| Disney Cruises Are Coming to California |
By: By Wendy Irvine
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I was never much of a believer. Sure, as a kid Disneyland delivered good times, but happily so did Hawaii, skiing and Grandma. I can’t ever remember harboring princess fantasies, but I do remember aching to marry David Cassidy.
So when the opportunity arose to hop a Disney ship, I was more excited about seeing the vastness of the ocean, and what I’d heard was a to-die-for chocolate buffet, than I was to see Mickey, Hook and friends.
Of course, I knew Disney-aholics existed, but I always cut them a wide berth.
So it’s safe to say that I boarded Disney’s Magic ship (their second ship is the Wonder) with my husband and four-year-old sons, neutral to the Disney phenomenon that’s entranced four generations of children.
Much later when friends would ask about the cruise, I would stammer, “Um. Well. See. It was really hard to come back.” Doesn’t exactly sum up the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious-experience we had.
How do you describe one of the best times you’ve had in your entire life?
Disney-style, let me give you my best shot: for the entire week, not one single “mom” duty to perform, a ship bursting with fabulous entertainment for everyone, food to delight even the fussiest, sterling daycare/play areas for the kids that open from dawn until deep into the night and adult spots like a fabulous work out room and spa. I ask you: what’s left to handle? There’s not a thing except soaking up uninterrupted time enjoying, and loving, my family. Which was absolutely the most magical part of all: my children, husband and I became even more connected because of our seven days on the Disney Magic.
Each evening, in our cabin, we’d find our dearest must-read: an indispensable “Navigator” that explained TV-guide style about the vast array of activities on board.
As if the billion of on board activities aren’t enough, Disney also offers a miles-long list of excursions to choose from when the ship stops at a port of call. For weeks before we sailed, my husband and I played hard ball negotiating with each other. He’d say, “I’ll give you the snorkeling, if I can have the biking adventure. Deal?” I’d counter, “Sure, as long as you throw in a spa visit.”
We delighted in seeing our boys marvel at the Broadway-style shows where Disney characters come to life keeping my boys on the edge of their seats, mouths hanging open. Disney produces a different production every evening (matinées available too) with Tinkerbell wrapping up the last show by sprinkling pixie dust throughout the theater bringing gasps and applause from the audience.
The daycare/play areas are created as only Disney could envision:
• A nursery for infants three months to children three years of age—the cruise industry’s first nursery at sea.
• A space for the two-to-four-year-old crowd where Peter Pan, Wendy, Mickey and others show up to perform and play games with the kids. The looks on my boys’ faces when Wendy stepped from the stage into the audience of children and began playing hide-and-seek: priceless. I happened to be there for Wendy’s performance, but I didn’t need to be. All parents are issued beepers at the beginning of the cruise that correlate to a code on a child’s arm band. Staff promise to page if any problems arise. What a service! Again: priceless.
• For eight to twelve year olds there’s an enormous area that includes a kitchen that could have been designed by Martha herself where staff give cooking lessons, computer stations, video games, toys galore, activities hosted by the staff and much more.
• But, it’s the teenagers (13 to 17 yrs.) who likely scored the finest. High up on Deck 11, they get all the privacy they can handle with Disney staffers subtly watching their every move. They can party with every amenity a young adult can imagine: dances, pool parties, excursions, a chill out space with couches, music and you get the picture. I’m not sure who seemed more delighted, the teenagers or the parents of the teenagers.
Somewhere somebody in corporate is thinking because the mommies and the daddies were included-galore too. There’s a spacious fitness room has everything the seasoned athlete would want including the best view on the ship, a resplendent spa with every service you’d expect to find on land, a salon, an adult pool and an upscale coffee hang-out, all awaiting parents seeking private time.
And Palo’s, the adults-only restaurant reigning from Deck 10, pairs an elegant menu with the same stunning view. Late night adult fun is ample too: a karakoe bar, a sports bar and a cigar bar. Many have their own food buffets and are upscale, cozy places to hang even if you’re not particularly into, say, sports.
Speaking of food, the restaurants are culinary treasures staffed by the best.
A shout out to Svet and Hibash, our two fabulous servers who were crazy-excellent. (These guys could give the White House servers a point or two.) Guests rotate to a different restaurant each evening and the servers rotate with the guests. Svet and Hibash—clearly trained to pamper and entertain kids—had my picky son’s fruit dish awaiting his arrival each evening. When we asked for peanut butter and saltines, Svet blinked for about half of an elegant second and then took off in search of peanut butter. I wanted to take Svet and Hibash home with me; leaving was such sweet sorrow.
Eating experiences also include night time restaurants that are open for breakfast and lunch, and Pinocchio’s Pizza and an ice cream bar that practically never closed. Room service is available around the clock too. Apparently, nobody is going hungry on Disney’s watch.
Under the “one less thing to think about” category is tipping. Unlike typical vacations, guests aren’t tipping every other minute on a Disney ship. Parents will love that tips are distributed in little envelopes at the end of the cruise for cabin and wait staff.
About a day before we disembarked, I escorted my kids to tea with Alice in Wonderland (some voyages host a tea with Wendy) and I glanced over just as Cinderella, Snow White and Ariel made a sweeping grand entrance from the second floor to the ship’s gorgeous lobby beneath.
“Look!” I shouted. “The princesses are coming down the staircase!”
Fumbling for my camera, chills flying up my arm, I realized: uh oh, they got me. I’d finally become a believer.
Now when friends ask about the cruise, I frown, hunting for words and finally settle on, “Put it this way: I don’t want to marry David Cassidy anymore, but I do want to be a princess.”
And for one week, with my family by my side, this mommy was.
Want the Disney Cruise experience without having to fly to Florida? For three spectacular months in 2008, Disney is sailing out of Los Angeles.
From May 25th to August 10th, Disney is offering 7-day cruises to the Mexican Riviera or longer 15-day repositioning cruises through the Panama Canal.
Rates start at $1449 for adults and $999 for children (only $189 for kids under 3!). Cruises fill up fast, so visit www.disneycruise.com to discover Magic today!
Psst! Recent changes to passport requirements may leave you scrambling! Visit travel.state.gov to make sure your family can travel the seas without hassle. The good news: a new Passport Card is now available for land and sea travel between the U.S., Canada & Mexico. Applicants without a previous passport can pay just $45 for adult cards and $35 for children. Those needing to renew their passports can pay $20.
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