Our family to a Disney Cruise to Alaska in June.  Four of us shared this adventure – my mom, husband, daughter and I sailed on the Disney Wonder.  We had heard that a cruise was a fun experience for all ages and my husband has always wanted to travel to Alaska.  My mom had been on a cruise years ago, but it was the first one for my husband, daughter, and me.  If you’re a regular reader of KLY, you know I’m a huge Disney fan.  Walt Disney World is on my “happy place” short list.  If you’d like to read how we chose a Disney cruise, follow the link. I’ll be writing a few posts about our trip, I hope you enjoy the stories!
The day to board the Disney Wonder had finally arrived! Â After months of excitement, packing, reading about excursions, gathering tips… the day had finally come. Â When you check-in online, you are given a boarding time. Â The boarding process is very well organized, but be prepared to take some time to get through customs. Â Disney cast members are there to guide you through the entire thing and we felt very comfortable without a worry. Â At the port you are ushered through a large parking-garage-feeling area and get in line. Â The US citizens are separated from other countries. Â You pass through a security check point where they look through your bags, but it’s not as intense as at an airport, or as rushed, there is just a different vibe.
I’d seen pictures of the ship, the Disney Wonder, online but nothing prepared me for how pretty it was! Â We stepped onto the ship and there were cast members in white uniforms lined up. Â A man announced, “The Carpenter Family, Welcome to the Disney Wonder!” and we were greeted by applause. Â My daughter loved this! Â When she called her bff to tell her about our trip when we got home, that was one of the “highlights” she included, it truly made her feel special.
The ship is designed with an elegant, beautiful decor. Â It’s reminiscent of what you picture as old-school cruising, without feeling stuffy or overly formal. Â In true Disney style, there are subtle hidden Mickeys throughout. Â The brass, decorative railings and golden colors gave the atrium a overall warmth but without sacrificing the usual Disney feeling of energized fun.
We had reserved a stateroom with a balcony for my husband and myself, and an interior stateroom across the hall, for my mom and my daughter. Â My dad passed away last August and we are still getting used to vacationing without him. Â Disney welcomed us with a bottle of champagne, a tray of delicious cheeses and other goodies. Â This was something very special to me, because toasting with champagne is something I remember from the old movies of people going on cruises. Â They would always have champagne before the call for, “All ashore that’s going ashore”.
Disney takes care of all your luggage for you. Â We had left our suitcases in our hotel room where they were to have been picked up and delivered to our room on the ship. Â Ah, the luxury! Â I’m going to do a separate post on what our stateroom was like, but just briefly, we loved it! Â Disney has one of, if not the largest person to square footage ratio of any cruise ship and the stateroom was much bigger than I’d expected. Â And so very organized! Â Lots of drawers and storage space, we quickly unpacked and settled comfortably in.
We headed on deck for the “Sail Away” party! Â In true Disney-style, the music and atmosphere was energized fun! Â Cast members were giving everyone sparkly pom poms to wave. Â My daughter quickly ran up on the stage to dance with the other children. Â The ship started moving and we were on our way!
Stayed tuned for more posts about our activities on the ship, excursions on shore, and the incredible beauty of Alaska.
To learn more:
More posts about our Disney Cruise:
How We Chose Our Alaska Cruise – Things To Consider When Deciding On A Cruise Line and Cruise Ship
Things To Do in Vancouver Before Your Alaska Cruise
Sailing On The Disney Wonder – Day One: Sail Away! #DisneyCruise @DisneyCruise
Sailing On The Disney Wonder – The Staterooms #DisneyCruiseÂ
Sailing On The Disney Wonder – Things To Do On The Ship #DisneyCruise
looks like fun, never been on a cruise.
This was my first. Now I can’t wait to go again!
This is so awesome and another blogger once posted about her Disney cruise and had told me that you could set your date and pay as you wait. I told my daughter which went ahead and is doing this now so they can go. Not sure when she is going but they are super excited about it. I am so envious, I would love to go myself as well. Looks awesome!
I’m going to look into that – maybe that could be how we could swing a second cruise. I’d love to go to the Mediterranean.
The ship looks beautiful and so do the rooms. Hope you all have a great time. I hope one day I too can go on a cruise like this.
Thanks, Kelly!
The ship is so elegant! You had a beautiful room, very spacious.
