Disappointed in my Disney Wonder trip

[WDWLVR]

I'd like to hear both sides. Not that it would make a difference...I'm going anyhow...and I seriously doubt DCL reads these boards (but they should).

AR

Trust me - they read these boards quite a bit.

 

[ricka47]

Creaking cabins are common on all ships. Some are worse than others. Our biggest problem with DCL is the price/value ratio. We're sailing them now because the port is close and they are offering good Florida resident discounts.

Our biggest disappointment was the food. None of it was bad, all was good. But, none was excellent as we've had on some other lines. If it wasn't for the discounts, we would not consider DCL again and it's quite likely that after the 10-Day Wonder trip this September, we'll be heading back to Celebrity or another line where your dollar goes much further.

 

[T_Kirsten]

I agree that most posts are very positive but we are going on our first ever cruise next month and I appreciate hearing both sides. We are traveling with a 6 y/o boy and are very very excited. I don't expect everything to be perfect but since we haven't cruised before we have nothing to compare it to.

Again, thanks for your honesty. If it weren't for people being willing to say less than positive things, we would have NO idea what to watch for.

 

[beachblanket]

Our biggest disappointment was the food. None of it was bad, all was good. But, none was excellent as we've had on some other lines.

At Nick and Nora's, the specialty restaurant on the Carnival Miracle, we enjoyed Ruth Chris quality steak served on Versacci place settings.

At Palo on the Magic....my wife complained about how dry her grouper was.

 

[mousefamily]

I will say that my dad and DH tried the steak 3 times and they said it really wasn't that good at all. In fact my dad sent his back the last time. I had fish and chicken and is was always wonderful. I guess a lot of it can depend on what you like personally. Food can be very subjective.

 

[crims0ntidefb]

This is my favorite reply post so far. As much as I appreciate all posts this one touched home more for me. Now that I have been home two days and have had more time to look back at my Wonder experience and compare it to the Carnival Miracle from last year I'd have to lean much further on the Carnival Miracle as being a better cruise. As much as we love Disney and are vacation club owners I think many of us get caught up in the Disney Hype and are more willing to over look things or refuse to believe that our Disney experience was not as good as we would have liked. After being home two days I have to say the Disney Wonder three day cruise failed to be a 5 star ship. Service was very good, rooms were nice, food was ok. On a side note, I have yet to figure out why I tipped the "head waiter" guy. We had two people that took our orders, brought our food, never refilled anyone's soda. There there is this head waiter guy who greats you as you walk in but then you never see him the rest of the meal. Why tip him? I talked to a few others that went on the Disney cruises and no one knows why we tip him. It was not till the last night that he came around to the tables and greeted people. Not complaining just don't understand. And after giving more thought to the below persons comments about "The food and service at Nick and Nora's (the speciality restaurant on the Miracle) blew away Palo." This person is so right. Palo was a good meal but not at the level I was expecting. Nick and Nora's was so much nicer of an environment and offered better food/serving sizes. On another side note. The people who think I am crazy are probably the same people who I saw at the DVC meeting on the Wonder. The same people who can tell me Walt Disney's middle name and facts about Disney theme parks that I could care less about. The point is some people refuse to believe that Disney may not be the best after all.



I agree - we also did the Carnival Miracle last year (seven day Western Caribbean out of Tampa during President's Day week in Februray). Overall, the total cruise experience it offered was a much better value than our prior cruise on DCL (seven day Eastern Caribbean on the Magic during March of 2004).

The food and service at Nick and Nora's (the speciality restaurant on the Miracle) blew away Palo. There was more (and better) llive music on Carnival than on DCL, and my 11 year old daughter liked the children's program counselors on Carnival better than those on Disney. I also felt the Miracle was in better shape than the Magic (on the latter, there was rust on our balcony, on the Miracle, everything looked brand new).

 

[LAMPSKIES]

LOL! The crew & officers of the DCL ships do read these boards. If you identify yourself as a DISer they will smile & probably comment on a current topic. During the repo cruise the crew was happy to see the pictures that were posted from the webcams as the ship was going thru the terminal. They were amazed that some DISers had managed to post pictures from the terminal & sailaway party while onboard...thru the use of I cell phone I believe. They definitely know the Thanksgiving cruisers.

Turkeyday cruisers??? Thaks LB....yes, they DO know of these boards and the sailing ARE what you make them....as far as the food.....tenderloin, lamb chops, prime rib, lobster tail, jumbo shrimp, escargot......maybe I'm not as "upscale" as the rest but we loved the food.....
Our DDs are going to be 16 and 14 on our 5th sailing this upcomming November. We ARE NOT disney people but we DO love the ship....we will probably never do a 3 or 4 nighter due to the ports being a drag, but they all liked Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, St. Maarteen etc.

 

[ricka47]

crims0ntidefb, our Head Waiter on our recent Magic trip was very nice and made sure he was quite visible. But, these folks often do a lot behind the scenes that you don't see to make sure that you get the proper food and service. Neverthless, he should have made an appearance before the last night...that is for sure.

But, in general, I'm wondering if DCL has been basking in the Disney glow and the fact that so many of their passengers are first time cruisers? Once people see what the other lines give you for less money, some may just do that first DCL cruise for the "experience" and then go somewhere else where there is more value. But, if one won't try another line, DCL will always be the best (and only).

