Wonderful cruise !! About This Page:

[Cats'N'Dogs]

Disney Wonder cruise Feb 2-6, 2003 [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]
What a blast! It was a Disney Vacation Club cruise-I believe the 1st all DVC member cruise.
Cruisers: Grace, daughter Lauren, sister Angela
Grace and Lauren are repeat cruisers while Angela is a first-timer.
If you are a first time Disney cruiser, I'd consider using Disney transportation. The buses have a video to "get you in the mood" and they take care of your luggage except for your carry-on bag. Very carefree. For repeat cruisers, Tiffany Towncars is the way to go. Shirley was our driver and though we didn't have our passporter coupon with us, she did give us a discount. Way to go, Shirley! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
The new DCL Passporter will definitely help first time cruisers get acclimated and plan the initial rush around the ship.
The check-in process and security screening is low key and streamlined. The only wait is getting on board. Lots to see while waiting and usually Mickey and Goofy or Pluto are about for photo and autograph ops. So don't forget your autograph book and big fat pen!
I love how the cast members welcome you on board. They announce: Please welcome the ______family! They also welcomed us home as DVC members. How nice! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Keep in mind that you cannot go to your cabin before 1:30 if you happen to get on board early. Just head on up to deck 9 for the buffet and have a leisurely lunch. [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] Grab a Personal Navigator from the service desk and see when the spa, Oceaneers club etc are open for check-in, tours, reservations and plan what you want to do.
After lunch, we headed to our cabin to drop off our luggage. OOH!, a surprise welcome back gift. Cool! A Castaway Club beach towel and Castaway Club pins. I'm loving this already. Then we head up to Deck 5 to register at the Oceaneers club. Use the stairs, no waits for the elevators and burns off the calories from lunch. The counselors are very nice and we get a pager, Lauren wants to stay but alas! they don't officially open til 7 pm. Off to the Spa-if you get a chance to do Ladies Night-I highly recommend it!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Soooo relaxing and such pampering. The Rainforest is another must do as well as the Cabana Massage at Castaway Cay. I'm in luck! Got a reservation for Ladies Night.
Back to the cabin to explore and "try out" the life vests. Almost time for the safety drill. Get suited up and wait for the announcement. The life vests are cumbersome so its nice to try them on before the drill. The cast members are there to direct you to your station. Twenty minutes later you are back in your cabin ready for the Sailaway Deck Party. We had paper hands to wave as we sailed out of Port Canaveral. There were waiters offering the special drink a Pina Colada/Strawberry Smoothie combination sans rum. Delicious! How convenient to use your room card for charging on board-no need to carry cash or your bulky wallet. Its so exciting to wave at the people who come out to see the cruise ships sail out of port-they are in boats, on the piers, on other cruise ships.
Troop back to the cabin on Deck 2--going down much easier than up! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] Yeah! our bags are outside the cabin. Time to unpack, shake the wrinkles out of your clothes and find your dining tickets.
Animators Palate: Its such a fun dining room. Make sure to bring your cameras. We are seated with two other families. Hmmm-not very outgoing people. Still smile and introduce our selves. Our server is Mia and assistant server is Tobias. You definitely will not go hungry on this cruise.
Wow! Mia can do magic! She can turn a napkin into a mouse and it came alive!! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] Instant hit with the kids.
Too tired for the show tonight. Have been up and traveling since 4 am. Castaway Cay tomorrow so want to be up bright and early.
This is the first cruise (I think) to have 2 stops at Castaway Cay. We are excited-I love Castaway Cay-unspoiled natural beauty and relaxation.
I enjoy breakfast at the Parrot Cay dining room. Good buffet and informal. Today there are characters strolling about. Here comes Goofy! Hey, he's feeding Lauren her Fruit Loops. Another photo op. Oh look, Donald Duck and Mickey! See ya on Castaway Cay.
Check list-swim suits on, hat, sun glasses, sunscreen, bottled water, key card-okay, let's go. Down the gang plank, grab some towels. Lets walk--gotta burn those calories. Lauren wants to play with the kids so check her in and then lets head for Serenity Bay. Ahh, peace and quiet. Eww--what's on my towel. Ick-lots of those pesky no-seeums. Forgot the bug screen. Well, they aren't as bad near the water, lets drag the chairs down to the waterline and relax. A few hours at Serenity Bay then its time to pick up Lauren for lunch. She wants to hit the Goofy Pool so we head back on board. Okay, we cheat and take the elevator up to Deck 9. Its not crowded so we spend a few hours lazing around the pool while Lauren does her thing in the water. Sorry, you're too young for the slide, maybe next time.
Parrot Cay for dinner. Another yummy experience. Mia does oragami--hopping frogs! And a paper rose from Toby-how sweet.
Lauren is off to Oceaneers Club and we are off to the Rainforest. Ahh, those heated lounge chairs are sooo nice. Kinda fun to pop in and out of the steam rooms and try out the different showers.
Back to the cabin to turn in, hey! another gift-its a DVC bag for tomorrow's shopping excursion to Nassau.
Nassau: I'm not really into the excursions, I just like to shop. Lauren wants to return to the Oceaneers Club--I can tell she loves it. She doesn't even wait to say goodbye--just off she goes to her friends. We got off to a late start so its crowded with other vacationers and all the locals trying to hook you up with tours, taxis, hair braiding, horse & carriage tours etc. Its a bit unnerving but if you don't make eye contact and give a firm friendly "No Thanks" they aren't persistant. I introduce my sister to my favorite stores esp the Jewelry Box. I love their tanzanite jewelry. Even when I am not really looking, I find "just have to have" items. Still I keep within my budget and think I have gotten some lovely items. Last year, I had some jewelry appraised when I got home and I definitely got good deals. Remember, your customs allowance is $800/person, though you can combine if a family is traveling together. Its a bit too crowded and getting hot so we head back to the ship. Make sure you bring a photo id and your key card since Nassau security will request id before letting you back on the pier.
More pool time then its time to get ready for dinner at Tritons. You have to try the herb crusted sea bass--yummmm, I would do seconds if I could. After dinner we cruise by Shutters to check out the "professional" photos. I didn't get their package deal and I should have. Too many cute shots of Lauren with the characters and we just had to get the one with Cinderella!
Repeat cruisers get invited to a meet and greet cocktail hour before dinner. Its a nice time to mingle with the crew and usually the captain as well as avail yourselves of the hoursderves(sp?) and complimentary drinks. The Bahama Mamas are scrumptious. Lauren liked her Shirley Temple. She likes the cherry skewered on the plastic sword. They reserved all the Beat 66 nightclubs--over 1000 repeat cruisers. Says alot for Disney Cruise Lines.
Ladies Night for me! Angela and Lauren head for the feature show. Ladies Night is the ultimate in pampering. An hour of back, leg, feet and hand massage, facial and scalp massage then an hour in the Rainforest with champagne, chocolates, and chocolate dipped strawberries. I feel like a limp noodle as I head back to the cabin.
Our last full day [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] We are back at Castaway Cay. Another day of lounging at Serenity Bay-remembered the bug repellant and returning early to take advantage of the empty pool. Attended the debarkation talk. Grabbed some extra customs forms-I always, always make at least 1 or 2 mistakes. Scrounged up my receipts, does this have to be declared??? Fill out my forms, figure out our tips, and SIGH, start packing.
Animators Palate for dinner. No show tonight, just some cartoon shorts but Lauren likes them. Oragami swans tonight. Our servers remind us that breakfast is at 6:45 AM. One last stroll through Shutters for a few more purchases. Finish packing. Starting to feel a bit sad that this wonderful adventure is almost over. Wow! another gift from the DVC. Its a china teapot with Steamboat Willie on it and a tin of tea. What a wonderful keepsake gift. I head back to the DVC table to thank the DVC organizers for a wonderful cruise and all the thoughtful extras that made this a truly memorable cruise.
Ugh--its 5 AM!! Grab a quick wake me up shower and head to Barrel of Laughs for customs. I went over my allowance by a few bucks. Customs was fairly painless. The inspectors are nice, its not a terrifying experience. I pay my tax ($14) not too bad and rejoin my party at Animator's for breakfast.
Disney does a great job in people moving. With little fuss, at 7:20 am the ship is cleared and we start moseying for the gang plank. By 8:05 am we have our luggage and are met by Shirley, our Tiffany Towncar driver. An hour later we are back at the airport, luggage checked in and waiting for our flight.
We arrive back at BWI and make it home two hours later. Lauren excitedly shows off her souveniers and tells her grandparents about all the fun she had with the kids. It starts to snow. Sigh--wish I was back on the Disney Wonder.

