Cruise Chatter

Another Disney Island?!?

8/29/2024

After years of going to Castaway Cay, Disney has finally opened up ANOTHER island to visit on a Disney Cruise. Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is the new place to visit in the Bahamas! Disney did an amazing job transforming this section of the island into a gorgeous place to have fun with the whole family. There's a lot to unpack here, so let's go over some of the high points and a few low points on Disney's new island.

I will say that the layout of the island is a little awkward. Not only is there a long walk from the ship, but also a tram ride to get to the majority of what the island has to offer.

It's easily a 10 minute walk from the ship over to the island. Thankfully they offer little wagons to haul your small children along. Then you have to hop on the tram to take you to the main area of the island. The trams are large and come very quickly, so you won't have to wait long.

But this beach is DEFINITELY worth the long trek.

We're talking crystal clear water with super soft powdery sand. There are even pink flecks in the sand making it that much prettier.

Disney has set up ample room and seating here for a full ship of guests to be able to spread out and enjoy it all. The majority of the beach is dedicated for families, though there is a portion dedicated only to adults.

We spent the majority of our time at one of the family cabanas. We were fortunate to get a hold of one of these beautiful cabanas located at the beach section closest to the ship.

If you're looking for beautiful picturesque beaches, this is a great place!

Disney leaned into the culture and heritage of the Bahamas. Technically Lookout Cay is part of the island of Eleuthera, not it's own island, but with that comes the richness of their island culture.

Even the merchandise was styled by local artists. This photo-spot is the same design that went into the island-exclusive mickey ears. There is also an arts and crafts station for families to make their Bahamian keepsakes.

Sprinkling in some more local culture there is the Junkanoo show to liven up the day as well as the twice daily Rush! A Junkanoo Celebration! This lively parade features great music, lively performers, and even Mickey and Friends join in!

For food you can expect the same barbecue and burgers that are available at Castaway. Which is pretty good while you're hanging out at the island. There are ample locations to get out of the sun nearby. There are even fans built in to keep the air circulating and keep those pesky flies away from your food.

There were several bars for the adults to visit but also a locations for the kids to have fun.

By far the most popular location for the kiddos was the play and splash area. With a few waterslides and lots of water, it certainly looks like a lot of fun!

And of course a Disney island would not be complete without it's own Kid's Club. Sebastian's Cove is run by the same counselors from the Oceaneers Club aboard the ship. Great for dropping off the kids ages 3-10.

Other than the wonky layout, my only complaint was the lack of shade in between locations. The areas of the island are pretty spread out, which is great for giving people room to walk around and not feel crowded, but the trees haven't had the chance to grow and create natural pockets of shade. So sometimes I did feel like I was walking in direct sunlight a little too much.

We had a great time at the Cabanas. Definitely worth the extra splurge if you want a space completely to yourself! We had great service from the staff bringing us drinks and replenishing our snacks. I recommend if you do get a cabana to shoot for a lower numbered one as the last few cabanas have a rocky outcropping between you and the water. We had to walk down a tiny bit to have sandy access to the beach.

Lookout Cay is still very new, so I feel like there is still plenty of time for Disney to make improvements and additions but it's a great start! I always enjoy any Disney cruise, especially ones that stop at Disney's islands!

Want to know more about Disney Cruises and vacations? Make sure to reach out to Angie and Gabe for more information. We are always eager to help you plan the very best vacation for you and your family.

When it's time to plan for Disney:

It's Mouse O'Clock

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Castaway Cay: Disney's Private Island

7/31/2024

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I've killed Castaway Cay my "Happy Place" for years now and with good reason. Disney's private island in the Bahamas is a dream come true. Just imagine a beautiful tropical island and add in the efficiency of Disney.

There is nothing I'd change on this island. So let me run through all the great things I love about this wonderful island that Disney put together.

Disney leased the island back in 1996 and made a perfect spot for their ships to stop at. The reef surrounding the family beach keeps the waves pretty calm, which makes for excellent swimming for the little ones. It also keeps out seaweed and big fish.

Lounge chairs are plentiful, so no worries about finding a spot to sit. Waiters and Photographers roam along the beach to get your drink order and get cute family pics.

The water is always BEAUTIFUL and crystal clear. Of course temperature will vary depending on the time of the year... If you're looking to do more than just lounge about the beach there are lots of options. You could rent a bike to go around the island, there's also a 5k walking trail, there's a fishing excursion, rent an aqua bike (also paddle-boats and inner-tubes, go snorkeling, go parasailing, or even pet stingrays on their Stingray adventure. (Rentals and Excursions at additional Cost). You could always go shopping or get your hair braided too!

There's also a couple of water slides you can enjoy in addition to the climbing adventure structure in the middle of the water.

