fbpx
Category

Cruising

Category
Cruising

Planning a Family Reunion? Consider a Cruise

A Cruise is a Good Family Reunion Vacation!

Right now we are not able to travel, not able to see friends, not able to see family. While we are able to connect with family through online chats it is just not the same as being right there with them. This is a difficult time for so many people due to separation from loved ones, working in stressful environments saving lives, and uncertainty about the future. When we get through all this, and we will, you might want to plan a family vacation to reunite with the ones you love and have been away from. A cruise might be just the vacation you need!

The last couple of cruises we have taken have been with extended family from different parts of the country. Cruises provide an excellent opportunity for families to reconnect and make memories. Read on and discover why a cruise makes a good family reunion vacation!

Why a cruise is good family vacation option

What makes a Cruise Good for Family Reunions

Accomodations for every family size and budget

One reason a cruise is a good family reunion vacation is that there are many different types of accommodations to fit every budget. Every family in your group has the opportunity to book a room that fits their needs. For budget-conscious family members, less expensive inside cabins are available. For family members who like to be pampered on their vacations, they can choose concierge cabins or suites. Single, double and triple cabins are convenient options for smaller families. Large families might enjoy staterooms that sleep 5 or 6 which are on some ships. Plus there is always the option for each family to spread out a little while still being close in connecting cabins. The possibilities are vast and flexible.

A Good Value

Often cruises provide good value for your money. Everything is included for a wonderful vacation–exceptional accommodations, gourmet dining, and extensive onboard activities. Plus, cruise lines offer promotions at different times for free specialty dining, kids sailing free, or other perks.

Activities for Everyone

Ocean Cruises

Onboard ocean cruises there are activities of many different kinds that will appeal to all ages of your family. Having options for all different family members makes a cruise a good family reunion possibility.

For the kids, most ocean cruises ships have a specific program for them with their own area on the ship. The youth programs are even divided out by ages so teens and pre-teens don’t have to hang out with little kids. Age-appropriate events and activities are planned for each group.

For the adults, there is so much to do I can’t even list it all. Many planned activities during the day include deck parties, games in the sports courts, fitness classes, destination lectures, trivia, meet-ups, introductions to spa experiences, tournaments in the casino, bingo and so much more. In the evening, nightlife varies throughout the bars, lounges, theaters, and casino.

For families, there are scheduled events so families can have fun together. There might be games on the deck or sports courts, craft times, trivia or events in the youth areas. Each cruise line will have fun family activities but I will say that Disney Cruise Line puts a special focus on creating events and activities to bring families together.

River Cruises

River cruise ship activities depend on the cruise line. Some cater to families and therefore have activities for all ages (think Adventures by Disney with AmaWaterways) and some are only for adults (think Viking). But, on a river cruise the emphasis is on the ports and getting out to explore the country. Port excursions are included and on some lines (especially AmaWaterways) there is a nice variety of options that fit different activity levels.

Time together and time apart

Ocean cruise ships offer the opportunity for families to have as much time together and time apart as they wish. This is another benefit that makes a cruise a good family reunion vacation option. Part or all of your family can plan activities together during the day, plan to hang out in the same place, or just expect to see each other in passing throughout the day. You can arrange to eat all your meals together or only one a day as a time for everyone to catch up. In the evening, you can all attend the featured show together and then go your separate ways for the rest of the night. How much togetherness is all up to each family and what fits for them. Even on port days you can plan excursions together each stop, some stops, or separately. There is so much flexibility. This makes a cruise so fantastic for family reunions!

River cruises are similar but a little bit different. Each day is a port day. Every river cruise line differs but most plan a variety of shore excursions each day depending on activity level or interest. This is a fantastic opportunity for family members to have the outing each person (or family) wants and then everyone can reconvene for dinner that evening to share about their adventures.

Effortless Dining

So often it is very difficult to eat all together as a family. A cruise makes it so easy! Your family is assigned to the same tables in the same dining room each night (except Disney Cruise Line which as rotational dining). In the main dining rooms, they have very large tables that can seat 10, 12 or sometimes more. Plus, tables are fairly close together so if you need a few to seat your whole family you still within a nice distance. Another great feature is the diverse menu which can satisfy all members of your family. And, there is no having to deal with splitting up the bill.

