Wonder drydock

[Purdue Mouse]

After seeing this post it sure does make my blood boil once again over the change of the ships for our December 2014 New Years sailing. Originally booked because it would be a year old renewed Magic, just to find out 3 months after booking that The Wonder would be the one doing the sailing. But now to find out that The Wonder is in bad need of repairs cosmetically, it really angers me that this switch was done. Very upsetting and disappointing. (Sorry for the vent)

Frankly I love the classic ships. They are big but not huge. She is spotless and 100% classy. Going back in March. We will see if dry dock in January in preparation for spring break fun will bring any new surprises.

 

[msrlest8]

WikiWiki, thank you so much for your input.
I tend to be told that I'm a bit of a 'stickler', but truthfully I just have high expectations thanks to the great treatment and experiences I've had at WDW over the years.
I really just want what is advertised - therefore not spending a high amount of money for a lower quality experience.
Is that too much to ask?

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Hmm. I'm as big a Disney fan as anybody, but I'm not an apologetic. There's no excuse for the condition of the chairs and woodwork in the public areas of that ship. My house was built in 1982- the doors aren't chipped to expose raw wood, my carpet is in fine condition, and there aren't crayon drawings all over the wall despite several children having grown up in it, and one living here now. My tubs don't smell like mildew, and in general it looks as nice as any house built last year- except maybe it's a little dated. If I can maintain my house, they can maintain their boat.

While a certain level of maintenance can be upheld, I would point out that a house does not see THOUSANDS of visitors every week. It's a far cry from maintaining a house where a couple kids grew up. A house is not on the move through all kinds of conditions every week, day in and day out. Does she need work? I have no doubt. But things must be prioritized and sometimes thing get left by the wayside.

 

[cakebaker]

I'm a huge Disney and DCL fan. That has nothing to do with an objective view of the conditions on the Wonder. Facts are facts.

I was on the Wonder in December. I wasn't looking for problems, but they were obviously there. WikiWiki is correct , the bathrooms by Parrot Cay are in terrible condition by any standards. A big "out of order" banner across the hand dryer- the doors to the stalls had huge chips of paint missing, parts had been removed and the goo that attached them still remained. The exit door was chipped and dirty. The tile floor around the edges was just a nasty mess. I was really surprised to see it in such obvious bad shape.

I don't care how old the ship is, the chairs are replaceable and should be. Animators Palate is a lovely dining room, but the split vinyl on the seats was hideous. Not every chair, but none of them should be in bad shape. The upholstered chairs in Diversion were dirty on the arms, overall just worn out and to the point that the fabric was split and stuffing showing thru.

We too had a wonderful trip and made wonderful memories. But these issues indeed exist and I'm not going to pretend they don't.

 

[WikiWiki]

While a certain level of maintenance can be upheld, I would point out that a house does not see THOUSANDS of visitors every week. It's a far cry from maintaining a house where a couple kids grew up. A house is not on the move through all kinds of conditions every week, day in and day out. Does she need work? I have no doubt. But things must be prioritized and sometimes thing get left by the wayside.

I think Disney's budget and the prices they ask justify wanting a pristine condition resort. I don't see them asking for less money to sail than they did in 1999.

 

[msrlest8]

I agree - I think if a high end price is expected, then the maintenance should be one of the things that are upheld.

Although I agree that a house is not comparable to a huge cruise ship.... a house does not profit how many thousands of dollars every 3 or 5 or 7 nights throughout a year of it's life span. A home also does not have several employees in it, doing apparent maintenance.

 

[cruisingma]

We were on the Wonder in December and had a fabulous time the service was excellent, our cabin with the Verandah was wonderful. I thought the ship was in great shape and very clean. Understandably there were some rust spots and such, however for the age the ship is and the amount of cruises they have done with it. I think the old girl was in great shape and would do it all over again, in fact starting planning for the next cruise!!!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I think Disney's budget and the prices they ask justify wanting a pristine condition resort. I don't see them asking for less money to sail than they did in 1999.

