You know magic is in the air when the familiar strain of "When You Wish Upon a Star" blasts from The Walt Disney Co.'s first cruise ship, Disney Magic. Standing at the ship's dock at Port Canaveral, Florida, you'd assume that the year was 1938. My teenage daughter Alissa and I fell in love with the ship's elan--an art deco-inspired decor as elegant and saucy as Carole Lombard in an evening gown. Streamlined and full of graceful curves, the ship evokes the era of romance and ocean liners but with a nod to the practical.
The ship itself is awe inspiring. It's decked out in the colors of Mickey Mouse, the hull blue-black, the upper decks white, the stacks red and the lifeboats yellow, not the usual orange. Weighing 83,000 tons and longer than three football fields, Disney Magic can carry 2,400 guests on its 11 passenger decks. Plus it boasts the best cabins in the industry, along with some of the most innovative children's programming afloat. A sister ship, Disney Wonder, set sail in the spring of 1999.
The best time to board the Magic is after a three- or four-day visit to Walt Disney World. That way, you get to relax at sea for the rest of the weeklong package, visiting St. Maarten and St. Thomas/St. John and Nassau and lounging at Castaway Cay, Disney's 1,000-acre, private Bahamian island. Activities at Castaway Cay include snorkeling, hiking, swimming, and programs for kids.
Disney's Magic is undoubtedly one of the best sailing vessels for families. Read on to find out why.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.