I know my kids aren't fond of the water slide that drops you into saltwater, but they've always had fun climbing around that structure. It's like an aquatic jungle gym with different ways to climb out over the water.

Fun fact: Most of the island is designated a nature preserve that Disney takes care of.

Disney does an amazing job of keeping everything clean and fresh. Just like in the parks there is no trash to be seen. It's just kept immaculate.

The island is also loaded with great Disney photo spots. That splash of Disney added to this beautiful island just makes me smile every time I'm there.

And of course there are opportunities to interact with classic Disney characters. Got to get those photos!

And since this IS a cruise, all the food is included on the island!

There are 3 great spots to grab food, which is generally burgers, hot dogs, and barbecue. Not the most impressive menu, but it's usually the kind of thing I want to eat when I'm hanging out on the beach.

The adults can always run off to the 18+ side of the island, Serenity Bay and grab some steaks over there. Yes, they prepare steaks and salmon over on the adult side.

Speaking of Serenity Bay, it's SO QUIET and CHILL over there! After grabbing some food AND a cocktail we will usually just relax in the splendor of Serenity Bay.

Most adults are just relaxing and reading a book or just hanging out in the crystal clear shallow waters along the beach. Sometimes some of the performers will play music over by the bar too.

Now, what good would an adult beach be if you have your kids with you on vacation? Well Disney provides a Kid's Club on the island as well.

Scuttle's Cove is an extension of the Kid's Club that takes care of your 3-10 year olds while you are on the island. Have no fear, they don't have any swimming in here, it's all shaded splash-pads and activities for the kids to do while you get a chance to relax on the island.
They don't feed the kids though, so make sure to feed your little ones before or after their stop here.

The island also has it's own Cabanas that you can reserve on both the family and adult sides of the island. I previously wrote a blog about these so feel free to dig back for that one.

But it's great to have your own separate strip of beach from the rest of the family beach. The cabana also comes with a stocked drink fridge, sand toys, and sun screen.

Enjoy a lovely slideshow of our various times on Castaway!

Disney Cruises are fantastic, but I always prefer the ones that stop here at Castaway! Disney Cruises are definitely a different vibe than hitting the theme parks but you still get that amazing Disney vacation feel.

Want to relax on a Disney Cruise, reach out to us for more information.
When it's time to plan for Disney:

It's Mouse O'Clock!

I'll leave you with one more soothing video of Castaway Cay...

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The Magic and Wonder of Disney Cruise Line

9/14/2023

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We often get asked about the different ships Disney Cruise line has to offer. With only 5 ships currently sailing, and the 6th & 7th on the way, I thought it would be good to break them down by category.

The first two ships are the oldest and smallest of the bunch. The Magic began sailing in 1998 and the Wonder came right after in 1999. They make up the Magic Class of Disney cruise ships. These two sister ships carry 1,754 passengers in 875 staterooms (2,713 if we max out every room) which is a lot less compared to other cruise lines.

Even though these ships are over 20 years old, Disney does an impeccable job of keeping them fresh and interesting. Let's break down this Magic Class for you...

If you want to know more specifics about all Disney Cruise Line has to offer check out my previous blog:
Why Choose Disney Cruise Line

Disney is known for their spectacular customer service and you will get that aplenty on these ships. We've got Pirate Night, Fireworks at Sea, First Class entertainment, great food, Disney characters...

But we're here to highlight the differences. Because they are so much smaller, they have a more intimate feeling. You don't have to go far to get from one side of the ship to the other. Both the Magic and Wonder had some amazing additions when they were renovated.

Both got the AquaDunk Waterslide! This trapdoor waterslide was a big hit with my daughter. You get into a standing tube, they count down and then whoosh, the floor drops out sending you sliding.

Oceaneer Club

There are some substantial differences in the kids club from ship to ship. They're all a lot of fun, but each one has it's own themes. Both have a special "kids only" hallway that connects the Oceaneer's Club to the Oceaneer's Lab.

Magic

Both ships have a Marvel area and a Toy Story area. The Magic also has Pixie Hollow area and a Mickey Mouse Club while the Wonder has a Frozen area and Disney Junior area.

Loaded with activities and video games, the kids will keep themselves busy a long time.

Wonder

Dining

Both ships have the fantastic experiences at Animator's Palate and their own more fancy dining room: Triton's on the Wonder and Lumiere's on the Magic.

But each ship has it's own different character-themed restaurant. The Wonder has Tiana's Place loaded with some Louisiana flair. You get a Jazz music trio, Tiana, and Louis the gator making appearances and performing. Have some Gumbo and celebrate Mardi Gras with Tiana.

