I miss DCL. Give me your memories

[TiggerBouncy]

We've only been on one so far, second is supposed to be Christmas this year so who knows. First favorite: We'd just gotten on the ship and got our first ice cream cones. We turned to walk to a table and my daughter said "but Mom you have to pay." I smiled and said no I don't. Mind blown!

Second favorite: The character interactions were amazing, but the one that stands out with our princess is Captain Hook. She was giving him hell for being a sneaky snook. He tried to steal her tiara. We saw Captain Mickey after and she was telling him about Captain Hook being on his ship and showing Mickey where he was.

Wow, I love that picture! Thank you for sharing!

You will become addicted (if you have not already). Here is wishing you many more happy cruises!!!

 

[JM_97]

Some of my favorites - we passed the Norwegian Sun once when I was on the Dream and had a horn battle. We of course trounced them since we had a much more talented horn. I was actually surprised they played.

Another Cruise we had a horn battle with the Magic, which was also pretty one sided. However one time on the Fantasy we passed the Dream at sea. Now THAT was a horn battle! Both captains treated us to a fun show.

One day I'd like to have a horn battle on a cruise. On the ones I've been on, it hasn't happened.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

One day I'd like to have a horn battle on a cruise. On the ones I've been on, it hasn't happened.

They really are awesome! We were on the Fantasy and had to make an emergency stop to drop a passenger off in Nassau. While we were docked, the Dream came into port right next to us. The captains did the horn battle and we loved it. The really cool thing though was when the cast members could start talking to each other on the other ship through their walkie talkies, they were so excited, it was a great experience.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

One day I'd like to have a horn battle on a cruise. On the ones I've been on, it hasn't happened.

It's really best when the Fantasy and Dream meet up. The non-Disney ships just can't complete and unfortunately the Wonder and Magic also have a very limited horn. But when the Dream and Fantasy get together, they can make a pretty good show of it. The best part is when one plays "When you wish upon a star" and the other answers with "Makes no difference who you are".

 

[mousefan73]

These are my memories I am dearly missing right now.. Especially as our Hawaii cruise got cancelled...
Walking in the stateroom for the first time ( when it's not trashed lol) and then decorating our door, walls and hanging our FE.

And that feeling I get when sailing away... It's like letting out a nice deep breath and all that stress is gone and there is nothing more to plan or worry about ( you made the ship on time, rental dropped off no issues)


What I miss the most is the deep, deep beautiful blue water.. when sailing and how it can turn a nice turquoise once closer to land... The caribbean is amazing with its waters.... I have traveld a bit and it's one of the best in the world.

 

[JM_97]

These are my memories I am dearly missing right now.. Especially as our Hawaii cruise got cancelled...
Walking in the stateroom for the first time ( when it's not trashed lol) and then decorating our door, walls and hanging our FE.

And that feeling I get when sailing away... It's like letting out a nice deep breath and all that stress is gone and there is nothing more to plan or worry about ( you made the ship on time, rental dropped off no issues)


What I miss the most is the deep, deep beautiful blue water.. when sailing and how it can turn a nice turquoise once closer to land... The caribbean is amazing with its waters.... I have traveld a bit and it's one of the best in the world.

Bermuda is the same way. The water is gorgeous

 

[jrabbit]

RE: Horn Battles - the Magic and Wonder have REAL horns, the Dream & Fantasy have pre recorded "horns" with some really HUGE Speakers

Been on 20+ DCL cruises and they all have some very special and magical moments!! From meeting Suzie and Perla from Cinderella at the back stairways have having them to myself for 15 minutes (not a kid to be seen!), to winning a drawing from Don "Ducky" Williams, to winning at Who Want To Be A Mouseketter, days on Castaway Cay and on and on and on.

But the best memories are those of the crew. Serving Teams and Room Stewards, seeing them again on future cruises, and having them remember you. The Scrape, Paint & Varnish teams whistling Disney songs while they work, getting to know the Cruise Directors & Cruise Staff's.

And then there are the shows ... yep the main stage shows are awesome, and Disney Dreams ALWAYS brings a tear to my eyes. But then there are the late night "adults" only shows ... Never Miss (or volunteer for) Match Your Mate. I have never laughed so hard!! Well except for some of the ventriloquists. Then there's the piano players and the duets playing music and interacting with the guests. Jack Jack Diaper Dash ("we'll keep racing babies until they make us stop!")

One of my favorite stories is NOT my own, nor did I witness this, but it was shared here a long time ago ... First off you know how crowded the elevators are and how the kids like to ride them and press ALL of the buttons, etc etc etc. This story goes that an elevator only had a few people in it and a woman got in and pressed the "Door Close" button immediately upon entering, even though there were people running to get in the elevator. She turned to the other passengers and "apologized" by saying that those other people were her kids and family and she needed a few moments of "Mommy Time!!"

