Bahamian Cruise on the Disney Dream (Courtesy Disney Cruise Line)
Are you looking to take the kids on a family cruise? Disney Cruise Line is known for being a family-friendly cruise line with many itinerary options available for families. The Disney Cruise Line features rotational dining, so cruisers have the opportunity to rotate throughout all of the restaurants on the ship, with the servers traveling along with them, learning about each cruiser's preferences. They also offer kid-friendly, Broadway-style shows in the evenings, family-friendly programming, adults-only spots, and world-class kids' clubs for kids of all ages.
Which itineraries are the best? They are all family-friendly, with plenty of options depending on where you want to leave from and where you want to visit.
Here are five of our favorite choices for 2015. Be sure to book with lots of time to get the best stateroom reservations.
3- or 4-Night Bahamian Cruise on the Disney Dream
Because of the short duration of this cruise, it's a great option for a first family cruise (to be sure that cruising is for you) or as an addition to a Walt Disney World vacation. It leaves from Port Canaveral and makes stops in Nassau, Bahamas, and Castaway Cay (Disney's private island). The four-night cruise also includes a day at sea.
The Disney Dream is the third ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and accommodates up to 4,000 passengers (as well as crew). It was the first ship to feature the Aquaduck -- a "water coaster" at sea.
FEBRUARY 2015 OFFER: Disney's 3-night Bahamian cruise from Port Canaveral, FL starts at $525 per person based on double occupancy (taxes, fees, and fort Expenses of approximately $69 per person not included) for a Category 06A Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah. Book by calling 1-800-775-1196 through March 31, 2015 and available most sail dates 01/22/2016 - 02/05/2016.
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Fantasy
Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Fantas (Courtesy Disney Cruise Line)
The 7-night Caribbean cruises on the Disney Fantasy include several different itineraries. Stops on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary include St. Maarten, St. Thomas/St. John, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tortola, and Disney's private island Castaway Cay (specific stops vary by cruise itinerary). The ship also has some days at sea.
The Disney Fantasy is the fourth and newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The sister ship to the Disney Dream, the Fantasy can accommodate 4,000 passengers in addition to crew, and offers the Aquaduck, a fun "water coaster" that goes around the ship.
FEBRUARY 2015 OFFER: Disney's 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, currently starts at $1,414 per person based on double occupancy (taxes, fees, and fort Expenses of approximately $92 per person not included) for a Category 07A Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah. Book by calling 1-800-775-1196 through February 28, 2015, and available for 04/25/2015 sailing.
(MORE: Check out great deals on family cruises for your next vacation.)
7-Night Alaskan Cruise on the Disney Wonder
Many families have an Alaskan cruise on their travel bucket list, and Disney Cruise Line offers a fabulous one. Leaving from Vancouver, British Columbia, this 7-night cruise on the Disney Wonder departs in the summer, when the Alaskan high temps are in the low 60s. The itinerary includes days at sea as well as stops at Tracy Arm (viewed from the ship), Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan.
The Disney Wonder, sister ship to the Magic, is the second ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. It can accommodate approximately 2,700 passengers in addition to crew.
7-, 9-, or 11-Night Norwegian Fjord Cruise on the Disney Magic
Got Frozen fever? Head out on the new Norwegian Fjords cruise, showcasing some of the sites that inspired the country of Arendale in the movie Frozen. All depart from Copenhagen, Denmark. The 7-night cruise makes stops in Stavanger, Alesund, Geiranger, and Bergen, while the 9-night cruise visits the Norwegian cities of Stavanger, Alesund, Geiranger, Molde, Olden, and Bergen. The 11-day cruise also departs from Copenhagen and visits Oslo, Kristiansand and Stavanger, Norway, Akureyri and Reykjavik, Iceland, Kirkwall, Scotland, and Dover, England. All include at least one day at sea.
The Disney Magic, which was recently upgraded, includes the Aquadunk water slide. The ship can accommodate 2,600 passengers in addition to crew.
7-Night European Cruise on the Disney Magic
European Cruise on the Disney Magic (Courtesy Disney Cruise Line)
In August 2015, Disney Cruise Line is offering a 7-night Dover to Barcelona cruise on the Disney Magic. Because this itinerary starts in Dover, England, and ends in Barcelona, Spain, it's a good option for families looking to extend their European vacation. Ports of call include Vigo, Spain, Lisbon, Portugal, and Gibraltar, UK, as well as some days at sea.
Jodi Grundig of Family Travel Magazine contributed this to MiniTime.