Over on the Magic we get Rapunzel's Royal Table. You get to celebrate Rapunzel's Birthday with the Ruffians, as they sing their song. Later Rapunzel and Flynn Rider show up and add to the entertainment. The Floating lanterns add a fun bit of decor to the the dining hall.

The Ruffians have a great time going table from table and messing with the guests. There's even a desert served in a frying pan! SO CUTE! Plus the Bread Basket was this amazing Sun.

Back on the Disney Wonder we get a dedicated Lounge area just outside of Tiana's Place dedicated to the Streets of Louisiana. It has some devilish flair of the Shadow man, Dr. Facilier.

I did feel like it was unfair that we didn't get a Tangled themed lounge, but on the Magic the Ruffians do take over the Pub and turn it into the Snuggly Duckling for a night. It was pretty fun having drinks and trivia with these hilarious characters.

Both ships have dinner at Animator's Palate but the experience here differs from the Dream class ships.

Here the drawings on the walls come to life during dinner. It's a colorful experience and everything in the dining rooms comes to life with color!

When there are multiple nights at Animator's Palate you get to draw your own characters and Mickey brings them to life. These are some of my favorite experiences on Disney cruises. You have to see them for yourselves.

All of Disney's ships have a special statue in the Atrium as well a separate theme of decor.
The Magic has Sailor Mickey and the Wonder has Ariel, the Little Mermaid.

There are a few other minor differences to the ship. All the pubs/lounges have different names and themes. The Splash Zones for the little kids are also slightly different with a Finding Dory themed zone on the Wonder and Donald's 3 Nephews over on the Magic.

We all know that sometimes it's the date or the itinerary that make the difference as to which cruise you choose, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to know the difference between each of the ship.

Ask Mouse O'Clock for more details about booking a Disney Cruise. We're always here to help with all things Disney! When it's time to plan for Disney:

It's Mouse O'Clock!

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Sail Away for the Holidays!

3/9/2023

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Planning for the holidays is always a challenge, but planning ahead often has its benefits. Disney Cruise Lines gives you that extra bit of holiday magic from November through December. Their Very Merrytime Christmas Cruises add a ton of holiday cheer to an already spectacular cruise.

With sailings this year out of Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, and Galveston there are plenty of options for holiday magic. We've now done this twice: once on the Wonder in 2019 and then on the Magic in 2021. Both of these voyages were SPECTACULAR!

Let me fill you with the wonder and joy of a Disney Christmas Cruise! Let's go!

You won't miss out on holiday decorations here! Disney loads their atrium with tons of fun festive decor. From the Giant Gingerbread House to the massive Christmas tree, it's had to ignore Christmas walking through here.

Wreaths, poinsettias, garland, gingerbread! Oh My! Holiday music plays through the hallways as you walk around the ship. Musical performers play classic holiday tunes and there was even a performance by some carolers during the voyage. You definitely feel the spirit of Christmas here.

Meeting your favorite Disney characters on a cruise is easy. We've rarely waited more than 10 minutes to take photos with characters. Now you get them also dressed up in their best Christmas attire. So stinking cute.

There are lots of holiday extras going on throughout your voyage. The lighting of the Christas Tree the first night was pretty special. There are fun activities to participate in like: Decorating stockings or decorating gingerbread men.

There are still all of the classic cruise activities you've come to enjoy: trivia, game shows, drawing classes, alcohol pairing, etc... but some get a fun little holiday twist.

The kids club had TONS of extra activities with many of them centered around the holiday. The kids made a few ornaments during our trip.

The Holiday magic even carries over to Disney's private island: Castaway Cay. You still get all that festive decor in the Bahamas.

That giant tree was a sight to see from our window when we arrived.

We just love Castaway Cay. And even in Nov-Dec the water was still warm enough to swim in. Maybe a little colder, but we still had a great time at the beach!

And what Christmas voyage would be complete without a visit from that jolly old elf himself. Yes Santa does make appearances during the cruise for pictures and a few special events. Mrs. Claus isn't left out either, she reads stories to the kids and has her own photo op as well.

AND OF COURSE! Anna and Elsa showed up to drop some snow on the Atrium! WOW!

If you are looking to sail during the holidays we HIGHLY recommend grabbing that reservation as early as possible. Those sailings fill up fast and it may be hard to find a room in the particular category you are looking for.

We love sailing with Disney and when you add the holiday on top of all that Disney offers, it's just WOW! As always Mouse O'Clock is here to help out and give you all the best tips and tricks when it comes to booking a Disney Vacation. When it's to plan for Disney:

It's Mouse O'Clock!

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A Scary Good Sailing!

11/16/2022

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I know Christmas is just around the corner but I've got to talk about our experience on Disney's Halloween on the High Seas. Disney Cruise lines offers these special sailings during September and October and we just had to try one.

