By Julie Boehlke
Disney Cruises for Children
There's a new way for children to experience the love of Disney: A cruise ship. Families with children can board the Disney Magic or the Disney Wonder for a 3-to-14 night cruise. And there are more than 12 ports of call. Land-and-sea combination packages are available with plenty of activities aboard the ship. The majority of the ports are warm and tropical.
Land and sea packages
A Disney land-and-sea package includes a trip to a tropical destination, with the remaining days spent at a Walt Disney World resort. Guests are offered a choice between three nights on land and four nights at sea and four nights on land and three nights at sea. Guests can visit the Magic Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom, Epcot or Disney's MGM Studios. Guests can also choose a resort in which to stay. Guests then depart from Port Canaveral, Florida and head to Nassau in the Bahamas. From Nassau they go on to Castaway Cay. Castaway Cay is Walt Disney World's exclusive private island. On the Cay, small guests can swim, ride bikes and build sand castles with their parents.
Activities
Fun aboard ship is age-appropriate. Ships have trained counselors who help parents find the right activities for their children. Disney's Oceaneer Club is perfect for kids between ages 3 and 7. Children participate in stage shows with Disney characters. They also listen to stories and are able to meet their favorite characters, including Snow White, Mickey Mouse and Captain Hook. There is also an Oceaneer Lab that lets children's imagination run wild. Children enjoy giant video walls and flat-screen computers with Disney animation programs. Kids can also experiment with projects and develop their own cartoons. For older children, there is a hangout area called the ALOFT. Older kids can talk, play, sing, dance, play video games, poolside games or engage in a farewell bash concert.
Entertainment
Disney has live shows aboard each ship, including "Toy Story" the musical. The Buena Vista Theatre allows guests to watch Disney movies in a state-of-the-art 3-D auditorium. There are also poolside movies available.
Ports of call
Disney ports of call include Nassau, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Key West, the Grand Cayman Islands, Cozumel, St. Croix and Tortola. Disney also travels to several European destinations. Mediterranean cruise ports offer an historical excursion for children.
Animators Palate
Tiny guests and their parents also can experience fine dining in classic Disney style. The restaurant is upscale but offers an ever-changing environment with food for kids and their families
Resources
About the Author:
Julie Boehlke is a seasoned copywriter and content creator based in the Great Lakes state. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Boehlke has more than 10 years of professional writing experience on topics such as health and wellness, green living, gardening, genealogy, finances, relationships, world travel, golf, outdoors and interior decorating. She has also worked in geriatrics and hospice care.
Photo Credits:
http://www.sxc.hu
