13-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise from Miami to Barcelona

Getting thereDay 1Saturday, May 11, 2019

Miami

Chicago O'Hare (ORD) · United States
Miami, FL · United States

ORD → Miami · AA 1308 · 15:01 – 19:19

Last minute push. We drive to Chicago later this morning and fly from O'Hare to Miami this afternoon. Tomorrow is Mickey Boat Day! A fun flashback to Lisa's first Disney cruise in 2012 and Thomas' first voyage in 2013. Then our most recent cruise in October 2018 for comparison. Wow...just wow. Growing up Disney

All our bags are packed. We're ready to go. We're leaving on a jet plane.

3.5 hours to drive 114 miles from our house to O'Hare. Holy traffic, Batman. Next stop, Miami!

Kathy and the kids on our flight to Miami

By Michael

We flew American Airlines flight 1308 out of O'Hare, leaving at 3:01 pm and landing in Miami that evening. Lisa and Thomas did homework at the gate before we boarded, matching Donald Duck luggage in tow. From the window we watched the Florida coast come into view as we came in over Miami. We got settled at our hotel near the airport and had McDonald's for dinner before an early night ahead of boarding the Magic tomorrow.

Our Donald Duck luggage, packed for Miami

Waiting on our flight to Miami at O'Hare

Lisa and Thomas finish homework before we board

Lisa and Thomas working on travel puzzles at our gate

McDonald's for dinner before an early night

Day 2Sunday, May 12, 2019

Miami

Cruise Casual · Be Our Guest! Welcome Aboard Show · Let the Magic Begin · Bay Breeze / Bora Shake

Miami, FL · United States all aboard 4:00 pm
Mickey's Sail-A-Wave Party
Be Our Guest! Welcome Aboard Show
Aboard the Disney Magic · United States

Rapunzel's Royal Table — Dinner

Miami, FL

By Kathy

Mother's Day breakfast with this early bird who is only an early bird on days when she is off to see Mickey. Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms!

The only place to be when the heat index is 94 degrees. Thomas has done the AquaDunk water slide 3 times. Lisa found the pool.

Goodbye Miami. Next stop: the Azores. 3,000 miles and 7 days away

A beautiful post-shower Miami sendoff.

All four of us, boarding day at the terminal

By Michael

This morning began with a Mickey-shaped waffle breakfast at the hotel, a Happy Mother's Day plate for Kathy, before we finished packing the kids' matching Donald Duck luggage and headed for the Port of Miami.

At the terminal we checked in as Castaway Club members, on our twelfth Disney cruise, and got our photos taken in front of the ship before boarding. Lisa and Thomas had their portraits done in their matching Transatlantic shirts, and once we found our room we let the kids get in the pool while the Magic still sat in port.

Donald Duck luggage lined up for the terminal

Our Castaway Club medallion, cruise number twelve

Checking in at the Port of Miami terminal

Lisa at the Miami hotel waffle breakfast

Breakfast at the Miami hotel before boarding

🎭 Aboard the Disney Magic

By Michael

We also went through the mandatory safety drill on deck, and Kathy had arranged to meet the ship's ASL interpreters and the Assistant Cruise Director at Guest Services to go over Lisa's requests for the rest of the cruise. Later we watched Miami slide away from the rail as we sailed out, with a rainbow arcing over the skyline behind us.

Dinner was at Rapunzel's Royal Table, table 22, with Lisa wearing her napkin as a hat between courses. After dinner we caught the Be Our Guest welcome aboard show, and back in the room the kids found chocolate coins and a towel swan waiting on the bed.

The mandatory safety drill before we sail

Lisa wears her napkin as a hat at dinner

A towel swan and chocolate coins waiting for us

Miami from the Disney Magic before we sailed

Frankie and Stephanie, our ASL interpreters, at the safety drill

Thomas, Lisa and Willie in the shop on our first night aboard the Magic

Day 3Monday, May 13, 2019

Day at Sea

Formal · The Beverly Belles · Standard Rotational (Lumiere's) · Atlantic Dream / Espresso Chiller

Day at Sea
Formal Night

Lumière's — Dinner

Day at Sea

Kathy's whiteboard, tracking where everyone's headed

By Michael

Our first full day at sea started slow. Kathy kept the little whiteboard by our door updated with where everyone was headed, and we had breakfast before the ship really woke up.

Most of the morning turned into a run of character photos around the atrium. Pluto, Doc McStuffins and several others posed with us in turn as we moved from one backdrop to the next. In the afternoon we found the pool deck, and I got in for a swim while Lisa stretched out on a deck chair in the sun.

