Photo Trip Report – Panama Canal Cruise plus 3 days in DLR

[fltink]

I was on the Wonder in late April and do recognize some of the names! Of course on a 5-night cruise you do not get to know the people as well as on such a long cruise as yours. But I do remember Sasha who was our server at Palo as well. I thought he was truly an excellent server. He told us that he was on the Maiden voyage of the Magic already and just transferred over to the Wonder to see Alaska. Dragan was very excited that I was from Germany as he speaks German and chatted quite a bit with me. I also remember Shebaz from the shop, he seemed very friendly! All in all, even though I do not remember so many names, I was truly amazed about the friendliness of all staff on board.

So Sasha is BACK in Palo? I heard he was in the dining room.

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

Enjoying your report and really looking forward to hearing all about this cruise!

Thanks! I remember you from last year's trip report from the Fantasy. Thanks for reading and I see you are on the Magic out of Miami soon. We booked a short 4 day trip from Miami on the Magic in December for DSis' birthday. Miami was a more convenient port for us than PC.

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

So Sasha is BACK in Palo? I heard he was in the dining room.

Yes, he was in Palo and I believe he will be there all through the Alaska cruises. This is Sasha from Croatia - I might have a photo of him in my pictures some where - I'm going through them one day at a time!

 

[fltink]

Yes, he was in Palo and I believe he will be there all through the Alaska cruises. This is Sasha from Croatia - I might have a photo of him in my pictures some where - I'm going through them one day at a time!

Any idea when he disembarks? Hopefully not until after the Panama Canal cruise!

 

[bearsgirl]

Thanks for your posts on the PC cruise. Your pictures remind me of all of the fun we had. It was great to meet you two sisters and your parents, even if we didn't win at trivia in Diversions. Did the two of you book another cruise?
Rebecca

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

Thanks for your posts on the PC cruise. Your pictures remind me of all of the fun we had. It was great to meet you two sisters and your parents, even if we didn't win at trivia in Diversions. Did the two of you book another cruise?
Rebecca

Was so great to meet you in person too!!! We did book another cruise - Magic out of Miami for 4 nights in December (4-8) and we booked the southern Caribbean in 2014 out of Puerto Rico in September, but that one we might switch to something else if they have a more exciting itinerary in 2015. Dad and mom aren't planning to cruise again, even though dad was happy with his two golfing experiences. DSis and I have more fun just the two of us anyway!

Feel free to add your thoughts from this cruise on this trip report too!

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

We ordered breakfast in our room. Mom and Dad in their concierge one-bedroom suite are able to order hot breakfast which was the same menu as the breakfast served in the main dinning room.

While DSis waited for the room service to arrive, I went up to the 9th deck to get drinks.



I picked up hot cocoa and also filled up our drink mugs with soda. The drink stations all say to use a new cup which I don't remember seeing before. It was on the DIS that I learned the tip of bringing your own drink mugs.



and I ended up getting hot tea for myself.




Here's our breakfast!

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

DSis stayed up to midnight at the 120 day mark to book the cabana #5 and did so under Mom and Dad's reservation number (to book as concierge). Mom could have had the onshore concierge book the cabana for us, but DSis was hoping to get #5. Last year we had #6 on the family beach and she thought #5 would have a slightly better view.

We arrived at the cabana at the same time as everyone else got to theirs it seemed and Rodrigo was really busy. Unlike on the Fantasy there is only one concierge working all the cabanas - which seems to me a little unfair to the concierge team.





We made ourselves at home and right away were worried that the only sunscreen they had in the cabana was children's. Last year we burned because DSis and I didn't reapply sunscreen throughout the day, and we only put sunblock on in our stateroom - we didn't bring it to the beach with us.



When Rodrigo came around a little while later we asked him if there was any adult sunscreen and he was able to get us a couple sunscreens.

We figured before it got too hot we would get bikes to go for a ride around the island. Bikes are free with your cabana.



This is the view from the observation tower.


If you walk to the observation tower and are too tired to walk back to the beach, or don't like the bike you rode in on, feel free to grab another at the observation tower bike rack. Just kidding!

We next biked down to the end of the trail past the adult beach.




This is the view from the end for anyone debating whether to do it.



DSis and I decided that next cruise, when it's just the two of us, we'll skip the Cabana, but perhaps we'll look into doing the kayaking excursion.



We noticed they have a lot of Oleander planted around the island. This is a pretty plant but highly poisonous. Most neighborhoods in my town have removed this plant since it's so dangerous to children. Be sure to keep your kids from picking these flowers.

While looking at the water from the end of the bike trail, we along with another group of people, noticed another Disney cruise ship in the distance.
Dad said, "This happens to me every time I don't pay my stateroom bill." It really did look like our ship had left without us.

When we got back to the family beach we could see better the Dream and the Wonder.




Here DSis is holding the two ships up.

We then stopped to get ice cream.

Almost forgot to take the photo - after the bike ride, this hit the spot!

Then we relaxed in our cabana for a little while.


DSis determined that the better cabana is actually #6 since there is now a small palm planted that provides privacy but also blocks the view.




Mom spent the morning reading in the shade of the cabana. That's the main reason we get the cabana with our parents - mom and dad prefer to be in the shade the entire time and aren't interested in the sand, sun and surf.

When Rodrigo came around again we had him place a drink order for us - this is also nice about the cabana the beverages can be delivered to you - though I remember our first cruise DSis and I weren't in a cabana and our Beverage friend Abby on the Magic brought around Drinks of the Day on the family beach.



Cheers! It's five o'clock somewhere....

 

[iloverags2]

The cabanas certainly do look sweet, but I just cannot imagine paying for one since I spend a good part of my day in the water. However, if my mom ever sails Disney again (which she would love to), I would splurge for her!

