Dec 9-13 Wonder Tips and Observastions About This Page:

[brianncali]

Hi all,

I just got back from a 4 day cruise on the Wonder. Instead of walking through every detail of the trip, I have decided to just share my observations and tips that I think may help future cruisers.

1. If you are staying at one of the hotels before the cruise, get all of your paper work filled out and turned in. Once you do, you can walk right on the ship.

2. The first day on the ship felt very crowded and way too busy. At this moment try not to feel like you made a mistake. After the sail away party everyone on the ship seems to spread out.

3. All younger kids will "hit the wall" at some point during the cruise. Be ready for that. ( I guess I will never understand why someone would take a baby or 1 or 2 year old on the cruise. It seems to be way to much for them from what I observed.

4. The Oceanerrs Club is AWESOME. My son is 8 and he had a blast. The young people that work in there really are patient and keep the kids very busy. The staff is not hard lined about your child only sticking with their age group. So if you kids meet someone on the ship Little younger or older, they will be able to play together.

5. I felt compelled to tip the Oceanerrs club and I did! when I returned my pager I had a tip attached. I told them they did a great job and I wanted then to take it. The money found it's way to their manager for future shore excursions. They were really appreciative of the tip and were kind of taken a back.

6. We were not going to get off at Nassau, but changed our minds and went for a quick walk around the city. Be ready to walk through MULTIPLE offers for cab rides, horse carriage rides, hair bradding etc. This is rely annoying but once you tell them " no thank you" they leave you alone. Bring a water bottle on the trip, as expected it is hot and humid.

7. Cast Away Cay: DO NOT miss Jack Sparrow. We got lucky and timed our departure from the ship at 9:45. That is when he shows up for pictures in front of the Dutchmen. He stays in character the whole time and is really nice. We did the Sting Ray encounter at 10:00 am and it is on the far side of the island.

5. After the Sting ray activity, the best place to set up camp is at the end of the family beach. There are hardly any people there and it is nice.

6. If you want a hammock, you better grab it early. I saw people sit in them all day!

7. Do not waste money renting a tube. People abandon them every where, so they are easy to acquire.

8. If you are going to cruise before the end of this month, check out the shops. They have marked down many items.

9. On the last night of the cruise, hit the Micky pool!. Everyone seemed to be worried about packing so my son and I had the pool to our selfs!

10. For the guys out there, they play Sunday and Monday Night football on the huge screen on deck 9.. - They also sell cigars in the shop..

Thats all I can think of right now, I will add more later. I will say that the whole trip was amazing even though my Visa card is on fire! The Wonder runs like a well oiled machine. Thanks to everyone on this board for your trip reports. It is very informative.

[iamgrumpy]

Glad you had a good time!

[imadisneygirl]

I m happy that you had a great time. Some day I will take a cruise.

[Kenny]

Thanks for the TR, sometimes short and sweet is just the ticket!... but not always, lol!. Glad you had a great cruise!

Kenny

[Colexis Mom]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us

[Mom of three 1971]

Thanks for your tips!!!
We leave for our first ever Disney cruise in January and are vey excited.
While it's a first for Disney we have cruised many times other lines with and without our children. Our youngest who will be almost 3 on this trip has gone on many a trip. We have been likey as she is a very good traveler and enjoys herself. I, too, for many years wondered why people took little ones and swore Id' never be "one of them" But, the baby has such good times! Our other children are 6 and 15. If we waited for the baby to be older they would miss out going when they were ages that they can enjoy things. However, I'd bet that if our littlest one didn't fly well, nap easily and eat anything we'd spebnd a lot more time at home!

[DyanKJ130]

Great tips! :thanks for sharing! Sounds like you had a wonderful time

[Mulan2]

Thanks for sharing. No matter how many times you've gone on the ship, there is always some new tip to learn!

[Stephanie P.]

Glad you had a good time!!!

[DougPeterson]

brianncali, We were also on the Dec 9-13 cruise and had a wonderful time. Our twins enjoyed the Oceanears Lab and the staff was fantastic. We also enjoyed Nassau more that we had expected. The hawkers didn't bother us. We just said "no thanks" and kept walking... We did WDW and Universal after the cruise, so we're just getting home and unpacked. I already want to go back.

[brianncali]

Originally Posted by DougPeterson

brianncali, We were also on the Dec 9-13 cruise and had a wonderful time. Our twins enjoyed the Oceanears Lab and the staff was fantastic. We also enjoyed Nassau more that we had expected. The hawkers didn't bother us. We just said "no thanks" and kept walking... We did WDW and Universal after the cruise, so we're just getting home and unpacked. I already want to go back.

Great to hear, I too want to go back as soon as possible. But I will wait until they offer 2 days at Castaway Cay in one trip package.

[MelissaL]

Actually, next summer there will be some 4-night cruises with 2 stops at Castaway Cay. For some reason, pasting the link isn't working, but if you go to the official Disney Cruise Line site, place the mouse on Cruises, and scroll down and click on Special cruises, you'll see a listing for the double dips.

Happy planning!
Melissa

[Melissa Stevenson]

Originally Posted by DougPeterson

brianncali, We were also on the Dec 9-13 cruise and had a wonderful time. Our twins enjoyed the Oceanears Lab and the staff was fantastic. We also enjoyed Nassau more that we had expected. The hawkers didn't bother us. We just said "no thanks" and kept walking... We did WDW and Universal after the cruise, so we're just getting home and unpacked. I already want to go back.

We were also on this cruise. All adults, so we hooked up with a tour operator, I called her and set it up since we had used her before. Yes, we first met her as a pushy tour guide on the pier, we took a chance and loved the tour. This time we called and set it up before we arrived. she was there waiting on us and since the Wonder was the only ship in port that day we got a private tour of the island, since my husband and son hadn't see it before. We went by her house and picked up some cold drinks and had a wonderful time. I can't wait to go on another cruise. I hope to go in April and stay on the ship. Glad you had a great time. We followed up with 4 days at WDW to visit my son who works in the college program. I just love my cruises. I'm hooked.

[DrDolphin]

Glad to hear you had a great time!

[ctalley]

Thanks you for your tips! I enjoyed hearing about your experience especially since We will be on the Wonder during December this year.