What was the most memorable experience you had on DCL?

[dragynally]

My husband and I seeing Anna and Elsa on the Fantasy and trying REALLY hard to not cry. IT was so fun!

 

[Quellman]

My in-laws planned a cruise in October 2 years ago. They booked a VGT rate on the Fantasy for 7 nights eastern. We sent them on their way with door magnets, and all that sort of stuff. They finally got on board and were in their room deck 9. Of course we asked them to send photos of their room, and tell us about the lunch buffet.

They had no idea we also booked the cruise! We walked down the hall and had my 1.5 year old knock on the door. They opened it up and were so surprised to see him standing there. Then they saw us. It was really funny since my mother-in-law thought we had come to say good-bye. NOPE! We were sailing too!

Since then we have completed one additional cruise with them, a b2b2b swap-a-roo cruise (they sailed, we sailed together, we sailed alone and they took our son to WDW for a few days), and another planned for next year!

 

[gingerfeathers]

My first cruise--Magic, August of 1999. The Wonder had just arrived at Port Canaveral and was set to do her very first cruise a few days later. It was incredible to be one of the first people ever to see both ships in the same port!

 

[Pens Fan]

Sailing through Tracy Arm - so beautiful, almost like another world. It was an amazing afternoon. My then 14 year old kept saying it looked like Jurrasic Park . I'm not sure about that, but it was one day that he had no interest in going to Vibe. He was perfectly happy hanging out on our balcony, drinking hot chocolate and eating yummy chocolate chip cookies with my husband and I - just a perfect day!!

My other favorite memory would have to be flying (almost literally) across the ice and snow when we went 4-wheeling on a glacier in Iceland. It's a day our family will never forget. Then it was back to the ship, order a All Hands on Deck platter and a bottle of wine for hubby and I, chicken fingers for the teenager and relax on the balcony for sail away. A perfect day!

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

I think my favorite memory is waking up early on Nassau day and seeing deep blue sea (so blue!!!) for the first time in my life. The salty smell. The wind in my face... It was perfection. And now I am addicted.

I mean... Look at this.

...

P.s. We always see the dolphins at the same spot when we get out of PC. There's nothing like seeing them in the wild.
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I agree 100% with what you love so much with cruising. And despite the fact that my in-laws have NEVER been on an ocean cruise before; they list the reason they would "HATE" ocean cruising is because there would be days where you see nothing but water. They need to see land all the time like when they did a Mississippi Queen cruise up the Mississippi river. And how they hated to go to bed at night because they may miss something.

I love the changing color of the ocean, the clouds moving across the sky, lightning in the clouds in the distance, the rolling waves (some may not like this ), Sea birds following the ship, seeing other ships in the distance, sunsets and much much more.

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

On our first trip, I was walking by myself down the hallway and around the corner came Ariel. She was by herself - also just wandering the ship. She stopped and chatted with me for about 5-10 minutes. No one else came by the whole time we talked. It was so cheezy cool to have a "private conversation" with a disney character...

 

[Tiffany Incredible]

Looking forward to creating some wonderful memories on our first cruise next week! You guys have me tearing up at my desk, just thinking about some of your experiences.

 

[pbb322]

My son's 5th birthday on the Magic in November 2012. The last night of the cruise and many of the characters did a short massive meet and greet in the atrium lobby. I told him he could pick any of them to see one last time for his birthday, and he selected Belle. We waited in line, with him wearing his Mickey birthday ears. Even though the characters were supposed to only do quick photos to get through many people that night, Belle kneeled down to meet him eye to eye, told him a quick story from "her favorite book" for his birthday, whispered secrets in his ear, and gave him the sweetest hug and kiss on the forehead. He was on cloud nine for days after we left the ship. Still one of my favorite photos EVER.

 

[steves100]

The cruise that we were lucky enough to also see the Space Shuttle take off the day before our cruise. I think this might have been the 2nd to last shuttle....

Just pure luck, their are ALOT of people who planned vacation based on the shuttle including a group from UK who had been in Florida for 2 weeks, this was their last chance to see it, it had been re-scheduled like 3 or 4 times.....

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Just over a month ago got an ice cream racing car delivered to Enchanted Garden for my birthday on The Dream. It was from the ice cream parlour Vanellopes. It was amazing.

