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Disney Cruise Line

Quench Your Thirst Disney Style

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We’ve gone through the food options on a Disney Cruise, and now you are thirsty! Let’s go over all the options for quenching your thirst and maybe a little imbibing.

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Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Soda and water, ice tea, etc.. is included on DCL which is a #DisneyDifference. Note that is is only included on the pool deck from the beverage dispensers, at Cabanas, and in the restaurants. If you order soda at a bar or from room service, you will be charged for it.

 

Alcohol and Beverages 

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A swim up bar!

Disney Cruise Line has several options when it comes to beverage packages, but they do not offer an unlimited package like most cruise lines.

Disney Cruise Line offers a Drink of the Day for significantly less than regular cocktails, it’s usually a fruity concoction.

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Drink of the Day ready for the sail away party.

Their Wine Package comes in Classic or Premier and either 3,4,5, 7 bottle/night options. Purchasing in advance saves you about 25% and does not include gratuity.

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Disney Cruise Line offers Beer Packages as well. Either a Domestic or Imported 6 pack package (6 for the price of 5! when purchased in advance).

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If you prefer draft beers, there is an option to purchase a 22 oz mug and then get refills for the price of a 16oz for the duration of the cruise. If the mug is too cumbersome to carry around, there is a token option and you can turn in the token at the end of the cruise for your take-home mug.

Pop up Carts will be located throughout the ship as well and sometimes specialty pop up carts serving some interesting concoctions.

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They juice fresh tomatoes/lemons, etc to make bloody Marys on at-sea days!
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Pineapple drinks! Fresh-squeezed cantaloupe juice was free!

Night Clubs, Bars, etc…

Disney Cruise Line has a number of bars, specialty, and adult entertainment areas. When ordering soda at a bar, you will be charged.  Usually, they will have some nuts or munchies included, evenings there may be a little buffet of snacks. Some offer menus with appetizers that can be ordered. Those will be at an additional cost.

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Preludes is the snack bar outside the theater on each ship and snacks, popcorn, drinks are available at an additional cost. Servers also will be inside the theatre.

Cove Cafe is located by the 18+ area and specialty coffees are available at an additional charge. Note that pastries are available free of charge at Cove Cafe, so go ahead and pick out a pastry to go with your cappuccino!

Disney Cruise Line offers Mixology seminars. These should be pre-booked and do sell out. They also have an additional charge. But they are a lot of fun and you do get to drink your concoctions.

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Mixology Class
Mixology Class
Chocolate and Liquor Tasting

 

There are a few other options, like the Frozone with smoothies and other ice cream treats available at an additional cost. The children’s clubs will serve dinner to kids if they want to stay and eat there. The teen club Vibe has a smoothie bar that is included when they open it at select times.

As you can see, there is plenty of fun beverages for the adults on a Disney Cruise and not just in the adult-only areas, but throughout the ship. Get adventurous and try something new, take a Mixology Class, drink out of a pineapple!

Let’s cruise!

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Food on Disney Cruise Line

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DCL Rapunzel dining

One of the best aspects of a cruise is the food. Disney Cruise Line is a notch above the rest when it comes to food and they know how to make a dining experience special and employee the BEST servers that will help take that dining experience to the next level.

Let’s go through the options for filling your belly on a Disney Cruise.

Main Dining Rooms

There are three main dining rooms on the Disney ships, they vary by ship, but each one has 3 main dining rooms with 2 seatings. Usually, the times are 5:45pm and then 8:15pm. Each ship has Animator’s Palette, although they are a bit different on each ship. The other restaurants vary by ship, but each will have two other themed dining rooms.

Disney operates a Rotational Dining experience onboard all Disney ships. Each night of your cruise, you and your personal wait staff will “rotate” to one of the 3 distinctly themed restaurants onboard the ship, ensuring you enjoy a delicious meal catered to your liking in a unique setting nightly. And since your servers travel with you each night, they get to know you quickly and will take fabulous care of you. This is definitely a #DisneyDifference. Servers know just how to make you feel special and entertain the adults and the kids.

There are 2 dinner seatings each night of your cruise. Although specific times vary based on itinerary, dinner is served at approximately 5:45 PM (Main Seating) and 8:15 PM (Second Seating). Once onboard the ship, check the dining tickets that can be found in your stateroom for assigned seating time, restaurant schedule and table number.

One of the main dining rooms is usually open for breakfast and lunch if you don’t want to buffet or poolside options. This is open seating so you can sit anywhere and come in anytime during the opening hours.

ProTip: Order as many entrees or appetizers as you want. Can’t decide or don’t think one portion will be enough, go ahead and order two.

