ABD Alaska Add-on June 21 sailing - The DIS Discussion Forums

CAprincess · 07-01-2011, 06:46 PM

I know others have posted on the ABD Alaska cruise add-on, but I thought I would post my impressions too. We were on the June 21-28 sailing on the Wonder. This was our first experience with ABD. We never received any information from ABD before we left so we were a bit in the dark about ABD when we arrived at the port. Fear not, we met our guide Landon at the dock during check-in. The ABD group was small on this cruise, only 7 people. Five of the 7 were our family group! We were sailing with myself, DH, DS(10), DD(8), and my sister.

Our ABD guides, Landon and Korey, were fantastic. Very personable and great at looking after the minute details that make a vacation extra special. They were great with the kids too.

The days at sea are low-key for the ABD add-on. There was an activity each day, but we were on our own otherwise. Which is fine, because the ship certainly has enough activities to keep one busy. Of course, the ABD activities we did have were wonderful. I don't want to spoil things for future sailors with too many details!

Our excursion days were amazing. Two of the days were an early start and the Ketchikan day is later since the ship doesn't arrive until the afternoon. We all enjoyed the excursions offered. The transportation was excellent and we always had our own bus, or train car, or trolley, or boat. A little funny for a group of 7! The one down side I noticed about so many amazing activities each day was often I felt like I could have spent more time but we had to leave to meet our next deadline. I guess that means we will have to visit again! We certainly couldn't have done so many things on our own.

The highlights for the adults were the helicopter ride and dog sledding during the Juneau day. A WOW sort of day! The kids said they enjoyed the Lumberjack show the most. Go figure.

The only slightly negative aspect of the ABD add-on was missing the formal night and semi-formal night activities on the ship. Our ABD Palo dinner was on the ship's formal night and our crab dinner on an excursion was during semi-formal night. Now, we certainly could have worn our formal wear to Palo's and taken pictures with Mickey, etc. Our servers also offered to accommodate our late return to the ship for the early seating during semi-formal night with a second seating spot. So, one can do it all, but it takes a little extra effort.

All in all it was a magical experience with ABD and I would not hesitate to sign-up for the cruise add-on again. I'm hoping the 2012 ABD schedule will go somewhere I want to go for next year's vacation.

disneymath · 07-01-2011, 11:31 PM

Thanks for the report ... and for not giving away any surprises! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your trip.

sayhello · 07-02-2011, 04:38 PM

Sounds wonderful! If anything would tempt me to sign up for DCL's Alaska cruise, it would be that ABD add-on!

Glad you had such a wonderful trip!

Sayhello

Alexander · 07-29-2011, 04:13 PM

Really, really, really hoping they do the Alaskan Cruise ABD add-on next year! Planning for our 15th anniversary and if we can add ABD it would be awesome!

07-01-2011, 06:46 PM	#1
CAprincess Earning My Ears Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 8	ABD Alaska Add-on June 21 sailing I know others have posted on the ABD Alaska cruise add-on, but I thought I would post my impressions too. We were on the June 21-28 sailing on the Wonder. This was our first experience with ABD. We never received any information from ABD before we left so we were a bit in the dark about ABD when we arrived at the port. Fear not, we met our guide Landon at the dock during check-in. The ABD group was small on this cruise, only 7 people. Five of the 7 were our family group! We were sailing with myself, DH, DS(10), DD(8), and my sister. Our ABD guides, Landon and Korey, were fantastic. Very personable and great at looking after the minute details that make a vacation extra special. They were great with the kids too. The days at sea are low-key for the ABD add-on. There was an activity each day, but we were on our own otherwise. Which is fine, because the ship certainly has enough activities to keep one busy. Of course, the ABD activities we did have were wonderful. I don't want to spoil things for future sailors with too many details! Our excursion days were amazing. Two of the days were an early start and the Ketchikan day is later since the ship doesn't arrive until the afternoon. We all enjoyed the excursions offered. The transportation was excellent and we always had our own bus, or train car, or trolley, or boat. A little funny for a group of 7! The one down side I noticed about so many amazing activities each day was often I felt like I could have spent more time but we had to leave to meet our next deadline. I guess that means we will have to visit again! We certainly couldn't have done so many things on our own. The highlights for the adults were the helicopter ride and dog sledding during the Juneau day. A WOW sort of day! The kids said they enjoyed the Lumberjack show the most. Go figure. The only slightly negative aspect of the ABD add-on was missing the formal night and semi-formal night activities on the ship. Our ABD Palo dinner was on the ship's formal night and our crab dinner on an excursion was during semi-formal night. Now, we certainly could have worn our formal wear to Palo's and taken pictures with Mickey, etc. Our servers also offered to accommodate our late return to the ship for the early seating during semi-formal night with a second seating spot. So, one can do it all, but it takes a little extra effort. All in all it was a magical experience with ABD and I would not hesitate to sign-up for the cruise add-on again. I'm hoping the 2012 ABD schedule will go somewhere I want to go for next year's vacation.

07-01-2011, 11:31 PM	#2
disneymath DIS Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northern Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,185	Thanks for the report ... and for not giving away any surprises! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your trip. __________________ Offsite - 1986, 1991, Caribbean Beach August 1989, All Star Movies August 2003, Wilderness Lodge August 2006, All Star Music (Family Suite) December 2007, Animal Kingdom Lodge August 2008, Coronado Springs August 2009, Bay Lake Tower August 2010 DVC BLT since September 2010 DCL & ABD Alaskan Wonders August 2011, BLT (1st Trip Home) December 2011/January 2012, Old Key West August 2012

07-02-2011, 04:38 PM	#3
sayhello Have Camera, Will Travel Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 8,770	Sounds wonderful! If anything would tempt me to sign up for DCL's Alaska cruise, it would be that ABD add-on! Glad you had such a wonderful trip! Sayhello __________________ Check out my Southwest Splendors Trip Report! (2008). 5 parts, full of pics & details & impressions! My Taming the Last Frontier ABD Alaska Trip Report! (2009)! 7 parts, pictures, stories, & more impressions! Also check out my ABD/DCL Mediterranean Magic Trip Report! (2010) NOW POSTING! My DIS Unplugged London/Paris/Disneyland Paris Trip Report! (2011)

07-29-2011, 04:13 PM	#4
Alexander DIS Veteran Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,598	Really, really, really hoping they do the Alaskan Cruise ABD add-on next year! Planning for our 15th anniversary and if we can add ABD it would be awesome! __________________

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