We’re continuing our daily overview of the fun, family time and frolicking in the sun to be had on a Disney Cruise - using the Bryan Family’s recent seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy as an example. Last week, we provided tips on embarkation day - how and when to arrive to port, what to carry on with you, and how to kick start the vacation merriment. Today, we’re examining the beauty that is … your first day at sea.
A day at sea is one of the most glorious days of any cruise vacation. It literally means your day is spent on the ship sailing from one port to another destination. You don’t have to wake up early and rally family members from their sweet slumbers to get off the ship at a pre-determined time for an excursion. YOU CAN SLEEP IN! Or you can wake up early to watch the sun rise with a cup of coffee and enjoy the silence on your veranda. Fitness freaks who work out on vacation can burn calories at the fitness center on a treadmill overlooking the expanse of the ocean. Your options are endless, but they all include your personal definition of relaxation. AHHHHH….
Starting off the day with calm waters, silence all around and coffee on the veranda with this amazing view
However you choose to start your day, breakfast should be part of your morning hour activities. Although one of the main dinner restaurants is open for breakfast, we always opt for Cabanas, the casual buffet-style restaurant on each of the Disney ships. It features a bountiful selection of fresh tropical fruit, oatmeal with raisins, brown sugar and other toppings, as well as yogurt and granola, eggs, bacon and sausage. If you’re not counting carbs, there’s also an assortment of donuts, pastries, muffins and of course, everyone’s favorite breakfast item, Mickey waffles.
Coffee connoisseurs take note - Cabanas and the drink stations on the pool deck serve Joffrey’s Coffee. I drink coffee every morning as part of my regular routine, and I found the complimentary coffee on the cruise to be just what I needed to get my day going. Is it amazingly fantastic? No, but it does the caffeine trick. If you are super picky, you can purchase specialty coffee drinks at Cove Café - an adults-only lounge, or at the Vista Café on Deck 4. You’ll receive a redemption card where you’ll get a free coffee after five purchases.
So you’re fueled up for the day with food and coffee. What next? Take a look in the shops. On sea days, they are open longer than on port days when the shops open in the evening. Save some room in your luggage because you didn’t know that you needed all the Disney Cruise Line branded t-shirts, coffee mugs and drink tumblers or the latest Disney movie merchandise!
Captain Marvel merchandise on the Disney Fantasy - the movie was screening on the ship (another great sea day activity)
If you have a plan to work on your tan, you may want to skip the shopping and head straight for the outdoor decks. You can watch a Disney movie on Funnel Vision by the family-friendly pool, while your kiddos swim or ride the water slides - the highlight of the Fantasy being the AquaDuck. Keep in mind that when everyone is on ship, the queue for the AquaDuck can reach up to 60 minutes - if not longer. If your children are old enough to take care of themselves, you may want to move onto the Quiet Cove Pool, an adults-only outdoor section where it’s a bit more, shall we say, serene.
Swim up to the Quiet Cove for some peace, quiet and adult libations.
After some shopping, movie-watching, riding the AquaDuck with my son who isn’t tall enough to ride it himself, and chillin’ in the adults pool area, it was time to head back to the stateroom and change for brunch at Palo. Palo is one of two adults-only restaurants on the Fantasy, which features Northern Italian cuisine with a modern twist. Palo is open for brunch and dinner; we choose brunch to avoid conflicts with our main dining and to experience the restaurant at a lower price point. We’ll post another blog post covering details of eating at Palo and Remy, the second adults-only dining experience on the Fantasy, but for now, we’ll share that the additional cost is totally worth it. The brunch took about 90 minutes, and our kids didn’t miss us for one of those minutes. We enjoyed impeccable service; a complimentary glass of champagne and a mimosa; an incredible buffet of Italian meats and cheeses, seafood including savory and salty caviar; a sumptuous spread of desserts; AND an entrée from the full menu. Needless to say, we were stuffed. Time for some more napping, I mean lounging, on the pool deck….
A sampling of sumptuous desserts offered at Palo - the chilled, champagne-soaked berries were a simple yet outrageously delicious way to end the special dining experience
With second seating for dining at 8:15 pm, we could take our time getting ready for night-time activities. On day two of our cruise, dinner was themed “Formal Night.” Disney does not enforce the dress code, so feel free to dine in casual cruise wear or step it up with a cocktail dress. Most people were wearing casual-dressy attire, if that makes any sense whatsoever. It’s your vacation, so wear what you want!
My in-laws striking a pose before Formal Night dinner - looking dapper and dashing
Formal Night coincided with the Captain’s Reception on the atrium. Guests had the chance to meet and take photos with the officers of the ship with live music playing in the background. Bonus - free tropical drinks were offered. Before dinner, we watched the musical theatre show, “Disney’s Wishes” which chronicles a pre-graduation night of three teens before they head on their separate paths. It was well-done with incredible dancing and singing.
The restaurant for our Formal Night rotated to Royal Court, and this was our family’s favorite restaurant of the three. Royal Court features American and French cuisine with diners surrounded by portraits of beloved Disney princesses and special touches like lighting fixtures modeled after Cinderella’s coach. Everyone enjoyed the food, as well. How can you go wrong with escargot for an appetizer, lamb for an entrée and apple tart tartine for dessert?
A Whole New World dining under this lovely portrait of Jasmine and Aladdin at Royal Court
After dinner, our family went our separate ways. The teen hit the basketball court; the tween played some mean games of four square at the Oceaneer Club; and the adults checked out Europa, the adults-only, night-time entertainment district which transports guests to the hip, cosmopolitan hot spots of Europe. We first stopped at The Tube via the “London Underground” and watched a ventriloquist who was hilarious. The Disney Cruise Line entertainment staff hosted a TV show trivia game prior to the show. They really do a great job engaging and entertaining guests. As it was St. Patrick’s Day, we ended the night with a Black and Tan at O’Gills Pub.
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at O’Gills Pub on the Disney Fantasy
Whew, what a great day! Time to get to bed for our first day at port, Cozumel.