Four years after it first set sail, the art deco grandeur of the Disney Wonder still wows the crowds — including several insurance meeting planners who sailed the ship in early November on a Seminar at Sea co-sponsored by Coral Gables, Fla., corporate cruise specialists Landry & Kling.
The three-night cruise from Port Canaveral, Fla., to the Bahamas exposed our group to amenities and activities on the Wonder (and its sister Disney Cruise Line ship, the Magic). Among the highlights: bathtubs as well as showers in all 877 spacious staterooms, “rotation” dining for a different restaurant experience each night, Broadway-quality entertainment, and a secluded beach for adults on Disney's 1,000-acre private island, Castaway Cay. While Disney characters and high-caliber children's programs for various age groups keep kids happy, the ship also works well for grownups, with several adult-only areas.
Landry & Kling offers planners various levels of services — from its free “ship select” search to help identify the right vessel and negotiate the contract, to complete pre-planning and on-site program assistance. The company's expertise was evident during a special excursion to Tranquility Cove, a pristine private island light years removed from the bustling mainland in Nassau, Bahamas. Tranquility Cove is not on the passenger excursion list, but Landry & Kling set up our visit with Nassau-based destination management company Cacique International. For a wealth of information on cruising, including 360-degree virtual ship tours, go to www.landrykling.com