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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Karen Beagles
Email: beaglesk@hotmail.com
Age: 39
Occupation: Homemaker
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: December 16, 1999
Itinerary: Nassau, Castaway Cay
Cabin: 2070/2072 Outside cabin
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 50
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 75
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Mar 2000
Time: 00:26:25
Remote Name: 1cust69.tnt1.provo.ut.da.uu.net
Remote User:
Comments
We opted to do the four days in Disney World before boarding the ship and I would highly recomment
this. It was great to get on the ship and relax after the hectic pace of the theme park. We have four
children ages 14, 12, 9 and 5 years. My husband and I have been on quite a few cruises including a
Seabourn cruise last May and we were not expecting to enjoy this cruise much but we were pleasantly
surprised.
I could not believe how easy the embarkation process was for this ship. We basically just walked onto the
ship, no lines and were escorted to the luncheon buffet. I was a little surprised that this buffet was not
geared toward children much. My 5 year old did not find much to eat here. Luckily that was not the case
for the rest of the cruise. After eating we explored the ship and eventually found our rooms. The rooms
were very comfortable. We had opted to bring aboard drinks and bottled water for the kids and there was
a fridge to store these in. The closets were nicely sized and the bathroom was very well designed for a
family with seperate rooms for the toilet and shower with a sink in each, which made it nice for getting
ready.
We had two cabins and one thing that was difficult was that the keys could not open both rooms so we
spent a lot of time switching keys and losing keys etc. This was really a pain and I would hope that
something could be done about this in the future for large families.
Next we checked out the children's programs. I have to say I was impressed with the organization. All the
children were given bracelets to wear for the duration of the trip that would not only keep track of them in
the program but could help them if they got lost on board at any time. The parents were given a pager to
wear so that we could be reached if the child wanted us at any time. This was great but I have to admit we
still did spend alot of time peering into the club and lab to check if they were having fun. I also liked the
fact that they took the children through seceret passage ways when they went from the Lab to the Club.
The kids were a little hesitant at first to go to their activities but once they went a few times they really
enjoyed it, especially our 5 year old and surprisingly our 14 year old really enjoyed their programs. We
give an A+ to all of the children's programs and activities. The children liked them so much they opted to
miss the big show on the last night and go to their activities instead.
Just a note for any of you that doubt a teen might have fun on this cruise. Our 14 year old loved it. The
teen program was rather unstructured and more or less a place for them to hang out together and play
games, watch videos and basically meet up with each other while still being supervised. Our son found it
very cool to be able to come and go pretty much as he pleased as we did not impose a curfew while on
the ship. He found it very fun to phone in an order for room service at midnight for he and his friends and
take it somewhere to eat and talk together. It was nice to give him that freedom and he really enjoyed the
cruise and meeting new friends.
On to the most important part of the cruise. The food! The dining room was a very fun experience. Our
waiter was good and fun, our bus girl needed some lessons in tact. She was very pushy with the drinks
and we are not a drinking family, it got really irritating! All in all the service was pretty good. The food
overall was pretty good. The kids had a nice assortment to choose from and the waiter was very
accomodating by bringing more or something different if they found they didn't like it. My husband and I
have traveled a lot and we would not say this was 4 star food but it was definitely edible.
We loved the dining room experiences of going from one dining room to the other. We thought they were
all wonderful and enjoyed Animators Palate which happened to be on our final night! We would have to
say that if you add everything up the evening dining experience was very enjoyable.
The breakfast buffet was a different story. If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten up in time to eat
in the dining room every morning. The breakfast buffet is a joke with it's endless and crowded lines, you
cannot get back in for more of something. My daughter spilled her tray while we were hunting for
somewhere to sit and it was like a war zone trying to get back in line and get her something to eat. There
was no where to sit for our whole family and we had to split up. The staff here is not helpful in the least, I
was very very upset by this. It was really ridiculous!!!! In contrast, my 5 year old and I dined one morning
in the dining room and it was so much fun. Totally pampered and brought anything we wanted and it was
delicious and hot! Don't make our mistake, get up early!!!
Poolside was a lot of fun. There are three pools, one for kids with a slide and shaped like Mickey Mouse,
a family pool, and an adults only pool. We spent most of the time in the family pool. The kids pool was
very shallow and too crowded most of the time. There were snacks available on the pool decks, pizza, hot
dogs, hamburgers, ice cream. It was fun for the kids to get food almost anytime.
We thought the shows were very good, big productions with lots of special effects. The movie theater was
fun too but we wished the movies had been at more convienient times, always seemed to be during our
dinner hour or much too late at night. We went to one of the improv shows and it was okay. We weren't
really into the night life, we were happy to relax and be alone while the kids were kept busy in their
programs.
