Onboard Review: A Marvel-ous Cruise on Disney Dream

SPIDERMANA Marvel-ous Cruise on Disney DreamBy Cheryl RosenOkay, I’ll admit it: Some days I feel like I’m just too old for Disney—and I was feeling that way when I woke up the first morning of my Disney Dream cruise. On the very first day on board I had dined with the fish in Animator’s Palate, watched “Ant-Man and the Wasp” in the Walt Disney Theater, relived the great music and scenes from Disney movies of my childhood at “The Golden Mickeys” show, and stayed up past midnight watching Cruella de Ville on the giant outdoor screen on the pool deck. And it was all a lot of fun. Walt’s talent was amazing. The service was great. Even the weather was perfect. But as I showered to get ready for Day 2, with four days to go, I was thinking that might be enough Disney for me. Then bibbity-bobbity-boo I got sprinkled with pixie dust and transported to a vacation unlike any other—dressed like a pirate one minute and serenely calm on a hot bed in the ship’s spa the next. So here’s my takeaway from my first-ever Disney cruise: Like a Disney theme park, the Disney Dream offers something for everyone—and you get out what you put in. A couple of days playing around with Goofy and the Pirates of the Caribbean brings out the kid in all of us when it’s mixed with quiet adults-only spaces, beautiful beaches, fine dining and impeccable customer service. Throw in a Marvel Day at Sea—with a nostalgic USO show that reminded us of Captain America’s birth during World War II, and even menus designed as comic books—and it was an out-of-the-ordinary and memorable cruise.HEROESMarvel Day at SeaI’ll start with what surprised me most. I had envisioned Marvel Day at Sea as something for the older kids who had outgrown Mickey and Minnie. And, of course, it’s that, but it’s also a fun way to fill up 24 hours at sea when traveling with little ones. Toddler-sized superheroes roamed the decks all day, chasing each other around the lobby and down the decks, capes flapping in the wind. I found it fun, too. I’ve sailed more than a score of cruises, and while I do love just sitting and watching the sea, it was nice to have something different (and, yes, Instagrammable) to do throughout the day. And on a crowded ship, sailing at capacity with lots of extra little bodies in each cabin, it’s also a smart way to draw the crowds away from the packed swimming pools. As one might expect from Disney, the “day” is an action-packed 12 hours or more of activities and characters. We started right after breakfast, at 8:30 a.m., with our first Heroic Encounter for photos (to be followed by others throughout the day); moved on to the theater to brush up on Marvel history and characters; and watched the live Wakanda musical show in the atrium, the new Ant-Man movie, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” and the live theater show, “Strange Academy.” We also caught a few more individual encounters, including the big one, with all the characters, in the atrium, and came back to our room after dinner to find superheroes hanging everywhere (a press trip touch, not for every guest). Also on the menu is a USO show honoring WW II hero Captain America with music and dancing from the ‘40s, and two outdoor shows on deck, one with the Disney characters honoring the superheroes and one with 30 Marvel heroes and villains, the largest collection ever on land or sea. The packed day is topped off with nighttime fireworks over the Caribbean sky. In short, we loved the addition of Marvel Day at Sea to the itinerary. DANCERSGrown-Up AdventuresWhen we wanted to find our Zen, we headed for the adults-only spaces. The adults-only area on deck 12 remains crowded all day and into the evening, so recommend clients head up to decks 13 and 14 where they’ll find more poolside options with plenty of empty chaise lounges. We also took advantage of the spa special that entitles passengers to unlimited visits throughout the cruise. Afternoons are the best for this as that’s when passengers are more apt to find an empty hot bed and even an empty hot tub, in addition to the sauna and steam rooms. There are two upscale adults-only restaurants, Palo, serving modern Italian cuisine, and French-inspired Remy, available a la carte. We had a wonderful experience in Palo, where every morsel is superb—from the fried gnocchi amuse-bouche to the most delicious plate of the cruise, the butternut squash agnolotti with brown butter, to the perfectly prepared steak and fish—and the service is friendly and attentive. When it comes to entertainment, all three stage shows on Disney Dream—”Beauty and the Beast,” “Disney’s Believe” and “The Golden Mickeys,” a Hollywood-style awards show celebrating the Disney heritage of great animated films—are Broadway-worthy. The adults-only area of the ship, meanwhile, hosts evening events, from mixology classes to champagne and bourbon tastings. Perhaps the best adult adventures are on land, though. Ride the bus to the second stop on Castaway Cay, where adults-only Serenity Bay offers tranquility and a bar with a view. Passengers can sign up for yoga or massages, or rent a cabana for even more privacy—or just grab an umbrella and soak up the sun for free. (For an added bonus, we shared the long stretch of very low water with a sting ray and a starfish.) Recommend clients sign up for the excursion to Playa Mia in Cozumel, where the number of children is low and the sun is high.RESTAURANTKids RuleParents seeking some alone time will be happy to know that Disney Dream offers a handful of huge and fun-packed children’s clubs: Disney’s Oceaneer Club, Oceaneer Lab, Edge, Vibe and the It’s a Small World nursery. Designed to enthrall children of all ages and interests, it has Star Wars and Toy Story rooms, dress-up opportunities, storytelling and, of course, Mickey & Minnie. Here, kids can steer a ship across the Caribbean, fight villains with The Avengers or bake cookies in the Ratatouille kitchen. Set ExpectationsOne note to set expectations: Tell clients to pack their patience. Sailing as we did on the next-to-last Marvel Day at Sea of the 2023 season, and during Canada’s winter break, meant our ship was packed. They need to understand that they will have to wait in line for autographs; be patient at mealtime; and get on line or on deck early if they want a good seat for the shows. Marvel Day at Sea will be offered on 10 five-night Caribbean sailings from Port Everglades from Jan. 7 to March 8, 2024. Contact InformationDisney Cruise Line: disneytravelagents.com

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