Our 1st cruise, a Wonder wander from Van-San Diego Sept 2015 w/Navigators COMPLETED 11/11/15

[Club Disney Chandler]

Angela I finally got around to scanning the Navigators from the trip.

Day 1

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Day 2:

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Day 3:

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Day 4:
Sorry, I don't have the activities sheet for this day.

 

[bcwife76]

Jack, thank you so very much for doing that!!

 

[UCLAVES]

Thank you SO much for posting Navigators!

 

[bcwife76]

So here are some final thoughts on our cruise as I close this TR.

We came into cruising not knowing a ton (all knowledge was gained from the DisBoards, which of course is a wealth of information!) and what some friends had told us (those who had sailed DCL and those who had not). We came on and compared it to travelling to all inclusives; I don't know if this is fair or not but it is what it is.

It was different than what we expected most of the time; some of it better, some it not as good as we were expecting (were our expectations too high perhaps?)

Clearly we weren't put off by cruising because we booked an Alaskan cruise onboard. But after a disasterous disembarkation experience we both left with the feeling of 'what just happened? I think we'll cancel when we get home."

Now I knew we'd need a cooling off period. You cannot judge cruising solely by the disembarkation process, nor by the rudeness of some passengers on that last day. Rude people are everywhere, crowded cruise ship or not.

The point is we really do want to do an Alaskan cruise and doing a one way land/sea cruise at this point (with two kids well under the age of 10) is just not feasible as this time. I can see us doing another Alaskan cruise in a few years, but right now we are travelling with small kids (because no one will take the damn kids off our hands for a week lol) so it's for everyones' enjoyment. DCL, while pricey, fits the bill.

And the more I think about it, the more I think cruising has to offer us than another all inclusive at this time. Yes drinks 100% included would be nice. Eating when we want (dinner at 5? sure. Dinner at 9? you bet) would be nice. But lying by a pool for 5-7 days straight gets boring too ;-) The entertainment on the ship far surpasses any show we have seen at 6 different all inclusive resorts (barring perhaps a couple of shows).
Being able to go see a movie (or two or three) in the middle of the day, super fun.
Playing the trivia games and making a 'fool' out of yourself with 50 strangers? Totally hilarious.
Meeting Mickey/Minnie/Anna/Elsa/Goofy on the high seas? Simply sublime!

Lying in a deck chair watching the ocean go by? Priceless.

Also, no FE's at an all inclusive! (this is just a sample of some of the amazing/thoughtful gifts we received!)

With the memories of a crappy disembarkation fading, the memories of all the wonderful experiences we had are still alive and well. So while we probably will never make it to Platinum on DCL, we will enjoy a second cruise in 2016 (and possibly a 3rd....if I book a $200 placeholder on board lol).

Thanks for reading!

 

[pepe3penelope]

What?!?! It's officially over??? No more TR to read?!? Again, as before, BOOOOOOO!!!

I really enjoyed reading your TR! I know your family is used to all-inclusive vacations. But, like us, you're hooked on cruising!!! I agree that disembarkation is a nightmare but the rest of the trip is amazing!

I will continue to read DCL TR's and run into you reading the same ones as well!

I am already looking forward to the TR I'm sure you will do for Alaska!

 

[DnA2010]

Aww sad to see the end of your report it was fun to read about the first DCL cruise for you guys, just like us in May (although we already have cruising bug) We also had a great time, and just enjoy the mix of waking up in new places and enjoying the gorgeous ship. We also loved the fish extender-so fun!

We seriously thought about an on board booking, but with the dollar in the tank, we have just decided to play it by ear, as no matter what way you spin it, DCL is super expensive...perhaps if another great GT rate comes up, we will jump on it again.

 

[cruisehopeful]

That was a fun trip report. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

You are going to love Alaska. We are planning our second. I do have a DCL placeholder booked, but am looking at a couple other lines since I don't have any under 18s anymore. DCL is still tied for first choice, though.

 

[bcwife76]

What?!?! It's officially over??? No more TR to read?!? Again, as before, BOOOOOOO!!!

I really enjoyed reading your TR! I know your family is used to all-inclusive vacations. But, like us, you're hooked on cruising!!! I agree that disembarkation is a nightmare but the rest of the trip is amazing!

I will continue to read DCL TR's and run into you reading the same ones as well!

I am already looking forward to the TR I'm sure you will do for Alaska!

Thank you for all your kind words and for following along. Seems inevitable that we will 'meet' again on the boards and of course, I'm still enjoying your current TR

Aww sad to see the end of your report it was fun to read about the first DCL cruise for you guys, just like us in May (although we already have cruising bug) We also had a great time, and just enjoy the mix of waking up in new places and enjoying the gorgeous ship. We also loved the fish extender-so fun!

