disney cruise transatlantic review

Best transatlantic cruises for 2024 and 2025, plus tips and what to expect

A transatlantic cruise ranks high on many travelers' bucket lists, especially those who love the camaraderie and adventure of a voyage by ship. Today's roughly 4,000-nautical-mile transatlantic crossing is more akin to the pre-aviation "Grand Tour" wealthy Americans once enjoyed than the immigration journeys many of our European ancestors made from the 17th to early 20th centuries.

Leisurely and luxurious, a one-way sailing offers fine dining, wellness-oriented pampering, enlightening lectures, glamorous nightlife and plenty of time to relax. Transatlantic cruises are also a solution for travelers who prefer not to fly and a tempting option for cruise lovers seeking a longer itinerary at an affordable price.

Is a transatlantic cruise right for everyone? Not necessarily, especially for anyone prone to moderate to severe sea sickness. However, for those who love sea days — and many cruisers do — a crossing can offer an uninterrupted "floating resort" experience; plus, it provides the added bonus of delivering you to Europe or returning you home without a cramped transatlantic flight.

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Here's everything you need to know about cruising the Atlantic — plus a selection of the best transatlantic cruises you can book in 2024 and 2025.

Which cruise lines offer transatlantic crossings?

While Cunard Line is most famous for its weekly crossings between Southampton, England, and New York City — which sail from April to December on its ocean liner Queen Mary 2 — pretty much every major cruise line offers transatlantic crossings.

These generally occur in the spring (late March to early May) and fall (September to November). In the spring, ships are repositioned from the Caribbean to Europe, and in the fall, vessels sail from Europe to the U.S. to begin Canada-New England and Caribbean itineraries.

Also known as repositioning cruises , these sailings are usually longer than a traditional crossing and often include several port calls beyond the city of embarkation and disembarkation.

Even better, cruise fares for these itineraries are typically one-third to one-half the price of a cruise of the same length that visits a new port daily. This makes them a great deal for travelers looking to settle into shipboard life rather than just sightsee.

These types of transatlantic/repositioning itineraries are offered by Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Oceania, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Seabourn, Sea Dream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers, Windstar, Viking and Virgin.

When is the best time of year for transatlantic cruises?

The best time to take a transatlantic cruise depends on what you're looking for: great weather, smooth seas, the best price or specific ports of call.

Generally speaking, May, June and July are recommended for warmer weather and gentler seas — before the Atlantic hurricane season peaks in August, September and October — although storms can arise any time of the year.

March, April and November — while not ideal due to cooler temperatures that can limit on-deck and poolside enjoyment — are a good option and a terrific value. This is especially true if the ship's route is a southerly one between Florida and the Mediterranean rather than between northern Europe and New York.

As noted above, the best prices are generally in spring and fall for repositioning cruises. These itineraries may also visit several appealing ports in the Mediterranean or Caribbean as well as call on the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, Iceland or Bermuda in the Atlantic.

Related: Why I was wrong about transatlantic cruises

How long does the crossing take?

It varies. The classic nonstop transatlantic itinerary aboard Queen Mary 2 is a seven-night voyage between New York and Southampton (and vice versa). On the other hand, transatlantic repositioning cruises generally range in length from 11 to 21 nights, with an average of 14 nights (seven or eight of them typically sea days).

Will the seas be rough?

It's up to Mother Nature. At times, the Atlantic can be smooth sailing, even in spring and fall. Yet unpredictable wind and water current patterns can create rough seas seemingly out of nowhere any time of year.

Captains can generally maneuver around storms — and try to do so whenever possible for the comfort of all onboard. Additionally, modern cruise ships are equipped with stabilizers that reduce a ship's rolling motion due to wind or waves.

However, if you're even slightly prone to seasickness, don't throw caution to the wind. You'll be better off on a larger ship (pick a midship cabin on a lower deck); also, be sure to pack medication, patches, bands or whatever works best for you. While it might seem counterintuitive, having a window or balcony actually helps offset seasickness since it offers fresh air and a horizon view. If you're concerned, opt for an ocean-view or balcony cabin over an inside one.

Which side of the ship is best for a transatlantic crossing?

It honestly doesn't make much difference whether you book a cabin on the port (left) or starboard (right) side of the ship since most daytime views will be of the ocean. However, if you're departing from a Mediterranean port, say Rome or Barcelona, for a southerly crossing, book a starboard cabin; this might offer a view of the Rock of Gibraltar if your ship transits between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic during daylight hours. For a U.S.-to-Europe eastward crossing, you'd want the opposite — a port-side cabin.

Similarly, if your crossing takes you from northern Europe on a northerly route to the U.S., and you want to be among the first to spot land (perhaps Greenland or Newfoundland), book a starboard cabin. If you are cruising into New York Harbor just before dawn and want to see the Statue of Liberty from your cabin, book on the port side.

More important for an Atlantic crossing location-wise is your cabin's deck number and whether the cabin is situated forward, midship or aft. Generally, the ship's movement through rough seas will feel less severe if your cabin is midship and on one of the lower or middle decks versus the top-most decks.

Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

Which ports do transatlantic cruises visit?

Where you embark and disembark will determine your route and the ports you potentially call on. Ships repositioning to or from the Baltic Sea and the British Isles generally take a northerly route. Vessels sailing from the Mediterranean cross on a more southerly route, especially if they are repositioning to or from a winter home port in Florida.

On a northerly crossing, you can expect to embark in a port such as Copenhagen; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Southampton or New York. Depending on the length of the cruise, expect to call on ports in Ireland (Dublin or Cork), Iceland (Reykjavik), Greenland (Qaqortoq or Nuuk), Atlantic Canada (St. John's in Newfoundland, or Sydney or Halifax in Nova Scotia) and Bermuda (King's Wharf).

On a southerly crossing between Barcelona or Rome in the Mediterranean and Miami or Fort Lauderdale, typical ports of call include Madeira; Grand Canary or Tenerife in the Canary Islands; Ponta Delgada in the Azores; and one or two islands in the Caribbean, such as St. Maarten or Puerto Rico.

Is it better to book an eastbound or westbound cruise?

Which direction you book really depends on whether you're aboard for the experience or you're using the crossing as a substitute for a flight to reach the other side of the ocean. Below are a few factors to keep in mind.

Aside from Queen Mary 2 crossings, westbound transatlantic repositioning cruises (from Europe to the U.S.) take place in the fall during the Atlantic hurricane season; some are also scheduled for mid-to-late November when storm formation has generally diminished. Eastbound cruises (from the U.S. to Europe) happen in spring, a season also often known for periods of gray skies and rain.

When considering westbound versus eastbound crossings, factor in the time change. While a transatlantic cruise is a terrific way to avoid the jet lag caused by flying across multiple time zones in a single day, you will be subject to almost daily reminders to reset your clock.

On westbound cruises, you'll have to set your clock back at night, thus gaining an extra hour of sleep on most days. On eastbound cruises, you'll set it ahead an hour and lose an hour of leisure time or sleep.

Another factor to keep in mind is that unless you plan to return home on another transatlantic cruise, you'll also need to book a one-way flight. Before committing to a specific eastbound or westbound itinerary, always check your flight options. One-way tickets are sometimes more expensive than round-trip fares.

Best transatlantic cruises for 2024 and 2025

There are dozens of opportunities to cross the Atlantic by cruise ship, but here are some of the best itineraries available in the next two years.

Cunard's Queen Mary 2

• Transatlantic crossings: May to December 2024 and 2025

There's nothing quite like it. Cunard 's weekly transatlantic crossing between New York and Southampton aboard the 2,691-guest Queen Mary 2 celebrates the grand age of ocean liners with a level of pomp and ceremony that appeals to Cunard loyalists, bucket-listers and memory-making couples or families celebrating a milestone anniversary or birthday.

These eight-night eastbound and six-night westbound voyages are all about the sea. There are interludes of culinary enjoyment and evening entertainment designed for travelers who appreciate formality and glamour.

A typical day might include time in the library perusing the largest book collection at sea, getting an illuminating astronomy lesson in the onboard planetarium and enjoying traditional afternoon tea.

The evening lineup generally starts with a multicourse dinner (same table and same waiter nightly) followed by a Broadway-inspired show, an abridged Shakespeare play or even a magic act. The ship is also famous for its Gala Evenings, capped off with Champagne sipping and dancing to a live orchestra. Yes, pack those ballgowns and tuxes.

Cruise fares start at $1,129 per person for an inside cabin and $1,619 per person for a balcony room.

Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady

• 16-night Rome to Miami: Nov. 28-Dec. 14, 2024
• 15-night Miami to Casablanca and Barcelona cruises: May 3-18, 2025

Virgin Voyages ' 2,770-guest Scarlet Lady has an onboard ambience that rivals a youthful beach club. Passengers and crew will keep the party going day and night this fall on a 16-night Rome to Miami transatlantic sailing. The sailing has calls on Barcelona and Malaga in Spain; Funchal on the island of Madeira; and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

Or, party in reverse on the ship's 15-night Miami to Casablanca and Barcelona crossing in May 2025. It stops in Grand Canary and Santa Cruz de Tenerife; Casablanca, Morocco; and Barcelona.

