Disney Wonder Questions

[KatieBee14]

Hi,

Sorrybin advance for all the questions...I'm a total newbie to DCL! My DH and I are thinking about going on the 5 day cruise from San Diego to Vancouver in May of this year and I had a few questions...

Has anyone done the California coast cruise? Any reviews or tips?

I see that dining is included but does that include character meals?

What should I know before we book? I appreciate any advice you have! Thank you so much!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi,

Sorrybin advance for all the questions...I'm a total newbie to DCL! My DH and I are thinking about going on the 5 day cruise from San Diego to Vancouver in May of this year and I had a few questions...

Has anyone done the California coast cruise? Any reviews or tips?

I see that dining is included but does that include character meals?

What should I know before we book? I appreciate any advice you have! Thank you so much!

The only character meal onboard the ships is the character breakfast. And that's only on those cruises of 7 nights and longer.

We did a California cruise (but not on DCL). We found the seas quite rough for several nights.

 

[dani24]

We recently booked this sailing. Did you decide to book it?

We haven't done this specific itinerary before. However, based on a previous cruise out of San Francisco to Alaska, the PP is correct that you may experience some rougher seas heading up the coast after San Francisco. My husband gets sea/motion sickness, and he wasn't terribly bothered by it though. I suffered no ill effects (but generally don't). And sailing under the Golden Gate bridge is an amazing thing to see -- it's worth waking up early or staying up late for (as long as it's not foggy).

Otherwise, San Francisco is a beautiful port stop. We live here, so we'll likely stay on the ship that day. But we love the city and wouldn't want to miss it if we weren't locals. The food in the city is especially great, just do a little research on where to eat.

This sailing doesn't appear to have any character breakfasts. But it does have Pirates night, an "optional dress up night", character meet & greets, the Palo speciality restaurant, Royal Court Tea, and most of the other typical offerings. You can take a look at the Navigators from the same sailing last year to get an idea (although, keep in mind there will be several changes since the Wonder came out of a major dry dock with lots of updates in October or November of last year). http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...night-san-diego-vancouver-cruise-may-18-2016/

If you decide to join, we hope to see you on the Facebook group!

 

[BartmanLA]

We did the trip in 2013, although it was a 7 night from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with a overnight stop in San Francisco and Victoria, BC. We enjoyed it very much, it got us hooked on cruising with the Mouse as it was our first cruise of any type! Even though it's May you will definitely want to pack some jackets/coats, as the weather can be a bit chilly at sea going up the coast. Hopefully they will time the arrival in San Francisco for sunrise so you can go up on deck and watch the ship pass under the Golden Gate Bridge, breathtaking view! Other than alcoholic beverages and specialty drinks ie. coffee's and smoothies, everything is included in your cruise fare. Special services like the Spa or Photo packages are extra also. As a side note we'll be arriving in San Diego on the Wonder after passing through the Panama Canal this year!

 

[MunFam]

We did this cruise many years ago on a different line and also had rough seas starting on day two. We actually got in to port about 10 hours late because of the seas (and it was a non-stop cruise), no ports. It was not that big of a deal. I get sick in calm water, so I was happy to actually feel the movement.

 

["Got Disney"]

I live in Cali and have done the 5 day and 7 day out of San Diego...I have 2 5 days booked one for May and other for Oct..so ask away

 

[SuperGator6]

Hi "Got Disney". I am not the original poster, but am also considering this trip in May! We have cruised Disney one other time on the Fantasy for a 7 day Eastern Carribean. It was great!
Curious as to the weather that time of year? Will the pools be open? Are there typically a lot of kids on board? We have an 11yo. We like the fact there are a lot of sea days to just relax. We are currently living in AK and are hoping for a little warmth! any tips/tricks/info would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[cyclenut]

We did the southbound Pacific Coast on the Wonder from Vancouver to LA in 2012 I believe. We loved SF and we stayed there overnight. It was a six day. We also sailed northbound on a Royal Caribbean ship once well before that (see signature line). That was very rough seas. They had to close all the pools due to the wave action and tape sea sick bags to the handrails. They also asked all ladies to wear flats and the show was modified but not cancelled. Just not safe for the performers to dance on rough seas like that.

