Sept. 23, 2012 Pacific Coast - Wonder Cruise

[DisDiana]

Welcome Diana and Shane! Where in Michigan are you?

Thanks for the warm welcome! We live an hour north of Detroit and the weather here has been great all winter except for the infamous Friday of which you speak. Friday was filled with freezing rain and pea-sized hail.

Every piece of bad weather just makes me that much more excited to get on the ship!

Last time we sailed, it was for Halloween and we were supposed to cast off for the Western Caribbean cruise on the Magic...but there was a hurricane that hit Mexico the day we left port. So the Magic decided to sail us to the Eastern Caribbean instead and it was an amazing time. Only rained once when we pulled out of port at Tortola!

 

[glindamood]

Thanks for the warm welcome! We live an hour north of Detroit and the weather here has been great all winter except for the infamous Friday of which you speak. Friday was filled with freezing rain and pea-sized hail.

Every piece of bad weather just makes me that much more excited to get on the ship!

Last time we sailed, it was for Halloween and we were supposed to cast off for the Western Caribbean cruise on the Magic...but there was a hurricane that hit Mexico the day we left port. So the Magic decided to sail us to the Eastern Caribbean instead and it was an amazing time. Only rained once when we pulled out of port at Tortola!

Well my friend - we were on the same cruise! That entire thing was probably our fault as that was cruise number 13 for us. Now it makes me wonder if we saw each other - I would have been the one on crutches, or using at least one of them. We had late dining but at this point, I can't tell you what rotation we had.

 

[DisDiana]

Well my friend - we were on the same cruise!

Wow! This is truly a small world! Did you guys dress up for the Halloween party? We were cruising with another couple and dressed up like contestants from the Legends of the Hidden Temple (kids TV show from the 90s). We were red panthers and the other couple went as purple parrots.

I'm relatively new to cruising but I have the itch. Shane and I have decided to rotate between WDW and DCL vacations but since listening to the DIS Unplugged, I'm thinking we need to try an Adventure by Disney.

What was your favorite cruise and cruise memory? On the Halloween cruise, we had the late seating and had cocktails at Sessions every night -- Tim was amazing on the piano and played a few bars of my favorite Disney song (Someday My Prince Will Come) when he saw us walk in! He even did a Motown set at my request one night. I'm so disappointed that there's no piano lounge on the new ships -- makes me want to consider booking sailings from Miami or Texas!

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Hi everyone, sorry I've been MIA this week. Kindergarten work, end of term madness and a pet death have made a poor week. The kids have broken up from Kindergarten for two weeks now and have been eating hot cross buns (sans spice and raisins - the kiddie variety) all afternoon.

DisDiana - welcome. Sounds like you love Disney cruising. It's our first (and possibly our last if I can't convince DH to rebook onboard). We are taking the kids on their 'you'll be five soon' cruise and my husband on his 'you'll be 45 in a couple of weeks, how come you are more excited about Mickey Mouse than the kids?' cruise. Sounds like a lot of people are celebrating a milestone or another.

Gail - I will get sorted with Photobucket soon for the Thailand pics. I want to show you the beach where The Beach was filmed. Also I've got a giant spider photo, which I think is nice as he's/she's very pretty. Lots of more traditional photos too.

 

[jetskigrl]

Hi All and welcome to the new members

Well, I'm packing up and heading out on Sunday. I'm very excited to be back on the Wonder again (then when I get home I can finally update my siggy to include a countdown for this cruise, LOL).

I have been reading about the change to the onboard booking so my decision to take the VGT rate for Pacific Coast Cruise was a good one. I was originally planning on rebooking the Pacific Coast and Fantasy cruises when we are on board next week but with the new rules, I will be able to rebook one now. Luckily the Fantasy cruise has held its price since I booked it so rebooking will work in our favor (finger's crossed that it doesn't go up before next week, LOL).

Let me know if there is anything you would like me to check on while I am on the Wonder.

 

[DisDiana]

Sounds like you love Disney cruising. It's our first (and possibly our last if I can't convince DH to rebook onboard).

You won't be having to do a lot of convincing... Shane and I caught the fever after I surprised him with our first cruise on the Dream.

We love cruising DCL so much that we're going to treat my parents to a voyage on the Dream in February and I'm a little worried because my dad is putting up a fit about having to give up his precious time at WDW (he loves it there). But my mom convinced him to cruise with us.

In the end, I'm sure they'll both be hooked -- and so will your DH!

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Hey Jetskigirl - keep an eye out for Lilo & Stitch for Alex! He's convinced they are a baddie magnet. Did you notice that the VGT has gone on the cruise, so it was a good thing we all jumped when we did.

