HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES on the Ships

[Michelle]

This question seems to be coming up a fair amount now so instead of responding to individual posts I'll just post it here.

DCL is planning a magical holiday season on sailings between Nov. 24, 2002, and Jan. 1, 2003. Guests will find both ships decked with boughs of holly and filled with holiday-themed entertainment for the whole family, including:

- A nearly three-deck-tall tree lighting ceremony in the atrium lobby, where "snow" magically falls
- A Christmas Eve visit from Santa Goofy, with surprises for kids enrolled in children's programming
- International holiday caroling by crew members from around the globe
- Special family time, when families join together to design and decorate their own gingerbread houses
- Classic holiday story time in the atrium hosted by favorite Disney Characters
- Traditional holiday feasts in Disney's three themed dining rooms (on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
- Presentations of Santa Claus 2: The Mrs. Claus and Treasure Planet
- Multiple faith and non-denominational holiday services
- A ship-wide party to ring in 2003 and a New Year's Day tailgate party at ESPN Skybox and Promenade Lounge

 

[kendall]

That sounds wonderful! Makes me want to book another cruise just for the holidays! Will someone please take photos and post so we may see the special activities?!

Interesting - I notice "multiple faith and non denominational services." Hopefully some clergy are receiving a nice deal for working the holiday on the ship!

 

[tbuot]

That all sounds wonderful! We will be sailing during the Thanksgiving holiday. When will the tree lighting happen? Are there any religious services on Thanksgiving?

I am so excited!

 

[IrishCowboy]

We're looking forward to our $99 cruise Dec 19-22 and we wre curious about Christmas activites.

Thanks!

 

[ThreeCircles]

Tbuot--

Are you sailing the Disney Magic or the Disney Wonder on Thanksgiving week?

We'll be on the Disney Magic from Nov. 23 - Nov. 30.

 

[bcmba]

We'll, too, be on the Magic on the 11/23-30 cruise.

It's not clear to me, but it sounds like they'll be decorating the ship while we're on it and the full holiday spirit won't be unveiled until the next cruise (the 11/30 departure).

Hope I'm wrong.

PS. Do any of the other cruisers on the 11/23 cruise have pre-teen girls? Our 11 year old will be looking for like-age girls and it be great to know if there were some on board.

 

[tbuot]

I think that the ship will be decorated for the 11/23 cruise. We are going with our family-- in laws, DH's sister and brother, and our family of 4 (small children 2 and 5).

I wonder if we will be served a traditional Thanksgiving meal??

Oh, we are on the magic.

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

We are cruising on the 4 day Wonder, December 1st! What a great way to start the holiday season!

 

[mcnuss]

Originally posted by tbuot

I wonder if we will be served a traditional Thanksgiving meal??

Yes, we will. DCL told me it will be one of the meal options that night. How much fun is that???

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

We aren't going until next December 6-13, but I am planning already (I'm not too obsessive huh?!) Do guests decorate their doors/rooms for christmas? I am excited because our formal pics will be in our Christmas best with Mickey - what could be better!!!!! That will make for some great christmas cards.

 

[Mmketeer]

My~Rumbly~Tumbly,

Hi! Looks like we'll be on this cruise with you. We try to go every year for the holidays with our out of town family. Their is nothing like being on the DCL during the holiday season as the ship is so beautifully decorated. One of my favorite family memories from last year is sitting on the steps of Tritans with my then seven yr. old niece (whom I only get to see during the holidays) listening to Mrs. Clause read a holiday story and listening to the Cast of Hercules sing Christmas carols. ....Hope you make lots of family holiday memories on your cruise too!

