ukintheus
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2009
Hello and welcome to another family adventure on the beautiful Disney Wonder. This trip had been planned for four of us since the day they released the 2019 fall itineraries, so it had been a while in the making. My nephew, Paul, and his wife, Belinda, also decided to join us about 8 months prior to sailing and so it was another family party. This was also the first time DCL had offered a “double dip” to Castaway Cay itinerary from Galveston, and so the cruise sold cabins quickly (and the price increased along with it!) The sail date also coincided with Thanksgiving weekend, which I’m sure made it even more attractive.
So, our group this time around were Scott and I, my Mum and sister, Maureen, and my nephew and his wife. I managed to get Paul and Belinda’s cabin somewhat close to ours, they were only a few doors down, so it all worked out.
Here we all are on the Fantasy a couple of years ago.
Mum and Paul flew in from the UK in mid-November, Maureen scheduled her flight to arrive on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Scott was scheduled to get home from Saudi Arabia the day before Thanksgiving and Belinda was flying in on Thanksgiving day. Plans were made, the travel was all booked and Thanksgiving week rolled around.
Scott and Maureen were both travelling at the same time although one of them had a slightly longer journey!
We had a family Thanksgiving planned at my brother’s house and eventually the six of us were all in the same place at the same time! It was during the afternoon on Thanksgiving day (the day prior to our sailing) that my sister casually mentioned.... that she was going to travel on just her driver’s license this sailing (she officially got herself banished to the old and senile club for this one!).
Needless to say, we had a frantic few hours trying to figure out how we could get her passport from Knoxville, TN to Houston, TX in 12 hours - on Thanksgiving Day. I can tell you now – it’s not possible! We tried everything we could think of. Fedex were not picking up anywhere on Thanksgiving Day. Airline counter to counter service wasn’t available from Knoxville because of the lateness in the day. We even entertained the possibility of someone driving from each location half way, which would have been a 16 hour drive round trip, just to meet in the middle. Having exhausted all realistic possibilities, my sister ended up having her daughter go to her house and scan both her passport and her naturalization certificate and she sent us the scanned images. Because we were born in the UK, we don’t have US birth certificates, but we do both have naturalization certificates, which are also allowed on closed loop cruises as proof of identity. Of course, you are required to have originals, but at this point we had to go with what we could get. We decided to just head to the port with the documents that she had and pray to the Gods of Cruise Paperwork, that it would somehow work out. Yes, I’m leaving a cliff hanger here!!
Scott and I headed home in the early evening to get our packing done.
November 29th – Embarkation Day
I woke up pretty early and checked the Galveston cruise cam – hmmmmm….no ship. Sure enough, the Marine Tracker app showed her out in the holding area in the Gulf. The Weather Channel app told the tale with a dense fog advisory for Galveston.
I think this is at least the third time, if not the fourth, that we have experienced fog when cruising from Galveston but it’s just so convenient for us that it’s worth putting up with. I shot out a quick message to everyone at about 6:30 am that we were going to start bumping back our meeting time to drive down to Galveston. Scott and I were supposed to be back at my brothers to get my Mum and sister by 9:00 am but we pushed it to 9:30 am as a start.
Our cat, Missy, was very interested in coming with us.
Scott and I left the house at about 8:00 am and dropped one of our other cats (Charlie) at the vet as he was going to stay with them for the week. We were on our way into Houston by 8:15 am. It was a very dreary looking day.
Mum and Maureen were ready to go by the time we got to them and so we loaded the rest of the luggage. I got an email from DCL just before 9:30 am that they were pushing all the port arrival times to 1:30 pm and that all aboard was 3:30 pm. We left my brother’s house shortly after that and were on our way to Galveston by 9:30 am. The plan was to meet Paul and Belinda at Buccee’s on I-45 and then we would figure out what we would do based on where the Wonder was. Scott was keeping an eye on her and at almost 10 am the Wonder started to head into the port.
We made it to the causeway bridge by about 10:40 am and decided to park close to Pier 21 so that we could watch the Wonder sail in.
Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas came in ahead of her. She isn’t quite a pretty as the Wonder, and her paintwork isn’t kept anywhere near as pristine.