 

[RoseSanti]

Each Disney cruise comes with a lasting memory. On our first two cruises, it was just me and my husband. We announced to our table mates that we had just gotten married. Which was fun since we had eloped and no one except those on the cruise knew. Just before I got on the second cruise I found out that I was pregnant. So on the last morning we announced to our table mates and crew that I was pregnant. Each cruise we had wonderful table mates and crew so it was always a joyous celebration.
-On smaller memory who can ever forget the B-11 dance from BINGO.
On our third cruise. We didn't even have to leave port for this memory. It was our son's first cruise. We were so excited. But once we got to the check out line DS looked miserable, as if he had just lost his best friend. Once I realized our mistake I felt horrible. In our rush to leave the house we had left his favorite stuffed animal behind, I mean this thing went EVERYWHERE with him, like it was almost a part of him. Yet he didn't pitch a fit or throw a tantrum, kind of like he knew there was no going back for it. His sad little face with those silent tears ripped my heart to pieces. Once we got to the check out counter he made his way to the end of the counter (to where we could still see him and sat down). Once the cast members at the desk found out what was going on she called another cast member over and they stepped aside for a side chat. Moments later we saw that same cast member who was called over sitting and chatting with DS. After a few minutes DS had joined us to get his picture taken now happy and with a Captain Mickey Plush. He hung on to that Captain Mickey the entire Cruise. I like this memory because it reminds me of the great quality service that DCL provides. They didn't have to take the time to even notice our son considering he was sitting on the side and they had hundreds of people to check in. But they they did and because of their kindness our son had a magical experience.

 

[lisadam]

I've really enjoyed reading all the memories. I have two that are special to me.

February 2011 - our first Disney Cruise on the Magic - Western Caribbean - Me, DH, DS(who was 11) and my mom who was 79. I cannot describe how happy mom was. She was delighted with everything and I think her happiness showed. Every single castmember who came into contact with her was wonderful. After a few days they'd walk up to her and ask how she enjoyed something they'd discussed previously. They'd walk up to me if I was alone and ask where "madame" was... and then leave me to find her and say hello! At Stingray City at Grand Cayman the whole tour group applauded when she climbed off the boat and into the water. The performer in the piano bar would play her favorite songs. The bartenders would bring her drinks and stay and chat. No matter where we were the CHARACTERS would find her and give her special time together. It was if someone else paid for some sort of VIP experience and it got mixed up and my mom got it instead. My husband commented that he knew that everyone loves my mom but this was a little weird. Castaway Cay day made her feel like a celebrity as various castmembers found her on the beach and came to say hello. She kept remarking about how special she felt and how she couldn't believe I had taken her on this wonderful trip... She passed away 3 years later in 2014 but always talked about that vacation. I think about it often and to this day I don't know how or why it all happened... I'm just grateful.

August 2015 - Third Disney Cruise - our second on the Fantasy but our first on the Eastern Caribbean. It was me, DH, DS (who was 16) and my son's BFF(also 16). The boys had their own cabin and I allowed them to come and go as they pleased as long as they had dinner with us and they got off the ship with us in port. They had that kind of easy friendship where they could each do their own thing - but still meet up and do things together. We had fun watching them enjoy their freedom, even leaving them on St. Maartin after we'd gone back to the ship and telling them to get back by a certain time (they did - phew). I look back at how the experience for both of them was so special. I got to know my son's friend a bit better - and it was nice to see how he was growing and maturing. A year later (this July) my son's best friend died while on vacation with his family. I cherish the week with him and getting to see a bit of the man he would have become.

 

[jrabbit]

My first cruise--Magic, August of 1999. The Wonder had just arrived at Port Canaveral and was set to do her very first cruise a few days later. It was incredible to be one of the first people ever to see both ships in the same port!

I was on that Cruise as well. We stopped by the port the next day and our kids both begged us to go onboard - they really enjoyed our first cruise (unfortunately not being able to go on the Wonder caused a lot of crying for the second day in a row. The kids were "fine" but I really really wanted to go again!!)

 

[Glitzytraveller]

A few years ago DH and I sailed on Wonder with out the kids that time. My husband and I were standing on deck just above the fly-bridge during sail away from Nassau. As the ship started to move away from the dock, I jokingly yelled down to the captain asking when he was going to blow the horn. He put up one finger to say hold on. Then he had one of the officers come and invite us down to the bridge. I thought he was going to let us watch the sail away from there and I was just in awe at that. Then he told me to go into the bridge and push the button to blast the horn. Needless to say, I had tears running down my face and a smile as big as Texas as I pushed the Mickey shaped button and "When you wish upon a star" rang out. We were able to snap a picture in the bridge and with Capt. Fabian. I thanked him profusely. It was something I will never forget!