Kathy, Thomas, Pluto in his sailor outfit, Lisa & Michael

Michael, Doc McStuffins, Thomas, Lisa & Kathy

Cooling off in the pool on our first sea day

Michael, Lisa, Vampirina, Thomas & Kathy

Chip and Dale in their sailor outfits with Kathy, Michael, Thomas & Lisa

🎭 Formal Night

By Michael

It was formal night, the first of the cruise, so we all dressed up, tuxedos for Thomas and me, dresses for Kathy and Lisa. Down in the atrium we had our portrait taken with Commodore Tom by the ship's wheel. At dinner, table 22, Ariel stopped by to see us between courses, and we finished with creme brulee.

After dinner we kept running into characters in the halls, Donald clowning around with me by the stairs, and Tiana posing with Lisa and Thomas before we called it a night. Before bed we set our clocks forward an hour, the first of several time changes as we crossed the Atlantic.

Kathy & Michael in formal wear with Ariel on Formal Night

Lisa, Princess Tiana & Thomas on Formal Night

Donald in his tuxedo & Michael on Formal Night

Lisa by the ship's wheel statue, dressed for formal night

Donald in his tuxedo with Michael on Formal Night

Day 4Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Day at Sea

Cruise Casual · Twice Charmed · Standard Rotational (Animator's Palate) · Calm Voyage / Parrot Song

Day at Sea

By Michael

Another day at sea, still crossing the Atlantic. In the morning we went to a character breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy, and got a photo with the whole group in their sailor outfits by the staircase.

There was a guest-run Transatlantic Magic 5K on Deck 4 that morning, and the family took part. We were all in matching royal blue shirts for the day, our color for the photos, and had portraits done on deck and against the pink Shutters backdrop.

Lisa and Thomas went swimming and dried off on deck afterward in their rash guards. I checked the navigation screen in the hallway and we were well out in the ocean, on course for Ponta Delgada with about two thousand nautical miles still to go.

Dinner was at Animator's Palate, chicken with roasted root vegetables, then cake with raspberry sauce for dessert.

At 7:30 the ship's officers came down the grand staircase in their dress whites for pin trading in Preludes. Lisa and Thomas traded pins with them and ended the night with pins strung on lanyards around their necks. The Merchandise Team named them both Honourary Pin Traders and gave each of them a Magical Moments certificate.

The clocks went forward an hour again overnight.

Lisa and Michael with Minnie at breakfast

Daisy in her red, white and blue sailor outfit, Donald, Goofy, Captain Mickey, Michael, Minnie, Pluto & Chip 'n' Dale in sailor outfits outside Lumière's

A joke note from Kathy: Rapunzel gone wrong

Lisa and Thomas dried off after swimming

Mid-Atlantic, course set for Ponta Delgada

Officers came down for pin trading, Thomas and Lisa were honorary Officers for pin trading.

Our Magical Moments certificates from the Merchandise Team

Frankie, LeAnn, Stephanie, Lisa, Thomas and Steven at pin trading with the ship's officers, LeAnn trading pins with Lisa

Stephanie, Lisa and Steven at pin trading with the ship's officers

Stephanie interpreting among the ship's officers

Animator's Palate

Dinner

Day 5Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Day at Sea

Cruise Casual · JUNNK, Freezing the Night Away deck party · Frozen · Deep Blue Sea / Tropical Rhythm

Day at Sea
Freezing the Night Away

Elsa, Michael, Lisa, Kathy, Thomas & Anna at the Frozen Gathering

By Michael

A day at sea aboard the Disney Magic, and a Frozen kind of day. We started early in the atrium meeting Mickey and Pluto, then Vampirina, before heading to the Frozen Gathering at 10:45, where the four of us stood with Anna and Elsa together and Lisa and Thomas hugged each character in turn. Kathy had asked for ASL interpreting to be arranged for this one.

Thomas and Lisa signed up for an animation class and came back proud of pencil drawings of Stitch and Pluto, which Lisa and I showed off over coffee. Lisa traded pins with some of the crew on the stairs, adding to her collection.

In the afternoon we changed into the purple "Snuggly Duckling" shirts for a portrait session on deck, with the ocean behind us. Later, a cast member named Rich surprised Lisa with a "Making My Day" Magical Moments certificate and a drawing.

Dinner brought a Tangled-themed show, with Rapunzel herself stopping by our table while we ate. Thomas photographed his own dessert before we headed back out on deck.

The night ended at "Freezing the Night Away," the Frozen-themed deck party, with Olaf dancing under the lights and Anna and Elsa on the big screen above the pool. We caught the band JUNNK afterward, and Lisa got one last silly photo with some of the stars of the show before we called it a night.

