Travel Date: April 3-8, 2022
Ship: Disney Wonder
Itinerary: Mexican Riviera 2 Sea Days with stops in Cabo San Lucas & Ensenada
Cast of Characters:
Me (F55)
DH (M53)
DS (our son, 14)
MA (DS friend, 14, who came with us on a 7 day DCL cruise on the Wonder during Spring Break 2019)
JF (DS & MAs friend, 14)
Plan: We were supposed to take this trip during Spring Break from school 2020. When that got cancelled we took DCL up on their offer of a 25% credit if we rescheduled vs. cancelling/getting refunded, so we did that and rescheduled for Spring Break 2021. When that got cancelled we took DCL up on their offer of a 25% credit if we rescheduled vs. cancelling/getting refunded. By this time we had enough DCL $$ to get a 2nd cabin and bring along a 2nd friend for DS.
DCL requires and adult be registered in each cabin so DH and JF were registered in 1 cabin and DS & MA were registered in a cabin with me. After a DCL rep on the phone mentioned to us that Mickey doesnt check who sleeps where (*grin*) we decided to have the boys sleep in the inside cabin on Deck 7 and DH and I would take the Family Cabin with Verandah on Deck 8.
The Wednesday before our Sunday departure I started having pain behind my right knee and was limping slightly. After sitting at dinner I had difficulty getting up as the area had stiffened up. By Thurs. AM the knee was frozen and I could barely walk. I was terrified what this might mean for our trip. I found a pair of crutches in the closet and went to Urgent Care where I was told I had strained a ligament behind my knee. I couldnt even straighten my knee enough to put my foot flat on the ground. I was told to stay off of it, ice it and it would be 6-8 weeks recovery. I told her that I had a cruise in 4 days. She suggested a wheelchair. Long story short, I stayed in bed for 3 days, iced my knee, took pain meds and arranged for a cane, a wheelchair and a shower bench in our cabin. Sunday morning I was able to put my foot flat on the ground and walk, albeit slowly, to start getting ready to leave.
Day 1 Embarkation and Depart San Diego
Sunday, April 3, 2022
The morning started with me waking up at 5:00 am, followed by DS at 5:40 am and hubby at 5:45 am. After we all showered and put our toiletries in our suitcases (having fully packed on Saturday) fed the cats we were in the car by our projected 7:45 am, on our way to pick up MA who lives here in town with us. After many hugs and well wishes from his parents, we were off by 8:05 am and went through the McDonalds drive-thru for the 2 boys. JFs family lives in Riverside County and we had asked them to bring him to San Diego and meet us at the ship.
DH had arranged for all 3 boys to get Cant Wait To See You Onboard calls from Mickey and Goofy and after those came in we settled in to our drive and MA quickly fell asleep, having had a late night being excited, per his mom.
It was raining lightly when we got off the freeway in San Diego and as we navigated our way down to Harbor Blvd. DH dropped me off across the street from the port so I wouldnt have to walk from the hotel where they were parking. I walked past a Holland America ship and then in front of the Wonder. I took a selfie and texted it to JFs mom, who immediately texted back asking where I was, as they were parked in front of the Wonder. We found each other and exchanged hugs and excitement. JFs little sister, AF10, was not happy Brother was going to be going away and she wouldnt be with him for 5 days. Extra hugs and kisses for her. I asked JF to stay with his family as I was headed to go find the wheelchair DCL had arranged for me for Embarkation, and have a sit-down.
I spoke with a couple of different DCL Ground Crew people and they directed me to go sit on a bench and they would find a wheelchair for me. I inquired about what I heard regarding Covid testing not being right there at the port, as had been the case for a friend a couple of weeks ago. Indeed, we were being sent across the street to the Wyndham, I was told. We surmised that this change was due to there being 3 ships (the Wonder and 2 Holland America ships) being in port that day and probably not enough space in the tent at the port for passengers from all 3 ships to get tested there. After DH and the 3 boys dropped off our luggage alongside the ship, they came to me and asked if I should take the shuttle DCL was providing for mobility challenged folks. I was feeling pretty good about my mobility at that time and decided I didnt want to wait and hold everyone up, knowing the whole group had to be together to check in for testing. If I do say so myself, I did quite well managing to not be too slow getting to the Wyndham.
