Disney Dream in Castaway Cay
By , Cruise Specialist | May 01, 2015 ( Comments)
There’s no better way to open a review on the Disney Dream than to start with the most magical experience. First, some background…. My cousins, Alyssa and James, came with me on this four-night sailing on the Disney Dream to Nassau and Castaway Cay. Alyssa and James are both huge Disney fans (almost as much as me). Alyssa has always had a very special place in her heart for Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and luckily for her, Belle was onboard the ship! I knew I had to arrange a meeting.
The first thing we did upon boarding the ship was head to the Guest Services deck, where they now distribute “tickets” to see the popular characters. While you can see all the Princesses individually, you can get a ticket at guest services to the Princess Forum, where you can see all at once. Along with the Forum, you can also get tickets to see Anna and Elsa, and run the Castaway Cay 5K (more on the race later). I highly recommend getting these tickets first thing - they go fast!
So, back to the story. I woke up the next morning, excited for the encounter between Belle and Alyssa, but I couldn’t get her up the stairs and to the Princess Forum. So I went in her stead and met Belle, along with Rapunzel, Snow White, and Cinderella. I told Belle that my cousin wished she could be there, and Belle said she would keep an eye out for her. Later that day, after dinner, Belle was making a scheduled appearance for her fans in the main lobby, so I got in line. Alyssa wanted to run down and change quickly, so I waited in line for her and James.
The line went too quickly! I reached Belle before Alyssa had returned! I told Belle this, and Belle asked her name. I told her that her biggest fan was Alyssa, and that she had brown hair, just like Belle! Belle promised to keep an eye out for Alyssa with brown hair… This is where the magic happened. Just as I was walking away from Belle, Alyssa came up the stairs, but it was too late. So I asked Belle’s friend that was helping her meet her friends if we could get back in line, but Belle was getting ready to leave. So he told us to stand in the direction that she would exit. Just as Belle was walking out, she called out to Alyssa by name, and hugged her. They chatted and took pictures, and it was MAGICAL!
There are experiences you can only experience on Disney Cruise Line, where everyone onboard - cast, crew, special guests - are working to make these Magical Moments for everyone. Having staged a few Magical Moments back in my day as a Cast Member, I know how important it is for them to do things like this.
From the moment we were welcomed aboard by my friend Anthony (who is an amazing part of the Cruise Staff; I’d met him on the Disney Fantasy a couple times), we experienced Magical Moments over and over.
(Warning: Lots of Food Descriptions Coming up. Do not read on empty stomach.)
The food on the Dream was extravagant! I don’t look forward to any welcome aboard buffet like I do when I sail on Disney Cruises. There is no shortage of delicious food… Lamb Chops (my favorite), Swordfish, prosciutto-wrapped salmon, Steamship, Crab Claws, Mussels, Sushi, and more stimulate your taste buds like never before in this first dining experience on the ship!
And it keeps getting better! That first night we ate in the Royal Palace, a Princess-themed formal dining room where the cutlery is as amazing as the food! The plates all have a Princess trim, and the bread baskets are Cinderella’s Pumpkin Carriage (I’d pay money for one)! The rosemary bread served with fresh olive oil was an amazing way to start the meal, and I’m not a bread eater! I swear! The stand out star of this meal was the Rack of Lamb. Cooked to perfection (Medium Rare), it fell off the bone. It was seasoned with breadcrumbs and herbs. It was absolutely perfect…. This just barely overshadowed the Chateaubriand, which was outstanding in its own right! I’d be in trouble with James and Alyssa if I didn’t mention the Escargot… They were out of this world. Someone I know would say they closed their eyes and were back in France!
The next night we ate in the Animator’s Palate (with Disney’s rotational dining, you eat in a different dining room every night). This dining room is themed after Disney Animation. On the Dream, they have the show, Turtle Talk with Crush, where the star of Finding Nemo actually talks to you while you’re eating! It’s quite Magical! He referred to me as “the dude with the Spaceships on his shell!” That’s what I get for wearing my Star Wars shirt!
