Back to all blog posts

The Ultimate Family Vacation: Setting Sail On A Disney Cruise

June 16, 2022
Katie Bean

Parents, children, and critics all agree that setting sail on a Disney Cruise is one of the most remarkable vacations a family can experience. If you’ve ever been to a Disney park, you’ve experienced the attention to detail of Disney first-hand, and a Disney Cruise is no exception. Every onboard area and available amenity has been designed to maximize relaxation and fun for your entire family. From fine dining and luxury spa treatments to the nightly entertainment and children’s activity centers, Disney Cruise stands out as a must-do trip that your family won’t want to miss.

Destinations

When it comes to fun on the high seas, Disney offers multiple cruise destinations that are just begging to be explored, including: Alaska, Europe, the Carribean, and the Bahamas. You can experience the sun, sand, and surf of the Caribbean for a tropical getaway or explore the breathtaking enclaves of Alaska for an extended seasonal stay. With the diversity of Disney Cruise Lines, the possibilities are endless.

Fun for the Whole Family

A Disney Cruise offers plenty of acitvities to bring the whole family together and create lasting memories. In addition to daily deck parties and port adventures, you can attend a variety of dazzling Broadway-caliber shows every night aboard your Disney Cruise.

Each ship features an original show based on a classic Disney film that’s performed live at the lavish Walt Disney Theatre. Whether you’re seeing Aladdin, Tangled, Beauty & the Beast, or Frozen, the shows are guaranteed to be a major trip highlight for both you and your children. In addition to the marquee shows, there are countless other nightly entertainment options. From knee-slapping comedy shows and trivia, to live-time Disney movie premieres and amazing magic performances, the opportunities for fun are endless.

Castaway Cay is full of activities — from parasailing to snorkeling, to boat and bicycle rentals, and even deep sea fishing excursions, there’s something for everyone in your family. In the crystal clear waters off the island, you can also enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and even water slides.

In addition to all the amazing amenities and entertainment onboard, Caribbean Disney Cruises also offers access to their own private island: Castaway Cay. Located in the Bahamas, the once-deserted 1,000 acre island was converted into a picturesque tropical escape designed to encompass fun for your whole family.

The food on Castaway Cay is also superb and includes an open-air barbecue restaurant that serves complimentary meals, specialty drinks, and all-you-care-to-eat soft serve ice cream. If you’re lucky, you may even get to catch Mickey and Minnie have a dance off while you enjoy your beach-side lunch.

Top-Rated Kids Facilities

Disney Cruise is an incredibly magical experience for your children with just the right amount of Disney for you. Every ship has its own family pools and splash areas, as well as kids clubs and entertainment, family lounges, arcades, and activity centers. There are clubs for every age group that are designed to keep your children active and entertained. Each fun activity is hosted by an engaging and fully-trained cast member. There is so much for kids to love in these clubs that it may be hard to get them to leave — but don’t worry, you can enjoy a delicious lunch date or luxurious spa treatment while your kids explore.

The Oceaneer Club is an amazing fleet-wide children’s activity center where your little ones can play in magical themed lands, engage in interactive activities, and meet their favorite Disney characters. The tweens and teens youth-club venues boast some of the coolest amenities onboard. Kids at Edge get to enjoy a hidden observation lounge as well as dancing, karaoke, scavenger hunts, and themed nights. Teens also get to enjoy music and movies as well as access the teens-only spa Chill. Don’t be too jealous of your kids though, the adults-only spaces are equally as awe-inspiring.

The various kids clubs include:

  • It’s a Small World Nursery (Ages 3 and Under)
  • Oceaneer Club (Ages 3-12)
  • Edge (Ages 11-14)
  • Vibe (Ages 14-17)

Adult-Only Escapes

If you find you have a few hours to yourself while your kids are at play, you can experience your own magic in the adults-only areas of the ship. These areas provide a welcome escape from the “Disney” environment for adult cruisers and exemplifies the true meaning of luxury.

While there is a huge focus on family-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy, rest assured that if you do find yourself with some spare time for some adults-only fun, a Disney Cruise has you covered.

Each Disney Cruise offers a number of areas that are reserved exclusively for adults. Depending on the ship, amenities may vary slightly but include:

  • Stylish, sophisticated nightclubs and lounges featuring cocktails, entertainment, and dancing — our personal favorites include Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar and Diversions for a Tequila and Margarita Tasting
  • The Quiet Cove Pool, a tranquil oasis that comes complete with a sun deck, swim-up bar, and whirlpool spas
  • A fitness center, which offers every type of workout equipment and full exercise classes including Pilates, aerobics, and yoga
  • The Senses Spa and Salon, providing high-end spa treatments such as body-wraps, facials, and massage therapy, as well as salon services such as hair, nails, and shave
  • Adults-only dining at northern Venetian-style Italian restaurant, Paolo, and formal French restaurant, Remy

Dining Experiences

When it comes to dining on a Disney Cruise, no member of your family will ever be left wanting more — the cuisine is excellent and always served in style. Disney Cruise Lines have been awarded multiple honors for the quality of their food and the dining experience as a whole. On every Disney Cruise ship, you’ll find multiple dining options, including: quick service dining locations, an enormous breakfast buffet, three restaurants for nightly dining, top-notch room service, and a premium restaurant option.

Through Disney Cruise Line’s “rotational dining” program you will be able to visit all three of the uniquely-themed restaurants during your voyage. These restaurants offer different menus every night so you’re guaranteed to never have the same experience twice. One unique aspect of rotational dining is that your servers from the first dinner also rotate with you, so the wait staff serving you each night will be the same. These servers learn your family’s preferences and can anticipate all your wants and needs for each dinner service. The food on a Disney Cruise is truly exceptional and the service rivals that of any 5-star dining experience.

Benefits of Sailing Concierge

If you’ve experienced the Disney parks then you know the unparalleled service and magic-filled amenities that you can expect when sailing on a Disney Cruise. Booking your Disney Cruise as a Concierge guest ensures that you receive all of that and more.

As a Concierge guest, luxury cruising is taken to another level with deluxe onboard offerings and amenities. You have access to exclusive Concierge-only areas and services, including the very fun and highly-anticipated Pillow Menu. Concierge also enables pre-arrival services and priority for reserving onboard activities, dining reservations, and shore excursions. You will also have first pick for private beach cabanas on Castaway Cay if you’re cruising Caribbean and shore excursions for all port stops anywhere else. All suites are automatically Concierge level on Disney Cruise ships, providing you with extra space, enhanced bathrooms, and even hot tubs on various decks. Entry level rooms in the Concierge section correspond with the larger Verandah rooms, but include upgraded decor.

Disney’s cast members are renowned for their service and ability to create magical moments, and this is especially true of the onboard Concierge hosts. The Concierge Lounge is staffed with two Concierges who will greet you with a personalized itinerary for your time onboard. Concierge hosts will also assist with any and all possible requests, this includes your transition off of the ship.

Booking Your Disney Cruise With Katie Bean Travels

Booking with Katie Bean Travels you can rest assured that you’ll have an unforgettable experience that your whole family will enjoy when you set sail on a Disney Cruise. With so many options available for leisure and fun, deciding on what to do and see during your limited time onboard can seem overwhelming. The team at Katie Bean Travels takes into account the types of experiences that you desire to then carefully curate a custom itinerary for your Disney Cruise. From dining reservations to shore excursions, and pre- and post-cruise accommodations to even car transfers to the ship, Katie Bean Travels has you covered so that you can focus on the special memories to come.

button:hover { cursor: pointer; }