DisDiana - I dunno if he'll be an easy one to convince, we've both spent so much time independently travelling and he's worried he's going to feel 'over subscribed' onboard. I just want to have the rebook in the bank, should we decide to do it again in a few years as it's so expensive to get to the US from NZ (this holiday is costing us about $25K USD), that 10% will come in handy. I'm already working on a holiday next winter/your summer to Thailand for us all and then South Africa. Oh I'm low maintenance in every respect, so I can spend all the cash going overseas!

Hmm - I'm over school holidays already. In the first 24 hours we had a broken diningroom chair, someone wrenched the tap off the spa bath and there was an incident of trying to glue artwork to the polished wood floor in the kitchen/dining room. The kids are rolling around wrestling on the floor making a noise like a couple of grumpy tom cats this morning. I hate to think what they'll be like when they are 10, let alone teens.

 

[jetskigrl]

Hey Jetskigirl - keep an eye out for Lilo & Stitch for Alex! He's convinced they are a baddie magnet. Did you notice that the VGT has gone on the cruise, so it was a good thing we all jumped when we did.

DisDiana - I dunno if he'll be an easy one to convince, we've both spent so much time independently travelling and he's worried he's going to feel 'over subscribed' onboard. I just want to have the rebook in the bank, should we decide to do it again in a few years as it's so expensive to get to the US from NZ (this holiday is costing us about $25K USD), that 10% will come in handy. I'm already working on a holiday next winter/your summer to Thailand for us all and then South Africa. Oh I'm low maintenance in every respect, so I can spend all the cash going overseas!

Hmm - I'm over school holidays already. In the first 24 hours we had a broken diningroom chair, someone wrenched the tap off the spa bath and there was an incident of trying to glue artwork to the polished wood floor in the kitchen/dining room. The kids are rolling around wrestling on the floor making a noise like a couple of grumpy tom cats this morning. I hate to think what they'll be like when they are 10, let alone teens.

I'll definitely keep an eye out for Lilo and Stitch

I just saw that the VGT was gone yesterday too. Add that to the fact that since they change the rebooking policy, I wouldn't have been able to rebook the cruise next week, I'm so glad that we made the decision to change to the VGT.

Too funny about the school holidays. It can get bad at my house with my two (and they are 5 years apart) towards the end of summer. By that time they need some time away from one another, LOL.

OK, the clock is not moving nearly fast enough for me. I'm ready to be home putting clothes in suitcases, LOL.

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Jetskigirl - you'll have to sit down with me onboard in the cafe and explain in very small words about booking and rebooking. Sounds as if you can only reshop one cruise onboard now, so the VGT was timed just right for you.

All I can say about the kids is, on days when they are full of beans, the mantra is 'thankfully they aren't triplets'.

Bon voyage!

 

[glindamood]

Wow! This is truly a small world! Did you guys dress up for the Halloween party? We were cruising with another couple and dressed up like contestants from the Legends of the Hidden Temple (kids TV show from the 90s). We were red panthers and the other couple went as purple parrots.

I'm relatively new to cruising but I have the itch. Shane and I have decided to rotate between WDW and DCL vacations but since listening to the DIS Unplugged, I'm thinking we need to try an Adventure by Disney.

What was your favorite cruise and cruise memory? On the Halloween cruise, we had the late seating and had cocktails at Sessions every night -- Tim was amazing on the piano and played a few bars of my favorite Disney song (Someday My Prince Will Come) when he saw us walk in! He even did a Motown set at my request one night. I'm so disappointed that there's no piano lounge on the new ships -- makes me want to consider booking sailings from Miami or Texas!

We did not dress up but I was at one of the tables by the adult pool and watched the 'parade' go by. I love to cruise but I will be perfectly honest - had I had trip insurance and had we not planned on spending time with our oldest DS and his wife at WDW before we sailed, I would have cancelled. I was very uncomfortable the entire time and it was difficult to get around on the crutch. I was happy though that I had upgraded to a verandah as I did spend time out there. I also learned that I prefer forward to aft as most everything we do is forward (pool, Cove Cafe, theatre, shopping etc.). Almost makes me nervous with the Fantasy cruise as we are in one of the aft cabins again - as far back as we can get but we are cruising with friends on that trip and we can make it all one big verandah so that will be fun. And - I WILL NOT BE ON CRUTCHES - I hope anyway.

And you went to Sessions each night - before late dining - we did too. We always sat at the little tables on the port side when you walk in. Our world is getting smaller and smaller !

