Favorite things/Disappointments on the WONDER

[FebCruiser]

First time cruiser here and I'm wondering what some of your favorite things were and what some of your disappointments were on Disney Wonder Cruise??? I've been reading and planning for months and I'm really looking forward to my first Cruise! Thanks for any and all advice & tips!:rolleyes:

[OJulie67]

Our favorite things were:

1~Kids clubs. My DD had the time of her life.

 

 

2~Creme brulee cheesecake on about night 2 :D

 

3~Mickey slide in the kids pool...My DD had alot of fun with that!

 

4~Our room! The verandah was nice to sit and relax on and we loved the split bathroom...Made it easy for 2 people to get ready at the same time.

 

5~The magician show was our favorite.

 

6~the adult only pool, they strictly enforce it...which is VERY nice.

 

7~ROOM SERVICE! We really used this since we didn't really enjoy the dining room food! We ordered room service every night. The all hands on deck cheese platter is wonderful!

 

8~The seafood buffet was VERY good! It's on the last day.

 

Our disappointments~

 

1~The dining room food. We were not AT ALL impressed...and we don't eat out that often since we have young kids. The steaks were very tough, and the selection was not what we thought we would get for the price of our vacation.

 

2~The nightlife was lacking for adults only. No casino, no adult shows, we were bored most nights.

 

3~only option for dinner being the dining room. It would be nice to have a buffet option for some of us.

 

4~No many shops on board. We thought there would be shopping, at the very least. Only one real gift shop on board.

 

5~Food options close early. After 7:30 or 8:00 dry pizza or room service is all you can get.

 

Have a great time~Your experiences may be different!

[FebCruiser]

Thanks for you quick reply! Only one real gift shop on board? Awwwwwww, I was hoping to do some shopping.

 

How was the shopping in Nassau or Castaway Cay?

[OJulie67]

Shopping in Nassau was fun. Some people don't like the "pushiness" of the peddlers, but a nice, "no thank you" usually does the trick for me. They have lots of purses, sunglasses, hats, shirts and LOTS of jewelry...at the straw market. We had fun. Nice Knock off Louis Vuitton bags for around $50.00. They will bargain with you! Downtown, there is lots of jewelry stores and liquor shops to buy discount liquor if you drink. You can bring home 1-2 litres a piece. I can't remember.

Castaway Cay has a couple outdoor shops with Tanks, tees, glasses, souveniers, postcards etc...

Have a great time!:D

[NCmom]

Things I loved about the Wonder:

The look of the ship; the ship's horn; the shows and first run movies; Castaway Club; the food (I thought it was much better than the RCL cruise food); the servers; the Rainforest room in the spa.

 

Things that disappointed me: Nassua (I just stay aboard the ship now); the size of the family pool.

 

There are actually two stores aboard: On that has typical souvenir stuff--shirts, mugs, glasses, frames, kids stuff. The other has jewelry, more upscale clothing, luggage, etc. Still shopping is very limited.

[momofmeg]

There is also a duty free liquor store on deck 3. (The other shops are on deck 4.) There were at least TWO great adult lounges. Route 66 which had a band and the Cadilliac lounge which was a piano bar. There was GREAT adult entertainment in both of these places.

 

True the broadway style shows were based on Disney characters but they were super talented. Reminded me of the "Disney on Ice" shows that come to major cities every year. I thought they were great-except for Hercules which I did not care for.

 

I did not mind the lido not having a buffet at dinner-I never go there in the evening unless we do a later excursion-lots of us who do these excursions end up eating on shore anyway. There was still the pizza station and the hotdog and hamburger station-so if you chose not to go to dinner you could get something to eat.

 

I had steak twice and neither was tough- both could be cut with a fork-no knife needed-what you should have done was tell your waiter and he would bring you something else. Our waiters every night told us if we were not satisfied with anything just let them know and it would be replaced. I did not do that on the Wonder but I have done that on other ships. The only thing I did not like was the caesar dressing which was very "fishy". I know anchovie paste is added to the dressing but normally you can't taste it-and would not know it was in the dressing unless someone told you. I don't mind it being in there as long as I don't taste it. I have never cared for fish-unlike most people so I guess I am the exception to the rule.