We had a while to wait until the Wonder made her appearance into the ship channel, so here's a random photo of us all hanging about.
Finally at just gone 11 am the Wonder had turned and was backing down to the cruise terminal.
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We could see that people were still in their cabins, which didn’t bode particularly well for a smooth debarkation or embarkation for any of us. But, we decided to go with the flow and go and grab some lunch while we waited. We went into Willie G’s which is right at Pier 21. Our old favorite, Olympia Grill, is now closed down. These aren’t great photos but I’m putting them in there anyway.
After lunch we meandered down to the Tall Ship museum entrance because the Wonder was in Terminal 1 (Carnival terminal) and so it was a good photo opportunity. Typically DCL go out of terminal 2, but that’s the Royal Caribbean terminal and so it wasn’t available today.
The Facebook group was reporting horrendous lines and still no open doors at the cruise terminal at 1:15 pm so we drove over and dropped our luggage and then headed to the seawall to kill a bit more time. We didn’t really do anything other than check emails and messages and stare at the grey, cold looking skyline for a bit.
Patiently waiting.
Belinda is good about remembering to get photographs!
At about 2 pm we decided to go and get parked and head to the cruise terminal in the hopes that we would have outwaited everyone. We were wrong! LOL The line to get into the terminal was about 30 minutes and went all the way down the side of the terminal 1 building. Again, not great photos but Belinda got some of us while we were waiting to get into the terminal.
I think it was about 3:30 pm by the time we got inside and then there were long lines for security. Of course, at this point the nerves were starting to play out on whether my sister’s paperwork would be OK. The first checkpoint was where the port staff check your ID against their list. We told them that my sister didn’t have her passport, but had her ID and a copy of her naturalization certificate – they decided that was OK and let us through. Step 1 down but step 2 where they check you in was going to be the real tale. Paul and Belinda were sent to check in at the Silver Castaway Club line – which was incredibly long – and the rest of us to check in through the Platinum line. The saga was told about the passport. The check in lady got someone else to come and talk to my sister and she took all of her paperwork. She came back a while later and said she would have to get someone else involved. The issue with this particular cruise was that we were not clearing immigration back in Galveston, but would be clearing in Key West because it was our first port of call back in the US after being in the Bahamas. We were asked to take a seat over to the side and wait. Paul and Belinda had made it through their super-long check in line and so we all waited. And the final answer was?????? Key West immigration would not accept the copies. My sister wasn’t going to be allowed to board. Uggg….we knew it was totally possible, but you always keep hoping, right?? We talked over a quick plan for her to get back to Houston and then the 5 of us had to get onto the ship. It was a sucky start that’s for sure.
They were starting muster when we walked on board (via deck 4 – not into the atrium), and had already made the announcement that due to the delayed boarding there would be no sail away party. We went straight to muster with our carry on luggage. As soon as it was over we headed up to our cabins but by now it was almost 5:30 pm. My sister and I were texting as they were trying to identify her suitcase and have it taken off the ship. About 15 minutes later they brought it to the cabin and so I was able to identify which one it was for it to be taken to her. She got an Uber and headed back to Houston. It was definitely a yucky, sucky, start to our vacation but we decided that letting it spoil the entire trip was pointless and so we decided to suck it up and just make the best of it. P.S. This is the only drama part, so if you got sucked in by the title that's all I've got.
It was already almost dark by the time we really got into our cabins.
Belinda had ordered the Christmas cabin decorations for their cabin.
I had ordered the Birthday decorations for ours for Scott.
And I had ordered the Christmas decorations for Mum (and Maureen – LOL) We had a connecting cabin with Mum, which worked out great.
Mum’s suitcase arrived and she got busy unpacking and I helped her while Paul, Belinda and Scott went to get a drink. By the time they got back Scott and I still didn’t have any luggage. Our cabin host, Jude, had stopped by several times by this point with all the drama over luggage and non-existing passengers – LOL He told me that he thought maybe he had seen it at guest services. I have no idea how he knew that, but sure enough, when Scott and I went down there they had it and we were able to get it back to the cabin and unpack.
