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⚓ Cruise 1/20/2023 – 1/28/2023

7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral with Pixar Day at Sea

⭐ First Disney Fantasy Cruise⭐ First Pixar Days at Sea

Pixar Day at Sea

▶ Play this trip

7nights

8ports

4countries

3days at sea

ship

Michael, Kathy, Lisa, Thomas, Dan, Kim, Colinwho went

ASL interpreters: Angelique, Joy

Our dining team: Mili

Stateroom: 8679 · 10A - Deluxe Inside

Firsts: first sailing on the Disney Fantasy · first time in the British Virgin Islands

🧭 Part 1 of 3 Pixar, Marvel, and Hollywood Studios, January 2023

17-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral with Pixar Day at Sea 1/20/2023
2Walt Disney World: Hollywood Studios 1/28/2023
35-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Miami with Marvel Day at Sea 1/30/2023

🧭 See the whole journey ▶ Play the whole journey

Day by day

Getting thereDay 1Friday, January 20, 2023

MDW → MCO

Chicago Midway (MDW) · United States

MDW → MCO

Chicago Midway (MDW)

By Kathy

Wheels down and handles facing outward. Easy drop-off for Michael and the kids curbside at Midway while I park the car in the long-term garage and take the shuttle back to the terminal.

3 hours until takeoff. The joys of Chicago traffic. Sometimes the drive is 2 hours. Sometimes it's 5 hours. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Ready for adventure!

Lisa and Michael signing I love you before takeoff

By Michael

We flew to Orlando from Chicago Midway with Dan, Kim and Colin on a late Southwest flight. Lisa drew a Mickey Mouse picture that morning, and we packed our Disney suitcases into the car for the airport. Kathy checked our luggage at the gate, and once we were on the plane, Lisa and I signed I love you to each other while we waited to take off. We landed in Orlando close to eleven at night.

Lisa's Mickey Mouse drawing before we left

Our Disney suitcases packed for the airport

Our luggage headed out for the Southwest flight

Orlando's lights below as we came in to land

Ready for our late night flight to Orlando

The lights of Orlando as we came in to land

Day 2Saturday, January 21, 2023

Port Canaveral

Cruise Casual · Eric Jones: Magician · Standard Rotational (Royal Court) · Paradise Punch / Espresso Chiller

Orlando International (MCO) · United States
Orlando, FL · United States
Port Canaveral, FL · United States all aboard 3:45 pm
Aboard the Disney Fantasy · United States
Sailing Away

Royal Court — Dinner

Orlando, FL

By Kathy

Disney Cruise #16. It never gets old.

Sharing the port with the Norwegian Escape and the Carnival Freedom. We sailed on the Escape for 10 days last summer and had a great time exploring Italy, Greece and Malta. It's a beautiful vessel. The Freedom is an old rust bucket with a burned off whale tail. Just say no.

The first ice cream cone has been consumed. We are officially on vacation!

Sailing Away. Rain forced our party indoors. The interpreters are AMAZING!

Next stop: Tortola in 2 days

By Michael

We flew into Orlando just after midnight, continuing on from our late flight, and settled in for what was left of the night.

In the morning we stayed at a La Quinta before packing up and driving out to Port Canaveral, catching our first glimpse of the Disney Fantasy from the highway on the way.

We stayed at the La Quinta before the port

Just after midnight in the Orlando airport

Thomas and Lisa on the drive to Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral, FL

By Michael

Kathy, Lisa, Thomas and I arrived at the terminal together with Dan, Kim and Colin. Lisa, Thomas and I stopped for a photo outside before we all posed together for the ship's photographer. Chip and Dale were out on the dock for photos with the group before we boarded, and once aboard we found the ship's name painted along the rail, our first voyage on the Disney Fantasy.

