My Second Disney Cruise-Questions to all DCL Fans

[WaltsApprentice]

My 2nd Disney Cruise-Questions to DCL Fans

Hi, everyone!

My girlfriend and I suddenly just made plans and signed up for our second cruise which will be this weekend Sunday March 2nd, a 4 Night Cruise on the Wonder! Our last cruise was back in August 07… and we can’t wait for this one…the DCL is like our home away from home. We have the chance now to do a verandah stateroom and we are lucky now to be Castaway Cay members! Soooo I have a few questions for big fans of DCL to see if they can help me answer them. I just want to know like a preview or a trailer of things to come…I’m just so excited!!

1) How are the verandah staterooms? Last time we were in an inside stateroom… no windows…which we enjoyed because we didn’t always know when to get up but because of the excitement we were always up and ready by 8:00 J ..But are they nice?? Is there a big difference other than a verandah?

2) Now that we are Castaway Cay members…it said we get like a special gift in our room…hehe what kind of gifts? Sorry I was the kid that always shakes their Christmas gifts.

3) I think I read somewhere that CCM (Castaway Cay members) go to some cocktail hour with the captain and the crew…is this true??

4) Also is there anything new since August 2007 …I read online that it just came from a clean up refurb… So just wondering if there is anything new??

5) I have had a chance yet to look at the menus...but anything new on the menus...I loved their food:slurp:...any recommentations??

6) Are any of you getting to go?? If so let me know maybe I’ll see you J You maybe sitting at our table!

I think that’s all for right now! Thank you in advance for your help!:wave:

 

[mom2of2]

I'll give it a go!

1) What cat are you looking at? I've been in a 7- which in the the more enclosed Navigator verandah....very nice to sit out in even when it rains, they have a chair and a bench. A cat 5 and a cat 6. They are decent sized verandah's with 2 chairs and a table. Once you do a verandah you are spoiled!!

2) yup, you get gifts. It changes from time to time but the last time I got 2 mesh backpacks, travel cups, lanyards etc. It's exciting to see what is waiting on your bed when you get to your stateroom

3)yup again. I have never gone to the party though so I can't comment more on that

4)Did the new show start yet? not sure sorry

5)not that I know of either

6)not this trip but we have one booked for January 2009

7) HAVE A BLAST!!!!!!!!

 

[WaltsApprentice]

I'll give it a go!

1) What cat are you looking at? I've been in a 7- which in the the more enclosed Navigator verandah....very nice to sit out in even when it rains, they have a chair and a bench. A cat 5 and a cat 6. They are decent sized verandah's with 2 chairs and a table. Once you do a verandah you are spoiled!!

2) yup, you get gifts. It changes from time to time but the last time I got 2 mesh backpacks, travel cups, lanyards etc. It's exciting to see what is waiting on your bed when you get to your stateroom

3)yup again. I have never gone to the party though so I can't comment more on that

4)Did the new show start yet? not sure sorry

5)not that I know of either

6)not this trip but we have one booked for January 2009

7) HAVE A BLAST!!!!!!!!

1) Ya I scared...because we loved our room last time and the great thing is ...we didn't feel like we needed to stay in it soo long lol...because we didn't have a verandah...But I feel like we maybe stuck more in the room then out doing something lol...we loved it last time because we were always soo busy...lol..But I don't think I'll mind the fancy stuff

2) COOL... sounds interesting I think last time I saw them have magnets on the doors for them too..

4) I hope the new show hasn't started yet...because I think its replacing Hercules and we love that soo... the Toy Story doesn't look that good.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND COMMENTS...I'm soo excited!

 

[ImaYoyo]

Just a quick note, you're now a castaway club member...

 

[lscott933]

the last time we went we got a backpack for our gifts in the room and i have went to the party. you meet all the staff the two captains where there talking and answering question along with all the upper staff on the ship. there are free drinks as much as you want, plus a lot to eat there too. it was a fun time to talk to the staff there. i would say that there was about twenty people there from being a member. we are going in november so i am wondering we will be getting this time.

 

[WaltsApprentice]

Just a quick note, you're now a castaway club member...