 

[annichan]

This photo also shows how bright that clock is - I had to turn it towards the wall at night to keep it from blinding me.

I have finally found your trip report - I wasn't on the DIS much the last week because I was having a hard time adjusting back to reality after this wonderful WPBC cruise that I was also on! Since I already have a WBTA planned and thus don't really have anything to complain about, I have now decided to jump back into DIS action

About the clock, by the way: It has a big button on top that you can press, that adjusts the brightness. I always pressed it to the point where the clock wasn't shining anymore at all, because it annoyed us, too.

 

[annichan]

Just wondering who forced you down the stairs when you got on? I wanted to check something about our dinning so we just walked right to Studio Sea. No need to go down any stairs and no one told me I had too.

Sorry now I am confused. I needed no elevator. I just walked right over to Studio Sea after they announced our names. Are you saying you wanted to use the elevator? Still wondering who forced you down the stairs?

The same thing happened to us, though! You know how when you board, there is always a CM who comes up to you and tells you what is open for lunch, etc ...? We usually just smile and walk past them, because we know all that already. This time, however, the CM was very assertive and he sort of half-barred our way, half-beckoned us down the grand stairs to the atrium. It was really funny, because on the way down DH asked me "Now what are we letting him shoo us down here for? We're going to Beach Blanket!"

(But anyway, it was all good because we have this habit of walking all the way up to deck 9 for lunch on embarkation day to allay our consciences about all the food we are going to devour, and this way we could walk an extra flight of stairs )

Dragan was very excited that I was from Germany as he speaks German and chatted quite a bit with me. I also remember Shebaz from the shop, he seemed very friendly! All in all, even though I do not remember so many names, I was truly amazed about the friendliness of all staff on board.

That reminds me - on this WPBC I actually had a bit of an uncomfortable moment with a server (not one of ours, but someone who served us at lunch in Triton's): His nametag said he was from Italy, and since I love to practise my Italian I spoke to him for a bit. He then said he wasn't actually born in Italy but in Switzerland, but he didn't live in Switzerland anymore and was glad about it, because Switzerland was much too much like Germany for his liking - and he made a disgusted face. I wanted to stop him before he said something he might regret, so I smiled and said "Oh be careful, before you continue I just want you to know that I am German".

Somehow, though, he must have completely misheard that sentence - he continued for a while about how Germans are always so humourless and so punctual. I laughed along with him - because what can I say, most of us ARE quite punctual and maybe really just a tiny little bit humourless! .

Upon serving the first course, he then asks me "So anywhere, where are you from? Not from the States, right?". And I say "No, sorry, from Germany!". He stared at me as if he had seen a ghost ... and for the rest of the meal I had the feeling he was a bit angry that I had led him into a trap. Which I hadn't! I did tell him straightaway, he just didn't hear me! Oh well, I guess I gave him a good scare And the next time I saw him on another day, he greeted me in German

 

[speedo]

The cabanas certainly do look sweet, but I just cannot imagine paying for one since I spend a good part of my day in the water. However, if my mom ever sails Disney again (which she would love to), I would splurge for her!

Good plan. We also had a cabana last year when we were traveling with friends as well - there were 9 of us that shared the cabana. That was also another good use of the cabana - sharing with friends.

About the clock, by the way: It has a big button on top that you can press, that adjusts the brightness. I always pressed it to the point where the clock wasn't shining anymore at all, because it annoyed us, too.

Wow. We didn't find that. I'll look for it in December. Thanks!

 

[speedo]

Lunch is a barbeque buffet with choices of hamburger, hot dog, mahi mahi, bbq ribs, and bbq chicken.



The cheese bread was in the section with the cookies and desserts and banana bread. I would recommend picking up a piece or two of the cheese bread.



The hamburger buns are massive. I ended up eating mine like an open faced sandwich with just the bottom bun. The ribs are pretty good - it's a sweet barbeque sauce. My favorite was the fish.





A question for the German viewers - have you seen corn on the cob like this in Germany? Our Norwegian cousins had never seen corn on the cob before they visited us in the States. They only have the corn kernels frozen or in cans.

 

[speedo]

Any idea when he disembarks? Hopefully not until after the Panama Canal cruise!

Perhaps. I really don't know but I was under the impression he was going to be on the Wonder for a long time and away from his family. He seemed to really miss his wife and kids already.

 

[annichan]

A question for the German viewers - have you seen corn on the cob like this in Germany? Our Norwegian cousins had never seen corn on the cob before they visited us in the States. They only have the corn kernels frozen or in cans.

Northern German reply here - Flossbolna can deliver the Southern German one :
We do have them, but not as regularly as in the States. It is much more common to just be served corn kernels from a can.

 

[rentayenta]

I am loving your report. We'll be taking our first Disney cruise on the Wonder next January.

 

[Jackson's grammie]

Januar had a death in the family and had to fly home from Cartagena. Patryk was on board already but didn't have tables this cruise. Januar was very sweet and I was sad to hear of his loss. I was wondering if it was possible to send some note of condolence and thanks to him? I'm also not sure how his tip was handled. We just had Patryk on our tip form and gave Patryk his tip, but I hope Januar got his share too.

Heather checked and yes, the tips were divided so that each received their fair share.

 

[speedo]

Heather checked and yes, the tips were divided so that each received their fair share.

Good to know

 

[speedo]

I am loving your report. We'll be taking our first Disney cruise on the Wonder next January.

Great! Thanks for reading and posting!

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

Heather checked and yes, the tips were divided so that each received their fair share.

Hey Jacksons' Grammie - glad you found us! So glad to have met you and your adorable grandson on the cruise! Welcome home! And feel free to add your feedback.