Lisa and Michael show off our animation class drawings

Our studio portrait in the purple shirts

Lisa's Making My Day certificate from Rich

Thomas's dessert, photographed before he ate it

Lisa's silly photo with the stars of the show

The whiteboard where we left each other notes

Folding towel animals with the Cast Members at towel class

🎭 Freezing the Night Away

Rapunzel's Royal Table

Dinner

Day 6Thursday, May 16, 2019

Day at Sea

Cruise Casual · Danny Buckler: Magic & Comedy · Seasons · Mai Tai / Cranberry No-Jito

Day at Sea
Princess Gathering

Lumière's — Dinner

By Michael

Thursday was another day at sea. Kathy and Thomas went to a Character Breakfast, where Minnie, Goofy and Mickey stopped by the table. All four of us went through the Princess Gathering in the lobby atrium, meeting Sofia the First, Tiana, Rapunzel, Belle, Ariel and Cinderella one after another in our matching red shirts.

Kathy took a load of laundry down to the Deck 7 launderette in between.

In the afternoon we sat for a family portrait session with the ship's photographers, on the black backdrop and then the white one, and kept running into more characters around the ship in their sailor outfits: Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Chip and Dale, and Mickey again.

At dinner we started with crab and shrimp. Back at the room we found a note Thomas had left on the whiteboard: he was down at the pool on Deck 9 and would be back by 4:30.

We closed the night at the theatre for "The Almost Big Show with Danny Buckler."

The Deck 7 launderette, doing a load of laundry

Thomas's whiteboard note: pool, back by 4:30

Lisa with Lisa, one of the ship's officers

The Almost Big Show with Danny Buckler begins

Lisa drinking hot coco, trying to warm up

🎭 Princess Gathering

Michael, Lisa, Ariel, Thomas & Kathy at the Princess Gathering

Day 7Friday, May 17, 2019

Day at Sea

Pirate or Cruise Casual · The Heath Show, Pirates IN the Caribbean Deck Party · Pirates (Animator's Palate) · Sunken Treasure / Parrot Song

Day at Sea
Officer Hide & Seek
Pirate Night

Animator's Palate — Dinner

Day at Sea

Pirate costumes on the pirate ship backdrop

By Michael

Friday was Pirate Day, and it started before Thursday even ended. Just after midnight we posed in the hallway with a giant Mickey plush, Lisa and then Kathy holding him for pictures.

In the morning we played Officer Hide and Seek in the D Lounge, watching the ship's officers try to blend in among decoys in matching jumpsuits. We also met Thor and Captain America in our matching white Transatlantic shirts, and Ariel.

Lisa with a giant Mickey plush after midnight

Michael, Lisa, Thor, Thomas & Kathy in their matching shirts on Marvel Day at Sea

Michael, Lisa, Goofy in pirate garb, Thomas & Kathy in pirate costumes

Lisa, Thomas, Captain Jack Sparrow & Michael in pirate costumes

Captain Hook, Lisa, Michael, Kathy, Thomas & Mr. Smee, the family in pirate costumes

🎭 Officer Hide & Seek

Watching Officer Hide and Seek in the D Lounge

🎭 Pirate Night

By Michael

Then we changed into pirate costumes for the day. Goofy, Chip and Dale, and Mickey and Minnie all turned out in pirate gear for photos, and we posed at a ship's wheel and in a golden Pirates of the Caribbean frame, and met Captain Hook and Mr. Smee.

Dinner was pirate themed: crab cake and a seared scallop to start, and cheesecake for dessert. Then came the Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party on Deck 9, with an ASL interpreter requested for Lisa.

Day 8Saturday, May 18, 2019

Day at Sea

Cruise Casual · Tangled: The Musical · Transatlantic · High Tide / Passion Cream Freeze

Day at Sea

Rapunzel's Royal Table — Dinner

By Kathy

We were the Door Knock Challenge Family of the Day. Let's just say that sticking your face in a bucket of water followed by a bowl of flour is an interesting mess. I was wiping paste out of my nose and eyelashes for hours. But it was a ton of fun and I got to be on the ship's morning show.

Lisa and Michael at the rail, day at sea

By Michael

Another day at sea, and the ship kept us busy from morning until dinner.

We spent part of the day meeting characters: Sofia and Doc McStuffins in the morning, then Goofy and Mickey, Donald and Daisy in tropical shirts on deck, and Minnie in a few different outfits later on. Thomas found Pluto by the funnel and danced around with him. We all wore the black polos and khakis we had matched for the day.

In the afternoon Lisa and I found a window nook to rest in, and we shared a plate of treats from one of the lounges. Walking through, we passed a sign for the Snuggly Duckling, dressed for that night's Tangled: The Musical.

In the evening we stood at the rail as the sun went down over open water, before the Transatlantic dinner. Lisa worked through a trio of soups, and we finished with dessert.

