Trip Report #38, June 2004 on the Wonder

Kicking Off Cruise #38
It’s so hard to believe that we just finished Disney cruise #38, especially since we only started cruising in fall of 1998! When I tell people how many times we’ve sailed, I have to catch myself because I usually start to say something in the twenties. Thirty-some seems incredible to me, and it will be even more so when we hit 40 in November.

But it was, indeed, #38, and as usual we sailed on the Disney Wonder and stayed in stateroom 5650. This time around, since we were sailing the Thursday after Memorial Day, we combined our cruise with a visit to Disney World. The good part of doing that is the fun of an extended vacation. The bad part is that when it’s time for the cruise, it’s a melancholy excitement. I’m always excited about sailing on the Wonder, but that means the trip is almost over and I’m just one short weekend from returning to reality.

Off for a Holiday Week of Fun
But that’s getting ahead of the story, which starts the Friday of Memorial Day weekend at Midway Airport in Chicago. We typically fly ATA out of Midway. They like to shuffle their flight times around, but we’re usually on one that lands in Orlando around midnight. Even when we’re doing a cruise only, we still fly out a night early just in case of delays. Chicago is notorious for weather delays in the winter, but snow isn’t the only problem. Even in the spring and summer, we’ve been delayed by fog and thunderstorms. Being a compulsive planner, I like the extra breathing room that arriving a day ahead provides. We fly out after work, so it doesn’t even cost an extra vacation day.

We usually take Cicero Avenue straight north to the airport. There was a bit more traffic this time around, probably due to the holiday weekend, but we still got there in a respectable amount of time. We park at an offsite lot, Midway Park Savers, that is not owned by the airport. It’s right across the street from the Orange Line (train) entrance, so you can walk rather than take a shuttle bus. I am not a big fan of shuttles, and you have to walk pretty far to and from the Midway shuttle bus anyway. When you’re returning and the airport is crowded, it can be an absolute free-for-all to get on the parking shuttle buses. With Midway Park Savers, we always know they’re just a brief walk away. The only potential glitch is the chance of rain, but so far we’ve never gotten rained on either coming or going. Just in case, we pack rain ponchos; one of us would don a poncho, pick up the car, and drive over to pick up the other person and the luggage.

The weather was sunny and warm this time around. The airport had a pretty good crowd due to the holiday. We had already done online check-in, so we had our boarding passes, and we’d switched to our favorite exit row. We fly ATA so much that we know the good seats on all of their planes. We’re usually on a 757-300, which is 44 row plane that uses every bit of Midway’s short runways to take off. I would think it would be much harder to land, too, but a flight attendant once told me that it takes less space to land than a smaller 737 because of the power of the reverse thrusters.

When he did our online check-in, hubby noticed by the seat map that the plane was very full. We sat down at a table near an electrical outlet so I could do some work on my laptop while we were waiting, and we bought some dinner at the food court. Midway has really come a long way from a tiny outpost to a modern airport. While it still can’t rival O’Hare, and while its baggage service is still the pits (waiting an hour or more for your bags is not uncommon), the food court and shops are really nice. I usually get Mexican food at Lalo’s or a baked potato at Gold Coast Hot Dogs. Hubby is partial to Potbelly Sandwiches or Harry Carey’s Restaurant, and if you have sweet tooth, you can stop by Ben & Jerry’s for dessert. The bookstore is nice for some pre-flight browsing, and there are various other little shops.

The Midway Gates of Hell
We didn’t have too much time before our flight, and unfortunately we were leaving from gate A4B. Gates A4A and A4B are the worst gates in the whole airport. They are not really “gates” in the commonly accepted definition. Rather, they are an add-on that requires the walk from hell in a never-ending, narrow walkway. Personally, by the time I’ve completed the walk, I’ve wondered if I’m still really on airport property. One of the gate agents summed it up quite well: “By the time you reach the plane, you’ll be halfway to Florida.” There are some chairs in the walkway, but people usually sit outside the walkway entrance, not realizing just how far they are going to have to hike in order to board. We know the drill, so we went all the way down to the boarding area at the door of the jetway to wait.

At boarding time, the first set of rows was called, then the next set shortly thereafter, but hardly any people passed by us. That seemed odd, since we knew the plane was full. Usually, the minute boarding is announced, the crowd rises up immediately like a tidal wave of humanity engulfing the jetway entrance. Hubby surmised that the people who had been called were still in the process of walking to the gate down the never ending path. Apparently he was right, as the crowd hit a few minutes later. We never heard them call any more rows, so we figured that it had disintegrated into a free-for-all and joined the line. It’s a good thing we did, as there was no rhyme or reason to the boarding process and overhead space was at a premium. Ironically, once we were all on board, we had to wait an additional half hour for our flight crew. They had just landed on a delayed Boston flight, probably on the other side of the airport, and now they were frantically running many miles to the A4B outpost.

The flight itself was smooth and uneventful, just the way I like it. Soon enough we were touching down at Orlando International Airport to kick off our Memorial Day week vacation.

Journey to the Port
Orlando was hot an sunny, and the days sped by as we visited the theme parks and spend late afternoons at Typhoon Lagoon. All too soon, it was Thursday morning and time to head to Port Canaveral for the 38th time (actually, the 39th if you count our voyage on Sovereign of the Seas five years ago). We had arranged a 10 a.m. pickup with Happy Limo. We like to get to the port a little early so we can relax before boarding. It takes 45 minutes to an hour to get to the ship from the Disney World area and 30 to 45 minutes from the airport, depending on the traffic. From Orlando International, you can jump right onto the Bee Line (528) at the North Exit. From Disney World, you can take I-4 to 528. Once you’re on the Bee Line, it’s pretty much a straight shot, with only one split-off.

We chatted with our driver, Chris, as the miles whizzed by, and I knew that we were close when we drove over the first huge bridge. It’s always so exciting to catch your first glimpse of the ships in the distance. The terminal area wasn’t crowded yet, so we dropped off our bags with a porter and headed through the security checkpoint. You have to show identification just to get onto the terminal property, and then you go through a screening akin to the one at the airport. It actually seems to be more thorough, as they require you to boot up your laptop. Then it’s up the escalator, where crew members will make sure that you’ve filled out your documents correctly and route you to the check-in deck.

The check-in area is huge, so there is rarely much of a line. There are Castaway Club (repeat guests) and concierge check-in lines at the far right, but you can check in at any line if there is crowd at the designated desk. It was great to see all of our port friends again. We always feel like we’re being welcomed home. When we first arrived, there was only a handful of people waiting to board the ship. Then suddenly it seemed like the crowd exploded from nowhere! Soon the entire queue was filled.

There is plenty to do and see while you are waiting. The shop model is fascinating, and it’s a neat photo opportunity. You can almost always count on a character appearance by favorites such as Chip, Dale, and often even Captain Mickey himself. There are television monitors that show cartoons, but from what I’d seen, the kids are usually much too excited to watch. They seem to prefer wandering around in awe or stepping outside to look at the ship (there is a large outside area where you can smoke or just step out to get an up close and person view).

Because we sail so often, we know many of the people at the port. We saw many of our friends, including Tanya, Dorothy, Art, and Barbara. It’s always great to be greeted by old friends and familiar faces, and saying hello to everyone makes the time go even faster. We are booked on the Magic for a California cruise in 2005, and it’s going to feel strange to sail from a new port full of new people.

Time to Board
You never know exactly when boarding will start, as it depends on how quickly the ship is ready. Although it’s hard to believe, they turn over that huge vessel in something like three hours. By 9 a.m. one set of guests have departed, and by noon it’s just about time for the next set of guests to board. Boarding usually starts by 12:15, although it may be a little earlier or later. This time it was early, with people marching through the Mickey head, pausing for an embarkation photo, and then stepping onto the Wonder right around noon. We’ve gotten to know several of the Shutters photographers, so we said hello to Monika as our photo was snapped.

We headed over to Parrot Cay on deck 3 aft for lunch. The same buffet is also served on deck 9 aft, at Beach Blanket Buffet. Each one has its advantages. The biggest plus for Parrot Cay is if you are a soda drinker, as you can get soda included with your meal. Beach Blanket Buffet has a more limited beverage selection (think punch and lemonade), but you can dine outside if you prefer. We are not soda drinkers, but I discovered my first nice surprise of the trip: REAL iced tea is now served on the ship! For years, it has been the Nestea-type stuff that comes out of a tap. Some people don’t notice the difference, but to a real iced tea fan, that tap stuff is an insult. It bears about as much relation to real iced tea as instant lemonade does to fresh-squeezed.

In the past, I always requested the servers to prepare hot tea for me and then serve it over ice. Now, happily, the real thing is readily available. Oddly enough, although fresh tea was served at lunchtime in Parrot Cay and at dinnertime in Triton’s, I still received the tap stuff when I ordered iced tea on Nassau day at Triton’s for lunch. Hopefully the changeover will be complete by our next cruise, or maybe they serve the tap tea at lunch to save labor.

I like to load up on salads at lunch, while hubby focuses on the jumbo shrimp. There is always some type of fresh carved meat, and this time it was lamb (my favorite), with mint jelly on the side. I got some cold strawberry banana soup, too. There are fresh sandwiches by the soup bar, and also a kid-friendly table with items like corn dogs, macaroni & cheese, and chicken tenders. Even though it’s meant mainly for the little ones, I’ve seen more than one “big kid” partaking of the comfort food.

We were seating with a family from the DIS boards; it’s always fun to meet people in person that we’re already “met” online. As we ate, we poured over our Navigator to plot out our first day activities. The two things I highly recommend checking out immediately are the start times for Palo and spa reservations, particularly if you have very specific times and treatments in mind. If you have an infant and will want to take advantage of the onboard babysitting, you’ll want to get to Flounders Reef to make reservations for that early, too. You don’t have to worry about running frantically to the kids clubs, as every child on board is assured of a spot. But I’ve had several parents tell me that it’s a good idea to register before the safety drill because the line can get pretty bad afterwards.

That space of time before the drill is pretty much the only time you’ll need to run around or worry about anything. Once you have your reservations all made, you can kick back and relax for the rest of the trip. You probably won’t be able to go to your stateroom immediately after boarding, as they aren’t usually ready until around 1 or 1:30 p.m. That gives you plenty of time to eat, get ressies, register the kids, and generally check out the lay of the land.

When we stopped by Wavebands, where Palo ressies were being taken, we were greeted by Pietro, the manager of Palo, who we know from previous cruises. We also saw our old friend Ali, and at various times during the cruise, we saw Rita and Kapoor, two other friends from many past trips. You can tell that we like dining onboard; many of the crew members we know are associated with food!

A Dip in the Pool
I highly recommend packing swimwear in your day bag, as embarkation day before the safety drill is an excellent time to enjoy the pools. It is probably the least crowded that you will ever seem them. Hubby and I have a tradition of kicking off our cruise in the adult hot tub. This trip was no different…well, okay, maybe a little different. Usually the pool is ice cold, which is why I opt for the hot tub. But for some reason it was nice and warm this time, so hubby did laps while I paddled around. We were the first takers, but as the afternoon progressed, more people wandered over to take advantage of the nice, warm water. One rude (or maybe illiterate) person brought his young kid; when I’m in the hot tub, I like to see how long it takes a crew member to come and shag them out, but since I was in the pool, I pointed out that it was adults-only myself. They left without comment, although I suppose there wasn’t much they could say. Maybe, “Oh, we didn’t noticed the eight signs” or “But rules are for other people, not us.” I’m sure that people wouldn’t like it if the adults took over the Mickey slide, so they should be respectful of the adult areas.

Disney is very good about enforcing the rules, which is one big advantage over Royal Caribbean. On RCCL’s Voyager of the Seas, the kids rampaged from one exercise machine to another in the spa after running soaking wet out of the adult whirlpool, and the supposed adults-only pool on Radiance of the Seas was the only indoor pool. That might not sound like a big deal, except that it was an Alaskan cruise, and the kids would have frozen to death if they didn’t take over the adult pool.

On Disney, in the pools and the adult clubs I often see kids asked to leave. After we moved to the hot tubs, I even saw a group of teenagers carded at the pool. I enjoy seeing the kids onboard, but it’s great to have the option to totally get away from them for some quiet time. If you really can’t stand being around children at all, then Disney is not the right cruise for you. It is inevitable that you’re going to see lots of them on board. But if you like knowing that there are nice, peaceful, enforced adult areas, you’ll love the Wonder.

t amazes me that many parents don’t seem to consider babies as “kids.” There have been quite a few times I’ve seen people with infants be asked to leave the pool or the nightclubs. The best one had to be the people who brought their toddler to the adult beach and then left her on a chair while they went swimming. The poor kid just sat there yelling and screaming! A crew member had to wade out into the water to find the parents, and they were highly offended that they were asked to leave. It’s bad enough they didn’t abide by the adults only rule, but that poor little girl could have wandered into the water and drowned as they weren’t even within sight. Oh well, I guess it takes all kinds.

After a hot tub capper, we headed to our stateroom around 3:30 to see if our luggage had arrived so hubby (the packer of our family) could get our bags unpacked before the safety drill. He has it down to a science, and he was done by the time we heard the warning signal. We donned our life jackets and headed to Station Q in Animators Palate. All of the lifeboat stations are located on deck 4. Many of them are outside, but there are also several stations in Animators and the Walt Disney Theater. Since we are usually in stateroom 5650, we know our station quite well, and I’ve finally mastered the art of donning and tightening the life jacket. The drill only takes about 15 minutes. They start off by taking attendance, and then you see a demonstration of how to use the life jacket and hear an announcement about emergency procedures. Then you are dismissed and join the rest of the salmon. For me, once I’m out of there, I know that my vacation has officially begun.

It’s Spa Time
Hubby and I have sailed so often that we don’t usually go to the sailaway party anymore. Sometimes we enjoy sailaway from our verandah, but more commonly we like to book spa appointments for right after the drill. This time around, I had booked a hot rock massage and hubby had booked a seaweed wrap. The seaweed has been around for as long as I can remember, and it’s a favorite for both hubby and I. The hot rock treatment is new to the Wonder, although I’ve had it a few times at a spa near my home. I was anxious to try it, although a little apprehensive about the boost in the treatment prices. They had gone up quite a bit since our last sailing, so we decided we’d do one more spa-heavy cruise and then probably cut back a little on our next trip. I was looking forward to trying the treatment that replaced the Absolute Face & Body, but at over $200 vs. $144 for the old AF&B, it probably won’t be a regular thing.

We headed up to the spa to join the second-wave crowd. Usually there are a lot of people waiting when it first opens to take appointments, typically around 1 p.m. The second wave arrives right after the safety drill, waiting anxiously for the doors to reopen at 4:30 p.m. There are people who already have treatments booked, as well as a large number who are still hoping to make appointments.

Soon enough we had checked in, filled out our consultation sheets, and were ready for our treatments to begin. I just love lying in a semi-coma on a massage table when I heard the ship’s whistle and feel the movement begin. The spa is all the way forward, so you always hear those notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star” announcing that your voyage has begun.

The hot rock treatment was excellent, and hubby loved his seaweed wrap (but of course he always does). In a hot rock massage, the heated stones are used to give the massage, and several are also placed on various parts of your body. It is so warming and soothing that I had to struggle not to fall asleep. The masseuse performs some traditional massage as well. Back on land, I’ve had his type of treatment done with both hot and cold stones (actually, the cold is frozen marble), but all hot is my preference.

Hercules the Muse-ical
I emerged in a blissful state of relaxation, and I could have easily taken a nap, but it was almost showtime. The first night’s show was “Hercules,” which I’ve seen countless times, although not as many as “Disney Dreams.” Herc is a lot of corny fun that makes the most sense if you’ve seen the movie. Even if you haven’t, you can still appreciate it, but you might get somewhat lost in the plot. For me, it never becomes boring because there are many opportunities for ad libbing, so the cast is able to have fun with the show. We have seen various casts, and each new set of actors adds their own touch. I also like seeing how the same cast evolves over the course of their contract. We saw this group in April, on our Easter cruise, and it was amazing to see how much they have added.

Basically, this show is a Cliff Notes version of the movie “Hercules,” done in a vaudeville style. The only big thing missing from the movie is Pegasus (he makes a brief appearance in the beginning, and you see him at the very end on the Magic, but not the Wonder). Other than that, it’s amazing how they worked in so much material from the movie. The jokes are silly, but they still make me laugh. Originally I wasn’t fond of this show, but over time it grew on me, and now I always look forward to it.

I think that the best part is the interplay between Hades, Pain, and Panic. Hades was funny in the cartoon, but in the stage version, he is even more like a wicked stand-up comedian, and Pain and Panic are his two foils who totally steal the show. With each new cast, Hades often gets new jokes, but some remain the same. My favorite is the big finale, when he is cast into the River of Death and he says, “It’s warm…must be the kiddie pool.”

Chow Time
We were on late seating dinner, as usual. Since we come from Chicago, 8 p.m. is like 7 p.m. to us, and we like not feeling rushed before dinnertime. The shows are arranged around the dining times so that guests who eat early see the show after dinner, and those who eat late see the show beforehand. The shows last about an hour, so if you are on the late seating, you will have plenty of time to get ready after the entertainment.

We were scheduled to start off in Triton’s, which is the most formal of the three restaurants. That worked well for us, since Mickey and Minnie were out for formal portraits. Hubby donned a jacket and tie and I donned a dress so we could get a portrait taken before eating. The pictures are taken near the front of the restaurant, so it was nice and convenient.

We were at table 21, which was a table for eight. I know that some people don’t like eating with others, but hubby and I love to meet new people on the cruise. We eat alone every day back home, so we like to dine and chat with others onboard the ship. Our table mates were two couples from South Carolina (not traveling together…it just worked out that way) and a mother and daughter from Georgia, originally from Jamaica. The two couples were celebrating wedding anniversaries, and the little girl was celebrating her birthday. I could have embarrassed hubby by revealing that he would be celebrating his 50th birthday at the end of the month, but I didn’t because our November cruise is perilously close to my 40th and I didn’t want to take a chance at retaliation.

Our tablemates were all great fun, and I was sorry that we would be at Palo on Friday night because the two South Carolina couples were both eating at Palo on Saturday and the mother and daughter were going to try to move to early seating, which means we would be alone on the last night. I would love to have fun tablemates like them on a weeklong cruise. Three nights goes by so quickly; just when you’re all getting to know each other, it’s over. If you do Palo one night, that makes it all the shorter.

Our head server was Michelle, who we know from several previous cruises. Our server was Richard from Chile. We had never had him before, but kept the whole table in stitches with his stories. He kept trying to convince us all that he and Michelle were married. I had camembert cheese and vichyssoises (cold potato soup) for my appetizers, duck for my entrée, and the white chocolate domes for dessert. It was a hard choice, as one of the vegetarian entrees, a vegetable curry, nearly lured me away from my original choices.

Crashing Early
On our first night, we often crash early to build up energy for the rest of the cruise. We used to go to the 80s party, but we stopped when they removed the Michael Jackson dance numbers. The dances, performed by the main stage cast, are the best part of the party. We heard later that the numbers have been restored, but we didn’t know that on Thursday night so we headed for our stateroom after dinner with sleep on our minds.

There were a pair of towel swans waiting for us, as well as a huge supply of shampoo (I’d warned our stateroom host, Emy, about my hair washing obsession when cruising…my hair is usually either oily from the spa, full of chlorine from the pool, or salty from the ocean, so I spend a lot of time in the shower). Before we crashed, I ordered room service for the next morning. There are door hangers in each stateroom from which you can order continental breakfast to be delivered at a specified time the next day. We typically use breakfast as our wake-up call, as they are great about showing up right on time, and sometimes even a little early. If I didn’t have a verandah, I would probably just eat in a restaurant, but eating outside on your balcony in the sea air is such a perfect way to kick off the day. The room service staff on the Wonder is excellent.

I also called 7-PALS, which is the character appearance hotline. I am obsessed with getting a photo with Lilo and Stitch, but the timing is always off. They always seem to be out when we’re at the spa or have to be somewhere else. I did get a photo at Til We Meet Again a few trips back, but I’ve been itching for a nice photo from Shutters. I was in luck: Stitch would be in the atrium at 9:45 on Friday morning, although there was no mention of Lilo. Since breakfast was coming at 9 a.m., I figured I could eat, grab a quick shower, and rush down to deck three for a picture.

As we prepared for bed, hubby realized that he’d forgotten my white noise machine. It is an invaluable marriage saving tool when you are married to a snorer, and it also drowns out hallway and neighbor sounds. Happily, one of the assets of 5650 is that it is located so far aft that there is virtually no hallway traffic. There is no one across the hall, and it’s very rare for anyone to walk by unless they are totally lost. There are staterooms overhead, but for some reason I’ve never heard noise from our upstairs neighbors while in that room. With no extraneous noise, the only thing I had to worry about was snoring. Hubby has lost 50 pounds, so that problem has cut down quite a bit. As long as I was able to keep him on his stomach, he was quiet.

“Sea Day” in Nassau
Whenever we sail on the Wonder, we stay on the ship and pretend that Nassau is a day at sea. If you have never been there, I recommend that you disembark and look around, but if you’ve seen it once, you probably know that you won’t be missing too much if you just stay on board. It happened to be a holiday, so the stores were all closed anyway, although the street vendors, straw market, and hair braiders were out in full force.

We woke up to the room service knock and went outside to enjoy our breakfast in the sunshine. The weather was perfect, sunny and not too hot, and we had an unobstructed view because there were no cruise ships next to us. All that was nearby on our side was a Coast Guard sailboat. Although I’ve seen the Coast Guard in Nassau many times, I’ve never seen them on a vessel with sails before. We finished up, took quick showers, and headed down to the atrium. Stitch had just come out when we arrived, so we joined the line and got some really neat shots. He loves to ham it up for the camera, as well as to throw the occasional autograph book. I was pleased at the prospect of finally having a professional photo with my favorite character; I couldn’t wait to visit Shutters later to see how the shots had turned out.

On the way back to our stateroom, we passed the Buena Vista Theater and saw that “Home on the Range” would be starting in half an hour. We’ve never seen it, so we decided to give it a go. It was cute, but definitely no “Lilo and Stitch.” I remember reading a review in which the writer stated that it was okay, but more like that quality of a made-for-television special than a feature film. That didn’t make sense to me at the time, but it did once I saw the movie. It was cute, but in an uninspired way. It had none of the evil humor that made “Lilo and Stitch” my favorite, nor did it have the impact of a classic like “The Lion King.” I also hated the digital animation, which made it resemble a diorama. Cartoons should either be all traditional, like “Lilo” (yes, I know there were some digital parts, but it’s the closest thing to classic animation I’ve seen lately) or all totally, unmistakably digital like “Shrek.” Using digital effects in traditional animation looks really cheesy. I cringe every time I see that phony-looking water in the opening of “Tarzan,” or worse yet, the digital hydra in “Hercules.” I have nothing against digital effects, but I think the two mediums need to be kept separate unless there is a compelling reason to combine them.

Okay, enough of my tirade. The movie wasn’t a favorite, but at least it gave us a few laughs. It’s nice to be able to see Disney movies on the ship, especially considering what you’d pay in the theater on land. We don’t usually go to the movies on board because they generally don’t fit into our schedule, but this time around it was too convenient to pass up.

After the movie, we headed to Triton’s for lunch. I enjoy their Hawaiian salad, which is not on the menu but which they invariably offer, along with made-to-order pasta. The menu items are good, too, particularly the pumpkin curry soup. The salad has pineapple in it, and I like to add maraschino cherries. Everything at lunch was delicious, but as I mentioned earlier, I was surprised to discover that the iced tea at Triton’s was the tap stuff. Other than that, everything was delicious. Hubby and I were still somewhat full from breakfast, so we skipped dessert.

More Spa Treatments
Next, we spent some quality verandah time before our spa appointments. Hubby managed to fit in some exercise before his appointment, but I was lazy and curled up outside on a chair with a paperback. The exercise room is free to use, and the treadmills are especially neat because they look down onto the bridge. There used to be free exercise classes, too, but now there is a charge of $10 for most of them. Although I enjoy the yoga on Castaway Cay, I wouldn’t do it now that there is a charge. I belong to a health club back home, so I can take plenty of yoga and other classes when we get back ashore.

My treatment was the Absolute Spa Ritual, which has replaced the Absolute Face & Body. I was anxious to try something new but a little amazed at the price (over $237 as opposed to $144). I doubt I’ll be doing it every cruise, but I figured that one indulgence wouldn’t hurt. In the future, I might switch to Ladies Morning, which is similar to the old AF&B and which costs around $125. Hubby had a hot rock massage, which he was really looking forward to after hearing how much I’d enjoyed it on Thursday.

The Absolute Spa Ritual was very pampering. It involves a massage and a Japanese silk facial, which is different from the facial in the AF&B. It is such a luxurious treatment. My only reservation is the price, but if you really want to spoil yourself, it is a great way to do it. I always love a massage, and the facial left my skin baby soft and glowing. Hubby reported that he really enjoyed his hot rock massage, too.

The Golden Mickeys
The Friday evening show was “The Golden Mickeys,” which is my favorite. Hubby still insists that “Disney Dreams” is better, but for some reason I prefer the new kid on the block. We were on board for the premiere of “The Golden Mickeys” in September of 2003, and I fell for it instantly. The show uses an awards show format, with a character named Ensign Benson as the unlikely and reluctant hostess. It is so fast paced, and it includes many of my favorite songs, such as “Son of Man” from “Tarzan,” and “Cruella De Vil,” as well as an appearance by Elvis Stitch. It’s always a riot to watch Rhona Rivers interviewing people as they enter the theater. Some of the things the kids come up with are priceless.

I love the musical numbers, but my favorite part is the beginning, when Roy Disney himself talks about his Uncle Walt’s background as classic footage flashes on the screens. Disney cartoons and movies are great, but I always enjoy biographical material on how it all began. Sure, it was all started by a mouse, but I like to see homage paid to the genius who invented that world-famous rodent. I love the statue of Walt and Mickey in the Magic Kingdom, and I have lots of artwork with the two of them together and a copy of the statue “Partners” gracing my family room. The sequence about Walt never ceases to make me misty eyed.

We sat in the second row on the right hand side. We have our favorite spots, but we also like to view each show from different angles. We cruise so much that I think we’ve seen “Disney Dreams” and “Hercules” from every section of the theater. The show was great, as always, although there were two minor glitches by the performers. I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen an “oops,” let alone two in one show. But overall I enjoyed it as much as always. I was hoping they might have a matinee because of the Nassau holiday (they did that on Good Friday on our last cruise), but no such luck this time. Otherwise, I would have definitely seen it twice.

I’m glad that Disney modeled “The Golden Mickeys” on the “Disney Dreams” concept of incorporating lots of familiar characters and songs. I think one of the biggest reasons that people never really warmed up to “Voyage of the Ghost Ship” and “C’est Magique/Morty the Magician” was because they were not “traditional” Disney entertainment. “Ghost Ship” was totally original, although looking back, it reminds me just a bit of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, with no Disney characters. “C’est Magique” was the same way (no known characters), and with a New Age twist that probably made kids antsy (personally, I enjoyed it). Even morphing it into Morty and adding a guest appearance by Sorcerer Mickey wasn’t quite enough.

By contrast, Golden Mickeys is much like the entertainment you see at the parks, only on a grander scale and with state of the art special effects. You hear all the kids in the audience squealing with delight as they see Snow White, Terk, Stitch, Princess Aurora, and more all appearing on the stage. It’s a real family pleaser.

Later in the cruise, I discovered that Golden Mickey statues are for sale in the on-board shops. I had one more shelf available on my entertainment center where I keep all my Walt and Mickey knick-knacks, so I decided that a Golden Mickey would fit into that space nicely. As I mentioned, my family room has a Walt and Mickey theme. My entry foyer is heavy on Figment and Stitch, with some attraction posters from the Magic Kingdom thrown in for good measure. My master bedroom is my Disney Cruise Line homage room, complete with all sorts of ship knick knacks on every available bit of dresser and nightstand space and artwork scattered on the walls. Framed photos from Shutters fill in the remaining wall space. It keeps me from getting too homesick until our next cruise.

Palo
After the show, we headed back to our stateroom to dress up for dinner at Palo. Palo is the adults-only alternative restaurant. It costs $10 per person, and it is work every single penny. Palo is like a restaurant on land, with its own galley and meals that are cooked to order. It serves Northern Italian cuisine, but even if you like simple meat and potatoes, you will still find something to eat. For steak eaters, the filet mignon is as tender as butter, and you can have it with wine sauce or gorgonzola cheese (my favorite). Our table mates, who went to Palo Saturday night, like plain food so they ordered the filet with no sauce at all, and they pronounced it excellent.

Myself, I am usually torn between the filet and the daily specials, although there are several other regular menu items that I like, too. I adore the lasagna, but that is a special that is usually offered on Thursday, and we like to eat at Palo on Nassau night (Friday). If it’s not available, another special usually tempts me away. This time, it was the chicken pasta with a lucious white sauce, although I was almost lured away by the veal scallopini. The chef, Christian, did an absolutely wonderful job.

One word of advice: if you order an appetizer, you may want to skip the antipasto…not because it’s bad (it’s actually delicious), but because you will be getting a LOT of food, and you MUST save room for dessert. Palo chocolate souffle is one of the most divine desserts I’ve even eaten. But one thing I never skip is the bread basket with three sauces, which are downright addictive.

Our server was Dalibor, who we know from many previous cruises, and our friend Dragan was there too. They are both excellent servers, although honestly I can’t say that we’ve ever received anything less than excellent service at Palo. It’s so much fun to make friends with crew members over the course of our cruises and to see how some of them even move around. We initially met Ilana in Palo, and she has now joined Guest Services.

We had a table by the window where we could watch the sunlight slowly fade, with the lights of Nassau twinkling in the distance. Because it was a holiday, we got an extra added treat. At nine o’clock there was a beautiful fireworks show that was the perfect complement to an excellent meal.

Match Your Mate
After our meal, we returned to our stateroom to change clothes and head down to Wavebands to see “Match Your Mate.” It is very much like the Newlywed Game, except that the couples have been married for varying lengths of time. There is one set of newlyweds, one couple who has been married the longest, and one that is somewhere in between. This show is always entertaining, but sometimes much more so than others. It all depends on the couples; some are very shy, while others are willing to “let it all hang out.”

This time around, the couples were a bit subdued, although some of their answers were good for some hoots and hollers. “Match Your Mate” is always a fun way to cap the night in Nassau, and then we head directly to bed to rest up for the island.

Another Great Day at Castaway Cay
Our 38th visit to Castaway Cay dawned bright and sunny. I didn’t know if we would be able to match the “Mary Poppins weather” (practically perfect in every way ) that we had experienced in April, but amazingly enough, it was almost identical this time, too. It was just a bit warmer, but still not muggy enough to be uncomfortable.

Usually we’re among the first people off the ship, but hubby wanted to take the theming tour at 10 a.m. It is one of the few activities that we have not done yet. We slept in a bit and had our room service breakfast delivered at 9 a.m. Then, hubby headed off to learn all about the theming of the Disney Wonder while I stayed back to enjoy some quality verandah time. I love the big but cozy verandah of 5650, but on a three day cruise, it can be a challenge to find enough time to fully enjoy it. Perhaps our next door neighbors were having the same problem, as I never saw them outside even once during our cruise. That’s very unusual…usually I catch at least a few glimpses of our neighbors, sometimes it seems like we come outside on the exact same schedule. But this time, it was obviously an opposite schedule, or perhaps they just weren’t in their room very much.

The verandah was shady, with a perfect little breeze. 5650 is on the starboard side of the ship; since it almost always backs into Castaway Cay, that means it offers an idea vantage point of the island (boat lagoon and beaches) rather than the dock. I settled in with my book, occasionally peering over the railing to watch some crew members doing a lifeboat drill and to observe the jet ski tours leave and return. The time went by quickly, and before I knew it, it was 11:30 and hubby had returned. He really enjoyed it, and he was spouting off all sorts of facts about the patterns of the ship’s carpeting (for example, the only red carpets on the ship are outside the theaters) and how the chandelier in the atrium is actually made of plastic. I guess he was eager to share his new knowledge.

All Ashore
We gathered up our beach gear and headed down to the gangway on deck one. Since it was later than usual, we decided to have some lunch and then set up camp on the family beach rather than go all the way to the adult beach. We knew that the area at the farthest end of the beach, near the Heads Up Bar, rarely ever gets crowded, so there was no hurry.

The only thing that we missed was the photo opportunities. When you disembark early, there are Shutters photographers at various points of interest, such as the Fresh Catch sign, and there are usually several Disney characters out near such landmarks as the post office and Mount Rustmore. Fortunately, we already have almost every conceivable photo, but it’s fun to get your picture taken and see how it turns out,

Our first stop was the post office to mail a batch of postcards. There is an internet group that mails cards to children who are going to be going on a Disney cruise. The kids get a real kick out of getting a postcard from “Mickey.” Most people mail the cards from their hometown, and I doubt that the kids pay much attention to the postmark. But since we sail so often, we like to get some names and mail the cards from Castaway Cay, with a Disney Cruise Line stamp. If you’re going to mail anything, be sure to bring cash because you cannot charge the stamps on your Key to the World card. Also, be aware that it can take many weeks for the mail to make its way to the United States.

Our next stop was Cookie’s Barbecue. I wasn’t too hungry yet; we usually skip breakfast on Castaway Cay day, so my stomach was confused. Hubby had plenty of lobster burgers and fresh fruit, but I had a light meal and some chocolate chip cookie dough yogurt to top it off. Once again, I forgot all about the Caesar salads until I had already gotten my food. There are fresh salad stations, but they are near the picnic shelters rather than in the main serving lines. The salad looks delicious, so next time around I’m going to have to remember to try one before I pile too much on my tray at the main buffet.

Next, it was off to the beach. We hiked down to our secluded end spot, where there were still plenty of prime chairs with umbrellas. Even though it was after noon, the four hammocks near Heads Up bar were still unoccupied, too. But I knew we wouldn’t be doing much lying out, so we opted for chairs rather than hammocks. We chose a shady spot near the restroom, and hubby went off to rent a bike while I headed into the water. He had brought his snorkel gear and wanted to pedal over to Serenity Bay to see if he could find some fish. I had brought a $1.50 air mattress, so I grabbed my book, paddled out into the water, and read while lounging on the mattress in the balmy ocean.

The sun was warm and shining brightly, so I had to force myself to go back ashore a couple of times to reapply sunscreen. I am very fair skinned and burn quite easily. Even though hubby always packs blue aloe vera gel with lidocaine, which is a real lifesaver for burned ghost-people like me, I prefer not to get fried in the first place. This time around, my frequent and judicious use of sunscreen kept me relatively unscathed.

Stop, Thief!
Hubby returned a couple of hours later to report that someone had stolen his bike! He left it in the rack like he had done so many times before, and when he returned, it was gone. Apparently crime has invaded the island paradise of Castaway Cay! There is no place to get another bike at the adult beach, so he just headed back.

He reported that the water at the adult beach was very shallow, and he didn’t see many fish. He guessed it was because the shallowness meant that the water was a bit too warm for his finny friends. Although Serenity Bay is far from the official snorkeling area, he and I have seen quite a large variety of sea life there. We have both seen stingrays and “aquarium fish” in a rainbow of colors. Hubby’s most exciting find was a barracuda, while mine was a nurse shark, although the ink squirting squid was a close second. Recently, we went snorkeling in the shark reef at Typhoon Lagoon, and somehow it wasn’t quite the same being with nurse sharks in a tank when you’ve had one pass within inches of your leg in the open sea.

Hubby took over the air mattress for a while, and I paddled around with him. Then we decided to return to the ship, as I had a spa appointment scheduled for 4:30. It’s always so sad to leave the island, knowing that in less than 24 hours vacation will be over. But I took comfort in the fact that I’d be back in September, and I had my fingers crossed that we’d have a repeat performance of the lovely weather.

One More Spa Treatment
Back on the ship, it was time to prepare for my last spa treatment. I was scheduled for a reflexology foot massage at 4:30. I knew that meant I would be a little late for the Castaway Club party at 5:15, but the good thing about a foot massage is that you don’t have to undress. You also don’t get massage oil in your hair, necessitating a washing.

I showered off all the sand, washed and conditioned my hair, and checked myself for any early signs of sunburn. Fortunately, other than a couple of small pink spots where I probably applied my lotion too thin, I was relatively unscathed. Even though it felt odd to disembark so late, it was probably a blessing in disguise. Otherwise, when we go to Castaway Cay as early as possible, we tend to spend a bit too much time in the sun. Even though we know better, common sense quickly flies out the window when we’re on vacation.

Since I had eaten a light lunch, I was feeling some hunger pangs. There is no reason to go hungry on a cruse ship; on the Wonder, food is only a phone call or a few decks away. I didn’t feel like waiting for room service; even though they are fast, I had my spa appointment coming up. Instead, I ran up to deck nine for some french fries and lots of honey mustard sauce for dipping. Their sauce is absolutely exquisite…the fries are merely a delivery device. I noticed that they serve cheese nachos and chili dogs, so I asked for a fusion creation: chili cheese nachos. They turned out pretty good.

In the stateroom, hubby had been channel surfing and found a really neat show on the Magic’s last dry dock, when major changes (Diversons, the Stack, etc.) were made. It was a fascinating program, showing time-lapse footage and lots of details on how the old spaces on the Magic were transformed into something completely new and different. I wish they would show it on the Travel Channel or Disney Channel so I could tape it. I already have “The Making of the Magic,” the show about the initial construction of the ship, as it is on the free travel planning DVD you can get from Disney’s website.

After seeing the show, I was doubly curious about what will be done to the Wonder when it goes to dry dock in a few months. We will sail right before, in September, and then we will see the “new” Wonder when we return for our traditional Thanksgiving cruise. I am excited about the prospect of having a place like Diversions, especially if they offer the beer tasting event like they do on the Magic, and I also can’t wait to check out the coffee bar.

When I was done pigging out, I tore myself away from the television and headed to the Vista Spa, where I succumbed to an hour of bliss. I know that reflexology purportedly has health benefits, but I enjoy it just because I love a good foot massage. Any additional benefits over and above relaxation are frosting on the cake. I nodded off, although I did stir twice: once at 5 p.m. when the Mickey whistle blasted as the ship headed out to sea and once when someone ran across the deck overhead bouncing a ball. One of the design oddities of the Magic and Wonder is that the basketball courts are directly over the spa...not the best planning move. But despite the slight disturbances, I quickly became comatose again and dozed until the massage was over.

The Castaway Club Party
For those who may not know, the Castaway Club is the name of the club for returning Disney cruisers. You become a member automatically once you sail, and you receive little benefits on your subsequent cruises. You get a gift in your stateroom (currently a towel, although it might be changing soon because we received a notice that the towels were out of stock and we’d receive one in the mail later; then the towel showed up in our room the next day).

Since our first return cruise was way back in January of 1999, we have seen the gift change several times. There have been two different types of tote bags, plus picture frames, in addition to the current towel. I like the towels, but we have received an inordinate number of them by now. My favorite was the original blue tote bag, which holds an amazing amount of stuff. I still have one left, and I still strain the poor things to its limits. We sold several on Ebay, and now I wish I had kept them as I will be sorry when the last one finally gives out due to my constant abuse. The second bag was a black sports type that is nice, but not nearly as handy.

As a returning cruiser. you also get to attend a party with the captain and some of the officers, where you can get a free drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and munch on hors d’ouvres like cheese sticks and chicken strips. The captain and cruise director give short speeches welcoming everyone back, and if you bring your camera, it’s often a good photo opportunity with the captain.

The party is almost invariably held at 5:15 on Castaway Cay day on the three night cruise. Its location varies, depending on the number of repeat cruisers on board. When the crowd is light, it is often held in the Cadillac Lounge. On the flipside, sometimes it’s so large that it takes over every club on Beat Street (usually only happens on the Magic…I don’t think I’ve ever seen it take over Route 66 on the Wonder). This time, it was held in Studio Sea, and the crowd was pretty light.

I arrived a bit later than I expected, so Captain Henry was already giving his speech. I slipped in and found hubby at a table towards the front. I was full so I didn’t partake of snacks and drinks, but I was glad to say hello to the captain and to meet Kara, the cruise director. We had actually met her before, but not since she’d taken her new position. Tony reported that our friend Linsay was also there, although I missed her due to my late arrival.

Disney Dreams
When the party ended, we headed to the theater to see “Disney Dreams,” which is still hubby’s favorite show. I think he could watch it all day, if possible; even after seeing it at the theater, he always keeps it on our stateroom television all evening. It runs on the television every hour for people who might have missed it. They show “Hercules” on Thursday, but they haven’t started showing “Golden Mickeys” yet. I hope they do soon, as I could watch that one as much as hubby watches “Disney Dreams.”

This show has a very Disney-esque plot. A little girl named Anne-Marie makes a wish to be able to fly to the place where dreams really do come true. With the help of Peter Pan and the inspiration of several popular Disney stories (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Little Mermaid, and The Lion King), she finds her own magic and ends up with the requisite happy ending.

“Disney Dreams” doesn’t move as quickly as the “Golden Mickeys.” That’s neither a bad nor a good thing; the pace of each show is just right for its style. “Golden Mickeys” has an awards show format, while “Disney Dreams” is more of a traditional story that lends itself to a slower pace. My favorite numbers in this show are Aladdin and Little Mermaid, but I always enjoy the powerful rendition of “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King.”

“Disney Dreams” is a traditional feel-good show that the kids will love. They squeal with delight as their favorite characters appear on stage, and there are all sorts of neat surprises such as the real bubbles during “Under the Sea” and the fireworks at the end (be sure to stay for the second curtain call).

The Last Supper
It was time for our last meal on the Wonder. We skip breakfast on the last morning, as we are usually much too tired of eating and prefer to disembark a little early. I wondered if our tablemates from Jamaica had been successful in moving to early seating. The others were all slated to eat at Palo, so that would mean we’d be dining alone. I know many cruisers who would absolutely love that, but we like communal meals.

When we arrived, the mother and daughter were already there, and we were joined shortly thereafter by the two couples from South Carolina. Even though they had dined at Palo, they were having so much fun at their regular table that they came just to socialize. Apparently we had missed quite a wild dinner at Animators Palate! Between Richard and our tablemates, Table 21 had been the “rowdy table” of the evening.

We had another fun night, as Parrot Cay is a great place to be rowdy. There is a limbo line and lots of commotion as tables compete to make the most noise for their favorite servers. I discovered that I could create quite a din by banging our metal table number with my spoon. We were having so much fun that by the end of the meal, my face actually hurt from laughing so much.

Our friend Chef Vinnie, who is the head chef at Parrot Cay, stopped by to say hello. We met him at a cooking demonstration on the four day cruise of our Wonder “three-peat” (three cruises in a row), so we always touch base when we are on board. He is an absolute genius with seafood (well, actually, with any food).

We were sorry that our cruise was ending, and we wished we had been on a week’s cruise so we could have gotten to know our tablemates better. Ironically, one of the couples had such a great time that they booked another cruise on the Wonder in September…the cruise right before our next one!

Richard entertained us with more of his stories. If you ever have him as your server, be sure to ask him about the helicopter. He had us all in stitches, but finally we all reluctantly had to go. Our tablemates needed to finish packing and put their luggage out. We keep our bags with us and carry them off the ship ourselves, so we don’t have to worry about the 11 p.m. deadline. But we wanted to stop by the atrium to see “Til We Meet Again” and then change into more casual clothes before the 70s party.

Til We Meet Again
When we got to the atrium, “Til We Meet Again” was already in progress. It is the final character appearance, and a prime photo opportunity. A wide variety of characters descend down the staircase in front of Triton’s and into the atrium to take photos with the crowd. The Shutters photographers are not there, so you will need to bring your own camera. In addition to “traditional” characters, there are also performers from the main stage. Usually it’s the bunch from Hercules, and I’ve often seen Peter Pan and Anne Marie, too. This time, Peter was out with Wendy. Usually there are a couple of characters up on deck four, too, but the majority of them are down on deck three.

I was hoping to see Stitch, who is usually near the piano, but he wasn’t out so we headed back to our stateroom. Sometimes there is almost no crowd, and sometimes the amount of people is enormous. This was one of the crowded times, although I don’t think that anything will ever beat the crowd that showed up on our Fourth of July cruise. In July, in addition to the characters, there was a balloon “drop & pop,” so the atrium was wall to wall people, and the sound of breaking balloons rivaled any fireworks display. That July experience was crowded, but very exciting.

This time, there were no balloons, but the crowd density was still large. But even when there are a lot of people, you can still get at least a couple of good photos. When the crowd is minimal, you can get at least half a dozen. We could have gotten some this time, but we opted to head back to the room to change.

The only bad thing about Til We Meet Again is that it can be hard to get there on time if you have the late dinner seating. We actually arrived a little while after it had started, since we had spent a lot of time chatting with our tablemates. It starts at 10, but 10:15 or even 10:30 would probably make it a little easier.

Flash Back to the 70s
Once hubby and I had changed, we headed to Wavebands for the 70s Party, our favorite adult event. It starts at 10:45, which means I like it so much that I am even willing to sacrifice precious sleep to attend. I know that I have to be up early for disembarkation, but I am always drawn to the bell bottoms and platform shoes.

We like to arrive a bit early in order to get a table as far away as possible from the smoking area. There are several non-smoking areas; unfortunately, all but one of them are directly in front of smoking areas. This means that if you don’t choose wisely, you can be sitting directly in front of a smoker even though you are technically at a non-smoking table. As you face the stage, the left hand side of the room is all non-smoking. The ventilation is poor, so the smoke and smell will still drift over to you, but at least you won’t be elbow to elbow with a smoker. I wish that the lounges would be non-smoking during all shows, but no such luck.

As it turned out, the club was almost deserted. Saturday is a bad night, especially at 10:45, because people are still rushing to get their luggage out. Sometimes the 70s crowd is still decent, but it was small on cruise #37 and almost non-existent this time around. I was beginning to worry that it would be cancelled, but the cruise staff held a “Cliff Notes” version (only two Gloria Gaynors and John Travoltas instead of three, and only three of the Village People showed up for the special guest appearance instead of the usual five. Hubby got roped into being a Village Person, so of course I had to jog back to our stateroom for the camera. He’s done it a couple of times before, but not since they started going shirtless.

We had a great time dancing, and one of the John Travoltas was hilarious. Even though the crowd was small, everyone seemed to be having a great time. After hubby’s guest appearance, we had one last dance and then headed back to our stateroom. It was a fun cap to another excellent cruise. I wish that the 70s party was on Thursday or Friday night, but I know that it wouldn’t work logistically. We like 70s night much better than 80s night, although I was happy to hear that the Michael Jackson numbers have been added back into the 80s festivities.

Another Goodbye to the Wonder
Back at our stateroom, hubby took care of the last minute packing while I filled out the Customs form and comment card. I also made out some thank-you cards to the many crew members who made our vacation extra special once again. I recommend bringing some cards because it’s a nice little way to recognize people in non-tipped positions who go that extra mile. We also like to bring little “extras” like phone cards or Florida lottery tickets to add to the tips for those who deserve a little something more.