Just so you know, eating in the main dining room each night is not required. The main dining room just guarantees a place for your family to be all together. The decision is up to each family.

Convenient Family Communication

If you are out of the country at a resort, communication between families can be difficult and expensive. Depending on your cruise line, ship communication with families aboard can be really easy. Cruise lines have apps that travelers can download and use for free while onboard. Often they have a communication feature that allows you to send messages to other family members. Currently, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity offer this free on select ships. Disney Cruise Line, Holland America and Princess also have this feature at no additional cost. Norwegian and Carnival have a nominal fee to enable the messaging feature to their apps.

Easy planning

Well, planning is easy if you use a travel advisor. Your travel advisor will help you to pick the best cruise for your family based on the cruise line, destinations, promotions and Once you finalize the ship and itinerary, your travel advisor will also help by keeping track of the needs of each family. Often your travel advisor will create a particular group so that everyone can communicate important information before the cruise.

Do you have other reasons you enjoy a cruise for your family reunion? Let me know in the comments!

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Other links you might be interested in:

Cruising

Is a River Cruise Right For My Family?

is a river cruise right for your family

While a river cruise might not be the perfect vacation for every family, it is definitely a great option for many!  Whether you are traveling with just immediate family or a multi-generational expedition and river cruise just might fit the bill for every member.  Read on and find out if a river cruise is right for your family!

Who might love a River Cruise:

  • Families with older children (usually about 8 and up) unless choosing family-specific cruise/cruise line with planned children’s activities
  • Adult families 
  • Families who love the ease of unpacking only once, and ease of disembarking the ship in port
  • Families who love to spend a few days in one country (rather than one day) to be able to explore more of the history, culture, and geography
  • Families wanting to visit small towns and local life as well as major tourist attractions
  • Families who want to engage more with the places they are visiting and not on ship activities
  • Families who want to be part of a “family” on their vacation and get to know the other families who are traveling with them
  • Families who desire incredible food with options from the local area
  • Families who would like an included excursion to introduce the area before going out to explore on their own
  • Families who want to choose the activity level of their excursions
  • Families prone to motion sickness (river cruises have very little movement when compared to an ocean cruise)

Who might not love a River Cruise:

  • Families with young children
  • Families wanting vast children’s programming and babysitting
  • Families who thoroughly enjoy participating in a host of activities onboard the ship
  • Larger Families who need/want to stay in the same room
  • Families who really want a pool deck with a large pool

A very important part of a family river cruise is picking the correct cruise line and itinerary.  Some lines cater to families better than others with specifically designed activities on specific sailings during the year.

Cruise Lines that might be a fantastic option for your family:

Adventures by Disney (on AmaWaterways) is an amazing river cruise option.  Disney certainly knows how to elevate a vacation experience from great to out of this world!  They carefully craft the itineraries with special activities onboard and onshore that kids and adults will love.  Every detail is taken care of so that you can truly relax and enjoy your family. For adults who want to experience the top-notch Disney customer service and pampering but without children can book adult-only Adventure by Disney river cruises.  Note of caution: Don’t expect to see any Disney characters just some very funloving Adventure Guides.

AmaWaterways is another nice option.  Some of their ships have 3 and 4 person staterooms for families and features that will appeal to the younger set.  They provide excursions of different activity levels so families can tailor their adventures to their needs. These cruises are probably more enjoyable for families with children 8 and up.

Tauck’s Bridges family journeys offer hugely popular river cruises during school breaks–summer and Christmas.  These family designed river adventures can take you through much of Europe, or to the Galapagos. They also have land journeys on which you can experience Latin America, Africa or Alaska.

Uniworld might corner the market for luxury river cruise travel but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to make a cruise fun for kids.  Family-oriented cruises are scheduled around school breaks. Activities are designed to help children engage with the culture and country around them as well as being a lot of fun.  They get pretty creative with their adventures for kids. Also included are kid-friendly menus, a special dinner table just for young travelers on specific nights, Young travelers lounge, movie nights and “learn the lingo” activities.  To top it all off Uniworld offers a 25% discount for kids (ages 4-17) fares.