We enjoyed the ports, Nassau was fun for the kids to see for the first time. We had fun in the straw
market and the kids enjoyed trying to get their best price. We took the tour to the Atlantis Hotel. It was
good but I thought it was a little long and didn't like the way the tour guide kept talking about Atlantis like
it was real, it was a little lame, but we did enjoy seeing the hotel and the aquarium like no other.
Castaway Cay was wonderful, except the weather was not the best but if it had been really sunny it would
have been perfect. The beach was great with plenty of chairs and room, the lunch buffet was very tasty
with hamburgers and ribs and chicken. The kids programs came ashore and my 5 year old went there for
a while. My husband and I and 12 year old daughter tried snorkeling but there was nothing to see except
a few, very few fish and some ornaments provided by Disney. However the girls (9 & 12) had a great time
swimming and playing in the water. Our teen headed over to the teen only beach and had a great time
there with the activities including building a raft and racing them. We stayed most of the day despite a
little rain.
We really enjoyed this cruise as a family. There truly was something for everyone on this vacation and
the children still talk about it and ask when we can go again. We would highly recommend this for
families, I'm not sure why anyone would want to go without children but to each his own. The ship was
beautiful and very comfortable, we really loved this vacation.
Name: Keith McGinnis
Email: kmcgin6629@aol.com
Age: 38
Occupation: City Worker
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: May 4, 2000
Itinerary: Nassau/Castaway Cay
Cabin: 2571/inside stateroom
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 May 2000
Time: 13:35:19
Remote Name: spider-tl054.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
We (my wife and I) with our 10 year old son. We had just experienced all the Disney Parks and Universal the
5 previous days. We were ready for some relaxation. We started our trip on 4-29 in Orlando and then we
sailed on 5-4, for the 3-day cruise. We boarded the ship with no problems, there was line but it moved
quickly. We immediately went to our state room, where our luggage was waiting and met our room steward,
who was wonderful. We asked for extra pillows and a blanket. After dinner that night they were both there. We
had an inside stateroom and for the three of us, it was plenty of room. We had plenty of storage space for our
suitcases and clothes. We had to attend a safety drill, which lasted for about 30 minutes, this is mandatory.
We signed our ten year old up for Oceaneer Lab, which he refused to go to, but it looked like it would have
been great fun for the kids.
We had the early seating for dinner, which we highly recommend (it starts at 6
p.m.). This way dinner is out of the way for the 8:30 shows. When you get to your stateroom the restaurants
you will be eating at are listed in your room. You automatically eat at 3 different restaurants. The first night on
board we ate at Titons. The food was wonderful, my wife was on a restricted diet and the waiters took very
good care of her in advising her on what she could eat. The show after dinner was wonderful and worth
seeing. The actors and actresses put on a great show, but of course this is Disney. The boat was rocking a
bit during the show and you could notice it, but none of us got sick or felt bad. We advise reading the
Navigator newsletter to see what events are each day/night and times of events. You leave Port Canaveral
the first night and cruise to Nassau. We docked in Nassau early in the morning and we went and explored the
city. When you get off the boat, some people were trying to sell different tours, taxi rides, hair braids, etc.
They are ok if you say no, but the next guy will attempt to stop you too. We did some shopping, everyone on
the cruise bought liquor, we did not. The items are tax-free but you must declare them on a customs
statement before you dock in Port Canaveral. If you don't want to go ashore in Nassau, you may stay on the
boat and swim at one of three pools, (adult pool, kids pool and family pool). That night we ate at Animator's
Palate. This room changes color before your eyes. It of course is a favorite of everyone young and old. The
food and service was again, wonderful. After dinner they played Who wants to be a mouseketeer, at Studio
Sea. We watched two shows of this, it was fun and kids are allowed at this club. We then went on deck to
watch the party. Of course, Minnie Mouse was there to party as well. The characters are pretty plentiful, but
Mickey was MIA..we saw him when we left Port Canaveral but never saw him again. We left Nassau at approx.
2:30 a.m. and sailed to Castaway Cay.