 

[disprincess4ever]

I'm disappointed the dry dock will probably be delayed due to Panama Canal construction, but DCL can find a way to work around it. Honestly, the Wonder could receive a similar dry dock to the Magic, minus the new slides. With the Wonder sailing in Alaska, the slides aren't necessary and they would be the problem causer. The addition of the slides= more weight = duck tail addition= not being able to pass through the current Panama Canal. If the Imagineers find ways to leave out the slides but make the inside of the ship better, I have no complaints! Personally, that's what I recommend.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I'm disappointed the dry dock will probably be delayed due to Panama Canal construction, but DCL can find a way to work around it. Honestly, the Wonder could receive a similar dry dock to the Magic, minus the new slides. With the Wonder sailing in Alaska, the slides aren't necessary and they would be the problem causer. The addition of the slides= more weight = duck tail addition= not being able to pass through the current Panama Canal. If the Imagineers find ways to leave out the slides but make the inside of the ship better, I have no complaints! Personally, that's what I recommend.

The Ducktail has nothing to do with extra weight being added to the ship it's a requirement that all cruise ships have to have by a certain date. DCL has been able to defer adding the ducktail until the Panama Canal additions have been completed by doing only an inspection this coming year as opposed to a full dry dock with the changes that were done to the magic.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

For those of you who were disappointed with the upkeep of the ship did you put this in your survey? I think it is a good way to provide direct feedback. Our server told us that every survey is reviewed.

I'm really wondering what will be done in the dry dock. Looking forward to trip reports from people who are returning.

 

[JohnDS]

The Ducktail has nothing to do with extra weight being added to the ship it's a requirement that all cruise ships have to have by a certain date. DCL has been able to defer adding the ducktail until the Panama Canal additions have been completed by doing only an inspection this coming year as opposed to a full dry dock with the changes that were done to the magic.

All cruise ships required to have a ducktail added by who? I've never heard of this being some requirement. Is there some link or supporting info?

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

All cruise ships required to have a ducktail added by who? I've never heard of this being some requirement. Is there some link or supporting info?

http://cruiseind.com/2011/12/02/lets-talk-about-duck-tails/

Apparently it's a new requirement from SOLAS

 

[Carrie in AZ]

We sailed on the Wonder in Oct and I did not see any of these things and I am PICKY. I thought the Wonder was in great shape and looked beautiful.

 

[jjje]

Interesting. I was on November and I didn't see any of the issues some other people are reporting other than a couple of spots where the carpet could stand to be replaced. Our room was in perfect condition (other than a shower head that didn't work and was quickly replaced) and we didn't notice any major wear and tear around the ship.

 

[cruisingma]

We went on the wonder in December and it was gorgeous. We had a wonderful time. The service was excellent, the cast members ( staff) were outstanding, the ship was spotless, our cabin was wonderful with a Verandah. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, I loved the Wonder and would do it all over again, we can't wait to book our next cruise!!!

 

[truck1]

http://cruiseind.com/2011/12/02/lets-talk-about-duck-tails/

Apparently it's a new requirement from SOLAS

A ducktail is required only if a ships stability is being changed after her initial build. For example, a ship adding balconies when the ship originally didn't have them. In the Magics case it was required because of the additional weight of the Cabanas overhang and the slides. Since the Wonder is not receiving either of those this time around she's not required to add a ducktail. The minute her cog and stability changes shell need it to meet the new code.

 

[JohnDS]

http://cruiseind.com/2011/12/02/lets-talk-about-duck-tails/ Apparently it's a new requirement from SOLAS

That doesn't say all ships must have a ducktail, it simply says stability requirements have increased.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

That doesn't say all ships must have a ducktail, it simply says stability requirements have increased.

As Truck1 pointed out above, if the vessel's stability is changed, additional floatation/ stability maybe required and the duck tail is a easy way to do it.

There is also excellent fuel savings with a duck tail.

AKK

 

[cakebaker]

WikiWiki, thank you so much for your input.
I tend to be told that I'm a bit of a 'stickler', but truthfully I just have high expectations thanks to the great treatment and experiences I've had at WDW over the years.
I really just want what is advertised - therefore not spending a high amount of money for a lower quality experience.
Is that too much to ask?

I feel exactly the same. Disney asks to be put to the highest of standards. Their prices reflect that and I expect their parks and ships to meet them.

However, the problems I saw are easy fixes and nothing that anyone would look as being picky when complaining about them. Our cabin was in great shape, no complaints at all.

Another thing that irked me..... When we sailed on the Dream, they were cleaning the porthole windows at every port. On the Wonder, our porthole was so dirty it was hard to see out of it from the beginning and by the end of the cruise it was even worse. I woke up to the sound of water being sprayed on the windows the morning of our arrival back in port which I guess is their version of window cleaning.