Just in case you're Wondering....
Written: Jan 17 '05 (Updated Jan 21 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The people (staff and fellow guests), the food, the stateroom and the destinations
Cons: It was over way too quick!
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this cruise line to those who are looking for a quality vacation.
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| s_mcmilla124's Full Review: Disney Wonder |
This was my very first cruise, so I did not know what to expect. However, from the first moment aboard to the last fond farewell's, this cruise exceeded all my expectations. I could not have asked for a better vacation.
Why did we go on a Disney Cruise?
My boyfriend and I decided to go on vacation to celebrate our college graduation's. So we booked a four night Disney cruise in a Cat. seven stateroom from May 16th to May 20th 2004. Why Disney for a couple with no children? We had heard nightmare stories from friends that cruised other lines "more geared" towards adults. Doing some serious internet research, we liked the positive feedback Disney received from previous passengers and travel experts alike, so we went for it.
Embarkation
Because we chose a cruise only deal, we left NYC the same day the cruise was set to depart. This worried me because I wanted to get to Florida as soon as possible, to be at the ship as soon as possible, to get on board as soon as possible to make Palo reservations (you guessed it)...as soon as possible.
I don't know if other cruise lines offer this, but we did not have to pick up our luggage once we arrived at Orlando airport because the Disney cruise reps did it for us. All you do is put the special luggage tags that come with your documents on all your bags. I thought this was a plus. We purchased transfers through Disney to take us from the airport to the ship. I was worried about this too because "what if we don't know where to go and we get lost and the ship leaves without us!!!". Not to worry, in the airport, Disney cruise reps are all around to guide you to your transfer destination.
After about a 15 minute wait with some other passengers, we boarded a very nice Disney cruise line bus towards the pier. The ride takes about 90 minutes, but your so excited and busy watching the Disney film about the cruise that by the time you realize it, YOU'RE THERE! The first view you see of the ship is fantastic. I could try to describe it, but it's really impossible. The bus dropped us off in front of the Disney terminal, a beautiful building. We entered and "checked in". To do this, we displayed our passports, documents and credit card to a customer service rep. We got our coveted Key to the World Card and Cruise Navigator (a list of what is going on when and where). There was no line and this took approximately 10 minutes ( I kid you not). The longest part of this whole process came when we had to stand in line under the Mickey ears to board the actual ship. Even this wait seemed short, definitely under 25 minutes. The highlight of the day (thus far)for me came when I saw Donald Duck waddle into the terminal for a photo op. I LOVE DONALD DUCK, and I am not ashamed to say it. He doesn't get the credit he deserves (smile). Anyway, once on board, we took our first photo, they introduced us (to which the crew assembled in the lobby gave a round of applause) and we were off to a wonderful lunch at Parrot Cay. The ship is as beautiful inside as it is outside, and talk about clean!!! After lunch, we did some exploring until our room was ready. We found the important locations like the arcade, the lounge and all the various restaurants (lol). We attended the sail away party, which was a blast for kids of all ages. We danced with the characters while the ship pulled away from port to the tune of "when you wish upon a star." It was a most memorable experience.
P.S- you have to attend a mandatory safety drill prior to sailing off. The staff is there to guide you to your designated destination, which depends on the information located behind your stateroom door. During the drill, you must wear your life jacket at all times. I saw someone take it off, and he was gently reprimanded.
The Stateroom
I had read that Disney staterooms are big, but I was not prepared for just how big they are. The Cat. 7 fit my boyfriend and myself very comfortably. We had plenty of storage space in the closets, the provided steamer trunk and even on the verranda. Speaking of the verranda, the Cat. 7 has a "navigator's verranda" which has a regular balcony that you can step out on, but it has a wall that keeps the balcony enclosed. There is a large open "porthole" that you can look out from. I thought this was great because it offered a bit of privacy while using the balcony. Plus, we found this to be a great way to save money. Imagine looking out at the stars, hearing the motion of the waves while enjoying dinner on your on verranda. It is truly amazing.
Another great feature of this room was the split bathroom. Behind one door there is the "toilet room" with a toilet, sink and mirror. Behind the second door there is the "shower room", with a shower and tub combo, and another sink and a mirror. This makes it possible for two people to get ready at the same time. Definite time saver.
The room also has a mini "fridge" which only keeps items cool, not cold and a safe for storing documents and personal info. The room was always kept clean by the housekeeping staff. I don't know how they managed to do such a good job without disturbing us, but they did. We were always welcomed back to the room with a towel animal on the bed and fresh towels in the bathroom. No complaints in this department at all.
