Nico Diperna's Excellent Disney Fantasy Adventure
By , Cruise Specialist | August 26, 2015 ( Comments)
Under normal circumstances, a week is a reasonably long period of time. On a Disney Cruise, time flies faster than Aladdin’s Magic Carpet! Nonetheless, the week is jam-packed with memories upon memories that will always last a lifetime.
Ever wondered what your week would look like on a seven-night Disney Cruise? Here’s what mine looked like. Be forewarned: Spoilers ahead!
Day 1, Port Canaveral
From the moment our car pulled up to Disney’s cruise terminal at Port Canaveral, the attention to detail even in the smallest matters got us more and more excited for the week to come aboard the Disney Fantasy. The terminal itself is immaculate. Mickey and Minnie posing for pictures with people as they waiting to board the ship showed cruisers that Mickey himself was happy to welcome them aboard!
The boarding process was relatively simple, as the online check in at home is very, very thorough. All that remained was for us to get our Key to the World cards printed, which serve as your room key, charge card, and ship ID for the week. The line was relatively long, but we got through it very quickly, as Disney has many representatives waiting to assist you and your family.
We didn't need to pull our luggage or cases of water around with us, as Disney allows those items to be checked in with the porters. All of these checked items magically appear at your room in just a few hours!
As we boarded the ship in our matching monorail t-shirts (we like to stand clear of the doors), we were welcomed aboard by the amazing cruise staff. They announced our arrival to the entire ship as we entered the beautiful atrium of the Disney Fantasy. No matter how many times I walk on to this stunning ship, I am always taken aback by the beauty of the atrium. The gold trim, warm colors, and subtle nods to Disney stories make my eyes water. Sure, other ships have beautiful atriums, but the Fantasy’s speaks to your soul in an emotional way that cannot be duplicated.
You're surrounded by the typical subtle Disney ambiance music that musically begins your story aboard the ship. You see the beautiful glass elevators, carpet, and handmade glass light fixture that channel the natural beauty of a peacock’s feathers. You’ll also see the statue of Minnie Mouse, the centerpiece of the atrium. On the walls, you’ll be delighted to see paintings and mosaics of castles, pumpkin carriages, and magical art that comes to life when you approach it.
This is truly the beginning of your story.
The first thing I did after taking in the grand entrance was make my way to the shore excursions desk on Deck 5. This is a quick, yet important task. I was able to get tickets for the Princess forum, which is a gathering of all the Disney Princesses on the ship. It is the perfect time for pictures with each of them! I also signed up for a meet and greet with the popular sisters from Frozen, Anna and Elsa. You also have the opportunity to sign up for the Disney Junior Character Breakfast, which takes place on Sea Days. While I was there, I also made sure to sign my whole family up for the Castaway Cay 5K!
While all these events cost nothing, Disney issues tickets in order to keep the lines down. Each cruiser is assigned a different arrival time, and they are all staggered. Anna and Elsa don't have a four-hour wait! I was assigned times for the following Thursday, which seemed far away at the time, but went by very quickly!
Next up, we headed to our room to drop off our carry-on luggage. Our room was a rare category 9D. There are only 2 of them on the ship that were like ours, and my family had both! Situated on Deck 8 forward, rooms 8006 and 8504 are in the corners of the ship. While they are oddly situated, they are much larger than the average room. As with all 9D's, they have an "obstructed"; view, which is really not anything to complain about, as it overlooks the bow of the ship. I like to see where we are going!
As part of our new tradition, we made sure to decorate the door of our stateroom with magnets. Disney's doors are magnetic, so many, many guests take to decorating them! Check out our Olaf!
It was time for lunch, and with Disney Cruise Line, the welcome aboard lunch is no joke. We were treated to lamb chops, swordfish, crab claws, mussels, sushi, carved turkey, and roast steamship. It was shameful how much we ate, but it was all so delicious... The stand-out star, as always, were the lamb chops. Grilled freshly in front of you, these perfectly seasoned little bundles of deliciousness are sure to satisfy anyone!
After the mandatory lifeboat drill, it was time to sail away! The sailing away party is a sight to behold. Cruisers from all over the world are finally at the vacation of a lifetime that they have been looking forward to like nothing else! Time to celebrate! The cruise staff, along with Captain Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and the gang all come out and dance to some catchy music that’ll be stuck in your head for weeks! This all culminates with the finale, the ship’s horn! It can play one of six different Disney songs! We were treated to the classic, "When You Wish Upon a Star!" Time to sail away!