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My son had 3 entrees nightly. The first night he finished his dish and wanted more so from then on, our servers would bring out a second and 3rd dish without us asking once he was close to finishing the first.  He would pick something from the menu and then our server would bring him the basic chicken or steak and salmon dishes off the “offered every night” menu. 

Buffet and Pool Deck

Cabanas is Disney’s buffet restaurant located on the pool deck. Breakfast and Lunch are buffets and offer an incredible selection. Cabanas is also open for dinner, but the interesting thing is it has table service at dinner, it’s not a buffet.

The pool deck also offers fast food options, there is a pizza window and burgers, chicken fingers, etc…window that are open most of the day and late into the night.

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Specialty Restaurants

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Palo is one of Disney’s specialty restaurants available on each ship and is adult-exclusive. Palo is Northern Italian themed and is available at an upcharge, currently $40 per person for brunch or dinner. This does need to be booked in advance and is popular and can be difficult to get into. See more about Palo here.

Remy is another adult-exclusive French gourmet dining experience aboard the Disney Dream and Fantasy. Brunch and Dinner are available to be booked in advance, again, it is popular and reservations can be hard to come by. Why yes, that is gold leaf on the chocolate dessert!

 

Eye Scream Treats is the ice cream shop available on all the ships on the pool deck. Self-serve soft serve is available here. 

Room Service

Another #DisneyDifference is room service is available at no additional charge on all Disney Cruise Line ships. While room service is free, be sure to tip your servers.

ProTip: Mickey Bars are available at no charge from the main dining rooms and room service. All the Mickey Bars you can eat! 

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You certainly won’t go hungry on a Disney Cruise. Let’s get you on one soon!

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Guide to Disney Cruise Line Photo Packages

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One of the best and favorite souvenirs for most people on any trip are the pictures.  The photo package options on Disney Cruise Line can be a bit confusing and often I get asked if they are worth it.

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While I cannot tell you if it’s worth it, I can go over the major points and how it all works to make it easier for you to decide if it’s worth it for your family.

Photo Opportunities

There are plenty of opportunities and photographers located all over the ship, but it’s up to you to take advantage of them if you purchase a package and want to get your money’s worth.

  • Inside the terminal, walking onto the ship before you board.
  • Character meet & greets
  • In the Main Dining Rooms
  • At Palo and Remy
  • On the walkway by the ship at Castaway Cay
  • In the water at Castaway Cay
  • Atrium Lobby (formal night on longer cruises and Pirate Night
  • Aqua Duck on Dream and Fantasy

It’s always free to have your photo taken and photos can be purchased a la carte if you prefer not to purchase a package.

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Photo Packages

Your photographs are available for purchase in a variety of product options. Simply choose the package that works best for you!

  • Digital Collection– Take home your cruise photos digitally on a USB thumb drive or download them during your sailing—and easily share them with family and friends. Pick just your favorites or choose the all-inclusive package if you just can’t decide. Options include:
    • 20 digital photos for $249.95
    • 10 digital photos for $149.95
    • All digital photos in your account, price ranging from $194.95-$349.95, depending on the length of the cruise.
  • Prints Package– If you prefer to have your photos printed before you disembark so you don’t have to worry about it when you get home. High-quality prints of your favorite photos!
    • 20  prints for $249.95
    • 15 prints for $199.95
    • 10  prints for $149.95
  • Customizable PhotoBook– PhotoBooks are a popular choice for vacation mementos.  You can add up to 34 photos while on the ship and your hardcover PhotoBook will be shipped directly to you at your home address after your cruise.
  • A La Carte – A la carte items, such as individual 8×10 prints, are available for purchase. I suggest getting your photo taken throughout your cruise even if you do not purchase a photo package.
    • Individual prints: 8×10 for $20.95, 6×8 for $14.95

*Prices are subject to change until package purchase.

Note: When members of your immediate family are sailing in multiple staterooms, you only need to purchase one package. You must go to Shutters onboard to add a stateroom to your package, this cannot be done online. To be eligible to link staterooms, the guests in the additional stateroom must include the children (under age 21) of the adult booking the photo package. Linking is only available for immediate family members. Extended family members such as aunts, uncles, grandparents , etc… are not eligible.

 

Where do I go to see my photos?

Disney Cruise Line makes it easy to view and select your photos while onboard.

Shutters – The Onboard Photography Shop can be found on deck 4 of all the ships. With electronic kiosks for viewing photos digitally around the clock throughout your cruise, you can view your photos and pick your favorites daily.  To access your photos, simply tap your Key to the World Card at one of the kiosks. Shutters crew members are available to assist you.

Picking Up Your Photos

If you are buying photo prints a la carte, you can do so any day of your cruise at Shutters during normal operating hours.

