What is a TA cruise like?

[Dismama2]

Obviously lots of days at sea, but what special things do they have going on?

Specifically I was wondering about entertainment- we love the Disney production shows, but I know they require lots of coordination, so I can't imagine how they would add an extra week of production shows for a single sailing.

Other info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Quellman]

More variety acts, they'll show a movie in there. If you are lucky, there will be a crew talent showcase. Also there can be informational lectures either by naturalists or by the crew officers. Search for some past cruiseline navigators and see what they offer.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Obviously lots of days at sea, but what special things do they have going on?

Specifically I was wondering about entertainment- we love the Disney production shows, but I know they require lots of coordination, so I can't imagine how they would add an extra week of production shows for a single sailing.

Other info would be greatly appreciated!

Sometimes they will bring onboard local talent (pick up in one port, drop at the next). Also, they have brought special individual entertainers, and have a few "no sets/quick and easy" shows they can do.

On our TA we had a group doing a Beatles show, Jodi Benson did a show, and one show (can't recall the name of it right offhand) where the cast basically did a Disney-music themed show with minimal sets (maybe used one stage set from another show).

And the individual entertainers, that usually perform in the adult comedy bar, also did a "big" show.

OK, had to go look it up. On our TA we had (for shows)
Welcome Aboard! Let the Magic Begin
Twice Charmed
The Magic of the Beatles
Los Mulero: An Evening of Spanish Dance and Music
Ricky Kalmon
Villains Tonight
Heath Hyche
Once Upon a Song
Jason Bishop
Walt Disney The Dream Goes On
Jodi Benson
Crew Talent Show/Dancing with the Officers
Disney Dreams
Remember the Magic: A Final Farewell

 

[Dismama2]

Thanks for the info! That is kinda what I thought it would look like.

We certainly don't need to be entertained 24/7, but is there a good bit of things to do during sea days?

 

[jrabbit]

Yep!!! We have NOT done the TA's but we have sailed the Panama Canal a few times. 14 nights 3 or 4 ports. Never bored. And two weeks without Cell or e-Mail = simply awesome. And you would think that there would be time to watch a lot of movies -- but you would be wrong!!

There might be a hour or two at a time where there is some "down time" but usually we find plenty of things to do.

If you are going this year, be sure to catch Clara Oman in Keys (or wherever she's playing and singing). She is an amazing talent, very sweet, very humble. DCL is lucky to have her. I've been on other cruises with her and never saw her until our last cruise. I skipped "main" entertainment to watch and listen to her.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yep!!! We have NOT done the TA's but we have sailed the Panama Canal a few times. 14 nights 3 or 4 ports. Never bored. And two weeks without Cell or e-Mail = simply awesome. And you would think that there would be time to watch a lot of movies -- but you would be wrong!!

There might be a hour or two at a time where there is some "down time" but usually we find plenty of things to do.

If you are going this year, be sure to catch Clara Oman in Keys (or wherever she's playing and singing). She is an amazing talent, very sweet, very humble. DCL is lucky to have her. I've been on other cruises with her and never saw her until our last cruise. I skipped "main" entertainment to watch and listen to her.

Is Clara on the Magic now? We saw her on the Fantasy.

 

[sefowler1]

Clara will be on the Magic starting in a few months. She is about to disembark Fantasy and will be in Magic for the rest of 2016.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Clara will be on the Magic starting in a few months. She is about to disembark Fantasy and will be in Magic for the rest of 2016.

Oh, yay! We spent most nights in La Piazza on our Fantasy B2B in 2014 and heard her most nights in La Piazza. Maybe I'll have to print out a couple of the photos I took and bring them along on our next cruise.

 

[Bella29]

If I could piggyback on your question, I'm wondering the same thing about meals. Do they have new menus beyond the standards from 7 night cruises?

 

[Dismama2]

If I could piggyback on your question, I'm wondering the same thing about meals. Do they have new menus beyond the standards from 7 night cruises?

Good question! I am curious as well!

 

[ImprovGal]

If I could piggyback on your question, I'm wondering the same thing about meals. Do they have new menus beyond the standards from 7 night cruises?

The dinner menus are a different theme each night and do not repeat.

Lumiere's brunch/lunch menus do have some repetition. (Ditto for Triton's on the Wonder's long cruises.)

And Once Upon a Song is one of my favorite WDT shows. It doesn't rely on lavish set pieces, but spotlights the vocal talents of some of the mainstage performers in a cabaret-style anthology show of Disney music with beautiful arrangements.

 

[bats]

The TAs are awesome! During the day, there is boat building competitions, crew competitions, scavenger hunts and things like that, the crew skit (If I were not upon the sea - you've got to see it)!
We got married on the 2014 WBTA but this year was the only year that I've thought twice about booking it due to the itinerary. We like hot weather and we're not going to get much of that as we go towards Nova Scotia. Doesn't seem much to do in Halifax or Sydney either, but we'll find things to keep up amused no doubt!
The 2017 will come out soon, so fingers crossed for a better (hotter) itinerary for us!

 

[Dismama2]

Thanks for all the input! I did consider the weather, but we come from warm, so "the cold never bothered me anyway". sorry, could resist!

Kiddos are still very much into the characters, I presume there are ample appearances?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If I could piggyback on your question, I'm wondering the same thing about meals. Do they have new menus beyond the standards from 7 night cruises?

Good question! I am curious as well!

OK, referring back to my Voyage Navigator again, the menus were -
Let the Magic Begin
Prince & Princess
Rotational dinner 3X: AP - Show Dinner; PC - Island Dinner; Lumiere's - French Dinner
Villains
Flavors of the Mediterranean
Transatlantic
Taste of the Caribbean
Around the World
Pirates IN the Caribbean
Master Chef
Captain's Gala
'Til We Meet Again.

 

[NancyIL]

The TAs are awesome! During the day, there is boat building competitions, crew competitions, scavenger hunts and things like that, the crew skit (If I were not upon the sea - you've got to see it)!
We got married on the 2014 WBTA but this year was the only year that I've thought twice about booking it due to the itinerary. We like hot weather and we're not going to get much of that as we go towards Nova Scotia. Doesn't seem much to do in Halifax or Sydney either, but we'll find things to keep up amused no doubt!
The 2017 will come out soon, so fingers crossed for a better (hotter) itinerary for us!

I have cruised to Halifax three times and to Sydney twice, and there are plenty of things to do from both ports. If you're lucky, you may see a bit of fall color at the end of September. Check out the Canada/New England Forum at Cruise Critic (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20) and the Nova Scotia Travel Forum at Trip Advisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g154967-i326-Nova_Scotia.html). I think this year's WBTA has a very nice itinerary. I'd much rather stop in Canadian ports than in the Caribbean.

 

[jrabbit]

Is Clara on the Magic now? We saw her on the Fantasy.

This week January 23-30 is her last week on the Fantasy, then home for a break then will hook up with the Magic sometime. She mentioned being home for Easter for the first time in years.

 

[jrabbit]

The dinner menus are a different theme each night and do not repeat.
....

In Name Only the menus do not repeat, however some appetizers, soups, salads and main course will show up more than once with a slightly different treatment and name