Disney Magic - Cruising with Mickey and All the Disney Characters III

Disney Magic - Exterior Common Areas on the Ship

Many of the activities on the Disney Magic are centered on the out of doors, starting with the high energy sailaway party and continuing each day around the swimming pools. The ship has three pools, one for adults, the second for families, and the third just for kids. Each pool has attractive features such as the mega-movie screen or the Mickey slide, making them the center of daily life onboard for many guests.

Evening events are also held on the pool deck, the highlight of which is the "Pirates In the Caribbean" party. This party starts with a pirate theme dinner and then moves outside for music, dancing, and fireworks. It's a spectacular ending to a fun-filled night onboard the Disney Magic.

Disney Magic - Dining and Cuisine

The Disney Magic has three main dining rooms, and guests rotate amongst the three rooms during the cruise, always sitting at the same table number and with the same dinner companions. The wait staff also rotates, providing continuity to the dining experience. It's a great idea and works well.

Although these three dining rooms are good, the highlight of dining on the Disney Magic is a dinner or brunch at Palo's, the adults-only alternative restaurant. Palo's sits on the top deck and has wonderful views, exceptional service, and marvelous food. It even has a private room with a large dining table for adult parties.

For families looking for casual fare, the Disney Magic has a large buffet and several take-away food outlets near the pools.

Disney Magic - Cabins and Accommodations

The Disney Magic carries 2700 passengers in 875 cabins, many of which can sleep 4. Of the 720 outside cabins, 388 have private verandas, perfect for some quiet time to enjoy the warm Caribbean weather. The cabins are brightly colored, with plenty of storage space and practicality. I loved the shelves in a vertically-place steamer trunk used as a storage cabinet.

The bath is split into two rooms, one with a sink and toilet and the other with a sink and shower tub. Each bath is tiny, but it is nice to have two separate rooms and two sinks when traveling as a family group.

The room steward was efficient and friendly, and kept the cabin clean. He also left us chocolates and towel animal creations each evening to top off the entertainment.

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Disney Magic - Cruising with Mickey and All the Disney Characters I

The Disney Magic is an excellent mixture of classic ocean liner beauty and Disney whimsy. She is an exceptional choice for family cruising, but provides enough space, entertainment, and activities to draw couples and adults traveling without kids.

Disney excels at organization and entertainment, and these two elements are key to a successful cruise experience. Throw in the characters and the small Disney touches such as the "When You Wish Upon a Star" chimes, Mickey's voice on the wake up call, and the hidden Mickey heads woven in to the decor, and it's a fun week for everyone.

Disney Magic - A Look at the Outside of the Disney Magic

The Disney Magic was launched in 1998 and has a classic ocean liner look on the outside, with a black hull, shining white top, and two red funnels, both adorned with Mickey heads. There's no doubt which cruise line this ship belongs to!

Most modern ships only have one funnel, and this one is no different--one of the funnels is a dummy and houses the teen center. Keeping with the Mickey theme, the life boats are yellow (rather than the standard orange), making the overall look very Disney--black, white, red, and yellow. A glance at the bow will make anyone smile. The bow has intricate gold scroll-work much like classic tall ships of long ago. Mixed in with this elegant detail is Goofy, dangling from a rope and touching up the paint.

 

Disney Magic - Interior Common Areas Around the Ship 

Much of the interior of the Disney Magic is done in Art Deco style, and the ship artwork includes many special Disney theme pieces. Exploring the ship is like a treasure hunt, as you will find yourself looking for the Mickey logo, which is creatively woven into the decor.

My favorite common areas of the ship were the soaring three-story lobby and the large Walt Disney Theatre. The lobby is the hub of the ship and features a wonderful bronze statue of Mickey Mouse at the helm. Topping off the lobby is a huge, multi-colored chandelier designed by Dale Chihuly.

The theatre seats 977 and has the best shows I've seen at sea. Each production show tells a story and is like a short operetta, filled with singers, dancers, and (of course) characters.

