Just off the Wonder- Observations & Interesting Conversations

[radioclash2]

We just returned from the 3 night Wonder. This was our 4th DCL cruise. Some things I thought were interesting...

1. The CAT 11 stateroom was not as bad as I thought it would be. It was rather cozy. Although, there were only three of us. I think it would be cramped with four.

2. When I re-booked, I received a "friends & family" voucher. It entitled any one friend or family to receive the same 10% discount & OBC that I got if they booked the same cruise within 30 days. I booked a dummy cruise, so I think it allows the holder to book any cruise they want.

3. The drink prices were outrageous. I didn't bring any beverages on board because we were only going for 3 nights. I dropped $150.00 on drinks (ouch)

4. Toy Story was just OK.

5. Lots of crew members were talking about the new ships & new itineraries. I mentioned that I was on the EB Panama & it would be exciting to do it again on the Wonder. The cast member said yes 2/11 should be an exciting time for the Wonder. I asked if that meant the PC cruise was planned for Feb. The answer: well things can always change.

6. Crew members also said the the Wonder would be sailing Mexico & Alaska. I asked about Hawaii. Again, I was told well things can always change.

7. It looks like they are doing construction on castaway cay to accomodate the larger ships.

8. To my horror, Castaway Cay was dirty. Bottle caps & litter in the shallow end of the water. There was a baggie of either hot dogs or sausages on one of the chairs when we arrived on the beach (very early). It was still there when we were packing up to leave.

9. I think the food at Cookies tasted better then I remembered.

10. The gift shop was giving away free pins, with a purchase. One for each day of the cruise. They left vouchers in the stateroom with a small card that you could attach the pins to if you wanted to get them framed.

All in all a great little cruise

 

[awoltoday]

2. When I re-booked, I received a "friends & family" voucher. It entitled any one friend or family to receive the same 10% discount & OBC that I got if they booked the same cruise within 30 days. I booked a dummy cruise, so I think it allows the holder to book any cruise they want.

Can I be your friend?

5. Lots of crew members were talking about the new ships & new itineraries. I mentioned that I was on the EB Panama & it would be exciting to do it again on the Wonder. The cast member said yes 2/11 should be an exciting time for the Wonder. I asked if that meant the PC cruise was planned for Feb. The answer: well things can always change.

Good intel!

6. Crew members also said the the Wonder would be sailing Mexico & Alaska. I asked about Hawaii. Again, I was told well things can always change.

Alaska & 29-30 weeks doing 7 night Mexico fits the information in the LA Port contract.

8. To my horror, Castaway Cay was dirty. Bottle caps & litter in the shallow end of the water. There was a baggie of either hot dogs or sausages on one of the chairs when we arrived on the beach (very early). It was still there when we were packing up to leave.

ick! But, thanks for posting this information!

 

[m4travel]

We just returned from the 3 night Wonder. This was our 4th DCL cruise. Some things I thought were interesting...

3. The drink prices were outrageous. I didn't bring any beverages on board because we were only going for 3 nights. I dropped $150.00 on drinks (ouch)
...
All in all a great little cruise

We've heard others mention the price of drinks onboard ship, but we find them less expensive than the drinks served at our local restaurants here in Los Angeles. I suppose it depends upon that to which you are accustomed.

If we had a bar bill of only $150 after three days, we'd be worried some of our orders were charged to other passengers!

 

[camarks1234]

3. The drink prices were outrageous. I didn't bring any beverages on board because we were only going for 3 nights. I dropped $150.00 on drinks (ouch)

When we sailed in Feb. I thought the prices were very reasonable at around 4-5 drink. And the drinks were pretty good too, not watered down.

 

[frdeb1999]

Thanks for the information! We too don't think that the drink prices are all that bad. They are way more expensive in this area at resturants then on board.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

We've heard others mention the price of drinks onboard ship, but we find them less expensive than the drinks served at our local restaurants here in Los Angeles. I suppose it depends upon that to which you are accustomed.

I was also pleasantly surprised at how reasonable drinks were on board. Much less expensive than at WDW and even less than I pay at home.

If we had a bar bill of only $150 after three days, we'd be worried some of our orders were charged to other passengers!

 

[Tneah]

I think the drink prices are very reasonable, except for that one small glass of wine I got that was $11.00.

We bought a wine package and then we had a few drinks here and there. We took home the 3 bottles of wine and threw away several bottles of beer that we brought on board, too. It was a waste for us to bring our own. We just didn't feel like running back to the room or carrying the stuff we brought with us around the ship.

 

[TifffanyD]

For our friends & family discount the other cruisers got the OBC but not 10 discount. Has this changed or was it just mis-stated?

 

[kcashner]

Most of the above info is consistent with what we learned on the Magic last week. The friends and family is that they get the OBC but not the 10% off. On the Magic there were also the 3 pins,one on each of 3 specified days. We were told that the Wonder would go to Los Angeles in 2011 and sail to Mexico and "elsewhere" with no official word of the elsewhere. Someone asked about Alaska and the response was along the lines of "we're considering all options."