If you are purchasing a package, you will complete your pick up on disembarkation day. Operating hours on disembarkation day will be published, or you can ask a Shutters Crew Member. The line will get longer as the morning progresses, so be sure to arrive early.

Tip Don’t wait until your last night to view your photos!  Shutters will be packed!  Visit throughout the cruise and save yourself from waiting in line for a kiosk and wasting your final cruise night.

DCL uses a third party photography studio to take and sell photos. You will need to go to MyCruisePhotos.com to preorder photo packages.

Tip: Shutters can schedule a photo session for you.

Only you can decide what is best for your family, but there are lots of options so stop and pose for pictures whenever you can with the photographers and take lots of photos with your own camera too. Photographs are the best souvenir of any Disney Cruise!

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Disney Dream with Teens

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There are a lot of cruise lines to choose from, but Disney offers the best experience for tweens and teens and that might be surprising to some. And let’s face it, parents generally make the decisions on where the family vacation is going to be and teens don’t necessarily get a big say. My kids were excited to go on their first cruise but less than thrilled it was Disney. They love Disney World but thought there would just be too many kids and it would be all about characters. They ended up having a great time and didn’t meet any characters and didn’t stand in any lines, except the AquaDuck once or twice. Sure, there were a lot of kids, but with their own spaces, they hardly had to see them.

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We sailed on the Disney Dream 4 night Bahamas cruise in April 2019. The boys were 13 and 15, turned 16 on our sea day.

Here are 3 reasons I think the #DisneyDifference makes all the difference in a teen’s experience on vacation. 

Exclusive spaces beyond compare…

Disney Cruise Line offers the best teen lounges/clubs on the high seas. Tweens have Edge, which on the Dream is located in the funnel! And teens have Vibe. On the Dream and Fantasy, Vibe has its own sun deck on the front of the ship with its own pool away from all the little ones. Vibe offers games and activities run by counselors and video games and a smoothie bar. Check out my Vibe post and video here. Be sure to visit the teen clubs on the first day to register the kids and check it out. The Navigator App will list the continuous stream of activities available through Vibe. They play “get to know you” games and Heroes vs Villains and do scavenger hunts.

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Freedom…

Parents will feel so comfortable on a Disney Cruise with the incredible service and cast members. It allows them the ability to give teens the freedom to make their own choices on what they want to do and where they want to spend their time. Use the Navigator app to keep in touch with your teens while allowing them some freedom. Set guidelines for meeting up, for dinner for example and a curfew, but then let them fill the space in between. There are sports simulators, basketball court, miniature golf, movie theatre, self serve soft ice cream… Our teens basically did their own thing all day long. They had each other and didn’t really make friends, but they went off to Vibe or up to the sports deck, back to the room. A stop a Cabanas for some food. We barely saw them the entire cruise.

Bonus: This gives you lots of time to use the adult-only areas and do your own thing. 

Unlimited food choices…

If your teens are anything like mine, a lot of time is spent standing in front of the open fridge saying there is nothing to eat. Not a problem on a Disney Cruise. Between the buffet, Cabanas and quick service location on the pool deck, in addition to the main dining room and free room service…teens will never run out of food options.

Don’t underestimate their own comfort level with dining alone either, my tween went up to the buffet on his own for his second or third lunch almost daily, he’s an athlete and eats a lot. And when we scheduled an adult-only dinner at Palo, I offered room service or grab a bite on the pool deck and the boys, a tween and teen, both wanted to go to the main dining room we were scheduled for that night, on their own. They loved our server and wanted to see him. We met them there towards the end of their meal and were greeted by our table neighbors saying what well-behaved and mature children we have. They were well taken care of by our servers, my little athlete had 3 cleaned plates in front of him, a regular occurrence, he ordered 3 meals every night.

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We opted for late seating as there are less little kids at late and early was just too early. It worked out well for us and the kids that were in the dining rooms ate and were whisked away to the kids club quickly so we barely noticed them.

With all the food choices, amazing teen spaces and the comfort at allowing them some freedom, the #DisneyDifference shines bright on cruises with teenagers!

 

 

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Disney Cruise Line Summer 2019 Itineraries

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In summer 2019, Disney Cruise Line will sail on new itineraries to seven new ports in Europe, including a first-ever round-trip cruise from Rome and first-time visits to destinations in Sweden, France, Spain, Denmark and Northern Ireland. Disney Cruise Line will take Guests on a grand tour of Europe with visits to the Mediterranean in early summer and northern Europe in late summer. Plus, adventures continue with sailings to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including new cruise lengths aboard the Disney Fantasy.

Also in the summer of 2019, Disney Cruise Line Guests can enrich their experience by combining a cruise with a package from Adventures by Disney®.