The ship's 20 excellent dining venues, cutting-edge entertainment (campy and a bit naughty — think Drag Queen Bingo), impressive lineup of wellness classes (from yoga at sunrise to On-the-Upswing Bungee aerobics) and fun activities ('90s Boy Band Dance Class, anyone?) provide plenty of ways to pass the time.

Cruise fares start at $4,384 per cabin (or less than $2,200 per person) for the Rome-to-Miami sailing and $3,706 per cabin (or less than $1,900 per person) for the Miami-to-Barcelona sailing.

Disney Cruise Line's Disney Dream

• 13-night eastbound transatlantic cruise: May 5-18, 2024
• 13-night westbound transatlantic cruise: Oct. 20-Nov. 2, 2024

Certain Disney fans — namely childless adult couples and empty nesters — love the brand's storytelling and Imagineering but prefer not to share a two-week cruise with hundreds of kids and teens. These 13-night eastbound and westbound crossings from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona and from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale aboard 2,500-passenger Disney Dream offer a solution to that dilemma.

Each of these transatlantic cruises occurs when almost everyone ages 5 to 18 is still in school. Yes, some kids will likely be on board, but certainly not in overwhelming numbers.

These crossings feature nine to 11 sea days during which Disney Cruise Line offers all kinds of immersive entertainment, excellent onboard dining and a southerly route in spring that means plenty of pool time. On top of that, each sailing includes a mix of culturally rich ports.

On the eastbound crossing, they are Ponta Delgada; Lisbon; and Cadiz, Cartagena and Barcelona, Spain. On the westbound crossing, the ports are Ponta Delgada and the new Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

Eastbound fares for balcony cabins start at $4,516 for two adults (or about $2,258 per person). Westbound fares are a bit pricier, starting at $5,517 for an inside cabin ($2,708 per person).

Related: 5 reasons why Disney cruises aren't just for kids

Holland America's Nieuw Statendam

• 28-night Adriatic Dream and Passage to America: Nov. 2-30, 2024

For a shoulder-season meander through the Adriatic and Mediterranean followed by a transatlantic crossing, Holland America 's 28-night Adriatic Dream and Passage to America visits 14 ports in seven countries. This makes it a true hybrid of an ocean crossing and a traditional cruise.

The sailing, aboard the 3,665-passenger Nieuw Statendam, departs from Athens and visits ports in Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Italy, Albania, Spain and Portugal before arriving in Fort Lauderdale. Of the 12 sea days, two include scenic cruising.

The voyage takes place in November, so expect temperatures to be on the cooler side in most ports and during the crossing. It's a good thing, then, that Nieuw Statendam has an indoor pool with a retractable roof. Holland America passengers, mostly older retirees, can also pass the time dining at each of the 10 onboard restaurants and enjoy entertainment that includes live bands at the B.B. King's Blues Club and Rolling Stone Rock Room.

At $2,499 per person for an inside cabin and $3,749 per person for a balcony cabin, fares are a great deal for a four-week sailing.

Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Apex

• 13-night Spain, Portugal and Bermuda transatlantic: Oct. 26-Nov. 8, 2024
• 13-night Bermuda and Portugal transatlantic: March 8-21, 2025

Celebrity Cruises ' Spain, Portugal and Bermuda transatlantic sailing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale offers 13 nights aboard its newest ship, Celebrity Ascent. The sailing features port calls in Alicante, Spain; Gibraltar; Ponta Delgada; and King's Wharf, along with eight sea days.

Accommodating 3,260 passengers, Celebrity Ascent is a megaship designed with adults in mind. On board, you'll find multiple hot tubs but no waterslides, contemporary decor, 32 sophisticated food and beverage venues (including Voyages, Daniel Boulud's restaurant at sea, bookable at extra cost), an indoor solarium pool, a glittering Grand Plaza housing the line's signature Martini Bar, and nightly entertainment ranging from high-tech theater productions to multisensory events in Eden.

Inside cabin fares start at $1,353 per person and balcony cabin fares at $2,399 per person.

If you prefer to cross the Atlantic in spring 2025, take sister Edge Class ship Celebrity Apex , which carries 2,910 passengers. It will sail a 13-night Bermuda and Portugal transatlantic cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona with port calls at Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard; Ponta Delgada; and Valencia.

Inside cabins for that cruise start from $799 per person and balcony rooms from $1,272 per person.

Viking's Viking Mars

• 20-night Atlantic and Mediterranean Horizons: March 27-April 16, 2025

Passengers aboard Viking Mars for its 20-night Atlantic and Mediterranean Horizons sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Rome will meander through the Caribbean to the French-Dutch island of St. Martin/St. Maarten. They will spend six days crossing the Atlantic and call on Madeira and then overnight in Barcelona. Then, they will visit the French ports of Sete and Marseille, followed by Monte Carlo, Monaco, and another overnight in Livorno, Italy (gateway to Florence).

The 930-passenger Viking Mars is an adults-only ship featuring a sleek Scandinavian design. Guests can enjoy elevated (and complimentary) dining in eight venues, as well as daily activities that include lectures by guest speakers and resident historians. ( Viking bills itself as "the thinking person's cruise.")

They will also get unlimited access to the thermal suite at the Liv Nordic Spa, a main pool with a retractable roof (there's also an aft infinity pool and hot tub), and complimentary beer and wine with lunch and dinner.

Better still, the transatlantic cruise fare is about one-third less than a typical three-week Viking itinerary, with balcony cabins starting at $7,198 per person.

Princess Cruises' Sky Princess

• 27-night Moroccan and Iberian Grand Adventure: March 9-April 5, 2025

To snag an excellent deal on an almost month-long journey, check out the 27-night Morocco and Iberian Grand Adventure . It sails from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton aboard the 3,660-passenger Sky Princess. Princess Cruises guests will enjoy a southerly spring crossing that culminates with visits to 10 ports in four countries (Portugal, Morocco, Spain and England) — including Madeira, three Canary Islands and Casablanca.

Sky Princess , which debuted in 2019, is a Royal Class ship featuring three pools, a glittering Italian-style Piazza (home to Alfredo's Pizzeria — some of the best pizza at sea), four specialty dining venues (at an extra cost), poolside Movies Under the Stars and original production shows in the Princess Theater.

Inside cabins start at $2,847 per person and balcony cabins at $4,747 per person.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess Cruises ship

Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Splendor

• 14-night Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: Jan. 5-19, 2025

If crossing the southern Atlantic Ocean from Africa to South America on a small luxury cruise ship is on your bucket list, consider Regent Seven Seas Cruises ' early 2025 Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro sailing.

While not a bargain by any means, this 14-night itinerary aboard the 750-passenger, all-suite Seven Seas Splendor is all-inclusive. Business-class airfare, transfers, top-notch cuisine, unlimited beverages, gratuities, Wi-Fi and most shore excursions are all included in the fare.

Start by taking in the scenic beauty of Namibia, with a port call in Luderitz, known for its colorful colonial architecture. Another call is Walvis Bay, where the ship will overnight. Here, you'll get a chance to experience the country's dramatic sand dunes and resident flamingos. Then, as you cross the Atlantic, you'll visit the remote island of St. Helena, where Napoleon died in exile, before continuing on to an overnight stay in Rio de Janeiro ahead of disembarkation.

All-inclusive fares start at $12,949 per person for a suite with a balcony.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Prima

• 16-night Transatlantic (Italy, France and Spain): Nov. 7-23, 2024

Board in Rome and tour the Mediterranean in the shoulder season before crossing the Atlantic to New York on a November 2024 Norwegian Cruise Line cruise. The Transatlantic (Italy, France and Spain) sailing aboard Norwegian Prima visits Livorno (for Pisa and Florence); Cannes, France; Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Malaga and Cadiz, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Ponta Delgada. You'll spend six days at sea.

The 3,099-passenger Norwegian Prima , which debuted in 2022, features 14 restaurants (six included and eight specialty options for an added fee) and 19 bars and lounges. It also sports a three-level go-kart racetrack and virtual-reality gaming. Entertainment options include "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical," stand-up comedy at The Improv at Sea and a rock cover band in Syd Norman's Pour House.

Inside cabins start at $1,499 per person and balcony cabins at $2,199 per person.

Silversea Cruises' Silver Ray

• 25-night Rome to Fort Lauderdale: Nov. 7-Dec. 2, 2025

Plan ahead to score a suite on the 25-night Rome to Fort Lauderdale transatlantic crossing in late 2025 aboard Silversea Cruises ' newest all-suite luxury ship, Silver Ray, debuting in summer 2024.

Not only is the price all-inclusive, but the 728-passenger ship will visit 11 ports in five countries. You'll experience Livorno; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Marseille; Valencia, Barcelona (overnight), Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Cadiz, Spain; and Lisbon and Madeira. Then, you'll cross the Atlantic and spend an overnight in Hamilton, Bermuda before disembarking in Fort Lauderdale.

Silver Ray is Silversea's second Nova Class ship. It features spacious suites and inviting exterior and interior spaces perfect for late-season Mediterranean cruising and a cool-weather transatlantic crossing. Its culinary-focused S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program tempts tastebuds with region- and port-inspired menus, cooking classes and cocktails.