Have more questions about whether a river cruise is right for you or your family?  About which cruise line would be best?

Contact Alaska to Mickey Vacations for answers!

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Other links of interest:

Cruising

What Makes a Disney Cruise Special–Part Two

What Makes a Disney Cruise special

Hopefully, you have read Part 1 of this blog post giving you five great reasons that a Disney Cruise is worth the cost. (Click here if you missed Part 1) This post will give you seven more. Yes, there are seven more things that make a Disney Cruise special!

Rather watch a video? At the end of this post there is a link to a live video I recorded on what makes a Disney Cruise special. The post and the video aren’t identical.

Disney Characters

Yes! Disney Cruise Line is the only place at sea that you will still get to see Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, and Daisy. What could be better than spending your vacation with the Fab 5! But that’s not the only characters you will see. You might see Joy, Stitch, the Princesses, Elsa, Anna, Kristof, Dug, Boo, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Spiderman and even more. And get this! You don’t just see them in the awesome shows and deck parties. Nope! You can actually shake their hands, get pictures and autographs and tell them about your day. Woohoo!!!

Castaway Cay

Sure, other cruise lines have private islands so that doesn’t make Disney any different. BUT, what does set them apart is what they INCLUDE on their island experience. The really cool water slides and splash pad, INCLUDED! The tram around the island, INCLUDED. But since there is so much to see in the way of fantastic Disney Imagineering, walking is recommended. Special kids area with supervised youth activities, INCLUDED. Beach games and activities for the family, INCLUDED. Want to run a race on vacation? The Castaway 5K is, you guessed it, INCLUDED! There are so other really cool things to do but they will incur an additional fee. Any way you look at it though, your day at Castaway Cay will be AMAZING even if you don’t spend an extra dime!

Kids Clubs

Disney Kids Clubs have some of the longest hours at sea. Plenty of time for your family to have time together and time apart. The kids club is even open on port days if you should choose to use them. You can even choose to have your children eat dinner with you or relax without them while they enjoy the dinnertime kids activities. Or, opt for the best of both and have your kids go with the cast members halfway through dinner.

The counselors are all specially trained to work with children so you don’t have to worry. They are not just glorified babysitters but cast members who are there to interact with your children to give them the best vacation possible.

The kid’s zones are separated by age and they are quite strict about the cutoffs for the safety of all the children. Each area is themed to create an atmosphere geared toward that age group. The security measures are also dependent on age. Children under 12 must have a parent check them in and out. Tweens and teens get to decide when they come and go. Be careful, you kids may never want to leave!

  • It’s a Small World Nursery–ages 6 months to 3 years old
  • Oceaneers Club and Lab–ages 3-12
  • Edge–just for tweens (about 11-13)
  • Vibe–just for teens (about 13-17)

No Casinos

While for some this might not be a benefit for others it is definitely no casino makes for a better cruise experience. For those of you who love to win money or prizes on vacation, never fear! They do have Bingo almost daily!

No Beverage Package

This is another feature that some might love and others might not. The fantastic benefit of Disney Cruise line is that they include soda with all their meals and there is a beverage station on the pool deck. The beverage station is open all day long for everyone to enjoy as much as they want. Not only is there soda but also coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. My daughter and I loved the hot chocolate machine on our Alaska Cruise (just don’t try and take it off the boat). For cruisers who love to relax with an alcoholic beverage, they are available onboard. There are multiple bars and adult beverage locations.

Excursions

Yes, of course all cruise lines have excursions. But Disney Cruise line sets itself apart with the number of excursions available with kids in mind. Their goal is that the whole family be able to experience things together so many exciting things are crafted to allow younger travelers. Plus, where else can you see Disney Characters on your shore excursion?

Disney Cruise line not just wants kids to enjoy experiences but everyone! They have also crafted accessible port adventures in 25 different countries. So if mobility is an issue do a little research (or have your travel specialist) to find out which cruise itineraries might work best for you.

ICE CREAM!!

I know, I know. There is complimentary soft-serve ice cream available on other cruise lines. BUT, on a Disney Cruise you can savor many more flavors than just chocolate and vanilla. On our cruise we had strawberry, mango, blueberry, and quite a few others. I think that there were new flavors every day to try. That was awesome!

