So if you know me well, you know I am a complete cruise junkie. I have been so blessed with all the amazing parts of the world I've seen on a cruise ship. I'm honestly even embarrassed to disclose how many I've been on now...but it has taken me 10 cruises to figure out that Disney Cruise Line is the way to go, HANDS DOWN. *That* is how highly I think of Disney after this trip. If you have children, it is sincerely the ONLY way to travel...let me tell you why.
Their customer service exceeded any ship I've ever been on before. I mean, when you walk onto the cruise ship (check in was an absolute breeze) they greet your family by name on a microphone and all the crew breaks out into cheer! The kids looked at us not even knowing what to think. We got to our cabin which was fabulous...it was an outdoor cabin. However, it had many perks. We swore it was a tad bigger and they lay it out differently than your regular cruise ship. The large bed for the parents is when you first walk in and then you go past it to the seating area. This turned into bunk beds for the kids at night...and the best part of it all, there was a large curtain that completely separates the kids from the parents and you can even slip the flat screen TV through the curtain to the parent's side! The best of both worlds for having to be in a stateroom with your two small kiddos. Not to mention, we had two separate bathrooms in our stateroom! One had the shower and a sink, the other had a toilet and a sink...GENIOUS Disney! THANK YOU!
Chocolates were on our pillows every night...which some cruise lines are starting to skimp out on because of the economy I suppose. Our housekeeping was fabulous...sometimes on a cruise your stateroom just starts to stink a tad--I'll be the first to admit...everyone is showering and you are in a small stateroom...it just gets sort of stuffy and yucky. Not once did we ever have an odor. He was in our room cleaning bathrooms and all twice a day...that's more than I can say for myself at home!
The meals...I'll be honest, I think I've had better. But it was still fabulous...and if you didn't know any better, you'd rave. That is just me being really picky. However, Disney still has lobster night! And sadly, a lot of cruises are starting to skimp on that as well :( GIVE ME MY LOBSTER!!! And just to show you the level of customer service, I caught a HORRIBLE cold on the cruise :( And so I didn't even make it to dinner for two nights because I just felt like crud and didn't feel like putting my happy face on. Do you know what, the dining room staff sent down a full meal to my stateroom! We are not talking the BLT sandwich from room service, NO...we are talking soup, shrimp appetizer, lobster entree, and even baked Alaskan for dessert! They did not need to do that, and for their kind thoughts and effort, I am thankful. And another plus for Disney, all of their drinks: tea, coffee, hot chocolate, full service soda bar are complimentary (you will still pay for your Mai Tai)!! Most cruises now-a-days you need to buy a soda pass for $40 for the week for sodas...this is something Disney could easily do with all the kids on-board...but they don't.
Yes, there are a lot of kids on the ship. However, it didn't feel that way. They have a lot of 18+ areas on the ship. So what the SMART parents do, is drop their kids off at the Oceaneer Kid's Club and go have fun in the adult areas where not a kid is in sight...there are adult cafes, adult pools, and more!!! I didn't know how the kid club would work with our little ones. I really hoped they would want to take advantage of it and they DID! They begged us to go! A matter of fact, one night we went to pick them up at 10:30pm and they were begging us to stay longer. So we said, what the heck?! Ryan and I looked at each other with the look of, "What do we do next?!?!" Off to an adult comedy show we went! The kids loved every minute of it...they learned to Do Se Do with Snow White, they had a PJ party with Goofy and made pillow cases to take home with him...you get the idea...a kid's Heaven.
We went on the cruise thinking, "Eat it up kids! This is your one Disney Cruise you get!!" And we left the ship contemplating when we'd book our next one! Yes, Disney Cruises are a tad more expensive than your standard cruise. But honestly, it was worth every penny! And for my military readers, there are some fabulous military discounts out there that Disney Cruise Line offers...so look into that! And Disney has recently expanded their itineraries and now sail through Europe, Mexico, Alaska and even the Panama Canal. We did the Eastern Caribbean and our favorite stop of all was Castaway Cay...Disney's Private Island. I would do that cruise again just to see their private island!!
So now that I've given you a pretty extensive look at the service, here are some pics for you...
DISCLAIMER: I used my point and shoot!!! And automatic mode!!! I was on vacation for crying outloud! So there is nothing here of artistic value...just wonderful memories of my family that I want to share with you!
If you have any specific questions about the cruise, feel free to ask! I could go on all day about what a fabulous trip it was. It was truly a trip of a lifetime for a family.
So on to the pictures...
We first flew out to Miami and spent time with the brother-in-law in Miami Beach. We even stayed a night at the FontaineBleau which was ABSOLUTELY amazing! We were complete tourists and took a tour around Star Island...I almost felt guilty snooping around all the celebrity homes. Seriously, tour boats just circle the island saying, "This is Ricky Martin's house. And this is Carmen Electra's (and no, she wasn't sunbathing that day)!" But it was fun to get an idea for it. So here the girls and I are on the tour! I think we are coming up on Puff Daddy's house...or whatever he calls himself these days!
I thought we were going to die...we flew from Miami up to Orlando for the cruise. And yes, it was completely a casket with wings. OMGosh...look at this! :)
We survived the flight and this is the infamous lifeboat drill...we all look awesome, don't we?!
Bon Voyage party like none I've seen before...streamers were shot into the air and everyone was truly excited to hit the high seas! Here is our Little Miss Sunshine singing the YMCA song on daddy's shoulders!
Daddy surprised the girls with new princess outfits for the formal night...they felt like a princess for sure! They had so much fun!! And for the record, the characters are EVERYWHERE!!! There is always a character you can go visit somewhere on the ship! It was so out of control that the response from the kids started to be this after a few days: "Mom, it's just Princess Aurora." Oh yeah, I forgot...we've already seen her at least 4 times! But here was Snow White just walking down the hallway and she stopped to visit with the girls. How awesome is that?!
The hubby and I in St. Maarten. I was last there my senior year of high school...and it hasn't changed all that much!
The girls rocking their new shades!
One of the Princess Faire's held on the ship...there was actually a good 5 princesses in a row, but my camera couldn't fit all the fun into one frame!
Castaway Cay...Yes, the water was THAT BLUE. It was absolutely incredible. It was so blue that Ryan had the girls out in the water and I was laying out on the beach and I saw a huge stingray swim by them in the water!! It was truly amazing there.
Until Next Time,
m
3 comments:
i love your sunglasses! and your kids' sunglasses! xoxo.
Oh my gosh - it sounds and looks like so much fun, but I have to be honest...I've never been on a cruise and have never had any interest....but your blog post makes me want to take a Disney Cruise, that's for sure!! I am SO glad that you and your family got to take such a fabulous trip!!
LOL casket with wings. you have one of the most beautiful families. love it. glad you had fun :)
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