Negative feedback from Wish trial run

[Princesca]

So we are booked for our first Disney Cruise on the Wish this spring. We didn't choose it, it just happened to be the ship for the sailing we wanted. But a friend of mine on the cast member cruise said it was awful. They said they have never wanted off a ship so badly, and the Wish was their worst cruise experience ever.

So now I'm nervous All the other reviews I've seen have been glowing, but they were comped I'm sure....

ETA: Idk if it was a cast member cruise. They are a cast member who cruised on it.

 

[EddieK76]

So we are booked for our first Disney Cruise on the Wish this spring. We didn't choose it, it just happened to be the ship for the sailing we wanted. But a friend of mine on the cast member cruise said it was awful. They said they have never wanted off a ship so badly, and the Wish was their worst cruise experience ever.

So now I'm nervous All the other reviews I've seen have been glowing, but they were comped I'm sure....

If only there was a cast member cruise....

 

[Calantha]

hey said they have never wanted off a ship so badly, and the Wish was their worst cruise experience ever.

So now I'm nervous All the other reviews I've seen have been glowing, but they were comped I'm sure....

That's a pretty broad statement, what exactly were the issues?

I've been watching the Laughing Place 1.5 hr "live" review on YouTube (it was live a few days ago). I thought they gave a pretty fair assessment of the good and the bad. I certainly expect in the next few months for a lot of the issues (that aren't fundamental) to be resolved... I'm not going to panic about 2023 yet.

 

[BadPinkTink]

People expectations vary. Some people who have sailed before expect everything on a new ship to be the same high standard as ships which have been in service for many years. When something new launches theres always going to be problems and issues, the staff are still getting to know each other, procedures and protocols which look good on paper dont work in real life, there may be supply and stock issues and so much more.

People forget that it takes at least a year for everything to work smoothly, so go with an open mind

 

[bjt]

Both of the cast member cruises before the christening cruise were canceled. Confused on what this cast member is referring to?

 

[Princesca]

If only there was a cast member cruise....

Well idk what it was but they are a CM and were on the Wish...

 

[Princesca]

That's a pretty broad statement, what exactly were the issues?

I've watching the Laughing Place 1.5 hr "live" review on YouTube (it was live a few days ago). I thought they gave a pretty fair assessment of the good and the bad. I certainly expect in the next few months for a lot of the issues (that aren't fundamental) to be resolved... I'm not going to panic about 2023 yet.

I will check this review out, thanks

Their complaints were chiefly about the food, the staterooms being smaller, and the ship being more difficult to navigate, things being less accessible.

 

[shoegal9]

Some cast members were on the ship when they moved it to the U.S. port from Europe. We chatted with someone from DVC's legal dept the other day and they were on that "cruise".

 

[MomOTwins]

Both of the cast member cruises before the christening cruise were canceled. Confused on what this cast member is referring to?

In looking at the Youtuber videos on the christening cruise, there were so many guests on that sailing I doubt they are all just youtubers and bigwigs and suspect it did in fact include some CMs who had their earlier cruise cancelled. Maybe they didn't have enough room on the ship to make it open to everyone from the CM cruises, but did it based on number of years with the company or something.

From what I can tell, not everything was up and running for the christening cruise--they did not have all the stage shows, and daytime activities were limited and not typical--e.g., more guest lectures about the building of the ship, less trivia and game shows. If entertainment is a big factor in what you enjoy about the cruise, this media cruise was not a good representation of what will be available when regular guests start sailing.

I will check this review out, thanks

Their complaints were chiefly about the food, the staterooms being smaller, and the ship being more difficult to navigate, things being less accessible.

Kind of surprised to hear the complaint about the food--the MDR offerings don't look all that different from the other ships to me, and the pool deck quick service options really seem to be much improved from what I can see. I definitely see the ship being more difficult to navigate. I've watched a bunch of deck by deck walkthroughs and the layout is far less intuitive than the old ships because things are all over the place--there are shops and bars/lounges spread over several floors and fwd/aft/mid instead of clustered together like on the older ships; only two elevator banks will make it harder to get up and down floors, and it is just a bigger ship.