All-inclusive, door-to-door fares — which include economy-class flights, transfers, complimentary beverages and gourmet dining, butler service, gratuities and select shore excursions — start at $13,100 per person for Classic Veranda Suite.

Bottom line

No matter your reason for considering a transatlantic cruise, you're guaranteed to experience the secret magic of sea days, with ample time to relax and unwind. With no land in sight for roughly a week, you can enjoy the ship's amenities without feeling rushed.

Make new friends over coffee or a game of bridge, watch movies in your cabin, learn more about the world during lectures by onboard experts, or treat yourself to rejuvenating massages and facials in the spa.

Even better, per-night rates are typically lower on crossings than on round-trip, port-intensive cruises. So, you can enjoy a longer sailing at a fraction of the usual cost. No matter which transatlantic cruise you deem best for your travel style and interests, it will surely be a memorable bucket-list trip.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Disney Transatlantic Cruise – Is it For You?

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Are you wondering if a Disney Transatlantic Cruise is a good option for you and your family?

The Disney Magic sails on two repositioning cruises each year from the US to Europe. These Disney Repositioning cruises are a great option for some, but for others, they may not be the best choice.

What are the dates of the Disney Transatlantic repositioning cruises?

There are usually two Disney Cruise Transatlantic sailings every year. For 2021 there were originally 2 sailings available

The Disney Magic is currently in Europe therefore it doesn’t need to sail there for the summer European itineraries.

There is still one Disney Transatlantic Cruise scheduled for September 18, 2021

Disney Transatlantic Cruise 11 Night Westbound

The sail date is September 18, 2021, with the following itinerary from

Transatlantic Sailing Disney Cruise 2022

At the moment there is no Disney Transatlantic repositioning cruise available for 2022. We will let you know as soon the Spring 2022 transatlantic crossing is announced.

available on the Disney Magic.

The cost of your Disney Transatlantic Cruise is going to largely depend upon your choice of stateroom.

Usually, the lowest cost staterooms are Inside Staterooms. These are the smallest staterooms on the Disney Magic and they do not have a window. 

For some, this is a brilliant choice. An Inside Stateroom on a Disney Transatlantic Cruise is a great choice for those guests who don’t mind not having a view onto the outside.

Most people do not spend much time inside their stateroom, so why pay more for an outside view?

For others, an Inside Stateroom really isn’t going to work. 

Having stayed in all categories of stateroom on a Disney Cruise I am just as happy with an Inside as with a Balcony Stateroom.

Of course, it is great to have a Verandah, but all of the other aspects of the cruise are exactly the same whichever category of stateroom you choose.

The savings that you make on an Inside Stateroom over a balcony can be considerable.

Here is a video to show you exactly what a Standard Inside Stateroom is like on the Disney Magic and Wonder. This is the smallest stateroom on the ship:

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

How To Save Money On A Disney Cruise - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Sunday 1st of March 2020

[…] Rarely an itinerary will not be selling well and there will be last-minute discounts offered. These are often for the slightly unusual itineraries, such as the re-positioning cruises. […]

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Transatlantic cruise

By Dreamcruise27 , January 21, 2023 in Disney Cruise Line

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Dreamcruise27

I’ve always wanted to try a Disney cruise but could not justify the cost… BUT the transatlantic in May is $6k for a veranda guarantee for a family of 4 which seems very affordable for a Disney cruise!    

If seasoned DCL cruisers could answer some of my questions, it’ll be much appreciated!!!

1. is $6000 the usual price for a veranda guarantee for a transatlantic sailing or is this lower than usual?? The reason I ask is because we already have our annual cruise on RCL planned for March so budgeting for another cruise so soon is not ideal… BUT if this is an unusually low price for a transatlantic, I don’t want to miss out!!

2. Are all character meetings additional costs?? I keep reading people talk about booking tea times, Princess meetings etc. and wondering if my kids will miss out on interacting with characters if we can’t get reservations…

3. we will be taking our 7yo and 3yo. Longest cruise the 7yo has done was 22 nights (Vancouver to Hawaii roundtrip) when he was 3 (on Celebrity Eclipse) It was rocky but I have heard that the Atlantic is REALLY rocky… our DD was 2 (last year) when we did 14 nights Bahamas from New Jersey (Anthem of the Seas) and she was fine, motion sickness wise. Is the Transatlantic too much for the kiddos and risk of motion sickness??

4. Bringing bottled water onboard: I think I read there was no limit on how many bottles we can bring onboard. Can we pick up a case from Costco and bring it onboard no problem?

5. Will we get the full Disney Cruise experience on such a long cruise? I’m wondering if things are scaled back because it is such a long cruise and probably have less kids sailing??

Any comments regarding transatlantic sailings to help me make a decision will be much appreciated!!

My hubby has never been to any of the parks and is not a Disney lover like me. I’m hoping to immerse him in a Disney cruise and make him fall in LOVE 😂  

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Oceansaway17

4 hours ago, Dreamcruise27 said: Hello, I’ve always wanted to try a Disney cruise but could not justify the cost… BUT the transatlantic in May is $6k for a veranda guarantee for a family of 4 which seems very affordable for a Disney cruise!   1. is $6000 the usual price for a veranda guarantee for a transatlantic sailing or is this lower than usual?? The reason I ask is because we already have our annual cruise on RCL planned for March so budgeting for another cruise so soon is not ideal… BUT if this is an unusually low price for a transatlantic, I don’t want to miss out!!   2. Are all character meetings additional costs?? I keep reading people talk about booking tea times, Princess meetings etc. and wondering if my kids will miss out on interacting with characters if we can’t get reservations…    

I would say that is a good price.

Disney as a rule does not cut corners.

Each night the characters gather in the main stairwell and so lots of opportunity to see them and take photos even if child is not standing right next to them.

WorkingForOBC

I don't have first hand experience for all of your questions, but I think I can help out with some.

1. I've never priced out a TA with Disney, but it's seems like a great price for 4 people in a verandah (guaranty). You'll pay more than 6000 for most of their week long sailings from Florida (much more for their Alaskan and European itineraries) in a verandah.

By the way, is it a VGT with restrictions, or is it a Verandah guarantee in a specific category? It's important to understand the differences, and to research the kinds of rooms and locations that you could be placed in (a TA is a long cruise to be in an unsatisfactory room).

2. I believe that only the Princess tea is an extra cost. This includes tea time treats and gifts. All of the standard character meetings are free. You can sign up for the "royal gathering" when you do online check in. This is a booked time to meet 4 or 5 of the princesses all at once. Otherwise all of the characters, including the princesses will be out throughout the ship. Sometimes you'll run into them just walking around. Other times, they're at a designated spot at a certain time (details in the daily navigator/schedule), and you can line up to meet them. Sometimes the characters visit the kids clubs too.

3. Unfortunately I don't have the TA experience to speak on this.

4. Yes, you can bring a case of water on board. But you have to bring it with you... It can't be checked.

5. You will definitely get the full experience. From Trip Reports that I've read, you will likely even have additional special nights and activities that would not be on a standard 7 day cruise.

Personally, I wasn't a huge Disney fan growing up, but we're pretty immersed in it now with our child (also 7). The first time you hear the horn play "when you wish upon a star" is pretty magical.

6 hours ago, Dreamcruise27 said: Hello, I’ve always wanted to try a Disney cruise but could not justify the cost… BUT the transatlantic in May is $6k for a veranda guarantee for a family of 4 which seems very affordable for a Disney cruise!     If seasoned DCL cruisers could answer some of my questions, it’ll be much appreciated!!!   1. is $6000 the usual price for a veranda guarantee for a transatlantic sailing or is this lower than usual?? The reason I ask is because we already have our annual cruise on RCL planned for March so budgeting for another cruise so soon is not ideal… BUT if this is an unusually low price for a transatlantic, I don’t want to miss out!!   2. Are all character meetings additional costs?? I keep reading people talk about booking tea times, Princess meetings etc. and wondering if my kids will miss out on interacting with characters if we can’t get reservations…   3. we will be taking our 7yo and 3yo. Longest cruise the 7yo has done was 22 nights (Vancouver to Hawaii roundtrip) when he was 3 (on Celebrity Eclipse) It was rocky but I have heard that the Atlantic is REALLY rocky… our DD was 2 (last year) when we did 14 nights Bahamas from New Jersey (Anthem of the Seas) and she was fine, motion sickness wise. Is the Transatlantic too much for the kiddos and risk of motion sickness??   4. Bringing bottled water onboard: I think I read there was no limit on how many bottles we can bring onboard. Can we pick up a case from Costco and bring it onboard no problem?   5. Will we get the full Disney Cruise experience on such a long cruise? I’m wondering if things are scaled back because it is such a long cruise and probably have less kids sailing??   Any comments regarding transatlantic sailings to help me make a decision will be much appreciated!!   My hubby has never been to any of the parks and is not a Disney lover like me. I’m hoping to immerse him in a Disney cruise and make him fall in LOVE 😂            

We did a TA in 2018 and paid $4500 for two adults in a category 7A, so I would say $6K for 4 is a good deal.  We were lucky, we had a very smooth sailing. It was one of best cruises ever, along with a WBPC and Hawaii this past spring.

