Day 1 Embarkation Day
Song airlines arrived at MCO ontime at 9:20. Met the driver form Happy Limo (he was waiting at the baggage claim with a sign, just like they promised) and waited for our luggage at the baggage claim. The cruise documents, that we received, said to put our luggage tags on our bags before we departed our home city (so we did), and our luggage (unbeknownst to us) was picked up by DCL. We confirmed with a DCL representative and he said that any luggage that had a DCL tag on it would be taken directly to the ship. So we got into our Happy Limo and proceeded to the port. We made a quick stop at a 7-11 on the way for coffee and arrived at the port (Passing over the Banana River and seeing all of the cruise ships lined up was quite a sight. This was our first cruise and we were overwhelmed by the size and majesty of the ships) by 10:45. We quickly passed through security and went up the escalator to the terminal. Our cruise documents were checked (to make sure that everything was filled out correctly) and we were escorted to the check-in desk. At the check-in desk our birth certificates and photo Ids were presented and we were issued our KTTW (key to the world) and given a brief explanation of its uses. We got in line at 11:00 and DW and DM (darling mother) waited in line while DS8, DS11 and DD (darling dad) and I checked out the model of the ship and walked around the terminal. Couches were very comfortable, the TVs were showing cartoons and the place was so clean you could have eaten off the floor. A few characters came out to say hello around 11:30 and by 11:45 they dropped the rope and we were on our way through. We were probably the 20th family on the line, and we swiped out KTTW and boarded the Wonder for the first time. As you board they announce your name and a few crew members are there to applaud and welcome you aboard. As soon as we boarded we were whisked Aft to Parrot Cay for a buffet lunch (after so many years of watching the Love Boat, my wife and I stopped and smiled when we passed a sign that said Promenade Lounge). Food was good and at 12:45 I took the kids with me to the Palo line and my wife went upstairs to the spa to participate in the ressies scramble. The line for Palo ressies (and other dining requests) winds down Route 66, till they open the door to Wavebands. The line was orderly and moved quickly. Inside Wavebands there were two tables for Palo ressies. One was for Tuesday and Wednesday (the longer of the 2 lines) and the other was for Sunday and Monday. On line we met Daniel, who was the officer in charge of Dining (you will know the officers on the ship, by their uniforms. We found out that the officers are not necessarily involved in the sailing of the ship, but can be in charge of any of the various departments onboard, like excursions, dining, etc). He introduced us to the person that would be in charge of our dining rotation for the cruise. We explained our requests (good table and experienced servers) and showed him a sign our appreciation (wink, wink) for his effort. We then proceeded to our staterooms (connecting cat 5 rooms # 7088 &7090). Only my bag had arrived, but we had read the DIS boards carefully enough to know to pack bathing suits for the kids in our carry-on bags, and we took them to the Mickey & Goofy pools for a swim before the Safety drill. We swam (and hot-tubbed) till about 3:30, went back to the room to change into dry clothes and get our life preservers and find our muster station. Safety drill was quick and painless (a few of the younger passengers didnt agree, but my kids were fine). Went back to the room, dropped off our life preservers and went up to Deck 9 for the sail away party (we were the only people with bubbles) and were absolutely floored ( I told you this was our first cruise) when the ship started moving. We had been onboard for five stationary hours and were just bowled over when we started to move. Its incredible!
