Cruising with Disney is fun no matter what, but when you make it a family reunion cruise, you are making memories!
Your first step is to decide who will come. To do this, contact any number of family members who you think would want to come. Let them know the approximate cost of a cruise (you can find this out on the Disney Cruise website) and get a feel for when everyone would like to go. You might want to consider some of the off-season times, like early January, since reservations are easier to come by and far cheaper.
There are two major cruises with two different lengths to choose from. There is a Western Caribbean and an Eastern Caribbean with either a 3, 4 or 7-day cruise. The shorter the cruise, the cheaper the price. Check the Disney website (disneycruise.com) to see what the posts of call are for each cruise. There are also some special cruises of varying lengths and intineraries. Again, check the website for details if those interest you.
Once you have your guest list, approximate dates and destination, get to work with Disney or with any travel professional (we have used Mousesavers.com to find a local agent, AAA is also a Disney approved agent). Decide how many staterooms you will need (most fit at least four, some five and the suites can sleep up to eight) and check availability. It is best to work as far ahead a possible to get the best rate and the best selection of staterooms.
Make sure Disney knows to link your reservations. This will allow you to have your dinner seating at the same time and to have a table large enough for your whole party. The best part of any day is when you all gather together and share the day's experiences.
Once all these details are done, then the fun begins! You can work with Disney to actually make your cruise a Family Reunion cruise. They offer a package that includes one personalized Disney Cruise Line t-shirt per person, one leather photo portfolio with photo per stateroom and one commemorative reunion certificate per person. Your cost for this is $39 per person and is bookable through Disney.
You could also do some of this yourself and have t-shirts made for everyone in your party at home before leaving. Wearing them when the family is all together creates a sense of unity and can cause a buzz around the ship. Since there are tons of family activities (like Family Team Trivia, Karaoke, Talent Show or the Sail Away Party) wear them then to let everyone know what family you are a part of.
If you have a suite, or even a stateroom with a verandah, consider meeting there before dining for drinks. This is a great way to make sure everyone is ready for dinner and arrives on time. One of the Royal Suites (Walt or Roy Disney) or even the one or two bedrooms has a dining table area that is perfect for a gathering place. You could even order your meals in through room service and have your own private dining experience with your family.
The stateroom doors are metal, so this offers the opportunity to decorate using magnets. Bring along some signs to put on your door to let everyone know what group you belong to. This makes for a festive hallway.
Disney also has stateroom decorations that you can order ahead to make the rooms a party upon arrival. You can order decorations, cakes, flowers, champagne, etc. Contact the website for details.
One word of caution: you might want some down-time during this reunion. Do not plan on everyone spending every moment together. If some want to spend the day shopping while others want to do a shore excursion and others want to spend the day on the ship...so be it! At dinner, give everyone an opportunity to share their day.
A cruise is one of the easiest ways to travel...and traveling with family can make it more memorable. And Disney has a way of making it fun for any age.