Disney cruises are always an amazing experience. Sprinkle in some spooktacular Halloween fun and you have a Halloween on the High Seas! Like with any of Disney's special event cruises, such as Marvel, Pixar, and Very Merry Christmas cruise, the bulk of the special events happen on one day. But there was a lot of fun to be had!

Follow along on our Halloween adventure at sea.

The Halloween decor was phenomenal. The pumpkin tree was clearly the centerpiece here.

All along the atrium you could find pumpkins and decorations reminding you this was definitely Halloween!

Disney knows how to do a CUTE Halloween celebration. Clearly there was nothing scary here. You could see all the sweet little pumpkin touches as soon as you board the ship. This was also our first time on the Disney Fantasy, so we were excited for what this trip had in store.

There were special Halloween treats to be had all around the ship. If you know Angie, you know she enjoyed many of the specialty coffees that were being offered this voyage.

And the kids had to have the Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate. But there was plenty more than coffee. The sweet shop, Sweet on You, had MANY themed treats this sailing. From decorated treats, like rice krispy treats, to specialty gelato flavors, like Candy Corn Ice Cream.

The first night we had to stay and watch the Halloween tree come to life. This was a cute little show but definitely set the tone for the rest of the cruise.

Our cruise was ON the week of Halloween, so I was all set for this voyage! We love Halloween so we couldn't wait to see all that was in store.

On Halloween we were able to find many of the Disney Characters in their Halloween costumes available for photos. There were Halloween craft classes and the movie screens had plenty of Disney Halloween movies to play throughout the day.

All of the characters had a relatively short wait, except for Jack and Sally AND Minnie Mouse and friends in their Sanderson Sisters costumes. Even so we only waited maybe 20 minutes for these specialty characters. We saw Mickey as a Vampire, Minnie as a Witch, Super Hero Donald, Candy Corn Pluto, and Goofy the Mummy.

So many cute costumes!

Zoey even participated in a Halloween scavenger hunt with the tween club, Edge. She had to get selfies with as many characters as possible!

Of course the adults and kids were all able to dress up for Halloween. I never turn down a chance to wear my relaxed Loki costume. We went for comfy costumes this trip, so Angie sported her Maleficent dress and ears this time around. We just love these Hocus Pocus outfits!

There was a spooky spider desert on the menu tonight, but you know the kids wanted to save room for all the candy. Up on deck there was trick or treating to do! The kids easily loaded up their little bags with candy while I grabbed as a spot for Mickey's Mouse-querade Party. Their costumes were so cute, I just loved Dale's Poison Candy Apple costume!

There was even an adult only Halloween Party back in the Tube, the club located on Deck 4 Aft. We had a few drinks and watched people dance around in their costumes for a while.

The Kids Club and Tween club both had Halloween parties and activities going on throughout the day, so the kids kept running off to have their own fun.

We had a GREAT time celebrating Halloween with Disney this year. If you've been following us, you know we did Mickey's Not So Scary in Disney World AND Oogie Boogie Bash over in Disneyland already.

There's never a wrong time to go on a Disney Cruise, so why not enjoy Halloween on the High Seas. This was a super fun adventure and we highly recommend it for any Big Halloween fans like us. Here's a quick slideshow of some of the other images from Halloween.

Want to go on your own magical Disney vacation? Let Mouse O'Clock help find put together that perfect vacation for you. We'll do all the work and you get to have all the fun.
When it's time to plan for Disney it's

Mouse O'Clock!

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A Wish Come True

9/9/2022

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A ship so nice, we rode it twice! We just got off of our back-to-back voyage on Disney's newest cruise ship: The Disney Wish!

The newest of Disney's cruise ships is beautiful inside and out and loaded with tons of new experiences for Disney cruisers. We had an absolute blast on this trip and there are plenty of good things to say about this ship with a few little problems sprinkled in.

Follow along our experience on through this spectacular voyage, on the Disney Wish.

This ship is GORGEOUS! Loaded with so many beautiful spaces I would have a hard time picking my favorites. The Wish is Disney's biggest ship yet and I have heard some people complain about it only having two elevator bays, but we honestly did not have a hard time navigating our way around the ship.

The only issue with the elevators were the buttons. The elevator buttons were designed so you don't have to touch them, just hover your fingers near them. Unfortunately this did cause many buttons to light up when someone squeezed in and got too close to the panel.

The ship is loaded with new Disney inspired experiences! You have the amazing Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge for drinks, the Worlds of Marvel dining experience, and the Incredibles Hero Zone inflatable arena.

The Aqua Mouse is there new animated water slide with variety of animations, this water slide doesn't get old. My kids had a blast on this one.

