Wonder to Alaska May 24

[DisneyFamilyJoyce]

My wife and I recently sailed on the Wonder to Alaska. This was by far the worst experience we have ever had on DCL. Alaska was spectacular, but the food, staff and overall experience on the Wonder felt like we got the back-up or training team rather than the typical Disney quality we grew accustomed to on our previous 3 sailings on the Fantasy. The food quality was poor, as was the entertainment on board. I am curious if other shave found such distinct lapses in quality between ships like we did on the Wonder. It was so bad I would recommend not going DCL to Alaska or sail on the Wonder. Is the Fantasy staff just that much better?

 

[PsylockeSmythe]

We were on the Wonder in April of this year for a 7-day Mexican Riveria cruise. We were last on the Wonder back in 2022 for a 7-day Alaskan cruise.

We had a great time on the cruise and for us, the food was about the same it was back in 2022, not the greatest we have had, but not the worst either. Our serving staff was just meh, and not as good or rememberable as on our previous 3 cruises. We had first seating and we didn't finish eating most nights until after 7:30pm. They were just very slow in bringing out our meals and we watched other tables finish way sooner than us. We were at a 6 topper with a mother and daughter, and a single traveler and our table mates were the best thing about dinner each night. They did get somewhat better as the cruise went on, but not to the point that I would request them again, like I would the previous serving teams.

We mostly enjoyed the entertainment team, and we really liked Catlyn, Zak and Axel. We didn't care for Ash, who was in charge of Bingo. To me, I felt that she was just going through the motions, and it felt like she was rushing it each session. Bingo also seemed to lack the typical Disney Magic that was on the previous 3 cruises where the entertainment staff made everything fun and entertaining. Ash at times made it felt that it was playing bingo at a retirement home instead of on a Disney Cruise Ship.

We also found our assistant server from our Alaskan cruise bartending in the Crown & Fin this time, which made my wife's trip. So that was a big plus in our book.

Psy

 

[Budzooka]

Just was on the Wonder to Alaska last week and we had a great time. It was our 6th cruise and have been on all 5 ships, so have other points of reference.

First, the itinerary alone makes this trip special. Glaciers, whales, and bears can’t be beat. But I give the DCL ship experience a 7 out of 10, as it was good but not great. The entertainment staff was top notch and the service we received was as good as any of our other experiences.

The food was a disappointment. It wasn’t terrible but at times wasn’t even good. We avoided Cabanas as much as possible. Our MDR serving team was solid but not the best we have ever had. The food was okay and a couple of meals were pretty good but overall not memorable. Palo brunch was excellent and wish we could have done it more than once.

I don’t remember the elevators being so small on the Magic but finding an elevator that wasn’t full when it opened was a coin flip. The outlets by our bed were loose and wouldn’t hold our phone charger, so had to charge across the room.

We had no issues with the entertainment. Cashmantha calling bingo, as well as Zak, Axel, and Nate doing trivia were great around the ship. The magician and ventriloquist were fun and the three live shows were well done. I’m not a fan of Golden Mickeys but personal preference rather than poor performance.

Great trip and we’ll sail it again.

 

[Cali Tracy]

My wife and I recently sailed on the Wonder to Alaska. This was by far the worst experience we have ever had on DCL. Alaska was spectacular, but the food, staff and overall experience on the Wonder felt like we got the back-up or training team rather than the typical Disney quality we grew accustomed to on our previous 3 sailings on the Fantasy. The food quality was poor, as was the entertainment on board. I am curious if other shave found such distinct lapses in quality between ships like we did on the Wonder. It was so bad I would recommend not going DCL to Alaska or sail on the Wonder. Is the Fantasy staff just that much better?

Oh dear. Now I’m nervous! Thanks for the heads up, we have high expectations after cruising to Alaska on the Wonder ten years ago. Taking friends this time.

 

[auntlynne]

Oh dear. Now I’m nervous! Thanks for the heads up, we have high expectations after cruising to Alaska on the Wonder ten years ago. Taking friends this time.

I just chatted with my niece to get her take on this. She also cruised last week.