This is what we were waiting for. This island is the absolute wonderful
way to end a cruise. It was relaxing and the water was so clear you could see fish. We stayed at the beach,
where chairs and towels are plentiful (don't bring a towel, they supply them for you). They have an adult
beach as well, but we didn't go there. They had a bbq on the island, which served chicken, ribs, hotdogs,
burgers, salads, fruit, cookies, baked beans, corn on the cob and punch and lemonade. Lunch is served at
about noon to 2:00. We had to be back on the ship by 3:30 and we sailed at 4:00. The last night on ship we
had dinner at Parrot Cay. This is the island cuisine, some of the food might have a little spice to it, but it was
wonderful again. We then attended a show called Disney Dreams. This is a wonderful show, Broadway tried
to get it but the Disney people said no. You must see this show, it was great for all ages. We docked in Port
Canaveral the next morning. We had to eat breakfast at 6:15 a.m. because everyone has to be off the ship
by 9:00 a.m. so they can get it cleaned for the next cruise. When you leave the boat, you are greeted by
people who will take you and your luggage through customs. We had a man named Tom who got us through
with no problem. We were the first people through customs and on the bus back to the Orlando Airport. (We
recommend that these men get a big tip, they are worth it) We had a wonderful time and are looking forward
to going again in a few years. We have already recommended this trip to our friends and family. Next time we
hope to go on a longer cruise. You are taken care of and treated like royalty. The employees are mostly from
other countries, we saw very few people from the USA but they all speak english very well. We were told they
work six months and then get a month vacation. We picked a good time to hit the Disney parks as well, we
waited no longer than 20 minutes for rides and took advantage of Fastpass when available. Our dining
companions had an 11 year old daughter, who participated in the kids activities. She had a great time and
they kept her busy for the entire cruise. Just a tidbit of information for you, the toilets on the boat flush very
loudly. The cruise director made a joke and said that they have lost children through the toilets...just make
sure to close the lid when flushing.
Name: Donna Branham
Email: tonybranham@earthlink.net
Age: 37
Occupation: graphics
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: June 8, 2000
Itinerary: Bahamas
Cabin: 6504/Category 11
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 89
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 89
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 70
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 98
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 85
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 65
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 89
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Jun 2000
Time: 15:09:32
Remote Name: ipb74.memphis3.tn.pub-ip.psi.net
Remote User:
Comments
We sailed aboard the Disney Wonder on June 8th, 2000. Most of the comments we had heard regarding
cruises were about the wonderful food and the entertainment aboard ship.
We are fairly snobby eaters and active travelers so the idea of cruising wasn’t that appealing to us, but it
was my son’s turn to pick the vacation and we decided to add the cruise to the park package to give the
adults something new. Plus, my husband tends to get a little motion sickness and this would be an nice short
cruise to try.
We booked the park part of the trip first (six days in the parks), therefore we were already checked in and
just had to swipe our Key to the World card to board. Very smooth. Our room was quite a surprise. I had
really wanted to upgrade to a room with a verandah, but was very glad that I didn’t. Our room was very nice.
King size comfortable bed, pull down berth (my 10 year old loved that) and pull out futon for the teenager.
The amenities were very nice, beverage cooler in the room, blow dryer in the bath, television with age
appropriate movies etc.
The first night out was a little rocky. I’m not prone to motion sickness, but even I felt a little queasy. But after
dinner at Palo’s I was so stuffed that all I wanted to do was sleep!(Palo's is an extra $5 per person, but worth
it. Get in line as soon as you get on board to make reservations. Exchange it for your Parrot Cay dinner
night)I had read that the meal portions were small aboard the Disney ships - but I totally disagree with that.
And I don’t know who would want to eat a midnight buffet after a big dinner. There were plenty of things to
do, we watched a band on the pool deck and took a stroll. We stayed so full we never made it to Scoops ice
cream shop or the grills on the pool deck. But my son who had looked forward to room service ordered
cookies every afternoon delivered!
The second day we were in Nassau. We got off and did a little shopping at the straw market, picked up a
conch shell for my son ($5) and my teenage daughter got part of her hair braided (wait until late in the day
for the best bargains). I had read to skip the shore excursions and a co-worker of my husbands had said the
beach tour was the pits so we shopped and spent most of the day on the ship. Again plenty of things to do
on board ship.
The next day was at Disney’s private island. My only complaint would be that I wish they would have the full
day there and the half day at Nassau. Great beach. I wish I had purchased my snorkel equipment from
Speedo here before we went. I had thought about it, but let my husband talk me out of it. The equipment
rental was $25 for adults and $10 for children. The water was cold and my son got salt water in his eyes for
the first time and well you get the picture. We spent 60 bucks and didn’t get to swim together. Or maybe if
the would give an option of an hourly rental? We didn’t have any problems getting a lounge area with
hammock, but would advise that they get taken up fairly early. The lunch area closes early - so be aware of
the closing time before you leave the ship.
We had never sailed before, so we don’t know about other ships. But Disney places a personal navigator in
your room each night to show what will be happening the next day. It lists everything that will be happening
on the ship, what time and place. We had read a suggestion to take a highlighter with you to highlight your
preferences. GREAT IDEA!
Also, beer, wine, bottled water and cokes are not free on the ship unless you are at dinner. Take them with
you. We took a six pack of Dr. Pepper and a six pack of bottled water for the kids and a six pack of beer for
us. I personally am not made out of money and really hate to pay $2.50 for a bottle of water every time the
kids get thirsty. Also the drinks of the day are $6.50 with a souvenir plastic cup and $4.50 without. You
decide.
They do feed you lunch when you board the ship. If you get on early, there is a buffet at Parrot Cay - later
arrivals get burgers topside.
