Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Richard Santer
Email: GrampaRICH@aol.com
Age: 64
Occupation: Construction Supervisor
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: August 22
Itinerary: Florida,Nassau,Castaway Cay Florida
Cabin: 6313-inside standard
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 50
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 98
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 65
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 60
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 30 Aug 1999
Time: 18:29:49
Remote Name: spider-ta075.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

Review : Disney Wonder - August 22, 1999

This review should be taken in the context of being the impressions of doting grandparents on their second family
cruise with our son, his wife and our nine year old grandson. My wife and I are seasoned cruisers, we've done
Bermuda, Alaska, Panama Canal, and the previously mentioned Big Red Boat with our son, his wife and
grandson.

We did the 3 day land / 4 day cruise package, arranged our own air and added two days at Universal after the
cruise. We did the 3 day land portion first and it seems that all the walking is finally getting the best of us old folks.
Have you noticed that the newer the on-site resort the longer the walk from the bus to the park entrance. Disney
keeps the bus-stops for the older resorts where they were and adds new bus service at the far end of the each
theme park terminal. Margaret and I finally rented electric scooters for universal ($30/day each) it was well worth it
on our old legs.

I am going to attempt to follow the format used in the table above and give our reasons for each number rating.

Food-Dining Room - 98 In overall quality, variety and presentation this was the best food aboard ship that my wife
and I have experienced. Our previous cruises included three Royal Carribean ships and Disney Wonder just beat
out our first cruise aboard Nordic Prince in 1990.

Cruise Director - 75 While the cruise director opened each theatre show and was at a few of the activities my wife
and I attended, I got the impression that he was really not quite involved in things. This is from our perspective as
seniors at the adult activities. He may have put in more time at the childrens activities.

Cabin Comfort - 95 This is a brand new ship, everything is spotless and the cabins are spacious when compared
to some of our previous cruises. We had a king sized bed in our inside cabin as did our son and his family. The
sofa converts into a bed and their is a privacy curtain between the sleeping areas. A nicely decorated bathroom
and plenty of closet space made up the rest of the cabin, my only complaint about it was that we only had one
bathroom in each cabin. I'd suggest going for the larger staterooms which have two bathroom. Even with only two
of us in the cabin it was tight.

Cruise Staff - 95 Everyone of the staff we had contact with was helpful, friendly and professional. In reading some
of the earlier reviews on the Disney Magic, I saw a number of negative comments, not so this trip, they really have
their act together. None of the pushing for good ratings that you sometimes find on cruise ships.

Cabin Amenities - 95 I pretty much covered this above in Cabin Comfort section.

Food-Lido Deck - 85 We only ate topside once the whole cruise, that was at the boarding buffet on Sunday
afternoon. The food was about average for these settings, luke warm, soggy from the steam tables etc., we ate it
as it was all we had from early morning since leaving Disney World.

Dining Room Service - 98 Table 26 / Triton Section. This is the domain of Tamas and Vitcheran. Two better young
servers would be hard to find. Again, these two beat out our previous favorites from the Nordic Prince in 1990.
They treated us great, we had a table for eight near the windows on the port side near the entrance to each
dining room. Disney has separate servers assigned to each dining room on the first night aboard, but your
servers are the only ones you encounter as they serve you in each restaurant in turn as you move each night.
We did have one complaint about a server but he was not part of our crew, ran across him at breakfast in the
Parrot Cay room on Tuesday morning, half of our order got lost in the shuffle and he never came near us after
initially delivering our meals. When we asked about the missing bacon, or milk for cereal, or rolls or butter he
disappeared. I ordered soft-boiled eggs and got hard boiled. He spent lots of time roaming around the room but
we never saw him serve anyone after us.

Cabin Quietness - 98 No problems here, never heard anyone out in the cooridors at night as we have on other
ships.

