Find out more why a Disney Cruise at Christmas time is the best vacation ever. From the entertainment, to the food and activities, to the stops in paradise, including Disney Castaway Cay, it’s easy to see why it’s so magical!
Disney + Christmas = Dream (literally)
Disney is amazing! From Disneyland to Walt Disney World and even to the Disney Cruise Line, they have been able to bring magic EVERYWHERE. If you’ve been to either park or on the cruise, I’m sure you could agree. We have been lucky enough to go on a few Disney cruises, but are most recent cruise was their Christmas version – Very Merrytime Cruise. We even did the trip without kids since it was over our wedding anniversary, and we had the BEST time! As you could imagine, Disney + Cruise + Christmas = a DREAM vacation (And that’s literal since we took the Disney Dream boat), LOL! You get to celebrate the holidays at sea all while enjoy the magic, food, and entertainment that comes with a Disney trip. All 4 ships – the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy – have cruises from different ports and to different destinations that they offer during the holidays. We sailed on the Disney Dream and ported in Nassau and at Disney Castaway Cay (their private island). We were in heaven as we cruised through The Bahamas and because we love Christmas so much, the magic was even more abundant!
Christmas-y Cruises
Each ship is decorated beautifully and transformed into an incredible Christmas Wonderland. There is a huge 24-foot Christmas tree that is absolutely gorgeous in the Lobby Atrium. On our boat, gingerbread filled the air. The reason? There was a full-size edible gingerbread house located in the lobby. This gingerbread house included 650 pounds of gingerbread, 3,850 gingerbread bricks, 1500 bricks on the roof and 220 pounds of icing. It was stunning!! The first night was Mickey’s Tree Lighting. This was such a fun night and set the mood for the rest of the cruise. Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy lead the guests in Christmas carols. They chose a family to light the tree which stayed on the whole cruise. The rest of the cruise was filled with so much Christmas fun, in addition to all the regular fun, like Pirate Night, entertainment, delicious food and dining and so much more!
Things to Know about Disney Cruises
If you haven’t been on a Disney Cruise before, we thought we’d share some of the basics to know about before booking one. You thought it was just a cruise? Not when it’s Disney! 😉 Here are a few things to know about before going on your Disney Cruise adventure. (For more info be sure to check out our Disney Cruise Tips + Tricks Post).
Tons of holiday Entertainment
Disney just knows how to entertain. They offered so many activities that appealed to everyone and all ages. For the Very Merrytime Cruises, they have a ton of onboard activities, including:
Mickey’s Tree Lighting Magic Ceremony – the best way to kickoff the holiday cruise. Mickey’s Winter Wonderland Ball – a celebration with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Disney characters and more! Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party – holiday games and dancing Meet-and-Greets – Meet Santa or some of your favorite Disney characters dresses in their holiday attire. Storytime with Mrs. Claus – Listen to Mrs. Claus as she reads from holiday classics by the Christmas tree. Holiday Activities and Crafts for Kids – Kids love the holiday crafts and activities done on the boat. Holiday Treats – Delicious and festive treats that add to the holiday fun. Holiday Merchandise – Holiday-themed Disney Cruise Line gifts that make perfect souvenirs.
Classic Entertainment
The Buena Vista Theatre – Offers movies all day long, often including holiday movies. *Broadway shows on the ship – When I say Broadway, that is truly what they are like. The shows are INCREDIBLE. So entertaining and magical for the entire family. They are shown in the Walt Disney Theatre. We saw Disney’s Believe,
Plus, on December 24 and 25, they have extra activities and treats, including:
Cookies on Christmas Eve Special holiday towel animals Caroling with the kids and crew
So much fun and entertainment can be found on the cruise, and we loved all of the activities centered around the holidays!
Christmas-y Castaway Cay
Not only can you find a winter wonderland on each ship, but also at Disney Castaway Cay – their private island! Not going to lie, but this was our first part of the cruise. The island is gorgeous, decked out for the holidays and a paradise for all who visit. Not only can you enjoy the beach, but you can choose from several different excursions as well. From parasailing to renting bikes, there are so many fun activities to do. One of our favorite things to do is snorkel. Not only will you see some amazing sea life like sting rays, turtles and fish – but Disney has some fun treasures found under the water (including a Mickey statue, Minnie statue, submarine and more). Last, but not least, don’t forget Serenity Bay – the adult only beach that was so beautiful and so serene!! We spent several hours there and loved hanging out with and meeting new friends at this gorgeous beach.
2019 Very Merrytime Disney Cruises
Don’t miss out on booking a Disney Cruise – there are so many trips to choose from, and all will combine the magic of Disney and Christmas making it INCREDIBLE! 3- to 4-Night Very Merrytime Disney Cruise – Sail from Port Canaveral (near Orlando, FL) – Cruise on the Disney Dream for a shorter vacation, including a stop at Disney Castaway Cay, their private island. 3-5-Night Very Merrytime Disney Cruise – Sail from Miami – Cruise on the Disney Magic to stops like Nassau, in The Bahamas and at Disney Castaway Cay. 5-Night Very Merrytime Disney Cruise – Sail from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Miami, Florida – Cruise on the Disney Magic with visits to Basseterre, St. Kitts, Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Disney Castaway Cay. 7-Night Very Merrytime Disney Cruise – Sail from Port Canaveral (near Orlando, Florida) – Cruise on the Disney Fantasy with visits to several tropical ports including Disney Castaway Cay. Very Merrytime Disney Cruise – Sail from Texas – Cruise on the Disney Wonder to The Bahamas and Caribbean with select voyages to tropical ports of call including Key West, Cozumel and Disney Castaway Cay. Very Merrytime Disney Cruise – Sail from New York – Cruise from the Disney Magic for Sail from New York on the Disney Magic for Bahamian cruises and head to tropical beaches in the Caribbean or to Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Castaway Cay. 14-Night Very Merrytime Disney Cruise – Sail from San Diego – This holiday on the high seas takes you aboard the Disney Wonder to bustling Mexican ports, through the Panama Canal, to Colombia and Grand Cayman before docking in the Lone Star State.
SAIL DATES FOR 2019:
Disney Magic – November 10, 2019 – December 21, 2019 Disney Wonder – November 8, 2019 – December 20, 2019 Disney Dream – November 8, 2019 – December 23, 2019 Disney Fantasy – November 9, 2019 – December 21, 2019
How to Book a Disney Cruise
The easiest way to look at all itineraries is to book online or you can call (800) 370-8046. We had the best experience on our holiday cruise and have already discussed doing another one. In fact, we love the idea of spending Christmas Day on a Disney cruise with a little pixie dust (and this time with the whole crew!) We’ve tried to get our kids away from focusing so much on presents and think planning a family vacation instead is even better. Whether you’ve got the whole crew, just the two of you or even friends, we guarantee you’ll have a magic-filled experience sailing on a Disney Cruise during the happiest season of all.
For more Disney info, check out:
Our TOP Walt Disney World Tips Best Food at Disney World Disney Countdown Printable Ultimate Walt Disney World Packing List
