Monday, February 13, 2023

Disney Wonder Cruise Along the Baja California Sur Part One


 Disney Wonder Cruise Ship
 
Our oldest granddaughter was turning 10 in February and our daughter had the wonderful idea to celebrate her birthday on a five-day Disney Cruise along the Baja California Sur in Mexico. Our granddaughter's 5th birthday happened to occur on a trip to Disneyworld--click here to read that blog post--so a Disney Cruise would make this birthday five years later extra special. 

My husband and I decided to go along on the cruise.  We have been very careful the last three years and have not traveled out of state because of worries about the Covid-19 virus, but we decided it was time to begin to travel again as we were fully vaccinated and boosted and had our family physician's approval. Since this was a last-minute trip we were the only ones in our family that could go along on the cruise since the rest of our family had work and school obligations. 



San Diego Harbor

We flew from Denver to San Diego, California. the day before the cruise was to depart and visited the San Diego Zoo--see my last blog post about that visit here.



Our last-minute plans meant we decided to take a cruise ship stateroom together on the Disney Wonder Cruise Ship.  It had a queen size bed and also a murphy bed and another bed that lowered from the ceiling that the cruise crew assigned to our floor set up every evening, so it easily slept four people  What we were delighted to learn was that this larger verandah room on the 8th deck is accompanied by "concierge service" which meant many perks for the entire cruise! As concierge members, we were the first group to board the ship and also depart the ship at the end of the cruise,  and there was a wonderful private lounge we were able to visit all day on an upper deck.  It served delicious snacks and hot and cold beverages during the day.  We all enjoyed this lounge and private sun deck that was part of it throughout the cruise as places to relax. 




After boarding the ship we were served a light lunch in one of the restaurants on board. All passengers have a choice of eating breakfast and lunch individually served in a restaurant or at the large buffet dining area.



The Disney Wonder cruise ship "Sail A Wave Party"  took place on one of the top decks with songs and dance and many Disney character appearances on the stage. It was lots of fun!

There was also the mandatory attendance safety drill which is held on every cruise ship after everyone boards, where lifejackets and lifeboat loading stations are discussed.  My husband and I have been on three cruises before this one. Our first was in the maiden year of the Queen Mary 2, which departed from New York to Quebec Canada, and the second was on the Princess Cruise line to the Mexican Riveria--click here to see the first of a few posts I wrote about that enjoyable cruise, and the third on a Princess Cruise line where we had a land and sea Alaska Adventure--click here to read about the unusual beginning we had on that cruise trip. Many more Alaska posts follow which you can read under the Alaska blog label--click here-- if you keep clicking "next" after each post.



Before we knew it was time for dinner! Everything we ordered was so delicious.  I particularly enjoyed trying all the different soups each night from the menu, as I often make soup as our dinner at home. 



That evening, we attended the show at the Walt Disney Theater and saw a magician, Siegfried Tieber perform. He was very entertaining and personable. We really enjoyed the show!  Disney Wonder does not allow photos or videos of the show to be taken, but we were able to meet the magician afterward for photos.  He actually had called our daughter onto the stage to take part in a skit during the show and also called on my husband to check out one of his props for the audience.




After the show, we were all tired and went back to our ship's stateroom where we saw our bed's blanket throw twisted into a shape--this night was a swan--and chocolates were provided.  

It was the end of a wonderful day on the Disney Wonder Cruise Ship and we were sailing away towards our first stop on the Baja California in Mexico, the town of Ensenada, which will be in my next blog post.



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29 comments:

Life Of 2 Snowbirds said...

I always wondered how Disney cruises compare to other cruises. Thanks for this virtual look at the ship!

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

What a fun birthday celebration for your granddaughter. It looks like a grand time on the Disney Cruise. The food and desserts look yummy. Wonderful photos!
Happy Valentine's Day, have a great day!

ellen b. said...

