LIVE from Wonder of the Seas Transatlantic April 2022

[laurieal]

Hello, everyone! You are all invited to join me in my valiant quest to bring the Wonder of the Seas across the Atlantic. It’s hard work, but someone has to do it.

 

My name is Laurie, I’m from Quebec City (Canada), and this will be my first cruise since the pandemic. You might know me from my critically acclaimed live review featuring my cat in the test forum (or not, I mean…it’s the test forum). 
 

Just me and my suitcase hanging out. 

 

I am fully paralyzed from the waist down, so I use a wheelchair full time to get around. This review will address the accessibility aspect of my trip and hopefully my experience will be helpful to someone with mobility issues looking to book a trip on this brand new ship. 

 

If ramps, pool lifts and automatic door opening buttons are not your thing, well, I don’t understand because those buttons are great. But if that’s not the first thing you look for in cruise reviews, I can also promise the following: pictures of the ship, some food, some drinks, some entertainment, and that once I get on the ship there will be a lot more pictures and a lot less chatter. 

 

I’m hoping this review will have an interactive element to it. If you want to pitch in with things you think I should experience, please feel free to do so! And if you’re also on this sailing and want to jump in with some observations of your own, that’s totally fine with me. 

 

You can also send me on quests! I have eight sea days and an internet package, so if there’s anything you’d like to see or any question you’d like answered, I’d be happy to try and oblige. But please keep in mind that this isn’t The Quest and as much as you’d like to see me holding fake dentures, I’m not going on the hunt for that.

Edited April 18, 2022 by laurieal

[laurieal]

ABOUT THE TRIP

 

At first, this was supposed to be a transpacific crossing in a virtual balcony stateroom on the Ovation in May 2021. When it was cancelled, I moved to an inside cabin on the April 2022 Allure transatlantic. When that one was also cancelled, I was moved to the Wonder in an oceanview large balcony stateroom. 

 

Oceanview. Balcony. For the price of my indoor stateroom. 

 

As a solo traveller, this felt like winning the cruise lottery. A balcony on a brand new ship is usually out of my price range, so this trip feels pretty special already and I’m looking forward to having my own little water viewing area. 

 

The Wonder will be leaving Fort Lauderdale on April 20th and she will make her way to Barcelona with the following stops along the way:

• Nassau - April 21st
• Malaga - April 30th
• Cartagena - May 1st
• Valencia - May 2nd
• Palma de Mallorca - May 3rd

I am leaving my home (and my cat, for the first time 😭) today and I’m taking the train to Montreal where I’ll stay at the airport for one night. My flight to Fort Lauderdale is scheduled to leave tomorrow morning. I’m staying one night in Fort Lauderdale and then on Wednesday it will finally be ship time. 

 

After the cruise, I am staying one night in Barcelona and then back home on May 5th. 

[FionaMG]

I love your writing style and as a cat mum myself I just had to pop over to the test forum to meet yours. So cute. 😻

I will be following along and hope you have an amazing trip.

[BeginnercruiserHD]

Hope you have fun! We're on  the Wonder from Rome in September, really excited for our trip!

[Sea Dog]

Safe travels and have a great time. This itinerary for this TA looks great.

[JessyCruises]

Hello from a fellow Canadian!  Looking forward to following along!

[RoperDK]

Following along.  Safe travels.  Would love to do a TA, but DH not so much.

[Sunshine3601]

Safe travels and look forward to your live review.    🤩

[Missusdubbya]

Looking forward to you review!

[bobmacliberty]

Thanks for doing this.  Can't wait to read (and see) more about Wonder.

[crzndeb]

Thanks for doing a Live review. I will be on the TA coming back in Oct.

[Oceansaway17]

enjoy the ship.  I just got off on Fri 15th and the ship is great but LOUD a lot.

 

the ice show and Aqua show are a must!!!!!!!!!!

Go to the Attic on deck 4 within the first 2 hours on the ship and folks are there to sign you up to the shows.  If you do not get a reservation, do not panic as there are stand by lines that for the most part get you in.  Only the comedy club can be tricky.

 

In the Windjammer, use the back area as it is a bit quieter and also they open the Mason jar area for breakfast.

Use the Central Park cafe for quick breakfast and lunch. Very nice.

 

I found the burgers and shakes at Johnny Rocketts were horrible IMHO.  but breakfast was good and free.  I enjoyed Hooked on Seafood as well as Chops Grille for lunch.

Mason Jar bar and band is better than the restaurant.  The waffles were a bit too thin for the size of  chicken that was fried with lots of skin.

 

I found the ship shop was running out of stuff and only thank goodness got some more stock in during our stop in Cozumel.  I did get my maiden voyage hat.  Not sure what the shop will have to the TA folks.

Go to it during the first evening and hoping it got restocked on Wed 20th.  

 

Make sure you bring a jacket to the theatre as it can get chilly.

 

The take out Captain Rob is rotating off after 6 months so you will get a new captain.

 

bye and safe travels.

[tradercj]

I would be interested in knowing how the outdoor temperatures are on your trip. I always wanted to do a transpacific trip but was afraid the spring or fall trips would be cool out on the pool deck.

[Tee & Chilli]

Thank you in advance for the review. Safe travels 

[Merion_Mom]

@laurieal

 

I love your octopus avatar!  🙂 

[smileforever]

Hi Laurie, 

We are on the same sailing as you! Looking forward to reading your review as we sail along with you. We will also be ending a cruise in Quebec City later this summer! Will keep an eye out for you on the cruise. So excited!

Becky

[PhoenixCruiser]

We are looking forward to your cuise / live review!

[perfect match]

Thanks @laurieal! Looking forward to virtually cruising along with you! 

 

Edited April 19, 2022 by perfect match

[JamesEM]

Following along, have a great cruise.

[laurieal]

Thanks to everyone who left a kind work and who is following along ❤️ 

 

I need to do a bit of an edit on my last post. We got an email last night letting us know about an itinerary change. We won’t be stopping in Nassau because of potential rough water if we don’t start our journey across the Atlantic early. 

[laurieal]

Good morning from snowy (!!!) Montreal airport. 

 

I took the train from Quebec City to YUL yesterday and the journey was smooth and uneventful. 
 

Area for those remaining in their wheelchair on the train. 
 

 

Accessible bathroom on my train car. 
 

I was staying at the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel. The accessible room was perfect for me for one night. Plenty of space to move around and a comfortable bed. 

 

 

 

 

 

I had dinner at the hotel’s restaurant with the first cocktail of the holiday. I had a quick look  around the airport, but I retired to my room early because the alarm was set to 4am. 

 

 

[crewsweeper]

Great Start.  Looking forward to watching you cross the great sea!

[joetop2467]

We are on the Wonder transatlantic back to the US in October.  Same ports.  Please post excursion options and helpful hints as you go along. Have a great trip. 

[StanleyandGus]

Enjoy the sun! I hope when you’re back home it will truly be Spring.
 

We are doing a TA in November from Barcelona on a much smaller ship.

[pstone1]

Thank you for sharing your trip with us, Laurie!  I hope you have a wonderful time!