Over New Yr’s, we joined our prolonged household for a Disney Cruise on the Disney Want. Right here is the primary of three weblog posts about our journey! Should you’d prefer to see the video model, verify my Instagram spotlight.
Our Disney Cruise Journey Recap!
We had an exquisite time aboard the Disney Want over vacation break! My prolonged household has been speaking about taking a Disney cruise for years, and we lastly felt that each one 4 grandchildren have been prepared. My sister is a journey advisor and did all of the planning for us. We simply needed to pay up! I extremely advocate you attain out to her in case you are planning a Disney cruise (or any journey for that matter!). We have been in a position to get staterooms side-by-side, which was nice to have the cousins chat from the balcony and make plans.
Disney Want Itinerary (4 Nights)
Our cruise size was excellent for first timers. We visited two islands and had in the future at sea. I’ve plenty of ideas on the islands, so keep tuned for these posts coming quickly!
- Depart Port Canaveral
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Castaway Cay (Disney’s personal island)
- Day at Sea
- Arrive Port Canaveral
Touring To Cape Canaveral
We flew down the day earlier than, which is at all times advisable for cruise journey. We ended up having fairly the day of delays between our flight getting diverted from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale, after which our scheduled Uber getting cancelled. We needed to anticipate an Uber on the airport which took a very long time. Finally we made it to our lodge – the TownPlace Suites Cape Canaveral – the place Grammie and Pea have been ready for us! I booked the lodge evening free utilizing Marriott Factors, and it was a pleasant, new, clear lodge. Would advocate!
Tremendous late dinner after arrival
Oatmeal with cottage cheese and coconut on the free breakfast!
Boarding The Ship
The following morning, we took our time testing and took a stroll to a park. At midday, our Uber got here to haul all six of us to the cruise port. There was additionally a lodge shuttle, nevertheless it was $10 an individual, so Uber ended up being cheaper (My sister and her fam met us there). The port was solely about 2 miles away.
As from an extended line of visitors to unload baggage, getting on the boat was pretty simple. Disney requires you to add your whole paperwork forward of time in order that check-in was simple. We had a 12:30 check-in time, and whereas there have been crowds and features, all of them moved shortly. We have been aboard in most likely 20 minutes or so!
Deck Lunch
We bee-lined to lunch earlier than going to our room as a result of everybody was hungry! This was the one time we ate lunch on the deck as a result of it tended to be fairly busy. There have been stations for pizza, tacos, burgers, and extra. I hit up the DIY taco bar (paired with a Corona!) and the tacos have been delish. I’ll speak a bit extra concerning the ship’s cleanliness once I get to eating, however we have been VERY impressed. There are hand washing stations all over the place, and a lot of the meals is served to you so there may be minimal touching amongst friends.
Our Stateroom
After lunch, we went to take a look at our stateroom and unpack. We have been on the seventh ground (room 7034 to be precise!) and had a beautiful balcony view. Our room had a queen mattress for the adults and two bunks for the boys which got here from the transformed sofa and down from the ceiling! Whereas it was positively cozy, it by no means felt crowded. There was additionally a pleasant curtain to divide the sleeping areas so we might have a light-weight on and the boys have been in the dead of night.
We additionally had a welcome present from our journey advisor! There’s a mini fridge drawer within the room to maintain drinks chilly. You might be additionally allowed to convey a six pack aboard, and my sister introduced some gluten free beers for herself.
The Lavatory
I liked that the toilet had two separate areas for the bathroom and bathe. We positively used each on the identical time many occasions. If somebody was showering, you might nonetheless wash your palms on the opposite aspect. The lavatory was fairly good!
We unpacked our garments into the closets and drawers. I do assume they might have had extra drawers on the youngsters’ aspect.
Exploring The Ship
We explored the ship a bit earlier than the sail away get together round 4:00!
Nonetheless dressed up for Christmas
The Youngsters Membership
Aka the Oceaneer Membership aka the preferred spot on the ship! After we arrived, the youngsters membership had an open home so adults might stroll via it. We had three youngsters below 10 (Birch, Avery, and Emerson) who might go to the membership. Mazen’s age group (12) was solely allowed in The Edge membership for tweens. At first we thought this was a giant disadvantage that Mazen couldn’t be along with his cousins, however he ended up going to Edge loads and made associates there, so all of it labored out.
The Star Wars room on the Oceaneer Membership
Every baby was given a wristband that they wanted to register that we returned on the final day. They may select to go in from the foyer or via the slide! Additionally they had the best handwashing station ever the place you set your arms into tubes of swirling water and cleaning soap. Really easy for youths!