There is no extra charge for meet and greets, with the exception, as previously mentioned, the Princess Tea.  There are two meet and greets (Princess Gathering and Frozen) you have to sign up for beforehand, but again, no extra charge.

Fear not, the longer cruise doesn't make a difference in getting the full Disney experience. As a matter of fact, it's better, because there are some activities not available on shorter cruises, such as a character breakfast and depending on the time of year, other special events in addition to the pirate night, such as Halloween on the High Seas or Marvel at Sea.  And, btw, less kids is a good thing, especially for us, since we're adults sailing without kids. That's why we like the longer cruises. On our TA, we had 122 children on the Magic.

Thanks everyone! Much appreciated 🥰

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No scaling back on Disney activities on a TransAtlantic! In fact, the characters will have a few extra costumes, pertaining to our ports.

Our first cruise was supposed to have been the TA, in May 2020. It was $5600 for a family of 4 in an inside, so $6k is a deal. I wanna say opening day prices were about $7k.

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REVIEW: 15 day Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise on Disney Magic

By Sundodger , June 6, 2015 in Disney Cruise Line

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We just got back from the 15-day eastbound TransAtlantic Cruise that went from Port Canaveral to Copenhagen and figured I'd give a review.

In a nutshell: It was awesome. On a scale of 1-100, I'd give it a 97.

The cruise had high expectations -- we were dipping into savings and pulling the kids (7 and 5 years old) out of school as we felt this kind of length of cruise and ports it was visiting was probably a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity on Disney (and it appears to be so. The 2016 EBTA isn't as great as itinerary, IMO) . We've cruised a little before -- this was our 13th cruise in the last 10 years and third Disney Cruise (Wonder and Fantasy) so we knew kind of what to expect and were thus VERY eager to do this.

They didn't disappoint.

Embarkation in Port Canaveral was a breeze -- we were a bit later getting there so it wasn't crowded in the port.

We decided if we were going to do 15 days at sea with 2 little kids, we were going to go a little more for the larger balcony. We had a 4A Family Balcony room (8536) which was midship on the 8th deck. Very convenient location near the midship elevators and just a short flight of stairs up to the pool deck. The room was comfortable and we appreciated the difference between the Family balcony and the regular balcony (the class 5s). The Family balcony has about, oh 4 feet of extra space between the edge of the couch and the balcony door to have room for the 5th person Murphy Bed (which we didn't use). It also had quite the nice dresser/drawer set in that extra space that gave us plenty of storage for clothes and the toys the kids brought.

The only hiccup on the entire cruise was in the cabin, although it wasn't our cabin's fault directly. The closets have sliding doors that have Velcro on the sides to fasten them to the closet walls so when the ship is moving, the doors won't slam around. Unfortunately, someone on Deck 7 had faulty doors and apparently, were the most sound sleepers on the planet. We were SO lucky that the seas were nearly flat for just about the entire cruise - even in the middle of the Atlantic. But the two nights where we had a little movement, all day and night long you would hear occasional "SLAM!......Slam" --the two doors rolling and then slamming into the side of the closet. It was so loud it actually shook our bed and could be heard over about a 5 cabin radius on our deck. A call to guest services brought a senior staff member to our room right away to hear it, and then they tried to find the source. But all of the cabins below us on Deck 7 were occupied and signed "Do not disturb" so they could not enter. So they apologized and said they would check back in the morning. So a second night of loud banging… ugh. That morning, the cabin attendants on the 7th floor apparently were to scour the cabins there to make sure the doors were fastened, but could not locate the issue and as I mentioned, despite what must sound like cannon fire every 20 seconds inside the room where it was happening, it was apparently not loud enough to bother who ever had that cabin. Eventually their solution was to give our neighbors ear plugs, but thankfully, the seas calmed and it wasn't much of an issue the rest of the trip.

Aside from that, you can tell the Magic is aged a bit more -- we had an issue with a loose hinge on the bathroom door and then on one of the cabinets, and the bathroom drain needed attention around Day 9. But each time they came to fix it pronto. Minor stuff.

Simply put, the dining experience was perfect. Our wait staff was off the charts amazing and the best pair we've ever had on any of our cruises, even the prior Disney cruises. Some days the kids were a bit sleepy but the staff could always perk them up. Our youngest is super picky and relegates herself to plain spaghetti or cheese pizza - and she wasn't a fan of the pizza on board (yes our daughter was the first person in nautical history to go hungry on a cruise ship). But she did like the pasta and by Day 3, the staff would have the special-order spaghetti there as soon as we arrived. My wife is a big fan of escargot, and when she ordered 2 on Day 3 in Lumiere's, the wait staff took note. And then on about 5-6 more nights through the cruise, they would surprise her with a special escargot order.

The main event for me on any cruise is lobster (spoiler alert, Going on NCL to Alaska? Don't count on Lobster night). This cruise had *2* lobster nights, and we're not talking tiny lobsters. These are big 'uns. Awesome. We love the rotating restaurants, especially when you get each one for 5 nights. We got the Sorcerer Mickey Show and the "draw your own character" night in Animator's Palate. I loved the food up top on the pool deck. Cabanas could use a little more variety for lunch -- yes, it's a buffet so there was a lot there but sometimes it was a lot of food in the similar realm, instead of spreading across food types. But minor stuff here. No complaints.

We eat at Pete's Boiler Bites quite often as we spend a lot of time near the pool and that was great. And the all you can drink soda/coffee is *so* useful. Room service was great too.

POOL/DECK: 100

The kids loved the pool deck and spent equal times on the water slide, the kiddie pool/water spray area and the main pool and hot tubs. I LOVE the movies they play on the Funnel Vision and for me, this is my favorite thing to do on the cruise -- sit in/by/around the pool with a soft serve ice cream watching movies as the kids swim. We did that for hours on some of the at sea days. Perfection for vacation. Our 7 year old was the only one to brave the Aqua Dunk and she only did it once, but we all went on the big yellow slide multiple times. Youngest kid went on it like 60 times.

*Bonus*-- Disney now has full time lifeguards in all pools when the pool is open -- even the kiddie pool. Sometimes they're quite lonely, especially when we got into the far northern reaches of our trip and it's 50 degrees and raining and no one's on deck except the lifeguards, but they were super friendly. But it was great peace of mind to have them there. Also cool: Disney now supplies dozens of life vests for the kids -- a huge help for my 5yo daughter who can sorta swim but can't touch in the 4 ft big pool. This gave her the freedom to swim around and not be so tied to the side. Also cool -- they gradually warmed the pools as the weather got colder. So the pool was refreshingly cool in the first few days when it's in the 80s/90s off the East Coast, and then warmed the water temps into the 80s when the outside temp dropped into the 50s and 60s. So the pool was useable in the chilly north, especially for us hearty northernerns who are used to swimming in chilly weather in the summer (we're from Seattle.)

ENTERTAINMENT: 100

We don't do the main shows that much -- we're second seating and not usually ready to be done with our day by 6:45. But we did see about 4 of the shows, including the biggies, and they were well worth the time, especially the Disney Dreams one. Having first run movies is great too -- got to see the new Avengers movie and as per Disney tradition, if a Disney movie premiers on your cruise, you'll get to see it on the ship. We got to see Tomorrowland the day it debuted even though we were 2 days from Halifax.

We were also lucky that we got both Pirate night AND the Frozen "Freeze the Night Away" deck party. That wasn't supposed to debut until the cruise after ours (the first cruise from Copenhagen) BUT! We had an edited itinerary -- days before we left, they decided there was too much sea ice off Newfoundland. So gone were the ports of St. John and Iceland (aaah!) but was replaced with Halifax (better than St John IMO) and Stavanger, Norway. We've been to Iceland before and it was a short port anyway (7:30-1:45) limiting our options, but had never been to Norway so I was actually excited to get the second Norway port, but a lot of people were super bummed for missing Iceland.

So I think they moved up the Frozen stuff to make up for it, especially since we were now going to 2 Norway ports. So they were rehearsing the show several nights on deck around midnight (They let you watch as long as you didn't take pics), then we actually got the show on Stavanger night!! Plus they brought out all the Frozen merchandise in the stores, so it was a big hit and we were so excited we got to do the Frozen experiences that we were originally bummed we were going to be one cruise too early.

They had the Elsa/Anna/Olaf characters and Marvel characters on board (Capt America, Thor, Spiderman) but you had to get free tickets to get a set time/date to do so -- sorta kinda like a Fast Pass at Disneyland/World (So be sure to check the Navigator on Day 1 and get these tickets early at Guest Services to be able to choose the time/date you want. If you miss it, they'll still have tickets, just more limited choices on times) but it was nice that this way they could crowd control and limit the number of people there at any given time because if Anna and Elsa were just out in the atrium, there would be 1,000 kids there and the line would be an hour. The character breakfast also needed a free reservation ticket. And of course, the traditional Disney characters are there along with 3 princesses (Belle, Tiana, and Cinderella on this cruise). No Snow White/Aurora but guessing they only had so many royal cabins on board for them to all live J

KIDS CLUB: 100

As always, Disney does the kids club right, and is the way to take kids on the cruise and then have enough alone time as well. This is where DCL totally blows away the other cruise lines, as you'd expect.