I'll be the first to admit that the Disney Magic far exceeded my expectations. I knew the ship was an excellent choice for families, but never dreamed it would be so much fun for adults traveling without kids. The highlights were the exceptional organization, the amazing Disney entertainment, dining at Palo's, and watching the faces of the children as they interacted with the Disney characters.

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Celebrity Cruises for Hawaii

Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1989. Its main aim was to provide high-quality cruise cruise vacations at a reasonable price. It merged with Royal Caribbean International in 1997.Now they run 29 cruise ships. Today Celebrity Cruises offers best cruise throughout the world, including several which include the Hawaiian Islands.

Ten-Night Cruise on the Celebrity Century

Among Celebrity Cruises' Hawaii voyages is a 10-night cruise on the 1,814-passenger vessel "Celebrity Century." This cruise begins in Ensenada, Mexico (just south of San Diego), spends five full days at sea and calls at the Hawaiian ports of Hilo, Hawaii; Kona, Hawaii; and Lahaina, Maui before concluding at Honolulu. Amenities aboard the Century include a full spa, Internet cafe, multiple restaurants and lounges, and a martini bar.

Thirteen-Night Cruise on the Celebrity Century

Another Celebrity Cruise offering aboard the Celebrity Century is a 13-night voyage, beginning in Honolulu and ending in Ensenada. This cruise calls at Nawiliwili, Kauai; Lahaina, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; Kona, Hawaii; and Honolulu before spending six days at sea en route to Mexico. Days at sea give guests an opportunity to enjoy the ship's many features, including a full European-style spa and multiple swimming pools and sun decks.

Fifteen-Night Cruise on the Celebrity Century in October

Vacationers with two weeks at their disposal might consider the 15-day voyage on the Celebrity Century. This cruise begins and ends in San Diego, with four days at sea en route to Hawaii, calls at Hilo, Lahaina, Honolulu and Nawiliwili (Kauai), five days at sea returning, and a call at Ensenada in Mexico. This itinerary is offered in both October and April.

Romantic Cruise

Romance and cruise seems to go hand in hand, especially if you've spotted a cruise lines' glossy magazine ads: photos of couples admiring the front at sunset or sipping orange juice on their veranda private terry robes clothing, or even - and what we find it hard to believe - spend time alone on a deserted beach with their mega-ship anchored in the background.

Ads notwithstanding, however, the cruise can be one of the most romantic vacation options, but often it is the tangibles - atmosphere on board and lifestyle - which are most likely to contribute to a sense of "amore" at that sunset. Choosing the right cruise, and even more specifically, the right ship of the fleet, can be a great challenge.
In our search for first choice, we have mainly appealed to our own romantic travel experiences. Whether your definition of romantic is a party to any vessel or night ultimate pleasure and luxury, you identify with the criteria we used to assess the best choice. For example? A comfortable cabin with a large bathroom - and a private veranda - is an absolute necessity. We prefer to eat two (or at least able to eat when and with whom we choose). Exhibits with soft lighting are pleasant. And one more? Almost-private-open deck space for Star Gazing.

Princess Cruises

While we like any of Princess' Grand Class vessels for their blend of big ship options and small ship cozy, Crown Princess and Emerald Princess, the fleet's newest, offer some first-time-ever features.
Both boast the line's traditionally high percentage of suites and mini-suites (which means booking a bigger cabin may not be too much of a splurge). The "piece de resistance" is the Grand Suite, which features separate sitting area, balcony that stretches between living room and bedroom, and a fabulous whirlpool tub. But even the standard mini-suite is charming and comfortable.

What could be more romantic than a night at "Movies Under the Stars," a retro drive-in where you recline on padded loungers (you can snuggle under the wool tartan blankets)? During the day we love The Sanctuary. A completely new invention, The Sanctuary is a (mostly) shaded zen-like retreat, complete with waiter service, spa menu and massage services (a couples' massage is available).

Check out the spa's couple's Rasul room (it's a mud room with steam -- and it's more fun than it sounds!). Adagio, a new concept lounge featuring a cabaret singer, is lovely and private -- way up on one of the top decks.

