In November of 2015, my partner Gabe surprised me with a vacation to go on a Disney Cruise. I was a little confused as we were not planning on taking his four year old son. I was curious about the options available for traveling without children but our Disney Travel Agent Marie Lovas, of Beaches & Dreams Travel Co. assured us we’d have the best time. And much to my surprise…we did.
We decided on a five night all inclusive cruise which was perfect for us. We left port in Miami, FL and headed off. Since I’m new to the cruise experience, I didn’t know what to expect. Of the five days, three were at sea, one day at Cozumel, and one day at Disney’s Private Island, Castaway Kay located in the Bahamas.
First things first after checking in, we explored the ship. Everyone was very warm and welcoming. The ship is so big that it doesn’t really feel like you are on a ship. We found ourselves scoping out the “adult only” areas. The one thing about this Disney Cruise line in my experience is that if you have kids, there is a ton to do and trust me the kids will have a blast, but if you are traveling alone with your spouse, partner or a friend, you are sure to have an equally great time.
We made our way to the Adult Only pool and found ourselves chatting with another couple. Turns out they were on the same dining room rotation as us. It is a small world after all!
So if you are ever thinking of going on a Disney Cruise, you should, and here’s why.
Finest Dining
When you go on a cruise you are assigned a dining rotation. Turns out our friends from the hot tub were not only on the same dining rotation as us, they sat at our table. We were paired with 4 other adults and we had a blast. Each night for dinner you rotate to one of three different dining locations each boasting a unique menu and all enchanted with their own themes. Each night you received instructions on where you were to dine and the attire required. Most of the time it was casual dining but if you wanted something more upscale you could book a reservation at Palo, offering Italian cuisine for both Brunch and dinner.
Recreation
I found there is always something to do on a cruise. They have youth clubs for kids, pools, sports and fitness, movie theaters, gift shops, meet the characters, themed party nights and so much more. While the kids have plenty to do, there is also plenty for the adults. You could enjoy the spa and salon, adult only lounges like the Cadillac Lounge where premium mixed drinks are a must. Or one of my favorites was Wavebands. At night they had dancing, karaoke, and games. This became a nightly hangout with the friends we made at our dinner table.
Amazing Entertainment
I was beyond impressed with the Deck Parties that Disney has. One of my favorites was Pirate Night, where lots of folks and kids dressed up like pirates and enjoyed the “Pirates in the Caribbean” Deck Party. In case you were like us and forgot your pirate costume at home, a party “pirate” bandana was provided so you wouldn’t feel left out. The party ended with a spectacular Fireworks show. What really amazed me was how all the staff dressed up for the occasion as well. All of our servers during dinner were dressed up like pirates and all the characters. It was really amazing at how much you could tell the staff enjoyed working on the cruise line. Everyone was in the pirate spirit.
Live shows were also something truly spectacular to see. Each night a different live show came to life right before your eyes. Live productions like Toy Story, the Musical, The Golden Mickey’s and Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic performed on stage with some of the best live characters I’ve ever seen. Toy Story was my favorite.
Each day they also had Character Greetings. This was a part that we missed doing as the lines were really long and I felt this was more for the kids anyway. However, some of our table mates enjoyed this and didn’t miss a one. They had a blast.
Something I didn’t think I’d do while on a cruise was catch a movie, but the latest Star Wars movie was out and we got an opportunity to see it in 3D so that was amazing.
Castaway Cay – Disney’s Private Island
A private island located in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay serves as an exclusive port for Disney Cruise Line ships. That’s right! You can only visit this spectacular island by traveling on a Disney Cruise.
We started off in the morning by exploring the island. You can walk or hop on the tram to explore the island. The beaches sandy white and the ocean is clear blue. It’s truly spectacular. The crew set up a BBQ for us on the beach and the food was amazing. There are a few bars to enjoy and gift shops to shop in. There are several excursion activities that you can sign up for as well.
If you are ever thinking of going on a cruise, I highly recommend a Disney Cruise. I was pleasantly surprised at how fun it was. Book your next Disney Adventure by calling my good friend Marie at Beaches & Dreams Travel Co. You won’t be disappointed.
