Disney Cruises

I wanted to take a moment to briefly explain the magic of a Disney cruise - moreso for those who have never had an opportunity to go on one... so, here goes.

Embarkation Day - your vacation begins the minute you arrive at the cruise terminal. Minnie and Mickey and some of the other characters are always on hand for photos... and the check in process is a breeze. There are often loads of people milling about, but we have found it much less painful to arrive at a later time at the terminal. You then get to walk right onto the ship after checking in. As you complete the check-in, you walk down the gangway and into the ship - where the cast members are on hand to greet you and announce your arrival.

Once you've boarded, you have a choice as to where you would like to eat. We often find the seafood buffet - we're really quite into seafood. But there are all sorts of foods available - so it's really not hard to find something that fits into your tastes. After stuffing yourself silly, you are released to await the rooms being prepared. The ship usually comes in early in the morning, the passengers go through Debarkation, and then Embarkation begins... so the crew members in charge of staterooms have a task getting the staterooms prepared for the new round of guests by 4pm.

The party is just beginning! Once you're settled, the Sailing Away Deck Party is usually going on up on Deck 10 (Magic and Wonder) or Deck 12 (Fantasy and Dream). When you hear the ship's horn blast "When You Wish Upon a Star" (this varies with the larger ships who have digital horns that can play several tunes), you know we're officially pulling out of Port Canaveral.

Fun in the sun and paradise are on the menu as you embark on your vacation. We usually opt for longer (7-day) itineraries... but there are 3, 4, and 5 day options as well. Aboard the vessels, you have nothing to worry about. You have beverages, food, and anything else you can imagine at your disposal. Souvenirs and alcohol are on your dollar - you use your "Key to the World" card to make purchases.

The ships are really like tiny versions of the amusement parks... only MUCH more pristine.... and loads friendlier. You rarely run into guests that are having cranky pants parties... it's like they spike your first meal with pixie dust to assure a great vacation.

In short, if you ever have an itch to go on a cruise, give Disney Cruise Lines a try. I know we don't regret it!