Well, youngest DS graduates from Alma this weekend. I am so excited as he is the first of my boys that is actually going to walk. Probably helps that his graduating class is only 320. Then there will be wedding showers and then the wedding! Busy boy. Plus they have to move to the Detroit area as well so he can be all ready for grad school in September. Makes my head spin.

 

[jetskigrl]

Hey Jetskigirl - keep an eye out for Lilo & Stitch for Alex! He's convinced they are a baddie magnet. Did you notice that the VGT has gone on the cruise, so it was a good thing we all jumped when we did.

OK, we kept an eye out for Stitch for you and did encounter him multiple times in the atrium for character greetings (didn't see Lilo though). We also saw him in one of the shows (shoot, now I can't remember which one it was). I also saw some pictures in the kids club where it looks like he was in there for a visit also (that one may be hard to avoid since it isn't on the Navigator).

Hey everyone!!! We are back from a "wonder"ful week on the Wonder. The MR cruise was awesome and we had some really great servers. Unfortunately, they are both leaving for the Fantasy (one left on the Sunday we got to port and the other said they would be gone before September). So I can't recommend them for you. But they did make our cruise extra special.

We had beautiful weather up until the last sea day (heading back to LA) where we must have caught the tail end of the storm that had come though. We were definitely rocking and rolling, LOL.

I'll be glad to answer any questions about the Wonder. I can also check for events on the Navigators for you (I'm thinking they might be somewhat the same for our cruise, except we have one less sea day).

Hum, I wonder what happens to the Character breakfast if we only have 2 sea days.... I should have asked, LOL.

Woo hoo - now I finally have room in my signature line to put in a ticker for this cruise. I tell you, having this one booked already sure made it easier to deal with the post cruise depression

 

[glindamood]

Welcome home jetskigrl - sounds like a grand time was had by all. I am not such a fan of the rocking and rolling but we will have our supply of Bonine and I will take it on sea days. On our PC trip in 2011, I found the Pacific to be much different than the Atlantic in regards to ship movement. Better safe than sorry is my motto - and I am sticking to it!

Did everyone see that the excursions for San Diego have been released? I think we are going to try the wine trip - or that is the current plan anyways. We are taking Celebrity Century through the PC in January 2014 which sails out of San Diego so we will go a few days early and do the zoo and city exploring then. Since DH enjoys wine (me, not so much but it will be interesting) and we opted not to do one in San Francisco, it looks like a good time to do one.

Character breakfast - the Western itinerary only has 2 sea days so some how or other they accomodate for it. Maybe the second moring we are in SF? Both San Diego and Ensenada have 8:30 all ashore times and that seems a bit early.

Well, another item on the list of things to happen before this cruise happened over the weekend - the youngest DS graduated from college! Proud Mama is an understatement - Proud Papa too, acutally. He even graduated with honors! So, August is the wedding and that will be the last major checkmark on the list since I didn't put his starting grad school on the list. I will get some pictures out to Photobucket and post them this evening.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[glindamood]

Westerns and character breakfast - totally forgot that Sunday was Key West day (well, on the old itinerary anyway) and the ship didn't dock until noonish so that did give them three free mornings. Guess we shall see...

 

[DisDiana]

On our PC trip in 2011, I found the Pacific to be much different than the Atlantic in regards to ship movement.

How is it different? More or less rocky? I was okay on the Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Magic, though I did think it was much more rocky that my cruise on the Dream to the Bahamas.

Did everyone see that the excursions for San Diego have been released?

This was one of my reasons for joining this post -- talking about excursions! I just checked a few days ago and they were still missing. It's awesome that they're up now.

What kind of excursions are you all planning? I'm so indecisive! All we have planned so far is our trip to Disneyland after the cruise!

 

[BigDisneyOE]

Hi JetSkiGirl - I think we'll have to condition Alex to the fact Lilo and Stitch are like police and provide shipboard security from baddies. Otherwise I'm not having a terrified child hiding every time he sees them... that'd be painful to say the least.

Gail - I've not looked at SD excursions, didn't realise they were out. Good thing you are keeping your eye on things or I'd be dithering around. I dunno if we'd do an excursion at all as we have 7 nights in Carlsbad travelling back and forth to SD in between Legoland etc etc. We wouldn't do the wine excursion as we've got the kids with us (plus I don't drink, we live in the middle of a several wine producing areas, DH is making 23 litres of blackberry wine at the moment and I've picking gorseflowers this week for gorseflower wine). Maybe the Zoo if we don't get it done beforehand but I thought we could just have a very quiet family day together to relax as it'll be a full on three weeks away and it'll be the end of the holiday. Would be quite nice to have a day onboard in port.

