Over the years, we’ve been able to fill many of our Disney vacation blind spots. We’ve been lucky enough to go to Tokyo, Paris, Aulani as well as the domestic resorts frequently. But a Disney Cruise had always evaded us for one reason or another. That is until recently when we joined my family on the Disney Magic for a 4 night cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In this post, I’ll give some initial impressions of the cruise!

Before I give any impressions, I want to drive home the point that this was our first cruise. Most of the posts on this site are about places we’ve gone tens, if not hundreds, of times. At the very least, we’ve heavily researched places we go like on our recent trip to Disneyland Paris. The cruise was different. We knew a few tips and tricks heading into the experience but mostly wanted to enjoy what was offered without any preconceived notions.

All this to say, I’m by no means an expert on Disney Cruises. I’ve only experienced one itinerary on the oldest ship in the fleet. Writing about it will be fun because it’s something new and I enjoy writing about our travels! I’ll do a trip report in the coming weeks. But coming to this post (or any of our Disney Cruise content) looking for expert advice isn’t the way to go. We’re merely wading into the cruise waters, not ready to dive overboard into it. See, even the metaphors are messy.

A little bit of background before we get to my takeaways. Melissa and I were with 6 others in my family. We sailed out of Fort Lauderdale, stopping at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Nassau on a 4 night cruise. The cruise was on the Disney Magic. Here are a few of my main takeaways!

I Get the Hype

For years, we’ve heard rave reviews about Disney Cruises. People swear by them, pointing to excellent service and all of the offerings included in the price as the main reason. After experiencing that myself, I get it. The service was everything people chalk it up to be. Our room was spotless, the decks were noticeably clean despite the crowds and everyone working on the ship was incredibly friendly.

We love Cast Members in the parks and appreciate how hard they work to bring about a great experience. When experiencing non-Disney theme parks, the ‘Disney difference’ is noticeable. I’d put the service on cruise ships even a step above that, not that it’s an apples to apples comparison.

When thinking about the cruise, that is what stands out first and foremost. That matches up with everything we’d read and heard about a Disney Cruise experience in the first place. When they can offer service that consistent and at that high of a level, it’s no wonder why so many people fall in love with the experience and go over and over again.

But I Don’t Think I’m A Cruise Person

I may have been wowed by the service but I don’t think I fell head over heels for the experience. Don’t get me wrong, we had a good time! But a cruise style of vacation might not be as up my alley as other trips, at least in this time of my life. Melissa and I are used to walking all over the place on our trips, picking out different restaurants and keeping options open. Cruises certainly have options but not in a traditional travel sense.

Our itinerary might not have helped on this point. The ocean is beautiful and vast and all of the glorious things… But I do think I’d prefer cruising somewhere that is more along the coastline. Alaska and the Norwegian Fjords have always been a draw and our experience in the Bahamas have only deepened that belief.

I also found everything on the ship to be good but hardly ever great (service notwithstanding). As someone who prefers the highest of highs while traveling, even if that means not playing it safe, a cruise might not quench that thirst. Other people don’t share that style of traveling and I completely understand where you’re coming from (more on that in a few minutes). But I came away liking our Disney Cruise, not immediately wanting to get back. In that way, I expect this site to continue to focus on theme parks and other travels before cruises. We might try out a few more in the future but it won’t be a focus.

We Loved Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

Now that I’ve got the slightly negative out of the way, there were obviously highlights! Our favorite day was at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. This exclusive port opened in the summer of 2024 after Disney bought the property in 2019. While the port might still be finding its footing in some areas, the beach was sublime.

Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point has light-pink sanded shores and brilliant blue water. The swimming and snorkeling are paired together, as guests can go out pretty deep into the ocean before reaching the rope boundary. It’s hard to overstate the beauty, as that was one of the best beaches I’ve ever experienced.

There’s more on the island too. Lookout Cay attempts to invoke Bahamian culture, some of that is executed well. We had a blast watching Rush! A Junkaroo Celebration even though their performance space was limited. The nature trails on the island are a nice touch, specifically where they let out by the ocean.

I’ll have more to say about Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point in the coming months. There’s room for improvement but the starting point is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. That’s not a bad place to build around.

A Great Family Vacation Option

As I mentioned, we were on this trip with 8 people in total. Do you know how hard it can be to decide on simple things when there are 8 people involved? Extremely. A cruise takes away much of that decision making. You know where you’re going to dinner each night, you know what the entertainment options are. That’s all before mentioning how many kids options there are, which benefits everyone in the family.

While I might not be a cruise person, there’s an obvious allure here. The ships are so well run and with enough to do that no one is going to get bored. In terms of having a broad appeal to different ages, Disney Cruises are an incredibly safe endeavor and one for the whole family. Even with my minor complaints throughout this post, we came away very thankful that this is what we did for a major family vacation. The 5 day cruise was one of the easiest trips we’ve ever done and everyone had a great time!

Have you been on a Disney Cruise? Let us know about your experience in the comments. Planning a Disney trip? Check out our Travel Guides to help get you there! Here’s a link to discount tickets at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. If you enjoy what you’re reading here on Wandering in Disney please subscribe to the blog via email or WordPress and like our social media pages. You can find all of those things on the right side of this page. Thank you very much for reading, we appreciate it!