 

The family pool was both as big as the family pool I have seen on other cruiselines and the children's pool was actually bigger then the children's pool I have seen on other cruiselines. Disney also had a squirt only section for the kids not potty trained. True this was small but I have never seen this on other cruiselines-which disapoints many parents that their babies do not get to play in the water because of the danger of ecoli. The adult only pool was very small-ofcourse this was not a real problem as this pool did not get used as much-but I loved the fact that this was ENFORCED. Nice for us who have no children or our kids are grown.

 

I loved the fact that there were areas to get away from the kids. I also met people at this pool who had kids-they had put them in the kids club so they could have some quality time minis the kids. To me that was great-after all on other lines-your kids may be in the club-but still other's kids are around as these other lines do not enforce the adult only areas.

 

I mention this because I have read posts here complaining that the kid's pool and family pool were crowded and the adult's only pool was less people. This post seemed to think there should be no adults only pool. I guess his or her children were young and it did not accur to him or her to put their children in the kid's club so him or her could enjoy the pool. This person also seemed to feel Disney should not try to attract people who did not have small children but that it should be everything for families with kids.

 

I on the other hand LOVED this about Disney. Often I read posts of people complaining about unruly children on ships. If other lines enforced their adult only areas the way Disney does-I think this problem would not exist. After all most people don't "hate" kids-they just want to have a place to get away from them for a little while. I would think that parents with young children would appreciate this and would even take advantage of the kid's club so they too could have a little quality time- minus the kids.

 

My "baby" is 20 now but I do remember how hectic and frustrating it could be at times. Sometimes just getting an hour or two away helped me to be a better and more loving mother.

[FebCruiser]

OJulie67 thanks for the shopping info! The "pushiness" doesn't bother me at all, I've been to Mexico 6 times and I just get a kick out of it. I think I'll really enjoy walking around shopping for awhile at Nassau. Then we plan on spending the rest of our time at the Wyndham Hotel's pool and beach.

As for small children being on-board the Cruise, I'm bringing my 2 1/2 year old with me. I plan on spending all my time enjoying this Great vacation with him. I'm really looking forward to seeing the joy and amazement in his eyes!:rolleyes:

[cruislovin]

OJulie67 thanks for the shopping info! The "pushiness" doesn't bother me at all, I've been to Mexico 6 times and I just get a kick out of it. I think I'll really enjoy walking around shopping for awhile at Nassau. Then we plan on spending the rest of our time at the Wyndham Hotel's pool and beach.

As for small children being on-board the Cruise, I'm bringing my 2 1/2 year old with me. I plan on spending all my time enjoying this Great vacation with him. I'm really looking forward to seeing the joy and amazement in his eyes!:rolleyes:

When we were in Nassau in August this year the straw market was definitely the WORST I have seen it in terms of pushiness. Since the fire happened sometime ago, the vendors are all crunched into a tent where you literally cannot pass another person in the aisles. These vendors were much more pushy than any I have experienced even in Mexico and Jamaica! It was hot and dirty and dark in the tent and SO crowded. It is definitely not a place I would want to take a young child. My daughter is 12 and even though she wanted to shop for a few items she was anxious to get out of there! We will not return to the straw market.

 

There are a few other shops that are nice but definitely not the best prices. If your itinerary includes other islands you would most likely do better shopping those, depending on what you are looking to purchase.

[FebCruiser]

Thanks Cruislovin, I think we'll spend the majority of our day at Nassau at the Wyndham Hotel. I'm really looking forward to the Beach and Pool time there. I could even probably buy the little souveniers I want there at the hotel. We'll probably make a quick run through at the straw market before hand.:D

[cruislovin]

Thanks Cruislovin, I think we'll spend the majority of our day at Nassau at the Wyndham Hotel. I'm really looking forward to the Beach and Pool time there. I could even probably buy the little souveniers I want there at the hotel. We'll probably make a quick run through at the straw market before hand.:D

Sounds good! I think you'll quickly see what I mean! Like you, I usually enjoy bargaining. But this was really bad...

 

Where is the Wyndham Hotel? What do they offer there and what is the price? My daughter and I are currently booked at Atlantis but I think I am going to cancel due to the price, the uncertainty of itinerary changes, etc. I am looking for a good alternative...