Cabin Stewart - 90 Her name was Araya and she always said hello, never saw her other than that, the cabin was
always straighten up she even folded some wash we had done in the launderette on board. That is a story in
itself, there are three self service launderettes aboard, decks two, six and seven aft, I'm told. We used the one on
deck six and found a group of very unhappy ladies waiting two to three hours for their clothes to dry. They have
six over/under combo washer/dryer units in each space. On deck six there are five units in the main room and one
more out in the entry way which has detergent dispensers and a slop sink. In trying to figure out why it was taking
so long for clothes to dry I noticed that there is a filter on the exhaust duct as well as one inside each dryer. When
I checked this exhaust filter, it was packed with lint, must have been over half inch thick. I cleaned it out and we got
our clothes into it and out dry in about a half an hour. Looking further revealed that this filter is not even
accessible on the other machines. Hense the long drying times, its hard to dry clothes when there is no air
circulation in the dryers. We also advised the ship that this is a fire hazard, if these exhaust filters are not cleaned
regularly the dryers could overheat.

Food Variety - 95 Anything you want, you can have, beverages are included at meals, beer & liquor at the usual
extra charge. Mixed drinks seemed to be a half a buck higher than our last cruise which was in December 1998.
Disney's prices in general were higher than seemed warranted. That last cruise was 14 days thru the Canal on
RCCL. Cost less than this seven day package. Go figure.

Deck Service - 85 General impression was that they were there, but under utilized, seemed to me few people were
doing much drinking or eating outside the normal meal times. I can't speak for the kids though.

Good for Honeymoon - 50 Good for Families - 98 Good for Seniors - 65 This cruise is for the little ones,
Honeymooners no way, Seniors only if traveling with the kids, you have to see it thru their eyes.

Lounge Service -85 Again I didn't see much going on in the lounges, everyone seemed to be at the main shows.
Did notice some scheduling conflicts, at least one movie was only available when we were at dinner .

Entertainment-Show Lounge -98 Disney put on three stage shows which ranged from great to terrific to superb.
Hercules, Ghost Ship and Disney Dreams were all first rate professional productions. The last one Disney Dreams
is the first shipboard show that I've seen get a standing ovation at its end.

Lounge Entertainment -75 I didn't care for either of the lounge acts that we saw, a female singer in the Cadilac
Lounge, we didn't stay because there wasn't any life to her performance. There was also a group of improvisional
comics in the Barrel of Laughs Lounge, once ok, after that no way. The one good act was Don Riley/comic singer
in the Wavebands Lounge. He's been a headliner and it showed, a very enjoyable act.

Stabilization -98 The ship was rock solid until the last day when we had a slight chop and occasional felt some
ship movement but mostly she rode very well.

Deck Space/space ratio -95/90 We found the layout of the ship strange, most of the lounges are only accessable
from one side of the ship, as are Lumaires and Parrot Cay restaurants.

Shopping -60 Did not care for the very limited selection or the high prices. $45 for a shirt is a bit much, even if it
does have Disney's logo.

Overall Cruise Value -93 A must vacation for families with young children or teenagers. Ships programs for
3-8yrs,9-12yrs and teens. If you don't get enjoyment watching your kids or grandkids though, try another line.

The following were not rated because we did not utilize these services. Room Service Shore Excursions-we did
Atlantis on Nassau on our own-same price just more freedom. Wheelchair Access Beauty Salon Spa Casino-there
is no casino on Disney Ships. Tenders-are not used on this cruise-ship docks in nassau and at Castaway Cay.
Poolside Entertainment Air/Sea Program Medical-its there-thankfully we didn't need it. Disco/Nightclubs-teens had
them, adults did not.

Name: Janet McCormack
Email: janet.mccormack@sciatl.com
Age: 29
Occupation: Graphic Designer
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: September
Itinerary: 4-Day Bahamas Cruise
Cabin: Deluxe Inside Stateroom, Cat 10. Room # 2607
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 98
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 75
BeautySalonStaff: 80
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 70
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 85
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Sep 1999
Time: 10:44:09
Remote Name: gatekeeper.sciatl.com
Remote User:

Comments

My husband and I, both 29 and veteran cruisers, took this cruise with his mother, 2 sisters, brother-in law, 3.5 year old
nephew, and 3 month old neice. My sisters-in-law were both first time cruisers and still cannot stop talking about how
much fun they had. They spent a great deal of time in the excellent spa, getting treatments, etc. Everyone loved the
food, and my husband and I particularly enjoyed the adults-only restaurant, Palo. Service was excellent and extremely
friendly. Most of the employees were not American, which lent an exotic flavor to the whole trip.

