Disney Cruise Line’s Very Merrytime Cruises – the most wonderful sailings of the year!

Twice, our family has cruised during Disney’s “Halloween on the High Seas” itineraries. Those cruises are fun and unique, but in my opinion there is not a more magical time and place in the world than to be on one of the gorgeous Disney ships during Christmastime – during their “Very Merrytime Cruises” sailings.

There aren’t enough minutes in the day to share how much we really love them, but this should be enough to get you started.

• beautiful decorations. I’ll admit, I don’t even get a little bit mad when I walk into stores in October and see the incredible trees, garlands, and ornaments. It’s just so magical! Take that atmosphere and put it in an even more magical setting and you can imagine the decked out atrium. There’s also a massive gingerbread house in the lobby made from 650 pounds of gingerbread and 220 pounds of icing! 🙂 Speaking of gingerbread… 
• gingerbread houses that actually taste good. It’s long been understood around here that we don’t love making gingerbread houses. They are finicky and frustrating and often don’t taste good at all. It was so different on the Fantasy though, when we made our lovely creations out of world-class royal icing and freshly (and professionally) baked gingerbread.
  
• Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party (and characters in holiday attire!) I love all of the Disney Cruise Line deck parties, but this one is extra fun. Everyone loves seeing the characters dressed up for winter. Also experience Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball in the atrium, and visits with the head elf himself!
  
• holiday storytelling from around the world. If you’ve seen the holiday storytellers at Epcot, the experience on the cruise ships is different but equally charming. The sessions each evening feel intimate, and are educational and fun! The best part for our family, though, is that when you sail on a Disney cruise you really get to know the cast and crew – so to hear the stories told by one of your new friends can be extra special.
• Mickey’s Tree Lighting Ceremony and other holiday activities. On the first night of the cruise, Mickey and friends invite you to join with them as they sing familiar holiday tunes and light the atrium tree for the remainder of your sailing. Throughout the rest of the trip, you can find holiday-themed activities for all ages – stocking decorating, cooking baking, and more! 
• holiday decor on Castaway Cay. If there’s something that just might be more magical than being on the ships at Christmas, it’s visiting Castaway Cay at Christmas. When you get off the boat and step onto Disney’s private island you’ll find holiday garland and ornaments throughout the island, as well as some super cute photo ops. You may even be lucky enough to see your favorite snowman ready to celebrate!
  

Just add subtle, perfectly selected holiday background music, flurries in the atrium, sweet smells of Christmas, and all the other amazing things you’ll find on Disney cruises throughout the year, and you’ve got the absolute perfect combination of elements for the most magical vacation.

You know what though? If you took all of that away, sailing in November and December would still beat trudging through snow at home.

Have you ever sailed with Disney during their Very Merrytime Cruises?