Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
46
Tips
Avoid the Ups & Downs
Nothing spoils a cruise like a storm—or worse. In the first case, consider avoiding
hurricane season altogether (June 1-Nov 30, though the peak is July to mid-Oct).
These unpredictable storms can both spoil your fun and upset the strongest of
stomachs. Avoiding the stormy seasons aside, pack a few motion-sickness pills or
patches just in case.
Speaking of spoiling a cruise,
several cruise ships, including the
Disney
Magic,
have had outbreaks of a virus that caused stomach flu-like symptoms in
the past. This is no ill reflection on any one line: Cruise ships are closed environ-
ments, and sometimes a passenger brings the illness on board. For an Internet
rating by the
Centers for Disease Control,
go to
www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/
default.htm
. Note, however, that the site is often weeks out of date.
DISNEY CRUISE
PACKAGES
There's hardly a Florida tourist market
that WDW hasn't successfully tapped.
Ocean-going vacations are no exception.
Disney Cruise Line
(
&
800/951-3532;
www.disneycruise.com) launched the
Magic
and
Wonder
in 1998 and 1999, respectively
(two new ships are scheduled to debut
between 2011 and 2012). It didn't take
long before the line made it all the way to
the top of the family cruising market.
The
Magic
is Art Deco in style, with
Mickey in the three-level lobby and a
Beauty and the Beast
mural in its top res-
taurant, Lumiere's. The
Wonder
's decor is
Art Nouveau. Ariel commands its lobby,
and its featured eatery, Triton's, sports a
mural from
The Little Mermaid.
Subtle differences aside, these are nearly
identical twins. Both are 83,000 tons with
12 decks, 875 cabins, and room for 2,400
guests. There are some adults-only areas
including
Palo,
an intimate and romantic
Italian restaurant; however, both ships
have extensive kids' and teens' programs
that take up almost an entire deck. They're
broken into four age groups: the
Floun-
der's Reef Nursery
for ages 3 months to 3
years;
Disney's Oceaneer Club
for ages 4
to 7;
Disney's Oceaneer Lab
for ages 8 to
12; and
Aloft
(on the
Wonder
) and the
Stack
(on the
Magic
) for ages 13 to 17.
Ocean Quest
(on the
Magic
) is the newest
addition; filled with activities for almost
every age, it features video games, plasma
TVs, and a simulator that allows kids to
steer the ship in and out of ports of call.
Restaurants, shows, and other onboard
activities are extremely family-oriented. One
of the line's unique features is a dine-around
option that lets you move among main res-
taurants (each ship has four) from night to
night while keeping the same servers.
The 3-night voyages visit Nassau and
Castaway Cay, Disney's own private island;
4-night voyages add Freeport. There also
are 7-night eastern Caribbean (St. Thomas,
St. Maarten, St. John, and Castaway Cay)
and 7-night western Caribbean (Key West,
Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Castaway
Cay) itineraries. Special 10-day and 14-day
Caribbean cruises, as well as 10-day,
11-day, and 14-day (transatlantic) Medi-
terranean cruises are offered; call for details
and rates, or check with a travel agent.
Seven-night land-sea packages include
3 or 4 days afloat, with the rest of the week
at a WDW resort. Prices at press time
ranged from $1,999 to $5,399 adults,
$399 to $2,199 kids 3 to 12, and $189
kids younger than 3 (
Note:
Infants younger
than 12 weeks are not allowed aboard ship),
depending on your choice of stateroom
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