Michael, Lisa and Thomas outside the cruise terminal

Our first family photo before boarding the Fantasy

Chip, Michael, Lisa, Thomas, Kathy & Dale in their sailor outfits at Port Canaveral

The Norwegian Escape next to us at Port Canaveral

The Carnival Freedom across the water at Port Canaveral

**The Vibe on the Dream Class is the best in the fleet.**With LisaWatch on YouTube ↗

**Video from boarding day at Port Canaveral**With Michael, ThomasWatch on YouTube ↗

**Video exploring the ship on boarding day**With AngeliqueWatch on YouTube ↗

🎭 Aboard the Disney Fantasy

Disney Fantasy painted on a lifeboat, our first sailing on her

By Michael

We spent the afternoon exploring, from the teen club Vibe to a round of Goofy's Golf on the top deck. A note from Sean, the Senior Entertainment Manager, invited us to the lobby atrium to meet Lisa's interpreters for the week. The Sail Away party was moved inside, and we watched the ship pull out from the atrium screens.

Dinner was at Royal Court, and afterward we had family portraits taken by the ship's photographer and caught the evening magic show in the Walt Disney Theatre. Lisa stayed up past eleven wandering the halls, photographing the decorated cabin doors other families had put up for the week.

Sean's note inviting us to meet Lisa's interpreters

Thomas stretched out on a deck lounger aboard the Fantasy

The Vibe on the Dream Class is the best in the fleet.

Thomas with the first ice cream cone on the Fantasy

Sailing away from Port Canaveral under cloudy skies

🎭 Sailing Away

Sail Away moved inside, watching from the atrium

**The Sailing Away deck party was moved inside.**With AngeliqueWatch on YouTube ↗

Day 3Sunday, January 22, 2023

Day at Sea

Formal · Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular · Palo

Day at Sea
Formal Night
Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular

Day at Sea

By Michael

Our first full day at sea aboard the Disney Fantasy. Breakfast started with Mickey-shaped waffles, and we had a round of photos taken at the ship's rail by the Mickey life-ring sign. We met Captain Mickey Mouse near the Walt Disney Theatre, and Lisa tried the golf simulator at Goofy's Sports before sitting with the ship's artist to sketch Stitch's face. We also stopped by the Sweet on You candy and ice cream shop to look over the cases.

Family portrait at the Pixar Day at Sea backdrop

Family portrait at the rail by the Mickey life ring

Ocean view through our stateroom porthole

Lisa, Captain Mickey & Michael on the Disney Fantasy

Lisa's Stitch sketch with the ship's artist

🎭 Formal Night

By Michael

That evening was the cruise's first formal night. We posed for portraits in front of the Aladdin backdrop, and Kathy and I had dinner at Palo while the kids ate in the main dining room.

Dressed up for formal night at the Aladdin backdrop

Our formal night family portrait aboard the Fantasy

Thomas and Lisa dressed up for formal night

Dinner with Dan, Colin, and Kim on formal night

Formal night portrait, our first aboard the Fantasy

Our Pixar Day at Sea photo, thumbs up all around

Another Pixar Day at Sea backdrop, orbs in hand

Palo

Dinner for two

Day 4Monday, January 23, 2023

Pixar Day at Sea

Cruise Casual · Pixar Day at Sea party · Pixar Day at Sea

Pixar Day at Sea
Jack-Jack's Diaper Dash

The whole group in matching Pixar Day shirts

By Michael

We were up and dressed in our matching Pixar Day shirts before breakfast, because the character meets started early. Sadness and Joy from Inside Out, Miguel from Coco, and Mike Wazowski, one right after another through the morning.

Frozone, Kathy, Lisa, Thomas, Michael & Mr. Incredible at Celebrate the Supers on Pixar Day at Sea

By midday the atrium had a race game laid out across the floor, and the bronze Mickey statue on the stairs had picked up a couple of Jack-Jack toys nobody could explain. We changed into our second set of matching shirts, yellow ones with the Pixar Day logo, for the rest of the day.

That set us up for more meets: Mickey and Minnie right there in the atrium, then Russell and Dug from Up. Thomas came away from one stop with a Toy Story autograph book he was still holding at dinner. The whole group of us lined up together for a photo in our matching shirts before we sat down to eat.