Watch my Facebook Live post on this subject

Well, I hoped you gleaned a couple facts to help you to decide if a Disney Cruise is worth it to you. There are many more great things about a Disney Cruise but these were standouts for me. Do you have something different? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Links of interest:

Ama Waterways

AmaWaterways Triple Savings

Offers good through June 30, 2020

Awesome deals from Ama Waterways
AmaWaterways triple savings offers

Early Booking Reward

Book your 2021 vacation early and save on your top-choice balcony stateroom or suite!

5% Cruise Savings on Balconies and Suites
PLUS up to $1,500 savings per stateroom on select departures when you book your cruise by June 30, 2020

AmaWaterways is delighted to share our incredible 2021 river cruise collection with you, which includes a brand-new Rhine River ship, AmaLucia, and four spectacular new Europe itineraries. Experience the majesty of stunning Lake Como, Italy; venture to the “Peace Capital” of Geneva, Switzerland; discover romantic new châteaux and gardens in France; and take a deep dive into Belgian history.

Whether you prefer exploring on a hilltop hike, biking through the countryside or simply enjoying the scenery from your balcony, it’s all waiting for you on an unforgettable AmaWaterways river cruise in 2021.

Dont miss out! Early Booking Reward for 2021 and 2022 Egypt Cruises

Uncover the mysteries of the Nile River and beyond on our Secrets of Egypt & the Nile cruise and land adventures beginning in 2021! Book now and save on all balcony staterooms and suites!

5% Cruise Savings on Balconies and Suites
OR save $500 per stateroom on Riverview categories when you book your cruise by June 30, 2020

**Terms and Conditions apply to all discounts. Talk to your Travel Advisor for details.

Disney Cruise Line

What Makes a Disney Cruise Special–Part One

All cruise lines have some great features and things they do well.  But, today, I am going to let you know all the things that I think Disney Cruise does REALLY well.  Things that set them apart from the rest of the pack!

Rather watch a video? At the end of this post there is a link to a live video I recorded on what makes a Disney Cruise special. The post and the video aren’t identical.

What makes a Disney Cruise special. the pool deck.
The Pool Deck

How Disney Cruise Line Excels–Part 1

Accommodations designed with the family in mind.

  • A heavy privacy curtain divides the room between the bed and the couch/drop-down bed which makes the room feel like two rooms. The curtain is so heavy that it really blocks the light from one side or the other.
  • Ample storage is provided. The bed is a little higher bed for under storage. The closet is nice and large for hanging items with a small drawer unit inside. Another cabinet is provided in most rooms as well as a desk/mirror area with multiple drawers, mini-fridge, and cabinet. There is room for everyone’s stuff!
  • Divided bathrooms (found in most deluxe staterooms) are A…mazing! One bathroom has the toilet and sink and the other has a shower/bath with a sink. Since they both have mirrors over the sink two people can get ready at the same time with loads room to move. They are small but AWESOME!

Dining

  • Rotational Dining! Each cruise ship has three different, fantastic restaurants that you don’t want to miss. Upon check-in, you are given your dining rotation between the three dining rooms for your trip. Your servers will move with you to each dining room which means you don’t have to let other servers know your family’s needs and desires.
  • Kid specific meals that are more than just chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese. Plus, kids can order food off of the regular menu if they choose.
  • Activity booklets are provided each night to keep your child entertained during dinner. Also, the Oceaneer’s club leaders will come partway through dinner time to take the children back to the club and you can enjoy the rest of your dinner.
  • Entertainment in some of the dining rooms. Listen to a jazz band, watch your own cartoons come to life, dance with your servers, or have Disney characters dance by your table. One dining room is quieter and without entertainment.
  • 24-hour room service available.

Family Entertainment

  • Evening shows are all child-friendly. You do not have to ever be concerned that the entertainment might not be appropriate for your kids (always consider your child’s age).
  • Many planned activities for the whole family both in the Oceaneer’s Club and Lab and other areas of the ship. Try a family dance party, family crafts or family trivia.
  • Classic and 1st Run Disney movies playing almost all day long in the Buena Vista Theater and the outdoor Funnel Vision.