 

When are you cruising and on which ship?

[Cqis]

I Agree with most of all ofyour comments.I roll with the punches so i enjoyed everything. DO NOT MISS ATLANTIS!!!! We are sailing on the Wober in 2/2005. We are going directly to Atlantis. We toured Nassau first and got to Atlantis last and did not have enough time there. Not this time.I personally think it is worth the money.

We had to drag our grandchildren from the Disney Clubs, two elementary age and one teenager. There parents were with us. All of the adults went to the lounges and danced to night away. Adults are children the Wonder was great. We had an inside cabin. You only need a cabin to shower and dress.

 

Castaway Cay is my favorite.They can drop me off there and pick me up later. You will enjoy this cruise.

[FebCruiser]

Cruislovin------Our Cruise is not until the end of February 05. I've never been to Atlantis and I hear that it's great. But the Wyndham Hotel is FREE!!! Of course you have to pay taxi or bus fare to get to and from there. But you can use their Beach, Pool (with waterslide) for FREE! They also have a Casino for adults and restaurants. I'm a real cheapskate and that's where I'm going instead of spending so much going to Atlantis. On Wyndham's website it looks really beautifull! You have to bring your own towels and beach toys. There was a thread and lots of comments about Wyndham around August on these boards.

[momofmeg]

I guess this shows how we are all different. I was just not impressed with Atlantis at all. But then I have been to great water parks and aquaruims closer to home and I do not gamble.

 

 

It was not that expensive as far as what things cost or anything. I have just been to better. Hubby had expressed an interest in us taking a 3 day weekend and flying to Nassau and staying at the Comfort Inn-but after seeing it we said we would rather fly to St. Thomas.

 

I have been to Nassau several times and I am just not impressed with it at all. Now I love cruising and as Nassau is a destination for the shorter cruises which make quick get-aways- I am sure we will go there again. Next time I will probally just stay on ship. As far as I am concerned though for a 7 day cruise-skip Nassau.

 

Now hubby and my daughter did the dolphin encounter in Nassau 3 years ago. they loved that.

 

Beware of a million people wanting to braid your hair and asking if you need a taxi. Best to ignore them-if you try to be polite and say no thank you=they follow you and keep on.

 

By the way. You can get your hair braided on ship. My advice is if you like that- get it braided on ship before Nassau and at least you are only harrassed by the taxi drivers. The ship charges $2 per braid just like the vendors and YOU KNOW the ship is cleaner.

[Host Mick]

Shopping in Nassau was fun. Some people don't like the "pushiness" of the peddlers, but a nice, "no thank you" usually does the trick for me. They have lots of purses, sunglasses, hats, shirts and LOTS of jewelry...at the straw market. We had fun. Nice Knock off Louis Vuitton bags for around $50.00. They will bargain with you! Downtown, there is lots of jewelry stores and liquor shops to buy discount liquor if you drink. You can bring home 1-2 litres a piece. I can't remember.

Castaway Cay has a couple outdoor shops with Tanks, tees, glasses, souveniers, postcards etc...

Have a great time!:D

Just so that folks know, it's illegal to import counterfeit goods into the U.S. Customs will confiscate it and they may fine you. :(

[FebCruiser]

Thanks Mick! That's good info to know.

[dawne577]

It sounds like you're going on a Bahamian cruise - as far as Nassau goes my daughter and grandchildren got off the boat and started the walking tour with grandpa and I and decided to get back on the boat. There just isn't enough time onboard to enjoy everything especially if you are a first time cruiser. My experience on the Wonder got me hooked on cruising and I now have four cruises booked in 2005. I'm taking all five children and families as a Christmas present on different lines - it is that WONDERful. It isn't perfect - but what is. Do the things you know you'll enjoy - try something new and let all of your daily stress and worries disappear for a few days - ENJOY!!!

[FebCruiser]

Dawne577-------------

 

I plan on really relaxing and enjoying everything! My mom is giving this cruise as a gift to my son and I. She's coming too, of course. I think the three of us are going to have a BLAST together! I can't wait. I watched the DCL special on the Travel Channel last night and now I'm sooooooooooo ready! I don't think February will get here soon enough.