Anyone Cruising In 2003??

[BRER STITCH]

HI ALL! :wave:

I'm taking my first Cruise this April on Disney Cruise Lines.
We're doing the 4day/3day Park/Cruise package and CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Just curious if anyone else is going on a cruise this year?

Also, any tips for a first time cruiser?

Thanks!

 

[bailey5697]

Originally posted by MCMike37
Well, maybe I will get off my butt here and write a review of my trip.

I would love to hear your review <HINT HINT>
:animwink:
More pictures would be nice as well < HINT HINT> :animwink:
Was that subtle enough for you? LOL :lol:

 

[bailey5697]

Originally posted by OldKeyWest24
Me and my disney freak family are going on our first cruise April 19th. lol Its a the 7 day crusie to the eastern Caribbian. Im soo excited! Its 8 adults and 3 teenagers girls (includingme) that are 16, 15, and 13. And than we are going to WDW for 4 days after. Im soo excited! anyone else going..we're looking for some teens!! lol Any suggestiosn on what we should do on the islands?

Susan

That sounds like a Great trip! We are going 2 weeks after you, but on the Wonder. Are you staying at OKW? (Guessing by your screenname) :animwink:

 

[EchoOfOphelia]

We're going on the DisneyCruise from Sept 21-28 for our honeymoon, I'm so excited! We're doing the 4 days on land and 3 days at sea as well. This will be my first Disney Cruise, but not my first Cruise.

Like someone else said, bring motion sickness pills even if you don't think you'll need them. You just might!

And really really explore, take advantage of all the things the cruise has to offer. There is so much to do on the ship and also on land. I've been to Nassau before... not so good, so I would stick close to the beach and walk along it The water is beautiful.
I've never been to Castaway Cay so that's what I'm really looking forward too. They even have an "adults only" beach in case you just want to sit and relax, which I think is really nice. However.. I will be on the kids beach playing around :lol:

Have a wonderful time! Please try and do a trip report when you get back, I'd love to hear your tips and memorable moments!

 

[OldKeyWest24]

Originally posted by bailey5697
That sounds like a Great trip! We are going 2 weeks after you, but on the Wonder. Are you staying at OKW? (Guessing by your screenname) :animwink:

I wish i was! this is the first time in 10 yrs we arent. we are going ot caribbean Beah..ive never been there!

Susan

 

[EchoOfOphelia]

Old Key West -
I love the Caribbean Beach, I hope you enjoy it there. Its such a nice little resort, so many bright, fun, tropical colors, its hard not to be in a good mood. Walk around the lake on a nice day, its very soothing. And lay in the hammocks on the beach at night. Great resort, hope you enjoy it!

 

[OldKeyWest24]

Originally posted by EchoOfOphelia
Old Key West -
I love the Caribbean Beach, I hope you enjoy it there. Its such a nice little resort, so many bright, fun, tropical colors, its hard not to be in a good mood. Walk around the lake on a nice day, its very soothing. And lay in the hammocks on the beach at night. Great resort, hope you enjoy it!

OOO sounds nice. KInda like OLd Key west!

Susan

 

[sigsegv]

Originally posted by Chropistopy
Myself and eight other members of my family are headed out on the Magic in June for the Western Carribean cruise. I'm so excited. Just a little over three months....

So nice. DW and I are doing the same cruise in November for our 4th anniversary.

TIPS:

Do not miss Disney Dreams (the best show on the ship). It's amazing!!

Well, DW and I didn't like it when we went on the 4 day cruise for our 2nd anniversary. Sooo shmaltzy/cheesy. But then we realize that we're probably in the minority.

Head out early on Castaway Cay day as the good spots on the beach go quickly.

This is very important. You can always go back early if you get your share of the beach before cast-off. (But I'm willing to bet that, unless you've been stung by a jellyfish , you'll be staying all day.)

FILM! FILM! FILM!

Or... don't forget the charger for your digital camera's batteries. Or maybe a laptop to put all those digital pictures on.

If you do skip a restaurant in your dining rotation to go to Palo, don't skip Animator's Palatte (sp?). Beautiful!!!

DO go to Palo's. Mmmmmm.... wild mushroom polenta.... Mmmmmm..... If you have to skip a night to go to Palo's, I'd suggest Parrot Cay. It was very unimpressive, though I've heard from others that they're reworked their menu, so it might be better now.

-sig

 

[sigsegv]

Originally posted by bailey5697
More pictures would be nice as well < HINT HINT> :animwink:

I concur! More pics!

-sig

 

[BRER STITCH]

:sohappy:

WOOHOO!!!