Woody, Thomas, Lisa, Michael, Kathy & Bo Peep on Pixar Day at Sea

That night the atrium turned into a stage, with the Pixar characters dancing above the crowd. Angelique, our ASL interpreter for the day, signed the whole show from the edge of the stage for Lisa.

We closed the night with a selfie by the pool bar before bed.

Thomas, Lisa, Sadness, Kathy & Michael on Pixar Day at Sea

Michael, Thomas, Joy & Lisa on Pixar Day at Sea

Michael, Thomas, Miguel from Coco, Lisa & Kathy on Pixar Day at Sea

Mike Wazowski, Michael, Thomas, Lisa & Kathy at the Monsters, Inc. door in the Lobby Atrium

The Mickey statue picked up a couple of Jack-Jack toys

Minnie & Mickey in their Pixar Day at Sea outfits with Lisa, Michael, Kathy & Thomas in the Lobby Atrium

Russell & Dug from Up with Thomas, Lisa, Michael & Kathy in the Lobby Atrium

Lisa's drawing of Our family and friends

Angelique signing the Pixar Day at Sea Party for Lisa as Sully, Mike Wazowski & Woody dance

Mike Wazowski, Woody, Rex & Sully dancing at the Pixar Day at Sea Party

Mickey and Minnie display outside Sweet on You

🎭 Jack-Jack's Diaper Dash

Day 5Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Tortola · The Baths

Pirate Night · Pirates IN the Caribbean Deck Party · Pirates (Enchanted Garden)

Tortola, British Virgin Islands ashore 7:30 am · onboard 5:45 pm
The Baths, Virgin Gorda · British Virgin Islands
Pirate Night
Aboard the Disney Fantasy

Enchanted Garden — Dinner

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

By Kathy

Breakfast view of beautiful Tortola. The past two days at sea have been AMAZING. Today we are off to visit the Baths, an area that resulted from volcanic eruption. How will the Baths compare to Santorini, Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvius that we visited last summer? We're going to find out!

The interpreters on this cruise have been nothing short of incredible. As always, they are a show in and of themselves in the most positive way possible. I've received that feedback from so many people. "I don't watch the show. I watch those signing ladies. It's magical."

Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day!

Life is not about the number of breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away. Virginia Gorda is breathtaking. I'm happy to share this adventure with these people.

By Michael

The Disney Fantasy called at Tortola this morning and tied up at the pier next to another ship in port. After breakfast we boarded an open-air excursion bus for the ride to The Baths on Virgin Gorda, stopping for a photo at the Welcome sign at the park entrance.

Our stop in Tortola, the British Virgin Islands

The Fantasy tied up at Tortola, another ship alongside

Breakfast view of Tortola from the Fantasy

Road Town harbor from the ship in Tortola

Lisa with Joy and Angelique, our ASL interpreters, on the boat in Tortola

Michael, Thomas and Lisa at the BVI sign

Thomas, Michael and Lisa on the boat to the Baths

The Baths, Virgin Gorda

By Michael

The trail through The Baths winds under and between huge granite boulders, with ladders and narrow passages linking one clearing to the next. Lisa photographed the boulders and the trail as we went. Thomas waded out of the water over the rocks, and there was time to dig in the sand before Thomas and I climbed up to the Top of the Baths overlook for a wide view back over the boulders and the bay. We caught the bus back to the ship in the afternoon.

At the welcome sign for The Baths National Park

Thomas wading out over the rocks at The Baths

The four of us among the boulders at The Baths

Thomas and me at the Top of the Baths overlook

The four of us at The Baths entrance sign

The clear pools among the boulders at The Baths

Thomas making his way over the rocks at The Baths

Lisa with Angelique and Joy, our ASL interpreters

A granite spire above the beach at The Baths

Thomas and Michael against the boulders at The Baths

Lisa and Michael in the shallows at The Baths

Thomas, Michael and Lisa among the boulders at The Baths

A boulder arch on the beach at The Baths

🎭 Pirate Night

By Michael

That evening was Pirate Night, our first ever aboard. Lisa, and then Lisa and I, got dressed up before dinner, and the ship's photographer took a family portrait with all four of us in matching pirate costumes. There was dessert at the table, a pirate plush made its way around the room during a parade, and later we watched the pirates perform on the stage.

