Mickeylover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 24, 1999
- Messages
- 154
OK, so I'm a little late in posting...but I did want to hit the highlights and my observations on my first ever cruise.
Cast DH-40 , DS-7 and me (DW-32) Four day Disney Wonder December 19th (our first cruise)
Get to the port early. We were there by 11:30, checked in and were "in the ropes" so we were one of the first on the ship at 12:15 when they let us aboard. By the way, God bless the maker of Game Boy.
Apparently, I failed to really "get" the embarkation experience in all my pre-reading. I understand its not as fabulous necessarily for late arrivers, but being one of the first on the ship; there is nothing more astounding than to present yourself and your family at the gangplank and step into a beautifully decorated atrium lined with white-jacketed cast members who applaud your entry like you were royalty. How cool is that?
The embark buffet was pretty good. We went straight to Parrot Cay (it was in the high 50s and that is where most people went--late arrivers got turned away and had to go up to Beach Blanket.) The buffet was lovely, but it was my first experience with the "don't you dare serve yourself" buffet and I couldn't quite get used to pointing at my food. All buffets were like this except, strangely enough, at the adult buffet on Serenity Bay at Castaway Cay.
At Nassau, we did the Catamaran snorkeling excursion. I wouldn't recommend for smaller children or poor swimmers because the water was kind of rough and you are over your head the whole time. The fish were gorgeous, however...much prettier than at Castaway Cay. DS turned into a Popsicle and spent most of his time on the deck of the boat after about 10 minutes in the water. The straw market at Nassau is fair at best. If you've been down one aisle, you've seen them all. Buy your 4 for $10 T-shirts and move on.
Freeport...we stayed on the ship. Many indicate that they like Freeport better than Nassau and I understand the Lucaya Resort is nice, but we stayed by the pool and DH and I did the Surial Bath
DS adored the Mickey pool and the slide
darn the 14 year old age limitI wanted to go too!
Castaway Cay day, we were out early and got our hammock. Again, very cool for swimming. DH did snorkel for about an hour and a half. Snorkel early before the sand gets kicked up. DS spent some time at the Kids Club while DH and I went to Senility Bay at least that is what we called Serenity Bay. It was certainly serene you could take a great napwe preferred the action on the main beach and after lunch, headed back. The beach itself was also much prettier on the main side of the island. The food is different at Serenity Bay no lobster burgers but we had a good steak sandwich so be aware of that if you go!
General observations. Stayed in stateroom 2558 a porthole room, off of a cat 10 upgrade in a great location midship. Don't think I can do an inside stateroom...friends who cruised with us had an inside stateroom and found not having the light to wake them up a problem. Staterooms are an amazingly excellent use of space. I was very pleased with the attention to detail.
I DO NOT like the late seating. I'm not hungry for the evening buffets when I just ate a full meal an hour or two before. DS, to my surprise fell asleep at dinner one night as well. Will request early seating from now on.
Crossing the Gulf Stream is a quick way to decide whether youre going to be motion sick. Luckily we werent, but I spent a week after we got off the ship trying to get my equilibrium back!
Loved Animator's Palate and Tritons...didn't care too much for Parrot Cay and Palos was the highlight of our trip. Had a sit down breakfast in Tritons every morning their Eggs Benedict is awesome!
We had amazing service at Palos (we had 3 couples eating together and suffered a minor setback when our children conspired to page us all at the same time...they'll never do THAT again!
The dining room manager confiscated our pagers and kept them at the podium with him after that! LOL. By the way, two words
CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE. By the way, my general impression was that everyone dressed very well at all dinners
I didnt notice any extremely underdressed people anywhere
perhaps in the winter, people dont mind wearing more clothes?
DS loved the Kids' club, but wanted to spend time with us and didn't spend as much time in there as I expected he would. I will consider giving him sign out privileges when we go in 2004.
Loved Hercules, totally enjoyed our comic who was as funny to us as he was to my son, and thought Disney Dreams was awesome...didn't go to Mouseketeer.
The Spa was OK..but for the price, we have a world class spa here in NC that I would rather spend time in. The Surial bath, however, is on the to do for my next trip as well!
People, on the 3 & 4 day...the Palo ressie rush is a must! If you want your preferred day, don't dilly dally around. Know which day you want ahead of time...check your key to the world card when you check in, it will give you your dining rotation. Plan accordingly!
Towel animals have to be one of the coolest things known to mankind!
Family dueling pianos is fun...adult dueling pianos is funny! 80s theme night was outrageous the dancers are really on their game with the Michael Jackson number! I was too tired to dance past 11:45 (full from my 8:30 dinner!)
If you drink one soda a day, buy a soda mug, you'll feel stupid if you don't. If you drink one beer a day...well, you're not drinking enough, but go ahead and buy the ESPN mug--its a pain to lug around but a good deal to refill. DH and I shared ours.
I personally want to do a 7 day because the 4 day is a taster of the cruise experience. There was plenty I didnt get to do and I was simply exhausted trying to do it all. Overall, Disney lived up to my expectations. I have no desire to go to the Bahamas again, however so Ive booked room 5020 in May 2004 on the 7 day Eastern. Only 17 months to go!
