For the first time ever, the Disney Cruise Lines fabulous Disney Wonder arrived in San Francisco, en route to Vancouver. The ship was on a repositioning cruise, moving from it's southern base in Los Angeles up to Vancouver for its maiden Alaska voyage in May. Several of my favorite fellow mombloggers and I got to spend some time aboard the Disney Wonder on Friday afternoon, while most of the passengers were off exploring San Francisco. Kimberley from Tippy Toes & Tantrums, Ana from Finding Bonggamom, and Whitney from Rookie Moms were all along for a special press tour and luncheon.
Each Disney ship features a character statue at the main floor landing, and Arielle is the star of the show on the Disney Wonder. Ana was nice enough to pose with her. The ship, like Disneyland and Disneyworld, featured themes in every restaurant, hallway, and common area.
I really loved the giant Dale Chihuly blown glass sculpture hanging over the main atrium in the ship. It was like hundreds of giant technicolor blue and gold poppies hanging from the ceiling.
I've been on a number of cruises, and thought I knew what to expect on a Disney cruise ship (lots of kid stuff, Disney characters, and attention to detail), but what I was not prepared for was how much the ship had to offer adults. While the little ones could be entertained for hours in their own special pirate ship or ocean laboratory, adults can hang out at an adult-only pool, luxuriate in a couples massage with a private hot tub afterwards, or treat themselves to fine-dining sans kiddies, yours or anyone elses.
Like all things Disney, it's the attention to small details that make the ship a special place to be, from the Route 66 map woven into the carpet, to the Mickey Mouse shaped pool for the kids and adults brave enough to swim with them.
Jason from Disney Cruise Lines PR was our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about all aspects of the ship, and seemed to really enjoy showing all the ship had to offer. As part of the Route 66 theme, the Cadillac Lounge offers an adults-only oasis to relax, have a drink, and watch the ocean go by. When we were there, most of the passengers had gone off on excursions to explore San Francisco, so it was really quiet.
The Disney Wonder boasts X dining rooms, from the standard all-you-can eat fare to fine dining on several different levels. Passengers move from dining room to dining room each night, but their waitstaff moves with them so they get to know the passengers. Each dining room had its own style, but the fare was mostly variations of European and American dishes.
We had a chance to visit the kids rooms, from the infant babysitting room (for an extra fee) to the pirate-themed playhouse to the Oceans Lab, featuring science experiments and arts and crafts for the kids. While we where in the Oceans Lab, a peppy "mad scientist" complete with Einstein-like hair and thick German accent, showed the kids how to make the infamous Flubber.
It was a gorgeous day in San Francisco, and the views from the decks of Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge on one side and the Bay Bridge on the other were a welcoming sight. I hope the passengers aboard the Disney Wonder enjoyed their brief stopover in San Francisco as much as I enjoyed my brief visit on the ship. This was Disney Cruise Lines first stop in San Francisco, but hopefully it won't be the last.
I'm not sure when we'll be taking another cruise, but from what I saw aboard the Wonder, we would not go wrong with a Disney cruise. To book your journey, check out the Disney Cruise Lines webpage.
Top photo of Disney Wonder credit: Jimmy DeFlippo/Disney, photographer. Used with permission of Disney Cruise Lines. All other photos: Copyright Glennia Campbell 2011, All Rights Reserved.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary lunch aboard the Disney Wonder and a Disney Cruise Lines mug. I did not receive any other compensation for this post, and all opinions and writings are original and solely my own.
