The Disney Cruise is Coming to the UK!

By Nadia A Ramzan (@yellowbubblespace)

Hi everyone, my name is Nadia (@ yellowbubblespace) and I’m a huge Disney Cruise Fan! I want to share this wonderful experience with you all and hopefully entice you all to also step aboard because the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) is coming to the UK for Summer 2023! Yaay!

The first time I stepped onto a Disney Cruise it was for our honeymoon back in 2013! Slightly an odd choice for a honeymoon but it was the perfect for us. Two kiddos later (Zakariyya aged seven and Aaliyah aged three), we have recently finished our fifth Disney Cruise in the Western Caribbean!

Let’s start with Destinations.

The Disney Dream cruise liner will be arriving in Southampton in July 2023. If you are new to cruising there are shorter and cheaper options of the three and four-night cruises. Destinations include La Rochelle in France, Bilbao in Spain and Zeebrugge (Brussels) in Belgium. Longer cruises, venture a little further and include destinations such as the Norwegian Fjords and the Mediterranean coast. These typically run from five to seven nights.

So why cruise with Disney?

Entertainment

If you or your kiddos love meeting characters but never actually get round to it in the parks, the cruise has an abundance of Disney Cruise characters on board often without the long cranky toddler lines. It’s a quick meet and greet with your autograph signed.

Disney also offers age-appropriate kids clubs supervised by trained counsellors, so you can leave and enjoy some time alone in the adult-only dining and spa areas. Disney’s Oceaneer Club is a fleet-wide children’s activity centre where kids aged three to 12 years old can play in magical themed lands, enjoy games and meet Disney characters. Slightly younger sailors aged six months to three years can attend It’s a Small World. This is the only kids’ club on the Disney Cruise not included with the price of the cruise. You must make reservations and there is an hourly charge.

There is family-themed entertainment throughout the day with options suitable for all. These typically include arts and crafts, karaoke, family quiz time and finally the amazing Broadway quality theatre shows each evening. Big hits include Frozen and Aladdin which are 5-star productions from the enchanting lighting and imaginative props to blazing fireworks and actors who seem to just step out of the movie onto the stage. It really is a magical experience for all the family.

FOOD!

Disney Dream has a rotational main dining, allowing guests to enjoy and experience three of the speciality dining venues abroad, including Animator’s Palate, which features the playful Nemo and his friends on interactive screens and the Enchanted Garden which is based on the picturesque gardens of Versailles. Disney cast members dress up and serve according to the theme of each restaurant, along with the menu following suit.

There is also free in-room dining available 24 hours a day if you do not fancy leaving your cabin and a buffet option in Cabanas. Located on the top pool deck for leisurely eating by the pool and a movie on the big screen showing Disney Classics.

Disney is great with dietary requirements and has catered to my family’s needs on every occasion.

Accommodation in spacious staterooms

Disney has designed each stateroom for families with extra space and storage into every nook and cranny. Including seating areas and a split bath, which allows more people to get ready at the same time. An absolute lifesaver with younger children!

The other great thing, and my absolute favourite, is that each day we wake up in a new country without having to move luggage and little ones. Time for breakfast and we are ready for the next adventure to begin!