Just back from 11/9 Wonder 4 night - any questions?

[Melissa R]

Thanks for that info! It helps the planning!

What did you do in Nassau? We're just planning to get off the ship and look around on our own.

That's all we did. We got off, got our passports stamped (figured if we paid for them, we were getting them stamped!), and walked around. My husband was dying for conch for lunch, so we found a restaurant and had lunch there. The food was good. We ordered an appetizer, meals for my husband and older son, and a burger for my younger son and I to share, along with 2 Bahamian beers and 3 cans of soda....and I think the total was $71. I would have been happier to eat on the ship (for free!), but DH was happy to get his conch and Bahamian beers. Then we walked around and shopped a little bit - went to Del Sol (overpriced and not too exciting to me) and bought a rum cake at the Tortula Rum place and went back onboard. If I had to guess (and it'd be just that - a total guess), I'd say we were in Nassau for no more than 3 hours. (and if I had it to do over again, or ever found myself back there, I'd either take a carriage ride to see the island more or wouldn't leave the ship at all)

 

[Melissa R]

All good info! Thanks.

I am doing my first cruise ever on 12/7 on the Wonder and I was really wanting to know when Pirate night was.

Thanks so much for the info!

Just keep in mind that I'm not sure how set in stone the schedule is, and if it stays the same for each trip or not.

You could always call DCL a week or so before your cruise to ask about the details of your schedule. I did that and was told which night our Pirate Night would be on.

 

[LJD2143]

How was the weather?

 

[Melissa R]

How was the weather?

Oh, it was glorious!

In Nassau, we caught a quick rain shower that blew over quickly and we only got drizzled on as we walked the streets. Other than that, I think there may have been a couple other times it rained, but nothing lasted too long. The temperatures were warm but not too hot, and the humidity must not have been high because I don't think I sweated the entire trip, even when I was in the sun.

At night, if we went up on deck, the wind made it very cool out. I tend to get cold easily, so the wind really made me get cold. As a matter of fact, there was at least one day that the kids were in the pool that I got cold in the wind during the day (even in the sun), so I grabbed a towel and wrapped myself up in it.

 

[disneydawgs4]

MelissaR,
We were on the Nov 2nd Wonder cruise and noticed the rougher than normal seas as well. We attributed it to the hurricane that was headed for the Bahamas at the time, now I wonder if that was the case or was our captain just ready to get home?! LOL! No, really, our cast member crew said the same thing that the trip was rougher than normal and I am hoping that is true, cause we have rebooked for Mar 8th and my dh was struggling with motion sickness throughout the trip! We are doing the patch this next time! He tried all the oral meds and seabands and they didn't help, especially in the theatre for the stage shows!
I love reading your reports because it reminds me of our trip. Clayton was a blast as was Tisha, the activities director. Loved the "I'm on vacation" dance and Clayton could mimick Carlton from Fresh Prince great on that one!
I have to echo you on the there is so much to do thing. My dh and I went w/out the kids this trip (our first cruise) and we still didn't have enough time to do it all! We are bringing the kids this next trip, but have not told them yet, we are going to make a game out of telling them on Christmas morning!!

Oh, one thing we noticed once we got home, the movies they show in the stateroom on the TV (it is so small ) are edited for the kids (that is a great thing). We were showing family the Get Smart movie once we returned, and had forgotten how much language and other things we would not normally watch, were in there! So there may be some parents out there that want to be careful about that in the future when they get back home!

 

[msusparty]

That's all we did. We got off, got our passports stamped (figured if we paid for them, we were getting them stamped!), and walked around.

Our kids love getting their passports stamped when we go out of the country. We are leaving on the Wonder 2/12/08 (Valentines Day Cruise).

Where did you get your passports stamped in Nassau? We were under the impression that they don't stamp passports when you are on a cruise.

Thanks

 

[cwaz]

Geez after reading all of these posts, I'm worried about my kids and myself getting seasick. I have been on another cruise RCCL once before and wore the bands and had no problems. Can my kids take Bonine ages 4 and 7?

 

[ladyandtramp]

Just keep in mind that I'm not sure how set in stone the schedule is, and if it stays the same for each trip or not.

You could always call DCL a week or so before your cruise to ask about the details of your schedule. I did that and was told which night our Pirate Night would be on.

Oh! I didn't realize I could call DCL to find out!
I'm such a newbie

I'm so glad for these boards!

Thanks for the info!

 

[Melissa R]

Our kids love getting their passports stamped when we go out of the country. We are leaving on the Wonder 2/12/08 (Valentines Day Cruise).

Where did you get your passports stamped in Nassau? We were under the impression that they don't stamp passports when you are on a cruise.

Thanks

They don't normally stamp your passports, but you can get it done if you want it done - but you have to go to them!


