We’re sharing a recap of our Disney Cruise #5 on Wish! Unfortunately, this post is not sponsored or compensated in any way; I’m just sharing my thoughts!
Hello friends! How’s the day going? I hope you’re having an amazing afternoon. I’m here between client appointments and getting ready for the second part of the day. Picking up the kids and starting extracurricular activities and homework feels like a whole day in itself.
So let’s get into vacation mode! Today I’m sharing a summary of our recent Disney cruise. It was P’s birthday and the timing ended up matching perfectly with my RHS trip to Orlando, so we thought we’d make it a birthday celebration with some fun at Disney World (on the pilot’s birthday!) and cruise time.
We are very happy that the pilot’s sister and our niece were able to join us, as well as some of our closest friends and travel companions. We are officially obsessed with Disney cruises. It’s the perfect combination of family time, adult time, delicious food, shows, a variety of ports of call, and the Disney cleanliness and service that sets it apart. It was our fifth Disney cruise and as of now we have no desire to try another cruise line lol.
Disney Wish (Castaway Cay and Bahamas)
Disney Wishes Review
The Wish is one of Disney’s newest ships and was absolutely beautiful. One of the most impressive spots was the atrium, which has a lighted chandelier with Cinderella’s skirt and was decorated for Halloween while we were there. (It was a Halloween on the high seas cruise ship.)
We definitely had to get used to the layout of the boat as everything was new to us. The restaurants were different and the kids were EXCITED to visit the kids club. Our cruise lasted only three nights, but we had plenty of time to explore and take advantage of the amenities and entertainment.
Advantages:
– Children’s club. The kids club was great. The kids clubs on the other Disney ships are absolutely amazing, but this one was next level. I can’t even fully explain it; you need to watch this video. AP and Nylah especially loved designing their own roller coaster and taking the slide to enter the kids’ club.
– The shows! I feel the talent and entertainment on this ship were the best we have experienced. This says a lot because Disney puts a lot of emphasis on high production quality. The shows were excellent and I was especially impressed with the Pirate Deck party and the Sail A Wave party right as we left the port. The music and dancing were joyful and everyone applauded when the characters came out to dance on stage; It was super cute.
– The aquatic mouse. The kids rode the Aqua Mouse slide at least 15 times while we were on the cruise. It has a Disney short that you’ll watch in the tunnel on your double tube (no single riders) and then you’ll be pushed onto the main water slide, which is a blast. P and I did it three times in a row since it was Castaway Cay day and there was no line.
– Quick bites. They have new quick snack areas on the pool deck and they were VERY good. Barbecue with pork, chicken, brisket and all the fixings, and a cantina with build-your-own tacos, bowls and burritos.
There’s also the usual pizzeria and “American food” place with nuggets, pizza and mac and cheese and all-you-can-eat soft serve ice cream.
– Ports of call. We stopped at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, where we swam, snorkeled, and rented bikes.
We also stopped in Nassau, where we took a day trip to Atlantis. Atlantis was amazing; We are planning to take a family trip there to have more time to explore. The kids made all the water slides (including this) and we also enjoyed the beach and the bay.
– Extra Christmas-themed activities. They had an Oogie Boogie party on the boat, the characters were in their Halloween costumes and there were also Halloween decorations and themed desserts in the candy store.
Cons:
– Food rotation in the main dining room. This time we were not impressed by the food in the main dining room. The best was in Arendale, which featured live performances. The interactive experience at Worlds of Marvel was fun, but the food was disappointing.
– Gift shop! We felt the gift shop was smaller and didn’t have many Wish-specific products.
– Too short! We all agreed that cruises should be at least 5 nights 😉
All in all, it was another magical trip and more fun cruise memories with family and friends!
Disney Cruise Tips
Some of my best Disney cruise tips:
– Pack a swim bag and bring it with you when you check in. (You will leave the rest of your luggage and it will be delivered to your room when it is ready.) The pools and jacuzzi are open and are the least crowded they will be throughout the cruise. Ride the water slide and enjoy the food and ice cream! Try to check in as early as possible for pool time and lunch.
– Decorate your door with door magnets. They have so many on Etsy!
– I also recommend getting magnetic hooks for the room (the walls are magnetic) to hang swimsuits to dry or anything else you need to hang.
– I like to have water shoes for the kids, especially if you have a Castaway day or a trip to the beach.
– Pack your own foldable beach toys – much cheaper – and you can repackage it or donate it to another family.
– Be strategic about your time on the boat. The kids wanted more time in the pool and a great opportunity is when everyone else enjoys it. off the ship. We had already been to Castaway Cay, so we stayed on the boat and did laundry while the kids rode the slide a few times because it was empty. We had lunch and then got off at Castaway Cay while a bunch of people headed back to the boat. Castaway was much less crowded!
– Pack a pop-up basket and laundry capsules if you plan to do laundry. I always like to do laundry on the last day; unpacking clean clothes is a little less depressing after a trip.
– It’s all in the Disney Cruise app, including daily navigator dining rotations, excursion sign-ups, and additional activities. You can also text your group members from the app!
– Room service. You can get room service at any time and it is included; you just need to tip. Nothing like getting a piece of the “cake of the day” or some Mickey ice cream bars for the kids. If a pot of coffee is delivered to you at night, it will still be hot and perfect when you wake up! I also like the cafes on the ship (not included, but worth it for a decaf almond milk latte with Moana printed on the foam haha).
– Bring motion sickness supplies just in case. I always have a little dramamine and bands for motion sickness in my backpack if we need it.
– One of my biggest travel tricks is to use our Amex Platinum. We use this for free lounge access when we travel, plus hotel rooms and perks. We often get early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades when available, and sometimes hotel dining credits. It’s been incredible. Check it out with my referral link here!
So tell me friends: are you a cruise fan? What’s next on your vacation list?
xoxo
gina
Further:
Disney Wonder Baja Cruise
Disney Magic Bahamas and Castaway Cay
Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise
Disney Dream Italy and Greece Mediterranean Cruise
