Since I've started my travel agent job, I've been booking Disney cruises...and feeling a little lost. I can talk Disney World all day/night as well as pretty much any other cruise line, but not DCL.
So, when a Travel Agent rate opened up, I booked it. It was only 3 weeks before sail date. I called Chris, so excited....and he burst my bubble. There was no way he could swing it (Something about us taking off in May and in July...doing a half-Ironman in between...and being a manager...blah blah blah).
So, I asked grandma who was all in. Girls trip for the win!
It was seriously amazing. It was a perfect first cruise for the girls.
At the boat!!
Captain Minnie met us at the pier to welcome us aboard.
With a travel agent rate, you don't have any say in your room. You get one assigned to you...and we really lucked out!
We got a huge room with 2 big windows. The windows on DCL have big seats you can sit in and look out. The girls LOVED doing this. They would sit and watch us sail away, dock, etc.
Ready for the muster drill!
Our first cruise ice cream!
In true Disney fashion, there were so many characters on the ship! They were all so great with the girls. They spent a lot of time with them, talking to them, twirling with them, hugging them.
We had two stops at Disney's private Bahamian island - Castaway Cay. My new favorite place.
Yes, this is in the ocean. It's super fun. The girls came down the slides over and over.
On our second day, the girls went to Scuttle's Cove for a few hours while mom and I hit up the adults beach. We found starfish, a conch shell and tons and tons of sand dollars (though most broke, unfortunately.)
As we were leaving Castaway Cay, we told the girls to share a towel. They took it literally.
We also docked one day in Nassau. But, it was hotter than the face of the sun and I didn't have a stroller. About 40 steps off the boat I had to pick up my 3 year old. About 40 steps AFTER that, we made an executive decision to hit a few stores, grab a souvenir and get our butts back on the boat.
So, we got back on the ship and enjoyed the afternoon! Sydney played in this Nemo Splash Pad every day, as much as she could!
Maddie liked the Splash Pad too but her favorite was the water coaster. She rode the Aqua Duck (see the water slide the sky?) FOURTEEN times. She loved it. And, both girls swam in the Mickey pool.
One of the most fun things about a Disney cruise is Pirate Night!
Funny story - this guy is not a DCL employee but his costume was so great the girls thought he was a character and asked for a picture. :)
Jack Sparrow loved Sydney and Maddie. He'd been working for hours and we were one of the last families. He got down on his knees and talked with them for several minutes.
There's a fun Pirate show on the pool deck that we loved.
The characters have on their pirate gear!
And there's fireworks! (with chocolate chip cookies!) Sydney crashed before the fireworks so I had some special time with my big girl.
But, don't worry, I got special time with my little girl the next day when grandma was riding Aqua Duck over and over with Madeline.
The boat was the prettiest boat I've been on.
Maddie got two holes in one!
Besides the Aqua Duck there was a non-coaster water slide.
The Ghiardeli chocolates every night were a nice addition to all of the other treats we were eating!
You know, like Mickey pops.
And soft serve.
We finally had to give Sydney a nap one afternoon. She complained for about 5 seconds and then fell asleep, arms in the air, naked. HA!
Both girls passed out on the way home.
What a great trip! Can't wait for our next Disney cruise!
