Merrytime Cruise

[emmabelle]

we're doing the Fantasy in November and it will be our first. We've done HOTHS three times, I'm excited to do this one.

 

[Carohs]

We did one mid Nov 2022 on the Wonder. What I remember are the crowds for everything but most events had a sectioned area for kids only which helped. Little touches like hot chocolate and cookies in the lobby after meeting Santa made it extra special. Like HOTHS, besides the atrium decorations, you can easily overlook the holiday events if you're not actively looking out for them. I think what I most enjoyed was how much everyone was in the holiday spirit. Many CMs wore scarfs, and door decorations were mostly holiday themed. We often saw families in matching family PJs or other holiday themed outfits, too.

 

[auntlynne]

Or they could just pump in whatever chemicals they use to make Beach Club smell like gingerbread all November and December.

Slightly off topic, but topic adjacent, we rode Haunted Mansion holiday tonight— did it always smell like gingerbread in the ballroom dance scene?

Chemicals? It’s not just magical Pumpkin Pie Spice or cinnamon in an atomizer? Can you imagine the layer of fine brown dust!

Apparently, MSC cruises has does have a scent that pump into their ship air!

Yes, it always does have the gingerbread smell with that overlay.

Is it only during the holidays or year round? (Your use of “overlay” makes me think it’s seasonal.) I’m not good with parks trivia, especially Haunted Mansion.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Is it only during the holidays or year round? (Your use of “overlay” makes me think it’s seasonal.) I’m not good with parks trivia, especially Haunted Mansion.

Only during the holidays, when it gets the Nightmare Before Christmas theming, which usually runs from whenever the Halloween decor goes up through new years. Each year it is a different gingerbread house on the dining table in the ballroom scene. Here is a Disney blog article about the one for this year - the team that designs and builds it is quite amazing!

https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/dis...he-haunted-mansion-holiday-gingerbread-house/

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Chemicals? It’s not just magical Pumpkin Pie Spice or cinnamon in an atomizer? Can you imagine the layer of fine brown dust!

My husband (a chemical engineer) likes to remind me that *everything* (including water and air!) is a chemical, so it’s not necessarily a pejorative.

Having said that, as a BC lover who stays there at least once during the holiday season, I do NOT think whatever is creating the smell in the BCV lobby is in any way natural…but it is festive.

 

[mk2.0]

It looks like I have done two. That’s a clue; I wasn’t sure and had to go through photos to find reminders.

Here was the Dream. This is my main memory. A lovely atrium. We stayed in Concierge. I remember my love of the deconstructed Caesar salad in the Lounge. And having our waiter from the EBTA we had done. And sitting in the circular booths in enchanted Garden. I did remember it had nice decorations.

View attachment 904948

But it is overshadowed by a visit to WDW pre-cruise. Back when the lights were at Hollywood (or MGM) Studios. And the castle at MK.

View attachment 904950
View attachment 904949

…Four years later, I did a mid-December Very Merrytime cruise, again in the Dream.

One of those (or both) had a giant gingerbread house in the lobby. Castaway has some decorations.

Otherwise, they could have been any other cruise - to me.

It's underwhelming honestly. They serve hot cocoa and have a tree ceremony, but that's about all I can remember besides the lobby decorations. We even wore our Disney Christmas Jerseys and were maybe the only guests dressed in theme on the whole ship

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

It's underwhelming honestly. They serve hot cocoa and have a tree ceremony, but that's about all I can remember besides the lobby decorations. We even wore our Disney Christmas Jerseys and were maybe the only guests dressed in theme on the whole ship

When and where was your sailing? I’ve heard reports of people describing a more festive atmosphere.

 

[lilmc]

We even wore our Disney Christmas Jerseys and were maybe the only guests dressed in theme on the whole ship

When was this? We haven’t been in a Very Merrytume cruise since the before times admittedly, but it seemed almost every family (including ours) had Christmas jammies. We’ve got one in a few weeks and we’ve got at least two Christmas outfits and a new Christmas purse at the ready so I’m going to feel a little weird (and teenage daughters will be none to pleased) if we’re in the minority.

 

[auntlynne]

When was this? We haven’t been in a Very Merrytume cruise since the before times admittedly, but it seemed almost every family (including ours) had Christmas jammies. We’ve got one in a few weeks and we’ve got at least two Christmas outfits and a new Christmas purse at the ready so I’m going to feel a little weird (and teenage daughters will be none to pleased) if we’re in the minority.

It can really depend on the guests. When I have done longer cruises, any time of the year, they seem to bring out more whimsy. It also helps if there is a SM group for the cruise and they egg on each other. So don’t give up hope!

 

[mk2.0]

When and where was your sailing? I’ve heard reports of people describing a more festive atmosphere.

Dream last December (2023) sailing out of Ft Lauderdale

 

[mk2.0]

It can really depend on the guests. When I have done longer cruises, any time of the year, they seem to bring out more whimsy. It also helps if there is a SM group for the cruise and they egg on each other. So don’t give up hope!

True. Atmosphere is dependent on the guests. We went out of Galveston this spring, and that was a way different group than you see out of Canaveral. So many first-timers and kids. Italy this summer was a much more "seasoned" group of veterans. Many gold and platinum. Even pearl.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Dream last December (2023) sailing out of Ft Lauderdale

Thanks— extremely surprising that December out of FL wouldn’t be that “merry”— I would have imagined the local Caribbean sailings close to Christmas as the ones where people are most likely to dress up festive.

 

[auntlynne]

Thanks— extremely surprising that December out of FL wouldn’t be that “merry”— I would have imagined the local Caribbean sailings close to Christmas as the ones where people are most likely to dress up festive.

Maybe the 2024 cruisers on your sailing will be merry & bright. Go in with low anticipation and maybe you get surprised! And be the fun you are hoping to find. Some people just need others to display some joy and whimsy.

I go expecting Christmas decor. Anything else is just bonus.

Don’t go in expecting MVMCP - and then be sad when Jollywood Nights happens. You have been warned.

Happy Holidays. Bottom line, I hope the cruise basics are great.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Maybe the 2024 cruisers on your sailing will be merry & bright. Go in with low anticipation and maybe you get surprised! And be the fun you are hoping to find. Some people just need others to display some joy and whimsy.

I go expecting Christmas decor. Anything else is just bonus.

Don’t go in expecting MVMCP - and then be sad when Jollywood Nights happens. You have been warned.

Happy Holidays. Bottom line, I hope the cruise basics are great.

I am not someone who needs other people to feel festive…I might get some grumbling from my kids if we went super over the top Christmas and nobody else is dressed up, but they’re not quite old enough to mutiny yet so I must strike while the iron is young.

If we can compete in Match Your Mate, we can certainly walk through the atrium dressed with more garish holiday attire than everybody else.

 

[auntlynne]

I am not someone who needs other people to feel festive…I might get some grumbling from my kids if we went super over the top Christmas and nobody else is dressed up, but they’re not quite old enough to mutiny yet so I must strike while the iron is young.

If we can compete in Match Your Mate, we can certainly walk through the atrium dressed with more garish holiday attire than everybody else.

So you are planning on being the whimsy! Good for you (and your fellow cruisers).