My husband and I made spa reservations and had a seaweed wrap and massage while we were there.
Wonderful, but expensive ($144). The prices for the products they try to sell afterwards were plain
unbelievable! Get in line as soon as you get on board to get reservations for massages.
One complaint was the wine selection at dinner. After paying $6000 for a vacation, I hate to get gouged on
the wine list. Prices were tripled on the wines that were available and the lower end wine selection ($28-30)
was very limited, plus they add a corkage fee and want a tip. Next time I think I’ll take my own wine glasses
and take a glass in with me for dinner!
The stage productions were wonderful- we argue about which was best. Don’t miss any of them.
The children’s activities were well planned. We allowed our son to check himself in and out so he did what
he wanted and loved it. He stayed with us quite a bit for the family games. He loved the game shows and
bingo night! Corney but great clean family fun.
I would tell you that the teenagers activities were great, but I really don’t know. We never saw our teenage
daughter enough to ask. Whenever we did see her she was smiling. Actually, I think she had the best time of
all. She is beautiful, but shy 16 year old. The activities directors made sure she was up dancing with
everyone and making friends. She stayed out till 1 am every night with supervised activities. Glow jam (glow
in the dark basketball), teen junkanoo and karoke.
If character appearances are high on your list of planned activities get there a little early. I don’t care about
most of the characters, but I’ve been going to Disney World since 1971 and have quite a selection of photos
with Mickey in all different costumes so I would have really liked to get a picture of Mickey in his evening
attire and Minnie in her ballgown, but the line was way too long for my husband so I guess I’ll have to go
back for that one.
Wonderful experience.
Name: John Petersen
Email: jpradonc@irmh.com
Age: 43
Occupation: physician
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: March 30, 2000
Itinerary: Nassau, Castaway Cay
Cabin: Cat 4, Cabin 8584
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Jun 2000
Time: 13:59:43
Remote Name: external.irmh.com
Remote User:
Comments
I am a first time cruiser and an experienced Walt Disney World (WDW) visitor so my opinions may not be of
too much interest to seasoned cruisers. For a little background, I have a loving and tolerant wife, an
adorable five-year-old son and a darling three-year-old daughter. We go to WDW theme parks about three
times a year and I rely on a set itinerary for each theme park that makes it painless. During low season, the
theme parks get crowded during the weekend and during the high season, they do not get crowded until ten
am.
As soon as I hit a theme park, I go do the three or four great rides that each park has and then just take it
easy for the rest of the day. For example, at Animal Kingdom I blast through the gate and hit Countdown to
Extinction, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali Rapids and ‘It’s Tough to Be a Bug’ in rapid order. When we have an
accompanying family they usually rebel at being hustled along but I can get through these four gems by
9:30 am and then stroll the theme park for the rest of the day. Before I go I make a sit-down restaurant
reservation for lunch to be able to relax and sit still for an hour. It is a toss up as to whether the other
families that go with us enjoy this frenetic pace even when they see that by 10:30 am the lines are at least
an hour long for each ride.
The reason I mention the above is to say that in contrast the Disney Cruise demands none of the split
second flight controller synchronization required in the theme parks. A passenger just has to make sure to
be on board the boat before it sails to have a wonderful time. We went on the three day March 30, 2000
sailing of the Disney Wonder. Here are the following topics that may be of assistance for someone going on
this cruise.
Checking-in was extremely easy. However, the directions given in the supplied info are typical Disney. They
try to keep a lot of the magic so they do not include the actual street names and addresses. Go on Route
528 East until it gets to Port Canaveral. They also said to look for Dock 8 but the choices on the way to Port
Canaveral on Route 528 East are A or B. There is no problem finding the correct dock since the ships in
Port Canaveral are visible from miles away and easily identified. There is also a nice electronic sign
displaying the names of the ships in port and the exits for each one. The Disney ships are next to the
Carnival dock.
Automobiles are sent to a special entrance at the disembarkation facility. The automobile is waved to pull up
alongside the sidewalk. Then all of the bags are taken out of the car and taken away by very helpful
curbside attendants. There are luggage tags in the ticket book and it is good to put these on beforehand.
We even brought some sealed boxes of canned soda and beer and plastic bottles of water and taped the
tags to the side of the box and they checked these without complaint. Then the car is directed to a parking
lot across the street where cash payment is required on entry. It is easiest to leave the family where the
bags are dropped off and then just have one person park the car. It is only a two-minute walk from the
parking lot back to the pier facility. We arrived about 11:30 am. I definitely recommend that very little if any
carry-on luggage be taken. Check it all. The bags were in our room when we entered it at 2 PM.
