Disney Cruise Line® Returns to Sailing: Onboard Experiences

By Tink's Planner, Dana.
My family joined other Tinksters on the second sailing (August 13, 2021) on the Disney Dream.  The Dream had not set sail since March of 2020, so being on the ship felt extra special.   

Here are some things that had changed since our last time onboard a Disney ship.

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DCL App:
The DCL app played a big part in our trip! It replaced the paper Navigator providing information about what is going on throughout the day to scanning QR codes in the dining rooms to access menus, even tipping at the bars.  All wave phones were removed from staterooms, so your phone is the way you communicate with friends in other staterooms as well as chat with concierge for requests. 

Every morning we received a message from DCL reminding us to contact the Medical Team if anyone in our party was experiencing Covid-19 like symptoms.

Masking:
All guests (ages 2 and up, including those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19) are required to wear a mask indoors, except when in their staterooms or actively eating, drinking or taking a photo (while stationary and maintaining an appropriate physical distance).  

Muster Drill:
Attending the Muster drill has changed, now one member of your stateroom 18 years of age or older must go to your muster station open the DCL app, hit I’m here and continue through the prompts until you take a picture of the muster station QR code.  

Kids Clubs:
The "it's a small world" nursery!" is temporarily unavailable.  Both the Vibe (for teens) and Edge (for tweens) were open.  No reservations are required.  At Disney's Oceaneer Club and Lab, children were paired with one Disney counselor within groups of 15, and only one parent or guardian at a time can drop off or pick up their kids, nor can parents enter the youth clubs.

Shows:
We went to the shows and your party is escorted in and seated by an usher. They choose where you are seated and there are three seats between each party in a row. Social distancing is also maintained by skipping rows.    

Characters:
Characters were still spotted around the ship, including the atrium!  Social distancing and masking were required.  Close up encounters (no hugs!) and autographs are temporarily paused.  

Beverage, Ice Cream, and Food Stations:
At the ice cream station and beverage stations onboard you step up and crew members serve you. While on Castaway Cay at Cookie’s and Cookie’s II your plate is passed down the line for crew to add all of your requests then handed to you. You step up to the beverage and ice cream stations as well, make your request and a crew member serves you. 

When you enter Cabanas you must wash your hands before you get food. Your food plate is passed along a section at a time and crew members fill it with your requests. You are also served your beverages and seated if you want to eat inside cabanas.  

Room Service:
Room service no longer brings trays into your room. They will deliver to the door and hand you the trays. 

Goofy's Sports Deck:
On Goofy’s Sports Deck there is no basketball and mini golf now uses foam balls.

Pool Reservations:
Guests must reserve times in the app for the Aqua Duck and the various pools.   

Elevators:
Signage is posted at the elevators requesting a maximum of 2 individuals of separate parties or 1 party per elevator.  

Fitness:
The workout gym has designated time slots for vaccinated and unvaccinated guests. There is also a time slot where all guests are allowed, no matter what their current vaccination status is. 

Shopping on Castaway:
The shops on Castaway are one way entrance and exit to keep traffic flowing smoothly. 

Fireworks:
Fireworks were shown while we were sailing on the Disney Dream. To accommodate everyone and make sure there is proper social distancing, the fireworks show takes place twice -- guests are assigned their show time prior to setting sail (they can view their time in the DCL Navigator App).

Concierge:
Concierge guests are invited to a private viewing area up on deck 13 for fireworks.  Cast members now serve the snacks and small food items in the Concierge Lounge.  A fun mask spray was included in one of our towel animal displays. 

While our cruising experience was vastly different than what we had experienced pre-March 2020, my family still had a wonderful time onboard the Disney Dream.  
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