After 18 months of waiting/planning our first Disney Cruise finally came. A little about the players: DH (41), me (Mom/DW) (40), DS (8), and DS (4) are all certified, card-carrying Disney fanatics. We have traveled to WDW numerous times and we love all things Disney! We booked our cruise in late June, 2011 and chose the Deluxe Family Ocean view room for the extra space and large porthole. We really wanted a balcony but with DS only being 4 my nerves couldn't handle it ?. DH and I read many reviews and posts on various subjects while planning the cruise. With 18 months, we read A LOT!!! We chose the Eastern Caribbean because we had never been there. We tried in 2010 on a different cruise line, but two back-to-back hurricanes re-routed us to the Western. This was our family's first Disney Cruise and both sons' first cruise ever. DH and I have traveled Carnival several times. We originally planned on not telling the boys until we left but I could not wait so 3 months prior to departure, we told the boys. I am so glad we did. Hearing my 4 yo talk about "Mickey's boat" and "the cruise" was priceless. That pretty much summarizes us so on with the review. This is my first review of any trip we have taken so thanks for tuning in.

I will start with the cost. A Disney cruise for 4 people is expensive. A trip to Disney for 4 people is expensive. In comparing apples to apples -- most notably the size of the rooms that Disney provides. You have to start with a suite level on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean to get the roughly the same size room and for a family of 4 the cost is almost equal. Can you cruise cheaper than Disney? Of course, you can. What you spend on a vacation is a matter that only you and your family can determine. Disney does not nit-pick the little extras with you. Sodas have been mentioned numerous times but something I would not have thought about happened in San Juan. It was a typical Caribbean rain storm when we docked. I jokingly said to my husband "I wonder if they have the ponchos they sell at the parks for sale today?" His response "I'm sure they do". As we are leaving the ship, there are several cast members handing out (no extra charge) the very ponchos we had talked about. One cast member sees me making knots in my youngest son's so that it would fit better and he walks over and hands me a child size and says "this may fit better".

The Ship: By far the most gorgeous ship we have been on. We love Disney but we love subtle Disney. The Fantasy does Disney subtle. Yes there are Mickeys (hidden and overt) everywhere but the characters are so well done, you forget that you are surrounded by cartoon characters. The main chandelier is indescribably beautiful! I took several pictures of it and still don't think I did it justice. The ship was decorated for Christmas and we loved it! The giant gingerbread house was fabulous. We have not seen the one at the Grand Floridian but this one has to be close, just not big enough for people to go in. The art work both interactive and just art work is great. We LOVED the Mid-ship detective agency! You get your walking in which is good because you eat from the time you wake up until just before you go to bed ?! Read more