Do you love
Disney’s attention to detail, customer service and all-encompassing feeling of
magic?
Do you also
wish sometimes you could experience all of that without the crushing crowds and
heat of being inside a Disney park?
Then Disney
Cruise Line is the place for you!
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| Disney Cruise Ship |
I was
skeptical at first, too. As Walt Disney
World vets, I wondered if we’d still feel that Disney magic if we weren’t in a
park? Would my kids be bored? Would my
husband and I actually get to RELAX?
What if we get seasick / hate being on a boat / have bad weather / can’t
find anything to do in port? My list of reasons “why not” to do a cruise was
endless. But now that we’ve done it, I can’t believe we waited so long!
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| Picture with Captain Mickey before boarding |
So let me
tell you all the reasons WHY…..!
Rotational Dining
Rotational
dining is a feature unique to DCL. You
will select either main or late dining when you book your cruise, and this will
be your assigned dinner time during your cruise. While the times can vary by itinerary, main
dining is usually around 5:45 and late is around 8:15. Each night, you will be assigned a different
Main Dining Room for your evening meal. Your table guests, table number and
servers will remain the same every night, even as you move restaurants! By keeping the same servers night after
night, they really get to know you and your family, and will have soon learned
your favorite drink, how you like your meat prepared, and which kid will only
eat plain noodles and broccoli! By the
end of the cruise, your servers will definitely feel like part of your family,
and can help make your dining experience truly exceptional. Loved the dessert you had last night in a
different dining room? They can get it
for you! Don’t know which appetizer to
choose? They’ll bring them all! Kids are done eating and bored? Ours even did magic tricks for them!
Activities for All Ages
Traveling
with kids? There are four distinct Youth Clubs are located on each of the 4
ships, with activities and events tailored to specific ages as follows:
·
Oceaneer Club – ages 3-12
·
Oceaneer Lab – ages 3-12
·
Edge – ages 11-14
·
Vibe – ages 14-17
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| Kids' Clubs |
Each ship
also offers the “it’s a small world nursery” for those aged 6 months to 3 years
(or ages 1-3 on Transatlantic, Hawaii and Panama Canal itineraries). Only the nursery requires reservations, and
carries an additional cost. Access to
all other youth clubs is provided free of charge, and kids may come and go as
they please.
No kids? No
problem! There are also several “adults only” areas on each ship, including
nightclubs, lounges and pools. You can also choose to pamper yourself at the
spa or take part in beverage tastings and mixology classes! Each ship even
offers adult-exclusive dining options (available by reservation and with an
additional cost).
Broadway Caliber Shows
Live
productions are performed 2 times each evening, to accommodate the dining
schedules. Main dining will watch the
second show; late dining will watch the first.
Snacks and beverages are available for purchase outside the theater –
and the ships even offer a refillable popcorn bucket, just like the parks!
You can also
watch full length feature films in the Walt Disney Theater on all 4 ships,
including PremEARS that are released during your sailing!
Special Events
All cruises
include Disney’s top of the line entertainment, activities and character
experiences. But you can also experience
themed and seasonal offerings on select sailings:
·
Pirate Night –where the servers, characters and
guests don their favorite pirate gear and enjoy the “Pirates in the Caribbean”
Deck Party, complete with an industry first…fireworks at sea! Offered on all 4 ships on most Bahamian and
Caribbean sailings.
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| Pirate Night |
·
Star Wars Day at Sea – including galactic
activities, guest speakers, costume celebrations and epic character
experiences. Currently available on
select 7-night Caribbean sailings from January 2018 through April 2018.
·
Marvel Day at Sea – which includes action packed
activities and shows as well as heroic character encounters. Currently available on select 5-night Western
Caribbean cruises from Miami in early 2018.
·
Halloween on the High Seas – Experience thrills
and chills at sea, including eerie entertainment and not-so-scary parties. And don’t miss Tim Burton’s The Nightmare
Before Christmas Sing and Scream! Offered
on all 4 ships on most itineraries departing during September and October.
·
Very Merrytime Cruises – Seasonal fun includes
themed crafts and activities, story time with Mrs. Claus and jolly holiday décor
around every corner, including a life-sized gingerbread house and 24-foot
Christmas tree! Even Castaway Cay is
transformed into a Winter Wonderland during these sailings! Offered on all 4
ships on most itineraries departing mid-November through Christmas.
