A “Wonder”-ful Disney Cruise for Grown Up Fun
Different types of cruise experiences abound but Disney Cruise Line offers a “Wonder-ful” appeal for Disney-loving Couples that is much more than just kid stuff.
Much like the Disney Magic, its sister ship, the Disney Wonder boasts 11 decks and comfortably accommodates 2700 passengers. Nearly a thousand cast and crew members cater to the guests on the Wonder’s exotic Mexican Riviera voyage.
For Disney- Loving Couples, a magical Disney cruise experience starts the moment you board this spectacular vessel from the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, California, just a short ride from LAX.
What makes the Disney Wonder, and any Disney cruise so magical is their approach to offering activities, dining, and even serene and quiet places, while offering world class entertainment for all ages and lifestyles.
Disney Wonder’s Captain Thor says, “Our ships are unique in that we target couples, elderly, and families. You can get away and relax in our many adults-only areas. As people have become more familiar with our product, we see really wide demographics now.”
When we were recently cruising on the Disney Wonder, my husband and I found it “Wonderful” to be able to escape from the busyness and activities, and yes, even kids, to simply enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the adults-only pool. Other relaxing adult areas were easy to find.
We found fine dining in Palo, a lovely Italian style restaurant serving exquisite cuisine, a welcome respite from family-friendly offerings, as this is an adults-only option as well.
With its elegant Venetian glass and inlaid wood paneling, this romantic spot offers 270 degree sweeping panoramic views of the sea. Floor to ceiling windows and a circular layout afford a unique dining experience. A back-lit bar and open kitchen add to the ambiance. Chef Stephan says, “The galley is open and we love to interact with the guests.”
Numerous lounges and coffee bars with specialty coffee drinks and magazines also allowed us some quiet down time as did the Spa and Fitness Center which both are reserved for grown ups. Adults-only comedy, art shows, and performances were peppered throughout the itinerary too.
While on board we met many other couples who also enjoyed these more mature aspects as well as a well-rounded array of activities that all generations could engage in together. While onboard, several different TV and music trivia games drew mostly adult participants, as did golfing tournaments, ping pong tournaments and cooking and ice sculpting demonstrations. The adults-only sand artist’s show was not only captivating but showcased marvelous art and talent. The guest juggler on our ship was nothing less than astounding and an adults only show was offered.
The wait-staff in all of the beautifully themed dining rooms were some of the best we have ever encountered on any ship or cruise line. Each night we were rotated to variously themed dining venues where the same wait-staff followed us from place to place. This proved excellent for several reasons. The wait-staff knew all our preferences by the second night and were always a step ahead with preferred beverages and sides. The various dining rooms with spectacular effects, imagery, music, décor, and themes kept things interesting, entertaining, and upbeat.
Disney’s onboard world class shows are magnificent. As Jeffrey Mouton, the Dance Captain of the Wonder’s dance crew of 25 says, “We do five Broadway-style shows for our guests on each sailing. Disney’s world famous attention to detail and quality shines through from the costumes and lighting to the effects. Some of the effects we have are award-winning and make the audience literally gasp. The production value is amazing and all steps and costumes are different in each production show. We are also the only cruise line that can show first run movies onboard in our movie theater.”
It was evident that all ages loved the Pirate Deck Party and fireworks display which is a highlight of every sailing. The entire ship becomes Pirate-themed all night starting at dinner with the waiters and music right up to the dance party on deck and finishing with the fireworks show right off the ship’s deck which was truly fantastic.
Ports of Call for the Mexican Riviera sailing are Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas which both offer a myriad of romantic activities for couples. Snorkeling, sport fishing, shopping, tours, zip-lining, ocean kayaking and dolphin experiences are just a few of the countless options. Secluded beaches abound at both stops.
As if this were not enough, many guests choose to go from one Disney venue to another by leaving the Disney Wonder cruise when it returns back to the World Cruising Center, to then visit Disneyland and California Adventure, just a short drive away.
For those couples who truly love Disney, this is the most “Wonder”-ous way to enjoy all things Disney.