We hit the bed, and all too soon it was morning and we found ourselves docked at Port Canaveral once again. I always start out cruises with a few minutes out on the balcony, looking out at the port, and that’s typically how I end them too. Hubby and I showered and packed up the last few items, and then I stepped outside and said a quiet little goodbye to my favorite stateroom and favorite ship. I knew that we would be returning, but September seemed so far away. At least our next three cruises come in rapid succession: September, November, and December. And I don’t want to hurry the next one too much because when it comes, it will mean that summer is over.

We hiked down to the midship elevators (most of the time, the aft elevators are not crowded, but on the last morning they are packed with people going to and from the restaurants, which are located aft). We pressed both the “Up” and “Down” buttons, as you are often better off going up when you’re on deck 5 on that last day. Otherwise, the elevator is usually full of people heading down from decks 8, 7, and 6. Sure enough, two full elevators of “Down” people passed us. We hopped in an empty one heading up, and as we headed back down, it was full before we reached deck 5 again.

There was no line for disembarkation, so we said a quick goodbye to Captain Henry, who was standing at the gangplank, and headed off the ship. Unlike Royal Caribbean, on Disney there is no wait to leave the ship. Royal Caribbean makes you wait until your luggage tag color is called, which can be literally hours, and you can’t wait in your stateroom. You have to find space in a public area of the ship. With Disney, you simply leave whenever you choose to. You can have your assigned breakfast, eat at the buffet, or (like us) skip the food altogether.

Once we entered the luggage area, we saw that there were lines at Customs. They moved rapidly, at least until the people two parties in front of us got to the Customs Officer. They didn’t have their ID and documents ready, and of course it took them forever to find what they needed in their luggage. They never thought to step aside and let anyone pass, either. Finally, after several minutes, I rolled my eyes and said to hubby, “Didn’t they say ‘Have your ID and customs forms ready’ about a hundred time?” A man in the group directly behind the line-holder-uppers said, “I think it was more like two hundred!”

Eventually, we made it through Customs and back out into the real world. It is always so sad to see the ship from the other side of the fence and to look up at the verandah where I was just standing not so long ago. Disembarkation is always hard, but at least I could take comfort in the fact that we’d be back the Thursday after Labor Day and I’d be looking out at the port from that same verandah, knowing that other adventure is about to begin.

Trip Report #37, April 2004 on the Wonder

It seems like only recently that hubby and I were preparing for our very first cruise; hard to believe that was way back, in September of 1998. I remember wondering what to expect and if I would even like cruising. Now, Easter weekend of 2004 marked our 37th Disney cruise and our 41st cruise in total, since we have also sailed on four of Royal Caribbean’s ships. RCCL was a good experience, but Disney is superior. The Magic and Wonder are beautiful ships, and even though we don’t have children, I think Disney does the best job of catering to adults. Also, RCCL’s embarkation and disembarkation procedures are a nightmare compared to Disney’s. Overall, Disney Cruise Line just can’t be beat.
As usual, we were doing a three night sailing on the Wonder. We enjoy sailing on the Magic, too, but doing Wonder cruises on holiday weekends helps us to maximize our vacation days. Usually we just fly to Florida the Wednesday before our cruise, but this time we flew out the previous Friday night and spent the week in Kissimmee. The weather was very cool and dry, so we didn’t get to do much swimming, but we still had a good time. Of course, like all vacations, the week flew by much too quickly. The only good thing about it was that, as the days flew past, we were closer and closer to our cruise.

Kickoff at Port Canaveral
On Thursday morning, we were up early to meet our towncar. As usual, we booked our transportation with Happy Limo to pick us up for the familiar journey to Port Canaveral. It’s a relatively easy drive, but I prefer to kick back and relax on the way. We usually aim to arrive at the port no later than 11 a.m. That means we get there before the bus crowds, and it also allows some time for any unforeseen delays. When we leave straight from the airport, the ride usually takes no more than 45 minutes. If you are leaving from the Disney World area, add about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your hotel, since you are farther away from the port. It’s a straight shot down the Beeline (528) and traffic is usually minimal, although there is some construction going on. Fortunately it didn’t slow our progress.

Our driver was right on time, and we piled in and headed for our “home on the ocean.” During the ride, I sorted through our documents to make sure we had filled out everything and signed the appropriate forms, while hubby attached the luggage tags to our bags. Soon enough we were cresting the tall bridge and could see the ships in the distance. No matter how many times I sail, that first glimpse of the Disney Wonder still gives me chills. The Carnival Fantasy was the only other ship in the port. I thought there would be a Royal Caribbean ship, too. The port looked very bare with just two. Oh well, no matter, as long as the Wonder is there!

Our driver showed his port pass and we readied our documents and ID as we were waved toward the terminal. We produced our drivers licenses and were checked off on the manifest; then we were waved up to the unloading zone beside the terminal building. It was about 10:45, and the crowd was still very sparse. There was only a handful of people in front of us in the security line I dug up my laptop, as you are required to boot up your computer in order to pass through security. I always bring my laptop with me so I can work on updates for my Disney Cruise Line Planner; it’s very convenient, but unfortunately I own the world’s slowest booting laptop. It takes forever to boot up, and then even longer to be shut down. Oh well, better safe than sorry. It always surprises me that I am not required to turn it on at the airport. The cruise line definitely has good security.

Once we were through and my laptop was safely turned off and stashed, we headed up the escalators and into the main terminal. There are are crew members stationed nearby to help stragglers fill out their documents and make sure they have everything they need. I had our paperwork and birth certificates stashed securely in our document pouch. There is a special line for Castaway Club members at the far end of the counter, but since the line was minimal at all the counters, we simply went to the closest one.

The crowd was minimal early on; often, on the three day cruise, most of the people have booked a land and sea package, which means they arrive later, on buses from the resorts. The embarkation line didn’t really start to build until well after 11 o’clock. It builds much more quickly on the seven day cruises because there is no land portion. With more people arranging their own transportation, they tend to arrive early. Even though it’s the same amount of passengers, the crowd to embark the Wonder is much more spaced out.

If you arrange transportation on your own, there are several options. We use a towncar from Happy Limo, as we like being chauffeured in our own private vehicle and making our own schedule. Some people opt for a one-way car rental, as several agencies have offices at Port Canaveral, and some (Budget, Avis, and Hertz) will shuttle you to the port after you drop off your car. I like a towncar because it’s a direct ride, with no stops unless we opt to do a grocery stop. Happy Limo offers a free stop if you want to bring your own beverages and snacks but don’t want to lug them on the plane.

People often comment that the wait to board the ship seems to be so long, especially if you arrive at the port early. Personally, it’s always the opposite for me. Over time, we’ve gotten to know a lot of the port crew members, so time seems to fly because we’re always greeting and chatting with friends. Even if you are a first timer, there is lots to see and do. The large model of the ship never fails to intrigue me, and there are cartoons on television monitors for the kids. You can always count on a character appearance; this time around, it was Chip and Dale, and Captain Mickey often shows up too. You can also look through the Welcome Sheet that you are given at check in to see what will be going on once you board.

All Board!
The boarding time varies, depending on when the ship is ready, but lately it’s been pretty early (between noon and 12:15). It can be as late as 1 p.m., but I’ve only seen that happen once or twice. On this trip, we were stepping on board and heading to Parrot Cay for lunch by 12:15. First we paused for our embarkation photo, the first of many photo opportunities. Take advantage of them because you’re not under any obligation to buy and it’s fun to stop at Shutters, the onboard photo shop, and see how they came out.

The embarkation backdrop has changed several times over the years. This time, they were using my favorite backdrop, which is a sepia toned drawing of a celebratory crowd waving off the ship. I like that one because it’s so festive. It reminds me of the scene in “Titanic” where the ship is leaving and everyone is crowded onto the decks and lining the shore to see it off. Of course, “Titanic” might not be the best analogy, but I don’t worry about the comparison because it’s not too likely to find an iceberg in the Caribbean. When I think of the Titanic, I think of a beautiful classic luxury liner, and Disney really captured that style well with the Magic and Wonder.

As you board, a member of the Cruise Staff announces your name on a microphone, continuing the festive atmosphere, and you head for lunch. Since we boarded pretty early, we headed for Parrot Cay on deck 3. Beach Blanket Buffet opens a little later if you like to dine al fresco. The buffets are virtually identical, but if you are a soda drinker, Parrot Cay is your best bet. You can get soda there without any additional charge, but it is not available at the deck 9 buffet.

Almost every time we sail, I notice a few little tweaks. This time, there were some new items on the buffet that were very good. My favorite was the new turkey dish…I don’t recall the name, but it was a thin slice of pounded turkey with some sort of light breading, served with a red sauce. There was also a divine apple/cranberry cobbler with vanilla sauce for dessert. Usually it’s plain apple, but this time around the cranberries added such a nice little zing of flavor. I stuck to that, while hubby did a sampler plate of several tempting cakes.

There are many more hot dishes and cold salads to choose from, and of course the famous peel and eat shrimp. Hubby had loaded up his plate, and our table was right where people walk in so quite a few of them were checking out his shrimp pile. Personally, I mainly opt for the salads. There was one that reminded me of some type of coleslaw topped with bacon bits and other with big, delicious mushrooms. There is also a table with sandwiches and soups, included my favorite strawberry and banana soup. To me, it tastes like a smoothie in a bowl. If you are travelling with fussy kids, there is a kid friendly buffet table with items like chicken strips and macaroni & cheese.

The line for the buffet went in spurts as people wandered aboard. I love people watching and hearing their comments, especially the kids. They never cease to amuse me. We were seated at one of the first tables, right on the aisle, so it was a great spot to observe people as they waited for the buffet. As one little girl stood in line with her dad, she told him very seriously, “Wow! I never thought this would be so popular that people actually wait in line for it!”

We finished up our lunch and headed to our stateroom to drop off our day bags. If you arrive at the port early, be aware that you will not be able to go to your stateroom until sometime between 1 and 1:30. It takes some time to clean up after the 2600+ guests who just disembarked a few hours earlier and get the ship ready for the new crowd. The stateroom areas are roped off until they are ready; in the meantime, you can register your children for the clubs, make Palo and spa reservations, or just wander around the ship admiring the décor and artwork and get your bearings. An easy way to remember how to get places is: Forward fun, aft eat (the Walt Disney Theater and the clubs are forward, and most of the restaurants are at the back of the ship).

I had thought that spa reservation time started at 1:30, so hubby and I played ping pong at one of the tables on deck 9 until about 1:15. Of course, “play” is a relative term, since the wind on deck was adding an additional challenge. Then we headed to the spa on deck 9 forward and were surprised to find it open. Turns out I had misread the times; spa tours started at 1:30, but reservations started at 1. I definitely don’t need a tour, as I’ve had just about every treatment possible. But there wasn’t much of a crowd waiting to make reservatins, so we were able to easily get the times and treatments that we wanted. I signed up for a massage right after the safety drill, an Absolute Face & Body at 11 a.m. on Nassau morning, and a reflexology treatment at 2 p.m. on Castaway Cay day. Hubby loves the seaweed wrap, so he booked one on both Thursday and Friday.

Hubby stopped down at Wavebands, where Palo ressies were being made, and he reported that it wasn’t crowded at all. I think that because the crowd at the port was light, the “ressie scramble” didn’t pick up until a little later. But it’s still a good idea to go for your preferred Palo, spa, and Flounders reservations as early as possible, as you never know how quickly they will book up.

R & R Before the Safety Drill
Once we had our ressies and had gathered a set of kids navigators for my website, hubby and I changed for some pre-safety drill hot tubbing. We always pack swimsuits in our day bag because those first hours of the cruise are the least crowded time for a dip. Many people don’t think about packing swimwear, so you often have the pool almost all to yourself. The kids pools are more crowded than the adult one, but the amount of people is still minimal.

There were actually more people than usual at the adult pool. Most of them were just lounging in chairs or at the edge of the pool and soaking up the sun, but a couple brave souls had ventured all the way into the chilly water. There were people in both hot tubs, but there was still plenty of room, so hubby and I selected one and climbed in. Relaxing in the bubbles and chatting with the various people who come and go is a great way to kick off the cruise. As I said, I am a people watcher, and I like to count the number of people who pass by and dip a finger or toe in the pool, but for some reason no one did that on this trip. Usually I count at least a dozen “dippers,” but this time it was all or nothing…they either passed by without pausing or else came prepared in swim wear and climbed in.

A few stray kids tried to invade the adults-only sanctity, but they were quickly shooed away. As we chatted with one couple in the hot tub, they said they had taken a Princess cruise to Alaska and were amazed at the number of kids on board. They told us that one of they few things they didn’t like about the cruise was the fact that there was nowhere to go for some peaceful adult time. We had the same experience on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas to Alaska. In theory, they had an adults only pool on Radiance, but it was the only indoor pool. Being an Alaskan cruise, it was much too cold and windy to use the outdoor family pool, so of course the kids all came inside and took over the “adult” pool to swim. I can’t say that I blamed them; that was very poor planning on RCCL’s part. I believe in respecting rules, but I also don’t think it’s fair to restrict the kids to a pool that’s not usable.

On Disney, everyone has their own pools (I must admit that I’m jealous of the Mickey slide!) and activity areas. DCL did an excellent job of planning, and no matter how many children are on board, they never seem to be underfoot. This cruise had a high kid population due to the holiday, and it was no exception. Of course, you’ll see them at the shows and meals, so you wouldn’t enjoy it if you really can’t stand kids at all. Personally, I get a kick out of watching them, but I also like some quiet time, and that’s very easy to get. I know people think hubby and I are crazy for taking 37 Disney cruises when we don’t have any children, but it truly is the best adult experience that we’ve found. Royal Caribbean is nice, but all of their ships that we’ve sailed on are like Radiance, with no enforcement of the adult areas, not even the exercise room and spa.

By the time three thirty rolled around, the other people who had been in the hot tub with us had all “abandoned ship.” Dark clouds were rolling in, and we heard the threatening boom of thunder and saw a flash of lightning. We decided to get out just as a crew member came along to clear out the pools due to the lightning. A light sprinkle of rain was just starting; it had turned into a full-fledged downpour by the time we reached our stateroom. Thankfully, it was a typical Florida shower that had blown over by the time the safety drill started.

Eight Blasts of the Ship’s Whistle
Our luggage had already arrived when we reach our stateroom after hot tubbing. Hubby started unpacking and managed to get almost everything put away before we heard eight blasts of the ship’s horn and the announcement beckoning us to our lifeboat station. Our station was in Animators Palate; since we are in stateroom 5650 so often, I know Station Q quite well. The stations are located at various points around deck 4, including the Walt Disney Theater and the outdoor deck areas, depending on your stateroom location. Our other usual staterooms are the secret porthole rooms, which have an outdoor meeting area.

If you’ve never done a safety drill on a cruise ship before, it’s a quick and relatively painless process. At the appointed time (4 p.m.), you don your life jacket and troop to your station, where attendance is checked. Then you listen to a safety announcement and it’s all over. The worst part is being crowded in with dozens of other people while looking like an orange Sponge Bob in your bulky life jacket. But despite the inconvenience, it’s very important to know where you’d need to go in case of an emergency.

The Wonder is well equipped, with lifeboats that each hold 145 guests and five crew members. There are more than enough lifeboats and life rafts to accommodate everyone. Fortunately, the chance of an emergency is very remote, but it’s good to know the equipment is there, just in case. I know logically that problems can happen, but the ship looks so much like a giant resort hotel that it’s hard for me to believe something of that size and mass could ever sink.

Decadence at the Spa
After the drill, we trooped back to our stateroom. Hubby finished unpacking, and then it was time for our kick-off spa treatments. Although they were scheduled for 4:30, we like to get there a little early because a line tends to form just before opening. There are all the people checking in, as well as a large crowd hoping to make their bookings. I was one of the first two there, and as I passed the time chatting with the other person, a woman from England. As the clock ticked closer to 4:30, quite a line of people formed behind us.

A few minutes before the spa opened, two women barged their way to the front. I moved over so they couldn’t pass me and pointed out that the spa wasn’t open yet. One of them said haughtily, “Well, I am here for a treatment.” I pointed out that so were the rest of the people. Ms. Haughty said, “Well, they’re not all here for that. They’re hear to make appointments.” In her eyes, I guess that relegated them to some sort of second-class status. “Well, I’m here for a treatment,” I responded gave her an evil look that dared her to step past me. She didn’t, but neither did she go back to the end of the line. I was surprised that the other people she’d barged in front of didn’t say anything. Sometimes I think rude behavior is on the rise in our society because people are afraid to confront it. The English woman said, “Oh, I thought Americans queued, too, but I guess it must be a British thing.” “No,” I said, “MOST Americans have manners. It’s only the rude ones who don’t queue.” I’m sure Ms. Haughty was oblivious to our pointed comments.

Another woman barged through the line to join the Haughty Duo and told them, “I should have know I’d find you at the front.” “Yes,” said Ms. Haughty, “I’ve been standing here since 4 p.m.” That would be quite a trick, since the safety drill was at 4, and I was the second person to arrive at the spa afterwards. Since I am a trained psychologist, I debated offering my services to help her cure her delusions, but then I decided she was probably a hopeless case. Besides, why work while you’re on vacation?

Shortly thereafter, the spa doors were flung open and the restless mob streamed in. Hubby and I filled out our consultation forms and were directed to the locker rooms to meet our therapists. When I had made my booking, they had asked if I minded a male masseuse. I’ve had so many massages that I am not shy at all, so I said that would be fine. For a long time, Disney only had females (the other cruise lines typically have both, and I’ve had men do my treatments on Royal Caribbean). Then the Vista Spa added males in the hair salon, and now they’ve made the leap to doing treatments too.

Of course, if you have a preference, they will respect it. The spa personnel go out of their way to make the clients feel comfortable. Many people have their first spa experience ever while on board the ship, so they tend to be a little nervous. The therapists are used to this and will help you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

My masseuse, Kevin, was new to the ship. He had been on board when we sailed last time, but he’d been in training. He gave me a wonderful back massage that left me feel relaxed and ready to enjoy my vacation. Since the spa is located on deck 9 forward, you can hear the ship’s whistle blast “When You Wish Upon a Star” as you leave Port Canaveral. I love to hear it while lying in the spa in a dreamy stupor. It’s the perfect way to kick off the weekend. I met up with hubby after his seaweed wrap, which takes longer than a massage, and he reported that it was as good as ever.

Our next spa treatments were on Nassau morning. As usual, hubby was having a seaweed wrap, while I was scheduled for an Absolute Face and Body. That is a combination of a massage and a long, luxurious facial. That treatment is so relaxing that I almost always fall asleep, especially during the facial. When people ask my favorite treatment, it’s always a toss-up between the seaweed wrap and the Absolute Face & Body. The only bad thing about the seaweed wrap is that you have to get up and shower off before the massage, but it’s such a great detoxifying treatment. And the AF&B does have one bad part, too; after the massage, you have to emerge from your comatose state long enough to roll over for the facial.

I love having spa treatments on Nassau day, and often we spend some time in the Rainforest too (this time we didn’t because there was a Golden Mickeys matinee). It’s a quiet, uncrowded time, as most people have disembarked. I thought the ship would be more crowded this time because most of the shops in Nassau were closed for Good Friday. But surprisingly, most people had disembarked anyway. Judging by all the braids I saw later that evening, the hair braiders never take a holiday. I also heard that Atlantis was very crowded, since a lot of people headed over there after giving up on the closed shops.

My last spa treatment was a reflexology session at 2 p.m. on Castaway Cay day. I had debated booking it for later, but hubby convinced me that it was going to be cold on the island. As it turned out, he was very wrong! But it was probably just as well; we disembarked before 9 a.m., and even with sunscreen I managed to get some sunburn, so it was probably best that I returned to the ship a little early.

I love reflexology, mainly because I love foot massages. Reflexology is also supposed to have a number of wellness benefits. I don’t know if it really does, but I do know that a good reflexologist can come up with lots of information about the state of your health, even if you don’t discuss it beforehand. For example, my feet revealed my bad habit of never drinking enough water, which tends to leave me in a constant state of semi-dehydration. Hubby is always lecturing me about it, but I was surprised that the relexologist was able to tell via the treatment.
When I was done, I met up with hubby for a little time in the Rainforest, an area of saunas, steamrooms, and scented showers. It also contains heated tile lounge chairs that are the perfect spot to curl up with a good book. You can buy a one day pass or get one that is good for the length of your cruise. There is a discount on day passes if you get a hands-on spa treatment on the same day.

There was one big change at the spa this time. The Ladies Night treatment, which used to be offered Nassau night during the dinner/show times is now Ladies Morning. It is the same treatment (massage and facial in a private treatment room, followed by champagne and chocolates in the Rainforest), but the time has changed. Personally, I think Nassau morning is better because you don’t have to skip dinner or a show. The Golden Mickeys is on the second night of the three day cruise, and I love that show so I’d never want to miss it, even for a spa treatment. Nassau is okay if you’ve never seen it before, but hubby and I usually don’t bother to disembark any more. And even if you want to, you can easily kick off your day with a treatment and have plenty of time to go ashore later.

Another change is that the surial bath is now called the rasul. That is the name that it had when we sailed on RCCL’s Radiance. We didn’t do it on this trip, but according to the description, it is still the same neat couples experience. If you’re not familiar with it, it consists of being in your own private shower and steam rooms with a bowl of mud, exfoliate, and various spa products. You and your significant other get the room for an hour, and what you do is up to you. Technically, the rasul can accommodate up to three people, but I don’t know anyone else well enough to share the experience with besides hubby!

Watch for other changes coming soon to the Vista Spa, including some new treatments. Hopefully there will be new offerings in time for my next cruise, and I am looking forward to trying them out…purely for research purposes, of course.

It’s Showtime
Hubby and I like to do second seating dinner, which means that our showtime is at 6:30 p.m. and dinner follows at 8:30. When you have early dining, you eat first and see the show afterwards. I know that people with small children usually prefer the early seating, but it makes me feel too rushed. Since we are from Chicago, 8:30 is really 7:30 for us anyway, so it works out very well. The only downside to late seating is that it can be hard to make the farewell character greeting on the last night. We’ve been known to eat our meal, then slip out for photos and return for dessert.

If you miss Hercules or Disney Dreams, don’t worry. A recorded version is shown hourly throughout the evening on your stateroom television. Unfortunately, they do not show The Golden Mickeys yet, but I am hoping they will add it in the future. Even though we rarely miss a show, we like to watch an “encore” while we are getting ready for dinner.

Hercules
The first night’s show was Hercules, which we always go to see even though it’s not quite on a par with the Golden Mickeys and Disney Dreams. It’s a totally different type of show than those two, but a lot of fun in its own way. It’s full of corny humor that makes a lot more sense if you’ve seen the movie. By now I know all the jokes, but it still gives me a good laugh. Hubby will always have a soft spot in his heart for this shows because Hercules is one of his top three favorite Disney movies.

I headed down to the theater a little after 6 and was one of the first in line at the doors. I thought it would be open already, but the doors didn’t open until around 6:15. I headed down to the front row; someone was already sitting on one end, so I plopped down on the other. A teenage boy (perhaps a relative of Ms. Haughty) said, “Sorry, these seats are all reserved,” gesturing at all the remaining seats in the row. Seat saving in the theater is forbidden, and there is a note in the Navigator that says so. Still, I wouldn’t mind if it was just a couple, but he was beyond the limits of common courtesy.

I rolled my eyes and said, “You can’t save a whole row.” He said, “It’s not the whole row; it’s nine seats.” I’ve got to hand it to him; he definitely had brass ones. I replied, “The Navigator says you can’t save ANY. Nobody minds a reasonable amount, but nine is not reasonable. If you have a problem with me, I suggest you complain to the staff.” I was hoping that he would, as I would have loved to hear that conversation, but instead he just sauntered away. Meanwhile, a woman and her granddaughter sat down next to me. Turns out the granddaughter had tried to sit there originally and was told by Mr. Brass that the seats were “reserved.” Being a kid, she fell for it. When they saw other people sitting there and Mr. Brass leaving, they returned.

I had a very nice chat with the grandmother while waiting for the show to start. It was her first cruise, and even though it had just started, she was having a great time. Her granddaughter was curious about what happened to Mr. Brass, so she looked around and spotted him a few minutes before showtime. He was standing near the door, apparently looking for the rest of his party. Goodness only knows where they ended up sitting, or if they even showed up.

Hubby and I managed to restrain ourselves from ordering smoothies while waiting, since we knew we had a Palo dinner ahead of us that night. Also, I was wearing shorts and the theater tends to be chilly, so I knew that I’d be shivering if I had a cold drink. The smoothies are delicious; I think there are various flavors, but we usually get strawberry or chocolate. They are sold in front of the theater and also inside, so you can order one very conveniently. Just beware…they are very addictive!

We were anxious to see the show, as this was a new cast for us and we always like to see how they customize it. All of the shows are different when there is a new cast, but this is most pronounced with Herc because there are more opportunities for ad libbing. Each cast puts its own unique twist into the show. Herc has been around since 1998, and it has also been interesting to see how it’s evolved over the years.

Before the show, Cruise Director Jacqui came out to introduce it, and Captain John also came out to greet everybody and welcome them to their new home for the next three days. Then it was showtime!

The cast was very good; they’ve been on for about a month, and they really had it together. My favorite parts of the show are Hades’ interactions with Pain and Panic. As usual, Pain and Panic stole the show. I know most of the jokes, but they’d worked in quite a bit of new material. I am a real comedy buff, so that is my favorite part, but I enjoy the songs from Hercules so I like the musical numbers, too. It will be interesting when we sail again in June to see how this cast continues to evolve the show. At the end of the show, be sure to stay until the end of the curtain call for a very cool pyrotechnic effect.

The Golden Mickeys
Friday’s show was The Golden Mickeys, Disney Cruise Line’s newest offering. We saw it when it debuted Labor Day weekend, and now we were interested to see if there were any changes with the new cast. There was a few tweaks, like Ensign Benson’s costume (instead of dress whites, she now wears blue) and some new cartoon footage (watch for the quick clip from “Brother Bear”), but overall the essence has remained same. I’m glad, as I love it just the way it is. My only complaint is that it’s too short; it moves so quickly that it’s over before you know it. Of course, all of the shows are less than an hour, but this one is so fast moving that the time really flies.

At least the fun starts a little early. The festivities kick off before the show begins, as you head to the theater. In a style befitting a gala awards show, paparazzi flash cameras at the arriving “celebrities” (guests). You can pause to be interviewed by Rona Rivers, who is waiting right outside, which means you will appear onscreen inside the theater.

The premise of The Golden Mickeys is an awards show to honor Disney films in various categories such as heroes, villains, friendship, and romance. This is used as a framework for numbers from popular movies such as Snow White, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, Tarzan, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, Pocahontas, 101 Dalmatians, The Little Mermaid, and Toy Story. There is also a guest appearance by Stitch and lots of cartoon clips from various other movies (my favorite is Darla from “Finding Nemo” in the Villians sequence).

But best of all is the beginning, where Ensign Benson gets some help from Roy Disney himself after finding herself unexpectedly thrust into the role of hosting the show. There is lots of old footage of Walt that I really enjoy. I love reading biographies and stories of the early days of Disney, so I just love seeing the classic footage. Another highlight for me is a special appearance by Elvis Stitch during the Comedy sequence. Terk from Tarzan steals the spotlight from Ensign Benson, and Stitch joins her for a rousing rendition of “Trashin’ the Camp.”

If you have small children, be aware that the Villians sequence may be scary, especially if they are sitting in the front. Ursula appears in larger than life form, and her tentacles come very close to those in the first row. Other than that, the sequence is reminiscent of Fantasmic, and the scariness is offset by Cruella DeVil and her entourage performing her signature song. Once of the biggest crowd pleasers always seems to be the Toy Story tribute to friendship. The other is the Snow White sequence in the beginning, when children get to join Snow White and Dopey on stage in the role of the remaining six dwarves.

I love the musical numbers, but I also enjoy The Golden Mickeys from a technical standpoint. It is so amazing to see what they can accomplish on a cruise ship stage, with such limited space. From blending the cartoon and real worlds in Snow White to Princess Aurora’s color changing dress to Ursula’s menacing tentacles and the cartoon backdrops in many of the numbers, the show is a technical marvel.

As the end of the show approaches, Ensign Benson slowly but surely gains her confidence. She may have started off with a severe case of stage fright, but in typical Disney fashion, there is a happy ending.

Since it was Good Friday and most of the shops in Nassau were closed, there was a special Golden Mickeys matinee. We decided to see it so we could have our evening free. I had noticed that even though the stores were closed, the ship was still pretty much deserted, just like a usual port day. Sure enough, the show was much less crowded than I expected. There were a lot of people in the middle section, but the sides were virtually empty.

On the surface, it might sound ideal to watch a show in an uncrowded theater. That would be true at the movies, but for stage shows, I personally like the energy of being in the midst of a large, lively audience. The people at the matinee were so quiet and reluctant to clap that I was reminded of Hades’ line, “Is this an audience or a mosaic?” I still love the show regardless, but I imagine it must be harder for the actors to perform if they don’t get an enthusiastic response.

We decided to go to our regular evening performance, and this time around there were lots of people and plenty of enthusiasm. Since there have been some changes, hubby took lots of new digital photos. If you want to take pictures, please do it WITHOUT a flash to be courteous to those around you. Sometimes the constant flashes are almost blinding, but on this trip I was happy to see that most people followed the rules and did not take flash photos. We have a digital camera with night vision that takes great flashless shots of all but the darkest scenes. I noticed a couple of other people around us using flashless digital cameras, too.

The big evening crowded laughed, clapped, and cheered at all the appropriate times and gave the show a well-deserved standing ovation at the end. I was very pleased to have seen my favorite show twice, and if it wasn’t dinner time, I could easily have sat through a third peformance.

Disney Dreams
Even though this was cruise number 37, I think we have seen Disney Dreams closer to 40 times. I love The Golden Mickeys, but Disney Dreams is hubby’s unwavering favorite (and I must admit that I never get tired of it either). Sometimes there is a matinee, so we double dip and see that plus the evening performance. Of course that doesn’t count the innumerable times we’ve watched it on our stateroom t.v.

Like Hercules, Disney Dreams has been around since the debut of the cruise line. Like The Golden Mickeys, it features a variety of scenes from various Disney movies. It is framed around the story of a little girl named Anne Marie, who wishes she could fly to the place where dreams come true. The Blue Fairy drafts Peter Pan to assist her in learning to make her own magic.

There are scenes from Aladdin, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid (my favorite), and The Lion King. As much as I love the musical numbers, my favorite part is towards the end, when Tinker Bell pixie dusts the cruise ship. I never get tired of it, no matter how many times I see it.

There was no matinee this time around, so we saw the pre-dinner show. Then, of course, we had to turn it on to watch again as we dressed for dinner. If I were travelling with children, I think that it would be so neat to put them to bed and let them fall asleep watching Disney Dreams on t.v.

Memories of Retired Shows
Besides these three shows, in the past Disney has attempted some “non-traditional” fare. One of their original offerings was Voyage of the Ghost ship, a swashbuckling pirate adventure with no Disney characters at all. But when people are sailing on a Disney ship, they want to see familiar characters/stories and hear familiar songs. Ghost Ship was retired, but ironically I think it would have been a success if it had been released later and tied into the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It would have been a natural fit.

There was another offering, which was originally titled C’est Magique, on the seven day Magic cruises. It was a new age-type magic show in the mold of something like Cirque du Soleil. In the original version, there was absolutely no dialogue. Personally, I really enjoyed it, but it contained no “Disney” elements so it was soon retooled into Morty the Magician. This time around, there was a story line and an appearance by Sorcerer Mickey. But even The Mouse himself couldn’t salvage it, and now it’s retired too.

Hopefully, if Disney Cruise Line ever retires Hercules and introduces another show, it will be on a par with The Golden Mickeys. I’d love to see a Lilo and Stitch theme, since they go with the whole tropical concept. The fact that Lilo & Stitch is my all-time favorite Disney cartoon has absolutely nothing to do with it!

Movies
Usually when we’re on the ship, we don’t go to the movie theater. Disney does have some really good offerings; they premiere movies from their studios on the Wonder and Magic the very same day that they debut on land. On our cruise, “Home on the Range” was already playing, and “The Alamo” made its debut. For the premieres and the really popular new movies, the screening is often held in the Walt Disney Theater, which is the main show theater. It is larger than the Buena Vista Theater, which is the regular spot for films.

I supposed that if you’re a movie buff, seeing films on board is a great savings over theater prices. But it’s not worth it for me because my cruise time is priceless, and I rarely spend it doing something that I could do at home. The movies will come out on DVD pretty quickly, but I can’t recreate the cruise ship experience in my living room.

But if you have kids or really enjoy seeing movies as soon as they are released, you’ll probably spend some time in the theater. Besides the first run offerings on the big screen, you’ll be able to see various older movies on your stateroom t.v. There is also a channel that plays classic Disney animated films 24 hours a day. For some reason, Hercules seemed to be on every time we turned on the cartoon channel. It was fun to see it and recognize how the movie dialogue had been worked into the play.

Photo Opportunities
On the way to dinner on the first night, I was very excited to spot a new photo opportunity. Throughout the cruise, the photographers from Shutters take portraits in front of a variety of backdrops. We have just about all of them, but there’s one that is generally only offered on the four night cruise that I’ve been coveting. It is a backdrop of the bow of the ship, with a sunset in the background. When I saw that it was available on this cruise, hubby and I had to take advantage of it. We have quite a collection of ship photos, and we always love adding new ones.

You cannot use your own camera at the back drops, but there are plenty of photo opportunities with the Disney characters where you can use your own camera in addition to the shots taken by the photographers. To find out where and when particular characters will be, call 7-PALS from your stateroom phone or look at the board outside of Shutters or in the atrium. Characters are among the most popular photo offerings, so the lines can get quite long. Be sure to get there early to get a picture with your favorites, as the line will be cut early if it gets too long.

I was hoping to find Lilo and Stitch, but they remained elusive. I have a photo with Stitch that was taken a couple of cruises ago, at the farewell gathering on the last night in the atrium, but I want to get a professional shot. The farewell is a character bonanza, with lots of traditional favorites, plus several of the main stage performers. The Shutters photographers don’t take pictures at this event, so you’ll definitely need to bring your own camera. The characters descend the staircase outside of Tritons and go out into the crowd in the atrium. There will be crew members on hand to keep some semblance of order, and you will probably be able to get several good shots if you move quickly. The only bad thing is that late dining often interferes with this event. We did attend it this time, but sometimes we run out of the dining room for photos and then return for dessert. If you have late dining and want to attend, you can also let your servers know that you will need to leave a little early. They are great about accommodating your request.

The farewell is a free for all, but the other character photo events are very well organized and controlled. On board the ship, they usually take place in the atrium. On Castaway Cay, they will be at various points along the main path in the morning and at the gazebo near Cookies in the afternoon. You may also run into them at various places on the ship; on this ship, I had my hand gallantly kissed by Captain Hook when I ran into him in the hallway. Later in the trip, as I was carrying my lunch back to our beach chairs on Castaway Cay, I heard people chuckling and turned to find Mickey right behind me! You never know where a character will turn up.

On this trip, we also got some neat shots on Castaway Cay. There are photographers at the family beach snapping photos on the sand and in the water. We got a picture of hubby and I standing in the water and another one of me lounging in a hammock. Take advantage of as many of the photo opportunities as possible because you’re not under any obligation to purchase the pictures.

Shutters can also develop your film and transfer your digital pictures onto a CD. Hubby purchased a waterproof camera to take photos on the island. He was going to have them developed on board but opted not to because he still had a few shots left to take. At the airport on the way home, he was forced to put the camera through the x-ray machine. The security agent swore up and down that the machine wouldn’t harm it. Back at our house, he used up the last few shots taking photos of our cats. When he had the film developed, the cat pictures were grainy and much too bright. Thankfully, the photos from Castaway Cay were okay, but the film that hadn’t been exposed yet was ruined. Next time, he’ll opt for the onboard developing.

Another cool thing to take advantage of on board is to purchase Christmas cards. The cards were offered for the first time in 2003, and they were such a hit that they’re now a permanent item. Even if you are sailing early in the year, you can buy your cards early. You choose a photo and a decorative scene, such as Mickey’s hand holding an ornament or Mickey lounging on the beach. You select some text, your photo is added, and voila! Cool personalized postcards. We already have our 2004 cards, as we bought them back in February.

Dining at Sea
I covered the embarkation buffet earlier, but that’s just the first part of a long weekend full of delicious dining opportunities. Hubby recently lost over 50 pounds, while I lost 25, so we do try to watch what we eat. But when we are on the ship, we allow ourselves to do some indulging. I think that the only way to maintain good eating habits is to give yourself a break every now and then. I do make some concessions to my new eating style, though. Between meals, I always used to snack on the delicious chicken tenders from Plutos, with plenty of honey mustard. Now, I refrain from most between meal snacks. I also skip some of the desserts or have something light. For example, in Parrot Cay the cold mango soup is actually an appetizer, but I ordered it to cap my meal instead of to start it. Disney also offers some excellent sugar-free desserts. Hubby gave a thumbs up to the sugar-free strawberry shortcake at lunch in Triton’s.

But I do allow myself to have special treats, like the chocolate souffle at Palo. With so many goodies around, it’s impossible to resist everything. Hubby and I try to balance the indulgence by keeping up with our exercise routine. He likes to work out in the fitness room, while I prefer walking and water jogging at Castaway Cay.

The Wonder has three main dining rooms: Triton’s, Animators Palate, and Parrot Cay. Each is themed differently, and each has a different menu. Animators is the most famous because of its show, where the walls literally change from black and white into color. But personally, I like Triton’s best because it has my favorite menu. I also like the Little Mermaid theme and the blue and green cast to the lighting. You eat at a different restaurant each night, and your server teams moves along with you. On this trip, our head server is Rita, who we know from many previous trips. Our servers were Rolly and Agnes. They took good care of us, handling all of our special requests cheerfully and efficiently.

In addition to the three regular restaurants, there is also Palo, an adults only alternative. You have to make reservations to dine there, and there is a $10 per person surcharge, but it is well worth it. Palo is the equivalent of a fine restaurant, with meals cooked to order. It reminds me of something like D’Antonio’s in Celebration, Florida. The cuisine is Italian, with many delicious pasta dishes. There is also steak and seafood, and even an assortment of pizzas. The pizza is delicious but filling, so I usually skip that (it makes a great appetizer if you have a large group, but generally it’s just hubby and I).

Your meal is kicked off with fresh bread and three dipping sauces (olive, red pepper, and garlic mayonnaise), as well as antipasto. We skip the antipasto because we like an order an appetizer off the menu, but we also want to save room for dessert. Hubby loves the Italian fish soup as a starter. It is a red soup chock full of shrimp, mussels, and scallops. I really enjoy the portobello mushroom appetizer. For dinner, I know that the filet mignon with gorgonzola cheese is always good, but often I’m tempted away by a special. On this trip, I tried the special lasagna, and it was absolutely divine. Hubby can vouch for the fact that I am not really a pasta person, but the lasagna was out of this world. It was chock full or beef and cheese, and it was topped off with an utterly delicious white sauce. If it were a regular menu item, that would probably be my usual order. Hubby opted for the tuna, as usual, which he orders as rare as possible. He would be happy if it were totally raw, as he loves sushi. Palo offers the next best thing: a quick sear on either side, leaving a nice, pink middle.

For me, no visit to Palo is complete without chocolate souffle for dessert. I like it with lots of white hazelnut sauce and just a dab of chocolate sauce. Mmmmmm! Hubby tends to switch off between the pistachio torte and the panna cotta. No matter how full I’m feeling (which is usually pretty full, since I tend to overindulge in the bread and sauces in addition to my meal), I always make room for that chocolate bliss.

A secondary benefit of eating at Palo is the view. I especially like dining there on Nassau night, with the lights of the city as the backdrop. One of my most memorable Palo visits occurred on the Magic, when we were in Key West. Our dinner was timed just right so that we watched the sunset right from our windowside table.

Even though there is a surcharge to dine at Palo, we always add on an additional gratuity for our Palo server. We base it on what we would tip in a similar land-based restaurant. If you want to add something, you can put it on the slip when you pay for the surcharge.

The other onboard dining experiences were all excellent. I always have eggs benedict from Triton’s for breakfast on Nassau morning, and we vary between Triton’s and Beach Blanket Buffet for lunch. On this trip, hubby convinced me to lunch at Triton’s by reminding me about their delicious curried pumpkin soup. They also make fresh pasta and a wonderful Hawaiian-type salad. I always request added maraschino cherries. It may sound like an odd combination, but it is delicious.

If you want to sleep in or don’t feel like leaving your stateroom for breakfast, you can pre-order continental items the night before. You fill out a card, place it on your doorknob, and your food and beverages will be delivered the next morning at the appointed hour. The room service staff on the Wonder are great. They are so prompt that we use them as an alarm clock. If you have a verandah, enjoying your morning coffee outside is the perfect way to start off your day.

We did find a new culinary treat on this trip in an unexpected place: Cookies Barbeque on Castaway Cay. After I got my food in the regular line, I noticed that there were tables where you could get a fresh Ceasar salad. You'll have to be on the lookout because you won't see this in the regular buffet line. I had already loaded up on food so I skipped it, but hubby got one and pronounced it quite good.

Onboard Accommodations
I am a creature of habit, and I love deck 5 in general and stateroom 5650 in particular. When we’re not there, we can be found in one of the non-adjoining secret porthole rooms (either 5520 or 5020). Unlike the other decks that contain guest staterooms, deck 5 only has rooms in the forward and aft sections. The middle of the deck is taken up by the Buena Vista movie theater and the kids clubs. The activity areas are well removed from the staterooms, so they won’t cause any disturbance. Actually, I think you get less hallway noise and traffic on deck 5 because it does not have an endless hallway of rooms like the other decks.

The secret porthole rooms are forward, and 5650 is aft. Aft is my favorite area of the ship, and the farther back, the better. 5650 is the last guest stateroom on the starboard side of the ship. Being so far off the beaten path means that it is quiet and peaceful. Generally, the only time I ever hear anyone passing by is the first afternoon, when people are lost. Once they learn their way around the ship, they don’t venture back to my peaceful little zone.

This trip was no exception. We were in 5650 and never heard any disturbance when we slept in a bit on Nassau morning, even though there were lots of kids on the ship. I would see them when we walked through the hallways, but I never heard them anywhere near our stateroom. We also spent some quality verandah time; 5650 has a solid metal verandah rather than a plexiglass railing (this is true of all the staterooms past the navigators verandah rooms), and it is deeper and a little larger than the regular verandahs. It feels more private and secluded, and it’s nice to only have a stateroom on one side because you only have one neighbor. Even though a three day cruise literally flies by, we still found time to lounge around outside. I like to go out there for a little while each morning and then spend some time on the verandah on Nassau afternoon (I just pretend it’s a day at sea).

Nassau (Sort of)
Speaking of Nassau, on this trip, for the first time in ages, we actually disembarked for the first time in ages. No, we weren’t anxious to have our hair braided or to stock up on liquor and smokes. We happened to be in port at the same time as the Celebrity Century. Cruise Director Rick, formerly of Disney Cruise Line, is now a cruise director at Celebrity and he happened to be working on the Century. We haven’t seen him in ages, so we broke our tradition of staying on board and disembarked in Nassau to meet up with him for a quick visit. His ship was only in port for a few hours; it didn’t arrive until 2:30 p.m. and left at 7:30 p.m., but we still managed to get together to say hello.

It was great to see Rick again after over a year, and he is doing great. Our stay in Nassau consisted of disembarking the Wonder, walking over the Century, which was docked right next to us, visiting with Rick, and then heading right back to the Wonder. That was enough for me; if it weren’t for Rick, we would have just pretended it was a day at sea and stayed on the ship. I did notice one classy perk at Celebrity; as the passengers returned to the ship, they were handed hot towels to freshen up.

The rest of our Nassau day was filled with spa appointments, quality verandah time, and the Golden Mickeys matinee. The matinee was only because of Good Friday, since there was less to do in the port. But even without an extra stage show, there is plenty to do on board. There are always movies and various activities like a family animation class. For lunch, you can choose from a buffet on deck 9 or a sitdown meal at Tritons.

37 Times at Castaway Cay
Like The Golden Mickeys and Disney Dreams, Castaway Cay is one of those things that I never tired of. Hubby and I have extraordinary luck. In 37 cruises, many of which are in the winter, we have never missed docking at Castaway Cay. There have been a couple of close calls in the colder months, but we’ve always made it in. We’ve never been totally rained out, either. We have encountered a couple of storms, but we’ve always gotten in at least of couple of hours of beach time.

For some reason, hubby was convinced that it was going to be too cold to swim this trip. He was so convincing that I booked my reflexology treatment at 2 p.m. on Saturday, figuring that the cold would entice us to leave the island early. Boy, did he turn out to be wrong!

Actually, at about 6 a.m. Saturday morning, it looked like things might be a wash-out. I was sound asleep, but hubby was out on the verandah watching a wicked thunder storm blow through. He was fully convinced that it was going to stick around, but our luck held and it cleared out just in time for disembarkation. The only signs that remained were some dark clouds that blew away by late morning, wet sand, and water on the beach chairs.

Hubby had booked the brand new jet ski excursion for 9:45 a.m., so we disembarked bright and early. We were stepping on the island before 9 a.m. We had some postcards to mail, and the post office is supposed to open at 8:30 a.m., at least according to the posted sign, but it was deserted. We figured we’d just stop back in the afternoon.

Usually we go to the adult beach at the far end of the island, but very now and then I like to stay at the family beach. Serenity Bay usually lives up to its name as an oasis of peace and quiet, but sometimes I like to be in the thick of things. At the far end of the family beach, near the Heads Up bar, there is a nice, uncrowded area. It takes a bit of walking to get there, but it is close to restrooms and the game room. There are three hammocks in the area that often stay undiscovered until lunchtime.

We were going to head over there, but since we were so early, I noticed a couple of unoccupied hammocks behind the bar across from Cookie’s Barbecue. Although they were right off the main path, they were shaded by a clump of palm trees that gave the area a secluded feel. They weren’t right by the water, but we don’t have any young swimmers to watch, so that doesn’t matter to us. We claimed one of the hammocks and adjacent lounge chairs and set up “base camp” in this new location.

As the clouds disappeared and the sun grew stronger, the temperature started to climb. It turned into one of the most gorgeous days I can ever remember on Castaway Cay. It was warm enough to swim, but not unbearably hot and muggy. Hubby did jet sking, snorkeling, and lounging, while I split my time between swimming and reading in the hammock. When we first arrived, the water and beach were nearly deserted. It was amazing to watch how the crowd grew and multiplied as the morning wore into afternoon.

A Jet Ski Adventure
The jet ski eco-tour is a brand new offering on Castaway Cay. There have always been pedal boats, sailboats, and kayaks for rent, but the jet skis are a new addition to the fleet. You cannot take them out on your own. You sign up for a guided tour, and you are led on an excursion with two stops as the guide shares some history and ecological information about the island.

Hubby though he would have difficulty getting a spot, but it turns out he was the only person in the 9 a.m group! I think this is because this tour is new, and not many people know about it yet. Once the word gets out, I suspect it is going to get very popular. The price tag is a bit steep; it’s $95 for one person, but there is a price break for a second person riding on the same jet ski. But I think there will still be a lot of people who are willing to pay the price in order to jet ski in Paradise.