In brief, the best parts
of the cruise for me were: 1. The food (of course - admit it, that's what most cruisers like best!) Disney offered lots of
vegetarian options, as well as delicious seafood and meat. You could basically eat your way through the cruise if you
wanted. 2. The private island. (WOW!) It was exquisite. 3. The spa. I took a great Pilates class and had a foot rub -
both excellent. However, they do try to give you the hard sell on the extremely expensive products, which was a turn
off. $47 for a jar of aromathrapy foot cream is a little ludicrous in my book, and that was one of the more reasonable
offerings! However, the 'tropical rain forest' - i.e. steamroom, sauna, spa area was blissful and you could enjoy it
whenever you wanted for a small daily charge ($8 - 15). 4. The on-board entertainment (WONDERFUL vocalist Joy
Wright in the promenade lounge, great shows, lots of Disney stardust, etc.) 5. Snorkeling in Nassau. Since I've already
seen Nassau and am not that interested in shopping, my husband, sister-in-law, and I spent the day in Nassau on a
'shore' excursion. Actually, we went snorkeling in a breathtakingly beautiful marine reserve off the coast of Nassau. We
all had a blast. 6. Also, the children's program was so excellent it doesn't even require discussion. My nephew was
deliriously happy the entire time and slept like a baby because he had so much fun he wore himself out. Also, there
were excellent babysitting services for my infant neice.

The problems, which did not mar the overall experience, were
as follows: 1. A noisy stateroom. Ours was above the engine and apparently below the kitchen - however my
mother-in-law did not have this problem at all, so apparently it is all location. We fortunately brought earplugs without
which we could not have gotten a good night's sleep. Otherwise, the cabins were extremely comfortable, clean, and
larger than other cruises I've been on. 2. As I mentioned above, I did not like the hard sell in the spa. In conclusion, I
would highly, HIGHLY recommend this cruise for any famiy with children or anyone who is young at heart. On the other
hand, I wouldn't recommend it for those who want a smoky casino and a large midnight buffet with ice sculptures.
Contrary to popular belief, Disney characters are NOT in your face on this cruise line. The characters are there, but
Disney definately exercises some restraint. Couples without kids would definitely love this cruise as long as they are
fun-loving types. No stuffiness allowed! And as much fun as I had overall, the biggest highlight was the expression on
my nephew's face when he saw the 'Disney Dreams' broadway show finale. He thought it was the most amazing thing
in the world! (I thought it was pretty cool, too, but I like Disney!) My nephew was also really excited when he got to
dance with Snow White. I would go on this cruise again in a heartbeat! Of the three cruises I've been on, including
Princess, Royal Carribean, and Disney, this was the best.

Name: Candy Greek
Email: CandyGreek@prodigy.net
Age: 44
Occupation: supervisor
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: 9/9/99
Itinerary: Nassau, Castaway Cay
Cabin: 7014 outside
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 60
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 60
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 70
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 75
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 50
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Sep 1999
Time: 14:34:57
Remote Name: proxy3.ykt.prodigy.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was my husband and I first cruise. My husband said he didn't know what he would do on a boring cruise. During
the cruise he said he wants to book another for 7 days. We both found it to be wonderful. The food was great. The
dining experience was good also.

We never used room service. We were never in our stateroom except to change clothes. We had a different dining
experience every night. I have to say Animaters was the best. The way the whole room changed color with your meal
was beautiful. I can't even describe it in words. Our kids are grown so this was like a second honeymoon. We really
didn't have any problems with kids, they were always busy in there own area for kids. We did have 2 sitting with us at
meals but they were well behaved.