She cruised DCL to AK in its inaugural year there, 2011. Again, for her honeymoon in 2018, and this year - all the same Memorial Day week. (She also sailed with me in AK on Princess in 2012).

She agreed that many Cast Members were at the start of contracts. An example: employee slicing meat in Cabanas needed some instruction by supervisor. Several leading trivia said it was their first time.

Her Palo waiter was the best she’s had.

She got hit up with the Survey / Excellent speech. She used to work where anything less than a 5 of 5 was failure. But the speech annoys her, too.

So I asked if this had been Bahamas instead of beautiful Alaska, would she have felt different? Response: I would expect the fruit to be better closer to the Eauator.

Production shows, Cruise Director, Captain, Palo, and room steward were excellent.

Food:

“The food was the same meh Disney food hall food as normal,” “Which has been a consistent quality across the parks and DCL for the last decade.”

Overall,

“I’m not inclined to take DCL to Alaska again, not unless they start going to Glacier bay.”
“DCL on the whole, we will see but starting to feel priced out.”

Me: Interesting. Would you say you’ve had worse cruises on DCL?

She has cruised Disney 16 times. She rates this as being in the top third.

“I would say this was a fantastic cruise actually, other than the glacier day.”

(The ship couldn’t get close to the glacier in Tracy Arm - but she’s been up close to glaciers on other cruises, so knew what they were missing. Those on the small ship excursion were able to get closer - and see the seals. Which probably meant the Wonder couldn’t get close because of the seal pups.)

She only mentioned any negatives when queried specifically. I don’t think she is a Pollyanna, but also knows what a Disney cruise is normally. I think our family puts emphasis on the bedding -excellent, Palo, production shows, and trivia. And the overall Disney feel. They deliver for us on that.

…If your friends are first time DCL, they won’t know any different. They should have a great time. You could prepare them to know that food on most cruise lines is sort of “meh,” with some high points and a lot of feeding the thousands.

And notify a supervisor if something is not right. Cold food, under- or over-cooked? Tell your server and the Head Server should fix it promptly. I am not good at speaking up, but I learned that’s the best approach. Especially if they want that 5 star rating.

I expect to hear you had a great cruise. It is Alaska, after all. Rain or (well) rain…

 

[jtkboston]

On the Wonder this week (June 3-10 sailing)...we only got up to Sawyer Island in Tracy Arm. We could see the glacier face off in the distance. There were too many icebergs to allow for safe passage up to the glacier face.

 

[holula]

The Wonder is the ship I have spent the most nights on and didn’t have this issue when I sailed her last September. In fact my friend loved the cruise so much she wants to do another and she isn’t a Disney person.

Hopefully this was just a blip and not going to be an ongoing issue.

 

[bighuskermav]

We had an amazing experience on the Wonder last year. The severs were super accommodating to my wife’s food allergies. The only problem with the entertainment was there were technical difficulties during the performances almost every night…but the performers were phenomenal. It wasn’t their fault.

Sorry your experience wasn’t up to par. Anything specific?

 

[bighuskermav]

I just chatted with my niece to get her take on this. She also cruised last week.

She cruised DCL to AK in its inaugural year there, 2011. Again, for her honeymoon in 2018, and this year - all the same Memorial Day week. (She also sailed with me in AK on Princess in 2012).

She agreed that many Cast Members were at the start of contracts. An example: employee slicing meat in Cabanas needed some instruction by supervisor. Several leading trivia said it was their first time.

Her Palo waiter was the best she’s had.

She got hit up with the Survey / Excellent speech. She used to work where anything less than a 5 of 5 was failure. But the speech annoys her, too.

So I asked if this had been Bahamas instead of beautiful Alaska, would she have felt different? Response: I would expect the fruit to be better closer to the Eauator.

Production shows, Cruise Director, Captain, Palo, and room steward were excellent.

Food:

“The food was the same meh Disney food hall food as normal,” “Which has been a consistent quality across the parks and DCL for the last decade.”

Overall,

“I’m not inclined to take DCL to Alaska again, not unless they start going to Glacier bay.”
“DCL on the whole, we will see but starting to feel priced out.”