If you've sailed with Disney before there will definitely be new experiences for you. There was a lot to do on this voyage. The Wish is currently only sailing 3 and 4 day cruises, so it can be tight to get everything done on one trip. It's a lot more manageable on the 4 day voyage.

The Star Wars HyperSpace Lounge was a delight. We had some killer cocktails while jumping around the Galaxy. I had some fun identifying many of the ships that sailed by as we sipped our drinks. Unfortunately spots in the Hyperspace Lounge are by reservation only, so it can be hard to get a spot sometimes.

Disney does not disappoint with their dining experiences. In Arrendale you get to celebrate the engagement of Queen Anna and Kristoff. Hosted by Wandering Oaken it's a great show with many magical moments.

The Worlds of Marvel dining experience has you helping Ant-man with some science experiments. Your meal even gets its own cinematic experience featuring a few key MCU characters. Ant-man and the Wasp even make an appearance at the end of the meal!

Disney doesn't disappoint with the food either. We always expect great cuisine when on board when cruising with Disney. There are even new dining venues like Enchante and Palo's Steakhouse.

Our cruise was the first to bring back hugs and autographs, so I finally got my long awaited hug from Goofy. As always there are plenty of opportunities to meet with Disney characters. As you can see we finally got our picture with Moana.

Niko and I got to have some great moments with both Ant-man and Spider-man! And I never say no to meeting with my favorite wookie.

The kids had an absolute blast in the kids club. It has so many cool interactive areas like the Star Wars area pictured here. The Marvel portion was really cool.

Niko would spend every moment of this cruise in the Oceaneer's Club if he could. Zoey actually split her time between the kids club and the tween area, Edge. She actually preferred the kids club for the activities.

There's even a slide down into the kids club!!!

I will say, while there are plenty of options for places to go and things to do, many of these spaces were a bit small for my taste.

The pools were all pretty small. Many of the bar locations didn't seat a lot of people. And even the two movie theaters were pretty small in comparison to the other ships.

The layout of the ship is a bit different to what we were accustomed to, but after a couple of days we had a pretty good handle on where to find everything.

We did have a fantastic time on the Disney Wish. It's very new and shiny! I think they have a few kinks to work out, but it's still a hell of a vacation.

Ask us how to make your next dream vacation come true. As always, Mouse O'Clock is here to help you plan your trip down to the last detail. Because when it's time to plan for Disney:

It's Mouse O'Clock!

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Cruising in the now

7/20/2022

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We hadn't been on the Disney Dream in years, but I remember why this is Angie's favorite of Disney's ships. We brought my parents along for the ride, so this was a new experience for all of us.
It seems like new changes are happening every time we blink, but things on Disney Cruiseline have almost gotten back to pre-Covid standards. Let me tell you what's changed and about all our fun.

All guests, who are able, are still required to be vaccinated. Everyone will need to be tested 48 hrs before sailing, with anyone under 5 having to also be tested at the port. If you don't have your results uploaded in time, you'll face having to pay for tests at the port.

Once onboard, Disney is still taking their cleaning and precautions precautions seriously.

Make sure to visit Disney Cruise KNOW BEFORE YOU GO so you can stay up to date before your cruise. Guests aren't required to wear masks thought the cast members still do. Also all of the restrictions on the Kids Club and pool time have been lifted as well. Almost everything is back to how it used to be before COVID with one other exception.

Character interactions are still being done at a distance. So sadly there still aren't any hugs or autographs from characters on the cruises yet. But other than that one downer, all the shows and entertainment are back in full swing.

We had loads of fun just hanging out in the pool. Of coarse the kids just love going on the AquaDuck over and over again. With most ships sailing at roughly 50% capacity there is plenty of room to find seating. Plus the line for the water slides were pretty minimal.

We had to find entertainment for the whole family with my parents on board, so we took part in a wide variety of activities this voyage. We went to play Bingo, took the kids to solve a few mysteries with the Midship Detective Agency, and even had some fun at the Family Karaoke.

We even took in a few alcohol classes and fine dining at Palo and Remy for us adults.

As usual Disney doesn't disappoint with the dining. With the rotational dining restaurants being only half full our service was still just as spectacular. We got lots of attention from our servers who would occasionally do magic tricks for the kids or give them a puzzle to figure out.

Disney has always shined when it comes to their customer service. Rarely have we had any issue that wasn't quickly resolved but we've also rarely had any issues when cruising with Disney.

Pirate Night was back in full swing with multiple Pirate Parties. Mickey and his Friends show up for the first party, while the second party centers around Captain Jack Sparrow.
They even brought back the Pirate Party Buffet at the end of the night. With a bevy of yummy options to munch on at the end of the night. If we hadn't had the late dinner I probably would have eaten more at the buffet.

And what Pirate Night wouldn't be complete without Fireworks at Sea.