We do ports ourselves and don’t use the Di$ney Port Adventure$ because… good grief they're spendy!

New York was amazing. We docked right next to the Intrepid museum around 49th and 12th -- about a mile walk to Times Square. That's what we did, and then took the subway as needed from there. Went all over, and great experience for the kids.

Halifax: we walked along the waterfront, there's a little playground in town, and then we went to the Children's Discovery Museum and… Starbucks and Menchies (Kids needed some connection to home)

Stavanger: Just walked around town, did some shopping. Their Starbucks had their grand opening that day, so exciting to be among the first there! (I see that eyeroll… Remember- Seattle family!)

Oslo: We did an Oslo fjord tour via Costco instead of through Disney and paid 25% the price. Disney wanted $400 for 4 for a 3 hour Fjord tour. We spent about $110 for a 2 hour tour. And, the weather was pretty crummy this day with steady rains/fog in the upper 40s so it wasn't the best day to be on the water.

Copenhagen: Our favorite port. Such an amazing city. The cruise schedule was great in that Disney gave us a full day here and didn't kick us off the ship till the next morning, so we had the luxury of visiting Copenhagen with no time worries. We took one of the hop on-hop off buses that also included the harbor/canal tour. It takes about 1 hr 20 mins for the bus loop and the canal tour with no stops is an hour. Also, book this in town -- don't buy on the pier or ahead of time, you might be able to get a deal as there's a few competing companies. The free cruise shuttle dropped us off right across from the train station next to Tivoli and our bus sales guy gave us our kids free when it should have been about $30 each.

There is TONS to explore in this town. If you are going to a Europe cruise that starts or ends here, be sure to book an extra day or two to explore.

Just remember: Food is SUPER expensive (relative to U.S.) in Norway and Copenhagen. Hamburger in Stavanger restaurant was about $31 US; personal pizza was over $20. A Big Mac Value meal (no we didn't order one, but I went into a McDonalds for price research) was about $12 US; a medium coke was just over $5. (On the Olso fjord tour, a *can* of coke was $5.90). Starbucks latte in Stavanger? Just under $7. Fill up on breakfast before going ashore!

Only complaint here is it took quite a while (50 minutes) to get a Disney bus to Copenhagen Airport. We were off the ship toward the later time -- about 9:10, but they only had like 2-3 buses that were driving the 20-25 mins to Copenhagen Airport, then back. So long wait between buses. They need more. Luckily our flight wasn't until 2:30 so no hurry.

Disney Internet now sells data plans instead of the old fashioned "50 cents a min" online. This was great as it gave you the freedom to use your phone/laptop/tablet. Just be sure to really shut EVERYTHING off for data -- particularly your auto update of apps, which your phone will do thinking it's on free WiFi. That blew out my data in 2 minutes. Disney was VERY nice about these sort of things and gave me my data back. They have a site where you can keep current tabs on your data usage and it's $19 for 100 mb; $39 for 300 mb and $89 for a gig. Also make sure your mail programs are in manual download mode and not automatically fetching as that will eat up data in the background.

TIME CHANGES: UGH! :eek:

One thing if you ever do a transatlantic cruise, especially Eastbound, the time changes are a significant factor. We had to go forward 5 hours in 6 days between Halifax and Stavanger, so each night (save 1) we had to move the clocks ahead one hour. It's like Groundhog Day met Daylight Savings Day. And it really does mess you up. Because you eat dinner at 8:30, done around 10, go meet some characters, get kids ready for bed, and it's 11pm. Only now it's midnight. Repeat night 2, and now it's 11pm, only it feels like 10 pm, but wait, now it's midnight.

Repeat Night 3 and now it's 11pm only it feels like 9 pm, but wait, it's now midnight! Night 4: It's 11pm, but feels like 8 pm, no wait, now… it's midnight!

Some of the nights we weren't going to bed until 1:30-2am because it only *felt* like 10-11 pm. On the other hand, we're sleeping in until 10-11am the next day. Get up, get kids up, shower and… it's noon! Half the day is gone. At least they kept breakfast going with extended hours on the clock-change days. Far and away the hardest part of the cruise. In that sense, going westbound transatlantic is better -- there you're gaining an extra hour each day!

But I'd do eastbound again in a heartbeat on Disney. Thanks for making the trip so memorable! Can't wait for our next adventure! :)

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Thanks for posting the review. I love reading people's experiences and yours sounds awesome.

What was your fjord tour like? We did the disney "fjords by boat" and it was pretty much a harbor tour. It was the only disney excursion we booked and I was disappointed in it. Other than that, the trip was great.

moki'smommy

Trans-Atlantics are the best. This one didn't fit into the school schedule for us, but they really are our favorite cruises.

They went out a bit out to the end of the fjord - about 10-15 or so minutes straight out from the dock. It began as a quick drive-by of like the Opera House, then we spent the next 45 minutes or so drifting or heading alog the homes and islands along the eastern Fjord and cut into some pretty narrow spots, then we cut across the Sound to the western side of the fjords and pretty much same thing -- 30 or so minutes on that side, then came back. It was only 2 hours but really glad we didn't do the Disney one as we were seriously considering it, but it was nearly $400 for the 4 of us. They didn't feed you on this one (I heard the Disney one had at least a snack or something?) and it was a bit hard to see with the rain and foggy windows. But I'd do it again on a sunny day.

Trans-Atlantics are the best. This one didn't fit into the school schedule for us' date=' but they really are our favorite cruises.[/quote']   Agree! If we didn't have little kids we'd make it our yearly trip :) But as it is, they're at terrible times. We figured go now while oldest was in 2nd grade before she gets too far into school as it'd be harder to miss that much school in later grades. Would love to do westbound too, but it's right as school starts, which we felt was worse than trying to do it at the end of the year :)

We did our own excursions in the other cities BC we felt confident wed have time to get back to the ship, this one we decided to go with disney. We saw cabins, saw the opera house. Never saw the high cliffs we had been hoping to see, sounds like you might have in the narrow spots (we didn't go anywhere narrow). Trip was prob under 2.5 hours but half hour of that was bobbing around the magic, the captain of the fjord boat asking the magic if he could let us off there. We got a drink, some tasty bread, and shrimp. The disney excursion was not worth it. Pretty much saw what we did from the magic.

I'm so jealous ! I really want to do a transatlantic, but I guess I'll have to wait until my kids are grown! Many years to go!

I wish our school system would give you so many freebie days off!

STHCruising

We were also on the EBTA and agree with everything you wrote. But, here is the funny part, we were in stateroom 8538 (your neighbors) and were the recipients of the earplugs referenced in your post! We actually thought it was your closet doors making the noise; after being persistent with the deck manager we discovered that it was actually the floor of the deck, but only when there was a lot of motion. It was like someone was stepping on and off an empty oil drum. Had the deck manager been willing to stand on a specific spot in our cabin for the entire night, the noise would have gone away! He did concede that it was a problem he had not seen before.

The annoying cabin noise and the change in itinerary did not ruin our cruise at all however. It was the very best cruise we have taken together. Everything from entertainment to dining to port adventures was over the top, exceeding our expectations. We had servers that were so exceptional we only went up to Palo for one evening, and we were in the Walt Disney Theatre every night for the first time ever because of the terrific entertainment. Stavanger was our favorite port and it wasn't even on the original itinerary. The Lysefjord excursion was terrific.

Glad you had a wonderful cruise; we did too!

ANY time you get on a ship, you have to be ready for altered ports...we've had changes near the US due to storms, Africa due to political unrest, etc. It does seem to happen more often on longer cruises, but can occur anywhere. Glad you had a great time and one of your unscheduled stops ended up being a favorite.

Hah! Too funny! Claret mentioned our neighbors (you :) and others I'm sure) thought it was us, and we were really hoping we could get the word out it wasn't and we were suffering just as much. We were pretty sure it was the cabin below ours -- we could feel the floor jump each time it hit, and it always came in twos -- like the first sliding door hit real hard, then the second one hit moments later. It was literally shaking our bed each time. It happened that night we left Halifax but it stopped around 3:30 am so I figured the people in the room below were just out late and didn't know. But then...what was it, sea day 4?... it went all...night...long. I didn't get to sleep till 5 am that night. And then again on Day 5, but not quite as often. And of course, our rockiest night after Olso (at least we weren't in open sea that long)

They didn't offer us earplugs, but I'm not sure earplugs would have worked because you could feel it as well as hear it. And it shook the floor more than the wall because I thought it was your cabin at first, but then could tell it was coming from below. We had the manager come stand in our room first -- I was then convinced there was an empty cabin on deck 7 and the doors were just running amok and simply needed to be velcroed. Then he said they were all occupied and they couldn't just barge in to check. I wonder if anyone reading this was on the cruise after ours and near our cabin and could confirm it stopped or kept going. If so, next time a room on the port side! :)

Could have it been the waves? I was on the eastbound trans (Royal Princess) and one night it was bumpy and sounded like someone banging on a drum. Front desk said it was the waves banging against the ship - they were right.

