Showing posts with label Disney Cruise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disney Cruise. Show all posts
Disney cruises are hands-down absolutely amazing. Back in 2016 my sister and I went on a Disney cruise to the Bahamas and it was absolutely delightful and one of my favorite cruises I have gone on!
At the time I took that Disney Cruise that was my third time cruising, but my first time cruising with Disney. Every aspect from the ship to our amazing stateroom to the exceptional dining to the fabulous shows were honestly fantastic! At that time my sister had never been on a cruise and I was confident that she would love it and it was so fun to get to experience a Disney Cruise for the first time together and we can not wait for this upcoming one!
Every cruise line is unique and Disney was no exception! When it came to packing for the Disney cruise I referred to my own blog posts for some cruising tips, including the one on the top 13 must pack items for a Caribbean cruise and also my most popular Pinterest Pin of all time, 16 unexpected items to bring on every cruise. (On a side note y'all- thank you so much for helping share, re-pin, and connect on Pinterest and all of my social media sites. I am truly incredibly honored!)
After reading these I still searching for some Disney specific cruise packing information but couldn't find any really helpful specific posts for the cruise to the Bahamas so I thought I would share my top 5 must pack items that I found helpful after taking a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas:
Unlike some of the other cruise lines, Disney Cruise Line has a size specific carry-on luggage requirement. Disney requires that each carry-on luggage can be no larger than 22 inches wide, 14 inches high, and 9 inches deep. If you plan to bring a carry-on bag with you after you have checked your luggage than I recommend making sure your carry-on meets this specific size requirement. As we were embarking we saw people having to turn their bags over to get later on at their staterooms because they were not matching the size specific requirements.
This is my FAVORITE carry on luggage (and it is currently 25% off!!)! I have had it for SIX years and it still acts and looks brand new and wouldn't consider investing in another carry on in the future except for this one! Find it HERE!
A quick side note: The Embarkation process for a Disney Cruise was one of best and easiest I have ever experienced. It was absolutely phenomenal and you can read more about it HERE.
To read more about Disney's Embarkation process check out these posts:
// 7 Tips for a Perfect Embarkation Experience on a Disney Cruise //
A quick side note: The Embarkation process for a Disney Cruise was one of best and easiest I have ever experienced. It was absolutely phenomenal and you can read more about it HERE.
To read more about Disney's Embarkation process check out these posts:
// 7 Tips for a Perfect Embarkation Experience on a Disney Cruise //
(2)A Travel Mug
I mentioned bringing a coffee mug with you on a cruise in my 16 unexpected items to bring on every cruise post, but for Disney think one step above this. On each of the Disney Cruise Line ships there are 24 hour water, coffee/tea, and soft-drink stations available on the pool decks but the cups that are provided are extremely small. Bringing a travel mug with you allows you to fill up and get back to enjoying the ship without having to make numerous trips to refill your small cup.
To read more helpful cruise packing tips check out these posts:
To read more helpful cruise packing tips check out these posts:
(3) A Keepsake for the Characters to Sign
One of the great things about a Disney Cruise is all of the opportunities to live in a magical world for a few days and one of the ways that Disney incorporates this is with character signing. When you get on board the ship, simply stop by guest services and drop it. When you do so it will be returned to you "magically" before you get off! The sky is the limit on what you can have signed but a fun idea would be a picture mat that the characters could sign that you could use to frame a picture from the cruise. (If you want to ensure that you have the "color scheme" that you want used make sure to include your own markers with the item that you are dropping off to get signed!) You can drop off a maximum of two items for each stateroom so choose wisely and leave your item early on in your cruise!
