A little worried about the Wonder...

[annab3550]

I've been a huge DCL fan for many years. Except for a break around Covid, we did several cruises and have been on most of the ships. I first sailed the Magic when it was new and it's been my favorite ship for years. (Probably since the inaugural Norway sailing- which was amazing).
At Christmas, my husband booked us a cruise on the Magic from SJU to FLL. We sailed two weeks ago. I'm going to get some hate for this, but honestly, I was not impressed. Cruise #14 on DCL was my least favorite. We had an amazing room, (a 1 bed CL room with a huge aft balcony). It was pretty perfect. But, we walked into a flood in the atrium that was roped off with caution tape as water came down from the ceiling, food was not good (with the exception of Palo, which was amazing. The current chef on the Magic in Palo is fantastic) and I feel like I noticed a lot of cuts. On our second day of the cruise we had Palo brunch and later in the day, we didn't want to go to the dining room for dinner. We weren't "that" hungry. So we decided to go up to the deck. I know from past cruises that DCL does not open their buffet for dinner. But, we couldn't get anything, the pizza place, the salad place, the burger place.. all closed at 6:30 pm. IMO, that's pretty ridiculous. I also honestly felt bored on the ship, which I've never felt before (and the cruise before this was the EBTA last year, so I'm not afraid of several days at sea).
Anyway, I'm not here to complain about the Magic and I will have lovely memories from times I've sailed on her... but I'm here because after that cruise, I'm sort of scared of how the Wonder is these days. We're currently booked on the September Vancouver to Hawaii cruise. I've booked flights and a hotel in Hawaii post cruise and I'm seriously considering cancelling all of it and rethinking my trip. I haven't been on the Wonder in years so I'd love an update on how she's doing and if you'd sail a long cruise on her these days. (With several sea days in a row). Any opinions are appreciated. I think I'm making a decision on keeping or replacing this cruise this week. Thanks!

 

[bakerworld]

We're not big cruisers, in 14 years we just finished our 10th cruise, however I prefer the larger DCL ships. Our first cruise was the Wonder and our fourth was the Magic. I just feel like they are small. On the Wonder we also ran into the food situation but found a QS place serving burgers still open. A women ran up to us with her kids to ask us where it was and we told her to hurry cause it was closing at 9p. The larger ships have QS options that stay open until 11p. I thought all the ships had room service options, which we have used when we too full for MDR and don't feel like carrying the food from the QS. I kinda agree with you that a long cruise on a small ship will require some entertainment options, like books or buying internet access.

 

[annab3550]

We actually got free wifi with the 1 bedroom suite on the last cruise. I got annoyed because I felt like that became our entertainment and if I'm going to spend money for a trip, I shouldn't be staring at my phone all day.
On the no food night- we ended up walking to the CL lounge and ordering food. I'd heard that suites with a dining room could order Palo but that wasn't offered to us. We ordered cheeseburgers.

 

[Disneypeach]

I was on the Wonder last year (Sydney to Hawaii) and she was in great shape. Had a blast. I’ve done the Vancouver to Hawaii trip on her a few years ago and it was wonderful (yeah, a pun). I would do that cruise again on the Wonder in a heartbeat.

FWIW I was on the Galveston to San Juan cruise before you when the “waterfall” issue got started and it was certainly inconvenient but I still had a great time overall.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I just did the sydney-honolul b2b Ith honolulu-vancouver. That second leg was terrible. Weather on the crossing as as per usual bad and they barely had extra activities meaning everything ibside was jampacked. They had a lot of stuff in the first few days when we were in port (even ln the overnight) to beat the bad weather on the actual crossing: formal, purate, golden mickeys and frozen were all done before we started the crossing! Shape of the Wonder was ok except dor accessible needs (no automatic doors, few accessible restrooms etc) at night usually the burgzr place Ould be open til 9 i believe and then the pizza place would reopen til 11

 

[John VN]

We actually got free wifi with the 1 bedroom suite on the last cruise. I got annoyed because I felt like that became our entertainment and if I'm going to spend money for a trip, I shouldn't be staring at my phone all day.
On the no food night- we ended up walking to the CL lounge and ordering food. I'd heard that suites with a dining room could order Palo but that wasn't offered to us. We ordered cheeseburgers.

Since DCL spoiled us 10 years ago with the 1BR Concierge that DW surprised me with, we have done nothing BUT concierge on all the lines we've cruised. Sadly we will no longer cruise DCL due to the unrealistic pricing. Hoping your future cruises are without issues.

 

[Skippyboo]

All the pool deck food spots don’t stay open on the larger ships. Did the Treasure in Feb. only the pizza place was open super late . Mexican and Bbq were closing around six with the ice cream closed around 9pm. I think Goofy’s w burgers and tenders closed around the same as the ice cream off the top of my head.

 

[tidefan]

IMHO one of the biggest issues with DCL in general is the lack of options for nighttime dining if you are not going to the MDR.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

IMHO one of the biggest issues with DCL in general is the lack of options for nighttime dining if you are not going to the MDR.

Completely agree and i keep giving it as a feedback on my post cruise emails. On HAL they serve an amazing dinnerbuffet that includes all the options of the main dining menu that night! I love having the option to eat how and when I want on MY vacation

 

[DCLMP]

I thought the Wonder was in great shape last Summer. As far as the boredom issue maybe it's time for a change?