 

[Princesca]

Kind of surprised to hear the complaint about the food--the MDR offerings don't look all that different from the other ships to me, and the pool deck quick service options really seem to be much improved from what I can see.

Their complaints might have been training issues for the kitchen staff... they said things were under or overcooked, some salad items were spoiled... stuff like that.

 

[bjt]

I'm actually looking forward to moving throughout the ship to visit the various lounges. Having them all in one area always seemed restrictive to me. The Fantasy/Dream have 12 elevators split across three banks where the Wish has 16 elevators split across two banks and the two banks are not in the Grand Hall which I think is a good thing. We shall see how difficult it will be to navigate the various decks. I'll know in 8 days! Can't wait!

 

[Mle8308]

If only there was a cast member cruise....

Cast have been sailing on the Wish since this past weekend, after the media cruise. One departs today through Saturday.

 

[LiZaArd]

I've watching the Laughing Place 1.5 hr "live" review on YouTube (it was live a few days ago). I thought they gave a pretty fair assessment of the good and the bad. I certainly expect in the next few months for a lot of the issues (that aren't fundamental) to be resolved... I'm not going to panic about 2023 yet.

I watched this too and agree, it was pretty fair. I like they honestly gave the "bad" instead of all the media fluff pieces out there.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Their complaints might have been training issues for the kitchen staff... they said things were under or overcooked, some salad items were spoiled... stuff like that.

having been a kitchen supervisor at a new restaurant opening, this is normal. I worked for Hard Rock Cafe, I was opening staff at their Munich restaurant. It took months for us to get every food item and ever menu item correct every day. With a new restaurant opening, not only are you learning new recipes and food prep procedures, you are learning new company procedures AND trying to work as a team with people you don't know.

I would NEVER EVER give a bad food review to a brand new restaurant or in this case, the food on a ship that has only sailed at max twice yet.

 

[Mle8308]

Both of the cast member cruises before the christening cruise were canceled. Confused on what this cast member is referring to?

The Cast Member cruises after the media trip were not cancelled. One departed over the weekend and one departs today (Wednesday).

 

[meremac]

I mean, I totally get that there are going to be growing pains and preliminary issues on any new ship (which is precisely why they do so many test cruises before hosting paying guests). Being honest about shortcomings and a little disappointed in things makes sense. But "never wanting to get off a ship so badly" when it's a FREE cruise seems a bit...much.

 

[tvguy]

I've been cruising 42 years and one of the basic rules of cruising used to be never cruise on a new ship until it has been in service six months. Gives them time to work out the staffing and equipment issues.

 

[bjt]

The Cast Member cruises after the media trip were not cancelled. One departed over the weekend and one departs today (Wednesday).

Yep. I've been tracking the ship, but the OP seemed to imply that the bad experience was on a past cruise and not the one CM cruise that just disembarked today. This may in fact be based on the transatlantic crossing or this past cruise. I was just confused so that's why I asked. I can see how the transatlantic would be a challenge as they were probably still finishing the interior during the cruise and I can also see how this past CM cruise would be a toss up as they continue to finish the ship and react to the feedback they received from the christening cruise. I suspect the next two will be the same as they prep for the July 14th MV. I just hope they make quick progress on completing the ship as Ill be on the MV.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I wish I could have such a bad time onboard a brand new Disney cruise ship...

 

[Mle8308]

Yep. I've been tracking the ship, but the OP seemed to imply that the bad experience was on a past cruise and not the one CM cruise that just disembarked today. This may in fact be based on the transatlantic crossing or this past cruise. I was just confused so that's why I asked. I can see how the transatlantic would be a challenge as they were probably still finishing the interior during the cruise and I can also see how this past CM cruise would be a toss up as they continue to finish the ship and react to the feedback they received from the christening cruise. I suspect the next two will be the same as they prep for the July 14th MV. I just hope they make quick progress on completing the ship as Ill be on the MV.

Hope you have a great trip! I know quite a few people who were on the weekend cruise and who are leaving today. Feedback from the weekend was good!