If there is one thing that is missing on a Disney Cruise ship is a casino. This indulgence however,

It was a sad day for us today, for we had just returned from our 7 day Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Magic. For us, there is nothing that can compare to a Disney american express travel related services company Cruise, no matter what the destination. We are sad because it will be several months till our next adventure by Disney. But there are countless Cruise lines out there, what makes Disney so Special?
I will try to explain just what makes Disney the leader in the cruise industry; and these observations and opinions are not just from some casual cruisers or Disney lovers. They are gleaned from 17 years and 28 cruises that we have taken. We have cruised everywhere from Hawaii to Bermuda to Mexico and almost every Island in the Caribbean. And we have cruised almost every major line in the industry. We know what a great cruise should be.  It is with this knowledge and experience that we can confidently say the Disney Cruise Line is second to none in the industry.
So where do we begin? american express travel related services company This was our 5 th Disney cruise. We were a bit leery at booking our first. The Disney Cruise Line is a family-oriented concern and since we have no children, we wondered if there was much for a couple of adults to do. Our experiences on other Cruise ships had kids jumping and screaming in the pool, the hot tubs and it seemed there was no quiet place to enjoy the cruise. But after receiving a DVD on the Disney Cruise line, which showed just how everyone, singles, couples, and families would have the time of their lives, we booked. And true to the DVD, Disney has all ages covered, all with that special "Disney Magic" that can be found nowhere else.
The kids have their own teen pool, and the smaller guests have the Mickey pool and the fantastic water slide that empties into it. The Goofy's family pool has a huge LCD screen mounted american express travel related services company on the forward stack for movies and events throughout the cruise.  And the adults have the wonderful "Quiet Cove" pool and hot tubs. There is the Cove Café for adults, right next to the pool where specialty coffees, cappuccinos, espressos and fancy desserts can be had. Every age group has a place to play! For infants and toddlers, toys and activities can be found at "Flounders Reef Nursery".  For ages 3yrs to 10yrs, the Oceaneers Club and Oceaneers Lab have tons of supervised american express travel related services company activities to entertain. For 11yrs to 13yrs there is Ocean Quest. Teens have the Stack where video games, the internet and TV can be enjoyed while making new friends. Disney is the leader in youth activities as you can see. They have on board a trained staff of 54 counselors, so parents can sign their kids up for supervised fun while they can get a little "Quiet american express travel related services company time" for themselves to enjoy the adult pool, clubs or just pull up a lounge chair and relax.
The staterooms on board are also unique. In the majority of the rooms, the commode is separate from the shower unit, which is a nice touch. american express travel related services company Ah, privacy!  The staterooms are about 25% larger than standard american express travel related services company and sleeps four. The whole ship is abound with pictures of Disney characters, american express travel related services company parts of famous cartoons and everything just looks polished and clean. I'm not saying other cruise lines are dirty in any way, but the ship always just looks brighter and cleaner than anything we remember.  The ship's crew is another fine example of the Disney difference. All ships crews are friendly, but with Disney, american express travel related services company there seems to be a true sincerity when they say "Hello" or speak to you on board. It is something you cannot point out, but it's there. The same attention and friendliness' you get in the parks is mirrored here.
How about my favorite american express travel related services company part of the cruise, american express travel related services company the food! Every cruise ship feeds you from dawn till dark. But again, here is what makes the Disney Cruise so unique. Instead of eating in one main dining room for all guests, Disney has four uniquely themed restaurants…Palo, a specialty restaurant reserved for guests 18ys and older (A $15.00 per person fee is required) serves Northern Italian cuisine. Lumiere's, for that French connection, Parrot Cay for a bit of the Islands and Animators' Palate, which is more standard American fare. You dine at a different restaurant each night and your wait staff follows you throughout your cruise. And the menus change every night, so your dining experience is as different as the menus.
For the folks that want to have breakfast or dinner in a more casual atmosphere, there is the Topsider buffet, located deck 9 aft. For all day snacking and munching, Pluto's doghouse by the kid's pool has everything from burgers, hot dogs, tacos, bratwurst, and chicken american express travel related services company fingers to good old Mac and cheese.  For a more sophisticated choice, Goofy's Gallery has fresh fruit, all kinds of hot and cold sandwiches and fresh salads. Pinocchio's Pizzeria has pizza all day long. And unlike many cruise ships, all the coffee, soft drinks and juices you could want are available 24 hours a day!  The quality of the food from the restaurants american express travel related services company to the quick service is the best we have had on any ship.
What about entertainment? Disney is the leader in entertainment, both in the parks and on its ships. The shows are Broadway-quality and family friendly. You can also enjoy magicians, comedians american express travel related services company and jugglers and everything in-between.  But the adult crowds are not forgotten. Late night adult-oriented shows can be seen in the Walt Disney Theater or the Main lounge, the Rockin' american express travel related services company Bar D. From 1 to 100, there is something for everyone.  One of the things I like is the dress code here on board. american express travel related services company Disney is more cruise casual than many lines. They do have their formal night, but a Tux is not required, nor is shirt and tie. A nice collared shirt and slacks are fine. But you can dress to the nines if you want. I just like to be comfortable american express travel related services company and relaxed, after all that's what the cruise is all about!
And let's not forget all the character american express travel related services company meet and greets. All the little ones will have ample opportunity to say "Hi" to their favorites and have pictures taken. There is also our personal favorite night, "Pirates american express travel related services company in the Caribbean american express travel related services company Deck Party" Guests dress up as pirates, a pirate show and dancing is on the top deck and Pirate Mickey Mouse flies overhead and lands on deck to chase away the evil Captain Hook! A fine buffet and fireworks at sea (Disney is the only ship to have fireworks at sea!) end the evening.
I have saved the best for last. Disney's american express travel related services company own private Island, Castaway Cay is the most coveted port-of-call aboard ship! This jewel boasts some of the most beautiful beaches this side of Hawaii. My wife and I can attest to this, having been to Hawaii american express travel related services company numerous times. There is the Family beach, the Teen Beach and for the Adults, Serenity Bay. There are bike rentals, jet skis, snorkel equipment and water bikes. You can swim with the rays, see a pirate ship; and Disney just completed an all new water slide area in the family beach with new Cabanas. You can get a massage in your own private Cabana or public. Outdoor bars, shops and activities like Basketball, ping-pong, tetherball, Soccer and volleyball can be enjoyed. There are kid areas like Scuttle's Cove and Monstro Point and Spring-A-Leak. From 11am till 2pm a BBQ is available to all areas. For the more adventurous, Parasailing and fishing charters, are available along with Banana Boat rides. From mild to wild, this Island has everything. In fact, it is so popular among guests, that many of Disney's itineraries make two ports-of- calls here.
If there is one thing that is missing on a Disney Cruise ship is a casino. This indulgence however, does not seem to be a factor in booking, since every cruise is sold out.  But don't fear takers of chance, there is Jackpot Bingo on board! I could continue with accolades on the Disney american express travel related services company Cruise line, but the scope of this review prevents it. I can sum up by saying that the line has 50 awards from the travel industry since its start in 1998. It was just awarded the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine's top Cruise Line at their 2010 reader's choice award and Travel and Leisure Magazine voted it Top Family Friendly large Cruise Ship Line. And I can add two seasoned Cruise ship travelers' personal awards to the mix. If you have never cruised before or have on another cruise line, check out the free DVD from Disney's cruise lines. Take it from a couple of veteran cruisers, you will not be disappointed, there is Magic on the high seas!
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