Sunday, June 15, 2014

The Disney Cruise Line® Difference

Disney Cruise Line has one distinct advantage over other cruise lines - it’s owned by Disney! It’s no secret that Disney thrives when it comes to customer service and it’s no different on a Disney cruise. Customer service is just one of the many reasons you should choose Disney Cruise Line for your next cruise vacation. Let’s talk about some reasons why Disney knows how to cruise.

Staterooms
Disney does have some of the largest staterooms than other cruise lines but I think the major difference is in the layout. All staterooms have a couch and desk that can be separated by a curtain from the main bed. This is great for families as it creates some separation from the kids area and the adult area in the room.
Another great feature is the split baths. All staterooms except the Standard Inside rooms have split baths. There is one bathroom with the toilet and a sink and another bathroom with the shower and a sink. Also note that there are bathtubs in all staterooms though the size of the tub ranges.
The inside staterooms on the Fantasy and Dream have an extra sprinkle of Disney magic - a magical porthole with real-time views of the sea and virtual sightings of animated Disney characters.
If you want another step up in luxury and customer service try a concierge suite! Stay tuned for a separate blog post on the benefits of booking concierge with Disney Cruise Line.

Disney Quality Entertainment
Another thing I think we can all agree on is Disney knows how to entertain. The nightly shows onboard are truly Broadway quality and entertaining for all ages. They are a highlight of every cruise!
In addition to the nightly shows each ship boasts a movie theater showing recently in theater movies (along with some Disney classics mixed in). That’s right - you can go to the movies for no additional cost! Often if a new Disney movie is released while you are cruising they will show that movie in the main theater which can be a lot of fun. They even show movies in 3D!

Rotational Dining
Disney Cruise Line does dining a little bit different. There are three main restaurants on each ship. During your cruise you will rotate between the three and your wait staff will come along with you! Each ship has different restaurants but one on all three is Animator’s Palate where you get dinner and a show.
Enchanted Garden on the Fantasy
Royal Court on the Fantasy
Animator's Palate on the Fantasy
Disney Characters
Every day there will be a number of scheduled character meet and greets. Check your navigator for times and locations. The number of characters you can meet on a Disney cruise is very impressive. One of my favorite things is to watch the interaction between the princesses and the little kids. It’s truly magical to see a little girl hug and chat with her favorite Disney princess.



Amazing Kids Clubs
If your child is 3 years or older they can spend time at one of the spectacular kids’ clubs onboard - for FREE! Kids ages 3 through 12 can go to the Oceaneer Lab or Oceaneer Club. They can play in Andy’s room, perform on stage, participate in crafts and other supervised activities.
Preteens, ages 11 through 14, can head to Edge - a loft style lounge. Daily there are scheduled activities such as improv!
Teens, ages 14 through 17 have Vibe to hang out (with a little supervision to put Mom and Dad at ease). Vibe also has scheduled activities such as karaoke and on the Dream and Fantasy teens even have their own sundeck and “splash” pool!
For the infants through 2 year olds there is the nursery. The cost is $9 per hour for the first child and $8 per hour for the second child in the family. Advanced reservations can be made and you must cancel any reservation at least 4 hours before to avoid a cancellation fee.


Adult Only Areas and Dining
Disney does not forget about the adults! There are many adult only areas onboard including pools, lounges and restaurants. One of my favorite adult only areas onboard the Fantasy is Satellite Falls. I could sit up there all day long!

The two adult-only restaurants, Palo and Remy, are an additional charge but absolutely worth it. You will find some of the best food Disney has to offer at these restaurants. Advanced reservations are recommended, especially for the brunch at Palo, as they do book very quickly. Note that Remy is only onboard the Dream and the Fantasy while Palo is on all four ships.
Remy onboard the Fantasy
Palo onboard the Fantasy

There are many reasons Disney stands out among the cruise line options. You really cannot go wrong when choosing Disney Cruise Line. For 2015 Disney has added some amazing itineraries including Norway, Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera. Add that to the already great destinations like Alaska, Europe, Bahamas and Caribbean and the biggest problem when choosing a Disney Cruise Line vacation is deciding which itinerary!