Lisa ready for Pirate Night, Bob along too

Pirates performing on stage at the Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party

Thomas, Goofy in pirate garb and Lisa on Pirate Night in the Lobby Atrium

The four of us dressed up for Pirate Night

Lisa, Thomas, Mickey in pirate garb and Michael on Pirate Night in the Lobby Atrium

Day 6Wednesday, January 25, 2023

St. Thomas · Coral World Ocean Park · Paradise Point Skyride

Formal · Standard Rotational (Royal Court) · Yellow Bird / Lava Smoothie

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands ashore 7:45 am · onboard 3:45 pm
Coral World Ocean Park, St. Thomas · U.S. Virgin Islands
Paradise Point Skyride, St. Thomas · U.S. Virgin Islands
Formal Night
Aboard the Disney Fantasy

SNUBA at Coral World Ocean Park — Surface-supplied dive off Coki Point, the 9:00 am slot; the operator's own photo set is dated and timed
Royal Court — Dinner

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

By Kathy

Nothing beats a Deck 13 Aft sunrise. After sleeping in the past few days, my soul needed this. Good Morning from St. Thomas, USVI. The boys are off to Coral World Ocean Park to SNUBA and the girls are taking the cable car up to Paradise Point for spectacular views.

Lisa and I stayed back for a few hours to do laundry. 16 cruises later and I just figured out that the backpack laundry bags are the way to go.

Lisa and I took the sky ride to Paradise Point. It poured rain for about 2 minutes and then it was gorgeous. Now we are back on the ship enjoying a virgin daiquiri. Michael and Thomas are on the other side of the island on a bus with a flat tire. This is why we ALWAYS book Disney Port Adventures. They will send another bus and hold the ship if needed.

This right here is why we vacation in January. I hear it is snowing at home.

Farewell St. Thomas. Next up, Disney's private island in the Bahamas on Friday. Tomorrow is Sea Day #3. One last chance to enjoy the Fantasy to the fullest.

Thomas and Michael swimming with jacks off Coki Point

By Michael

The Disney Fantasy called at St. Thomas. Thomas and I went SNUBA diving at Coral World Ocean Park, off Coki Point, in the 9:00 am slot, swimming among jacks and trailing bubbles along the reef, while Dan, Kim and Colin spent that time elsewhere at Coral World Ocean Park.

Photo: Paradise Point Skyride, St. Thomas, day 6

While the divers were underwater, Kathy and Lisa rode the Paradise Point Skyride up over the harbor, Lisa signing I love you at the top with the Fantasy docked below. After the dive, Thomas and I toured the park's undersea observatory, and everyone met back up at Havensight, where Thomas and I posed at the St Thomas backdrop.

Back aboard for the afternoon, then it was formal night. We had our family photo taken together before dinner at Royal Court.

Thomas and Michael at the St Thomas backdrop

Lisa with the backpack laundry bag on the Fantasy

Lisa with a virgin daiquiri back on the Fantasy

Thomas and Michael diving off Coki Point

Kathy and Lisa signing I love you atop Paradise Point

The Fantasy at anchor, seen from Paradise Point

Lisa at Paradise Point above the St. Thomas harbor

Lisa at the St. Thomas backdrop near the ship

**Video from our SNUBA dive at Coral World**With Michael, ThomasWatch on YouTube ↗

Day 7Thursday, January 26, 2023

Day at Sea

Frozen, A Musical Spectacular · Standard Rotational (Animator's Palate)

Day at Sea

Lisa & Thomas bow to Cinderella in the Lobby Atrium

By Michael

Our last full day at sea before Castaway Cay. Kathy was up before dawn walking the empty ship, and we all met for the Hey Howdy Breakfast with Woody and Friends. Late morning brought a Royal Gathering in the atrium: Cinderella, Tiana, and Rapunzel each stopped for photos, with Thomas and Lisa bowing for Cinderella on the marble floor under the chandelier. We also ran into Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Daisy Duck, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, and Mickey in his king's robe throughout the day.

