From left: FAMILY CRUISES
Queen Victoria Memorial and Belfast City Hall; Titanic Belfast
Sailing with
From the moment we pass through the Mickey-shaped portal on to Disney Dream, it’s obvious that this is a cruise unlike any other. Each family is welcomed by name and applauded on board, while Mickey and Minnie are on hand to wave hello. There are toddlers in princess dresses wide-eyed with excitement and entire families wearing matching Mickey ears, while the ship’s horn signals our departure by blasting the first seven notes of When You Wish Upon A Star. It’s my 13-year-old daughter’s first
cruise and I’d been concerned the ship might be better suited to pre- schoolers. But it turns out no one can resist good old Disney magic. Though Disney sails everywhere from the Mediterranean to Alaska, cruises departing Cape Canaveral attract families of all ages extending holidays in nearby Walt Disney World Resort. Our three-night cruise from Florida to the Bahamas is the ideal length to give kids a taster of life on board without committing to a full week.
38 May 2022
Disney
Watercoasters, character meets and firework displays are all part of what makes Disney Dream the ultimate family cruise, says Siobhan Grogan
We could have happily stayed
longer, though. There are spacious family staterooms, most with a private veranda, while 24-hour room service and non-stop Disney films on TV are perfect for younger kids needing downtime. And I’ll admit, we both loved summoning a plate of chocolate-chip cookies whenever we fancied a sugar-fuelled snack.
A VIBRANT CITY The whole ship is a family-friendly paradise. There’s a mini-golf course and basketball courts, a toddler splash zone, an eye-boggling sweet shop and a poolside big screen showing Disney films all day – with essential soft-serve ice cream on tap. My daughter particularly loved the watercoaster on the top deck and the non-stop evening entertainment, which included Disney dance parties and mesmerising West End-standard shows such as Beauty and the Beast in the ship’s theatre. Disney is also the only line to offer fireworks at sea and watching a
spectacular display together one evening was hands down my highlight. Elsewhere, there’s almost an entire
deck dedicated to children’s activities. This includes a teen hangout and possibly the world’s best kids’ club, where under-12s can pilot a Millennium Falcon and enjoy story time with princesses. There are also regular opportunities to snap photos with Disney characters, without the queues you get in the theme parks. Yet it’s the attention to detail that
makes a Disney Cruise great for families. From a heart drawn in ketchup on my daughter’s plate to the Mickey-shaped waffles, every aspect is designed to delight and guarantee memories that will last a lifetime.
Book it: A five-night Caribbean cruise on Disney Dream, departing from Miami, costs from £694, available in the 2022 school holidays. Disney Dreamis coming to Europe in summer 2023. A four-night sailing costs from £851, departing from Southampton.
disneytravelagents.co.uk
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise
PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK/LEONID ANDRONOV, LMSPENCER PICTURES: STEVEN DIAZ; JIMMY DEFLIPPO
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