The activities were great. We didn't have enough time to see it all. We did love Dreams though, that was a theater
show. It was excellent. There were movies, theater, swimming, shopping, bands, etc. We did enjoy the 60's bands and
the party on deck. It was for families but we still had a great time. The shopping wasn't that great. They didn't have a
lot of variety and some prices were out of this world. The movies were great, we watched 2. We weren't inpressed with
the comedy club though. We mostly spent time with the band that did disco night, 60's night, and rock and roll on the
deck.

The staff was great, everyone was so polite and seem to go out of their way to help you. The staff was constantly
cleaning the deck, there were always towels out for swimming. We were the 8th cruise for that ship, so it was still very
new. Someone was always asking if we needed another drink and then would go get it. The key to the world card was
so nice, it made everything easy. We did 4 days land and 3 day cruise. And everything went so smooth. They keep
you informed of every move so there is no worry about luggage, time, where to be when etc. We never had to want for
anything.

Our room was just great. Big window! Table, refrigerator, dressers, closets, king bed, couch, 1 bath was sink and
tub/shower, the other was toilet and sink, tv which we never turned on, lots of lights. Our bed was made daily and
turned down nightly. Never heard any noise outside our door, slept great.

Was not impressed with Nassau, to many beggers for tips, I liked the different colors of the buildings but don't like the
give me tip for everything from sing a song for a dollar to give me $5.00 for a braclet made of plastic. We weren't out
long before we went back to ship.

Castaway Cay was fantastic!! We learned to snorkel, that was great swimming with the fish. They had a beach just for
adults, thats where we spent our time until lunch at Cookies barbque. Lobster tail, hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs and
all the trimmings. Great food. I think they should have more time at Castaway and less time in Nassua.

I loved the horn when we docked, it plays a disney tune! I didn't even feel the boat moving very much or docking it was
very smooth sailing. All in all the cruise was great and I would recommend it to anyone with or without kids, after all we
are all kids at heart and this ship brings the kid out in you!!!

Name: Al Brown
Email: hbbrown@msn.com
Age: 40
Occupation: Marketing Writer
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: October 7, 1999
Itinerary: Nassau
Cabin: 2120/9
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 88
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 98
LoungeService:
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 70
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 70
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 60
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Oct 1999
Time: 13:34:17
Remote Name: 232.phoenix-28-29rs.az.dial-access.att.net
Remote User:

Comments

The Disney Wonder was wonderful! As first-time cruisers we carried no previous cruise ‘baggage’ and were delighted
with our entire experience. We (me, my husband and our two girls, ages 5 ½ and 7) went during the Value season in
early October for the 3-day cruise. We combined the cruise with a 4-day Disney World package – after waiting in lines
and wolfing down high-priced, mediocre park food between shows, the Wonder was the vacation after the vacation.

Unfortunately, we learned about a week before we were to leave that Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, was closed
for repairs due to Hurricane Floyd’s devastation. My only dissatisfaction is that Disney did not compensate cruisers
more for this exclusion. They slightly discounted ($5 off per adult, $1 per child) the Blue Lagoon excursion in the
Bahamas and had an extra day at sea with lots of activities. Most people I spoke with would have preferred to spend
another night in Nassau or go to another port.

That said, we still had a fantastic time. I’ll touch on some of the aspects that impressed me most:

Service: Embarkation is a breeze if you bought the transfer package. You just slide your room card in the computer at
the terminal and walk onboard. Of course, you’re immediately grabbed for a photo op before you can compose yourself.
Be sure to take lots of pictures with the Disney characters with your own camera, too, as the ship’s photos are $9.95 a
snap. And if you do spend the money at the photo shop, remember to get them autographed so at least you get your
dollar’s worth. The last night of the cruise I brought my daughters’ pictures for Mickey and Minnie to sign, but I didn’t
have the proper pen. One of the crew members took the photos and delivered them autographed back at our cabin.