We decided to try and shake off the frazzled and chaotic day that it had been so far and we went down to Crown and Fin for Paul and Scott to play backgammon. Phew….time to decompress a little. We could feel the ship moving while we were in there, and we pulled away from the pier at about 8 pm.
So, our group this time around were Scott and I, my Mum and sister, Maureen, and my nephew and his wife. I managed to get Paul and Belinda’s cabin somewhat close to ours, they were only a few doors down, so it all worked out.
Here we all are on the Fantasy a couple of years ago.
Mum and Paul flew in from the UK in mid-November, Maureen scheduled her flight to arrive on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Scott was scheduled to get home from Saudi Arabia the day before Thanksgiving and Belinda was flying in on Thanksgiving day. Plans were made, the travel was all booked and Thanksgiving week rolled around.
Scott and Maureen were both travelling at the same time although one of them had a slightly longer journey!
We had a family Thanksgiving planned at my brother’s house and eventually the six of us were all in the same place at the same time! It was during the afternoon on Thanksgiving day (the day prior to our sailing) that my sister casually mentioned.... that she was going to travel on just her driver’s license this sailing (she officially got herself banished to the old and senile club for this one!).
Needless to say, we had a frantic few hours trying to figure out how we could get her passport from Knoxville, TN to Houston, TX in 12 hours - on Thanksgiving Day. I can tell you now – it’s not possible! We tried everything we could think of. Fedex were not picking up anywhere on Thanksgiving Day. Airline counter to counter service wasn’t available from Knoxville because of the lateness in the day. We even entertained the possibility of someone driving from each location half way, which would have been a 16 hour drive round trip, just to meet in the middle. Having exhausted all realistic possibilities, my sister ended up having her daughter go to her house and scan both her passport and her naturalization certificate and she sent us the scanned images. Because we were born in the UK, we don’t have US birth certificates, but we do both have naturalization certificates, which are also allowed on closed loop cruises as proof of identity. Of course, you are required to have originals, but at this point we had to go with what we could get. We decided to just head to the port with the documents that she had and pray to the Gods of Cruise Paperwork, that it would somehow work out. Yes, I’m leaving a cliff hanger here!!
Scott and I headed home in the early evening to get our packing done.
November 29th – Embarkation Day
I woke up pretty early and checked the Galveston cruise cam – hmmmmm….no ship. Sure enough, the Marine Tracker app showed her out in the holding area in the Gulf. The Weather Channel app told the tale with a dense fog advisory for Galveston.
I think this is at least the third time, if not the fourth, that we have experienced fog when cruising from Galveston but it’s just so convenient for us that it’s worth putting up with. I shot out a quick message to everyone at about 6:30 am that we were going to start bumping back our meeting time to drive down to Galveston. Scott and I were supposed to be back at my brothers to get my Mum and sister by 9:00 am but we pushed it to 9:30 am as a start.
Our cat, Missy, was very interested in coming with us.
Scott and I left the house at about 8:00 am and dropped one of our other cats (Charlie) at the vet as he was going to stay with them for the week. We were on our way into Houston by 8:15 am. It was a very dreary looking day.
Mum and Maureen were ready to go by the time we got to them and so we loaded the rest of the luggage. I got an email from DCL just before 9:30 am that they were pushing all the port arrival times to 1:30 pm and that all aboard was 3:30 pm. We left my brother’s house shortly after that and were on our way to Galveston by 9:30 am. The plan was to meet Paul and Belinda at Buccee’s on I-45 and then we would figure out what we would do based on where the Wonder was. Scott was keeping an eye on her and at almost 10 am the Wonder started to head into the port.
We made it to the causeway bridge by about 10:40 am and decided to park close to Pier 21 so that we could watch the Wonder sail in.
Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas came in ahead of her. She isn’t quite a pretty as the Wonder, and her paintwork isn’t kept anywhere near as pristine.
We had a while to wait until the Wonder made her appearance into the ship channel, so here's a random photo of us all hanging about.
Finally at just gone 11 am the Wonder had turned and was backing down to the cruise terminal.