Variety of Ports / Itineraries
Disney
Cruise Line currently offers sailings to the following destinations: Alaska, Bahamas,
Bermuda, California Coast, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Panama Canal and Transatlantic. Sailings range from 2 to 14 nights, with new
destinations and itineraries constantly being added.
Prices are
generally the lowest they will be on “opening day” – the date that booking for
a particular cruise opens. The cost will
only go up as the ship fills, so the earlier you book the better. Unlike booking a Walt Disney World or
Disneyland vacation, with the hopes of being able to apply a discount at a
later date, DCL rarely offers promotions. They simply don’t need to – their
ships are at near-capacity year-round.
While last minute deals can be found on occasion, they are often for
military or Florida residents only.
DCL bookings
are currently open through May 2019.
Summer 2019 itineraries will be released in early 2018 and the remainder
of 2019 in late spring 2018. Mark your
calendars NOW if you are considering traveling during one of those times to
snag an opening day rate!
Castaway Cay
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| Castaway Cay |
All Bahamian
and Caribbean sailings include a stop at Castaway Cay as one of the ports. Some itineraries even offer two stops at
Castaway Cay (known as a “double dip”) and believe me, once you’ve spent a day
at Castaway Cay, you’ll understand why these cruises are in such high demand!
Castaway Cay
is divided into two areas – the family beach and the adult beach (Serenity
Bay). The youth clubs also move to the beach on Castaway Cay day - Scuttle’s
Cove is for ages 3-12 and the Teen Hideout is available for those 13-17.
You’ll also
be served lunch on the island – the family beach offers a barbeque buffet in 2
locations – Cookie’s BBQ and Cookies Too.
Serenity Bay has its own buffet, Air Bar BBQ, which also includes steak
and lobster!
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| Cookie's BBQ |
There are
plenty of excursions to be found on Castaway Cay, from boating to biking to
stingray feedings! You can even take
part in the Castaway Cay 5K (make sure your register for this event as soon as
you board! There’s no charge and every
participant receives a medal!)
Castaway Cay
also has 24 cabanas that can be rented by the day. Cabanas are a great option for those
traveling with children who may need to nap during the day, or for those that
may need a reprieve from the sun for medical reasons. They are also a great option for those who
are simply looking to be pampered or who want to add even more relaxation to
their day. The cabanas come fully
furnished, and include snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, towels, sunscreen,
beach toys and a safe. They also each
have their own hammock and lounge chairs on the beach, and include free tube,
snorkel and bike rentals for all members of your party. These cabanas go FAST so if getting one is a
priority, plan to book one as soon as your online check in window opens. And if at first you don’t succeed, check back
frequently. I was able to secure one on
my family’s first cruise by checking the website several times a day for
openings, and it was the best Disney money we’ve ever spent!
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| Cabanas at Castaway Cay |
Land and Sea Options
Worried you
won’t be getting enough Disney? Why not
consider extending your cruise with a day (or more!) at Walt Disney World
before or after your cruise? DCL will
provide transport both to and from any resort on Disney property, and well as
Orlando International Airport (note, however, that unlike Magical Express,
which is free, cruise transport carries a one-way cost of $35 per person).
Select
sailings out of New York even include a day at Walt Disney World, with a
one-day park hopper included in the cost of your cruise!
Awards and Accolades
Don’t just
take my word for it, listen to the experts!!!
Disney Cruise Line was voted “Best for Families” by the 2017 Cruise
Critic Editors’ Picks awards. They were
also voted #1 Top Large Cruise Ship Line by Conde
Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. The 2017 Cruise Critics Cruisers’
Choice Awards honored DCL with 8 first-place honors, including Best Overall
Ship in both the Large and Mid-Size categories. And not only was Castaway Cay
named the Best Cruise Line Private Island by the 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers’
Choice Destination Awards, but U.S. News & World Report also ranked DCL as #1
on their list of Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean!
So what are
you waiting for? Contact your travel
agent to book your Disney Cruise Line experience today! I promise you won’t regret it!!
By Alyssa
Alyssa@traveltimetravel.com
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