- In the Parks
- No
Well, I broke down and (probably unwisely) splurged big-time on a Disney cruise. I have cruised other lines (Holland America back in 2000, Royal and Norwegian more recently). I know there are other, even more expensive cruise lines. The Fantasy currently cruises the Eastern Caribbean loop with a final stop at Castaway Cay.
I say I splurged big-time because I bought three cabins (all interior) so my two adult children and their SOs could come. I was excited about the potential Disney immersion on a cruise ship as opposed to being in the parks. I had a great time on the cruise and have no complaints at all about the ship, food quality, or staff. We had exceptional housekeeping and dining staff.
On-board entertainment was plentiful. We watched all of the marquis shows which included two broadway style productions; Aladdin and Frozen. Aladdin was fraught with technical issues. The show stopped 4 or 5 times because of software glitches and that really detracted from the experience, but these things happen. Frozen was great, and flawless. A custom production featuring a mash-up of Disney characters called "Believe" was also very good and a great way to end the featured entertainment on Friday night before returning to Port Canaveral.
My favorite dining experience was in the Animator's Palate. Both nights in that restaurant were exceptional; not because of the food (which was fine), but because of the Disney activities during dinner. On our first night there we experienced Turtle Talk with Crush. VERY similar to the parks experience. My son (dubbed "Ben Dude" by Crush) was singled out so we had an extra special experience there. What impressed me about this was how Crush moved to different screens throughout this huge restaurant space and interacted directly with various guests. I loved it!
Night two in Animator's Palate was also great fun. Diners were all provided with a drawing template where you could make a "person" drawing, confined within the framework spaces provided. I drew a doodly caricature of myself (I'm a bald dude with a mustache and goatee). My son drew a dragon (somehow, LOL). When finished, drawings were collected and then presented on-screen (again, various areas in the restaurant showed drawings created in that space so everyone could see their own). After an intro from Mickey (as Sorcerer's Apprentice), drawings were animated in groups of three or four dancing, walking, or skating across the screen. At the end of the presentation, some drawings were blended into classic Disney animated film scenes. I gotta admit, it was pretty dang cool!
Pirate Night was interesting. Prior to cruising I had considered costuming up for it but we wound up not doing so. We did attend the deck party/show where Cap't Hook & Mr. Smee (and a few random Disney pirates) "took over" the ship and were then "out pirated" by Mickey and the newly recruited pirates (about 1000 guests on the pool deck). I was particularly amused by the bridge staff appearing on the jumbotron screen all tied up by Smee & Co. There was another pirate show later in the evening featuring Jack Sparrow. The CM playing him had the voice nailed down pat, but even with makeup he looked a lot different. There was a short fireworks display after the Sparrow show and a total of two fireworks displays on the cruise. Not comparable with what you get in the parks, but not terrible.
The Aqua Duck (water ride) was pretty impressive. Not too dissimilar from the Aqua Mouse on the Wish (I have not sailed on the Wish but did watch the making of documentary on D+). I enjoyed the bouncy splashy first half and then the smooth ride up the opposite side of the ship to the splashdown. We rode it a few times during the cruise.
I liked the adults only spaces on decks 11, 12 & 13. We had no young'uns in our party so we spent most of our deck time in those areas either enjoying the glass-bottomed hottub (yeah, you could see the ocean through the floor!), or the interesting round sitting pool in the Satellite Falls area on the bow. The water would rush port or starboard as the ship listed side to side. There were plenty of loungers and shady areas (or sunny ones, if you so chose).
While Disney does not offer "drink packages" per say, I was upsold on a beer deal where I paid around $30 up front for a crystal 25th anniversary mug (21 OZ capacity) that could be refilled during the cruise for the 16OZ (pint) price. When you were ready to leave the bar, you turned in your mug and received a token you would present at your next bar visit (any bar on the ship). At the end, you turn your token in for a clean mug and take it home with you. After our initial visit we wound up going back during happy hour and I paid $5.50 for refills. Nice! I also enjoyed many drinks of the day and a few Lava Flows. Drink prices were fairly reasonable. Probably why they don't bother with packages.
