Destination: Disney Magic | Creating Family Memories Aboard Disney Cruise Line Magic at Sea – Family Adventure #49

We took our first, and our last for 14 years, cruise during our Honeymoon to the Mexican Riviera on Carnival Cruise Lines. We didn’t experience the poop overflow from the septic system that filled the halls, nor did a family go ballistic on our cruise beating each other to a bloody pulp, but it was miserable nonetheless. Our travel agent put two young Mormons on a booze cruise, knowing full well our personal beliefs and lifestyle choices. From anywhere on the outside decks we could see the topless deck, smoke was literally filtering into our cabin, and all our dinner seatmates talked about was doing body shots off strangers at the Señor Frog’s at every stop. We had zero desire to ever again step foot on what we dubbed a two ton trailer.

Fast forward eight years and I started my job in the airline industry. All I ever heard anyone talk about was cruises. Especially, Disney cruises. It’s no big secret how much we love Disney, but it still wasn’t enough to entice us to step back on board a big floating hotel.

Until six years into my aviation career, like many of our vacations, we chose one based solely on the deal we found. It was too good to pass up. And rather then test the waters with a three day cruise, we jumped in head first and booked a 12 night Mediterranean cruise on the Disney Magic Cruise Ship. The thing was, as much as we hated our Carnival experience, we loved the stops – and this Disney cruise was stopping in Naples, the gateway to Pompeii. That one name would have convinced me to do just about anything.

It was worth the wait. Disney cruises are often named the Titanic of cruise liners, and the name could not be more accurate. Like everything Disney, the experience is unparalleled, the details are unsurpassed and every moment is accounted for. Whether you are traveling with children or not, whether you are a Disney fan or not, whether you are old or young or anywhere in between, if you want to experience what the best in cruising has to offer, you want to cruise with Disney.  

Ports of Call on the Disney Magic Cruise ship:

Barcelona, Spain
Olbia, Italy
Civitavecchia, Italy
Naples, Italy
Palermo, Italy
Livorno, Italy
Villefranche, France
Cannes, France
Palma De Mallorca, Spain

Shows and Attractions on the Disney Magic Cruise ship:

Buena Vista Theater, Funnel Vision and Preludes
Nightly Entertainment Broadway Style Shows 
Hector is Magic 
Twice Charmed
Pirate Night and Buffet
Frozen Deck Party
Characters
Sail Away Celebrations & Deck Parties
After Hours, Fathoms, Keys and O’Gills Pub
Wide World of Sports
Disney Cruise Kids Clubs
Pools

Restaurants and Eateries on the Disney Magic Cruise ship:

Disney Cruise Dining: Rotational Dinner and Personal Servers
Lumiere’s
Animator’s Palate
Rapunzel’s Royal Table (changed from Carioca’s after our cruise)
Cabanas
Quick Service Dining Options
Palo
Room Service

Cruise Culture on the Disney Magic Cruise ship:

Navigator & Key to the World
Stateroom & Stateroom Host
Senses Spa & Gym
Shutters
Sea Treasures, Mickey’s Mainsail & White Caps

More About the Disney Magic Cruise Ship:

Everything Else You Need to Know about Cruising Aboard the Disney Cruise Line
Cruise Critic
Maximizing Disney Cruise Dining 
Comparing Disney’s Cruise Ships

I know other people have completely different experiences on other cruise lines outside Disney, but for us, that one experience on Carnival was a deal breaker. Then with their history of trouble in the news I’m done. What experiences have you had cruising? Share your experiences in the comments – we’d love to chat about it!

Check out our cruise on Disney’s sister ship – the Disney Wonder. Read about everything we did, saw and most importantly, ate! Or, Disney’s larger ship, the Disney Fantasy!