Our first stop on the itinerary was Key West, Florida. I have to say it was uneventfully, very much a tourist location, at least where we were. My daughter and I decided to at least walk around for a few hours, since we have never been and at least have some key-lime pie.
Below I have outlined our schedule that day along with some food reviews and tips I learned along the way.
We arrived in port at about 7:30 am after setting sail from Miami at 4:30 pm the day before. We began the day with breakfast at Cabana’s around 8:00 am, and I think so did everyone else!
Breakfast
Before entering the buffet, all parties are required to wash their hands. I appreciated the cleanliness of the ship. Before filling our plates, a castmate instructed us to find a table first. This was the only time we were requested to do so; I believe it’s because of how packed Cabana’s was at that time. Unfortunately, our party of 8 had to separate, but it worked out in the end. The buffet itself was terrific. I love breakfast! And there wasn’t anything I could think of that wasn’t available, maybe except for avo-toast and breakfast pizza. There were Mickey waffles, pancakes, British breakfast options (baked beans, tomatoes), eggs benefits, fruit smoothies and more!
Cabana’s Breakfast Food Review: As I stated before breakfast is my favorite meal; the buffet was like heaven to me. I didn’t get to try everything, but the highlights were the strawberry and mango smoothies, the crispy hashbrowns, Mickey waffles, and the fantastic fresh fruit selection. An A+ meal and very diet friendly for all types, (e.g., weight watchers, keto, paleo, etc.).
Exploring Key West
The process for getting off the ship was efficient. You need your “Key to the World” card and some additional identification, (e.g., passport or license). We didn’t schedule any excursion or check out the beach. We decided to walk around the port. There are plenty of spots to take fun photos, so that’s what we did. Be prepared to see wild chickens everywhere. We had to grab some key lime pie, so we stopped in Kermit’s. I highly recommend stopping in here. They have everything key lime you can think of from pies, candies, cookies to hot sauce and spiced nuts. They also provide samples of each item, so the kiddos loved tasting everything.
Pro Tip #1 – If you didn’t buy bottled water, stop by CVS and get some. I also picked up some Starbucks Double-Shots (4 Pack) in preparation for my 5K on Castaway Cay.
Back on Ship
Getting back on the boat was easy. Since we only spent about 3 hrs in Key West, there wasn’t a line to get back on. There are sanitizer stands set up for guests to use before getting on the ship. Once on the boat, the cast member will request your “Key to the World” card, scan it and then check your ID. You’ll be required to put any additional bags through the scanner.
Once we were back on the ship, we dropped the kids off at the kids’ club and headed to the spa. My husband had previously booked a 2-day pass for both of us.
Pro Tip #2 – Book the Rainforest room, it’s about $35 per person per day and allows you access to 2 steam rooms, three aromatherapy showers, and the spa room. I felt just as relaxed using the Rainforest room as I would have gotten from a massage for a fraction of the cost.
After the Rainforest room, we headed to the Cove (the adults only lounge and pool) for a drink. Once we finished our drinks, we headed to the Disney Vacation Club Members presentation. We’re members and were able to get our friends in as well. There were free and unlimited beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The presenters provided the latest Disney news, such as WDW updates (e.g., Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway), the new Riveria resort and the expansion of 3 more Disney Cruise ships.
Pro Tip #3 – if you’re not picky about your alcohol and like sweet mixed drinks, I would suggest getting the “drink of the day.” I think I tried one each day and always enjoyed it. The drink of the day is discounted at about $5-6 each.
Pro Tip #4 – Check out the DVC Presentation and get a free lanyard to use on the ship.
Dinner and Evening Show
After the presentation, we went to pick up the kids and get ready for dinner. Our rotation took us to Lumiere’s that night. Again, before entering the restaurant, the castmember provided each member of our party with a sanitizing wipe. Once we all finished, we were directed to our table where we were reunited with our servers from Rapunzel’s Royal Table. The same servers follow you around for each dinner as you rotate through all the restaurants.
Lumiere’s Dinner Food Review: Dinner was at Lumiere’s ok. I thought the food at Rapunzel’s was better. I did enjoy the french onion soup. It was one of the best. FYI – Lumiere’s is the only restaurant that doesn’t provide any entertainment during dinner.
Once we wrapped up dinner, we headed directly to the dinner show, “Twice Charmed” as it was a headlining show (link to additional details about the show: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/twice-charmed-show/). It was packed! We got lucky and were able to grab center seats a few rows back from the stage. The show was amazing! It was the tale of Cinderella with a twist. I won’t spoil it for you, but I do recommend checking it out. Both my children loved it, including my son, who is a diehard Marvel fan. And one of the coolest parts is that Prince Charming was our muster drill castmember. How cool is that?! I wish I would have known, I would have asked for a pic.
Pro-Tip #5 – if you have a large party, I would recommend heading up to the theatre to grab seats, no later than 30 mins before the start of the show.
Pro-Tip #6 –The actors in the show are castmembers around the ship! So keep your eyes open, Fab 5 and Princesses are not the only stars on the boat.
Day 2 Wrap-up
Day 2 was very eventful. There are just so many activities going on, that you’ll need to prioritize what you want to do. I will say you’ll never feel bored. Key West was ok, but I’m sure I could have kept myself entertained on the ship as well.
Comment down below if you’ve been to Key West, Florida, and your thoughts. And with that, I hope you’re having a magical day.