Just back and on the same boat; some frustration, some exultation.
Crown plaza -- they don't want to give priceline folks the parking option any more. That took forever and had to get authorization from a manager. I was willing to pay the 10/day, no problem. They wanted me to pay 189 and pay for a sail/park night. errrr, no, I will take the two cars to the port first and pay 40 bucks less. Do you want the money for parking or no? They finally agreed. Be forewarned if you buy night on priceline.
Embarkation. Started slow. I was second in line at port and several families were DETERMINED to be ahead. they had folks wait in chairs over 40 minutes at least as there was a computer glitch. Not surprisingly the rush to be first stomped past me.
I upgraded at port from 4A to 3. cost was $1225. 3A, 1C in cabin. We got 8602, which is the one I wanted....the Wonder is aging and the cabin was not in great shape...everything creaked, sink clogged, burning insulation smell when A/C was on (with maintenance swearing that they smelled nothing each time). Sink was never right (the one by the table).
Room attendant was efficient but not real friendly until last day...just did his job. However, one attendant down the hall made it her business to learn my GS's name and spoke to him each time we passed her. (Narvine, by the way, is her name).
Our rotation was early dining, APTAPTA. The Animator's Palate show worked fine at early dining. Waiter/assist was Bonieface and Vitor. This was Vitor's first cruise, I think. he was very very personable, young (22) and a hit with my GD's, age 11, and 12. Bonieface was older, somewhat friendly, did learn all names at table quickly and tried hard. Party of 12, one table (actually two pushed together), with three toddlers, two tweens and misc. adults.
Sunday - we ate at parrot cay, characters were out, goofy was goofy and a hit (a little out of control even). That night they did the welcome show, line at kid's club was horrendous. Food was okay. nothing remarkable or horrible.
Monday - character breakfast - saw Dale, Chip, Goofy, Minnie, Mickey, Pluto.
Kids' club lines were outrageously long and club was packed. I cannot give you a commentary on Edge as the two girls decided it was "lame" (the beginning of the attitude issue and just walked the ship each day, refusing to participate and wishing they were teenagers in Vibe). However, the noise level in Oceaneer's Club overwhelmed my 3.5 year old grandson totally (he is in day care everyday adn had been in Celebrity Kids Club in November)....he asked to be picked up at 11:30 and then refused to go back.
We did Palo brunch and disney magic totally working. My son refused to wear his suit pants (a tux) and had no other pants other than jeans/shorts....we showed up, Marco, the maitre'd asked where person #7 was...I explained -- Marco had a member of his party go find him and GOT HIM PANTS TO WEAR WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF HIS ARRIVAL AT PALO....they had given us the private room, we waited. food was to die for....
Pools were full. Totally.
Monday was formal night. tried to take pics before dinner and lines were outrageously long for photos.
Monday dinner was semi-disaster. Daughter ordered steak, medium. It came well well done three times. Last one was medium. We ate at Parrot Cay.
Tuesday, short cabo day, was supposed to be sea day. Other commentators have commented on the lineup of sales pitch for water taxi's, etc., it is relentless as soon as you leave the pier, all the way down the sidewalk, behind the mall, back down the alley, down the marina walk, at some points, the men were shoulder to shoulder.
Minnie's Fiesta Party -- set for 4:15. I went up to deck at 4:30 p.m., figuring crowd. There was nada going on at that time.
We ate at Triton's -- food was quite good.
Wednesday, puerto vallarta, we walked over to Crowne Paradise. Aging resort, they charged for the toddlers after saying they were no-charge. Water was COLD, but sun was out. Beach vendors were a problem, every 45 seconds and frequently the same vendors with different items. I tried to go to the pool and no lounge chairs at the main pool. They didn't give us a map, found out right before we were leaving that there were three other pools (harrumph). 36 for adults/15 children -- all you can eat/drink/towel/chair. easy walk
ship faces into
walmart parking lot, so some of the group made a walmart run for diapers and tequila.
I think Pirate Night was this night (if not, it was tuesday). Pirates IN the caribean. We were at Animator's Palate again. Nothing memorable about food.
