We’re finally seeing progress as the Disney Cruise Line set sail on July 6, 2021 with guests on board for the first time in over a year. With COVID-19 suspending all cruise departures back in March 2020, it’s refreshing to see Disney Cruise Line is once again taking a big step toward welcoming Disney fans back on board. This special test cruise aboard the Disney Magic set sail from Southampton, England, U.K. with select test cruisers. Cast Members and test cruisers took to social media to share their excitement!
Instagram #disneymagicatseahas been flooded with exciting posts from Cast Members and test cruisers getting back to the magic on the big blue!
@millymouse_x posted via Instagram, “It’s a kind of Magic. So, so happy to be on the first DCL sailing since March 2020”
@priceylou96 posted: “On March 14th 2020 Disney Cruise Line made the announcement it would be suspending cruises for 2 weeks in response to the pandemic. 479 days later and I couldn’t be happier to be part of the team welcoming guests back on board! Let’s bring the magic back!”
@nataliiebrown93 posted: “Happy Sailing Away to the Disney Magic crew! Bon voyage and sea ya real soon!”
@thirtysomething.at.sea posted: “Let’s talk @disneymagicatsea. Yesterday was the first time in 479 days since Disney Cruise Line welcomed back their first guests onboard the Disney Magic for 1 of 2 test cruises before we go live on the 15th. To be part of the reopening team to bring the first ship back in the fleet has been a rollercoaster of emotions to say the least but I’m so freaking pumped to be here and so proud of all the hard work we have put into this over the last 10 weeks! Who’s lucky enough to come and sail on the Disney Magic for the UK Staycation season?”
@adventuresbyjose posted: “Today, Disney Cruise Line welcomes back its first Guests in over a year for our first Test Cruise out of Southampton! It’s been quite a journey getting here but now that the day has arrived, I can’t stop smiling! Here we GO! Wish us luck. I may or may not cry”
@keatonjschmidtposted: “Surprise. If we can’t bring the magic ourselves, we are happy to have friends and family bring it for us! So excited we are able to be a part of the first guest sailing in so long! Let the magic begin.”
We know the Disney Cruise Line is taking every precaution to ensure the safety of their Cast Members and guests. We’ll posted as we learn more about the test cruise experience. In the meantime, check out the exciting details surround Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship in the fleet, the Disney Wish. Plus, Fall 2022 Itineraries are now ready for booking!
The big blue has been extremely quiet since COVID took the cruise industry by hold. Cruise ships haven’t been able to invite guests to cruise since last spring. Recently, Disney Cruise Line announced they would be sailing the big blue once again with a test cruise to see how their COVID-19 procedures were handled. Unfortunately, the test cruise (which was scheduled to depart tomorrow) has been postponed.
As reported by ClickOrlando: “Disney Cruise Lines has postponed its first test cruise, which was scheduled to set sail Tuesday out of Port Canaveral, as the company was set to begin testing its coronavirus precautions, officials said. According to the Canaveral Port Authority, the Disney simulated cruise out of Cruise Terminal 8 has been postponed and no future date has been determined.”
A Disney spokesperson shared the following statement: “We are delaying our simulation cruise due to a small number of inconsistent COVID-19 test results, which are considered positive by the CDC. The rigorous health and safety protocols we have in place helped us identify the situation, though the test results were ultimately negative.”
It sounds like the COVID testing inconsistency has brought this test sailing to a halt. Apparently Disney tested their Cast Members on the Disney Dream last week and found that five out of the 600 Cast Members tested positive for COVID-19. The five positive cases were all asymptomatic and previously vaccinated. A retest the next day, using the same lab, tested negative. So, one day positive and another day negative… it’s hard to know what is best in that situation.
The magic of the holidays returns to Disney Cruise Line in the fall of 2022 with Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime Cruises across the fleet, including the first fall season on the all-new Disney Wish. With cruises departing from Florida, New York, Texas, and California, guests will have many opportunities to experience holidays at sea with Disney Cruise Line.
Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime Cruises
“With five ships setting sail in fall 2022 from different homeports around the country, we are excited to offer more ways than ever before for families to make special memories with Disney Cruise Line,” said Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney Cruise Line.
Halloween on the High Seas returns to Disney Cruise Line in mid-September through October 2022. On select sailings across the fleet, guests can dress up and join Disney characters in their Halloween costumes at Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party; enjoy themed food, beverages and crafts; and immerse themselves in a ghostly ship takeover with elaborate decor and a magical Pumpkin Tree.
From early November through December, the Disney Cruise Line fleet is decked from bow-to-stern with holiday cheer and entertainment during Very Merrytime Cruises. Holiday magic is unwrapped for the whole family with festive holiday decor, favorite characters in their finest holiday attire and a special visit from none other than Santa Claus.