Fantastic Service

From your Room Steward to your Dining Room Servers to the cast members you see around the boat, you feel like everyone’s mission is to help you have the best vacation ever!

Special Offerings

  • Pirate Night on most Caribbean and Bahamian cruises. You can don a bandana or bring your own Pirate garb to get decked out for the evening party. You might even be treated to some fireworks at sea. How awesome is that!
  • Frozen Night on Alaska cruises. Join Elsa, Anna, Olaf and friends for a day of adventure on the ship, dine on a menu from Arendel, and sing and dance at the evening deck party complete with “snow”.
  • Star Wars Day at Sea. On 7 night cruises, you can spend the day with your favorite characters around the ship and at special meet and greet opportunities (booked prior to the cruise). Indulge your inner child and bring an awesome costume, catch up on Star Wars movies in the Buena Vista Theater, join in special Star Wars activities such as droid racing, Resistance training, and learn the ways of the Jedi. Top the day off with an epic evening with games, music, and a galactic dance party and some FIREWORKS!
  • Marvel Day at Sea. Similar to Star Wars Day but geared all toward the best Marvel characters. Even Mickey and Minnie get into the action by dressing up in Marvel garb. Marvel movies and activities ALL DAY LONG!
  • Halloween on the High Seas (select cruises in September and October). Bring your costumes to really get excited about all the Halloween activities. Join Minnie and Mickey at the Mouse-querade party, try pumpkin carving, be pulled into the world of Tim Burton during an interactive movie with Jack and Sally, listen to haunted stories and trick-or-treat around the ship. This is only the tip of the iceberg of fun!
  • The Very Merrytime Christmas Cruise (select cruises in November and December) is a holiday wonderland. The ships become transformed with holiday spirit. Regular activities take on a Christmas theme as well as some special additions such as the Wonderland Ball and time with Santa.

Watch my Facebook Live on this subject!

What Makes a Disney Cruise Special! Part 1

Next week I will continue with Part 2. There are 7 more really cool things that make a Disney Cruise worth the extra cost. You won’t want to miss outt!

Click here for part 2!

Other Links that might interest you:

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Cruise Deals

Awesome Deals with Ama Waterways 2020 Sailings

Check out these awesome Deals from Ama Waterways and start planning your next adventure!

Exclusive Triple Savings When You Book by December 31, 2019!

Fantastic Mekong River Specials:

2-FOR-1 LAND + PREPAID GRATUITIES + COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE

See the landmark sights of Southeast Asia and thoroughly entice all your senses on a Mekong River cruise from AmaWaterways. Feel the rush of excitement as you take a trishaw ride down the charming streets of Vietnam or try your hand at making traditional Vietnamese rice paper. Hear the melodic chanting as you explore ancient temples and are blessed by monks in remote monasteries. Smell the intoxicating scent of spices wafting through floating marketplaces and then taste these exotic new flavors.

These are the enriching moments of travel that let you explore more about the cultures and traditions of exotic lands. A journey through the heartland of Vietnam and Cambodia is truly a trip of a lifetime.

Earn exclusive Triple Savings on select Mekong River cruises listed below when you book by December 31, 2019:

  1. 2-For-1 Land pricing on full cruise and land program
  2. Pre-paid gratuities
  3. Complimentary upgrade
Awesome deals with Ama Waterways
Ama Magna –picture from Ama Waterways

FREE ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE

OR 25% SINGLE SUPPLEMENTOn select 2020 sailings throughout Europe

Book by December 31, 2019

Don’t miss your chance to experience some of AmaWaterways’ most popular and scenic river cruise itineraries in 2020! Book your cruise on select 2020 departures by December 31, 2019 and you’ll receive Free Economy Airfare! Or take advantage of our reduced single supplement of 25% on select balconies and suites.

Prefer an upgrade? Now you can receive 2-for-1 savings on business class seats on select 2020 departures!

