Disney Magic at Sea

November last year saw the first ever sailings of a cruise ship of a different kind. Disney Cruise Line arrived in Auckland with Disney Magic at Sea cruises, putting Kiwis even closer to experience the magic themselves. It’s every kids’ dream come true, and some adults too. And due to popular demand, Disney Cruise Line will be setting sail for a special new season with sailings coming to New Zealand from November 2024.

So what exactly is a Disney Magic at Sea cruise? Many of us are familiar with the magic of Disney Characters either from our own TV watching as children or through our kid's eyes in later life. But this is another level altogether - imagine a family cruise, but with all the excitement of Disney storytelling, imaginative dining, spectacular entertainment, some of your favourite Characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Woody, Spider-Man and so much more!. It’s almost more than any small child can imagine - their jaws will pretty much be on the ground from the moment they board until you disembark.

But it’s not all just about meeting their Disney, Pixar and Marvel heroes. While meet and greets are truly amazing (some characters will roam the ship, some will always meet in specific spots, whilst some will need to be booked in advance or throughout various experiences such as Kids Clubs), there’s a lot more fun to be had than just that. There are three, yes three, Broadway-style shows (Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic and Golden Mickeys, the latter of which is available on three or more night sailings) that bring the magic of Disney storytelling to the stage in spectacular productions. There are deck parties, such as Marvel Heroes Unite, that will leave you in awe particularly when you might catch fireworks at sea. However, the magic of Disney storytelling is woven throughout every part of the cruise experience. It’s no wonder Disney Cruise Line was named No. 1 Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Line by Travel & Leisure and #1 Top Large Cruise Line in the World in Condé Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards – their world renowned Guest service really is that good.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse

Donald Duck and Daisy Duck

Cuisine

Delectable food is a priority on a Disney cruise. There are three main dining locations on board - Tiana’s Place, Triton’s and Animator’s Palate - as well as 24-hour room service, plenty of casual dining options and some more premium ones such as the adult-exclusive restaurant, Palo (extra charge applicable). Disney’s Rotational Dining service means each night your group can experience a different restaurant, and your table mates and waiter move around with you. The majority of this is included in your fare (except alcohol, some select beverages and snacks). If you’re looking for easy-food options there’s bound to be some favourites for lunch and dinner at Cabanas, as well as burgers, hot dogs and more at Pete’s Boiler Bites.

Savor a rousing celebration of southern cooking and live jazz music at **Tiana's Place**, inspired by **The Princess and the Frog**.

Savor a rousing celebration of southern cooking and live jazz music at **Tiana's Place**, inspired by **The Princess and the Frog**.

Children and parents alike will love the on-board restaurant Animator's Palate.

Children and parents alike will love the on-board restaurant Animator's Palate.

Family-friendly comfort

While you don’t have to be a family to go on a Disney cruise, accommodation is well set up for those travelling in a group. Staterooms are made with families in mind, many have a split bathroom (so multiple people can get ready at once), and many also have adjoining rooms. This makes it perfect for multi-generational travel. There are various categories, so there is a price range to suit all budgets. If you want to truly splurge, the ultimate experience is Concierge, which comes with a dedicated team, premium staterooms, exclusive lounge and priority boarding and booking on board activities.

Concierge offers a dedicated team, premium staterooms, exclusive lounge and priority boarding and booking on board activities.

Concierge offers a dedicated team, premium staterooms, exclusive lounge and priority boarding and booking on board activities.

An Oceanview Stateroom.

Fun for adults too

And while it’s truly magical to experience this all with your kids, it’s not really a holiday unless you get some time to rest and relax too. Kids clubs on board including, Oceaneer’s Club and Oceaneer’s Lab will take care of that - all included in your fare, and there are spaces for older kids to hang out too. There are also adult-exclusive spaces such as Quiet Cove Pool and Senses Spa & Salon (the latter which comes at an additional charge). There is also an amazing fitness centre on board that has one of the best treadmill views at sea – a workout worth waking up for! Kids, parents and grandparents can have plenty of time together, and enough time apart too - this makes it perfect for a multi-generational holiday. It's only a holiday if everyone enjoys it.

**Palo** is a restaurant exclusively for adults (extra charge applicable).

**Palo** is a restaurant exclusively for adults (extra charge applicable).

The Quiet Cove Pool is exclusive to adults.

Planning your magical journey

Obviously, cruises like this are hot property, and due to popular demand, bookings are already being taken for the October 2024 to February 2025 season, with new sailings coming to New Zealand from November 2024. Disney Magic at Sea is sailing out of Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for a limited time so we recommend booking soon to get the best selection of staterooms and sail date availability.

There are all kinds of options depending on your objectives - from as little as two days (Auckland to Auckland) to longer journeys from Tāmaki Makaurau to Sydney, Australia. You just need to choose the route and the rest is Disney magic. It’s a very low-stress process; with so much already included in the total package price, there aren’t thousands of holiday planning decisions to be made.

In the vast realm of travel experiences, Disney Magic at Sea creates something unique that everyone will remember for years to come. There is nothing quite like the joy of seeing your kids meet the Characters and heroes they talk about every day in the ‘flesh’, and their joy will become your joy, meaning you all end up having a wonderful time. Whether you're a family longing for a remarkable escape or a young adult looking for some fun in your life, this cruise is where dreams come true and enchantment knows no bounds.

Kids meeting Spider-Man.

Kids meeting Spider-Man.

Fireworks onboard the cruise ship.

For more information and to book your Disney Magic at Sea holiday visit

DisneyCruiseLine.com/AUNZ

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Golden Mickey's stage show on sailings of three or more nights.

Disclaimer: Two-night sailings may have modified or limited entertainment and dining offerings. Additional costs may be required for some experiences and may need to be booked in advance. Health and safety measures, ports of call and offerings may change at any time without notice. On board venues, experiences, services and offerings may be modified or limited in capacity or availability, and are subject to restrictions, cancellation or closure without notice. See disneycruise.com/updates