Things To Do In Carmel By The Sea And Monterey Bay
Are you looking for a family weekend getaway in California? Well, a road trip down Highway One to Carmel by the Sea, California, maybe the perfect road trip for you and your family. Carmel by the Sea is nestled in a small corner of Monterey County California and is one of the cutest, quaint little towns dotted along Highway One. If you want to feel like youve stepped into a fairytale village, you will want to spend some time in Carmel.
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All ships have license to screen Walt Disney Studios flicks, including popular movies in land-based theaters now. If your kids want to see the latest Pixar movie, while you want to take in a Star Wars or Avengers film, you can see the latest onboard — for free. Ships will also run classic Disney movies in the theater or on the poolside jumbotron.
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Bhupesh Singh, 44, who was boarding the Serenade of the Seas on Monday with his wife, Hansi, and their two unvaccinated children both are under 12 said he felt comfortable with Royal Caribbeans approach, even with the extra precautions hed have to take travelling with kids. He noted that he brought his family to cruise from Seattle, where Royal Caribbean at least requires all adults to be vaccinated. In Florida, where hes from, that isnt the case.
The reduced capacity on board the Serenade of the Seas was also encouraging for Singh. Royal Caribbean declined to say exactly how many passengers it will have on board, but said it would be much lower than full capacity, which is typically almost 2,500 people. Holland America and Princess Cruises said they will be starting their Alaskan cruises at approximately 60% capacity, moving up gradually over the course of the season.
Some cruise lines will also be using technology to trace passengers location. Royal Caribbean will be using tracelets, or wristbands that passengers must wear in order to be tracked on board. Princess Cruises will be using medallions, portable devices used for various functions on board the ship, which will keep a log of who passengers come in contact with.
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Prepare With Your Mobility Device
If you are bringing on a mobility device on board, make sure to email Disney to let them know by filling out this form 60 days before departing.
One of the best things about registering your mobility device is that any of the Port Adventures you pre-booked Disney Cruise Line will ensure that the adventure is suitable for your individual needs.
The Princess Cruises Fleet
Princess has downsized the size of its fleet considerably over the past year with the removal of five vessels. But its still the worlds fifth-biggest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 14 ships that together offer more than 42,000 berths.
In general, Princess operates big ships. But theyre not quite as big as the vessels operated by Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC Cruises the three lines best known for giant ships. The biggest Princess vessels, the lines five Royal Class ships, measure around 145,000 tons. Thats about 35% smaller than the biggest ships operated by Royal Caribbean.
The Royal Class ships are the belles of the ball in the Princess fleet. Newer and more amenity-filled than the lines 9 other ships, they began rolling out in 2013 and carry about 3,600 passengers a piece at double occupancy. .
One more Royal Class ship Discovery Princess is on order from a shipyard in Italy for delivery in 2022.
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Still, at the core of the Princess fleet are its seven Grand Class vessels. Unveiled between 1998 and 2008, the ships are smaller than the Royal Class vessels at around 107,000 to 116,000 tons in size. This smaller size allows them to operate a wider range of itineraries than the Royal Class ships. But theyre still big enough to have a lot of onboard venues. The Grand Class ships carry between 2,600 to 3,100 passengers at double occupancy.
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Check In At Vancouver Port
The process is very simple. Arrive at your PAT and follow the signs and directions. We dropped off our luggage , head to the check in desks to receive our Key To The World cards as well as the Navigator for the first day and then head through customs.
As the ship starts in Vancouver then sails into the US state of Alaska, you must clear customs before boarding the ship. It was the simplest customs we have ever had to go through. Next was the security check, which we also breezed through, and finally the boarding room.
In the boarding room we took photos with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse and then boarded straight away.
Keep Your Tip Close By In The Morning
Every morning we ordered room service so we could start the morning off with two pots of coffee. The first night I forgot to set out the tip, so I had to go into the safe before I let room service in.
Starting on the second day, I started just hanging the tips on the magnetic door, so I could quickly grab it.
So much more comfortable than scrambling, half asleep!
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There Is So Much To Learn At The Lectures
Yup! There are some great naturalist lectures on the Disney Alaskan Cruises.
The educational sessions is one thing I missed out on my other cruises, but I loved learning all about wildlife, glaciers and other amazing things about our world.
We may have also accidentally taken a nap during the presentation but the speaker was so relaxing that it was hard not to.
You Can Order A Second Entre At No Charge
Yup! You could order everything on the menu, and it doesnt cost anything else! A few times on the rotational dining, there are a few different appetizers or entrees that look interesting.
Go ahead and order them! Sometimes the first thing you ordered isnt up to par, and you are so happy that you ordered the extra entree or appetizer.