Opps...well I am new to the club...lol... Thats what I love about disney...you can totally memorize the parks the rides and everything else...and then they come up with something new DCL (I know its not that old) and I have to learn new things all over again! ... It was the same with me going to Disneyland...now I know how tourists who come to WDW for the first time feel like. lol

 

[WaltsApprentice]

the last time we went we got a backpack for our gifts in the room and i have went to the party. you meet all the staff the two captains where there talking and answering question along with all the upper staff on the ship. there are free drinks as much as you want, plus a lot to eat there too. it was a fun time to talk to the staff there. i would say that there was about twenty people there from being a member. we are going in november so i am wondering we will be getting this time.

Interesting... We will have to think about it to see if we want to go... I would be bit scared to meet them all. But it probably relaxing. THanks for the info.

I thought there would be more posts I guest not lol

 

[WaltsApprentice]

Another question

Had another question.... on the 4 night cruise one night your out as sea just sitting there.... what do they usually plan?? Is there an addition boardway style show?? Or is there another deck party??? Or is just whatever you want to do night....:shrug:

 

[Phonedave]

Verandah rooms are nice

My two kids liked to sit out on it as we would leave port. At night, after the kids were settled in, I would sit out there with an adult beverage and listen to the water and watch the sky.

Our cabin was on the Starboard (right) side of the ship, this is the side that looks out across Castaway Cay when the ship is there. After we came back from Castaway Cay we sat on the balcony and watched people swim, parasail, take banana boat rides, etc. You also have the view of the Flying Dutchman. If your room is on the port side, then you are dockside and just see the part of the island where you debark.

-dave

 

[Laura]

The Veranda staterooms are great. Did you get one on the aft side? When we went in November we had an aft stateroom and our verandah looked out over Castaway Cay. It was so nice.

You will get a nice gift in the room. You'll also bypass the line at check-in, which is great!

I didn't waste time with the Castaway Club party. It sounded boring and there were more fun things to do at the time.

I don't know about the refurb. The only difference I noticed from the first time I went on the Wonder (which was right after it was launched - in 1999) was the HUGE TV screen over the Goofy pool - which I loved!!

Menu recommendations - I usually eat off the kids menus because I'm ridiculously picky. But at Triton's I tried something off the adult menu - DUCK. I had never had it before, but OMG it was so amazing. I wish I could have some again!

Click on the Trip Reports link in my signature and look at my Trip Report from my cruise in November. There's tons of pictures of the ship and what our verandah looked like and our views and even our Castaway Club gifts.

Have a great time!

 

[MouseRight]

My friend and his extended family is gonna be on teh cruise to celebrate his 50th b-day. It will be him, girlfriend, son, mother, sister's family (husband & 2 daughters). I think they should be easy to spot. His name is Jeff. What's your 1st name so I can tell him to look out for you.

 

[Phonedave]

The Veranda staterooms are great. Did you get one on the aft side? When we went in November we had an aft stateroom and our verandah looked out over Castaway Cay. It was so nice.

We were slightly aft of the stairway that comes up by the kids pool.

Fore and aft should not matter, it's port and starboard that make the difference of the view at Castaway Cay

fore = towards the bow (front)
aft = towards the stern (back)
port = left side of the ship (running lights on this side are red)
starboard = right side of the ship (running lights on this side are green)

My plan is to go again in the summer of 09 (we just went August 07)

-dave

 

[Laura]

We were slightly aft of the stairway that comes up by the kids pool.

Fore and aft should not matter, it's port and starboard that make the difference of the view at Castaway Cay

fore = towards the bow (front)
aft = towards the stern (back)
port = left side of the ship (running lights on this side are red)
starboard = right side of the ship (running lights on this side are green)

My plan is to go again in the summer of 09 (we just went August 07)

-dave

:hammer:

Wow I'm dumb. I was even THINKING starboard and wrote aft. I don't know how I got that word in my head as I was typing.

Sorry about that! We were midship STARBOARD and had a great view of CC, but that's because the ship backed into port. I've heard that sometimes it can pull in forward, so I guess it's the luck of the draw.

 

[WaltsApprentice]

My friend and his extended family is gonna be on teh cruise to celebrate his 50th b-day. It will be him, girlfriend, son, mother, sister's family (husband & 2 daughters). I think they should be easy to spot. His name is Jeff. What's your 1st name so I can tell him to look out for you.

Wow that sounds cool! Thats the one thing about being on the cruise the guests are always so nice...and you meet so many new friends! My first name is Zackery...and my girlfriend is Natalie! I'll have to look out for them lol The one thing I don't like is their celebration cake we got it last time for my b-day...it was dry and gross... which that and guest relations is the negitives we had on our trip!

