Alaska 2020

[adstz]

I was under the impression that Disney released cruises approximately 18 months prior to the cruise.

I am interested in going to Alaska in June of 2020. It will be our first Disney cruise and I want to be sure we get a good choice of cabins (as we need 4).

Itineraries have not been released yet.

Is there any way to know when they will be released?

[kdogfister]

No way to know for sure until shortly before they are released for booking. Current estimate is as early as Mid-February to early March, based on previous years schedule releases. 

[txwriter]

11 hours ago, adstz said:

I was under the impression that Disney released cruises approximately 18 months prior to the cruise.

I am interested in going to Alaska in June of 2020. It will be our first Disney cruise and I want to be sure we get a good choice of cabins (as we need 4).

Itineraries have not been released yet.

Is there any way to know when they will be released?

 

Are you set on only cruising Disney?  Most of the other lines that cruise Alaska already have their itineraries out for 2020. At the very least, if you are bored, you might look them over.

 

I took my mom on the southbound Princess Cruise from Anchorage to Vancouver last year.  Port times were fantastic, and we got to do both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay.  

 

There are are so many things to do on shore, you may find you will want to spend more time off the ship than you might in other places.  Plus, Disney prices are really sky high even when first released

compared to other lines.

 

Of course, it is a different story if you have gone on Disney many times and know your kids love it and plan on utilizing their kids clubs a good deal.  I have, however,

read a ton of Alaska trip reports and hear many good things about kids clubs on other lines though.  Some even report their kids like the clubs better on other lines.  It really just depends on why you are picking Disney.

 

Are you 100% sold on Disney only?  Would you be open to doing some time on land prior to the cruise?  We spent five days on land prior to the cruise and loved seeing a little more of everything and meeting some of the people that live in the Great Land.

 

 

[gometros]

I'm with txwriter on this. We did Princess also southbound. Was able to spend some time in Anchorage pre-cruise and in Vancouver post.  Normally, I would push DCL, but with Alaska being more about the ports than the ship, I'm not sold that Disney gives you the best exposure to Alaska. Because they don't have as much time, you don't see as many glaciers and spend less time in port. Looking at the 2019 itineraries, they're only in Juneau a half day and the other half at Dawes Glacier and a day at Icy Straight Point.  Or some itienraries spend more time in Juneau, but skip Icy Straight Point. With Princess, we had a whole day in Juneau and got to go deep into Glacier Bay and then had another day at Hubbard Glacier. 

Edited January 31, 2019 by gometros

[adstz]

We have been to Alaska 6 times with Princess.  We love Princess and do usually cruise with them. (check out my full signature)

The cruise in 2020 will be in celebration of my granddaughter (she will be 11 1/2 then) being 10 years cancer free.  

 To me it is worth the extra money to celebrate.  I know Disney will do a great job of letting her know how important this celebration is.

[txwriter]

1 hour ago, adstz said:

We have been to Alaska 6 times with Princess.  We love Princess and do usually cruise with them. (check out my full signature)

The cruise in 2020 will be in celebration of my granddaughter (she will be 11 1/2 then) being 10 years cancer free.  

 To me it is worth the extra money to celebrate.  I know Disney will do a great job of letting her know how important this celebration is.

 

I definitely think if you have been to Alaska before then that changes things.  😊

 

Congratulations on the opportunity to celebrate such an amazing milestone with your granddaughter!  Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy your trip!  It should not be too much longer to wait.

 

There are some Disney Cruise blogs that might post this info sooner than cruise critic or if you were to contact a Disney specialist travel agent.  They would probably love to help you make a special trip for your granddaughter and could grab you a hold spot as soon as the fares come out.  Disney does not discount, but some of the TAs will give OBC.

 

I am excited for you.

 

Bon Voyage! 😄

[gometros]

Once again, I agree with txwriter. Your previous experience changes the whole dynamic.

 

Congratulations on 10 years cancer free. That is truly a cause to celebrate.

[Bonnie1222]

What a wonderful celebration and absolutely worth the extra expense!  

 

I have been waiting on DCL to release 2020 Alaska as well.  We are Platinum and know that it would cost us a premium.  So we booked a 4 day land, southern route cruise on the Coral Princess.  We as figuring we got 11 days for less than the price of a 7 on Disney but we still want to see what Disney offers.  

 

We have only done 1 other cruise besides Disney and it was on Princess.  The cruise wasn't bad, but it wasn't Disney.  But back then we were younger (the trip was a gift from the in laws and they were big Princess sailors).  I am doing my best to keep an open mind and remember that is will not be Disney, but being a port intensive trip I thought it was worth putting my money toward excursions.  

 

 

[gometros]

20 hours ago, Bonnie1222 said:

What a wonderful celebration and absolutely worth the extra expense!  

 

I have been waiting on DCL to release 2020 Alaska as well.  We are Platinum and know that it would cost us a premium.  So we booked a 4 day land, southern route cruise on the Coral Princess.  We as figuring we got 11 days for less than the price of a 7 on Disney but we still want to see what Disney offers.  

 

We have only done 1 other cruise besides Disney and it was on Princess.  The cruise wasn't bad, but it wasn't Disney.  But back then we were younger (the trip was a gift from the in laws and they were big Princess sailors).  I am doing my best to keep an open mind and remember that is will not be Disney, but being a port intensive trip I thought it was worth putting my money toward excursions.  

 

 

 

We did Alaska on Princess (my only regret is that we didn't have time to do what you are doing, tacking on the 4 days before to see Denali), To be honest, other than the entertainment, we loved it. I especially loved the any time dining. And with an Alaska cruise being so port intensive, you won't really mind the entertainment. Enjoy.

[txwriter]

On 1/30/2019 at 10:44 AM, adstz said:

I was under the impression that Disney released cruises approximately 18 months prior to the cruise.

I am interested in going to Alaska in June of 2020. It will be our first Disney cruise and I want to be sure we get a good choice of cabins (as we need 4).

Itineraries have not been released yet.

Is there any way to know when they will be released?

 

Sources on another board are saying the next release date will be this Thursday, Feb. 28th.  Booking can begin a few days later based on your cruise status with Disney.  Hope this helps.