We live in Kemah, less than a half hour from the port in Galveston. We just sailed the Magic 8-night in January. That was our 4th Disney cruise. We've not sailed any other cruise line yet. We've been on the Disney Dream twice and the Disney Magic twice so we've experienced both their newer and older ships. We're booked on the Disney Fantasy in May, I'll be on the Disney Dream without my family in September, RCI's Allure of the Seas in November, then the Disney Wonder for 15 nights in May 2014. Yep, we love cruising with Mickey.
1. Can't really help you. I can tell you what appeals to me more as a consumer that makes me willing to spend more to cruise with Mickey. First, we are big Disney fans before we ever tried cruising. I grew up in Orlando. Disney has been part of my life from about 18 months on. And I'm almost 39 now. LOL! Vacation just wouldn't feel like vacation without the characters, the whimsy, the details, the attention to service. Personally, I don't want to even walk past a casino on vacation. So annoying. Make more room for cool stuff, not another money sponge. I've looked at a lot of ships and from our experience we aren't as wow'd with what we see as we are with Disney, specifically with the staterooms. Most (not all) staterooms have the split bathroom configuration. That means 1 room is the toilet, sink, & vanity. 2nd room is another sink w/vanity and the tub w/shower. I love that the majority of Disney's rooms have the pull down bed in addition to the sofa bed. Can't tell you how many cruises I've looked at online thinking "Oh we can do this!" but cannot for the life of me find a room that has the 2 seperate beds. I have 2 teenage boys. I want to actually sleep not referee all night. Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. Not all Disney's itineraries include Castaway Cay but it's truly an amazing, incredible, idealistic version of paradise. I'm not a beach girl yet I looooove Castaway Cay. It's the details and the beauty that get me. It's perfect.
2. Our youngest was just shy of 14 the first time we cruised with Disney. Our oldest was 15. Both our boys have enjoyed the heck out of the teen club, Vibe, on both the ships they've been on. Especially from everything I've read online, nobody does children's programming quite like Disney. It's what they do. The teen clubs are crazy awesome places. I've seen them during Open House on embarkation day and I'll tell you I sure wish I could hang out there! The first night there will be icebreakers so the kids all get a chance to be introduced then they have "Choose Your Cruise" where all the kids get to have input on planning what activities will be offered for them during the cruise. It's really cool the way they let the teens flex their independent wings yet keep some bit of structure going to entertain them. My boys have enjoyed things like Rock Band group play, movie nights, GaGa Ball, Dodge Ball, "Gotcha!" which is like a form of tag with water, karaoke, all sorts of themed dance parties, ice cream socials, coffee breaks, lunch w/counselors, tshirt designing, hanging out with friends, dedicated reserved pool time/pool parties, etc. etc. etc. My boys rarely come in before 1 a.m. most nights. My youngest (now 15) is a night owl and often stays out until 2 or 3, sometimes later. The club closes at 1 or 2 then the kids will move to other public spaces to hang out on-deck until they get tired & go in. My boys actually prefer Vibe on the older ship vs. the new. Go figure! They find the more intimate, loft feel more to their liking. Blows my mind since they're so into gaming yet they prefer that to the high-tech spaces on the newer ship. Go figure, right?
On the same note, a friend of mine wanted to take her young son in the worst way but her hubby kept objecting saying the last thing he wanted on vacation was to have "Mickey tucking him in at night". That totally cracks me up! She finally got him to let her book it with the promise that Mickey will not tuck him in if he doesn't want him to. There's character meets and stuff all over all the time but you don't have to do those things if you don't want to. There's just as many activities and things going on for all the kids in their respective clubs, for families to do together, and for adults to do in adult-only venues. Yep, even on a Disney cruise adults can escape children. Blows my mind! LOL!
3. The Magic is here in Galveston until May then she leaves to go to Europe for the summer. In the fall the Magic will be in dry dock for her overahaul so it will be the Wonder returning to Galveston in September. Galveston will sail from Texas until the end of the year and that's it. All ships will be returning to Florida ports for departure for the spring. So, if you want to sail out of Galveston you'll need to get that done this year. There's no plans thru the end of 2014 to return to Texas. Kind of a bummer because it was really nice leaving home and being on the ship an hour later. But, we're also good for a road trip to Florida, too. If you sail out of Port Canaveral you'll be sailing out of Disney's own private terminal which is absolutely gorgeous. It's beautiful. Seriously. We were in Terminal 2 in Galveston in January and my husband was like, "My God. Never again. This place is hideous." I'm not so picky. I can handle a few minutes of icky to get onto the ship with Mickey. There's no better feeling than crossing that threshold and hearing your family announced. Looooove.... Anywhoo, have sailed on the Magic twice in the past year and it's just fine. She's not as grand a ship as her baby sister, the Dream, but she's beautiful in her own way. Love her and would sail the Magic again anytime. The smaller ship size offers a more intimate feel that is very comfortable. Definitely something we love.
4. Yep, Carnival is year-round. Royal Caribbean and Princess are both a bit more seasonal out of Galveston, too. I think they move their ships to busier departure ports for the busiest season (summer) then bring them back to a different market to change things up a little during the slower season. That's what it seems like to me anyway. I believe Princess is going to sail out of the Houston terminal in the fall, too. That'll be neat. That Houston terminal is literally 10 minutes from us. We drive past all the stinkin' time and gaze at the beautiful semi-desserted terminal. I wish I could squeeze in one of those sailings just to see the inside of that terminal. It's beautiful from the outside. Kinda reminds me of Disney's terminal at Port Canaveral.
If you have questions ask away. It's my understanding Disney cruises are different from others in many ways but I couldn't tell you from first hand experience. My inlaws aren't willing to try cruising with Disney. We're open to anything, really. We've contemplated the Carnival Magic out of Galveston. Even a Disney-phile like me can look at that water park on deck and think: "oooooooohhhh" LOL!