Goofy, Lisa, Michael, Kathy, Thomas & Max outside the Walt Disney Theatre

Daisy in her floral outfit, Thomas, Lisa & Donald in his floral shirt, looking out to sea from the deck

The Snuggly Duckling sign for tonight's Tangled show

Lisa and Kathy at the rail as the sun goes down

The life-size Iron Man on Marvel Day at Sea

Lisa at the rail with the ocean behind her

Kathy watching the sunset over the water

Day 9Sunday, May 19, 2019

Ponta Delgada · Sete Cidades · Lagoa de Santiago Viewpoint · Antonio Borges Garden · Augusto Arruda Pineapple Plantation

Semi-Formal · StringFever · Land & Sea · Paradise / Bora Shake

Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal ashore 8:00 am · onboard 3:00 pm
Sete Cidades, Azores · Portugal
Lagoa de Santiago Viewpoint, Azores · Portugal
Antonio Borges Garden, Ponta Delgada · Portugal
Augusto Arruda Pineapple Plantation, Azores · Portugal
Aboard the Disney Magic · Portugal

Lumière's — Dinner

Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

By Kathy

Good Morning from the beautiful Azores. 3,000 miles sailed over the past 6 days and we are currently 1,000 miles off the coast of mainland Europe. We have a short stop here today and then it's on to Portugal. There are no words to sufficiently describe the first week of our incredible voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Expect an onslaught of pictures.

Such an incredible view.

A trip into the mountains to see the volcano. The Azores are beautiful.

A fun port adventure to a volcanic crater, pineapple plantation and botanical garden. Refueling operations are underway and we will be leaving for mainland Europe shortly. Tomorrow is our final sea day and then Lisbon, Portugal on Tuesday.

All four of us above the twin crater lakes

By Michael

We woke to the Disney Magic sliding into Ponta Delgada at sunrise, the town lit up along the water as the sky came up gold and pink.

Ashore, we went to Sete Cidades, first the overlook above the twin crater lakes, then on to the Lagoa de Santiago viewpoint close by, spring blossoms along the rail the whole time. We rode down into the village of Sete Cidades itself, past the white parish church, and came across a local procession moving through under the trees, women carrying red banners.

Back in Ponta Delgada we walked through Antonio Borges Garden, an old private botanical garden downtown, under a huge banyan tree with roots taller than Thomas and past beds of agapanthus and bougainvillea. From there it was on to the Augusto Arruda pineapple plantation, where a guide walked us through the greenhouses and explained how they force the plants to flower with smoke, over about nine days. Lisa had an ASL interpreter with her for the tour, as we request for each of our port days.

Photo: Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, day 9

A navy ship at the pier in Ponta Delgada

The marina at Ponta Delgada from our deck

Thomas, Stephanie and Lisa above the crater lake overlook

Lisa and me on the coach to Sete Cidades

A local procession passes through Sete Cidades

Thomas and Lisa above the Sete Cidades lakes

Spring blossoms at the Sete Cidades overlook

The sign for Sete Cidades and Pico do Carvão

Photo: Lagoa de Santiago Viewpoint, Azores, day 9

Thomas, Stephanie and Lisa at the Lagoa de Santiago viewpoint

Photo: Augusto Arruda Pineapple Plantation, Azores, day 9

The guide explains how they force pineapples to flower

Pineapples growing at the Arruda plantation

🎭 Aboard the Disney Magic

By Michael

Semi-formal night back on the ship: dinner, dessert, and a dance party with the lights turned down low to close out a long day ashore.

Dancing under colored lights to close the day

Day 10Monday, May 20, 2019

Day at Sea

Cruise Casual · Disney on Broadway: Stars Set Sail · Vista · Yellow Bird / Star Night

Day at Sea

Animator's Palate — Dinner

By Kathy

I blame Juan, our server, for the fact that my pants are snug. The food has been incredible on this cruise and I have let him select every dish for me. He has knocked it out of the park.

Yesterday's Day at Sea. Girls Night in the dining room as the boys went to see Avengers Endgame. Lots of character pictures. The medals are from earlier in our cruise. Thomas and I did a 5K at sea on Day 3.

Kathy, Thomas, Captain Marvel, Lisa & Michael on Marvel Day at Sea

By Michael

Monday was a sea day, cruise casual, the last one before Lisbon. The Navigator had Thor, Captain America, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel and Joy out for photos, and Kathy dressed as Captain Marvel so the four of us could pose together.

We worked through the character line all morning, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Chip 'n Dale together in the atrium, then Thomas with Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins. Kathy found a Mickey-face latte, and Thomas ate fries on deck between characters.

I noticed how badly I had burned my legs and photographed it. Kathy also photographed our Transatlantic 5K medals from the race on the 14th.

In the afternoon we met Spider-Man as a family, then Joy. After dinner, in the atrium, Lisa had her picture taken with several of the ship's officers, including one named Pietro.