To read more about some of the amazing aspects of a Disney Cruise check out these posts:
// Disney Dream Ship Review //
To read more about some of the amazing aspects of a Disney Cruise check out these posts:
// Disney Dream Ship Review //
(4) A Pirate Costume for Pirate Night
Every Disney Cruise Line ship has at least one pirate themed dinner evening and from everyone that I have talked with people really get into this which is so fun! I was told by everyone that all of the cast and crew also dress in pirate-themed uniforms and to top off the evening there are tons of special shows, lights and fireworks. (Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line to have its own firework display which is really neat!) And guess what? Every member of your group will receive a bandanna for Pirate night that will be waiting for you in your stateroom when you get on board! If you are looking for fun ideas for Disney's pirate night check out Pinterest- there are so many fun ideas!
(5) A Watch
I was surprised to hear this from several different people that have traveled with Disney but it was so incredibly helpful to wear a watch! One of the best parts of a cruise is having the chance to take a break from the "real world" and simply enjoy the moment without looking at our phones. But if you are like me I often use my phone to let me know what time of the day it is and not using my phone ... well I will need to know what time it is. One unique thing about Disney Cruise Line is that they have less clocks on board than any other cruise ship line. This is wonderful as it lets you fully live in the moment but you don't want to miss any exciting adventure on the ship either! So make sure to throw in a watch and set it to the ship time to keep up with all of your fun activities!
If you know me personally you know I love my fitbit versa 2! You can find it HERE!
Interested in reading all about a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas? If you would like to read more about specific things on our cruise you can read more by clicking the links below:
// Disney Dream Ship Review //
// Disney Dream Ship Review //
Looking for other Cruising tips? Check out my Travel Page HERE for tons of travel tips, inspiration, and cruising tips!
Looking to preserve your memories from your Disney trip or any other travel adventures? Check out my Etsy shop, December Caravan which is a boutique specializing in small heirloom journals that are inspired by a love of adventure and suspending beautiful moments in time. December Caravan has many travel journals available in the shop and every purchase donates a portion to charity! You can find the shop HERE!
I am so excited to share some precious and EXCITING news!!
For those of you have been around the blog for years you may remember that seven years ago, in September of 2016, my sister and I went on our first Disney Cruise on the Disney Dream!
It was incredibly special, one of my favorite sister trips, and every single time I look at the pictures of that trip (especially the above) I have whispered a little prayer to be able to do it again...
So imagine the best surprise and absolutely priceless gift of when Emily announced a special surprise gift a couple of weeks ago of us going again in just a few short months on a new to us ship, the Disney Wish!! It was a gift given at the perfect time, incredibly special, and one I am counting down the days for. I literally wept at the gift. Thank you for giving the most special gift ever Emily!!
Have you been on the Disney Wish? I am so so excited!
Want to read about all of our adventures from 2016? Click on the links below!!
// 5 Must Pack Items for Your Disney Cruise to the Bahamas/ /
// Disney Dream Ship Review //
Disney Dream 6192 Stateroom Review //
// Spectacular Shows //
// Port of Nassau //
// Castaway Cay Island //
// Atlantis & Aquaventure //
// Disney Dream Food & Dining Review //
// 7 Tips for a Perfect Embarkation Experience //
// Boarding the Disney Dream //
// Boarding Outfit //
Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that your week is starting off well! This week I am sharing a ton of different Disney posts! If you missed yesterday's post (5 Must Pack Items for a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas) you can find it by clicking HERE! I have gotten so many emails from y'all asking for recommendations and tips for this time of year for Disney Cruises and I hope that all of this information is a huge help!
Today I am so excited to share my Disney Dream ship review and all about the ship! If you are heading out on this cruise you are going to have a wonderful time! This cruise was amazing and I can't recommend it enough!
Today I am so excited to share my Disney Dream ship review and all about the ship! If you are heading out on this cruise you are going to have a wonderful time! This cruise was amazing and I can't recommend it enough!
The Disney Dream is one of the largest of the Disney cruise ships which includes 14 decks and 1250 staterooms of all different categories. On our cruise we stayed on deck 6 (You can read my review of our stateroom, stateroom 6192, by clicking HERE) and our state room was amazing. The Disney Dream "lives" in the "sun ports" and is known for its Art Deco opulence that is sweetly blended with Disney magic.