Thanks for the reminder.....

ONLY 30 DAYS LEFT TIL MY TRIP!!!!!

:sohappy:

 

[MCMike37]

Originally posted by bailey5697
I would love to hear your review <HINT HINT>
:animwink:
More pictures would be nice as well < HINT HINT> :animwink:
Was that subtle enough for you? LOL :lol:

Well, I did take 700 pictures while on the cruise (Digital camera is a very good thing) Only saved 400 and about a hundred of those are less then perfect)

Anyways, here we go....

So, I drove down most of the way the days preceeding our debarking date and stayed just outside of Orlando the night before (Had to go to the Magic Kingdom, although I didn't realize it closed at 7 and I walked in at 5:30) But I did get to see the fireworks which made it all worth it...
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/castle1.jpg

So I got up the next morning fairly early and drove over to Port Canaveral because my parents were staying in a hotel right there. (Of note, the reason for this cruise was my brother was getting married, more on that to follow) Eventually we left, fairly early, and drove on over. Back in January they were still in the midst of rather heavy construction, but even with that, it was really easy to find your way around. Pulled up, to the luggage check, dropped off the luggage (Of note, the baggage handlers are not Disney employee's and will remind you of that fact for a tip. Pull out of there go across the street to the cruiose parking lot (Was a flat 30 bucks to park) SInce we were early we got a nice first row parking space under trees. Grab our carry-on's and walk on over.

http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/terminal1.jpg
Walk into the terminal and go through security, then up the escalator to the main terminal area. The desk right as you get to the top has cast members who make sure all your forms are filled out correctly before heading over to officiall check in. They go through all that, give you your key cards, and then you wait. As being one of the first people there we jumped into line to get aboard and just waited. Not much to do or see in the terminal, but they have a model and you can walk outside to see the ship (Snack stand as well)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wonder1.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wondermodel1.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wondermodel2.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/discover.jpg

Time comes, they open the doors, check onto the ship, and then aboard you go. Walk right into the atrium and they had a band playing, an announcer and already the people standing by with alcohol for those people that really can't wait. We attempted to go up to our room, but they were still preparing it, so we went to go eat. Again, they were really about food service, but given the events of the past, I could understand. AFterwards, went back up to our room, luage was waiting and got settled. Once that was done, me and my mom (I stay with my parents as #1, they offered to pay for it, #2, how much time do you plan on spending in your room on cruise?) quickly ran up to the Spa to sign up for the Cabana massages on Castaway Cay since theytend to go quickly. At that point, I wanted to take a uick look around the ship and get some pictures before it got too crowded.
The main atrium and elevators
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/atrium1.jpg
The Beuna Vista Theater (Only for movies)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/beunatheater.jpg
The Cadillac Lounge (Cool place, windwos to look out, guy playing a piano, cool relazing atmosphere - Great martini's as well)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/cadillaclounge.jpg
The Cruise Logo (On the floor just outside the Walt Disney Theater where they present all the plays)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/cruiselogo.jpg
The Walt Disney Theater
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/waltdisneytheat.jpg
ESPN Sky box (Highest point on the ship you cango, watched the first half of the Steeler's game, careful of the nacho cheese, I got first degree burns cause it was so hot)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/espnskybox.jpg
A quick shot of Palo
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/palo1.jpg
A shot of the stack
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/stack1.jpg
You're telling me this is a ship?
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/stairwell.jpg
Wavebands danceclub type place on the Wonder
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wavebands2.jpg

So, after that, we had to go to the civil ceremony for my brother's wedding (THey have to do it before they leave for Interneational waters) Once we get done for that, we jump back on board and head up to the top deck.
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/deck10.jpg
They had the Goofy's cast off pary, but we just hung out at the front of the ship and watched it set sail.

Of note, you can see the NASA Assembly building across the bay
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/assembly.jpg

So, the shipis now out to sea, and we were on the show first, dinner second routine. Personally, I would rather have done it the other way around. Sometimes the dinners ran really long, and we were still sitting there at 11 o'clock at night. But anyways, first show was good, a Hercules play (Dang those muses could sing). Then it was off to Animator's Palate for the first dinner. Very cool place. You'll allknow the premise, so I'll forego it, but it's done well. I took panoramic shots as teh dinner progressed. (Warning, the pictures are very large)
Small Pictures
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animat1sm.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animat2sm.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animat3sm.jpg
Large Pictures
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animatorspalate1.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animatorspalate2.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/animatorspalate3.jpg

Of course, great food and our server was very humerous and helpful. Quick note on dinners. AS aforementioned, Palo is a must. But try to find out as early as possible which dinner it would be replacing. They will change your seatings to a different restaurant, but it depends on availability, and the people. They really didn't want to help us out, but through constant asking of many people, we finally got what we wanted. (We would have missed Ariel's due to a Palo dinner)

So, dinner is done and we were all exhausted. I stayed up for a while and went down to the 70's night at Wavebands, but relaly didn't stay up that long.
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wavebands1.jpg

Day 2 coming up!