We hung around on Deck 10 for a while and just enjoyed the scenery as we pulled out of port and headed for the high seas. A little before 6:00 (we had the early seating) we went back and changed for dinner at Animators palate. I had the Lobster and shrimp wrapper (just OK) and the Duck and goat cheese flatbread (outstanding) to start, the Pan-fried Veal Chop (excellent) and the cheese cannelloni (very good) for a main course (I dont want you to get the impression that Im a real glutton., I just wanted to try everything). My wife and I (we really dont drink much alcohol) each had a glass of the Robert Mondavi Cabarnet Sauvignon. It was $10.75 a glass, but it was worth it. The wine was top notch. We went to play Bingo at Wavebands after dinner and never made it to the show the first night. We went to check out the shops, had the specialty pizza of the day at Pinochios (I told you Im not a glutton, I just wanted to try everything) and walked around the boat till it was time for bed. We left a wake-up call for 7:30 AM (really easy to do on your room phone) and got ready for Day #2 Nassau Day
Any questions? Just email me at Tagoladad@aol.com
Song airlines arrived at MCO ontime at 9:20. Met the driver form Happy Limo (he was waiting at the baggage claim with a sign, just like they promised) and waited for our luggage at the baggage claim. The cruise documents, that we received, said to put our luggage tags on our bags before we departed our home city (so we did), and our luggage (unbeknownst to us) was picked up by DCL. We confirmed with a DCL representative and he said that any luggage that had a DCL tag on it would be taken directly to the ship. So we got into our Happy Limo and proceeded to the port. We made a quick stop at a 7-11 on the way for coffee and arrived at the port (Passing over the Banana River and seeing all of the cruise ships lined up was quite a sight. This was our first cruise and we were overwhelmed by the size and majesty of the ships) by 10:45. We quickly passed through security and went up the escalator to the terminal. Our cruise documents were checked (to make sure that everything was filled out correctly) and we were escorted to the check-in desk. At the check-in desk our birth certificates and photo Ids were presented and we were issued our KTTW (key to the world) and given a brief explanation of its uses. We got in line at 11:00 and DW and DM (darling mother) waited in line while DS8, DS11 and DD (darling dad) and I checked out the model of the ship and walked around the terminal. Couches were very comfortable, the TVs were showing cartoons and the place was so clean you could have eaten off the floor. A few characters came out to say hello around 11:30 and by 11:45 they dropped the rope and we were on our way through. We were probably the 20th family on the line, and we swiped out KTTW and boarded the Wonder for the first time. As you board they announce your name and a few crew members are there to applaud and welcome you aboard. As soon as we boarded we were whisked Aft to Parrot Cay for a buffet lunch (after so many years of watching the Love Boat, my wife and I stopped and smiled when we passed a sign that said Promenade Lounge). Food was good and at 12:45 I took the kids with me to the Palo line and my wife went upstairs to the spa to participate in the ressies scramble. The line for Palo ressies (and other dining requests) winds down Route 66, till they open the door to Wavebands. The line was orderly and moved quickly. Inside Wavebands there were two tables for Palo ressies. One was for Tuesday and Wednesday (the longer of the 2 lines) and the other was for Sunday and Monday. On line we met Daniel, who was the officer in charge of Dining (you will know the officers on the ship, by their uniforms. We found out that the officers are not necessarily involved in the sailing of the ship, but can be in charge of any of the various departments onboard, like excursions, dining, etc). He introduced us to the person that would be in charge of our dining rotation for the cruise. We explained our requests (good table and experienced servers) and showed him a sign our appreciation (wink, wink) for his effort. We then proceeded to our staterooms (connecting cat 5 rooms # 7088 &7090). Only my bag had arrived, but we had read the DIS boards carefully enough to know to pack bathing suits for the kids in our carry-on bags, and we took them to the Mickey & Goofy pools for a swim before the Safety drill. We swam (and hot-tubbed) till about 3:30, went back to the room to change into dry clothes and get our life preservers and find our muster station. Safety drill was quick and painless (a few of the younger passengers didnt agree, but my kids were fine). Went back to the room, dropped off our life preservers and went up to Deck 9 for the sail away party (we were the only people with bubbles) and were absolutely floored ( I told you this was our first cruise) when the ship started moving. We had been onboard for five stationary hours and were just bowled over when we started to move. Its incredible!
We hung around on Deck 10 for a while and just enjoyed the scenery as we pulled out of port and headed for the high seas. A little before 6:00 (we had the early seating) we went back and changed for dinner at Animators palate. I had the Lobster and shrimp wrapper (just OK) and the Duck and goat cheese flatbread (outstanding) to start, the Pan-fried Veal Chop (excellent) and the cheese cannelloni (very good) for a main course (I dont want you to get the impression that Im a real glutton., I just wanted to try everything). My wife and I (we really dont drink much alcohol) each had a glass of the Robert Mondavi Cabarnet Sauvignon. It was $10.75 a glass, but it was worth it. The wine was top notch. We went to play Bingo at Wavebands after dinner and never made it to the show the first night. We went to check out the shops, had the specialty pizza of the day at Pinochios (I told you Im not a glutton, I just wanted to try everything) and walked around the boat till it was time for bed. We left a wake-up call for 7:30 AM (really easy to do on your room phone) and got ready for Day #2 Nassau Day
Any questions? Just email me at Tagoladad@aol.com
I need to get my trip report fix!!! Thanks for the report.
