Almost everyone has a different name now. I love the process of figuring out who the characters are, their names and personalities.
This takes me back. I think I ended up writing 90% by hand.
Hello!
I am a big fan of all things Disney and over the years have garnered a lot of knowledge on the Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando and Disney Cruise Line. Friends would say I'm an expert. I will not call myself that, but am I super knowledgeable? Yes. Will I help any of my friends with questions they have? Absolutely! My husband and I are currently planning to go on our fifth Disney cruise in August. I've had a few other friends reach out for tips and info before they cruise in a few months. I thought I would put some of my knowledge to use and write up some things I think would be helpful. I am also thinking of a pros and cons blog soon since this might get long and what I feel are the biggest differences between the ships.
Start off with download the DCL Navigator app prior to the cruise!
Before your cruise, it will have a handy and fun countdown, plus you can check into your cruise from the app at your designated check in time. Check-in Dates are 30 days before sailing for first time cruisers, 33 days prior to sail for Silver Castaway Club members, 35 days before sailing for Gold Castaway Club members, Platinum Castaway Club members check in at 38 days before and finally, all Pearl Castaway Club members and anyone sailing Concierge check in 40 days prior. Castaway Club is Disney Cruise Line's free loyalty program. You will become a Silver member automatically after your first cruise. You get free in room gifts and some perks when you become a Castaway Club member which get better as you progress in the rankings. You become a Gold member after sailing five times, Platinum after 10 sailings, and Pearl after 25."Get to the food already!" haha I hear you. And there is a ton to talk about. Dining options will vary depending on your ship. On the Wish and Treasure (and soon the Destiny), your buffet is Marceline Market and you have a food court called Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods. This is going to be one of the best places on the ship, in my option. Festival of Foods is a grab and go with several different stations: Donald's Cantina (which is basically Chipotle at sea), Mickey's Smokestack Barbecue, Daisy's Pizza Pies, Goofy's Grill, and Minnie's Ice Cream. The food here is top notch and where my husband and I usually grab lunch unless we go to a sit down (I'll touch on that in a moment). I usually only go to Marceline Market for breakfast. On the Magic, Dream, Wonder, and Fantasy, the buffet is Cabanas. I usually enjoy Cabanas a little more. The grab and go is called Flo's Café that's also pretty good. Flo's will have salads, pizza, sandwiches, and a cantina similar to Donald's with a few less options.
Each ship has three main dining rooms included on the cost of your cruise that you will rotate, and depending on your itinerary, can go to more than once. There's two different dining times to select from. The first one I believe is 5:45 or 6pm, and the second is either 8:30 or 8:45 pm. Most families prefer to go to the first dining. My husband and I enjoy the second one. One of the things I love is your wait staff rotate with you and they will get to know your drink preferences (and often will have your drink ready when you sit down) and any food allergies.
You might be paired with another group, depending on the size of your party. Disney does a really good job of pairing you with similar groups. On our very first cruise, we celebrated my birthday. We were seated with two other couples close to our age who were also celebrating a birthday. We really enjoyed getting to know them and it helped break the ice I bet for our first sailing, I think. You can request to have a private table and Disney will try to accommodate if they can.
On sailings in the Bahamas, there usually is a pirate night as well. If you are on 4 night sailings or longer, you will get a special pirate night menu too. I've found people either really look forward to the pirate night menu, or they don't. I believe the menu is the same across the fleet. I enjoy it, but if we were to do a specialty dining during our sailing, I would try to pick it on pirate night.
There are two specialty dining restaurants for an additional as well. Wish and Treasure have Palo Steakhouse and Enchante. The other four have Palo and Remy. Both also will do brunch usually on sea days. These are adults only and sell out fast. We've done Palo Brunch once on the Dream and I really enjoyed it. My husband thought it was fine, but maybe not worth the $50. To each their own.
Soda, non-specialty coffee, and tea is included! There are cafes around the ship where you can get coffee at a small additional cost. You can get a punch card and your fifth coffee will be free. I really enjoyed the drip coffee in the buffet, but there's also nothing like a nice cold brew looking out from your verandah... sorry, got lost in thought there. You get the picture. I highly recommend bringing a water bottle with you on the ship. Sodas are nice, but make sure you stay hydrated! I actually carried two bottles with me, one for water and one for ginger ale. Ah, the best.
The adult section has Cove Café on all the ships which in my opinion is the best spot. You can also get smoothies too. What I have found I was pleasantly surprised on my first sailing were the things like a smoothie or even alcohol everything was very reasonably priced. You can get soft service ice cream on deck for free, and there's also a special ice cream parlor with additional cupcakes and other treats. And these weren't 'Disney prices' I was very happy with it. And check your Navigator app to see when Happy Hour is.
Entertainment
Disney has Broadway caliber shows on every ship! My favorite (so far) is Beauty and the Beast on the Dream. Each ship has a special one. There's Tangled, Frozen, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Moana. There usually are a few other shows. We loved the Golden Mickey's and Believe (an original show) on the Dream as well. Disney also plans ahead with these shows too. There are two shows a night planned around dinner which is extremely helpful. If you have first dinner, you can go to the second show. I love going to the show then dinner, but I also don't have young children traveling with me. Depending on the length of your cruise, you may also have different variety acts. We've seen Broadway singers and magicians. There was a boy band on our last sailing too.
There's also trivia (so much trivia!), art classes, bingo, karaoke, and much more! Again, this is why your Navigator app is so helpful!