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Benefits Of Booking With A Disney Cruise Travel Agent
Before I get to the Summary and Resources, I first want to comment on whether you should book your Disney cruise to Alaska with a travel agency. The benefit of booking through a Disney cruise travel agent is that they offer Disney cruise deals above whats offered by Disney Cruise Lines. And all Disney Cruise Lines offers mentioned above are also available through travel agents that sell Disney cruises.
Now, Ive discovered that travel agencies are prohibited from undercutting Disney Cruise Line prices. So, you wont find a better Disney cruise price anywhere compared to Disney Cruise Lines. But what you will get are incentives from travel agencies for booking through them.
Typically, Disney cruise travel agents will offer their incentives in the form of an onboard credit based on your booking cost. Now, pay attention to whats included in your booking cost, as some of these things can bump you up to the higher onboard credit. For example, most travel agencies credit the insurance, transfers and hotels you book with them. But, only some travel agencies credit you the taxes.
Also, some incentives may be specific to things like shore excursions, or a gift basket of cruise essentials.
Which of these Disney cruise deals thats best for you will depend on a few things, including:
- Your specific booking cost
- Where you expect to spend the most, above the cabin price and,
- Whether youre already a Costco member.
Choose Royal Caribbean If You Want A Deal
While last-minute discounts are only offered on short sailings of four nights or less, Royal Caribbean offers so many itineraries, often with multiple ships in the same destination that flexible travelers can often find reasonable deals. Inside cabins can be had for under $100 per person, per night. Look for limited-time promotions offering discounts, onboard credit or reduced deposits.
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Request A Window Seat For Dining From Your Disney Cruise Planner
Why get a window seat for dinner? So you can look out of the window! Also, a lot of the bigger tables are more towards the inside, and if you are a small party, you have less of a chance of having to share a table with dinner mates.
When we travel, we are usually a party of 3, and luckily for us, we didnt have to share a table with other people.
Download The Disney Cruise Line Personal Navigator App
Seems like a no-brainer but make sure your entire family downloads or updates the Disney Cruise Line Navigator Disney before getting on the Ship.
This App is a lifeline to all the activities, menus, and fun things you can do while on the Ship. It is also one of the best ways to freely text your family without using roaming data.
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Book Your Alcohol Tastings Online
You can book your alcohol tastings online, just like any other excursion! When we traveled to Alaska, I had to run to Guest Relations and beat down all the other guests to get to book my alcohol tastings.
The Alcohol tastings fill up fast, but many people do not even know about the tastings.
My favorite days to book an Alcohol tasting is on a sea day. I booked a few tastings at 10 pm while we were in Alaska, and it was rough.
One of the many alcohol tastings you can book with Disney Cruise Line
Sawyer Glacier Vs Dawes Glacier
Tracy arm with Sawyer Glacier used to be The Wonders destination. However, when there was too much ice in the water, the ship couldnt navigate through the narrow parts of Tracy Arm.
Now, Dawes Glacier in Endicott arm is on the Disney Cruises Alaska itinerary. Weve done both and liked them about the same. If you look on a map, the two arms are quite close to each other. The scenery is similar, and both have a glacier at the end. When I look back at pictures from both trips I have to check the date to know which arm we were in. Even if you were unable to get all the way to the glacier you will still have had spectacular views of the fjords.
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Cheapest Time To Book A Disney Cruise To Alaska
When we were deciding whether or not to book our Disney cruise in January 2020, SO many people told us to wait. Cruise prices always get cheaper, they said. BUT all my research at the time said, NO! Disney cruise prices only go UP from their release price.
And they were right.
So, the cheapest time to book your Disney cruise to Alaska is in March when Disney releases dates for the following year.
Have prices for Disney cruises to Alaska ever dropped since Ive been recording them? Yes, but typically only in the veranda and concierge cabins, and after first surging in price. There were slight drops in the cheaper cabin types in February and March 2020 I wish I recorded if these drops were for regular or restricted cabins. But, Disney cruise price drops later on were never below the original release price.
About Disney Cruises To Alaska
In case you dont love doing all the research like me, here are some key things you need to know about Disney cruises to Alaska before we dig into price comparisons. Here we cover: your options for Disney cruises to Alaska, your itinerary, your Disney cruise ship and the range of prices.
Lighthouse near Skagway, Alaska. Photo credit: Geoff Brooks from Unsplash.
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The Best Alaska Itineraries
My first visit to Alaska started in Anchorage, where we took the Alaska Railroad to Whittier to board Regent Seven Seas Mariner to explore Prince William Sound, Kodiak and the remote Dutch Harbor before heading to Russias Kamchatka Peninsula and the northern islands of Japan.
What I saw in Alaska took my breath away, and weve returned several times since. While that particular cruise was aboard a pricey luxury line, there are ships in all price ranges sailing a variety of itineraries, so dont let budget stop you from visiting.