Upstairs in the disembarkation facility, check-in is performed in a very calm manner. Passports are all
inspected (do not forget and put these in the checked luggage by mistake) and then the room/charge keys
are issued. Important! Ask at that time what the dinner rotation is scheduled to be and write it down. This
way you will know right off which nights will be in which restaurant. The restaurants rotate through Animator’s
Palate, Parrot Cay and Tritons. Four-day cruises repeat the first night’s restaurant. As a side note, we were
never asked again for our passports or any identification even when going through immigration back into
onto the boat or into the US, just for the room key.
They allowed us to board at 12:30 PM and then directed everyone to either Parrot Cay restaurant on Deck
3 or up to Topsider Buffet Deck 9 Aft using the elevators. Like the rest of the trip, no hurry was required.
The buffet was very nice. We brought along very little carry-on luggage but with two small children in tow, it
would have been nicer to have none except for a fanny pack with our documents and tickets. By the time we
finished eating, we were free to roam around the ship and we got to our cabin at 2 PM. We opened the door
with the room key given to us when we checked in.
Nautical Terms: If passengers know basic nautical terms, life on board a cruise ship is easier. Forward: the
front third of the ship. Mid: the middle third of the ship. Aft: the rear third of the ship. Port: the left hand side
of the ship when facing forward. Starboard: the right hand side. Deck: similar to the floor level in a building.
Ships have many different passageways and it is virtually impossible to get good directions to a location,
especially from a crew that speaks English as a second language. It is easy to get to the Promenade
Lounge if it is described as Deck 3, Mid, Port. Animator’s Palate is Deck 4, Aft.
Timing. While this is crucial for visits to the Disney theme parks, it is unimportant on the ship except for one
area. The appointments for the Spa on Deck 9, Forward filled very quickly. We went there around 7 PM on
our first night and all of the appointments were gone. We then got on the waiting list. I do not think that the
waiting list is used since we were never called but we were both able to get appointments when we dropped
by the next day. If a spa visit is important go by there first thing when they open for reservations at 2 PM. If
everything is filled keep going by on successive days and there will probably be an opening eventually.
Dining. We enjoyed the food at the standard restaurants but the food at Palo’s was truly outstanding. The
experience at this restaurant is hard to match. The setting is of muted dark elegance. It is nice and quiet
and the food is superb. Here is how the sign-up works. They start taking reservations at 2 PM. There is a
long line but like most lines on this ship, it moves quickly. There are three tables set up to take reservations.
Each table for a different night of our three night cruise. The long line eventually breaks into three but two of
the tables had very little activity. There was no line for the first night, a huge line for the second night (the
night in Nassau) and a moderate line for the third night. I would recommend signing up for the night desired
and then getting on the list for the other nights. I do not know if they limit you to one night or not but maybe
they would waitlist someone for the first night since there was no one signing up for this night. The
five-dollar surcharge for Palo’s is just a speed bump. The premium is worth much more.
Alcohol is never free on board the ship but the prices were not bad except for canned or bottled beer. The
draft beer was not expensive and was good of quality. They also allowed diners to bring their own wine to
dinner and just charged a corking fee of $11. The wine selections were esoteric but good. For example, the
only Chardonnay was Australian but was very nice.
The Cabins. When I was thinking about booking the trip, I was continually wavering about which category of
cabin to get. We were travelling with my brother’s family and wanted to get adjoining cabins. My decision of
which category to get was made for me when my sister-in-law made their reservation. I had been
considering a Deluxe Stateroom with or without Verandah. They reserved a One-Bedroom Suite Cabin
#8582 and this connected with a Family Suite Cabin #8584. This was a wonderful room and worth the extra
money. I definitely recommend having the printed deck plan of the ship at hand when making the cruise
reservations. The reservation is made for the actual cabin and not just for a certain category.
Walking through the ship, I had a chance to see what the different rooms were like. They all seemed very
similar to ours. Very clean and modern. The big difference was the space. Our square footage was more
than ample for the four of us. My brother’s cabin was a completely different story. His cabin was completely
fluffed out with inlaid wood paneling, wonderful dining room setting, two marble bathrooms, stereo, huge
television and marble bar. But, I think that any cabin would be nice as long as it was not stuffed with people.
Our room had a very nice shower/bath and sink in one room and a sink and toilet in another room. The
beds were good but not excellent in quality. It was definitely a queen size bed, which was a relief since I
cannot tolerate a double bed. The refrigerator is not a standard compressor type but a marine type which
does a very poor job of cooling. It takes a long time to get drinks cold. The best way may be to chill the
drinks on ice and then put them in the refrigerator.
My brother’s family had a concierge, which most other passengers (including us) did not have. In New York
City, a concierge can be a lifesaver by getting hard to find theater tickets and restaurant reservations. On a
cruise everything is laid out so well the concierge was of no use. Since there is no favoritism or other way to
get to the head of any line, there was nothing they could do that mattered. Here was a typical interaction,
‘Are we allowed to bring our own cans of beer up to the pool area?’ She responds, ‘They sell lots of different
types of alcohol all around the ship.’ ‘I was asking if it was permissible to walk around with beverages that we
did not purchase on this ship.’ ‘Can I help you with your dinner seating?’ I think that this is a common
situation with Disney or other large corporation that really pushes a uniform quality experience. Everything is
very rigid to guarantee that everyone gets what they are supposed to get. Consequently, special requests
are not handled well. This never posed a problem for us since we enjoyed what the cruise line planned.