Magnets
The doors on most of the cabin doors are magnetic and lots of people will decorate. I think it helps add to the fun plus you can locate your room easier. I get a lot of mine from Etsy. Also, most of the walls are too, except for the Magic and Wonder, so I've brought magnetic hooks to help hang things. Do not bring anything that hangs over the door. It could cause damage and are a big no-no.
Fish extender
I mentioned this above, but didn't actually talk about what it is. A fish extender is a gift exchange often facilitated in a cruise group for your sailing. NOT by Disney. Named after the little hook by your stateroom for that shows you're room number having a little fish icon. Again, not a must do, but it's fun. You join little groups and everyone does little gifts. We did a pixie dusting exchange for our Christmas cruise. Hung stockings outside our room and occasionally got fun little gifts. I made little magnets to pass out. All in good fun.
Don't forget your dramamine or similar if you get motion sickness. There is a first aid/nurses station down on deck 1 where you can get some meds for free if you forget or something unexpected happens, but if you know you're prone, it's best to keep it handy. My husband and I aren't, but we went to the very front of the Wish once and it affected him.
Packing cubes are always a good idea. Helps minimize space. Also a pop up hamper keeps things tidy.
I heard someone also suggest a sound machine. I would suggest using an app on your phone. Also, if you're in a verandah room, don't leave the door open. The a/c works in blocks so it can affect others too.
Let's see...what else can I help you with? If you see something in the shops that you like, don't wait. There's a good chance it'll sell out. And if you go to Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, that merchandise is specific to that island as well.
There is a photo package offer that is cheaper before you embark. Disney photographers will also take the picture with your phone, or you can buy theirs. I bought the package on our....second cruise? Maybe first. But at the time I bought it, they had different levels for cheaper. Now it's only unlimited, which can be very expensive depending on your number of nights. For our upcoming seven night, it's over $300. You can buy on the ship too. Just make sure you do before you leave.
Um... I feel like I am missing things. If you are reading this and have questions, please let me know!
It's been several years since the first book in the Amethyst Chronicles Winter's Kiss was released. Since we are gearing up for the fourth installment to be released this summer, I thought we should have a refresher on this series.
Amethyst is a group of purple-eyed, genetically enhanced super soldiers. This group of elite four are Earth's greatest defensive weapons. The leader, Ember Wilson, is a tough as nails woman with a chip on her shoulder. Her team is her family and she is fiercely protective of them. She does not get along with her father and sister.
Ember's second-in-command is Michael Lewis. He served in the military with Ember prior to them volunteering for the Genesis Project, the experiment that gave them their abilities. He's as close to Ember as she would allow, but not as close as he would like.
Rounding out the team are Alexander Nova and Bryan Morris. These two best friends are lovely dubbed the Chaos Goblins (by me and later Ember in book four). They are often the comic relief, but don't discount them as funny men. Morris is the teams tech expert, Nova is the best pilot in their organization.
This series takes place 1,000 years after the evens in Mirror Reformed. The ISC is still going strong with Earth the home base for operations. The planet is in danger from years of horrible weather storms and climate changes. Enter Dr. Clayton Rudo, with a promise of a weather machine to regulate and control the elements so the Earth can start healing. Ember reports to her father that Dr. Rudo is not a savior. He means to use his machine to control and rule. She is dismissed and her entire team gets placed in stasis after they attack and destroy the machine.
Ember was right and Dr. Rudo made good on his plans. Now the team must bring him down with the help of Liam Ross, an Air Force officer and his squad. Liam immediately feels drawn to Ember. She takes longer to warm up to him.
Book Two is Croceus Poison on a mission, Ember gets stabbed with a croceus laced weapon, one of the only known substances that would harm Amethyst, and she nearly dies. The procedure that saved her live also made her 'normal'. She lost it all when she lost Amethyst. What would she risk to get it back?
Book Three is Past Reflections. An accident sends Ember back in time 1,000 years. She expects to lay low and not cause any trouble while getting to know the men and women who shaped the ISC's past and her future. However, destiny has other plans. While trying to figure out how to get Ember home, the team learn she is the only one who can protect a heavily pregnant Dr. Maddie Brooks from a threat. Shawn Silvers, the leader of Caeruleus team from Ember’s time has also traveled with plans on changing the future.
All this time, Ember kept her heart out of her missions, except this time it might not be possible. The more time Ember spends with the legendary group, the more she feels connected with them. Especially with Logan Brooks, the handsome, enigmatic warrior who is as fascinated with her as she is with him. Her new goal is clear: protect Maddie from Silvers and return to 3018. However, how much of her heart is she willing to leave behind when she goes home, if she returns at all?
Book Four, Future Ramifications, is slated to be released this summer!
Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays, whatever you celebrate, and had a great and save New Year!
I know I've been quiet lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been working. Exciting updates will be happening soon!
A while ago, I had written short stories on the characters leading up to Mirror Image. All three Brooks brothers had their story published. Good news is Jackson's is in edits now and we should have cover art in a few weeks!
I've also written a novella for Mack, leading up to Mirror Image. This story is very dear to my heart and exciting in many ways. I can't wait for y'all to get your hands on it and understand Mack a little better. Her story is also going through edits and will be releasing a few weeks after Jackson's.
Also in the works: The Complete Mirror series in paperback!
Amethyst Chronicles book 4 should be releasing in August. Expect new covers coming soon as well.
Keep an eye on my author page and my Bluesky page for all the updates.