Just back from 19 May 4-day Wonder Cruise...

[Familyof6]

I'm exhausted as we didn't sleep much last night due to terribly choppy seas and wind as we crossed the Gulf Stream! I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can about the cruise in general.

We started at the GF (truly Magical!) with the Land/Sea pkg.

Some good things about cruise some not so good...overall a "Wonder"ful experience. I will elaborate later in a report...too tired to get my thoughts together now.

Lisa

Oh, and I have lots of pix and navigators if I can see what is salvageable.

 

[motom]

Familyof6,
We just returned from the same trip. Do you still feel like you are on the ship? I can't say that the rough seas made me sick but my head is still spinning. All of the noise from the ship settling, doors sliding, safe door banging,etc had our room up late but we also had a lot of good laughs. I have to sign off because this monitor won't quit rocking or is it me?

 

[Familyof6]

Yes, I am still rocking! I was afraid it was just me, as my dh is not! My dd did get sick last night a couple times and I had to get up with her. I felt best just laying down...but a mom's gotta do, what a mom's gotta do. I did take Bonine when it began to get bad, as I suspected I'd need to be in pretty good shape to take care of my motion sickness prone 9 yr old. She did quite well, considering.
Bummer about the rain at Castaway Cay, huh? I guess we'll just have to get back there someday to experience it the way it should be.
How were your servers? We didn't have particularly dynamic servers, just adequate...but they did do a good job...just not great! No special suggestions or offers to try other entrees. Our server actually balked at our ds trying the escargot on the first night. (btw, he didn't like them, but dh did!)
We got wonderful towel animals every night too! Very sweet. Last night we had two...and one was a pair of swans in the shape of a heart! It was so special!
Yep, screen is swaying here too...

Lisa

 

[CRB#33]

It sounds like you guys had a good time, even with the problems. Hope your rocking stops soon. I'm getting myself prepared for that feeling. I'm very prone to it.

Do either of you have any teen navigators from your trip? I would love to see them. I've got all the other age groups, but poor DD hasn't seen any for her yet.

TIA~*~*~*~

 

[Familyof6]

I'm sorry, that's the one age group in which I didn't have a child. I did not get one.

Lisa

 

[motom]

Sorry we had the teen but we didn't keep any of the navigators.

Lisa it's funny you mentioned the servers because I was a bit disappointed in that area. We had a table of 14 which I think is too much for one server. I realize that each server has the same number of people (approx) but to serve 14 people at one time made for several mistakes. Our room host was great, wet towels seemed to be replaced magically and ice was always in the bucket. It is amazing how they slip in and out of the rooms when you are not there. We spent 3 hours swimming in the rain at Castaway but I too hope to see it someday under dryer condiitons.

 

[doulasue]

We went on the 4 day May 12th cruise. Lots of green people the first night crossing the gulf stream. Our closet banged also! Also, our servers were not great. Seemed upset that I didn't order a bottle of wine after he took 10 minutes explaining what my choices were. Took 20 minutes or more to get a drink. Food came promptly, they did remember my childrens favorite, but they weren't extrememely personable. They seemed to be working very hard to serve lots of tables. I have heard great things about some servers, better luck next time? -Sue

 

[Familyof6]

The servers begin at 7am work until about 11pm...with a half hour to an hour break between breakfast and lunch and then about a 2 hr break between lunch and dinner. Those are pretty long hours! This goes on 7 days a week...except that if it's a disembarktion day, the day starts at 5:30am (and that's the day you get to meet them!) Can you imagine keeping those hours 7 days a week for 180 days! That's what they do. I know it's their job, and I certainly do wish that they had been more personable...but I try to justify it by looking at it from their perspective.
Our assistant server was more personable, at least to the adults, but he kept getting things wrong...which began to be very funny..."I wonder what drink Eugeni is going to bring us tonight that we didn't order?"
Lisa

 

[KAR3600]

I was on a 3 day cruise July 2000, our server was terrible!!!, the only night he went out of his way was "tip" night!!. We were at a table for 10, he even had an assistant, we waited for everything bread, soda, food, the bottle of wine we ordered he couldn't open, we were always the lasts ones out of the dining room. We are sailing July 2002, a 4 day this time, hopefully our luck will be better..........but from what everyone is saying I doubt it!!!

 

[taswira]

On the May 12 cruise, my servers were prompt and attentive, as was the case in January. From the first night they always brought my "iced tea with no lemon" as soon as I was seated, without having to ask what I wanted. They were friendly, energetic, and prompt in spite of being quite busy. I was alone, but there were others at my table who received slow or incorrect service. The servers seemed confused because the people kept discussing things with each other and changing their minds while giving their orders. The families were from NY and perhaps spoke too quickly to be understood. I think sometimes, in spite of all servers supposedly speaking fluent English, there can be a lot of miscommunication due to accents or language problems.

 

[doulasue]

Maybe DCL should hire a few more servers to help ease the load of the overworked staff. Even giving each of them 1/2 day off on a rotating basis might be enough to give them the rest they need as to not get so overworked. I have to laugh at the "from NY people who maybe spoke too fast", My whole table was from NY (upstate), the first night the waiter came to our table and spoke my two children and my mother gave him the blankest stares you have ever seen - they didn't understand ONE word he said. I had to fight to not crack up. After that, every single time he asked my DS 8 what his order was, my son replied "HUH?". (we are working on better manners!). There was definately a communication difference, but they always got our order right.
Sue

 

[NaturallyMe222]

I just returned from the May 19th Wonder Cruise and I have to say that our dining room servers were the best we have ever had with the Disney Cruise ships. Our server was Cedomir from Croatia and the assistant server was Pearl from Trinidad. They were two wonderful people who not only performed their job very well... but they also had my 4 teens laughing each night at dinner. On our previous cruises, my kids always wanted to skip the dinner and just grab something to eat on deck 9 but on this past cruise my kids were actually talking about dinner before it was time to go. The kids made it to all four dinners and even stayed until the very end. After reading about what others have experienced ... I feel very fortunate to have shared my cruise with these two wonderful servers.