Advertisement
Published: February 5th 2013
Edit Blog Post
This entry is all and about the joy of two children enjoying...being children! And with that, you can top it up with a verry happy Dad!
It was back more than 2 years ago...one day, Leslie was looking at National Geographic...and they had that show about those huge cruiseships....he came to me...Papa can we do one of those one day. Well, I'm not at all into big cruise ships...really not my thing. So if I had to do it, better do it right, better do it for them. At the time, Tiffany was not yet living with us. It didn't took long for Leslie to convince his sister about it...and when she heard Mickey had a boat..actually more than one! Trust me Tiffany became pretty excited too!
If there is a cruise you should go with children...and actually only if you have or are with children, it has to be a Disney cruise...but don't ask me to spend a full week on one of those. The good news is, they have these 3 days/3nights itineries out of Port Canaveral in Florida. That's a very long way from Bangkok, but it's way easier from Buenos Aires.
"Travel is not about the destination, it's about the journey". Well, this is it, the destination was really not the point on this trip...it was the boat...and the fun that would come with it...and let's be honest, for Dad...a nice anthropologic indepth dive into America middle class.
So before coming back to the ship itself...let's share a little about the destinations. We arrived in Port Canaveral at lunch time after a short drive from Orlando. Great souvenirs of the place, as it is from here that I enjoyed my zero gravity flight back in 2008...and that was another moment!
I can fly...I did fly... By 4pm, we were on our way to Nassau in the Bahamas, which we reached the next morning. I've been to Nassau, spent two nights there in the past, and can tell you, there is nothing about that city that I like. I knew about it, and had warned Tiffany and Leslie. But hey, we came here, let's at least see what there is too see. I didn't bother to show them the ageing Atlantis hotel. We made our way to visit the official buildings, the main street, but
most important, the Queen's Stairs and FinCastle. That was it, a good 2 hours walk around town and we were back to enjoy the ship for the day.
Our next day was spent at Castaway Island. Disney own their own island in the Bahamas...yeap...as crazy as it sounds. It must be something as a square mile. There is even an airstrip in the middle...and not much around....they are not going to grow up vegetables here...anywhere...anytime! The sand for the beaches is clearly imported, but they did a pretty nice "Disney" job. Clean and efficient would be the way to qualify it! Decide not to rent the bikes, and to explore on foot...Tiffany was not happy...walking...her...yes!
The sea was a little chilly...the beach crowded...we came back pretty fast to the boat...told you it was about the journey...or rather the mean of transportation!
Next morning, it was already time to queue again, this time to exist Disney Dream...to pick up our little convertible, and to drive South to Miami.
So now the cruiseship...and the people! Let me say, I was actually pretty impressed...it's clean, it's efficient...and it's...for the children! 500usd
a day get you a cabin with balcony for three of us...all the food you want...and the soft drinks you want...and even icecream...plus cinemas, shows, waterpark style ride, minigolf and kids club. I don't do "spas"...only had to pay for the tips and the drinks for Dad!
Our "verendah" cabin was pretty cool, and actually just 10% more expensive than an inside cabin. You got everything you would need in it...I would actually say...even space!
They have three pools on the ship...overcrowded except the one for "adult only"...we didn't spent much time in those. But they have also the first water slide at sea...and that was pretty cool and fun!
The best part for Tiffany must have been the kids club. Leslie was enjoying more of his free time roaming around with friends. Guess that's the joy of independance for "soon to be teenagers"...but he did enjoy Lincoln movie with Dad...which would have been way too boring for Tiffany...great movie by the way!
Each night there is a show at 6pm...ok, it's a Disney stuff...but it's really beautiful and impressive...I'm a child too!
We did
enjoy few games of minigolf on the way too...but one of the highlight must have been the firework at sea. Pretty cool and way better than the New Year Eve's one at Las Vegas!
The food was...well...available all the time...even complementary room service...but thanks no! I do understand why at least 50% of americans are overweight when you look at the way they deal with a freeflow of food options!
For breakfast we had the choice between three restaurants...lunch same thing, but with other places....on top of that they have a place with burgers, pizzas, the all lot open all day long....and icecreams too! Dinner time, you chose at booking if you want to eat at 5.45pm, or 8.15pm...guess that was an easy choice! They have three main restaurants...and you rotate to eat in each of them, with your waiters following you every night...interesting. The food was nice...nothing impressive, but nice...with a huge kids meals choice...for Tiffany...and Leslie enjoying all the adult options.
Evening times Leslie and Tiffany enjoyed running around the ship...while I was having my "me" time on the terrace and a good read with a glass of wine
(+the usual cigar)...or later on visiting one of the "adult only" bars....these guys at Disney do understand that kids will have fun, but it's important to keep the parents happy too.
The staff was from all around, with many from Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, South Africa, Australia and Eastern Europe...so actually pretty fun to chat with them all around. I would never work on one of these boats...but these guys do a great job! The guests were for at least 80% americans...and well, this is a family affair...let's not go to deep in my comments there...
Would I go back on a cruiseship...oh yes. I had a great one 13 years ago on the Club Med 2 in Turkey/Grece, so this was my second experience. I would probably not come back on a Disney cruise, it was fun..and great....but three days was perfect and more than enough. Cruises are clearly not diving liveaboards...so let's not mix the two. Would love to do again the Club Med 2...this time in the Caribbean...either romantic one or with my two teenagers. But one day, I really want to do the Queen Mary 2 in good company...and yes, it
will be only about the food...and dressing up properly...because on Disney Cruise..we didn't even attemps anything when it comes to dress code!
Next stop...South, sharing some great times with friends! Coming soon...
Advertisement
Tot: 0.094s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 13; qc: 29; dbt: 0.062s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.3mb
D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Wow, looks like you had a lot of fun
As you as.....a kid's dream.