Personally, I’d rather pay the extra money to be assured that I am going with a trusted vendor. Hubby once rented a jet ski at the public beach in Nassau. The vendors there are all independent, with no regulation. The jet ski died out in the middle of the ocean, and he had to wait until it drifted back to shore, mile from his starting point. When he finally got back to the beach, he made the mistake of telling the vendor where he left the jet ski before demanding his money back. Of course, the guy disappear with his money.

At least when you ride a jet ski at Castaway Cay, you know that Disney has carefully selected the vendor. Hubby was very impressed with the guides’ knowledge and their focus on safety. There is one guide in front and another in back, and you wear a life jacket and go at a controlled speed. You stick pretty close to the island and the surrounding area rather than going out into the open ocean. One of the two stops is on the opposite side of the dock, where the guides talk about the mangroves. For that stop, you stay on your jet ski. The second stop is at a sandbar, where you climb off your jet ski and learn about how the sand bar was created and some of the history of the Bahamas. If you are lucky, you might even get to see wild crabs! Hubby was fortunate enough to see the crabs and get his photo taken holding one. The guide said that this is the first time he’s seen the crabs there since the tour started.

The whole experience, from start to finish, lasted about an hour. The tour itself was about 30 minutes, and the rest of the time was spent on orientation and instruction. Hubby really enjoyed it and highly recommends it to anyone who wants to get a unique view of the island or who just wants to say that they rode a jet ski at Castaway Cay.

A Lazy Day on the Island
My day was much more lazy. I like to jog in the water for exercise, and if I went out a little ways it was deep enough to give me a workout. At first, I was nearly the only one in the water, but as the morning wore on, more and more people took the plunge. The beach chairs were filling in rapidly; you could tell each time when a tram must have dropped off a load of passengers because a new herd of beach goers would wander down the sand, looking for a spot.

After I was done in the water, I curled up in the hammock with a good book. The palm trees provided plenty of shade, and even though I was on the family beach and it was pretty crowded, the area was relatively quiet. It was quite a while before anyone even took the nearby chairs. I think most people want to be closer to the water, and many even bring the tiny chairs right down into the ocean. It’s a good way to keep a close eye on the kids and also to cool off and relax.

Finally a large family group showed up and managed to scrounge enough chairs to set up “base camp” in the area in front of me. They put together a pretty impressive camp, but I didn’t see too much of them. The gang of kids immediately headed for the water, leaving mom to hold down the fort and keep an eye on their stack of water toys. I had a very nice, peaceful interlude until hubby returned from jet skiing and snorkeling. Then, since our chairs were very close to Cookies, we brought our lunch over to the beach. By the time we were done eating, it was time to head back to the ship so I could shower before my 2 p.m. spa appointment. So much for hubby’s prediction of cold weather; it had been an absolutely perfect day. The only good thing about returning to the ship a little early is that I burn easily. Even though I’d been applying sunscreen, I had a bit of a burn going already. But I was still sad that I missed kayaking.

We had packed up and were just leaving when I saw a family heading onto the beach to find a place. I pointed out our hammock, and they happily claimed it and settled in for the afternoon.

The Silent Auction
Shopping is a popular activity on cruise ships and in port, but hubby and I have just about every t-shirt and quite a bit of assorted DCL merchandise, so we usually don’t buy too much in the onboard stores. I always look at the Silent Auction merchandise, but usually nothing catches my eye. I already own my all-time favorite DCL item, which is a copy of the picture that graces the bed over stateroom 5650, so it’s hard to find something that measures up.

On this trip, I finally found another piece of artwork to fit into my DCL bedroom. It was a gold-framed picture of the ship, with clouds in the background. In the clouds you can see WDW. For some reason, that really struck me as neat. Hubby recently bought a framed poster at Art of Disney that features Walt and Mickey walking over a bridge with the parks and various characters behind them, on land and in the clouds. I absolutely love items that depict Walt and Mickey together (we also have Triple Self Portrait handing in the same room). For some reason, this picture reminded me of that one, even though Walt and The Mouse are nowhere to be seen. Maybe it was the parks and the clouds. The blue matting was perfect for our bedroom and the starting bid was reasonable ($75), so I decided to give it a go.

To participate in the Silent Auction, you write your bid on the appropriate sheet. The items and sheets are placed outside the Walt Disney Theater during the times that the shops are open. You must bid at least the designated minimum, and others can come along and bid more. When the auction closes on the last day, the highest bidder wins. If you are the winner, you will receive a call in your stateroom. You must pay for your item by 11:00 p.m. on that last night. It can also be shipped for an additional fee.

I decided that if I could get the picture for $75, that would be great, and if someone wanted to go higher, I would bow out. I had awful luck when I was trying to get my stateroom picture. The opening bid for that one was considerably higher, but when I bid for it on a couple of occasions, someone always topped me. For only $75, I thought someone would surely swoop in on this picture, too. But when we got back from dinner that evening, there was a phone message waiting for me…it was mine for the minimum bid!

I trooped down to Treasure Ketch to pick up the newest addition to my Disney collection. You pay in the store, and if you are taking your item with you, they will make sure that it is securely swaddled in bubble wrap. Now it is proudly hanging in my bedroom, among lots of other DCL paraphernalia. We have everything from a model of the ship signed by one of the captains to Captain Mickey and Minnie figurines to Steamboat Mickey to crystal etchings and even a nautical bedspread. Various photos from Shutters take up any remaining wall space and dresser tops. I am always homesick for the ship in between our cruises, but when I step into the bedroom, I can almost convince myself that I’m onboard.

If you’d like to bring a little bit of the ship back home with you, too, I highly recommend checking out the auction. Besides some cool artwork, there are unique items like genuine captains hats with signatures, framed sets of trading cards, dishes from the restaurants, promotional crew member items, and even bolts of cloth from the Animators Palate costumes. The items change regularly, so don’t be surprised if they are different on your cruise.

Flash Back to the 70s
On this cruise, we didn’t attend much of the adult entertainment. There is an 80s party on the first night, but I don’t like it as much any more because they took out the Michael Jackson dance numbers that the main stage actors used to perform. I wish that the 70s party was on the first night because then I can party until the wee hours and sleep late on Nassau morning. But we were pretty sleepy Thursday night, so since it was the 80s party, we skipped it in favor of our nice, comfy bed.

Other adult events that we like are the Wonderquest adult scavenger hunt and Match Your Mate, an at-sea version of the Newlywed Game. I don’t know if they had Wonderquest; as usual, Match Your Mate was on Nassau night, but we were pretty busy bumming around the ship so we missed it. We usually try to see it because it’s different every time, depending on the contestants. There are three couples: newlyweds, people who have been married for a few years, and the couple that has been wed the longest. That mix usually makes for some pretty hilarious results. My favorites are the couple who were honeymooning on the Magic because they had met there the year before (and had “discovered the magic” on the deck 7 aft verandah), the couple who shared intimate details about their tryst in a Six Flags parking lot, the elderly couple who had been discovered in an intimate position by a Boy Scout Troop that happened to hike by, and the even more elderly couple who took their honeymoon in Mexico with a young hitchhiker in tow. They spoke no Spanish and he spoke no English, but each night they would make him sleep outside the car while they carried on inside! They had been married for something like 60 years, so it was even more hilarious to imagine this scenario way back in the 1940s. Sometimes the show is more tame, but sometimes it’s even wilder; I can’t say much more here, since my website is a family site.

On the last night, we made up our minds to not miss our favorite event. After dinner, we stopped at our stateroom to change and headed down to Wavebands. I like to get there early to get a table as far away as possible from the smoking section. Many of the non-smoking tables are directly in front of the smoking section, which means you might as well be sitting in a smoking area. Combine that with generally poor ventilation and if you have allergies (like me), it can be a nightmare. There is one section off to the side that is all non-smoking, so we always stake out a spot there.

Sometimes it’s pretty crowded, but amazingly this time it was almost deserted. When the 70s party is on the last night, the turnout tends to be smaller because people are busy packing. But even when the crowd is light early on, the tables slowly but surely fill up as the hour grows later. This time, it started light and stayed light. I suspect it might have been because there was a higher than usual kid population on board due to the holiday. It’s more fun when it’s crowded, but we still had a good time. We did some dancing and then watched the special appearances by “Gloria Gaynor,” “John Travolta,” and “The Village People.” Like Match Your Mate, the dancing and lip syncing are always different, and the cruise staff does a great job of picking people to perform. On this trip, they didn’t have much of a choice because the crowd was so small. As a result, the performances where much tamer than usual, although one of the guys (an Italian man) was pretty funny. I was still glad we attended; I only regret it when I have to drag myself out of bed early the next morning for disembarkation.

Goodbye for Now
Sunday morning marked the end of Disney Cruise #37. We don’t put our luggage out the night before (if you do, it will be transported down to the customs area for you). Instead, we just take it with us when we leave the ship. You can go to the buffet or have a sitdown beakfast at a pre-assigned time that is based on your dinner seating time. But after a long weekend of overindulgence, we are usually too stuffed to even think about breakfast. We had some cookies and fruit left over from earlier in the trip, so we nibbled on that as we packed our final odds and ends and prepared to say goodbye to the Wonder for seven weeks.

Disembarkation is a real breeze. If you’ve never done it before, or if you’ve been through the arduous process on another cruise line, you will be pleasantly surprised. There is a disembarkation talk, but you don’t need to attend in person because it will be replayed all evening on your stateroom television. If you don’t go, be sure to view it on t.v. because it gives some important information on customs forms, identification requirements, etc. Even though we sail frequently, we still watch it because things change regularly.

We had given out tips and turned in our survey the night before, so in the morning there wasn’t much left to do other than leave the ship. When we left around 8 a.m., there was no line in the atrium, so we simply walked down the gangway and back into the real world. There are porters to help you with your bags if you need any assistance. We pack pretty light, so we can manage our own luggage. There was a short wait in the Customs line, but soon we were turning in our form and passing through on the first step of our journey home.

Depending on your form of transportation, you will either pick up your car in the parking lot across the street, meet your towncar or limo in the pickup area of the lot, or catch a van to a rental car agency in the pickup area. There is a big, white canopy in the designated area, and there are signs that mark lines for the rental car and Radisson Hotel shuttle van. The lucky people continue their vacation in Cape Canaveral or Orlando area, while the unlucky ones (like us) head to the airport or to home by other means.

Oh well, I shouldn’t complain because we are very fortunate to be able to cruise as often as we do. Even though we had to say goodbye for now, it wouldn’t be too much longer before we returned. And once again, we were leaving with memories of another “wonder”ful trip.

Trip Report #36, February 2004 on the Wonder

Escape from the Chicago Winter
My hubby and I think the best way to spend our wedding anniversary is at sea, so Disney cruise #36 was our annual February cruise. Although we were married on Valentines Day, we usually sail a week or so early because the airfare is cheaper. Besides being our anniversary month, February is also a great month to sail if you live in a cold climate. December and January are bleak, miserable months, so by the time you get to February, you’re ready for some sunshine and lush, green vegetation to replace the gray skies and snowy landscape.

As usual, we flew on ATA out of Midway Airport. Living in Chicago, we have the advantage of choosing from two airports and multiple airlines. We used to vary between American, United, and ATA, but lately American and United haven’t had any good deals. ATA is generally pretty reasonable, even compared to Southwest. They have assigned seats, nice leather seats with adjustable headrests, and in-flight entertainment (you pay $2 for the headphones, but then you can keep them for future trips). Most of their fleet is pretty new; I love the 757-300 stretch planes, although landing in one of those on Midway’s short runways is a real experience.

Of course, our trip began with the trip to Midway. We live in the south suburbs of Chicago, and it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour to get to the airport, depending on traffic. Our most direct route is Cicero Avenue, but sometimes we opt for Pulaski, which takes us out of our way but tends to have less congestion (“less” being a relative term). Lately, we’ve had pretty good luck on Cicero, and this trip was no exception. We made one of our best times ever, reaching the airport within half an hour.

I absolutely hate shuttle buses, so we usually park at Midway Park Savers, an independent lot that is within walking distance of the Orange Line entrance to the airport. The lot is so vast that they have an internal shuttle to bring you to the front if it’s really crowded. But usually we get a spot close to the front. Some of the spots are tight, especially if you drive an SUV. I have an Aztek (yes, a Survivor car, although I prefer to think of it as a Canyonero, ala the Simpsons). That means that sometimes I must be choosy about where I park if I don’t want another ding in my door or to have trouble getting out. But as I said, usually there are plenty of good spots to choose from.

We’d been going through a multi-day snowy period in Chicago, so the parking lot was coated in white and people were parking willy-nilly without regard for the yellow lines. I chose a spot by the fence, figuring that was safe enough, and hubby and I gathered our luggage, huddled in our coats, and headed across the street. It’s a chilly walk through the bus stops and parking garage before you reach the warmth of the terminal building, and we were wearing light coats because we didn’t feel like carrying big, bulky ones around Florida. The cold made us step very lively, and soon we were in the terminal.

The security line was short, so we were through within minutes. We had done web check-in, so all we had to do was head to the gate and wait. We knew that there wouldn’t be many people on the flight; we could tell when we changed our seats (online check-in allows you to switch to an exit row). Boarding proceeded in record time because of the light crowd, and our flight managed to take off as scheduled. I was pleased because we’ve had weather delays on three of our last four flights. I guess we were due for an on-time trip.

Unfortunately, the wind was against us. The captain warned us that it would be a bumpy ride, and the usual two hour and nine minute flight stretched out closer to three hours. At least we spent them in comfort because we’d selected our favorite exit row, a two-across row with tons of legroom and kitty-corner from the restroom for easy access. We bring books, handheld games, CD players, a DVD player, and a laptop computer, so we’re well prepared for delays. I am finalizing my Disney cruise planning CD, so I spent some time working on that and then rewarded myself with a few games of pinball (in between white knuckle periods when the turbulence got especially bouncy). Even though the flight was longer than usual, the time passed quickly because I was busy, and soon we were touching down in Orlando.

Usually we catch a hotel shuttle and then take a town car from Happy Limo to the port in the morning. I know that some people do a one-way car rental, but I’ve never tried that because I prefer being a passenger. But since I am doing research for my CD, we decided to do a rental from whichever company was cheapest and then have Happy Limo pick us up for our return. We used to use the Disney Cruise Line bus a long time ago, for our first cruises, so this way I’d be able to report on all of the options firsthand.

Three car rental companies (Avis, Budget, and Hertz) offer a free shuttle from their Cocoa Beach location to Port Canaveral. Two (Avis and Budget) are onsite at Orlando International Airport. You have to take a shuttle from MCO to Hertz, but I’ve used them before via Priceline when we do quickie weekend trips, and it’s still a smooth experience. Their shuttles are always right there waiting, and they’re only a few minutes away from the airport. I had no big preference, so I went with the one that offered the best deal.

First, I looked for discount codes on www.mousesavers.com, but none of them made much of a difference for a one-way rental. Finally, I went to www.hotwire.com. They don’t handle one-way rentals, but they have a link on their site to several major companies that automatically puts in a discount code. I found the cheapest prices using their link, and the least expensive company was Budget, so that’s who I chose. I was glad it wasn’t Avis because I’ve seen massive crowds waiting for their shuttle on disembarkation day. I don’t know if it’s that bad for embarkation, but I didn’t want to find out. On the other hand, the number of people waiting for Budget is usually modest, so I figured they were a good choice.

At MCO, we headed to the Budget counter, which is the farthest one down on the left hand side, meaning that it’s a pretty good hike. There were quite a few people in front of us, and two people working the counter, so we waited about 15 minutes. I am used to booking through Priceline, which means that the rental is pre-paid. I’ve read about some companies trying to raise the price on a regular booking when you arrive, so I was on guard for that. The reservation contains a disclaimer that the amount may not be exact, but I expect it to be pretty darn close.

Fortunately, the price given to me at the counter was within 99 cents of my quote. The agent brought up the insurance and upgrades, but he wasn’t overly pushy. We had rented the cheapest car, but we ended up being upgraded to a Taurus. It was a nice, big vehicle with a cavernous trunk. It had over 16,000 miles on it and a shimmy when driven over 60 m.p.h., but it had really good acceleration, and overall it seemed capable of getting us safely to the port. We loaded up, checked the car for any pre-existing damage (nothing but a minor ding; we always document any problems with our digital camera, just in case), and were on our way.

Wake Up, Sleepyhead
The next morning, we got a later start than we had planned, so I was hoping the wait for the shuttle to the port wouldn’t be too bad. Since we had a rental car, we had spent the night in the Disney World area. The drive from the airport to Port Canaveral is only about 40 minutes, but starting from Disney World adds another 20 to 30, depending on traffic and where you are staying. We were on the road at 10:00 a.m., heading down 417 to 528, which goes directly to Cocoa Beach, where it turns into A1A. That’s the main drag where the car rental companies are located. Expect to pay a toll to get on 417, plus more $1 tolls and then a $1.25 toll on 528.

Thankfully, traffic wasn’t too bad, and we arrived at Budget a little after 11, after a quick stop to fill up the car with gas. The Budget office was just past the Radisson hotel, on the right. It was quite different from the hustle and the bustle of the airport location. They directed me to pull the car around the back, and hubby unloaded the luggage while I went inside to pay. There was no one else waiting for the shuttle, so within a few minutes we were piling in and heading to the ship. I noticed that they had two vans, which must be good at crowded times.

Port Canaveral is not far away, and within minutes we were passing the Disney Wonder. No matter how many times I see it, I am always in awe of its size and beauty. It looks so classy, even in comparison to the newer ships. My stateroom, 5650, is in the butt end of the ship, on the side facing the terminal, so I caught sight of it as we drove past.

We pulled up to the terminal building and stacked up our luggage for the porter. Your bags are taken to the ship for delivery to your stateroom after sail away. You should have a day bag with the items that you will need immediately after embarkation. One item not to forget is your swimwear. Most people don’t realize that before the safety drill on embarkation day is an ideal time for a dip. The pools typically aren’t crowded because many people don’t think about packing their swimsuits in their day bag. Usually you’ve just arrived after a hectic morning of travel, and you’ll probably be hustling for Palo, spa, and/or Flounders reservations, so after all that is done, a swim or a soak in the hot tub is a great way to unwind.

We never forget our swimsuits, which were safely packed in our day bag. The security line to get into the port wasn’t too bad, but be aware that if you have a laptop computer, they will make you boot it up. Soon we were through and heading up the escalator to the massive check-in area.

The check-in counter is built to handle a large volume of people. Also, on the 3 and 4 day cruises, many people are on land/sea packages and check in at their resort. That means that your wait time is typically minimal. There were plenty of check-in agents available, but we wanted to say “hi” to our friend Tanya and she was already waiting on someone, so we chose to wait. Soon she was free and welcoming us back for our 36th departure.

I was surprised that the embarkation line was pretty minimal, especially since we’d arrived at the port later than usual (the shuttle had dropped us off around 11:30). I know that the wait to embark seems like forever to some people, but to me time jumps into fast forward mode the minute I enter the terminal building. People were wandering around, looking at the ship model, and getting their photo taken with Captain Mickey. Soon enough it was noon, and the boarding announcement was made. Time to head through the giant Mickey head and onto the Disney Wonder!

As you board, your photo is taken in front of a dated sign, and then you give your name to a member of the cruise staff and they welcome you aboard over a microphone as you walk into the atrium. By now, it’s very familiar to me, but if it’s your first cruise, the sight of the red carpeting, the enormous blown glass chandelier overhead, the statue of Ariel, and the twin staircases is very impressive.

We headed aft to Parrot Cay for lunch. The embarkation buffet is served in two locations; Parrot Cay is an indoor restaurant where you are assigned to a table, and Beach Blanket Buffet, which is up on deck 9, is a buffet restaurant with indoor and outdoor self-seating. Both have pretty much the same lavish spread. The only big difference is if you are a soda drinker. You can get soda included with your meal in Parrot Cay, where a crew member will come to take your drink order. In Beach Blanket Buffet, you get your beverage at the end of the line, and the selection is limited to things like coffee and non-carbonated beverages such as fruit punch and lemonade.

Of course, if you are a big soda drinker and want easy access in any location, you can buy an all-you-can-drink soda mug. Then, you can have it filled at one of the bars and bring it with you to the buffet. But hubby sticks to coffee, while I prefer iced tea, so we never bother to get one.

The buffet contains a wide variety of salads and hot dishes. I am a salad buff myself, while hubby focuses on the jumbo shrimp. There is also a carving station at the end of the line, which usually has beef although I’ve occasionally seen ham or lamb too. Then you can head to a table where breads and soups are available. My favorite is the cold strawberry-banana soup, which tastes a lot like a smoothie. I usually get a bowl and have it for dessert, although there is a table laden with lots of tempting dessert items too. There is also a spread of kid-friendly items like chicken fingers and macaroni & cheese, so if you little one turns up their nose at the selection on the main buffet, bring them to the kiddie section.

As we chowed down, we read through the information sheet and Navigator (activity list) that we had been given to plot out our strategy for the day. You will definitely want to read those sheets thoroughly because they contain important information like the times/locations for Palo, spa, and Flounders reservations. They also tell what is happening in the evening (showtimes, activities, etc.) so you can get an idea of what you’d like to do after the safety drill.

I noticed that the spa and Palo reservation times were staggered. On our previous few trips, they both started at the same time (1:30), which could pose a challenge unless you send one member of your party to each location. Now, Palo started at 1 p.m. and the spa opened at 1:30, so you could take care of one and then head directly to the other.

The Palo reservation process is very orderly. It usually takes place in Wavebands, where you line up and go to the correct table for the night of your choice. You also go to Wavebands if you want to make a change in your dining arrangements, like switching from late seating to early or visa versa. But be warned that if you are on late seating, a switch to the earlier shift might not be possible. Because of the number of families and children on board, first dining spots go very quickly, and the dining rooms can only hold so many people. You can get on the waitlist or make a request, but it’s not guaranteed.

Of course, hubby and I never have that problem because we like the second seating. First seating is at 6 p.m., which is really 5 p.m. to those of us on central time. That’s pretty early to eat, and it feels like we’re rushed in our daytime activities. We like to laze around the ship on Nassau day, and on Castaway Cay day, the Castaway Club party is usually from 5:15 to 6, which would bring us right up to dinnertime. We prefer 8:30, which gives us plenty of time to do whatever we want all day without rushing. When you are on second seating, you see the main stage show before you eat, and first seaters see it afterwards. Personally, I like the 6:30 showtime. It’s easier to get ready for a show early than for dinner, as you don’t have to get all dressed up.

Spa reservations take place in the Vista Spa on deck 9. They will take you on a spa tour, but if you already know what you want, you can ask to skip it and make your reservations immediately. The tour can be very informative if you’re not familiar with some of the more exotic treatments like the seaweed wrap (one of my favorites). Of course, I have the spa offerings memorized, so I always have my treatments planned out in advance. If you are only interested in the Rainforest (a room containing heated tile loungers, saunas, steam room, and scented showers), you won’t have to worry about reservations. You just come to the spa and sign up when you want to go in. For all the other treatments, appointments are a must.

The spa also has a list of the classes that will be offered throughout the cruise. The classes are free, and there is a really nice variety. My favorite is the beach yoga on Castaway Cay, and they have started offering Pilates, too. If you are a fitness buff, you’ll also want to check out the fitness room, which is free. The equipment is available on a first come, first served basis.

You will need to make reservations for baby care at Flounders as early as possible, but you don’t have to worry as much about the Oceaneer Club and the Oceaneer Lab. If you child is on board, they will get a space. I don’t travel with children, but our tablemate told me that it’s a good idea to register your child early, even though you don’t have to worry about registrations filling up. She said that the line was very short before the safety drill, but when she brought her daughter in the evening, it was massive.

Once you are done with your lunch and reservations, it’s time to relax. If you brought swimwear, now is the time to hit the pool or hot tubs. If not, you can explore the ship or go to the shore excursion or port shopping talks. They do a lot of little giveaways at the shopping talk, so if you like freebie, be sure to attend. Last time I went, which was several cruises ago, I got a neat little dolphin keychain from Del Sol that looks like it is made of clear plastic but that changes color in the sunlight.

Hubby and I headed for the hot tubs at the Quiet Cove adult pool, which is our usual embarkation agenda. Usually they are warm rather than hot, but this time they were blazing! I turned on the jets to see if that would cool things down, but it didn’t make much difference. We have a high tolerance, but we spend half of our time sitting on the edge and dipping our legs. The heat felt really good after the sub-zero temperatures we had left behind in Chicago. The weather was very nice, and it seemed to be drawing people out because the adult pool was the most crowded that I’ve ever seen it. Usually there are a few people laying out on the chairs or dipping their toes in the water, but this time there were sunbathers everywhere and lots of intrepid souls swimming in the pool or hot tubbing.

The time before the safety drill always flies by, and soon we had to drag ourselves out of the water and don our lovely orange life jackets. Because we are in stateroom 5650 so often, we could probably find our lifeboat station in our sleep. We had dropped off our day bags in our stateroom before lunch, and when we arrived before the drill, the rest of our bags were already there. That was really fast; it usually takes a little longer, so don’t panic if your bags don’t show up immediately. It takes quite a while to distribute the luggage for 2600 guests. In 36 Disney cruises, they have never lost any of our bags yet, so you can have faith that yours will show up in time to dress for dinner.

I stepped out on the verandah for a few minutes before leaving for the drill. I love stateroom 5650 because of its peaceful location, just about as far back in the ship as you can get. It has a verandah with a solid metal railing rather than plexiglass, but it’s curved due to the shape of the ship so it’s larger than normal. It is also somewhat recessed, which gives you more protection in case of bad weather so you can still sit outside in a light rain. Best of all, it’s so far back that it there is almost no hallway traffic, except for the safety drill when people pass by to use the staircase down to Animators Palate (the stairs are only open for the drill). You might hear an occasional lost soul, but for the most part people don’t wander that far aft.

We trooped down the stairs to Assembly Station Q. All of the stations are at various locations inside and outside of deck 4. The lifeboats are on deck 5, but they would be lowered in case of emergency. As we headed in, we saw our friend Sasha. I was very excited because he had left the ship several months before, and I didn’t expect to see him again. He had been called to do a brief fill-in, and coincidentally it coincided with our February cruise. We said a quick hello as we headed past him to our station; there was no time to talk, as the drill was beginning. But afterwards, we were able to have a proper greeting and let him know that we’d see him at the events later.

The safety drill is only about 15 or 20 minutes long, and then you head like salmon back to your stateroom. We’re lucky that 5650 is located right at the head of the staircase, so we get “home” very quickly. We had booked spa appointments for 4:30, so we whisked into spa gear and headed out for our first decadence of the trip.

The Vista Spa
The spa is usually one of the first things we do. Sometimes we watch the sail away from our verandah, but most times hubby and I are sprawled on massage tables and semi-conscious as the ship leaves Port Canaveral. The earliest you can make an appointment is 4:30, when the spa opens after the drill. On this trip, I had booked a regular massage, while hubby had scheduled a seaweed wrap. After the drill, we headed up to our stateroom to change and then hustled off to the spa. It was a little before 4:30, and the line outside the doors was building, Most of the people were there hoping to make an appointment, so they were separated from the people coming for a treatment.

Before your treatment begins, you are given a sheet to fill out with some general health questions. If you have multiple treatments throughout your cruise, let your therapist know so they can save the sheet; that way, you won’t have to fill out another one. Hubby and I know the questions by heart, so we whisked through them and waited to be called in for our treatments. My massage was wonderful, as usual. I was drifting off to sleep, but I was conscious enough to hear the ship’s whistle blast out “When You Wish Upon a Star” as we sailed away. Meanwhile, hubby was getting slathered in warm seaweed and wrapped up like a baked potato. For years I tried to convince him to try a seaweed wrap, but he wouldn’t. He loves the Elemis bath synergies, which he buys on the ship, so I knew that seaweed would be right up his alley. I don’t know if it was the idea of stripping down and donning paper panties or being covered in a green, gooey substance, but I couldn’t talk him into it.

Finally, a little over a year ago we did three cruises in a row on the Wonder and I signed him up for a wrap. At first he claimed to have hated it, but then he had to admit that he was pimping me and that he’d actually loved it and wanted to book another one. Now, he always gets at least one, and sometimes more. It is a very detoxifying treatment, and ibeing combined with a massage that makes it even more of a treat.

On Nassau day, we had scheduled a surial bath in the morning, plus an Absolute Face & Body (massage and facial) for me and another seaweed wrap (of course) for hubby in the afternoon. It’s been a while since we’ve done the surial, so it was really fun to relax in our own private steam room and slather each other in mud. It’s a neat couples experience where you are escorted to a private room containing a shower area and a steam room with three seats, each with its own top and side showers and cold water hose. You are given mud (anywhere from one to three types) and a selection of spa products to use. Then you are closed in for an hour; the attendant will knock on the door 10 minutes before your time is up.

When you arrival for your surial, you will be given a locker key so you can undress and store your clothes. But we’ve done this so much that we just wear swim gear and robes so we don’t have to bother with the locker room stop. We arrive ready to jump right into the surial as-is.

We had a great time, as usual. Covering up in the mud and then steaming myself into a good sweat feels almost as detoxifying as the seaweed wrap. In order to start the steam, you usually have to jiggle the button and hold it in for several seconds. Don’t panic if it doesn’t seem to be working; just push in the button and count slowly to ten. Once we got it going, we used some devils mint defoliant and then slathered ourselves in red clay-like mud. People often worry that the grout is dirty, but don’t worry. The room is clean even if you notice the clay-colored tint. After several years, the vivid color from the mud has dyed it, even when it is freshly cleaned.

The hose and showers in the steam room are cold, but there is a hot water shower out in the main area of the surial chamber. We washed off the mud, and then I tried some lotions while hubby applied some instant refreshing gel. He uses a lot of the spa products, but I think that one is his favorite. The Chicago winters are hard on his knees, so he always keeps tube of it around the house.

Once the surial was over, we headed off to lunch and then back to the spa in the afternoon for more treatments. While the rest of the ship is in Nassau being pursued by hair braiders and haggling over t-shirt prices, I prefer to be pampering myself. Hubby was having yet another seaweed wrap, and I was looking forward to my Absolute Face and Body. It’s a really long and relaxing treatment that starts out with a back of the body massage. After that, you flip over for a lengthy facial that always puts me to sleep. The only part I don’t like is having to regain consciousness enough to turn over after the massage. When I am done with the AF&B, I feel like a limo noodle as I leave the spa.

On Castaway Cay day, hubby opted out of spa treatments, so I finally managed to get a seaweed wrap of my own. Sometimes I like to do a cabana massage on Serenity Bay, but it’s always a hard choice between giving up precious island time or just having something done later, after I return to the ship. On this trip, I scheduled the wrap for 3 p.m., which would allow me to enjoy a full day on the beach and still get back early enough to avoid most of the returning crowds.

Hubby headed back to the ship with me, as he planned to relax in the Rainforest. We got back a little early, so I joined him in there. It’s a great way to prep for a treatment, as the heated tile loungers or the mild sauna always put me into a state of relaxation. Soon enough, it was time for my treatment and I was covered in the warm, gloppy seaweed mixture and wrapped into foil to bake for a while. Usually you wear paper panties during this process, but they were out of stock, so I was provided with a paper sheet and sarong.

Normally you get two wraps; the seaweed and then a plain one after you shower off to really sweat the toxins out. But both hubby and I prefer to bake in the seaweed a little longer and forgo the second wrap. The second part of the treatment is a back of the body massage, although on one memorable trip hubby actually skipped the massage in favor of staying in the wrap even longer! I don’t think that he had one bit of sweat left in his body by the time it was done. For myself, I would never skip the massage at it’s the perfect capper to the treatment.

Three day cruises go by much too fast, but we do manage to squeeze quite a bit of spa time in. I like to go to some of the classes, too, particularly the beach yoga. The only reason that I skipped it this time was that you have to meet quite early; everyone meets in the spa and then travels to the adult beach together. Since the weather forecast was calling for storms, I opted to sleep a little later in case the yoga was rained out. As to whether our streak of 36 beach days remains intact or was a washout, that comes a little later in this report.

Food, Food, Food!
People often associate cruising with unlimited food, and they’re not far off the mark. In between various main meal options, on Disney you will find quick service food stands serving items like pizza, hot dogs, and chicken strips and Scoops, serving soft-serve ice cream with toppings. These are not open 24 hours a day, but room service is available around the clock in case you get a late-night hunger pang. You will also find other options, like cookies, fresh fruit, and wraps throughout the day.

Over time, hubby and I have found our favorite items and settled into a rut at the restaurants. This starts with his heaping plate of jumbo shrimp at the embarkation buffet, while I pile on my favorite salads. We both like the cold strawberry/banana soup, too; I eat it as my dessert, but hubby enjoys it with his meal because he can never resist the regular dessert offerings. In Animators Palate, I love the duck and goat cheese flat bread (extra goat cheese, please), and In Tritons I always go for the vichyssoise (cold potato soup), and either the beef or the lamb (with lots of mint jelly on the side) for dinner. We were on the Animators/Parrot Cay/Tritons rotation on his trip, so we skipped Parrot Cay to go to Palo on Nassau night. Kapur, who we met as a head server many cruises ago, is how the manager of Palo, and Dalibor, one of our favorite servers, was back from vacation. They took excellent care of us as we indulged in a delicious Palo meal.

Palo is an adults-only restaurant that requires reservations and incurs a $10 cover charge. It can be hard to fit it in on such a short cruise, but if at all possible, I highly recommend it. Palo has its own galley, and all of the food is made to order, just like in a restaurant on land. The cuisine is Northern Italian, with daily specials supplementing the regular offerings. The spread includes antipasto and fresh bread with three yummy dipping sauces, although lately hubby and I been skipping the antipasto to save room for a full meal of appetizer, dinner, and dessert.

I love the steak with bleu cheese, but on this trip I opted for something new and tried the shrimp scampi-stuffed chicken breast. Hubby was tempted by veal scaloppini, one of the daily specials. Both were excellent choices, as was my chocolate souffle for dessert. Palo has a variety of excellent dessert offerings, and although hubby is adventurous and has worked his way through all of them, I am in a souffle rut. It is a chocolate lover’s dream.

We are not big breakfast eaters, but I always make room for breakfast on Nassau day because I dearly love the eggs benedict from Tritons, with a side order of corned beef hash (it’s not on the menu, but you can request it because it is served in one of the breakfast skillets). There is also a very nice breakfast buffet on deck 9 if you want something faster and a little less formal. On Castaway Cay day, we skip breakfast because we know that we’ll be indulging in a big lunch at Cookies Barbeque. A smaller version is served on the adult beach, but we usually return to the family beach to eat because hubby loves the lobster burgers that are served there.

Onboard the ship, it’s always a toss-up as to whether we’ll eat lunch at Tritons (sit-down) or Beach Blanket (buffet), because I really enjoy them both. I like a relaxing sit-down meal, and if you are a soda drinker, it will be included with your meal at Tritons (personally, I stick to water and iced tea). They also serve a great Hawaiian salad, to which I like to add a handful of maraschino cherries. But at the buffet you can sample a wide variety of offerings, and they have excellent made-to-order pasta. This time around, we opted for Tritons because I had a taste for an ice cream sundae…real ice cream, not the soft-serve glop that is served at Scoops. I know there’s nothing wrong with soft serve, but it reminds me of the stuff that is served at Old Country Buffet or Ponderosa. I think I am still prejudiced by memories of the old days, when Scoops served real scooped ice cream. It was so delicious! But that was discontinued years ago because you can do a lot more volume with soft serve than with hand scooping. Anyway, sundaes were not actually on the dessert menu, but I knew that they could whip me something up in the dining room.

We were seated with a couple and their three year old daughter. They had another one on the way, so they wanted to do a cruise before the new member of the family arrived. Their little girl was just the right age to really be fascinated with the characters. Our first dinner was in Animators Palate; she had wanted to go to the kids club because they were going to have a character party, but when her parents realized that they were in the restaurant with the show, her dad went to retrieve her. She made it through quite a while, but the show is at the end of the meal, which can be a long time for a little one to wait. Finally her parents gave in and dad walked her back to the club. When he returned, he reported that they had met Lilo in the elevator. Lilo and his daughter walked hand in hand to the club, and she got the biggest kick out of it. The next night we were in Palo, but at our last meal, in Tritons, they showed us the cutest portrait that had been taken at the princess party. They had selected a picture with Princess Aurora and had also gotten signatures from the other princesses in the frame.


On this trip, our server was Atilla from Hungary. I’m pretty sure that he served us before. My grandma was from Hungary, too, so we discussed delicious native dishes like chicken paprikas and grape strudel (something I’ve never found at any restaurant…I haven’t had it since my grandma passed away 25 years ago). Our assistant server was Arlan; after the first night, he had my “special” iced tea waiting. I hate the regular stuff, which comes out of a tap, so I always request freshly brewed flavored tea. Our head server was Michelle, and our old friend Ali was the dining room manager, so we were well taken care of.

Adult Activities
Many people think that because we’ve childless, we’re crazy for taking so many Disney cruises. What they don’t understand is that Disney puts as much effort into taking care of the “big kids” as they do with the little ones. Granted, if you really can’t stand children, then Disney probably isn’t the cruise line for you. There will be lots of families on board, although surprisingly, we saw just as many kids on all of our Royal Caribbean cruises, including Alaska.

But although kids will be around, they won’t impede your enjoyment. You’ll have plenty of adults only areas to escape to (supposedly RCCL has this, too, but I never saw any enforcement). And when you’re around the kids, it can be a lot of fun to watch them meet the characters or explore the ship or see the shows with an expression of awe and delight on their little faces. After 36 cruises, I enjoy the opportunity to see the cruise through fresh eyes, and the kids remind me of my sense of wonderment the very first time I set sail.

Hubby and I are in a rut on which adult activities we attend. Our favorites are 70s Night and Match Your Mate. I love Wonderquest, too, ibut we don’t usually get to attend. We’re always on the second dinner schedule, and it starts too early. I wish they would have it a bit later, especially since it’s an adult activity and there are (theororetically, at least) more adults on the late seating. Wonderquest is a very wild scavenger hunt that is played in teams. I don’t want to spoil it, but I will warn you that hubby is often borrowed by many teams because of a unique physical characteristic (and by “borrowed,” I mean physically grabbed and dragged up to the host). I said it was wild!

We like 80s Night, too, but we skipped it this time around because we didn’t know that the main stage dancers had started performing their dance routines again. On our last trip, they weren’t part of the party. Other than that, the 80s Party consists of dancing, trivia for free shots, and an amusing battle of the bands.

Match Your Mate was on Nassau night, so we headed down to Wavebands after sticking around for some dancing at the Sailaway Party. The contestants for Match Your Mate are chosen via a combination of number of years married and general rowdiness. Three couples are selected: newlyweds, longest married (we once saw a couple who had been wed for 60 years), and a pair that is somewhere in the middle. If you want to be selected, be enthusiastic to the point of insanity. Jump, shout, yell, wave your arms, and maybe even do gymnastics (I’ve seen it done).

Using rowdiness as one of the selection criteria usually helps to ensure some pretty wild contestants, and this trip was no exception. Because the show is adults only, it can get a little more risque…of course, it’s a Disney ship, so there are still some limits, but it’s generally a riot. I won’t go into specific details because I don’t want to give away the questions, but let’s just say that the words “dong” and “ta tas” came up a few times. There was also a stunning revelation about what goes on at lunchtime in a Six Flags parking lot. I was laughing so hard that my face hurt.

The 70s Party was on the last night. I prefer it to be first because I can stay up late and then sleep in on Nassau morning, but I like it so much that I am usually willing to give up some shut-eye, even though it means I will be half asleep the next morning when I disembark. When we arrived at Wavebands, the crowd was so small that I was afraid they might cancel it. A few more people trickled in when Dueling Pianos ended, and the dance floor started to fill in. As we bumped and grooved, more and more people showed up. I think that they were probably delayed by last minute packing, since the party starts at 10:45 and you have to have your luggage out by 11 if you want it to be delivered to the terminal.

There are usually several freestyle dance numbers and then a Soul Train-style dance line to “Car Wash.” They also do the Electric Slide, but I bail on that because coordination isn’t one of my stronger points. That leads into the appearances by Gloria Gaynor and John Travolta, capped off by an appearance by the Village People.

A few years back, my knee cap popped off while I was dancing at a 70s Party on the Magic. For a long time after that, I had to wear a clunky knee brace and take it easy when dancing. Finally, not too long ago, the doctor gave me a clean bill of health and said that I can abandon the brace and be wild once again. I’m glad because I love dancing, and it also allows me to pretend that I’m actually burning off enough calories to make a dent in the dessert I just devoured.

While I was shaking my groove thing with hubby, someone from the cruise staff came up to ask if I would “volunteer to help out.” I’ve been on enough Disney cruises to know what that means, but I figured what the heck. Hubby had appeared as John Travolta a couple of cruises ago (he was full of champagne at the time), so I played along.

Once the line dance was over, the volunteers were called up to the stage. There were three men and three women…the men were told that they would be judges and sent to sit down on the sidelines, while we were prepped to participate in the Gloria Gaynor Lip Sync Contest. I was the only one who knew what was going on; the men would soon be getting theirs when they discovered that they would be performing as John Travolta. The contests are the best part of the party. Because different guests are chosen every time, it’s always a different show.

I was pegged as the second Gloria. I knew that hubby was waiting at our table with his camera in hand. Usually we don’t bring it to the party, but we had just gone to “Til We Meet Again” to get photos of the characters, so we had it with us. Oh well, when he was John Travolta, we happened to have it with us too, and I had gotten some great incriminating photos. I guess that turnabout is fair play.

While the first Gloria performed, I waited out in the hall with #3, an older woman who seemed to be ready for anything. She told me, “I‘m always volunteering for all sorts of things!” We were not allowed to watch, but I assured her that it was going to be lots of fun. The guy on cruise staff who had picked me overheard us and said, “You’ve done this before?” I responded that it was my 36th Disney cruise, and I think he nearly fainted! Most of the cruise staff knows us, but he was one of the few who didn’t. I’m sure he’ll never forget us now.

When it was my turn, I nearly strangled myself with the Feather Boa of Power, but once I recovered from that little mishap, I launched into some wild moves for the three judges. I’ve seen the show enough times to know the sort of things that will crack up the crowd. When watching, I like it best when the contestants are really wild, so I tried to put on a performance that I know I would have enjoyed.

The third lady was even wilder. She went right out into the audience and grabbed some guys to bring back to the stage. The crowd went absolutely wild! I was sorry to miss the first performance, but I don’t think it could have topped #3. When we were done, we kicked the guys out of their chairs and settled in to watch them strut their John Travolta stuff. They were even crazier than we were. One performed a lap dance for us, and another did the infamous “body floss” routine with the white jacket. Sometimes the contestants are shy and it’s not as much fun; I like it when everyone really gets into it.

To top it all off, the Village People made their appearance. They whipped off their shirts as soon as they climbed on stage and led us all in a round of YMCA. After that, there is still dancing, but that usually my cue to head off to Dreamland. As we walked back to our stateroom, hubby proudly showed me his blackmail photos. I think he just pointed and kept clicking! All in all, it was another great 70s Party.

Of course, the adult activities are not all wild p& crazy parties and games. If you want peace and quiet, you can opt for the Dancing Under the Stars event at the Quiet Cove Pool, have a romantic dinner at Palo, or sip a cocktail and listen to piano music at the Cadillac Lounge. And on Castaway Cay, you’ll get plenty of quiet time and relaxation at Serenity Bay, the adults only beach.

Often the adult beach is nearly deserted, but on this trip there was quite a good crowd. I suspect that there were more people than usual traveling without kids, since school was in session. Or who knows…maybe they just convinced the kiddies to stay at Scuttles Cove and escaped for some child-free time. Even where there are a lot of people, there is still plenty of room. You just might have to walk a little farther down the beach to find a spot.

Stage Shows
In addition to the adult entertainment, there are plenty of activities for families. We usually don’t go to those, but we rarely miss the main stage shows. On the three night cruise, “Hercules” usually plays on the first night, followed by “The Golden Mickeys” and “Disney Dreams.” On this trip, the order of the first two was temporarily flip-flopped, so I got to see my favorite first.

This was only the third time that I’ve seen “The Golden Mickeys,” at it premiered on Labor Day weekend. But I already know that it’s going to be like “Disney Dreams”; I’ll never get tired of it, no matter how many times I see it. Like “DD,” it is a compilation of scenes and characters from popular Disney movies. The story line that holds it all together revolves around an awards show where Golden Mickeys will be presented in such categories as Romance, Comedy, Heroes, and of course Villians. A character named Ensign Benson is reluctantly thrust into the role of hostess. She receives some encouragement from Roy Disney, who shares some of the story of how his Uncle Walt never let hardships get in his way. I just love that part; with all the turmoil on the Disney board and Roy’s resignation, I’m always afraid that they’ll pull him out of the show. So far he’s still there, thank goodness. Hubby says he gets teary eyed at the end of “Disney Dreams,” but it’s the first part of “The Golden Mickeys” that always chokes me up.

The numbers include scenes from Snow White (check out the cute little kids from the audience playing the dwarves), Sleeping Beauty (the color changing dress is very cool), Toy Story, 101 Dalmations, Mulan, Tarzan, and the Lion King. The show moves at such a rapid pace that it will be over before you know it. One of the highlights, at least for me, is when Terk takes over the comedy sequence and Elvis Stitch makes an appearance before they are all frightened off by Ursula. If you are sitting in the front tow, watch out for her tentacles!

I always get a laugh out of “Hercules,” but this time I was nearly rolling on the floor between Hades and the fifth Muse. Hades is always funny, but often Pain and Panic steal the show. Not this time! His constant jokes and wisecracks reminded me of the old days, when his monologue towards the end of the show was much longer. The fifth Muse is always good, too, and each actor brings his own unique style to the role. The one who is playing him now had both hubby and I cracking up at his antics. That’s one thing that I like about “Hercules.” There is some room for improvisation, so each cast brings their own unique touch and it’s a slightly different show every time. By the time we sail again, there will be a new cast, so we’ll have yet another new experience.

“Disney Dreams” is the grand finale on the last night of the trip. I never get tired of seeing Peter Pan teach Anne Marie to find her own magic. It contains scenes from Aladdin, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and the Lion King, but the pace isn’t nearly as fast as “The Golden Mickeys.” This is Disney Cruise Line’s signature show, and I hope that they never get rid of it. Just about every time that we’ve seen it, it’s earned a well-deserved standing ovation.

Castaway Cay
In the adult activity section, I mentioned the adult beach, which makes a good lead-in to our day at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise. It’s always a highlight of our cruises. Like “Disney Dreams” and “The Golden Mickeys,” it’s something that I never get tired of. I’ve been to RCCL’s private island, CocoCay, and it is very nice, but in a different way. CocoCay is more rustic, whereas Castaway Cay is like Central Casting’s version of a perfect tropical island.

Sometimes the weather can prevent docking, but in all of our cruises we’ve been fortunate enough to never miss the island. Amazingly, we’ve never been totally rained out either. There have been a couple of days where a storm snuck in later in the day or it rained in the morning and then cleared up, but we’ve never had a total washout. We carry large garbage bags with us to protect our stuff, just in case, but we’ve always managed to get in at least some beach time, and usually the weather is good all day.