We had an amazing time! The kids got to share some amazing with their grandparents. They still spent a good chunk of time making friends in the kids club, especially when the grown ups needed some time for a swanky brunch or Martini class.

We love cruising with Disney. Feel free to ask us all of your questions. We've been on 6 Disney cruises. And we're going on Disney's new ship, the Wish, in August.

Disney Cruises have a lot to offer. Let us know how we can help you get on your own cruise vacation.

Remember, when it's time to plan for Disney:

It's Mouse O'Clock!

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Current State of Disney Cruises

1/7/2022

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We know that people want to get back to cruising, but are Disney cruises still enjoyable with all of the safety protocols in place? We get asked this quite a bit. We recently sailed on the Disney Magic and are here to give you the low down.

Disney knows how to handle safety protocols, so we still felt safe and managed to have a good time. Here are the Pros and Cons we discovered.

First, let's go over some of those basic safety protocols that Disney is managing. Vaccines are mandatory to cruise. Anyone old enough to be vaccinated has to be, and those that are too young have to have a negative test within 3 days prior to boarding. Also, everybody gets a quick test at the port. We waited for about an hour before we were finally cleared to get on the ship.

The other big one to know about is you have to wear your mask inside the ship. So, anytime you aren't eating, you are supposed to wear your mask. You do not have to be masked when outside, so we enjoyed spending some time up top for the fresh air.

Mixed Feelings on the Welcome Party

The welcome aboard celebration has been changed for everybody's safety. Now you are brought in a few groups at a time and have a smaller welcome by Captain Mickey and Minnie themselves.

It's a small change but it was nice to be greeted in small batches. This also means you are waiting on the gangway as batches of 10 families are let onboard.

Pro: Low Crowds

From what we've been told, most of the ships are running at roughly half capacity. So the ship certainly feels less crowded. We had no issues finding seating anywhere on the ship and when visiting Castaway Cay.

It was nice being able to just grab a beach chair where ever we wanted without having to rush around or scout out for good seating.

Con: Social Distanced Characters

You can still see a lot of characters but they are socially distanced. Still no hugs or autographs. It will probably be a while before we can get close to the characters again. But it's not all bad, as the lines for photos move quickly. It was always a little annoying when the family ahead of us would try to have Mickey sign a bunch of things and slow the line down.

Pro: Dinners are still great!

Dining is still top notch on Disney cruises. With less cruisers the food gets to your table very quickly and the waiters are around more often to take care of your requests.

The dining entertainment has been slightly modified to include social distancing but we still got to see Rapunzel and the ruffians do their number at Rapunzel's Royal Table. Rapunzel's still ranks among my favorite dinners on Disney Cruise Line.

Con: Cabanas Buffet wasn't as good.

The buffet at Cabanas was a bit disappointing. I like a good buffet, you get to pick from a wide variety of options and get as much or as little of each thing as you want. Cabana's buffet has been broken down into multiple sets of the same food to help control the number of guests standing around waiting to get food. I get it from a safety standpoint, but there wasn't nearly as much to choose from.

Con: Limited Pool and Hot Tub usage...

The Main Pool only allowed about 15 people in at a time and for 15 minutes at a time. So the kids kept having to hop out of the pool to get in line to be able to get back in. It wasn't an issue when no one was in line because they would get back in line and back in the water really quickly. But there were several times they had to wait. The kids didn't seem to mind as much as they were usually distracted by the movie being played in the area.

The Hot tubs had their own queue. It was one family at a time in each hot tub. It was nice to not be crowded in the hot tub, but getting kicked out after 15 minutes got old really quick.

As long as there was no one in line, we got to stay in longer, but that usually didn't last long for us. We maybe got a solid half hour in the hot tub before we were asked to get out for the next family.

Pro: Same great shows and entertainment

There were less shows than they normally run on board, but the quality is still there. We love Disney's stage shows for a good reason. The sets they manage to create on the ship are just amazing.

We got to see a close up Magician as well. We were impressed with his skills of prestidigitation. We ended up having to get my daughter a magic kit for Christmas because of how impressive he was.

Con: Pirate Night was really dialed back

Pirate Night was almost non-existent. Dinner was still pirate-themed, but there wasn't a Pirate Party or show at the end of the night. They still had fireworks, but you were assigned a time slot to avoid crowding up on deck.

The kids really got a kick out of the Pirate Game Show, but that was about it.

We are used to Pirate Night being a big production. Lots of guests dress up in their best Pirate outfits and really get into the spirit. The pirate spirit walked the plank on this one.

Mixed Feelings: Disembarking the ship

In order the get off the ship you had to join a Virtual Queue. It wasn't as bad as grabbing a spot on Rise of the Resistance, but it was odd not being able to just go ashore whenever we wanted. Though it was nice that the gangway was never crowded to get off the ship, so it has its perks.