Aside from the great show, the food was amazing. The Veal chop absolutely stole the show on this night. It was served on the bone and was breaded… Words do not do this justice. The Wasabi-Ginger Beef tenderloin was also out of this world. Served over a wasabi mashed potatoes, it was everything you could want, and more! This was also the night of the Truffle pasta appetizer. Do not miss these. I will be mad if you miss these, because they were most excellent. Served in a light butter sauce, the flavors are immensely bold and delicious…
The next night was Pirates in the Caribbean Night (more on this later). Aside from all the amazing things going on, the menu for dinner is unique. Stealing the show was the Macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi served with a mild curry over rice…. So flavorful, and very Carribbeany (is that a word?) The Beef Rib and Prime Rib. The Crab Cake served over a carrot and coconut cole slaw was very unique, but very delicious as well.
The final evening we got to eat in the Enchanted Garden, where the menu was very seafood oriented. The Ahi Tuna Avocado Tower was so refreshing and deliciously light… It lead the way perfectly into the Sea Bass. Now I know I’ve talked a lot about food being delicious, but this Sea Bass stole the show. It was cooked to flaky perfect and literally fell apart as I was eating it. It was buttery and was served over rice and peas. Do not miss the Sea Bass. The scallops served on this evening were also amazing, but given the choice, I’d probably just do two plates of sea bass….
(Food Rant Over)
Aside from the food being amazing, the shows were a beautiful experience. The Cast of these shows are immensely talented, and you can clearly tell how much they enjoy what they do. They eat, sleep, and breathe the characters they are portraying.. There are three shows that are played on the Dream. The Golden Mickeys, Villains Tonight, and Disney’s Believe. The Golden Mickeys is for the fans of all the classic Disney animated films. Characters are presented awards for being the best hero, best princess, best villain, etc. And all along the way, songs are sang, celebrities are interviewed, including Tim Allen and Bob Iger! Overall, it’s a great show that the audience can truly get immersed in. Villain’s Tonight is a sort of Sequel to Hercules starring the underworld’s main man, Hades. After his defeat by Hercules, the Fates deem he is not evil enough, thus starts a quest for Hades and his loyal minions Pain and Panic to meet all sorts of Disney Villains, featuring the likes of Jafar, Yzma, Kronk, and Maleficent. The final show is a classic on Disney’s newest ships, the Dream and the Fantasy. Starring the Genie from Aladdin, you follow a journey of a father who learns just how important spending time with his daughter is, and learns to believe in Magic. This features musical numbers from Aladdin, the Lion King, the Princess and the Frog, Beauty and the Beast, and more!
Next up comes the Pirates in the Caribbean night! The entire ship gets decked out (puns!) in pirate decorations, even the guests are invited to dress up! Most do! All sorts of pirate themed activities go on this evening, including dance parties and trivia. All culminate up to the Deck Party, where you join Captain Jack Sparrow on his adventure to obtain a powerful new treasure, which results in an awe aspiring fireworks show! It was eight minutes of pure enjoyment. The skies lit up, and I felt like I was back in Disney World. Even some of the other ships tried to get close by and steal a view!
The other entertainment on the ship was always wonderful. There was a violist onboard who played classic Disney songs and today’s hits in a remarkable new fashion. She could be found playing in the main lobby and in the adult only area. Speaking of the Adult only area, it truly was remarkable. The entire back section of Deck 4 on the ship is dedicated to Adults Only. Here you’ll find a sports bar, a Champagne bar, a Disco, a lounge, and my personal favorite, the Skyline Bar.
At the Skyline Bar, you’ll find “windows” that show the skyline of a city. Every 15 minutes, the view magically changes to a new city, and with the change in scenery, comes a change in ambience. The Music changes as well, and you get a drink special from the current city. It is a really great place for adults to hang out and make new friends!
At Evolution, which is the disco, you’ll find all sorts of adult only shows, such as Match Your Mate, adult only comedy, and even some special acts geared just to adults. It was great. The Love and Marriage show is loads of fun too.
On the top deck, the entire forward area is also dedicated to adults only. Here you will find the Spa, a large expanse of deck to get some sun, two bars, a pool with a swim-up bar, a coffee shop, and a hot tub! The Hot Tub was my favorite place to hang out up there. It was exceptionally unique because the floor of it was made of glass, so you could see straight down along the ships side to the ocean!! Pretty cool stuff! So who says Disney Cruises are only for kids? You’ll find more areas dedicated to adults only on Disney Cruise Line, than any other line.