Donald, Daisy, Mickey in his top hat, Kathy, Lisa, Michael and Minnie in her red ruffle dress, with Goofy, Pluto and Chip 'n' Dale in chef hats, outside Lumière's

Kathy, Lisa, Spider-Man, Thomas & Michael on Marvel Day at Sea

Thomas with a drink on deck on the Magic

Michael, Lisa, Joy, Thomas & Kathy on the Inside Out stage set

Beef tenderloin at dinner on the Disney Magic

Double baked Gruyere cheese souffle at dinner on the Magic

Butternut squash soup with Dungeness crab on the Magic

Pacific Coast brulee for dessert on the Magic

Day 11Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Lisbon · Jerónimos Monastery · Belém Tower · Monument to the Discoveries

Cruise Casual · Six Appeal · World of Flavour · True Colors / Lava Smoothie

Lisbon, Portugal ashore 9:30 am · onboard 4:30 pm
Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon · Portugal
Belém Tower, Lisbon · Portugal
Monument to the Discoveries, Lisbon · Portugal
Aboard the Disney Magic · Portugal

Lisbon Highlights — Disney Cruise Line port adventure, 4.5 hours
Rapunzel's Royal Table — Dinner

Lisbon, Portugal

By Kathy

Good morning from sunny Lisbon, Portugal. Beautiful sunrise coming into port. Characters on deck. A great start to our day.

My world looking at her world. Be still my heart.

Maritime Museum. The Portugese were known for their expert shipbuilding and sailing.

Jeronimos Monastery.

Juice blender powered by Lisa. Smoothies anyone?

Belem Tower. The weather is perfect.

Talking Pokemon with his favorite cast member in the port terminal. It's like listening to two people speaking Swahili. I have no clue what is being said.

Ready to leave port and head to tomorrow's destination: Cadiz, Spain. Back to the ocean we go. Lisbon is located on the Tagus River so it took us 3 hours to sail ever so slowly from the Atlantic Ocean into port. It reminded me of sailing into Venice through the Giudecca Canal. The kids are getting in some pool time with this gorgeous city in the background. Everyone agrees. It beats school and work, hands down! We don't want to work. We just want to travel the world all day

Lisa, Thomas and Michael at the monastery

By Michael

We sailed into Lisbon early in the morning, passing under the 25 de Abril Bridge as the city came into view along the hills. On deck before we went ashore, the kids ran into Stitch, Captain Hook, Chip and Dale, Mickey and Pluto for photos with Lisbon spread out behind them.

Photo: Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon, day 11

Ashore we joined the Lisbon Highlights port adventure, about four and a half hours. Our first stop was Jerónimos Monastery, where we spent time at the Maritime Museum in its west wing looking at ship models, astrolabes, old maps, and portraits of Portuguese explorers, then went into the monastery church itself, with its carved stone columns and vaulted ceilings. From there we walked to Belém Tower on the river and on to the Monument to the Discoveries, where we got the whole family together for a photo on the wave-pattern pavement.

Thomas inside an old anchor at the Maritime Museum

Lisa by an old anchor at the Maritime Museum

Lisa and Thomas at the seaplane monument in Belém

Talking Pokemon with Willie in the Lisbon terminal

Lisbon rooftops from the deck of the Magic

Lisbon's rooftops and the Pantheon dome from above

A tall ship model at the Maritime Museum

The vaulted ceiling inside the monastery church

Jerónimos Monastery's carved stone entrance

Inside Jerónimos Monastery's vaulted nave

All four of us at the Discoveries monument

Our stop at the Monument to the Discoveries

🎭 Aboard the Disney Magic

By Michael

Frida at the youth club wrote the kids notes during the cruise, thanking Lisa for stopping by during open house and thanking Thomas for teaching her some sign language. Our clocks would be set forward an hour again overnight, the last of the crossing's changes. At dinner Rapunzel and Flynn Rider stopped by our table, and later Mickey and Minnie posed with us in their captain and first mate outfits before the night was through.

Lisa, Mickey in his colorful patterned shirt & Thomas on deck above Lisbon

Frida's note to Lisa from the youth club

Reminder to set our clocks forward again tonight

Rapunzel visits Lisa & Thomas at dinner in Rapunzel's Royal Table

A silly pose at the underwater ship backdrop

Lisa at the rail watching the sun go down

Under the 25 de Abril Bridge coming into Lisbon

Lisa and Thomas on deck with Lisbon behind us

Lisa, Stitch in his flower lei & Thomas on deck in Lisbon

Mr. Smee, Thomas, Lisa & Captain Hook on deck in Lisbon

Chip, Lisa, Thomas & Dale in their tropical beachwear outfits on deck in Lisbon

Lisa, Mickey in his tropical aloha shirt & Thomas on deck in Lisbon

Lisa, Pluto in his purple and yellow outfit & Thomas on deck in Lisbon

The pool deck as we sailed out of Lisbon

Day 12Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Cádiz · Medina Sidonia · Arcos de la Frontera

Cruise Casual · Disney's Once Upon a Song · Captain's Gala · Golden Margarita / Banana Lime Ginger Smoothie

Cádiz, Spain ashore 10:30 am · onboard 6:00 pm
Medina Sidonia, Spain
Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
Aboard the Disney Magic · Spain

Mountain Villages — Disney Cruise Line port adventure from Cádiz, 4.5 hours: Medina Sidonia and Arcos de la Frontera

Cádiz, Spain

By Kathy

Good Morning from sunny Cadiz, Spain. Today's port adventure takes us into the mountains of Andalusia.