The Pacific is rougher all the time but it can sometimes be a big angrier. Since it is a repo there are few options but to just go through. Some other cruises have options to go around storms.

I don't mean to scare you as it does not happen that often, but just don't expect it to be like glass as you might find in the Caribbean or will find in Alaska.

 

[SuperGator6]

We did the southbound Pacific Coast on the Wonder from Vancouver to LA in 2012 I believe. We loved SF and we stayed there overnight. It was a six day. We also sailed northbound on a Royal Caribbean ship once well before that (see signature line). That was very rough seas. They had to close all the pools due to the wave action and tape sea sick bags to the handrails. They also asked all ladies to wear flats and the show was modified but not cancelled. Just not safe for the performers to dance on rough seas like that.

The Pacific is rougher all the time but it can sometimes be a big angrier. Since it is a repo there are few options but to just go through. Some other cruises have options to go around storms.

I don't mean to scare you as it does not happen that often, but just don't expect it to be like glass as you might find in the Caribbean or will find in Alaska.

Thanks. I won't expect glass. Our 1 Carribean we have done on Disney was glass. And it was nice. I figure with the Pacific it will be a little more bouncy. I will prepare my family. But if there is massive amounts of getting sick my DD will freak. She is 11 and has a weird, but super strong phobia of vomit. It is a pain to deal with and she would literally freak out. We'll have to weigh it into our decision. We are looking to add a cruise at the end of our vacation and this fit well timing, but will have to see if it will be a good fit or not! I appreciate the info!

 

[xlxo]

One tip... plan for extra days in Vancouver.... there's lots to do there.

 

[iambrink]

I was planning on booking the Wonder from San Diego for April 2018, but all this talk about rough seas has been double guessing myself! I am very sensitive to the seas and fair OK on the Caribbean, but the thought of rocky waters freaks me out a little! does it vary on time of the year?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was planning on booking the Wonder from San Diego for April 2018, but all this talk about rough seas has been double guessing myself! I am very sensitive to the seas and fair OK on the Caribbean, but the thought of rocky waters freaks me out a little! does it vary on time of the year?

The seas on any particular itinerary can vary wildly. It depends on the weather (and who can say what that's going to be?) as well as other sea conditions.

We've had rough seas along the California Coast, as well as in Alaska, and in the Caribbean. Most notably the worst seas we've had thus far have been on the EastBound TransAtlantic (6 full days and nights worth).

Our "smoothest" cruises were in the Mediterranean, WestBound TransAtlantic (like glass for days on end), Caribbean, and Mexican Riviera cruises.

Those cruises with a mix of rougher seas and calm - Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Baja, Panama Canal.

 

[iambrink]

The seas on any particular itinerary can vary wildly. It depends on the weather (and who can say what that's going to be?) as well as other sea conditions.

We've had rough seas along the California Coast, as well as in Alaska, and in the Caribbean. Most notably the worst seas we've had thus far have been on the EastBound TransAtlantic (6 full days and nights worth).

Our "smoothest" cruises were in the Mediterranean, WestBound TransAtlantic (like glass for days on end), Caribbean, and Mexican Riviera cruises.

Those cruises with a mix of rougher seas and calm - Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Baja, Panama Canal.

Princess Shmoo, you are such the voice of reason..yes, i guess i could definitely get rough seas everywhere...i just try to beat the odds when i can!

 

[alli817]

Take some warm clothes! We did Vancouver-San Diego last August and I was FREEZING!!! I was so stupid, it was 100F where I live (in interior British Columbia about 3hrs from Vancouver) so I didn't take a sweater and I seriously was not comfortable on the decks. I spent almost all my time in doors. Mind you it was foggy on our sea days.

The seas weren't overly rough, no more so than when we cruised the bahamas in October.