We were finally out to sea! After some exploring, it was time for dinner. One of the many unique aspects of Disney Cruise Line is that they have rotational dining. That means every night of the cruise, you rotate between three different dining rooms! Each a different and unique experience!
The first night, we were delighted to having the same server as our last cruise! Lumi! We had requested her for this cruise, and were very happy to see she was on the ship! Our first dining room was the Enchanted Garden. Here, the ambiance and lighting changes to simulate daytime, dusk, and night all during your meal! The flower-shaped light fixtures even change as the day turns to night. All the while, you enjoy dining in what feels like the garden of a palace!
The Enchanted Garden menu was one of my favorite of the entire cruise, as it contains my favorite entrée that Disney Cruise Line offers - the sea bass. Seasoned and cooked perfectly, this sea bass flakes apart, even if you just think really hard! It is extremely delicious, and a must try! Even for those who do not enjoy fish, as it is not fishy AT ALL. The appetizers are also quite delicious. They have an Ahi Tuna and Avocado Tower, sprinkled with a little bit of sea salt. It's truly a beautiful plate!
After dinner, we headed directly for the Welcome Aboard Show in the Walt Disney Theater. Rule number one of Disney Cruises: Never ever miss the shows! They are incredible and are the perfect way to start your evening. In tonight's show, we were introduced to our cruise director and the incredible cast of the Walt Disney Theater. They performed a short show complete with classic Disney songs and dances all themed around showing you around the ship! It's a great teaser for what shows are to come...
After the show, I engaged in some family karaoke. Led by the cruise staff member, Jess (who became the stand-out member for our cruise), family karaoke was a fun, welcoming environment! So naturally I decided to sing "Love is an Open Door" from Frozen. However, that song is a duet, so I needed to recruit someone from the crowd! It was lots, and lots of fun!
After karaoke, I finished the night in the Tube, which is in Europa, the Adult Entertainment District. This area is for adults only, no kids allowed, and is complete with a Irish Pub, Champagne Bar, a bar shaped like a carousel, often accompanied by live music, a night club themed after the British Subway system, The Tube, and the Skyline Bar, a bar complete with magical windows that display a different city skyline every few minutes!
In the Tube, the adult entertainment cruise staff member, Tisa, was hosting a Match your Mate gameshow! Which is where couples go to answer some questions about each other and win some great prizes! She really does an amazing job, and she remembered me from my previous cruises! It's always fun to forge friendships with crew members.
Day 2, At Sea
With so much fun on the first day, how could one not look forward to day 2?! During this day, the ship was at sea, as we were making our way to Cozumel, Mexico. It was a beautiful day for laying by the pool and watching Disney Movies on the big screen after breakfast!
We took part in many activities in addition to laying by the pool that day… We played mini golf on the Goofy Sports Deck, we took part in the Midship Detective Agency starring the Muppets, and even did some Disney Song Trivia!
The Midship detective agency is a fun way to learn your way around the ship. The magical artwork I mentioned in the atrium is not only there, but around the entire ship! This art work not only interacts with you as you pass by it, but serves as the medium for the Midship Detective agency! All you need is your detective badge, which you can obtain on Deck 2, or Deck 5, midship. All in all, there are three crimes for you to solve, one involving missing paintings, one involving missing Dalmatian puppies, and one starring the Muppets, who seem to have had their props stolen.
Disney Song Trivia was a lot harder than you would think! I arrived at trivia as a solo team. I was delighted to see that Jess was hosting it along with the ship's pianist. There were 15 questions that were each divided into three parts for a total of 45 possible points. The ship's pianist would play a few notes from the song (just a few), and you would have to name the song, movie it was from, and a special bonus question pertaining to the song or movie. I scored 42 points and won! All by myself! Let's just say people were jealous of my new Mickey medal!
As part of my usual cruise routine, I felt it was necessary to use the gym every day to justify the massive amounts of food I was consuming. The gym itself on the Disney Fantasy is VERY nice. Complete with many treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, weight machines, and more, it was perfect to get my usual work out in with the added bonus of a view of the ocean! Perfect relaxation!
As this was the second night of the cruise, it was formal night. On Disney's seven-night sailings, they often have one formal night and a semiformal night. These are optional, but almost everyone dresses up, so you might as well. We certainly did!
Dinner that night was in the Royal Court. The most formal of the three dining rooms, and in my opinion, the most beautiful. Complete with mosaics of Disney Princes and Princesses, beautiful chandeliers, lights and bread baskets shaped like Cinderella's carriage, and plates and cups adorned with crowns, carriages, and roses. The servers are also dressed for the part by wearing royal costumes making them look like servers in a palace!