Open-seating (as well as traditional) dining is available. But the most romantic option -- and unique to cruising -- is the Ultimate Balcony Dining dinner experience. For $100 per couple, cruisers are treated to a lobster dinner with champagne and course-by-course service. Only caveat: Your cabin must have a balcony. We also love the ship's two specialty restaurants. Request a banquette at Crown Grill, a steak and seafood restaurant with an open grill; Sabatini's, the line's Italian eatery, should not be missed. Another favorite is Vines, the ship's wine and sushi bar.

While the ship's deluxe mini-suites are lovely and comfortable, the all-open-air balconies (applies to any cabin on Dolphin deck) are anything but private. All of the Grand class ships are premier options for onboard weddings. Both have dedicated wedding chapels and captains empowered to perform ceremonies -- and friends at home can watch live via Web cams!

P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises appears to be really targeting the family market with its latest ship, Ventura, but it hasn't forgotten the all-important couples market with its two adults-only ships -- older-style Artemis and the newer, stylish Arcadia. With its upscale dining restaurant and wedding packages, Arcadia is a great pick, particularly for British couples.
Arcadia has suites, mini-suites, and outside and inside staterooms. A nice plus: 685 of 984 have a balcony. Added touches in mini-suites (and up) include his-and-hers Molton Brown toiletry sets. Head to the Aquarius pool on the Lido Deck for relaxation and sunning!

The Orchid Bar, adjacent to the Orchid restaurant on Deck 11 is a great place to enjoy a sundowner (that's British for an evening cocktail!). With its warm terracotta, rust, chocolate and cream decor, it would also make a lovely venue for a reception following a wedding in the Viceroy Room.Try celebrity chef Gary Rhodes' restaurant, Arcadian Rhodes, for top-notch British cuisine. At £15 per person, it is worth a treat, particularly if it is a special occasion. Getting a two-top could be a problem in the main dining area due to the lack of smaller tables.Thanks to its Bermuda registry, the captain can marry people at sea. Wedding packages range from the low key affair to the full works. You can also have anything from a champagne reception through to a group dinner in Arcadian Rhodes.

Crystal Cruises

In general, Crystal is the best choice for folks who want big-ship features and small-ship luxury. In particular, while this newer ship offers many of the same features as Crystal Symphony does, the penthouse suites, the most romantic accommodations, are more plentiful.The aforementioned penthouse suites, which come in three categories. All have verandahs, butler service and marble baths with Jacuzzi tubs (not to mention state-of-the-art tech toys), and are roomy enough for in-room massages. Another plus? Passengers in these staterooms can order off the menu from Crystal Serenity's fabulous specialty restaurants. Head for any of the terraced decks on the back of the ship.

Head for a private corner of the Sunset Bar (at the forward end of the Palm Court) -- it's a great spot for sunset-watching. We also love the clubby-pubby Avenue Saloon.
Try any (or all) of Crystal Serenity's specialty restaurants, such as the Northern Italian Prego and the Asian Silk Road. Or indulge in course-by-course room service on your verandah.Crystal still maintains a set-time, assigned-tablemates scheme in its main dining rooms.

Thomson Cruises

British Tour operator Thomson is geared toward Brits looking for a relatively low-priced traditional cruise experience. The line's smallest ship, at 11,162 tons, the Calypso offers small-ship feel and is Thomson's one adults-only ship. It's a good choice if you are looking at the lower-end of the price scale for a cosy, unpretentious ambience. Although this ship caters to fewer than 500 passengers, it still has a variety of cabins -- 4 suites, 7 semi-deluxe staterooms, 147 outside view cabins and 85 interiors. The wooden promenade deck is great for walking or watching the world go by.

For meeting like-minded couples and enjoying your time on the ship, check out the show lounge -- which features cabaret, comedians and magic acts. L'Orhcidee, the main dining room, is located at the aft of the ship, and although tables are mostly on a bigger scale, it is again a great place to meet other couples. Wine prices are reasonable here, too. If you are looking for a more formal experience, Thomson may not be for you -- the Calypso's dress code is relaxed, as is the atmosphere.