Con: Kid's Club

The Oceaneer Club wasn't as accessible. You had to book time slots at the kids club which wasn't hard to do, but not always convenient. Some times slots didn't match up perfectly causing us to have to take the kids out for a bit before they could go back. If your time slot ended at 6:15, you wouldn't be able to grab an open slot from 6 to 7. You would have to either grab a slot at 6:30 or later, which left you with an inconvenient 15 minutes to fill.

The kids still had fun, but there weren't as many kids to play with. The kids were broken into groups based off their time slot, but if their group only had 2 kids then they didn't have much choice of who to play with. Though they did get more personal attention from their counselors.
The tween and teen clubs, Edge and Vibe, didn't require time slot reservations. My daughter turned 11 on this cruise and was very happy to be able to go and check out Edge.

But did we have fun?

Despite some of the changes for safety we still managed to have a GREAT TIME! Was everything perfect, not really, but the world is making its way through this pandemic. You can't expect everything to be exactly as it was.

The kids still got to enjoy a bunch of time at the kids club. The adults still got to have their fancy Palo dinner and take Mixology classes. The fun was still there, just with some modifications.

If you have any other questions about Disney Cruises, contact us for more info. We test the waters of Disney so we can give you our honest opinions before you book your trip.

When it's time to plan for Disney: It's Mouse O'Clock!

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Virgin Voyages, a New Experience!

12/9/2021

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Virgin Voyages just started sailing this October and we got to experience a 5 night cruise on the Scarlet Lady. Virgin has taken the cruising experience and given it their own little twist.

Not everything on Virgin is what you would expect from your typical cruise. There's a lot to unpack here so hold tight, this will probably be more than one blog...

The first major difference here is that these cruises are designed for adult guests only! No one is younger than 18 and lead guests have to be over 25. This makes everything feel a bit more refined as everything is made for the adults. There is also no tipping aboard Virgin Voyages. Virgin has taken care of the crew so you don't have to.

We booked a "Gorgeous Suite" for this voyage which put us in the "Mega RockStar" category aboard this trip. Wow! There were a lot of amazing perks for this level which I will try and break down as we go along though this.

The Scarlet Lady had a different feel than I've had aboard most ships. Most ships from Carnival all the way up to Disney Cruise ships have a similar vibe. They just feel like cruise ships. The Scarlet Lady felt more like a swanky hotel with themed areas...

From the nightclub to the casino, and all of the areas in between, there was a more modern design. There were distinct parts of the ship with different vibes, where anyone could find a spot to feel comfortable.

There are also plenty of areas dedicated to health and rejuvenation. So if you are into that, there are scheduled yoga and spin classes on top of the 24 hour gym and running track. The only shape I'm in is squishy, so we didn't spend any time there, moving on...

The ship is very "instagrammable!" There are lots of great areas to be able to snap pics and lots of seating options. From stools all the way up to bed-like sofas, there's no shortage of seating. Every guest has access to the wifi, which worked better than I've experienced on most ships, with Mega Rockstars having access to premium streaming wifi. Angie enjoys just lazing about with a few TikToks, so she loved having this option.

Of course food is all included but basic beverages are also included. Juice, water, tea, sodas, and even drip coffee are all free aboard the ship.

Alcoholic drinks were the price you would expect aboard a ship. Mega Rockstars have the perk of all drinks under $25 were included.

The rooms are all very nice and can be setup for singles to go and cruise together. They are also very "teched" out, our room included a tablet that controlled the rooms lighting, curtains, and even the TV. Each balcony also has a red hammock seat that was very comfortable.

Our suite was a nice 570 sq ft compared to the normal rooms which are about 250 sq ft.

As Mega Rockstars our room also had a bottomless bar and a curated selection of records to enjoy. We also had our "roadie" who would handle any requests we made, book things for us, and even took care of our laundry while we were aboard. We were very spoiled on this trip.

OMG the FOOD!

Dining aboard the ship was an experience. I generally expect to eat well on a cruise, but the food on Virgin Voyages was something else.

First of all, everything is prepared when you order it. So, while there is a delay from when you order the food till you get it, it's all very fresh. Each restaurant and eatery has it's own kitchen, so nothing is being mass-produced like a cruise assembly line.

There are no big dining halls or buffets. Even the Galley is more like a mall food court with waiters. You simply sit down and the wait staff will take your order and bring you food from all over. Plus, the Galley is open 24/7 for the late night munchies.

I'm going to have to write a separate blog on just the dining because there was SO much food to talk about. Till then I'll leave you with pics of all the yummy food.

The entertainment aboard the ship was highly varied. Some of the stage shows were very avant garde while others were a bit risque.

