Just back...quick comments for 1st timers

[briane]

Just back from the Jan. 27 cruise on the Wonder. Here are some quick comments:

1. Overall, great trip and worth the money.
2. Food...good but not great. Shrimp cocktail was nasty. Food at Palo (filet and lamb great, all desserts were good, fast food was just ok). Restaurant atmosphere was equal to many restaurants at WDW. A little on the cramped side.
3. Castaway Cay was awesome. The other stops were terrible. If you don't do an excursion, plan on staying on the boat. I have traveled all over the Caribbean and Nassau and Freeport are no Aruba, Old San Juan, or Cancun. Mostly trinket shops with junk. It seemed dirty and unsafe. You are mobbed by locals. Freeport has a Disney-made market with more junk. Too bad these ship sdon't go to Old San Juan because that town has incredible atmosphere, great shopping and history. Try to do an excusion if you can afford it.
4. Boat was tasteful and very nice. Staterooms were large.
5. Music near the pools was above Rock concert levels. Way too high for kids ears.
6. Elevators were so small it was alomost silly.
7. Pools were small and always loaded with children many of whom were not watched by parents.
8. ESPN club was great with many screens and they even had food.
9. Service was very good from the wait staff and stateroom attendant.
10. The party to celebrate leaving the port had some poor entertainment with scantilly clad women and un-Disney type atmosphere.
11. Shows were very good overall. Much better than other cruise lines.

Don't expect the "magic" you get at the parks. Nothing too out of the ordinary. This is a very good cruise, but it is still a cruise and aimed at the typical blue collar, Las Vegas types that love to smoke, drink, gamble, and listen to loud music. Those of us not enjoying those activities can still have a good time however. One last comment: When you try to accomodate everyone (children, parents, singles, etc. you lose that special and unique feeling). Why can't Disney just gear these towards the kids and and make them truly magical? Get ride of the lounges and Palo and make it a one of a kind place for all kids. Not more space for just kids, but space for children and parents!!! Again.. I DID like my cruise. But everyone on these boards knows that Walt would have hated it because so many of the activities on the cruise seperate families from each other.

 

[mermaid96]

I just got off the Wonder yesterday myself........

1. I really liked the food for the most part........ although I didn't like the shrimp cocktail either. The shrimp on the Beach Blanket Buffet was good though.

2. We liked Castaway Cay the best also....... we got off in Nassau... but didn't venture too far away. Did a little shopping but didn't explore too much. We did not bother to get off the ship in Freeport.

3. The music was loud near the pools..... I usually find music everywhere too loud for my ears though. Why do people think music sounds better if it's louder??

4. The elevators are small......... but there are 4 of them in each area.

5. We went into the ESPN club ourselves and couldn't stand the smoke........gag!

6. I liked the Deck party. I thought the Charles Marshall band was good........ his female singer had on a skort but I don't think I'd call her scantily clad.

7. Disney Dreams was a wonderful show! Hercules was good also, but Dreams was more my taste.

I'm glad you did like your cruise......... I can't wait to go back and take my kids and husband with me!!

 

[jeanie]

We are doing the 4 day cruise with the Freeport stop. We decided to stay on the ship on the Freeport day based on the reports that I have seen here. How crowded was the ship
on your Freeport day?

Thanks!

 

[SeaShelley]

I'm just back from Wonder too. Let me start by saying that I don't believe Walt would have hated this cruise.....families choose the activities to do while on board and if they don't want to be seperated they don't have to be.

1. I will be doing this cruise again....with my husband and kids.

2. I thought the food was very good and plentiful. As far as fast food, I was not a big fan of the pizza, but loved the hotdogs and fries.

3. Castaway Cay was awesome! A bit of paradise. Great areas for families and adults. I wish they would do a cruise just to CC!!I did get off in Nassau, but not for long. Just did a bit of shopping, and then back to the boat we went. I never felt unsafe, just not comfortable. We were not mobbed by locals, however, we were asked if we wanted our hair braided or a taxi ride to Atlantis; a quick "No, thanks" and that was it.

4. I thought the boat was beautiful! Very Disney, but not in a cartoonish, overstated sort of way. But hey, we knew what we were getting into right???

5. I agree that the music was loud, but I would not say that it was above rock concert levels. Considering it was at the kids pool area, it should have been toned down a bit.

6. Yes, the elevators were small, but there were plenty of them.

7. I briefly popped my head into the ESPN club and had to leave it was so smokey.

8. All staff and crew members were "wonder"ful! We were always greeted with a smile and a "hello". Our dining room staff, Witt, Martin and Wira, were awesome! Bagus, our stateroom attendant was also great!