Possible Sailings:

  • Tulip Time–7 day round trip to/from Amsterdam
  • Magna on the Danube–7-night cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest or reverse
  • Legendary Danube–7-night cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest
  • Europe’s Rivers and Castles–7-night cruise from Luxembourg to Nuremberg
  • Enchanting Rhine–7-night cruise from Basel to Amsterdam
  • Magnificent Europe–14-night cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest or reverse
  • Grand Danube–14-night cruise from Vilshofen to Giurgiu or reverse
  • Even More Itineraries Available
Heidleberg, Germany Christmas Market Picture by Ama Waterways

HOLIDAY TRIPLE SAVINGS

  • Save $1000 per person
  • Complimentary Stateroom Upgrade
  • $50 per person onboard credit
  • Check out Ama Waterways for more details, itineraries, and more
  • Valid for select Ama Waterways cruises in 2019 and 2020

EARLY BOOKING REWARD

on all 2021 Europe & Asia cruises*

Book by April 30, 2020

AmaWaterways continues to build upon its tradition of excellence by providing the most exceptional vacation experience for you. In 2021, we continue this tradition by introducing a new ship and a dazzling array of new destinations and itineraries offering even more variety and choices for all types of travelers. Book your 2021 vacation early and save on your top-choice balcony stateroom or suite!

5% Cruise Savings on Balconies and Suites
PLUS up to $1,500 savings per stateroom on select departures
when you book your cruise by April 30, 2020

All specials are subject to Terms and Conditions. Contact Me or visit Ama Waterways for more details.

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Other posts you might like:

Cruise Deals

Royal Caribbean November Deals

60% off 2nd Guest + Kids Sail for Less!

Royal Caribbean Cruise line has some great rates on cruises right now. They are offering 60% off the second guest and kids sail for less. This offer is good until December 3, 2019. Don’t miss out on these Royal Caribbean November Deals!

Bonus Deal: Wander Now Sale

**Book November 15-19, 2019 for Stateroom Credit

If you book within the next couple of days you will receive credit to your stateroom as well as the great rates. Stateroom credit can be used on dining, beverages, shore excursions, photographs and other activites. It cannot be used toward gratuities.

See chart below for the amount of credit you can receive! I love this extra Royal Caribbean November deal!

Royal Caribbean November deals wander now sale

Stateroom Credit by booking November 15-19, 2019

5 Nights or Less:6 Nights or Longer
Inside/Oceanview Cabin$25$50
Balcony Cabin$75$100
Suite$75$200

Ready to take advantage of these Royal Caribbean November Deals? Contact me today!

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Other posts you might be interest in:

Disney Cruise Line

Mistakes We Made on Our Disney Cruise

And hopefully you won’t!

Mistakes we made on our Disney Cruise

We had a fabulous time on our Alaska Disney Cruise. But since it was our first one we definitely made some mistakes. Certainly not anything that negatively effected our trip but things to learn from for next time. So read on and hopefully you can learn from the mistakes we made on our Disney Cruise.

1) Boarding time is not arrival time

I planned to be at the port before our boarding time but I didn’t realize how long the process would take. We arrived at the port in Vancouver about an 1 1/2 hours before our boarding time. This was not nearly enough time to actually board at our time. There are so many steps in the process–baggage drop off, initial check-in, security checks, and a couple custom checks.

Lesson learned: Get to the port more than 2 hours before boarding time. There is an area to sit and wait to board after you are all checked in.

2) Waiting to Purchase Key Card Holder

I didn’t really think about this at all before leaving. In past cruises our kids were older and didn’t want anything hanging around their necks. But, I quickly realized after boarding that it would be very important for my young daughter to have a lanyard to hold her Key to the World Card. I certainly didn’t want to be digging for hers all the time. I knew that if she was responsible for putting it in her pocket it would be lost before dinner.

So, the hunt for a card holder began. Unfortunately, we had to wait until after we left port for the onboard stores to open up. Finally, after waiting and waiting (this was very difficult for my daughter who frequently asked if they would open soon) the doors opened. In we went, excited to see all the possibilities.

Sadly, our choices were very limited. I think there was three styles to choose from. Now, there were lots of pin trading lanyards but since the pocket was detachable I knew that with my daughter that would be a recipe for disaster. After much agonizing, one was settled on. Even though it was expensive (in my opinion $13 was quite a bit for a pocket) it was worth every penny. My daughter kept track of her very important Key to the World Card the whole trip. Bonus: we have it for the next cruise.