In the afternoon we sat for a family portrait session in matching black shirts and red shorts, against a gold sparkle backdrop and then a snowy one. Dinner was at Animator's Palate, and a fresh towel animal was waiting on the bed that evening. That evening the Walt Disney Theatre marquee advertised Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, performed with ASL interpretation for Lisa.

Hey Howdy Breakfast with Woody and Friends menu

Lisa, Cinderella and Thomas on the Lobby Atrium staircase

Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, with ASL interpretation for Lisa

Lisa working on her journal by the ocean windows

Portrait in the snowy backdrop, matching black and red

Lisa, Rapunzel and Thomas in the Lobby Atrium

Animator's Palate

Dinner

Day 8Friday, January 27, 2023

Castaway Cay

Standard Rotational (Enchanted Garden)

Castaway Cay, Bahamas ashore 10:00 am · onboard 4:45 pm
Aboard the Disney Fantasy · Bahamas

Enchanted Garden — Dinner

Castaway Cay, Bahamas

By Kathy

Good Morning from a very windy, cloudy and 72-degree Castaway Cay. Not an ideal beach day, but we'll take it.

Crew life raft training in the Donald Pool this morning. They are learning how to bring an unconscious person into the raft as they would in a man overboard or a capsized refugee boat situation. The corporate trainer in me is evaluating the presentation. Peter, the officer leading the training is doing a spectacular job. He's engaging, empathetic and very thorough. I feel very safe on Disney vessels.

A Magical Moment from none other than the Merch team. No surprise here. The Disney Merch teams love Rennhack kids

Looks like it might be a great weather day after all

A 5K on Disney's private island. They both said they will do it again when we are back here on Tuesday

The four of us on the beach at Castaway Cay

By Michael

We were up early again, checking the ship's app for the day's dinner menus before sunrise. By mid morning the water outside had turned that turquoise color and we were tied up at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

Thomas and Lisa at the Castaway Cay sign

Thomas and Lisa ran the Castaway Cay 5K and came back to find us on the beach before lunch, medals around their necks and both of them still catching their breath. We spent the rest of the morning walking the island, past the snorkel gear rental and the floating slides just off the beach, and stopped for photos both at the welcome sign near the ship and later out on the sand with the Fantasy docked behind us.

Lunch was burgers and coleslaw from the barbecue pavilion, eaten at the picnic tables under the trees.

Family portrait in front of the Fantasy at Castaway Cay

Thomas and Lisa after the Castaway Cay 5K

Burger and coleslaw from the barbecue pavilion

Lisa at the rail as we arrive at Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay coming into view from the ship

The Kargo Handling tower at Castaway Cay

Lisa and Thomas riding the tram to the beach

Edna Mode, Michael, Thomas, Lisa and Mrs. Incredible at the Celebrate the Supers backdrop on Pixar Day at Sea

🎭 Aboard the Disney Fantasy

By Michael

By late afternoon we were back onboard. Stitch was out on one of the open decks meeting guests, and I got my picture taken with him. Lisa caught the sunset through the observation windows before we sat down to dinner, the island already behind us for the night.

Stitch in his lei with Michael on deck at Castaway Cay

Sunset through the observation deck windows

Cast Members at life raft training in the Donald Pool

Lisa with Joy and Angelique, our ASL interpreters, in the theatre

Day 9Saturday, January 28, 2023

Port Canaveral

Aboard the Disney Fantasy · United States
Port Canaveral, FL · United States

🎭 Aboard the Disney Fantasy

By Kathy

Still learning things after 21 cruises. Send the husband and kids to eat breakfast in the main dining room while you walk off and get in line for the rental car shuttle. We began our journey to disembark the ship 2 hours ago. We are in a very long line at Avis in Port Canaveral. 5 ships in port today means LOTS of rental car reservations. Packed my patience today.

By Michael

We disembarked the Disney Fantasy at Port Canaveral after one last breakfast in the dining room, French toast and waffles all around. From the terminal we headed on to Walt Disney World for a few days before our next cruise.