Travel the World

Disney offers two great cruise vacation options for families who want a holiday that will allow them some relaxation time as well as be great fun for the kids.  These are aboard the cruise liners “Disney Magic” and “Disney Wonder”.  Decked out in Mickey Mouse colors, and with a horn that plays “When you wish upon a star” these two cruise ships are each given high ratings by Berlitz (2008 edition) in every category except food and service which only rate in the average category.  However as accommodation, entertainment and overall cruise value score high, then the somewhat less than spectacular cuisine is probably something you can overlook.

One of the things that usually creates stress on parents traveling with younger children is the embarkation/disembarkation procedures where long waits are standard on most cruises.  Disney seems to have this one in the bag however with entertainment and well thought out décor to keep even the youngest cruiser happy to wait in line.  Security for kids is also a key point on the Disney cruise ships with special ID bracelets for the kids to wear and pagers for the parents to carry. 

Cabins are divided up over 6 decks and are more practical than fancy.  The price of your cruise will depend upon which of the 12 categories of cabin you choose.  Despite the fact that both ships have a total of 875 cabins, only 12 of these are accessible to wheelchair users so if you, or your child, uses a wheelchair then you might have to fit your dates around availability on these rooms.

Entertainment is great, especially for kids – and those who like Disney.  If you don’t like Disney however, this is not a cruise for you because once on board, there is no escape from that famous mouse and his friends! 

So where do these floating theme parks travel?  Well Disney Magic has 7-day cruises around the Eastern Caribbean, and from summer 2008 will start cruises in the Mexican Riviera from LA (also a 7-day cruise).   For those who want a shorter cruise experience, perhaps in conjunction with a stay at a Walt Disney World resort (transfer from WDW to the cruise liners are available), Disney Wonder offers 3-day and 4-day cruises with the Bahamas as their destination. 

If you’re planning a vacation, especially one with younger children, then a Disney cruise could be just the thing.