 

[lillygator]

what were the drink prices?

 

[radioclash2]

what were the drink prices?

The mojitos were $8.48 the wine was between 9.50 and 16.00
In Philly, I would pay about 8-12 dollars for a drink, I just don't remember the DCL drinks being so expensive.

 

[mommasita]

This is moving over to the trip reports!!!

 

[DMMarla07860]

off topic, but who was the DJ on the Wonder?

 

[Paula13]

The mojitos were $8.48 the wine was between 9.50 and 16.00
In Philly, I would pay about 8-12 dollars for a drink, I just don't remember the DCL drinks being so expensive.

What about beer?

 

[tom31b]

The mojitos were $8.48 the wine was between 9.50 and 16.00
In Philly, I would pay about 8-12 dollars for a drink, I just don't remember the DCL drinks being so expensive.

The 2-fer pool specials were about $8 for two....

 

[tom31b]

5. Lots of crew members were talking about the new ships & new itineraries. I mentioned that I was on the EB Panama & it would be exciting to do it again on the Wonder. The cast member said yes 2/11 should be an exciting time for the Wonder. I asked if that meant the PC cruise was planned for Feb. The answer: well things can always change.

6. Crew members also said the the Wonder would be sailing Mexico & Alaska. I asked about Hawaii. Again, I was told well things can always change.

I forgot I was hating you for having a quickie cruise.....

Glad you had a great time. How was it without 500 of your 'closest' friends?

So.... by 2/11 you mean February of 2011 not 2/11/11. I guess you could read this as a late January repo (wonder if Mom can stay with the kids for 2 weeks...) with first Mexican Riviera cruises in February. Or could be February for all of it. "Things can always change." Now that's a line that is just frustrating.

"& Alaska".... that's interesting. I'm not sure they can do a 7 day to Alaska from LA... making me wonder if they will be doing longer cruises out there or just an occasional special to Alaska? Of course, the 'experts' will tell you the Wonder isn't equipped for the frigid Alaska weather or the ice in the water or the.....

 

[tom31b]

What about beer?

Beer in Philly? LOL

Runs about the same for the better stuff, the Coors or Miller is a little cheaper. I want to say Guinness bottle ran about $6 (forget if that was before or after tip)

 

[Paula13]

Beer in Philly? LOL

Runs about the same for the better stuff, the Coors or Miller is a little cheaper. I want to say Guinness bottle ran about $6 (forget if that was before or after tip)

No, beer on the boat! We drink Miller Lite...just hoping it didn't get too crazy expensive!

 

[tom31b]

No, beer on the boat! We drink Miller Lite...just hoping it didn't get too crazy expensive!

That was the on the boat rate. How are you getting to the port? If you are renting car or taking limo service you can stop and pick up a case (cans) and carry on with you, can't check it tho...

 

[awoltoday]

"& Alaska".... that's interesting. I'm not sure they can do a 7 day to Alaska from LA... making me wonder if they will be doing longer cruises out there or just an occasional special to Alaska? Of course, the 'experts' will tell you the Wonder isn't equipped for the frigid Alaska weather or the ice in the water or the.....

From the LA Port contract, Disney is only planning on 29-30 cruises out of the LA per year. So, if it is Alaska, expect either a longer 12-14 day Alaskan/Repo cruise and/or a short 3-5 day Pacific Coastal Repo cruise.

It's not "experts" saying the ships can't sail to Alaska... Have them take a look at the latitude of the ports the Magic is visiting in Northern Europe vs. Ketchikan, Juneau, & Skagway... I also like to show them the picture of my daughter doing the butterfly while cruising glacier bay in a (GASP) ship without a covered pool!

Most of the above info is consistent with what we learned on the Magic last week. The friends and family is that they get the OBC but not the 10% off. On the Magic there were also the 3 pins,one on each of 3 specified days. We were told that the Wonder would go to Los Angeles in 2011 and sail to Mexico and "elsewhere" with no official word of the elsewhere. Someone asked about Alaska and the response was along the lines of "we're considering all options."

What other "elsewhere" could they be thinking? South America? Seems a bit too out of the norm and I have never heard anybody wish Disney would this. Hawaii? That is certainly within reach of a longer cruise. Lots of sea days and open ocean! They could do this from Ensenada, LA, San Fran, or even Vancouver. Don't fry me on those options - Especially (ick) Ensenada - I don't see DCL busing families to Ensenada to board the ship. Caribbean? maybe. How 'bout just doing panama canal cruises? could be.

But, if they were planning on more cruises out of LA, I think they might have upped the ante on the minimum cruises in the port contract and shot for a higher or tiered marketing credit if they made minimums/targets. The didn't. They fill the boat to 75% for 30 cruises (or 29 cruises and 2 repos) and they achieve their marketing credit in the contract, which should be easy for DCL. I think it is extremely likely they will repo out of the area. To me, that suggests Alaska is in the plans for 2011 and/or 2012.