Disney Wonder

Last updated

Disney Wonder logo.svg
Prince George Wharf in Nassau Harbor (Disney Wonder).jpg
Disney Wonder docked at Nassau
History
Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas
NameDisney Wonder
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Operator Disney Cruise Line
Port of registryCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas [1]
Ordered1995
Builder Fincantieri Marghera shipyard, Italy [2]
Laid downMay 5, 1997
LaunchedFebruary 23, 1998
Sponsored by Tinkerbell and Mickey Mouse
ChristenedOctober 3, 1999
CompletedJune 18, 1999
Maiden voyageAugust 15, 1999
In service1999–present
Identification IMO number:  9126819
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeMagic-class (Disney) cruise ship [2]
Tonnage84,130  GT [2]
Length984.58 ft (300.10 m) [2]
Beam106 ft (32 m) [2]
Draft26.74 ft (8.15 m) [3]
Decks11
Installed power43,000 kW (57,600 hp)
PropulsionDiesel-Electric; 5 ×  Sulzer 16ZAV40S; two shafts
Speed
  • Cruising 21.5 knots (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph),
  • Maximum 23.5 knots (43.5 km/h; 27.0 mph) [3]
Capacity2,400 passengers [2]
Crew945

Disney Wonder is a 25 year old [4] cruise ship operated by Disney Cruise Line. It was the second ship to join the Disney fleet on entering service in 1999. Disney Wonder is of the same class as Disney Magic. The other three ships in the fleet are the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish. The interior of Disney Wonder is decorated in the Art Nouveau style, in contrast to her sister ship, Disney Magic which is decorated in the Art Deco style. Both ships have 11 public decks, can accommodate 2,400 passengers in 875 staterooms, and have a crew of approximately 950. Disney Wonder was built in the year following completion of Disney Magic. As of 2015, Disney Wonder sails various North American itineraries on a seasonal basis. From early September to late October 2016, the ship underwent dry dock in Cadiz, Spain, where she was given many new dining, entertainment, and accommodation enhancements.

Contents

History

Disney Wonder in Puerto Vallarta Disney Wonder 20110216.JPG
Disney Wonder in Puerto Vallarta

Disney had cruise ship designs drawn up by February 1994. [5] In 1995, Disney Cruise Line commissioned the construction of Disney Magic and Disney Wonder in Fincantieri, Italy. [2] She was laid down on May 5, 1997, launched on February 23, 1998, and completed on June 18, 1999. [6] The ship's godmother was Disney character Tinkerbell (who only spoke with bell sounds), and Mickey Mouse (voiced by Wayne Allwine) gave the ship's blessing in English. [7] [8] Wonder entered into service in August 1999. [2]

Disney Wonder originally sailed three and four-night cruises to the Bahamas. In 2011, Disney Dream took over these itineraries. Since then, the Disney Wonder has been sailing a variety of itineraries that include stops in Alaska, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and passages through the Panama Canal.

Rebecca Coriam, a 24-year-old crew member, was last seen by one of Disney Wonder's security cameras having an apparently upsetting telephone conversation in the early morning hours of March 22, 2011, before apparently disappearing the next day. It was the first such incident in the history of Disney Cruise Lines. [9]

With the arrival of Disney Dream in 2011, Disney Wonder was relocated to Los Angeles under a two-year contract with a three-year extension with the port. [10]

On January 10, 2013, Disney Wonder made her first-call ceremony in Miami, Florida. Cruises while stationed in Miami would consist of four- and five-night itineraries to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean with stops in Cozumel, Mexico; Disney's private island, Castaway Cay; Grand Cayman; Key West and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship returned in April 2013 to Vancouver, British Columbia, for Alaskan cruises. [11]

The ship was dry docked for an overhaul at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain [12] in September 2016 until October 23, 2016. Disney Wonder was then stationed out of Galveston, Texas starting November 10, 2016. [13]

In October 2018, Disney Cruise Line began showing Disney at Sea with D23, a 30-minute entertainment news show that covers the many Disney subsidiaries with input from D23, starting with Disney Wonder. [14]

A cruise in spring 2020 was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ship arrived at the Port of San Diego, California, on March 19, 2020, where 1,980 passengers disembarked; there were no reports that any had flu-like symptoms. By April 5, 38 crew members had reportedly tested positive to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, according to a report by Cruise Law News based on discussions with unnamed individuals on the ship. Disney, however, told other news media that none of the crew had tested positive. A passenger who disembarked at San Diego on March 20 reported that no health screening activities, such as the asking of health-related questions or the taking of temperatures, had occurred upon disembarkation, and that the only health screening that occurred was during the check-in process two weeks prior. [15] After disembarking the passengers in March the ship was placed under a no-sail order, effective through July, by the Centers for Disease Control. As of May 2020 Disney Wonder and two other cruise ships were still at anchor offshore from San Diego. Approximately 700 crew were reportedly still aboard Disney Wonder. [16]

