Category: Cruising

I am suuuuuper excited to share this guest post from Shaene!!!! He is an avid cruiser, and after hearing his experience I quickly booked my own Royal Caribbean cruise! I cannot wait!!!

Cruising has been the chosen way to vacation for millions of families for decades because of its all-inclusive pricing and the fact that there is something for all ages to enjoy while onboard with Royal Caribbean.

Because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, however, the cruise industry was shut down for over a year. Now with vaccines, testing, and newly instituted health and safety protocols, the industry is getting back on its feet. Recently I had the opportunity to cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas and I can say that it was a great experience.

The ship normally can hold 4000 guests onboard, as well as 1200 crew members according to the cruise director, but because of CDC guidelines, they are sailing at a reduced capacity.

On the September 20-24 sailing, there were only 1100 guests onboard. The health and safety protocols can vary by departure port, but Florida requires anyone ages 12 and older to be fully vaccinated as well as have a negative COVID-19 test within 2 days of departure. Kids ages 2-11 have to have a negative test within 3 days of departure and will be tested while onboard as well. Kids under 2 do not have to test.

Upon arriving at the port, even before going into the building, you are asked to show your vaccination card and negative test results twice. When going through security and a health screening you are again asked for the same information. You are then given a bracelet that signifies that you are vaccinated to wear throughout your sailing. 

When you go to the check in counter you are asked for it once again and then finally one more time right before you head from the port to gangway to enter the ship. 

Once onboard masks are required in indoor spaces and there are certain areas and shows that only vaccinated guests can go that are designated with a (V*) beside their description. 

To enter those areas, the crew were checking to make sure guests had on the bracelet you were given after the health screening you received prior to boarding the ship. In the Windjammer (buffet-style restaurant) the crew served everyone instead of the traditional serve yourself type of buffet. They had tables blocked off so that there could be a distance between people eating and on tables that you were allowed to dine at, signs were on them once they were clean and on the flip side said please wait until we clean this table before sitting down,

Another way they have tried to keep guests safe is that in the main dining room there are 2 levels in use. On the higher floor, they only had families with kids under 12 who couldn’t be vaccinated and had them spread out and those waiters only had 1 family they were responsible for serving to minimize chances of a child getting sick.

Signs were everywhere to try to maintain social distancing including one family or only 4 people in an elevator at a time.

They also ran the stage shows and comedy acts numerous times throughout the sailing in order to space out guests who wanted to experience them and have fewer people in the theatre. 

All in all, the experience of cruising was a great one. I felt safe while onboard. Even safer than going to the mall or grocery store at home.

Was it the same as before the pandemic? No, but nothing will ever be the same as it was. The level of care and warmth of the entire crew you can tell they missed cruising.

By the way, all the guests onboard followed the guidelines set to be able to sail, you can tell they missed cruising.

It was great to be back out on the ocean relaxing and being able to appreciate something that was gone for over a year.

Welcome back to the seas Royal Caribbean.

It was definitely a ROYAL Comeback.

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It is a happy day for Disney Cruise Line enthusiasts, because new renderings have been releases of the three newest vessels setting sail in 2021, 2022 and 2023 will be no exception.

This first, early rendering depicts the magnificent exterior of the newest Disney ships that will elevate family cruise vacations to a whole new level.

In keeping with the distinct Disney Cruise Line style, the new ships will embody the elegance and romance of the golden age of ocean cruising with unique touches all their own. The new vessels will offer more innovation, new technologies, spectacular entertainment and more Disney stories and characters than ever before.

Ingenuity and innovation from stem to stern will amaze and delight Disney Cruise Line guests of all ages. Each new ship will be approximately 140,000 gross tons and each is currently planned to include about 1,250 guest staterooms.

We CANNOT WAIT to bring you more information about these new ships!Follow us for more updates:

Disney Cruise Line offers new sailings from Rome and seven new ports in Europe, plus Alaska and Caribbean sailings take center stage

In summer 2019, Disney Cruise Line will sail on new itineraries and to seven new ports in Europe, including a first-ever round-trip cruise from Rome and first-time visits to destinations in Sweden, France, Spain, Denmark and Northern Ireland. Disney Cruise Line takes guests on a grand tour of Europe with visits to the Mediterranean in early summer and northern Europe in late summer. Plus, adventures continue with sailings to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including new cruise lengths aboard the Disney Fantasy.

Bookings open to the public on March 8, 2018. More details on 2019 itineraries can be found on the Ports and Itineraries for 2019 page of disneycruise.com.

New round-trip sailing from Rome

For the first time, Disney Cruise Line guests can experience the rich history of Rome as a bookend experience in a single cruise.

In Rome, families can explore the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican, and sample authentic local cuisine.

