Looking for a bit of the tropics to add to your holiday? If yes, you’ll want to make these delicious Frozen inspired drinks from Summertime Freeze on Castaway Cay at home!
From a Disney Cast Member;
We love to find fun ways of bringing the magic of Disney into your home, so for this installment of #DisneyMagicMoments, we’re excited to share another series of popular recipes – this time, from Summertime Freeze at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in The Bahamas.
Like Olaf, some of us wish it was summer all year long. And while things may be a bit chilly outside, we decided to take a tropical twist on the holidays and present four blended beverage recipes that you and your family will love. Download the print-at-home recipe to get started.
Make your favorite beverage – or all of them! – and bring a small taste of island paradise into your home, or wherever you may be celebrating this holiday season.
(Careful, the “Sven’s Carrot Delight” might attract some of Santa’s reindeer.)
Even though the CDC recently let the ban on cruise ships operations expire, cruise lines need time to meet standards set by the CDC to resume cruising with passengers in US waters. Therefore, it’s unsurprising to learn that Disney Cruise Line has extended its supsension of cruises through the end of 2020.
From a Cast Member;
Our team at Disney Cruise Line remains focused on the health and well-being of our Guests and team members. We are carefully reviewing the guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and working together with industry partners on a path to resuming operations.
As we continue to refine our protocols for our eventual return to service, we have decided to cancel all sailings through December 2020. Sailings are cancelled on board the Disney Fantasy through December 26; Disney Wonder and Disney Magic through December 30; and the Disney Dream through December 31.
Guests booked on affected sailings who have paid their reservation in full will be offered the choice of a cruise credit to be used for a future sailing or a full refund. Guests who have not paid their reservations in full will automatically receive a refund of what they have paid so far. Affected Guests and travel agents will receive an email from Disney Cruise Line outlining details and next steps.
Nothing says Disney better than characters, music, lights, and the unexpected! Set sail with us on the Disney Cruise Line to experience entertainment like no other! Disney seems to do the impossible by offering paramount entertainment right from the ship deck…in the middle of the big blue ocean. As you get ready to enjoy the entertainment, check out a few things you’ll want to know about the deck shows offered on the Disney Cruise Line, particularly when traveling as a family with young kids.
1 – Deck Shows Vary by Ship
Don’t think because you’ve been on one Disney Cruise Line ship, you’ve been on them all. The ships are similar in many ways, but it’s obvious Disney has worked hard to keep each of their four ships shining in their own way. All ships offer a Sail-Away Celebration, which is a great way to get the party started with, upbeat music, a DJ, and a warm send-off as you leave port. You can also expect to find fun themed-deck shows depending on when you travel, and which ship you are on. Pirate Night is an excellent deck show and party on the ships which has cruisers dressing in their pirate best. On the Disney Fantasy, Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Party at Sea offers a deck show unique to this ship. You can also find the Star Wars Day at Sea deck show on the Fantasy, depending on your itinerary. The Frozen Deck Party is available on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. Special to the Disney Magic, you may get a chance to see the Marvel Day at Sea deck show, again depending on your cruise itinerary. Lastly, if you’re traveling over a specific holiday, you may experience a deck show in correlation to that holiday, such as New Year’s Eve, Halloween on the High Seas, and Very Merrytime. As you can see, deck shows offered depend on which ship you are setting voyage on and which itinerary you’ve selected. Keep this in mind as pick a ship and voyage, so your little ones won’t be thinking they are going to experience whatever they’ve seen in the commercials if it’s not what you’ve booked.
2 – Exceptional Performances
If you aren’t aware, Disney Cruise Line has live performance theater shows on each ship, each night of the cruise. Many of these same, exceptional performers make their way to the deck shows! Despite the incredible costume changes, you and your children may start to notice some of the same actors as you learn to recognize their dancing and singing styles from one performance to the next. It’s fascinating seeing them in one role to the next. Then, of course, your kids will especially love the over the top arrival of beloved Disney characters, which range from Captain Jack Sparrow to Elsa and Mickey Mouse himself, all depending on which deck show you’re watching.
3 – Pool Deck Transformed
You may be thinking – but where do they host these deck shows with the pools in the way? No worries! Disney has thought of everything. They close the pools down and cover them for deck shows. Since deck shows are typically at night, this is an easy transition to get the kids out of the pool, dressed for dinner and the theater, then back to the deck for a deck show. It’s an excellent transformation, allowing for a maximization of the ship space!
4 – Arrive Early
Disney fans know they can expect a good show, so rest assured that the deck shows will be crowded! Do yourself a favor and try to arrive 15-30 minutes early to get a good viewing spot. When you do arrive early, however, plan on sitting in your one spot for some time, until the show begins. If you leave to go to the bathroom or somewhere else, chances are your spot will be taken.
