Despite its reputation as a brand "where dreams come true," I was almost in tears as I boarded the Disney Wonder in Galveston, Texas, in November.
After an exhausting week, the combination of a judgmental parenting post from an acquaintance on Facebook, the swirl of political vitriol on social media and an in-person admonishment from a brusque security guard about my choice of parking spot had left me feeling drained, on edge and desperate for a break.
I was, as I kept telling people, "not a cruise person" and "not a Disney person" _ I was also sometimes a seasick person _ but as I settled into my stateroom with my 8- and 5-year-old daughters, I realized I couldn't have been more excited to cast off into the abyss.
I decided our four-night cruise to Cozumel and back would be an unplugged vacation, purchasing only enough Wi-Fi to send occasional proof-of-life check-ins to my husband. Otherwise, we would trade FaceTime for face time with Mickey and Minnie, iPads for plunges in the pool and status updates for sunrises from the balcony of our room.
As it turned out, it was an ideal time to discover the Wonder, which itself had just returned relaxed and rejuvenated from early fall dry dock in Spain and was eager to show off its recent renovations and enhancements.
