Disney Fantasy Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Despite the fact that Disney doubles cruise prices during Christmas week, we were forced to book then to accommodate the work and school schedules of of other family members... Apparently their marketing department has figured out what the market will tolerate, however, as there were only 8 empty cabins listed on the Disney Cruise site one week before we sailed. However the 'Disney Magic' continues to entice kids of all ages, making the experience memorable for all. From the first day at sea character breakfast for our party of 9, to the Broadway quality shows, to Pirate Night, it's hard to top the kid appeal provided.
Cabanas was our go to option for breakfasts and lunches and we were generally pleased with the extensive choices available with their serve yourself offerings. The serve yourself beverage choices included coffee, hot tea, coke, water, and several other drink options which I avoided after my first experience with each as they were watered down to the point of being rather tasteless. Our meal rotation in the three dining rooms was generally positive after my husband told the staff that he wanted their focus to be on our three grandchildren rather than the four 40-something adults in our party. Meal length would be my major complaint as I felt that service was slow and that the children in our party had to wait a long time between course offerings. As this cruise was a family bonding adventure, we only ordered room service the morning we departed early for the Mayan ruins. It arrived promptly at the scheduled time and our cabin steward made it disappear by the time we returned from our field trip. We did not chose to book a meal in Remy or Palo on this cruise.
My husband and I took advantage of the Quiet Cove Adult Pool area on several afternoons and found it to be a welcome respite in a sea of ongoing activity on the rest of Deck 11. Although we did not experience the hot tubs personally, that area seemed to accommodate the number of interested participants and the Cove Bar staff made frequent trips through the area to fill drink orders.
Cabin Review
Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
Our cabin was in a good location near the aft of the ship as only a handful of other passengers passed by us on a regular basis. Noise from the reverse thrusters did not seem to bother us as we were usually already up and functioning by the time the ship docked.
The cabin itself was a bit narrow, so navigating it could prove to be a challenge for a party of four adults. Although we did not personally make use of the bunk bed setup, it seemed to work well for family members in two adjoining cabins. The split bath is a wonderful concept, especially with 3-4 people sharing the space.
The built-in storage proved to be adequate for two, but a bit slim for four. Hanging closet space was generous for two, but would require more hangers if adding two more adults. Perhaps I should note here, that we travel light.... one 24" piece of checked luggage and two carry-ons one of which is for shoes.
Port Reviews
Cozumel
Be prepared for a seven hour bus ride for an hour at the Mayan site. However our guide was excellent.
Grand Cayman (Georgetown)
Introduced us to vegetation & wildlife which are native to the area. Tour group size small (20) with van transport. Boat used to navigate the area was a bit worn, but provided ample room to move about safely.
Falmouth
Our tour group size was outstanding with a total of 9 participants which allowed for ideal viewing once we reached the plantation. Transport was by small van which gave us the opportunity to see a bit of the island while enroute.