Ep. 598 - First-Time Disney Cruiser in Europe: Alaina’s Family Sails the Disney Fantasy

DCL Duo Podcast: A Disney Cruise Line Fan Podcast

Brian Flock

Leisure, Places & Travel, Hobbies, Society & Culture

4.9 • 576 Ratings

🗓️ 22 November 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, we’re welcoming first-time cruiser Alaina to the show to share her family’s maiden voyage on Disney Cruise Line — a five-night sailing on the Disney Fantasy out of Southampton with ports in La Coruña and Bilbao. Alaina and her husband are lifelong Disney Parks fans, and with three kids in tow (including eight-year-old twin planners-in-training), they decided to take their love of Disney across the pond for their very first DCL experience. From carefully structured travel using airline miles to a pre-cruise stay in London and even a surprise Paddington Experience for her son, this trip was full of thoughtful planning and family magic. On board the Fantasy, Alaina and her family explored the ship top to bottom, enjoyed the youth clubs, midship detective agency, karaoke, and the shows in the Walt Disney Theatre. Her son Pierce makes a guest appearance to share his favorite moments, including the AquaDuck, Jack-Jack’s Diaper Dash, and his mission to save his spending money for a Nintendo Switch 2. We also cover: • How Alaina planned this trip using miles through her business, Molars and Miles • What surprised her most about ports in Spain • Tips for navigating European sailings with kids • Dining, stateroom setup for a family of five, and navigating late dining • Pixie dusting, magnets, WhatsApp groups, and more If you’re planning a first-time Disney Cruise Line sailing — especially in Europe — this is a perfect episode to help you prepare. Listen now and join the conversation! Help Support the Show: Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with My Path Unwinding Travel Join the waitlist for DCL Magazine and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store! Stay Connected with the DCL Duo Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group We’re Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | and Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12). Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned. #DisneyCruiseLine #DCL #DisneyFantasy #FirstTimeCruiser #FamilyCruise #EuropeCruise #SouthamptonCruise #SpainCruise #TravelWithKids #CruiseTips #DisneyCruiseReview #DCLDuo #DisneyTravel #FamilyTravel

Transcript

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0:00.0	Bluey and Australia.
0:00.7	Well, yeah, Bluey and Australia and New Zealand for sure, right?
0:03.2	I would have stood in line from the way, I think, actually.
0:05.2	Yeah, same.
0:06.2	Same.
0:06.7	I would have stood in line an hour for a more.
0:27.9	Welcome back, everybody, to this week's episode of the DCL Duo podcast brought to you by my Path Unwinding Travel.
0:29.9	And Sam, do your jingle.
0:30.6	Do your jingle.
0:32.3	Simply the best.
0:35.0	Better than all the rest. That's right.
0:35.6	It is review time here on the show now that Sam's got her jingle going.
0:38.6	I don't know if we've actually put out an episode yet that has that jingle. So we'll be soliciting. There's a lot of episodes coming with that jingle. We will be soliciting listener fee. We still gotta get through the early days of the jingle where it was just you humming something. I don't remember what. But here we go. All right. This review comes from Lucy in Tennessee,
0:55.1	or it's Lucy in TN.
0:57.0	So I'm going to or it's Lucy N TN.
0:57.0	So I'm going to assume that's Lucy in Tennessee who writes the go-to Disney Cruise podcast, amazing podcast,
1:03.0	when we booked our first cruise back in January, 2023 for March 2024. I was searching for anything and everything on Disney Cruise Line. I tried listening to a few
1:12.1	different DCL podcast, but none kept my attention quite like the DCL duo. The host and the guests
1:17.3	are entertaining and informative. The podcast is the best way to plan and get you excited for your
1:21.7	upcoming cruise. Well, there you go, Sam. You are the best way to get people excited for their
1:26.0	upcoming cruise, apparently. Oh, I love that. That makes me feel so good. Thank you. Thank you, Lucy, in maybe in Tennessee,
1:33.5	or in some place that is also TN. Yes, we don't know. We don't know. Yes, thank you for that review,
	...

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