5 Adults, 2 Staterooms, 1 Amazing Western Caribbean (C) Cruise on the Disney Fantasy!

[maggonz9]

Great trip report. Love all your pictures! Thanks for the little tips and tidbits along the way. It really helps with planning. We sail September of this year and I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

 

[KelleyK75]

Great update! I love all of the pictures! The one of you all "jumping into" the glass is hilarious!

 

[Alohagirl73]

Great update! Love all the pictures. Can't wait to see more.

I ended up changing our Falmouth excursion for the beach. Thank you!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Thanks for this TR!
We sail this itinerary on June 21st!

It's really getting us excited!

Question about Margaritaville at Falmouth:
Is the pool for anyone who wants to hang around and order a drink?
Is there a separate charge to use it?
I've heard about it but am not sure how a pool associated with a restaurant works!

Thanks!

Really, anyone can use the pool at Margaritaville. There is no one policing it, and it opens up to the store as well as the restaurant and bars. I think the idea is that pool guests should be paying customers and order a drink or food or purchase a souvenir, but there is no additional charge for the pool. It's like this in all of the Caribbean port Margaritavilles that I've been to.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Great trip report. Love all your pictures! Thanks for the little tips and tidbits along the way. It really helps with planning. We sail September of this year and I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

Thank you! I'm glad that you're enjoying my review. I hope that you have a fantastic cruise!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Great update! I love all of the pictures! The one of you all "jumping into" the glass is hilarious!

Thank you! The jumping Margarita picture makes me smile every time!

Great update! Love all the pictures. Can't wait to see more.

I ended up changing our Falmouth excursion for the beach. Thank you!

Thank you! And I hope that you enjoy the beach excursion in Falmouth!!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Sail Away Falmouth

I insisted that we watch the ship sail away from Falmouth. I was very excited because the Freedom of the Seas was in port, so I assumed that a horn battle would take place. We had participated in a fun horn battle with the Allure of the Seas while on Royal Princess over Christmas.


Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr


Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr


Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr


Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr

We were all set to go and honked, "When You Wish Upon a Star" to Freedom of the Seas. We waited. Waited. Waited. NO RESPONSE!!!! We were very disappointed that Freedom of the Seas did not honk back. I was then disappointed that the Disney Fantasy didn't taunt the Freedom by honking again.


Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr

Good-bye, lame Freedom! I will note that there were many Freedom of the Seas passengers on deck waving good-bye to us. I love waving good-bye to ships or people on land because there is something amazing and beautiful about hundreds or thousands of people waving all at once.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr


Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr


Disney Fantasy by vshingl, on Flickr


Disney Fantasy by vshingl, on Flickr


Disney Fantasy by vshingl, on Flickr


Disney Fantasy by vshingl, on Flickr

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Pirates IN the Caribbean

Now, when telling Rachel what to pack, I had told her to bring a pirate costume. That was easy for her because she had been a pirate for Halloween before. I didn't have a pirate costume, and in all of my pre-cruise craziness with getting the Fish Extender Gifts ready and designing our stateroom door, I kind of forgot to come up with one. Luckily, Disney Cruise Line provided us with some bandannas to wear, but I really regretted not getting a pirate costume together.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Before dinner, we went to the Pirates in the Caribbean show on deck with Captain Mickey and his Pirate Crew. By the time we arrived, the top deck was already packed, so we didn't have the best spot.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

It's a cute show where Mickey teaches us how to be pirates, and then the ship gets taken over by Captain Hook and his villainous crew. This results in a pirate show-down where we prove that we are pirates.


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr


Pirate Night by vshingl, on Flickr

It was quite windy up on deck. By the time the show was over, my hair was so wind-blown and tangled that it didn't seem to matter that I had fixed it.


Aqua Duck by vshingl, on Flickr

It was so windy that they were only allowing double passengers on the Aqua Duck.

 

[KelleyK75]

That stinks you didn't get a horn battle with the Freedom.

Love the parade night pictures...too fun!

 

[Empress Room]

And I hear that the brunch has champagne, which is always a plus!

I wasn't sure how I felt about the "15 minutes" thing.... why does it take 15 minutes? And if it's the best thing on the menu, then shouldn't you just make it for everyone anyway, just in case? Is it really necessary to interrupt the main course to ask about dessert when no one has gotten to see the dessert menu? I just don't know.

Our experiences have been just the opposite and I would suggest that your Palo experience is the exception, and not the rule. We have dined at Palo many times on 18 DCL cruises on all of the different ships and can honestly say that Palo has always exceeded our expectations, for dinner and brunch.

