Sharing a recap of our Disney cruise #5 on the Wish! Sadly this post is not sponsored or comped in any way; just sharing my thoughts!
Hi friends! How’s the day going? I hope you’re having an amazing afternoon. I’m here in between client appointments and getting ready for part two of the day. Picking up the kids and heading into after school activities and homework feels like an entire day on its own.
So let’s switch to vacation mode! Today, I’m sharing a recap of our recent Disney cruise. It was P’s birthday and the timing ended up corresponding perfectly with my RHS trip to Orlando, so we figured we’d turn it in to a birthday celebration with some Disney World fun (on the Pilot’s birthday!) and cruise time.
We’re so happy that the Pilot’s sis and our niece were able to join us, in addition to some of our closest friends and travel buddies. We’re officially Disney cruise obsessed. It’s the perfect mix of family time, adult time, delicious food, shows, variety for ports of call, and the Disney cleanliness and service that sets it apart. It was our 5th Disney cruise and as of now, we have no desire to try another cruise line lol.
Disney Wish (Castaway Cay and Bahamas)
Disney Wish Review
The Wish is one of Disney’s newest ships, and it was absolutely gorgeous. One of the most breathtaking locations was the atrium, which has an illuminated Cinderella skirt chandelier, and was decorated for Halloween while we were there. (It was a Halloween on the High Seas cruise.)
We definitely had to get used to the layout of the ship, since everything was new to us. The restaurants were different, and the kids were PUMPED to check out the kids’ club. Our cruise was only three nights, but we had plenty of time for exploring and taking advantage of the amenities and entertainment.
Pros:
– Kid’s Club. The kids’ club was SO cool. The kid’s clubs on the other Disney ships are absolutely amazing, but this one was next level. I can’t even fully explain it; you need to watch this video. P and Nylah espeiclaly loved designing their own roller coaster, and taking the slide to enter kids club.
– The shows! I feel like the talent and entertainment on this ship was the best we’ve experienced. This says a lot because Disney puts such an emphasis on high production quality. The shows were excellent and I was expecially impressed with the Pirate Deck party and Sail A Wave party right as we were leaving the port. The music and dancing were upbeat, and everyone cheered when the characters came out to dance on the stage – it was super cute.
– The Aqua Mouse. The kids rode the Aqua Mouse slide at least 15 times while we were on the cruise. It has a Disney short that you’ll watch in the tunnel in your double tube (no single riders), and then you’re pushed out to the main water slide, which is a blast. P and I did it three times in a row since it was Castaway Cay day and there was no line!
– Quick bites. They have new quick bites areas on the pool deck and they were SO good. BBQ with pork, chicken, brisket and all the sides, and a Cantina with build-your-own tacos, bowls, and burritos.
There’s also the usual pizza spot and “American food” spot with nuggets, pizza, and mac and cheese and the all-you-can eat soft serve ice cream.
– Ports of call. We stopped at Castaway Cay – Disney’s private island – where we swam, snorkled, and rented bikes.
We also stopped in Nassau, where we did a day excursion to Atlantis. Atlantis was amazing; we’re planning on doing a family trip there so we have more time to explore. The kids did all of the water slides (including this one) and we also enjoyed the beach and bay.
– Extra holiday-themed activities. They had an Oogie Boogie bash on the ship, characters were in their Halloween costumes, and there were also Halloween decorations and themed desserts in the sweets shop.
Cons:
– Main dining rotation food. We weren’t blown away by the main dining room food this time. The best was in Arendale, which had live performances. The interactive experience at Worlds of Marvel was fun, but the food was underwhelming.
– Gift shop! We felt like the gift shop was on the smaller side and didn’t have much Wish-specific merch.
– Too short! We all agreed that the cruises need to be at least 5 nights 😉
All in all, it was anothe rmagical trip and more fun cruise memories with the fam and friends!
Disney cruise tips
Some of my top Disney cruise tips:
– Pack a swim bag and keep it with you when you check in. (You’ll drop off the rest of your luggage and they’ll deliver it to your room when it’s ready.) The pools and hot tub are open and they’re the least crowded they will be for the entire cruise. Ride the water slide and take advantage of the food and ice cream! Try to check in as early as possible for pool time and to have lunch.
– Decorate your door with door magnets. They have so many on Etsy!
– I also recommend getting magnetic hooks for the room (the walls are magnetic) to hang swimsuits to dry or anything else you need to hang.
– I like having water shoes for the kids, especially if you have a Castaway day or beach excursion.
– Pack your own collapsible beach toys – so much cheaper – and you can repack or donate to another family.
– Be strategic about your time on the ship. The kids wanted extra pool time, and a great opportunity is when everyone else is getting off the ship. We had already been to Castaway Cay, so we stayed on the ship and did laundy while the kids rode the slide a bunch of times because it was empty. We had lunch, and then got off in Castaway Cay, as a ton of people were getting back on the ship. Castaway was way less crowded!
– Pack a pop up hamper and laundry pods if you plan on doing laundry. I always like to do laundry on the last day; unpacking clean clothes is a little less depressing after a trip.
– Everything is in the Disney cruise app, including the daily navigator dining rotations, signups for excursions and extra activities. You can also text members in your party from the app!
– Room service. You can get room service at any time, and it’s inlcuded; you just need to tip. Nothing like getting a slice of the “cake of the day” or a few Mickey ice cream bars for the kids. If you get a carafe of coffee delivered at night, it’s still warm and perfect when you wake up! I also like the coffee shops on the ship (not included, but worth it for a decaf almond milk latte with Moana printed onto the foam haha).
– Bring motion sickness supplies juuuuust in case. I always have a little dramamine and motion sickness bands in my backpack if we need it.
– One of my biggest travel hacks is using our Amex Platinum. We use this for free lounge access when we travel, in addition to hotel rooms and perks. We’ll often get early check-in, late checkout, room upgrades when available, and sometimes dining credits at hotels. It has been amaaaaazing. Check it out with my referral link here!
So, tell me, friends: are you a cruise fan? What’s next on your vacation list??
xoxo
Gina
More:
Disney Magic Bahamas and Castaway Cay
Disney Dream Italy and Greece Mediterranean cruise