A regular Disney Cruise Line voyage is already magical, but enjoying one during the holiday season can be even more special. For 2016, Disney plans to reprise its Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year celebrations across the fleet into 2017.
Here's what to expect of the festivities.
Halloween
The Disney Wonder will be undergoing an extensive reimagining during this year's Halloween, but the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic will pick up the festive slack on most cruises from September to October 2016. Special decorations will adorn the decks while activities include the following:
• Mickey's Mouse-querade Party: a candy-filled celebration full of games, dancing and Disney character appearances dressed in their playful Halloween costumes
• A Nightmare Before Christmas-Sing and Scream: an interactive cinema experience and Jack Skellington and Sally meet-and-greet
• Haunted Stories of the Sea: a collection of true and tall tales told by a mysterious sea captain storyteller under the stars
• Creepy Cabaret: a live set of Halloween music performed by ghost musicians in the atrium
• Halloween Isn't Just For Kids: an adults-only costume contest plus Villainous Takeover of the dance floor
• Spooky Movies: Funnel Vision poolside and stateroom screenings of Halloween films
• Ghoulish Delights: special holiday menu items like chocolate cake with pumpkin filling, spider cakes and "Spooky Juice"
• Even more fun like mask making and ghoulish ship announcements
Halloween itineraries are scheduled for the Disney Dream on 3- and 4-night Bahamian voyages leaving September 2 to October 31; the Disney Fantasy on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings departing September 3 to October 29 and the Disney Magic on 5-night Canadian Coast cruises and 7- and 8-night Bahamian cruises departing October 2 to 29.
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Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year
Very Merrytime Cruises will celebrate on Disney Cruise Line's entire fleet - Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy - with a special Thanksgiving Day feast, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse formally dressed for the occasion and NFL football games displayed on the giant outdoor Funnel Vision screen. Christmas celebrations will then continue with the following:
• "Mickey's Tree-Lighting Magic": Disney character-led carol-singing and Christmas tree-lighting kick off the start of the cruise in the atrium
• "Santa's Winter Wonderland Ball": a Broadway-style atrium event with Santa and Mrs. Claus and the snowy arrival of Queen Elsa and Princess Anna from "Frozen"
• Dickens-inspired carolers: Christmas songs permeate the ship thanks to carolers, Disney friends and youthful cruisers
• Family holiday activities: gingerbread house-making plus Santa Claus meet-and-greets
• Youth holiday crafts: decorate stockings, bake gingerbread men cookies and craft holiday cards and animation cells
• "Deck the Deck Holiday Party": a tropical deck party complete with Disney characters, hula hooping and limbo games with giant candy canes and "Yuletide Slide" and poolside conga line family dancing
• A special holiday edition of the cheerful farewell celebration: a holiday cruise finale with Mickey Mouse, other Disney characters and the ship's staff
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Also for Christmas, Disney's Castaway Cay private island in the Bahamas will be outfitted with its own Christmas tree and holiday music among character meet-and-greets and "snow flurries." Back onboard for Christmas day, Santa Claus and his helpers will present a special surprise for kids in the atrium, and a traditional dinner feast will be served in the three rotational main dining rooms. Services will also be available on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve as well as for Hanukkah from December 24 to January 1 daily.
Later, 2017 will come in the form of a special New Year's Eve party onboard with music, sparkling wine in commemorative flutes and a traditional midnight countdown.
Plus, special stateroom amenities can also be pre-purchased and delivered such as gift packages, treat baskets and mini decorated Christmas trees, and other holiday merchandise like Disney Cruise Line ornaments will also be available in the retail shops.
Very Merrytime Cruises can be reserved aboard the Disney Magic on 4- and 5- night Bahamian sailings, 5-,6- and 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises and 7-night Western Caribbean voyages departing November 5 to December 23; the Disney Wonder on 4- and 7-night Western Caribbean sailings and 7-night Bahamian voyages leaving on November 10 to December 23; the Disney Dream on 3- and 4-night Bahamian cruises embarking on November 7 to December 22 and the Disney Fantasy on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages departing from November 19 to December 24.
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