I would love to go on a Disney Cruise! It looks magical and like so much fun. The room and the ship is gorgeous and I bet the food is delicious! I want to go!
That looks like a really fun atmosphere and I like the finishing touches of how they welcomed you such as announcing your name and the food.
What a great way to travel with family and make it fun.
Looks like so much fun, I would love to go on a cruise!
I would love to go to Alaska!
It looks like a lot of fun and the ship looks really big up close.
I know a couple who went on a cruise to Alaska, and they didn’t like it that much. Obviously they didn’t go on a Disney cruise – this looks amazing! The food, the activities – and just how splendid everything looks – wow! I’d love to go!
We have always wanted to get on the Disney cruise, it looks so much fun.
Looks like such a fun trip!! Love the photos. Thank you for sharing!
It is amazing how big this ship looks inside looks like a lot of fun for anyone else but me.
Looks like a lot of fun!
Spent 30+ years as a travel agent and went on MANY cruises – so much fun – love cruising!!!
Oh i would love to go on one of these cruises
Wow, that looks so nice! Definitely makes me a lot more interested in taking a cruise :) The cabins look so much bigger than I imagined as does the ship in general :)
this would be a dream come true! we love disney and Ive always wanted to go with my mom and sister to alaska. looks like it was a lot of fun
I’ve been to Alaska and it’s beautiful there. I have also taken a Disney cruise to the Bahamas in Apr 13 and I will again in Oct of this year. I love Disney Cruises and won’t cruise on anyone else! Best cruise ships EVER!
oh how fun! Looks like great rooms with lots of space.
That bed looks huge and comfortable, I wouldn’t want to get out of it to do anything else!!
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What a great boat with wonderful décor! This looks amazing. I’d love to take a cruise with my grandsons some day!
Fun!! I love how Disney cruises always look. It’s one of the lines i’ve not yet tried but really want to!
a cruise to Alaska is #1 my bucket list
Okay, your post made me cry. Your daughter looks so sweet and so excited. We haven’t cruised the Disney line yet, but when we have grandkids, we’ll have to take them.
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What a wonderful memory you are creating for your family, I love Disney and I love Alaska, and I think that your cruise sounds wonderful, Disney never skimps on what it does for people to enjoy
Looks like a wonderful experience!
My granddaughter has been on a Disney cruise but not to Alaska but, she loved it….she told me it was an awe moment every single day.
Wow, that looks amazing. I have never been on a cruise. It looks fancy. I think I would be sea sick the whole time though.
looks so much fun im glad yall had a fun time
I am so jealous, looks like so much fun!
This is definitely the next big vacation we are planning for. Everything looks so nice…so disney. My little ones love everything disney so this is perfect.
A Disney Cruise to Alaska sounds perfect! I’ve always thought a Disney or Alaska cruise would be the best, but I didn’t know you could do BOTH! :-)
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What a wonderful treat awaited you in your stateroom – snacks and a champagne toast! That’s hospitality!
My parents always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise and a Disney one would be extra special. Looks like a lot of fun!
Sounds like everyone had a great time!
I have never been on a cruise, but that definitely seems like a lot of fun. And besides, who doesn’t love Disney.
I know my daughter would love to go.
I love that Disney characters are there as you board the ship.
A Disney cruise looks like so much fun. I love all the little touches and details!
That ship is beautiful. I’d love to go on a Disney cruise.
Doing a cruise is so on my bucket list.
This looks like such a good time!
The cruise ship looks amazing from the pictures you have shown. I would love to go on a cruise like this with a fun, yet beautiful atmosphere.
I have wanted to go on a cruise to Alaska for a while and I hope to do it someday.
This looks like a cool vacation.
I love how the crew greeted your family once you got through customs and on board, that would make anyone feel special. I love how there are Disney characters around to help with the process. Sounds like an amazing time to be had!
i would love to go on a Disney cruise. What a great time with family.
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Looks like you had a lot of fun!
I wouldn’t mind taking a cruise to Alaska, but my husband isn’t big on the idea of traveling by ship.
How fun! I love Disney and would love to go on a cruise. So much fun to have it be a themed and kid friendly cruise as well. So the adults can have fun along with the kids!