See ya on the Wonder!
Mmketeer

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi LoveThatMouse, (cute name)


I don't know about everyone else, but I do. See this is our family Christmas present to each other and we only get to see our out of town family during this time. So, since I am local and don't have to fly like the rest of my group I bring a few decoration over with me. Our niece usually takes turns staying with us and her dad's stateroom so I usually decorate all three rooms in some way (my room has the best decorations as she hangs out with me the most.)
My room usually consists of a small table top tree with tiny disney resin charcaters and battery operated lights, a small hanging plush holiday door knob decoration and a small trim of garland for the sitting room mirror with holiday window clings on it. In the other rooms I usually just put holiday window clings on the mirror and a few small holiday items. Hubby and I have sailed many times so other than hanging out with the family we are kind of what they call room dwellers, so it's nice to have some holiday cheer in our room. We use to drag animated characters, a larger x-mas tree, full size garland, stuff to decorate our golf cart at the Disney Institue and a full car load of presents when we did these trips to Disney for our Christmas, but it's just too much to try and fit into my two suitcases for the cruiseline!LOL!

Hope this helps...I'd love to hear what everyone else does!
Mmketeer

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Mmketeer - sounds like an awesome room!! I think the window clings are a great idea. I would love to do the door knob hanger thing, but I am afraid it would be taken (paranoia - the new yorker in me I guess). We were going to bring battery operated lights for around the mirror - anything that is simple to pack. Would love a mini-tree, but need the room for souvies in my suitcases!

 

[gumby74]

I just can't wait until our 3-day cruise on the Wonder after our four-day stay in Orlando.....

And after the holiday decorations at WDW - what a bonus to have them on the ship, too. Just can't wait!!

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi LoveThatMouse,

<BG> Thanks, what can I say I try.... I know what your saying about the door hanging decoration that's why I put mine on one of the doors leading into the split bathroooms inside the stateroom. However, I would love to do something simple on the outside, but I too am afraid it'll be taken. We use to at the resorts bring a huge bow to hang outside the door or wrap the door like a present, but I don't think DCL would appreciate that. I like your lights around the mirror idea (I might add that to the garland if hubby doesn't complain about the room being to bright!LOL) and, if you come up with a outside door decoration let me know!...enjoy your cruise!

Mmketeer

 

[tgiving cruisers]

Originally posted by bcmba
We'll, too, be on the Magic on the 11/23-30 cruise.

It's not clear to me, but it sounds like they'll be decorating the ship while we're on it and the full holiday spirit won't be unveiled until the next cruise (the 11/30 departure).

Hope I'm wrong.

PS. Do any of the other cruisers on the 11/23 cruise have pre-teen girls? Our 11 year old will be looking for like-age girls and it be great to know if there were some on board.

 

[tgiving cruisers]

Originally posted by bcmba
We'll, too, be on the Magic on the 11/23-30 cruise.
We will be on the same cruise as you. we have two daughters ages 9 and 11. we're glad there will be others the same age there too.

we're also hoping they will do some special holiday magic. we can't wait to see.

 

[mcnuss]

Originally posted by tgiving cruisers

We will be on the same cruise as you. we have two daughters ages 9 and 11. B]

My DD will be 8 1/2 on the Thanksgiving cruise. Hope to meet you!

 

[private 1965]

Our entire family (Mom, 4 adult children, 2 spouses, 3 grandkids!) are going on the Wonder for THE CHRISTMAS CRUISE!! This will be my second Disney Cruise and I am soooo excited to be with Disney for Christmas day!

I LOVE the ideas for the room decorating, but was worried about packing space. The window clings sound great! Also, we are coming in a day early so I may just shop at Walgreens to get some cheap decorations that I can leave (throw away). Things like garland and red velvet bows.

My thoughts for an outside-the-stateroom-door decoration is to personalize one of those big, cheap red velvet bows with Disney characters (trimmed from my Disney xmas cards) and a ribbon that says "Merry Christmas from the Rogers"

Maybe, I'm too trusting, but I doubt anyone would steal this from the door and it's flat enough not to be in the way.

 

[kasar]

I can't wait to see the decorations since we are leaving home on Christmas Day, so we're not going crazy with decorations this year. Plus, I'm sure the Disney decorations are nicer than any that I could do!