A fantastic Force to be reckoned with
Disney Cruise Line’s Star Wars-themed events delight fans both young and old
Star Wars fans, rejoice: Your ship has come in. Disney Cruise Line (cruise.center/disney) is once again offering its popular Star Wars Day at Sea next year. The special daylong celebration is filled with Star Wars-themed activities that are suitable for the whole family, along with unique character encounters and live shows and performances that are only offered on a series of special sailings aboard Disney Fantasy.
Departing from Port Canaveral near Orlando, Fla., Disney Fantasy will offer these special Star Wars Day at Sea activities on select voyages in 2021 to the western and eastern Caribbean. Western Caribbean voyages depart between Jan. 2 and Feb. 27, 2021, and call on Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. Two separate itineraries are offered for Disney Fantasy’s eastern Caribbean Star Wars sailings, departing in January and February of next year. These call either on Tortola, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay; or St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay.
Of course, Disney is rolling out all of its magical charm for these special voyages. Passengers will be able to meet characters like C-3P0 and R2-D2 and will have to be on the lookout for roving Stormtroopers and Darth Vader himself.
Disney is even rolling out a special family-friendly Summon the Force deck party, complete with an at-sea fireworks show of galactic proportions. The line says that it will be offering unique food and beverage selections on board, along with merchandise not available on regular voyages.
I have to be honest: my wife and I don’t have kids (yet), but we still talk incessantly about our quick three-day voyage to the Bahamas last year aboard Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy’s sister ship. It’s rare for such a short voyage to make such a big impression, but that’s what Disney did — it still stands out as one of our favourite trips. We’re not even Disney-crazy, particularly. Some folks on board are Disney fanatics who eat, sleep and breathe everything
The Mouse touches. But, much like a visit to one of the company’s theme parks on land, sailing on board a Disney Cruise Line ship turns you into a kid again, complete with eyes full of wonder.
There’s no denying you’ll pay a pretty penny for the experience. For families with young kids, however, you could scarcely do better: the on-board facilities for kids are superb. Taking up nearly an entire deck, the themed activities and diversions for kids of all ages are so well thought-out that grown-ups will want to take part. Tough break, though — access is strictly controlled to the little ones only.
I personally love that Disney’s ships have a great connection with the sea. Designed to resemble a modern take on the classic ocean liner, every one of Disney’s four ships offers a wide wraparound promenade deck that’s perfect for strolling or relaxing, and plenty of open space up on the pool deck.
Two funnels — one of which is a “dummy” funnel that doesn’t actually exhaust from the engines — recreate that ocean liner feel. Yet, on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the AquaDuck water coaster that encircles them is purely modern. Don’t be surprised if you see just as many adults in line to take a ride as kids; it’s that fun.
Blending the Disney universe with the Star Wars characters is a great marriage of fun and whimsy that is sure to delight cruisers young and old. After all, even
The Dark Side needs to take a cruise now and then.
Happy cruising.
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