If I didn't know what the food and service was like on RCI, X, HAL, or Princess, I'd think that DCL was exceptional. They do a nice job, that is for sure. But, there is often more "bang for your buck" elsewhere.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

DCL also attracts folks like DH and I who are not avid cruisers, but Disney devotees. Our MAGICal cruises are just an extension of our Disney memories and we are willing to pay the extra to bask in the Disney atmosphere and ultimately get away from everything. We will most likely not cruise with anyone else and that does not make us close minded. This is our decision. Its Mickey or no one. Our love of Disney is not just the characters or the parks and rides, its the wonderful customer service that was originally born from the heart of Walt Disney. I would venture to say other cruise lines haven't exactly nailed that aspect down yet.

 

[mousefamily]

DCL also attracts folks like DH and I who are not avid cruisers, but Disney devotees. Our MAGICal cruises are just an extension of our Disney memories and we are willing to pay the extra to bask in the Disney atmosphere and ultimately get away from everything. We will most likely not cruise with anyone else and that does not make us close minded. This is our decision. Its Mickey or no one. Our love of Disney is not just the characters or the parks and rides, its the wonderful customer service that was originally born from the heart of Walt Disney. I would venture to say other cruise lines haven't exactly nailed that aspect down yet.

DITTO. I couldn't agree more.

 

[artmanr]

Well just for fun, I looked up the cost of an oceanview cabin on a hypothetical

Departure Wed, Nov 8, 2006
4:00 pm 8 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Itinerary: Roundtrip Fort Lauderdale
Ship Name: Carnival Legend

Cost was approx. $2800 through Southwest Airlines website. No transfers or insurance.

My 7 night Western Carribean Oct 2007 cruise is $3103, no transfers of insurance, BUT my category 10 Deck 5 Secret Porthole room is about 40 square feet larger and has the split bathroom.

Granted the Disney cruise is one night less also. But without a casino on board, that' one less night that I won't lose my proverbial shirt to the dealer or the one armed bandits

Value is not just in dollars charge up front, food served, service given or size of the room....it's something different to everyone.

AR

 

[Mjasp]

But if you have children in school who won't/can't miss school like myself, I travel Presidents week.
This year we sailed Costa in a balcony for a total of $1,800

Did a comparison for next years Presidents week. Here are the results.

Carnival oceanview stateroom on the Glory 220 sq feet on their upper decks not the bottom of the ship where the cheaper staterooms are. The total for 4 was $3,536

Disney in a category 8 is $6,018

Although I like Disney, IMHO (and I'm not speaking for everyone) it is not worth it to me to spend an additional $2,500, but again my kids are older and I don't rely on kids clubs. If they were younger I may feel differently.

Norwegian in a Penthouse suite with Butler and Concierge service in a 492 sq ft suite with 54 sq ft balcony is $7,596

Disney in a category 6 (Their cheapest balcony) is $7,330
I think I would take the suite with Butler/concierge service instead of a cat 6

The 4 people I am pricing are 2 adults a 15 yr old and an 11 yr old.

 

[jodifla]

Yes, you can find some deals on DCL. But not on school holidays, when many people are forced to go. Then, the DCL rates are a king's ransom.

Also, the other lines routinely offer last minute deals, whereas DCL only offers them to FL residents.

 

[Enna]

crims0ntidefb,

I think it's really all a matter of personal preferences and perspectives. You are a DVCer, I get anxious just thinking about all of those people in the theme parks pushing their way through lines and turnstiles for a few minutes of fun here & there. I found the cruise to be plenty of Disney for my 2 little ones (whose combined ages are still less than your daughter's 11 years), in an atmosphere where I felt that the children were safe, and we were all treated courteously.

When it comes right down to it, even my worst meal on the cruise was immeasurably better than the $35 corn dog/french fries/drinks that I spent 90 minutes in line to buy at MK, and then fed my kids as they sat on a curb waiting for Spectromagic. OH, and there were no drink refills for that meal, either.

You do raise an important point--a Disney cruise may not be the best choice for everyone. At the same time, please realize that for many of us it presents the opportunity for priceless moments. Really, I don't know anywhere else where Cinderella and Snow White would greet my children by name every time they passed in the hallway for the duration of our stay, and I can't put a price on that.

 

[ricka47]

....for many of us it presents the opportunity for priceless moments. Really, I don't know anywhere else where Cinderella and Snow White would greet my children by name every time they passed in the hallway for the duration of our stay, and I can't put a price on that.

It's hard to argue with that....

 

[Sue316]

I could not disagree more with the statement above about the head waiter. On my b2b cruise last week our head waiter went above all duties and arranged for my 2nd cruise seating time, same waiters, deserts from palos every night and made sure every thing was in order every single night. As a matter of fact I am writing a letter to Disney to let them know what an outstanding worker he was. The recommended tip amount of of $7.50 is an insult in my opinion and off course we tipped him more on both set of cruises.

As to the steak issue on my first cruise in September my was steak was bad also<over cooked> This time I wasn't going to order steak and after telling my waiter about last cruises steak he assured me it would be perfect he would make sure of it. And it was!