I don't think it was waves. We were in deck 8, the highest deck with rooms, no where near the waterline. Also, it didn't seem be heard except by our stateroom and the one next to us. The deck manager told us it was a new problem for him. I will say that these staterooms are at mid-ship, right on the seam where the front and back half of the Magic were put together when ship was originally built. It's pure speculation that this has anything to do with our issue. The floors and walls are made of metal, and it felt and sounded like sheet metal that wasn't fully supported, but only made the noise when seas were on the rougher side.

I had never even thought about all the time changes! I get messed up just twice a year with the one hour change, I cant imagine that many in that short a time. :confused:

Thank you for a very nice review. I was also on your cruise (my 2nd Disney Transatlantic), and I agree that it was a great cruise.

The Transatlantic and Panama Canal cruises are usually DCL's best bang for the buck. This cruise had some pretty big price increases, as it was the first EBTA with a decent itinerary. I was fortunate to book this cruise on opening day. I booked a placeholder cruise while onboard - thinking ahead to a Panama Canal cruise in May 2017. DCL's PC itineraries have been pretty unimaginative, but they do a great job filling the sea days with activities.

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Disney TransAtlantic Cruise Review

Sailing the Seas with Captain Mickey!

Each May, Disney Cruise Line sends the Disney Magic across the Atlantic, where it will spend the summer touring Europe. This thirteen night cruise sets sail from Miami, Florida and ends in Barcelona, Spain. It feels more like two, back to back cruises, one week at sea and one week in Portugal and Spain.

So what is like to spend almost two weeks at sea with Mickey Mouse? And, is it a good experience? We have already booked to repeat it next year! That is how much we enjoyed it. Read on to see what to expect.

Special Activities

Princess Anna, Kristoff and the Cruise Staff Team lead Frozen Days at Sea

Before setting sail, we were asked over and over, “won’t you get bored?” Disney Cruise Line always offers a load of activities, especially on sea days. With seven straight sea days, Disney adds even more.

* Rapunzel’s Royal Table restaurant has opened on the Magic. During all Magic cruises, passengers enjoy a dinner show with Rapunzel and the Ruffians from the movie Tangled . On cruises 7 days or longer, a second dinner show is added.

* Tangled Day at Sea – The Disney Magic boasts both Rapunzel’s Royal Table and Tangled: the Musical . It is fitting that an entire day with special activities is devoted to the movie.

* Frozen Day at Sea – While there is no connection, it is still fun.

* Chefs from Walt Disney World conduct cooking demonstrations.

* Learn your favorite dance with daily lessons: ballroom, tango, salsa, and more.

* Lectures and writing workshops are given daily by adult and children’s author Ridley Pearson.

*More movies. In addition to the recently released Disney movies (including Marvel, Lucasfilms, and Pixar), other family movies were shown: Paddington 2 , Peter Rabbit , and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

* More entertainers with multiple shows

* An extra Disney Cruise Line original production, Once Upon a Song , only shown on Disney European cruises over 7 days.

Weather and Sea Conditions

An amazing sunset in the middle of the Atlantic

We had read and had heard of nightmare weather on Atlantic crossings. Most of these passed through the northern Atlantic. Many cruise lines cross over to Europe in April. The Disney TransAtlantic cruise sails in May and takes the southern route. We were told that this is specifically due to weather and sea conditions.

The weather and sea conditions could not have been better on our crossing. Once at sea, the temperature remains almost constant. Daily high temperatures were consistently 72 – 74 (22 – 23C) with lows of 70 – 72 (21 – 22 C). The skies gleamed a clear blue with fluffy little clouds.

I have never seen or felt calmer seas in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, or Mediterranean. The water was like a mirror for 3-4 straight days. Multiple people, crew and guests, said that even though the southern Atlantic is usually fairly smooth, this was much better than usual.

Once we neared land on week two at the Azores, the weather became more unpredictable. Our day in the Azores and the day after were both cool and rainy with temperatures in the low 60s (16 – 17 C). The seas were not as calm, but still could not be called rough.

I witnessed some of the most amazing sunsets that I have ever seen during the first week. Brilliant!

Disney Magic

Disney Magic docked in Ponta Delgada, Azores

The Disney Magic has become our favorite Disney ship. Disney has a fleet of 4 ships: Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy. We have sailed on all four. We prefer the more intimate, smaller ships, the Magic and the Wonder. In our opinion, the Magic boasts the best costumer service of all. The shows are some of the best, too. The new restaurant, Rapunzel’s Royal Table, with its dinner shows really pushes it to the top.

Fellow Passengers

Disney cruises are not just for kids

More than any other Disney cruise, the Disney TransAtlantic Cruise consists of older, more seasoned passengers. Only a handful had never cruised before. We met many who had taken over 20 Disney cruises. These passengers know the in and outs of cruising.

Out of 2100 passengers, 1700 hailed from the US, 150 from Canada, 150 from the UK, and 100 from elsewhere. 1700 were adults with 400 children. Most passengers were over age 55. Almost everyone was a Disney fanatic.

Our room on Deck 2, Midship, port side

Disney Cruise Line rooms are large by cruise standards. As always, we chose a cabin with a portal window. We find these to be a good value with an open feel but lower price than a veranda room.

A curtain can divide the room into two parts: one with the queen size bed and the other with a couch and bunk that lowers from the ceiling. This provides some privacy. As always, we believe that Disney Cruise line has the most comfortable mattress that we have ever slept on. A gentle rocking motion at night lulls you to sleep like a cradle.

The bathroom is divided into two parts. One section houses the toilet and a sink. The other has the shower and another sink. This makes it easy for multiple people to get ready at once.

A large closet and multiple drawers gives plenty of place to store clothes. Multiple outlets allow you to recharge cameras, phones, etc. A flat screen TV swivels out from the wall. On demand access to virtually all Disney animated, live, and Pixar movies is provided. A variety of TV stations can be views, too; mostly Disney related.

A Week at Sea

My favorite reading place, a porthole window in the After Hours section

A full week at sea on the Disney TransAtlantic Cruise was a little daunting to us. A week seems like a long time to not set foot or even see land. Nothing could have been further from the truth, though. Almost every passenger was sad when the sea days were over.

Disney offers so much to do,..if you want. We were never bored. I packed a book to read during down times. I made it through about 60 pages. From trivia to movies and shows to socializing with other passengers, the time drifted seamlessly. 6 p.m. dining was the only must do on our schedule.

Ports of Call

Ponta delgada, ponta delgada, azores, portugal.

Narrow streets of Ponta Delgada, Azores

Ponta Delgada  is a beautiful island in the mid-Atlantic that is known for volcanoes, lakes, and whale watching. White washed buildings stand out against the deep green surrounding hills and clear blue water. Shore excursions included island tours, tours to the volcano, and whale watching (which was awesome!).

Whales and dolphins in the Azores

Lisbon, Portugal

Caba da Roca, the western tip of Europe, near Lisbon

Lisbon was another wonderful stop. The city is clean, friendly, unique and amazing. Prior to this cruise, I knew very little of it. Now, I can’t wait to return. Many passengers toured the historic city. Others visited nearby beaches. We toured Sintra and Caba da Roca.

Cadiz, Spain

Beautiful park in Cadiz, Spain

Cadiz, Spain is the gateway to Andalusia. Port excursions include trips to Sevilla, Ronda, and Gibraltar. Cadiz itself is rich with history being the oldest city in western Europe. We chose to stay in Cadiz and visit the parks and historic sites.

Malaga, Spain

Mijas, near Malaga, Spain

People flock to Malaga and the surrounding Costa del Sol for sun and beaches. White washed mountain towns like Mijas also make wonderful excursions. Tours included the Alcazar (Moorish castle), white villages, and olive oil producers. We visited Mijas, a stunning, white hill town with post card worthy spots around each turn.

Ibiza, Spain

Flocks of beach lovers and young party goers descend on Ibiza. Excursions took passengers to the touristy south, the less populated north, city tours, and beach drop offs. In my opinion, and that of many of my cruise mates, Ibiza was a poor match for this Disney cruise.

Barcelona, Spain

Sagrada de Familia in Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona remains my favorite city. Architecture by Gaudi, beaches, mountains, amazing tapas, Gothic Quarter, and friendly people set Barcelona apart. Being the port of departure, few excursions were offered. Many were staying for a few nights to visit, though.

Onboard Experience

Parmesan crusted salmon fillet on a bed of polenta!

On board all Disney Cruise ships, passengers rotate on a set schedule through three main restaurants at dinner time. Your waiters remain the same throughout the cruise as do your table mates. We honestly love this.

We requested our waiters from our Disney Mediterranean cruise on the Magic: Hellen and Larissa. Hellen still works on the Magic and we were assigned to her. She is a warm and wonderful person.

On the Disney TransAtlantic Cruise, entertainment is provided during five of the nights. This sets Disney apart. The food quality ranged from good to excellent, but we were served more food on this cruise that was not in the excellent range. It was a little disappointing. The entertainment during the meals made up for it, though.

Beauty and the Beach fresco in Lumiere's

Lumiere’s is a French restaurant with Beauty and the Beast theming. It is classy and beautiful. On our prior cruise on the Disney Magic, this was our favorite restaurant. Our seating was in the middle on this cruise, though, and it was loud. This made it less appealing. The other restaurants had entertainment, too.