There were port staff members stationed all along the way directing us to the Wyndham, and telling us to go to the Grand Ballroom when we got there. We walked all the way through the lobby to a hallway at the back of the hotel, turned right and found a Disney-esque wrapped queue marked off with tape on the floor. The line wasnt too long. We thought this was perhaps because we had gotten an early Check-in Time (11:15 am) when we did our Online Check-in. TIP: Do your Online Check-in as soon as possible, folks, if you want to get on the ship early and avoid long lines for Covid testing. You can Check-in at midnight the day your window opens and this means 9 pm the day before on the West Coast. Just sayin. The line moved quickly and before we knew it we were at the head of the line and could see approximately 12 or 14 tents in front of us, each sectioned off from the others for privacy and we were assigned to go stand in front of #5 and wait until we were called in. Momentarily a technician invited all 5 of us in and gave us instructions on how to perform the nasal swab test.
This was my first time doing a Covid test. We each swabbed our noses, 5 circular movements around the inside of each nostril. We did NOT have to go very far up, in fact, we were asked NOT to go too far up. A picture on the wall of the tent showed about halfway up our nostril. We then each stuck the swabs in our individual tubes and gave them to the technician and exited the tent. We went around the long lines of tents and were instructed to sit in the adjacent ballroom to wait. We were told we would get an email to the address we had given when registering with Safe Passage for our mandatory Covid Vaccination Proof. TIP: Make sure you use an email address youll have access to that day. I only have access to 1 email address on my phone. I freaked out that I had DH use one that I didnt have access to so he checked and assured me that indeed he had used the one I *do* have access to. Phew!
Since we had a potential 20 minute wait ahead of us, I went to the bathroom. As I came back to the ballroom I could see DH gesturing to JF that the 2 of them had been cleared, high fives shared between them. I got excited and refreshed my email when I got back to my group. Indeed, we were Cleared to Sail as well!!! Woo hoo!!! Off to get in line in the ballroom, show our Cleared to Sail email and we were given wristbands indicating we had been cleared, and the time were cleared written on the wristband. We were given instructions to get to the ship within 15 minutes of the time written on our wristbands or wed have to come back and test again. Presumably that was to dissuade folks from going elsewhere to perhaps have breakfast, potentially being exposed, and then boarding the ship.
This was our experience with Covid testing. Yours in the future may be different. If fewer ships are in on any given day, testing may be done right at the port next to the ship. YMMV. As the pandemic slows down hopefully this step will not be necessary.
I was a little nervous about the 15 minute time frame, and walked a little faster than I probably needed to. We made it easily within our time frame and were ushered into the terminal to Check-In. So exciting! Having 2 different cabins we were sent to 2 different Check-in counters, but next to each other. I provided the Passports and notarized Minor Authorization Form for MA as well as our Check-in QR Code. The staff member indicated she was going to make a copy of it. I told her to be sure to take a copy of both pages as the 2nd page was the actual Attestation. I explained that DCLs form was not California Compliant (thank you currence and katiesue!) and that the notary sent along the 2nd page. She thanked me for letting her know.
After a quick shot of the 3 boys by the DCL Welcome banner we were off to Security then to trek to the gangway! This was getting very real and our pace quickened, with my knee twinging a little from time to time. The gangway was really quite steep for my knee but darned if I was going to stop and ask for a wheelchair now, we were so close! Before we knew it we were being introduced by our Blended 3 Family Names and were aboard! Ohmygosh! I stopped to take it in but knew we had to get out of the way for the next family. A CM was waving us over to him and told us to go to our Muster Station listed on our Check-in QR Code paper. DH and JF went one direction and the other 3 of us went another. Of course ours was all the way at one end of Deck 4, requiring much walking. Luckily for me there was a Life Preserver Storage Bench there so I could sit. The Crew Member took note of our Cabin #, checked our 3 pictures in her device and tried to help get us logged into the app. I was having problems, but moved aside for other families coming to Check-in, knowing Id get DH to help me while we were seated at lunch. TIP: I discovered that my issue was that I was typing the hyphen in my last name. Dont be like me. Just a space between the names. Once I did that I was all set!