Cast DH-40 , DS-7 and me (DW-32) Four day Disney Wonder December 19th (our first cruise)
Get to the port early. We were there by 11:30, checked in and were "in the ropes" so we were one of the first on the ship at 12:15 when they let us aboard. By the way, God bless the maker of Game Boy.
Apparently, I failed to really "get" the embarkation experience in all my pre-reading. I understand its not as fabulous necessarily for late arrivers, but being one of the first on the ship; there is nothing more astounding than to present yourself and your family at the gangplank and step into a beautifully decorated atrium lined with white-jacketed cast members who applaud your entry like you were royalty. How cool is that?
The embark buffet was pretty good. We went straight to Parrot Cay (it was in the high 50s and that is where most people went--late arrivers got turned away and had to go up to Beach Blanket.) The buffet was lovely, but it was my first experience with the "don't you dare serve yourself" buffet and I couldn't quite get used to pointing at my food. All buffets were like this except, strangely enough, at the adult buffet on Serenity Bay at Castaway Cay.
At Nassau, we did the Catamaran snorkeling excursion. I wouldn't recommend for smaller children or poor swimmers because the water was kind of rough and you are over your head the whole time. The fish were gorgeous, however...much prettier than at Castaway Cay. DS turned into a Popsicle and spent most of his time on the deck of the boat after about 10 minutes in the water. The straw market at Nassau is fair at best. If you've been down one aisle, you've seen them all. Buy your 4 for $10 T-shirts and move on.
Freeport...we stayed on the ship. Many indicate that they like Freeport better than Nassau and I understand the Lucaya Resort is nice, but we stayed by the pool and DH and I did the Surial Bath
DS adored the Mickey pool and the slide
darn the 14 year old age limitI wanted to go too! Castaway Cay day, we were out early and got our hammock. Again, very cool for swimming. DH did snorkel for about an hour and a half. Snorkel early before the sand gets kicked up. DS spent some time at the Kids Club while DH and I went to Senility Bay at least that is what we called Serenity Bay. It was certainly serene you could take a great napwe preferred the action on the main beach and after lunch, headed back. The beach itself was also much prettier on the main side of the island. The food is different at Serenity Bay no lobster burgers but we had a good steak sandwich so be aware of that if you go!
General observations. Stayed in stateroom 2558 a porthole room, off of a cat 10 upgrade in a great location midship. Don't think I can do an inside stateroom...friends who cruised with us had an inside stateroom and found not having the light to wake them up a problem. Staterooms are an amazingly excellent use of space. I was very pleased with the attention to detail.
I DO NOT like the late seating. I'm not hungry for the evening buffets when I just ate a full meal an hour or two before. DS, to my surprise fell asleep at dinner one night as well. Will request early seating from now on.
Crossing the Gulf Stream is a quick way to decide whether youre going to be motion sick. Luckily we werent, but I spent a week after we got off the ship trying to get my equilibrium back!
Loved Animator's Palate and Tritons...didn't care too much for Parrot Cay and Palos was the highlight of our trip. Had a sit down breakfast in Tritons every morning their Eggs Benedict is awesome!
We had amazing service at Palos (we had 3 couples eating together and suffered a minor setback when our children conspired to page us all at the same time...they'll never do THAT again!
The dining room manager confiscated our pagers and kept them at the podium with him after that! LOL. By the way, two words
CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE. By the way, my general impression was that everyone dressed very well at all dinners
I didnt notice any extremely underdressed people anywhere
perhaps in the winter, people dont mind wearing more clothes?DS loved the Kids' club, but wanted to spend time with us and didn't spend as much time in there as I expected he would. I will consider giving him sign out privileges when we go in 2004.
Loved Hercules, totally enjoyed our comic who was as funny to us as he was to my son, and thought Disney Dreams was awesome...didn't go to Mouseketeer.
The Spa was OK..but for the price, we have a world class spa here in NC that I would rather spend time in. The Surial bath, however, is on the to do for my next trip as well!
People, on the 3 & 4 day...the Palo ressie rush is a must! If you want your preferred day, don't dilly dally around. Know which day you want ahead of time...check your key to the world card when you check in, it will give you your dining rotation. Plan accordingly!
Towel animals have to be one of the coolest things known to mankind!
Family dueling pianos is fun...adult dueling pianos is funny! 80s theme night was outrageous the dancers are really on their game with the Michael Jackson number! I was too tired to dance past 11:45 (full from my 8:30 dinner!)
If you drink one soda a day, buy a soda mug, you'll feel stupid if you don't. If you drink one beer a day...well, you're not drinking enough, but go ahead and buy the ESPN mug--its a pain to lug around but a good deal to refill. DH and I shared ours.
I personally want to do a 7 day because the 4 day is a taster of the cruise experience. There was plenty I didnt get to do and I was simply exhausted trying to do it all. Overall, Disney lived up to my expectations. I have no desire to go to the Bahamas again, however so Ive booked room 5020 in May 2004 on the 7 day Eastern. Only 17 months to go!