The Food
I thought the food overall was very good. The ship has three main restaurants through which you rotate: Trition's, Animator's Palate and Parrot Cay . There are also smaller area's to enjoy a meal like Pluto's doghouse and the Beach Blanket Buffett. I was pleased that they offered plenty of choices at every meal. If you wanted a light, healthy cuisine, you could definitely find items on the menu. If you wanted to try something exotic, that was possible as well.
The wait staff was wonderful, and our server Gian, had us laughing at every meal. One one night, my boyfriend was not feeling well due to a cold. We thought it would be better for us to skip eating at Parrot Cay (the main dining room we were set to eat in that night) so as not to get anyone else sick. When seeing our seats empty at dinner, our server called our room and asked if we would like to enjoy items from the dinner menu at Parrot Cay. He then brought the items up to us and wished my boyfriend a speedy recovery. I was so impressed that he took time out to make sure we had dinner that night. This is just one example of the Disney difference.
My favorite onboard "main" restaurant was Triton's, where I had salmon to die for. However, if you make reservations at Palo (the adults only restaurant), you will not be disappointed! The food is excellent. I had the filet which melted in my mouth like butter. We even got to sample all of the desserts on the menu (I personally recommend the chocolate souffle, you'll never forget it). Although there is no midnight buffet, I don't think you will be too disappointed because there is 24 hour room service, which I took advantage of several times. Overall, the dining experience was very good and we were able to meet two very nice people who sat at the table with us, so that was an added plus.
The Islands
We were fortunate to have beautiful weather throughout the cruise. Nassau in the Bahamas is a very lively place. The only thing that may throw you off, are the people who are trying to sell you things. However,I did not find them to be rude. If you say "no thank you" they back off. For an excursion, we toured Atlantis, which is a beautiful resort. Because the ship is docked right on the island, it is easy to go back during the day and rest or enjoy the ship. It was really no hassle to get on and off the ship, just make sure you have your picture ID and your key to the world card.
Disney's island Castaway Cay is more beautiful than you can imagine. We enjoyed the adult only beach, went bike riding and entered a shoot out contest, which we did not win, but we enjoyed ourselves. After the complementary bar-be-que lunch, we found a hammock on the beach and relaxed. I just wish we could have stayed on Castaway Cay longer. For a four night cruise, the destinations were both desirable and enjoyable.
The Onboard Activities
Although the cruise line is geared towards families, they do a very good job of making sure that couples who don't have children enjoy themselves (without being over run by kids). We found plenty of things to do onboard to keep ourselves busy. For example, I enjoyed wine tasting and cooking seminars, while my boyfriend played basketball and watched the games in the ESPN zone. We both enjoyed the adults only pool and spa. At night, adults only sing-a-longs (I thought this would be kinda boring, but the staff has a way of "spicing up" the action), bingo, theme parties and comedy shows make the time fly. Plus, during your day at sea, the staff hosts great games that everyone can enjoy, like mini golf. Throughout the cruise, you can be sure that your favorite characters will be around for photo op's. (I just want to say that the photographers onboard do a wonderful job of capturing the moment. They have a way of positioning their subjects and using just the right amount of light to make the pictures come out fantastic. I have pictures from this cruise that I know I will cherish forever). You will want to keep the Disney cruise Navigator close to you, so that you will know what is going on during the day. I found it helpful to circle the events or shows that we wanted to see. Speaking of shows, you will not want to miss any of the nightly Disney productions. My personal favorite was Hercules the "Muse-ical" because I thought it was hilarious, but you can not miss Disney Dreams. That show is a must see, because it just may bring a tear to your eyes. As you can see, there is plenty to do onboard, but you can always choose to do nothing, and that's just fine too.
Debarkation
Getting off the ship was just as easy as getting on. The night before you're set to leave, you have to put all the bags you want the staff to transport outside our room, with your designated color coded tags. Don't forget to tip those staff members who helped you enjoy your stay (They work really hard and the deserve every penny!). You also need to fill out a customs form for all the items you purchased during the trip.
On the morning of departure, you enjoy breakfast in the restaurant where you ate the night before. You then make your way off the ship and proceed through customs. Once that is done, you enter the baggage area where the luggage is separated according to the color tags you placed on your bags the night before. This makes locating your stuff simple. Although debarkation is easy and fast, you kind of wish it wasn't so you could stay on the ship longer. But hopefully, you will have many pleasant memories of your cruise to soften the blow that you actually have to leave.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
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Epinions.com ID:
s_mcmilla124
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Location: Queens, New York
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
People usually ask if I live up to my name. I believe that I do!
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