Disney Cruise Recap

We just returned home from a MAGICAL 5 days at sea aboard The Disney Dream.  I needed to recap our trip quickly because mom brain is real y’all, and I didn’t want to forget anything.  We had the BEST time. Seriously, if you are thinking of booking a Disney cruise…DO IT!  I know its an investment and not the cheapest but I will explain why I think it’s an excellent option for a family vacation. 

Where to?

We chose the 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral with TWO Stops at Castaway Cay.  We planned our trip over Thanksgiving break – our kids were out of school for the week and it sounded fun to be on a beach somewhere warm in November!  This was my fourth cruise to take and I was a little apprehensive.  I wouldn’t call myself a “cruise person.” Crowds of people in confined spaces with all-you-can-eat buffets aren’t necessarily my thing.  But let me just say that Disney may have changed me.  The service and attention to detail were above and beyond and I left already thinking about our next adventure.

Accommodations

We area a family of 5 with kids ranging from 2-10 years of age.  Accommodations were my next worry because this mama needs sleep.  I was very pleased with the spacious room set up.  During the day there was plenty of room to move around and enjoy the verandah.  At turn down service the couch converted to a bed, a bunk magically dropped out of the ceiling and third bed pulled out of the wall.  Nick and I would’ve thoroughly enjoyed our king size pillow top, however the 2 year old decided to wedge in between us in lieu of sleeping in his own bed.  I took zero pics of our room but watch the youtube at the end to get a better idea of the nightly set up.

Food & Beverage

As much as I like sleep, I like to eat even more.  Food was in abundance and didn’t disappoint. Actually, I could really use my daily ice cream cone about right now.  Dinners are scheduled in a different restaurant each night with same waiters to serve you. We really enjoyed this because it gave us a chance to get to know them well.  We chose the earlier of the two dining times, which worked well with smaller children because we could enjoy the shows or activities after dinner and before bed.  Breakfast and lunch were buffet style and everything we had was really yummy.  I also think Disney goes out of their way to keep everything immaculate, and that didn’t go unoticed.  Alcohol is an additional expense and there are also two adult only restaurants on board that are not included.  All other drinks, sodas, juices, coffee, etc. are complimentary.  Even if you happen to get a craving for warm cookies and milk before bed, there is no extra charge for room service.

Kids Clubs

One of the very best amenities of the Disney cruise is the kids programs.  They  know how to keep them entertained and the kiddos had a blast.  Our littlest went to the nursery for a few hours each day.  They would do crafts with him, even Minnie Mouse made an appearance.  The bigger kids enjoyed cooking classes, droid building, crafts, talent shows, karaoke and so much more.  This helped Nick and I have a few moments to enjoy each other without the guilt of wondering if they were comfortable.  We had total peace of mind with the security set up, their magic GPS bands and strict check out procedures. 

Activities

If you’re thinking you may get bored on your days at sea, you are mistaken. There is so much to see and do I don’t think we even got to half of it in our five days.  Some of the highlights of our trip were the Aqua Duck (a huge water slide that goes around the ship), watching movies from one of the main pools, the magic show, miniature golf, and bingo, to name a few. One of our most memorable nights was when we found a silent dj party while roaming around the boat.  From the hallway it sounded like Karaoke gone wrong with no background music.  We grabbed some headphones, joined in, danced, laughed and just had the best time.  

Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay (pronounced key) was GORGEOUS.  I am so glad we chose to have two stops here.  This is Disney’s very own private island. There is something for everyone here!  The water is a beautiful crystal blue with white sand beaches. They have activities like snorkeling, parasailing, fishing, glass bottom boats and huge water slides.  Serenity bay is their adult only beach and there are even private cabanas you can rent for your family.  Two restaurants serve the island a yummy barbecue lunch…and of course there is all you can eat ice cream.  The pineapple was my favorite.  On day two we took a bicycle tour around the island and my kids would probably say this was the highlight of their trip.

What to Pack

Most things are self explanatory – swimsuits, coverups, flip flops..but there are a few things you may not think of.  Sound machine was a lifesaver for sleep.  You can hear doors slamming and people running down halls without it.  Disney got rid of all lids and straws.  I have a 2 year old.  Heck even my 10 year old still needs a lid sometimes.  I definitely suggest packing some like below.  Cups at the drink station are small-pack your own.  We used the umbrella stroller a lot and it was easy to fold away under the bed. The bathrooms are pretty snug, a hanging organizer would’ve come in very handy.  They do have lifejackets on the boat but I was happy I had our puddle jumper while on the island.  Plugs are limited.  A power strip would’ve been nice to charge all of our devices at night.  Click on any of the images below for a direct link to the product.

See Ya Real Soon

Overall it was a magical vacation that I know I’ll remember for a lifetime….thats really what we want as mama’s right?!  To create special memories together with our little families and Disney just makes it so easy.  I am so thankful to Erika and Shay for helping us book this vacation.  If you are in need of a travel agent Mix and Match Travel is the BEST…I’ll be contacting them again soon to plan our next cruise.