 

[mmouse37]

With 45 DCl cruises under our belt there are many, many special moments and memories. I would have to say that two of the most special were when we sailed the MV of the Magic back on July 30, 1998 and the first time we brought our grandkids who were one year olds at the time. On the MV is was literally a dream come true for me. I had always wanted to cruise and I have always loved Disney so when I got wind that Disney was building a cruise ship I put our name in for a reservation as soon as it was open to book. I think it was about 18 months in advance. DCL didn't have much info out on the cruise just that it would be 4 days and would visit Nassau and their private island Castaway Cay. Back then they did a lottery for reservation for the MV. We were picked and our family of 5 were thrilled. We had never been on any cruise before and having our first be with Disney was so special. Our kids loved it and we were hooked.

Back in 2016 we went with extended family and friends on the Fantasy and I just melted watching our grandkids enjoy everything. They were only one at the time but were mesmerized at all the stage shows and loved meeting all the characters. We now have 4 grandkids and they have all been on DCL a few times...love getting a whole new generation hooked on DCL.

I miss DCL so, so much!

MJ

 

[nancipants]

During our first Star Wars Day at Sea cruise, my husband and I participated in the adult trivia. We both got to the semi-finals. When the host came around to have us introduce ourselves, she got a kick that we said we were from the same place, and asked if we knew each other. My husband replied that we were married. The host asked what would happen if one of us beat the other. My husband replied that he knew I would kick his butt and everyone laughed.

I got into the finals (he didn’t) and after my turn, the audience in the club applauded, and my husband stood up and yelled “THAT’S MY WIFE!” I ended up winning.

 

[JM_97]

With 45 DCl cruises under our belt there are many, many special moments and memories. I would have to say that two of the most special were when we sailed the MV of the Magic back on July 30, 1998 and the first time we brought our grandkids who were one year olds at the time. On the MV is was literally a dream come true for me. I had always wanted to cruise and I have always loved Disney so when I got wind that Disney was building a cruise ship I put our name in for a reservation as soon as it was open to book. I think it was about 18 months in advance. DCL didn't have much info out on the cruise just that it would be 4 days and would visit Nassau and their private island Castaway Cay. Back then they did a lottery for reservation for the MV. We were picked and our family of 5 were thrilled. We had never been on any cruise before and having our first be with Disney was so special. Our kids loved it and we were hooked.

Back in 2016 we went with extended family and friends on the Fantasy and I just melted watching our grandkids enjoy everything. They were only one at the time but were mesmerized at all the stage shows and loved meeting all the characters. We now have 4 grandkids and they have all been on DCL a few times...love getting a whole new generation hooked on DCL.

I miss DCL so, so much!

MJ

That's pretty cool that you were on the first ever Disney cruise!

 

[mmouse37]

That's pretty cool that you were on the first ever Disney cruise!

First ever Passenger sailing...they had one or two VIP and the Christening cruises before ours. Actually what got many passengers mad was that DCL never made any kind of "big deal" about it being the MV for passengers on our sailing. Guests waited months and months for the sailing to happen and the MV was delayed TWICE before she actually sailed in July. She was first due to sail in March, then May then finally July of 1998. All the bells and whistles and streamers, daytime fireworks, press, etc. were for the VIP cruises before ours.

This pics was NOT of our MV but the VIP cruise.



Many people were so upset as they kept showing the video loop of all the festivities of the VIP cruise on the stateroom TV. People felt they were the paying guests and should have had some recognition of that fact. People were actually destroying DCL property in anger. We were just so happy to be onboard we did not get upset about it but many people did.

We were also on the MV of the Dream and they did have celebrations onboard with champagne for everyone.



MJ

 

[JM_97]

First ever Passenger sailing...they had one or two VIP and the Christening cruises before ours. Actually what got many passengers mad was that DCL never made any kind of "big deal" about it being the MV for passengers on our sailing. Guests waited months and months for the sailing to happen and the MV was delayed TWICE before she actually sailed in July. She was first due to sail in March, then May then finally July of 1998. All the bells and whistles and streamers, daytime fireworks, press, etc. were for the VIP cruises before ours.

This pics was NOT of our MV but the VIP cruise.

View attachment 509654

Many people were so upset as they kept showing the video loop of all the festivities of the VIP cruise on the stateroom TV. People felt they were the paying guests and should have had some recognition of that fact. People were actually destroying DCL property in anger. We were just so happy to be onboard we did not get upset about it but many people did.