 

[annab3550]

It makes no sense. We're two adults. But I remember when my granddaughter was a toddler, dinner with her was a BEAR. It was so stressful for my daughter and we'd avoid restaurants. DCL is literally forcing you to do it.

 

[annab3550]

I thought the Wonder was in great shape last Summer. As far as the boredom issue maybe it's time for a change?

I think you might be right. I really haven't sailed other lines in a while. But last summer, my daughter and granddaughter did the Med on a new NCL ship and I really enjoyed it.

 

[Skippyboo]

OP, what are the normal things you do on sea days?I can see sort getting board of the same Broadway shows if you do a lot of repeat sailings on the same ship.

I am doing Alaska on the Wonder next May. I haven’t done Wonder or Magic before just Fantasy, Wish and Treasure.

 

[TheChanClan]

IMHO one of the biggest issues with DCL in general is the lack of options for nighttime dining if you are not going to the MDR.

Agreed. We just completed a 7night on the Treasure. If you weren't attending the MDR for dinner, your only option would be pizza or ordering room service. Unexpectedly, there were items on the room service menu that we didn't see anywhere else on the ship like buffalo wings and grilled cheese/tomato soup (unless we missed it).
Sorry OP..back on topic. After being on these newer ships with all the new tech, I think I would find it difficult to be on one of the older ships, especially if there are several days at sea. Just my opinion though...

 

[Royal Consort]

I sailed the Wonder for 5 nights from Australia to New Zealand, all sea days, and I've never been so bored. I don't think this was the fault of the Wonder though: it's due to me being a consistent cruiser with Disney and I've done these menus, I've seen the shows countless times etc. I walked off thinking that my days of cruising Disney were coming to an end as they move away from itinerary based sailings. I want Disney as I see the world.

I've taken a few cruises including a transatlantic post-covid with Disney and I believe the quality of DCL doesn't measure up to their product prior to 2020. I used to think the service was miles ahead of WDW, now they're on par.

I'd be less concerned about the Wonder as a ship, and suggest alternatively considering your current relationship with DCL as a product for the price.

 

[Skippyboo]

I sailed the Wonder for 5 nights from Australia to New Zealand, all sea days, and I've never been so bored. I don't think this was the fault of the Wonder though: it's due to me being a consistent cruiser with Disney and I've done these menus, I've seen the shows countless times etc. I walked off thinking that my days of cruising Disney were coming to an end as they move away from itinerary based sailings. I want Disney as I see the world.

I've taken a few cruises including a transatlantic post-covid with Disney and I believe the quality of DCL doesn't measure up to their product prior to 2020. I used to think the service was miles ahead of WDW, now they're on par.

I'd be less concerned about the Wonder as a ship, and suggest alternatively considering your current relationship with DCL as a product for the price.

Have you looked a the Adventures w Disney tours if you want more sightseeing around the world?

 

[annab3550]

OP, what are the normal things you do on sea days?I can see sort getting board of the same Broadway shows if you do a lot of repeat sailings on the same ship.

I am doing Alaska on the Wonder next May. I haven’t done Wonder or Magic before just Fantasy, Wish and Treasure.

Generally, I read, people watch, sit in the CL lounge. I'll look for something to do on the app., watch a movie. I can usually find things. This last cruise, just didn't offer much.

 

[annab3550]

I sailed the Wonder for 5 nights from Australia to New Zealand, all sea days, and I've never been so bored. I don't think this was the fault of the Wonder though: it's due to me being a consistent cruiser with Disney and I've done these menus, I've seen the shows countless times etc. I walked off thinking that my days of cruising Disney were coming to an end as they move away from itinerary based sailings. I want Disney as I see the world.

I've taken a few cruises including a transatlantic post-covid with Disney and I believe the quality of DCL doesn't measure up to their product prior to 2020. I used to think the service was miles ahead of WDW, now they're on par.

I'd be less concerned about the Wonder as a ship, and suggest alternatively considering your current relationship with DCL as a product for the price.

I honestly think you might be correct. I just sailed #14, with 15 and 16 booked. I'm cancelling 15 for Costa Rica as I've never been and I think my adult daughter wants to change 16 to the Star as she said her kids and husband liked their most recent RCCL cruise (on the newest ship but I don't know the name) much better than DCL.

 

[Kwami]

I was last on the Magic in 2022 and on the Wonder in 2023. There were definitely some maintenance problems on the Magic. Two of the three stage shows had to stop in the middle because the stage broke. Some of the colored film was peeling off the chandelier. The letters were missing from the atrium statue. Everything in the stateroom creaked and rattled. The bathroom smelled funny.

But the Wonder had none of that! It seemed to be in much better shape.

 

[annab3550]

Have you looked a the Adventures w Disney tours if you want more sightseeing around the world?

I've done ABD with my daughter and granddaughter. It was lovely, but I don't see spending that much money to use them consistently. We travel enough that we don't need an organized tour (last summer we flew to Rome and did Sorrento and Monopoli on our own before boarding NCL for a 9 night med cruise and it was probably half the price of a 7 night ABD.