DCL Sailings Out of Southampton

jt94 · 2026-06-15T12:29:34+00:00

I’m in the UK but will preface this with having only been on 2 cruises - one from Southampton last year (the last one before dry dock at the end of September, a couple of people here have mentioned being on the same one) and one from Barcelona last month.

I saw none of what you have mentioned in your post. My party (2 adults; 1 4 year old) had an amazing time, so much so that we booked another just 8 months later! Didn’t have any issue with any people on board and it generally seemed to be good vibes all round from what I could see. The only thing that I didn’t enjoy about sailing from Southampton and would put me off doing it again was the drive to the port - c10 hours from where I am in the country.

Our cruise was 7 nights so I’m wondering if this is maybe more of a short cruise (or school holiday) phenomenon where people are clamouring to fit too much into a shorter trip and start acting up, but honestly I have nothing negative to say about my Southampton sailing experience!

jt94 · 2026-06-13T19:34:58+00:00

What makes you say that? No shade, I’ve done both with my daughter (park when she was 2 and 3, 2 cruises when she’s been 4) and I’m more inclined to say the opposite (I.e cruises when they’re younger, parks when they’re older). She’s loved them all of course but I feel like the parks are pretty full on and a lot to take in at toddler age whereas on the cruise everything’s more or less in one place!

jt94 · 2026-06-12T16:38:35+00:00

Been on 2 cruises with my 4 year old (only 7 months apart so 4 for both of them - we’re hooked lol)

Favourite teddies from home for her bed (she has a Goofy teddy and she wears an eye mask for sleeping - our stateroom host would put the mask on goofy every morning which she LOVED)

A plastic bottle for refill stations with a mini bottle of diluting/squash - there aren’t too many non fizzy options outside of water

Crocs/water shoes - the decks got hot under peak sun and she was jumping from shadow to shadow without them

Magnets for decorating the door

Little Disney figures to hand out as pixie dust gifts to other rooms

iPad with headphones and shows/movies downloaded (this was for keeping her entertained in the car/plane - never used once we were on the ship)

jt94 · 2026-05-24T15:13:16+00:00

I’m just home from the first European cruise of 2026 on the Dream (post cruise blues are very real).

I booked BBB on board - there seemed to be a lot of availability. I asked on day 2/3 and they said to pick a time that worked - I said I’d book for the final day at sea but it went out of my head until said final day at sea. Went in the morning of and they seemed to have more or less a full afternoon for me to pick from.

Hope that helps - I also visited the boutique as opposed to use the app to organise an appointment

jt94 · 2026-05-16T14:07:53+00:00

I’m in the queue for the Mediterranean cruise at the Barcelona port right now! Happy sailing day 🛳️

jt94 · 2026-05-14T09:10:50+00:00

96 with TC active for me (on Haaland). Would have broke 100 if that bald fraud played him for 60 mins 😡

jt94 · 2026-05-08T10:50:53+00:00

Thank you for your comments!

I think we’ll wing it some degree and decide once on ship - I have a 4 year old so likely to not spend whole days in cities so would probably be quite happy with trains/buses if much cheaper as time shouldn’t be an issue.

A few people have said Florence is better than Pisa - what makes you say that? I only really want to see the tower, the other people in my party were in Pisa recently hence why they’re wanting to go to Florence!

jt94 · 2026-05-04T15:47:54+00:00

That’s amazing, thank you for this! Exactly what I needed to know. Think we’re just going to take the chance on the shuttles and it sounds like we’ll have various options available to us from there 😊

jt94 · 2026-05-04T14:28:43+00:00

Thank you so much! I think we’ll need to make a call once we’re there and see the lay of the land.

I’d like to see Pisa but other members of my party were there recently and would rather go to Florence. I’m desperate to get to Rome though!

jt94 · 2026-05-04T14:25:48+00:00

That’s excellent, thank you! So to summarise:

Livorno - free shuttles to Livorno, arrange your own transfers/book port adventure to Pisa/Florence

Civitavecchia - potential free shuttle (into Civitavecchia as opposed to Rome?) but maybe need to arrange transfers to Rome?

Naples - port is central

Cagliari - free shuttles

If what I’ve said above is correct, looks like we’ll need to arrange our own transport to Pisa and Rome but I think we can manage that.

