Cruising Magic For All Ages
Designed to emulate the classic liners of the past,
the Disney Magic stands out among today's cookie cutter
vessels. Designers have cleverly woven classic characters into the
elegant Art Deco surroundings so Disney enthusiasts of all ages can
find themselves in a floating playground for 2,400 passengers and
crew.
Staterooms
By cruise standards, Disney
staterooms are large and well-designed. Most feature two
half-bathrooms—a great feature for families. Standard inside and
outside staterooms are a generous 173 square feet, while those with
verandas measure 253 square feet. One popular stateroom that
comfortably sleeps four or five people in 291 square feet, sells out
quickly. Suites of 591 square feet feature a separate bedroom, while
deluxe suites have two bedrooms, can sleep up to six, and come with
private concierge service.
Dining
Onboard
dining is always a treat, but Disney adds a fantasy approach to its
restaurants. The Magic offers scheduled rotation dining,
where guests and their waiters move from one themed dining
room—Lumieres, Parrot Cay, and Animator’s Palate—to another. Of
course, the biggest thrill for kids is breakfast with the
characters. For those seeking an alternative to the rotation,
there’s the Topsider Buffet and quickie food outlets: Pinocchio's
Pizzeria, Pluto's Dog House, and Scoops ice cream and fruit bar.
Activities for kids of all ages
The
Magic has unique areas just for kids, families, teens, and
adults. Deck 5 is the fun deck with kid-friendly areas so parents
can enjoy their own grown-up activities. The Oceaneers Club is for
ages three to eight, featuring a pirate ship play area and dress-up
room. For ages eight to 12, there is the Oceaneers Lab offering
interactive electronic games, computers and fun experiments.
Parents, take it from me, there's no guilt dropping the kids in the
playroom aboard the Magic. The 55 onboard counselors keep the
kids so busy and entertained they don't want to leave. For peace of
mind, parents are given pagers. Kids have their own mealtimes and
can be looked after until 1 a.m., leaving parents free to enjoy
dinner and the late-night clubs. For kids 12 weeks to three years,
group babysitting is available at Flounder's Reef Nursery for $6 per
hour. Teens have their own hideaway. Common Grounds is a private
coffeehouse where they can listen to their favorite music, and hang
out with other young people.
During the day, adults can
attend Disney's Art of Entertaining series where cooking
demonstrations and decorating ideas are presented. There's also wine
tasting, dancing lessons, lectures, games, and deck sports. For
passengers looking for some pampering, the Vista Spa offers a
variety of beauty seminars and exercise classes, along with
treatments available for a fee.
For cooling off, there are
three pools and four Jacuzzis. Young kids splash about the Mickey
Pool, with its waterslide held up by an oversized Mickey hand. Older
kids prefer the Goofy pool. And there’s another pool for guests 18
or older.
Entertainment
What would a Disney
experience be without grand entertainment? The Magic offers
original musical and other productions in its three-deck-high,
955-seat Walt Disney Theatre. In the evening, adults can head off
for a comedy show, dancing and live music, or watch sports in the
ESPN Skybox. The one adult thing Disney does not have is a casino.
However, no one seemed to miss losing money at
sea.
Western Caribbean shore fun
While there's
plenty to do on the ship, it’s fun to debark and enjoy the ports.
For the Western Caribbean itinerary, Disney offers a variety of
shore excursions, including snorkeling and SCUBA, Mayan ruin
exploration, deep-sea fishing, glass-bottom boat sightseeing, and
beach activities. Swimming with the stingrays in Grand Cayman was by
far the most popular shore excursion.
All Disney voyages
make a stop at their spectacular 1,000-acre private Bahamian island,
Castaway Cay. Caribbean music and a beachside barbecue set the
backdrop for a fun day. Adults have their own mile-long beach,
Serenity Bay, where they can indulge in a massage in a private
cabana located right on the beach.
Real Traveler
thoughts
Parents, if you want a relaxing Disney
experience, take the cruise. With all the adult amenities and kids’
programs it's the antithesis of the parental slave theme park
experience. Expect to encounter kids gone wild squealing with
delight. You might witness a few temper tantrums, too. Still, this
cruise isn't for everyone and should be avoided by those who want
gambling, and don't like being around large numbers of
children.
If you go
This is an upscale family
experience and can be pricey. Currently, the Disney Cruise Line
offers four different cruising options, including a seven-day
land/sea package, three- and four-night cruise-only packages to the
Bahamas, and the seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean
itineraries. Three-night cruise-only rates start at $399 per adult,
$199 per child. Four-night cruise-only rates start at $499 per
adult, $299 per child. Seven-night cruise-only rates start at $899
per adult, $399 per child. Taxes and gratuities are extra. Visit Disney Cruise Line's website for more
information.
Click here to return to article index