Children’s Programs: They were superlative. My two were in the Oceaneer’s Club for the 6 to 8 year old group. They
just loved every minute and it was difficult to get them to leave even for the evening Disney shows. However, the clubs
don’t take the kids (the younger ones anyway) to the pools, so if they want to go swimming you have to accompany
them yourself.

Dining: Going to a different restaurant every night is a great idea. The food was good and plentiful, and the servers,
burdened with several tables, were quite helpful. The first night the girls ordered mini-hot dogs, which they didn’t like.
Our server, Bridget, from Belgium, quickly gave them a substitute order of macaroni and broccoli. Animator’s Palette
kept my 5 ½ year old squealing with delight every time the pictures changed. I thought my stuffed chicken breast was a
little dry, but the rest of the meals made up for it. Another favorite with the girls was the ice cream bar up on Deck 9. We
obtained a last-minute reservation at Palo’s the final night for a 7 p.m. dinner, which was a mistake. Palo’s is intimate
and laid-back, a place to relax and spend lots of time enjoying your meal. We wanted to see the Disney Dreams show at
8:30, so we ended up rushing through dinner. I would definitely recommend making your reservations for Palo as soon
as you come aboard.

Off-Shore Excursions: Because we missed out on Castaway Cay, we signed for the Blue Lagoon in the Bahamas. As I
mentioned, the price was minimally discounted. This is also where you can swim with the dolphins (not affiliated with
Disney) for more than $100 per person. I heard you had to make advance reservations, but during the slow season
when we went, it looked like you could just pay and swim. I thought Disney offered quite an array of excursions, but we
were primarily interested in a beach experience, and were not disappointed. If you do hang around Nassau for the day,
they kids might like to go to the Pirate museum that’s just a short walk away.

Stabilization: This refers to the overall comfort of the sailing experience. I was surprised how rough it was the first night.
It didn’t matter where you were on the ship. I could feel myself swaying while seated at the Disney Theatre and found
myself wondering how the actors could keep their balance. In fact, by evening the ship was deserted. Our dining
partners left halfway through the meal and my husband kept downing sea sickness pills. The next day one of the crew
members admitted that the infirmary and housekeeping were kept quite busy that night. Fortunately, the remainder of
the trip was much smoother.

Cleanliness: Overall, I felt the ship was spotless. Even the deck lavatories were immaculate. I always saw workers
cleaning, vacuuming and polishing.

Lounges/Nightlife/Shows: We went to the Hercules and Disney Dreams productions. The former is fun, but
burlesque-style, and a little bit over the kids’ heads. The latter features most of the popular Disney characters and
songs and is quite lavish. We really enjoyed it. Be sure to arrive early at the theatre for good seats, because it fills up
completely. We really didn’t partake much of the nightlight offered, although we sat in on one family trivia game show.
They are quite a few first-run movies offered, too, for both children and adults.

Cabin: We were on Deck 2 in an outside cabin. When we first walked in, it looked very small, but there are lots of
spaces to tuck away luggage. The porthole is big, about four feet, so there was lots of light and a good view. We
especially liked the bath and a half – very convenient when you’re trying to get everyone ready to go at the same time.
We only saw our steward when we first arrived, but he never interrupted us (quick mid-day changes, etc.) and the room
always was made.

Honeymooner and Seniors: As enchanting as the Wonder is, I personally wouldn’t cruise it without children. It’s not that
children are all over the ship, there are lots of spots for adults. It’s just that the main focus is on families. I did see a few
very young honeymooners, and lots of seniors, but most of them were with the grandkids. If you’re a Disney fanatic (you
know, the kind that wears coordinated Pooh outfits and knows all the names of Daisy’s nieces) you should go and you’ll
love it. Or if you’ve been on all the other cruises and want a different experience, you’d probably want to check this out.
Most of the people I talked to on the cruise were first-timers, and the atmosphere was very casual, comfortable, and
friendly. Just remember – if you want to have a wonderful experience, you will.