 

[WaltsApprentice]

The Veranda staterooms are great. Did you get one on the aft side? When we went in November we had an aft stateroom and our verandah looked out over Castaway Cay. It was so nice.

You will get a nice gift in the room. You'll also bypass the line at check-in, which is great!

I didn't waste time with the Castaway Club party. It sounded boring and there were more fun things to do at the time.

I don't know about the refurb. The only difference I noticed from the first time I went on the Wonder (which was right after it was launched - in 1999) was the HUGE TV screen over the Goofy pool - which I loved!!

Menu recommendations - I usually eat off the kids menus because I'm ridiculously picky. But at Triton's I tried something off the adult menu - DUCK. I had never had it before, but OMG it was so amazing. I wish I could have some again!

Click on the Trip Reports link in my signature and look at my Trip Report from my cruise in November. There's tons of pictures of the ship and what our verandah looked like and our views and even our Castaway Club gifts.

Have a great time!

I think I had the duck last time...it was amazing! I can't remember though...I'll check out the trip reports sounds cool thanks for sharing!!
I'll get back to you once I look!

 

[magicfan]

The one thing I don't like is their celebration cake we got it last time for my b-day...it was dry and gross... which that and guest relations is the negitives we had on our trip!

Yeah I had the same poor experience, but I guess it was just due to poor planning on our part. It was my birthday, but they brought the cake after we had already had dessert. By that time, nobody was hungry. They said we could bring it back to the room. That happened to be the last night of the cruise. Didn't think about it at the time, but you can't take food off the ship! So we didn't eat any of it, but it sure looked good! :lol:

 

[WaltsApprentice]

Yeah I had the same poor experience, but I guess it was just due to poor planning on our part. It was my birthday, but they brought the cake after we had already had dessert. By that time, nobody was hungry. They said we could bring it back to the room. That happened to be the last night of the cruise. Didn't think about it at the time, but you can't take food off the ship! So we didn't eat any of it, but it sure looked good! :lol:

It was okay you didn't miss anything.... The red jelly was the best but the cake was very dry. It's suppose to be I think like a fancy strawberry shortcake??

 

[WaltsApprentice]

I just got our tickets out and I notice our state room is on the 6th level ( last time we were on the 7th)... and were in the way back (last time we were in the middle made it easy because it was so close to everything) and we are on the right side of the ship in 6650 I think... I hope my gf likes it... we gotta keep reminding ourselves that it will be good but not as good as the first one... Gotta stay positive...I did had to let her down that it was not on the magic...she thought it was going to be a different ship...so that we can search for new things. But I reminded her that...it going back to our Home away from home... yet this time we have a verandah hehe...

QUESTION:
What did you all do on the extra day out at sea?? Did they do an extra broadway show?? New deck party?? Just wondering... were do you go dine?? Or is it back to the begining since it rotates...
We only did a 3 night last time... we are doing the 4 night this time...

THANKS AGAIN!

 

[WaltsApprentice]

The Veranda staterooms are great. Did you get one on the aft side? When we went in November we had an aft stateroom and our verandah looked out over Castaway Cay. It was so nice.

You will get a nice gift in the room. You'll also bypass the line at check-in, which is great!

I didn't waste time with the Castaway Club party. It sounded boring and there were more fun things to do at the time.

I don't know about the refurb. The only difference I noticed from the first time I went on the Wonder (which was right after it was launched - in 1999) was the HUGE TV screen over the Goofy pool - which I loved!!

Menu recommendations - I usually eat off the kids menus because I'm ridiculously picky. But at Triton's I tried something off the adult menu - DUCK. I had never had it before, but OMG it was so amazing. I wish I could have some again!

Click on the Trip Reports link in my signature and look at my Trip Report from my cruise in November. There's tons of pictures of the ship and what our verandah looked like and our views and even our Castaway Club gifts.

Have a great time!

GREAT Vacation report! very detailed!! Thats cool that you got to meet up with message board members...I was hoping my friends at the last minute that I work with could come. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[magicfan]

Being near the back isn't all that bad - just a few flights up and you are at the buffet :slurp:

The extra day at sea is great because there is no structure. You can do whatever. It's a great eplore the ship day. Do some of the planned activities they are a lot of fun. As for the dining, you just continue the same rotation (A,B,C,A).