The food was incredible as always, but the stars of this menu are Gaston's Escargot, the Rack of Lamb, and the crème brulee. As an escargot fan, I had no doubt that Disney would get it right, and I was correct. Aside from being named after the greatest man alive himself, Gaston, the escargot was beautifully prepared and delicious. The rack of lamb fell off the bone, and was seasoned to absolute perfection... Perhaps my favorite dessert of the cruise, the crème brulee is perfect amounts crème and perfect amounts brulee, and is not overly sweet or heavy, but a lovely way to end the meal.
After dinner, we were treated to one of the very best shows at sea, Disney's Aladdin. All I can say is... wow. It is truly an incredible show that keeps you wanting more and more, even if you are familiar with the movie and songs. The performers immerse themselves in the crowd, making the audience really feel as if they are part of the story... During the magic carpet, a whole new world scene, it actually looked like the carpet was flying through the clouds! The puppeteer for Iago was incredible. And the performer who portrayed the magic carpet was unreal! She did flips, splits, hand springs, and all sorts of other maneuvers that I couldn't even make up names for. The star of this show however, was the Genie. It was truly an amazing performance. I've never seen this show not receive a standing ovation from the audience. Refer back to rule number one: DON'T MISS THE SHOWS!
Going on around the ship that night, they had a scavenger hunt for the adults only in the Tube called The Quest. The audience was divided into teams. They had to find different objects and bring them to the stage to gain points. For example, they had to find a set of keys, run up with two belts, and find a man wearing women's shoes(?!) That was hysterical to watch. Overall, a very fun show run by Tisa.
Day 3, Mexico
Day 3 was probably the most magical for me... and for reasons I did not expect. Disney Cruise Line is full of surprises, even for those who have sailed nine times.
Today we were in Cozumel, Mexico. A beautiful Mexican port famous for its beaches, silver, and access to Mayan ruins. As a family, we opted to just walk off the ship and shop, as the shopping in Mexico is more like a sporting event... Especially when my father does it.
As with most Caribbean ports, you can find lots of brand knockoffs, such as fake Oakley sunglasses. Originally, the salesman had a steep price of $80, which is almost the price of real ones! I'll admit he did keep a straight face for a while... My father, the sportsman that he is, found great pleasure in walking away with those sunglasses for $15. It was a fine spectacle to behold.
When we got back to the ship after some more shopping, we were happy to see most people were still out and about. It was nice to be able to roam around the ship, eat lunch, and go to the gym without any crowds.
Dinner that night was at the Animator's Palate... but what happened before that changed my life. Now, there's something that you should know about me. I have two favorite things in the whole world, and those are Disney and Star Wars. On my way to dinner, I had to pass the gift shop, which I had been in MANY times during this cruise, and purchased a few small things. On the Disney Fantasy, the gift shop is divided into many store fronts. One of these store fronts had been revamped during the day to be a Star Wars Disney Cruise Line Store...
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!
There were several Star Wars Disney Cruise Line shirts featuring the ship, X-Wings, Jedi Knights, Sith Lords, the Death Star and more! I bought one of everything... literally... everything! It was shameful, yet glorious. My favorite new shirt features Han Solo, and says "Captain of the Ship" along with the Disney Cruise Line logo. AMAZING! The funny part was, apparently I was the first person to wander in since they opened! Of course I had to take a picture with the gift shop manager, Elizabeth, to commemorate!
With all the excitement, I was late for dinner! The Animator's palate is by far the most immersive of the three dining rooms. It is themed after classic and modern Disney Animation. One the first visit of the week, guests are treated to Turtle Talk with Crush! Where Crush, the sea turtle from Finding Nemo, visits each section of the restaurant and talks to people! It is loads of fun. The stand out menu item of this evening was the Truffle Pasta! VERY, very good! Order two! For dessert, the Cheesecake Brownie was heavenly.
That night after dinner, I was able to snag some pictures with some Disney Princesses! I met Ariel, she called me handsome, Cinderella, and Tiana. The show of this evening was Disney's Wishes! A beautiful show about growing up and facing your fears starring three best friends. They go on a journey through Disneyland and meet many different Disney Characters such as Hercules, Sebastian, and Timon and Pumbaa. Again, the cast of the show performs these scenes and Disney songs beautifully! The final scene of the show includes the three main characters graduation from high school, sure to bring tears to the eyes of any parent.
That night, we opted to visit the Buena Vista Theater, which is where Disney Cruise Line plays first-run Disney movies. On this list for this cruise was the new live action Cinderella, Tomorrowland, Ant-Man, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Monkey Kingdom! We chose to watch Ant-Man. Wonderful movie! And the best part? It's included in the price of the cruise!
