A Surprisingly Fun Thing I'll Do Again and Again

Why a Disney cruise wins over the people most sure they'd hate one.

One of Mickey's ears was looking a little misshapen as I quickly adjusted my sketch and caught back up with the group. I was attending an Animation Class on the Disney Dream, an activity that should be unappealing by all practical measures, but I was somehow enjoying immensely. I took a peek over at the rest of my family's drawings to see if they were as bad as mine. Apparently, it's hereditary.

Not the worst Mickey, if you squint a little.

There are thousands of videos on YouTube that will teach you to draw Mickey Mouse. I've never considered watching any of them, let alone gathering my family together so we can each create a Mickey that looks like he had a rough night. And yet, this not-seemingly-special activity is my go-to answer when people ask What do you actually do on a Disney cruise?

Animation Class is my favorite example because it's something you could do at home, but you don't. The ship provides the distance and freedom from all the distractions of day to day life and literally gives you a menu of options for how to spend your time. For your family, the activity of choice might be spending time at the pool, playing mini golf, or going to a silent disco. The key component is that there's nothing keeping you from spending time together.

Family Dinner, Elevated

Since everyone in my family has their individual preferences, age appropriate activities, and friends they met yesterday at the kids' club (or the bar), we tend not to spend all day every day together. We do, however, commit to meeting up at dinner. Disney has "rotational dining", so each night you're having a different dining experience with the same wait staff who knows your preferences (and allergies). We use this as our dependable family time no matter what.

Our kids learned to be more adventurous eaters on Disney cruises. They refined their restaurant manners on Disney cruises. One of them, completely out of character, put on a pirate hat and danced in a conga line on a Disney cruise (the other rolled his eyes and covered his ears).

Everybody's in the Same Boat

There's an implicit kinship with other cruise goers, who are most likely also in desperate need of a vacation, most likely also have kids, and most likely also couldn't figure out what that one thing at the buffet was. I don't know why I don't see this as much on other cruise lines, but on Disney Cruise Line, you'll regularly see dads helping kids who aren't theirs grab a cookie that's just out of reach. You'll see moms talking about what beach books they're reading. You'll see kids who instantly become friends because they both happened to run up to Goofy at the same time.

Our first time on the Disney Wish, we saw a kid having an epic tantrum on debarkation day (Probably didn't want to end the vacation. Can't blame him.) I sent one of my kids over with one of our custom made cruise ship lego sets to cheer him up and he stopped crying immediately. Disney Cruise Line enthusiasts call this random giving of gifts "pixie dusting", although I find the term distasteful because it's the same term I use for farting in the long hallway on Deck 7. Regardless, it's quintessential Disney Cruise Line.

We're all here receiving and making magic together.

Abundance Without Upcharges

People often say that they don't want to go on a cruise because they don't want to feel "trapped". This is entirely justified. On many other cruise lines, you step on that ship and you are now a mark ready to be upsold drink packages, dubious watches, art at auction that you can't really price check because the wifi is suspiciously down that night, etc.

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. Included on the Disney Wish.

On Disney Cruise Line, there are things you can pay extra for, but you will have a wonderful and complete experience without them. And you won't be pressured to buy anything. On DCL, soft drinks are included. Pool side soft serve is included. Shows are included and reservations are not required. Meals at the themed rotational dining restaurants are included. Newly released movies are included. In fact, I'm one of the few people who enjoyed the most recent Indiana Jones movie precisely because I saw it in the beautiful Walt Disney Theater aboard the Disney Dream and didn't pay anything extra.

Sure, you can go spendy on DCL. The restaurants you pay extra for are wonderful I hear. The spa has a rainforest room that sounds relaxing and rainforesty. You can get cocktails and your kids can get specialty drinks and that'll cost a little. But we rarely do any of these things because everything that's included is so good.

Off-Ship Made Easy. On-Ship Made Quiet.

One of the top selling points for cruising in general is the idea of unpacking once and seeing a variety of places. That's certainly true on Disney Cruise Line, where itineraries can take you to Europe, The Caribbean, Alaska, and more. You can be fairly certain that any Port Adventure booked through Disney is going to be organized and high quality. You're also guaranteed to make it back to the ship on time, reducing anxiety.

Worth noting, though: Many of our best days have been port days where we didn't get off the ship. The docked ship has a very different vibe when most of the passengers are at port. Activities continue to run on the ship and you can enjoy a leisurely sit-down lunch where you may be the only family in the whole restaurant. Particularly when we visit a port we've been to before, we love staying on board and feeling like we have the whole ship to ourselves.

Kids Learn Independence

If you're doing it right, your kids will go to Deck 12 and bring you Mickey churros and coffee in the morning.

The contained nature of the ship, the "we're all one big family" vibe, and the vast array of areas to explore combine to form a safe place for kids to roam in the "free range" way we all said we'd raise our kids before we got too scared to do so.

Our kids made significant steps towards independence and maturity on Disney Cruises when they realized they could go get pizza up on the pool deck between meals. They picked up some social skills when we told them they could do as much screen time as they wanted on the cruise as long as it was in the kids club.

It really doesn't take long before kids see the ship as their world to explore. We've always felt comfortable telling them they can go off on their own adventures because we had the cabin as our home base and dinner as our standing appointment.

Shouldn't Be Fun. Definitely Is.

It's funny how something that on paper shouldn't be fun builds lifelong memories. For those who are still a bit skeptical, or worried about sea sickness (understandable concern, but pretty rare on a modern cruise ship), I often recommend a "trial" cruise. Go for a three-night cruise to one of Disney's private islands. You'll get a taste of what a Disney cruise is like, you'll get to experience all the dining options, and you'll visit a unique Disney-only destination. It's surprisingly affordable! As of this writing, a three-night cruise to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point from Fort Lauderdale starts at only $724 per person for a family of four!

I'm a travel agent who specializes in Disney and Universal, with a particular affinity for first time cruisers. Drop me a line, tell me what questions or preferences you have, and you'll be sending me a text with your Mickey Mouse rendering before you know it.