Cruise Line & Cruise ShipPrincess Cruises August 05, 2021
As the cruise industry continues to come back after a long pause due to COVID-19, excitement for future cruises continues to build. Princess Cruises, a favorite of travelers heading to Alaska, has just announced its cruises and cruisetours in the region for 2023.
Sailings for the newly announced season will go on sale August 18, 2021, and will feature six MedallionClass ships, including the cruise lines newest ship, Discovery Princess, which will be returning to Alaska for a second season.
The 2023 season includes 145 departures, 14 unique itineraries, five glacier-viewing experiences and departures from four convenient ports.
Princess will also offer sailings of the Inside Passage from Seattle. Onboard Discovery Princess or Crown Princess, guests set sail roundtrip from the Emerald City on these seven-day voyages.
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Disney Cruise Line Gratuities
Tipping while on a Disney Cruise doesnt have to be complicated! Much of the time, the gratuities are built into the price of what you are paying.
Starting in January 2019 Disney Cruise Line did increase their recommendations for select positions. The total recommended gratuity is $13.50 per passenger/per day based.This means that your gratuity depends on how many days you are cruising and how many people are in your party.
- Gratuities for the whole trip $13.50 per passenger/per day based which dividends up to:
- Stateroom host $4.50 per day
- Server $4.50 per day
- Assistant Server $3.50 per day
- Head Server $1 per day
- Alcoholic Drinks 15% is added to the bill
- Palo tip is included with the fee that you pay, but if you have excellent service, you can tip more.
- Room Service $1 per item
- Senses Spa 18% is added to the bill
- Excursion tips this is up to you, I generally tip $20 for the three of us
- Kids Club Services you are not expected to tip
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Pack Your Carry On Correctly
It may take a while for your room to arrive and luggage to make it to your stateroom so ensure your carryon has anything you need for the afternoon .
Use a traditional carry on with wheels because, your booze has to be in your carryon.
If the weather is beautiful in Vancouver, you may want to pack your familys bathing suits to enjoy the pools and slides on day one!
Shore Excursions On Disney Alaska Cruises
Disney Port Adventures are designed with families in mind, and offer the very best of what Alaska has to offer. Exciting, engaging, and worry-free, these adventures allow you to pick what you want to do, then leave the rest to Disney. The line takes care of the details, and will adjust plans as needed if the ship is late getting to port or an excursion runs long. Plus, if there is a port change, your excursion will be fully refunded.
Some of the shore excursions Disney Cruise Line offers in Alaska are:
- 5-Glacier Seaplane Expedition – Juneau, Alaska
- Alaskan Fish Camp & Wilderness Dining – Ketchikan, Alaska
- Gold Panning, Sled Dogs & Scenic Railway – Skagway, Alaska
- Hoonah Sightseeing and Tribal Dance – Icy Strait Point, Alaska
- The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show – Ketchikan, Alaska
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Disney Vacation Club Cruises
The Disney Vacation Club member cruises for 2022 will be the 3-night Bahamian cruise on June 14 on the Disney Wish, and the 7-night Alaskan cruise on August 29 on the Disney Wonder. Both cruises are sold out, but a waitlist is available.
DVC member cruises are only open to Disney Vacation Club members who have purchased at least some of their vacation points directly from Disney . Members can use their vacation points to book the cruise or can pay cash rates. Typically DVC cruises are significantly more expensive than similar cruises for the general public, but guests will be given a wide variety of DVC special gifts and will get to experience some exclusive member events including talks by special guests including artists, imagineers and/or actors from classic Disney movies.
Whether the DVC member cruise is worth booking is a personal judgment call. The extra events are difficult or impossible to experience any other way. The various DVC gifts are usually a mix of the usual kinds of tote bags, pens, and so forth you can get by attending a DVC meeting or buying a new DVC contract, plus at least a few special and unique items. Some people love the DVC member cruises and try to go on each one. Others go once and feel its not worth the extra money.
Best For Short Cruises: Disney Dream
Courtesy of Disney Cruise
Sails To: Bahamas
The Disney Dream is stationed in Port Canaveral about an hours drive from Disney World Resort in Central Florida ideal for families who want to visit the parks before their cruise. The main difference between the Disney Dream and the other ships in the fleet is that it only sails to the Bahamas on short, 3-to-5-night voyages that include Disneys privately-owned paradise, Castaway Cay. Dream first set sail in 2011, and like sister ship the Disney Fantasy, she carries 4,000 passengers significantly more than the two older ships . One highlight on Dream is the Aqua Duck Waterslide, a transparent, four-story slide that extends over the side of the ship that passengers zoom down in rafts .
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