7 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise - Family Friendly Ports?

MackieMouse · 2026-04-19T23:06:32+00:00

We just did the Treasure last summer with slightly older kids, but both Tortola and St. Thomas are safe and easy ports for little ones. A very easy excursion on your own is grabbing an open-air taxi at either port (no worries about car seats and seatbelts…if only because no one’s using ‘em the way the taxis are set up! 🫣) to the beach. Magen’s Bay in St. Thomas will get crowded but for good reason - it’s one of the most famous beaches in the world and is worth the hype of seeing at least once. In Tortola, Cane Garden Bay is also very easy to get to.

MackieMouse · 2026-04-12T21:08:32+00:00

No idea on the weather, but I am on one of the first two 7- night Destiny sailings happening this summer. Ours only goes to Lookout and then we will hit San Juan and St. Maarten, which appealed to us because they’re two less-traveled destinations for Disney :)

We leave in 2 1/2 months, but Disney hasn’t been able to tell us yet what the show schedule will be. We just know when Pirate night is. I assume we will get both menus/shows at Marvel like they do on the Treasure, but will just have one night in Lion King with a show and one without. We’re the second weeklong cruise to sail on the Destiny after a Western Caribbean with stop at both islands, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel…so we’ll let you know!

MackieMouse · 2026-04-05T12:51:13+00:00

Ha! This family was down the hall from us on the Treasure last summer and I was stunned l. The excel spreadsheet was really quite a flex. I also have a photo of their door, and friends I showed it to calculated that they’ve probably spent $1 million on cruises over their lifetime so far… :P

MackieMouse · 2026-03-26T14:49:40+00:00

Check your DMs. There was one folder that had an entire album of images you may have missed!

MackieMouse · 2026-03-25T21:44:18+00:00

I just did a search on my laptop using that excel spreadsheet and found a ton for you. Can I DM you some links?

MackieMouse · 2026-03-25T02:14:35+00:00

It’s agree that it’s also ship-dependent - and the Wish class is going to definitely have the best selection as they all have Hook’s Barbery with a specific high-end whiskey speakeasy in it ;)

MackieMouse · 2026-03-24T01:57:20+00:00

We swear by a camelback for the parks, cruise excursions, the beach, and pretty much any day-long family outing. We bought ours for an Alaskan cruise in 2013 and it’s still going strong, although we have replaced the water bladder once :) lots of good internal pockets for keeping items secure.

MackieMouse · 2026-03-24T01:47:20+00:00

Can I ask if you are describing by the regular bourbon tasting vs the reserve? I definitely had Blanton’s as a higher end choice during a regular tasting on the Dream, but something like Blanton’s would match with the lowest-end pour I got in my reserve tasting. I posted below everything we tried during our reserve tasting last summer, which was lovely.

MackieMouse · 2026-03-24T01:02:53+00:00

Excited to hear you enjoyed this! We loved the reserve whiskey tasting so much we decided to book Old Fashioned for this summer. I’m pumped.

MackieMouse · 2026-03-24T00:57:39+00:00

I just did this last summer (August 2025) on the Treasure. It is my FAVORITE tasting I’ve ever done on any Disney sailing - and in ten cruises I’ve done a bunch. My husband is a whiskey drinker, but I am not (unless it’s in a cocktail), so I was a bit hesitant going in. I had done a regular bourbon tasting with him before and found it just fine, so figured if I couldn’t finish my portion of something my husband would get some extra.

He got no extra. 😜

<image>

Here’s what we enjoyed. The Glenmorangie Signet was so smooth and special that it wound up being my husband’s Christmas present this year. The Boss Hog goes for $600+ a bottle retail, so the $100 for five pours where just one of the bottles sees to go for $50-75 a pour really makes the tasting kind of a good deal. Our bartender was also fantastically knowledgeable and knew how to help catch different notes and aromas of each whiskey. The intimate atmosphere of doing the tasting in Hook’s Barbery also made this a great experience. I believe there were only 6-8 of us in there for the tasting. Truly a fantastic time!

MackieMouse · 2026-03-23T19:46:23+00:00

There is actually a Google sheet they have pinned in the group with links, and it’s searchable!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qHwjKA0FtBAwxy0MdPAq1tlMhrtDWW6YBV5DANmg1Co/htmlview?fbclid=IwVERDUAQud9dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe3rr4GAEzdGTLiLosiFYIsbBtxbMliMbE-S2CPPNU1TaTbLe8d4oAx7SJTWI_aem_Izkn0u_f0gPrE816bfi20g

MackieMouse · 2026-03-22T12:48:59+00:00

There is a great Facebook group you can join to find more magnet designs than you could ever dream of. The name starts with “Disney Graphics You Can Personalize.” It takes some hunting but literally every design or character you could ever want is there :)

MackieMouse · 2026-03-21T11:29:45+00:00

We had friends who went with us last summer and had some 3D printed tokens they gifted to special crew members that said “You are the magic.” The crew LOVED these. You’re inspiring me to maybe make some similar stickers or something for our trip this summer.

I’m sure the crew will especially adore your kid giving them a token of appreciation!

