I've fantasized about taking a cruise on the Disney Cruise Line since its first ship, the Disney Magic, set sail in 1998.  More than ten years later, circumstances aligned in such a way that a four night New Year's Eve cruise on the Disney Wonder seemed like an almost logical choice for mr_chelledun and me. 

The following is my take on this cruise as a childless adult - a somewhat rare species in the wonderful world of Disney!  If you, too, are traveling unaccompanied by minors, be sure to check out the special suggestions for grown-ups at the end of each bold-faced section.

The Basics
Prior to this trip, I experienced seven prior cruises - two on Princess and five on Carnival - ranging from five to twelve nights.  Our four-night trip on the Wonder was my shortest cruise to date, and one of my most expensive.  We certainly paid an extra premium for the New Year's date.  However, I doubt prices on this ship ever drop much below $200 per adult per day, which is high for the cruising world.  For those who have the extra days (we didn't), the seven-night itineraries on the Disney Magic generally offer a much better value.  There are also sometimes promotions where kids can sail free, not that this would have helped us in our present state.

Passage on the Wonder can be booked either on Disney's website or over the phone.  A $25 onboard credit is available for those who book online, with another $50 onboard credit available for using a Disney Visa.  There were nine cabins left when I made my New Year's reservation in November, and the ship was completely full by the beginning of December.  Most Disney cruises sail full so don't expect to get a last-minute price drop.  This may change when the line's occupancy is increased with the introduction of the Disney Dream in 2011.

Embarkation
The cruise terminal at Port Canaveral is stylish, clean, and well-lit.  We were dropped off by our rental car company so I can't testify to the parking facilities. 

The embarkation process starts around 11:30 or so (officially 1:00 p.m.) and continues until 4:00 p.m.  If you can stand waiting to get on the ship, I recommend waiting to arrive until around 1:30 p.m. to avoid waiting in a long line.  By doing so, we were on the ship within a half hour of arrival instead of waiting for hours like those who arrive before the doors open.  Guests can't get to their rooms until 1:30 p.m. anyway, so I don't see the big motivation to be the first one on board. 

As we walked through the ship's side entrance, a cast member asked our name and then "introduced" us over the loudspeaker while other employees clapped to welcome us.  This seemed like a nice novelty until we realized that identical announcements reverberate through most of the ship's interior areas for the next several hours.  The noise got old pretty fast and I wouldn't mind seeing this practice abandoned by the time of my next cruise.
 
Stateroom
Our inside stateroom, number 6567, was attractively decorated with a nautical theme and whimsical touches throughout.  We had framed Disney art, an artsy clock, and two globe lights next to the bed.  For a change, it was nice to stay in a stateroom that had more than the bare minimum level of embellishment.

There is a common misperception that Disney Cruise Line staterooms are bigger than their counterparts on other lines.  As far as I can tell, this is not the case, although our standard inside room was laid out differently than others we have had.  It was long and skinny, with the bed a back knock and a tiny sitting area with sofabed up front.  The two "rooms" could be separated with a curtain.  Unfortunately, this layout left no spot for our luggage except on the sofabed, so we couldn't take advantage of sitting on it.  Our closet was crammed up in the front walkway and was the smallest we've ever had, with finger-pinching sliding doors that routinely crushed the edges of our suits and dresses.  I did make good use of the desk/mirror combo with conveniently-placed outlets and a moon-shaped stool. 
 
Somehow, despite our late booking, we lucked out in terms of stateroom location.  We were situated right in the middle of the ship, resulting in minimal movement and great access to practically everything.  The pool was three flights straight up, the shops/atrium/theater a couple floors down.  I'd stay in this part of the ship again in a heartbeat, although ideally next time in a verandah stateroom!
 
Public Spaces
After eight cruises I must say that the Wonder is the most well-designed ship I have ever sailed on.  For whatever reason, most cruise ships offer convoluted setups which allow guests to traverse their lengths only via a single deck.  In other words, if you get stuck on the wrong end of the ship, you'll run into a barrier and have to backtrack to this central deck to cross.  In contrast, on the Wonder, getting from Point A to Point B is shockingly simple and in most cases simply means walking across the length of the ship to one's destination.