On this trip, I was a bit worried. The night before, Captain Henry had told us that the weather wasn’t looking too good. A storm was poised on the radar, ready to strike. Would our streak be broken? I went to bed wondering, and when I woke up the next morning, I listened anxiously to the thrusters as we docked. I’ve been in stateroom 5650 enough times to know the sound of a smooth docking vs. a wavy, windy day when the Wonder is struggling to dock. On our Thanksgiving trip, docking was a real challenge, but this time everything sounded just the way it should.

I dragged my sleepy body out onto the verandah and was greeted by sunshine and a nice, blue sky, with just a sprinkling of non-threatening clouds. It felt warm enough for a nice swim, at least for a hearty Chicagoan like me. We like to disembark early, so we took quick showers, slathered on our sun screen, packed up our beach bag, and headed down to deck 1. There was no line, so we flashed our ID and room cards and stepped down the gangway and onto Castaway Cay for the 36th time.

Our first order of business was a quick stop at the post office, and then we paused for the photo opportunities on our way to the tram. Normally we walk rather than ride the first tram and then catch a ride to Serenity Bay, which is a bit too far away for walking. But the first tram was just pulling in, so we decided to hop on board. Once we climbed off, it was just a short distance to the tram stop for the adult beach, but as we arrived, we saw that it had just pulled away. We knew it would be a little while before it came back, so we settled in to wait. Since we wouldn’t be among the first on the beach, I figured that getting a hammock would be a lost cause. There are only four on the whole adult beach, so if you’re not an early bird, they’ll be claimed by the time you get there.

When the tram returned, we climbed aboard and rattled down the old runway to Serenity Bay. As I had expected, there were quite a few people on the beach already. As I hiked down the sand, looking for a lounge chair, I noticed that the last hammock didn’t seem to be occupied. The beach yoga was just finishing up nearby, so I don’t think anyone had wandered down there yet. We shifted the hammock into the shade, and hubby settled in for a nap while I went for a swim.

One of my biggest pleasures on Castaway Cay is to go for a nice little water job. Working out in the pool at the health club back home always seems like a chore, but doing the same exercise turns into fun when it’s done in the ocean. I headed out to the boundary of the beach, and just as I was approaching it, a man at the shoreline called out, “Look behind you!” I turned and saw a gray blur approaching me. I’ve seen many stingrays at Serenity Bay, so I thought that this was another one. The man said, “No, it’s a nurse shark.” I did a double take and watched in amazement as the little creature glided by me. Sure enough, it was a nurse shark, just like the ones I’ve seen at aquariums. I’ve seen some interesting critters, including an ink squirting squid, and hubby has had a couple of close encounters with Barry the Barracuda, but the nurse shark was by far the most exciting so far.

I did a little internet research once I got back home, as I had been surprised to see a shark so close to shore. But it turns out that nurse sharks are bottom feeders who like to hang out in shallow areas. The only odd thing was that they are usually nocturnal, and this was a morning encounter. When I got back to the main part of the beach, I heard from other people that there had actually been two nurse sharks swimming around. I sure wish that I would have had a camera!

After I got back, I took over the hammock while hubby headed off for some snorkeling. I love to settle down on the beach with a good book. The only minor unpleasantness in an otherwise lovely beach day was the two chain smokers who settled down in the chairs next to me. We usually try to pick a spot that’s not too close to other chairs, but since we had taken a hammock, we couldn’t be as choosy. But of course the wind was blowing my way, so my relaxation was somewhat hampered by the yucky smell. Unfortunately they were chain smokers, so they didn’t go more than a few minutes with lighting up. In between, I noticed that they just dropped the butts into the sand rather than using an ashtray or disposing of them in one of their drink cups. Sadly, on our past few trips, I have noticed that the beach is becoming very littered with butts. If you try to bury your toes in the sand, around the chairs and umbrellas, you will most likely find some. I know that the beach is an outer area where smoking is allowed, but I wish that smokers would pick up one of the ashtrays near the bar rather than littering the beach. The same people don’t throw cups, napkins, and plates on the ground, and cigarette butts are in the same category.

Other than that, I enjoyed my reading time, and all too soon hubby was back from his swim, announcing that it was lunchtime. Time goes fast enough on a cruise as it is, and it seems to shift into quadruple speed when we reach the island. I think it must because docking at Castaway Cay signals the arrival of the last day of the cruise. I dearly love it, but I still feel melancholy because I know that in less than 24 hours I’ll be back at Port Canaveral. Oh well, I never let that interfere with my enjoyment of the beach.

Hubby had a taste for lobster burgers, so we packed up and headed to Cookies. Personally, I opted for a cheeseburger and K. C. Masterpiece barbeque chips, which I like to dip into the cole slaw. I know it sounds gross, but it’s a real taste treat. The buffet lines were pretty long, but we had no trouble finding a picnic table. You can select one under one of the large shelters or opt for a free-standing table with umbrella. After we had finished eating, we stopped at the gazebo for a quick photo with Mickey and then headed back to the ship.

On the way, we stopped at Gils Fins and Boats, but a wicked wind had blown up so there were no boat rentals. We were a bit disappointed, but we figured we’d just head back and spend some time in the Rainforest. There was a matinee performance of “Disney Dreams,” but it interfered with our spa appointment times, so we figured that relaxing in a sauna would be a nice way to spend the rest of the day until treatment time.

The last time we were on Castaway Cay, it was all decked out for the holidays. It was odd to see it transformed back again; even though our last trip was Thanksgiving, it didn’t seem like that long ago. This year, we are sailing on both Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I can hardly wait to see it decked out in its holiday finery twice.

Christmas in February
Speaking of the holidays, when we sailed at Thanksgiving, we noticed that Shutters was selling Christmas cards made from photos taken on the ship. We had a set made with our portrait in front of the Christmas tree in the atrium. On this trip, we noticed that they were still for sail; I realized that not everyone sails as often as we do, so offering the cards all year gives people a chance to buy them no matter when they are on board. That way, they can have their cards all ready when Christmas rolls around again.

We had gotten great comments about our 2003 cards, which featured our picture in the middle of an ornament dangling from Mickey’s hand. I had chosen that design because it reminded me of the decorations in the terminal building. We decided that if we found a photo we liked, we would have some made for Christmas, 2004. This time around, I chose a design of Mickey making a “snow”man out of sand on Castaway Cay. We took as many photo opportunities as possible, and we decided on a nice shot with Mickey in his formalwear. Hubby and I were dressed up for Palo, so it turned out to be a lovely shot. We bought 25 cards, and if we find another shot that we like on an upcoming cruise, we’ll probably get 25 different ones.

We got several other shots, too, including an embarkation shot to add to our collection and a photo of Mickey on Castaway Cay in his tropic gear to match the one we got of Minnie a few months back. They also have a great new backdrop of the ship with an ocean full of fish below it. I was hoping for a picture with Stitch, my favorite character, but I never saw him listed in the Navigator. I did get a photo with him at “Till We Meet Again” on the last night, but that’s another story.

Character Greetings
That’s a good lead-in to a bit about character greetings. When you sail on a Disney ship, you are probably expecting to catch lots of sightings of the characters. Happily, you will not be disappointed. Various characters will make appearances throughout the cruise for photo and autograph opportunities. It’s easy to find out when and where they will be. There’s a board posted in the deck 3 atrium and one at the entrance to Shutters on deck 4. You can also dial 7-PALS on your stateroom telephone to hear a recorded schedule.

At most of the events, there will be a photographer from Shutters on hand, and you can also bring your own camera. I recommend taking as many opportunities as possible to let the photographers snap a shot, even when you take one yourself. It’s fun to head to deck 4 and see how your photos have turned out, and you’ll probably find several that you like enough to buy.

On board the ship, most of the character appearances will be in the atrium. The schedule will have details on whether there will be autograph signing or whether it will be a photo opportunity only. For the most popular characters and events, such as the Princess Party (typically held on Nassau morning on the 3 night cruises), you’ll want to arrive a little early. The line grows quickly, and it might be cut if it gets too long.

On Castaway Cay, the best spots to meet Mickey and the gang are at the post office and Mount Rustmore in the morning and the gazebo near Cookies in the afternoon. The appearances start around 9 a.m., just in time for the main flux of people disembarking the ship. You’ll know the exact times and who will be where if you check the board or call the character greeting line before you head off to the island.

One of my favorite character greetings is “Til We Meet Again,” held on the last night of the cruise in the atrium at 10 p.m. We don’t always get to attend because we are always on the late seating of dinner, and we’re not always done in time. But when we are, we head over for the last big farewell.

At “Til We Meet Again,” you will not only see assorted characters but also many of the main stage performers. At various times I’ve seen the Muses, Pain Panic, and Hades, and Peter Pan is usually out clowning around with Anne Marie from “Disney Dreams.“ They all come down the staircase in front of Tritons and head out into the waiting crowd. Usually some of the characters will be up on deck 4 for photographs too. This is a less formal event than most. Everyone crowds together, and once the characters come out into the atrium, you try to head for your favorites. They stay out for about 20 minutes, so if you are lucky, you can get several good photos. The Shutters photographers don’t take pictures here, so be sure to bring your own camera.

On this cruise, we weren’t planning to attend, even though I was itching for a photograph with Stitch. I didn’t know how crowded it would be, and I didn’t want to rush through my dinner. Our last meal was in Tritons, where you can see the atrium through the window. “Til We Meet Again” started just as we ordered dessert. I glanced out and happened to notice that the crowd was very minimal. Hubby had our camera with him, as he always take a photo of our servers on the last night. I told our server that we would be back, and we hurried down the hall to see if we could locate Stitch.

We had to go out the back door, since the front is closed during the event. As we approached the atrium, I could hear disjointed banging on the grand piano and a voice saying, “Stitch! Stop that!”, so I knew that we were headed in the right direction. Sure enough, as soon as I turned the corner, I saw him making mischief. The line wasn’t bad at all, so we quickly joined it. Finally, I would get my coveted photo!

Stitch was doing all sorts of antics to amuse the waiting people. One little boy wanted an autograph, and his pen was promptly stolen. Then Stitch tossed it back at him! You could tell he was having a lot of fun clowning around. That’s one nice thing about “Til We Meet Again.” Because it is a little less formal, there is usually more time for interaction. This was especially true on this trip, since the crowd was smaller than usual.

When it was my turn, I told Stitch, “You’re my favorite character.” He gave me a big smooch and immediately headed back for the piano to serenade me. His handler finally managed to get him back on task, and she used our camera to snap a photo of Stitch with hubby and I. We still had time, so hubby confessed that he’s always wanted a photo with Pete Pan and Anne Marie. I’ve often seen them near the shore excursion desk, so we headed that way, and sure enough, there they were. Minnie Mouse was nearby, too, but amazingly, her line was shorter than theirs. We got our photo and started working our way back to Tritons and dessert. On the way, hubby had to pause to tell the fifth Muse how much he enjoyed his act.

Although we didn’t stay for the grand finale, I highly recommend it. When the photo/autograph session is over, the characters head back up the staircase and turn in each direction to give everyone one final photo opportunity. Then, pixie dust is dropped over the crowd. The kids always get a real kick out of that.

Disembarkation
Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy “Til We Meet Again,” it signals the end of the cruise. We still had the 70s Party to attend, but I knew that the fun was almost over. Fortunately, disembarkation on the Wonder is usually a breeze. On other cruise lines, it can be a long, tedious process where you have to sit around and wait for your color to be called. On Disney, you leave whenever you prefer once the ship has been cleared. In 36 Disney cruises, we’ve only had significant delays twice. One occurred when someone else mistakenly took our luggage, and the other was due to a change in the terrorism alert level (fortunately they seem to have that worked out now).

But that’s jumping the gun a little. On the afternoon of the last day, there is a disembarkation talk in the Walt Disney Theater that covers all of the details you’ll need to know about tips, customs forms, breakfast, etc. Don’t worry about attending as it will be replayed all evening long on the television in your stateroom.

We hate to rush our packing on the last night of the cruise because we’ve busy up until dinner time, and then we’re usually rushing somewhere afterwards. Instead of worrying about the 11 p.m. deadline to have it out, we just pack at our leisure and carry it with us when we disembark. Also, since we eat so well on a cruise, we generally skip breakfast on the last morning because we’re usually not hungry. Of course, if you want, you can go to your assigned seated or grab a quick bite at Beach Blanket Buffet. But personally we just like to roll out of bed, shower, finish up our last minute packing, and reluctantly head home.

Hubby is usually an early bird, but on this trop he slept in till 7:30, much later than he normally would since we had scheduled Happy Limo to pick us up at 8:30 a.m. As he rushed to get things together, I ran down to Shutters to pick up our Christmas photos. They are the only shop that is open on embarkation morning. Usually it’s pretty crowded, but I lucked out and was the only one at the cash register. The guest services line can be long on the last morning, too, so we always get a printout of our bill at dinnertime on Saturday night. It’s usually pretty quiet then, and that gives us time to find any errors and deal with them before the disembarkation rush.

It’s always so sad to leave my nautical home. Before we go, I like to step out on the verandah for a few minutes to say a last goodbye. But I couldn’t delay the inevitable for too long, so I reluctantly stepped in to gather the luggage and join hubby for the long trip home. We left the Wonder for the 36th time, already looking forward to our return in April.

When we carry all our luggage bags with us, we go to the mid ship elevators before heading down. It’s too crowded to walk across deck three because there is always a big crowd of people heading into Parrot Cay for breakfast, which makes us feel like salmon trying to swim upstream. We also select both the up and down buttons. Often, the down elevators are already crowded with people from decks 8, 7, and 6. By going up first, we are already on board when it heads back down.

Sometimes there is a minor line to disembark, but this time around everyone was just strolling off the ship. On the way out, we paused for a chat with Captain Henry, who was bidding goodbye to the guests. As we stepped onto the gangway, I had a flashback to Chicago…the temperature was in the 40s! Brrrr! Oh well, that might be chilly, but at least it’s not single digits, and I prefer a view of palm trees to snow.

We were running a little early, but our Happy Limo driver was waiting for us already. It felt good to settle into the town car and take a nap on the way to Orlando. Driving myself out to the port wasn’t bad, but my preference is always to be chauffeured.

When we reached the airport, the tote board informed us that our plane was delayed. We stopped at Bow Wow Meow to pick up some cat nip toys for our pets and then headed through security and to the gate. When we got there, there was no explanation for the delay, so I found a seat near an outlet, plugged in my laptop, and did some work on my planning CD while the trip was still fresh in my mind. I had wanted to work on it during the trip, but although I had good intentions, I never opened the laptop even once while we were on board. Since the ship date for the pre-orders is March 8, I figured that the delay would be a good time to get some work done.

Delays are always an annoyance, but I’d much rather have them happen going home than when I’m on the way to the ship. It really wasn’t bad because working made the time go by quickly. Eventually we were told that it was on its way in from Chicago, and that we would be able to board as soon as possible after everyone deplaned. I knew that the weather wasn’t supposed to be bad in Chicago, so I had no clue why it was running so late.

When it finally landed, I’ve never seen an airplane be readied so fast. I swear they must not have even cleaned it; as soon as the last person stepped off, they were calling the pre-board to get us on. It was a 737, rather than my favorite huge 757-300. We had gotten an exit row, but since I’m not familiar with the seat configuration on that plane, it was a little smaller than I am used to. There are three exit rows all in a row, and we were in the middle one, which is only two seats across. It wasn’t bad, but the three seaters had a little more legroom.

Once we were airborne, the pilot got on the intercom and explained the delay situation. I was wondering if it had been mechanical, but it turned out to be even more interesting. Our original plane had been in some foreign country, and it had been seized by the FBI for searching because of suspected drugs on board! That left no plane to run its route and eventually make its way to Orlando. Finally, at Midway, they managed to grab a plane that was supposed to go to Denver and re-route it to Florida (I don’t know what happened to the poor Denver passengers). Whew! I was hoping to get some more details on the news, but I never saw anything about it once we got home.

Hard to believe that another trip is over and I’m back in the cold and snow. At least working on my trip report has given me the change to relive some of the highlights, and Easter week (our next trip) is not so far away.

Trip Report #35, Thanksgiving 2003 on the Wonder

Ever since the Wonder set sail, it has been out tradition to spend Thanksgiving at sea. The terminal and the ship are always festively decorated, and it's a great way to kick off the holiday season. This year, we were also in for a new treat: for the first time ever, Castaway Cay had also been transformed into a Christmas wonderland. This has been a year of "firsts" for us, such as the Fourth of July fireworks and the debut of the "Golden Mickeys" show on our last trip. That's one of the things we love about Disney. They never settle for the status quo; they are constantly dreaming up new surprises.

But I don't want to get ahead of myself, as that was on the last day of the cruise, and so much happened before that. It's amazing how much fun and how many experiences can be crammed into three short days. As much as I love Castaway Cay, I always find arriving there a bit melancholy because I know that I'm less than 24 hours away from arriving home in Port Canaveral.

The Busiest Travel Weekend of the Year
The trip ends in Port Canaveral and starts there, too, but for hubby and I, the journey really starts in Chicago. As usual, we had booked our outbound flight for the night before our cruise. Thanksgiving weekend is known as the busiest travel weekend of the year, and I am a compulsive planner, so I built lots of extra time into our schedule to allow for any potential delays. I'd rather get to the airport early and have to sit around at the gate than leave late, get stuck in traffic, and feel my stress level rise as precious minutes tick away and the chances of making my flight grow slim.

Hubby had taken a vacation day, so he had everything ready when I got home from work.. We loaded my Aztek Canyonero, did a last minute pet check, and were on the road with time to spare. We fly ATA out of Midway, and hubby had checked us in online that morning, which is a real time saver. But a word of caution: ATA still hasn't ironed all the bugs out of their online check in process. We usually change our seats to an exit row or bulkhead, and we've had trouble with getting them to honor our boarding passes because they erroneously assign our seats to someone else at the airport. Generally I can get them to honor my pass, since I got the seats 24 hours in advance and it was ATA's mistake to give them to someone else. But it takes a lot of arguing, and I've even had to call their Web Check In Help Desk on my cell phone and have the phone person argue with a supervisor at the gate. Fortunately, this didn't happen on the way out this time (the trip home is another story, but I'll get to that later).

Hubby and I debated whether to take Cicero or Pulaski. We live south of the airport, and Cicero is closer, but Pulaski can be faster when the traffic is bad. We opted for the more direct route, and although Cicero was busy, the traffic was keeping a slow but steady pace that got us to Midway in a reasonable amount of time. We park at Midway Park Savers, an offsite lot across from the Orange Line entrance, so we turn off before reaching the main part of the airport where the backups can be very bad. I like being able to walk to the airport vs.taking a shuttle bus, and there is a "One Day Free" coupon for the lot on ATA's website. The parking spots are pretty tight, but I can usually find one to maneuver my Canyonero into with too much trouble.

As we turned off Cicero, I breathed a sigh of relief because the parking lot was only a few blocks ahead. I said to hubby, "That wasn't bad at all!" He was just about to agree when we noticed that traffic was at a standstill. The parking lot is right before a set of train tracks, and there was a freight train chugging along. The cars were stopped just far enough back to prevent us from making it to the parking lot gate. So close but yet so far!

We waited for about 10 minutes while the turtle train crawled by. Finally, it ended and we were able to drive those last few feet to the parking lot entrance. I had been worried that the lot would be full; to my amazement, we got the second spot by the entrance! I couldn't believe my luck. Usually on a normal day I end up parking about halfway down. Now, on the day before Thanksgiving, I wind up with a primo spot! Hubby and I gathered our bags, headed across the street, and joined the stream of salmon heading from the trains to the terminal building.

Usually, there are only one or two other parties walking to the terminal, but this time the stream of humanity seemed endless. I was wondering how bad the ticket counter and security lines would be, but when we got into the airport, we found that lines were virtually non-existent. Before we knew it, we were through security and on our way to the gate to await our flight to Orlando. We were on our usual flight, which leave some time between 8 and 8:30 p.m. and gets in between 11:30 p.m. and midnight (ATA likes to vary the exact time). Even though the late arrival is rough, I prefer to fly out a night ahead because Chicago's weather can be so unpredictable and there is always the potential for mechanical problems or other delays, too. In the past, we've experienced a six-hour diversion due to storms and a ten-hour delay due to fog. Fortunately, neither of those was on a cruise trip, but I've learned to be cautious. When I've got a ship to catch, I want to allow as much of a cushion as possible.

The plane was a bit late coming in from Vegas, so that made us a bit late in boarding. But soon enough we were settled into the huge 757-300 (my favorite type of aircraft, although getting that large of a plane off the ground at Midway is nothing short of miraculous) and winging our way to Orlando. I was sitting in the row behind hubby, but since there was no seat in front of me, I could easily lean forward to chat with him.

Lately, our flights have been very quiet and uneventful, but this time I was in front of the Restless Smoker and next to the Wrestling Couple. I knew that the woman behind me was going through Nicotine Withdrawal because she begged her companion, "Give me a cigarette! NOW! I won't smoke it, I swear. I just need to hold it." She rattled, kicked, and poked my seat the whole way to Orlando. Finally I reclined, figuring that if I was going to be jostled for two hours, I might was well suffer through it in comfort. She did provide me with one of my favorite quotes of the trip. She was talking to someone on a cell phone while waiting for take off and informed them, "The time zone in Orlando is about one and a half hours different than the time in Chicago." I'm not sure when that extra 30 minutes snuck in!

The Wrestling Couple next to me were fairly subdued for most of the trip. But as soon as we started our initial descent, they launched into a smackdown that never ceased until we parked at the gate. I thought I was going to end up with one of them in my lap. Smack, poke, punch, push...they would have done well in the WWF. Between them and the woman behind me, my fellow passengers were more entertaining than the in-flight videos.

Over the River and Through the Woods, to Mickey's Ship We Go
Flying in the night before gave us the opportunity for a good night's sleep. Even with our late arrival, we were able to sleep in a little. We arranged for Happy Limo to pick us up at 10:00 a.m. for the journey to Port Canaveral. That's what I like about taking a towncar; you choose your own pick up time and have a nice private vehicle to yourself. You can also have a free grocery stop, which we often use. After I had made our reservation for 10, I read on the DIS boards that embarkation now starts at 11:45 (it used to be sometime between 12:15 and 12:30). I debated an earlier pick up, but decided that the extra sleep would be more valuable.

Traffic wasn't bad, so even with a grocery stop, we arrived at the port around 11. Our driver told us that Happy Limo recently got a stretch Hummer. I can only imagine the size! Once we had pulled in, we had to wait a few minutes for a spot to open up in the drop off area on the side of the terminal building. Soon enough, we were able to pull up. A porter took our luggage for later delivery to our stateroom. The security line to enter the terminal was minimal, and then we were on our way upstairs to check in.

I noticed that the catchphrase "The Disney Difference" is being used a lot by DCL lately. I can vouch for the fact that there is a BIG difference in the embarkation process. Boarding Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas to go to Alaska was a nightmare. You literally waited in line to get a number to get into the check in line. Then you were herded into another line to get another number and be placed in a group for boarding. The whole thing was totally disorganized, so nobody knew where to go or what numbers were being called. We suffered through well over an hour of confusion before finally getting to the boarding area, only to discover that hubby's key card didn't work. Then we waited another half an hour while they found someone who could fix it. Ugh!

Contrast that with the Disney process: check in at your resort if you are on a package, or else head over to one of the vast expanse of check in counters, where there is typically little or no crowd because they are fully staffed. Then head over to the boarding line and wait until it's time to pass through the giant Mickey ears to begin your vacation. The RCCL waiting area was a warehouse-like room with folding chairs. The DCL terminal has couches and televisions, as well as many things to look at, like a model of the ship. Disney characters have been known to pay a visit too. One person in your party can hold your place in line while the others explore, and you can even buy coffee or another beverage at R. E. Fresh's.

Over time, we've become friends with several people at the port. We love being welcomed by Tanya, Barbara, and the rest of the excellent port crew. We chatted with them a bit and didn't even realize how quickly the time was slipping away. Before we knew it, it was 11:45 a.m. and boarding had begun!

As we stepped up for our embarkation photo, we saw that there is a new backdrop. It is tan colored for an old time look, with a scene of people (and Mickey) waving farewell on the decks of a ship, sort of like the sailaway scene in Titanic. It matches the folders that the Shutters photos come in. It's hard to describe, but I really loved it and had to buy the photo. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll post a scan on the Shutters page of my website. I have a lot of different embarkation photos, and this one is my favorite.

I like the new earlier embarkation time, although I'm sure it's a challenge for the crew to get the ship turned over so quickly. Palo and spa reservations are taken at one, so if you arrive at the port early, you'll have plenty of time for a leisurely lunch before the "ressie scramble." If you arrive later, you'll still have time to get the reservations made and then eat lunch before the safety drill at 4 p.m. Of course, the times are subject to change, so check your information sheet when you board the ship.

Spa reservations are taken at the Vista Spa on deck 9 forward. On this trip, Palo ressies were taken in Wavebands on deck 3 forward, although the location sometimes varies. Since they both start at the same time, it's wise to send a different member of your party to each location. The Palo process is very organized, with tables labeled for each day. Dining rotation changes can also be requested in Wavebands. Our friend Ali, the dining manager, was there, assisting guests with their various requests.

We had lunch at Parrot Cay, where I was greeted warmly by Katrina and Lito, two of our former servers. It always amazes me that they can remember us. Hubby piled his plate with jumbo shrimp, while I opted for salads and carved beef. We both had the delicious cold strawberry banana soup...mmmmm!

Between lunch and the ressie scramble, it can feel a bit hectic when you board, but things settle down very quickly. If you like the water, be sure to pack swimsuits in your day bag because embarkation is one of the best times to enjoy the pools and whirlpools. It is our tradition to don our swimwear and soak in one of the adult whirlpools until safety drill time. At first, we were the only ones in the whirlpool, but as the afternoon wore on, more and more people joined us. We had some very pleasant conversations with our fellow travelers until we reluctantly had to leave because it was almost four o'clock.

One word of caution: if you plan to use the hot tubs for any length of time, bring a swimsuit that you don't mind getting faded. The chemicals are wicked; hubby once had a navy blue suit fade out to orange, and I have a pair of pink tie-dyed shorts that started out as solid purple. Now, we have "special" suits that we use strictly for the whirlpools, and we save our good swimwear for Castaway Cay.

Back Home Again
Our home for this trip, as usual, was stateroom 5650, a secluded Category 6 cabin that is as far aft as it's possible to get on deck 5. Stateroom size is another Disney Difference. On many cruise lines, the staterooms border on being closet sized, even in the more expensive categories. That's especially true on the older ships, but even on Radiance and RCCL's Voyager, one of their new mega-ships, we were amazed at the lack of space in the rooms as compared to the Magic and Wonder.

On Disney's ships, your stateroom will be the same size whether you are in Category 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, or 5. The only difference is the presence or absence of a porthole or verandah. Cats. 11 and 12 are somewhat smaller, but still generous for the cruise line industry. Cat. 4 is a family room, which is a little longer, and Cats. 3, 2, and 1 are multi-room concierge suites that are larger than my first apartment!

I've had people ask whether the service suffers if you are in a cheaper category. The answer is a resounding no! Other than the fact that concierge service is limited to the top three categories, you will get the exact same service whether you're in Category 4 or 12. The Cat. 10, 11, and 12 staterooms are right across the hall from Cat. 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5 staterooms (Cat. 4s are on deck 8, where there the staterooms are all on one side). This means that a Cat. 11 room will have the same stateroom host or hostess as the Cat. 5 or 6 across the way. All staterooms are cleaned twice a day and receive turndown service, complete with chocolates and towel animals. You're in for the same first class service no matter what category you book.

Another Disney difference that families with small children really appreciate is that virtually all of the staterooms have a bathtub (the handicapped rooms are the exception, as they have a roll-in shower). Most ships have showers only, but I've talked to many parents who like to have a tub for bathing their little ones.

As I mentioned, 5650 is a Cat. 6 stateroom, meaning that it has a verandah. Most of the Cat. 6 and 5 verandahs are similar, but the aft-most staterooms have solid metal instead of a plexiglass rail, and some (like 5650) have a larger than average balcony.

People often ask, "What is the best stateroom?" The word "best" is vary subjective and is different for almost everyone. You have to determine what is most important to you. Do you like being near the elevators? Would you rather be in a more secluded spot? Does hallway noise bother you? Do you need adjoining staterooms? Are you sensitive to motion? Do you like upper decks, or would you rather be closer to the water? These are just a few of the considerations that should go into choosing your ideal room.

If you party into the wee hours of the night, a room under the nightclubs might not bother you, but a family with small children who crash early might hate it. Being near the elevators is convenient but can also mean more hallway traffic (although I've been near them a couple of times and have never noticed excessive noise). Being next door to a stateroom that sleeps four or next to adjoiners can mean more potential noise since they might be occupied by larger families (we learned this being next to the adjoining secret porthole rooms). In contrast, a stateroom that only has a neighbor on one side, like 5622, may be quieter.

5650 has only one neighbor, plus it's at the end of the hallway and there are no staterooms across from it, so there is virtually no hallway sound. I like that, as we usually sleep in on Nassau morning and then go to bed early so we're up with the sunrise on Castaway Cay day. I also like being as close to the water as possible, and deck 5 is the lowest deck with verandahs. The larger verandah is the icing on the cake; I know that some people don't like the solid metal verandahs, but it makes no difference to me.

The majority of people I've talked to seem to favor mid-ship, and I've met lots of forward fans as well. But I'm a major aft fan myself, and I've met many others like me. I've stayed on almost every deck in various areas, but aft has won me over.

Even though there were lots of large families on board for the holidays, which means more potential for hallway noise, 5650 was an oasis of peace and quiet as usual. We slept late with no disturbances and spent many relaxing hours lazing out on the verandah. Our stateroom host, Jhony, kept the room clean and left us an amusing towel animal each night. One of our former hosts was servicing the rooms at the head of the hall, so each time we passed through the hall, we got two greetings. We've been in 5650 so often now that I've lost count, and I always enjoy staying in my "home away from home."

Decadent Dining
Hubby and I have been dieting since the summer, but on a cruise we give ourselves permission to indulge. I don't think a person can stick to dietary constraints if they never splurge once in awhile. The trick is not to use the splurge as an excuse to get off your eating plan entirely.

Another new discovery on this trip was that the menus have changed again. The changes are relatively minor, and most were for the better, like the addition of cold mango/papaya soup at Parrot Cay (yum!). I was very sad to see that the cold avocado soup was gone, but at least the vichyssoises is still offered in Triton's. We'll post the new menus with full details of all the current offerings.

We were on the Tritons/Animators/Parrot Cay dining rotation. Rotational dining is another Disney difference. Instead of eating in the same restaurant every night, you rotate through three different ones, and your dining staff rotates with you. Our servers, Arnold and Marian, took excellent care of us and indulged all our special requests. Our head server was Stephanie, who we're never met before; turns out she just came over recently from the Magic. It's always fun to meet new crew members, as they quickly become old friends. Speaking of which, one of our former head servers, Kapoor, was also on our rotation.

We really enjoyed our tablemates; they were a couple from Orlando and a family from Celebration. The only thing that I regretted was that we had to give up one night in a main diningroom to go to Palo. The three day cruise is too darned short!

Our friend Chef Vinnie was onboard on this trip. If you are on the four-day cruise, be sure to go to the cooking demonstration and you might see him. His scallops are sensational!

We went to Palo on Nassau night, as it's very enjoyable to eat with the city lights as a backdrop. Our server, Nico, was from Italy, which fit in nicely with the theme, and he took great care of us. Along with my veal (the special of the day), he talked me into trying the gnocchi, which he promised would be just like his Mama makes. They were very delicious. Hubby opted for tuna, and it was prepared just the way he likes it...seared on the outside and pink on the inside. Of course, he is a sushi fan, but if I want something rare, I'll stick with beef or lamb.

For dessert, I had the famous chocolate souffle, while hubby opted for the pistachio torte, with panna cotta on the side. So much for diets! I think we must have consumed an entire week's worth of calories in one meal, but it was well worth it.

Ivan, the manager, was making the rounds to be sure that everything was going smoothly. The food and service were both top notch; Chef Patrick is doing his usual excellent job.

Of course, we didn't suffer too badly at our regular rotation restaurants either. At Triton's, I had my beloved vichyssoises, and since it was Thanksgiving, I had the special turkey dinner with all the trimmings. In Parrot Cay, hubby had the Mixed Grill, which has changed a bit and is every bit as delicious as its previous incarnation. I ordered it with lamb chops only (it usually comes with beef and sausage too) and slathered them with mint jelly. Even though the mango/papaya soup is technically an appetizer, I had that as my dessert.

There are some changes to the breakfast and lunch offerings, too. The new breakfast items in Triton's (special pancakes and French toast) are not printed on the menu yet, but hopefully they will be by our next cruise. At Beach Blanket Buffet, home of the famous Mickey waffles, they are still offering made to order omelets, and they have added something new for lunch: in addition to made to order pasta, they also serve fresh crepes with your choice of sauces and fruit fillings.

I am going to have to check out the new Triton's items, but in the morning I am typically lazy and order room service to enjoy on my verandah. On this trip, I finally met Morgan, who I've talked to on the phone when placing my order for goodness only knows how many cruises. Before we sailed, I had heard he was working in the dining room, but now he is back in room service and doing deliveries. It was fun to finally meet the man behind the voice. I think he probably knows my usual order by heart now.

At dinner, I usually don't pay much attention to the attire of my fellow cruisers. I like to dress up, but I don't really care what other people do. However, on the DIS boards, dress codes are a very controversial matter. Many people feel that the no jeans/no shorts suggestion should be strictly enforced. I'm sure they will be happy to know that Palo now has a sign requesting that no jeans or shorts be worn there. I don't know if it's enforced, but on this trip people were quite dressy. There was no one attired like my two favorites that I spotted on previous cruises (the barefoot woman in jeans and the fashion plate couple with the husband in jeans and a flamingo pink t-shirt while his wife wore a muumuu and flip-flops).

The main diningrooms don't have signs, although there is a "no jeans or shorts" request in the Navigators. Perhaps it was due to the holiday, but I was amazed to see people a lot more dressed up than usual at Triton's and Parrot Cay. I remember a couple of Thanksgivings ago, when I wore a formal dress to Triton's, which is supposed to be the most dressy restaurant, and discovered that I was totally overdressed as compared to my fellow cruisers. This time, my dresses fit right in.

It's Showtime!
Disney is synonymous with entertainment, and you're in for a real treat with the main stage shows on the Wonder. The two old standbys are "Hercules" and "Disney Dreams," both of which have been around since the inception of the cruise line. The first couple of times I saw "Hercules," I wasn't too fond of it, although hubby loved it. Now that I've seen the movie, the cornball humor always gets me laughing. Lately, Hades, Pain and Panic have been stealing the show.

I've always loved "Disney Dreams" from the very first time I saw it. We've missed "Hercules" a few times, but we make it a point never to miss DD. As the cruise director says, it's Disney's kiss good night to the audience. It features characters and songs from a variety of Disney movies, including "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid" (my favorite sequence), "Aladdin" (my second favorite), and "The Lion King." The plot revolves around a little girl named Anne Marie, who meets Peter Pan and has to find her own magic so she can fly away with him to the place where dreams come true. As I'm sure you can guess, there is a happy Disney ending. My favorite part is when Tinkerbelle covers the ship in pixie dust at the end.

"Disney Dreams" is hubby's favorite (he's even confessed that it makes him misty eyed), but I must admit that I was won over by "The Golden Mickeys" on our last cruise, and I loved it just as much this time around. "The Golden Mickeys" is a brand new show that just debuted on the Wonder Labor Day weekend. It is structured like "Disney Dreams," with a loose plot acting as the thread that binds together a series of sequences from popular Disney movies and cartoons. In this show, the plot involves Ensign Benson, who reluctantly agrees to host the show despite a lack of confidence. She gets a boost from Roy Disney himself, although now that he has resigned, I'm guessing that the beginning might change. I hope that it doesn't change too much because it's my favorite part of the show. Roy tells Ensign Benson the story of his Uncle Walt as old-time clips roll on the screen. He explained how Walt's first creation, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, was stolen from him and how he fell on hard financial times, but through it all he never lost hope.

That beginning is so cool. I love to hear about the history of Disney and see the old footage of Walt. One of our dinner tablemates said it actually brought her to tears. Then the show shifts to numbers highlighting various themes, such as Romance, Comedy, Friendship, and of course, Villians, as Ensign Benson hands out the awards...or at least tries to. The numbers include Snow White (with kids from the audience playing the seven dwarves), Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, Tarzan (featuring my favorite song from the movie, "Son of Man"; this sequence will remind you of the Tarzan Rocks show at the Animal Kingdom), 101 Dalmations, Toy Story, Sleeping Beauty, the Lion King (the costumes will remind you of the Broadway play), Pocahontas, and Lady and the Tramp.

Terk also comes out to lead a rousing rendition of "Trashin' the Camp," featuring my all-time favorite character, Stitch (okay, second-favorite character, as Figment will always be number one with me). When the villians take over, you'll be amazed at the life-like Ursula. We were sitting in the front row, and her tentacles were only inches away. As footage of various Disney villians flashed on the screen, I had to laugh when Darla from Finding Nemo popped up!

This may sound like a lot, especially given the fact that there is an opening number and a grand finale too, but the show is over in less than an hour. That is my only complaint with this show; it's way too short! It is so action-packed that you'll find yourself trying not to blink so you won't miss anything.

There have been some minor changes, but they are all improvements. My favorite is at the ending, when Ensign Benson trades in her dress whites for a beautiful princess-style dress. It really enhances the happy ending (I'm sure you can guess that by the end of the show, she's gained new confidence and poise).

If you get to the theater early, you'll get the red carpet treatment. Since this is an awards show, the guests are treated like celebrities as they enter the theater. The paparazzi snap photos, and there are even "celebrity interviews" that are broadcast on the jumbo screens inside of the theater. I had to stop and be interviewed so I could embarrass poor hubby, who was already inside, by welcoming to cruise #35 onscreen.

Speaking of red carpets, this cruise also featured another exciting event...the "premear" of "The Haunted Mansion." When a Disney movie premieres on land, there is a gala premiere on the ships, too. The movie was shown at various times throughout the cruise so everyone would get a chance to see it. We went to the 2 p.m. showing on Nassau day in the Walt Disney Theater. Usually movies are shown in the Buena Vista Theater, but for newer releases, they are often shown in the larger venue too.

I've always been a fan of the Haunted Mansion ride, so I was interested to see how it would translate to the big screen. Although it was slow moving in parts, Madame Leota (the face in the crystal ball) was a riot, as were the singing busts. And of course the hitchhiking ghosts put in an appearance too.

I was hoping to see "Brother Bear" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," too. They were both still showing on board, but with so much going on, we never got around to seeing them. Oh well, I can always catch them on DVD.

A Lazy Morning in Nassau
Hubby and I have been to Nassau so many times that we rarely disembark anymore. For us, it's just a lazy day to recuperate from a late night of partying and enjoy a leisurely breakfast out on our verandah. Before going to bed on Thursday night, we ordered room service for 9 a.m. Friday morning. I actually woke up a bit early, but I forced myself to go back to sleep so that I would be well rested for an early rise on Castaway Cay morning.

Around 9, hubby and I crawled out of bed because we knew that our breakfast would arrive at any minute. Room service is very prompt, so we often use it as our wake-up call. I went out onto the verandah to check out the weather, and when I stepped back into the room, the food had arrived. It was delivered by none other than my buddy Morgan, who I always think of as the "voice of room service" because he always seems to be the one who takes my call. I've talked to him on so many cruises that he probably knows my usual order by heart. Before this cruise, I heard that he was working as a server in the dining room, and I was anxious to meet him in person. But he moved back to room service, although not on the phone...now he is doing deliveries, so we finally got to meet him face to face.

If you are not as lazy as us, there are many options for breakfast. Room service offers continental options, but there is a huge spread up at Beach Blanket Buffet or you can opt for a table service meal at Tritons.

Once we were fueled, we had gained more energy, so we decided to exercise. Hubby has lost almost 50 pounds since the August 2002, and I have lost almost 30. Even when we're on vacation, we try to minimize the damage by keeping up with our workout routine. We grabbed water bottles and headed to the deck 4 promenade, but after a couple rounds it was closed off due to crew lifeboat drills and maintenance. We headed up to deck 10, which is another nice place to jog or power walk.

As we headed up the aft stairs, I noticed how the style of the carpet changed between decks 9 and 10. Another Disney Different: the seamless changing of themes. It changed from nautical to a pattern that matches the Palo décor, just as the walkways change between the different lands in the Magic Kingdom.

Hubby walked a couple more round with me, then headed to the spa to relax in the Rainforest. I continued my walk and enjoyed noticing more of the seamless theme shifts. As I walked past the Quiet Cove adult area, the music was slow and relaxing to complement the peaceful atmosphere. Just a few steps away, by the family pool, the music changes to energetic tunes that match the lively area. It changes again as you approach the Mickey pool and the gleeful youngsters played in the ears and splashing down the slide.

In addition to the sounds, I enjoyed the delicious smells from the restaurants in the aft area. They wafted up to signal the winding down of breakfast and the preparations for lunch and dinner. I watched my fellow passengers as they strolled the deck, basked in the sun, sipped drinks, played basketball, soaked in the whirlpools, splashed in the pools, or enjoyed the glorious morning in some other way.

Before I started working out regularly, I used to do a mile on deck 4, wanting to get done as quickly as possible and never walking any extra. Now, I walked for 45 minutes without even realizing how far I'd gone or how much time had passed. I finally had to quit because I'd worn my stiff canvas shoes and they were giving me a blister. My poor feet couldn't take any more abuse, so I headed back to my stateroom for some quality verandah time.

It was noon already, and the premiere of "The Haunted Mansion" was only two hours away. Time was flying much too fast, but it had been a lovely morning in Nassau. As I stood on the verandah, I noticed a Coast Guard ship pulling out, and then I did a double take. The Imperial Majesty Ocean Breeze was docked nearby, as usual, but I didn't recognize it at first because it had gotten a complete paint job. I always look for that ship because it's such a dog. It does overnight cruises, with most of the passengers sailing for free in exchange for going to a timeshare presentation. The ship is ancient, and it's always amazed me that it has boarded-up portholes! Actually, I guess "puttied up" would be a more accurate description, but it looks very tacky. Oh well, the food must be fresh because once I spotted some of the Ocean Breeze crew sitting on a trapdoor and fishing!

But now the ship looks almost decent, as the color scheme is brighter and the blocked portholes aren't so prominent. Oh well, I'll still stick to the Disney Wonder. It certainly stands head and shoulders over the Ocean Breeze, and even when compared to the new mega ships it holds its own.

A Green Christmas
As always, the terminal and ship were decked out in holiday finery, but as I mentioned earlier, there was a new surprise this year. For the first time ever, Castaway Cay had also been transformed for Christmas. At the disembarkation area, there were really cute iconic decorations, like a snowman, tree, giant presents, and a sleigh dubbed the S. S. Kringle. Be sure to bring your camera, and the Shutters photographers will be out there in the morning to take photos, too. Even the usual photo backdrops had been decorated. For example, the "Fresh Catch" backdrop was festooned in garland and ornaments. Carolers at the post office added to the festive atmosphere, and the tram was decked out in garland, with a giant set of reindeer horns on the front. Our cruise was very windy, but I hear that when the weather cooperates, you might even see some snow.

The decorations fan out all over the island, and many have a nautical flair (for example, the buoy Santas and the lighthouse tree topper). The typical music has been replaced by Christmas carols with a Caribbean flair (thank goodness...I think if I hear "Cheeseburger in Paradise" one more time, I'll go insane). Even the crew members get into the spirit in their red and white winter hats and scarves.

This is another big Disney Difference. We've been to both of RCCL's private islands, Labadee and Cocoa Cay. Labadee is anything but private. It's part of Hispanola (Haiti), and the natives shake you down for money when you try to sit in a lounge chair and even when you exit the bathroom. The Labadee marketplace was worse than Nassau's Straw Market. I had several merchants physically grab me, which I feel is a major violation of my personal space and not something I expect on a supposedly private island.

Cocoa Cay is much nicer than Labadee, and like Castaway Cay, it really is private. But somehow I doubt that it's undergone a holiday transformation.

The best was yet to come; sailaway, which typically takes place at 5:00, was delayed until 5:45 so we could see the Christmas tree lighting in the dark. It was such a lovely farewell. With Captain John and Mickey standing by, the tree suddenly was ablaze in lights as guests watched from decks 4, 9, and 10. You would also be able to see the tree lighting from your verandah if you have a view of the dock.

In case you won't be sailing over the holidays, we've posted a selection of Castaway Cay Christmas photos. And if you will be sailing, check them out anyway as they will really build you anticipation.

Smile for the Camera
Another neat holiday addition is the Christmas cards that are now offered at Shutters. You pick a photograph and a style, and your cards will be ready by the end of your cruise. I suggest taking advantage of as many photo opportunities as possible so you will have lots of pictures to choose from. There is no charge for having photos taken; you only pay if you buy. The friendly Shutters staff will be on hand all around the ship and on the island, too.

We chose a formal portrait that was taken in front of the huge Christmas tree in the atrium. It was a hard choice, as our Palo photograph came out really good too. Usually they take it at your table, but we asked the photographer to let us pose in front of some of the Palo Christmas decorations. The style we chose was Mickey's hand holding an ornament that contains the photo, with a drawing of the ship at the top. This is only one of several styles from which you can pick.

We noticed that there are now several more options for digital enhancement on your photographs. I've always liked the border that you can get digitally added to your embarkation photo, but now you can have one added to your photo with the captain too. We were busy during the captain's party so we missed that photo op. But later, when I was looking at our other photos, I noticed a neat border on the portraits with the captain listing his name, the date, and even "Wonder Facts."

But Shutters doesn't just take the photos. If you take your own, and you can't wait to see how they turned out, you can drop off your film for processing. They can handle just about any type of film, including Advantix and underwater cameras. When you drop off your film, your photos will be ready for you the next day.

Indulgence at the Vista Spa
Hubby and I believe that a cruise is the most relaxing type of vacation and that it should include plenty of time in the spa. He had two seaweed wraps, while I opted for a shipboard massage, a cabana massage, and an Absolute Face and Body (massage and facial). Hubby also spent some time in the Rainforest, a room containing scented showers, steam rooms, saunas, and heated tile lounge chairs. He noticed a great addition to the Rainforest: there is now a table containing a variety of spa products that you can sample. That has always been available in the Surial Bath (a private couples sauna room where you and your partner get to slather each other with mud). I'm really glad they've added it to the Rainforest, too, as the Elemis products are great and I know that people will really enjoy trying them.

Yet another new additional at the spa was pilates and yoga classes. I tried out the beach yoga on Castaway Cay, and it was the perfect way to start my day. Although the class starts at 9 a.m., you meet in the spa at 8:15 so there will be plenty of time to get to the adult beach, where it is held. It was very windy that morning, so when we got to the beach, there were huge white-capped waves crashing onto the shore. The relaxing sound of those waves was the perfect backdrop to the class.

The class was about 40 minutes long, and the level was simple enough to where even a beginner would feel comfortable. We used towels as mats, and our instructor led us through some sun salutes and simple poses such as the Warrior, as well as a progressive muscle relaxation exercise. I hope they continue to offer this because if they do, it's going to become a regular part of my Castaway Cay day. I had a massage scheduled at 10 a.m., so the timing worked out perfectly. The massage cabanas are right at the adult beach, and I was already relaxed before I even collapsed onto the massage table. What a way to kick off the day!

