Fantasy is the hallmark of vacations onboard Disney Cruise Line ships, where guests can cavort with their favorite Disney characters, dress up in character costumes and princess gowns, and have adventures at ship destinations like Mickey’s Pool and the AquaDuck Water Coaster. Guests can even dine at magic-themed restaurants. With the addition of Disney’s Marvel Universe to its cruise division, the cruise line has designed special Super Heroes sailings on its roster of Western Caribbean cruises aboard the 4,000-guest Disney Dream through early March. The five-night cruises depart from the Port of Miami, with port calls at Cozumel, Mexico, and Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island.
The cruise line’s Marvel Day at Sea experience is a daylong event during the cruise that’s focused almost solely on the Marvel characters and offers many activities guests can participate in. The entertainment extravaganza features character meet and greets, special stage shows, movie screenings, and other events for youngsters and adults.
Full Day Of Marvel Events Aboard Disney Dream
Disney Cruise Line has created a slew of activities, events, and parties held onboard the Disney Dream, all featuring the Marvel characters. Here are the highlights:
- Interactions with Captain America Sam Wilson, Mighty Thor, Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Kate Bishop, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Thor, Loki, and Black Widow.
- Encounters with Shuri, the newest protector of Wakanda, with an all-new Black Panther heroic encounter.
- An interactive experience called Warriors of Wakanda, where guests can train to become warrior allies of Wakanda.
- A nighttime spectacular featuring special effects, stunts and pyrotechnics, and a line-up of Marvel characters in an epic battle with never-before-seen villains on a Disney Cruise Line ship.
- A mystic arts show titled Strange Academy: A Spellbinding Spectacular, featuring Doctor Strange, in the ship’s Walt Disney Theatre.
- An interactive training experience for children with Captain America Steve Rogers, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Kate Bishop.
- A costume bash where guests, adults, and children, are invited to dress up as their favorite Marvel superhero or villain.
- A deck party called Mickey and Minnie’s Super Hero Celebration, featuring live music and dancing.
Disney Dream Calls At Castaway Cay
In addition to the Marvel Day at Sea festivities, guests aboard Disney Dream will visit the cruise line’s private island, Castaway Cay, located in the Bahamas. Private islands like Castaway Cay are popular with guests because they provide a VIP experience, offering luxury amenities, a wide assortment of water sports, and miles of private beachfront.
Just one Disney ship is scheduled to dock at the private island each day, so guests won’t feel the island is overcrowded. There’s a fun castaway theme throughout the island, making it the ultimate Instagram-worthy cruise activity, and visitors can enjoy appearances by various Disney characters.
The island has a children’s water park, waterslides for adults and children, and a “hideout” for teens. A 5K walk or run is held during every port call, and all finishers receive a Disney Castaway Cay 5K medal. A barbecue lunch is offered free to all cruise guests.
A Disney cruise isn’t just for kids, as there’s an adult-only beach for those looking for a quiet spot to sip a cocktail. Snorkeling and other water sports are available.
Onboard Disney Dream, Something for Everyone
Captain Marvel joined the Disney Cruise Line character line-up in 2019, but even before that, there was no shortage of onboard delights.
On Disney Dream, several dining options will entertain adults and children alike. At Animator’s Palate, which is designed to look like an animator’s studio, the Undersea Magic dinner show features visits from the movie “Finding Nemo” using digital animation and puppetry.
At the Royal Court Royal Tea restaurant, youngsters are immersed in a storybook setting, while Disney characters, including princesses, tell stories, dance, and sing. Some dining spaces are reserved for adults, which some say is one of the surprising things about a Disney cruise.
Live performances are held each night, along with variety shows, trivia contests, and karaoke. Classic Disney movies are shown on open decks or in the theater, and there are adult-only nightclubs and lounges. Clubs for children, categorized by age group, are supervised by trained counselors.
There are several pools for adults and children. Mickey’s Pool has a winding waterslide and wading pools for younger children, while Goofy’s Pool is designed for families and Quiet Cove Pool is reserved for guests 18 and older.
For adventure seekers, the water coaster AquaDuck propels guests through an acrylic tube over the side of the ship to a splashdown in a pool.
Disney Dream offers several cabin categories, including inside cabins, which have a “magic” porthole, oceanview (with a real window), veranda, and concierge. A family concierge suite sleeps five and is 306 square feet including the balcony. Some concierge-level cabins have separate bedrooms.
Rates for the five-day Marvel Day at Sea cruises, for an oceanview stateroom, are about $800 per person. Cruise fares can rapidly change, and prices aren’t locked in until a deposit is placed.
But ask any Marvel fan, and they’ll say it’s well worth the expense!