Disney Wonder in Colombia on November 14, 2021 Disney Wonder docked in Colombia.jpg
Disney Wonder in Colombia on November 14, 2021

After the resumption of cruising in October 2021, Disney Wonder made sailing short cruises from San Diego, Galveston, and New Orleans, Louisiana, with a significantly reduced passenger load. [17]

On March 31, 2022, the Disney Wonder made her inaugural trip to Avalon Catalina Island on a 4-night cruise, also stopping at Ensenada. This was celebrated in accordance with maritime tradition plaque exchanges. [18]

Disney Wonder docked in White Bay on February 16, 2024 DisneyWonder WhiteBay 16-2-24.png
Disney Wonder docked in White Bay on February 16, 2024

In October 2023 Disney Wonder began a new itinerary from Australia sailing to out of Sydney to Auckland, Brisbane and Melbourne. She arrived in Sydney via Honolulu, Hawaii in October 2023 and will return to Vancouver in March 2024. [19] [20] She will then go back to San Diego, where she will offer 3-day and 4-day Baja, and 7-day Mexican Riviera cruises, then go back to Vancouver from San Diego for 7-day Alaskan round trips. Then she will travel back to Australia in October, and come back to Honolulu and Vancouver in February 2025. [21]

Recreation

Entertainment

Entertainment on Disney Wonder includes live Broadway-style shows ( Frozen , The Golden Mickeys and Disney Dreams) with many Disney characters at the Walt Disney Theater, the Buena Vista movie theater, which features both Disney films and first-run movies, several night clubs and lounges, several pools, and many Disney-themed parties and celebrations, including a Sail-Away Celebration, Pirate Night, Frozen Night (for Alaskan cruises) and sometimes a Marvel or Star Wars Day at Sea.

On the ship's forward funnel, there is a 24-by-14 foot LED screen known as the Funnel Vision, due to its location on the rear of one of the ship's funnels, where guests can watch various movies and shows either from the deck or from inside Goofy's Pool.

Youth Activities

Children 3-10 can spend time at the Oceaneer Club and the Oceaneer Lab, which are connected by a passageway. The Club provides a slide, multiple TVs, dress up clothing, and counselor-led activities. The Lab provides video games, computers, cooking classes, and TV time geared towards the older end of that age bracket. Children receive an RFID badge when registered that allows the cruise staff to know the child's location in the activity areas, and to help with Check-in and Checkout. Tweens ages 11–14 can enjoy the Edge on deck 9, where they can watch movies, play games, enjoy arts and crafts and more with other cruisers their age. Finally, the Vibe exists in the funnel on deck 11 for teens ages 14–17, where they can chill, hang out with friends, listen to music, watch TV, play group games, and more.

For adults, one of the ship's three pools is reserved exclusively for older guests to relax and spend time, featuring a poolside bar and a number of deck chairs. There is also a shipboard spa at the front of the ship, past the adult pool, as well as a gym. There are also adults-only activities, including limited alcohol tastings, trivia, and other activities in the After Hours section of the ship, which becomes adults-only after 9pm.

The ship also has a promenade/walking track around the exterior on deck four. On some cruisings, there are fireworks at sea on one night of the cruise, as well as a Pirate Night and/or Star Wars/Marvel Day at Sea.

Dining

Disney Cruise line is known for pioneering the rotational dining setup, in which guests and their wait staff rotate through three differently themed restaurants throughout their cruise. [22] The Disney Wonder's restaurants include Triton's (serving "continental food with a french flair"), Tiana's Place (serving southern-, cajun-, and creole-inspired food), and Animator's Palate (which is present on each of the original 4 Disney cruise ships). Additionally, the up-scale, adults-only restaurant Palo, situated at the rear of the ship, requires a separate reservation and serves high-end Italian cuisine.

Related Research Articles

<i>Freewinds</i> Church of Scientologys ship

MV Freewinds is a former cruise ship operated by International Shipping Partners and owned by San Donato Properties, a company affiliated with the Church of Scientology. She was built in 1968 by Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland, for Wallenius Lines as MS Bohème for service with Commodore Cruise Line. She was the first cruise ship built in Finland. Her ownership passed to a Church of Scientology-controlled company in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Cruise Line</span> Cruise line operation, subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company

Disney Cruise Line is a cruise line operation that is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The company was incorporated in 1996 as Magical Cruise Company Limited, through its first vessel Disney Magic, and is domiciled in London, England, with their operational headquarters located in Celebration, Florida. Disney Cruise Line operates five ships: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish. Three ships will join the fleet in 2024 and 2025: Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny, and Disney Adventure. Disney Cruise Line owns Castaway Cay, a private island in the Bahamas designed as an exclusive port of call for Disney's ships. A second private destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, a 700-acre property on the southern end of Eleuthera, Bahamas opened on June 6, 2024. Disney Cruise Line operates two Disney Cruise Line Terminals in Florida.