You could take in a show, play board games, watch a comedian, or even go play in the arcade. There's even an area to reserve private karaoke rooms. There's a little something for everyone.

You could spend some time in the casino or take in a stage show. We enjoyed a pajama party on one night and a crazy dance party the next. There really is a wide variety.

The pool is one of the places they fall short. If you want to swim at all, this pool isn't for you. There are plenty of hot tubs and areas to lounge in the water, but only the small square in the middle of the pool has any depth.

Excursions

It wouldn't be much of a cruise if you didn't stop somewhere.

We enjoyed the ruins of Chachoben when we stopped in Costa Maya, Mexico. As well a stop at the 7 Color Lagoon for drinks and lunch. There were a variety of excursion options here, from partying, adventuring, or even just relaxing.

Our other stop was at Bimini in the Bahamas. Virgin has their own private beach club there. Virgin did a great job of making an adult space that was good for relaxing and partying.

We stayed over at the cabanas by the beach most of the time.

Costa Maya

Bimini Beach Club

Virgin Voyages was not like any cruise we had previously experienced. It was definitely a fun experience that we hope to do again. We think we would have had even more fun with friends along. The ship does have a high class party feel, I called it Vegas at Sea. We will sail with Virgin again in the future!

Ask us for more information about how you can enjoy a trip aboard the Scarlet Lady!

Plus the signage aboard the ship was highly entertaining...

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Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirate Night For Me!

6/23/2021

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There's always fun to have aboard a Disney Cruise! Pirate Night is a great way to let out your inner scallywag! There are lots of special events and activities to enjoy that are exclusive to Pirate Night, so let me teach you the ways of the Pirate!

The night before Pirate Night, along with your next day's itinerary, you will receive free pirate bandanas for each of your crew. I always wear mine throughout Pirate Night! Many guests like to get all dressed up in full Pirate costumes, but that's entirely up to you. I like to wear a Pirate themed shirt, so I'm comfortable all day. Pirate Night is also the only day you can find Captain Jack Sparrow aboard the ship.

The cast members who play Jack are always TOP notch, it's always fun to talk them before your picture!

There are lots of great photo opportunities with classic Disney characters in their Pirate gear. You can also find Peter Pan. Tinker Bell, as well as Captain Hook with Smee.

There are other special activities during the afternoon. Look through your itinerary and you can find Pirate Trivia, fun family game shows, and special events over in the kids club. Loads of Pirate theme fun to be found, and you won't even need a treasure map.

My kids always enjoy going to get their Pirate Makeovers! The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique becomes The Pirate League for the day and offers full Pirate Makeovers. The kids get a sword, sash, bag of treasure, a map, and a pretty cool look. They get to roll the bones and find out their new pirate name. Niko was Ned Bladecutter and Zoey was Jane Ropewalker. You can buy costumes there as well, but we prefer to bring our own and just get the makeup done.

All of the main Dining restaurants will be featuring a Pirate Menu on this night. Your servers will be in their own Pirate gear and greeting you with a friendly "Arrrr!" You can also expect a little Pirate performance to follow dinner!

After Dinner is when the real fun starts!

The performance towards the end of Pirate Night is always different! We've yet to see the same show twice. It used to be they would have an early and a late performance, but on the last few cruises they had moved to only having one big show after the 2nd dinner.

The performers would sing and dance, there'd be visits from Pirate Mickey and his friends. Captain Hook would show up and try to take over the show...

There's been times where it was focused on Jack Sparrow and one of his stories, the show is always changing and evolving, so keep an eye out for what happens on your cruise!

The night then ends with a Bang! Fireworks! Disney Cruises are the only cruise line who can shoot fireworks while at sea! It's a fun little way to end the evening!

We always have fun on our Disney Cruises! Let us know if you'd like to test the waters on a Disney Cruise! As always Moue O'Clock is here for you! Drink up me harties, Yo Ho!

When it's time to plan for Disney:
It's Mouse O'Clock!

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Angie & Gabe Garcia-Lavin make up the Mouse O'Clock Travel team. Married for more than a decade, they share a love of each other and a love of Disney that runs deep.

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Current State of Disney Cruises

Mixed Feelings on the Welcome Party

Pro: Low Crowds

Con: Social Distanced Characters

Pro: Dinners are still great!

Con: Cabanas Buffet wasn't as good.

Con: Limited Pool and Hot Tub usage...

Pro: Same great shows and entertainment

Con: Pirate Night was really dialed back

Mixed Feelings: Disembarking the ship

Con: Kid's Club

But did we have fun?

When it's time to plan for Disney: It's Mouse O'Clock!

Virgin Voyages, a New Experience!

OMG the FOOD!

Excursions

Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirate Night For Me!

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