Our Anniversary vacation started on Sunday with a surprise to my husband of a trip to Orlando, Florida, where we stayed for 4 nights at walt Disneys Beach Club Resort. We reluctantly packed our bags on Wednesday night for pickup and transport to the cruise ship on Thursday morning. Since we had rented a car, we drove back to the airport to return it, and took the motorcoach from there for the 45 minute ride to Port Canaveral, arriving just before noon. A special video plays during the trip with highlights about the ship and all the activities you can expect once onboard.
Our trip included a stay at walt Disney Resort, so we were already checked-in for the cruise, and our WDW resort room key was also our boarding pass and stateroom key on the ship, eliminating the need to check in at the port; we were among the first to arrive onboard. Your stateroom key also allows you to make purchases onboard without having to carry any cash.
We each had a day bag with the essentials we would need upon boarding, and after stopping for a pre-boarding photo at the gangplank, we made our way on to the disney Wonder. The staterooms would not be ready to occupy for several more hours, but we were directed to one of the restaurants where a sumptuous buffet awaited us. Mountains of Shrimp, carved beef, every kind of salad imaginable, decadent deserts, and festive tropical drinks were just a few of the offerings. We then toured the pool deck, and found some comfy lounge chairs to soak up some more sun, and even played a little ping-pong.
When the staterooms were ready, we found our luggage had already been delivered and settled in. A list of the daily activities is available in each room, and one of the television stations has information about on-board entertainment. We had pre-booked a special dinner at Palos, an adults only dining experience, as part of a specially purchased package though normally you would have to make those reservations as soon as you board. We also had a spa treatment booked for the following day, and again, you would normally book that upon arrival. A life raft drill is held, then its on to the Sail Away party, and finally departure from the port in the late afternoon.
disney Characters are on hand, and there are ample photo opportunities for your family. Ships photographers are available at every occasion, and photos can be viewed that evening and purchased if desired. Photo packages are available and allow you to select the best of the shots from your trip.
The unique dining experience rotates between 3 dining rooms for each night, and your waitstaff travels with you each night. The first night we enjoyed Animators Palate, the next night was Palos, and the third night was at Tritons.
The first night sailing takes you to Nassau in the Bahamas, where you can spend the entire day as you choose, departing around 7:00 p.m. -- be sure to allow plenty of time to re-board! There are so many on-shore excursions to choose from, the hard part is deciding which to choose. We selected the Thriller Power boat tour that reaches up to 60 mph and tours Nassau Harbor, Paradise Island, and highlights nearby private islands. This thrilling morning tour is a great way to start the day, and leaves plenty of time to explore Nassau in the afternoon on your own. We walked around the shops in Nassau then headed to Paradise Island and Atlantis Resort, where we toured the grounds, scoped out the casino, bought a few trinkets, then took a cab back to the ship.
This was also our spa day, and we enjoyed a facial (for me) and both had a relaxing massage, then on to the steam room. Although the on-board gym was well equipped, we never had the time to enjoy those facilities.
There are plenty of activities on-board to keep you entertained even while in port. This was our 6th day of perfect weather -high 70's, sunny, and clear skies. Every minute was filled with plenty of activity, and we also had plenty of relaxation time. Even though there were nearly 1,000 children on board, we never felt over-run by kids, and thoroughly enjoyed the cruise. Kids have their own private deck on board, and activities designed to keep them entertained throughout the cruise.
There were nightclubs, bingo games, movies, character appearances, deck parties, live shows, and more than you could possibly fit into each day. Whatever your desires, be it a romantic honeymoon cruise, romantic anniversary trip like ours, or a family getaway, youll find it all onboard the disney Wonder.
This second night onboard was our night at Palos, and we enjoyed the quiet adults only dining capped off with a special chocolate souffl. The service is particularly attentive here, and the meals are superb. We had purchased a wine package upon boarding, and the wine selection was especially paired with the meals we ordered. Theyll even re-cork a bottle for you, if you dont finish one during the meal.
We set sail that evening for Disneys private island, Castaway Cay, where unfortunately the weather Saturday morning turned windy and rainy, and most of the day was spent on-board the ship. Ever attentive to the needs of the guests, the crew kept everyone on-board fed, active, and happy throughout the day. When the weather cleared some in the afternoon, we headed on-shore and enjoyed a leisurely walk around the island and along the sandy shores. Barbecue lunch was available, but we opted for room service in our stateroom onboard instead. This was to be our final night on-board and we were rotated into the more formal Tritons for dinner, and a special formal portrait was available beforehand. The meals are lavish, and youll never leave the table hungry! Each night you can select your appetizer, entre, and desert from the menu provided, so you always get exactly what youre hungry for.
The disney Wonder is meticulously maintained to Disneys normal high standards, and the service on-board met or exceeded every expectation you could have. The ship is a delight, beautifully appointment, with gorgeous teak decking, those special disney touches, and again because it was early December decorated for Christmas.
We reluctantly packed our bags for the final time, in preparation to depart the ship early the next morning. Sunday dawned sunny and warm as we head to our assigned breakfast seating, where you eat in the same restaurant as the final night, then immediately disembark at Port Canaveral. A 45 minute motorcoach trip back to Orlando International Airport completes your journey, with disney cartoons playing to pass the time.
One final day remains on our Central Florida vacation in Part 3.
Bryn Hiner - read more about walt Disney World at our website http://www.cheapdisney.info
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