Advice Please!

[thescamp73]

We just booked our first Disney Cruise, and boy, am I excited! We are going on the Wonder, Jan,23, 2003, the Passholder special. We are in a catergory 11, deck 7, room 7535. Our son, age 16, will be coming along as well as our 5 year old granddaughter (she will turn 6 on 1/30, we will celebrate her birthday one week early on the cruise). I think they will both do very well, they will mix with other kids their age & have a great time. My biggest concern is my hubby, a very quiet, sweet & private kind of guy. His idea of vacation is a secluded mountain cabin (we have done that for the last 20+ years, nice, but I am ready for a change!!!) He is not into "dressing up" either, ties are wedding & funeral wear to him.

I need so much advice I am not sure what to ask first! Is the room OK? Should we/ could we request an alternate? What can we do for the "almost" birthday celebration? Will we be required to dine with others, or can I request our own table? How can I help my hubby feel comfortable?

Thanks so much!!!
Donna

 

[Fawn]

The true beauty of a Disney cruise is you can be as private as you like and still have a wonderful time. There are all sorts of places to get away alone. Try the veranda off the aft of Deck 7. Consider upgrading to a cabin with your own veranda. Hit the bars at off times. Order room service or take food back from Topsiders for breakfast and lunch. He'll have a wonderful time!

You can request a table alone, but my understanding is there's no guarantee. You can go when you board and check if you got it.

They will bring a cake for your daughter at dinner if you notify them. I did my girls b-days there, and they loved it! They even got an autographed pic of Goofy!

Asking about dressing for meals is like loading a gun around here! LOL Everyone has their own opinion, Disney has their guidelines, and you see a little bit of everything on the cruise. Bottom line...if dressing up would stop him from enjoying, there are plenty of options...so enjoy!

 

[mmouse37]

Call DCL and request a table for 4....it will be noted on the reservation but cannot be guaranteed. When you check in at the Port you will be given your KTTW card (key to the world) which will show what table # and dining rotation you have. When you board the ship, check out the dining room to see where your table is. If it is not a table for 4 then refer to your Navigator and see when the dining changes session is. Go to it ASAP and explain that you really, really want a table for 4. They will do what they can to accomodate you. Get there early for best chances.

Show your hubby the brochure and tell him there are very quiet spots to get away from the hustle and bustle of the ship. Cadillack Lounge on the Wonder is a great, quiet lounge where you can share a drink. Deck 7 aft has a very secluded deck where not too many people go, Deck 10 has some very quiet area just to relax in.

As far as the category and cabin you chose, it seems fine. A category 11 is an inside (no windows) and if that is what you want, great. Deck 7 is a wonderful deck to be on. Just two decks down from all the action (should you choose to participate). Deck 9 is also where the casual dining takes place.

The Wonder sailings are more casual than the Magic sailings, so your hubby could get away with nice pants and a button down shirts. If he really does not want to wear a tie he can do without. Disney will not kick anyone out of the dining rooms. They really don't want to see shorts and cutoffs.

Hope this helped somewhat.

MJ

 

[albiats]

Your hubby doesn't have to dress up unless he wants to.

They don't have a formal night on the Wonder cruises. They do list Triton's restaurant and Palo's as 'jacket recommended', but it isn't required. He won't be denied admission or asked to leave if he doesn't have a jacket and tie on, and there will be several other men there without them. If he had a button down shirt and pants that were somewhat dressy, he'd be fine. And you certainly do not have to go to Palo's, it's completely optional. They do ask that no jeans or shorts are worn in any of the dining rooms for dinner, but breakfast and lunch are fine.

You can tell your servers at dinner that you're celebrating your grand daughter's birthday and they will bring out a small cake and sing to her on the evening of your choice.

You can request a table for four in advance thru your Travel Agent (or directly with DCL if you didn't use one), but they can't guaranty it, since they have to balance out the seating. Dinner is about 90 minutes long and we've found interesting dinner companions on every cruise that we've been on. If you find that it's unbearable after you have been to the first dinner, you could ask the head server to be changed.

As far as your cabin assignment, I haven't stayed there, but I don't recall reading anything bad about that area, or with deck 7 for that matter. You have an inside cabin, close to midship, not really far from the elevators or stairs. You also don't have another cabin beside you going forward, so for sure you won'y have noisy neighbors on that side. SInce you're close to midship, you have the best chance to avoid motion from the ship.

hope that helps