What a special time to enjoy with your oldest granddaughter. Memories for a lifetime.

NCSue said...

This looks like so much fun!
Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/02/a-just-bit-more.html

Tom said...

...that ship is a bit too big for me, I'm a bit of a loner.

stevebethere said...

What a nice post and LQQKED like good fun to love the mix of photos smiles and food of course too heheh!...very nice memories

Have a cruisetastic week Pat 👍

William Kendall said...

Quite an experience.

Veronica Lee said...

Such a wonderful birthday celebration for your granddaughter!

I enjoyed seeing all the delightful photos.

Hugs and blessings, Pat.

Jeanie said...

This looks beyond fabulous -- but the best part is that you are with people you love! I confess, I'm not big on the cruise concept personally but I always love hearing others' experiences, thinking they might change my perspective! This one -- maybw~

Between company last week, prepping for a Cork Poppers do, an ear and/or sinus infection, and then this week's mass shooting in our town, I'm so behind blog reading, I'll never catch up! I'll try to take a look at all but not comment and hopefully be back on schedule this week!

Barb said...

A very lucky granddaughter to be celebrating her 10th birthday in style! Bob and I have never been on a cruise. I get motion sick even on ferry crossings!

Joanne said...

That sounds like such a special birthday celebration!!

Lydia C. Lee said...

How lovely to spend that time together - what fun and will be a special memory for you all. #MCoW

Penelope Notes said...

What a spectacular birthday! It is one that none of you will ever forget. The joy of children and grandchildren is that you get to enjoy the magic of youth all over again. :)

carol l mckenna said...

Oh you travel the best places and get such fun photos ~

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

you made memories with the family cruise celebration - BTW the photo of San Diego harbor is especially beautiful

Spare Parts and Pics said...

This looks wonderful. My granddaughter would love it! Really looking forward to the cruise as it heads south.

Angie said...

Pat - I have done one cruise in my life, more than 30 years ago. I felt pampered and special. Nowadays, I would feel constrained being on the boat. But I know many people love cruises, and your trip thus far looks very special. I look forward to reading and seeing more!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

It sure is nice to be pampered on vacation like a cruise line does. I love the amenities you got. We've been on two cruises and I think a third is coming.

NKH said...

That looks joyous!

EricaSta said...

Congratulations 🎂 ...understood very well, this was surely a wonderful time together. And I'm very glad that you share this at

MosaicMonday

Have a very good week. Hugs by Heidrun

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

It's worth it to get the extra space and perks! What a fabulous trip!

Photo Cache said...

Disney cruise is in my bucket list.

Worth a Thousand Words

Dawn said...

We love a cruise although often wondered how the Disney ones rate compared to Royal Caribbean, may have to try a Disney Cruise next year after reading this xxx

Rambling Woods said...

Oh wow...looks like a fantastic time...

laura said...

HI Pat,
what a fun birthday with a cruise!
We did a Disney cruise for my inlaw's 50th ten years ago and it was the year of the "We're all in this together." Highschool Musical played on the deck by the pool 24/7! Ha!

What a fun birthday! Your granddaughter will remember this always!

Thank you for the cake recipe. That is the winner for Book Club on Thursday night! Stay tuned!

xo laura

Lowcarb team member said...

What a wonderful birthday celebration for your granddaughter.
Lovely to see all of your photographs.

All the best Jan

Ciao Chow Linda said...

What fun for all of you, especially your granddaughter. Making so many memories together for a lifetime!

A Bit of the Blarney said...

've been gone for so long I'd forgotten how enjoyable it is to visit you blog. You had a wonderful excursion! How grand! Wishing you well, Cathy

April J Harris said...

What a fabulous adventure - and what a great way to celebrate as a family! I really enjoyed all the fun photos. Thank you for sharing, Pat. I'll be featuring this post at the March 2023 Edition of Hearth and Soul which goes live on Sunday. Hope to 'see' you there! Have a lovely weekend.