We were also on the MV of the Dream and they did have celebrations onboard with champagne for everyone.

View attachment 509655

MJ

Wow, I had never heard that before. I'd be annoyed but at the end of the day that's probably the biggest first world problem ever lol

But it looks like they learned their lesson and got it right for the Dream. I'm excited to see what they have in store for the Wish, and any ships after that if those are still in the works

 

[BartmanLA]

Too many to really recount, but a few stand out, getting to share a 5 night cruise on the Magic with my brother and his family was an especial highlight. Making so many friends on board and then getting to sail with them multiple times, out of the 5 DCL cruises we've been on we've gotten to sail with one couple all but one time, that's Magic.
Getting off the elevator on our first WBPC cruise and having someone call my name, thinking it was someone from our FB group, only to find out it was someone who recognized me from a local social club I was part of! (You can start humming "It's A Small World" now)
On the Wonder in Palo having Sasha our server over multiple sailings and even having him come to greet me after seeing me on board the ship!
Personal memory is strolling the upper decks early morning while at sea and enjoying the peace and quiet and tranquility of listening to the swish of the sea passing by the rail.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

First ever Passenger sailing...they had one or two VIP and the Christening cruises before ours. Actually what got many passengers mad was that DCL never made any kind of "big deal" about it being the MV for passengers on our sailing. Guests waited months and months for the sailing to happen and the MV was delayed TWICE before she actually sailed in July. She was first due to sail in March, then May then finally July of 1998. All the bells and whistles and streamers, daytime fireworks, press, etc. were for the VIP cruises before ours.

This pics was NOT of our MV but the VIP cruise.

Many people were so upset as they kept showing the video loop of all the festivities of the VIP cruise on the stateroom TV. People felt they were the paying guests and should have had some recognition of that fact. People were actually destroying DCL property in anger. We were just so happy to be onboard we did not get upset about it but many people did.

We were also on the MV of the Dream and they did have celebrations onboard with champagne for everyone.

That is very cool! Although not the MV, I DO have one of the "take home menu's" from the MV of the Fantasy (really the VIP Voyage I think). We were on her third sailing (first Eastern. My DW really wanted the eastern itinerary more than she wanted the MV). In any event, she was allergic to Shellfish. Come Lobster night, when the waiters brought all the lobsters out and they did a little jig and cracked them all in the air held up high, the juices went EVERYWHERE in the air. Normally she has no problem is one or two people eat shellfish, but the sheer amount of juices in the air was too much for her, and she had an allergic reaction. She had to leave to go to the lobby to breath. We were in Artists Palette and it was the animation show. I wanted to go after her, but the Head Waiter INSISTED that I stay and watch the show. He got a series of waiters to basically go out and check on her on a rotating basis, and they kept coming back and telling me how she was every few minutes so I would not worry.

In any event, at the end of the dinner, the Head Waiter brought us one of the inaugural menu's. He said he was not supposed to give the few remaining ones they had out, but he had a couple in his private stash and gave one to her. So although not on the MV, I ended up with one the menus from it.

 

[brentm77]

So many happy memories. One is a quiet moment, sitting in the adult-only area with my wife, older daughter, and brother and sister-in-laws (hereinafter my brother and sister, since that is how I think of them), knowing my other daughter was having the time of her life socializing in the teen club. My wife had been bed-bound for over four years, following our first cruise, and the thing I missed the most and thought I would never do again, was a Disney Cruise. Now, here we were, my wife healed and eating normal food again (after cooking and packing food for any trip we took), on a Disney Cruise, with my brother and sister, who I adore and never thought would join us on a cruise, let alone a Disney Cruise. It was warm, calm, and peaceful. Work wasn't even in the corners of my mind. It was pure bliss. I remember sitting there thinking, "don't let this moment pass. Freeze time, because I feel nothing but happiness right now."

For someone who battles anxiety, it was amazing. Come to think of it, my anxiety almost never surfaces while cruising. It's too disconnected form reality.

My brother and sister were hooked, and had the idea of all of us booking another cruise together this upcoming March. The thought of it keeps me going during these difficult times. It makes me so happy they caught the bug. If March doesn't happen, it will happen one day.

