Ahoy mates! I’m back after a much restful returning from our first Disney Cruise, and I have so much to discuss. In the coming posts, I’ll provide a review of each day on our cruise as well as some pro tips and lessons learned.
Let’s start from the beginning. We arrived in Miami the day before and stayed at a hotel close to the airport, but also only 20mins from the port.
Pro Tip #1 – If you’re coming from a great distance, I would recommend arriving a day before your trip. After investing so much into a Disney Cruise, the last thing you want to worry about is making it on time to get on the ship.
Pro Tip #2 – Check the local State laws if you have children and plan to use Uber or Lyft to get to the port. We bought an inflatable booster (for about $30) for our 5-year-old instead of ordering an Uber Carseat service. We just felt it was worth the investment.
Pro Tip #3 – If your kiddos are swimmers or love the splash-down playground, have them wear their bathing suits onto the boat as well as have your sunscreen on hand. You don’t want to start your vacation with tantrums because they have to wait for the luggage to show up to swim.
Day 1: Embarkment Day
My family’s check-in time was 11:30 am. We got to the port at about 11 am and were on the ship by 12 pm. The process was very efficient and while we were waiting, the kids got to see Minnie and Mickey walk through the main walkway to the ship, which was a very exciting start. Once on the ship, we headed straight to lunch. We opted for the sit-down option at Lumiere’s. The lunch buffet is also available at Cabanas.
Lumiere Lunch Food Review – The food was ok. I liked my appetizer, which was a beef empanada, but my main course, the salmon salad was just ok. I skipped dessert, because I was already full, but ended up eating my son’s Welcome Aboard Sundae, which was delicious. My husband got the carrot cake, which was ok.
Pro-Tip #4 – Once you’re on the ship and you have any changes, want to sign up for the 5K, or looking for additional sign-up activities (e.g., princess meetup, spa, etc.) go directly to guest services. Some spaces are limited for specific events/activities so getting everything squared away from the start will increase your odds.
Checking out the Ship
After lunch, we headed to our room. Our luggage arrived 20mins promptly after we got in. I believe the typical timeframe is about 1:30-4:30 pm. We then set out to explore the rest of the ship. We checked out the movie theater on Deck 5 and also the Kids’ club for the open house. Additionally, since we were there, we finalized our kids’ club registration which takes about 5-10 mins. Once we wrapped up, it was time for the Sail Away Party on Deck 9 – definitely a great start to the vacation. The kids went for a quick dip in the pool, and then we headed back to our rooms to get ready for dinner.
Pro Tip #5 – Make sure to grab some paper Mickey hands from the Kids’ Club for the Sail Away Party. There are cast members also handing them out if you miss this opportunity.
Dinner and the Evening Show
Our first dining reservation was at Rapunzel’s Royal Table. It included a short dinner show with Flynn Rider, Rapunzel and a few Vikings from the Snuggly Duckling. The show ended with the kiddos dancing around the room, similar to the character meal at the Polynesian.
Pro Tip #6 – Request a table close to the stage. We were right next to the stage and so the kids were just an arm’s length away from the performers.
Pro Tip #7 – Order as much as you want. You can have every entree or dessert or all of the above. It’s all included and fully paid for. Additionally, your kids do not have to order from the kids’ menu. They can mix and match OR just directly order from the adult menu.
Rapunzel’s Royal Table Dinner Food Review: The bread included soft pretzels which were a hit with the kids. I got the Tangled Pasta, which was ok, but the Pan-Seared Sea Bass was amazing. I ordered a couple of desserts and I think Rapunzel’s Fry Pan Sweet Bread was the winner for me and my daughter. Overall, we liked dinner at Rapunzel’s a lot more than lunch at Lumiere’s.
Once dinner was done, we headed directly to the evening show. Because we had the early dinner, 5:30 pm we were scheduled for the 8:30 pm show and got there maybe 15mins before. We were able to get great seats for our party of 8. This is not the case for the headliner shows. There was a concession stand selling popcorn (and yes collectible popcorn buckets) as well as candy, drinks, and sipper cups.
Day 1 Wrap-up
The first day was certainly amazing. I was totally impressed with how efficient the process was and how clean the ship was as well. I’ve been on two other cruise lines and there was a lot to be desired. From running into Mickey Mouse as we walked onto the ship to being announced by cast members as we entered the main lobby – we truly had a magical first day!
Comment down below if you’re planning to set sail on a Disney Cruise. And with that, I hope you’re having a magical day.