DH and I took the elevator, and the boys took the stairs. They stopped to go the bathroom and we all arrived at Cabanas at the same time and washed our hands before walking in. DH and I dropped our bags at a table and I indicated to the boys to do the same to which DS said Do we have to sit with you? LOL. And so it starts. No, dear child, you dont. Have fun, be good, be nice to others dont push each other off the ship. Have fun, be safe, when we find out about dinner and let you know. *eyeroll*
DH and I went through the buffet line. Today was the 1st time self-serve was being permitted since the CDC lifted the ban on them. Speaking with CMs later we were told that while it was lifted on April 1, they didnt implement it until today. We were very pleased! As we went through the line I found I wasnt loading up my plate with as many tempting items as I have in the past. Honestly, not a lot was interesting. DH and I both got some prime rib (what a chintzy thin slice!), a penne pasta with marinara and I got some chilled peel-and-eat shrimp with cocktail sauce, a piece of baked salmon (dry) and a slice of steak. We both got the lamb chop, but it was NOT the lamb lollipop of years past, as we have been reminiscing and dreaming about. This was thicker and did not have a handle. We were sad but tried it anyway. I took one bite and gave the rest to DH. He ate mine and his but did not get another. A sad change. I always like chilled shrimp, but there wasnt much else that was memorable.
DH and I then took the elevator to Deck 8 to peek and see if the cabins were available. They were! Off to find ours. Our Room Keys were not provided at Check-in, rather we were told they would be waiting for us at the room, and indeed, clipped to the Fish outside our door, there was an envelope with keys in it for me, DS and MA.
I took the obligatory pictures before we put any of our stuff down or messed the cabin up in any way. Then I unpacked our magnets from my carry-on bag, putting ours on our door. We took the elevator to go one deck down and saw that Deck 7 cabins were also open. Yay! We found the boys cabin and put their magnets on their door. DH got the keys off the Fish (he was really bothered that DCL was delivering the keys this way as literally anyone could take them and get into your cabin.) We messaged DS through the app that we had their keys. Some of their bags had been delivered as we left so we put them inside for them and went back to our cabin. Both of our bags had been delivered. It was only like 2 pm. Sa-weet! I think thats the earliest weve ever gotten our luggage delivered. I immediately set to unpacking while DH made a phone call. After his phone call DH unpacked and we left the cabin to go explore and wound up at Cove Caf. There was a singer performing so we decided to go sit outside as we wanted to talk and Cove Caf is too small a space for live music, in our opinion. We sat at Signals and had the Drink of the Day, Paradise Punch (Malibu coconut rum, acai liquor, pineapple juice, orange juice and Grenadine), but not in the Commemorative glass. We never order those. We dont need them. We saw the boys exploring the ship as they passed by on Deck 10 a couple of times. We waved and they waved back and kept moving. Ha!
DH has been dreaming about the chicken strips from Petes Boiler Bites since we were here 3 years ago. Its always one of the highlights of the trip for him. So we went and got a plate with some fries. As he came back to where I was sitting and set the plate down I could see they didnt look the same as they have in the past. These did not have as thick a breading nor were as crunchy looking as they had previously. Indeed, they were nothing like they had been in the past. DH was very, very disappointed. First no lamb lollipops, then changed chicken strips
JFs family was staying nearby as they were planning to take AF10 to Sea World the next day. I texted to tell them they could come see us Sail Away, which they did. Unfortunately, I misinterpreted the 4 pm All Aboard as being the time wed be sailing away (I claim not having been on a cruise for 3 years as forgetful brain) and they stood around waving at us for about 45 minutes before texting they were cold and were going to leave. We were finally unmoored and sailed away at 5:15 pm! However, there was no Sail Away Deck Party. We assume it was because of Social Distancing protocols, but there were no Social Distancing requirements anywhere else on the ship. We came to learn that there would be no large gatherings/parties except for fireworks on Pirate Night. We were very sad and hope those return soon.
