Fine-tune the family cruise line - Letters

Cruise Travel, Nov-Dec, 2003 by Donald Miller, Martha Miller

We have just returned from a Western Caribbean cruise on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic (Cruise of the Month, Cruise Travel, August 2003). We took our whole family in celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary, and I have to say it was a most enjoyable time. We have taken more than 10 cruises, and this was the most efficient embarking and debarking that we have ever experienced. Disney has it all right when it comes to crowd control!

Also the matter of gratuities being charged to our onboard account was an easy way to do this. Our cabin steward Claude Headly, our waiter Suni Rodrigues, our assistant server Edwin Dugenia, and our head waiter Pietro Gennaro were all outstanding in their service.

The only concern I have is that I think Disney emphasizes the wine and liquor too much for a family-type cruise. Everywhere on the ship is a display of wine or drinks. The wine list is longer than the menu! I suggest that they tone down the advertising and make it more like the Disney theme parks where no alcohol is served. Also the sports bar is the only indoor area where one can smoke. This room stunk so bad we could not stay in it for very long. How about making the Disney cruises non-smoking or smoking only ondeck?

On the whole we really enjoyed the cruise in spite of our concerns. Thank you, Disney Cruise Line.

Donald & Martha Miller, Salinas, CA