9. I thought the Charles Marshall band was great. I don't recall seeing any scantilly clad woman anywhere.

10. I loved Disney Dreams! It was outstanding.

I think the Disney Cruise is a wonderful experience for all groups. Parents and kids, singles and couples, young and old. I think that most cruise vets would find this experience more "wholesome" than others as there is no gambling or "Las Vegas" atmosphere on board. This cruise holds a "magic" all its own and really shouldn't be compared to the parks. I will be bringing my family on my next visit to the Wonder.....as I am sure I will be going again. This is all my own opinion, and I would recommend that anyone who is even considering such a cruise give it a try and form their own impressions!

 

[howardk613]

Briane,
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I really don't know what you mean by the blue collar type and your comments in your post "Don't expect the magic you get at the parks. Nothing too out of the ordinary. This is a very good cruise but it is still a cruise aimed at the typical blue collar Las Vegas type that love to smoke, drink and gamble and listen to loud music". I am not a blue collar worker (although what's wrong with blue collar workers - most of my family have blue collar jobs), and I do not smoke , drink or gamble. We go on very nice vacations quite often and visit WDW 4-5 times per year (usually staying at either the Grand Floridian or the Boardwalk) and we never have as great a time as when we are on either of those amazing ships.We think that there is more "magic" per square inch on those ships than anywhere else in the world. I guess that's why Heinz makes 57 varieties, different strokes for different folks. I'm glad that you enjoyed your cruise , I know that we loved ours and have only 274 days until our next visit to heaven on the Disney Magic.

 

[Thumper1]

I think that if you tried the 7 day you would love it.

I'm from Vegas, but I'm definitely not one of those "typical blue collar, Las Vegas types that love to smoke, drink, gamble, and listen to loud music". I think you're thinking of Carnival Cruises. I didn't see anyone gambling. I've been on a Carnival Cruise and that's more for those "types". I also don't drink, smoke, I gamble maybe $50 a year and I don't listen to loud music.

Like I said you must be talking about other cruise lines.inkbounc

 

[atigeg]

I guess my perspective is a bit different...I find a lot MORE magic on the ships than in the parks! Last year, we were very dissapointed with the changes at WDW, even before 9/11. In contrast, the cruise has always been a magical experience for us and continues to be one. As a matter of fact, we shortened our WDW trip next year so that we can do an extra cruise.
I think Disney is wise to aim at appealing to adults as well as families, and I think they do a great job for both groups. We have no children, but we still have a blast...18 Disney cruises so far, with 8 more booked in 2002. Other cruise lines have a smokey/drinking/gambling atmosphere (e.g. RCCL)...that's why we prefer Disney! No casino, more of a family than a party atmosphere, and restrictions on smoking so that people will allergies (like me) can breath in comfort (I got quite ill on Sovereign of the Seas due to all the smoke).
The only "blue collar" change that I didn't like was a switch from the more gourmet-type menus to more meat and potatoes (anyone remember when Triton's had an all-seafood menu? Yum!). But I know that was done because of comments from the majority of guests.
I think that Walt would be expecially proud of the cruise line and the excellent crew. I have given out many "What Would Walt Do?" pins to Wonder crew members because they really go out of their way to meet and exceed guest expectations. They are the BEST!!
Just my humble opinion! We all have our perceptions, but to me, Disney Cruise Line is the best. Even when we went to Alasaka on Radiance of the Seas, I was missing the Wonder.

 

[Sheree]

Wow! I'm not blue collar, don't drink, smoke or gamble, but go on 2-3 cruises per year. And yes, Carnival too! I don't see any more of a "type" on Carnival than I have on Royal Caribean, Norweigan or even Celebrity.

Cruises give you the option of doing whatever you want, nothing at all or everything.

Every cruise has its share of jerks as well as wonderful people.

 

[Disney Dreamer]

I also don't drink, smoke or gamble (well, I am from Utah)!! That is why we enjoy the Disney Cruise so much. We found a lot to do with our family, it was my children that preferred to do the activities at the clubs!!

We have been on several other cruise lines and felt like we were on big party boats. The Disney cruise has something for everyone, that is why we are going back on #4. I believe they DO cater to kids. You just need to read the navigators and find out what's going on.

Why do away with Palo? It is very relaxing and quiet. A nice getaway for a couple of hours. The dining rooms are crowded, but they are on all cruiselines.

I do agree that the music is too loud, not concert level loud but loud nontheless.

The Charles Marshall band is great!

I loved the shrimp cocktail I had in January! I guess you just had a bad night. I would always order what the waiter recommended and thought it was great.