I’ve never been on a cruise. I love how you were welcomed. Super nice and classy, too. :)
Wow, this looks like so much fun. I love 3 generations on one trip!
It looked like for the whole family.
We have always wanted to go on the Disney cruse and maybe next year we will!
I have always wanted to go on an Alaska cruise.
Like the way Disney takes care of you so you could have a wonderful trip
We’ve traveled a lot, but never been on a cruise. My sweet husband, our grandson (who lives with us), and I have agreed that we want to do a Disney cruise. They sound like a lot of fun!
The food looks great! I so need a cruise!! My sons want to visit Disneyland
Disney cruises really sound amazing. It’s so awesome that they greet you by name, leave a welcome gift in your room, and get everyone together right away!
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Looks like a lot of fun. Can not wait to go
We have cruise #20 coming up in October – it’s our favorite vacation. I love going with first time cruisers because their excitement is so fun and contagious. Looks like a wonderful trip you had with great memories
It looks like so much fun. I would love to go on a Disney cruise.
The cruise looks likes so much fun. I am ready for another vacation and a cruise would be the perfect remedy.
My brother just got back from a honeymoon cruise to Alaska. They loved it!
Can’t beat a Disney cruise, thanks for sharing!
I would love to take the same cruise! It looks and sounds absolutely lovely! Thank you for all the information.
The cruise looks fun. :) We’ve never been on a cruise ship before. :)
I’ve never had a stateroom with a balcony before – hope to get a chance to someday
I am so happy you had such a wonderful time. I would have love to have gone too!! I have not been on a cruise and this sounds and looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing the pictures!!!
That boat is GORGEOUS.
It looks like it was so much fun! I never would have thought to go on a cruise to Alaska with Disney!
After reading all your posts on your cruise thus far written, I am very impressed. I really have never even given a Disney Cruise a second thought but I am rethinking things. You had a beautiful room and there was such a variety of activities, food and the land tours looked very entertaining
I have never taken a cruise, but if I ever did, I would want it to be Disney. Your pictures are just magical.
Enjoying your report and photos so far! I always get a little misty-eyed when I spot the DCL ships in port on my way to the beach!
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I have never been on a cruise. I usually travel with my sister, but she is reluctant to go on a cruise because the last time she went on a boat she got really sick. Heck, I’ll go.
Looks and sounds like such a blast! Your daughter is too cute, and that’s sweet that when they applauded, it made her feel special! I have always wanted to go on a cruise. I love Disney,too!
What a wonderful looking vacation! I need to start saving for a cruise…..
Looks like a lot of fun! I would love to go on a cruise… I have never been on one!
The more I read, the more I want to go on a cruise to Alaska NOW!!!
So pretty!!! That’s so exciting- a Disney cruise would be awesome.
Wow! These images are gorgeous — I never thought I’d want to go on a cruise, but this just may change my mind.
Looks like so much fun. I bet Alaska is a beautiful place to cruise to. Thanks for sharing! :)
Thank you for all the additional links to check out! I love being about to read up before planning a trip!
I’ve never been on a cruise before but I would LOVE to go on this one! Wonderful pictures!
It looks like your daughter had a ton of fun!!
The ship is beautiful
Looks like a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing!
Wow that’s a packed crowd! Looks like fun though!
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Love the photos.. Looks like so much fun!! Thank you for sharing…
Next time you go,tell your daughter to bring that same suitcase.I think I could probably squeeze in there! ;)
The pictures of the ship are awesome! It just sounds like a dream come true!
My kids would love to go on a Disney cruise.
This is beautiful!
i have always wanted to go on a disney cruise. it looks like so much fun!
I’ve never been on a cruise but this looks like a lot of fun.
sound fun glad your family had the chance to do something like that.
Your daughter looks so excited so glad you had a wonderful time.
I’m sorry for the loss of your father. This looks like an incredible vacation. I would love to go on a Disney cruise one day!
I’ve been on a cruise to Alaska but it wasn’t a Disney cruise. Lots of fun extras on your cruise.
Wow, what a beautiful welcome they gave you!
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I didn’t know they had a Sail Away party. Sounds fun.
Wow, this is awesome! I love Disney and have always wanted to do a Disney cruise,
It looks like you had a wonderful trip! I wish I would go on a Disney cruise very soon!
The “Sail Away†party looks so fun for kids!