A Fun Week on board Disney Cruise Line for the Whole Family

We arrived at the port bright and early and found the boarding process so swift. By 12:30, we were stepping onboard our ship, the Disney Fantasy! Right away, we were greeted by enthusiastic staff who clapped and cheered us as we walked down the gangway, and we were announced as official voyagers. It felt like we were entering a fairytale.

After checking in with our Disney host and collecting our lanyards, we opened the door to our home for the week: a Deluxe Verandah Stateroom. Spacious, beautifully laid out, plenty of storage for all our clothes and bits, and two seriously comfy beds that made falling asleep a delight. Once unpacked, we spent time exploring the ship. From the colourful splash zone Nemo’s Reef to the sleek adults-only Cove Café, there were so many zones for different ages and moods. Having this mix on a family-friendly cruise truly stood out.

That lunchtime, we went to the buffet restaurant, Cabanas, and boy, was it a feast. Pizzas, fresh seafood, and the legendary chicken strips everyone raves about, we tried it all. Just sitting around the aft of Deck 11, surrounded by the Finding Nemo mosaics and six clocks (one for each Disney Park), we felt the holiday begin. Lunch wrapped up, we grabbed seats for the sail-away party. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck made their grand entrance, to the tune of “When You Wish Upon a Star” as the ship glided into open waters.

We kicked off Day 2 with the all-important Mickey Mouse waffles for breakfast. Yes, even grown-ups get excited about them! The morning brought our first training session, and with it, we got to know the team behind the magic. Next up: an animation class where we attempted to draw Daisy Duck. Neither of us is especially gifted with a pencil, but so much fun was had! Then came “2 Truths & 1 Lie” with the cast and Disney plushies, vouchers and prizes were on the line. Though we didn’t win this time around, it was still a great laugh.

In the afternoon, we explored more of the ship and met Stitch with no queue, bonus! We also browsed the shopping arcade and then zipped off to our team event: Race around the Fantasy. We got our clue at the Cove Café and raced to the final location. It felt like our own mini-adventure onboard. We bagged a prize envelope and walked away with a US$20 onboard credit.

That evening was “formal night”. We dressed up and dined in Enchanted Garden, where the ceiling transitions through the day, from brilliant blue to golden sunset, to twinkling night. The effect is pure Disney enchantment. Following dinner, we stepped into the ship’s theatre for an absolutely outstanding performance of Aladdin. Comedy, music, magic, everything that you think of with a Disney holiday. The Genie had us in stitches. We ended our evening with a Mickey ice-cream bar and warm cookies via room service. This really is Disney family holiday goals!

Day 3 began with more training in Animator’s Palate, followed by two tours: one of different stateroom types- interior, ocean-view, concierge- and one “art of the ship” tour with our cheerful guide Yoyo. We learned fun facts like how family areas are colour-coded. Red = front, green = middle, blue = back. And a trick to decipher star-patterns in the carpets to help you know which way is front. Clever touches like this make a Disney cruise feel thoughtfully tailored. 

We also got a sneak peek at adults-only speciality restaurants such as Remy, which requires a cocktail dress or suit and Palo, where every seat has an ocean view. Imagine that! Gourmet dining with sea views and super-slick ambience.

Free time in the afternoon gave us a chance to take part in the ship’s “official” Disney bounding night. I dressed as Sebastian, yes, the crab from The Little Mermaid, and Georgina, my colleague, went for Tow Mater from Disney’s Cars, because why not? Ahead of dinner, we enjoyed drinks at the adults-only Cove Café. Dinner that night was at Royal Court, inspired by Disney princesses, castles and storybook grandeur.

There was no major show that night, so we decided to wander around, meet Pluto and Belle, and our team pulled together a cheeky video. Cue “Where the hell is Louise?”

Our first port of call on our Disney Cruise Line holiday was Olden, Norway. We docked right by the town, less than a 10-minute walk. There was a little autumn rain shower. But did that stop us? No way.

We strolled along the fjord, found a perfect photo spot of the ship dropping anchor into the water, then ducked into the gift shops for souvenirs.

Back on board, we dried off and wound down in style. Flos Cafe for dinner, then dessert from the Eye Scream factory. This evening’s themed entertainment? Pirate Night!  We were given branded bandanas, changed into our pirate gear and headed out. Dinner was back at Animator’s Palate. But we didn’t stay for all the courses...we were too excited for the next event. The deck party in the stunning atrium. Characters, music, dancing and pirate fun.

Day 5 found us in Alesund, Norway. We had a 2-minute dock walk to the city centre, then we hopped onto a little train for a 1.5-hour tour up to Mount Aksla viewpoint, where spectacular views awaited.

After some time above the clouds, taking in the scenery, we headed back to town, grabbed more souvenirs, and boarded the ship for a relaxed lunch at Cabanas.

In the afternoon, we visited the kids’ club areas. Something that truly proves why a Disney cruise is a top choice for family-friendly cruising holidays. The Oceaneer Lab and Club (Toy Story zone, Star Wars room, Avengers Academy, Pixie Hollow) had us oohing and ahhing. A game show in the D Lounge (“Who’s Behind the Curtain”) had families cheering and laughing together.

Dinner was optional; we opted for Flos Café, followed by the show Frozen. A wonderful performance, though for our taste Aladdin still edged it.

Our last port was Stavanger, a charming coastal city where colourful wooden houses, lively cafes, and thriving arts scene meet dramatic fjord landscapes. It’s the gateway to iconic natural wonders like Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), making it a perfect blend of cosy Nordic culture and breathtaking outdoor adventure. After exploring, we grabbed some Norwegian snacks and headed back on board.

As we sailed away, we tried spotting wildlife from the deck (no luck), then joined the group game show with prizes up for grabs. We didn’t win this time, but the energy was so much fun. Georgina then went off to the hot tub with a couple of the girls we had met whilst travelling, while Clare and I headed for all the Crafts and Quizzes. I can say I was determined to win a medal; even though we got full marks on two quizzes, we lost on the tiebreaker questions.

We then took part in a game show called ‘Go Fetch’. The aim... get to the stage with a certain item FAST. This was a very competitive game. My top tip: sit near the front!  We chose the wrong seats at the back, so we didn’t win, but we had a lot of fun. We then had a look around the Bibidi bobbdi boutique as it was empty, even though it's only for kids; during pirate night, adults are welcome to book the experience.
Once all the fun was over, we then headed back to the cabins for our second-to-last night.

Our final full day began with a panel session with the Captain, Head Hotel Staff and Food & Beverage manager. Then another training session packed with games, quizzes, and prizes. The afternoon was for packing and final snaps around the ship (can you feel the Disney blues creeping in?).

That evening, we attended the “See Ya Real Soon” party. This was such a lovely night full of awards and goodbyes. I was one of the lucky winners of a lounge fly, I chose the Stitch one. Georgina and I won the Moana award along with 2 girls from our group, for exploring nearly every corner of the ship!

The final dinner was hosted at Animator’s Palate. This was one of the best included experiences. We drew our own characters and watched them come to life on screens throughout the restaurant. It was magical. We then headed to the final show; Disney’s Believe, which left both Georgina and me in tears. Beautiful storytelling, top-tier performances, special appearances from Peter Pan, Rafiki, Princess Belle and Mary Poppins, plus a father-daughter storyline that was a real tear-jerker. Even though it ended with both me and Georgina weeping, this was by far the best show onboard. 

Sadly, this was our disembarkation morning. A final breakfast together in Animator’s Palate, goodbyes, hugs, memories. The best week ever? Absolutely. I was in my element the whole time and the Disney blues are very real. I’m already plotting when I can be back onboard.