5 – Best Viewing Spots
A great way to figure out the best viewing spot for the deck show is by asking a Cast Member. They will give you the low-down! There are two main areas, including the main deck floor itself and the next deck up where you can look down over the balcony. Both areas fill in, but some offer better views than others. If your children are young and short, the deck above the deck show (overlooking the deck below) is not the best spot as the railing can easily block their view. Best viewing areas with young children are typically down on the main deck in front of the stage.
6 – And Then There are the Fireworks!
What’s Disney without fireworks, right? On many of the Disney Cruise Line itineraries, cruisers will have a chance to see those incredible Disney fireworks right from the ship! Check in advance to see when the fireworks will be offered. They typically follow the deck show or are in conjunction with it. Fireworks are fired off to one side of the ship, so again, asking a Cast Member about prime location is important. After the fireworks wrap up, there is usually a DJ playing music, ready to dance the night away on the deck! The kids will love this, but it can get late, so keep that in mind with their morning schedule.
7 – Dress the Part
Pirate Night? Go ahead and dress the part! We’re not talking about only the kids – but adults too! Just think how cool it would be for your little ones to see you dress up as a pirate too. Or maybe it’s the Frozen Deck Show you’re attending – let your inner Elsa go! Whatever the deck show may be, Disney typically encourages cruisers to dress the part to enjoy the show.
8 – Bring Along a Snack or Two
Since you are in the middle of a crowd and sometimes waiting for the show to get started, a snack or two is nice to have for the kids. Maybe you could grab some ice cream before selecting your spot and waiting. Other sweet treats, food, and beverages can be found around the ship, so be sure to snag something and bring it along with you.
9 – Time to Glow!
Kids love all things that glow at night (of course, we adults think it’s cool too!). Do yourself a favor and pack a few Dollar Tree glow items in your luggage. While on deck, there are Cast Members are selling different glow items which can be purchased. If you plan ahead, however, and bring glow items with you, you’ll save some money while still making your kiddos excited about wearing their glow gear.
10 – Call It A Night
While we highly recommend deck shows, especially with kids – we get it! Kids get tired. Adults get tired. Sometimes the deck show is the last thing you want to watch after a long day. It’s all good! This is your cruise, so if you miss a deck show – it’s not the end of the world, and your kids likely won’t have the slightest clue you’ve missed the show. Give yourself a break and call it a night if you want. Order some milk and cookies from room service and enjoy the night in your room. There will be other chances for the kids to see characters and entertainment.
While the Disney Cruise Line has suspended all departures through at least December 6, 2020, they are still very much at work trying to navigate through COVID-19 and what it means for future sailings. It is being reported that yesterday, September 21, some progress has been made with safety agreements needed before cruise lines can attempt to resume sailing in the future.
In fall 2019, the Disney Magic sails to Bermuda, Bahamas and Canada from New York, followed by Bahamian and Caribbean voyages from Miami. Aboard the Disney Magic, guests can experience new spaces and experiences, including dining at Rapunzel’s Royal Table. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)
As shared by OrlandoSentinel: Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the trade association for companies that include Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival, Disney and MSC Cruises among others, made the announcement Monday (Sept. 21), saying that all member lines had come to an agreement for some basic, but major components for any line’s safe return to cruising in North America amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Chief among the recommendations were that anyone planning to sail should have taken a COVID-19 test between five days and 24 hours of departure and have received a negative result. Anyone who tests positive should not board, or even come to the port. And neither should anyone in that person’s traveling party.
In addition, before boarding, passengers will be screened for symptoms, including the taking of temperatures and answering questions, which might lead to a secondary screening to determine if they should be allowed to board.
CDC guidelines for social distancing and face protection should be followed by wearing of face coverings indoors and maintaining 6 feet of social distance when checking in, and while sailing, in major public areas indoors where people congregate.
Disney Cruise Line is extending its “Cruise Date Flexibility” offer through October 31, 2020. This means changes can be made to any sailings booked by October 31, 2020, for cruises departing through May 31, 2021. Disney Cruise Line first announced the “Cruise Date Flexibility” offer in June with the offer ending on August 31, 2020. Details on the “Cruise Date Flexibility” offer is listed below.
In 2017, Disney Cruise Line guests set sail to Alaska’s Icy Strait Point on new itineraries departing from Vancouver, British Columbia. Pictured here, the Disney Wonder sails through Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord. (Kent Phillips, photographer)
Important Information:
Guests who have booked before October 31, 2020 have the ability to change their sail date up to 15 days prior to embarkation.
Guests scheduled to sail on or before May 31, 2021 may take advantage of this offer.
Guests who wish to change their sail date must move to a future sailing that commences prior to May 31, 2022. Standard prevailing rates will apply.
Guests cannot change their reservation back to the original sail date after taking advantage of this offer.
Should you cancel your new sail date, any cancellation fees applicable to the original sail date will be deferred and applied as a minimum cancellation fee to the future sailing.
Standard air cancellation fees apply for Guests who booked flights through Disney Cruise Line.
