Frozen cruisin’: Explore the land of Elsa and Anna on Disney Fjords trip
FIRST, a confession.
I am a Disney addict.
Since my first visit to Orlando in 1994, I have returned eight times.
Main Street, Mickey, Minnie and the gang make up some of my greatest childhood memories.
Adult ones, too.
And I have collected an unreasonable amount of mouse-shaped memorabilia.
But a cruise had never really appealed to me.
Certainly not one to the land which inspired Frozen.
The cold has always bothered me.
Nevertheless, I was prepared to banish any stereotypes I may have had of what a cruise has to offer and see if Disney could make me fall in love with Norway in the same way I had fallen for Florida.
This was the inaugural trip to the Norwegian fjords for Disney, following the phenomenon that is Anna and Elsa.
So, For The First Time (In Forever) my mum and I headed north to see what all the fuss was about.
Arrival in Copenhagen was simple.
The Disney Cruise Line team met us at the airport and directed us to the transfer bus.
The team check your cases in, too, so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the short transfer to the port and prepare for seven days at sea.
Disney Magic is a big ship, with room for 2,400 passengers, and you will see a lot of it thanks to the “rotational dining” system.
It means you can move between the themed restaurants, from the upmarket Palo to the casual Cabanas, but you are followed by the same service team throughout.
Each has only a handful of guests, too, which means you get properly looked after all week.
We soon realised the excellent service we had experienced for all those years was not just a Florida thing but a Disney thing.
Staff pride themselves on the fact that after just one meet, they will remember your drink orders and your name.
Adults-only Italian restaurant Palo is certainly worth checking out.
We were lucky enough to visit it for both dinner and brunch but if you only get the chance to do one, I would opt for brunch.
In general, most meals are “cruise casual” which simply means no swimwear or vests.
There is also a fancy dress night but this is mainly for the children (and a few very keen adults).
In our case the theme was Frozen, and the numerous tiny Annas and Elsas seemed to absolutely love it.
Wandering around the ship, you are highly likely to bump into characters from classic Disney films to more modern favourites.
I managed to get pics with Daisy Duck and Pluto, but be warned — the queues for Mickey and the Frozen gang get pretty long.
That said, the character moments were very well organised.
There is no cash on board which makes buying gifts and drinks a little too easy.
But you can check your balance at the Guest Services desk at any time.
You can pick up seasickness tablets here too (thank me later, Mum).
As for accommodation, we stayed in a Deluxe Verandah Stateroom, which had fantastic sea views and felt spacious and airy.
Staff are happy to set up the fold-down bunk beds each evening for kids.
While you are unlikely to need it after the filling meals, there is also 24-hour complimentary room service on all Disney cruises.
I had worried that this trip would be set up completely for children but with its classy decor, amazing restaurants and spa, there is something for everyone.
The Disney Magic pays homage to the grand era of ocean liners, with art deco and art nouveau themes featuring touches of classic Disney on each of her ten decks.
With so much going on, it was easy to forget that we were going to be exploring Norway as well.
With four port stops to look forward to — Stavanger, Alesund, Geiranger and Bergen — the week flew by.
We enjoyed an activity at each port, from mountain tours to a thrilling RIB boat ride.
Again, these were expertly organised and gave us a real insight into what Norway had to offer.
But while the trips and service are exceptional, it’s still Mickey and company who are the real draw.
That is no more obvious than when watching one of the original Disney Broadway-style musicals, including a new Frozen scene in Disney Dreams, the brand-new Frozen deck party, plus the latest Disney digital movies.
We went to every evening show and I have to say they rivalled anything you would see in the West End, all the more impressive when you consider these guys are performing on a moving ship.
By the end of our week I had not just reaffirmed my love for Disney but I had fallen for both Norway and cruises too.
In fact, when it was finally time to go home, it was hard to Let It Go.