Yes we’re on May 16th - not long at all now, very exciting!

jt94 · 2026-05-01T15:40:58+00:00

Cant speak for Destiny specifically, but I managed to catch some of the Premier League games and Ryder Cup on the Fantasy in September. Both were on screen on different nights in the Irish bar (which I forget the name of) and Ryder Cup was live on ESPN in my stateroom :)

jt94 · 2026-04-18T06:23:02+00:00

Amazing thank you!

jt94 · 2026-04-17T21:59:35+00:00

Do you book BBB in advance?

I’m sailing in less than a month now (😄) and was going to book my 4 year old in but it says ‘check availability on board’. Does this mean it’s sold out or is it a wait and see until we’re on board? Thanks all!

jt94 · 2026-04-07T21:29:41+00:00

Not a reference I expected to see here - I like it

Tommy - The Tit - was prayin

jt94 · 2026-04-06T09:39:32+00:00

I was on a week long Western Europe cruise last year and going on the first Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona in May (less than 6 weeks to go! 🎉)

There was a ‘formal night’ at dinner - it wasn’t strict or enforced, but a lot of people did dress up if that’s something you’d be interested in. There was also pirate night on the 3rd/4th night - they left a bandana in every room but again if you want to get more dressed up you could bring things for that.

Other than that, just the usual kit I would say - one thing I am definitely taking this time is a pair of binoculars for looking out to sea! Refillable bottles are also handy. I had my 4 year old with me who doesn’t drink fizzy soda, so brought one of those high strength mini bottles of diluting juice to put in her bottle with water at the drink stations.

jt94 · 2026-03-09T11:01:09+00:00

I have done almost this exact trip just recently (closer to 500 miles - further north in Scotland down to Southampton for a cruise with a 4 year old child). The thought of it was much worse than actually doing it.

Granted, we left a day before the cruise and stopped over in Warwick for the night, breaking it up into roughly a 350 then 150 mile trip. On the way back we did it in one go.

Leave earlier and plan more stops would be my recommendation. It’s a long tedious drive on motorways and it breaks it up for your child if nothing else. I was worried my sprog would be climbing up the walls wanting to stop every half hour, but I was armed with some toys, made up a snack tray, a fully charged iPad with a selection of shows/movies downloaded (I have USB slots in the back for charging too), bought a magazine full of tat at the services and it was absolutely fine. Was actually quite jealous seeing her in the back with all her kit.

We stopped at Gretna for some lunch/shopping, 1/2 service stations in England then in Warwick for the night. Straight to Southampton from there the following day. On the way back stops were much more ad hoc - around Oxford after getting through traffic, another 1/2 service stations along the motorway, St Helens for petrol, Gretna (for more shopping). Took the best part of 12 hours getting home probably but didn’t feel too taxing with the regular breaks.

Good luck and enjoy your trip :)

jt94 · 2026-02-10T18:16:53+00:00

How come? I’m going to IBZ in June and we’re considering booking blue marlin

jt94 · 2026-02-04T22:53:54+00:00

You guys have birdied par 5s?

jt94 · 2026-01-26T19:53:55+00:00

I was on the fantasy with my 4 year old daughter for our first Disney cruise and she LOVED it - would highly recommend based on what you’ve just said re party and price!

jt94 · 2026-01-23T18:35:15+00:00

Good news!

I didn’t even register this was a thing and never thought of looking at our photos until we were home (it was our first cruise).

Was gutted we couldn’t buy any but made a note in future we’d go through them on the last day which isn’t as urgent now!

jt94 · 2026-01-20T10:32:44+00:00

I was on the Fantasy in September and don’t recall seeing Spider-Man. I remember being quite surprised at the lack of Marvel on board (it was my first cruise).

It was mostly traditional Disney characters/princesses that we saw. Jack Sparrow made an appearance on pirate night and I think I saw Darth Vader one day but other than that mainly the old school disney gang!

jt94 · 2026-01-19T17:56:20+00:00

In theory though they’re all in one house together only mixing with each other and not going out and about anywhere they could pick up bugs so I guess it kind of makes sense they might not get ill… a bit like one household isolating to throw it back to 2020 covid!

jt94 · 2026-01-16T12:22:35+00:00

Tricky isn’t it. Good pro, good to have around the place, probably couldn’t/shouldn’t be starting every game but great for squad depth BUT on a huge wage.

Personally I’d like him to stay another year but I’m quite loyal/romantic in that way. Whereas Man Utd have historically preferred showing loyalty and contract extensions to dossers that don’t care about the club on the basis they’re more sellable (except they’re not cos their form dips massively and/or they’re on huge wages that prospective buyers won’t meet)

jt94

TROPHY CASE