We only felt motion on the way from Castaway Cay to Port Canaveral. In the middle of the night the ship was
groaning and creaking. It was very enjoyable. There is also a channel on the television that shows the view
from the bridge forward. This would be fun to watch in a storm.
Kids. My brother and his wife have 11-year-old and 8-year-old daughters and a 3-year-old son. Including
our 3 and 5 year olds we got a good sense of what is going on for children. The ages are divided into
groups for ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12. The youngest group is in the Oceaneer Club, the oldest two
groups in the Oceaneer Lab and the 6-8 year old group spent time in both areas.
In general, younger children do not like being away from their parents if given a choice. The positive press
and comments from others about the Club had me convinced that my kids would want to spend all of their
time there. This was a mistake. In hindsight I should have told them what we tell them when they go to
preschool which is that they had to go to the Club and that if they were lucky they might have fun. They did
not like going to the Club and would usually run to us when we would come get them.
My brother’s children who were 8 and 11generally wanted to attend the club. Both the Oceaneer Club and
Lab are very well done but are too dark. This may be done to calm the children down but it also was rather
scary. In the Club, there are many life-size make-believe trees and animals and it got somewhat spooky.
There is a schedule given out for each day. One neat event was ‘Quiet Time’. The workers would line up
sleep mats for the children in rows in front of a big screen where they would show a movie. The kids liked
this. There is also a very nice slide built into a large ship that my five-year-old would race around in.
Small children do not crave novelty like older children do. My suggestion would be to have at least one
corner of the Oceaneer Club lit up and furnished like a typical preschool. Then they could leave the kids
alone there who wanted to be alone and color or draw. The staff was always doing an activity with the
children. I think that my children just wanted to be left alone. The cruise ship could also use a covered
outdoor play area with a very small-scale playground. After a while it was unpleasant to always be inside.
The older children’s programs were staffed by indifferent early twentysomethings. Their attitude was not
characteristic of Disney as much as it was characteristic of people who were just teenagers a few years
before. They spent more time talking to each other than caring for the children. My advice would be to drive
the program and let them know what you want done for your children. The workers for the younger kids
were much better.
If you are leaving children in the Club go inside and visit the water fountains and restrooms with them. Our
kids are shy and did not use either until we showed them where they were and that it was okay to use them.
Meals. As I mentioned above if you do not have any children seriously consider eating each dinner in Palo’s.
The other restaurants were fine but the food and experience did not match up. Animator’s Palate was
exactly what I thought it was, a restaurant with lit up pictures on the wall. The rest of the ship is fun eating.
We ate breakfast every morning at Topsider Buffet on 9 Aft. There is a sit down breakfast below in Triton’s
or Parrot Cay but the buffet is perfect. At Pluto’s Dog House next to the Mickey Mouse Pool, they have a
fresh fruit plate, which was a very welcome change. It was always a thrill to just grab any food that we saw.
Cabin Attendant. Our attendant was Melvyn. His actual name was four words that were huge in length and
about one third of the letters of one of the words could possibly be pieced together to spell ‘Melvyn’. What a
great guy. He was from Thailand and always around. He and the other attendants really enjoyed just talking
to us and they were always working. We always like to have the room made up early so that we can head
back to it for early naps and he had it ship shape with all the beds put away and tidy by 9 am. Elsewhere on
this site I have read complaints about the attendants. If someone has a complaint about his or her attendant
call guest services immediately and get them to switch your cabin or attendant. Even if they do not switch
anything it will get them all fired up. They were definitely tuned into quality.
Pools. There is Mickey’s Pool which is aft and for small children. It also has a very big waterslide for those
between 40 and 64 inches (I think) tall. My three-year-old did it and found it too scary. My son is not a big
water guy yet and refused as soon as he saw it.
The design for this pool is good and would be good for kiddy pools on dry land. It is several pools at
different levels all on a recessed platform to hold the water in. The maximum depth for any location is only
eighteen inches. Occasionally big kids would start splashing in the pool but that would not last long and they
would head to Goofy’s pool where they belonged.
There were not many lounge chairs but there was always a chair and table near the side of the ship and this
was close enough to watch the children. It was also possible to stay in shade most of the day in the pool.
There were always tons of clean towels in wooden box dispensers. We had just a great time at the pool. It
was one of our favorite places. At eight am I got up there with my two kids after breakfast and it was only a
light crowd until ten am when all hell broke loose and it would get crowded and stay crowded. However,
everyone was easy going. Having a lounge chair with good positioning was only important early and late in
the day and at those times availability was high. At the busy times, I had to be in the pool or sitting on the
edge to keep track of everyone.