When Southerners and Northerners are on a Transatlantic cruise together, you find blankets and pool towels next to each other on Deck 9. Floridians and Texans are wrapped up in the blankets. Midwesterners and Canadians call dibs on the pool towels

If only I could make a living traveling the world. I'm a sucker for incredible views.

This trip has provided incredible views. Memories for a lifetime.

Last night's dinner was fabulous.

By Michael

Cádiz came up early, the cathedral's twin towers and gold dome rising over the rooftops as we sailed in before seven in the morning. We were ashore by mid-morning with our port adventure group, number 38, headed inland on Mountain Villages: Medina Sidonia first, then Arcos de la Frontera. Stephanie and Frankie, two of the ship's ASL interpreters, came with us on the tour so Lisa could follow the guide, as they did on every port adventure this trip.

The view from the walls of Medina Sidonia

Flags strung over a white street in Arcos

Stephanie, one of our ASL interpreters, riding along on our tour in Spain

Medina Sidonia, Spain

By Michael

The bus climbed into Medina Sidonia, a hillside town with a ruined medieval castle and walls at the top. We walked its narrow white streets and cobbled squares, looked in at the church with its carved stone doorway, and Thomas stopped to photograph petunias growing out of the dirt by a wall. From the walls above town we could see for miles over the farmland below.

Interpreter Frankie & Lisa on the bus to Medina Sidonia

Medina Sidonia's rooftops and the farmland beyond

All four of us on Medina Sidonia's street

Stephanie and Frankie join us in Medina Sidonia

A selfie with Stephanie and Frankie, our ASL interpreters, in Medina Sidonia

Arcos de la Frontera, Spain

Lisa, Thomas and Michael above the Arcos gorge

By Michael

The drive to Arcos de la Frontera took about an hour through green countryside. Arcos sits on a cliff above the Guadalete river, and our guide walked us through the old town to the bell tower at the main church and out to a viewpoint above the gorge. We stopped partway through for a refreshment, olives and small skewers of meat.

Photo: Arcos de la Frontera, Spain, day 12

Olives and skewers at the refreshment stop

Kathy, Stephanie, Frankie and Lisa on the bus in Arcos de la Frontera

Over the Guadalete valley from Arcos de la Frontera

Thomas at the viewpoint in Arcos de la Frontera

Lisa, Thomas and Michael at the Arcos viewpoint

🎭 Aboard the Disney Magic

By Michael

Back aboard by evening, dinner was Captain's Gala night. Afterward we sat in the atrium for a while and listened to a musician before turning in.

Michael & Donald in his Hawaiian shirt and straw hat on deck in Cádiz

Pool towels stacked on Deck 9 of the Magic

Argentinian empanadas at dinner on the Magic

Indian prawn curry at dinner on the Magic

New York cheesecake for dessert on the Magic

Canadian ice cream sundae at dinner on the Magic

Day 13Thursday, May 23, 2019

Málaga · Alcazaba · Cathedral of Málaga · Calle Larios · Gibralfaro Castle

Formal · Crew Talent Show · Standard Rotational · Grape Crush / Lava Smoothie

Málaga, Spain ashore 8:30 am · onboard 4:45 pm
Alcazaba, Málaga · Spain
Cathedral of Málaga · Spain
Calle Larios, Málaga · Spain
Gibralfaro Castle, Málaga · Spain
Formal Night
Aboard the Disney Magic · Spain

Easy Málaga — Disney Cruise Line port adventure, 3 hours

Málaga, Spain

By Kathy

Good morning from sunny and warm Malaga, Spain. On deck for today, a walking tour of the city and visiting a castle. Then the very sad process of packing up to leave on Saturday begins

Thomas got to sit on Picasso's shoulders

Lisa threw a penny in the fountain. She wishes for better internet to help her catch more Pokemon.

They hunt Pokemon. I take pictures. Everyone is enjoying their vacation in their own way.

Incredible views continue. The weather has been spectacular!

A nice dip in the Goofy Pool with Cars open captioned on the Funnelvision. Life is good on this side of the pond

Lisa, Thomas and Michael with the bronze Picasso

By Michael

We woke to the ship easing into port at Málaga, the sun barely up over the breakwater, and went ashore mid-morning for the Easy Málaga port adventure, three hours. Kathy had requested an ASL interpreter for Lisa.