<i>Disney Magic</i> Cruise ship

Disney Magic is a cruise ship owned and operated by Disney Cruise Line, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. She is the line's first vessel, later followed by the Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish. She has 11 public decks, can accommodate 2,700 passengers in 875 staterooms, and has a crew of approximately 950. The interior of Disney Magic is decorated in the Art Deco style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Cruises</span> Cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation & plc

Princess Cruises is an American cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. The company is incorporated in Bermuda and its headquarters are in Santa Clarita, California. As of 2021, it is the second largest cruise line by net revenue. It was previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises. The line has 15 ships cruising global itineraries that are marketed to both American and international passengers.

MS <i>Renaissance</i> (1992) French cruise ship

The MS Renaissance is a cruise ship that re-entered service in June 2023. The ship was built in Italy in 1992 as Maasdam for Holland America Line. While sailing for Holland America, the vessel operated primarily in North American waters. In 2020 she was bought by Seajets and renamed Aegean Myth, but did not trade. The ship was bought in 2022 by a new French operator, Compagnie Française de Croisières.

SS <i>Southern Cross</i> (1954)

SS Southern Cross was an ocean liner built in 1955 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland for the United Kingdom-based Shaw, Savill & Albion Line for Europe—Australia service. In 1975 she was rebuilt as a cruise ship and subsequently sailed under the names Calypso, Azure Seas and OceanBreeze until 2003 when she was sold for scrap to Ahmed Muztaba Steel Industries, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

<i>Celebrity Millennium</i> Millennium-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises

GTS Celebrity Millennium is a cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises. She is the lead ship of her namesake class, whose ships are powered by gas turbines. Delivered in 2000, she is the oldest operating ship in Celebrity's fleet.

<i>Crown Princess</i> (2005) Cruise ship

Crown Princess is a Crown-class cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises, with a capacity of 3080 guests and a crew complement of 1200. Her maiden voyage took place on 14 June 2006, departing Red Hook, Brooklyn for Grand Turk, Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Grand Cayman, and Port Canaveral (Florida).

<i>Carnival Valor</i> Conquest-class cruise ship

Carnival Valor is a post-Panamax Conquest-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. The vessel was built by Fincantieri at its Monfalcone shipyard in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. She was floated out on March 27, 2004, and christened by American journalist Katie Couric in Miami on December 17, 2004.

<i>Goddess Of The Night</i> Cruise ship built in 2004

Goddess of the Night is a Destiny-class cruise ship owned by Seajets since 2023. Formerly operating as Costa Magica by Costa Crociere, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, the 102,784 GT vessel joined sister ship Costa Fortuna in 2004 and were referred together as Fortuna-class ships; together, they became the largest ships in the Costa fleet at her time of delivery. Costa Magica paid homage to some of the most famous destinations in Italy including Positano, Portofino, Bellagio, and Sicily, which were incorporated into her public areas and restaurants. 19 years after her debut, Costa sold Costa Magica to Greek/Cypriot ferry company Seajets in 2023 and she was subsequently renamed Mykonos Magic.

<i>Marella Discovery</i> Cruise ship

Marella Discovery is a former Royal Caribbean International Vision-class cruise ship now sailing for Marella Cruises. The second in the line of the Vision-class ships, she features a seven-story lobby, rock-climbing wall, and a 9-hole miniature golf course.

MS <i>Island Princess</i> (2002) Cruise ship

Island Princess is a Coral-class cruise ship for the Princess Cruises line. She is the sister ship to Coral Princess and together they are the only Panamax ships in Princess's fleet. She was constructed at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, France.

<i>Carnival Magic</i> 2011 Dream-class cruise ship

Carnival Magic is a Dream-class cruise ship which entered service on 1 May 2011. The ship was named and christened in Venice by her godmother Lindsey Wilkerson Alsup, a former patient and current employee at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

<i>Disney Dream</i> Cruise ship operated by Disney Cruise Line

The Disney Dream is a cruise ship operated by Disney Cruise Line, which is part of The Walt Disney Company's Disney Experiences division. She is the third ship of the overall fleet and the first of the Dream-class, and was followed by a sister ship, the Disney Fantasy.