Hubby was quite excited to see that there is new equipment in the workout room. He loves elliptical trainers, so he was pleased to see brand-new ones that are almost just like his favorites at the health club. He took new photos to post on our website.

Castaway Cay...Barely!
Amazingly enough, we've never missed docking at Castaway Cay, nor have we been totally rained out, in all of our Disney cruises. What's even more amazing is that we sail mainly during hurricane season and in the winter, which are the more problematic times. When the cold fronts come in, the wind and waves can prevent the ship from docking. I had read on the DIS boards that this had happened to a couple of cruises in the weeks before ours, but the ocean was calm when we docked in Nassau so I thought that we'd be fine.

The next morning, I awakened to the drone of the side thrusters. I've been in 5650 enough times to be able to tell when the ship is having a hard time getting in. It sounded labored, which surprised me, since the weather had seemed calm the day before. I went out on the balcony and was greeted by gales of wind and frothy white water! As I watched, I began to think that I'd have yet another new experience on cruise #35: a missed CC docking and a day at sea. But finally Captain John managed to back us in. I think he must have used every bit of his skill to do it. Out of all our previous cruises, I can only remember one other time when it was that bad.

I was pleased that we had docked but a bit concerned about the gloomy gray skies and the wicked wind. But hubby and I are prepared for every eventuality. We always bring rain ponchos and plastic bags to keep ourselves and our gear dry in case of a sudden downpour. We planned to disembark separately, as I was doing the beach yoga and he had signed up for the nature walk/kayak trip. Since my meeting time was 8:15 at the spa and his was 9 a.m. in the Promenade Lounge, we made plans to meet at the adult beach later.

Although the wind was strong, I was still warm enough to do the yoga in my swimsuit. But I noticed a lot of people who were bundled up pretty well. I suspect that they were the natives of warmer climates, like Florida. When it's winter in Chicago, so anything above 60 degrees feels warm to me.

After yoga, I settled into a hammock to read. There are only four hammocks on the adult beach, so usually you have to be very early to get one. But on this trip, the threatening sky was keeping people away and the beach was virtually deserted. The ocean waves looked inviting for body surfing, and when I stuck my toe in, the water didn't feel nearly as cold as I'd thought it would. But after yoga and a massage, I was feeling supremely lazy so I opted to relax with my book.

Eventually hubby showed up. The kayak part of his trip had been cancelled, but they'd still gone on the nature walk (I think they refunded half of the price). He was eager to share all the trivia he'd learned about the plant and animal life on Castaway Cay. We decided to head over to Cookies for lunch and then return to the ship, as a matinee of "Disney Dreams" had been added in case the weather got worse. As we rolled along in the tram, he explained that the beautiful red "flowers" were really leaves and how many of the plants were native to the Bahamas, but not originally to Castaway Cay. He told me about the birds they had spotted and how most of the island is in its native state, with only a relatively small area developed. I don't think I've ever seen him so enthusiastic about nature! He is already looking forward to signing up again on our next trip in hopes that he'll be able to kayak through the mangroves.

By the time we reached Cookies, the sun was making an earnest effort to displace the clouds, and more and more people were heading off the ship. We got some food and found a table in the sun. I had a cheeseburger and some ribs, while hubby indulged in his favorite lobster burgers. And of course I topped off my meal with a generous serving of frozen yogurt. In deference to my diet, I had managed to avoid Scoops for the entire trip, but no visit to Castaway Cay is complete without some frozen cookie dough yogurt.

Somewhat reluctantly, we headed back to the ship. I was sad that we hadn't had a chance to swim, and I noticed that quite a few brave souls had now made it into the water. But the idea of seeing the "Disney Dreams" matinee was appealing, as it would give us extra time to pack at night and get to bed a bit early. At least I was happy in the knowledge that once again our docking streak was unbroken.

The Castaway Club Party
I don't think I've ever missed a Castaway Club party, except way back in the early days of Disney Cruise Line before there even was such a thing. Since I consider hubby and myself to be Platinum members, it's a matter of pride to attend on each cruise. The party is typically held on one of the clubs on Beat Street (or, in the case of a really large number of repeaters, the entire Beat Street area might be taken over). On #34, it was in Studio Sea, but usually it's either Wavebands, the Cadillac Lounge, or Barrel of Laughs.

If you are a repeater, you will receive an invitation with all of the specifics. This time, Wavebands was the place, so at 5:15 we headed down for some snacks, a Bahama Mama (or a glass of wine in hubby's case), and some pleasant conversation with the crew. This trip was the first time that we've met Cruise Director Teresa, and we also chatted with our old friend Brent, Mike (the hotel director), and of course Captain John. The party is a great opportunity to meet some of the officers and even to get a picture with the captain.

There are some other nice little benefits to the Castaway Club, too. When you board, you will find a nice little gift in your stateroom. Currently, you receive pins and a towel, although it has changed many times over the years. My collection includes two different types of bags and Magic and Wonder picture frames. The towel is probably my favorite, although the old blue bags were very handy. We still bring on of our old ones on almost every trip.

Adult Antics
Disney is most commonly associated with kids and family entertainment, but on the Wonder they do a great job of keeping the adults busy too. If you just want to be lazy and enjoy some quiet time away from pint-sized horde, head over to the spa, the Quiet Cove pool, or the adult beach. The kids might try to invade, but you'll find that Disney takes the adults-only rule quite seriously. As we soaked in the Quiet Cove whirlpool on embarkation day, we watched as crew members shooed away kids who tried to take over the pool.

If you're in the mood for a party, you'll discover that Route 66 is an adults-only playground after 9 p.m. There are various events and theme nights; our favorites are the 70s Party and the Match Your Mate game show. On this trip, I thought that 70s Night might not be as hilarious as usual because the women who played Gloria Gaynor were all very subdued. But when the guys stepped up to do their John Travolta dances, all hell broke loose! The entire room was in hysterics. I don't want to give too much away in case you've never been to this event before, but let's just say that this was the first time I've ever seen an encore (and what an encore it was!).

Match Your Mate is always good for a few laughs, too. Three couples are chosen as contestants; the ones who have been married for the shortest length of time, a "mid-range" couple, and the ones who have been married the longest. On this trip, there was an elderly couple who had been married for an unbelievable 65 years! I think that's the most we've ever seen on any of our cruises. I don't want to give away the questions, but I do have to share the funniest moment. The elderly gentleman told the story of his honeymoon, when he and his wife were driving through Mexico. This was in the 1930s, and they were driving a giant car. They picked up a little Mexican boy who was hitchhiking and who didn't speak a word of English. Each night, they would remove one of the huge bench seats so the boy could sleep outside of the car, and then they bedded down inside and...well, you know, did what newlyweds do. When he told this story, everyone in Wavebands was practically rolling on the floor.

I saw Wonderquest on the Navigator, but we didn't get to do it because it began at 9:45 p.m. and we were still at dinner. It's a really crazy scavenger hunt type game that I highly recommend. We also missed 60s night, which I haven't seen yet. Apparently it has replaced 80s night on the 3-night cruises. I was sorry to miss it, but it was on the last night and we still had packing to do. Oh well, at least we'll have another new experience on cruise #36 in February.

Now It's Time to Say Goodbye
Parting is always such sweet sorrow, especially on a three day cruise when the days seem to whiz by at quantum speed. We know the disembarkation procedure by heart, but if it's your first time, the cruise director gives a talk that is repeated on your television throughout the evening. It details everything you need to know about luggage, customs, etc.

Disembarkation is a huge Disney Difference. RCCL's embarkation might be a pain, but it's nothing compared to their horrible disembarkation process. They issue you colored luggage tags, and you cannot leave the ship until your color is called. This may not sound bad, but I know from personal experience that it might be a couple of hours before you are called. People gather like cattle in the public areas of the ship, anxiously waiting for liberation.

On Disney, you get colored luggage tags, too, but that's just so you can easily find your luggage when you disembark. You leave the ship whenever you want to, once it's been cleared by customs. You can leave early if you have an early flight, are heading to Disney World, or are spending the day in Cape Canaveral or Orlando. If you have a late flight, relax and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading off. You have an assigned breakfast seating based on your dining rotation, but you are free to skip it if you choose. You can skip breakfast altogether (which is what we usually do, since we're typically tired of eating by the end of the cruise), or you can eat whenever you want up at Beach Blanket Buffet.

You can leave your luggage out the night before to be brought down to the terminal for you (which is where the colored tags for identification come in), or you can keep it with you and carry it off the ship yourself. You leave via the exit in the deck 3 atrium, present your forms, ID, and proof of citizenship at customs, and that's it...you're done! I still haven't figured out why the rest of the cruise industry doesn't follow Disney's lead.

We had arranged an 8 a.m. pickup with Happy Limo, as we were heading to the Kissimmee area to spend the day before our late evening flight. Our driver was waiting for us when we arrived with a big, beautiful limo! We piled in and headed away from Port Canaveral; already, I was missing the Wonder and wishing that our next trip would be sooner than February. But I know that I do have to go to work sometime!

Web Check-In Roulette
Use of web check-in used to be pretty uncommon in Orlando, since most people are there on vacation and don't have access to a computer. But that is changing rapidly due to the availability of internet cafes, laptops with wireless connections, and business centers in hotels. More and more, we see fellow passengers clutching the tell-tale black and white boarding pass printouts.

As I mentioned earlier, it's always a crapshoot on whether ATA will honor our seats when we select them via web check-in. I had been lulled into a false sense of security because it had been a while since we'd had any problems, but our lucky streak was about to end. Boarding had just begun when hubby was paged to the check-in desk. Not a good sign. At first I told him to go himself and I would watch the luggage, but then I decided that I'd better go along because he is very mild-manner while I'm more...uh, persuasive. I got there just as I heard the agent saying that his seat had been double assigned. Considering all the problems we've had in the past, we have ATA's customer service number programmed into our cell phones. Even when we've checked in first via the internet, they have tried to let the person who got our seat later, at the airport, keep it, and I refuse to accept that. On occasion, I've actually called customer service to back me up and handed my phone to the desk supervisor to let them duke it out.

But things didn't turn so ugly this time, as the person working the desk was someone who has dealt with us in the past. When we saw who it was, he immediately told the other person, "I'm sorry, but these people selected those seats first." I breathed a sign of relief, as the plane was literally full and I didn't want to set stuck crammed somewhere in the back.

The flight was a bit bumpy, but not too bad. As we descended into Midway, I looked out over the houses below decorated with blinking Christmas lights and they reminded me of one of those miniature villages. There was no snow yet, but I still felt the Christmas spirit in the air. On the way out, I had found it hard to believe that it was Thanksgiving weekend already. Now, having seen the beautiful decorations on the ship and Castaway Cay and having heard a variety of Christmas carols, from Caribbean style to traditional, I was definitely in a holiday mood. We've already got our reservations for Thanksgiving 2004 on the Wonder, and next year we'll be spending Christmas on the ship too. But happily, we won't have to wait that long to sail again, as we embark on our annual anniversary cruise in February, and I can't wait to see what new surprises will be in store.

Trip Report #34, September 2003 on the Wonder

Disney Cruise #34 was the fifth anniversary of our very first cruise, and it was different for us in several ways. First, we were sailing with one of my co-workers and her family. We've met up with friends from the internet before, but this was the first time that someone from back home had joined us. Second, we had an unexpected treat. Disney Cruise Line's latest show, "The Golden Mickeys," debuted on our voyage! But I don't want to get ahead of myself, so I'll come to that a bit later in the report.

First Things First
Things must happen in sequence, and for us that means that all of our cruises begin at Midway Airport in Chicago. We like to fly in the night before the cruise so we don't have to worry so much about weather and other delays. We are equally distant from Midway and O'Hare, but lately ATA has been offering the best deals to Orlando. They also offer a free companion ticket for every three roundtrips, with no blackout dates, so with all our trips to FL we've become quite loyal to them and have earned some free travel.

Often, I take Pulaski Ave. to the airport, even though it's a bit more out of the way than Cicero, because traffic often jams up near Ford City mall. But on this trip, traffic was pretty light, so we chanced Cicero and made good time.

I like to park in a non-airport-owned parking lot because the Midway shuttle buses are worse than a cattle car. I typically use Midway Park Savers, which is right across from the Orange Line commuter entrance, eliminating the need for a shuttle. I drive an Aztek (or a Canyonero, if you're a Simpsons fan), and their spots can be a bit tight, but I usually manage to maneuver it in. You can get a coupon for one day of free parking there via ATA's website.

As I mentioned earlier, we were joined on this trip by a co-worker and her family (Barb, her husband Larry, and their 18 year old son, Michael). They have been through some rough times lately due to the chronic illness of their younger son, so they were all ready for a nice, relaxing vacation. This was their second Disney cruise, so they were really looking forward to it. We figured that we would all meet at the airport; as hubby and I waited in the security line, we saw them...but they were heading the other way! Turns out they just needed to check another bag, so we waited for them in the food court.

Our plane was heading in from Las Vegas before continuing on to Orlando, and Larry noticed on the "Departures" board that it was listed as 45 minutes late. When the restated boarding time grew closer, we headed over to the gate, but there was no sign of a plane at the jetway. As time passed, it became apparent that we were going to be leaving more than an hour late. Normally I don't get too bent out of shape about delays, but this flight was due to land in Orlando at midnight, so I could see precious hours of sleep drifting away.

Eventually our aircraft showed up, and after a fast turnaround, it was ready for boarding. It was my favorite type of plane, a 757-300 (stretch) with adjustable headrests and video entertainment. Hubby and I had done web check-in and had gotten comfy exit rows, so we were able to stretch out for the trip. Our friends were a little farther back, and because the plane wasn't very crowded, the gate agent had switched their seats around to give them more room to spread out.

Our flight attendant, Gonzalo, were extremely cheerful, especially for someone who'd been working since 10 a.m. that morning. He plied us with delicious ATA cookies, which I haven't seen in some time, as they serve peanuts and snack mix on the evening flights. Finally we touched down at MCO, quite late but safely, which is the important thing. Delays can happen, which is why that day-before flight is such a good idea. It's one thing to get to bed in the wee hours, but it's quite another to have to worry about possibly missing the ship.

Soon our luggage arrived, and I called the Renaissance hotel shuttle. Typically we are at the Marriott, which I get by bidding the highest star level in the MCO area via Priceline for $25 to $28. Unfortunately, this time I'd made a little boo boo. I'd advised Barb on my strategy, and sure enough, she got the Marriott for $25. I thought I had made my own reservation, too, but someone I'd forgotten. I think I mixed it up with another trip.

The night before my trip, I realized my mistake when sorting out all of our paperwork. In a panic, I immediately logged on and placed a bid of $25, putting my fate in the hands of William Shatner and the Priceline Super Computer. REJECTED!! Ouch!

Fortunately, a counter offer popped up. That is very rare; it has only happened to me once before out of all the times I've used Priceline. It advised me to bid $31, which I did, muttering, "Please be Marriott, please be Marriott," under my breath. The confirmation popped up: The Renaissance! Fortunately, the two hotels are in the same general area. I immediately contacted Happy Limo, which was scheduled to pick all of us up at the Marriott, and gave them my last minute change of plans. Fortunately they were able to make the change, and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

At any rate, now we were waiting for the shuttle, which was there within 10 or 15 minutes. Usually the Marriott's shuttle is packed, no matter how late it is, but we were the only people waiting for the Renaissance. As we left, we passed our friends waiting at the Marriott stop and headed to our "home" for the next 8 hours.

This was our first trip to FL since an ordinance was passed banning smoking in most indoor areas. What a relief to walk into a hotel lobby and not be assailed by the odor of smoke! We checked in, made our bleary-eyed way to our room, and fell asleep almost instantly.

Our pick-up the next morning was scheduled for 10 a.m. We always use Happy Limo because we like deciding when we will leave and having a private vehicle. We usually book a towncar, but since we had a larger group this time, we'd opted for a limo. We headed downstairs a few minutes early and found it already waiting. Then we swung over to the Marriott to pick up my friend Barb and her crew. We made a quick grocery stop (another advantage of taking a towncar or limo), and then we headed off to good old Port Canaveral.

The gorgeous stretch limo had cold soda and a TV/DVD player, so we watched "Snow Dogs" during the drive. We arrived at the terminal a little before 11:30, and it wasn't too crowded yet, which surprised me. I don't think the airport buses had started arriving yet. We passed through Security and headed to the Castaway Club check-in line, which is at the far end of the counters.

The CC line is not always the shortest, but we know most of the people who work it, so we always check in there. The port team has become like a family to us, and we love seeing them again as we kick off each of our cruises. Their warm greeting really starts things off right. Boarding typically starts early, so it wasn't long before we were passing through the giant mouse ears and off to another adventure.

The Staterooms
I am a creature of habit, and although I've stayed on almost every deck in a variety of staterooms and categories, I've found the staterooms that I like best and that's what I stick with now. Since we usually book our cruises a year in advance, that means I can usually get one of the staterooms that we prefer. You can request the stateroom of your choice, and DCL will be happy to oblige if it is available. Just remember that the most popular rooms, like the secret porthole rooms (Category 10 staterooms sold as inside, even though they have an obstructed view porthole) and the reclassified Category 7 rooms ("regular" verandah with a somewhat obstructed view, rather than a navigators verandah), go very quickly.

My favorite deck is 5, and my favorite stateroom is 5650, which I know almost as well as the rooms in my house. If I am not in there, check the secret porthole rooms at the forward end of the deck (5020 or 5520, as we don't like the connecting ones). On this trip, we were in my favorite, as far aft as possible. Deck 5 is also the lowest deck with verandah staterooms, which means they are closest to the water. I really enjoy that, as I like being as close to the ocean as possible. It's so relaxing to gaze down at the soothing blue water just a few decks below.

Our friends were in 6100, which is midship on the port side. They were very content there and said that there was no excessive noise or motion. They thoroughly enjoyed their verandah; on their first Disney cruise, they had an inside stateroom, so it was a real treat for them to be able to watch the sun rise as they enjoyed their morning coffee ourside in their pajamas.

I know how quickly a veranda can spoil people. I used to be content in an inside stateroom, but now I always go for the secret porthole rooms because I like at least like to have some light and a little view. With as often as we cruise, they're a great bargain. And of course, 5650 is the ultimate for me because of its large but cozy verandah, where I've spent many pleasant hours. I am so used to deck 5 now that I would probably be lost if I stayed anywhere else.

On this trip, I was really in the mood for some slow-paced relaxation time, so I made an extra effort to free up some quality verandah time. It is a tradition for hubby and I to have breakfast on our verandah on Nassau morning, and we also spend the Castaway Cay sailaway there before heading off to the Castaway Club party. If we're awake, we like to watch the ship dock at Nassau and Castaway Cay, too, and we also spend a few minutes before bed gazing out at the inky black sea and the stars shining like tiny pinpoints of light above. But on this trip, I scheduled some downtime at various parts of the day and relaxed on the verandah with a good book or simply closed my eyes and napped.

That's the great thing about a cruise...you can be as active or as lazy as you want. There is always something going on, like a movie, a show, games, or activities, but sometimes you just want to kick back and relax. And although having your own verandah is nice, there are areas where you can go for fresh air even if you have an inside stateroom. The deck 7 aft public verandah and the comfy deck chairs on deck 4 are two of my favorites.

The only thing that was unpleasant this time was that we were next door to a chain smoker. 5650 only has a neighbor on one side, so your chances of this happening are considerably less than in a stateroom with two neighbors. Also, because the verandah is somewhat recessed, you usually won't smell the smoke as much even if you end up adjacent to a smoker. But this time, our neighbor was out there constantly (she was obviously a heavy smoker, and smoking in the staterooms is forbidden). And instead of smoking while sitting down, she always did it while leaning over the rail. She always leaned over on our side, which I couldn't figure out until hubby pointed out that that's the side where the ash tray is located. I am not afraid to speak up when someone is smoking where they're not supposed to, but in this case there wasn't much I could say, as the verandahs are a designated smoking area. Oh well, at least this is not a common occurrence, and I still managed to get a lot of enjoyment on our verandah despite the smoky cloud.

The Shows
Having cruised Disney over 30 times, we know "Hercules" and "Disney Dreams" quite well. But we never get tired of "Disney Dreams," and between the live shows and the showings on the stateroom televisions, we have probably seen it 40 times or more. The shows run on the stateroom t.v.'s in case you miss the live showing or if you just want to see it again. We don't have kids, but if we did, I think it would be great to tuck them in and let them drift off while watching the show again.. In addition to "Disney Dreams," we usually go to "Hercules," too, although we've occasionally skipped it. It's corny, but in a good, laugh-out-loud way, especially Pain, Panic, and Hades. When the third show was the game show "Who Wants to be a Mouseketeer," we eventually stopped going because we found it to be slow-moving.

This time we were in for a very special treat. It turned out that our 34th cruise was also the premiere of "The Golden Mickeys," the long-rumored and long-awaited new stage show! No more "Mousketeer"...now there are full-scale stage productions every night.

I must admit that I viewed this show with a very critical eye, as I was skeptical that anything could match my love for "Disney Dreams." But I have to admit, I was dazzled by this show! It was fabulous! The only thing I didn't like was that it went by much too quickly. I could have easily sat through it even if it were double the length.

Like "Disney Dreams," "The Golden Mickeys" is actually a compilation of numbers from several Disney movies. They are held together by a loose plot that involves an award show, which is supposed to be hosted by the Captain. Because of the awards show theme, things get started even before the show begins. Guests are greeted by a red carpet, just as though they are going to the Oscars or Emmys. There is even an interviewer chatting with people as they head into the theater, and those who are already inside can watch the action on jumbo screens.

As the show begins, it turns out that the Captain will now be hosting after all due to a slight mishap. The hosting task falls to a reluctant and nervous crew member named Ensign Bensen. Her confidence level is low, but she gets a boost from Roy E. Disney himself. Roy gives her a pep talk, citing the challenges faced by Walt in the early days of the Disney studio. I really enjoyed that part, as I love hearing about the history of Disney. Ensign Bensen finally agrees to give it a go, and she announces that the first winner is "Snow White."

I was amazed at how the clever use of screen backdrops and projection brought the cartoon world of "Snow White" vividly to life on the stage. There was a really cute ending to the number as kids from the audience portrayed the role of the dwarves.

Next up was Quasimodo from "Hunchback," quickly followed by Tarzan. I was thrilled when I realized that they were using "Son of Man," my favorite song from the movie, and the vine climbing was great to watch. There is also a "Mulan" sequence with a well-choreographed fight scene. This show reminded me of my favorite shows at Disney World. It was top quality all the way.

Terk and Elvis Stitch led a spirited rendition of "Trashin' the Camp," and then the villians took over. First was Ursula, portrayed by a clever combination of projection and real tentacles. Then came my personal favorite Disney "bad girl," Cruella. Of course, the villans never stick around for too long. Everyone's favorite characters from "Toy Story" did a salute to friendship, and then there was a sequence from "Sleeping Beauty." Watch the color changing dress. It's awesome! There is also a scene from the "Lion King" that reminded me so much of the Broadway show.

Since this is Disney, there is the requisite happy ending. Ensign Bensen has made it through, and the show closes with a rousing finale. It definitely left me wanting more! On this trip, hubby and I focused on getting lots of photos for our website (we take them without a flash because we don't want to be rude and disturb other members of the audience). I can hardly wait for our cruise in November so I can just relax and enjoy the show without worrying about capturing all the scenes. I know that the previous shows "Voyage of the Ghost Ship," "C'est Magique," and "Morty the Magnificent" got mixed reviews, but this one is 100 percent pure Disney, and I suspect that people will love it as much as "Disney Dreams." I know that I do!

Meals
We had linked our reservations with our friends so we be at the same table for dinner. Since we boarded the ship together, we had lunch together too. We ate our embarkation lunch in Parrot Cay (it is also served at Beach Blanket Buffet), and while we were there, we ordered the wine package for dinner. You can order it beforehand or at your dinner restaurant in the evening. Hubby has been wanted to try it for a long time, but you get a full bottle of wine each night and he can't drink a whole bottle himself (I only have a couple of sips, so I'm no help). But this time, since we had a group of people, he could finally try it.

There are actually two different wine packages to choose from, at two different price levels. When you purchase it, you are pre-payed for one bottle of wine per night, which you choose from the appropriate list. If you eat in Palo one night, you can have your bottle there. Hubby chose La Crema for the first bottle, and our companions liked it so much that they had it the second night too. They did get adventurous and try a different type the third night.

The embarkation buffet was as delicious as always. I enjoy all the salads and the fresh carved meat (which usually varies between lamb and beef). Hubby is a huge fan of the cold jumbo shrimp, and he always embarrasses me when he piles his plate so high that he can barely see over it to make it back to the table. In Parrot Cay, servers will bring you your beverage of choice. Upstairs in Beach Blanket, you get your own beverage at the end of the buffet line.

That first lunch is just the prelude to a weekend of delicious and decadent meals. You rotate through three restaurants (Triton's, Animators Palate, and Parrot Cay), but we skipped Animators in order to go to Palo. Normally I recommend NOT skipping that one if you've never seen the show, but since we've cruised so many times and our friends have seen it once already, we all agreed that we wanted to eat in Palo on Nassau night. I had also been in touch with someone on the internet who was sailing alone with her child, so I invited her to join us too. We all met up at the restaurant, became instant friends, and had a great time.

Barb's son Michael had just turned 18 this year, so this was the first time that he was able to participate in the adult activities. He really enjoyed his meal at Palo (and I think he also liked the opportunity to sneak some of mom's wine). Partway into the meal, our new friend's daughter paged her from the kids club to be picked up. Happily, our server was able to send her off with a doggie bag so she could still enjoy her meal. The rest of us ended up sticking around so long that we closed the place down. The wine was flowing freely, and everyone was in a rolicking good mood. A tiff broke out over the chocolate souffle sauce, but that was resolved when an extra pitcher was brought. Then another fight broke out over possession of the pitcher!

All in all, we had a great time. Usually we eat alone as a couple at Palo, and I know that a lot of people like that. It can definitely be a nice, romantic experience. But for hubby and I, we eat together every day, so we enjoy being in a group when we're on board the ship. On our first night, which was in Triton's, it was us and our friends at the table. Then we all ate at Palo, and on the last night, in Parrot Cay, it was our group plus another couple who had missed dinner the first night (which was probably just as well, as there were battles over the grand mariner sauce at dessert that might have frightened them away). I'll admit that we had a rowdy table, but we had a real blast and I got some great blackmail photos to bring home with me. A tip: If you are sailing with a co-worker, be sure to keep your camera close at hand, especially when the wine is flowing.

There were some minor changes to the menus. Most of them seemed to be aimed at making the Wonder's offerings the same as the Magic's. The only one that disappointed me was the removal of the sea bass from the Triton's menu. That has been a favorite of mine and hubby's for years. But unfortunately, sea bass is endangered, so Disney replaced it with white fish. The new fish was still pretty good, as it is prepared the same way, but the sea bass was superior. I can see why it's endangered if it tastes so good. The prime rib wasn't on the menu at Parrot Cay, but it was offered as a special. I hope they don't take it away completely because it is excellent.

The Spa
The spa is an integral part of any trip for hubby and I. We work hard at home, so when we cruise, our main focus is relaxation and escape from the daily grind. To me, there is no better way to relax than under the hands of a skilled masseuse. Hubby sticks with seaweed wraps and traditional massages. I like both of those, too, but I also enjoy reflexology and the Absolute Face & Body treatment (a massage/facial combo). We also like the surial bath (a couples experience that I describe in detail elsewhere on my website), although we skipped it on this trip. It's always a challenge to balance everything we want to do in the spa with all the other activities that we want to do on the ship and island. We're in the spa so much that most of the people who work there know us by now and give us a warm welcome.

I had talked Barb into trying the Absolute Face & Body, and she also managed to convince her husband to try a massage and reflexology. She thought he would especially enjoy having his feet pampered since he is a marathon runner. Myself, I had an Absolute Face & Body, too, and I also combined reflexology with a massage. Hubby stuck to massages and seaweed wraps. It took me literally years to convince him to try a wrap, and I finally talked him into it when we did our three-peat (three Wonder cruises in a row) in Aug./Sept. of 2002. Now I am sorry that I did it, as he wants a seaweed wrap practically every day that we're on board!

You might be wondering what is so special about the seaweed treatment. After all, it might sound a bit icky to be covered from neck to toe in a warm seaweed mixture. But take it from me, it's awesome! Once the mix is slathered all over your body, you are wrapped up like a baked potato, topped off with a warm comforter, and allowed to bake and detoxify while receiving a head or foot massage. When you emerge from your cocoon, the cold air will be a shock but you will feel so good and detoxified! It really sweats the toxins right out of your body. After your treatment, you shower off and get a traditional massage as the grand finale. Hubby swears by the bath salts that are sold on the ship, and whenever he uses them, our whole house smells like the spa. I knew that if he likes those, he'd LOVE the seaweed wrap, and unfortunately I was right.

I haven't managed to talk him into trying the Absolute Face & Body, as I can't convince him that facials are not just for women. Oh well, it's probably just as well or else he'd want one of those every trip too. For me, the AF&B is the ultimate treatment. I was introduced to it on a Royal Caribbean ship, as RCCL also has Steiner spas. I asked for the longest, most decadent treatment, and that's what they gave me. I've been doing it ever since. The facial is really long and luxurious, and my skin feels like it's baby soft and glowing afterwards. I love the fruit active mask, and usually I get so relaxed that I drift off to sleep. Often the seaweed wrap puts me to sleep, too, and believe me, it's quite a shock to wake up, not realize where you are, and suddenly realize that you're all wrapped up!

Kodak Moments
On a Disney ship, you would expect to find a lot of photo opportunities with the characters, and you won't be disappointed. The opportunities typically start in the port and continue throughout your cruise. There are scheduled events, such as the princess party and the farewell on the last night, and Mickey and his friends will also show up in various places around the ship and also on Castaway Cay.

Keep your camera on hand, and rest assured that the ship photographers will also be on hand to capture the moment. Have them take photos as often as you can, as it doesn't cost anything unless you decide to purchase the picture. Besides the character greetings, you will also have a chance to have pictures taken with various backdrops. On the island, the characters can often be found in the gazebo near Cookies (in the morning, they are often on the main path too). There are also some good non-character island photo ops, such as the spot with the ship in the background and the "Fresh Catch" backdrop. The photographers also wander around the island taking various candid shots on the beach.

It's great fun to visit Shutters in the evening and find all of your photos. Each day's pictures are put out on display, so it may take some looking to find yours. But once you do, you'll find that the search is worth it. Everyone has their favorite photo opportunities; mine are the Castaway Cay shot with the ship in the background and the embarkation photo. Our bedroom is a virtual showcase of my favorite Shutters shots. I like to look at them whenever I'm feeling homesick for the Wonder.

Nassau
Even though we've technically been to Nassau over 30 times, I can count on my fingers the number of times that hubby and I have actually disembarked. If you've never been there, I recommend that you check it out. Take one of the shore excursions if you prefer a structured experience. Otherwise, the shopping area is within easy walking distance of the ship. Just be aware that you will be solicited for braiding, to buy cigars, to take a carriage ride, and for many other things. Some of the merchants can be quite aggressive, so be sure you're comfortable with saying a firm "No, thanks." The sales pressure is compounded in the Straw Market, where t-shirts, straw purses, and all sorts of souvenir-type items are sold. Always bargain with the merchants there, and know your prices so you know when you're getting a good deal.

But once you've been through all that a few times, it gets old. Now, I prefer to stay on the ship and see a movie, use the uncrowded pools, and enjoy some quality verandah time. I just pretend that it's a day at sea.

Barb and her family had only been to Nassau once before, and they had their handicapped son with them on that trip, so they couldn't do too much exploring. This time, they headed into town after their morning spa appointments. At dinner, they reported that they'd had quite a good time. They did lots of exploring, and Michael was tickled with the fact that he was of legal drinking age, so his mom let him indulge in a beer. Then he bought a DVD of the movie "S.W.A.T." from a street vendor. At the time, the movie was still in theatrical release, so his dad chided him that it was probably going to be blank when he got home. All in all, they had quite am enjoyable time on the island, while we had fun on the ship. No matter whether you stay on board or go off on an adventure, you can have a fun day.

Castaway Cay
While the Nassau stop is a non-entity for us, we never get tired of the tropical paradise known as Castaway Cay. It's the sort of island that people conjure up in their daydreams, with beaches like powdered sugar and inviting turquoise water. In 34 cruises, we've never been completely rained out on the island, and most of the time we've been blessed with perfect or near perfect weather. The only time we've ever skipped Castaway Cay was when the adult pool was closed for maintenance, causing the crew pool to be opened for adults. Hubby and I had always vowed that we would stay on board one day so we could do a report for those who don't like the beach (believe it or not, we've met many people who prefer to stay on board). But it took a major act of willpower, and now that we've done it once, I doubt we'll ever skip the island again unless there is a monsoon.

On this trip, the weather was almost perfect. It was a bit muggy, but not intolerable, and the water temperature was just right for swimming. Hubby and I were off the ship by 9 a.m. and heading over to the adult beach. We staked out a nice, shady spot with extra chairs for my friend and her family, as we figured they'd be along soon. The only bad thing about the adult beach is the extremely limited number of hammocks (4). If you're not on the very first tram, your chance of getting one is virtually nil. There are a lot more on the family beach, but the number on the adult beach has dwindled quite a bit over the years. I hope that eventually Disney will put some more out there, as they are a great place to take a nap or to settle in with a good book.

But there are plenty of beach chairs, so even though we weren't the first ones on the beach, we still found a nice shady place to sit. On a previous trip, I was badly bitten by sand fleas while reading on a lounge chair, so now we bring insect repellant and dose the chairs liberally before sitting down. So far, that has prevented any more problems. Be sure to keep slathering yourself with sunscreen, too, especially if you are ghost-white like me. The tropical sun can really sneak up on you, and by the end of the day, we see lots of people looking like boiled lobsters as they head back to the ship. Just in case you forget, I recommend packing some of the aloe vera after-sun lotion with lidocaine, which really helps to ease the discomfort of a burn.

The tide was in at the adult beach, so the water was quite deep. Hubby headed off to snorkel, while I did some water jogging. Often I have to force myself to exercise, but motivation is never a problem when I'm jogging in the ocean. As an added treat, several stingrays gracefully drifted by.

Barb and her family showed up later, as they had disembarked later than they planned. They were having so much fun chatting with their breakfast tablemates in Tritons that they'd lost track of time. We all sat around, took a dip, chatted, and enjoyed Konk Koolers. Then hubby and I headed off for a late lunch at Cookies. Minnie Mouse and Captain Hook were around for photos, so we posed with them before getting our food. I topped off my meal of grilled chicken, ribs, and salads with some frozen cookie dough yogurt, while hubby went on a lobster burger binge.

Of course, if you don't want to leave the adult beach, food is served there too. The spread is quite a bit smaller than Cookies, but you definitely won't suffer. There are items like salads, fresh fruit, grilled chicken, salmon, and burgers, and my favorite frozen yogurt is served there too.

Although we took it relatively easy on this trip, there are plenty of activities if you are ambitious. There are various types of self-propelled watercraft for rent (I'm partial to the kayaks myself), and you can also do a banana boat ride or parasail (hubby has done both and has thoroughly enjoyed the experiences). There are also some new excursions that we plan to try, such as snorkeling in the open ocean and a kayak trip through the mangroves.

We headed back to the ship a little early, but our friends stayed ashore until the last possible minute, I can't say I blame them! I love Castaway Cay; the only thing I don't like about it is that when the ship pulls away, I realize that the cruise is almost over. But at least I know that I'll be back soon.

The Castaway Club Party
If you are a returning cruiser, you will receive an invitation to the Castaway Club party. You also get a gift and pins, which are waiting for you in your stateroom when you board. On the three night cruise, the party is typically held right after the sailaway from Castaway Cay. Its location depends on the number of return cruisers on board. Usually it's in the Cadillac Lounge, but sometimes it's in Barrel of Laughs or Wavebands, and when it's particularly large, it spreads to multiple clubs.

On this trip, for the first time that I can remember, it was held in Studio Sea. It was the usual enjoyable bash, with a lovely ice sculpture gracing a table laden with yummy appetizers and sweets. There are items like little mini pizzas, chicken tenders, cheese sticks, and various hors d'ouvres. You can also choose an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage from the variety offered by the servers. The party also offers a chance to chat with many of the ship's officers and to even meet the captain himself, so be sure to bring your camera.

If you hang out on the DIS boards, the Castaway Club party is also a good place to meet up with other internet junkies who are on the same cruise, provided that they are returning cruisers. We always wear t-shirts with my website on the back, and we meet online friends almost every time. On this trip, we ended up staying quite late chatting with people even after the party had officially ended

Till We Meet Again
"Till We Meet Again" is a farewell event held on the final evening. We don't always get a chance to attend because we have the late dinner seating, which sometimes runs long. But this time, we made it and I'm so glad that we did. This event features lots of Disney characters coming out into the crowd for photos, as well as performers from the mail stage show, such as Hades, Phil, Peter Pan, and Ann Marie. This time, there were also some new characters from "The Golden Mickeys," such as Mulan. I was hoping to see Elvis Stitch, but no such luck. But we still managed to get some great shots with a number of the characters.

This event is very informal, and it is the luck of the draw on which characters you will be near. You won't be able to maneuver much because the atrium is packed, and I emphasize the word PACKED. People stand literally shoulder to shoulder, and the characters come out into the crowd and fan out so that there are some in every area. Then, after some individual photo op time, they all climb the staircase in front of Triton's and turn in each direction so that everyone can get a good group photo, and pixie dust drops down on the crowd. It's a fun and fitting way to end a whirlwind weekend.

Homeward Bound
Although our friends were heading home immediately, we had extended our trip by a day, since Monday was Labor Day. I never turn down any opportunity to stay in Florida a bit longer. Hubby and I had kept our luggage with us rather than put it out to be delivered to the terminal. If you have a lot of bags, letting Disney bring them down for you is your best bet. They have a colored tag system that makes them relatively easy to find. Also, it saves you the bother of having to lug them with you to breakfast.

But I do suggest marking your luggage prominently, as we once had someone take our bags by mistake. Now they are marked with huge stripes of colored duct tape, as well as ponytail holders cable-tied to the handles. It looks silly, but it's definitely effective.

However, if you are a light packer, are planning to skip breakfast, or want to save a little time, keep your bags with you rather than putting them out the night before for pick-up. We usually don't go to breakfast because we're tired of food by the end of the cruise. Instead, we sleep in a bit.

Disembarkation was as painless as usual. I wish that the other cruise lines would learn from Disney. Royal Caribbean passes out colored luggage tags and then forces you to wait until your tag color is called before you can leave the ship. That might sound fairly simple, but the wait for your color to be called can literally be hours long! With Disney, you simply walk off when you are ready. You can base your disembarkation time on your dining time by going to your assigned breakfast, or you can choose your own time and either grab a bite at the buffet or just skip the food altogether and leave whenever you want.

We had our identification ready and headed down the gangway, pausing to say goodbye to Captain Henry, who was bidding farewell to the guests at the door. Customs was a breeze, and soon we were heading out the door and across the street to the pick-up area.

We were meeting up with Barb and her family so we could all ride back to Orlando together. They were running a bit late, and we were running early. Soon, the limo pulled up and hubby and I piled in. I called our travelling companions on their cell phone to make sure they knew where to find the limos and discovered that they were on their way.

Once in the limo, Michael realized that he could try out his "S.W.A.T." DVD, since there was a player. We were all betting that it would be blank, or that at best it would contain something else. Amazingly, it did indeed contain the movie he'd been promised, and it was a very good quality copy! I don't recommend buying that sort of thing in Nassau, but it was quite a surprise.

As we headed away from Port Canaveral, I felt my usual pang of sadness. But it was tempered with the fact that at least we were spending another day in Florida, and our next cruise wasn't too far off. There were so many people onboard who made our trip special, from the staff of Shutters to the dining room manager to Linsay, Morgan, and many others who are too numerous to name.

Usually the holidays seem to come way too fast, but since #35 was scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, I knew that I wouldn't mind so much this year because their fast arrival would mean that I would soon be back on the Wonder.

Trip Report #33, July 2003 on the Wonder

We took Disney Cruise #33 over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Hubby and I tend to take cruises around the holidays to maximize our vacation days. Our last cruise was the seven day Western on the Magic over Memorial Day week, so I knew that three days would seem even shorter than usual.

Hubby and I were both ready of a vacation, even if it had to be a short one. He has been working a lot of overtime, and I've been working some strange split shifts because I've been delivering webcasts to Singapore, Austrlia, and China, where their morning is our night. Work is a necessary evil because it pays for vacations, but we don't like to go too long between cruises. Our motto is: Work hard and play hard too!

On this trip, as always, it was the usual cast of characters: my husband, who is 40-something, and me (30-something), a childless couple with a passion for travel in general and Disney cruising in particular. We took our first cruise in September, 1998, on the Magic, and since that time we've managed to rack up over 30 Disney cruises and four on Royal Caribbean. The Wonder is our home away from home, but we've also managed to squeeze in one Eastern and three Western cruises on the Magic.

Off to Midway Airport
Our journey typically begins at Midway Airport, where we fly ATA to Orlando. They usually have the best fares, and they also have a frequent flyer program that offers one free companion ticket for every three trips you take. Midway and O'Hare are equally convenient for us, but lately the prices on American and United have been outrageous, so we stick to good old ATA. In addition to earning free tickets, I also like their aircraft. We're almost always on a nice, new 757-300, although once in awhile it's a 737-800. Their planes have comfy leather seats with headrests and decent in-flight entertainment, and their on-time record has been very good.

We live south of Midway, near Cicero Avenue, so we take it to 79th Street and then cut over to Pulaski. It's a farther distance, but it's much faster because Pulaski has much less traffic. Cicero often grinds to a standstill once you reach the Ford City Mall, and the unmoving line of cars doesn't end until you pass the airport.

When possible, we take the last flight of the evening to Orlando. That way, we get in a day early, which gives us a little time cushion, but it doesn't cost us a vacation day. The downside is that the plane arrives at midnight, but we get a hotel room near the airport and take Happy Limo to the port the next morning. That way, we can get a decent night's sleep and still get to the port before the buses.

On this day, both hubby and I had to work a little later than usual. He had already packed our luggage the night before, so all we had time to do before leaving was to check for any forgotten items and to make sure that the cats and bird had enough food to tide them over until the pet sitter's visit. I had gassed up our trusty Aztek at lunchtime, so we loaded up and were on the road by 5:30 p.m.

Since we were heading the opposite way from the rush hour traffic, we made good time to the airport. It usually takes us about an hour to get there and get parked, and this day was no exception. On our three-day cruises, I like park in the indoor garage. It is pretty expensive but very convenient, and the cost is manageable for such a short trip. But since the weather was nice and we didn't have a lot of luggage, we opted for Midway Park Savers. That's an independent parking lot located across the street from the airport's Orange Line train entrance. I don't like Midway's "official" economy lots because it takes long enough to get your luggage in Chicago anyway, and then you have to wait forever for a bus and fight with the rest of the cattle in the hopes that you can squeeze yourself on…otherwise, you're stuck waiting for the next one. Also, there is a coupon for one free day of parking at Park Savers on ATA's website.

Park Savers is within walking distance, so there are no buses to worry about. Of course, the lot is so big that there is a constantly circling shuttle bus to take you to the front. But usually we get a spot towards the front so we don't bother with the shuttle. Some of the parking spots are very tight, which makes it a challenge to park my bulky vehicle, so I've learned to look around and choose wisely. We happened to arrive at the lot at the same time that an Orange Line train disgorged a load of passengers. Thus, I faced a double challenge: find a Canyonero-sized spot while trying not to run over the jaded Chicago commuters walking down the middle of the lane (the lot offers day parking for the train, too).

Soon enough, we found a suitable spot and hiked over to the airport. Usually ATA's check-in line is minimal, but this time the queues were filled almost to capacity with the holiday crowd. We opted for the e-ticket kiosks, which were much less crowded. Even though we were a couple of hours early, most of the exit rows were already taken. We managed to get the rear bulkhead exits, which have mega legroom but no storage space in front of you. Having to stow your bags in the overhead bin is well worth the comfort.

We were on a 43-row 757-300, and all but three seats were filled. It was very crowded with infants; on Orlando flights, I expect a high kid and baby population, but this one had more infants than our last three flights combined. Oh well, that's to be expected when flying to Mickey's hometown. It's not pleasant to be stuck in an airborne metal cigar tube with a child screaming at a pitch that could never be mistaken for Memorex (and we happened to have one of those two rows back from us). But two hours of screaming is lot easier for me to deal with than 24 hours in a car. Hubby and I bring CD players to drown out a lot of the noise, and we also have a stockpile of books and electronic games that make the time go by much faster.

I was so engrossed in my book while sitting at the gate that I didn't even realize we'd taxied to the runway until I heard the engines kick into overdrive as we headed into our takeoff. Hubby thought the flight might be bumpy due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Bill, but we managed to stay above the bad weather for most of the flight. There were a few jolts during the descent, and then we were on the runway in Orlando.

The Midnight Shuttle Battle
Usually our luggage arrives pretty quickly at MCO, but this time I was becoming convinced that I must really be at Midway, the airport with the slowest luggage delivery in the universe. The belt seemed to circle endlessly without disgorging any suitcases. Finally, the bags started arriving, and we eventually got our belongings so I could call the Marriott.

We are big fans of Priceline, and we always book our night-before hotel through them. I select the highest star level for an MCO-area hotel, and I usually get the Marriott for between $25 and $28. Their shuttle is almost always there within 10 to 15 minutes of my call, and this night was no exception. Hubby and I stood by the A25 marker, where we had been instructed to meet it. Two other parties joined us, and we all piled in when the shuttle arrived. Just then a family that had been sitting on a bench nearby, with enough luggage to clothe and supply a small army, came over and raised a fuss. They said they had been there first and the rest of us had just jumped ahead of them. I guess they didn't understand that after midnight, in airports everywhere, civilized behavior reverts to the law of survival of the fittest. They might have been in the general vicinity first, but they were sitting off in the distance so no one even knew what they were waiting for. If you're not in line, you're left behind.

Their luggage literally would not have fit in the back of the shuttle. Even if it had been empty, some of their bags would have had to go in the passenger area. As it was, there were several of us in the seats, and our respective bags in the back. The woman starting arguing that SHE had been the one to call the shuttle (of course, all the rest of us had called, too, but she seemed to think she was the only one who knew how to work a phone). The driver said, "Sorry, but I can't tell all these people to get off the shuttle." She continued yelling, so he just pulled away. He told us he thought she had originally called for a pickup from the B side, as he'd gone there earlier and couldn't find anyone. That's probably why she was ranting that she had been waiting such a long time. She'd said she was at B when she called, but she was really at A. We've seen that happen many times before.

Oh well, even though I felt a little sorry for her because I know the two sides of the airport can be confusing for "Orlando virgins," my pity was negated by the desire to crawl into a warm, soft bed. We were soon at the hotel, where I checked us in and we headed up to our room. It was a connector, which is typical with Priceline, but it also had a gorgeous pool view, as we discovered in the morning. I'm not a big fan of connecting rooms, but we've been very lucky and have never had noisy neighbors at the Marriott.