Other highlights from the two cruises we have taken:
- That feeling you have dishing up your first plate at Cabanas for lunch on embarkation, knowing you are finally there and have an entire week ahead of you.
- Sitting with my wife on deck four, the crazy-deep-blue sea passing by below. The breeze just right.
- Our nightly attendance of the shows, all sitting in a row, my brother and sister always ordering treats, and just thinking how nice it was having so many people I love in one place.
- The family gathering for dinner every night.
- Not cooking or cleaning up dinner - now that's vacation!
- My youngest ordering cheeseburgers every single night for a week, with a side of escargot or other adventurous dishes.
- Sitting on the veranda, watching the birds dive and fly in the draft of the ship
- Picking up that extra ice-cream cone when my wife thought I was just filling the water bottles, and always having room for one more before they shut down for the night
- Pulling into new ports for the first time and being amazed by the beauty of the place and adventure that lies ahead, with the comfort of coming back to my unpacked and clean room after a long day of play.

 

[TheDawnPatrol]

Lots of good memories including:

How great the crew and characters treat our son who has special needs. They always spend extra time with him and go above and beyond, which is one of the ways I justify the extra cost .
Leisurely 2 - 3 hour dinners in Remys
The excellent servers walking around on Castaway
Stitch taking our 5 yr daughter and walking around deck 5 and just causing all sorts of trouble

Looking forward to when we can go back again.

 

[CamColt]

With 22 cruises, most of them with my kids from ages 8 months and 3 1/2 to them being adults now, I couldn't come up with just 1 specific memory. Instead I'm going along the same lines as this...

These are my memories I am dearly missing right now.. Especially as our Hawaii cruise got cancelled...
Walking in the stateroom for the first time ( when it's not trashed lol) and then decorating our door, walls and hanging our FE.

And that feeling I get when sailing away... It's like letting out a nice deep breath and all that stress is gone and there is nothing more to plan or worry about ( you made the ship on time, rental dropped off no issues)


What I miss the most is the deep, deep beautiful blue water.. when sailing and how it can turn a nice turquoise once closer to land... The caribbean is amazing with its waters.... I have traveld a bit and it's one of the best in the world.

It's the FEELINGS I get when on DCL that I miss!

With all the fun every day, my favorite day has become embarkation day. Just knowing we have the whole cruise ahead of us is a great feeling. Silly as it sounds I just love that newly cleaned smell mixed with the cool AC when we get to the room...starting it all off. I still tend to tear up at the sail away party, even after doing it so many times, but I think its just the emotional release of the work and worry is over, we made it!

And while on the cruise every day, I get a feeling of freedom and relaxation. No rules (well, some within reason), no schedule, no work, no running around. Do what I want when I want. Sitting at the bar, eating chips and drinking cocktails is ok at pretty much any hour, and it has become my usual afternoon set up. Just the feeling of no worries is amazing.

On a side note, @mousefan73 I feel your pain. We should be at Aulani right now, going on an NCL cruise Saturday. This is a painful week.

 

[bcwife76]

-horn battle with the Wonder while we were on the Fantasy, both of us anchored off Grand Cayman
-sailing under the Golden Gate bridge at 5:30am in the morning in the fog....so quiet!! Then sailing back under it around 4:30 in the afternoon, bright sunlight, wind and so much honking/clapping from above
-sailing under the Lions Gate bridge out of Vancouver and waving to people on the Stanley Park seawall
-so many amazing moments on the 2019 Members cruise to Bermuda
-sooooooo many amazing Palo meals....

oh my gosh, I can't choose just one moment or one memory. This year we were supposed to a) be completing our grand slam and b) completing our 10th cruise

 

[truck1]

Probably one of my best memories would be the first time my wife and daughter cruised with me on Disney. 2008 on the Wonder and we boarded early to eat and wander the ship. We ended up on deck midships waiting on the elevator. We heard running behind us and turned and looked and Chip and Dale ran by. Followed by their handler a few seconds later. They each stopped to play quick with my daughter and my son for a second and kept running. Of course my camera was still in my bag, not that it would have done any good since it happened so fast. As I was now getting my camera out, someone else comes walking down the stairs and I turn around its Minnie. She stops and is interacting with my kids and my daughter(my wife's from a previous marriage) is beaming. The elevator comes and Minnie gets on with her handler and motions for us to join them. I have a picture of Minnie and my daughter in the glass elevators going back to the atrium.

 

[tlprice]

Everybody's stories make me so nostalgic and a little sad. So many great memories that others have shared are also my great memories/moments. Some of the things I miss most though are:

• The smell (I don't know what it is, but Disney ships just have a unique smell)
• My daughter's absolute happiness
• Spending so many fun times with my daughter
• room stewards (somebody that cleans my space other than me!)
• meeting new people (especially our table mates--Disney always does a great job of choosing)
• The comfy bed
• Laying in the comfy bed and watching movies while my daughter shuts down whatever kids club she's in
• Going to fabulous places in the world
• booking a placeholder to know I get to go again!