Haley, you have sugar plums dancing in my head! What a sweet, magical Christmas gift you have planned!
My first cruise was also aboard the
Disney Dream to the
Bahamas and
Castaway Cay. It was love at first sight, and I am
ho, ho, ho-ping you love it as much as I do.
Most of
Disney Cruise Line's Caribbean cruises are closed-loop (meaning they leave and return to the same port). For these cruises, you need a passport or a government-issued birth certificate with a government-issued photo identification (like a driver's license or state ID card). These documents must be originals. You can read all the
travel documentation requirements to make sure you have everything you need for your cruise.
Thirty days before your departure date, you can complete the
Online Check-In, which is when you upload images of your citizenship documentation and a few other things to help things cruise along when you arrive at the port. You will need to bring the original documents with you to the port. Disney can work all kinds of magic, but you will not be allowed to board the ship without these in hand.
First cruise! There are so many things I'd love to tell you about all the magic that awaits. First,
rotational dining is one of my favorite features of a Disney Cruise. You get to try all of the main dining rooms:
Royal Palace,
Enchanted Garden and
Animator's Palate. And your dining team goes with you, greeting you each night and becoming part of your cruise experience. You have two choices for dining: first or second seating.
The Dream is also home to
Beauty and the Beast, the most amazing live stage show for adventure in the great, wide somewhere! I want it more than I can tell! Arrive early for seating on the main floor. You will also get to party like a swashbuckler at
Pirate Night! It's always fun and games until someone needs an eye patch!
Download the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. I love the countdown clock and
shopping for Port Adventures when your cruise gets closer. Once on board and connected to the ship's wi-fi, it
automagically transforms to guide you throughout the cruise, including dining menus, movie times, character greetings, deck shows... everything!
Haley, I am wishing you the jolliest of holidays! If we can help with any other questions as your dreams turn into plans, please cruise back by
planDisney. We will be so happy to help!
Happiest Holiday Wishes!
Jana