We had set up our pickup with Happy Limo for 10 a.m. the next morning so we could sleep a little late, but we were down in the lobby a bit early. Even though we try to get eight hours of sleep so we'll be refreshed for our trip, we're always so excited that we're out of bed earlier than we think we'll be before a cruise. Our towncar arrived shortly thereafter, and we were on our way to the port.

Happy offers a free grocery stop, and we often take advantage of it to pick up a few goodies. Even with the stop, we were at the port by 11 a.m. That's right before the airport buses typically start arriving, so the crowd is minimal. I still feel a thrill as we drive up to the port and I see the Disney Wonder waiting at the dock. It's easy to tell which stateroom is ours, since we were in our old favorite 5650 again and it's at the butt end of the ship. I watched as we passed it and pulled up to drop off our luggage. There was no wait to pass through Security to enter the terminal building, and the check-in lines were almost non-existent. Soon we had our Key to the World Cards and were ready to embark on Disney Cruise #33.

I know it can be hard to wait for boarding to begin, but the time always seems to pass quickly for hubby and I. We've made some great friends on the port team, and we always meet some new people, too. Chatting with them and people watching as the other passengers arrives always makes the time fly by. As boarding time draws closer, the sense of anticipation is keen. Whether it's your first time or your 33rd, there's a real feeling of magic as you pass through the giant Mickey head and head down the gangway to a weekend on the Disney Wonder.

As you embark, your photo is taken in front of a dated Welcome Aboard sign (it's available for purchase at Shutters later). Then a member of the cruise staff announces you and your family, and your vacation has officially begun. We felt especially welcomed because we've gotten to know the photographers who take the embarkation photos, and also a lot of people on cruise staff, so it was like being greeted by old friends. Our old friends Karen and Sasha were on board too, so it was a real blast.

Taking Care of Business
Once you have boarded the ship, there are a few items to take care of before you allow yourself to relax and fall into the vacation groove. The first is an activity in which you will be indulging quite frequently over the next three days: Eating! Lunch is served at Parrot Cay on Deck 3 and Beach Blanket Buffet on Deck 9. Both restaurants offer buffet-style fare, and their menus are almost identical. My favorite item is the hand-carved lamb with lots of mint jelly, while hubby goes for the peel and eat shrimp. There's a wide variety of cold salads and hot entrees, too. We really love the cold strawberry-banana soup, which is reminiscent of the heavenly cold mango soup on the Magic. It will remind you of a smoothie in a bowl. And save room because there is a huge array of tempting desserts.

Once you have eaten, it's time to plot your reservation strategy for Palo and the spa. At the port, you will receive an information sheet that lists the start times and locations. While you are waiting for boarding to begin, study that sheet well. On our trip, ressies for both Palo and the spa started at 1:30 p.m. (you can send one member of your party to each location). If you arrive at the port a little later, you may need to get your reservations before eating lunch.

Studying previous Navigators and checking your information sheet is a great help when planning your Palo and spa schedule. For example, Hercules used to be on the first night, and we like to see it, so we've been skipping spa treatments that day. But on this trip, the first show was a Welcome Aboard Show with Gary Delaney, who we've seen before. As soon as we noticed that, we changed our plans and decided to get treatments that evening at showtime. I got to the spa about 15 minutes early, and I was the only person there. But within a few minutes, a line had formed seemingly out of thin air. When the spa opens, you can go on a tour, but if you know what you want already, I highly suggest that you skip the tour and make your bookings immediately. Also, be aware that the Castaway Cay massages are usually booked at a separate table in the front of the spa.

Once you have made all of your reservations, you can settle down and relax. Hubby and I always bring our swimsuits along in our day bag so we can spend some nice hot tub time before the safety drill. It's a great, uncrowded time to enjoy the hot tubs and pools. Traditionally, I love to kick off the trip by people watching from my whirlpool vantage point. It's fun to observe the other passengers as they explore the ship with looks of awe and wonderment on their faces. Even after so many cruises, it makes me look at things from a fresh perspective. I also make a game of seeing how many people will pause to dip in a finger or toe to test the water temperature in the pool. And when children invade the adult pool, I like to see how long it takes until they are shooed away (usually within minutes). Interestingly enough, the kids are almost always accompanied by adults, and I almost always see the parent reading the "18 and Over" sign before letting their kids jump in. I'm glad that Disney takes enforcement seriously because too many people have that "the rules don't apply to my family" attitude.

Unfortunately, on this trip my people watching was seriously hampered by a sudden cloud burst. It didn't bother hubby and I, as the whirlpools are covered and we were sitting in water already anyway. But it forced most of the people to limit their exploration to the interior areas.

It was fascinating to watch the crew continually battle the water. One person kept squeegeing all the surfaces while another was using a huge machine to suck up water from the deck. Disney might not be able to control the weather, but they certainly did a good job of making the water disappear. Of course, in Florida it can be raining one minute and sunny the next. This time it took more than a few minutes, but the sun eventually won the battle. Due to the crew's ongoing efforts, barely any sign of the rain storm remained once the sun began shining again. There was enough time to count a few more finger-dippers before we had to head off to the safety drill.

Safety First
At 4 p.m., there is a mandatory emergency drill that all passengers must attend. You don your life jacket and head off to your lifeboat station, which will be located on Deck 4. Directions are posted on the back of the stateroom doors, and there are also plenty of crew members to direct you in the hallways. Since we were in 5650 once again, I knew that we would be at Station Q in Animators Palate (some of the stations are inside and some are outdoors). Usually, I don't like being inside with such a big crowd, but with the threatening weather I was happy about it for once.

The drill is kept pretty short and sweet. Attendance is taken, you listen to some information about safety while watching a demonstration of how to don your life jacket, and then everyone is dismissed. It usually goes pretty smoothly, but this time hubby and I staged a small rebellion. 5650 is right at the top of the back staircase that leads into Animators Palate (it is closed most of the time, but they open it for the drill). It's very convenient because, instead of fighting the mass of humanity that heads out the front entrance and to the main stairway, we can simply go up and be "home" almost immediately.

But every now and then they try to prevent the people who are stationed in the front of the restaurant from leaving out the back way. I've never understood that…why force people to join the crowd rather than allowing them to alleviate it by going in a less-packed direction? This happened to be one of those days, but we had no desire to be forced into the crowd of slow-moving, confused lemmings and having to go totally out of our way. We kept insisting that it made no sense to the poor crew member who was trying to shoo us out the front, so finally she gave in and allowed us to join the people leaving in the rear. We headed up the staircase and were at our stateroom in a fraction of the time it would have taken to go the other way.

Fourth of July Festivities
We love sailing on the holidays because, besides saving vacation days, we enjoy the way that Disney celebrates. Our cruise began on July 3rd, and we noticed lots of festive decorations such as red, white, and blue bunting and two enormous netfulls of balloons suspended over the atrium. I was hoping for good weather, as word had also gone out that there would be a fireworks display on the 4th after we left Nassau.

On the Fourth, the festivities started in the dining rooms, where there was a special all-American menu option, in addition to the regular menus. Throughout the evening, crew members wished us a happy Fourth of July. It was certainly an experience to hear that coming from people with such diverse nationalities!

Nassau evening was windy but rain-free, and as the deck party raged into the night, the sense of anticipation was building, and we also had a special treat. We happened to be out on our verandah relaxing after dinner, and we noticed that one of the resorts was putting on a spectacular fireworks show. It appeared to be coming from the direction of Sandals. The far aft location of 5650 was a perfect vantage point. We watched as the sky blazed with color, enjoying a little bonus show.

As the time for the official fireworks show neared, hubby and I debated taking a chance that the fireworks would be shot from the starboard side, which would allow us to see them from our verandah. But if we were wrong, we knew that we would miss a lot of the show while running up to Deck 9 and searching for a spot. We opted to play it safe and head to the upper decks, where we could easily move to the proper side once the show had begun.

We sat in chairs aft on the starboard side, but we were driven away by a couple who had to sit literally right next to us, even though the whole area was full of vacant chairs. The man lit up what looked like a cigar but what smelled like a hunk of my horse's tail hair that had been lit up and set on fire after being rolled around on a dirty stall floor. The wind was blowing right at us, so the pungent aroma was hitting us in the face like a Mike Tyson punch. We moved away from Mr. Rude and headed up to Deck 10 midship to see if there was any indication of where the fireworks would be shot.

People seemed to be equally divided between starboard and port, but based on the wind direction, hubby theorized that port would be the ultimate winner. We climbed up on some sort of giant wooden storage box to sit and await the show. Even if the fireworks were shot from the other side, we figured that we were sitting high enough to get a decent view.

As the ship pulled away from Nassau and the time grew nearer, several families wandered over to the area, standing around or perching up on the box with us. Soon, the lights of Nassau had receded in the distance, and the man sitting next to us pointed out a barge on the water. We had chosen wisely! It turned out that we were sitting directly across from the fireworks barge, so we saw every firework as it was shot up into the sky as well as when it exploded into a burst of color. The show was accompanied by "The Star Spangled Banner," and it was quite impressive. In addition to the usual traditional fireworks, there were some that made star shapes and even some Mickey heads. It was such a fun, festive way to celebration the Fourth.

But the fun didn't end until the very last night of the cruise. After the "Till We Meet Again" celebration in the atrium, the balloons that had hung in their nets so tantalizingly all weekend were finally released into the mass of humanity below. Then it was like the Fourth all over again as the kids (and many of the adults) began popping them with gusto. I had almost worn my slip-on canvas shoes, but it's a good thing that I switched to my sturdy Reeboks at the last minute because the stampede was a dangerous place for unprotected feet! Hubby was having a blast seeing how many balloons he could stomp, but I was having fun just watching. I had caught one blue balloon as it drifted to earth, so I held it above the melee. Hubby asked what I was going to do with it, and I explained that I was waiting until all the others were gone before I released it to its fate.

In a few minutes, the balloon popping wound down and the crowd began drifting away, so we were able to start heading towards Route 66, where the 70's Party was due to start. I passed a little boy who noticed that I still had a lone balloon, and he asked, "Can I have it?" I knew it was time to release Blue into the wild, so I tossed it to him as we passed and I heard one last pop as we headed down the hall. It has been quite a holiday weekend!

Dining
The big highlight of our dining experience on this trip was the chance to experience the new Palo menu. We had heard about it, and we were curious: can you really improve on perfection?

Happily, we discovered that almost all of our old favorites are still there, and they've been joined by some great new options. The excellent filet that has been a special for a long time is now a regular menu item, and I fell in love with the new eggplant carpaccio appetizer. The only two items I miss are the sea bass, which has been discontinued because it is endangered, and the fish soup. The soup is still on the menu, but it is now a tomato-based version like the Magic's (the Wonder used to have a cream soup version). For all you chocolate souffle lovers, don't worry. Your old favorite is still there, and it's just as delicious as ever. But hubby found a new favorite way to top off his meal. They have a yummy new pistachio dessert. I have to admit that I really like it, too, although not enough to abandon my souffle for.

We know the menus in the other dining rooms quite well, so both hubby and I have our own ruts. Personally, most of my favorites are appetizers, so I usually make a meal out of several of those rather than choosing a main course. I love the vichyssoise in Triton's and the cold avocado soup in Parrot Cay. The prime rib in Parrot Cay is excellent, too, although hubby usually opts for the mixed grill there. At Animators, I like the salmon with maple sauce, and when I get a main course in Triton's, it's always a hard choice but I usually end up having the beef.

Our favorite head server, P. J. from Australia, was on board. It was great to see him again, and also Rita from Brazil, as well as Chef Suzie. Our dining team was Jose and Aleksandar, and they took great care of us. I'm pretty easy to please as long as I get my "special" iced tea each night (I don't like the stuff that comes out of a tap, so I always request that they brew black currant or mint tea and then put it over ice). They made sure that it was ready for me every night and made sure that our requests were fulfilled.

Since we are always on the late seating, sometimes I will grab a snack before dinner. I highly recommend the chicken tenders that are served at Pluto's on Deck 9. They are not the processed pseudo chicken that you find in some nuggets. They are delicious strips of breaded white meat, and when combined with honey mustard dipping sauce, they are downright addictive!

We usually skip breakfast on Castaway Cay day and disembarkation day, but if we have a verandah, we love to have a morning meal on Nassau day outside in the sunshine. It's so pleasant to enjoy your breakfast out on the balcony, with Nassau and the ocean surrounding you. I can't think of a better way to kick off the day! You can either run up to Topsiders to get your food if you want a full breakfast, or else you can order continental items from room service. You will find a door tag in your stateroom that allows you to place your order the night before and specify the delivery time. They are very prompt, so we like to do the pre-order and use the delivery as our wake-up call.

The Shows
On this cruise, there was a Welcome Aboard Variety Show with Gary Delaney the first night, Hercules on Friday, and Disney Dreams on Saturday. Since we've seen Gary Delaney several times before, and since his act has been the same each time, we opted to skip the first night's show in favor of massages and some quality verandah time.

We saw Hercules as usual, and the silly jokes and antics of Pain, Panic, and Hades gave us some good laughs. On the Magic, I had noticed that the faces of Comedy and Tragedy are subtly worked into the topics of the two main "columns" on the stage. I have an eye for that, as I am a major drama mask buff, and I have a collection of almost two hundred pairs of comedy and tragedy in wall hangings, knick knacks, lamps, and other decorative forms. Sure enough, the faces were there on the Wonder too. I'm surprised that it took me this long to notice!

We usually go to the Disney Dreams matinee, but there was none on this cruise. That's the first time that's happened in a long time. Since we dined in Palo on Saturday night at 6, we saw the 8:30 show along with the main dinner seating guests. A word of advice: Get to the theater EARLY. The matinee is never crowded, but since the main seating is the most popular dinner time, the 8:30 show was literally completely full. We arrived about ten minutes before show time and there were only seven seats left, on the far lefthand side of the theater. We snagged two of those, and once the other five were taken, people were turned away. You can still see the show on television, but that can't compare to seeing it live and in person.

We were a little too close to the stage and so far off to the side that we couldn't see the rear screen. I love the part with Tinkerbelle at the end, so in order to be able to see it, we started walking out of the theater right before it came up and then paused at the top to watch the end of the show.

On Nassau afternoon, there was also a showing of the movie "Finding Nemo" in the Walt Disney Theater. It had premiered while we were sailing on the Magic, but we missed it because we knew we'd get another chance to see it on the Wonder (the premiere was at 12:01 a.m., which was a little past our bedtime). It didn't come close to my all-time favorite, Lilo and Stitch, but it was still fun to see. It doesn't have the dark humor of Lilo, but it's a good movie for the kids. Even though it's been out for a while now, there was still quite a good crowd. If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to stay all the way until the end of the credits. Also, once you see it, you'll never be able to look at a flock of seagulls again without hearing, "Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine." The first-run movies are a really nice advantage to sailing on Disney. I've heard great things about "Pirates of the Caribbean," so I am really looking forward to seeing it on our Labor Day weekend trip.

Other Entertainment
In addition to the deck party and fireworks, there was plenty of entertainment to keep us busy. The first night was the 80s party, with an adult show by Gary Delaney beforehand. Our favorite part of 80s Night is the dance numbers performed by the main stage dancers. Their Michael Jackson trilogy is great! A good-sized crowd showed up for the party, but oddly enough they were watching rather than dancing. A few people ventured out on the dance floor, but not as many as usual.

The 70s party was on Saturday night. If I didn't enjoy it so much, I would have opted for getting to bed early. But it's one of my favorite activities, so hubby and I sacrificed precious shuteye to attend. There weren't a lot of people there in the beginning, so hubby got talked into being one of the contestants in the John Travolta dance contest. In the past I've been Gloria Gaynor (that was prior to my knee injury that rendered me incapable of dancing as wildly as I used to), but in over 30 trips he had managed to avoid participating, other than a guest appearance as a Village Person. Now his streak was over, and it was his chance to make a public spectable of himself. I think the fact that he'd polished off three quarters of a bottle of champagne that evening helped to make his attitude more cooperative than usual.

Usually we don't bring our camera to the 70s party, but as luck would have it, we'd brought it to "Till We Meet Again," and we'd headed to Wavebands right afterwards, so we still had it with us. I have an excellent photo of hubby "body flossing" with his white John Travolta jacket. It was definitely one of those Kodak moments and a real crowd pleaser. I didn't think there would be a lot of people, but by the time the contests began, the crowd had grown to a respectable size. I guess people wandered in once they were done packing.

On this trip, I also saw "Till We Meet Again" for the first time. Hubby has attended before in order to get photos, but usually we're on the late seating dinner so it's hard to get out early enough to get a good spot. This time, since we'd eaten early at Palo, we had plenty of time to get there and stake out a spot at the bottom of the staircase in front of Triton's, which is perfect for character spotting.

This event is basically a character greeting and photo opportunity to end the cruise with a grand finale farewell. A wide variety of characters, including some of the main stage players, come down the stairs and fan out into the crowd to pose for photos with the people. Then they head back up the stairs where they pose for group shots, turned in all directions so you can get a good shot no matter where you are. It was a lot of fun, but if you're phobic about being in large crowds, don't be down on the main floor! The people are packed elbow to elbow, and there's lots of jostling as they seek out their favorite character for a photo. The characters head in all directions, so you'll probably have a chance to get a photo with someone, although there's no guarantee on who it will be. Snow White was the one closest to us, posing on the landing in front of the restaurant. At the very end, the crowd is showered with pixie dust. On this trip, as I mentioned earlier, we also had the Fourth of July balloon drop. Quite a finale to our trip!

Castaway Cay
Once again, we were blessed with gorgeous weather at Castaway Cay. We were up bright and early in order to be among the first people off the ship at 8:30 a.m. We were quite literally the first people to arrive at the adult beach (we have the advantage of knowing exactly where the tram stop is located, while it takes others a while to search). We set up camp at the farthest hammock down the beach. If you want a hammock, get there early, as there are only four at Serenity Bay (the family beach has a lot more).

Since we had scheduled cabana massages at 10 a.m., we decided not to swim until we were done with those. We relaxed in the sun until it was time, and afterwards we saw for a little over an hour and then headed off for lunch. We were too lazy to go all the way back to Cookies, so we ate at the adult beach. The offerings are more limited, but there is still plenty. I'm content as long as I can get my chocolate chip cookie dough frozen yogurt for dessert. I sure wish they had it on the ship, but it's only available on the island. At the adult lunch area, the picnic tables are in short supply, and they fill up quickly. But you can usually at least find someone to share with or take the food back to your beach chairs.

The water at the adult beach is very shallow when the tide was out, but on this day it was in and deep. Hubby swam out to look for the plane wreckage, where he likes to snorkel, while I paddled around closer to shore. Hubby was rather disappointed, as he said that most of the wreckage was gone. Another snorkeler told us he had seen a barracuda. I'm amazed that hubby missed it, as he seems to attract those scary things. I think they like his shiny wrist watch. They never bother him, as he's sure to keep a respectful distance when he sights one.

On our way back to the ship, we stopped to ride the Segway (the two-wheeled "human transporter" that was known as "It" before its unveiling). Segway rides are offered on the island and also on the ship at various times. I prefer to ride it on Castaway Cay because the area is a little bigger. On the ship, we once rode it in the atrium, in the area where you book shore excursions. That was definitely a unique experience! It's a little pricey, but a lot of fun. The only other place I know of where you can rent a Segway is in Celebration, so if you've always wanted to try one, be sure to look up the times and places in your Navigator.

The Spa
For me, no cruise is complete without plenty of time spent in the spa. We try to schedule a treatment for every day of the cruise. Three days goes by much too quickly, so it's a way to ensure that we squeeze lots of pampering into the short time. Back when we first started cruising, hubby used to be content with just a hydrotherapy bath (which isn't offered any more). But one day I convinced him to try a massage, and he was quickly hooked. Then, last year, I made the even bigger mistake of convincing him to try one of my favorite treatments, the seaweed wrap. Now it's HIS favorite too. He is so spoiled that he had two wraps on this trip!

For myself, I stuck with massages, reflexology, and the Absolute Face & Body, which is a decadent combination of a massage and facial. It's absolute bliss. We hadn't done cabana massages in quite some time. Lately, we've been heading back to the ship a little early to see the Disney Dreams matinee and then having spa treatments at our evening show time. But since we were going to Palo early, I booked cabana massages for 10 a.m. I figured that was early enough to have our treatments before going in the water, but not so early that we'd have to rush too much to get to the adult beach on time. It was really a pleasant experience. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it. The only problem was, hubby and I were both so relaxed that instead of swimming, we just wanted to take a nap!

Rest and Relaxation
Since hubby and I have been so busy, we were really looking forward to some rest and relaxation on this trip. The thing we like about a Disney cruise is that you can be as busy or as laid back as you want. It's all up to you. There are plenty of activities if you want to stay busy and plenty of opportunities to just chill out if that's your preference. On this trip, we made sure to have plenty of quality verandah time relaxing outside with a good book or with our portable CD players.

We were fortunate to be in 5650, which has a lovely oversized verandah where we spent some quality time reading, gazing at the water, or just basking in the sun. We had a couple of rain showers on this trip, so I was glad that the verandah is also a little more recessed than most, which makes for a convenient shelter. We were able to sit back and watch the rain fall until the gray cloud blew over and the sun took over again.

But even if you don't have a verandah stateroom, you can always head to the deck seven aft verandah (it's public, but not a lot of people know about it) or lounge around in the comfy chairs on deck four. The Rainforest in the spa is another enjoyable spot to chill out. On our three-peat cruises last year, we were in a secret porthole room, so instead of a verandah, I spent a lot of time reading a good book while curled up in one of the heated tile loungers with the soothing trickle of water from the fountain threatening to lull me into a nap.

A Flight to Remember
After our cruise, we had booked a late flight so we could spend some time bumming around the Orlando area. By the time we got to the airport, it wasn't too crowded as most of our fellow holiday travelers were already winging their way home. We checked in and managed to get the very same exit row that we'd had on the way out, only on the other side of the plane. I was a little leery of the flight because I'd managed to come down with a sinus infection and I knew that my ears were going to be a mess. But I was armed with gum and a water bottle to suck on, so I figured that I'd get through it okay.

It looked like it was going to be another uneventful trip, just the way I like it. Takeoff was painful, but my ears settled down once we reached cruising altitude. I spent the flight writing the beginning of this trip report while hubby relaxed with his music CDs. But as we approached Chicago, I noticed that the ride was getting bumpy, and a sea of threatening clouds was visible right outside the window. Lightning flashed ominously every couple of minutes, and I noticed that our scheduled landing time had come and gone. Finally, the pilot announced that, due to the bad weather, we had to take a different approach, so we'd swung out over Peoria. He reassured us that we were heading back to Midway and would be on the ground soon.

Alas, it was not to be. More time passed, and finally the pilot got on the intercom again and announced that Midway was closed due to the weather. By this time we were running out of fuel, so he said that we'd be landing in Rockford in order to fuel up, and then hopefully be heading back to Midway. I'm a paranoid flyer at the best of times, so by this time I was freaking out due to the turbulence while landing, combined with the shooting pains in my ears. I was surprised that Rockford had a runway long enough for us to land, but apparently a lot of UPS jets fly out of there.

By the time we landed, I was ready to rent a car and drive home. Unfortunately, they wouldn't let us get off the plane during refueling. The other passengers all got up, moved around, and made frantic cell phone calls to let worried friends and family members know what was going on. We were very fortunate that we were in a roomy exit row, but most of them had been cramped into a tiny area for the past three hours. A lot of them came back to our open area to stretch their legs.

Every so often, the pilot would announce that we'd be taking off again soon, and then a few minutes later he would tell us that the plans had changed and we'd have to wait a little bit longer. This went on for well over an hour, and the clock was ticking closer and closer to midnight. I went from frantically wanting to get off the plane to a state of exhaustion where I pretty much didn't care what happened.

Finally, we were able to take off again and head to Midway. I had been nodding off, but the ear pain immediately brought me back to full consciousness. Hubby, who never worries about flying, was drifting off to dreamland while I sat next to him in a state of pain and fear. I had wondered if anyone would exhibit signs of air rage as the hours dragged on, but the passengers were all very understanding. The woman across the aisle from us was hiding under a blanket (looked like a good idea to me!), but other than that, everyone was handling things quite well.

Eventually we were coming down and approaching Midway, as my ears informed me. I don't think I've ever been so happy to see Chicago before in my whole life. As we headed down, I could see the cars and houses and read the signs on the fast food restaurants. Then I could see the airport, but suddenly the pilot kicked on the turbo thrusters and instead of setting the plane down, he took it back up into the sky! I was about ready for a heart attack, but hubby, who had been sleeping peacefully, muttered in a dreamy voice, "What's all that engine noise?" I had no idea what had happened, but finally the pilot explained that we'd been hit with a tail wind just as we were about to land. At Midway Airport, home of famously short runways, that would be a disaster, so our landing had to be aborted. Now we had to go back up, circle around, and land on a different runway. By this time, I wanted to rip my ears off and stomp them into the ground!

Happily, our next landing attempt was successful, and as the plane came to a stop, the passengers broke out in cheers. It was well after midnight, but we'd finally made it home. Of course, there had to be one more complication: there was no ground crew to bring out the jetway. It took a while, but eventually one was found and we all disembarked, glad to have our feet back on the ground.

Luggage at Midway always takes forever to show up, but this time it was even more of a joke than usual. All of the planes that had been diverted by the weather that night were landing around the same time, so the luggage area was a free-for-all. Bags from our flight were showing up on two different carousels, so hubby and I split up to make sure we would find them. Fortunately, even though there was still plenty of thunder and lightning, the rain had stopped so we were able to stay dry while walking to the car. We made it home by 2:30 a.m., exhausted and frazzled, but still pleased that overall it had been a great trip. One more little surprise awaiting us: our condo building had been struck by lightning while we were gone! Our telephones and some of our electrical devices were fried, but at that hour of the morning we were just pleased to be back and able to crawl into our nice, soft, welcoming beds.

When we were in the middle of our frantic airplane journey, I told hubby that I didn't think I'd ever get on another plane. The only thing keeping me from totally losing it and running up and down the aisles in a panic was the logical part of my mind telling me how futile that would be. It wouldn't do me a lot of good because there's no way I could get off at 30,000 feet in the air. But the funny thing is, just a few days later I was wishing that it was time to get on another flight and head out to our next trip.

Trip Report #32, May 2003 Western Caribbean Cruise on the Magic

Our thirty-second Disney cruise was a voyage aboard the Magic for my favorite itinerary: the Western Caribbean. We usually do long weekends on the Wonder, but that's only because of a lack of vacation days. I love the Magic's ports of call (Key West, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel). We had done the Western in January, but we missed Grand Cayman due to high seas. It was still a fun cruise, but the missed port was a good excuse to fit in another Western this year.
Off to the Ship
As usual, we flew ATA to Orlando because they're been offering the best deals from Chicago. They have a special where you can get one companion ticket free for every three trips or a free roundtrip for every six trips, so we've been busily racking up flights to redeem later. ATA flies out of Midway, Chicago's smaller airport. For us, Midway and O'Hare are almost equally convenient, so we choose our flights mainly by price. Also, I like ATA's aircraft, which are usually 757-300s, although once in a while we end up on a 737-800. They are nice, new airplanes with leather seats equipped with headrests and in-flight entertainment (the $2 headsets are yours to keep for use on future flights).

We like to fly out the night before our cruise so that we can get a good night's sleep. This is especially nice when we are on the late flight that doesn't get in until midnight. We usually take that one so we don't have to take a day off of work. We book a hotel near the Orlando Airport via Priceline (we specify the highest star level and usually end up with the Marriott for $25 to $28, including free shuttle). I like to have that little extra time cushion just in case there are any delays. So far we haven't needed it, but it's nice to know it's there, just in case. Otherwise, I can just imagine being delayed and running along the shore of Jetty Park at Port Canaveral shouting, "Wait for us! Wait for us!" as the ship glides away.

Even though Cicero Avenue is closer to us, we usually take it to 79th Street and then head over to Pulaski, which tends to have less traffic. Cicero gets backed up starting at the Ford City Mall, and the endless conga line of cars doesn't let up until after the airport. With Midway, we at least move slowly but steadily.

For weekend cruises, we like to park in the parking garage. It's pricey, but not too bad for a weekend, and the convenience makes it well worth the expenditure. But for a weeklong trip, we opted for Midway Park Savers, an off-site lot that is not affiliated with the airport. It's right across from the Orange Line train entrance, so you can walk rather than taking a shuttle bus. The aisles are rather narrow, which can make it a challenge to maneuver my Aztek/Canyonero, but I've learned to pick my spot wisely. I'd rather park there than in one of Midway's economy lots because it's always a stampede to get on one of their shuttle buses when you return.

One thing to remember about Parksavers is that you must pay in cash, so if you use them, make sure that you will have enough money on hand when you return. You can find an internet coupon for a day of free parking on ATA's site, among others. The Parksavers lot is so large that there is a shuttle bus continually circling it. The bus doesn't take you to the airport, just to the front of the lot. We weren't parked too far down, but the driver saw us and drove over to wait while we unloaded the car, so we took advantage of the ride.

It's a pretty good hike from the Orange Line entrance to the ticket counters, and we had a lot of luggage to juggle, but we made it and burned plenty of calories in the process (always a good thing when you're heading for a week of cruising). If it had been raining, I would have dropped off hubby and the bags at the Orange Line's Kiss and Ride lot before parking. But fortunately, the weather has always been nice every time we've used the offsite lot.

As usual, ATA's check-in counter wasn't too busy. Amazingly, there were more people at the e-ticket kiosks than at the regular check-in. We opted for the regular line, and we managed to get exit rows, which always makes the flight more pleasant. Then it was off for baggage screening. Hubby's bag caught the eye of the security workers. As he was opening the bag, the worker told us that often deodorant and toothpaste can show up as something suspicious. Sure enough, it was the toiletries bag. Soon it was double checked and our luggage was repacked and resealed. The security line was minimal, and our carry-on bags made it through without any problems, so we were on our way.

We like to sit either in the food court or at an unused gate while waiting for our flight. I see no reason to sit among the restless crowd at the gate for an hour or two, since we're already checked it. It's so much nicer to relax in peace, enjoy a snack, and either read or play handheld games. Then, a few minutes before boarding is scheduled to begin, we head over. We didn't think this trip would be any exception…we did some snacking and people watching in the food court, then did a final bathroom break before heading off to board. The only slight trauma was that the food court lines were all in the 20 minute range, and after waiting that long at Gold Coast Hot Dogs, I was informed that they were out of baked potatoes when it was finally my turn. You'd think they could at least post a sign so people wouldn't waste their time.

Surprise, surprise! The gate had been changed! Hubby got suspicious when there was no plane at the original gate, and very few people around. Turns out the new gate was literally as far away as it was possible to get. We madly sprinted across the airport, and when we got to the gate, boarding was just about to begin. Unfortunately, our gate was adjacent to one for Southwest, which was also boarding. I had never before witnessed a Southwest cattle call, and I hope that I never do again. I have never seen such mayhem! It made me very happy to have my nice pre-assigned seat.

Our boarding process was something of a cattle call too. The 757-300s have over 40 rows, and the boarding call went like this: "Rows 20 and higher." Then, "All other rows!" Usually they do it ten rows at a time, so that was quite a surprise! But overall, it went pretty smoothly, and soon we were stowing our luggage and relaxing in our seats.

We were in a wing exit row, which is not as large as the bulkheads but still not too bad. Hubby took the window and I was in the middle. We got out all our paraphernalia to keep us occupied in flight (CD players and music selection, Bose headphones, books, and games), and soon we were aloft and winging our way to Orlando for the umpteenth time and Disney Cruise #32. I like to have plenty to keep my mind occupied because, believe it or not, even though I am a frequently flyer who flies to Orlando on an almost monthly basis, I'm scared to death of flying! But I can do it because the idea of spending 24 hours in a car and wasting extra vacation days scares me even more. The music, games, and books are also nice to have in case of delays. Rather than get stressed out, I'd rather have a way to relax if some inevitable delay happens (our most unique was when we landed in Orlando, but had to sit out on the tarmac for almost an hour because the lightning was so bad that it wasn't safe for the ground crew to come out).

Happily, the flight landed on time (especially since the scheduled time is 11:59 p.m…I certainly don't want to get in much later than that!), and our luggage showed up pretty quickly. I called for the Marriott shuttle from the courtesy phones, but I kept hearing the line pick up and then hang up on me. This happened several times, and I was beginning to get nervous. We've stayed at the Marriott many, many times, and we'd never had that problem. Hubby was just about to try calling from our cell phone when I finally managed to get a human voice on the line. I arrange our shuttle pickup, and I was amazed at the number of other people waiting at such a late hour when we got to the waiting area. The van arrived promptly, we all piled in, and I think the driver broke the speed record for getting to the hotel.

We checked in and headed up to our room. With Priceline, I'm never quite sure what to expect. Usually, it's a non-smoking room with a connecting door, although once I got stuck with a smoking room and once we had a nice, premium non-connecting room with a lovely lake view. But this room definitely won the award for most interesting. It was larger than normal, with TWO connecting doors! There was one on either side of the room, and the bed appeared to be a pullman that could be put up into the wall. There was lots of furniture for sitting and lots of floor space, leading us to the theory that it might have been some type of hospitality suite. At that point, it didn't matter, as long as there was a comfy place to drop our tired heads. By 1 a.m. we were sound asleep, resting up for a week of fun.

Due to our late arrival, we had booked our towncar with Happy Limo for a little later than usual (10 a.m.). We normally opt for 9:30, but we wanted to be rested up and fresh. As it turned out, due to our excitement we were up pretty early anyway. We headed down to the lobby a little early to wait and sat on a bench just outside the doors. While we were waiting, we noticed a large number of blind people coming out with canes or dogs. Apparently there was some type of convention going on. I know that guide dogs are supposed to remain totally focused on their work, but as a large German Shepherd passed us, he suddenly veered towards out luggage, causing his poor owner to stumble on our garment bag. It was so sudden and unexpected that I didn't have time to warn him, but fortunately he didn't fall. All I can figure is that the scent of our cats on the bags, which they love to inspect while we are packing, must have attracted the dog. Fortunately, the towncar arrived right then so our tempting luggage was tossed in the trunk and we headed off to the port.

Ready to Board
The 7-day cruises are quite a bit different than the 3-day cruises when it comes to boarding. On the 3-day trips, a large number of guests are on a land-sea package that allows them to check in for the ship at their hotel. Thus, when they arrive from the WDW resorts, they don't need to stand in the check-in line. Also, the resort buses tend to arrive later, which means it takes a while for the embarkation line to start getting long.

For the 7-day cruises, everyone must check in, and there are no resort buses so people tend to arrive earlier. Disney is great about manning all of the check-in counter, so even when the lines look intimidating, they move pretty quickly. When you enter the port, don't go to the very first line you see. Walk down a little ways and you will almost always find a shorter one. There is an exclusive Castaway Club line for returning guests almost all the way at the end. Sometimes it is longer than the other lines, so be sure to check them all.

The embarkation line grows amazingly fast, so it's best to get a spot as quickly as possible once you are checked in. Then, one person in your party can hold your spot and watch the luggage while the others explore the terminal. No one will mind because they will most likely be doing the same thing. You definitely want to board as early as possible because when we sailed, Palo and spa reservations were being taken as soon as boarding commenced. If you have certain Palo times and spa treatments that you really want, be sure to get there as early as possible.

Tony and I know a lot of the port crew, so time always passes quickly for us. It's more like seeing old friends again than actually waiting. Boarding typically starts any time between noon and 1 p.m., depending on when the ship is ready for its latest crop of guests. With the Wonder, 12:15 to 12:30 seems to be the average, The Magic started a little after noon, which was nice because the line had grown quite long and was curving like a snake throughout the terminal. You pass through the Mickey ears, walk down the gangway, and have your embarkation photo taken. Then you step on board, and a member of the cruise staff announces your family name as your magical week begins.

The Magic vs. The Wonder
People often ask about the differences between the two ships, but honestly there aren't that many. While the itineraries are quite different, the ships themselves are very much like fraternal twins. They are definitely close siblings, although there are enough differences to distinguish them.

The layouts are virtually identical, but there are differences in the color schemes and décor. For example, on the Magic, the deck 3 midship restaurant is Lumiere's, while you'll find Triton's in the same spot on the Wonder. The Magic's adult entertainment district is Beat Street, while the Wonder has Route 66, and the club names and décor are also different. The main restaurant menus are almost identical (although there are subtle differences), but of course the Magic has additional days of dining with different themes. There are also differences in the stateroom decor. We were in my favorite, 5650, which I know on the Wonder almost as well as I know my own bedroom. On the Magic, the bedspread has a different pattern, and the picture over the bed is some bars from a song rather than the ship drawing that I favor. Happily, my favorite picture and its companion piece (a drawing of Castaway Cay) are both hanging in the deck 3 forward stairwell, so I saw them many times over the course of the week. Another interesting difference is that the hallway leading to deck 5 aft is silver-flocked on the Magic, as opposed to wood on the Wonder.

When the Magic used to do the 3-day itinerary on Fri to Mon., it used to be our home away from home and we felt strange on the Wonder. Then, when it switched to 7-day trips, the Wonder became our home and now the Magic is the one that feels slightly strange. But that was true of the decor only. We were amazed by the number of crew members who recognized us, even after almost five months. I felt just as warmly welcomed as I do on the Wonder. The decor may be different, but the crew's friendliness and professionalism are the same.

Dining
Because we do the three day cruise so often, we are very familiar with the 3-day restaurant menus. They used to be identical on both ships, but now there are some minor differences. For example, some of the desserts are different, and the prime rib is not on the Magic's Parrot Cay menu. But overall, the offerings are very close, and the food quality is just as high on the Magic as on its little sister.

Since there are three restaurants and you are dining for seven nights, you rotate through each restaurant twice and then repeat one. Although the surroundings are the same, the menus are different each time. Theme menus include Captains Gala, Small World, Best of…, and Mexicali. Personally, I ate a selection of appetizers most nights and skipped the main course so that I could try a wider variety of items. I love soups and salads, so I really enjoyed the cold cucumber and pea soups. Of course, I also had my favorite vichyssoises (cold potato soup) and avocado soup, which I know very well from the Wonder. The heavenly cold mango soup is still offered on the embarkation buffet, so I was sure to have a generous portion.

Our server was Sasha from Croatia, not to be confused with our cruise staff friend of the same name and nationality. Each night, in addition to the desserts that we ordered, Sasha brought a sampling of other offerings, so of course we had to try them. It was a great way to try various items. Sometimes we liked one of his "surprises" even better than what we'd originally ordered.

Our assistant server was Kendell, and he got the concept of my iced tea order very quickly. I hate the regular stuff, which comes out of a tap rather than being fresh brewed. The ships offer an excellent variety of hot teas, with flavors like mint, chamomile, and black currant, so I use them as the base for "real" iced tea at dinner. I take the hot stuff, add, ice, and voila! Sometimes it confuses the servers a little when I first order it, although they always catch on quickly. Sometimes they bring me hot water and ice and leave me to brew it myself (not a problem, except that it's virtually impossible to pour the hot tea over the ice without spilled). But the best ones pre-brew it for me and have a pitcher waiting on subsequent nights. Kendell always had black currant (my favorite) brewed and waiting.

We had met Lloyd, the dining manager, on a previous trip, so we were pleased to see him again. He was always around, overseeing the operations and making sure that all was well. We also ran into our friend Ali from the Wonder, who was temporarily over on the Magic. It's always fun to see familiar faces.

No Disney cruise is complete without a meal (or two) at Palo, the adults-only restaurant. On the 7-day cruise, in addition to dinner, there is also a champagne brunch and high tea. All of these events require advance reservations, which you can make immediately after boarding the ship. Be sure to get those reservations early, as they go fast (especially high tea, which takes a very limited number of people). Zouhaier was the Palo manager, and he was very visible, always making sure that their standard of excellent was being maintained. We know several of the servers from previous trips. Carita was there, but Salvatorre was not. We missed seeing him, but we had the pleasure of meeting his brother, Marcos. Zouhaier, Carita, and Marcos all ensured that our Palo experiences were memorable and magical.

Hubby is a brunch person, but my favorite is the high tea. Brunch is a mixture of buffet items and hot dishes served at your table. The eggs florentine is the best ever! High tea consists of tea freshly brewed from leaves that you pour through a strainer, accompanied by scones, finger sandwiches, a trifle, and chocolate eclairs. I was a bit disappointed that the cinnamon tea, which was my favorite, is no longer offered, but it has been replaced by some excellent flavored tea options so I was able to drown my sorrows with a tasty alternate.

High tea is offered on the sea days, so we attended on the second day. Unlike dinner and brunch, there is no extra cost. Apparently this makes people pretty lackadaisical, because there were only two other couples in attendance. People book it, and then get busy with other things and don't bother to show. Of course, they don't have the courtesy to call beforehand so someone on the waiting list could be contacted. Personally, I think they should be socked with a $20 fee if they don't call. Otherwise, it's such a waste of food, and so many people who couldn't get reservations are disappointed.

In addition to the main restaurants, room service is always available in case you want a little snack. Their pizza is delicious, and the service was always very prompt. If you like coffee and/or a light snack in the morning, you can pre-order it the night before and specify the delivery time. That way, the delivery can serve double duty as a snack and a wake-up call. We love to start our day with breakfast on the verandah. It's one of the nicest ways I can think of to kick off a day of vacation.

Entertainment
One area where the 7-day cruise definitely has the 3-day beat is in entertainment. Of course, that's because you can offer a lot more when you have a whole week vs. a long weekend. In addition to our old favorites, like the 70s and 80s parties, there is an Art of Entertaining series focused on making items like appetizers and desserts. Of course, you get to sample them too…mmmm! There is also the Navigator Series, which gives you a chance to learn about how the ship was built and to ask questions of the captain and officers, and a Behind the Scenes Series that allows you to see the Walt Disney Theater backstage, learn more about how the productions are produced, and even chat with some of the main stage actors. This is one of our favorite activities. It reminds me of the old days, when there used to be an improv comedy club on the Magic and the Wonder. At that time, the 3-day cruise offered a chat with the comedians, and they used to lead the attendees through some fun comedy exercises. On our last 7-day cruise, we sailed at the same time that a new main stage cast had just boarded. This trip was their last one before heading home, so it was great to see them again. We had fun chatting with them and also seeing how they had come together over the course of the weeks and months.

Technically, the above activities are listed as being for adults, but that is never enforced. Personally, I think that they should either enforce it or remove the adult designation because when people are allowed to bring their kids to one supposedly adult activity, it makes them think that the rules will be bent for everything. We encountered plenty of those types at the adult pool, but the crew members were diligent with enforcement. The kids were never there longer than a few minutes before someone stepped in to redirect them to the family pool.

Also, the adults only policy is definitely enforced in the nightclubs at the evening adult shows/parties and the activities such as Match Your Mate (similar to the old Newlywed Game) and Magic Quest (a truly wild scavenger hunt). On the three-day cruise, it's hard to stay up for the late activities because we are generally tired on the first night, and we try to get to bed a little early on the third night because we have to get up early for disembarkation the next morning. On the week-long cruise you can kick back, relax, and burn the midnight oil because you can usually sleep in the next day.

When we've sailed on Royal Caribbean, we've often felt like the activities for adults were lacking. Other than the main stage shows (which were so poorly timed for late seating guests on our Alaskan cruise that I never got to see them) and a few nighttime activities, RCCL seems to think that adults want to spend all their time in the casino. I could play the slots close to home, so why would I want to waste my time doing that on a cruise? With Disney, the only bad thing is that there is too much to choose from!


I also enjoy some of the family activities, such as Sailors Tales, which is sort of a cross between Liars Club and What's My Line. Three wacky characters, played by members of the cruise staff, give different definitions for the same word, and you have to figure out who is telling the truth. Even though we abstained from the first word because we knew it from a previous cruise, we still tied for first place with several other teams. The cruise staff does such a great job with the characters. Even when we don't play because we recognize the words, it's still a riot just to watch them.

Of course, there are nightly main stage shows too. On this trip, we saw "Hercules" and "Disney Dreams" (which is absolutely a no-miss show), but we didn't bother with the variety shows because we had seen most of the performers before. Instead, we opted for their evening adult shows in the Rockin' Bar D. That gave us more free time in the evenings, and the adult shows were all hilarious. We skipped "Morty" (a comedy/magic show) as usual, as that is our least favorite of the shows. Hercules is corny but funny (Hade, Pain, and Panic are always a riot), and a Disney cruise isn't really a Disney cruise unless you see "Disney Dreams."

Another neat thing about Disney cruises is that new movies are premiered at the same time on the ship as they are on land. That means that on the same day that "Finding Nemo" started in the theaters back home, it was shown on the ship, beginning with a special showing at 12:01 a.m. We were too tired to stay awake, so unfortunately we didn't get to see it. But since we know that it would most likely still be showing on our next Wonder cruise, we didn't worry about it too much. There are a wide variety of movies shown in the theater throughout the week, and there is also a good selection on the stateroom televisions. In addition, if you miss the stage shows in the theater, you can see them on your stateroom television on the appropriate days, too.


Ports of Call
Since we had been to the Western ports more than once (with the exception of Grand Cayman, as the waves were too high to tender on our last trip), we decided to do our own activities rather than book Disney shore excursions. If you are new to a port or want a no-worries experience, then it's a good idea to book through Disney. That way, you know that your transportation is arranged, that you're going on a trip that has been pre-screened, and that the ship will wait for you if you're running late in a port with an early departure time. Even if there is a very large group going on the tour, you're typically broken down into smaller groups so it's not such a mob scene. We've done the island tour and swim with stingrays (Grand Cayman) and the horseback riding and jeep tour (Cozumel) through Disney, and they were all fantastic. For the stingrays, we did the island tour in small vanloads, and the groups from each van went on separate boats. For the horseback riding, they broke us down into two smaller groups for the ride (both left at almost the same time, but with different sets of guides). For the jeeps, you are broken into groups of four and take turns driving.

But if you are experienced or just adventurous, it's possible to do any of the ports on your own or arrange your own excursions and have a great time. There are always plenty of taxis waiting near the pier, and often tour operators too. That way, even if you didn't arrange something in advance, you'll definitely find something fun to do.

Key West
Key West is a great port to explore on your own. In the past, we've done the Conch Train, which takes you on a non-stop tour of the island. This time, hubby wanted to take a photo at the southernmost point in the United States, and I wanted to see the six-toed cats at Ernest Hemingway's house, so we decided to take the trolley because it allows you to get off at designated points of interest, then resume your tour on a different vehicle later. The ticket office for both of those forms of transportation is an easy walk from the ship, and they also sell discounted Hemingway House tickets.

Hubby got is photo at the Southernmost Point stop, although it was very chaotic. Most of us were standing in a semi-organized line, but there were rude people who kept rushing in front of those who were waiting. Being from Chicago, we know how to be assertive and deal with people like that. Then we finished our trolley tour and walked the 8 blocks from Mallory Square to the Hemingway place.