Animator’s Palette

Inside Animator's Palette

Animator’s Palette serves California cuisine. It is themed on a Disney animation studio.

One night, an animation show is presented on screens all around the restaurant. It shows the creation of Disney characters from pencil to full movement. The room gradually turns from black and white to fully colored throughout the meal. The wait staff changes outfits mid-meal, too. It is fun.

On the second themed evening, diners draw a person which is later fully animated and played on the surrounding screens, dancing with Disney characters. It is a lot of fun for everyone.

Rapunzel’s Royal Table

Repunzel welcoming us to her birthday party!

Rapunzel’s Royal Table replaced Cariocas about a month ago. It is a huge improvement! The Tangled theme absolutely works with German details and menu items.

The highlight of the restaurant are the two nights dedicated to Rapunzel’s birthday party. Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, and the Ruffians perform on a stage and then roam the restaurant. Kids and some adults dance in the aisles. A band plays Celtic tunes. Dinner is an event.

Entertainment

Original Productions

The Disney Magic is the only place you can see this!

On the Disney TransAtlantic Cruise, four original shows are performed. The first three are broadway style musicals like Aladdin , The Lion King , and Newsies . Twice Charmed puts a twist on the Cinderella story. Tangled: the Musical sets the Rapunzel movie to music. Disney Dreams tells the story of a girl learning to believe her dreams with help of Peter Pan and other Disney characters. All three are top notch and highly entertaining.

The fourth, as mentioned earlier, is called Once Upon a Song . I was not as impressed with it. Four singers perform various Disney songs while Disney characters dance with them.

Other Performers

America's Got Talent winner Paul Zerdin

A wide variety of acts entertained us throughout the cruise: vocalists, comedians, classical musicians, a Beatles cover band, magicians, and variety acts. Stringfever,a string quartet from the UK who were not only talented, but quite entertaining. We have seen JUNNK now 3 times and have loved every high energy performance. Season 10 America’s Got Talent Winner Paul Zerdin brought his comedy/ventriloquism act to the stage.

The three Disney Magic pools

Onboard Activities

The Biddibi Bobbidi Boutique

Kids of all ages have their own “clubs” on board with supervised activities. There are three pools: one adult only, one family pool, and one kids pool. None were crowded, but the adult pool remained the busiest.

The After Hours entertainment section of the ship has three clubs that are open only to adults after 9 p.m. O’Gills is an Irish pub that hosts sing alongs, trivia, sports and Irish music. Keys is a piano bar. The Fathoms disco hosts comedians, musical acts, silent discos, game shows, trivia, and karaoke.

Fathoms Lounge in the After Hours section

The Promenade Lounge on Deck 3 midship hosts music performers, trivia, and even live coverage of the royal wedding. The Cove on Deck 10 forward is always adults only and is a nautical themed lounge.

Our wonderful server, Hellen, on Pirates Night

The crew of the Disney Magic does all that it can to make the cruise memorable. Spectacular service was found throughout. Our dining servers were pleasant and helpful. Cabin stewards work hard, but are always friendly and smiling. The Help Desk was truly helpful. We have found this to often not be the case on other ships. The Cruise Staff Team kept activities going all day, everyday. Of the five ships that I have sailed, the crew of the Disney Magic is the best.

The coast of Africa at the Straits of Gibraltar

The Disney TransAtlantic Cruise costs less per night than any other Disney cruise. Our 13 night TransAtlantic cruise cost about 2/3 the price of a 7 night Disney Alaska cruise. This makes it a great value. Disney cruises are more expensive than most value or moderate priced cruises. Passengers are not nickel-and-dimed, though.

Overall, the Disney TransAtlantic Cruise is a great value for a once in a lifetime experience.

Recommendations

Cadiz Cathedral

For most who enjoy cruising, the Disney TransAtlantic Cruise is a dream come true. Adults of all ages and children older than 1 year all have plenty of activities and space. As I mentioned earlier, it is like taking two back to back cruises: 1 week at sea and 1 week touring the coast of the Iberian peninsula. Both parts are equally amazing.

If you have never cruised, then this might not be the best primer. 2 weeks at sea for those who suffer sea sickness is unimaginable. Those who enjoy gambling might be disappointed, too. Disney Cruise ships have no casinos. You can play Bingo, though. The Disney TransAtlantic Cruise is laid back and casual. If you prefer things more formal and sophisticated, then it might not be the best choice for you, either.

Minnie and Me

Again, we loved it so much, that we have already booked it again for next year. Next year’s cruise will be almost the same, except Ibiza has been dropped and Cartagena added.

Lisbon Packages

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The Disney Cruise Family Travel Blog

Travel and Fun Things To Do

Category: Transatlantic

• Transatlantic

Disney Dream Transatlantic Animation Magic Menu

My favourite Menu and show in Animators Palate the Animation Magic Menu. Specialty Cocktails *Available at an additional fee Appetizers Soups and Salads Bread Service

Disney Dream Transatlantic Cruise Captain’s Gala Dinner Menu

Specialty Cocktails *Available at an additional fee Appetizers Soups & Salads Bread Selection Main Course Vegetarian Lighter Note Desserts Ice Cream Signature Dessert No Sugar

Disney Dream Transatlantic Cruise Greek Isles Menu

Night ten of the cruise was a new menu called the Greek Isles Menu Appetizers Salads Soups Bread Service Entrees Vegetarian Lighter Note Main Desserts

Disney Dream Transatlantic Let the Magic Begin Menu

I have found the missing menu. The Disney Dream started the first night with the Let the Magic Begin Menu. Specialty Cocktails *Available at an

Disney Dream Transatlantic Cruise World of Flavours Menu

For the second formal night on the Disney Dream Transatlantic cruise, the World of Flavor menu was served. Specialty Cocktails *Available at an additional fee

Disney Dream Transatlantic Cruise Land and Sea Menu

Specialty Cocktails *Available at an additional fee Appetizers Soups and Salads Bread Service Main Course Vegetarian Lighter Note Desserts Signature Dessert No Sugar Added Dessert

Disney Dream Transatlantic Menu Night Seven the Transatlantic Menu

Here is the menu from night seven, The Transatlantic Menu on the Disney Dream transatlantic cruise. Specialty Cocktails *Available at an additional fee Appetizers Salads

Disney Dream Transatlantic Pirate Menu

Pirate night took place on the sixth night which meant it was the Pirate Night Menu. I know many peopl don’t love this menu but

Disney Dream Transatlantic Frozen Menu

On the fifth night of the transatlantic cruise, the Frozen menu and the dress code for the night was cruise casual. Frozen Specialty Cocktails *Available

Disney Dream Transatlantic Cruise Menu Night Four

The fourth night’s menu is from the Enchanted Garden and is the restaurant’s main rotational menu; it is one of my favourites Specialty Cocktails *Available

Disney Dream

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Disney Dream

with a cruise advisor

Last renovated in 2015 (after being introduced in 2011), the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream is one of Disney's largest ships. Highlights include the 765-foot AquaDuck water coaster, a virtual sports simulator (for an extra fee) and theatrical performances that bring Disney animated favorites – like "Beauty and the Beast" – to life.

While the ship emphasizes family-focused entertainment with five specialized kids clubs, parents can enjoy the adults-only Quiet Cove pool and the Senses Spa & Salon. At night, a section of the ship called The District transforms into an adult oasis with host of bars and lounges. In terms of dining, the ship offers nine themed venues including two specialty adults-only restaurants.

Staterooms also cater to cruising clans, offering perks like sofa beds. Over 85 percent of cabins have ocean views or verandas. Those looking for extra space can opt for Concierge Suites, which range from 622 to 1,781 square feet.

While some recent cruisers commented that the ship is more expensive than other mainstream competitors, most said it was well worth the price due to the personalized attention they received from the staff.

Disney Dream departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida ;  New York ; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Southampton, England; and more for sailings in the Bahamas , Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe. The cruise line also offers some transatlantic voyages.

U.S. News Insider Tip : Don't skip dinner at Animator's Palate and its Undersea Magic dinner show. During the meal, you'll be immersed in the world of Finding Nemo, as Crush the turtle from the movie swims by virtually to chat with families between courses. (This dinner show is also available on the Disney Fantasy ). – Megan duBois, Contributor

Pros & Cons

Numerous specialized kids clubs

Pricier than other mainstream cruise lines

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 4.5
• Health Rating » 5.0

Disney Dream ranks # 2 out of 5 Disney Cruise Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 2 in Best Disney Cruise Line
• # 4 in Best Cruises for Families
• # 11 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
• # 12 in Best Luxury Cruises
• # 14 in Best Cruises to the Mediterranean
• # 16 in Best Cruises to Europe

Disney Dream offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Disney Dream contains 14 decks. Find out which features are available on each Disney Dream deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 1042 guests have reviewed Disney Dream , giving it a rating of 4.5 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Transatlantic Cruise Ports of Call

Disney Transatlantic Cruises

Disney Cruise Line offers two Transatlantic cruises annually. They are the result of the ship relocating between the US and Europe. Itineraries include cruises from Florida to Spain or from England to New York.

