Disney Fantasy Caribbean Cruise: Trip Report

Image 1: Heated loungers in the Rainforest Room; Image 2: Mickey Mouse Meet and Greet

Pre- & post-cruise stays:

I always advise clients to arrive the day before your cruise departs and stay at a hotel in downtown Orlando to maximize your time here. Even with travel insurance, it’s not worth the stress of worrying you might miss the boat. You can arrange transportation from your hotel or the airport to Port Canaveral or utilize GoPort — my recommendation. Downtown Orlando is only 45 minutes away by car, but you definitely want to build in extra time to arrive at the Port with plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. GoPort was prompt, easy-to-book and, as a bonus, you do not need to worry about car seats; it also runs continuously so if you miss a shuttle there is another right behind it.

The ship:

If it is in your budget, I highly recommend Concierge class for the extra stateroom space, generous amenities — a lounge and private sun deck — and quiet location. Other than Concierge class, Room 6688 — Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, Category 6B — is my favorite as it is a quiet room on the back of the ship and has little foot traffic or noise.

Regardless of your stateroom type, avoid deck ten which is loud from the pool on the deck above, or the staterooms around the kids’ clubs on deck five which have a lot of foot traffic. Try and find a stateroom away from the stairways and elevators or laundry areas to cut down on noise.

Dining:

Most of the dining onboard is very casual, and has kid-friendly menus for even the pickiest eaters. The basic rotational dining restaurants on the Fantasy are all excellent; your wait staff rotates among the three restaurants with you, so they will quickly learn your expectations and quirks. Service is quick, as they know families often want to be in and out — or are seeing a show before or after dinner. I personally prefer the earlier dining time, so that we can catch a show after. Unless your party plans to drink a great deal, decline the wine menu upsell as it is not worth the additional cost; you will also need to sign a beverage check every evening. All of the restaurants were great, but the Royal Palace was the best.

Entertainment & activities:

The onboard entertainment is top-notch, as you would expect for Disney. I will say that the line starts early for the Broadway-like theater shows, as seats are first come, first served so, if possible, send someone in your party to hold a spot. I was always able to find seats, but often in the back — people leave early — and not together. The movie theater and “Funnelvision” on the pool deck are much more casual. The cruise won’t publish the plays schedule ahead of time, but you can always check the times on the app.

There are kid-friendly activities and entertainment for all ages — the ship is literally built for kids. In my opinion, the Disney website undersells the ship-board amenities, so you kind of have to explore the ship to see everything from mini golf, shuffleboard, games, scavenger hunts and false doors.

The Oceaneer’s Lab and Club has a great setup for kids ages 3 to 12, and your little ones will have a blast. They do not feed your kids snacks or meals though, so you need to take that into consideration. Their hours are super accommodating though and they are open until midnight most nights, if you have a late dinner or show planned.

Essentials to bring:

Pack light on the clothes, as there are washing machines on each floor in the fore or aft section. Definitely pack essentials like sunscreen, medications and laundry detergent because they are marked up on board. Disney ships are fairly casual so no need to worry about dressing to the nines or packing heels.

Before you get to the port, download the Disney Cruise Line app, and make sure you connect with your party if you are in separate staterooms. My other recommendation is if you’ll have children at the Oceaneer’s Club or nursery, pre-arrange a password as that is required to pick up your child.

Before you book shore excursions, I recommend checking the Disney site and Google Maps to see where the cruise will dock. If the port is close to a city, you may be able to walk to things; if not you may want to consider arranging a shore excursion or transportation — especially if you have littles. All of their transportation is reliable, but it may not be a nice van or bus with air conditioning, as it very much depends on their contract with the local transportation companies.

To escape the crowds, the best spot for a quiet adults-only drink is the Meridian Lounge — inside or outside. I also really liked the Rainforest Room which is not listed on their website, but you can reserve it when your booking window opens or in-person onboard. It’s worth a day pass if you want to try out the hammam, heated loungers and hot tubs.

I do not recommend the much sought-after Castaway Cay cabanas as they are overpriced for the amount of time you will actually be on island. However if you must, Serenity Bay Cabana 23 or 24 enjoy direct beach access.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Bahamas. In need of further inspiration? Check out Lacey Hayes’s guide, Seattle in the Summer with Kids.