Disney Magic Cruise Ship

Photo Courtesy of flickrized

It is Disney of course! Disney is known for their exceptionally high standards of service and attention to detail. They know how to make sure everyone has fun! Not just for kids, a Disney cruise has also made sure there is plenty for the grown ups too. Disney has cleverly designed her ships to appeal to all ages with activities which each age group can enjoy together, whilst providing chances for time apart too with excellent kids programs and activities and exclusive areas for the adults.

Disney cruise line has 2 ships. Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. Both are identical in basic design but differ in decor. The cruise ships are 964 ft and carry 2,400 passengers. Each ship has 877 cabins. 252 inside and 625 outside. Staterooms are known as some of the largest in the cruise industry at 25% larger than standard in their class. A Disney cruise ship Deluxe Stateroom with Balcony is 268 square feet.

There are 12 categories to choose from ranging from a Category 1 Royal Suite to a Category 12 Inside Stateroom. All staterooms sleep at least 3 guests. Disney also has Family Staterooms which sleep up to 5 people. This is always a popular choice so if you want one of these cabins is it wise to book early.

I think this picture is a lot of fun as it actually shows you how the ship is laid out. The Disney Magic is a pretty easy ship to navigate around - once you have got lost a couple of times!

Photo Courtesy of gator-chris

Each day you will get a schedule of activities - your Personal Navigator. There are so many things to do you will probably not know where to start! Of course you can join in as many activities as you want to - most are free.

Disney is of course known for it's spectacular entertainment and you will be treated to some excellent shows aboard the Magic. Each night there are excellent live shows in the Walt Disney Theater. The shows do vary with each itinerary but usually you will see Golden Mickey's,Disney Dreams and Twice Charmed, the Welcome Aboard Variety Show, and the Farewell Variety Show. As you would expect, these stage shows are the very best at sea.

The Beuna Vista Movie Theater shows first run and recent Disney movies. Or you can watch the giant screen outdoors on Decks 9 and 10. There are also free Disney movies on your TV channels in staterooms.

For those who want to relax the Disney Magic has a full service spa. Or work off that Disney dining overindulgence in the fitness room.

There are many tours and seminars to choose from - many of which are free. One very popular one is the Behind the Scenes tours and Disney's Art of Entertaining.

Photo Courtesy of gator-chris

The Disney Magic has so much to offer for the younger members of the family. The Oceaneers Club is one of the best kids programs at sea and the Disney Magic devotes 15,000 square feet to kids activities. Programs run all day - usually from around 9am to midnight but sometimes this can be extended.

The Oceaneers Club is open to kids aged 3 to 12. There is a separate Teens Only Club which is located in The Stack (that's the second funnel you see on the top of the ship at Deck 11)

Unusually for a cruise line Disney also takes care of the under 3 age group. The Flounder's Reef is for children aged between 6 weeks and 3 years old, or older if not yet toilet trained and therefore unable to go to Oceaneers. Flounders Nursery only has limited hours and is charged at $6 an hour. You can book up to a total of 10 hours - it is very popular so reserve in advance of boarding your cruise if you can.

Photo Courtesy of sanctumsolitude

Dining is a very important part of any cruise and of course Disney has this down to a fine art. They introduced the unique concept of Rotational Dining. Each night you move to a different restaurant but your wait staff move with you.

The rotational dining restaurants on the Disney Magic are Lumiere's, Animators Palate and Parrot Cay. The picture above is of Animator's Palate - a true example of Disney's innovative style. When you arrive at the restaurant everything is black and white (including the waiter's uniform) but slowly as the evening goes on the whole restaurant decor turns to brilliant color.

The adult's only fine dining restaurant is Palo. You do need to make reservations in advance and there is a cover charge - but it is well worth it for the excellent food and service.

Of course this is a cruise so there are 24 hour dining options including room service, buffets, and pizza.

All food is included in your cruise price - except Palo. Disney cruise lines is also pretty generous with the free beverages which include brand name sodas, coffee, hot tea,hot chocolate, milk, iced tea and fruit punch available at meals and at the Beverage Station on Deck 9. You will pay for soft drinks at the bar and on room service - but the solution is to talk to Deck 9 and get it for free. Of course alcoholic drinks are extra. You can bring bottles of wine onto the ship but if you want to drink it in the restaurant then there is a $17.25 corkage charge

Photo Courtesy of gator-chris

One of the most popular features of a Disney cruise is the port stop of Castaway Cay - Disney's very own private paradise island. Imagine white sandy beaches, beautiful weather and the choice of whether to while the day away relaxing or enjoying one of the many activities on offer.