Sure enough, when we got there, there were cats everywhere. It made me a little homesick for Stitch and Toonces, our two furry "kids." Not all of the cats have six toes, but the ones that did were fascinating. Their paws looked like baseball mits. You can walk through the house yourself or take a guided tour. We opted for the tour, which was very amusing and full of little anecdotes about Hemingway and his wife (or should I say wives…I had no idea the man was married so many times). My favorite was the urinal from Sloppy Joe's, which is now used as a watering fountain for the cats. Hubby got a six-toed cat pressed penny to add to his collection.

There are also lots of culinary delights to be had in Key West, including just about anything you can imagine flavored with Key Lime. I had a Key Lime shake with homemade ice cream, and we picked up some Key Lime taffy for my candy addict brother. We also bought some fresh squeezed lemonade from one of the many street vendors.

I wanted to see the Cat Man's show (he has trained cats that do amazing feats, like jumping through hoops of fire on a tightrope), but sunset is pretty late in May so we were running out of time before dinner. Instead, we returned to the ship and spent some time in the Rainforest. As we headed back to our stateroom to get ready for dinner, we noticed some shows on the pier below. There was the Cat Man! We could also see an interesting act that involved juggling flaming poles. I ended up going to dinner with wet hair because I stayed too long watching the cats and didn't have enough time to get ready, but it was worth it.

Cozumel
I absolutely adore Cozumel. The first time we were ever there was on a Royal Caribbean ship. We did the excursion to Xcaret, the ecological park, and absolutely adored it. On our last two Disney cruises, we had done the jeep tour and the horseback riding, and I would recommend either of those excursions wholeheartedly. This time, we decided to just bum around on our own. We weren't sure exactly what we would do, but we were leaning toward beach time at either Mr. Sanchos, Playa del Sol, or Chanakaab Natural Park. Chanakaab won out, as we knew that there was more to do there than just swim. We caught a cab at the taxi stand downtown. It's not too far of a ride, and our driver had quite a lead foot so we got there even more quickly than usual. I suspect that we might have broken a speed record! Then we paid our admission and headed off to explore the park.

There are many things to see, such as walking trails, ruins, and a little village. You can rent snorkle equipment to explore the reefs or just take a swim. I thought that the prices for the snorkel equipment were set (there are signs showing the various rates), but apparently the various kiosks are run by different people, and they will offer to make you a deal. If you're a bargain hunter, it might pay to shop around. There are also plenty of restrooms and changing facilities, and they are nice and clean. You can rent a locker, but I had read that they aren't very secure, so we just carried our things with us.

I love animals, so I pestered hubby into seeing the sea lion show. (there is an extra charge) Before the show, they bring out macaws for photos. You can snap your own picture or buy one for $5. I also noticed that they have a "swim with the sea lions" program. I had known about the opportunity to swim with the dolphins there, but a sea lion swim was new to me. He took a pass, but I had to try it. It was $59, and happily, our group was quite small so there was lots of time for interaction. We donned life jackets and then jumped into the water in the area where the sea lion show is held. The first sea lion that the trainer brought out didn't want anything to do with us! There was a quick substitution and she brought out another sea lion, Nena, who was much more cooperative.

The trainer gave us some information on sea lions, and we were all able to examine and pet Nena up close on land. Then we all jumped into the water for some more interaction. We were able to pet, hug, and kiss her, and she did tricks such as jumping over our outstretched arms. Sadly, we had not brought our camera, as we hadn't planned in advance to do anything exciting. But there were photographers, and a video was also taken, so I knew I'd have an opportunity to immortalize my experience.

When we were all done, our little group headed over to a building where we could view the video. It was $29.99, so I purchased a copy. There was lots of great footage, all set to music. We went to the store to check out our photos. There were two of me, but I only liked one. I was shocked when they quoted the price: $14.95! There was a small price break if you purchased multiple prints. That was fine if you had multiple family members who did the swim, but I only wanted one. The clerk kept trying to convince me to buy two, but I only liked one of the shots, and besides, I certainly didn't want to spend $28 (the cost of the two). All of the other people were complaining about the price, too, since photos with the birds from the sea lion show were the same size and were only $5.

Eventually the clerk starting conversing in Spanish with a woman who had showed up behind the counter. I only understand a bit, but I think he was trying to get her to cut a bargain because it would be better to get a little less money than to get none and throw the photos away. Amazingly, she wouldn't budge on the price! As much as it pained me not to have a photo, $14.95 was way too much.

Hubby had been planning to snorkel, but it was getting late. Instead, he just donned his goggles and went to check out the reef while I swam nearer to the shore. I swear that my hubby has a talent for attracting barracudas. He has seen them several times at Castaway Cay, both at the adult beach and in the family beach snorkeling area. This time, he ran into one that followed him as he swam away! Fortunately, it didn't do anything aggressive. Personally, I think that for some reason they are attracted to his wristwatch.

The skies were threatening to storm, so we decided to call it a day. We headed out to wait for a cab and arranged with the driver to drop us off at the far end of the shopping area so we could stop in the stores as we walked back. Both hubby and I wanted to get "loud" shirts for the Mexicali dinner that night. The drive was quite interesting. There was one American tourist on a scooter who was weaving precariously in and out of traffic without regard for the braking distance required by cars. His head was bare, but he had a helmet hanging from each foot! The behavior of some tourists really makes me cringe.

In the shopping area, we eventually found some nice, loudly colored shirts, but meanwhile the sky opened in a torrent. Always the prepared Boy Scout, hubby had large plastic garbage bag to protect our swim bag and our purchases. We were still wearing our swimsuits, so the rain didn't phase us. But as we sloshed along through the water, which was deeper than our ankles in some spots, we realized that drainage isn't much of a priority in Cozumel.

At the end of the pier, there were still a few brave men with their little bike-taxis, so we hired one to give us a ride back to the ship. Technically, there is no set price, as they work for tips. It was well worth a few dollars to get a ride. As we entered the ship, a crew member handed us dry towels so we could dry off a little. It felt so good! Once back at our stateroom, we peeled ourselves out of our soaked swim wear and headed to the Rainforest in the spa for a little pre-dinner relaxation.

Grand Cayman
In Grand Cayman, hubby was itching for some beach time and wanting to rent a jet ski. I love swimming with the stingrays, but I gave in because the water was very choppy and we'd heard that one of the Disney excursions had been cancelled. Instead, we took a cab to a place called Royal Palms on Seven Mile Beach. Many of the hotels on the beach will allow you to use their facilities for a small fee. I was going to try one of them, but the cab driver talked us into going to Royal Palms because it is the closest and caters to the tourist crowd (maybe he also gets a finder's fee). It's rather pricey ($3 per person admission and $5 to rent a chair), but the restrooms and showers were very clean. I don't mind a fee as long as the facilities are worth it. It wasn't overly crowded, and they had a jet ski rental kiosk too.

We rented a chair to keep our bag up and out of the sand, but we spent most of our time in the water. Hubby rented a jet ski ($65 for half an hour) and then we spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and playing in the ocean. It seemed safe enough to leave our bag on the chair, but then I noticed a group of people all crowded around our chair, with their belongings spread out all over it. I rushed out of the water to abort any attempted crime. I think they were rather startled to see a soaking wet madwoman galloping towards them through the sand! They said they were just using the chair to get their stuff ready to do. They seemed sincere, so I told them to feel free to use it and returned to my swim.

The sky was looking a little threatening, so finally we decided to call it a day. There are plenty of cabs in the parking lot, so we climbed into a large van cab. We had to wait a bit while it filled with people, and there was one obnoxious man who had everyone cringing. He was with his wife and toddler-aged daughter, and he was very offended because he had to pay for the child. He kept complaining to the driver, "I can't believe that you're charging me for my infant!" The kid was NOT an infant. She was already old enough to walk, talk, and take up a seat. But this guy just would not quit. He said, "She's so cute, you should pay me for letting you have her in your cab." Then he turned to another passenger and said, "Isn't she too cute to pay?" He kept going on and on the whole time we sat there. Finally, he asked the cab driver, "Can I take your picture?" The driver as a little confused, but agreed. "Great," said Mr. Obnoxious, "because then I can show it to everyone and say, 'Look, here's the guy who charged me three dollars for my infant.'" Then he said, "I hope you know that you're not getting any tip. The three dollars was going to be your tip, but now you're not getting anything because I have to pay for my infant." I really pity his poor wife…we only had to deal with him for about 15 minutes, but she has to live with him.

Before returning to the ship, we made a quick stop at the Tortuga Rum Cake store. If you've never tried that delicious taste treat, I highly recommend it. The cakes come in various sizes and flavors. They are great to bring home for yourself, and they're also a unique gift for friends and family. I bought a large one as a present and a small sampler pack of three flavors for myself. Believe me, you WILL taste the rum in those cakes!

Castaway Cay
I dearly love Disney's island, but arriving there is always bittersweet because it signals the end of the trip. This was one of our most memorable visits, as the weather made it one of the most beautiful days that we've ever spent there. It was hot enough for swimming, but the heat wasn't muggy or oppressive. There was a nice breeze blowing, and the sun smiled down on us all day. Last time, we'd spent the day at the family beach, so this time we decided to head to the adult beach for some peace and quiet. Hubby was moving slow in the morning, so I headed out to stake out a spot and we brought our radios so he could find me later.

I choose a couple of lounge chairs under a shady umbrella about a third of the way down the beach. For a short while, there were banana boat rides and boat rentals at Serenity Bay, but that was discontinued a couple of cruises ago. Now, all was serene as I relaxed on the lounge chair with a good book. Hubby arrived a while later, and we spent the day alternating between lounging on the beach and swimming. Hubby tried to snorkel, but it was very wavy so the sand was churned up and the fish had headed off for parts unknown.

We had lunch at the adult beach. There is a more limited selection than what you'll find at Cookies, but it's still a nice spread. There are options like cole slaw and potato salad, hamburgers, hot dogs, steak sandwiches, and grilled salmon, with fruit or frozen yogurt for dessert. The only bad thing is that there are a very limited number of picnic tables. We got there early enough to get one, but be aware that you will most likely end up sharing. We don't mind that at all, but I know there are a lot of people who don't like to eat with strangers. If you can't get a spot, you can always carry the food back to the beach. We usually see a few people doing that, although it can be a challenge hiking through the sand with your tray if your chairs are far down the beach.

We stayed on the island pretty late and then headed back to the ship just before the massive crowd. I noticed that they were doing Segway rentals, so of course hubby and I had to do it. We've rented the Segways many times before. It's pricey ($15 for 10 minutes), but it's a very unique experience. Since we've done it so often, we've become pretty good at handling them. Of course, the area in which you must stay is very small, so you can't get into too much trouble unless you hit the sides (it's lined with logs). By the time we were done with the Segways, there was a long line to get back on the ship but it was well worth it.

The Spa
Even on a three day cruise, hubby and I usually manage to pack in loads of spa treatments. Of course, on a seven day cruise, we're even more indulgent. I scheduled treatments for the days at sea, and also for Grand Cayman day, since the ship leaves early. I skipped the days at Cozumel and Grand Cayman so we would have plenty of time free to explore without having to worry about getting back to the ship at a certain time. However, I did book treatments for late on Castaway Cay day. I figured that we could catch the matinee performance of "Disney Dreams" and then relax with massages before dinner.

For my treatments, I rotate between the Absolute Face & Body (a long, luxurious treatment that features a massage and facial), the seaweed wrap/massage, which is guaranteed to put me to sleep (they cover you in warm seaweed, wrap you like a baked potato, and then top it off with a warm, comfy blanket), and the massage/reflexology combo. I know from experience just how wonderful all of those treatments are.

It's impossible for me to pick a favorite because the Absolute Face & Body and the seaweed wrap both have their charms. The seaweed wrap is so detoxifying. You can practically feel the toxins draining out with the sweat from your pores. But then you have to leave your warm cocoon to shower off before the massage. At least with the Absolute Face & Body, the only moving you have to do is to roll over on your back for the facial.

There was also a new treatment that I had to try, since it is another type of wrap. I don't think it's offered on the Wonder yet. It was some type of body polishing with a product that reminded me a lot of the sugar scrub that I get at Bath & Body Works. That scrub makes my skin baby soft, so I had to try a wrap with something similar. The body polish is rubbed all over, and then you are wrapped up in the same way that they do for the seaweed wrap. You "cook" for a while and then shower off and have a lovely massage. I liked this treatment quite a bit, although I prefer the seaweed wrap because the mixture they put on you is so nice and warm. But when the new one comes to the Wonder, I will definitely try it again.

We also managed to spend a lot of time in the Rainforest. We bought the weeklong pass, and we definitely got our money's worth. The Rainforest is a room with heated tile loungers overlooking a fountain, and there are three showers (two of which are scented), a sauna, and two scented steam rooms. Hubby likes the steam rooms, while I prefer to curl up on one of the loungers with a good book. It can get rather crowded, especially on the sea days, but the amount of people never felt overwhelming. The only thing I ever had to wait a bit for was the shower. Since we skip "Morty," "Mouseketeer," and the variety shows, we would head to the Rainforest instead. At showtimes, it's almost always virtually empty.

Since the facility is for both men and women, swim suits are required. For the first time, I ran into a woman who hadn't realized that. The only item of clothing that she had was a robe, so she had wrapped herself up in it on one of the tile loungers. She said she was quite surprised to see the men! If you prefer a unisex facility, there is a sauna in the men's and women's locker rooms that can be used free of charge. The locker rooms (or at least the women's) also have soft loungers and showers.

Out on the pool deck, we noticed that they were offering neck and shoulder massages. It was first come, first served for sign up. That's a great way to get a massage if you didn't get an appointment earlier or if you spontaneously decide you might like one. I saw many people taking advantage of it, and they all seemed to be enjoying it. The massage is done in a seated position, in a massage chair.

The Joy of Relaxation
One thing that I love about the 7-day cruise is the opportunity for sheer relaxation. Of course, if you want, you can cram your schedule with activities and be on the go as much as you like. But sometimes it's nice to just sit back, relax, and do nothing, other than maybe concentrate on the feel of the cool breeze on your face as you breathe in the salty air and watch the turquoise ocean roll by.

Since we were in good old stateroom 5650, we had a nice verandah on which to spend some quality relaxation time. Often I took a time out from the busy day to lie in the sun and rest or to indulge in a book. Breakfast out on the verandah is a perfect way to start the day. But even if you don't have an outside stateroom, there are still plenty of ways to relax. Get a pass to the Rainforest (even with a verandah, we still spend plenty of time in there too). Even though it can get crowded at times, it's never so bad that you can't find a spot in one of the saunas or steam rooms. The pools can get very crowded, especially on sea days, and lounge chairs are at a premium. But if you want to get away from the mass of humanity, go to deck 4 and sit on one of the cushioned chairs or go to the "secret" deck 7 aft verandah, which usually doesn't have much of a crowd.

Hubby and I are experts at choosing relaxation time that is timed around the crowds. As I mentioned in the section on entertainment, we skip some of the stage shows and go to the late night performances instead. Then, while everyone else is either eating or at the show, we can hang out in virtually deserted hot tubs or have some time by ourselves in the Rainforest. Keeping busy is fun, but be sure to also schedule some time to simply do nothing at all.


The Party's Over
Although it didn't go by as quickly as a three-day cruise, our seven-day Magic voyage was over much too soon. We don't attend the disembarkation talk because it is shown repeatedly on the television on the last night. We tuned in to see if there were any changes, especially with the recent changes in the terrorism alert level. Cruise Director Jim emphasized that all passengers would need two pieces of identification. I was hoping that they were paying attention because last time that was required, I don't think anyone listened. We were on the Wonder that time, and we were caught in a never-ending and never-moving line of people searching desperately through their luggage for passports and birth certifications.

This time, we had purposely set up a late (9 a.m.) pickup with Happy Limo so we wouldn't feel rushed. Usually we need to get to the airport for a flight. In that case, it's best to leave early because the security lines can get quite ugly when all of the passengers from the various cruise ships arrive. This time, however, we were spending a leisurely weekend in the Orlando area. We'd booked a hotel room in the Downtown Disney area via Priceline, so we didn't have to worry about hurrying. Instead, we decided to sleep a little later and then mosey off the ship after the initial crowd. We had time for breakfast, but we skipped it because we were still suffering from a food overload that is common to cruisers.

The ship cleared for disembarkation a little late, but the whole process was still much smoother than I expected. Of course, Disney tends to have the smoothest disembarkation process anyway when compared with other cruise lines. They let you leave when you want to, rather than forcing you to sit around all morning waiting for your luggage tag color to be called. Normally it is smooth as silk. The delays only started when security was increased, which meant more ID checks.

We headed down to the deck 3 atrium after the initial crowd had cleared out, and the wait was literally only seconds. Now, instead of checking your ID as you walk off the ship, the officials check it at the same time that you go through Customs. It was so much smoother! We had a lot of luggage, so we got a porter to transport it to the towncar waiting area. It was well worth the tip not to juggle a week's worth of bags.

We ended up walking off the ship, through Customs, and out of the terminal building much earlier than we had anticipated, so there was a little wait for the towncar. There is a large canopy set up so you can wait in the shade. I enjoy people watching, so I relaxed and watched the huge crowds packing into the Avis and Radisson vans. The Radisson is a very popular place for cruisers to stay the night before, and people often do a one-way Avis rental. The hotel and the rental car facility are at the same location, so they share transportation vehicles. Personally, I'm not big on cattle calls, so I much prefer our private towncar.

We flew back home on Sunday, but our flight was pretty late, so things were winding down at the airport by the time we arrived. The line for check-in at ATA was minimal. We managed to get an over-wing exit row, and once again, one of our luggage bags was chosen for a search. This time, it turned out to be the bath salts that we'd purchased at the spa. They are packaged in foil envelopes, which had looked suspicious on the x-ray machine. Once the inspector had checked them out, he resealed our bag and we were on our way.

Our flight was pretty well populated, but not completely full. The over-wing exit rows are not as large as the bulkhead ones, but at least you have storage under the sea in front of you, and you do have some extra leg room. We took off right on time, and I alternated between reading and napping. The flight was pretty smooth, and soon we were touching down at Midway.

We hadn't had a chance to get any dinner in Orlando, so we stopped at the food court on our way to claim our luggage at Midway. We knew that there was no reason to hurry because luggage arrives notoriously slowly there. Sure enough, by the time we got downstairs, the bags still weren't even close to arriving. There was no clue on which carousel they'd be appearing on, so hubby stood by one while I waited by the other. We figured we could communicate via our cell phones when they started to arrive.

Hubby's carousel was the winner, even though the Orlando flight never appeared on the overhead sign. He figured it out by spotting our flight number on the tags. The bags actually came rather quickly in Midway terms, which is to say that our wait was under 60 minutes. When we had gathered everything, we hustled it out and through the Orange Line exit to the parking lot across the street. The shuttle van was waiting at the front of the lot, but we decided to hoof it rather than take the precariously balanced bags apart in order to load them into the vehicle. Since we'd just returned from a week of gorging ourselves, we figured that a little exercise wouldn't hurt.

Canyonero was waiting for us in its designated spot. Sometimes it can be a challenge to get out of the parking spaces in that lot, but this time it wasn't bad at all. I've gotten pretty good at choose spots there. We dug out our ticket and the coupon, paid our cash, and were on our way. We made it home before midnight and were greeted by two very attention starved cats. There was a very nice item waiting to greet us, too: the documents for our cruise in July. As sad as it was to be home, the little booklets reminded us that Disney Cruise #33 is just around the corner.

Trip Report #31, April 2003 on the Wonder

A Bit of Background
Spending Easter on a Disney cruise has become a tradition for my husband and I. He is a 40-something computer programmer, and I am a 30-something corporate trainer/web-based training designer & developer. We don't have any children, which works out well because we are overgrown kids ourselves. It would be difficult to raise youngsters when we would probably be prone to more childish behavior than them!

We set sail on April 17th for this cruise, which was our 31st Disney cruise and our 35th cruise overall. We've been sailing on Disney Cruise Line since Labor Day weekend, 1998, and we've also cruised four times on Royal Caribbean for comparison. We are both major Disney fans who also love water, the ocean, beaches, and top-notch resorts, so Disney Cruise Line is a perfect fit for us.

Contingency Plans at Midway Airport
Hubby and I book our own flights and transfers to Port Canaveral, and we've learned that it's much less stressful to fly out the night before a cruise. That leaves a safety net for unexpected delays, and it also allows us to get a good night's sleep and start our cruise refreshed rather than sleep deprived. Otherwise, we'd be leaving home at the crack of dawn to catch an early morning flight and stressing out if we ran into traffic, long security lines, or weather delays. That's definitely not the ideal way to start a trip.

I am able to leave work early if I put in extra hours earlier in the week. Depending on our flight time, hubby either leaves a little early, too, or takes a vacation day. On this trip, he took the day off because a late afternoon flight was the latest I could get, probably due to the holiday. He finalized the packing while I was at work, and when I got home, we were ready to hop into Canyonero (my Aztek) and head out to Midway.

We typically fly ATA (American Trans Air, not to be confused with Air Tran). ATA is a former charter airline that went to general service a few years back. They used to specialize in vacation destinations, but now they are aiming at the general market. I like them better than Southwest because their fares are low and they pre-assign seats. I hate cattle calls; I want to know in advance that I have a decent seat. ATA is only in certain markets, so many people have never heard of them, but we like them a lot.

At Midway, we typically park in the garage when we are taking a three-day cruise. It's pricey ($23 a day), but still less than a limo would cost, and the convenience is well worth the price. You just park, hop in the elevator, and in seconds you're at the ticket counter. For longer cruises, the cost is prohibitive, so we park at an offsite lot. I hate the crowded shuttle buses to and from Midway's economy lots, so we park at one of two nearby independent lots. They are much cheaper, and their shuttles are typically much less crowded.

Since this was a short cruise, we were hoping to park in the garage as usual. Last year on Easter weekend, all of the Midway lots had been full. This year, as we approached the airport, hubby called the parking information line and was assured that all the parking areas were open. We pulled into the garage (after nearly being creamed by a cab) and were greeted by attendants telling us that it was full. So much for the parking hotline! The AM radio information station is just as bad; we've gotten erroneous information from the radio more times than I can count.

We had to drive through the mazelike aisles of the garage and go through the pay booths in order to escape. Thank goodness we had left with plenty of time to spare. I am a firm believer in leaving very early. I'd rather arrive with plenty of time and have to wait around than go through the stress of being late and worrying about missing my flight if a problem arises.

Being a compulsive planner, I already had a contingency plan in place. I had a coupon for a free day of parking at Midway Park Savers, the closest of the two independent lots, tucked into our trip documents, and their phone number was programmed into my cell phone. Hubby gave them a buzz as we maneuvered out of the garage, and they assured us that they had plenty of space. We like them because they are within walking distance of the Orange Line train entrance. It's a bit of a hike from the train station to the gates, but I would rather walk it than wait forever for a humanity-packed shuttle.

The one downside of that lot is that the parking spaces and rows are very tight, so it can be a challenge if you have an SUV. I drove around the lot while hubby kept an eye out for a suitable spot for Canyonero, and we quickly found a good one. Although a shuttle to the airport is not provided, the parking lot itself is so big that a small bus continually circles it, taking people to and from the front entrance. The driver saw us unloading our bags, so he waited for us. Although we weren't too far from the front, we certainly weren't going to turn down a ride! We were pleased that contingency plan #1 had worked. If it hadn't, we would have headed to the other independent lot. It's a bit farther and requires a shuttle bus, but I'm sure that we'll give it a try someday. However, unlike Midway Park Savers, it doesn't offer internet coupons, so it's the lot of last resort for a discount lover like me.

Off Into the Wild Blue Yonder
We hiked over to Midway, where the line for ATA was negligible at the baggage counter and non-existent at the E-ticket kiosks. We always try to get exit rows, but according to the kiosks, all the exit seats were taken except the two aisle seats in row 36. We decided to grab those and then double check with the gate agent. We've sat in most of the exit rows on the 757-300 planes, but never in row 36. Some of the exit seats are much more desirable than other ones, so we didn't want to get stuck with bad ones.

The agent confirmed that all the other exit rows were gone, so we decided to take a chance. After we checked our bags, we headed through Security, where the line was thankfully very short, and killed some time with a snack in the food court before heading over to our gate. Ironically, at the gate we discovered that almost all the exit rows were assigned to families with children. I'm not sure how that happened, unless people with kids selected them at the E-ticket kiosks. The gate agent was virtually begging adults to come forward and exchange their seats for exit rows. Normally they would have been swamped, but the flight appeared to be filled mostly with families due to the holiday. Normally we would have jumped at the chance, but we already had our aisle exit seats, so that wouldn't do any good.

Eventually everyone got shuffled around and boarding commenced. We were one of the first on board, since our seats were in the back of the plane, and we got a pleasant surprise. Row 36 is a bulkhead, but with a huge amount of legroom because the exit door is in front of the seats. Since hubby and I was across the aisle from each other, he had a flight attendant and man travelling alone next to him, and I had a couple from Flint, Michigan next to me. Whenever I think of Flint, I think of Michael Moore...not for his infamous comments at the Academy Awards, but for his documentary "Roger and Me." It's one of my favorite movies. Even though he may have some controversial political views, I love his wry sense of humor in that movie.

It turned out that the woman's husband had gone to school with Michael Moore. We chatted a bit about Flint and about her experiences on other flights. The poor woman had been on a prop plane on which one of the engines caught fire. It made an emergency landing, and the people had to jump down because there were no slides...yikes! She had also been on a flight where the people had to get into crash position for the landing because of dangerous weather conditions. If I were her, I don't think I could get myself on a plane again. But I figured that we were in for a good flight because after all that rotten luck, she was due for a good one!

Between chatting with my seatmate, reading, and listening to CDs, the flight passed very quickly. Soon we were parked at the gate in Orlando, right on time. Since we were in the back of the huge plane, it took a while to get off. By the time we got to baggage claim, the bags from our flight were already arriving, so we got our luggage in record time. Hubby hooked and stacked everything together for easy transport while I called the Marriott shuttle.

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
We almost always book our night-before accommodations via Priceline. I bid around $28 for the highest start level hotell, and we almost always get the Marriott. This trip was no exception. The Marriott shuttle is typically very prompt. The only time we ever had a long delay was when a Delta flight crew who arrived at the same time as us called for pickup on Side B of the airport, then came over to Side A to wait. The poor shuttle driver dutifully waited at Side B until he finally gave up and found them waiting cluelessly over at A when he came to get us.

But that was an isolated incident, and on this trip the shuttle responded with its usual speed and pulled up within 10 minutes of my call. We piled in, and soon we were at the Marriott. Normally when I book with Priceline, we end up in adjoining room (thankfully we've never had an undue amount of noise from next door). Once we even had to take a smoking room because full-price guests get priority when the non-smoking rooms are in short supply (fortunately, it didn't reek of stale smoke, even to a fussy person like me). But the shuttle driver told us that the hotel was only at 65 percent occupancy that night, and they gave us a really nice room. It was a non-adjoiner with a lake view.

On this trip, I was eager to conduct a little experiment. Recently we got a new cat, named Stitch, and my husband caught him peeing on the carpet. I was worried that he or our other cat, Toonces (who was miffed at having a new "brother") might be peeing somewhere else too. At Petsmart, we found a portable black light that pinpoints pet stains and other organic messes that might be invisible to the naked eye. I know that it is accurate because I tested it in a "control area" (our loft, where the cats don't go) and then used it on spots where our very sickly old cat, who died recently, had vomited. Hubby had scrubbed and cleaned those areas really good, but they still showed up under the black light. A sweep of the rest of the house revealed that one of the cats has been using one of our closet as a porta-potty! We're going to have to have the carpets steam cleaned, and it will be interesting to see if that gets rid of the mess or if it will still show up.

The box that the light had come in listed several other recommended uses, including checking the cleanliness of hotel rooms. Since we travel a lot, my curiosity was piqued so I had to bring it along. As soon as we reached our room, I flipped off the lights and did a thorough check. I had expected the room to be pretty grimy, but happily it was much cleaner than I expected. There were a couple of tiny spots in out-of-the-way areas in the bathroom. The floor was clean, as was the bedspread and most of the bedding. The only thing I found was an odd scattering of small spots on the under blanket. The rest of it was clean...perhaps the maid sneezed while making the bed? I never figured it out, but since that was the only thing that turned up, I rated the room as "acceptable."

Another thing we like about the Marriott is that it is within reasonable walking distance of several restaurants. We headed over to Bennigans for a light dinner before turning in for the night.

Journey to the Wonder
We always take a towncar from Happy Limo to the port, and we had arranged a 10 a.m. pickup with on Thursday morning. The port typically opens for check-in around 10:30, and it doesn't start getting too crowded until after 11 a.m. when the airport buses start arriving. We usually get down to the lobby a little early, and this trip was no exception. Within a few minutes, the towncar arrived and we were off to Port Canaveral. Even with a quick grocery stop at a convenience store, we still arrived a bit before 11.

You go through security before taking an escalator up to the check-in area. The crowds hadn't arrived yet, so we checked in at the Castaway Club line, located at the far end of the counter. We said hello to Tanya and the rest of our friends at the port, and hubby got us beverages at the coffee ship to enjoy while waiting for boarding to commence. He needs his caffeine in the morning, but personally I prefer the flavored steamed milk.

I just love to people-watch and observe the expressions on people's faces as they step outside to the overlook area to see that impressive vessel close up for the first time or pore over the model in the center of the terminal. The characters always come out for photos, which sends the kids into a frenzy of excitement. After sailing over 30 times, it's easy to take things for granted. But I never want to lose that sense of awe and wonder, so I always make sure to see the ship vicariously through the eyes of others. When I watch first timers and feel their sense of excitement, it doesn't seem so long ago that I was having the same experience.

Another Trip Begins
Boarding typically starts between 12:15 and 12:30, although occasionally it has started later. But on this trip it started at the usual time, so not too long after noon we were heading down the gangplank and off on another adventure. Before boarding, you pause to have your photo taken next to a dated welcome sign. Then you step onto the ship, and a member of the cruise staff announces your name while the rest of the staff applauds. You are directed to the embarkation luncheon for the first meal of what will be a nearly non-stop opportunity for eating, and your cruise has officially begun.

When your embarkation photo is taken, you will be given a raffle slip. Be sure to drop it off later at Shutters because you could win some free photos. I know that people really do win because we won a few trips back, on our first Western cruise on the Magic. When you bring your raffle ticket back, you can search for your embarkation photo. In addition to the regular picture, there will be another version with a small picture of your group surrounded by other scenes from the ship. We have that photo from a previous Magic trip, but we didn't have one from the Wonder, so we bought it.

As we headed to the restaurant, we were greeted by Kapoor, one of our previous head servers. We chatted with him for a bit, then continued on to Parrot Cay for lunch. Then we were greeted by Lito and some of our other previous servers. Their memories really amaze me! We always get such a warm welcome that I feel right at home from the moment we board the ship. The Wonder is truly our home away from home. We also had a great surprise...we had thought our favorite head server, P. J., was still on vacation, but he had returned and was working in Parrot Cay. It was a very happy reunion.

At Home on the High Seas
After lunch (I'll detail the food in the dining section of my report), we headed all the way aft to stateroom 5650, which is on the starboard side of deck 5. Hubby likes starboard best because of the view at Castaway Cay. I never used to have a side preference myself, but I fell in love with 5650 for other reasons (the peacefulness and the large verandah). Now starboard has become my favorite by default. I'm sure that the mirror stateroom on the port side, 5150, also had its charms, but I have become a creature of habit. Even when we book a secret porthole room (Category 10 staterooms that have a "free" obstructed view porthole), we typically book 5520 if it is available, rather than 5020 on the port side.

Of course, as soon as it was dark enough, I had to whip out my handy-dandy black light to see if 5650 looked as good under its probing glare as it did in the daylight. I'm happy to report that it passed with flying colors. The only thing that turned up was a tiny spot, smaller than my pinky finger nail, behind the bathroom sink's drain pipe. Amazingly, the entire carpet was clean…I definitely can't say that for my own house! The bedding was immaculate, as was the couch. With over 2000 people sailing twice a week, I thought that surely old stains would be visible on the carpet. The level of cleanliness is very impressive.

Safety First
The first few hours on the ship are always a madhouse of activity. Besides lunch and getting settled in your stateroom, there is the ressie scramble if you want reservations for Palo, the spa, and/or Flounders Reef (baby care). If it's your first Disney cruise, you'll also want to spend some time exploring the ship, either by yourself or on the guided tour. There are shore excursion and shopping presentations, or maybe you'll just opt for some pool or jacuzzi time, since the pool areas are not too crowded early on embarkation day. If you have kids, you can also sign them up for the kids clubs (don't worry about rushing because space in the children's programs is not limited).

But the one activity that is probably the most universally disliked, yet the most important, is the safety drill, which gets underway at 4 p.m. Everyone is required to don their life jacket and head to their assigned station, which is listed on the back of the stateroom doors. When we are in 5650, our station is one deck down, in Animators Palate restaurant. All of the stations are located on Deck 4, but some are in the restaurant or theater, and others are outside on the deck, depending on your stateroom. We've done the drill 31 times now, and we're almost always in stateroom 5650 or one of the secret porthole rooms, so I could find our station in my sleep. That's a good thing, because in the event of an emergency, I would be well prepared.

As you head for your station, a crew member often takes note of your stateroom number, which is noted on your life jacket, and they will mark it on the attendance sheet. If they don't catch it, the remaining stateroom numbers will be called out, and you let them know you're there when yours is called. Then you listen to an announcement on safety procedures and watch a life jacket demonstration, and then you're dismissed and it's all over. Hopefully you'll never need to use the information you just learned, but if there is an emergency, you'll know what to do.

The safety drill is certainly not the most fun part of the cruise, but I'm always amazed at the number of people who don't take it seriously. Many cruises ago, there was even a man who absolutely refused to follow the crew member's instructions and ended up storming off. People like that should talk to the people who were on the Magic when it had its funnel fire. Emergencies are very unlikely, but they really can happen.

A few cruises ago, I realized that although hubby and I have taken photos of just about everything on the ship, we'd never gotten the requisite "silly life vest picture." I kept bugging hubby, as he is master of the digital camera, but somehow we managed to forget every time. This time, he put his life vest on the bed and set the camera on top of it as soon as he got to the stateroom to ensure that we'd remember.

The drill is announced by an emergency signal, although people often head to their stations a bit early. There are plenty of crew members in the hallways to point you in the right direction. We headed down to Animators and were directed to two empty chairs. As we entered, a crew member noted our stateroom number. I know he got it right because he said it out loud, so I figured that we were checked in. We took photos of each other in our trendy orange vests before the drill kicked into high gear.

When the assembly leader called out the list of stateroom numbers, I tried to listen even though I thought that ours had already been noted. Unfortunately, I was distracted by a woman standing nearby. She was wearing a walkie talkie, and throughout the entire drill, it emitted a loud beep and a burst of static every seven seconds (I know the interval because I had plenty of opportunities to mentally time it). The man sitting next to her was shooting dagger looks, but she was totally oblivious. I made a mental bet with myself that he would snap before the end of the drill and strangle her with her own life vest straps. I would gladly have served as a witness for the defense in his murder trial: "Judge, have you ever heard of Darwinism? This fine gentleman was merely culling the herd and tidying up the gene pool."

But the drill ended with no violence, and we joined the mass of humanity heading back to the staterooms. 5650 is just a short climb up the back staircase, so we were quickly "home." Normally, we forget all about the drill once it's over, but this time there was an amusing postscript. Before we left for this cruise, there was a heated discussion on the DIS message boards on safety drill attendance, playing hooky, and what happens if you miss it. I didn't give the discussion thread much thought, although I did add my two cents worth to brag about the number of times we've been to the drill. I had forgotten all about that, but later that day we received a letter that is apparently sent out to absentees. It is from the safety officer, and it stresses the importance of safety precautions and requests that you location your station. Somehow our stateroom number must not have been recorded when we entered, and if it was called, it was probably drowned out in a burst of static by the Walkie Talkie Queen.

It was interesting to see what happens to the hooky players, but hubby pointed out that there was an amusing irony. This was the one time in 31 safety drills that we actually had proof of our attendance…the photos that we finally remembered to take! Fortunately, no one arrived to throw us in the brig, but if they had, our digital camera contained the evidence. The experience have us a good laugh.

The Spa
Typically, we schedule spa appointments immediately following the drill. We enjoy watching the sailaway, but we've done it so many times now that we've shifted to spending it sprawled on a massage table. It's so neat to hear the muffled notes of "When You Wish Upon a Star" and feel the motion of the ship as it leaves Port Canaveral while your muscles are being kneaded by skillful hands.

Hubby and I always have the same treatments. The only variance is the time and order. He has massages and seaweed wraps, while I have the massage/reflexology combination, a seaweed wrap, and the Absolute Face and Body (a massage and facial combination). Normally, we also do the Surial Bath, which is the infamous steamy/muddy couples experience. But hubby had Lasik done earlier this year, and on our last trip the steam from the Surial and Rainforest caused some problems with his eyes. We skipped the Surial, and I managed to keep him out of the Rainforest, but it wasn't easy. I think he would happily live in those scented steam rooms if he could.

Most of the spa staff knows us because we spend so much time there. I can never decide which treatment I like better, the seaweed wrap or the Absolute Face and Body. The seaweed wrap is so relaxing and detoxifying, and it includes a massage. The AFB includes a massage, too, as well as a very long, pampering facial that leaves my skin baby soft. I highly recommend both of these treatments, and I never can choose, so I simply do them both. I tend to fall asleep during the treatments, and it can be disconcerting to drift off without even realizing it, then wake up suddenly and realize that you are wrapped up like a baked potato in the middle of the seaweed wrap! It takes me a few seconds to realize where I am. In the AFB, the facial is the part that usually puts me out.

I use some of the Elemis products for my face because I swim a lot, which dries out my skin, and their moisturizers are great. Hubby is worse than I am…he loves their bath synergies and swears by the Refreshing Gel for aching muscles (I'll admit that I use it too when my neck bothers me from too much computer work). You can order the spa products via the internet, but we wait until our cruises to stock up because that saves us the tax and shipping fees. Hubby is also a devotee of body brushing. You are brushed before your treatment, and it is supposed to be helpful for your circulation to brush yourself at home every day. Hubby started doing it religiously, and he was amazed when he noticed that it reduced the size of his varicose veins. I am trying to get myself in the habit of doing it, but I am not as disciplined as him.

The Shows
On this trip, the usual order of the shows had been shuffled. Instead of Hercules on the first night, there was a variety show with Gary Delaney. Herc was on the second night, and of course Disney Dreams was the grand finale. The movie "Holes," which had just been released, was also shown at various times throughout the cruise.

We had seen Gary Delaney before (I think it was on the Magic), and he is very funny. We had heard some of his material from the variety show before, but he also had some new stuff. He does comedy mixed in with comedic songs, and in addition to the family show, he does an adults only presentation later in the evening (of course, being a Disney ship, it doesn't get too raunchy). We went to the adult show, which was the same as when we'd seen it on the Magic. But even the second time around, it still made me laugh. I really miss the improv comedy, so I am always happy to see comedians performing on board.

The last time we sailed, the main stage cast was brand new, so we were anxious to see how they had settled into their roles after a month. During Hercules, we were pleased to see that they've really come together nicely and have thrown in some very funny ad libs and improvisations. In Hercules, there is some room for each cast to tinker a bit and add their own touches. We really enjoy seeing what the different casts do with the show.

We were seated in the front row, so we had a great view when the eyeball came flying off the stage (it's all fun and games till someone loses an eye). If you don't know what I'm talking about, keep an eye (no pun intended) on the Fates when they give their predictions to Hades. There was a technical difficulty (Hades' throne didn't rise to bring him up for his dramatic entrance from the Underworld), but the actors covered for it very well. But I was sad to see that Hades only did two jokes before launching into his Top Five. His monologue used to be my favorite part of the show, but it seems to get shorter every time.

This trip marked a first for me: the first time I've ever missed seeing a live performance of Disney Dreams. It resulted from a comedy of errors that began when I broke my cardinal rule of ALWAYS consulting the Navigator in the morning before we start our day. Normally, hubby and I leave Castaway Cay a bit early to see the DD matinee. We then skip the evening show and do spa appointments at the evening showtime. Although there is no guarantee that there will be a matinee performance, we've been lucky so far.

On this trip, we forgot to check our Navigator before heading off to the island to make sure there was a matinee (I had already booked the evening spa appointments, figuring that there would be one). The weather on the island was so gorgeous that we decided to double check. That way, just in case there was no early show, we wouldn't miss any island time by going back to the ship for nothing.

On his way back from snorkeling, hubby asked a crew member and was told that there was, indeed, a matinee, but that it would start at 2:30 (the usual time is 3:15). This sounded very odd, so hubby asked another crew member and was told the same thing. That would mean we'd need to be back at the ship by 1:30 to shower, dress, and get to the theater, so we very reluctantly decided to skip the show. We've seen it twice on a couple of cruises (matinee and evening show), and even with his spa appointment, hubby would be able to catch most of it that night. Even though I couldn't make it, I knew that I could watch it on t.v. Disney now televises the main stage plays in the staterooms every hour on the night they are performed live. I think this is a great idea, as it allows people who might otherwise miss them to see them, and the kids can watch them again in the room while settling down for bed.

We stayed late on the island, then headed back to the ship nice and late. I looked at the Navigator in our stateroom, and the show had been at 3:15, not 2:30! We deduced that the crew members hubby asked must have been thinking of the 4-day cruise, as Disney Dreams is performed on the sea days at an earlier time. Oh well, hubby did catch most of the evening show, and I watched it (twice!) on t.v. Hubby was pleased to see that the "no flash photography" rule was being enforced. On our next trip, you can bet that I won't forget to look at my Navigator before leaving the ship.

Other Entertainment
In addition to Gary Delaney's adult show, we went to 80s Night, which is now held on Thursday night. I liked that, as it meant that the main stage dancers appeared in the show. On our last cruise, 80s Night was Saturday, which means the main stage actors had to do a farewell appearance, so they were not at the party. Their dances really add a lot to the event. They do "Time Warp" (which is the theme of the party) and also several Michael Jackson numbers.

Unfortunately, we missed 70s Night because it was on Saturday and we were at Palo pretty late and then had to finish packing. I like the 80s Party, but I LOVE the 70s Party. We definitely won't miss it on our 7-night cruise in May. That's the only bad thing about the 3-night cruise…there's not nearly enough time to do everything, even when you've sailed as many times as we have.

Disney has a lot of other entertainment opportunities, such as Krazy Karaoke and Dueling Pianos, and of course the Nassau Deck Party, so if you like to party into the wee hours of the morning, you will find lots to do. On the shorter cruise, we typically go to bed a little early because we want to get up early for Castaway Cay and also get a good night's sleep before disembarkation. That's one nice thing about the 7 day vs. the shorter cruises...you can stay up later and not have to worry so much about getting up the next morning unless you have an early shore excursion planned.


Food, Food, Everywhere
Cruising is practically synonymous with food, and Disney is no exception. You will find opportunities to eat from the time you board until you bid the ship adieu. If the restaurants or snack bars aren't open, no problem. Just pick up the phone and dial Room Service, 24 hours a day.

You kick off your trip with the lavish embarkation buffet. Hubby is happy piling through loads of jumbo shrimp, but personally I love the wide variety of salads and the cold banana/strawberry soup that was recently added. It reminds me of the heavenly cold mango soup on the Magic. There is always carved meat on the buffet, too. Usually it's beef, but this time is was lamb. Mmmmmm! There was a large dish of mint jelly to smother on it, so I was in Heaven. I love lamb, but we rarely make it at home, so I like to get my fix on the cruise. They offer it in Tritons and also as a part of the Parrot Cay mixed grill, but this is the first time I've seen it at embarkation.


Disney is continually tweaking and enhancing their menus. If you were to compare the current offerings to the very first menus in 1998, the contrast would be amazing. Because Disney is a family-oriented cruise line, their fare tends to be a bit less exotic than Royal Caribbean's and more geared towards the meat-and-potatoes crowd. But along with the steaks and grilled chicken breasts, you will find some more adventurous items like escargot (which is surprising good, considering that it's snails) and vichyssoises (cold potato soup, which I adore).

Our dining rotation is usually Tritons/Animators/Parrot Cay, but on this trip we started out in PC. We love having lots of tablemates, and we lucked out on this trip. We were seated with a couple from the DIS boards who were 4-time Disney cruises and a family from England (mom, dad, and son) who were DVC members sailing for the third time. P.J. was our head server, which guarantees a great time, and our dining team took very good care of us, handling our special requests with efficiency and a smile. It usually takes some explaining to communicate my iced tea preference (I like it made fresh from the black currant or mint tea, since the "regular" stuff comes out of a tap and I only drink fresh brewed), but once they understand the concept, I get the fresh stuff every night. A hint for fellow fresh brewed tea lovers: you can also make your own at the 24-hour drink station on Deck 9, and in addition to my two favorites, there is a wide variety of other flavors. Hubby and I also tend to mix and match the side dishes with our dinners, and the servers are great about that, too.

We love the revamped Parrot Cay menu. Hubby and I are both hooked on the cold avocado soup, and he orders the mixed grill while I opt for the prime rib. Triton's is the home of that delicious vichyssoises, and I can never decide whether to order the fried cheese or the salad to accompany it. For the main course, it's a tough choice between the lamb, beef, and sea bass.

We haven't been eating at Animators lately because it's the restaurant we typically skip for Palo. I don't recommend this to first timers, as you don't want to miss the show and the thrill of seeing black and white walls come alive with color. But we've seen it many times, and AP's menu is our least favorite, so that is the traditional night for our Palo meal.

Palo was fantastic as always. It is the adults-only restaurant, featuring Northern Italian cuisine and the best chocolate souffle that I've ever tasted. I adore the fish soup, which is always my appetizer of choice (although I recommend the portobello mushroom too), and for dinner hubby always gets the filet with gorgonzola cheese, while I opt for whatever strikes my fancy. You must make reservations for Palo in advance, and there is a charge of $5 per person (you can also add an additional gratuity for your server at the end of the meal). The atmosphere is cozy, with lots of windows (it's nice to do on Nassau night, with the lights of the city twinkling in the background), and the service is always pleasant and attentive. Although I hate to give up one of the main restaurants, Palo is almost always a must-do.

Castaway Cay
On cruise #30, our streak of good weather was broken somewhat. We managed to get in two hours of beach time before the skies let loose. This time, our luck had returned, and we had a picture perfect day. Sunny blue skies smiled down on crystal clear water. It was warm enough to swim and lie out in the sun without being uncomfortably muggy. Every now and then, a gentle breeze would rustle the palms and bring relief before the heat became too oppressive.

Hubby and I were up early and disembarked around 9:00 a.m., before the mass exodus. Although the ship was crowded with families and we knew that the gorgeous weather would draw virtually everyone onto the island, we decided to stay at the family beach rather than heading to Serenity Bay. Hubby wanted to rent a bike and go snorkeling, and we planned to have lunch at Cookies because the adult beach does not have the lobster burgers. Given our plans, it made the most sense to stay closer to the action. What many people don't realize is that if you walk all the way down to the end of the family beach, near the Heads Up Bar, you will find a quiet and semi-secluded area that typically doesn't draw many people until 11 or even 11:30. Also, it's fun to check out the telescope at in the bar's seating area to get a close-up view of the ship.

