Is The Very Merrytime Disney Cruise Worth It?
Like many of us, you may find yourself googling the question – “Is the Very Merrytime Disney Cruise worth it?” It is smart to conduct this research before booking. Sailing with Disney is expensive compared to many of their competitors, and their specialty cruises during peak season are even more so. My husband always says that we have ruined ourselves by sailing with Disney Cruise Line (DCL), because our expectations of their premium product has been permanently set in our minds. There is no going back for us. We are DCL hooked. Take our money and give us our Key to the World Cards already!
The Very Merrytime holiday sailings are offered fleet-wide during the months of November and December. If you desire a festive celebration with your loved ones this season, keep reading.
Here is my short and sweet review on some jolly perks that make this voyage unique. All abord for holiday cheer!
*Disclaimer: I have an inherent bias towards the Christmas holiday!
They have decked the halls – and then some!
The vessel is beautifully decorated throughout with holiday lights, garland, a life-sized gingerbread house, poinsettias, wreaths, and all things merry and bright! It was a jaw-dropping moment for me when I finally stepped aboard the Disney Fantasy for our first Christmas cruise. Be sure to peek in the gingerbread house to see who may be napping inside!
In my opinion, there could have been a little more Christmas decorations throughout the entire ship. The atrium was an outlier of onboard showstopper displays. Was I disappointed? Absolutely not. I was in love with every piece of Christmas in sight! Is there room for even more over-the-top decor? Always!!
Mickey’s Tree Lighting Ceremony may rival the triumphant Clark Griswold house illumination moment!
When you first embark the ship into the atrium, your family will be announced for all to hear. The 24-foot Christmas Tree is not yet lit, but it still demands a moment of “wow!” Later that evening, there will be a special tree lighting ceremony with Mickey and friends that you don’t want to miss. Then, maybe you’ll get my Clark Griswold reference, because it’s a beaut! This celebration is filled with festive music, singing, and dancing.
The tree lighting ceremony is worth attending. It is unique to the Merrytime Cruise and really sets the mood for the rest of your magical trip ahead! The kids will love the celebration!
Castaway Cay is now a tropical winter wonderland!
It is hard to miss the towering beach-themed Christmas Tree as soon as you step off of the ship on Castaway Cay. Then, you’ll follow a walkway of holiday flair until your toes hit the sand. Even the tram is dressed for reindeer games! We sailed during the first of December, which is obviously cooler than our summer visit here. The temperature was around 80 degrees, which made it plenty warm enough to swim. If you’re lucky, you will experience some surprise “snow” flurries to the sound of holiday tunes as you make your way to the crystal-clear turquoise ocean!
I was pleasantly surprised seeing the decorations here in comparison to my last visit during non-holiday time. I would have enjoyed an extension of the festiveness beyond the entryway to Castaway Cay. Characters in their holiday attire would also take it up a notch!
Onboard holiday activities worth melting for!
In addition to the visual perks of a Merrytime Cruise, our sailing offered fun events for the whole family such as seasonal arts and crafts, decorating gingerbread cookies or stockings, reindeer games by the pool, a holiday scavenger hunt, carolers, pictures with Santa, story time with Mrs. Claus, holiday-themed DCL merchandise, and characters in special festive outfits.
There really are events for all ages if you pay attention to the daily onboard calendar in your Navigator App. Even the tween and teen clubs offer holiday-themed activities for the older kids. Most adults sailing on Disney are still kids at heart, so you will likely find joy in any of the aforementioned events – even story time!
Visions of sugar-plums…
I do dream of delicious DCL food year-round. During our Very Merrytime Cruise, they offered some seasonal treats too. There were special holiday drinks, desserts, and coffees at the Cove Café. Overall menus were not traditional Christmas foods, but I would rather have Remy’s Miyazaki Wagyu beef for my Christmas meal if I had a choice anyway. If you sail on Christmas Day, there is an exclusive holiday meal menu.
There may be some people who expect more traditional holiday dining options, so that is one thing to consider when looking to book the Very Merrytime Cruise. I would be shocked to hear that anyone is disappointed in the food, though.
The Very Merrytime Disney Cruise was worth it for my family and me! We received the expected Disney luxury service, with a special touch of holiday magic. My 11 year old daughter says, “I liked the Christmas cruise better because of the decorations, events, costumes, and celebrating Christmas when it’s warm!” I hope you find that mini review helpful from my little world traveler.
For some, it may be worth spending their money on a standard Disney Cruise during off-peak months. I would recommend anyone who celebrates the holidays with kids to experience this cruise at least once, even if you need to opt for a shorter itinerary to save money. Sailing with Mickey and friends on the Very Merrytime Cruise will surely help ignite your holiday spirit!
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– Amanda Kendler <3
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