Disney does cruising right

The author (second from right) with mom Katie, sister Emily and dad Lewis aboard a DIsney cruise ship.

By Carolyn Brewer
George Washington High School

Launched in 1998, the Disney Cruise Line has two ships - the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. They set sail from their homeport of Port Canaveral, Fla. and generally offer, three-, four- or seven-night cruises in the Caribbean. As a two-time Disney Cruise line veteran, I’m here to shed some light on this cruise line, which, though marketed toward families with small children, has something for everyone!

Food

As with most cruise ships, food is always available in abundance. There is a pool grill that serves hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza and sandwiches; a coffee bar serving international coffees and pastries; and an ice cream and frozen yogurt bar. There are also three restaurants - Parrot Cay, Animator’s Palette and either Triton’s or Lumiere’s, depending on your ship.

For dinner, the Disney Cruise Line offers rotational dining, meaning that though you rotate restaurants daily, the same wait staff will serve you at each one. And there are two dining options - early and late - to suit your preference.

For people 18 and over, there is an adults-only restaurant, Palo’s. Or guests can stay in and order any meal through room service.

Staterooms

Both ships have 875 staterooms, 73 percent of which have a view of the ocean. Additionally, 60 percent of those rooms have private verandas, so there is a good chance that you and your family will have an excellent view.

All staterooms come with a remote-control color TV, air-conditioning, in-room safe, hair dryer, phone with voice-mail, individual climate control and privacy curtains.

Most also have split baths so that two people can get ready at the same time. (A split bath means there are two bathrooms, one with a toilet and sink and one with a shower/bath and sink).

Disney influences also creep in with “Disney Melodies” artwork hanging over most beds, depicting a few bars of famous Disney songs such as “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from “Cinderella.”

Pools

Disney ships have three pools to cool off in. For young children, there is Mickey’s Pool, in the shape of the famous mouse’s head, which includes wading pools and a slide. Goofy’s Pool is for the whole family - especially older children (age 10 and up can swim without adult supervision). Finally, the Quiet Cove Pool is for adults 18 and up only. Although these pools are only a few feet from each other, the atmosphere around each one makes it seem miles apart from the others.

Entertainment

The nightly entertainment program on Disney cruise ships is unlike any other in the cruise industry. Each evening, the Walt Disney Theatre features either a Disney Cruise Line-produced show with Broadway-quality singers and dancers or a variety show. I personally enjoyed “Disney Dreams.”

If you prefer the silver screen, the Buena Vista Theater has a variety of first-run moves and classic Disney films.

Disney ships also have several clubs. Rockin’ Bar D on the Magic and WaveBands on the Wonder offer live bands and DJs. There’s also a hangout just for teens - Aloft on the Wonder and The Stack on the Magic. Plus, the Magic offers Ocean Quest, which has several video game stations.

For the family, there’s Studio Sea, a lounge that offers dance music, game shows and other family-oriented acts. There is also Diversions, a pub where sports fans can check all the latest scores.

As you can see, the Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of activities to guests of all ages. So if your family has been thinking about taking a cruise, why not have some fun in the sun with Disney?

For more information, visit www.disneycruise.com.