Has anyone been on a Disney cruise?

[IsaacCox]

(Reposted from long haul as I only just noticed this cruise section was here :))

We're planning on going to Disney again in 2015 but to satisfy our Disney needs grin we were thinking of going on a Disney cruise next year. Or actually, another idea was to add on a cruise after our stay in florida the year after next.

If we were to do it next year, we would either do a European one or transatlantic. I've found a pretty good deal I think- 2 weeks transatlantic starting in Barcelona and ending in Puerto rico for around £1500 in total. If we were to tag one onto the end of our next trip, it'd be around the Caribbean for a week or under.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has been on one, where was it, which ship and what did you think? I've never been on a cruise before but DH has, though he was about 11, so any tips or info gratefully received!

Thanks

Cruise ships are very different to small boats, or even ferries. They have stabilisers which control the movement a lot more, and most of the time you can barely tell you are moving. I always used to get boat sick and my kids have both thrown up on airplanes, but none of us have been or even felt sick on any of our cruises, even with a slightly dodgy 24 hours of very high seas where we were rocking around a bit!

Sorry to hijack but I need the low down on Disney cruises.

I have cruised before. Celebrity (before DD was born), P&O (with DD) and Norwegian (mini cruise with friends) so I grasp the basics of cruising.

We are booked on a Disney Cruise next summer - 9 nights on Disney Wonder departing Vancouver to Alaska. DD will be 5. In all honesty we are not big Disney fans (don't dislike it, just not on our radar much) but we do enjoy cruising. What do I need to know to get the most out of a Disney cruise? Do they have formal dress nights? How do kids clubs work? Do I have to have breakfast with Donald Duck?

Any hints, tips, info about the ship or websites to go for research gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

In response to Chablis, I get sea sick on normal boats. I have only been sea sick once on a cruise and that was due to extreme weather and very rough seas (we sailed into a storm). Under normal cruising conditions, you can barely feel the ship move. You can get various non-medication sea sickness aids that are supposed to be quite effective if you think it might be a problem.

paperDoll - there are formal nights and also Palo ( brunch is excellent and well worth the additional cost)> there is also usually a pirates night (lots of people dress up but not all if its really not your thing maybe book palo that night)

There is a disney presence but not too overwhelming e.g. themed toiletries, artwork etc.

Kids clubs are great and most disney activities are character meet and greets so you can avoid.

The night time shows do have a disney theme and the TV channels in the room include other grown up disney/sony content too. The bars etc are like other cruise ships and generally to a high standard of service as are all other areas, pool etc

There are some activities aimed at adults but not as many as other lines e.g. RCI IMHO

Hope this helps have fun

Thank you, Loki, that's helpful. In my head, a Disney a cruise is not 'normal' cruising but I guess the basics can't be that different. And, basically, if the food and service is good, I'll be happy regardless

I haven't even seen the itinerary yet for the cruise so I guess it will all fall into place a bit more once I have more information.

HatepaperDoll, the Wonder was the first Disney ship I went on and she is beautiful!

There will be a formal night, and probably an semi-formal night as well on a 9 nighter. You don't have to dress up though, although the majority of people do. However, I've seen everything in the dining rooms from shorts to full on ball gowns (and have always wondered how they had the space in their luggage to pack one!).

Despite being a Disney cruise, it isn't in your face Disney if that makes sense. For example, whilst the artwork on the ship is Disney themed, its all very classic and beautiful, not cartoon and cheap/kiddie looking if that makes sense!

There are plenty of characters around, the times will be in your daily navigator as to which characters and where they will be. Up to you whether you go and queue up and meet them or not.

Usually on cruises of 7 nights or longer there is a character breakfast. They have changed how this is done now in that if you want to go, you need to book it (its free, you just need to make that choice), so again, totally up to you whether you do it.

There are shows on every night. There are Disney ones (the new Tangled one is amazing!) and they are like Broadway shows. However, there are always a variety of other entertainers onboard as well, and again, you don't have to do the shows. There is a cinema which tends to have all the latest releases, if something is opening whilst you are on the ship you will also get to see it on there. On the TV in your cabin there are all kids of films on. There is also "funnel vision", which is a massive screen on one of the funnels by the family pools, and they tend to play the classics. Again, the Navigator tells you what is on. I remember one evening lying on a lounger under a blanket at bout 11pm watching Cool Runnings!

The kids clubs are great. My kids were older when I discovered Disney Cruises, so started in Edge, which I think is 11-13 or 14, then there is Vibe which is 13 or 14 to 17. My kids absolutely love the clubs, I literally never see them other than for dinner. When we cruised in May my DS was gutted he is now too old (18). He loves the clubs so much he is doing childcare at college and plans on applying to work in them when he is 21.

