If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you probably saw a handful of photos of our Disney Cruise last week. We were almost entirely unplugged (thanks so much, uber expensive internet connection at sea) and so I didn’t check in hardly at all! We arrived back home in OKC on Saturday after 7 glorious nights on the Disney Fantasy. Last year was so much fun on the Disney Magic that we decided to go again, this time with Simon’s grandmother JoAnne. Looking at these photos, I’m having major withdrawals from all the white sand beaches and incredibly blue water.
For those of you who are unaware as we were, apparently the Entire World descends upon Orlando during the middle of March, as evidenced by the most insane amount of people in an airport security line that I’ve ever seen. But it was worth it. Because if you see no other photo from the trip, this one photo below says it all.
It’s pretty much safe to say that Jude was in Disney heaven from the moment we got on the ship. He hasn’t stopped talking about the cruise from last year, and he was beyond excited the minute we stepped on board.
There were magical adventures meeting Peter Pan and scheming to get Captain Hook, crafts to be made, pirates galore, a water slide to go on, and all the chicken stripes and cheeseburgers a 6-year-old boy could possibly eat.
And when we weren’t having adventures on board, there were plenty of things to do on shore too. Grand Cayman was our first port of call and we caught a cab with a wizened 90 year old lady cab driver (who I was not entirely sure could see the road) to a beach club where we could enjoy the pretty beaches. The next day we totally skipped Costa Maya in favor of staying on the ship and taking advantage of the adults-only pool (thank you, Grandma), and then hit a private beach club in Cozumel that was total perfection. There was even a Wipeout-style set of giant inflatable slides out in the water. (Spoiler alert: Simon launched not only Jude but one other kid about 20 feet into the air HAAAAAAA).
But the trip highlight was undoubtedly Castaway Cay, Disney’s very own island in the Bahamas. But more on that and Grand Cayman tomorrow. Because holy gorgeousness – it deserves it’s own post!
I can’t say enough good things about the cruise. It really is a fun and easy family trip and I can’t wait to do it again.
Tips if you go:
- Take advantage of the adult only beach at Castaway Cay.
- Take more sunscreen than you think.
- Ride the AquaDuck right when you get on the ship to avoid long lines. Also ride it again at night.
- Ask at check-in for any last minute upgrades. We got a much bigger room for only $100 upgrade charge by asking.
- Take your own water bottle to fill up and take with you on excursions.
- In Cozumel and Grand Cayman, take a cab to a private beach club.
- Do the onboard checkin for your return flight home. Easiest return trip ever.
- Bring your own goggles.
- Take baby powder with you to the beach to get all the sand off easily.
- We didn’t notice much of a difference, quality-wise, between the Magic and the Fantasy, although the Fantasy is the newest/biggest ship. If anything I preferred that the Magic had less people perhaps? But the water features on the Fantasy were pretty amazing. I remember people last year who had taken the Fantasy first felt like they had downgraded by then going on the Magic, but I don’t think I would see it that way.
Check back tomorrow for some gorgeous beaches!