Welcome guest writer Sarah Cinq-Mars! Sarah's a 5th-grade teacher based in North Carolina. When she isn't teaching or being taught the latest slang by her students, she's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, playing with her 12-year-old dog, or checking out the area's newest restaurants.
At the ripe age of 25, I finally decided it was time to sail with Disney Cruise Line. My partner and I booked a 3-night cruise on Disney Magic, where we sailed to their new private destination in the Bahamas.
Having sailed on cruise lines such as Celebrity, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess, I knew this would be a different experience. The character parties, themed restaurants, and Broadway-style shows were nothing like I had experienced before.
I was a little skeptical about the ship's age being the oldest in Disney's fleet; however, Disney Magic, even over 25 years old, was well-maintained and still had a whimsical feel. It felt like being at Disney World while sailing through the ocean.
While I loved my time onboard Disney Magic and would definitely cruise with Disney again, not everything met my expectations.
The Broadway-style theatre shows were unlike any I’ve seen
Having seen Disney movies and been to Disney World multiple times, I knew the entertainment would be held to a certain standard. However, I did not expect the shows to be as amazing as they were. I was blown away by the sets, the performers, and the music.
I have been to many Broadway shows, especially growing up in the New York City area, and the shows I saw on Disney Magic were comparable to those on Broadway. Onboard, my partner and I saw three shows: Tangled: The Musical, Disney Dreams - An Enchanted Classic, and Twice Charmed: A Twist on the Cinderella Story.
Each show featured a cast of talented performers and beautiful, elaborate sets. The first night was Tangled: The Musical, an adaptation of the story of the Disney princess Rapunzel, who was kidnapped by the evil Mother Gothel and raised in isolation.
Read more: Shows you can see on a Disney cruise
Twice Charmed: A Twist on the Cinderella Story is another adaptation of a classic Disney film. While staying true to the general plot of Cinderella, there are some twists that the audience should expect that keep everyone on their toes!
Finally, Disney Dreams - An Enchanted Classic was by far my favorite show. It follows a girl named Anne Marie who is visited by Peter Pan. Struggling to have faith in herself, Peter Pan takes her on a journey that helps her believe in herself. I loved this show because it featured a multitude of classic characters such as Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle.
The dedication that the performers and stage crew have for these shows was apparent. Not only were the sets beautifully built and intricate, but the performers brought their best to the stage every single night. If you find yourself on a Disney cruise, attending the shows should definitely be a priority!
My dining experience could have been better
While aboard the Disney Magic, I was underwhelmed by the three main dining rooms and the quick service options. Of the three dining rooms—Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s, and Rapunzel’s Royal Table—Rapunzel’s Royal Table was my favorite. I ordered the “Tangled Pasta” dish that was tasty. The basil pesto noodles were served with sea scallops.
However, the chicken I got at Animator’s Palace was a tad overcooked and bland, and the conchiglie pasta I ordered at Lumiere’s had an overpowering shrimp taste that made it hard to stomach.
The pizza from Pinocchio’s Pizza was subpar. I would compare it to Sorrento’s aboard Royal Caribbean’s ships. I have experienced exquisite dining on multiple cruise lines, such as Celebrity and Princess; however, Disney did not live up to that expectation, which was disappointing considering the high price tag.
Read more: Top 10 Biggest Cruise Ship Dining Mistakes to Avoid
I loved the adult-only entertainment at night
Every night, my partner and I attended an event at Fathoms. From karaoke to game shows, they were a great way to end the night! First, we went to an adult-only scavenger hunt that we won! The host announced an item each team had to find around the room. The first team to return it to him got the most points.
We also went to Disney's version of the Love and Marriage show. The host was funny, and the questions weren’t too raunchy! This show would definitely not be family-friendly, but there was humor for all adults.
That said, karaoke had to be my favorite. We watched as the list filled up with people wanting to sing. I even got the last song of the night! I had never seen such a lively karaoke session on a cruise ship before.
Read more: I spent 3 days on Disney's oldest cruise ship
The internet connection was spotty and not as advertised
As someone who can’t fall asleep without some sort of light and noise, streaming is important to me. This is not a problem everyone has, but after my partner purchased the top-tier Wi-Fi for $34 per night, I was excited to have streaming capabilities.
Let’s just say, I was lucky I had some episodes of my favorite shows downloaded on my tablet. The Wi-Fi, which was supposed to be able to support streaming, wouldn’t even load the Disney+ homepage.
Most of the time, even simple social apps such as Instagram or Snapchat would not load. I was thankful I did not purchase the package myself, as I feel it would have been a waste of money.
I enjoyed the movies on the pool deck
Every time we passed the pool deck on our sailing, a different Disney movie played. The kids on the pool deck were mesmerized by their favorite characters on the screen. However, they weren’t the only ones.
I parked myself in front of the screen with a sandwich and a soda while the Pixar movie Up played. It was nostalgic and a great experience to be able to view this movie on a Disney cruise ship!
The children were floating in the pools, hanging in the hot tubs, and enjoying a convenient form of entertainment! Other adults were enjoying this amenity as well.
The walk to Lighthouse Point was excessive
Our first and only port during this sailing was Disney's new private destination in the Bahamas, Lighthouse Point. When we docked, I was surprised we couldn’t see the island from the ship. It was then that I realized how far we needed to walk.
The walk to get to the entrance of the island was about half a mile. There were golf carts for people who needed them, but most passengers were walking.
Luckily, it was windy during our day ashore, which helped us from getting overheated. If it wasn’t windy, I think I would have given up halfway through the walk!
Read more: I went to Disney's new cruise destination, Lookout Cay, and I think it might be my new beach bliss
Overall, this was a magical cruise that was unlike any other
Like all ships, Disney Magic had its ups and downs, but the good outweighed the bad. My partner and I loved it so much that we put a deposit down for our next Disney cruise while on the ship!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