[
We could see that people were still in their cabins, which didn’t bode particularly well for a smooth debarkation or embarkation for any of us. But, we decided to go with the flow and go and grab some lunch while we waited. We went into Willie G’s which is right at Pier 21. Our old favorite, Olympia Grill, is now closed down. These aren’t great photos but I’m putting them in there anyway.
After lunch we meandered down to the Tall Ship museum entrance because the Wonder was in Terminal 1 (Carnival terminal) and so it was a good photo opportunity. Typically DCL go out of terminal 2, but that’s the Royal Caribbean terminal and so it wasn’t available today.
The Facebook group was reporting horrendous lines and still no open doors at the cruise terminal at 1:15 pm so we drove over and dropped our luggage and then headed to the seawall to kill a bit more time. We didn’t really do anything other than check emails and messages and stare at the grey, cold looking skyline for a bit.
Patiently waiting.
Belinda is good about remembering to get photographs!
At about 2 pm we decided to go and get parked and head to the cruise terminal in the hopes that we would have outwaited everyone. We were wrong! LOL The line to get into the terminal was about 30 minutes and went all the way down the side of the terminal 1 building. Again, not great photos but Belinda got some of us while we were waiting to get into the terminal.
I think it was about 3:30 pm by the time we got inside and then there were long lines for security. Of course, at this point the nerves were starting to play out on whether my sister’s paperwork would be OK. The first checkpoint was where the port staff check your ID against their list. We told them that my sister didn’t have her passport, but had her ID and a copy of her naturalization certificate – they decided that was OK and let us through. Step 1 down but step 2 where they check you in was going to be the real tale. Paul and Belinda were sent to check in at the Silver Castaway Club line – which was incredibly long – and the rest of us to check in through the Platinum line. The saga was told about the passport. The check in lady got someone else to come and talk to my sister and she took all of her paperwork. She came back a while later and said she would have to get someone else involved. The issue with this particular cruise was that we were not clearing immigration back in Galveston, but would be clearing in Key West because it was our first port of call back in the US after being in the Bahamas. We were asked to take a seat over to the side and wait. Paul and Belinda had made it through their super-long check in line and so we all waited. And the final answer was?????? Key West immigration would not accept the copies. My sister wasn’t going to be allowed to board. Uggg….we knew it was totally possible, but you always keep hoping, right?? We talked over a quick plan for her to get back to Houston and then the 5 of us had to get onto the ship. It was a sucky start that’s for sure.
They were starting muster when we walked on board (via deck 4 – not into the atrium), and had already made the announcement that due to the delayed boarding there would be no sail away party. We went straight to muster with our carry on luggage. As soon as it was over we headed up to our cabins but by now it was almost 5:30 pm. My sister and I were texting as they were trying to identify her suitcase and have it taken off the ship. About 15 minutes later they brought it to the cabin and so I was able to identify which one it was for it to be taken to her. She got an Uber and headed back to Houston. It was definitely a yucky, sucky, start to our vacation but we decided that letting it spoil the entire trip was pointless and so we decided to suck it up and just make the best of it. P.S. This is the only drama part, so if you got sucked in by the title that's all I've got.
It was already almost dark by the time we really got into our cabins.
Belinda had ordered the Christmas cabin decorations for their cabin.
I had ordered the Birthday decorations for ours for Scott.
And I had ordered the Christmas decorations for Mum (and Maureen – LOL) We had a connecting cabin with Mum, which worked out great.
Mum’s suitcase arrived and she got busy unpacking and I helped her while Paul, Belinda and Scott went to get a drink. By the time they got back Scott and I still didn’t have any luggage. Our cabin host, Jude, had stopped by several times by this point with all the drama over luggage and non-existing passengers – LOL He told me that he thought maybe he had seen it at guest services. I have no idea how he knew that, but sure enough, when Scott and I went down there they had it and we were able to get it back to the cabin and unpack.
We decided to try and shake off the frazzled and chaotic day that it had been so far and we went down to Crown and Fin for Paul and Scott to play backgammon. Phew….time to decompress a little. We could feel the ship moving while we were in there, and we pulled away from the pier at about 8 pm.
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