Just Back from Wonder 4/4 -4/8 some things I learned!

[crissyp]

WONDERful!!!! nothing to compare this trip to since this was my first cruise. But here are a few things I learned after reading these boards for 3 months before we left:

the take out half of the clothes thing, DO IT!!! did'nt wear half of the things I brought and if your combining a park vacation with this like I did, all you feel like your doing is packing and repacking.

bring the power strip for sure, we had every outlet in use between walkie talkies, video cameras, digital camera battery charger, hairdryers, straightening irons, especially if you have teens with you!

the over the door shoe holder came in very handy

did'nt use the suctions cups for the tubs, they have a portable clothes line.

did bring some clothes pins to hang wet suits on the chairs on the verandah

bring jacket/sweater for dining rooms and theaters, does get chilly especially if you have a sunburn

for the ladies: bring something small to carry your KTTW card in
and for the guys if you don't have pockets in your bathing suits,
you will need to bring something to carry your card around with you also.

bring lots of quarters for the laundry room, washers and dryers are 2 dollars each

ordered the coffee the nite before in a carafe...was luke warm in the morning...easier just to fill out your breakfast card and leave it on your door...

honestly, there is'nt that much to do onboard for teens everything is geared for the little guys...thank god we had a group of 9 teens with us so they found their own good times!

plan to get up very early every day, if you stay up till 2 or 3 like we did....you will be exhausted the next day

make sure you book your excursions WAY in advance...we had one teen that was'nt sure that he wanted to parasail....and when he got up the nerve on CC he was shut out!

definetly bring sea safe with you....I had 3 bottles with me, everybody laughed cause none of us used it, and by the time we left a few people in our group had red itchy burning rash on their thighs and feet....and make sure you wash your suits as soon as you get back on board, some did'nt and wore them again....and the rash seemed to come back when we hit the water parks at disney....not sure if this was sea lice....but they sure where uncomfortable!

Would I do it again....YES!!! VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT LOTS OF FUN!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

WELCOME HOME!

Great tips!

Will you rebook?

 

[crissyp]

probaby not...and only because I think the teens might have a better time on another ship....But I would do it again if it was just adults...never thought I could imagine a bunch of adults going on a disney cruise...

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Thanks so much for the report and the tips. I am making notes (and driving my DH nuts!!!).

One little question concerning the sea lice? Did you see grown jelly fish too or just the sea lice? I am really getting freaked about these critters. You say you didn't use the lotion correct? I plan on slathering myself until I look like a glazed doughnut!!! I really want to enjoy CC but these little pest are making me reconsider going into the water. Am I being too paranoid?

Glad you had such a great trip. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences!! It really helps us waiting folks.

 

[CheapMom]

Thanks crissyp- sounds like you had a blast- did you do the parks before or after your cruise? Did you feel the teens had a better time at WDW or on the ship?

 

[Kim&Chris]

Thanks for the tips. My cruise is still 5 months away, but I've already started my packing list!

 

[WDWorld2003]

I'm also curious about the teens. We're considering a cruise next year on DCL with our teens who will be 17 and 14 then.... Maybe we should try another cruise line. Would like to hear why you felt there wasn't much for them to do... thought they had a whole area dedicated to teens. Thanks for any info

 

[val2001]

crissyp, how about Atlantis? I know you were planning to go there and I wonder how your group enjoyed it.


Edited: I just read your Atlantis post below. Glad to hear you got the extra $$ credit and had a great time.

 

[RKB]

Here is my teen experience: we just went on the Magic this January. My DD15 had a great time. She met new friends and stayed out with them a couple of nights. She still is in touch via email with them so it worked out great for her. This was our second DCL cruise and she wants to go again....

 

[crissyp]

emmasgrammy - no I did not see any large jellyfish, but did see little tiny ones in the water at the atlantis..also, you can't see sea lice....but they seem to find you...just slather up, and enjoy the water's they are beautiful....I did'nt see many affected by this, but we did ask the guys at the parasailing station, and they said they come in after a heavy rain, and when they looked at our legs they confirmed it!

Cheapmom: we did the parks after, we booked all of this on our own, I think if you book through disney you usually do the parks first. The parks were packed...too crowded for me, would have rather taken a 7 day cruise!

WDWworld: there is an area dedicated to teens, but there were maybe only a handful there. My son 14 and his friends all 14, went in, said it was "gay" and left. they spent alot of time, most of the time actually on the basketball courts, sometimes until 2am.
it was great though, cause on your stateroom tv, you can actually watch them play....did'nt tell them that though also, did'nt seem to that many teens on board, surprising to me, since it was spring break.