Me: Interesting. Would you say you’ve had worse cruises on DCL?

She has cruised Disney 16 times. She rates this as being in the top third.

“I would say this was a fantastic cruise actually, other than the glacier day.”

(The ship couldn’t get close to the glacier in Tracy Arm - but she’s been up close to glaciers on other cruises, so knew what they were missing. Those on the small ship excursion were able to get closer - and see the seals. Which probably meant the Wonder couldn’t get close because of the seal pups.)

She only mentioned any negatives when queried specifically. I don’t think she is a Pollyanna, but also knows what a Disney cruise is normally. I think our family puts emphasis on the bedding -excellent, Palo, production shows, and trivia. And the overall Disney feel. They deliver for us on that.

…If your friends are first time DCL, they won’t know any different. They should have a great time. You could prepare them to know that food on most cruise lines is sort of “meh,” with some high points and a lot of feeding the thousands.

And notify a supervisor if something is not right. Cold food, under- or over-cooked? Tell your server and the Head Server should fix it promptly. I am not good at speaking up, but I learned that’s the best approach. Especially if they want that 5 star rating.

I expect to hear you had a great cruise. It is Alaska, after all. Rain or (well) rain…

The excursion to get on the smaller boat for glacier viewing is expensive, but I think it’s a must-do. That was a major highlight of our trip. You can only book it through Disney and it sells out fast, but we were somehow able to snag a spot.

If you can - do the later-afternoon excursion and meet the characters during the morning. They wear their Alaska costumes and the glaciers are in the background!

 

[auntlynne]

The excursion to get on the smaller boat for glacier viewing is expensive, but I think it’s a must-do. That was a major highlight of our trip. You can only book it through Disney and it sells out fast, but we were somehow able to snag a spot.

If you can - do the later-afternoon excursion and meet the characters during the morning. They wear their Alaska costumes and the glaciers are in the background!

I’ve wondered if the Hubbard Glacier small boat close-up excursion would be better, too.

I do know we have enjoyed the photography whale watch in Juneau, which has a small, very low /close to water boat. The perspective is definitely different when not looking down, but looking upward. Even being on a Deck 4 level versus top of a cruise ship can give a wow factor.

I will definitely consider one of these options next time we return to AK. It sounds like she will be changing cruise lines for her next visit, as I don’t expect DCL to get a permit into Glacier Bay. She has cruised Princess to AK with me; we did a Southbound itinerary from Whittier (Anchorage area) and saw both Hubbard and Glacier Bay. Whales and glacier sighting seem to be our favorite activities.

Love Minnie in her parka.

Nice to hear you were able to pick up the excursion. Good reminder to those who miss the opportunity when their CC status level booking window opens: keep checking!

 

[bighuskermav]

I’ve wondered if the Hubbard Glacier small boat close-up excursion would be better, too.

I do know we have enjoyed the photography whale watch in Juneau, which has a small, very low /close to water boat. The perspective is definitely different when not looking down, but looking upward. Even being on a Deck 4 level versus top of a cruise ship can give a wow factor.

I will definitely consider one of these options next time we return to AK. It sounds like she will be changing cruise lines for her next visit, as I don’t expect DCL to get a permit into Glacier Bay. She has cruised Princess to AK with me; we did a Southbound itinerary from Whittier (Anchorage area) and saw both Hubbard and Glacier Bay. Whales and glacier sighting seem to be our favorite activities.

Love Minnie in her parka.

Nice to hear you were able to pick up the excursion. Good reminder to those who miss the opportunity when their CC status level booking window opens: keep checking!

Last year - we went to north and south sawyer glacier.

 

[Budzooka]

The excursion to get on the smaller boat for glacier viewing is expensive, but I think it’s a must-do. That was a major highlight of our trip. You can only book it through Disney and it sells out fast, but we were somehow able to snag a spot.

If you can - do the later-afternoon excursion and meet the characters during the morning. They wear their Alaska costumes and the glaciers are in the background!

Agree. Seeing the glacier in the small boat was my favorite part of the trip.