Day 4, Cayman Islands
Next stop, Grand Cayman! Home to some of the clearest blue seas I have ever seen! Since Grand Cayman is surrounded by several coral reefs, the ship can’t actually dock there, so it has to anchor in the bay. Passengers tender from the ship to reach the island. Disney Cruise Line does a really great job organizing the tenders, so that everyone can get off without a scrum of people fighting to get one. They allow guests participating in Disney Port Adventures to disembark first, then make announcements when other guests can go, all the while queuing guests in the Walt Disney Theater.
While some of my family opted to stay on the ship, I decided to get off and explore. We did some brief shopping, used some free wifi, and took a few nice pictures. Overall though, the action was back on the ship for us. As we rode the AquaDuck, which is Disney Cruise Line's amazing watercoaster that brings you over the side of the ship! We did it several times with no line, watched Mulan on deck, and even had time to make it to the gym!
After the gym, I made sure to go take a picture with Captain Mickey, who was taking pictures in front of the Walt Disney Theater. On my way back to the room, I ran into Ariel, who was making some rounds of the ship while it was quiet. I was actually able to talk to her for around 10 minutes before other fans of hers approached! She's really a nice girl! Shame about her grades though... she was below "sea" level. Bad jokes folks.
She was too busy taking shelfies and putting them on instaclam. Sorry. I'll stop now.
Dinner that night was back in the Enchanted Garden for the Princess Menu! From here on out, every dining room has the same menu, even though the experiences differ. The stand-out star of tonight was the Trio of Veal. Veal tenderloin, pulled veal, and a veal ravioli all on one plate. How could this not be amazing? Perfectly tender and delicious.
That night, my cousin Alyssa was able to get a picture with Belle! The only princess I hadn't seen yet. Alyssa has a very, very special place in her heart for Belle. More on that later...
In Europa that night, guests were treated to a live variety show from a balloon comedian. Balloon comedian? I know.... I said the same thing, but he was hilarious!
Day 5, Jamaica
On Day 5, we woke up in the beautiful Falmouth, Jamaica! Today we had an actual excursion planned, just me and my cousins, Alyssa and James. We opted to take part in river tubing. This took place in Ocho Rios, which was about an hour drive from Falmouth. We booked this excursion, not through Disney, but through Shore Excursions Group, an affiliate we work with here at iCruise.com. The tour guide was amazing! He not only got us to and from our destination safely and on time, but he provided lots of information and local knowledge about the island.
We loved everything about river tubing. The river was slightly cold, but refreshing, and it was crystal clear. Floating down the river, we saw all sorts of plants and wildlife. We even got to stop half way and jump off a platform into the river! They also had a rope swing, and a rope to climb at this rest stop.
Back onboard, it was Pirate night! This is one of the most enjoyable experiences one can possibly have on a Disney ship. There is a themed dinner menu, a fireworks show, and everyone dresses up! Cast, crew, characters, and guests!!
After the gym, I went to prepare for dinner by putting on my most pirate-like clothes that I had brought with me. I also went and purchased a pair of pirate Mickey ears to wear! It was so much fun! Some guests went crazy, and wore some of the best costumes I've ever seen. Don't forget your pirate costumes! You'll feel left out!
At dinner, the pirate menu was Caribbean themed. Don't miss the macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, or the coconut covered bananas. They are incredible! Also, try Captain Jack's braised rib... it fell off the bone!
After dinner was the show to end all variety shows. We were lucky enough to have Ricky Kalmon, a famed hypnotist, onboard the ship. Now, I don't typically buy into this sort of thing - until my cousin was chosen as a volunteer.
Alyssa almost immediately fell into a trance. Before she knew it, she was convinced napkins were hundred dollar bills and was singing Taylor Swift on stage. But best of all - as I mentioned before, Alyssa has a very special (dark) place in her heart for Belle, very special. So much so that we make fun of her for disliking a Disney Princess. Ricky Kalmon hypnotized all the people on stage to believe they were any character... and who did subconscious Alyssa introduce herself as? BELLE! LIFE MADE.
At 10:30 PM, the main event began. Starting with a show on deck starring the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow, guests were treating to an amazing fireworks show timed to music from the Pirates of the Caribbean Saga. This falls into rule number 1: Don't miss the shows!
After the fireworks, the buffet opens up again for a pirate buffet! Complete with a Disney Parks favorite, the Turkey Leg! The crepe station is also pretty amazing. Don' miss them! They are in the back area!