In addition to being functional, the Wonder is a fabulous-looking ship.  The "art nouveau" décor manages to be both colorful and sophisticated at the same time, with art prints, statues, and stained glass adorning most public spaces.  The theme starts in the multi-story main atrium, which is used for character greetings and a few special events.  In my opinion it could very much use some lounge-style seating for people watchers, like the atrium bars found on most Carnival and Princess ships.  Fortunately, there is some seating of this type available in the Promenade Lounge, a family bar where we spent much of our time. 

It almost goes without saying that Disney has elaborate themed areas for children and teens.  We checked out the family pools and found quite cute (the slide is held up by a Mickey hand) if a bit of a madhouse.  However, the rest of these areas are set off from the main thoroughfares of the ship and so, as childless adults, we never even saw them.  We did attend one event in Studio Sea, a family lounge themed to television in general, and found the facility rather teeny-bopperish in style. 
 
Special Notes for Grown-Ups:  Before we cruised, we read up on Disney's much-hyped "adults only" indoor and outdoor spaces.  Some of these spaces lived up to our expectations.  The Quiet Cove pool was perhaps the highlight of our trip.  It was quiet, aesthetically pleasing, and frequently had a calypso duo playing.  There were also two hot tubs adjoining the pool, blissfully free of splashing toddlers.  I am now convinced that every cruise ship should have an outdoor pool reserved for adult use.  We did not use the adjacent spa, but it certainly looked very nice and relaxing for those who enjoy this type of facility. 
 
Less successful, in my opinion, is the Wonder's adults-only Route 66 "entertainment district."  This area is tucked away on a lower floor, presumably to avoid underage trespassers.  However, as a result the bars receive little traffic from passers by and were usually empty.   The Cadillac Lounge piano bar, while nicely themed, was a ghost town most evenings.  Even worse was the Wave Bands "disco" which rarely even had music playing.  The only Route 66 venue we made regular use of was Diversions, a sports bar with plush chairs and innumerable televisions.  This place was routinely packed with fans thanks to the many bowl games scheduled during our sailing, but I'm not sure what it would be like during a less sports-obsessed time of year.

Finally, we stopped into the Starbucks-inspired Cove Café to check it out but found little to keep us there as non-coffee drinkers.  Those who do enjoy a morning cup of coffee, however, should appreciate this quiet oasis to drink it in.
 
Dining
Food is a Big Deal to us, particularly when we are on vacation.  Sadly, Disney gets overwhelmingly average ratings in the dining department.  The worst food we had on board came from the ship's quick service venues.  The Beach Blanket Buffet's selection of hot and cold foods looked tempting, but lacked flavor and were often lukewarm.  Food from the outdoor grill Pluto's Dog House was even worse, particularly the mushy hot dogs served with odd-tasting wheat buns.  We did room service only once, but found it similarly disappointing except for the chocolate covered Mickey Bars. 

Our dining room experience was somewhat better.  Disney gets an A for creativity and C for execution of its "rotation dining" concept.  Through this concept, diners spend their dinner periods moving through a series of three onboard restaurants while keeping the same table mates and wait staff.  We ended up with a rotation of Animator's Palette, Parrot Cay (x2), and Triton's.

Animator's Palette, with its color-changing "show," was a bit of a disappointment in terms of both food and the "show."  Some portions of the lighting effects did not seem to be working, and my steak was rather tough despite being prepared rare.  I will give props for the apple crumble dessert.  The food was better at Parrot Cay, partially thanks to the special New Year's Eve menu we enjoyed there.  My tomato risotto was one of the best entrees I've ever had on a cruise ship.  The atmosphere, however, felt like a low-budget Rainforest Café.  Finally, we ended up opting out of Triton's, the most formal of the three restaurants, in lieu of a final meal at the adult-only specialty restaurant so I cannot comment on its food or atmosphere.  Service was average.  Our meals ended up lasting about two and a half hours, which was way too long.  I believe this was because preference was given to tables with children in an effort to get them out in time to participate in the children's programs. 

While we're on the subject, I would be remiss not to mention two more dining highlights: unlimited free fountain soda and soft serve ice cream.  These are two amenities that are not available on all cruise lines.  I personally celebrated the former, mr_chelledun the latter. 
 