While we were waiting to sail away I messaged with Guest Services through the app (their preferred method of communication now) asking about our dining rotation. Dining Rotation was not printed on our Room Keys, as it has been in the past. The CM responded that we were on Rotation 2 at 5:30, table 75. Well, thats nice, but what, pray tell, is Rotation 2??? Seriously? Where were we to go to dinner tonight, please? Animators. Great, ok, thank you. And whats the rest of our rotation? They mustve gotten busy as it took a long time for a response and when it came it was in the form of an apology, we were indeed on Rotation 3, starting in Tianas. Um, ok, thanks. I realized later that this information was all available on the app but the CM at our Muster Station had given no assistance beyond making sure we were connected. Lesson learned. Wouldve been nice if someone, anyone, had mentioned that this info was available in the app. Oh well.
After we sailed away DH and I went to our cabin so we could freshen up and ended up in front of Tianas at 5:30. The boys were already there. It turns out Main Seating is at 5:45 pm. So why did GS tell me 5:30? Sheesh. Why hadnt I seen in the app that it was 5:45? Double sheesh! I had a seat in front of the new (to us) French Quarter Lounge (formerly Promenade Lounge) as we waited for Tianas to open. When it did we were the 2nd party seated after we used the free-standing sanitizer dispensers. Our Assistant Server, I Gusti (pronounced ee-Goostee) from Indonesia, introduced himself and said hed return with some water, which he did and then our Server, Pradip (pronounced Pra-deep) from India, came and introduced himself.
DH and I have never enjoyed this space. We have stories from when we were on the 2008 Panama Crossing cruise when it was Parrot Cay and DS was 4 months old, about how bad the acoustics were and how he would cry the whole time we were there because his ears hurt. The acoustics are slightly better now, but not as good as Tritons. The ceiling here is too low. Between that and the CMs all still wearing masks, it was hard to hear Pradip as he stood at one end of the table describing the food wed be able to choose. I think he made a couple of jokes throughout the evening that I missed, too. The menus are all available on the app and there is a small QR Code on the table available to scan and get the menu on your phone. I Gusti also brought a couple of paper menus.
Pradip seemed interested that we had brought 2 friends along for DS to hang out with. He said he wanted to do that the next time we came and offered to hang out with DS. Ha! I looked at his hand to see if I saw a wedding ring, to try and gauge his age. I saw no wedding ring. Later we found out he is indeed married and has a 2 year old son. He shared stories of being home recently and how much his son has grown and how he misses him.
DS and MA both ordered the Fried Calamari appetizer and JF and DH ordered the Chicken Bastilla (Moroccan spiced shredded chicken wrapped in phyllo dough, sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon, with a vegetable almond slaw) and I had the Prosciutto, Mozzarella and Tomato Bruschetta. My baguette slices were too dry and crunchy for my liking, and lacked flavor. DH said the Bastilla was good, but not great. The 2 with the Calamari said it was great!
I had the Arugula and Spinach Salad while DH and JF had the clam chowder. DS had the chilled Mango and Papaya Soup. MA didnt have anything for this course. My salad was yummy, and the red onions and sherry wine dressing made the salad! DH said after the 1st bite with clams it seemed to be a potato soup. DS said his chilled soup felt more like a smoothie. Um, yup. Basically thats what chilled soup is, kid.
MA ordered the Penne Arrabbiata for his entre and said there was no spice in it. I tried a bite and agreed it wouldve been better billed as Penne Marinara. It was yummy, but was definitely NOT an Arrabbiata. DS had the Mesquite Grilled Chicken and said it was really good. JF had the Grilled Strip Loin and was very happy with it. DH had the Pork Tenderloin. He said it was dry but the mushroom and pastry shell made the overall dish good. I had the Pan-Seared Halibut. It was tasty but dry. The Shredded Potato Cake had no flavor. The White Wine Cream Sauce was yummy.