Speaking of kids, there is sooo much to do for those rascally little devils. There’s the Oceaneer’s club for the younger kids which has a Finding Nemo Area, a Toy Story area, a Monster’s Inc area, AND a Tinkerbell Area! All full of activities even adults might enjoy (I swear I’m not speaking from experience ;)).
The older kids get to hang out in the Oceaneer’s Lab, which is Pirates of the Caribbean themed and has many sections where kids can engage in Science experiments, animation classes, and even video games! But the best part, is a recreation of the ship’s bridge, where kids can actually “drive” the ship!!! I may or may not have done this and thoroughly enjoyed it. I plead the fifth!
For the Tweens, they can enjoy Edge, which is in the forward funnel of the ship (Has a great view!) It is a very unique space where the tweens can hang out and take part in all sorts of activities, and can make lots of friends!
The Teenagers have it the best out of all the non-adults. All the way in the forward part of the ship, the Teens will find Vibe, a massive space dedicated just to them. The entire bow of the ship is their space. It comes complete with hot tubs, sunning chairs, and an entire lounge inside with a smoothie bar and music studio room. I almost wish I was a teen… (Almost! The aOf all the good things going on aboard the Disney Dream, I did find myself with one problem. The gift shop. This swirling black hole of amazing Disney Cruise Line products took all my money! Okay, so maybe it wasn’t a problem. The gift shops were really cool, they offered your traditional Disney merchandise, along with some great Disney Cruise Line specific items (a pin with Rapunzel getting her hair braided anyone?) I did leave the ship with some really great art work that I love from the Vista Art Galler — a Disney Cruise Line Queen Elsa canvas and a water color painting of Aurora. (Don’t Judge me!)
While I did spend a lot in the gift shops, I saved quite a bit seeing the newest Disney movies in the Buena Vista Theater, as opposed to paying $15 per ticket for a 3D movie at my local movie theater. We saw the Avengers Age of Ultron three times, and Cinderella once. It was a great activity for a break from the sun, or to digest dinner.
Finally, let’s talk about Disney’s Private Island. Castaway Cay is without a doubt, the most beautiful island, with the most beautiful beach I have even been on… and I’ve been to most of the Caribbean! Nothing beats the adult only beach, Serenity Bay.
Let’s start from the beginning. On Castaway Cay, a great way to start the day is running the Castaway Cay 5k. By running the 5k, you are the first guests to get off the ship and on the island, so you get to see it in its “untouched” state. Like a typical 5k, the race is 3.1 miles, and at the end you get a Disney Cruise Line Official RunDisney medal! A great way to start the day, and a great way to see most of the island! dult areas take the cake!)
Luckily, on the day we were there, Olaf’s Summertime Freeze Bar had its grand opening! This Frozen themed smoothie bar offers many smoothies that are inspired by Arendelle and its residents, including a coconut water, pineapple juice, and ginger smoothie that hit the spot after the race. And let it be known that I was the first one ever served!!!! Seems like a victory to me J. The icing on the cake was the picture I got to take with Olaf! (in the flesh! errr Snow)
The adult-only beach, Serenity Bay, was especially lovely this trip. The tide was low, so that created a sand bar about 40 yards out that could be walked to. The water was warm and shallow, and was extremely beautiful. It honestly does not get much better than that. For lunch, Serenity Bay has its own buffet complete with a grill where they will cook you a fresh ribeye steak right before your eyes. Paradise!
For the family, the snorkel lagoon is AMAZING. You can see Mickey and Minnie underwater, and even the submarine from the now defunct Disney World attraction, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. They also have the Oceaneer’s Club area on the ship called Scuttle’s Cove, where they run the kids programming if parents want to check out Serenity Bay! The teen’s also have their own beach, and own activities on the island, which are loads of fun. (I used to do them as a teen!)
All in all, the Disney Dream was an absolutely amazing ship for adults, families and kids. It is by far the best ship that does three- and four-night cruises out of Florida. You will not find a better family vacation. You will not find a better romantic getaway. You will not find a better weekend escape. You will not find a better cruise line.
Wanna go? Call me at 1-800-439-1909 ext 7856 and get the best Disney Cruise Advice around! (and a great price!)
Nico