Name: H. Brown
Email: hbbrown@msn.com
Age: 40
Occupation: Writer
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: Oct. 7, 1999
Itinerary: Nassau
Cabin: 2120/9
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService:
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 60
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 60
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 88
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Nov 1999
Time: 11:25:23
Remote Name: 229.phoenix-15-20rs.az.dial-access.att.net
Remote User:

Comments

The Disney Wonder was wonderful! As first-time cruisers we carried no previous cruise ‘baggage’ and were delighted
with our entire experience. We (me, my husband and our two girls, ages 5 ½ and 7) went during the Value season in
early October for the 3-day cruise. We combined the cruise with a 4-day Disney World package – after waiting in lines
and wolfing down high-priced, mediocre park food between shows, the Wonder was the vacation after the vacation.
Unfortunately, we learned about a week before we were to leave that Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, was closed
for repairs due to Hurricane Floyd’s devastation. My only dissatisfaction is that Disney did not compensate cruisers
more for this exclusion. They slightly discounted ($5 off per adult, $1 per child) the Blue Lagoon excursion in the
Bahamas and had an extra day at sea with lots of activities. Most people I spoke with would have preferred to spend
another night in Nassau or go to another port. That said, we still had a fantastic time. I’ll touch on some of the aspects
that impressed me most:

Service: Embarkation is a breeze if you bought the transfer package. You just slide your room card in the computer at
the terminal and walk onboard. Of course, you’re immediately grabbed for a photo op before you can compose yourself.
Be sure to take lots of pictures with the Disney characters with your own camera, too, as the ship’s photos are $9.95 a
snap. And if you do spend the money at the photo shop, remember to get them autographed so at least you get your
dollar’s worth. The last night of the cruise I brought my daughters’ pictures for Mickey and Minnie to sign, but I didn’t
have the proper pen. One of the crew members took the photos and delivered them autographed back at our cabin.

Children’s Programs: They were superlative. My two were in the Oceaneer’s Club for the 6 to 8 year old group. They
just loved every minute and it was difficult to get them to leave even for the evening Disney shows. However, the clubs
don’t take the kids (the younger ones anyway) to the pools, so if they want to go swimming you have to accompany
them yourself.

Dining: Going to a different restaurant every night is a great idea. The food was good and plentiful, and the servers,
burdened with several tables, were quite helpful. The first night the girls ordered mini-hot dogs, which they didn’t like.
Our server, Bridget, from Belgium, quickly gave them a substitute order of macaroni and broccoli. Animator’s Palette
kept my 5 ½ year old squealing with delight every time the pictures changed. I thought my stuffed chicken breast was a
little dry, but the rest of the meals made up for it. Another favorite with the girls was the ice cream bar up on Deck 9. We
obtained a last-minute reservation at Palo’s the final night for a 7 p.m. dinner, which was a mistake. Palo’s is intimate
and laid-back, a place to relax and spend lots of time enjoying your meal. We wanted to see the Disney Dreams show at
8:30, so we ended up rushing through dinner. I would definitely recommend making your reservations for Palo as soon
as you come aboard.

Off-Shore Excursions: Because we missed out on Castaway Cay, we signed for the Blue Lagoon in the Bahamas. As I
mentioned, the price was minimally discounted. This is also where you can swim with the dolphins (not affiliated with
Disney) for more than $100 per person. I heard you had to make advance reservations, but during the slow season
when we went, it looked like you could just pay and swim. I thought Disney offered quite an array of excursions, but we
were primarily interested in a beach experience, and were not disappointed. If you do hang around Nassau for the day,
they kids might like to go to the Pirate museum that’s just a short walk away. Stabilization: This refers to the overall
comfort of the sailing experience. I was surprised how rough it was the first night. It didn’t matter where you were on the
ship. I could feel myself swaying while seated at the Disney Theatre and found myself wondering how the actors could
keep their balance. In fact, by evening the ship was deserted. Our dining partners left halfway through the meal and my
husband kept downing sea sickness pills. The next day one of the crew members admitted that the infirmary and
housekeeping were kept quite busy that night. Fortunately, the remainder of the trip was much smoother.