I will say there was one benefit for purchasing the lanyard on the ship. The plastic pouch ripped so it was unusable. We brought it back to the shop and they replaced it with a smile.

Lesson Learned: Purchase a Key to the World holder before leaving on the trip. They are invaluable for young children who want to hold their cards themselves.

3) Overpacking

On our last cruise (non-Disney) we dressed up for dinner almost every night. Not always fancy but at least changing out of shorts/swimsuit and into a skirt or nice pants. But not this time!

Our cruise was very casual. VERY! We had the late seating so I was able to see all the people going into dinner for the early seating. I was so surprised the first night to see so many t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jeans.

I had packed a change of clothes for almost every dinner. Most of them languished in the closet never worn. Why change if I don’t have to?!

Now, we were on an Alaska Cruise in September so shorts never graced my body. It might be different if I was on a Caribbean cruise and had to change out of my shorts to go to dinner.

Lesson Learned: Pack extra clothing for Formal and Semi-formal night but don’t worry so much about the rest.

4) Under Utilizing the Disney Navigator App

I downloaded the app before our trip which was a good first step. I really like paper and seeing all the activities at once and in comparison to each other. For this reason I didn’t really use the app much.

It wasn’t until the 5th day of our 7 day cruise that I was lamenting the fact I had missed some of the characters and wished I could have known ahead all the meeting times for characters. Another passenger informed me that ON THE APP you can look up each character and see all the meet and greet times throughout the week. Boy, this would have been helpful on day 1 or 2.

I wished I had know this for planning out the movies too. I sure loved watching movies on the ship. I know, I know. I’m quite silly but I really don’t get much chance at home.

Lesson learned: Look through the Navigator App right away. Pick favorites and enjoy the trip!

5) Letting the weather stop me

This mistake we made on our Disney Cruise is probably the only one I actually regret. As I said before, I thought it was kind of cold on our cruise. I did come prepared with insulated water boots, down coat, hat, and gloves. I donned them all for the important times such as the Frozen Deck Party and traveling up Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier.

Other than those two times I spent very little time outdoors. At the time I just didn’t want to be cold. But now, I look back and think, “Man! Why didn’t I even walk around the deck and sit for a bit and watch the beauty floating by?”

Lesson learned: Bundle up and spend at least a little time walking around the decks and watch the scenery.

6) Feeling Guilty About Skipping the Dining Room

We loved our dining room servers, the dining room atmosphere, and the dining room entertainment. We didn’t love the food and found ourselves wanting a change. I know it is silly, but we felt like we were letting down our servers if we ate elsewhere.

Finally, after looking at the next day’s activities we decided that we needed to skip dinner in order to do all we wanted to do. We hesitantly informed our servers and the next night ate at Cabanas for dinner.

When we walked in we expected to eat at the buffet. Boy, were we wrong! At night Cabanas is sit-down service. At first we were disappointed as we were in a bit of a hurry to eat. The initial look at the menu also was disheartening as it seemed very basic. But we ordered and it was actually our favorite meal. Go figure!

Lesson Learned: It’s your vacation. Do what you want!

7) Trying to Leave Ship with Hot Drink

As you know, we were on an Alaska cruise in September. Well, it was kind of cold and rainy. Having a hot drink while exploring Juneau sounded so fantastic! I went up to the drink station and poured myself a lovely cup of tea. Down I went to the exit the ship. But, unfortunately not with my tea! The security personnel informed me that drinks were not allowed to leave with me. Ah man!

Lesson learned: Find the first coffee cart on a cold day and get a hot drink. (or iced drink on a hot day)

Thank you for reading through all the mistakes we made on our Disney Cruise. Hopefully you find this a little helpful in planning your own vacation.

What mistakes have you made on your Disney Cruise that you don’t want to make again?

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Some other links you might like:

Disney Cruise Line

7 Things I LOVED About Our Disney Cruise!

Things I Loved about our Disney Cruise
Things I loved about our Disney cruise

My daughter and I sailed on our first Disney Cruise at the beginning of September. Other than a fantastic, relaxing trip my purpose was to experience a Disney Cruise in order to be able to better inform my clients. I brought my 7-year old daughter for special Mother-Daughter time and as my “guinea pig” for the children’s programming.