Thursday was our new sea day. It was brisk. Not much happening in the pool. The Oceaneer's Club was packed again. (we were still dropping off another toddler, but grandson would not go, period, unless one of us stayed....so not sure why, but believe the noise was the issue).
By Thursday, the character meet/greet lines were forming 30 minutes before the princess ones. They had multiple pic opportunities in the atrium and it was very congested most of the hours around dinner.
Friday - second cabo day. BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE that day....We did private whale watching cruise with Eco-Cat. Got off ship early (8:30ish). BTW, saw a
Disney cruise excursion meeting at 6:45ish at Palo....OMG!!!!) Don't know which one.
The vendors were not out so early this day in force, so was a much quieter walk around the marina. Spotted some whales. Did not get really close but knew where they were and that they were there. Nice day on the water, but again it was brisk.
Back at the ship, that afternoon, the pools were not really in use as the temp was low and the wind was high. As we were leaving Cabo, we were escorted by many many dolphins and several whales breached, lots of folks standing at the rails.
Friday night was Captain's Gala, semi-formal. Lobster, bigger than the ones on Magic last year anyway...but dry and overcooked. The appetizers were outstanding. The dessert was good. (can't remember either, but I know I took pics and will remember when I see 'em).
Saturday - sea day and very cool with wind chill factor that froze all. Pools empty, kids' club full. the line to see the princesses at 12:15 started forming at 11:30. We walked by to eat lunch in triton's and it ended up with my daughter getting in line and me going into triton's to eat with the toddlers. Disney staff brought out cookies and coffee to the folks in line (that was nice). The CM in charge announced that there would be only two photos per family group, so please cooperate -- no walking up with five kids, getting group shot, and then five individual shots. They placed a CM at the back of the line at some point and said that no more would be taken after him. The line at the time of 12:15 went from the Atrium lobby, across the wall, down the hall all the way to Parrot Cay at the back of the ship.
Saturday evening - dinner was very very good -- I got the tenderloin and it was cooked to perfection. Appetizers -- zucchini/artichoke/jalapeno dip with pita bread (it was delish); seared ahi tuna sashimi (delish) and chicken satay (which was more curried flavor than anything else, but still good). Crew did the march of nations with baked alaska presented to dining room. Celebration cake was my desert -- excellent as always.
Shutters was packed with folks, stores were packed with last minute shopping frenzy going on.
Sunday a.m. - buffet opened at 7:00, it moved smoothly. I have to say that most breakfasts were eaten in buffet, triton's once. I am a pastries person more than a eggs/pancakes person. I took a bite one morning of a cheese danish and spat it out as it had been made with beef lard or something. i have never tasted anything that nasty in my life. We never saw a shortage of milk, juice or anything though. After PV, the milk, both plain and chocolate had spanish labels, though, so maybe they did run out.
I heard complaints that room service took forever to arrive from other folks, but we didn't have issues (we ordered at weird times). Crustables are no longer the PB J (secret) sandwich available at room service.....my daughter called to get one for her toddler...room service told her no, then told her they would see what they could do, brought a regular white bread PBJ sandwich.
On the plus side, the turkey/cheese sandwich is on baguette roll and my other daughter was able to order IT on plain white bread, so they did try to accomodate. And room service staff told the daughter that desserts are sometimes available....at the end of the dinner service, for late night dessert, just ask them what is available from that night's dinner (she ordered blueberry cheesecake and pecan pie).
Sunday disembarkation....could walk off the ship around 7:30-7:45, I think. It went very slow after first color call.....like 40 minutes until the next one...then went faster after that. Customs does do individual inspections as my son was pulled out of line for more questionning (random selection)....no strip search, just a full questionnaire (he says it was because he was wearing U of O sweatshirt and they were obviously Auburn fans...). We waited a loooong time for the CP shuttle as they kept saying "it is on its way"....well, it was waiting until it was FULL and until TWO of the big red shuttles were full to bring folks to the port (they have 8 passenger vans and then 22 passenger big shuttle vans). There were 8 of us with huge luggage so two vans passed us up, and the two drivers said..oh, they are coming.....we left hotel after 11:45, so took an hour to get the shuttle.
I wasn't impressed with Crown Plaza.
I have navigators and will have them scanned in and posted tomorrow.
Karen