 

[MCMike37]

Originally posted by MCMike37
Day 2 coming up!

Alrighty, on to day 2.

Woke up and went to breakfast at Ariel's. Typical breakfast, whatever you want, eggs, sausage, bacon, ceral, danish, fruit, etc.

After that went up to the top and watched as we pulled into Nassau. That all done, we waiting until the all ashore call and left. Now, the Nassau experience. The only reason you should get off the ship is if you are going on a shore excursion. My bro and his wife went to swim with the dolphins, her parents went on a glass bottom tour, and her brother went on a history tour or something like that. Me and my parents, not knoing any better, just figured we would walk around and all. I had read before of Nassau's...er...charactor, but I guess I had to experience it for myself to tell me I only needed about a half hour to get all of it in.
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/nassaustreet1.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/nassaustreet2.jpg

So, after a short time in town, we got back onto the ship. Which, was a very good choice. Granted a shore excursion problay would have made for more fun, there is nothing quite like having almost the entire ship to yourself. WE went and saw Treasure Plane in the WDW Theater, then I went up and swam, chilled out, read, and generally just relaxed on board. I mean, there I was in the begining of January in the Bahamas laying on the deck of a cruise ship not having anything to worry about. For me, that was great fun in itself.

So, everyone slowed trickled back for the show and dinner. The show was a comedic magic act. Funny, entertaining, but nothing to drool over. Thenit was off to Ariel's. Again, good food (What else would you expect), and the atmosphere, we just, well atmosphere. Nothing hugely impressive or amazing besides a large tiled mosiac of Triton and Ariel.

That night we all stayed up (Minus my parents, not big party animals) and boogied at the deck party, and then moved down to Wavebands for kareokee, and lots of fun. The cast member running it was hilarious and it was a lot of fun, even though the place was prettymuch empty. I guess I should mentioned at this point that the ship was about 800 people under capacity, so a lot of place were generally empty, which agian, is not neccesarily a bad thing. Eventually got back to my room and gratefully went to sleep. I took a whole bunch of sunset pictures at Nassau aas well.
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/shipsunset.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/shipsunset2.jpg
Small Panoramic
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/nassau3sm.jpg
Large Panoramics
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/Nassau3.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/Nassausunset.jpg

I awoke to find the ship pulling right up to the pier at Castaway Cay.
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/castawaycaysun.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/castawaycaysun2.jpg

Here is where the story will change a bit for most people. This was the day when the actual Wedding Ceremony was going to tkae place for us. So instead of being in a swim trunks and first off the ship, we were getting dressed to go to the ceremnoy. IT was very well done, and in a beautiful setting with a Bahamian minister that sounded like he had never done anything like this before (Oh well)
From the piere where the ceremony took plaec....
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wonder2.jpg
Small Panoramic
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/castbeach2sm.jpg
Large Panoramic
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/castawaycay.jpg

ONce that was done, we headed back to the ship for the reception while the photographer took pictures of them around the island. The reception was at Palo with cake, champagne, and all that jazz. Once that was done, we all ran to our rooms to rip off al those fancy clothes and get the heck out to the beach. Ended up not getting off the ship to almost 1 o/clock, so you can imagine how much time we lost actually experiencing Casaway Cay. I ran to the adult section and relaxed on the beach for a while before my massage. The massage was great, nothing quite like your own private cabana, listening to the waves crash agsinst the shore with the sea breeze litely blowing. Yeah, twas definitely worth it

Once that wasw done, it was almost time to embark again. I sat on the main beach and chilled for a while before heading back though.
Small Panoramic
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/castbeach2.jpg
Large Panoramics
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/castawaycaybeach2.jpg
And a shot of the Wonder
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/treewonder.jpg

Got back on baord and went to watch the first half of the Steeler's game before heading down to get ready for dinner and everything. Went to see the Disney Dream Show (Just as everyone has mentioned, definitely very good) and then it was off to a private wedding dinner at Palo.