Our first Disney Cruise took us on the Disney Wonder back to our Alaskan home. It is quite typical for Alaskans to have never visited the city and towns of Southeast. So, I was thrilled to explore the ports of Juneau, Ketchikan, Icy Strait (Hoonah), and Skagway. But, I am focusing my gushing about the things I love to the the actual cruise ship.

Without further ado, here are the things that I LOVED about our Disney cruise!

1) Our Dining Room Servers–Potchara and Heny

Potchara and Heny, our dining room team, were fantastic. They made every dinner fabulous. They quickly remembered our likes and dislikes. They watched closely to when we needed anything and checked on us regularly (but not too much). They let us get to know them, about their lives.

2) Rotational Dining

The Disney Wonder has 3 main dining rooms. Rotational dining allows you to experience all the dining rooms during your cruise. Place’s decor is reminiscent of 1920’s New Orleans. Triton’s dining room style is more classic and subdued. The final dining room is Animator’s Palate. This last dining room initially looks bleak in all black and white. As dinner progresses this room transforms into a vibrant color palate. It’s so delightful!

3) Dining Room Entertainment

I vaguely remember reading something about live jazz in Tiana’s Place before we left on our cruise. But, I was totally unprepared for how cool it all was. The jazz band in Tiana’s Place was excellent. The second evening at Tiana’s our servers had a great musical number and encouraged all the guest to join in and dance around the dining room. So fun!

Animator’s Palate was my absolute favorite. The first time we dined there was a cute show after dinner. But, on our second dining at Animator’s Palate we experienced probably one of my favorite things on the whole cruise. Before they let us order we had to draw a character on a piece of paper. After dinner they took our characters and animated them into a cute movie. It was one of the cutest things I have seen in a long time! I LOVED it!!

4) All the Focused Attention on my Daughter

All throughout the cruise I felt that my daughter was respected as a traveler and not just along for the ride. I loved how kids were an important part of the cruise. It is truly a family friendly cruise with emphasis on creating special memories for children as well as adults.

At the Frozen Party a section was roped off just for kids so they could be close to the stage and join in with the dancing. So many activities could involve the whole family together. At the Oceaneers club, they would interact with the kids at things they enjoy doing. My daughter loved playing games with them.

One of the things that impressed me the most was how our servers looked at her in the eye (as much as she would let them). They spent time helping her decide what to eat, taking as much time as necessary without rushing her. They asked her what she wanted and listened to her requests. Every night Potchara would have a special activity planned such as origami or magic tricks. As soon as he realized how much my daughter loved the magic tricks he made sure he had one ready every night.

5) The Movies

I know, so silly. But, we rarely go to the movie theater. It was such a treat to sit and watch so many of the movies I really wanted to see but hadn’t. I loved the live action Aladdin and saw it twice. Watching the Lion King and Toy Story 4 on the big screen was so fun.

6) Frozen Deck Party

Freezing the Night Away! Even though cold and bundled up with hat and gloves I loved this show! It was so fun! Music reverberated across the deck. Dancing infected the feet of everyone. Anna and Elsa lit up the night. And even though I am very accustomed to snow, the snowfall on the deck was enchanting. I loved every minute of it! I can’t imagine how amazing a Pirate Party must be with fireworks on the Caribbean cruises.

7) Our Room Steward–Alvin

A cool cat courtesy of Alvin

Alvin was awesome! He always had a smile on his face. He always greeted us like he was happy to see us. One night we left our room a disaster only to come back to a neat and tidy space ready for us to sleep that night. He never made us feel like we were interrupting his duties when we changed our routine and messed up his. He crafted awesome towel (and blanket) creatures. He pixie dusted my daughter with Princess sheets and absolutely thrilled her by leaving them on a couple of nights. He made our trip extra special.

These were not the only things that I liked about out Disney Cruise. But, these were the things that, I believe, set Disney apart from other cruise lines. Now, I know that others may not agree with my opinions but that’s okay.

Now, it’s your turn. What was your favorite part of your Disney Cruise?

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Other links that might interest you: