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Transgenerational Travel: A Grandparent & Grandson Set Sail

Family Activities

Credit: Michelle da Silva Richmond

We started our cruise with the “Sailing Away” party featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale and a host of other Disney characters dancing around. The ship’s horn blasted the opening strains to “When You Wish Upon a Star,” and we were off to sea.

That wasn’t the only time characters were out. Throughout the cruise, Disney character “meet-and-greets” are staged from sunup to sundown, with a special character autograph shindig on the last night. These are a favorite with the younger set who line up vying for a special hug from Cinderella, Snow White or Mickey himself.

The first thing Mateo wanted to do was the AquaDuck, the enclosed signature water coaster, that spins you up, down and around the ship propelled by raging “river rapids.” We decided to head over there before the lines grew any longer. He seemed grateful that I was going on this maiden run with him. As we climbed into the rubber raft one of the crew asked if we had ever done this before. I answered, “no,” and was told: “If something happens and you get stuck, don’t worry. Someone will be there to get you out right away.”

Credit: Matt Stroshane

Reluctantly pushing my claustrophobia out of my mind, I settled in for the exhilarating ride. A few hours later someone did get stuck in the AquaDuck and Mateo reported to me how he saw “a man crawling through the tube” to effect the rescue. Mateo eventually made “buddies” on board and no longer needed – or wanted – my company on the watery whirling dervish.

In addition to the AquaDuck, the ship has three themed pools and several play areas. One favorite was the Aqua Lab, a play area with pop jets, geysers and bubblers that soak you from every direction. Of the pools, Donald’s Pool, which becomes transformed into a dance floor after dark, and Mickey’s Pool for toddlers are both fresh water. Mateo pronounced them, “better than the salt water pools on other ships.” I noted, however that there was no life guard on duty, which surprised me considering the number of children running around.

Out of the water, the high-tech, Midship Detective Agency scavenger hunt was a special favorite with both of us. Armed with a “secret” card which brings specific artwork around the ship to life when you pass in front of it, you’re given clues which send you off to solve one of the ship’s mysteries. When I wondered out loud how it worked, Mateo didn’t hesitate to reply: “It’s magic.”

credit: Matt Stroshane

At night there are live Broadway quality Disney shows with music, sets, pyrotechnics, and acrobatics. One of our favorite events was the Buccaneer Blast, Disney’s pirate party at sea with fireworks and dancing on the pool deck. Capt. Jack Sparrow leads the partying by zip lining onto the deck. A raucous pirate show is staged and young and old “bogey” together, their images live-streamed onto “Funnel Vision,” the giant LED screen on the ship’s forward funnel. When the party is over one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies starts on the big screen. People drag out chairs and within minutes, the pounding pirate bash is transformed into a quiet movie-watching soiree.

Another entertainment favorite was the Arr-cade, located on Deck 11 with newest videogames along with some gyrating rides. On our final night it became the “meeting spot,” for Mateo and some of his new found friends. It was also marked his first “night out,” on his own and his first “curfew.”

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