TRAVEL LOG: Day 1-Part 2 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream
We’re sailing on a four-night Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream! We had arrived at the cruise terminal, checked-in, and were ready to get onto the ship! We were so excited for our cruise vacation to begin. Learn more about what our first day looked like and learn tips for future cruising.
1 – Enjoy the Moment
When you step onto a Disney Cruise Line ship, you want to savor the moment. So, once you’re in the atrium, take a moment and look around. You’ve made it! Before you rush off for lunch or whatever you have planned, take the time to stop, smile, and look around you. Maybe even gather your party together and take a selfie to kick off your vacation! That’s what we did when we arrived. Make sure to take a moment to savor those first Disney Cruise moments, regardless of how many times you’ve cruised before!
2 – Prepare Your Electronics for Your Cruise
Another important step to take before you forget is to put any electronics in airplane mode. Whether it’s phones, watches, iPads, or tablets, if it has a cellular signal, you want to take the time to put them in airplane mode so that you don’t get any surprise roaming fees once you’re out to sea! This is an easy thing to forget once you’ve really entered cruise mode, so take the time to do this now!
3 – Connect to the Ship’s Free WIFI
Even in airplane mode, you can still use your devices to communicate with your party during the cruise using the Disney Cruise Navigator App. Not only is the app full of vital information you’ll want throughout your cruise, but you can also use the app’s messaging feature to communicate with your family. If you’re an iPhone user, you can also use iMessage without having to purchase an internet plan. We’ll be covering using the ship’s satellite internet in another article.
4 – Lunch Options
One of the first things that most guests do after they’ve boarded the ship is get lunch, and we were eager to do that as well. It’s a great way to start your cruise, and it gives you a chance to sit down and discuss what you want to do next and take a look at offerings in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app (see #5). Since you won’t be able to get into your stateroom until 1:30 pm, eating lunch first is a great option.
There are two meal type offerings available to guests when they board. The first is a quick meal at Cabanas (or Marceline Market on the Disney Wish) or a longer meal at a table service restaurant. Since we were on the ship around 11:30 pm, we decided to take the opportunity to eat at Animator’s Palate so we could have a more leisurely meal. We enjoyed our meal, and reviewed our plans! Lunch was a great way to kick off the cruise.
Animator’s Palate aboard the Disney Dream (and Disney Disney) is a signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room with wall-to-wall whimsy inspired by classic animator’s studios. Design highlights include pillars throughout the restaurant fashioned like huge pencils and brushes, character sketches, maquettes (three-dimensional character models), film strips, and other tools of the animation trade. Scenes and characters from popular Disney and Disney•Pixar films adorn the walls.
Cabanas Food Court is a free-flow casual dining restaurant featuring a variety of food and beverage stations. Inspired by California beaches and boardwalks with uniquely Disney touches, Cabanas offers indoor and outdoor dining on Deck 11 aft. Ocean views are all around. Guests can partake in a wide array of cuisines served from sixteen specialized food stations, each providing delicious offerings.
5 – View Your Itinerary and More in the Disney Cruise Navigator App
Beyond communication, the app has so much information that is helpful for cruisers. Your itinerary and all offerings during your cruise can be found in the app. The app also has a map of the ship, so if you’re new to the ship, you can use the app to help you find the destination you’re looking for. You can also take a peek at which restaurant you’ll be dining at the first evening and find out where the characters are for greetings. There is just so much information to be found there!
6 – Visit Your Stateroom
As we noted above, guests are typically allowed into the staterooms right around 1:30 pm. We like to go to our rooms as soon as possible because we’re always excited to see the room and drop off any carry-on luggage or bags. Your checked luggage may or may not be there yet. It will arrive at some point in the afternoon. When you arrive at your room, your Sea Pass cards will be waiting for you, and you can use those to enter. However, if you’re wearing your DisneyBand+ or MagicBand+, you’ll be able to use those to enter the room.
7 – Explore the Ship!
In the afternoon of the first day of your cruise, you’re going to want to take some time to explore the ship and get your bearings. It’s also a great time to visit an Open House at one of the Kids ’ clubs, take a swim, or enjoy the Aqua Duck before it gets too busy. There is always so much to do on a Disney Cruise Line ship! You’ll also need to attend the Mandatory Safety Drill. We explored the ship and took some time to unpack some of our things. Before we knew it, the time had come to sail away!
8 – Say Hi to the Characters!
One of the best things we love about a Disney Cruise is that you get to see so many of your favorite characters throughout the cruise. On the first day, they typically wear their sailor and captain’s outfits. As we were exploring the ship, we saw the line for Minnie was pretty short, so we stopped by to say hi!
9 – Sailing Away Party
If you’ve never sailed on Disney Cruise Line, you want to make sure and kick off the cruise with the Sailing Away Party on the Pool Deck. This fun show welcomes guests onboard with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the Disney gang. During the show, guests will hear the iconic Disney Cruise Line ship blast! We really enjoyed the show, as we always do!
10 – Dinner at Enchanted Garden
Disney Cruise Line offers what is known as “rotational dining,” which means that you’ll be able to enjoy different restaurants throughout your cruise, and your wait staff goes with you. This is great because, over the course of the cruise, they’ll learn all about your family and your preferences, and you don’t have to start over new with a new crew every night.
Our first meal was at Enchanted Garden, a whimsical restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles. Enchanted Garden emulates an elegant conservatory in the rolling hills of France. There are white trellises, spring-green arches, and original artwork depicting lush landscapes. Custom glass “flower” light fixtures are above. Light posts line the restaurant’s center promenade. A terrace fountain with cascading water rises seven feet tall, with a fanciful cherub Mickey Mouse statue at its pinnacle. The cuisine matches the airy feel of the restaurant with a seasonal menu featuring market-fresh ingredients. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style, and dinner is a full-service, plated affair.
11 – The Golden Mickey’s
On the first night of our cruise, we enjoyed “The Golden Mickeys.” This show celebrates the musical heritage of Disney animated films, immersing guests in all the glamour and excitement of a Hollywood awards gala. On the Disney Dream, the show gets an extra sprinkle of glitz and glamour with additional musical numbers, enhanced technology, and dazzling special effects. As always, we really enjoyed the show and were blown away by the talent of the cast!
12 – New! Tree Lighting Ceremony
On the first night of all Very Merrytime sailings, guests gather around a three-deck-tall tree in the ship’s atrium for a new tree lighting ceremony. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy invite guests to sing along to classic holiday tunes, followed by a countdown that not only makes the tree merry and bright but also introduces the guest of honor for the cruise, Santa Claus. This show was really cute and a great way to start the holiday celebrations. Be sure to get there early if you want a good viewing location!
Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream
Learn about Very Merrytime cruises along with cruise tips and advice in our travel logs below!
Travel Log Articles with Cruise Tips
Follow us on Instagram, where we continue to share more about our cruise!
Follow Along on Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 1 – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 2 – Packing for a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 1-Part 1 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL DAY: Day 1-Part 2 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 2-Port Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 3-Castaway Cay & Pirate Night – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 4-Sea Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVE LOG: Day 5-Debarkation – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
Our Review & 13 Tips & Tricks for the Best Very Merrytime Cruise on Disney Cruise Line!
Instagram Story Highlights
Click here for our Day 1 Instagram Story Highlight for photos and videos from our first day!
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Editor’s Note: Disney Cruise Line provided a complimentary Very Merrytime Cruise and special media-specific events during the cruise. However, as always, the thoughts and opinions about Disney Cruise Line contained in this article are entirely our own.