Welcome to Lauren Hayhurst's review of the Disney Cruise Line, Disney Wonder. ReviewThatCruise.com is first for Disney Wonder Reviews & Disney Wonder ship reviews.
A holiday on a Disney cruise is like living in a dream. And it will be, even for those of you who aren\'t Disney fans...there\'s so much to do besides all the Disney fun - at the very least, choose Disney because they just do everything better than everyone else!!!
We did a 3 night Bahamian cruise, and from the moment we stepped on the ship to the moment we waved goodbye, we were made to feel like celebrities - no request was too small or difficult, smiles were always ready and each cast member read the situation and guest as individuals - executing interesting anecdotes or smooth polite service with ease. For me, it was the small touches that made the difference, the \'welcome home\' banner hung across the gangway after every excursion, your favourite drinks and starters ready and waiting at the table every night, cast members met in passing remembering your name and where you were from...it was repeatedly impressive.
The food served in the 3 different restaurants was of a huge variety and the quality superb. Being gluten/wheat intolerant and a vegetarian, I was worried about what food I might manage on the ship - but rest assured fellow fussy eaters, your wish is their command. Gluten free pasta followed me about from restaurant to restaurant, should I fancy a bite, gluten free rolls were served to me every morning and evening, and a veggie kebab accompanied me to Serenity Bay. Not only the quality, but the quantity! Any slight bit of interest shown in more than one item on the menu and before you know you\'ve got two starters and a few \'taster\' dished along side your main! It was my Gran\'s 80th birthday while we were away and a giant chocolate cake appeared in Triton\'s, followed by a huge spun-sugar peacock at Palo\'s, laced with strawberries and raspberries! My Gran could not believe her eyes. I definitely recommend Palo\'s by the way, but if you\'re doing a 3 night cruise and have to miss out on one of the other restaurant, try to miss Parrot Cay, as this seems to have the least \'going on\'.
During the day food is available on deck 9 - pizzas, burgers, chips, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, fruit, cookies, ice cream...you name it! And you can order room service at any time of the day of night - I put it to the test and ordered cheese and biscuits and some giant cookies at 1am - they arrived within 20 minutes! One tip I have regarding food - and it\'s not something I tried myself, but will do next time - apparently they have Mickey Premium bars on board (the Mickey Mouse shaped ice creams you can buy in the parks), but you have to ask for them, so give it a go!
The entertainment on board is another breath-taking experience - the shows are Broadway style and quality, the singers and dancing professional and impressive, and the content intriguing and heart warming. To be honest, I would give the Toy Story musical a miss - this brought the level down slightly in that the songs were tedious and the storyline slow, but Dreams and The Golden Mickey\'s are absolutely fantastic. Another tip - unless you\'re having a massive sweet craving, don\'t buy from the counter next to the theatre - but instead, if you want to snack during the show (if you have any room left!) wrap a couple of cookies from Deck 9 or room service, as the bill on the Key to the World card can quickly add up. There was a late night film showing of Bolt - in Disney Digital 3D - and I highly recommend these shows as there are hardly any kids around and you get to see the latest Disney films months before anyone else! Also, the 3D effect is better then any film I\'ve seen in an IMAX cinema.
For a more relaxing 5 minutes, and if you\'re not a regular cruiser, I recommend wandering round the ship early morning or late at night, especially around deck 4. This is the running deck and you can walk all the way round with having to go inside. The feeling is spectacular. Of course, you could do this on any other ship, but the ornate decor and spotless surfaces add to the romantic ambience of being at sea. It creates a sense of timelessness, a classic cruise ship where you could be the stowaway! And gazing out to sea - you can\'t deny the awe that stirs inside. Deck 7 aft is a great place to appreciate the world and take a time out from your busy trip, it\'s a tiny bit of deck that no-one knows about (so why am I telling you?!) - Your own private balcony.
The shore days were great, although I wouldn’t visit Nassau town again – there was nothing bad about it – just nothing special. I’d jump in a taxi and head straight for the beach. But, oh! Castaway Cay! It was breath-taking, awe-inspiring – just wonderful. Serenity Bay was gorgeous, white sands, crisp blue sea – everything you wish for when you’re stuck in a routine at home – it’s THAT beach you keep imagining. No kids screaming, cocktails brought to your lounger – my whole party enjoyed a Castaway Freeze while taking in the view, scrumptious. Another day at Castaway Cay would have been the only thing to improve on this trip.
I would go on another Disney Wonder cruise at the drop of the hat, and am already feeling nostalgic and it\'s only been 2 months since I returned! I don\'t know how they do it, but the combination of attentive cast members and the fact that every other guest is having as much fun as you - makes this holiday everything you want it to be, it\'s everybody’s own personal perfection.
Positives
Delicious food available any time of day.
Cast members mke you feel like a star.
Castaway Cay is a private paradise.
Shows are magnificent.