The excursions were all underwhelming, including Castaway Cay. We paid $135 PP for a zipline tour on Tortola. The ziplines were in a fairly confined space atop a hill overlooking the bay so we had some pretty impressive views, including the Fantasy, but I was expecting a longer zipline experience for the money. Also, they were pumping folks through there. We must have had 30-40 in our group that came in right on the heels of another group and were immediately followed by yet another. On St. Thomas we did a "driving tour" that showcased some piratey features including Blackbeard's "Castle." That particular attraction was closed for some sort of renovation (and also up for sale for a cool $4 Mil) so we couldn't see any of it. Our tourguide offered to take pix reaching above the gate using our phones. I didn't bother. The tour ended at a pirate museum that, to me, was just ok. On our way back to the ship we did a bit of shopping and had a drink. Castaway Cay looks fabuous in pictures, but was incredibly muggy and the weather was overcast. We paid for the "getaway package" that included a large floating donut, snorkel gear, and a one hour bike rental. The water was so shallow that the floatation devices weren't really needed (nor were they comfortable enough to lounge in on the water.). Mattresses would have been better. There was very little sea life in the areas recommended for snorkeling. I have snorkeled Hanauma Bay on Oahu and seen a lot more. Disney placed a few interesting things to see (a Dumbo ride vehicle and a "wrecked" ship among others). I had issues with my snorkel. The tube was too short and the mouthpiece did not curve around to align properly with my mouth. It may have been intended for a child, IDK. I did enjoy the food and drinks on the island (all transported from the ship, of course).
Finally, character interaction was something else I was looking forward to. While there seemed to be plenty of it, whenever they came out, HUGE lines formed immediately. We managed to get some.
Overall, I feel that the extra cost of a Disney cruise is really not worth it. I think I would have had just as much fun on a RC ship. I doubt I will do this again, but don't regret doing it with my kids. Adding a few pictures. Thanks for reading.
I say I splurged big-time because I bought three cabins (all interior) so my two adult children and their SOs could come. I was excited about the potential Disney immersion on a cruise ship as opposed to being in the parks. I had a great time on the cruise and have no complaints at all about the ship, food quality, or staff. We had exceptional housekeeping and dining staff.
On-board entertainment was plentiful. We watched all of the marquis shows which included two broadway style productions; Aladdin and Frozen. Aladdin was fraught with technical issues. The show stopped 4 or 5 times because of software glitches and that really detracted from the experience, but these things happen. Frozen was great, and flawless. A custom production featuring a mash-up of Disney characters called "Believe" was also very good and a great way to end the featured entertainment on Friday night before returning to Port Canaveral.
My favorite dining experience was in the Animator's Palate. Both nights in that restaurant were exceptional; not because of the food (which was fine), but because of the Disney activities during dinner. On our first night there we experienced Turtle Talk with Crush. VERY similar to the parks experience. My son (dubbed "Ben Dude" by Crush) was singled out so we had an extra special experience there. What impressed me about this was how Crush moved to different screens throughout this huge restaurant space and interacted directly with various guests. I loved it!
Night two in Animator's Palate was also great fun. Diners were all provided with a drawing template where you could make a "person" drawing, confined within the framework spaces provided. I drew a doodly caricature of myself (I'm a bald dude with a mustache and goatee). My son drew a dragon (somehow, LOL). When finished, drawings were collected and then presented on-screen (again, various areas in the restaurant showed drawings created in that space so everyone could see their own). After an intro from Mickey (as Sorcerer's Apprentice), drawings were animated in groups of three or four dancing, walking, or skating across the screen. At the end of the presentation, some drawings were blended into classic Disney animated film scenes. I gotta admit, it was pretty dang cool!