 

[Rabb it]

A few years ago DH and I sailed on Wonder with out the kids that time. My husband and I were standing on deck just above the fly-bridge during sail away from Nassau. As the ship started to move away from the dock, I jokingly yelled down to the captain asking when he was going to blow the horn. He put up one finger to say hold on. Then he had one of the officers come and invite us down to the bridge. I thought he was going to let us watch the sail away from there and I was just in awe at that. Then he told me to go into the bridge and push the button to blast the horn. Needless to say, I had tears running down my face and a smile as big as Texas as I pushed the Mickey shaped button and "When you wish upon a star" rang out. We were able to snap a picture in the bridge and with Capt. Fabian. I thanked him profusely. It was something I will never forget!

Awesome!

 

[jrabbit]

A few years ago DH and I sailed on Wonder with out the kids that time. My husband and I were standing on deck just above the fly-bridge during sail away from Nassau. As the ship started to move away from the dock, I jokingly yelled down to the captain asking when he was going to blow the horn. He put up one finger to say hold on. Then he had one of the officers come and invite us down to the bridge. I thought he was going to let us watch the sail away from there and I was just in awe at that. Then he told me to go into the bridge and push the button to blast the horn. Needless to say, I had tears running down my face and a smile as big as Texas as I pushed the Mickey shaped button and "When you wish upon a star" rang out. We were able to snap a picture in the bridge and with Capt. Fabian. I thanked him profusely. It was something I will never forget!

Captain Fabian is the BEST DCL Captain in my book. The most personable and approachable. And when he and Cruise Director Jimmy get going, let the good times roll!

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

A few years ago DH and I sailed on Wonder with out the kids that time. My husband and I were standing on deck just above the fly-bridge during sail away from Nassau. As the ship started to move away from the dock, I jokingly yelled down to the captain asking when he was going to blow the horn. He put up one finger to say hold on. Then he had one of the officers come and invite us down to the bridge. I thought he was going to let us watch the sail away from there and I was just in awe at that. Then he told me to go into the bridge and push the button to blast the horn. Needless to say, I had tears running down my face and a smile as big as Texas as I pushed the Mickey shaped button and "When you wish upon a star" rang out. We were able to snap a picture in the bridge and with Capt. Fabian. I thanked him profusely. It was something I will never forget!

We just had Captain Fabian on the Fantasy in April. He is very cool.

 

[bbn1122]

Our 2014 cruise. We were able to sail Concierge and book a Cabana!!!

We loved it!!!!

 

[richkaryn]

On our Alaskan cruise this summer, on the 1st port day as we got off the ship, one of the kid's club CMs said hello to our son by name. Our son was 8 and we gave him sign out privileges on this cruise, and a little bit of freedom to explore certain areas of the ship himself once he proved to us he could navigate his way around. He had maybe spent an hour and a half in the kids club total at this point, so to have a CM recognize and call him by name so soon into the trip blew our mind. This was the beginning of us seeing how much more "intimate" the smaller ships are. (We'd previously sailed the Dream and aside from servers/stateroom hosts barely saw the same CMs twice.) We really got to know several CMs on this cruise and even received a couple "Magical Moments" certificates from some of them in our stateroom.
Oh, and one night toward the end of this cruise, I had laid down already for the night. DH was out and about, and DS had come to room but gone back out to find DH. Then he comes running back in room a few mins later and says "Mom, I need you to come with me!" I was in my pjs and not wanting to go back out. DH walked in the room at that moment and DS got him to go instead. When DH came back he told me what it was all about--- apparently DS had run into Chip and Dale in the hall by the movie theater, down from our room. He talked to them for a a few minutes and got them to agree to wait while he went to get us so he could surprise us. Sure enough, Chip and Dale had waited and they had some good one on one character interaction with them.

 

[JW9DVC]

Having my first cruise with family in 2000. Mom dad brother and myself. It was a great last trip because shortly after my mother became very ill. That was more than 16 years ago and now having my own family cruise with me and telling my kids stories of my first cruise.