Congrats to your son for graduating with honours. It must be a fabulous moment watching your child pass such a pivotal milestone. Sort of a 'I did a good job as your mum and now you are on your way in your own life' moment.

I'm also interested in the Fish Extender, but we are VGT so I'll have to bring some cards with our cabin number stamped on them to put in with our FE gifts for other people so people know our cabin number if we don't get it until the last minute. Actually, my kids are really interested in the Fish Extender, so it's mainly for them.

The next couple of weeks could be a time of big change for our family. Things are changing at my husband's work, maybe to his advantage but meaning changes to the household. Everyone is a bit wired at home, the kids can sense change in the wind.

 

[glindamood]

How is it different? More or less rocky? I was okay on the Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Magic, though I did think it was much more rocky that my cruise on the Dream to the Bahamas.



This was one of my reasons for joining this post -- talking about excursions! I just checked a few days ago and they were still missing. It's awesome that they're up now.

What kind of excursions are you all planning? I'm so indecisive! All we have planned so far is our trip to Disneyland after the cruise!

I do not know how to say that it was a different kind of rocky. The seas in the Caribbean have either been like glass (flat) or waves with peaks/white caps but it wasn't like that in the Pacific. There were no waves/white caps but it was like rolling hills - I really have no idea how to explain it but the ship moved differently. Could also be that the currents flow differently and we were not crossing a path but going with it - I don't know but it felt differently.

Excursions - I think we are doing the Walt Disney Museum, Muir Woods (with DCL) and then Alcatraz on our own. Would be so nice if DCL would post times so I could figure out a schedule. I want to do the wine tour in San Diego and I suppose just walk around in Encenada - no much desire there.

Hi JetSkiGirl - I think we'll have to condition Alex to the fact Lilo and Stitch are like police and provide shipboard security from baddies. Otherwise I'm not having a terrified child hiding every time he sees them... that'd be painful to say the least.

Gail - I've not looked at SD excursions, didn't realise they were out. Good thing you are keeping your eye on things or I'd be dithering around. I dunno if we'd do an excursion at all as we have 7 nights in Carlsbad travelling back and forth to SD in between Legoland etc etc. We wouldn't do the wine excursion as we've got the kids with us (plus I don't drink, we live in the middle of a several wine producing areas, DH is making 23 litres of blackberry wine at the moment and I've picking gorseflowers this week for gorseflower wine). Maybe the Zoo if we don't get it done beforehand but I thought we could just have a very quiet family day together to relax as it'll be a full on three weeks away and it'll be the end of the holiday. Would be quite nice to have a day onboard in port.

Congrats to your son for graduating with honours. It must be a fabulous moment watching your child pass such a pivotal milestone. Sort of a 'I did a good job as your mum and now you are on your way in your own life' moment.

I'm also interested in the Fish Extender, but we are VGT so I'll have to bring some cards with our cabin number stamped on them to put in with our FE gifts for other people so people know our cabin number if we don't get it until the last minute. Actually, my kids are really interested in the Fish Extender, so it's mainly for them.

The next couple of weeks could be a time of big change for our family. Things are changing at my husband's work, maybe to his advantage but meaning changes to the household. Everyone is a bit wired at home, the kids can sense change in the wind.

I know - I got all excited to see San Diego appear on the port adventures list but I didn't notice anything until Sunday as far as what was going to be available. We can book May 26th so I am happy they got the info out there so we can think about it. Sadly we will be at my Mom's that weekend and without internet, unless she can get me connected somehow. My TA said she would do it for me but I am just a control freak - I want to do it myself.
I am so weird - just so weird!

Best wishes about the changing wind with your DH's employer. I hope it all goes well. Funny how children can pick up on that isn't it??

Thanks for the well wishes for Drew - I could still just pop with pride. It doesn't matter how old any of them get, I still worry and fret and hope and pray that all that love and nurturing was done with the right amount of tough love to create responsible, caring, independent young men. Only time will tell but the last one is out and spreading his wings so we shall see where he lands.

Enjoy your evening all. Love Monday nights - Dancing with the Stars in just a few minutes.

 

[ShinyDaisy]

Hi My DH Ron, DD Michelle (16) & I will be joining y'all in just a few months on the Wonder! I've been trying to find a way and we are so excited to be able to change gears from dreaming to planning!

Hope everyone's plans are coming together nicely!!