You mentioned that you like "simple" food and are not a "foodie," and that might be part of the problem. Nothing wrong with that at all but, whether you are at Palo at sea or at a Morton's Steakhouse on land, ordering any steak (for a foodie!) medium well is a mortal sin! Any steak ordered above medium rare will likely be tasteless and tough unless the restaurant smothers it with some kind of artificial tenderizer or seasoning salt, and a fine dining restaurant like Palo would never be caught dead doing so.

The souffle at Palo is what they are known for. Souffles are extremely delicate and difficult to make (I remember watching an episode of Master Chef last year where all the contestants failed!) It does take all of 15 to 20 minutes to complete so, although it may be a bit awkward, it makes sense for the waiter to ask during the entrees. We have gotten around that awkwardness by informing either the maitre d' or our waiter of our souffle order upon entering Palo for dinner. Something you may want to keep in mind.

I would definitely give Palo a second chance - we've found it to be spectacular over the years.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Our experiences have been just the opposite and I would suggest that your Palo experience is the exception, and not the rule. We have dined at Palo many times on 18 DCL cruises on all of the different ships and can honestly say that Palo has always exceeded our expectations, for dinner and brunch.

I never said that I thought my Palo experience was "the rule". And if it came off that way, I apologize because that was not my intention. I was simply sharing my experience (which was not a completely positive, glowing review) with others. I know that Palo is a well-respected restaurant and that it is enjoyed by many others, as I have read many reviews which influenced me to book the dinner.

So send me to Hell, because I like my steak medium well!

 

[MickeyD]

I am really enjoying reading your trip report. We sail in Feb of 2015 and will be sailing as all adults, so I really appreciate your honest perspective.
I have to say that I agree with your assessment of Palo. I have only been to the one on the Magic, but I was not impressed--for dinner or brunch. I thought it was stuffy and over-hyped. Call me simple, but I just did not feel comfortable in that atmosphere, and I have eaten in numerous "high end" restaurants. I would rather spend the money on excursions.
Oh, and I agree...steak should be medium well...NO pink!

Lisa

 

[Alohagirl73]

Thanks for the update!!! Making me more excited for our cruise in a couple of weeks.

I've never done the dinner but loved the brunch at Palo. A little more relaxed and yummy food in my opinion. I too always ask for medium well as I can't stand seeing the pink. Just my opinion!!!

Can't wait to see more pictures and read about your cruise. My DH saw pictures of the Jamaica beach excursion and loved it. Though he's doing the bobsled excursion!!!

 

[gomets]

Absolutely loving your incredible trip report! You are so kind to take the time to post it.

We will be on our third Disney Cruise this summer, the second on the Fantasy, and your experiences are so helpful for our planning.

Can't wait to read more!

 

["Got Disney"]

GREAT TRIP REPORT!

going on this same cruise in 3 weeks and love your photos
look forward to reading the rest

 

["Got Disney"]

I never said that I thought my Palo experience was "the rule". And if it came off that way, I apologize because that was not my intention. I was simply sharing my experience (which was not a completely positive, glowing review) with others. I know that Palo is a well-respected restaurant and that it is enjoyed by many others, as I have read many reviews which influenced me to book the dinner.

So send me to Hell, because I like my steak medium well!

I like Palos but it is not to die for...we live in SD CA. and have eaten at places in the city that are TO DIE FOR...one thing we can't do is argue taste...Im with you LMM and not with the comments that Express Room made to you ...and I am a Foodie

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I am really enjoying reading your trip report. We sail in Feb of 2015 and will be sailing as all adults, so I really appreciate your honest perspective.
I have to say that I agree with your assessment of Palo. I have only been to the one on the Magic, but I was not impressed--for dinner or brunch. I thought it was stuffy and over-hyped. Call me simple, but I just did not feel comfortable in that atmosphere, and I have eaten in numerous "high end" restaurants. I would rather spend the money on excursions.
Oh, and I agree...steak should be medium well...NO pink!

Lisa

Thanks for reading along, Lisa!

Thanks for the update!!! Making me more excited for our cruise in a couple of weeks.

I've never done the dinner but loved the brunch at Palo. A little more relaxed and yummy food in my opinion. I too always ask for medium well as I can't stand seeing the pink. Just my opinion!!!

Can't wait to see more pictures and read about your cruise. My DH saw pictures of the Jamaica beach excursion and loved it. Though he's doing the bobsled excursion!!!

We did the bobsled excursion back in 2008 and really enjoyed it. I'd suggest watching the movie "Cool Runnings" before your cruise!