By Tom Stieghorst

Disney Cruise Line said it will add its first call in Jamaica in late 2013 with a new itinerary from Galveston.

The seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary will stop in Falmouth at the port developed by Royal Caribbean Cruises. Other ports on the itinerary include Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Disney Magic itineraries from Galveston currently include Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico.

Helpful Hints for a Disney Magic Cruise

Barb Nefer, Demand Media

Disney Magic is Disney Cruise Line’s original ship. It first set sail in 1998, and it continues to make voyages from Port Canaveral in Florida to destinations around the globe. Each itinerary has several ports of call and many onboard activities, from wine tastings to shows featuring the Disney characters. Learning about the ship and what to expect on a Magic cruise will help you prepare more thoroughly.

Review Activity Lists

Check websites and discussion forums (in Resources) for the most recent Personal Navigators, which are daily activity lists. The lists may change on each cruise, but previous versions will give you some idea of what you can expect. Discussion forums will give you feedback from recent cruisers on schedules and activities. This will help you decide when to make spa reservations and book dinner and brunch times without overlapping with shows and activities you don’t want to miss.

Review Dining Menus

Disney Magic has three main restaurants: Lumiere’s, Parrot Cay and Animator’s Palate. You will be assigned a specific dinner time and will rotate through those three locations. It also has other dining options such as counter-service eateries with pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers; a casual buffet; and an extra-cost, adults-only restaurant called Palo, which serves Italian cuisine that is cooked to order. Review the main dining room menus prior to your cruise to decide which ones you might want to skip in favor of Palo or casual dining. Disney Cruise Line’s official website has sample menus, and the Castaway Club forum (in Resources) regularly posts updated menus. The casual dining restaurant is usually quieter and less crowded than your scheduled restaurant, and you can show up at any time during its regular operating hours. Palo adds a $15 surcharge for both brunch and dinner.

Choose a Quiet Stateroom

Some Disney Magic staterooms have noisy areas overhead. For example, the Category 9 and 10 staterooms on Deck 2 Forward are underneath the nightclubs, and some of the suites on Deck 8 are underneath the family pool and stage. Consult a deck map before choosing your stateroom, or work with a travel agent who knows Disney Cruise Line and Magic’s layout.

Board Early

You are typically allowed to board Disney Magic several hours before it leaves the port. You can eat lunch and enjoy uncrowded pool time or explore the ship if you are one of the first to board. You can also try to get Palo reservations and spa appointments that you were not able to book online before your cruise. When you arrive at the port, you will receive a number that will determine your boarding time.

Ask About Spa Specials

Sea days tend to be the most popular times for spa appointments on Disney Magic. Because of this, the Vista Spa often discounts treatments or offers special packages on port days. Stop at the spa on embarkation day and ask if any specials will be offered during your trip.

Book Your Own Excursions

Disney Cruise Line offers shore excursions for all Disney Magic itineraries. However, you can often save money by booking excursions directly through the vendor or through a discount website. (See Resources.) Make sure you will have enough time to get back to the ship before the stated boarding time. Magic will wait for people who are running late on an excursion booked through Disney Cruise Line, but it will leave you behind if you are late for any other reason.

Enjoy the Adult Areas

The Disney name goes hand-in-hand with family entertainment, but Disney Magic has many adults-only areas for guests over age 18. The Vista Spa, Quiet Cove pool and Cove Cafe coffee shop are all reserved exclusively for adults, as is the Palo restaurant.

Pay Tips Early

It is customary to tip your stateroom attendant, restaurant server, assistant server and head server on Disney Magic. You will receive a sheet with recommended amounts at the end of your cruise, and can go to Guest Services to charge the tips. Payment lines can get very long on the last evening. Go two or three days before the end of the cruise and ask to pay the tips early. You will be given receipts that can be placed in the tip envelopes and handed to the crew members on the last evening.

About the Author

Based in Kissimmee, Fla., Barb Nefer is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. She is a mental health counselor, finance coach and travel agency owner. Her work has appeared in such magazines as “The Writer” and “Grit” and she authored the book, “So You Want to Be a Counselor.”

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