Family time on ‘Mickey’s Cruise Ship’ A Disney Cruise Review
On Christmas Eve surprised our 4 and 7 year old with a 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise out of Galveston on the Disney Magic ship. They could not stop talking about how they were going to get to go on Mickey’s Cruise Ship and ‘oh boy’ did it not disappoint. Our room was a midship balcony stateroom for 4-5 people and between the perfectly placed bunk beds, little touches of Disney design, character fun and the pixie dust we received from others traveling my girls walked off the ship with some of the happiest memories and tears.
Before the cruise we stayed two nights at Kemah Boardwalk close to Space Center Houston. This was a great way to start off our trip and meet up with our travel party. We spent the day before the cruise exploring the Space Center then having dinner at the boardwalk.
We started the cruise with such an easy embarkation, we dropped off our larger luggage before parking and grabbed a quick snack before our designated time to get in line. Security was simple and there were ‘cast members (the disney workers)’ there to guide you each step and make sure you were ready for the next. Everything was indoors and the lines moved quickly. Once on board we were announced and praised by the people in the atrium, and had our sights set on ice cream and lunch (priorities). Before our room was fully ready, we were able to go to the kids club open house so not only could the parents see where the kids would be able to go play, but the kids could be introduced to the youth activities team. Yes, it was Disney so it was absolutely perfect for the kids and everything was geared towards their enjoyment.
On our days at sea, we did have to prioritize a little, but we did have two, so it allowed us to really split the days up and focus on fun. Our first day at sea we learned that you can ‘rope drop’ the waterslide! We were first in line and were able to ride several times before the line even got to the stairs. It was also a Disney Marvel Day at Sea, so the Avengers assembled everywhere on the ship throughout the day. After our nap we focused on meeting the characters, shopped at the Disney stores and ate more ice cream. Our last day on the cruise was also a day at sea, and because I have two little girls we focused more on meeting the princesses on board. We also did Bibbity Bobbity Bootique, which was a perfect way to spend our last day! The fairy godmothers (in training) did a great job, talking the girls through the princess process and listening to them. We did a few glam photos while dressed up on the ‘optional dress up night’ they had some backdrops and magic shots for the occasion.
Disney called their port excursions, port adventures. Most of the time these are the same as on any other ship depending on the port of call. We were able to spend some time in Cozumel getting to see the culture and exploring the marketplace, while in Progresso we chose to do a family beach, giving us some much-needed sand between our toes.
Let's talk about evening entertainment! When you read that the shows on board the ships are Broadway style…they mean it! From the costumes to the sets and the way the actors interacted it was beyond any type of entertainment I have seen on other cruise lines. One thing I did notice is that they would make announcements throughout the day, that you might not understand or believe was a code for something, until you saw the show that evening and if you were paying attention the announcements ended up leading up to the big event. Even the deck party shows brought a whole new perspective to what a cruise could be, including stunts, fireworks, videos and an actual storyline everyone could follow. Each night brought excitement through the shows, but the dining was on point as well. Two of the five nights on board were your normal dining style, the other three included some kind of entertainment, from a light show to a meet and greet and live music.
Trying to decide between visiting the parks or doing a cruise? Think about the ages and their priorities. Life on the ship was the perfect balance of constant activity and relaxation. There was not a big thrill factor, but the personal touches and social atmosphere even from the characters will leave a lasting impression.
A few things to think about:
There is no height requirement on a Disney Cruise
All food, sodas and juice are included
All activities other than the spa, BBB, specialty events, port adventures and the nursery (under 3yr) are included in cruise price.
Children must be 100% potty trained to use the kids club area
Using a travel designer will help you get those special meet and greets and deadline updates that will make your trip even more magical.
Most port adventures are designed with 8yr+ regulations, but not all there are plenty that your child can participate in.
From embarkation to port adventures and all the activities on board, this was one of the smoothest vacations I have been on with kids. I will definitely be doing another Disney Cruise.