In keeping with the Disney cruise tradition of having something for every age group there are several different areas for each age group. The very popular family beach is for everyone to enjoy. But if the adults want to get away from it all they have their own beach at Serenity Bay. If you want someone to look after the kids then they can be with the Oceaneer's Club. There is even a Teen Beach.

There are so many things to do you will be spoiled for choice - unless of course you just want to relax on the beach and soak up the sun. You could rent a boat, go snorkeling, go banana boat riding, parasailing, or go on the Stingray Adventure. You are sure to find something fun to do.

Photo Courtesy of flickrized

Disney Magic has a number of different itineraries to choose from in 2010. For much of the year the Magic will be sailing out of Port Canaveral on 7 night Bahamas and Caribbean cruises. But in the summer she will sail to Europe. There are sailings from Barcelona to the Mediterranean and then she moves to Dover England for Northern European itineraries. So you are a little spoiled for choice!

Disney Magic sails from Port Canaveral on April 10th to Barcelona with port stops at

Castaway Cay
Madeira, Portugal
Cadiz, Spain
Gibraltar, UK
Barcelona, Spain

Disney Magic will then sail 10 night cruises out of Barcelona on May 5th, May 26th, August 18th and September 18th. The ports of call are:

Valletta Malta
Naples Italy (Pompeii)
Civitavecchia Italy (Rome)
La Spezia Italy (Florence, Pisa)
Ajaccio Corsica
Villefranche France (Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice)
Return to Barcelona

The Magic will alternate these cruises with 11 night itineraries out of Barcelona. The difference is an additional port stop in Tunis. Sailing dates are April 24th, May 15th, August 7th and 28th. The port stops are:

Valletta Malta
Tunisia Tunis
Naples Italy (Pompeii)
Civitavecchia Italy (Rome)
La Spezia Italy (Florence, Pisa)
Ajaccio Corsica
Villefranche France (Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice)
Barcelona Spain

There are 4 Northern European sailings for the Disney Magic which depart from Dover on June 6th and 24th and July 6th and 18th. The ports of call are

Oslo Norway
Copenhagen Denmark
Warnemunde Germany (Berlin)
St. Petersburg Russia
Tallinn Estonia
Stockholm Sweden
Return to Dover England

As Disney Magic is moving home port several times in 2010 there are plenty of chances to book a repositioning cruise. This is a great chance to get a good deal on a Disney cruise as these sailings are usually priced at a lower rate.

Kids 17 and under sail FREE on most 10- and 11-night Mediterranean sailings 4/24/10-5/26/10, when traveling with two full-fare guests in the same stateroom. Government taxes and fees are not included.

Photo Courtesy of flickrized

There has always been a high demand for Disney cruise line's Mediterranean Cruises. When the first new ship is launched in 2011 Disney has the chance to make these itineraries a regular feature rather than the special itineraries which we have seen before.

The Disney Magic will sail out of Barcelona Spain for 10 and 11 night Mediterranean Cruises in 2011.

There is also one 10 Night Mediterranean Disney Magic Cruise which will sail on December 28th 2011.

Wednesday Barcelona
Thursday At Sea
Friday Valleta Malta
Saturday Tunis Tunisia
Sunday Naples Italy
Monday Civitavecchia (Rome) Italy
Tuesday La Spezia Italy (Florence and Pisa)
Wednesday Ajaccio Corsica
Thursday Villefranche France (Monte Carlo)
Friday At Sea
Saturday Barcelona

11 Night Disney Mediterranean cruises will sail on May 28th, June 18th, July 9th, July 30th and August 30th.

Saturday Barcelona
Sunday At Sea
Monday Valleta Malta
Tuesday Tunis Tunisia
Wednesday Naples Italy
Thursday Citavecchia Italy (Rome)
Friday At Sea
Saturday La Spezia Italy (Florence and Pisa)
Sunday Ajaccio Corsica
Monday Villefranceh France (Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice)
Tuesday At Sea
Wednesday Barcelona Spain

Photo Courtesy of gator-chris