We seriously thought about an on board booking, but with the dollar in the tank, we have just decided to play it by ear, as no matter what way you spin it, DCL is super expensive...perhaps if another great GT rate comes up, we will jump on it again.

Thanks for reading! Honestly if dh and I were not celebrating a big birthday next year we probably would take a year off from traveling (I think 2017 is the year we just camp lol) but hey..if I *have* to turn 40 we might as well go a bit bigger.

That was a fun trip report. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

You are going to love Alaska. We are planning our second. I do have a DCL placeholder booked, but am looking at a couple other lines since I don't have any under 18s anymore. DCL is still tied for first choice, though.

Thanks for reading along! I can see us returning to DCL in the years to come (prices depending of course!) and I do like that there is so much to do even without the kids!

 

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Nice report. We were in Vancouver (of course) for a June-July Alaska sortie. One question: Why is every single taxi cab there a Toyota Prius. Every one. Somebody getting kickbacks? You makin' them there? Thanks again for your first report...hope to see more in the future.

 

[bcwife76]

Nice report. We were in Vancouver (of course) for a June-July Alaska sortie. One question: Why is every single taxi cab there a Toyota Prius. Every one. Somebody getting kickbacks? You makin' them there? Thanks again for your first report...hope to see more in the future.

Thanks for reading!!

Haha, that's a very good question! I figure because they are so fuel efficient and this article basically says the same thing:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/hybrid-cabs-invade-vancouver/article17993742/

 

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Well...sometimes you ask a question and get the answer!
Thanks for the link.

 

[bcwife76]

Well...sometimes you ask a question and get the answer!
Thanks for the link.

haha, you're welcome

 

[xlxo]

Why is every single taxi cab there a Toyota Prius. Every one. Somebody getting kickbacks? You makin' them there? Thanks again for your first report...hope to see more in the future.

That article link goes back to 2007... I would say 70% are Prius today.... most are the Pruis V (a minivan cross over).

Also look at Vancouver's gas prices compared to the rest of North America. It's right up there with California. Those taxi drivers need to save every drop of fuel they can. In a city without highways, these hybrid's are great in the congestion. I recently purchased a Prius and can't believe how much fuel I'm saving, especially stuck in traffic.

Prius are not great for wheelchair passengers, so you can request a minivan if needed.

 

[MomoMama]

Great TR! I enjoyed reading your TR, and will come back later to see if your pictures are back.
We will be on Wonder next month, and it was good to get some ideas from your report. Looks like the magician is the same one we saw on Magic in 2013...I hope he has new materials.
Is the on-board custom procedure something specific to San Diego? This does sound really bad...
I have visited Vancouver only once, and would love to visit again and do Alaska cruise the same time too!

 

[bcwife76]

Great TR! I enjoyed reading your TR, and will come back later to see if your pictures are back.
We will be on Wonder next month, and it was good to get some ideas from your report. Looks like the magician is the same one we saw on Magic in 2013...I hope he has new materials.
Is the on-board custom procedure something specific to San Diego? This does sound really bad...
I have visited Vancouver only once, and would love to visit again and do Alaska cruise the same time too!

Thanks for reading! I think I need to get the rest of my photos uploaded to Photobucket and then go through my report and add them back in. But a pain lol silly DisBoards!

I think the customs/disembarkation problem is San Diego-specific.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Almost caught up! I was cracking up at your thoughts on the exotic rasul. It was exactly how I pictured it in my head...um, I'm paying a lot of money to slather stuff on myself and sit in a hot sauna? No thank you. I too get really hot in saunas and can only really spend a few minutes before running out. The exotic rasul did not sound fun for me and your review just confirmed it, LOL!!!

Sorry for the tedious disembarkation you had, sounds like a real pain to do customs on the ship. Wonder if this is the way they do it for all cruises? Can't believe the nerve of some people...thinking they are sooo entitled. Pooey.

so excited to read about your Disneyland adventures!

 

[bcwife76]

Almost caught up! I was cracking up at your thoughts on the exotic rasul. It was exactly how I pictured it in my head...um, I'm paying a lot of money to slather stuff on myself and sit in a hot sauna? No thank you. I too get really hot in saunas and can only really spend a few minutes before running out. The exotic rasul did not sound fun for me and your review just confirmed it, LOL!!!

Sorry for the tedious disembarkation you had, sounds like a real pain to do customs on the ship. Wonder if this is the way they do it for all cruises? Can't believe the nerve of some people...thinking they are sooo entitled. Pooey.

so excited to read about your Disneyland adventures!

Yeah....exotic it was NOT but I'm pretty sure if they marketed it like it really is "you'll be rolling around like a sweaty pig in mud" then most people probably wouldn't go for it

I'm assuming Disembarkation would be the same for all cruise lines in San Diego, not just DCL.