The Disney Dream first sailed in 2011 and like its sister ship, the Disney Fantasy, represented the Disney corporation stepping into a season of bolder and bigger ships. While Disney kept the same classic inspired design of the ocean liners of the 1920s and 1930s there were tons of new features and spaces.
One of the most innovative parts of this new technology was the way that the ship includes virtual portholes for the inside cabins. This allows those in the inside cabins to still get a "real time" look at what those with outside windows and balconies are seeing!
From the moment you step on board the Disney you will be able to clearly see the influence of Mickey Mouse everywhere you look.
It's not overwhelming at all but instead will bring a smile to my face. "Hidden" Mickeys (and really not so hidden Mickeys *smiles*) can be found just about everywhere that you step foot on the ship.
You will see the influence of Mickey (and Walt Disney) throughout the entire ship in your cabin, in artwork, on picture windows, on lamps, on statues, in the design of the pools, the decorations, and even on the dinnerware.
In addition to this the music that is played in the hallways, dining areas, elevators and common areas is a sweet mixture of a variety of different Disney songs in all different forms. While the original versions are interspersed throughout your time there are classical and instrumental pieces, hip hop, dance, a slow techno, and even newer vocals of the classic Disney songs. What is also nice is that these songs include music from the very beginning so there is a wide range of music that is played for the newbie Disney lover to those of us who can still hum along to Fantasia.
The ship itself was incredibly easy to navigate and I loved the way that it was laid out. Unfortunately on some cruise ships it can take a bit to orient yourself but Disney was a dream- literally. And if you are on a short cruise this is a gift because you don't want to spend your time trying to figure out where to go.
The Walt Disney Theater provides Broadway caliber live shows each night on the Disney Dream. You will appreciate not only the amazing costumes, the talent of the performers and technology but the humor, the fun, and the inspiration of believing in dreams. These shows are simply amazing and you can read more of my review of them HERE!
In addition to a mini-golf course, climbing wall, and basketball court there is also the famous Aquaduck that is so fun.
The Aquaduck is a "water coaster" and the first of its kind at sea and is available on the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy. The Aquaduck is located on the 12th deck and is an exhilarating water slide that takes you on an exciting 4-deck drop and up and down and around - even off the side of the ship!
As you ride you will see breathtaking views of not only the ship, but the ocean. It was so fun and definitely something that I recommend to go on! You won't regret it!
One of the things that was an absolute treat was the way that the staff interacted with people. We were incredibly impressed with not only the friendly nature of the staff, but the joy that they obviously had for working for Disney. The staff truly went above and behind to accommodate different requests that we and others had. It was exceptional.
In my opinion Disney has accomplished the somewhat impossible. They have kept the charm of the iconic Disney while moving into the future with a talented brilliance. One of the examples of this is that Disney uses "enhanced art" with digital paintings throughout the Disney Dream that come to life as you look at them. Kids and Adults can also pick up a Midship Detective Agency packet and use these digital works to solve a mystery on board. (One of the families on board shared with me that the mystery changes every year!)
Character meet and greets are widely available throughout your cruise. Our cruise was one of the shorter ones (3 nights) and there was still ample amounts of time to see the characters and have pictures taken. Before the cruise you also can have the opportunity to sign up for a variety of character meet and greets (for free) or you can consult your the navigator guide daily to see what times and where characters will be.
And if you love Disney like many of the passengers, including myself, you will find it all completely endearing. I said several times to my sister and to those we met, it is literally like they placed Disneyworld on the water. Completely wonderful.
I want to highlight to for a second how much fun this was as an adult on this cruise. It wasn't just the Mickey Mouse affects, but the adult only spaces (where you couldn't even hear the other parts of the ship!), the spa opportunities, the classes and fun events for adults only - each of these things was amazing. Walt Disney once said, "You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up anyway." Absolutely perfectly stated.