Lisa, Michael and Thomas at the old town fountain

The walking tour passed the Roman theatre at the foot of the Alcazaba, its walls climbing the hill above, with jacaranda trees in full purple bloom along the old streets. We stopped at the bronze Picasso statue in the plaza, Thomas up on its shoulder and me holding our tour group's number 43 sign. Past the Cathedral of Málaga, its one unfinished tower against a clear sky, then the fountain in the old town square and down the famous Calle Larios.

Sunrise over the port as we came into Málaga

Thomas, Michael and Lisa on a bench in Málaga

The Alcazaba fortress above jacaranda blooms

A selfie with Kathy, Frankie and Thomas at the Alcazaba in Málaga

The Cathedral of Malaga's unfinished tower

A pirate street performer near the plaza

Gibralfaro Castle, Málaga

Pointing out Gibralfaro Castle on a scale model

By Michael

The coach then took us up to Gibralfaro Castle, where we spent time in a small museum looking at a scale model of the fortress and the city before climbing out onto the walls. From the ramparts the whole port was laid out below, the Disney Magic at the pier and the round bullring further along the coast. Lisa smiled for a picture at the overlook, and the three of us stood together on the castle wall with the city behind us.

Lisa above the port at Gibralfaro Castle

The Disney Magic docked below the castle

Michael, Lisa and Thomas on the castle wall

Thomas at the Gibralfaro Castle overlook in Málaga

Michael with arms wide on the Gibralfaro walls

Lisa at the Gibralfaro Castle overlook in Málaga

🎭 Formal Night

By Michael

Back aboard, Thomas and Lisa swam before we changed for Formal Night. Thomas looked sharp in his tuxedo in the atrium, and we sat down to a formal dinner together, finishing with a chocolate dessert. Lisa took a selfie on deck as the sun went down over the water.

🎭 Aboard the Disney Magic

Lisa's evening selfie as the ship sailed on

Day 14Friday, May 24, 2019

Cartagena · Casa de la Fortuna (House of the Fortune) · Castillo de la Concepción · Teatro Romano · Calle Mayor · Town Hall Square (Palacio Consistorial)

Cruise Casual · Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic · 'Til We Meet Again · Pineapple Mojito / Crazy Shake

Cartagena, Spain ashore 7:00 am · onboard 1:00 pm
Casa de la Fortuna (House of the Fortune), Cartagena · Spain
Castillo de la Concepción, Cartagena · Spain
Teatro Romano, Cartagena · Spain
Calle Mayor, Cartagena · Spain
Town Hall Square (Palacio Consistorial), Cartagena · Spain
Aboard the Disney Magic · Spain

Discover Cartagena Walking Tour — Disney Cruise Line port adventure, 3.5 hours

Cartagena, Spain

By Kathy

Fifth and final port of our 2019 Eastbound Transatlantic cruise. Good Morning Cartagena, Spain!

Early Port Adventure + six hours of lost time over the past 12 days + Rennhack running hard vacation = one exhausted crew. 4-hour walking tour, here we come!

Roman ruins for the win. Cartagena did not disappoint. Fabulous tour with an exceptional guide. In 25 minutes we will leave port and head to Barcelona where our magical cruise ends tomorrow morning. Before we say goodbye, we will sneak in a showing of the new Aladdin movie, one last dinner and the Disney Dreams stage show.

By Michael

The Disney Magic called at Cartagena. We were off the ship early, ashore by seven for the Discover Cartagena Walking Tour, three and a half hours.

We started at the House of the Fortune, a Roman-era house dug into the old town, with mosaics, a painted dining room and a bathroom laid out behind glass in the floor. From there a glass panoramic lift carried us up to Castillo de la Concepción. Peacocks wandered the castle grounds, one fanning its tail for us, a peahen leading three chicks across the terrace. From the top we could see the Magic in the harbor below and got the whole family in a photo with the ship behind us. An ASL interpreter signed to Lisa at the viewpoint.

Lisa, Thomas and Michael on a snack break, Calle Mayor

We walked down past the old Roman theatre, Lisa and Thomas stopping there with a fan Lisa had picked up. Calle Mayor gave us a snack break and a look through a local grocery store before Town Hall Square, where we sat with a bronze statue of a crouching man on a bench. We were back aboard by one thirty.

Stephanie, Lisa, Thomas and Michael above the harbor in Cartagena, the Magic docked below

Photo: Castillo de la Concepción, Cartagena, day 14

The glass lift up to Castillo de la Concepcion

Lisa with the group 36 paddle and Stephanie in Cartagena

Lisa, Michael and Thomas with the crouching-man statue

🎭 Aboard the Disney Magic

By Michael

Dinner that night was themed 'Til We Meet Again. In the shops, a cast member named Willie gave Lisa and Thomas each a pin with a handwritten note before we sailed on toward Barcelona.