There is a soft drink deal. For all children twelve and under it costs 4$ a day for a sticker that lets them drink
unlimited soft drinks at the pools. But like the food elsewhere on the ship it was unlimited ice cream and fast
food for everyone poolside.
I never went in the Goofy family pool but it looked very nice with two hot tubs attached. I walked by the Quiet
Cove Pool for adults and looked wistfully at it. I am definitely going for a few hours there next time. It was
elegantly appointed with nice wood touches and had light jazz playing. There was a very nice bar at the pool
called Signals where you could sit in peace and harmony and just feel the breeze. Next time!
Nassau. The ship backed into the berth with the bow headed west-northwest. The Atlantis Resort was off to
the aft and starboard. The city of Nassau was to port. The Carnival Fantasy was to port and the Norwegian
Sky was to starboard. At one PM we got up enough energy and walked off the gangplank and into Nassau
about one hundred yards. On the ship it had been seventy-five degrees and very breezy because we were
up so high. On the street, it was a million degrees. Even the people running the shops hardly moved. We
turned around and headed (ran) back and got in the pool.
My advice would be that if you are an active traveler go on an early shore excursion and then come back in
the afternoon, nap, eat and then head out again. The schedule is very well established and the locals all
know it. If there were something that you wanted to do that was not an offered shore excursion (like scuba
diving), it would be easy to schedule it by directly contacting the people by e-mail. Since you do not have to
be on board until 1:30 am it leaves a lot of flexibility.
Castaway Cay. We backed into the berth with the bow headed east-southeast. The island to starboard and
to aft and the sea to port. Most people have stated that this was the highlight of the trip. For me the ship
was. It is an excellent island. We live less than a mile from the beach in Florida so mostly what I think of
when I am at a nice resort like this is how I can keep from being sunburned. The sun exposure at the island
is quite high.
It was very large. From what I could tell, it was about five miles due west of Crossing Rock on Great Abaco
Island. It seemed to be about two miles by two miles in size. There was lots of very nice construction with
great shelters and picnic areas. It was so elaborate that it seemed to have been designed for more than one
shipload. It just had so much to offer. Definitely go to the first shop and purchase one of the small plastic
waterproof containers to put all the room keys in. Sure you could bring one but the price is about the same
and it has a very nice Castaway Cay label on it. Throughout the trip, we saw very nice things to buy. There
were very nice quality and attractive t-shirts on the island with nice designs. By and large, I was so afraid at
wasting money that I did not buy all the things that I should have. I did not encounter any rip-offs (except at
the spa).
Photos. All over the island and on the ship there are photographers. They wanted to make sure that they
did not offend and consequently were too shy. This was different from the Disney theme parks where they
are similar to gnats and have to be swatted away. Also different from the theme parks is that it just takes a
second to take a picture. They did not have to take down our names since all the pictures are developed
and put on display in Shutters on Deck 3, Mid. You just have to go find it and buy it if you like it. They did
not take candid photos without passengers knowing that they were being photographed.
My main regret from the trip is that we did not attend a professional photographic portrait sitting. These were
held in the Atrium Lobby Deck 3, Mid during the evening after Castaway Cay. Only the kids looked good in
the photos taken on the island or up on deck. All of the adults (including me) had puffy bloodshot eyes from
the bright sun and no one over thirty looks too good in a bathing suit. However, after a day out in the sun, a
nice cleaning up and casually elegant attire a family portrait looks wonderful. Since all the photos are on
display in Shutters, it is impossible not to notice how the photos from other families turned out. The
professional portraits from the sittings were exceptional. In contradistinction to the other photos, I never saw
a ‘bad’ one. Like most families, we do not get to the portrait studio although we are only at this stage in our
lives once. Next time we are going to attend a sitting.
Tipping. After we got back from Castaway Cay I went to the Guest Services desk and put the tips on my
account. The clerk put the charges on the account and then stapled all the receipts together. Each receipt
was like a theater ticket, the large part was to be broken off, and then put in supplied preprinted envelopes.
The brochure recommended $10.50 per person per day for the tip for the Stateroom Host. This was only
$42 and did not seem nearly enough for all that Melvyn did for us so I gave him double. Since we had only
gone to two of the three nights assigned in our restaurant, I gave the Dining Room Server, Assistant Server
and Head Server what was suggested in the brochure. They had been very nice and took care of us but
they did not work nearly as hard as Melvyn did.
I did get embarrassed. A friend had just gone on the cruise the week before and charged the tips to his
account. He said that he could tell that the workers had gotten the tips by their gratitude to him. However,
the ship’s daily newsletter mentioned that it was a tradition to give the tips personally for a job well done.
