is Alaska (5 times so far - only one DCL). Both AK and the Med are fine with another cruise line, but are great with Disney if that’s what you want.

 

[auntlynne]

was curious if anyone did the 9-day vs 7-day Alaska is it worth it for the 2 days? The big difference is the 2 days in Icy Strait Point, Alaska, and Victoria BC. I found some old threads but was curious.

Icy Strait Point (ISP) can be a good port for those who are interested in the limited variety of activities offered.

ISP was a cannery, turning to tourism for its main industry. The nearby community of Hoonah, about 2 miles away, is where the citizens live. This is a Native Alaskan effort to own and operate the port. NCL has invested with them and have a very nice area for cruise ship guests. There are no Diamonds International or AK Tee Short stores here. It reminds me of being in a National Park.

They have built (since 2020) a system of gondolas (air type, not Venice boats) for transport between two ship pier areas and then to the top of the mountain (for hiking, ATVs, and a very fun, fast, and long ZipRider).

Whale watching from a ship excursion boat or a private vendor from Hoonah is offered. The setting is beautiful.

I visited in Sep 2021. Did a whale watch and the ZipRider. It was a beautiful day and conducive to spotting whales.

Victoria is a somewhat similar scenario as far as excursion options (not a big variety). But most important is when/how long your port visit is. I visited after a cruise and was able to see Butchart Gardens, in early July; the air was scented with the blooms of roses. But many ships are not in port during daylight hours or not long enough to cover the hour each way plus time at the gardens.

This is the capital of British Columbia and is a proper area for shopping, dining, tea at the Fairmont Empress, fish and chips along the Harbour, British pubs, Chinatown. There are whale watch cruises for both humpback and Orca depending on the season. But the excursion start time needs to work with ship arrival and departure. This is another stop that does not have the standard cruise shops in your face.

> It will depend on whether these two stops are more important to you than the ones that are not visited. And how you feel about more Sea Days.

 

[DomesticKrys]

I've been on pins & needles for these dates to be announced! We're going to do the Alaskan 8 night as a family of 6- 4 kids 15,14,6 & 4 at time of sailing. We homeschool and we're celebrating both of us turning 40 and our 20th wedding anniversary! We knew late September was when we wanted to go to have best chance for animals and perhaps the northern lights, and less expensive fare! I was over the moon to see the addition of the 8th night! While I have heard that ISP is the Castaway Cay of Alaska I'm excited to be going to Sitka for our extra day! I've been binging podcasts, especially those with Alaska specific trip reports & tips. We have a long time to prepare and we've already started studying about Alaska in our homeschool! Ch-EARS!

 

[auntlynne]

I've been on pins & needles for these dates to be announced! We're going to do the Alaskan 8 night as a family of 6- 4 kids 15,14,6 & 4 at time of sailing. We homeschool and we're celebrating both of us turning 40 and our 20th wedding anniversary! We knew late September was when we wanted to go to have best chance for animals and perhaps the northern lights, and less expensive fare! I was over the moon to see the addition of the 8th night! While I have heard that ISP is the Castaway Cay of Alaska I'm excited to be going to Sitka for our extra day! I've been binging podcasts, especially those with Alaska specific trip reports & tips. We have a long time to prepare and we've already started studying about Alaska in our homeschool! Ch-EARS!

I visited ISP on a Sep 4-11 cruise. It is definitely getting colder. Expect shops to be closing, fewer guests around.

Sitka seems like a homeschoolers’ destination - lots of history and nature. (Based on the lives of my nieces + my own childhood trips of a nerd family).

I hope you do see the Northern Lights!

Space, the final frontier. Alaska, the Last Frontier.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I've been on pins & needles for these dates to be announced! We're going to do the Alaskan 8 night as a family of 6- 4 kids 15,14,6 & 4 at time of sailing. We homeschool and we're celebrating both of us turning 40 and our 20th wedding anniversary! We knew late September was when we wanted to go to have best chance for animals and perhaps the northern lights, and less expensive fare! I was over the moon to see the addition of the 8th night! While I have heard that ISP is the Castaway Cay of Alaska I'm excited to be going to Sitka for our extra day! I've been binging podcasts, especially those with Alaska specific trip reports & tips. We have a long time to prepare and we've already started studying about Alaska in our homeschool! Ch-EARS!

Very happy for you! We did Alaska in 2022 and absolutely loved it. We also had an 8 night that included Sitka and were glad about that.

 

[WDWBride04/19/2010]

Any DVC members on here? If so, anyone know how soon before booking they release the point charts? Not sure if we'll be using any, but I'd like to try to research whether it makes sense to and can't w/o a points chart

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

I'm ready, let's go! I was afraid prices were going to take a huge leap, but these don't look bad, I hope they don't go up too much by Thursday. We'll be booking one of the 7 night Alaska cruises that go to Skagway. I stocked up on gift cards from Costco when they were on sale for the deposit. First time I'll be doing it with a placeholder, I'll need to look back on how to use it. Not sure if I need to call for that or not.

 

[randumb0]

What does DCL have against the ABC islands?

 

[CamillaF]

Is anyone who's gone to Alaska is the concierge level needed for excursions? ie will I get most/all of the ones we want if I'm a lonely gold castaway cay club? booking a veranda?

my DW and I are in discussion now she said I object to that price lol we're trying to figure it out ourselves.

I booked my Alaska cruise late and got a Guaranteed rate and all of the excursions were booked. I booked my though the partners (had Disney people on my tour), paid less and there was room for most everything I wanted. The only thing I could not get was the boat on Glacier day to get close up. However I was happy with how close the boat got. Hope that helps.

 

[Kwami]

No ABC islands, no Iceland, no Palma de Mallorca. The British Isles cruise doesn't stop at Dublin or Belfast this time. Only one visit to Sicily. Meh.

At least most of the Alaska cruises are going to Skagway this time.

 

[princesscinderella]

I was hoping to see the new ship that’s going to port out of Singapore on the summer 2025 list. There hasn’t been much news on it, I can’t remember what Disney was going to name the global dream ship.