I showed the dessert menu around the table and asked if everyone would be interested in getting 1 of everything and everyone sharing them, which we did. We ended up sharing Kahlua Crme Brulee (everyones least favorite), Dark Chocolate Bomb, Warm Sticky Fig and Pecan Pudding, Mint Chip Sundae and the Signature Dessert, Mango Marble Cheesecake. After tasting each one I asked who would like to finish which dessert. Luckily we came to an agreement and everyone, except DH (who was happy with 1 taste from each) and we each finished our favorite. I ended up with the Sticky Fig and Pecan Pudding. I had been wary of the pecans in the description as I do not care for nuts in my baked goods, but these were pulverized so much that I was only aware of taste and not texture of the pecans. It was fantastic!
After bidding farewell to Pradip and I Gusti, and being told wed be in Tritons tomorrow night, and what our options were for breakfast and lunch, we headed to Guest Services to see about getting DS name moved on the registration to the inside cabin so he could get a key to that cabin, as well as asking for a spare key for MA. They were able to accommodate us and also provided DH with a key to my cabin. We had told the boys at dinner that their Room Host was only expecting 2 people so they needed to make contact and let them know there would be 3 and to please deploy the bed from the ceiling. After getting the room key situation ironed out, they went off and DH and I headed to Deck 6 Mid to pick up the wheelchair we had ordered for me to use during the cruise from Scoot Around. TIP: despite what a 3rd party vendor may tell you (I was told the wheelchair would be delivered to my cabin) it can only be picked up on Deck 6 Mid Ship behind the elevators. Also, despite what DCL told me when I called to tell them about needing special accommodation due to my injury, there *were* DCL branded wheelchairs in this spot for Guest use.
I was really tired at this point from all the walking and use of my knee so I sat in the wheelchair and DH pushed me. This would be the only time I used it. *eyeroll* We went to Cadillac Lounge for Happy Hour (8-9 pm) for 30% off drinks on the menu, not 30% off ALL drinks. It was crowded and the only table available was in the far corner, next to the piano. We were able to fold up and park the wheelchair near our table and settled in to peruse the menu. I ordered the Alexander (Baileys XC, Fair Quinoa Vodka, Godiva White Chocolate) and DH asked for a Side Car. When CM Ryan brought them he pushed them on a cart which worked well on the carpet, but our table was slightly off the carpet on tile and when the cart hit the tile it spilled DHs drink a little, so he stopped pushing the cart and picked up a small silver tray with my Alexander on it, a creamy white drink over ice. There was also a chocolate truffle on the tray. He came right back with an atomizer and spritzed my drink and truffle with Brandy. Huh. Brandy Alexander. Interesting. That was a new one to me. The Brandy wasnt mentioned on the menu. I dont know that I really tasted a difference, or smelled one, but the presentation was nice. My drink tasted very similar to a White Russian. DHs Side Car came with a mini citrus macaron, both of which were tasty. I may have to order that next time.
Folks were placing written requests on the piano for the piano player. He reached for one at one point and remarked of the 432 times hes played this song, Piano Man, in the last month, this time (30 minutes into his set) was definitely the latest into a set hes gotten that request. He loves the song and its the most requested song, but he thought it was interesting it took this group that long to get to it. He seemed amused. He stopped at 8:30, letting us know that he had sets later that night at 9:45, 10:45 and 11:45.
DH and I finished our drinks and went back to our room and found the blue DCL blanket from our bed had been made into a towel/blanket crab and there 3 pieces of chocolate in front of it. So fun! Ive missed this extra touch. We watched a little TV, exploring the channels available, the movies being offered on the TV and then I finally said I was going to go to sleep about 10 pm. DH watched movies on his iPad and soon fell asleep, too. A grand end to an amazing day! I am so happy were all finally here! Besides not wanting to catch Covid, period, this is one of the main reasons weve been so good for so long, to be clear and test negative so we could get on this cruise!
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