In Europa, Tisa was hosting an adult-only karaoke, which obviously I had to take part in singing my favorite song, again. Cause I mean it's crazy! We finish each other's... sandwiches! Again, I picked up a partner. We almost won the contest, but we were destroyed by someone's rendition of piano man. Curse you Billy Joel and your catchy songs...
Day 6, At Sea
It was the final day at sea! We were on our way to Castaway Cay, the jewel of the Bahamas. There was so much to do! Starting with the fact that it was Thursday! Which means time for my Princess forum and Anna and Elsa meet and greet!
The Princesses immediately recognized me from our other encounters, Ariel called me handsome again. It was fun to get pictures with them one after the other. I really enjoy seeing how much the kids enjoy this experience. They take the time to dress up in their favorite Princess dress, style their hair, and make this a serious affair!
Same goes for Anna and Elsa! The kids loved seeing their favorite pair of sisters. I did too! I even wore my Frozen shirt! Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, they say Sven is doing great back home.
I showed up to another trivia after the gym that day, but was immediately recognized from my other victory. They tried to push me out of trivia, but I persisted. It wasn't about the prize anymore, it was about the principle. So I won again! After that though, I retired from the Disney Trivia business for this cruise. It was only fair!
That night at dinner in the Royal Court, it was the night we were all looking forward to - lobster night, known in my family as the Lobster Apocalypse. On no other cruise line do you find lobster tails as huge, meaty, and delicious. We ate so many, it hurts thinking about it. It was glorious.
Showtime! Tonight's show was a personal favorite! Disney's Believe is about a father who realizes the importance of the magic in his daughter's heart, and brings back the Genie from Aladdin! Also has one of the catchiest original songs of the entire cruise! What makes the garden grow?
That night in the Tube, Tisa hosted an adult-only Majority Rules trivia show. In this game, the questions were not based on fact, rather, by the majority. One question was, "what was the best movie ever made?" I of course said Star Wars, and so did most of the other people, so that was one correct! Unfortunately, that was about all I got! It was fun though, and very adult!
Day 7, Castaway Cay
When I picture paradise, I picture Castaway Cay. And let it be known, I'm not a fan of the beach, at all, but I love the beach on Castaway Cay. It is perfectly pristine. The waters are clear, the sun is warm, and the island is up to par with Disney's standards.
We started the day with the Castaway Cay 5K! A fun 3.1 mile race through the island. The race is always fun, and is a great way to see the island before anyone else! After all, you are running!
After the race, we treated ourselves to some smoothies from Olaf's Summertime Freeze Bar! A Frozen themed smoothie bar operated by Olaf himself. Find Anna, Elsa, Sven, and Olaf's favorite flavors! I loved the coconut water, ginger smoothie, it was perfect for after the race.
Afterwards we went back to the ship and changed, had some breakfast, then got ready to go to the beach! Unfortunately, the rain wanted to go to the beach as well. It started pouring, and we were holed up in the gift shop, where we did some shopping. After a few hours and a BBQ lunch, the rain stopped, and the ocean was cleared by the lifeguards to be safe. It was now time to go in! The best part? Most people had gone back to the ship, and the beach was almost empty! It was perfect. The skies became beautifully blue, and the day at Castaway Cay could not have been better.
That night at dinner, we were back in the Animator's Palate for the Animation Magic show. In this show, guests are invited to become animators themselves and draw their own character. I of course drew Boba Fett. After we were done drawing, Lumi came over and took our drawings, they were then magically brought to life and feature on screen with Mickey and other Disney Characters! The best part? Our names were all featured in the credits!
After dinner, I got to go say goodbye to my favorite Princesses at the farewell show in the atrium. It was sad, but it was good to get some last-minute pictures with Mickey and the Princesses, and with almost no lines!
Afterwards, we headed to the D lounge to take part in Mirror Mirror, a Snow White themed game show that involves trivia and physical challenges for the whole family. It's fun, goofy, and very memorable. I would certainly do it again.
That night in Europa, Tisa hosted another variety act, a juggler. Not as good as the balloon guy, but still cool. We then had a dance party to the wee hours of the morning, and it was then that I had to make the hard decision to go to bed. Thus ending the cruise...
The next morning was tough as always. Debarkation is easy enough, although it is always very sad. After a delicious breakfast, it was time to get off. We got through Customs quickly, and made it to our car with no issues. We were off before 9am.
It was an amazing cruise that will forever go down in the record books. We made some great memories we will always cherish as a family. I made some great new friends that I will keep in contact with. Now... when are we going again?!?
Wanna go? Call me at 1-800-439-1909 ext 7856 and get the best Disney Cruise Advice around! (and a great price!)
Nico