The Disney Dream cruise ship has Youth Clubs to keep the kids busy, Disney character greetings, multiple dining options, three pools, Disney musicals, Evolutions nightclub and a fireworks show. AquaDuck is a twisting water coaster that extends over the side of the ship.

May 5, 2024: 13-night Transatlantic cruise on Disney Dream. One-way from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Barcelona (Spain). Visit Ponta Delgada (Azores), Lisbon (Portugal), Cadiz (Spain), Cartagena (Spain) and Valencia (Spain).

October 20, 2024: 13-night Transatlantic cruise on Disney Dream. One-way from Southampton (England) to Fort Lauderdale (Florida). Visit Vigo (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), Ponta Delgada (Azores) and Lighthouse Point (Bahamas).

May 4, 2025: 13-night Transatlantic cruise on Disney Fantasy. One-way from Port Canaveral (Florida) to Barcelona (Spain). Visit Castaway Cay (Bahamas), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Lisbon (Portugal) and Cadiz (Spain).

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Transatlantic review?

• Thread starter Birdie dog
• Start date Jan 3, 2019

DIS Veteran

• Jan 3, 2019

Surprisingly, when I search the forum with those two words, I'm not actually finding many Transatlantic Reviews. We're planning on using a place holder to book on in 2020. If you know of a great TR or have written one yourself, please link it below.  

Try searching the forum with WBTA and EBTA as well. (West bound transatlantic and East bound transatlantic) As there are only 2 cruises/year, I'm not surprised. Before our cruise this summer, I had a hard time finding TRs for the Baltic cruises as they only have those 2-3x/year.  

GoofyNewfie

Mouseketeer

• Jan 4, 2019

We did the EBTA in 2017 and would do it again in a heartbeat. The time shift was rough so I'd consider at WBTA next time but I was on the ship, enjoying one of the best vacations ever so no complaints from me about the time changes! Our trip took a more southernly path so our weather was perfect - sunny and warm each day. We stopped in the Azores, Portland (Stonehenge), Dover, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. This was the longest cruise we had taken but won't be our last! It was just that good. We were absolutely spoiled by the crew and got to know them over the time onboard.  

I'm happy to dance with you!

GirlieGirl said: We did the EBTA in 2017 and would do it again in a heartbeat. The time shift was rough so I'd consider at WBTA next time but I was on the ship, enjoying one of the best vacations ever so no complaints from me about the time changes! Our trip took a more southernly path so our weather was perfect - sunny and warm each day. We stopped in the Azores, Portland (Stonehenge), Dover, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. This was the longest cruise we had taken but won't be our last! It was just that good. We were absolutely spoiled by the crew and got to know them over the time onboard. Click to expand...

We wanted to do the stop over but couldn't make it work. I'd love to hear how it was! We took an extra day in Copenhagen and had a long layover in London flying home but I don't either of those sound as fun as Iceland! Can't wait to hear the comparison between the EBTA and WBTA!  

We have done 2 TA's. On one we couldn't get to Iceland because there was too much ice in the water!!! They added another stop in Norway instead. I adored our transatlantic cruises!!! MJ  

I haven't written a trip report, but I was on the May 2018 EBTA from Miami to Barcelona. Loved it. The additional entertainment was mostly great, and aside from an overcast day departing Miami and a touch of rain in Ponta Delgada the weather was perfect. The only "downside" I can think of was the fact that it was very sea day intensive in the first half, port intensive in the second (but with such an itinerary it is unavoidable). It makes me think that a 7 day cruise isn't even long enough anymore!  

• Jan 5, 2019

We have done multiple eastbound TA's and loved each one definitely one of our favorite itineraries! If you book one make sure to stay a few nights in Europe before/after cruise. Not sure if you have kids or not but with only a few hundred kids on these cruises typically so kids clubs aren't packed which my DS loves.  

• Jan 7, 2019

braysmommy said: We have done multiple eastbound TA's and loved each one definitely one of our favorite itineraries! If you book one make sure to stay a few nights in Europe before/after cruise. Not sure if you have kids or not but with only a few hundred kids on these cruises typically so kids clubs aren't packed which my DS loves. Click to expand...

Birdie dog said: Surprisingly, when I search the forum with those two words, I'm not actually finding many Transatlantic Reviews. We're planning on using a place holder to book on in 2020. If you know of a great TR or have written one yourself, please link it below. Click to expand...

• Jan 8, 2019

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Personal Navigators: Disney Fantasy 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – May 11, 2024

Personal Navigators, and other details from the   7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral . The  Disney Fantasy  set sail from  Port Canaveral, Florida  on May 11, 2024. There are  additional  Personal Navigators from other sailings of this same itinerary for comparison. During this cruise, the ship was under the control of Captain Fabian Dib. The Cruise Director during the sailing was Ashley Long.

Day 1 – May 11, 2024 –  Port Canaveral, Florida

Guests Onboard : 3:45 pm Personal Navigator – Day 1

Attire : Cruise Casual

Drink of the Day :  Paradise Punch  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Espresso Chiller

Dinner Menus :

• Royal Court :  Royal Court
• Animator’s Palate :  Animator’s Palate
• Enchanted Garden :  Enchanted Garden

Day 2 – May 12, 2024 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 2

Attire : Formal

Drink of the Day :  Cool Breeze  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Crazy Shake

Evening Entertainment :

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular

Day 3 – May 13, 2024 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 3

Drink of the Day :  Bahama Mama  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Coco Bali

• Featured Act –  Kid’s Ace Evening of Wonder

Day 4 – May 14, 2024 –  Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Guests Ashore : 7:30 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm Personal Navigator – Day 4

Attire : Pirate or Cruise Casual

Drink of the Day :  Sunken Treasure  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Parrot Song

• Royal Court :  Pirates in the Caribbean
• Animator’s Palate :  Pirates in the Caribbean
• Enchanted Garden :  Pirates in the Caribbean
• Movie –  Wish

Day 5 – May 15, 2024 –  St. Thomas, USVI

Guests Ashore : 7:45 am  Guests Onboard : 3:45 pm Personal Navigator – Day 5

Drink of the Day :  Yellow Bird  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Lava Smoothie

• Royal Court :  Captain’s Gala Dinner
• Animator’s Palate :  Animator’s Palate – Animation Magic
• Enchanted Garden :  Prince & Princess
• Featured Act –  The Percussion & Comedy of JunNk

Day 6 – May 16, 2024 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 6

Attire : Semi-Formal

Drink of the Day :  Mai Tai  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Cranberry No-Jito

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Frozen, A Musical Spectacular

Day 7 – May 17, 2024 –  Castaway Cay

Guests Ashore : 10:00 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm Personal Navigator – Day 7

Drink of the Day :  Stingray  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Princess Delight

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Disney’s Believe

Buena Vista Theatre Movies

• Disneynature Tiger
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• The Little Mermaid
• The Marvels

Thank you  Karen N  for sharing. If you have any navigators you would be willing to share, please send me an email. If you would rather upload the files you can use our  upload form .

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3 Replies to “Personal Navigators: Disney Fantasy 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – May 11, 2024”

Thank you, Karen!

Hi Scott, In reviewing the various posted Personal Navigators I’ve noticed a trend. For the past 5 Fantasy sailings that there are Navigators for me to confirm from, it appears DCL is cutting entertainment in the WDT on embarkation day. In addition, this appears to be a trend with sailings longer than 8 days, regardless of vessel. With each ship having 3 signature shows performed by the WDT cast members, all other days are filled by external variety acts. I’ve been on 27 Disney cruises and there has been an activity in the WDT on embarkation day on every single one of them. For the Fantasy, which is always a 7-night, they would have “A Fantasy Come True” on embarkation day which was a perfect “mini stage show” introduction and the cruise director would welcome everybody onboard and talk about the upcoming itinerary. Three nights would be the signature stage shows from the WDT performers, 2 nights would be external acts and 1 night would be a movie (don’t get me started on them playing a movie in the WDT as an evening’s entertainment when there’s a movie theater onboard). Anyway, longer cruises equals more nights to have to pay for entertainment and it appears this is another cost-cutting measure on DCL’s part. Nothing like the cruise director giving everyone a “Welcome Aboard” on the second night. I’m going to be on the 06/08 Fantasy 7-night Inaugural Lighthouse Point sailing and fear that for the first time in 20 years, I’ll be in my stateroom watching TV on day 1 while I wait for dinner. The following are voyages where it appears there was no evening entertainment in the WDT on embarkation day: Fantasy 05/11/24 7 East, Fantasy 05/04/24 7 West, Fantasy 03/23/24 7 West, Fantasy 01/06/24 7 East, Fantasy 12/02/23 7 West, Wonder 03/01/24 10 Hawaii, Wonder 02/16/24 15 South Pacific, Wonder 10/13/23 13 South Pacific, Wonder 10/03/23 10 Hawaiian, Magic 12/03/23 14 Panama & Dream 05/05/24 13 Transatlantic. I understand you’re not affiliated with DCL but as an experienced DCL guest, I’m curious as to if you have any thoughts or feedback on this “new behavior”. Thank you.

One of many things that changed following the restart.

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