Questions, Questions, Questions

[PENCOYS PIRATE]

Hello everyone, well it is 9 weeks since our first ever cruise onboard the Disney Wonder and I have desperately been trying to post my trip reports but everytime I go to send it everything gets wiped off!!!!!
Im sure it's something to do with our server but I will continue to try and post.
Anyway getting down to what I was actually writing for.
Because we loved the cruise so much we are really wanting to return and do a 7 day we will have to go in August due to school holidays etc and the fact that We have been lucky enough to take the girls out of school time in previous years but they are getting older now and it's frowned upon.
We are looking at the last 2 weeks in August and I was wondering what the weather is like etc?
Hurricanes, you name it.
I think I read that the captain does try and go around them where poss , but are we looking at severe weather at that time of year.
Being from England we are certainly use to the rain but not the severe conditions you guys have to deal with.
Were looking at 2007 so we have a little bit of time to think about it.
Also what diffrent things do they do on the Magic on the 7 day?
I know the restaurants are virtually the same bar tritons and lumieres and that the decor is slightly different but what other things differ.
I know I sound sad it's just that we had such a perfect time on the Wonder I want to repeat it, I mean everything was amazing, the staff, the shows, the staff, the ship, the staff, the food, the staff, you know what I mean.
Anyway would really liketo hear from you all
Chucklechops

 

[LAMPSKIES]

The "server" times you out. My last trip report I typed in notepad the cut and pasted to the message boards.....good luck......

 

[PENCOYS PIRATE]

The "server" times you out. My last trip report I typed in notepad the cut and pasted to the message boards.....good luck......

Thanks, I will try that Im sure I will have much more fun cutting and pasting then attempting to finish the huge pile of ironing that is stareing at me!!!

 

[jhorstma]

You'll find nicer islands and island experiences on the 7 day cruises - I think Eastern is better than Western, but then while I've sailed to St. Martin and St. Thomas/St. John I have only read about the Western ports. Plan on either budgeting upwards of $100/person/island for water-based excursions/tips or researching the cheaper logistics of getting to the nice beaches (e.g., Orient Beach at St. Martin and Trunk Bay on St. John's at St. Thomas) in order to fully enjoy these stops.

 

[mmouse37]

Much more time to relax on the 7 day....more activities, etc.....formal and semi formal nights.....

 

[clten]

From your post, you seem to be concerned that there was something on the Wonder that would be missing from the Magic. Don't worry about that. The shows are all there. The restaurants are all there with the same menus plus you get a few extra! The staff is just as wonderful, in fact since they have you for a whole week, you have a longer time to get to know them and vice versa. The ships are nearly identical so if it were a particular lounge or area that you really enjoyed it, you'll be able to enjoy it on the Magic. I think you will find so much more to enjoy on the longer cruise. A lot more activities on the ship since you will have Sea Days for them to entertain you! The Magic and the Wonder are equally perfect.

As far as weather, the end of August through September is the peak of hurricane season. It is very difficult to predict the best time to go because look at this year, we are already on our 7th named storm and it's still July. The cruiseline does try to keep you out of bad weather (I always tell my clients it is because they are concerned about their ship more than passenger comfort but I'm sure they want to keep guests and crew safe too). Sometimes it does mean a change in plans. (Last year, the Magic couldn't get back into port so that extended the cruise for some passengers and shortened it for others.) If you travel during hurricane season, you have to be really flexible. If you aren't a go with the flow kind of family, it's not the best time to travel in the Caribbean. (And usually if your cruise is affected by a hurricane, the cruiselines make it up to you -- giving you a onboard credit or some refund (if your cruise is shortened) and also give you a big discount to sail with them in the future!)