As for the islands, I could (and will!) skip Nassau. I would rather they go to Freeport and not Nassau!! In Freeport, I did the dolphin excursion and they take you to the other side of the island in Port Lucaya. It was beautiful over there. It is too bad that they have to dock in such a bad location. The shopping was great, the beaches were beautiful over there and it was a lot cleaner than in Nassau. I felt safer there as well. I was never bothered by anyone.

Castaway Cay is awesome! I look so forward to going there, it is the best part of the cruise!

I think Walt would and should be proud of his cruise line.

I'm glad you had a good time overall. We all have different opinions and expections. I hope you give it another try. Maybe a 7 day!

 

[DeeB]

Along with Disney Dreamer I too thought Freeport was beautiful, you just had to go to the other side of the island. My DH, DD, and I caught a cab to Our Lucaya Hotel and hung out there on the beach for a little while and looked around the market across the street from the hotel. It was actually very quaint.
As far the rest of the cruise, (no I am not "blue colllar"), but it was fabulous, that is why we are going again. We did the 4 day, it was just not enough time to enjoy the ship. I thought this cruise had every thing for everyone, you could be together as a family or everyone could go there separate ways, travelling with a group of 11 we did both. I am counting down the days to go again!!

 

[SingingMom]

I hope they NEVER get rid of the "adult only" areas like Palo's and "Beat Street". (We only had "High Tea" at Palo's on our cruise, but hope to get there for brunch and dinner next time.)

We thoroughly enjoyed the evenings when our DD7 went off to play in the club and DH & I had an hour or two to have a nightcap in the piano lounge, or catch the cabaret show. It was such a treat to have some "couple time", while still enjoying our "family time" the rest of the day. We really thought it was the best of both worlds. I wasn't sure what I would think of the cruise experience before we went - now I CAN"T WAIT TO GO AGAIN!

 

[Tluvs2talk]

My husband and I do not have any children, but love the Disney cruise for it's more "wholesome" experience. I would be very upset if they did away with the adult only areas. My husband and I are big kids at heart and enjoy what "Disney" has to offer. I was on the Jan cruise and Loved the shrimp cocktail. I was also very pleased with the other food options on board. I especially loved the cheeseburgers at Pluto's. We have our 4th Disney cruise planned for Oct and can't wait. We have sailed Carnival before, but prefer Disney. I also really enjoyed the Charles Marshall band. The music did tend to get a little loud at times. I would love to have 2 days at Castaway Cay. I think Walt would be very proud of the Disney Cruise Line.

 

[Krewe De' Etat]

I drink, smoke, gamble, curse and I'm a blue collar worker. The louder the music the better.

If it's too loud, you're too old... so go home.

 

[Mjasp]

DeeB, How did the dining room arrangements work out with 11 people in your party. We are traveling with 14 and am wondering what they will do for seating, since we all asked to be linked.

 

[Lori1035]

Mjasp, I was with DeeB on her trip. (I know she's working today so she might be awhile answering you) The first night they seated my family of 4 at a table next to the other 7 family members. When our servers found out that we were together they seated us all at one table the other nights.

 

[ragdoll]

LMAO at Krewe De' Etat! (almost afraid to ask what that screen name means.lol)
By the way, ditto to everything atigeg said.

 

[Disney Dreamer]

LOL!!! Krew De Etat! I never said I didn't curse!!

 

[disneyholic family]

wow....thank god for all the replies or i might be worried...
we don't smoke, drink or gamble....
and we're not exactly in the socioeconomic group you denigrated....
i'm looking forward to the cruise.....anything you do in life is what you make of it.....
people think we're totally off the wall for going to WDW every year for 3 weeks....they can't imagine what we possibly find to do for all that time or how we can possibly enjoy ourselves year in and year out in the same place....
i just don't bother answering....if people can't understand how a family can enjoy just being together....and having fun together, well.....i figure there's not much to discuss...
i'm sure we'll enjoy the cruise no matter what the food is nor how small the elevators (ok with me....i avoid elevators at all costs)....
the point is to be together....to enjoy each others company.....and to have some fun....
although, if there is a lot of smoke all 4 of use will die....that's the one thing none of us can stand....(a problem considering we live in parts foreign where smokers are still king....yuck..)

 

[Joe & Joanne]

Yippy!

For the Krewe De' Tat Fans

I think this only works for AOL useres and will take some time to load.

 

[wdwobsessed]

Well my hubby likes to smoke, drink on occasion and gamble too.

I don't smoke but do like to drink on occasion, enjoy gambling but no more than $20 or I freak .......

So I guess we'll have a great time.

Gasp!

wdwo