By the time we reached our favorite little spot, there were still three hammocks available (there are usually four right near the bar, but one was missing from its frame). There are no umbrellas right by the hammocks, but there are a lot of palm trees so you can typically get enough shade. We set up camp by a hammock and two beach chairs. It's such a convenient area, as a restroom and the bike rentals are only a few steps away, and the Grouper Pavilion/Castaway Jo's Game Room is right nearby. If you have kids, you'll be glad to know that there is a lifeguard stand right in the area. It is also near the volleyball net that is in the water and not too far from the kids play structure (also in the water). You used to be able to swim all the way to the shore, but there are a lot of rough rocks so the rocky area is now roped off. But there is still plenty of space to swim and the water, like the beach, typically does not get crowded until early afternoon.

Hubby went off biking while I swam around a bit. I made my way to the main part of the family beach, which had already drawn a pretty good crowd. Then I swam back to the far area and enjoyed the water for about an hour before retreating to the hammock with my book. Surprisingly, even though it was after 10:00 a.m., no one had claimed the other two hammocks. Hubby came back to get his snorkel gear and spent some time looking for fish (he said there weren't too many this time) while I continued to bask in the sun. Then he sunned himself for a while before we headed off to Cookies.

Lunch was delicious, as always. In addition to the lobster burgers, I enjoy the hot dogs and barbecued ribs, as well as the cole slaw. There is only one thing that I have never been able to figure out. In the serving line, the fixings for the hot dogs (tomatoes, onions, etc.) are located BEFORE the hot dogs themselves. This means you have to either put them on your plate, then pick them back up and put them on your hot dog (challenging when your plate is already loaded), or else get the hot dog first and then backtrack over the people in line behind you. I survived the "condiment juggle" and we enjoyed a tasty and filling meal. I was looking forward to Columbo cookie dough frozen yogurt for dessert, but unfortunately all they had was strawberry. Hopefully that was just a temporary outage, as icy cold cookie dough yogurt is the perfect topper to a Cookie's meal. I sure wish they served Columbo at Scoops instead of the Country Buffet/Ponderosa soft serve!

Sailing With a Capacity Crowd
We often sail on holidays in order to save as many precious vacation days as possible (that's also why we usually do the three day cruise instead of the seven). That means that the ship is often filled to capacity on our trips. People often ask if that's a bad thing, but I can honestly say that it really doesn't affect us much. It's not like visiting Disney World in the middle of July and waiting in a 2-hour line out in the 102 degree heat. The ship was built to handle a full house, so the impact is not as great as you might expect. Just use a little common sense and do some pre-planning, and you'll probably forget that you're sailing with over 2500 other people:

-Book your shore excursions ahead of time. You'll have one less line to wait in on the ship, and you'll have a much better chance of getting the excursions that you want.

-Arrive at the port early. Get a good place in the boarding line, and then have one member of your party hold your place while the others go off to explore, take photos, see the characters, etc. Then, you can eat lunch as soon as you board and still get to Palo or the spa in time to score premium reservations.

-Split up for the "ressie scramble." Have one member of your party go to the spa while the other goes to Palo. If necessary, stay in touch with walkie-talkies or cell phones.

-If you use walkie-talkies, get the kind with sub-channels. Otherwise, when the ship is crowded, you'll find yourself fighting over 13 channels with hundreds of other people.

-Choose your stateroom wisely. If you will be on a full ship and don't like hallway noise (like me), pick a room at the end of a hall to minimize foot traffic passing by. Also, be aware that if you are in a section of staterooms that sleep four, there will likely be more families, and thus more noise potential passing by.

-Get to the shows a little early if you are fussy about your seats. Normally, there is plenty of room for everyone, but if you arrive late, you won't be able to pick and choose your spot. The doors open half an hour before the show begins, so if you want to sit in a certain area, get there early to avoid dissapointment.

-Use the pools at "off times." The pool areas can become very crowded at prime times. Use time at off-times, like when everyone is on shore or is getting dressed for dinner. We never bother to disembark in Nassau. Instead, we spend some time in the whirlpools. On Castaway Cay day, we typically catch the Disney Dreams matinee, which leaves the evening open for more quality pool time.

-Escape to quiet areas like the "secret" deck 7 aft verandah or quieter lounge like the Cadillac Lounge. If you are an adult, take full advantage of the adults-only areas like the Serenity Bay beach, Quiet Cove pool and spa.

-Get into the spirit of things. If the crowds are being noisy and boisterous…join right in! It's fun to share the good times with a joyful hoard of people.

Following the Rules
One hot topic that shows up in frequently various forms on the DIS boards is rules, whether it be suggested dress, the smoking policy, lounge chair hogs who claim a pool seat and never sit there, enforcement of adults-only areas, or potty trained kids in the pools. In 31 trips, we have witnessed all manner of behavior, and I find it interesting to note the enforcement (or lack thereof) of certain policies and of peoples' reactions.

In a perfect world, this wouldn't be a hot topic at all because people would practice courtesy and common sense. But unfortunately a lot of people have an attitude that "it's all about me," even when that infringes on others. My suggestion on dealing with those types is to politely but firmly refuse to let them infringe on you. For example, a lot of people complain about the chair hogs. These are people who claim a pool chair by tossing an item or two on it, then don't actually sit in the chair. My solution is simple. The Navigator clearly states that saving of pool chairs is not allowed. Bring the Navigator with you, and if you notice a chair that has been unoccupied for more than 30 minutes, simply move the items and claim it yourself. If the hog has the nerve to confront you, simply whip out the Navigator and point out the policy.

The same goes for the adult pool. The crew does a good job of shooing the kids away, but if we are in the whirlpool and youngsters try to climb in, I politely but firmly point out that they are not allowed in the adult facilities. I've never gotten an argument yet, but if I ever did, there are plenty of signs that I could point out. On the adult beach, I have summoned a crew member when needed to ask offending families to leave (my favorite was the couple who left their two-year-old on the beach while they headed off into the water. The poor kid sat on a chair screaming, and they were totally oblivious. One of the bartenders had to wade out into the water to ask them to claim their panicking child and leave, and they were very miffed).

Another place where you might run into the chair hogs is in the theater. Again, this is a good time to have your Navigator handy, although you can also just ignore them. Several trips ago, hubby arrived at the left hand side of the front row at the exact same time that another person arrived at the right hand side. As he sat down, the person at the other end yelled, "You can't sit there. I'm saving this row." Hubby just totally ignored her, and she must have realized how ridiculous she sounded as she didn't press the point. If she had, there wouldn't have been much she could have done, other than trying to physically remove him (and me, too, as I was trailing close behind).

Another problem in the theater is people who take flash photos despite the announcements telling them not to. Sometimes Disney enforces this rule, and sometimes they do not. Since it's not practical for a guest to get up, walk over to the offender who might be many rows away, and tell them to knock it off, I hope that enforcement by Disney will become the norm. I typically expect this to be a problem on the ship and at Disney World, but when we went to see "The Lion King" in downtown Chicago, many people were taking flash photographs there too! It seemed to me to be the height of tackiness to take photos at a professional theater production where seats go for an average of $80. Thankfully, someone must have told them to stop, as it only happened during the first two numbers. (By the way, the play is PHENOMENAL, and I HIGHLY recommend it.)

I've never really had a lot of problems with people smoking in non-smoking areas, other than a few scattered incidents. I have respiratory problems that are aggravated by smoke, so this is something I am very sensitive to. Normally, when people light up in the non-smoking areas of the night clubs, a crew member will politely ask them to stop (although I've seen people who have to be asked two or three times). The only place where enforcement hasn't been as strict lately is in the Promenade Lounge. On three of our last cruises, I have seen people smoking there, and that's a bad spot because it is completely unenclosed and it is right on a main hallway. I'm not sure why that has been happening lately, but it is usually nearly deserted, so maybe they are afraid to chase away patrons, even when they are breaking the rules!

One area where I've never really understood the controversy is the question of dining attire. Disney makes suggestions, such as no shorts or jeans in the dining room, but these are routinely ignored by some guests. The 3-night cruises are typically quite casual. We like to dress up for dinner, but many people show up in jeans, and shorts are not unheard of. On the DIS boards, I've seen many complaints that Disney does not enforce the dress code. What people fail to realize is that a suggestion and a rule are two different things. There are no rules for dress, just suggestions, and if someone chooses to ignore those suggestions, I think it's silly to allow that to ruin my meal. They can wear whatever they are comfortable in, and I will wear what I want, too. Sometimes their bad taste makes for some amusement, such as the barefoot woman in blue jeans in Palo or the tasteful couple where the woman was wearing a tacky sundress and flip-flop shoes while the hubby had on jeans and a flamingo pink t-shirt. And who knows...maybe their luggage had been lost on the plane trip to Florida, and the flamingo shirt and flip flops were all they had!

The bottom line is: You will run into rude people wherever you go. You can't change their rudeness, but you can keep it from having a negative impact on you. If it's not something that directly affects you, simply ignore it. If it does affect you, handle it yourself or ask someone to handle it for you. The rude people are the ones who get all the publicity on the message boards, but in 31 cruises, I can assure you that they are in the minority. The vast majority of people we meet are there to have fun, just like us, and are in good spirits and a happy vacation mood. If you are a social person, you will have a field day chatting with others and having a great time.

Heading Home
One of the things that I really love about Disney is their painless disembarkation, especially when compared to Royal Caribbean's endless waits. But on our last two cruises, disembarkation has been uncharacteristically difficult and slow. One time was due to the heightened terrorist alert level, and the other was due to fog that delayed the ship's clearance at Port Canaveral.

On this trip, we had high hopes for a smooth disembarkation because we needed to make a quick stop near Disney World before heading to the airport. We arranged for Happy Limo to pick us up at 8 a.m. Our plan was to skip breakfast and disembark around 7:30, if possible. Unforeseen delays are always a possibility, but we figured that we couldn't strike out three times in a row. You can put your luggage out the night before to have it collected and delivered to the terminal, or you can keep it with you. In the terminal, you locate it via a color coded tag. It's usually a quick process, but we didn't want to take any chances, so we kept our bags.

The next morning, around 7:20, hubby thought he heard an announcement that clearance was still 20 minutes away. We figured that a line had probably already formed, so we rushed to gather our bags and do a last-minute check for forgotten items. Then, with all our gear in tow, we hustled across deck 5 and looked over the railing at the atrium to assess the crowd. There was none! No line at all, just people leisurely strolled off the ship in the typical Disney disembarkation manner. Captain Henry and our friend Karen were bidding goodbye to guests, so we paused to say goodbye before heading out to the towncar.

A Sex Change for Hubby
Traffic was light, so we made excellent time, but since we had to make a stop, we got to the airport about an hour later than usual. What a difference that hour makes! The check-in line at ATA's baggage counter wasn't bad, but the agent warned us that security was very crowded. On Sundays, as it gets later, the crowd swells to tremendous proportions because all of the people are arriving from the various cruise ships.

At security, there were literally two lines. You had to wait in the first one until there was room in the second one, which led into the checkpoint queues. The lines moved pretty steadily, and eventually we had entered the actual queues. Every few minutes there was an announcement: ""Have you ID ready, check your boarding passes, yadda, yadda yadda." Hubby happened to glance at his boarding pass, and horror of horrors!! It was for the right seat but issued to someone named Janet!

Hubby panicked and started to leave the line, but I restrained him. I had no desire to wait in the continually expanding line again. We were almost to the ID checkpoint, so I figured it was worth an extra few minutes to see if we could pass him off as Janet. At this point, hubby was freaking out, getting a little loud, and acting agitated, and these are NOT wise things to do in an airport. I kept hissing, "Shut up!" through clenched teeth, and finally he obeyed.

At this point, I could see there was no way that the ID checkers were going to miss the fact that his ID and boarding pass did not match. I was ready to plead, and I figured that even a government employee wouldn't be heartless enough to make us wait in that line again. When we reached the checkpoint, I explained the problem and whipped out a copy of our online ticket receipt, begging to be allowed to straighten it out at the gate. The checker said she couldn't let us through, but she told us that after we got it taken care of at the baggage counter, we could re-enter the line at the same place where we'd left. Bless her! ATA quickly fixed the boarding pass (although they didn't explain how Tony became Janet), and we rejoined the line, whizzed through security, and were soon at the gate.

Midway Luggage Hell
Once again we had gotten exit rows, this time in the front, so we had plenty of room to stretch out during the flight. As usual, people were oblivious of the "Fasten Seatbelts" sign, even though the captain warned that turbulence was expected due to thunderstorms. Fortunately, the only real bounce came as we descended through the clouds to land at Midway. Soon we were safely back on the ground in Chicago.

Midway is a convenient airport in many ways, but luggage claiming isn't one of them. I used to think that the delays were ATA's fault, but after some prompt experiences in Orlando, my opinion has changed. At Midway, it's not unusual for the bags to take an hour or more to appear, and this was one of those times. And once the luggage from our plane finally appeared, our bags were among the last to be sent out. Oh well, there was one bright side. As I stood waiting and staring at the empty, hypnotic silver luggage belt, I noticed that someone had deposited a large, wet, sticky wad of gum on it. But the time our bags appeared, the gum was long gone, caught on some other poor soul's bags just as they were celebrating the fact that their luggage had come out first.

Once we had all our belongings, we headed off to the parking lot where Canyonero was waiting faithfully. It's not as convenient as the parking garage, but the walk is reasonable, especially in nice weather. Also, with my internet coupon, the total bill for the whole trip wasn't a lot more than one day in the garage.

As we drove home, I watched the planes taking off over head and felt a pang of jealousy at those lucky souls who were just starting their vacations while I was returning to the real world, with work looming the next morning. But I couldn't be too jealous, as our next cruise was only a bit over a month away.

Trip Report #30, March 2003 on the Disney Wonder

Partners in Crime
I'll kick off with a quick introduction. Hubby and I are two childless adults (well, okay, our horses, cats, and bird are our "kids") who just started cruising in Sept. of 1998. We've managed to rack up 30 on Disney and 4 on Royal Caribbean in under 5 years (we have 5 more booked this year and 7 in 2004, so we'll be at over 40 next year). We are Disney fanatics who love the ocean, so Disney Cruise Line is perfect for us. I know it sounds crazy, but we also think that the Magic and Wonder are perfect for adults. Disney takes great care of all age groups, so even if you don't have any little ones, you will have a wonderful time.

The Adventure Begins
As usual, we flew out the night before to allow a cushion for weather or other delays. If we'd flown out one week earlier, snow might have been a problem. But Chicago weather changes with blinding speed, so we left for the cruise in the midst of a spring-like warm up.

Lately we have been taking ATA's 8:50 p.m. flight, which gets into Orlando at midnight. I hate the late arrival, but it saves a vacation day and we still get a better night's sleep than if we flew out on a 7 a.m. flight. I keep separate files for all our trips, and I didn't realize that I had booked at 5:30 flight until shortly before our trip date! I had been thinking of our April cruise, but for March, flights were hard to come by due to spring break so I'd had to grab something earlier than normal. I had already booked a 10:00 a.m. pick-up with Happy Limo, so we decided to keep that time. Hubby managed to get a last-minute vacation day, and since I'm on flextime, I worked long hours on Mon. and Tues. so I could leave early. Hubby packed while I worked, and as soon as I got home we did a quick house check (cats okay, stove off, windows locked, note for pet sitter, etc.) and were on the road by 2:30.

As usual, we took Cicero past Southwest Highway, then swung over to Pulaski to get to Midway. Pulaski is a bit out of our way, but the traffic is generally much lighter than Cicero once you get in the vicinity of Ford City. We made great time, and although the parking garage was more crowded than usual, we found a good spot on the fifth level, near the south elevators (very convenient to ATA's check in). Although the garage is expensive ($23 per day), for a three day cruise it costs less than a limo. The MDW remote lots are much cheaper, and I also know of a couple of independent lots, but I gladly pay extra to avoid dealing with the shuttle buses.

We checked in two hours before our flight, but the exit rows were gone already. Thankfully, we had booked a window and an aisle seat, so neither of us was stuck in the middle. I love booking on ATA's website because you can view the all the available seats before choosing. They also have a rewards program through which you can earn free companion or regular tickets. American and United used to have comparable fares, but lately ATA is the only reasonable choice out of Chicago (Spirit's times aren't convenient for us, and we have yet to spot a better fare on Southwest). Unlike Orlando, at Midway you watch as your checked baggage goes through the x-ray machine, so you will know immediately if it is searched. Ours wasn't, so we were quickly on our way.

There was no line at Security, and the food court was remarkable quiet, so we grabbed a table and had a little snack. I like waiting there or at an unused gate. It's much more peaceful than waiting at a crowded gate, and since we use the baggage check-in, we don't have to worry about checking in at the gate. About ten minutes before boarding time, we do a final potty break and head over to our plane.

The 737-800 was packed to the gills with humanity (another reason I like ATA is that they have all new 737-800s and 757-300s with nice touches like folding headrests and a video entertainment system). Hubby took the window and I took the aisle (sometimes we luck out with a row to ourselves, but this time some poor soul was stuck between us), and soon we were aloft.

We both bring CD players, books, and a variety of hand-held games to make the time pass quickly. Before we knew it, we were landing at MCO and on the way to collect our luggage. Our bags came fairly quickly, so I called the MCO Marriott from the baggage area phones (they have direct lines to local hotels and transportation).

As usual, we had gotten the Marriott via Priceline. We typically bid $28 for a three star property and end up at the Marriott, although once we got the Renaissance for that price. They told me the slot number where I should wait for the shuttle, so we headed downstairs to await our ride. It showed up in 15 minutes, which is longer than usual but not unreasonable. Hubby overheard the reason for the delay...a Delta flight crew had called for a Side B pickup and had then trooped over to wait at Side A (where we were). The shuttle was waiting at B, but finally gave up and drove to over A (and Who is on first, and What is on second). We piled in with the confused flight crew and were soon at our home for the night.

Usually when we book through Priceline we get a connecting room, but this time we did not. The connectors have never been noisy, but I still prefer a regular room so I was pleased. The Marriott is located within a few blocks of several restaurants, so we walked to Denny's for a snack before hitting the hay and drifting off into Disney dreams.

The next morning I was up early, but our pick-up wasn't till 10 so we took our time getting the luggage ready and watching television. We headed down to the lobby a little early, and the towncar pulled up a few minutes later. We managed to get on the road a bit before 10, so even with a quick grocery stop we were at the port before 11. There was no line at Security yet, so before we knew it we were heading up the escalator to the check-in area.

Embarking on #30
The Castaway Club check in is at the far end of the counters. If there are a lot of repeat cruisers, the line there is sometimes longer than the others, so be sure to look around. But even if there is a line, we like to check in there. As the Platinum Castaway Club members, it's a matter of pride! We also like to say hello to all the wonderful people we've become friends with at the port. We always feel more like we're being welcomed home than being checked in.

The time to embarkation really flew because we met up with Donna from Dreams Unlimited Travel, which is the agency we use. Since they are internet based, we have emailed countless times and have chatted on the phone, but we'd never met face to face. It was great to finally be able to put a face to the name and voice. We chatted with her and her party until embarkation started around 12:15. I still miss the countdown that they used to do, which was a great way to build the excitement, but it's still a thrill to pass through the Mickey ears and head onto that beautiful ship.

Since you pass through Security when entering the building, the only thing you pause for is your embarkation photo as you head on board. Then a member of the cruise staff announces your family over a microphone and your vacation has officially begun.

Food, Food, and More Food
I generally kick off my trip reports with our dining experiences, since the embarkation buffet is the first order of business after boarding. Disney has been making improvements to the buffets, and it really shows. I love the new selection of delicious salads (all hubby cares about is that they still have the peel and eat shrimp). And since I adore the cold mango soup on the Magic, I was excited to see a new cold strawberry/banana soup on the Wonder. It's not quite as good as the mango, but still very good.

Although the buffet is served in both Parrot Cay and Beach Blanket Buffet, I recommend PC for two reasons. First, although I am not a soda drinker, those who are can get pop in PC but the drink choices are much more limited at BBB. Second, while the characters visit both locations, there is more room in PC so you will probably see more of them. Of course, it is very pleasant to dine al fresco at BBB so that is still a good choice. Late arrivals might not have a choice, as they will be routed to BBB once PC fills up.

There are also enhanced buffet offerings at breakfast and lunch. Although it is hard to pass up the eggs benedict at Triton's, on our next trip we are going to check them out firsthand instead of just observing. The breakfast sounds especially tempting, featuring items such as breakfast burritos on Nassau day and fresh muffins on Castaway Cay day.

As a childless couple, we are typically on the Tritons/Animators Palate/Parrot Cay rotation, and this trip was no exception. We always request second dining to allow more free time during the early evening, but although it was noted on our confirmation, hubby noticed that our Key to the World cards said we were on first seating. Change requests can be made at Wavebands at 1:30 (conveniently, the same time as Palo reservations, which are taken in the same location). Switching to second seating was no problem, since first seating is always much more in demand.

While we were there, we were warmly greeted by Ali, the manager of Palo, who knows us from the many times we've dined there. We had originally planned to skip Palo on this trip, but of course we were tempted into going. We used to skip Parrot Cay, since we weren't fond of the old menu, but it was recently revamped and is now our favorite. Now we skip Animators, which I don't recommend if you are a first time cruiser, since they have a really neat show. But we've seen it so many times that we know it by heart, so Palo typically wins out.

Tritons
Tritons was our first restaurant, and as usual I had trouble choosing an appetizer because they have way too many great choices. I love the vichyssoises (cold potato soup) and salad, so those two won out, but the fried camembert cheese and the escargot are also delicious. For dinner, I love the cut-it-with-a-fork beef tenderloin and homemade mashed potatoes, although the sea bass is also exquisite. For dessert, lately I have been in the mood for plain old chocolate ice cream, which they top just the way I like it (LOTS of maraschino cherries).

On this trip, our old friend Paul from Scotland was our head server, and he made sure that we were well taken care of. Our server was Igor from Croatia, and the assistant was Lisa. It turned out that we were at a table by ourselves. Ironically, while many people prefer to be alone, hubby and I love to eat with a large group. Paul offered to seat us at another table, as there was a mother and daughter dining alone. We didn't want to intrude on people who preferred not to have dining companions, but it turned out that they were glad to have company. As a matter of fact, they were the people we'd been seated with at the embarkation lunch! They were on their sixth Disney cruise, so we got along very well.

Palo
On the next night, we dined at Palo. We had made six o'clock reservations, so we watched as the sunlight dimmed and the lights of Nassau began sparkling in the night. Dragan from Croatia was our server. He has taken care of us a couple of times before. We were also greeted by Ilana from Hungary, who is another of our favorites. We skipped the antipasto to have more room for the rest of the meal, since we always have an appetizer and dessert, and we love the bread and dipping sauces that are always served.

Although I dearly love the portobello mushroom appetizer, lately I have been opting for the delicious fish soup. For my main course, I had the veal marsala special. Hubby never changes...he always goes with the filet mignon and bleu cheese sauce. For me, there is no dessert but the chocolate souffle, but on our last cruise Dragan got hubby hooked on some sort of heavy cream concoction that is now his favorite, although I have no idea what it is called. As always, Chef Patrick outdid himself with an excellent meal.

Parrot Cay
I love the new Parrot Cay menu. For appetizers, the crab newberg is good and the cold avocado soup with pistachio cookies is great. For dinner, I do like the ribs, but the prime rib and twice baked potato usually win out. Hubby never deviates from the mixed grill. For dessert, the lemon meringue and the pecan pie are both delicious choices.

Be warned that Parrot Cay is the loudest of the three restaurants. In addition to being serenaded by a live Caribbean band, be prepared to wave your napkin, or possible even parade around the room and do the limbo in the parade of servers. Although it is not a character meal, it reminds me a lot of Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary resort.

Other Options
Since we like late seating, I will sometimes get a snack from Pluto's Dog House or from room service. Despite its name, Pluto's has plenty of options other than hot dogs. My favorite is the chicken fingers with honey mustard sauce. They also have various sandwich wraps over by Scoops. Sometimes I get ice cream, too, but I'm not really all that fond of soft serve. It takes a lot of toppings to make it palatable to me. Fortunately, they have a good variety to please any sweet tooth) marshmallows, sprinkles, M & Ms, etc.).

The Main Stage Shows

Hercules
We had heard that there were some changes to Hercules, which is the first night's main stage show. They turned out to be pretty minor. Mostly, it's changes to some of the jokes, and watch for Hermes to do a flip! There was a new cast, which gave us the opportunity to compare how they stack up against the previous performers. We know the shows so well that we instantly know if someone flubs a line or if something is a little different. Last time, Hades was overshadowed by Pain and Panic. Their antics are hilarious, but in this cast Hades holds his own, too. It will be fun to see how this cast has settled in when we return for our Easter weekend cruise.

Disney Dreams
We saw Disney Dreams for the 31st time. Usually, we go to the matinee performance, but this time we booked spa appointments for the afternoon and went to the evening show. The matinee is very uncrowded and peaceful, but sometimes I like to be in a fully packed audience. The matinee is usually missing the energy of a big, enthusiastic group. It's fun to hear the delighted squeals of the children as their favorite characters appear. We were in the front row, next to a little boy sitting on his mother's lap. It was so funny to watch him reaching out to catch the bubbles during the "Under the Sea" sequence. On the other side of us, there were a number of kids who seemed to be from the same family. They were squirmy and impatient while waiting for the show to begin, but once it started they were fully engrossed. See the reactions of the little ones is priceless.

My favorite Peter Pan is currently on the Magic. I like a really playful Peter, and I was pleased to see that the one in this cast fits the bill. We loved Disney Dreams as much as always. I can't imagine ever getting tired of it.

A Great Idea
Disney has started something that I think is a great idea. On the night of the two main stage shows, they also show them on television every hour, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and running to 10:30 p.m. That way, if you miss the showing in the theater, at least you have an alternative. Also, you can see an "encore" if you want (we watched most of Disney Dreams again in our room).

The only thing I didn't like was the "canned" laughter and applause (having seen the show so many times, I know the parts where laughs and applause occur naturally) and the bubble noises dubbed in during "Under the Sea." But those are minor points that only someone as picky as me would notice. The t.v. showings are a great addition. If I had a child, I can't imagine a better way to tuck them in then with Disney Dreams playing on the television.

When we cruised, the televised versions were a different cast than the live shows. Hercules was still the old version, so it was very interesting to compare it to the one we saw live.

Other Entertainment
The "Who Wants to Be a Mousketeer" game show was absent from our cruise. We barely noticed, since we don't usually attend anyway. It used to be an evening show, but lately it has been running in the afternoon on Friday. On this trip, there was a showing of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" in the Walt Disney Theater instead. On Friday night, there was a magic/comedy show with John Ferrentino. We skipped it for the spa, but judging from the laughter and applause when I passed the theater, people must have been enjoying it.

Since we don't have children, most of the entertainment events that we attend are aimed at adults. On this trip, we decided to FINALLY go to Dueling Pianos. We went once, right after it replaced the comedy improv, but we weren't too impressed so we've never been back even though we keep saying that we will give it another chance.

We finally made it this time. There is a family show, but we went to the adult version. The performers were The British Boogie Boys, and they were very talented. It was so funny to hear these two very British guys singing "Friends in Low Places" in a Garth Brooks accent. The show was much different than the one we attended before. At that one, you would send up dollars for requests, and the performers had some songs into which they inserted their own risque lyrics. At this one, it was more of a singing performance and audience sing-along. Even though it was billed as an adult show, there was absolutely nothing risque. We were glad that we finally went back, but Dueling Pianos just isn't our thing. Even after all this time, I still miss the improv. I love to laugh and I'm a big comedy fan, so I wish they'd at least have a standup comedian.

Oh well, even with the absence of traditional comedians, there are still plenty of opportunities for hilarity on the Disney Wonder. Two of these are Match Your Mate (similar to the Newlywed Game, but with couples who have been married for various lengths of time) and the 70's Party. This time, Match Your Mate was very tame. Its entertainment value depends mainly on the couples who are chosen, and these were very low key. I suspect that might be the case when the host said, "Go crazy if you want to be picked." Their idea of craziness was jumping up and down while yelling. In comparison, in the past I've seen people run around the room carrying their spouse in their arms, convulse on the floor in a pseudo seizure, and even stampede the stage. Of course, it will be nearly impossible to ever beat the version that we saw on the Magic in January. I think that was the ultimate Match Your Mate game, and after seeing it I'll never look at the deck 7 aft verandah or think about Boy Scouts in the same way again.

I thought that the 70s party was going to be rather tame, too, but I was pleasantly surprised. The guest appearances by Gloria Gaynor started off mild but quickly turned steamy. I've never seen it turn into a lap dance before! The John Travolta appearance was just as good, and hubby and I were splitting our sides. In addition to the show, there are plenty of good 70s hits for dancing.

We were very sad to discover that they no longer have the 80s party on the three-night cruise. Instead, they brought back 50s/60s night, which is okay but definitely not a no-miss activity. I guess that 80s night was too difficult to do. Normally, it features dances by the main stage actors, but on our last cruise, we noticed that part had been eliminated. I'm guessing that was because the 80s party is on the last night, and it's around the same time that the actors are making a farewell appearance in the atrium. Oh well, I guess that the elimination of the party is a blessing in disguise. At least we can get packed and get to bed early without feeling like we are missing something or staying out late and being bleary-eyed the next morning.

At Home in 5650
On this trip, our home base was my favorite stateroom, 5650, tucked away far aft on deck 5 in a very peaceful area. We can almost always be found in one of the two non-connecting secret porthole rooms (5520 or 5020) or 5650. I prefer aft, but although the secret porthole rooms are forward, they are worth it for the "free" view (they are sold as Cat. 10 inside staterooms but they have a porthole with an obstructed view). They are good bargain accommodations, but 5650 is my favorite.

Deck 5 is a great deck to stay on because the cabins are only located forward and aft (the kids clubs and movie theater take up the rest of the deck). This means you will have less hallway traffic, and it easier to walk across the deck because you don't have to navigate narrow hallways lined with service carts, strollers, and people popping suddenly out of staterooms. Although I know that a lot of people prefer to stay midship, I've never noticed much of a difference being forward or aft. I can feel the motion a bit more when I'm forward, and you can hear the side thrusters while docking aft, but neither of those things are a problem. Also, I like to be as close to the water as possible, and 5 is the lowest deck with stateroom verandahs.

On the Wonder (and Magic), the staterooms in general are larger than on most other cruise lines. When we've sailed on Royal Caribbean, the staterooms on Sovereign of the Seas and Viking Serenade literally felt like closets by comparison. Even on Voyager of the Seas and Radiance, two of RCCL's newer ships, the staterooms were still not as large. Also, on Radiance the lifeboats are arranged so that you cannot see straight down to the water when you are in a stateroom above them. Standing at the verandah railing and gazing down at the water is one of my greatest pleasures. Even though Disney's lifeboats are on deck 4, they are recessed so they will not block your view at all.

Interestingly, the staterooms on Disney in Categories 5 through 10 are all the same size. The difference is in the porthole, verandah, or lack of one. The staterooms in those categories have a "split" bathroom, with a sink, hair dryer, and toilet in one half and another sink and tub in the other. Many people find this very handy, although personally I find that hubby is also using the toilet when I want to try my hair. I wish the hair dryer had been located in the bathtub half, or maybe out in the stateroom, by the dresser mirror. But overall, Disney staterooms are roomy (for a cruise ship) and well appointed. There is a television set, phone, and cute propellor-shaped alarm clock, and you have a bathtub instead of a shower like on most cruise ships. We don't use it, but many people with smaller children really appreciate it.

You will also have a "cooling box" in your Disney stateroom. This is like a small refrigerator, although typically not as cold. It won't usually chill things down, but if they are already cold, it will maintain their temperature. Your stateroom host or hostess will also fill your ice bucket once or twice a day (you specify how often you want ice on a little card).

Speaking of stateroom hosts, this time we had Enrique, who was also our host on our last trip. In addition to making the usual towel animals, once night he created a "30" out of chocolates. It was very cool!

5650 was as quiet as always. The only time we ever hear some hallway noise is early on the first day, when people are still finding their way around the ship. Once they get a sense of direction, it's very rare to hear anybody passing our door. We had custom t-shirts made for this trip with a photo of the doorplate from 5650 on the front, captioned "The Barb and Tony Suite." We managed to get the secret porthole rooms for our cruises through the end of 2004, so we're going to have 5520 and 5020 t-shirts made, too. That way, if we ever forget out stateroom, all we have to do is look down on our chest.

Relaxation at the Vista Spa
No cruise is complete without a plethora of spa treatments. We try to book something every day...hubby is hooked on the seaweed wrap ever since I talked him into trying it on our three-peat, so he did two of those and a regular massage. I split my treatments between a seaweed wrap, massage/reflexology, and an absolute face and body (massage and facial). All of the treatments were absolutely blissful!

We used to watch the sailaway from the deck, but lately we have started kicking off the cruise with spa treatments that start as soon as the safety drill ends. Hearing the ship's whistle as you relax in a semi-comatose state under the talented hands of a masseuse is the perfect way to start your vacation.

We also did the surial on Nassau morning, leading to a new discovery for me. The surial chamber is divided into a steam room area with three seats that each has a hose and its own overhead and side showers. Then there is an outer area with a long tile bench, and at the other end of that area is a traditional shower. We were warned that the regular shower wasn't working, as they were waiting for a part to repair it. That didn't dampen our enthusiasm, as I figured we could hose off most of the mud with the cool water and then shower in the locker room or Rainforest. I have low blood pressure (90 over 60 is normal for me), so I usually sit under a hose stream anyway to increase my tolerance of the stream anyway.

Soon we were slathered in mud and sampling the other spa products. They put lots of stuff in the room for you to try, and I love the body scrubs and face masks, as well as the hair conditioner. I noticed that hubby was using the overhead shower and I said, "Isn't that awfully cold?", assuming that it was the same temperature as the hoses. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, "No, it's nice and hot." Apparently he has always known this, but I never realized it and in the past I've always left the nice, hot sanctuary of the stream room to use the outer shower. I thought that I was a surial expert, but now I've learned something new. As always, it was a fantastic adult experience.

Although I am very lazy while on a cruise, hubby likes to use the workout equipment. He heard a rumor that they will soon be getting new equipment on the Wonder, so if they do, we'll get some photos on our April cruise.

Castaway Cay: A Somewhat Soggy Day in Paradise
Although we have managed to dock at Castaway Cay 30 times in a row now, our streak of good weather is no longer intact. Actually, we did get to spend some beach time, but not as much as usual. We noticed while docking that the thrusters seemed to be straining more than usual, and once we disembarked, we quickly noticed the reason. The wind was wicked! Thankfully, it wasn't cold so we knew we'd still be able to take a dip if we could beat the rain.

When we disembarked around 9 a.m., the sky was choked with gray clouds, but the sun was making sporadic attempts to break through. We decided to head out to the adult beach, as hubby always packs a plastic bag so we knew we could protect our towels, beach bag, books, etc. just in case we got caught in a downpour. It takes a while to get to Serenity Bay, as you must take a tram or walk to the family beach area, then hike a ways until you come to the next tram stop. Technically, it's possible to walk to the adult beach, but it's a bit too far for me. I prefer to be chauffeured.

As we trod across the beach, looking for a good spot under an umbrella, we noticed something new. Serenity Bay used to be an unbroken expanse of sand and beach chairs, with only one rope in the water to separate it from the crew beach. But now, the middle part of the water was roped off, and there was a new podium on the beach for the rental of various watercraft (kayak, water trike, sailboat), as well as banana boat rides.

This is a pretty big change. Ever since 1998, Serenity Bay has lived up to its name as a totally serene environment. There is a bar, a desk for float rentals, a merchandise cart, and a lunch area, but none of these are on the beach. I'm not sure how much I like this...I might have rented a kayak if the weather had not been so threatening, but I wasn't very happy with the fact that a large chunk of the swimming area has been cut out. Serenity Bay is often very shallow, particularly at the end near the crew beach. In order to be able to use boats, they had to take a chunk of prime water area a little farther down. This makes it very difficult to get out to the plane wreckage where my hubby likes to snorkel. It's not an official snorkeling area, but the debris attracts a wide variety of fish and even an occasional barracuda. You used to be able to find it easily if you lined up with the first massage cabana and headed straight out.

I didn't get to see (or hear) the full impact of the banana boat, which is towed by a motor boat or jet ski, because not many people were bothering to do it. In the two hours we were there, I only saw one group go out. But I suspect that the buzz of a motor will destroy some of the serenity, and I wouldn't be surprised if it attracts people trying to bring their children, especially if the reservations for the family beach banana boat ride are all taken.

I did my swimming in the far area, where it was deep enough to get down into the water. There weren't many fish, but I did see some sponges, countless starfish, and two stingrays. No one was swimming in the same area, but there were a lot of people on the shallow side of the ropes, wading around in the ankle deep water. I don't know if that was by choice or if they didn't realize that it was deeper farther down.

After a little over an hour of swimming, hubby and I met up at our beach chairs to dry off for lunch. We had decided to head to Cookies rather than eat at the adult beach for two reasons. First, it had started drizzling and lightning was visible in the distance, and the picnic benches at Serenity Bay are not under cover. Second, although their selection of food is good (salmon...mmmm!), they do not have lobster burgers and we both wanted one of those.

The rain was coming down harder as we chugged along in the tram. By the time we got to Cookies, the seating under the sheltered pavillion was almost at capacity. We managed to grab two of the last spots and then took turns going to get our food so we wouldn't lose our seats. The rain held off while hubby got his food, but the skies opened up for a downpour as soon as I had gotten mine and gotten to within five steps of the pavillion. I sprinted under cover and managed to keep my lunch from getting too soggy. But it was a real challenge to make it back to our table, as it seemed like hundreds of bodies were huddled in every available space in the aisles.

As we ate, the rain slacked off again, and it seemed like everyone on Castaway Cay took advantage of the reprieve to head over to the lunch line. I don't think I've ever seen that many people waiting at Cookies in any of our cruises. But the reprieve was short-lived, and part two of the storm sent them scrambling for cover again. Hubby and I were just about done eating, so we decided to head for the ship as soon as there was another lull to see if we could beat part three. We packed everything into our plastic bag...we didn't worry about ourselves, as we were still damp from swimming anyway. But fortunately we made it back before the rain made its return.

We were sorry that our island time was shorter than usual, but a rainy day at Castaway Cay is better than a sunny winter day in Chicago any time. We were pleased that we had gotten some swimming/snorkeling time, as well as a delicious lunch, and now we headed to the Rainforest to top off the day. It seemed like half the ship had the same idea, as the Rainforest was much more crowded than usual. I wasn't surprised, as it's a great place to curl up with a good book in the mild sauna or the heated tile loungers or to bask in the passion fruit scented shower.

When we got back to our stateroom, we were a little disappointed that it was raining again, preventing us from taking our traditional sailaway position outside on the verandah. Instead, we watched through the door from the shelter of our stateroom. It is always bittersweet to watch as the ship pulls away and the island recedes in the distance, and the gray skies made it seem even more so this time. But at least we were consoled by the fact that we'd be back again in April.

The Castaway Club and Onboard Booking
The Castaway Club is Disney's name for its club for repeat cruisers. In order to join, all you have to do is sail on the Magic or Wonder and you automatically become a member. Benefits include a dedicated check-in line at the port (although it pays to check around because sometimes the general lines are shorter), pins and a gift in your stateroom, and an invitation to the returning cruisers party. At the party, they serve drinks and snacks, and it's a great chance to meet the captain and many of the officers. On the three day cruise, it is at 5:15 on Castaway Cay day, and we always make a point of attending. As "platinum" members, it's a matter of pride.

You can also book your next cruise while on board, and there is typically some type of special offer such as an onboard credit. Our friend Candace was the booking agent on this trip, so we stopped by to see her and to book a couple more cruises for 2004. To get the special deal, simply check your Navigator for the hours of the booking desk. If you use a travel agency, your reservation can easily be transferred over to them. It may sound like compulsive overplanning to already have reservations for seven trips in 2004, but I like to lock in my preferred dates and the early booking savings as soon as possible. Also, the secret porthole rooms are getting harder to get as people learn about them on the internet, so booked early is the only way to ensure getting one. It's better to lock a date now and cancel later than to be disappointed by booking too late. Since 1998, I think that we have only cancelled one reservation, and that was actually just a rebooking...we swapped our planned Wonder cruise in Oct. 2003 for another 7-day Western on the Magic in May.

Kids Everywhere...Where Are The Kids?
Although I never heard an official number, I suspect that the kid population on our trip was pretty high. I noticed more children on the late seating on the Tritons/Animators/Parrot Cay rotation, which is typically heavy on childless adults, and I also saw more than usual in other areas of the ship.

But that doesn't mean that they were more underfoot than usual. The brilliance of Disney Cruise Line is that, no matter how many youngsters are on board, there are still plenty of adults-only places for escape when you want some quiet time. It doesn't matter whether there are 2 kids or 2000. As a matter of fact, although it might sound contradictory, when there are more children on board, the adult areas tend be less crowded than usual. That seems to be because when more people have children, more of them go to the family activities and areas.

One thing we did notice on this trip, more so than on our previous ones, was that more people tried to bring their children into the adult areas. It started while we were hot tubbing prior to the safety drill and a woman tried to plunk her kid into the adult pool. The pool was more crowded than usual for early on embarkation day, and the resident adults immediately chased her off. She tried to argue that the "adults only" signs only applied to the whirlpools, but no one was buying it. While in the Rainforest, a young kid came running in, but was retrieved a few minutes later. This trend also extended to the adult activities, such as Match Your Mate, the 70's Party, Dueling Pianos, etc., but each time the offenders were politely but firmly rebuffed.

This diligence is why I can wholeheartedly recommend Disney to fellow DINKs, honeymooners, and empty nesters who want to be able to spend some quality "adult time." I would rather be on a Disney ship with a thousand kids than on Royal Caribbean with 200 because RCCL has nowhere to escape. Even though there were supposed to be a couple of adults-only areas on Voyager and Radiance, we never saw one bit of enforcement in the whole week were we aboard.

I know that many parents get ticked when they see how quiet and uncrowded the adult pool and beach can be, but I look at it this way. They are paying a premium for the availability of the kids clubs, while my premium is going for the availability of peace and quiet in the adult areas. That's how Disney maintains such an appealing product for everyone.

Of course, if the mere sight of a child makes you cringe, than Disney is probably not right for you. You are sailing on Mickey's cruise line, so of course there will be lots of little ones, and you will see them at meals, at the shows, and all around the ship. Personally, I get a real kick out of watching them as they delight in the experience of a cruise. Nothing can chase away the blues like watching a child's face light up as they run to their favorite character for a hug or even as they just see the ship for the first time and wander around with their eyes as wide as saucers, full of awe.

One of my favorite memories occurred at a long-ago sailaway. Now, we typically get a massage right after the safety drill, so we are holed up in the spa as the ship heads out to sea. But we used to bring bottles of bubbles and blow them to celebrate the sailaway. We always brought extra because bubbles attract kids and it adds to the fun to be able to share. On this trip, we were at the front of the ship, and one little boy was absolutely fascinated. We gave him a bottle, and he climbed onto one of the loungers chairs and stood there blowing bubbles. I can still recall his look of delight as he perched there with the wind in his face, a trail of bubbles blowing behind him. Cruising will never get boring for us, no matter how many times we do it, as long as there are still fresh eyes to see the experience through.

Hurry Up and Wait
I was very nervous on this trip, as we had an 11 a.m. flight home, and in February (when the terrorist alert was orange), it took literally an hour to disembark. Although an hour or more is the norm on RCCL, on Disney you can typically walk right off with little or no line. But with the new security procedures, each person was required to show their drivers license and another form of ID such as a birth certificate or passport. This was announced, but apparently we were the only ones who paid attention, as it seemed that nearly every one in front of us had to spend 10 minutes rummaging through their bags to find the required documents. Too bad they don't have separate lines for people who are prepared and those who are not.

On this trip, the alert level had been lowered, but we were still nervous because 11 a.m. is early, even under the best of circumstances. Since we had Happy Limo picking us up, we knew we wouldn't have to wait for a bus to fill. And, knock wood, we've never run into any really bad traffic when heading back to MCO. But there is still the challenge of getting from the ship to the towncar in a timely manner.

We had booked an 8 a.m. pickup, so we woke up at 6:30 a.m., planning to skip breakfast and to disembark between 7 and 7:30 a.m., depending on the crowd. Normally, the ship is cleared by Customs nice and early, but as luck would have it, on this trip 7:30 rolled by and clearance still hasn't been given. When we got to the atrium, the crowd was thick and the line spread off into multiple directions with people attempting to jostle their way in from every available space. Last time, we chose the side that was merging in from Tritons, but when we got close to the doors, we had noticed that the lines on the other side (merging in from the Guest Services area and the hall by Route 66) were considerably shorter. This time, we chose wisely and joined the people merging in by Route 66, which puts you much closer to the doors. I felt like a line jumper, but what the heck...I'm from Chicago, where line jumping has been refined to a science and where rudeness is a necessary life skill. But since there is no rhyme nor reason to the lines, it's not really line jumping so much as a lack of organization that causes little side lines to form like the arms of an octopus, snaking out from the body.

7:30 passed with no signs of the doors opening to release us out to Customs. Finally, about 10 minutes later, we were allowed to disembark. All we had to show was drivers licenses, so things moved along very quickly from there. We had kept our luggage with us, rather than put it out the night before so it could be taken down into the terminal building. Thus, we were able to roll by the people searching for their bags and whisk through Customs with no line, so we were out within less than 10 minutes.

The towncar was already waiting for us, so we hopped in and sped off to MCO. Traffic was light, as usual, and we pulled up at the curb with plenty of time to spare. The ATA check-in had no line, but we breathed a sigh of relief that we weren't flying Southwest because, as always, their line was totally out of control. When I saw the Southwest crowd, I experienced a flashback to the ship's disembarkation line, but hubby dragged me off to the quiet of ATA.

We managed to get an exit row and still had time to shop at the Disney Store (I had promised to bring my brother some Goofy-brand salt water taffy, and we can never have too many t-shirts), Bow Wow Meow (I always bring home a goodie for the kitties so they will forgive us for abandoning them to the pet sitter's care yet again), and Starbucks. Most of the restrooms in the airport are under construction, so we also spent some time finding usable facilities.

We whizzed through Security and off to our gate at the stated boarding time, only to get the bad news: Flight Delay! Our plane was coming in from Midway, and apparently Chicago was blanketed in fog which had cut off departures. After all the stress and worry, we wouldn't be leaving Orlando for a while. This is the only time we've ever had a significant delay with ATA, and the other one was caused by weather, too (a snowstorm in Chicago). Our only other delay was around 45 minutes for a minor mechanical problem, and we made up most of that time once we were aloft. I have heard people badmouth ATA's on-time record, but we fly them a lot and have never really had any problems.

We whipped out our arsenal of books, games, and music to help us pass the time. It was over an hour before our plane finally showed up, and then they had to get everyone off and service it before we could board. The boarding process was something of a free-for-all, as people were very grumpy and not inclined to wait for their row to be called, but soon we were buckled in and lifting off for home.

We had more turbulence than I expected, which can be a little hair-raising for a white knuckle flier like me. It may seem amazing with all of the trips we take, but I am scared to death of flying. Of course, I'm more scared of not taking vacations, and I know logically that air travel is