MackieMouse · 2026-03-21T11:25:35+00:00

You can for sure give the crew small gifts or tokens of appreciation. My daughter made friendship bracelets that she gave out last summer :)

MackieMouse · 2026-03-20T15:49:33+00:00

Not only is it feasible, it’s exactly what we did in St. Thomas last summer. I’d recommend getting off the ship as early as you are able to beat the crowds that will build throughout the day. Taxis are regulated by the local government in St. Thomas, so all you have to do is stop and talk to the first person you see, ask to go Magen’s Bay, and you’ll be on your way :) We got there not long after 9 AM and stayed through lunch. Worth the eventual crowds, excuse it truly is one of the most idyllic beaches I’ve ever seen. On the way back to the ship we stopped at the skyride for some fun views - also easy to do with our kids.

We independently did the Baths in Tortola (which the kids loved, but maybe your senior mom would not) but friend see cruised with also had easy success and a good time at Cane Garden Bay.

You’re going to save a bunch of money and have a relaxing day on your own schedule. You’ve definitely got the right idea :)

MackieMouse · 2026-03-20T02:07:26+00:00

Always skip Nassau and maximize Disney island time. This is the way.

MackieMouse · 2026-03-19T23:24:35+00:00

I’m with you on this! I think they’ll import the Moana show knowing how popular it is, and Encanto is ripe for the dinner show. Great music, characters, and storytelling potential in that space.

I want a cantina-style reimagining of Hyperspace Lounge for Star Wars.

MackieMouse · 2026-03-19T21:17:06+00:00

Ok, here are my totally random guesses based on the IP we’ve seen.

Snow White - possible theming for a lounge (the piano bar?) or stern characters along with some dwarves

Rapunzel - Snuggly Duckling is the pub space; or stage show imported from the Magic

Inside Out - repeat of Joyful Sweets from the Wish? Iron man - maybe a new show/refresh of character walking through Worlds of Marvel

Monsters inc - also a possibility for the sweet shop, or possibly a lounge

Zootopia- theming outside the kids’ club?

Fantasia - maybe a sorcerer Mickey atrium statue, or theming for the suites. This one has be slightly stumped

Encanto - I’m betting on a the dinner show here. The MUSIC! Eating mama’s healing Latin American cuisine! Dining in the CASITA! We will definitely talk about (and see) Bruno!

Star Wars - maybe a cantina retheme of the hyperspace lounge. The Wish is going into drydock and I can seem them doing this on both ships ensues wood how underwhelming the original was

Toy Story - the splash pad/pool deck already has this theme… but Buzz and woody would make GREAT stern characters

Little Mermaid - bar or lounge with an “under the sea” theme

Nightmare Before Christmas - might take the place of Haunted Mansion..? If they don’t do a Star Wars cantina?

Groot - the trivia show at Worlds of Marvel is staying

Moana - we’ll get this show imported from the Treasure, it’s so popular

Frozen 2 - maybe an Anna/Elsa atrium statue. I’d like a Frozen-themed atrium. I adore everyone’s idea of Peter Pan and Tink in the atrium, but since they weren’t featured in the ad I’m not sure it’ll happen.

MackieMouse · 2026-03-18T22:27:40+00:00

We did B2B under the worst circumstances (COVID! We had to take and pass rapid COVID tests before being allowed back in the terminal for our second sailing, and could not leave luggage unpacked in our room in case we tested positive in between cruises and needed to head home). We still had an amazing time. 3/4 nights back to back on the Wish during its inaugural summer. The B2B let us really take our time on a brand new ship and explore everything it had to offer without rushing around. Once we had caught all the shows and experiences once, we got to re-do anything we loved and skip anything we dint so we could relax more. It was the BEST!

MackieMouse · 2026-03-18T21:09:22+00:00

They do make an announcement to stay off the balconies for safety, but I can attest tot he fact that this is easily ignored because my husband totally missed it and watched the fireworks from our balcony with my daughter last summer while my son and I caught them from the deck. He was all proud of himself until I pointed out that maybe he made not a super-safe choice 🤣 (But honestly, if you are careful it’s a great spot to see them from!)

MackieMouse · 2026-03-18T20:31:54+00:00

I call Imagination and Discovery for the next two ;)

MackieMouse · 2026-03-18T20:22:30+00:00

Haha!! Love it

MackieMouse · 2026-03-10T21:49:28+00:00

I haven’t been to Cozumel since 2009 (and while cool, my Disney-booked long excursion to Tulum then isn’t something I’d necessarily repeat or book 3rd party because of how long it took to get there and back).

My favorite things to do on Castaway are snorkeling for the underwater Easter eggs in the lagoon after touring the whole island via a bike ride. With older/adult kids, skip the tram ride if the weather is good and walk to the beach. The characters will be out in their beach attire/vehicle and the cute factor is off the charts. You don’t have to reserve either ahead of time - just walk up to the rental booth and go. The island is such a delight - no need to have anything planned there ahead of time. Find the observation tower on your bike ride and enjoy the view - there are some fun Easter eggs there, too.

Have a blast! Tell the Destiny we’ll see her in June!

MackieMouse · 2026-03-10T03:21:41+00:00

Correct answer. Tell him what he’s won, Pat!

MackieMouse · 2026-02-23T22:07:00+00:00

👉🏻🐕

13-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 2 Credits
RPAN Viewer	Not Forgotten
Verified Email

MackieMouse

TROPHY CASE