Hope that helps everyone...

 

[Lilo5]

Crissyp - where did you buy the SeaSafe lotion? I wasn't thinking of buying it for our Nov cruise, but I will now, after your post. Thanks.

 

[crissyp]

ordered online....not sure which site, but do a google search for sea safe and you should be able to find it....Paid around 25.00 for 3 bottles

 

[tawasdave]

We were on the same cruise...my 15 y/o had a blast just hanging out with the rest of the teens...and as he said..."Dad, I played basketball at 2 in the morning!"

Couple of other observations:

1)On Castaway Cay, if your kids want to play on the jungle gym in the water make sure they do it early in the morning. The tide goes out about noon and they close it for the rest of the day.

2)The "Till we meet again" party at 10 pm in the atrium to say farwell is NOT to be missed...stay until the end...the ending is shall we say "magical".

3)Disney has gone from one extreme to the other. When we were on on 1999 all you hear on the top decks was Disney music...now they don't play any Disney music at all...they need to mix in some Disney toons.

4)A free souvenir for those of you who are thrifty (like me)...the first day as everyone is partying as you pull out of port...they sell drinks in colored plastic glasses and you get to keep the glass...well either some people did not care or did not know they could keep the glass...so I gathered up a set of four ..took them to the room and cleaned them and have a dandy souvenir...I planned on getting another set the last day on the boat, but they were not around...so if you decide to do this do it as you leave port.

5)Of course they take pictures all over the ship and they want you to buy them. I bought a couple and asked at Shutters, what if I want to copy them for my parents and they said that you cannot, they are copyrighted. Course you could use a scanner and make copies or if you go to www.castaway.com they have a release that should work.

6)We had an unusual situation two nights on for dinner. Rather than taking our desert order, our server just brought samples of everything to our table and you picked what you want..or try them all...this was good and bad...tried lots...but ended up not getting the desert I really wanted.

7)The day at sea at the BeachBlanket Buffet they have four serving lines...three are mainly for adults and is mostly seafood. One line however, has kid food..chicken fingers, mac and cheese, etc. My 12 DD was disapointed with the seafood until we hear about the serving line on the other side of the room had kids food, we had no idea.

8)Captain announced during the Castaway Club party that the Wonder was going into dry dock in October to be refurbished the same as the Magic was earlier. That means the elimination of the ESPN Club, which will become the new teen hangout. He also hinted that there were some new routes coming to be announced soon...would not specify, but I think it probably will be the California routes everyone is suspecting.

9)My two kids and I spent quite a bit of time in the water at Castaway Cay and had no problem with rashes. Also, I would recommend wearing water shoes there...lots of sharp stones, shells and I kicked a piece of cement in the water..wish I had them on...also after you get a littel ways out in the water, lots of seaweed which feel funny on your feet.

10)If you are planning on bringing some booze back from your trip..I found it was cheaper on the ship than in Nassau.

11)We did the dolphin encounter at Blue Lagoon and it was great...but plan on buying the video as it is hard to get pics unless you have someone take pics who does not do the encounter at the same time as the rest of your group. Also I know I saw a question about lockers at the encounter, and yes they do have lockers.

12)The internet service on the ship is very slow...anyone used to high speed internet service better be ready, and if you pay by minute (75 cents per minute) unless you only intend on using it a couple times, better to pay the $40 for unlimited usage.

13)I was traveling with my two kids and was looking forward to the singles meet the first night...I was the only one to show up...so if you intend to meet singles on the ship.....GOOD LUCK...one thought though...if you go to Shutters and look at the formal pics..you may at least figure out who are traveling as singles...just a thought.

Well hope this helps some people out...best part is...It was great..have a ball!!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by tawasdave
8)Captain announced during the Castaway Club party that the Wonder was going into dry dock in October to be refurbished the same as the Magic was earlier. That means the elimination of the ESPN Club, which will become the new teen hangout. He also hinted that there were some new routes coming to be announced soon...would not specify, but I think it probably will be the California routes everyone is suspecting.

Great to hear! I was wondering why there were so many empty dates in October!

I really enjoyed your tips...THANKS!

 

[EmmasGrammy]

tawasdave,

Thanks for the tips!! I am still taking notes and your tips sure help!! Thanks for sharing. It sounds like you had a great time!!

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

Thanks to tawasdave for all the great info. One point of clarification - the tides change daily, so those of you who visit castaway cay may find low tide is at a different time of day, meaning the jungle gym in the water will close at a different time as well.