After our meal in Triton’s I offered my profuse thanks to our server and gave her the envelope that had the
tipping receipt in it. When I got back to our cabin, I found Melvyn who was even cheerier than normal and I
readied to give him his envelope. I pulled it out of my pocket and was ready to hand it to him when I saw the
words ‘Dining Room Server’ on it. I had given the Dining Room Server his envelope! I quickly palmed the
envelope and told Melvyn how good he had been to us and he expressed his thanks. I repeatedly asked my
wife to go downstairs to get the envelope from the server but she steadfastly refused.
All in all, we had a wonderful time. The trip has made me excited about cruising in general. There are
several issues that I had not thought about before this cruise. The first is that the time ashore for some of
the ports is too short for other cruises. Having about eighteen hours in Nassau is plenty of time for two
excursions. The second is that at some ports, some other ships do not dock and transfer by boat is
required. We went back on and off the ship several times at Castaway Cay and it seemed more like a high
rise hotel than a ship. What may push me to a different ship away from Disney would be going on a voyage
with fewer children on board. I think that my kids may have a better time with fewer children on board the
ship. Also there is no babysitting on board. There were lots of nice events at 11 pm but I did not want to
wake our kids up, dress them and drag them to the Kids’ Club to stay while we went to the event. A
babysitter would have made life easier.
Name: Diane Groulx
Email: Grewcrew@Triton.net
Age: 45
Occupation: Part-time sales/Full-time Mom
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Disney-Wonder
SailingDate: June 18, 2000
Itinerary: Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay
Cabin: 6
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 70
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 89
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 85
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 85
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 89
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Jul 2000
Time: 19:19:38
Remote Name: pm-ppp132.triton.net
Remote User:
Comments
Our family, with our two children ages 11 and 9, had a great time aboard the Disney Wonder when
we sailed June 18, 2000. In rating the Disney cruise, however, I believe one has to consider the
family-oriented theme of the cruise line itself. For example, there are no casinos on board. Also,
trying to please the palates of that many children....well, let's face it: most kids are not looking for
gourmet fare. That said, the following are my inpressions on the various aspects of our cruise.
Embark/Disembarkation: It was absolutely hassle-free. To avoid the long lines, I think it was an
advantage to get there about an hour early.
The Ship: It was well-maintained the entire time we were aboard. Crews could be seen here and
there keeping things in tip-top shape. It's lay-out works well by separating the kid's from the
adults-only portions of the ship. I would not hesitate to cruise on the ship if I was on a honeymoon or
was a senior cruiser.
Cabin/Cabin Steward: I loved the lay-out of the cabins and the fact that many have balconies. The
split bathrooms really help when it's time to get everyone out the door. One bath has a sink and
toilet; the other a sink and shower. It's a very good idea to take time to put your belongings away as it
cuts down on what I call room confusion. I was surprised that we actually had more storage space
than we needed and I am a chronic over-packer! Our Disney steward was not very friendly, but he
did his job.
Food: My children are not the gourmet-type. They were very satisfied with the stardard kid fare of
chicken fingers, cheeseburgers and a steak now and then. They loved the breakfast buffets and the
pool-side pizza offered all day. I thought the food was good but not great. There was an adequate
selection each night and our waiters were happy to accommodate special requests. If you're looking
for a gourmet adventure while on a cruise, I would look elsewhere than Disney. However, they do
offer the adults-only Palo, but I did not dine there.
Ports of Call: While Disney only went to Nassau and their private island, Castaway Cay, I was more
than satisfied with this on our four-day cruise. Because of rain, our shore excursions were cancelled
for Nassau. Most people made the best of it by throwing on a poncho and heading into town for some
shopping. Disney's private island was the highlight of the trip. It was simply perfect and beautiful.
There were enough chairs and umbrellas for everyone, waiters were plentiful, and the bar-b-que
lunch buffet was excellent. A wonderful day for adults and kids alike!
Children's Activities: I had heard nothing but wonderful comments about how well the Disney folks
took care of the kids. I was, therefore, somewhat disappointed in the organization of the kid's
activities. They seemed to be always changing the rules or the location of activities. This resulted in
long lines and sometimes, total chaos. I tried to enroll my children at first, then I just gave up because
we didn't want to spend all our time standing in lines and filling out forms.
Entertainment: It was tops all the way around. I had heard that the shows were somewhat corny from
an adult's viewpoint. But hey....it's Disney. Keeping this in mind, I thought the shows had something
for young and old alike. My children thought the shows were great. The adult-only entertainment was
very good, too, and we enjoyed everything we went to. You did have to make an effort to get to the
shows a bit early or they were sometimes filled to capacity.
Overall Cruise: We had a great time aboard the Wonder. I would recommend this trip to your family. I
would be more than happy to answer anyone's questions. Thank you for the opportunity to comment
and I hope my review is helpful.
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