Day 15Saturday, May 25, 2019

Barcelona · Montjuïc · Casa Batllo · La Pedrera · Park Guell · Sagrada Familia

Barcelona, Spain
Montjuïc, Barcelona · Spain
Casa Batllo, Barcelona · Spain
La Pedrera, Barcelona · Spain
Park Guell, Barcelona · Spain
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona · Spain
Barcelona El Prat (BCN) · Spain
London Gatwick (LGW) · United Kingdom

Barcelona tour — Shore Excursions Group: pickup at the port, city tour, luggage held, drop at the airport

BCN → LGW

Barcelona, Spain

By Kathy

And just like that, Disney cruise #12 (for Lisa, Michael and I) and #10 for Thomas is officially over. Today we are taking a bus tour of Barcelona and flying to London this evening. 22-hour layover gives us time for some sightseeing and then it's back to Chicago tomorrow. The Rennhacks vacation HARD!

Good Morning from Barcelona!

The benefit of a private tour. Your guide will take your picture in the middle of a very busy street. One of my favorites of the entire trip.

My favorite place in Barcelona. Gaudi's Parc Guell.

Much progress has been made on Sagrada Familia since our last visit in 2013.

All four of us on Park Guell's staircase

By Michael

The Disney Magic was back in Barcelona this morning, our last morning of the cruise, and we were off the ship by 7:45. At the terminal Stephanie and Frankie, the ASL interpreters who had been with Lisa all trip, signed 'I love you' to her as we said our goodbyes. We joined the Barcelona post-cruise city tour, luggage and all, for a morning of sightseeing before our flight.

First stop was Montjuïc, where we looked out over the whole city and the harbor from the hillside park. From there we drove past Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, Gaudí's two apartment buildings on Passeig de Gràcia, and stopped for photos of both.

Park Güell took up the late morning. We walked the mosaic terrace, found the mosaic salamander on the entrance stairs, and stood under the stone colonnade and the gingerbread gatehouses at the top of the park.

Sagrada Família was our last stop, its towers still wrapped in cranes after more than a hundred years of construction. We got the whole family together in front of it before we had to move on.

The tour dropped us at the airport in the early afternoon with our bags. Lisa worked on a school assignment at the gate while we waited. We flew Norwegian Air from Barcelona to London Gatwick, took the Gatwick Express train into Victoria Station, and reached our hotel in Westminster that evening. I could see the Thames and one of its bridges out the window as we came in.

The Disney Magic docked at the Barcelona terminal

Stephanie and Frankie sign I love you to Lisa

The kids at the Barcelona terminal with our bags

All four of us above Barcelona from Montjuic

Sagrada Familia's towers still under construction

All four of us in front of Sagrada Familia

The four of us in front of Sagrada Família

Albert Bridge over the Thames that evening

Home againDay 16Sunday, May 26, 2019

London · Houses of Parliament

London, England · United Kingdom
Houses of Parliament, London · United Kingdom
London Gatwick (LGW) · United Kingdom
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) · United States

Big Bus London — Hop-on hop-off bus tour

LGW → ORD

London, England

By Kathy

Riding around London in an open air bus. We vacationed so hard over the past 2 weeks. The airport shuttle will be here soon to take us back to reality. Always a sad day, but we are ready to sleep in our own beds.

Definitely not my favorite hotel. Thankfully, it had beds and we were exhausted. We are a stinky bunch traving home. Unfortunately our room didn't have hot water. OK kids. This is as close to camping as I ever care to get. Foreign travel is always an experience. It makes us appreciate Mickey's ship that much more.

The countdown to our next cruise has begun. Lisa says it's too long.

The most dreaded sight. A leased plane from the now-defunct WOW Airlines with no TVs or in-seat power outlets. 9-hour flight, here we go.

Fueled up before our long flight from London to Chicago.

Thankful to have been blessed with kids who can sleep anywhere. He slept all but about 30 minutes of the 9-hour flight.

By Michael

We checked out of our hotel in Westminster this morning and climbed up top on a Big Bus for a hop-on hop-off tour of London. From the open top deck we passed the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, still wrapped in scaffolding for repairs, then crossed the river and went past Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, the Tower of London and the Monument to the Great Fire.

We got off near the Houses of Parliament and walked over to Westminster Abbey, standing out front for photos before getting back on the bus to finish the loop past St Paul's and the City.

By early afternoon we were back at London Gatwick with our bags. We had lunch at the airport before our evening flight to Chicago O'Hare. Thomas slept most of the way home, wrapped in a blanket, and we landed very late that night, closing out our two weeks away.