The Disney Cruise Line is a great alternative for fans of Disneyland and Walt Disney World that just can’t get enough! Why go on a Disney cruise? What can you expect on a Disney cruise? I’ll be answering some of these questions as well as dispelling a few myths about Disney cruises.
First, a little bit about the amazing ship. We sailed on the Disney Dream, the second newest in the Disney fleet of four vessels, and in my opinion one of the best looking cruise ship in the world – a very sleek design. From top to bottom the vessel is 217 feet in height but sits around thirty feet in the water. The ship was built in Germany at a cost of over one billion dollars! The Animator’s Palate restaurant alone cost $4 million. Disney had to get special permission from the Coast Guard to paint the lifeboats yellow in order to match Mickey Mouse’s colors. You never feel like it while aboard but there are over 4,000 passengers and 1,200 crew sailing with you!
Now I’m going to share my thoughts on the Disney Cruise experience but first please note this is the one and only cruise I’ve been on so I have no other cruise to compare it to and instead can only relate this vacation to my experiences at Disney resorts and theme parks.
Outstanding customer service: Disney is known for great customer service at its theme parks and hotels but I would argue that the Disney Cruise Line staff stands above all others. Every single crew member was exceptional. Read some of the comments on this Facebook page and you’ll begin to see why.
Cleanliness: The Disney Dream was absolutely spotless. The myth that cruise ships are floating germ vessels is simply not true. The crew members are fanatical about keeping the boat clean and preventing the spreading of germs. Each guest is given a sanitation wipe before every meal and upon entering the ship. If you spill a drop of food in one of the buffet lines a staff member is there to immediately clean it up.
Not just for kids: Many people mistakenly think a Disney cruise is filled with a bunch of screaming kids. This is simply not true. You can make the cruise into whatever type of experience you want it to be – there is enough to do and variety to satisfy everyone. The front of the ship is mostly adult only areas. One complete side of the Castaway Cay island is reserved for adults only (and is probably the best beach I’ve ever been to).
Entertainment: The Disney Dream contains a Broadway style theater (called the Walt Disney theater) where three unique shows specifically created for the cruise line can be viewed. Some nights they have three different movies playing: one in the movie theater, one in the Walt Disney Broadway show theater, and one on the giant screen attached to the forward funnel of the boat (dubbed “Funnel Vision”). Did I mention the shows use pyrotechnics too?
That’s all for now. In Disney Cruise Review Part 2 I’ll cover the rotational dining program, the Aquaduck water coaster, and Disney’s private island Castaway Cay!
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