The private room
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/paloprivate.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/paloart.jpg
Perhaps the best calamari I have ever had in my life (I told you I took a lot of random pictures)
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/calamari.jpg

So after that, we were all pretty much exhausted again (It was almost midnight before dinner was done) and retired for the night. Woke up the next morning already docked, and went ahead and left. I carried out my luggage, just so I wouldn't have to worry about trying to find it. Customs, well, there were none. We filled out the slips, but we just walked right out with anyone even so much as looking at us twice.

So, all in all, a great trip and vacation, and while the wedding was special, on a three day cruise it took a lot of time away from enjoying other things the cruise and stops had to offer. I definitely plan on going again sometime int he future, hopefully on the 7 day to get the full experience.

And just a few random pictures
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/shipsunset3.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/donaldpaint.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/funkywake.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/wonder3.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/purpcastle.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/contempnight1.jpg
http://www.club3g.com/members/mcmike37/grandfloridian.jpg

If you have any question, please feel free to ask and I will asnwer them to the best of my ability....

 

[kennyj29]

Disney Wonder

AH......that brings back a lot of great memories. We went on the Wonder in 2000 and the pictures you showed were great..............going on the Magic in December of this year for the Western Caribbean cruise. December 6th......we're trying to figure out how we can add some days at the beginning of the trip, if our jobs will allow it. Three of us are getting laid off and one might be on strike so that definitley puts a cramp in our plans!!!!!

 

[sigsegv]

Nice report, MCMike37. It helped remind me of our Wonder cruise in 2001. It also helped make it just a little harder to wait for our 7 day cruise this November. :hammer: Nice pics too.

-sig

 

[bailey5697]

Great review Mike! I appreciate it! I'm excited, I didn't know there was karaoke! :lol: Great pics and great review, thanks!

 

[joeluvsdisney]

i agree with MCMike37 digtal camera is definetly a plus ive got two

:sohappy:

3/13/03-3/20/03 this thursday yay disney wonder 3days land 4days sea

the pic below is a satatille pic of castaway cay before disney touched it

 

[MCMike37]

Originally posted by bailey5697
Great review Mike! I appreciate it! I'm excited, I didn't know there was karaoke! :lol: Great pics and great review, thanks!

Hey, no problem, and yes, there was karaoke....maybe I should add it was fueled by free shots for whooever stepped up to the mic:lol:

 

[Stitch79]

I also agree with everyone's opinion on Nassau, it was pretty disappointing.

My bf and I went in 2001 and after walking around for about an hour we decided to rent a motor scooter from one of the dealers by the beach. We had a blast playing on the scooter for the rest of the afternoon! You can take it over the bridge to the Atlantis Resort and have some fun over there as well.

So thats my suggestion for a way to spend time in Nassau.

 

[bailey5697]

Originally posted by MCMike37
Hey, no problem, and yes, there was karaoke....maybe I should add it was fueled by free shots for whooever stepped up to the mic:lol:

LOL :lol: I have always wanted to try karaoke, now they are giving out free shots, and I don't have to drive anywhere?? I'm SO THERE!!!! :drevil: :king:

 

[Mr. Tom Morrow]

Just Booked!

It official! We (wife and I, no kids) booked our second Disney cruise last night. We leave in just 24 days (April 4th) to catch the April 5th sailing of the Disney Magic for a 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise. Our first cruise was part of our honeymoon in February 2001 which was a 3 day cruise aboard the Disney Wonder. We had a blast and have been dying to go again every since, and now we are! :sohappy:

Savings Tips!

There are big time deals out there you just have to keep looking for them. We were able to book our 7 day cruise in a category 11 cabin for only $799 each, that’s half price! We have secured a $50 on board credit with our Disney Club membership. Our flight from Detroit was booked on priceline.com for only $175 roundtrip each on US Airways, that’s over 40% off. And thanks again to our Disney Club membership we snagged two nights following the cruise at the All Star Music for less than $100 a night during peak season! We also have one night before the cruise at the Comfort Inn just outside WDW for only $45 for the night. Excluding meals while on shore, souvenirs and park admission (already have park hoppers left over from previous trips) were looking at a cost of about $2,500 which is well less than the regular cost of the cruise alone! The economy being what it is, there are ways to enjoy all the Disney Magic without breaking the bank!

We’re very excited to be going again and I look forward to writing my second trip report, stay tuned! :wave:

 

[bailey5697]

Re: Just Booked!

Originally posted by Mr. Tom Morrow

We’re very excited to be going again and I look forward to writing my second trip report, stay tuned! :wave:

That sounds great!! :sohappy: Have a wonderful time, and you will have to give at least a quickie review before I leave May 2!!
Have a wonderful time!