Special Notes for Grown-Ups:  Adults will want to request - and are practically guaranteed to get - the 8:15 p.m. seating to minimize their chances of being surrounded by small children.  We also had four childless couples at our table of eight, which was very nice.  I would actually have requested this if I knew it was an option.

Bar service was very good, and drink prices were reasonable.  I particularly enjoyed the special holiday drink menu that was available on our New Year's cruise.  A strawberry daiquiri seems more exciting when labeled a "Santa Hat" and adorned with a pile of whipped cream and a candy cane.  Non-drinkers will be pleased to note the presence of numerous non-alcoholic fruity drinks as well.

We loved the Wonder's adults only restaurant, Palo.  This Italian-influenced venue offers premium food and service with an ocean view for a $15 per person surcharge.  Brunch (offered only on the four-night cruise's sea day) includes an upscale buffet along with table service of hot entrees.  Highlights include an array of antipasto, tons of seafood, and breakfast and lunch items made to order.  Don't miss the chicken parmesan!  Dinner is more traditional, with unlimited appetizer, entrée, and dessert selections served in a leisurely manner.  Don't miss the chocolate soufflé!  If you only have the time/money/childcare to experience one, I liked the brunch a tiny bit better but we'll certainly book as many Palo meals as we can on our next Disney cruise. 
 
Entertainment
As we expected, the Wonder's family entertainment offerings were excellent.  The three production shows were the big event and we found them to be on par with the best stage shows offered at the theme parks.  Golden Mickeys was the best of the three by far, as it showcased many members of the ship's unusually talented cast.  Toy Story: The Musical was also very good and incorporated some innovative technology to create a   experience.  Disney Dreams, my least favorite, was still better than the production shows on most other ships.  My only gripe?  I dislike shows that feature adults pretending to be children, and Disney Dreams and Toy Story both had lot of that going on.  It was kind of like The Judy Miller Show without the comedic element.

The entertainment schedule for our cruise also featured three deck parties: Sail Away, New Year's Eve, and Pirates IN the Caribbean.  The format of these parties was very similar, in that each featured cast members leading the crowd in goofy dance moves before introducing Mickey, Minnie, and company.  We enjoyed the spectacle the first couple of times but were kind of done with the whole affair by the time the pirate party rolled around.  I did enjoy the New Year's Eve fireworks (also featured during the Pirate party), which are unique to the Disney Cruise Line.

Of course, this being Disney, character greetings are a big part of the onboard festivities.  I'm not going to lie - I like a photo with Mickey every now and again.  Expecting the mob scene that accompanies this event in the theme parks, I was pleasantly shocked by how numerous and easy the onboard greeting opportunities were.  Mr_chelledun and I took pictures with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, the Chipmunks, Jack Sparrow, Stitch, Snow White, and Captain Hook in a variety of settings with probably less than a half hour of total wait time.  Perhaps the best thing is that we now have a ton of vacation photos with both of us in them, thanks to the Disney photographers on hand at each greeting spot. 

Finally, as major movie fans, mr_chelledun and I very much enjoyed the huge array of onboard films.  The Buena Vista Theater shows first run movies in a classy setting at all hours of the day and night.  During our cruise we enjoyed taking a break from the sun and viewing A Christmas Carol in 3D and The Princess and the Frog.  Older movies play continuously in staterooms, including live action films and Disney animated classics.  We watched bits and pieces of Rudy, Pay it Forward, Dumbo, The Rescuers, Meet the Robinsons, and The Sword in the Stone while getting dressed for dinner or drifting off to sleep.  Nostalgia-inducing classic Disney cartoon shorts are also always available. 
 
Special Notes for Grown-Ups:  Perhaps not shockingly, Disney is lacking a bit in its adult-specific entertainment offerings.  Although we enjoyed the family activities described above, we were disappointed to find that the events geared specifically toward childless adults either conflicted with another major event, or didn't start until 11:00 p.m. or later.  By that time we had typically lost momentum and were not eager to run over to Route 66 for a half-hour disco party.  Others apparently felt the same way - as described above, the adult venues were typically deserted, even during scheduled piano sets or dance times. 