Cleanliness: Overall, I felt the ship was spotless. Even the deck lavatories were immaculate. I always saw workers
cleaning, vacuuming and polishing.

Lounges/Nightlife/Shows: We went to the Hercules and Disney Dreams productions. The former is fun, but
burlesque-style, and a little bit over the kids’ heads. The latter features most of the popular Disney characters and
songs and is quite lavish. We really enjoyed it. Be sure to arrive early at the theatre for good seats, because it fills up
completely. We really didn’t partake much of the nightlight offered, although we sat in on one family trivia game show.
They are quite a few first-run movies offered, too, for both children and adults.

Cabin: We were on Deck 2 in an outside cabin. When we first walked in, it looked very small, but there are lots of
spaces to tuck away luggage. The porthole is big, about four feet, so there was lots of light and a good view. We
especially liked the bath and a half – very convenient when you’re trying to get everyone ready to go at the same time.
We only saw our steward when we first arrived, but he never interrupted us (quick mid-day changes, etc.) and the room
always was made.

Honeymooner and Seniors: As enchanting as the Wonder is, I personally wouldn’t cruise it without children. It’s not that
children are all over the ship, there are lots of spots for adults. It’s just that the main focus is on families. I did see a few
very young honeymooners, and lots of seniors, but most of them were with the grandkids. If you’re a Disney fanatic (you
know, the kind that wears coordinated Pooh outfits and knows all the names of Daisy’s nieces) you should go and you’ll
love it. Or if you’ve been on all the other cruises and want a different experience, you’d probably want to check this out.
Most of the people I talked to on the cruise were first-timers, and the atmosphere was very casual, comfortable, and
friendly. Just remember – if you want to have a wonderful experience, you will.

Name: CG Banks
Email: cgbanks@okcps.k12.ok.us
Age: 40
Occupation: Exec. Secretary
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: October 28, 1999
Itinerary: Nassau, Castaway Cay
Cabin: 6549
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 98
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies: 98
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 99
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Nov 1999
Time: 11:48:45
Remote Name: host-9.okcps.k12.ok.us
Remote User:

Comments

We sailed on the Disney Wonder on October 28. This was my husband's first cruise and my third. I had researched
various cruise reviews and was expecting a good time. We were not disappointed. As you entered the ship from the
gangway you were announced and ship staff was there to greet you and direct you. My husband went immediately to
wait in line for Palo reservations for my birthday. We were second in line but heard all the dinner slots went very quickly.
After that we found our cabin. It was an inside cabin. There was enough room for the two of us but wouldn't have
wanted to add a third person. Next time we will go the extra for an outside cabin. Then we headed to the Beach Blanket
Buffet. Plenty of good food awaited us. There was a large variety of food and we were ready to eat. Maybe we aren't
extremely picky, but we had no complaints about the food. After wondering around a bit to learn the lay of the ship we
changed and went to the adult pool for a quick swim. The pool was heated and it was wonderful after all our walking at
Disney World. It was getting close to time to leave port so we headed up to the front of the ship to watch everything. It
was an exciting feeling sailing off until you saw nothing but water. Time goes so quickly that now it was time to get ready
for dinner. I changed into a dress and my husband wore dockers and a nice shirt, as we were having dinner in Triton's.
We were very happy with our table mates. There were 4 couples in all, varying in ages. Everyone was very nice and we
didn't seem to have any trouble with conversation. One couple bought a bottle of wine for everyone to enjoy. My
husband had ordered a cake for my birthday and we shared at the end of the meal. The menu was mainly seafood but
with other options also. Just we willing to try new things and you will enjoy yourself. If you aren't happy with your
selection your server will bring you something new. Both of us enjoyed our selections for dinner. We then hurried off to
make a quick change into casual clothes and headed off to the show. Hercules was the show and it was lots of fun. To
top off the evening we went to the movie theater on board and saw Mumford. I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes
open but stayed awake to the end. Our first day on the Wonder was a success. The seas were a touch rough so
sleeping was on and off but we never got sick.