I don’t have a ton of photographs from the youngsters membership as a result of adults aren’t allowed in on regular hours. However the youngsters liked it! They went for a couple of hours every day which was SUCH a pleasant break for us to train or lounge.
Along with the continuing actions, that they had character visits and particular occasions that stored it attention-grabbing for them. The cutest half is that once they’re able to be picked up you get an alert via your app that claims “Birch want to be picked up now.” It was formal sufficient that it was cute!
The Swimming pools + Waterslides
You possibly can see all of them right here! The white tube is the Aqua Mouse, which is a tube water trip that the youngsters LOVED! There have been additionally Disney motion pictures taking part in all.the.time. that you might watch from the swimming pools. The road would get lengthy at occasions, however in the event you went at an off-peak time you’ll stroll proper on. The yellow slide was nice for littler youngsters. The a number of swimming pools have been on the small aspect, however they have been HEATED which was so good! And there have been loads of life jackets you might borrow when you have a younger swimmer.
(It appears to be like actually crowded right here as a result of this was throughout the sail off get together on the highest deck! It was not normally this crowded)
Toy Story Splash Zone
The 2 youthful youngsters in our group liked taking part in right here for a day. Once more, the water was WARM and that was so key on a cold day! We actually appreciated that as a result of chilly water would have made this space depressing.
The Laundry
For these questioning, the laundry room was nice!! We did laundry twice in 4 days (I do know, I do know) and it was so beautiful to have our airport journey day garments clear for the return journey in addition to exercise garments not stinking up the room. Every load prices $3.50 that we simply swiped onto our stateroom card. And the very best half was the app instructed us when the load was carried out so we might promptly change it over. I introduced two laundry pods from house, however you might additionally buy cleaning soap along with your card.
There have been tons and tons of machines obtainable. And ironing boards too! Whereas the $7 x 2 we paid to do laundry was nominal, I do assume it will be good simply to have this price included given what we paid for the cruise.
The Health Heart
We went to the health heart a handful of occasions. That they had plenty of tools, Peloton bikes, weights, and even a cycle room.
Certainly one of my solely complaints I had about our ship was that there wasn’t a round strolling observe. There was a observe, nevertheless it had stairs in the course of it and it didn’t go all the way in which across the ship so that you stored having to show again. I like to stroll on the higher decks if potential.
The view from the health observe seemed into the spa backyard.
HyperSpace Lounge
There have been a number of lounges on board, however my favourite was the Star Wars themed HyperSpace Lounge! Going inside felt such as you have been getting into a ship with a push-button sliding door, and the screens went into hyper area periodically! Additionally they had the very best drinks with an iPad menu. Take a look at the bubbles of smoke!
Adults-Solely Space
It took me til the final day to search out the adults-only space; it was that secluded! The chairs have been further plush, there was a non-public bar and occasional store, and an infinity pool (which sadly, I by no means acquired in).
Leisure
Reside Exhibits
We went to 2 reside exhibits whereas at sea: The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. They have been each AMAZING! Numerous nice singing, dancing, costumes, particular results. I additionally liked that they have been each roughly an hour so consideration spans might tolerate them, and on our day at sea that they had a manatee at 2pm for individuals who wanted to be in mattress by 8. 10/10!
Smaller Exhibits
There have been additionally exhibits and music happening within the grand corridor at varied occasions. We stopped to pay attention to event.
Silent Disco
One evening, we discovered a kid-friendly Silent Disco! This was so enjoyable. My solely criticism was it solely lasted 45 minutes and the following evening it was after bedtime.
Deck Events
There have been deck events every evening, however I not often stayed up late sufficient. One was pirate themed! And on New Yr’s, that they had a kid-friendly countdown at 7:30 and one other at midnight. Mazen was the one one to look forward to the midnight fireworks!
Weblog Posts To Come:
- All of our buffet meals and theme dinners (Wednesday)
- Our two island stops (Friday)
General Assessment Of Our Disney Cruise
We had a good time, and we actually liked the cruise! My total impression is that this cruise is ideal for individuals with youngsters within the age group of toddlers to tweens. In comparison with different cruise strains, Disney is VERY costly. I might not advocate going in the event you don’t have youngsters until you’re a Disney fanatic. The cruise for us was all concerning the youngsters! Having so many kid-centric issues (from the youngsters membership to decrease sinks within the loos) was excellent for our household of youngsters ages 5, 6, 8, and 12. When you have older youngsters, I might let you know to choose one other cruise line and save your self some cash. That stated, there have been some issues that Disney did so nicely. See under!