We did attend a couple of daytime adult-friendly events, with mixed results.  The atrium art auction was fun to watch, as they always are, but I personally can't imagine buying an overpriced print on a cruise ship.  We had high hopes for the culinary demonstration and tasting but found that the advertised menu had been completely swapped out for something less appealing and the burners on the display stove weren't working properly.  The chef was obviously very flustered and we ended up being served lukewarm food that had been prepared in a back kitchen somewhere while the demonstration dish was never completed. 

On a future cruise, we might try one of the wine/beer/martini tasting events which are accompanied by an extra charge.  However, I do feel that these should probably be thrown in for free considering it's not like adults are taking advantage of the extensive (and presumably expensive) children's programs.
 
Ports
Disney's Caribbean itineraries aren't particularly exciting, so if you're looking for remote tropical islands head to Princess instead.  All Wonder itineraries offer a stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, as well as one at Nassau, Bahamas.  The four night trip adds a sea day to the mix. 

As mr_chelledun and I have each been to Nassau several times and were frankly pooped from a five night stay in Key West preceding our cruise, we stayed on ship during this port day.  However, if you've never been to Nassau, you must get off and explore.  Although this island is one of the Caribbean's more touristy offerings, there are some gems here.  For those who love marine animals, I highly recommend the boat trip to Blue Lagoon Island with its dolphin/sea lion encounters.  Cruise ship passengers can save a substantial amount of money by booking this excursion independently. 

We did get off the ship to spend a day at Castaway Cay and, despite high winds and waves the day of our visit, found the island to be virtually flawless.  I would seriously consider one of Disney's special "double dip" itineraries which include two visits to this tropical paradise.  Facilities are clean and amply available, the beaches are beautiful, and there were enough waterfront lounge chairs for everybody even though shore excursions (parasailing, stingray encounter, glass bottom boat) were cancelled during our stop due to concern over the weather.  Mr_chelledun and I spent a relaxing day making castles with our Disney sand toys, available for purchase on board or on the island.  We also enjoyed taking beach photographs with various Disney characters ranging from Captain Jack Sparrow to swimwear-clad Minnie Mouse.
 
Special Notes for Grown-Ups:  Disney boasts several "adults only" shore excursions, mostly of the expensive wine tasting variety.  I recommend foregoing these entirely and going it alone.  For Nassau, look no further than Senor Frogs, a fabulously fun place to get wild and crazy for an afternoon.  Think tacos, congo lines, and free shots!  Just make sure you allow plenty of time to get back to the boat.
 
As for grown-up options on Castaway Cay, Disney makes much of its Serenity Bay adult only section.  However, while we adored the island, we didn't think much of the bay.  This very narrow strip of beach is much less protected than the family beach and was too windy to even be enjoyed on the day we visited.  It was also eerily deserted, probably because it is located a fifteen minute walk (or short shuttle ride) from the island's main facilities.  We stayed for about a half hour and probably wouldn't bother making the trek back to this area on a future stop.
 
Debarkation
I was extremely impressed with Disney's debarkation process.  Guests have the option of attending a scheduled dining room breakfast, which we opted out of in favor of grabbing a quick danish at the buffet.  We left our stateroom and proceeded toward the gangway at 7:45 a.m., exited the ship, and found the entire ship's luggage waiting for us in numerical order by cabin.  By 8:00 a.m., we had gone through customs and were standing out on the curb waiting for the rental car shuttle.  The entire process could not have been more painless and was miles above that of other cruise lines.

Overall . . .
We had a ton of fun on this four-night Caribbean cruise.  The Disney Cruise Line knows its target audience and offers a very nice short cruise product with the Disney Wonder.  Families will adore this cruise experience, and we certainly plan to sail with Disney again as soon as we have children of our own.  In the meantime, however, I am not sure that Disney's grown-up offerings are sufficiently broad to justify its high price point.  While I would not hesitate to book with Disney again sans kids if the price were right, I am just as likely to head back to the less expensive and more diverse itineraries on Princess, Carnival, and other comparable lines.

*Check out some of my other cruise reviews . . .
Carnival Fascination
Carnival Glory
Crown Princess
Emerald Princess

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Families