OUR TOP 3 SHORE EXCURSIONS ON A DISNEY CRUISE

Shore excursions on the Disney Cruise are a great way to stretch your sea legs a bit and visit a new city or island. No matter what ship you're on or what your itinerary is (Bahamas, Caribbean, European, etc.), there is at least one port where you can indulge in a shore excursion for most or all of the day. It's often hard to choose which shore excursion is right for you and your family, so here are our TOP 3 SHORE EXCURSIONS on a Disney Cruise Line sailing:

#3: Aquaventure Water Park in Nassau, Bahamas
Most of the Disney Cruise ships make a stop in Nassau in the Bahamas. And while getting off the ship is optional, if you choose to explore the island you'll love this water park at the Atlantis Resort.  It's the Caribbean's biggest water-themed attraction and it's one of our favorite places to visit! It features 141 acres ... 20 swimming areas ... 11 pools including three kids pools ... a six-story Mayan temple plummet into a shark-filled lagoon .... and more. Definitely a must-see!

#2: Sea Trek Helmet Dive at Coral World Ocean Park in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. 
One of our agents said, "this is the closest thing to actually scuba diving...you're under the water for about 30 minutes. This shore excursion satisfied my love of nature plus it was exhilarating to be under water that long!"

At this beautiful ocean park, you'll have a safety lesson first and then plunge below the ocean's surface and embark on an amazing 30-minute underwater walk as you follow your guide along a special handrail to depths of up to 20 feet. 

You'll stroll past coral reefs and get an intimate look at the abundant marine life surrounding you at every turn.

And our #1 shore excursion on the Disney Cruise Line is??

CASTAWAY CAY! 
It's Disney's private island in the Bahamas and it's definitely at the top of our list for places to visit. You can rent bikes, snorkels, or jet skis. You can get a private massage in a cabana on the beach. or enjoy the adults-only quiet beach. There's also a kid's club and a family beach complete with lounge chairs and hammocks. It's the perfect paradise escape. 

So tell us, what's YOUR favorite shore excursion? 
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As a reminder, most shore excursions have an additional fee and must be booked in advance of your trip or immediately upon boarding. For more information, check with your Magical Travel agent. Here are some tips for staying safe on shore excursions.

Top 10 Reasons to Celebrate the Holidays on the High Seas

This holiday season, Magical Travel can plan your trip on Very MerryTime Cruises - a Disney Cruise Line event - available on sailings in early November through Christmas!

2014 Sail Dates:

·         Disney Magic, Nov 9 - Dec 28

·         Disney Wonder, Nov 9 - Dec 30

·         Disney Dream, Nov 10 – Dec 29

·         Disney Fantasy, Nov 8 – Dec 27

Why should you sail during the holidays? Here are our TOP 10 reasons to celebrate the holidays on the high seas:

1 - Holiday Cheer at Castaway Cay

A winter wonderland awaits you aboard each ship—as well as at Castaway Cay! Disney's private island paradise is transformed with "snow" flurries, a Christmas tree and more. Be on the lookout for Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, dressed in their island attire. Plus, the island's tram is decorated to resemble a reindeer, complete with antlers and a tail.

2 - Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party, a celebration in addition to Pirate Night, with candy-cane limbo, dancing and games.

3 - King Triton's Tree Lighting Ceremony, where kids can help light the tree and kick off the holiday festivities

4 - Santa Claus meet-and-greet, an exciting opportunity to take family pictures and see Santa and his elves

5 - Teen-only and tween-only holiday parties—private celebrations where teens and tweens can hang out

6 - Holiday storytelling, with new and old tales about holidays at sea and around the world

7 - Themed activities and crafts for kids: decorate stockings and holiday cards, go on scavenger hunts & more

8 - See a life-sized gingerbread house made completely with edible ingredients—and make your own gingerbread house!

9 - Cookies on Christmas Eve

10 - Holiday caroling with the kids and the crew of the ship

Disney Cruise Line has really gone all out to make sure every sailing is filled with holiday magic. Religious services will also be offered on board. Check with Guest Services for times and locations. 

For pricing on any of the 2014 Very Merrytime Cruises:

CONTACT US

1-866-207-8387

Email: Info@magicaltravel.com

No-obligation quote 

Holiday activities and offerings are subject to change and vary by ship and itinerary. 

The BEST Time To Take a Disney Cruise

OK let me begin by saying that in my opinion, there is no WRONG time to take a Disney Cruise. Oh sure there are times when it's not as crowded, but overall it's the perfect getaway and one of my favorite vacations to take.

You might not believe me, but one of the best times to go on a Disney Cruise is over the holidays. Think about it. No cooking...no dishes...no laundry. None of the holiday stress, no shoveling snow... 

Sounds great, right?

Well this November, each of the four Disney cruise ships (the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy) will become magical winter wonderlands at sea. 

And you won't have to lift a finger to do any of the decorating!


The ships are planning lots of activities for you and your family including - 

• Building gingerbread houses
• Meeting Santa
• Storytelling with tales of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa
• Singing and dancing at the "Deck the Deck Holiday Party"
• Meeting all of the Disney characters dressed in their holiday best

To kick it all off, there'll be a special tree-lighting ceremony for the three-deck-tall tree in the ship's atrium lobby.

Mickey's best pal having some fun at Castaway Cay!

And Castaway Cay, Disney's private island, won't be left out of the fun. 

I won't give away all of the secrets, but let's just say that somehow snow will fall in the balmy island in the Bahamas.

The celebrations begin in early November and last through the New Year. If you'll be cruising over Thanksgiving, there'll be plenty of turkey and NFL football, too.
If you're traveling over Christmas, Santa will make a special stop on the cruise ship before making his special deliveries. And there will be caroling and a traditional Christmas dinner menu. 

There's always something special on the Disney Cruise, and this holiday season is no exception. 

So if you had your choice, which holiday would you most want to spend on the Disney Cruise? 

TOP 4 Things to Bring to Castaway Cay

Disney's private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, is a favorite stop on the Disney Cruise. The ship pulls right up to the island. So when you debark, there are no buses or ferries to wait for. You're right there on the island! 

Here are the TOP 4 Things you'll want to bring with you for a magical visit to Castaway Cay!

1. Beach toys! If you've got kids, a pail and shovel might be in order. Looking back on my Disney Cruise last year with my two young girls, I really wish I'd thought to pack some beach toys for them. The ship's stores sell toys, but I could've saved a few bucks and brought my own.
    
2. A waterproof camera.  Even if snorkeling isn't your thing, you'll want to have a good waterproof - (and for that matter sandproof) - camera or phone to capture all of your memories.
   
   
3. Your appetite! There's a huge outdoor restaurant that serves up barbecue, grilled chicken, veggies, fruits, french fries and more for no additional charge (except for alcohol). The food is delicious and there's even ice cream to cool off after a warm day on the beach.
4. 
   Your favorite person...if you're not traveling with kiddos, grab your best adult friend and take the short tram ride to the other side of the island. The quiet, adults-only beach is tranquil and so relaxing. You can even pre-book a seaside massage to maximize the relaxation. 

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF CASTAWAY CAY 

So what did we miss? What would you say are the most important things to bring to Castaway Cay?