Right here is my record of issues we liked/appreciated:
Cleanliness and Sanitization
I LOVED having sinks and cleaning soap in so many locations. Hand sanitizer alone doesn’t kill norovirus, and I washed my palms typically. There have been even a row of sinks going into the informal eating space. Earlier than dinner we have been all given hand wipes. The ship was additionally VERY clear. The workers did an excellent job clearing tables and there was little trash wherever (which is spectacular since there are such a lot of youngsters working round!).
Lifeguards at Swimming pools and Castaway Cay
I used to be additionally so appreciative of all of the lifeguards! They have been all over the place and so they have been strict (a superb assume from the mother and father’ POV). Even once we acquired off the boat at Castaway Cay, there have been lifeguards all over the place watching the play zones and snorkelers.
Service
The service on board was fabulous. We liked our dinner service staff and each “solid member” we met was so type and useful. We solely have one main criticism on this entrance and that was on our first day about 25 totally different individuals requested if we needed to purchase a drink package deal. We had politely declined the primary few, nevertheless it acquired a bit extreme when new individuals stored coming as much as ask us time and again. Everybody was nonetheless good although!
Drink Costs
You’d count on drinks and wine to be obscenely priced on a cruise ship, however they weren’t!! Wines have been $9-15 (below $10!) and cocktails have been perhaps $13-15. On Castaway Cay, my margarita was solely $8.75!! And it was nice. I actually appreciated this. And that each one tender drinks have been included.
The Exhibits
They have been excellent! Child pleasant and really Disney. We liked them.
Themed Dinners
An extended assessment will include that weblog submit, however the dinners have been incredible and the meals was superb throughout the entire ship. There have been a couple of “misses” with dishes we ordered, however total I’d give the meals an A-. The one food-related criticism I’ve is that the espresso was horrible. Even the paid stage of espresso I believed was fairly dangerous.
WiFi
It could have been good to have free WiFi. Thomas and I each paid $88 to have full web (minus streaming, which was extra) on our cruise. I used to be irritated to pay that, however as soon as I related it was nice. Speaking with texting was really fairly vital because the ship was so massive and our group was all unfold out, so we have been glad that no less than iMessage was free! Mazen might textual content us with out having paid wifi on his telephone. This meant he might go to the tween membership or keep out later and we knew he might attain out or we might attain him.
Heated Swimming pools
Such a sport changer! Chilly swimming pools would have been depressing. They have been so heat and the youngsters liked them. There was just one scorching tub that I keep in mind seeing within the adults-only space, and it was small so it was at all times packed. They want a much bigger scorching tub!
Loos In every single place
There are tons of loos that have been at all times clear, so FYI for these of you who care about this sort of element. 😉
Was it crowded?
There have been a couple of occasions when it appeared like everybody was in a single place, however for a ship as big as The Want, it didn’t really feel too crowded to me. It didn’t really feel empty, however I didn’t really feel claustrophobic.
A Few Critiques…
Popcorn Value Additional
As my sister put it, you might eat limitless filet mignons however you needed to pay for popcorn! Popcorn exterior of the exhibits/theaters was further. This was so foolish to me since our youngsters clearly needed some. I assume this simply retains everybody from getting it and making an enormous mess / losing it, nevertheless it was just a bit odd.
Character Strains
The one time I noticed tremendous lengthy strains was for characters. My youngsters weren’t that fascinated by assembly characters, however when you have somebody who’s, be ready to attend in a Disney World-esque line.
Atlantis Resort
This assessment is coming in a separate submit, however we SO remorse getting off the boat to go to Atlantis. Extra on this quickly!
Disembark Timing
We have been at port on our final morning earlier than we wakened and we needed to be off the ship by 9 or 9:30. The entire morning felt rushed and chaotic. I want we might have had just a little extra time to get pleasure from a ultimate breakfast and get off just a little extra slowly. I perceive they must turnover the boat, however after such a calming time the early morning made for a cautiously early ultimate evening and a extra worrying journey day.
General Assessment
Should you love Disney, you’ll love a Disney Cruise! Actually every thing from the towels to the music to the exhibits is Disney branded. There have been two new launch motion pictures taking part in (Mufasa and Moana 2) that sadly we had simply paid to see within the theater! I feel Disney Cruises are perfect for households with youngsters. It positively felt like extra of a trip for the grown-ups with every thing being so kid-friendly. The meals choices, the expectations, the actions, and the service was all geared in the direction of youngsters which simply makes every thing a lot simpler.
Disney clearly is aware of what they’re doing as a result of the entire course of was organized and enjoyable. Be at liberty to ask any extra questions you could have about particular issues within the feedback! Or share suggestions in the event you’ve carried out a Disney Cruise and have one thing to share that I neglected.