Bookings open to the public on June 24, 2021. More details can be found on disneycruise.com.
Tropical Escapes from Florida
In fall 2022, the Disney Wish and Disney Fantasy will embark on guest-favorite itineraries out of Port Canaveral, Florida, while the Disney Dream continues to sail from Miami.
The Disney Wish will continue its inaugural season with its first-ever fall and holiday sailings, offering a series of three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas, while the Disney Fantasy will offer six-, seven- and eight-night vacations to the eastern and western Caribbean.
The Disney Dream will take guests on four- and five-night Bahamian itineraries and five-night Caribbean cruises to either Grand Cayman or Cozumel, Mexico.
All sailings from Port Canaveral and Miami will include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise outfitted for family fun and relaxation and brimming with special Disney touches.
Caribbean Cruises from San Juan
The Disney Magic will sail out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, for two special itineraries in early November. A seven-night southern Caribbean sailing will visit Antigua, St. Lucia, Aruba and Bonaire, while a following six-night voyage will feature stops in St. Thomas and Falmouth, Jamaica.
Baja Penisula Voyages from California
Spooktacular sailings return to California in late September with Halloween on the High Seas cruises to the Baja Peninsula from San Diego. The Disney Wonder will host three-, four-, five- and seven-night vacations from southern California, allowing guests to celebrate the Halloween season at sea while taking in the mesmerizing beauty of Mexico.
Sailings to Bermuda and Canada from New York
The Disney Magic returns to New York in late September for a series of Halloween on the High Seas sailings to Bermuda and Canada. Guests can visit Bermuda’s pink sand beaches and colorful coral reefs on five-night vacations or set their sights for a special six-night cruise to the Canadian ports of New Brunswick and Halifax that includes a stop in Bar Harbor, Maine.
Vacations to Bahamas and Caribbean from Texas
The Disney Magic will visit Galveston, Texas, in late November for a variety of five- and seven-night Very Merrytime Cruises. Guests can experience the magic of the holidays on western Caribbean itineraries with ports of call that include Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Grand Cayman.
It has been well over a year now since Disney Cruise Line has been able to set sail on the big blue! While we’ve missed the paramount Disney cruise experience, we’ve enjoyed sharing Disney Wish details as the newest ship prepares for a June 2022 maiden voyage. Great news however is being shared today, as Disney Cruise Line has received the OK from the CDC to launch a test sailing from Port Canaveral!
As reported by OrlandoSentinel: “Disney Cruise Line will be sailing once again after announcing it had received the OK from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to embark on a test sailing from Port Canaveral. Port Canaveral officials welcomed the news of Disney’s return. “Our continuous efforts in close consultation with our cruise partners at Disney has led to this important milestone,” stated Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray. “We’re very excited and ready to welcome back the iconic Disney ships to their home at Port Canaveral.” Media sites on Tuesday posted a letter from Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney Signature Experiences, which oversees Disney Cruise Line, revealing that the CDC had approved its application for a simulated cruise with volunteer passengers on the Disney Dream from July 29-July 1.”
When going aboard the Disney Cruise Line, the belt bucket tends to get a little tighter just by looking at all the amazing cruise food! There are plenty of places aboard to grab a quick meal and an ice cream or two. We are thankful; however, Disney has superb table service restaurants that are part of the rotation dining offered on all four cruise ships. Check out the notes below to help with your rotational dining experience if traveling as a family with young kids in tow!
Editor’s Note: Disney Cruise Line has suspended all Disney Wonder sailings through July 12, 2021, as well as Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy sailings through July 31, 2021. Disney Magic sailings have been suspended through October 2021. We present this article for future cruise planning.
1 – What Is Rotational Dining?
This concept was new to us before we cruised! Rotational Dining means that each night of your cruise, you’ll have a scheduled place to dine. You’ll “rotate” through the three restaurant venues offered aboard the Disney Cruise Line. This means if your cruise itinerary is longer than three nights, you’ll double up on a few of the restaurants. All rotational dining restaurants are included in your overall cruise price, so no bill comes at the end of your meal unless you’ve purchase alcohol with your meal.
2 – Three Venues on Each Ship
Which ship are you cruising with? Each ship has a different line up of rotational dining restaurants, including the following:
Disney Magic: Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s, Rapunzel’s Royal Table
Disney Wonder: Animator’s Palate, Tiana’s Place, Triton’s
Disney Dream: Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace
Disney Fantasy: Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Court
You’ll receive your dining schedule in advance, so you’ll know where to be each evening. You can also find it on the Navigator Cruise App when on board. You may also dine at one or more of these locations for breakfast or lunch. You’ll also have a chance to dine at some of the restaurants for breakfast.