New in 2019, Adventures by Disney will offer a pre-cruise guided experience in Rome. These 3-night Short Escapes, also offered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Barcelona, allow families to experience memorable icons in ways that few can, such as a private, after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel in Rome. Plus, activities like ziplining, flamenco dancing and preparing local cuisine immerse families in the culture of the region.

And, you can also enhance select European sailings with an Adventures by Disney package during the cruise. Adventure Guides lead travelers to experience the best of each port, helping them unlock the wonders of the destination through immersive excursions and off-the-beaten-path adventures. In addition, you will enjoy exclusive receptions onboard and have access to concierge service from these dedicated guides throughout the voyage.

These Adventures by Disney offerings are open for booking. A Vancouver Short Escape will open for booking later this year.

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Disney Cruise Line Itineraries summer 2018

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Open for booking today!

In summer 2018, Disney Cruise Line will sail on new itineraries and to new ports, including first-time visits to destinations in Italy and Ireland. Disney Cruise Line takes Guests on a grand tour of Europe with visits to the Mediterranean, northern Europe, Norway and Iceland. Plus, adventures continue with sailings to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

New sailings from Rome and Barcelona
For the first time, Disney Cruise Line Guests can experience more of the rich culture of Barcelona and inspiring history of Rome in a single cruise. In Rome, Guests can explore the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican, and sample authentic local cuisine. Barcelona offers beautiful beaches, the market streets of La Rambla, the artistic architecture of Gaudi and the famed Sagrada Família church.

On June 16, 2018, the Disney Magic will sail a seven-night cruise from Barcelona to Civitavecchia (Rome). Ports of call include Marseilles and Villefranche, France; and Genoa (Milan), Livorno (Florence, Pisa) and Naples, Italy.

On June 23, 2018, the Disney Magic will sail a seven-night itinerary from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Barcelona. Ports visited on this cruise are Naples, Livorno (Florence, Pisa) and Genoa (Milan), Italy; and Cannes and Marseilles, France.

First-time visits to Milan, Italy
Disney Cruise Line will call on Genoa, Italy for the first time in 2018, as part of three special sailings from Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome). The historic port town of Genoa, located on the Italian Riviera, is a gateway to the beautiful metropolis of Milan and the picturesque locale of Portofino. Milan is a global capital of fashion and design, featuring top-name designer stores, boutiques, open-air markets and art galleries.

A 10-night Mediterranean itinerary sailing from Barcelona on July 7, 2018, calls on Genoa, as well as other popular ports in Italy, France and Spain.

First-time visit to Cork, Ireland and first seven-night British Isles
The Disney Magic will call on Cork, Ireland for the first time as part of a first-ever seven-night British Isles cruise, departing on September 2, 2018. Additional ports visited on this sailing include Dublin, Ireland; Greenock, Scotland; and Liverpool, England. Cork is home to a vibrant culinary scene and a plethora of pubs, shops and cafes. It invites visitors to connect with Ireland’s ancient past, with historic sites like Blarney Castle, where visitors can kiss the famed Blarney Stone.

Throughout the summer, the Disney Magic will continue to tour Europe with engagements in the Baltic, Norwegian fjords, British Isles and the Mediterranean.

Return to Alaska
In 2018, the newly re-imagined Disney Wonder will return to Alaska for the summer season, opening up a world of breathtaking natural vistas, magnificent glaciers and awe-inspiring wildlife. A variety of five-, seven- and nine-night itineraries will depart from Vancouver, Canada, with stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point and Tracy Arm Fjord.

Southern Caribbean Special Sailing
In 2018, the Disney Fantasy will embark on a special 11-night southern Caribbean itinerary departing June 30, visiting tropical destinations renowned for beautiful sun-kissed beaches, including Aruba, Barbados, Martinique, St. Kitts, Puerto Rico and the Disney private island, Castaway Cay.

Castaway Cay – More Opportunities to Explore Disney’s Exclusive Private Island
Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, is consistently a top-rated destination. In 2018, the Disney Dream will sail a series of cruises that include two stops at Castaway Cay so Guests can have twice the fun in the sun and enjoy even more of the pristine island paradise.

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Disney Cruise Line Fall 2015

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Disney Cruise Line just released their new Fall 2015 itineraries and they’ve got some exciting things going on.

Back in Galveston!

That’s right, they’ve returned to the port of Galveston, Texas for a limited time. Holiday season sailings to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean.

The Wonder is will be in Hawaii for 2 special 10 night sailings September 7th and 17th. Then she is off to San Diego for the month of October with 6 sailings to Mexico!

Of course, the traditional sailing from Port Canaveral Florida continue with Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries which all include a day at Disney’s private island paradise, Castaway Cay.

Contact me to get pricing on these fabulous cruise itineraries, these limited engagements will book up quickly!