We awoke docked in Nassau. We went to Triton's for breakfast and ordered on a menu. There was a good variety. I
had pancakes and my husband had eggs, bacon, etc. After breakfast we had a little time before we left for the Atlantis
Aquarium tour. $30/pp. Everyone gathered for the tour and we were escorted onto a boat and had a 30 minute harbor
tour before we were dropped off at Paradise Island. I will say there is a lot of walking so if you're not up to it perhaps you
would enjoy the casino and shopping. It's definitely worth seeing though. We received a guided tour of the aquariums
and were given the opportunity for photos. We didn't play in the casino but talked to some who did and actually won a
bit of money. We took the water taxi back to the ship and then went shopping in Nassau. We didn't shop a lot but
bought some jewelry, postcards, and t-shirt for my mom. Prices aren't real cheap but about what I had expected. We
then walked back to the ship and had lunch on deck which consisted of tacos and hotdogs. I will say I don't think it was
appropriate to have to purchase our cola to drink with lunch. Punch or something could have been provided. Anyway,
after relaxing a bit we showered and got ready for the 6:00 show before going to dinner at Palo's for my birthday. The
show was fun and dinner was wonderful. We had before dinner drinks and then were shown to our table, which was
right next to the window where we could see all the beautiful lights of Paradise Island. Once again we had no complaints
about the food. The menu was varied and appetizing. My husband had arranged again for a special dessert for my
birthday. When dining at Palo's there is a $5/pp service charge. We believe it was worth it. After dinner we again quickly
changed into casual clothes and went on deck to enjoy the beach party which included lots of dancing and music. A
buffet was also set up on deck. We danced and danced with finally took a few treats to our cabin to enjoy later. Upon
returning to our cabin our hostess had made up our bed with swans made from towels and folded our nightshirts into
anchors. We got a picture of that. We slept better than night also.

This morning we had arrived in Castaway Cay. After breakfast we got our stuff and headed to the beach. You could just
barely tell the damage from Hurrican Floyd. Trees were stripped but Disney had worked hard to return everything to a
usable state. We took the tram to the Adult Beach area and got our lounge chairs and proceeded to enjoy the
sunshine. A little while later we literally took the plunge and headed for the water. It was a bit cool but you very quickly
got used to it. We found some lovely shells to bring home. There were lots of people snorkeling and enjoying water
crafts. We just took things easy. Around noon we headed back to the main portion of the beach and had a great lunch.
The ship prepared a wonder bbq lunch with all the trimmings. We talked with a fun young couple while eating. Everyone
is so friendly. After lunch we went back to the ship, swam in the pool and rested on deck. The days go very quickly and
it was suddenly time to get ready for our last night. We changed for dinner and joined our dinner mates in Parrot Cay.
Almost everyone decided on the lobster, shrimp, scallops and filet mignon for dinner. Dinner was superb and we got
pictures of everyone. After dinner we headed straight to the theater for the final show, which was rumored to be the
best. We were not disappointed. We sat with a couple of our dinner mates. They were lots of fun. One of the clubs were
having a 70's night and we went there to dance the night away. We hustled with the best of them. Around 11:30 or
12:00 servers came around with food on trays. We were still full from dinner so we passed on that. All the luggage had
to be tagged and outside your cabin by 11:00 pm so you had to keep a day bag ready for the next morning. Everything
went very smoothly. That night was a bit rough because the Captain was hurrying home but once again we did not get
sick.

You have breakfast in the same restaurant as dinner the nigth before. It was yummy. We had to wait a bit to get off the
ship, found our luggage, went through customs, checked our bags for the airlines, and boarded the bus to take us back
to Orlando. We had about a 2/3 hour wait at the airport but some others had a longer wait. We highly recommend a
Disney cruise to anyone. You are pampered, the staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and the food is great and
plentiful. My only complaint is having to pay for bottled water and having to pay for sodas if you eat on deck. I think at
least 1 complimentary drink would be appropriate. Everything else was super. Go For It!

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