On June 14, 2019, the Disney Magic will sail an eight-night cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome). Ports of call include Salerno (Positano, Amalfi, Pompeii) and La Spezia (Florence, Pisa), Italy; Villefranche (Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice) and Marseilles, France; and Barcelona, Spain.

First-time visits to seven new ports in Europe

Disney Cruise Line will call on seven new ports in Europe for the first time in 2019, including Gothenburg and Nynashamn (Stockholm), Sweden; Toulon (Provence) and Brest, France; Cartagena, Spain; Fredericia, Denmark; and Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Belfast is a new destination on a seven-night British Isles cruise departing from Dover, England, near London, on Sept. 8, 2019. In Belfast, Disney Cruise Line guests can explore the stunning Giant’s Causeway, one of the most impressive natural wonders in the United Kingdom, and enjoy breathtaking vistas along the Antrim Coast, including the dramatic cliff-side ruins of the medieval Dunluce Castle.

Throughout the summer, the Disney Magic’s tour of Europe includes engagements in the Baltic, Norwegian fjords, Iceland, British Isles and the Mediterranean.

Return to Alaska                  

In 2019, the Disney Wonder will return to Alaska for the summer season, opening up a world of breathtaking natural vistas, magnificent glaciers and awe-inspiring wildlife. A variety of five-, seven- and nine-night itineraries will depart from Vancouver, Canada, with stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska, plus Victoria, Canada.

Special Disney Fantasy itineraries to the Caribbean and Bahamas

In addition to seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, near Orlando, Florida, the Disney Fantasy will embark on a variety of special itineraries to the Caribbean and Bahamas throughout the summer of 2019.

The special itineraries include a three-night Bahamian cruise departing Aug. 7, a six-night western Caribbean cruise departing June 30, an eight-night southern Caribbean cruise departing June 22, and an 11-night southern Caribbean cruise departing July 27.

All cruises aboard the Disney Fantasy in the summer of 2019 include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, in addition to multiple tropical destinations where Disney Cruise Line guests can dive into charming island cultures, sunbathe on golden beaches and revel in local marketplaces.

Castaway Cay: More opportunities to explore Disney’s exclusive private island

In 2019, the Disney Dream will sail a series of cruises that include two stops at Castaway Cay so guests can have twice the fun in the sun and enjoy even more of Disney’s award-winning pristine island paradise.

On June 19, July 3 and July 17, 2019, the Disney Dream will sail from Port Canaveral on four-night Bahamian cruises to Nassau, plus two stops at Castaway Cay.

On June 14, June 23, June 28, July 7, July 12 and July 21, 2019, the Disney Dream will sail from Port Canaveral on five-night Bahamian cruises to Nassau, plus two stops at Castaway Cay.

These special itineraries are in addition to three- and four-night Bahamian cruises from Port Canaveral that visit Nassau and Castaway Cay.

Guided Experiences with Adventures by Disney

In the summer of 2019, Disney Cruise Line guests can enrich their experience by combining a Europe or Alaska cruise with a package from Adventures by Disney, a leader in family guided group vacations.

New pre-cruise Short Escapes

New in 2019, Adventures by Disney will offer pre-cruise guided experiences in Rome and Vancouver. These three-night Short Escapes, also offered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Barcelona, allow families to experience memorable icons in ways that few can, such as a private, after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel in Rome. Plus, activities like ziplining, flamenco dancing and preparing local cuisine immerse families in the culture of the region.

Guided group excursion packages for select Europe cruises

Families can also enhance select European sailings with an Adventures by Disney package during the cruise. Knowledgeable Adventure Guides lead travelers to experience the best of each port, helping them unlock the wonders of the destination through immersive excursions and off-the-beaten-path adventures. In addition, guests will enjoy exclusive receptions onboard and have access to concierge service from these dedicated guides throughout the voyage.

These Adventures by Disney offerings open for booking beginning March 8, 2018, with the exception of the Vancouver Short Escape, which will open for booking later this year.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact a travel agent.

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Disclosure: This post was created from experiences I had while onboard the Disney Dream as invited media by Disney Cruise Line. All opinions and over-use of exclamation points are all my own.

I haven’t done a Wordless Wednesday for a very long time, but after the past week of loss and stress I have found that I keep gravitating to this short video that Stephanie shot while onboard the Disney Dream as the ship made its way from Port Canaveral to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas.

httpv://youtu.be/V2ULapP-hOU

Okay it is a little longer than a minute…but it sounds better than 1 minute and six seconds of Disney Cruise Line Zen…and maybe this isn’t so wordless…but it is Wednesday, so it works for me!

I am working on compiling all of my Disney Cruise Line posts to share with you, but until I do join me in watching this quiet moment and daydreaming of sailing again.Follow us for more updates: