After a busy day visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico, we spent the day at sea as we make our way back into Bahamian waters. It was a nice, relaxing opportunity to sit back and enjoy the calm, catch up with old friends, have another wonderful meal at Palo, and end the day with terrific entertainment.
Before we dive into that, let’s take the opportunity to cover a few more topics about the Disney Fantasy and Disney Cruise Line in general.
Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club
As with all cruise lines, Disney has a loyalty program called the Castaway Club. There are four membership levels:
- Silver: 1-5 sailings
- Gold: 6-10 sailings
- Platinum: 11-25 sailings
- Pearl: 26+ sailings (recently added)
You are automatically enrolled in the club upon completing your first cruise at the Silver level.
Each cruise line has its own criteria for how you move through the program. Typically, it’s based on the total number of days sailed or casino points earned. Disney, however, bases its progression on the total number of embarkations. Regardless of whether you’re doing a 3-night hop or a 14-night trans-Atlantic, it counts as one sailing.
Because of this, many people opt to do BTB (back-to-back) 3- and 4-night itineraries rather than a single 7-night itinerary to move up the ladder quicker. As the average cost per night is often comparable, it all comes down to what you want to get out of the experience. By doing the BTB, you’re essentially getting the same itinerary twice, while a 7-night cruise allows for more travel time to reach additional ports.
The primary benefits of Castaway Club membership are the advanced booking windows for cruises and activities. Unlike many other cruise lines, having status with Disney doesn’t typically get you discounted cruise offers.
Upon arriving in your stateroom on embarkation day, your room host will leave a welcome gift based on your membership level:
- Platinum members: Lanyards (color-coded by Castaway Club level), a shoulder bag, a wet/dry bag for swimsuits, and a beach towel.
- Gold members: The same gifts minus the towel.
- Pearl members: Everything Platinum members receive plus a pair of champagne flutes.
We also receive a gift from room service, with a choice of a bottle of sparkling wine or a box of chocolates. We always request a bottle of Cloudem, a non-alcoholic sparkling cider, as a substitute.
Platinum and Pearl members also receive a $50 credit per person to use at Palo for premier dining.
For a full list of Castaway Club Levels and Benefits click here.
Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi Packages
If you’re like me and want (or need) to stay connected to the real world, there are three internet pacakges you can purchase once onboard.
Stay Connected
- Allows access to select social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
- Cost: $16 per day when purchased for the entire voyage, or $18 per day for 24 hours.
Basic Surf
- Includes the “Stay Connected” package, plus access to the web, email, and voice calling.
- Cost: $24 per day for the entire voyage, or $28 per day for 24 hours.
Premium Surf
- Includes the “Basic Surf” package, plus faster connection speeds for streaming short videos, playing music, and making video calls.
- Cost: $34 per day for the entire voyage, or $42 per day for 24 hours.
If you prefer to remain off the grid, don’t worry. You can still connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi to use the Navigator App without subscribing to a package. The Navigator App has a built-in messenger function to keep in touch with your party and any new friends you meet.
For iPhone users, you can use iMessage both on the ship and to communicate with those back home. WhatsApp also allows you to send and receive messages without requiring an additional upgrade.
I opted for the Basic Surf package for the week, which cost $154.
Fish Extenders, Pixie Dusting and Ducks
A popular onboard activity is joining a Fish Extender group. You can typically find a “cruise group” on Facebook for each particular sailing, and within that, there’s almost always someone organizing a Fish Extender.
This is essentially a Secret Santa or reverse trick-or-treating activity. Groups of about 10 staterooms are assembled, often based on similar ages or interests. Families then exchange small gifts for each stateroom or create arts and crafts to share. These are usually small, Etsy-style items like magnets, stickers, or personalized trinkets.
The term “Fish Extender” comes from the fish-shaped plaques outside each stateroom on Disney Cruise Line ships, where the gift pouches or hangers are typically placed.
Once onboard, you hang a basket or pouch on your Fish plaque outside your stateroom. Throughout the week, each family in the group roams around the ship, leaving gifts in the baskets of their fellow group members.
Kids especially love coming back to the room each day to check if anything new has been dropped off—it’s like a little treasure hunt that adds extra magic to the cruise!
While we’ve never gotten involved with a Fish Extender group, we occasionally bring small gifts along to “Pixie Dust.” If you’re familiar with Walt Disney World, you’ve probably heard the term used when someone says they got “pixie dusted.” This refers to a random act of kindness, either from a cast member or a fellow guest.
For us, it’s as simple as dropping off small gifts into Fish Extender baskets randomly, without actually being part of the group or expecting anything in return. It’s a small gesture that brings joy to others and adds a little magic to their day.
You know that ducks can swim, but did you know they also love to cruise? The phenomenon of cruise ducks has been around for quite a while now, to the point that some cruise lines have even taken official stances on it.
The idea is that cruisers bring small rubber ducks onboard and hide them around the ship for others to find. Many include a tag with the cruise date, stateroom, or family name of the person who hid them, along with a note to “keep or re-hide” the duck or to post a picture of it on social media.
