Why a Disney Cruise is the Perfect Vacation for Every Member of Your Family

If you ever ask my daughter, Lilly, where she wants to go on vacation, her answer is always the same… “on a Disney Cruise”.

I still hold so many dear memories from trips to Disney World and Disney Cruises when I was younger, and it always makes my heart so happy to hear that Lilly loves Disney as much as I do.

She was fortunate enough to take her first Disney Cruise last year (2019) and talked about it endlessly when we got home. My husband wasn’t able to come with us on that Disney Cruise, so for Christmas this year, surprised Lilly and me by booking a Disney Cruise for us.

My husband, Alex had never been on a cruise before and was initially hesitant about the idea and had concerns that I think most people would when boarding their first cruise. Would we get seasick? Was the ship safe? Would our family enjoy it?

His questions and concerns were immediately abolished upon our arrival on the Disney Dream. Lilly and I took a seven day Eastern Caribbean Disney Cruise last year, but Alex decided a shorter Disney Cruise would be a good way for him to discover whether it was something he enjoyed or not.

After another amazing Disney Cruise experience. I have decided to share several reasons why your next family vacation should be a Disney Cruise and why a Disney Cruise vacation is perfect for every member of your family.

Why a Disney Cruise is the Perfect Vacation for Every Member of Your Family:

The Service:

Disney does service right. One of my favorite parts of the Disney Cruise is getting to know your dinner servers (that rotate to every restaurant on the cruise with you every night), your stateroom host, and the amazing other staff members on the ship. My daughter bonded with one of our servers immediately last year, and we developed such a friendship with him, that we made sure to reconnect on this past Disney Cruise vacation. The Disney Cruise staff does an excellent job at making sure your needs are met, and make you feel so special and cared for along the way.

The Food

With three incredible restaurants that you get to experience (and several others you can make adult-only reservations to), your family is in for a real treat! The restaurants and food on the Disney Cruiseline is a major highlight. Each restaurant has a fun theme. My daughter loves the interactive experience that The Animators Palette creates while I love the princess-worthy dining environment of the Enchanted Garden.

The servers you have on the first night follow you to each restaurant throughout your trip. As I said above, the relationships you build with your servers is one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. They will even know what beverages to bring you by the end of your cruise and are always sure to make your family smile. It’s such a special touch that is unique to any other cruise or trip we’ve taken.

We all know dining with children can oftentimes be a challenge. I love that the kid’s menu delights every child, and the restaurants offer fun things to do/look at making dinner go smoothly.

There are two dining times you can choose from. Early seating at 5:15 or late seating at 8:15. If you have children, early seating is probably the most convenient. We have done both dining times, and what I love about the late dining, is that if your kids finish their meals early, you can opt to have one of the Kids Club staff members come pick your child up for dinner so you can enjoy some alone time with your spouse! Amazing!

You do not have to pay for any of your meals on the cruise. They are included in your booking price, except alcohol or if you want to go to one of the special restaurants like Palo.

There are alcohol packages you can buy, but I opted to purchase one bottle of wine for our trip so I could enjoy a glass at dinner each night. What’s nice about buying a bottle is, like your servers, your bottle of wine will follow you to each restaurant on your cruise, allowing you to enjoy it each night!

The Kids Club

The Disney Cruiseline has amazing Kids Clubs for all ages that are free for kids ages 3 and up! They also offer a nursery for younger cruisers!

Since I have been on Disney Cruises as a kid, teenager and now a mom, I can speak to both sides when I say that these kids’ clubs are SO SPECIAL.

I remember ringing in the New Year on a Disney Cruise as a sixteen year old, sad to leave my new friends that I had met.

Lilly still talks about her fun dance party with Pluto from last year’s Disney Cruise and never wanted to leave the kids club when I would go to pick her up.

The kids’ clubs also allow parents the opportunity to enjoy some alone time. Read a book, lay by the adult pool, enjoy Senses Spa, or go on an excursion! Alex and I had so much fun on the Disney Cruise together because we could drop Lilly off at the kids club for a little bit, enjoy some quality time, and then pick her up to do some fun, family-oriented activities.

Adult Only Section

If you are looking for some time away from your kids (or other people’s kids) there is an adult-only section of the Disney Cruise that includes several top-deck pools and bars, Senses Spa and Fitness Center as well as several restaurants and night clubs!

The Entertainment

Is there any question who does entertainment best? From incredible live theater performances to dance parties with your favorite characters to an incredible Pirate Night complete with fireworks, prepare to be completely wowed by the entertainment onboard the Disney Cruise!

My favorite show this year was Beauty and The Beast and my daughter always gets so excited for Pirate Night!

The Characters

One of the things that I love most about the Disney Cruiseline is the characters you just “bump” into as you are exploring the ship. Last year I was running on the treadmill when I noticed something in the corner of my eye. There, right next to me, was Mickey Mouse in his “workout look” jogging right next to me.

The opportunities to see your favorite Disney characters on the ship make your Disney Cruise so special, and I love that you don’t have to wait in super long lines to see them like you might have to at the Disney Parks.

Castaway Cay

Every port that Disney Cruiseline anchors at is special, but no other cruise will take you to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay! This is always my family’s favorite day from our Disney Cruise trip. There is so much to do.

Take a tram to the Family beach to play in the shallow waters and mild waves. If you are feeling more adventurous, opt for the stingray experience or rent some snorkeling gear.

Slide down the waterslides at Pelican Plunge, rent bikes, or give parasailing a try.

If you are feeling lazy, enjoy a catered lunch on the island then take a snooze in one of the many hammocks!

Before you head back to the ship, be sure to send your friends at home a postcard from Castaway Cay’s post office!

The Disney Magic is Real

Disney Cruiseline offers the perfect combination of relaxation, family fun, entertainment, and adventure topped with incredible service and attention to detail. If you are looking for the perfect family trip that will please every member of your family, then taking a Disney Cruise should be at the top of your list!