I would have ...

[Little Twin Stars]

Instead of asking some tips for us: the first time cruisers, could you tell 3 things that you would have done differently if you were to get on Disney Wonder again?

 

[DisneyGator01]

hmm.. if I was on the disney wonder again.. I would get off.. wait a few days.. and get on the Magic instead --- to get the 7 days instead of a measly 4!


Okay... for my serious answers.

1) Get myself out of bed and watch the ship dock at least once
2) Go on the goofy pool dance floor and get down during the deck parties!
3) Spend more time lounging on a deck chair and just enjoy the view of the sea.

 

[Dreamer04]

Board as early as I can

Visit the spa

Rebook onboard

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Hi DisneyGator01

Just wondering:

What makes watching the ship dock so special that we should not have missed?

 

[DisneyGator01]

I have heard a lot of people talk about it.. and in all my cruises.. just something I have never seen. I am planning on getting up at least once during my 7 day and seeing.. so I will hopefully be able to tell you more then

 

[jwann]

1. Early seating for dinner

2. More time relaxing on the decks

3. Do the 4 day so you can have a day at sea

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Hi jwann

Why early dinning? Is it because of the little kids?

 

[jwann]

Originally posted by Little Twin Stars
Hi jwann

Why early dinning? Is it because of the little kids?

I know there are lots of thoughts on this topic but here's my 2 cents worth....

We have done BOTH early and late dining. We are a group of 8 - 4 adults and children 8, 6, 5, and 4 years old. This is why we liked early dining and will NEVER do late again:

1. Late dining completely messes up your evening. You can't get to any late activities. If you want to go dancing at the dance parties, you are all tired and full from dinner and don't feel like getting jiggy with it....With early dining, you eat and then go to your show, digest your food and then you are ready to get down!

2. Late dining takes at least 2 hours. Early dining takes about 1.5 hours.

3. You are hungry again when the late night snacks and buffets are served. When we were doing the late seating we just weren't hungry for all that free food - Yikes

4. Early dining is full of kids and families so when you want to be silly or sing a song or joke with your waiters no one is looking at you like you are crazy.

Hope this helps. Thanks for asking.

 

[videogal1]

Keep a journal so that 10 years later (like now) I'll remember what I did.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by videogal1
Keep a journal so that 10 years later (like now) I'll remember what I did.

I keep a sort of journal for my daughter, I have been doing it since she was born...every week I write about things we did, things she said, things that are going on in the world...all sorts of stuff...everytime I get to 10 pages I print it out and clip them all together and put them in her "memory box"(which is more like a memory TRUNK LOL!)

 

[figment52]

Originally posted by Little Twin Stars
Hi DisneyGator01

Just wondering:

What makes watching the ship dock so special that we should not have missed?

The finesse (sp) of the captain and first officer to pull that huge ship right up to the dock. The fact that the ship can do a 360 degree spin in the water and yet if you are not watching it happen you don't feel it. I was up at 4:30 the last morning of my first cruise so I could see us come into the channel at Port Canaveral (and hopefully see the launch pads all lit up) and stood in the drizzle and was amazed by the feat of "spinning the ship" and seeing it inch up to the dock. And to think it is all done with a "joy stick". I can't manipulate one of those things for a video game, let alone a cruise ship.

I live on Lake Huron and we see freighters all the time but I had never see none dock before, let alone with the grace and precision of DCL.

If you appreciate parallel parking you will appreciate docking the ship

 

[CRSNDSNY]

1 - packed less shoes
2 - taken a nap in the afternoons so i wasn't so wiped out for nightlife
3 - taken more photos

 

[wink]

1. Pack some of our stuff up during the day at Freeport (or at sea). It was way too hectic getting back on board after a day at Castaway Cay, getting the kids ready and to their farewell program on stage, and then run to dinner, go to the show, then back to the room to finish packing. I was too tired after all that to enjoy the rest of the evening.

2. Have more professional pictures taken. We only managed to have two taken. Looking back, would have liked to have seen how more of them turned out.

3. Spend more time relaxing on deck 4.


We also watched the ship dock several times. It was great fun - especially at Castaway Cay. It's fun to watch the actual docking, and it adds to the excitement of the day.

 

[plutospup]

I can barely parallel park our minivan...It amazes me what they can do with a 900+ft long ship!

 

[WDWLVR]

I've pretty much done everything I wanted to on all our cruises, but looking back at our two Wonder cruises I would say:

1- Palo - didn't go until our 5th cruise - excellent!

2- Rainforest Room - never done it. Meant to last cruise and never got around to it.

3- Walk around deck 4 for excercise -- walk off those wonderful desserts.

 

[jrabbit]

1) Board early, board early, board early, board early (and have a small/light breakfast that day - the lunch buffet is very good and there is a LOT of food while you are on the ship)
2) In Nassau - don't do the horse drawn carrage ride
3) Don't use the "cheap" photo developing - stick with the Kodak high quality developing, the cheaper ones (ie Costco's Kirkland processing) don't get the colors of the ocean even close to correct.

 

[takemeaway]

Three things:

1. Gone to the Adult Pool

2. Left the kids at the port

3. Take more pictures

 

[sk8ingmom]

Little Twin Stars -
This was a great idea! Past cruisers...keep 'em coming, I'm taking notes!

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by aprilgail2
I keep a sort of journal for my daughter, I have been doing it since she was born...every week I write about things we did, things she said, things that are going on in the world...all sorts of stuff...everytime I get to 10 pages I print it out and clip them all together and put them in her "memory box"(which is more like a memory TRUNK LOL!)

I took a blank journal book last time but was either too busy or too pooped to write past the first page...Now if I could have arranged for my mom to take notes....welll, forget that...She always remembers the wrong stuff...things I'd just as soon forget!

 

[wink]

Originally posted by takemeaway
Three things:

2. Left the kids at the port

You are too funny! As much as we enjoyed our family cruise, I have to admit that a cruise with just the two of us sounds awfuly inviting