Pirate Night was interesting. Prior to cruising I had considered costuming up for it but we wound up not doing so. We did attend the deck party/show where Cap't Hook & Mr. Smee (and a few random Disney pirates) "took over" the ship and were then "out pirated" by Mickey and the newly recruited pirates (about 1000 guests on the pool deck). I was particularly amused by the bridge staff appearing on the jumbotron screen all tied up by Smee & Co. There was another pirate show later in the evening featuring Jack Sparrow. The CM playing him had the voice nailed down pat, but even with makeup he looked a lot different. There was a short fireworks display after the Sparrow show and a total of two fireworks displays on the cruise. Not comparable with what you get in the parks, but not terrible.
The Aqua Duck (water ride) was pretty impressive. Not too dissimilar from the Aqua Mouse on the Wish (I have not sailed on the Wish but did watch the making of documentary on D+). I enjoyed the bouncy splashy first half and then the smooth ride up the opposite side of the ship to the splashdown. We rode it a few times during the cruise.
I liked the adults only spaces on decks 11, 12 & 13. We had no young'uns in our party so we spent most of our deck time in those areas either enjoying the glass-bottomed hottub (yeah, you could see the ocean through the floor!), or the interesting round sitting pool in the Satellite Falls area on the bow. The water would rush port or starboard as the ship listed side to side. There were plenty of loungers and shady areas (or sunny ones, if you so chose).
While Disney does not offer "drink packages" per say, I was upsold on a beer deal where I paid around $30 up front for a crystal 25th anniversary mug (21 OZ capacity) that could be refilled during the cruise for the 16OZ (pint) price. When you were ready to leave the bar, you turned in your mug and received a token you would present at your next bar visit (any bar on the ship). At the end, you turn your token in for a clean mug and take it home with you. After our initial visit we wound up going back during happy hour and I paid $5.50 for refills. Nice! I also enjoyed many drinks of the day and a few Lava Flows. Drink prices were fairly reasonable. Probably why they don't bother with packages.
The excursions were all underwhelming, including Castaway Cay. We paid $135 PP for a zipline tour on Tortola. The ziplines were in a fairly confined space atop a hill overlooking the bay so we had some pretty impressive views, including the Fantasy, but I was expecting a longer zipline experience for the money. Also, they were pumping folks through there. We must have had 30-40 in our group that came in right on the heels of another group and were immediately followed by yet another. On St. Thomas we did a "driving tour" that showcased some piratey features including Blackbeard's "Castle." That particular attraction was closed for some sort of renovation (and also up for sale for a cool $4 Mil) so we couldn't see any of it. Our tourguide offered to take pix reaching above the gate using our phones. I didn't bother. The tour ended at a pirate museum that, to me, was just ok. On our way back to the ship we did a bit of shopping and had a drink. Castaway Cay looks fabuous in pictures, but was incredibly muggy and the weather was overcast. We paid for the "getaway package" that included a large floating donut, snorkel gear, and a one hour bike rental. The water was so shallow that the floatation devices weren't really needed (nor were they comfortable enough to lounge in on the water.). Mattresses would have been better. There was very little sea life in the areas recommended for snorkeling. I have snorkeled Hanauma Bay on Oahu and seen a lot more. Disney placed a few interesting things to see (a Dumbo ride vehicle and a "wrecked" ship among others). I had issues with my snorkel. The tube was too short and the mouthpiece did not curve around to align properly with my mouth. It may have been intended for a child, IDK. I did enjoy the food and drinks on the island (all transported from the ship, of course).
Finally, character interaction was something else I was looking forward to. While there seemed to be plenty of it, whenever they came out, HUGE lines formed immediately. We managed to get some.
Overall, I feel that the extra cost of a Disney cruise is really not worth it. I think I would have had just as much fun on a RC ship. I doubt I will do this again, but don't regret doing it with my kids. Adding a few pictures. Thanks for reading.
