cruising to Eastern Caribbean during week of Thanksgiving 2016

[halfmonkey]

We're considering this cruise and was wondering if anybody has cruised this itinerary before and can offer any feedback on the following topics.

1. Was the ship decorated for the holiday? I assume so.
2. Did the ship have any special holiday activities, events, menus, tastings, mixologies, etc that isn't normally available on a cruise during a non-holiday time period.
3. How is the weather in FL, on the cruise route, and at Castaway Cay during this time of year?
4. Are the pools, water slides, and water play areas for the kids heated on the ship since it is November or is it still very warm down there?
5. What is the average water temperature at Castaway Cay?
6. Are characters dressed up in holiday attire? I assume so.
7. Is the ship usually completely sold out and therefore super crowded? I assume so.
8. Are their special souvenirs available to reflect the holiday cruise?
9. Are there special holiday port adventures?

 

[ej119]

We were on the Fantasy in the Eastern Caribbean for Thanksgiving 2014 and really enjoyed it! Our stops were St. Marteen, Puerto Rico, and Castaway Cay.

We did do 2 days in Orlando before the cruise and they were having a "cold snap," meaning it was in the 60s and the Parks were deserted. We did Wizarding World and there wasn't a line for any ride or shop.

It was sunny most of the days of the cruise and extremely hot in Puerto Rico (we actually returned to the ship early to get in the pool). I think we were in the pools almost every day -- but it was very windy and the seas were quite rough, especially during the first few days. It was in the 80s on Castaway Cay but so windy we couldn't stand to stay on the beach too long, and only briefly stepped into the water.

The ships are decorated for the holidays, including characters in costume, a large gingerbread house, and some holiday-themed events (baking I think). There were also holiday souvenirs (we got ornaments). I don't recall holiday-themed Port Adventures, but Castaway Cay was decorated.

The ship was definitely crowded and I don't think we would do Thanksgiving week again, but that's just me. We are doing another DCL Christmas cruise this year, leaving on December 4 on the Magic though.

I recommend you check our some personal navigators from other holiday cruises to learn more.

Have fun!

 

[Mitura]

We were on the Dream for Thanksgiving in 2014. As for anything particularly Thanksgiving, outside of Thanksgiving day, no nothing special. Thanksgiving day the dinner was different (turkey on the menu of course) and all of the characters had special Thanksgiving attire. Castaway Cay was great. Temps and water great. Since we were on Dream we only hit Nassau and there were no special "holiday" island events.

Do remember that the ship will be in Christmas mode during your trip so you do have Santa, the gingerbread house, decorations, tree lighting, etc., all of the Christmas/holiday events that normally take place. But as for Thanksgiving specific... only the few mentioned on Turkey day.

Special Thanksgiving souvenirs I didn't see for Thanksgiving, Christmas yes.

Extra crowded, we didn't think so.

As for us we thought it was a blast. The novelty of Thanksgiving dinner, Disney style and being in the Caribbean on a holiday (swimming on Thanksgiving for us Northerners!) was good enough.

Oh and they had football on funnel vision all day. During the later parts of the day they closed one pool to put more chairs on the deck to watch football.

Hope this helps
Joe

 

[DisneyDiva84]

We are sailing on an Eastern Cruise on November 27th on the Magic! Looking forward to it! We sailed on a Halloween Cruise this year on the Fantasy and it was a ton of fuN!