3 – Themed Dining
The best part is that each restaurant has themed dining, which makes for a perfect distraction for the kids! Our kids’ favorite was Animator’s Palate, which is available on all of Disney’s ships. As you enter Animator’s Palate for dinner, the room starts off very plan with a few splashes of color here and there. But as the dinner progresses, the room starts to come alive with color. There are also multiple screens where Crush from Finding Nemo will come and talk with you at the table! It’s a real-time conversation, so prepare your kids that they may be asked a question or two.
4 – Pick the Early Dining Slot
Part of the booking process for the Disney Cruise is to request a dining slot. There are two options, including Main Seating (5:45pm-6:15 pm) and Second Seating (8 pm – 8:30 pm). If your kids are anything like ours, the 8 pm dining time is simply too late. Especially after a full day in the sun with lots of activities, having them sit down to a meal at that time is our worse nightmare! So, be sure to request that early dining slot. Keep in mind this is only a request, so the earlier you book, the better chance you have to get the dining slot you want.
5 – Be on Time
We understand being on time can be super tricky for families with young kids! Try to haul your kids away from the pool or other activities well before your dining time to get them dressed and ready for dinner. If the meal time says 5:45 pm, the service will start at that time. A family was sitting near us that came in closer to 6 pm, and their servers were extraordinarily polite but obviously had to rush through appetizers and entrees. Plan to arrive on time!
6 – Dining Dress Code
What to wear? Swimwear and flipflops are not allowed in rotational dining restaurants. In other words, don’t expect to run right from the pool to dinner. In general, think of casual wear. Nice jeans or slacks and a polo shirt are appropriate for guys. Girls can wear jeans and a nice top, or dresses/skirts are welcome. There is one night that is an optional dress-up night, and some people really do go all out for this! There is also a pirate night on many of the cruises which allow you to come to dinner in your pirate wear. Our recommendation is that whatever you dress the kids in, remember they will be eating, so make it comfortable. You don’t want it to be something that will make you upset if they spill or get food on it. Each night our little guy kept asking if we were going to church because we kept putting his casual church clothes on!
7 – Same Wait Staff
The best part of the Rotational Dining Experience, in our opinion, is having the same wait staff. Your two serves follow you from restaurant to restaurant. This is such an exceptional experience because they learn your kids’ names and what their preferences are. Our kids started feeling comfortable around them and looked forward to seeing their buddies each evening for dinner! Servers may also perform a magic trick or two if they see your little one needs a good distraction. Our kids were blown away by this! We even saw one server cutting the food for a little girl, so Mom didn’t have to. You can tell they have been well-trained in how to work with kids and how to make it an exceptional experience for them… which makes it all the better for us adults.
8 – Picky Eaters & Allergies Rejoice!
If you have a picky eater or a child with allergies, you’ve come to the right place! The Disney Cruise Line is the cruise for you because Disney knows how to handle these issues beautifully. First of all, the kid’s menu has a fairly good selection each night and does try to change it up for the kids. On the other hand, our little guy wanted Mac and Cheese each night – and that’s exactly what he got. If it’s not on the menu, don’t be afraid to ask for it because the staff may just be able to work their magic. Our daughter is in that awkward tween stage where a kid’s meal might not be enough food, but an adult meal is too much. There were times when she got something small (like an extra bowl of fruit) to make the kid’s meal a little larger. When talking about allergies, the staff is excellent at handling these allergies with the help of the Chef. If you need the Chef to come to talk with you, they will make that happen. Even better, since it’s the same staff that follows you to each restaurant, you don’t have to repeat everything all over again the next night. The staff knows and accommodates beautifully.
9 – Great Atmosphere for Kids
To be honest, we were nervous about rotational dining. We didn’t know what to expect! We were worried that our 3-year-old wouldn’t care to sit to eat when there is a ship full of things to do. We also didn’t know if our 10-year-old would think some of it was too childish. We were pleasantly surprised at how much they both loved it! The noise level was a bit loud, so that alleviated our concerns about our little guy being too loud. From previous cruise experiences, our parents said the later dining slot is much quieter than the first. The only complaint we had is how full it seemed. The tables were close, and there are a lot of people dining at once. On the flip side, our kids thrived off this atmosphere.
10 – Room Service Anyone?
We get it. Sometimes you have great plans to make it somewhere on time, but so-and-so is having an epic meltdown because they have had nothing but sugar and fun in the sun all day. Occasionally you need to regroup, and sitting down to dine just isn’t going to happen. Go ahead and plan to stay in your room for the night and order room service. You’ll miss that rotation of dining, but room service is still included in your package (minus the tip). Sometimes a little quiet time is exactly what kids need.