There are a couple of forums that are good - the disboards is an American one that has a huge section about Disney Cruises, also if you are so inclined there will be a meet up thread about your cruise which you can join and get chatting to other people, someone will usually start a fish extender group etc (fish extenders are basically so called because you hang something on the fish hook outside your cabin, and other people put gifts in for you, and you do it for them. Can be great fun but also a bit of a bind. I've joined in 5 times and loved it). There is also the dibb, which is a UK one about all things Disney and again has a section for cruises (not just Disney, all types). I think cruise critic has a forum section for Disney Cruises too.

Best thing to do is read your Navigator each day. It will be delivered the night before when your cabin is made up for the evening, and will tell you everything that is going on the next day.

fluffysheep, thank you that...that's immensely helpful and reassured me that I'm not going to die a death by Disney. I do love cruising but was sceptical about Disney. However, when you're offered a free cruise, it would be rude to decline, especially when Alaska is high on my list of cruise destinations. And I do hear that their service is second to none which is, presumably, why people are prepared to pay their premium.

I love the sound of watching a movie on the deck, snuggled up under blankets 😊

Free cruise? Am very jealous!!

I would love to do Alaska, especially on Disney! I have to warn you that the characters do get dressed up in cold weather clothes and look very cute (and an formal night mickey is in a tux and minnie a ballgown should you want to get your pictures with them!). Talking of formal night, its a good opportunity for free alcohol, as they have the Captains reception in the atrium whilst people are milling about before each dinner seating, and they have servers wandering around with free alcohol. I may have completely raided their trays several times!!

Another thing I do which really seems to be appreciated is take some English chocolate (if you can fit it in your cases). I normally buy a few packs when they are 4 for £1, things like dairy milk, double decker etc. I then give them out to the cabin host, servers in the restaurant, kids club staff etc, they really really appreciate them! You will get fantastic service anyway, but I think its nice to do small gestures that cost very little but make them feel extra appreciated, they really do work such long hours (I don't know how the state room hosts and dining staff do it to be honest and stay so happy!).

Disney is very hot on good customer service, so if you do have a problem just go to Guest Services and they will sort it out.

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask, I could honestly talk about Disney Cruises all day long! Two and a half weeks until my transatlantic and I am VERY excited!!

Free alcohol? Now those are the magic words! You are clearly a woman after my own heart

I've always taken some sweets for the crew. They work so damn hard and are always so helpful and friendly. Like you say, I don't know how they manage it and still manage to be smiling at the end of the day.

The thing I'm struggling with most is the lack of control over cabin choice. I always agonise over which cabin to choose but, as we're going as guests of someone, I can't pick it. I am told that it's a balcony cabin and there will be 4 of us (3 adults) and DD who will be 5) sharing it I've seen those split bathrooms which is the best idea ever, IMO, but are they in all cabins or only those of a certain grade?

I hope you have a great transatlantic and that the weather is kind. The only time I did a transatlantic, we were caught by a storm in the Bay of Biscay and I was sick for 2 days (along with half the ship). It was also too many sea days in a row for me. Cabin fever was starting to set in and the night before landfall in the Caribbean was like the night before Christmas...most of the ship were itching to get on to dry land. That said, I know lots of people love them and my parents do a TA every year.

Thanks for taking the time to give me the benefit of your expertise. I will no doubt have many more questions as the cruise approaches

if you go on the dis board or google there are loads of stateroom reviews and disney are usually a bit bigger and all have a split bathroom so you should be able to put your mind at rest

would also suggest signing up for the mixology session _ the 1 I did last year was $20 and we made 6 of the best cocktails!

As for seasickness/ movement - we had force 10 a few weeks ago for part of our cruise (RCI not disney and it was the first time I felt any movement but the dampners really work

Mixology sounds fab! I'll definitely give that a go if it's available.

Its only certain inside cabins that don't have a split bathroom (I always book them as they're cheaper!).

Another place you can get free alcohol is the Disney DVC presentations (DVC is basically like a Disney timeshare club). I've been to 3, not because I am interested, but because a) you get a free drink or two, and b) you get entered into a draw to win $200 onboard credit. Not won yet sadly, but I don't mind giving up an hour or my time, I just tend to zone out a bit! You used to be given a nice bag with clipboard and folder and stationary and stuff, now you just get given a disney trading pin instead!

I've not done mixology, but I am doing wine tasting this time, which is a similar thing, and they also do a chocolate and liquor tasting which I've done before which is pretty good.

I've done one transatlantic and loved it. I actually really like the sea days, so didn't get bored at all. So much to do (if you want to), or you can just relax and chill, or a mix of both.

Ah, so we'll definitely have a split bathroom in a balcony cabin. That's good to know, thanks.

Wine & chocolate tasting both being added to the list of things to do.

My view of TAs may be clouded by the fact that I did it with a 16 month old in tow. I walked so many laps of the promenade deck with the buggy at nap times that I think we wore a groove in it...and the view on a TA doesn't change much so couldn't even distract myself with the scenery. Maybe I'll get into them again when I retire and have no kids in tow