<i>Royal Princess</i> (2012) Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises

Royal Princess is a Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, and is the third ship to sail for the cruise line under that name. The largest ship to have been built for Princess at the time of delivery in 2013, she became the flagship of Princess. As the lead vessel of the Royal class, she lends her name to the company's Royal class, which will consist of six ships upon the last ship's delivery in 2021. The ship measures 142,714 GT and has a capacity of 3,560 passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disappearance of Rebecca Coriam</span> 2011 disappearance from cruise ship

On 22 March 2011, English Disney Wonder crew member Rebecca Coriam disappeared from the ship while it was at port off the Pacific coast of Mexico. She was captured by CCTV in the crew lounge earlier that morning, having a phone conversation with a woman that appeared to be causing her emotional stress. Several hours later, she missed her shift and could not be found anywhere on the ship. Her disappearance was the first such incident in the history of Disney Cruise Line.

MS <i>Koningsdam</i> Cruise ship operated by Holland America Line

MS Koningsdam is a Pinnacle-class cruise ship operated by Holland America Line (HAL), a division of Carnival Corporation & plc. Koningsdam is the lead vessel of HAL's Pinnacle class, which includes Nieuw Statendam (2018) and Rotterdam (2021), all of which were built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. Two years after the first steel was cut in February 2014 to commence construction, she was delivered to HAL in March 2016 and began operating the following month. At 99,863 GT, she became the largest ship ever commissioned for HAL upon her delivery.

<i>Carnival Panorama</i> Vista-class cruise ship

Carnival Panorama is a Vista-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. After Carnival finalized the ship's order with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in December 2016, the vessel had her keel laid in January 2018. She was formally delivered in October 2019 as the last Vista-class vessel and as the flagship of the fleet; she has served in the latter role until the Mardi Gras debuted in 2021. Measuring 133,868 GT and 323 m long, she is the largest of Carnival's three Vista-class vessels. Since her debut in December 2019, she has been homeported at the Port of Long Beach and sails week-long itineraries to the Mexican Riviera.

<i>Disney Wish</i> Cruise ship operated by Disney Cruise Line

Disney Wish is the fifth cruise ship owned and operated by Disney Cruise Line, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. She is the largest ship in the fleet and the first of the Wish-class. She entered service in June 2022 and will be followed by her sister ships the Disney Treasure in 2024 and the Disney Destiny in 2025. The other four ships in the fleet are the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy. The Disney Adventure will join the fleet in 2025.

References

  1. ↑ "Inquiry call over vanished cruise woman". BBC. October 30, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Saunders, Aaron (October 1, 2013). Giants of the Seas: The Ships that Transformed Modern Cruising. Seaforth Publishing. pp. 76–78, 179. ISBN   978-1848321724 . Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Ship Facts". Disney Cruise Line. Archived from the original on May 29, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Disney Wonder Completes 25 Years of Service - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News. September 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ Dezern, Craig (February 20, 1994). "Disney Contemplating Creation Of Cruise Line". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Disney Wonder (9126819)" . Miramar Ship Index . Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  7. ↑ MainStInsider (April 9, 2013). "Tiggerific Tuesday Trivia: Disney Cruise Ship Godmothers". Main St. Insider. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  8. ↑ Christening the Disney Wonder (1999) , retrieved February 12, 2020
  9. ↑ Ronson, Jon (November 11, 2011). "Rebecca Coriam: lost at sea". The Guardian . Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  10. ↑ Garcia, Jason (March 30, 2009). "Disney will homeport a ship in Los Angeles". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Disney Wonder Hosts First-Call Ceremony in Miami". Cruise Industry News.com. January 10, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  12. ↑ Tribou, Richard (October 26, 2016). "Upgraded Disney Wonder headed back to the U.S." Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  13. ↑ Sloan, Gene (June 2, 2016). "Disney Wonder makeover to bring new pool zone, pub". USA Today . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  14. ↑ Tuttle, Brittani (October 16, 2018). "Disney Cruise Line debuts new live news show, 'Disney at Sea with D23'". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Thirty-Eight Crew Members on Disney Wonder Reportedly Test Positive for COVID-19". Cruise Law News. April 5, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  16. ↑ Weisberg, Lori. "Cruise workers are leaving San Diego". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  17. ↑ Cannioto, Melissa (October 13, 2021). "Just Revealed: Disney 'Wonder' to Resume Sailings From New Orleans". Inside the Magic. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Catalina Island Welcomes Disney Wonder to Avalon Port" (Press release). Love Catalina Island. April 1, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  19. ↑ "New! New Zealand & Australia Cruises". Disney Cruise Line. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  20. ↑ Disney cruise ship arrives in Australia for the first time Sydney Morning Herald October 17, 2023
  21. ↑ "Disney Wonder Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review".
  22. ↑ "What is Rotational Dining | Disney Cruise Line". disneycruise.disney.go.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.