If you are a huge Disney fan (or members of your family are) than a Disney cruise is an obvious choice to consider. But if you are hesitating due to the cost or wondering if it is really worth all of the hype, I can't say often enough that it is. Whether you are a family with young kiddos, have teenagers, or are just adults that want to go on a wonderful and first class service cruise you will not regret this choice at all. It was my favorite cruise to date at the time and the service and the extras were a beautiful gift. There were numerous times that I would turn to my sister and say- Disney has this down to perfection in every way.
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading today! If you are interested in reading all about a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas or read more about specific things on our cruise you can read more by clicking the links below:
Looking for other Cruising tips? Check out my Travel Page HERE for tons of travel tips, inspiration, and cruising tips!
Looking to preserve your memories from Disney? Check out my new Etsy shop, December Lane which is a boutique collection of watercolor travel prints that are inspired by a love of adventure and suspending beautiful moments in time. December Lane has several special Disney watercolor prints in the shop, including prints from Disney's Bahamian Island, Castaway Cay! December Lane also exists to help support children in the foster care system. You can find the shop HERE!
Happy Friday friends! I hope that you have had a wonderful week! Today I wanted to do a quick round-up of all of the posts about our Disney Dream cruise. I have been asked so many times if a Disney cruise is worth the money and I can't say it enough. It is worth every.single.penny. From the amazing ports of calls to the ship rooms to shows to food to the ship itself. A Disney cruise is absolutely stunning. You will not regret taking one and you will definitely treasure the memories for a lifetime.
If you would like to read more about any of the specific things on our cruise you can read more by clicking the links below:
And guess what? Disney Cruise Line just announced their 2018 cruise iteniers! They look amazing! You can check out more about Disney Cruise by clicking HERE!
Please let me know if you have any questions! I would be happy to answer them!
Our day at Castaway Cay was absolutely beautiful and truly epitomized what you think of when you think of "a Caribbean island and paradise". Castaway Cay is Disney's private island is that exclusive to those who are traveling on Bahamian and Caribbean cruises.
This private island and Caribbean paradise is unique in its amenities and its world-class creation on a Bahamian oasis with the signature Disney influence.
Castaway Cay is designed for the ultimate island and retreat experience and leisure and the beauty is absolutely breath-taking.
From the moment that the ship pulls up to dock you are struck by the absolutely beauty that surrounds you. You definitely feel like you have entered a completely different world.
As you dis-embark off the ship everything that you need for a perfect day is provided from comfy and large beach towels to a wonderful tram service that will take you to any part of the island that you wish to go (or you can walk if you prefer), to beach umbrellas that were plentiful and easy to find, to tasty food (an open-air BBQ dining at several locations) and family friendly-environment, including ample opportunities to see lots of your favorite characters wandering around the island.
There are several different sections on the island including the Castaway Family Beach area that allows for lots of family fun. There are opportunities for sailing, kayaking, swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful blue lagoon. In addition to this there is a feast at Cookie's BBQ close by that has lively family music and dancing (and several characters joining in for fun!).
This is where my sister and I spent the most time of the day. Due to the easy convenience of Cookie's BBQ holding the allergy friendly food orders, it was easy and convenient just to sit down and enjoy this beautiful blue lagoon. We were also sailing at a time where it wasn't that crowded and we felt that we had a lot of the area to ourselves.
For those who are looking for an adult-only oasis that is exclusively for those who are 18 and older than you will want to head over to Serenity Bay. Serenity Bay offers open-air massages, frozen specialty drinks and hosts its open BBQ pit along with a beautiful area to relax in the stunning ocean.
As I mentioned several times Castaway Cay is simply stunning. I am going to let the pictures speak for themselves but I can't say enough how much I loved this island and how much I want to go back someday. It was beautiful.
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