This past July we had to opportunity to do something that has always been on our Disney bucket list….a Disney cruise! We booked a 4 day cruise out of Miami on the Disney Dream with stops at Nassau, Bahamas, Disney’s Castaway Cay Island, and a day at sea. I cannot believe we kept putting this off for so many years. The experience was simply amazing not only because we are Disney fanatics, but also because of the high standards for service, cleanliness, and entertainment.
As Disney cruise rookies we did our best to research as much as we could about this adventure. Previously the Disney Dream was located in Port Canaveral, Florida, but with the debut of the Disney Wish, the Dream was moved to Miami, Florida. We were a bit concerned about this new location, but the whole process at the port was very easy to navigate. We pulled in, dropped off our luggage, parked across the street, and walked back to the ship to check in. There was a short wait in the pre-boarding area, but there was so much excitement in the air that the time went by very quickly. Before we knew it we were walking onto the ship. Mickey Mouse and the crew greeted us and made that very first moment on the ship so special.
We booked an “Oceanview Verandah Stateroom” because we knew we wanted to see the ocean from our room at all times of day. We certainly were not disappointed in the accommodations or the view. There was plenty of storage and space to move around for sure. The separate toilet/vanity room and shower room made getting ready much easier than one large bathroom like most hotel rooms. We quickly got to know our stateroom host, Herrold. He stopped by to check on us soon after we found our room and wanted to know what we needed for our stay. He cleaned our room twice daily and left fun towel sculptures for us each day. His attention to detail in the room was top notch!
Of course after unpacking we headed right out to explore the ship. Yes it did take some time to get acquainted with the ship and where everything was located, but even when we took a wrong turn we found something new to check out. We wanted to see everything the Disney Dream had to offer. The extra large “Funnel Vision” movie screen by the pool was certainly impressive. We ended up watching a few late night movies there during the trip. As we explored that first day we stopped by Cabana’s buffet for lunch then moved to to find the other dining options, adult bars/clubs, the two theaters, adult pool areas, and the shops. The Dream literally has something for every age group. There are even kids clubs for infants all the way to high school teens. Luckily Disney has developed an onboard app to help guests keep track of all of the different activities available throughout the day and where everything is located. BINGO, trivia, animation, stage shows, character meet and greets, cooking, wine tasting and mini-golf are just a few of the choices each day. Or guests could simply sit by the pool and relax all day.
As far as dining, Disney always has amazing options. We were on a rotation at three different restaurants: Royal Palace, Animator’s Palate, and Enchanted Garden. (We did not eat at the two adult-only locations Remy and Palo). Because I have an unusual food allergy I was a little worried about what my options would be for dinner each night. In truth I had nothing to worry about because our wait staff was so accommodating. That is one of the best parts of the Disney cruise experience. Out wait staff followed us to each restaurant so they got to know us and what we needed. Our main server William even took my order for the next night so that could go the chef and make sure everything would be ok for me. The wait staff only had 3-4 tables so the personal service was spectacular. Even when we went to Castaway Cay for the day, the chefs there had heard about my allergy from William and prepared my meal separately rather than have me just go through the regular buffet line. Now that is service!
Clearly I could go on and on about the Disney Cruise experience. In fact, we have already booked another cruise for our fall break. That is how much we enjoyed our first trip. If you are a fan of Disney, a fan of cruises, or if you want to take a vacation where you know the service and high standards are guaranteed, then a Disney Cruise is the perfect choice. The Disney Dream, Fantasy, Magic, Wonder, and Wish are waiting to take you on your next adventure!
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