It’s a fun way to stay engaged as you walk around the ship, and it can even become a friendly competition among your party to see who can find the most ducks.
Here are some of the ducks we found this week:
Our Day at Sea
While there were plenty of onboard activities to choose from, the majority of the day was spent relaxing in Satellite Falls.
Before diving into that, I have to revisit something I mentioned in a previous post—Churro Mickey Waffles. Today was the magical day! In case you need to get your stomach grumbling, here you go:
One thing is true of every cruise line: loyalty. Once you settle into a preferred brand, itinerary, or ship, there’s a tendency to stick with it. A few great examples of this highlighted our week.
When we arrived at the terminal and were waiting for our boarding group to be called, we bumped into a family from the NYE cruise we took last year. Our daughters met in the tween club on that cruise, spent most of the week together, and have stayed in touch since. We had no idea they were also on this cruise! Needless to say, the girls have been inseparable since we got onboard.
On day three, we reconnected with another family we met two years ago on this same cruise. We had a great time chatting and catching up while floating through the day.
If lounging poolside and soaking up the sun isn’t your thing, fret not—there’s always something to do onboard. Today’s highlights included:
- A culinary presentation walking guests through the making of apple strudel.
- 10K Bingo where the final winner walked away with $12k!
- Trivia covering nearly every category imaginable.
- And one of my all-time favorites—Jack Jack’s Diaper Dash. There’s nothing quite like watching parents offer up their crawling toddlers to race across the Atrium lobby!
If that’s not enough, other activities include karaoke, towel-folding classes, character encounters, or simply checking out what’s playing on Funnel Vision. You can do as much or as little as you like—it’s your vacation, after all!
Dinner at Palo on Disney Fantasy
What better way to complete a relaxing day than to dine again at Palo? The dinner menu offers two ordering methods: Prezzo Fisso (prix fixe) for $50 per person or à la carte.
Our server for the evening was Vini, from Brazil, who did a fabulous job guiding us through the menu and ensuring we were well taken care of throughout the meal.
Fritto di Calamari e Gamberi
Calamari, Shrimp, Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise and Marinara.
Heirloom Tomato, Burrata Mozzarella Caprese
Basil Pesto and Balsamic Vinegar.
Mesclun Salad
Radicchio, Boston Lettuce, Escarole, Spinach, Grape Tomato and Prosecco Vinaigrette.
Baby Arugula
Virgin Olive Oil, White Balsamic and Parmesan Reggiano.
Penne Pasta
San Marzano Tomato Basil Sauce, Calabrian Chili and Parmesan Reggiano.
Pan Seared Salmon
Triple Honey Parsnip, Roasted White Asparagus, Leek, Baby Turnip Capellini Confit and Pinot Noir Reduction.
Roasted Free Range Chicken
Lemon, Thyme, Baby Vegetables and Chianti Jus.
6oz Grilled Choice Angus Beef Tenderloin
Pancetta, Truffle Potato, Spinach and Barolo.
Chocolate Soufflé
Vanilla Bean Gelato and Vanilla and Chocolate Sauce.
Limoncello Tart
Almond Crust, Yogurt Crème and Caramel Citrus.
Heirloom Tomato, Burrata Mozzarella Caprese
Basil Pesto and Balsamic Vinegar.
Mesclun Salad
Radicchio, Boston Lettuce, Escarole, Spinach, Grape Tomato and Prosecco Vinaigrette.
Baby Arugula
Virgin Olive Oil, White Balsamic and Parmesan Reggiano.
Antipasto
Prosciutto, Coppa, Bresaola, Salame Calabrese, Parmesan Reggiano, Pecorino Toscano and Crostini al Tartufo.
Fritto di Calamari e Gamberi
Deep-Fried Shrimp and Calamari with Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise and Marinara Dipping Sauce.
Cioppino Soup
Mussels, Shrimp, Calamari, Red Snapper and Monkfish poached in Garlic, Basil and White Wine Tomato Broth.
Tuscan White Bean Soup
Cannellini Beans, Pancetta and Chicken Stock.
Agnolotti
Butternut Squash, Buffalo Mozzarella, Amaretti, Sage-Brown Butter and Basil.
Soft Potato Gnocchi
Roasted Tomato, Pine Nuts and Basil Pesto in Prosecco Wine Sauce.
Pappardelle
Grilled Lobster, Pappardelle Pasta, Leek, Salmon Caviar, Truffle Oil and Tarragon Cream Sauce.
Penne
San Marzano Tomato Basil Sauce, Calabrian Chili and Parmesan Reggiano.
Paccheri
Lamb Ragu, Thyme, Ricotta and Saffron.
Prosciutto di Parma, Basil, Burrata Pizza
Bianca Ricotta, Mushroom, Arugula, Truffle Oil Pizza
Piquillo Dover Sole
With Lemon Butter, Capers, Anchovies, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Flat Parsley, Spinach, Garlic and Roasted Thyme Potatoes.
Seared Jumbo Scallops
Lemon Artichoke Fava Bean Pinot Grigio Risotto.