I hope you have enjoyed reliving our Disney Wonder trip. As I type this, we have just finished digging out from the Super Storm of 2003-26 inches of snow. I sure have enjoyed sharing our vacation highlights.
Grace

[ 04-11-2003, 05:06 PM: Message edited by: Cats'N'Dogs ]

[simbarel]

Great review, thanks for sharing! The Ladies Night spa sounds like heaven!

[iloverags2]

Thanks for sharing your cruise with us! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Sounds like DVC had some great gifts for you...very nice touch. Ladies Night at the spa sounds awesome! Think I'll have to try that out on our next trip.

[Cats'N'Dogs]

Hi, glad you enjoyed our cruise report. I really really love the Ladies Night. The only downside is that your spa counselor does recommend their Elemis products but they don't hard sell it. Usually it is couched in terms of their recommendations for healthier skin, relaxation etc. I did get some of the Elemis products and do like them but they are pricey. I haven't heard anything negative from the other ladies enjoying the same experience.

Grace

[DreaminDisney]

Everything sounds great [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] . I'm glad Lauren liked the Oceaneers club.
The Ladies Night sounds Awesome! I hope I get to do that if they offer it on the 7 Night Cruise as well. Sounds expensive but I don't care...seems heavenly!
I really enjoyed your Report!
Thanks! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[LilMarcieMouse]

Thanks for the report, it's a nice way for me to gear up for our next trip.

[Marv]

I enjoyed reading your report. Thanks for taking the time to do it. A couple of questions: How old do the kids need to be to go down the pool slide? Did I read correctly (elsewhere) that the slide empties into 18" of water? That seems so shallow.

[dsnytina]

Thanks for taking the time to share this. [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img] It helped me relive our cruise. [img]graemlins/read.gif[/img]

[Cats'N'Dogs]

(Did I read correctly (elsewhere) that the slide empties into 18" of water? That seems so shallow)

The slide starts up high but has a gentle curve and empties into the pool, there is a CM that stands at the bottom to watch how the kids come down. Its not very fast and they sorta scoot out on their bottoms. None of the kids seem scared but I do think there is a height restriction. A CM is at the top to keep things under control too. A friend's daughter had to be dragged away she loved it so much-she was 4, my little one is a bit on the short side and not too keen on splashing so she's content to play in the pool.

Hope this helps. I think the impression of a high fast water slide isn't actually what you really get. It loops around twice and I think that slows the speed as it drops.

Hope that helped.

Grace

[reinstructor]

Thanks for sharing your TR with us. Sounds like you really had a good time!

[Cats'N'Dogs]

We sure had a wonderful time. I am introducing my parents, brother and sil to cruising Disney style in May. Can't wait to spread the magic around! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]