You go through this little shopping mall type building first when you come off the ship. When you get outside, go to the left to the gate with the armed guard. Tell him you want to get your passports stamped. He'll let you through and direct you into their government building. I think it was the last door on the right side once you went into the building.

 

[Melissa R]

Geez after reading all of these posts, I'm worried about my kids and myself getting seasick. I have been on another cruise RCCL once before and wore the bands and had no problems. Can my kids take Bonine ages 4 and 7?

I don't have the boxes anymore, but there is a Bonine and a Bonine Kids, and I think both of your kids should be able to take the kids version. (But please double check on the 4 year old. When my youngest was 4, I was still giving him Benadryl because that's what the pediatrician told me to give him, but I didn't know about Bonine back then, so I'm not sure if it's cleared for that age or not.)

If you've cruised before without issues, I'd bet that you'll be fine. My boys both get very car sick, so we were prepared for trouble with them and they never had an issue. I just gave them the Bonine when we first boarded the ship (hours before leaving the dock), and then each night when we'd leave port. I don't normally get motion sickness, but I'd never cruised before, so I took adult Bonine at the same time the kids took theirs. I never felt the slightest bit queasy, but I REALLY noticed the boat moving during our first dinner (when we crossed the Gulf Stream) and during the last night as we headed back to Port Canaveral.

 

[Melissa R]

Oh! I didn't realize I could call DCL to find out!
I'm such a newbie

I'm so glad for these boards!

Thanks for the info!

Of course, I can't promise that they'll have the right answer, but you can ask!

OK, so seriously, I'd hope that they'd be able to give you the right answer (they did for me!), but keep in mind that it could always be wrong.

For instance, we called a few days ahead to see what movies would be playing on our trip. (I'd read here that we could do that.) The movies that I was told would be playing on our cruise were almost all right - except for one. And of course, that was the one movie my oldest wanted to see! Oh well! So just keep in mind that the people answering the phones are only giving out the info that they have, but it doesn't necessarily come from the Navigators from your trip.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Thanks for the passport info Melissa! I'm really into collecting the stamps too so I can't wait to do so now!

 

[kutchyone]

Probably a dumb question but I will ask anyway. You don't need a passport for the island do you? I was not planning on taking mine with me. I was going to lock it in the safe along with my daughter and her boyfriends birth certificates.

They don't listen to Mom, I have said over and over again get your passport but of course it is to late now for our 1/04 to 1/08 cruise on the Wonder. I am so excited to be going on my first cruise plus it's a Disney cruise!

 

[Josiah]

Probably a dumb question but I will ask anyway. You don't need a passport for the island do you? I was not planning on taking mine with me. I was going to lock it in the safe along with my daughter and her boyfriends birth certificates.

They don't listen to Mom, I have said over and over again get your passport but of course it is to late now for our 1/04 to 1/08 cruise on the Wonder. I am so excited to be going on my first cruise plus it's a Disney cruise!

My understanding is that everyone in your party absolutely must have a passport to take the Disney cruise. You can pay an extra fee to have your passport expedited. We are currently dealing with passport issues ourselves since our one grandchild is in the middle of an adoption process, so we have to wait for his new birth certificate.

Please check on this immediately.

 

[Josiah]

Okay, I will amend what I just said a little:

I just checked the offical Disney Cruise Line site. There is a page on passport info. If you go right on the first page, www.disneycruiseline.com, then scroll to the bottom, there are some links. One is FAQ, but another is just passport info.

They are not requiring passports on the cruise, but they are strongly encouraging folks to get them in order to allow you maximum flexibility in your travel. In other words, if you want to get off the ship, you'll have to have one, it sounds like.

Also, if you are flying, you have to have passports for air travel. If you're driving, it won't be an issue that way, either.

I still think it's very important to have passports, and they are the way of the future anyway, so why not?

 

[Trena]

if you had an emergency and needed to fly home early, you'd need one. If you missed the ship and wanted to catch up with it, you might need one.

Better safe than sorry.

 

[lharter]

Thanks for the trip report, Melissa!

You said it was all decorated for Christmas - do you or does anyone else know how early they decorate for Christmas?

I've only been on 1 Disney Cruise and got seasick the 2nd day. After that I took the bonine everyday and had no problems. The next time we go (in June) I'll just start out taking it right away!

Lynnette

 

[Linda in sunny SC]

to get off the ship at any port including CC. I used my driver's license and left my passport in the safe.

 

[cwaz]

When are you going in June?

 

[kutchyone]

Thanks Linda that is what I needed to know.

I was going to attempt to get them passports but since I have only one original of their birth certificates I decided against trying to get one. If they did not show up in time I woud not have an original for them to use for the cruise.