Pan Seared Salmon
Triple Honey Parsnip, Roasted White Asparagus, Leek, Baby Turnip Capellini Confit and Pinot Noir Reduction.
Bar Grilled Yellow Fin Tuna
Green Beans, Roasted New Potatoes, Quail Egg, Cerignola Olives and White Balsamic.
Osso Buco
Herb and Lemon-Braised Center Cut Veal Shank, Gremolata and Milanese Risotto.
Roasted Free Range Chicken
Lemon Thyme Chicken, Roasted Baby Vegetables, Garlic Potatoes and Chianti Thyme Sauce.
Grilled Portobello Mushroom
Spinach and Polenta, Roasted Shallot Sauce and Balsamic Vinegar with Crisp Parmesan.
Saffron "Arancini"
Ginger and Carrot Purée with Heirloom Tomato Salsa.
Parmesan Crusted Rack of Niman Ranch Lamb
6oz Grilled Choice Angus Beef Tenderloin Steak
8oz Grilled Prime Angus Beef Tenderloin Steak
28oz Dry Aged Prime Angus Porterhouse Steak
Fried Yukon Potato
Rosemary, Parmesan Reggiano and Sea Salt.
Spinach
Butter, Black Garlic and Lemon.
Cavatappi Pasta
Mac and Cheese, Parmesan and Buttered Breadcrumbs.
Pan Roasted Wild Mushrooms
Shallots, Garlic, Pinot Grigio and Thyme.
Whipped Yukon Gold Potato Purée
Butter, Garlic and Parsley.
Grilled Asparagus
Virgin Olive Oil, Romaine Salad and Lemon.
Chocolate Soufflé
With Vanilla Bean Gelato and Vanilla and Chocolate Sauce.
Amaretto Soufflé
With Espresso Gelato and Vanilla Sauce.
Palo’s Homemade Tiramisù
Layered Coffee-infused Ladyfingers with Italian Mascarpone Cheese.
Limoncello Tart
Served in an Almond Crust, topped with Yogurt Crème and Caramel Citrus.
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta
With Strawberry-Basil Sorbet, Raspberry Jelly and Milk Crumble.
Warm Orange Almond Cake
Orange Fennel Salad with Rhubarb Purée and Lemon Cream.
Spoonful of Gelato
Caramel Macadamia Nut, Double Chocolate, Mango Mint, White Chocolate Espresso and Mixed Berry.
Apple Crostata
With Salted Caramel, Braised Cinnamon Apples and Whipped Cream.
Pillitteri Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine
Niagara Falls, Canada.
Woodford Master Collection
Double Oak.
Quinta do Noval 10 Year Tawny Port
Quinta do Noval 20 Year Tawny Port
Limoncello
Light and refreshing way to end your evening, made from Sorrento’s Lemons.
Fior di Latte
Cioccolato Bianco e Grappa.
Gianduia
Cioccolato Gianduia e Grappa.
Jacopo Poli Bottega
Formaggio
A selection of Cheese with Honeycomb, Date Almond Cake and Fig Orange Chutney.
The Prix Fixe menu allows you to choose from the listed options for each course, including an appetizer, salad, entrée, and dessert. While there are very good options available, as Vini humorously pointed out, “You don’t come here for the salad.”
Since the portions are very generous and there’s plenty to choose from, he recommended we get a few antipasti for the table to share and then select separate entrées from the à la carte menu.
For the table, we chose the Fried Calamari with Jumbo Shrimp and the Soft Potato Gnocchi.
To jumpstart our taste buds, the chef sent out a sampling of Gnocchi in a light mushroom sauce. This differed from the antipasti menu option and was the perfect way to tease our palates.
Bread service was presented alongside the appetizers and featured freshly baked pizza bread—a homemade pizza dough brushed with garlic butter and herbs. It was highly addictive and hard to resist!
For entrées, the Angus Beef Tenderloin was calling to me, paired with sides of Grilled Asparagus and Whipped Yukon Gold Potato Purée. The Seared Jumbo Scallops were definitely tempting as well, and luckily, my mother ordered that dish—so I knew I could steal a bite or two!
The steak was tender and cooked to perfection, with delicate flakes of sea salt gracing the top. The scallops, on the other hand, were absolute pillows of perfection.
The portions, once again, were generous, leaving a life-altering decision to be made: clean plate club or dessert?
With a Chocolate Soufflé lingering in my mind, the choice was easy! Good luck finishing it, though—the sweetness hits you from the very first bite.
Frozen – A Musical Spectacular
It’s tropical outside, but inside, we visited the fjords of Arendelle for the chilling retelling of Frozen: A Musical Spectacular! This was the second Broadway-style presentation of the week and another crowd-pleaser.
Full of song, dance, and warm hugs, this is the perfect time to “Let It Go” and embrace the magic.
Kid Ace
Before calling it a night, I couldn’t pass up another opportunity to watch Kid Ace showcase his magical stylings—this time in The Tube for an adults-only show. It was definitely worth staying up for!
Tomorrow will find us at Castaway Cay for what will be the last day of this cruise before returning to Port Canaveral. Check back to see what this island paradise has to offer.