 

[glindamood]

Hi My DH Ron, DD Michelle (16) & I will be joining y'all in just a few months on the Wonder! I've been trying to find a way and we are so excited to be able to change gears from dreaming to planning!

Hope everyone's plans are coming together nicely!!

Angel and family! Isn't it fun to actually be planning?? I am really looking forward to the ports on this trip as most are a first for me - and with this being our 14th cruise, that says a lot.

We are all going to have a grand time!

 

[jetskigrl]

Well, another item on the list of things to happen before this cruise happened over the weekend - the youngest DS graduated from college! Proud Mama is an understatement - Proud Papa too, acutally. He even graduated with honors! So, August is the wedding and that will be the last major checkmark on the list since I didn't put his starting grad school on the list. I will get some pictures out to Photobucket and post them this evening.

Have a great day everyone!

Congratulations to your DS (and to you)!!! That is awesome!

How is it different? More or less rocky? I was okay on the Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Magic, though I did think it was much more rocky that my cruise on the Dream to the Bahamas.

This was one of my reasons for joining this post -- talking about excursions! I just checked a few days ago and they were still missing. It's awesome that they're up now.

What kind of excursions are you all planning? I'm so indecisive! All we have planned so far is our trip to Disneyland after the cruise!

I think our last sea day was only bad because of the storm that had come through the day before. On the first two sea days and our 2-night cruise to nowhere, I barely noticed the movement of the ship at all.

I don't think we are going to book any excursions, LOL. This was our low-budget trip so we will probably just do our own thing in San Francisco and San Diego (and then stay on the ship in Ensenada).

I'm also interested in the Fish Extender, but we are VGT so I'll have to bring some cards with our cabin number stamped on them to put in with our FE gifts for other people so people know our cabin number if we don't get it until the last minute. Actually, my kids are really interested in the Fish Extender, so it's mainly for them.

The next couple of weeks could be a time of big change for our family. Things are changing at my husband's work, maybe to his advantage but meaning changes to the household. Everyone is a bit wired at home, the kids can sense change in the wind.

I'm still on the fence about the FE also. We usually join for the kids also, so it feels funny to do it when they aren't going to be with us.

I have my finger's crossed that everything goes well with the job changes for your DH.

Excursions - I think we are doing the Walt Disney Museum, Muir Woods (with DCL) and then Alcatraz on our own. Would be so nice if DCL would post times so I could figure out a schedule. I want to do the wine tour in San Diego and I suppose just walk around in Encenada - no much desire there.

I think we are going to grab a cab and check out the Walt Disney Museum also (just not sure which day). My sister lives not to far from San Fran so she will probably drive in and have lunch with us one day (and maybe my nephew since he goes to school in San Fran).

I'm still not sure what we will do in San Diego. One of my DH's good friends lives there so if he is around, we might meet up with him for lunch. Otherwise we may just hang on the ship. San Diego is only a 2 hour drive for us so we have been there many times (DH actually went to High School there).

Hi My DH Ron, DD Michelle (16) & I will be joining y'all in just a few months on the Wonder! I've been trying to find a way and we are so excited to be able to change gears from dreaming to planning!

Hope everyone's plans are coming together nicely!!

Welcome to the group!!!! We just got off the Wonder MR cruise a couple of weeks ago so I'm finally changing my focus to this one. Although I have to keep it low key at home because it is only me and DH this time. Good thing I have this board to share my excitement with

 

[glindamood]

I don't think we are going to book any excursions, LOL. This was our low-budget trip so we will probably just do our own thing in San Francisco and San Diego (and then stay on the ship in Ensenada).

I'm still on the fence about the FE also. We usually join for the kids also, so it feels funny to do it when they aren't going to be with us.

I think we are going to grab a cab and check out the Walt Disney Museum also (just not sure which day). My sister lives not to far from San Fran so she will probably drive in and have lunch with us one day (and maybe my nephew since he goes to school in San Fran).

I'm still not sure what we will do in San Diego. One of my DH's good friends lives there so if he is around, we might meet up with him for lunch. Otherwise we may just hang on the ship. San Diego is only a 2 hour drive for us so we have been there many times (DH actually went to High School there).

Usually if we do excursions, I manage to find things on my own without DCL which is typically less expensive. Must be I am lazy this time. That trip to the museum is $75 each - I just can't beleive that it would the that expensive to do it on our own, especially since the tickets online are only $10.00. I just don't want to get to the area and find out we have to pay to shuttle and/or get into the park as well. I don't think that the Muir Woods excursion is that out of line.

You are lucky to be so close - I feel like I need to take it all in, I may not get that way again soon (well, other than SD in January 2014).