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In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the magical world of Disney characters and focusing on characters whose names start with the letter “A”.

From the classic Disney princesses to the lovable animal companions, there are plenty of characters to discover and rediscover.

So, whether you’re a die-hard Disney cruise fan or simply looking for ideas for a costume party, join us as we dive into the enchanting world of Disney characters that start with “A”

Disney Characters That Start With The Letter A

Abigail from The Fox and the Hound

Abigail is a Disney character that starts with A in the animated movie The Fox and Hound. She is a milking cow belonging to Widow Tweed.

Abu from Aladdin

Abu is a monkey who is friends with Aladdin in the 1992 movie. At the start of the film, Abu and Aladdin live on the streets, where Abu has perfected the art of stealing from street merchants. 

Acer from Cars 2

Acer is a 1975 AMC Pacer car that stars in the animated movie Cars 2. He works for Professor Z and helps him disrupt the World Grand Prix.

Prince Achmed from Aladdin

Prince Achmed was one of the nobles who visited the palace in the hope of marrying Princess Jasmine. He was told to buy some manners by Aladdin before being rejected by Jasmine and the Sultan. 

Adella, Alana, Andrina, Aquata, Arista, Attina from The Little Mermaid

Let’s group these six Disney characters starting with A together since they are the older sisters of the Little Mermaid princess Ariel. They are the first ones to work out that she is in love with Prince Eric, and later, they celebrate together when Ariel and Eric get married. 

Agnarr from Frozen

Agnar is the King of Arendelle and the father of Elsa and Anna. He was concerned about Elsa’s magic powers and took her to the Trolls after she accidentally hurt Anna. He then kept Elsa locked in the castle and tried to help her control her magic. 

Al from Toy Story 2

Al is a greedy toy collector who wants to sell a complete set of toys, including Woody along with Bullseye, Jessie, and Stinky Pete. He plans to send them to a museum in Japan.

Aladdin from Aladdin

Aladdin is a poor but kind-hearted street thief who falls in love with Princess Jasmine. He finds a magic lamp with a Genie that can grant him three wishes – but the Genie cannot make Jasmine fall in love with him. 

Alberto from Luca

Alberto is a sea monster that lives on an Italian island in the animated movie Luca. He meets Luca and helps him enter the Portorosso Cup so that they can buy a Vespa and travel the world together.

Alice from Alice in Wonderland

Alice is a young girl who follows a white rabbit and finds herself in Wonderland. She meets many strange and fantastic people as she tries to find her way home. She attends an un-birthday tea party and avoids being beheaded by the Queen of Hearts.

Alisha Hawthorne from Lightyear

Alisha is Buzz Lightyear’s commanding officer and best friend in the 2022 movie Lightyear. She captains a ship called the Turnip, which crashes on an unknown planet and is left stranded for years. 

Alistair Krei from Big Hero 6

Alistair Krei is the rich and ambitious CEO of Krei Tech in Big Hero 6. He tries to buy Hiro’s microbots at the science show, but Robert stops this from happening. 

Alan-a-Dale from Robin Hood

Alan-a-Dale is a rooster who is one of Robin Hood’s merry men in the animated version of Robin Hood. He is a singing minstrel who lives in Nottingham and acts as the narrator for the story. 

Alma Madrigal from Encanto

Alma is the matriarch of the Madrigal family in the animated movie Encanto. She created the source of magic that passes to her family. She encourages her children and grandchildren to use their gifts for the benefit of all.

Anastasia from Cinderella

Anastasia Tremaine is one of Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters. She destroys Cinderella’s homemade dress before the ball, and later, she tries and fails to fit the glass slipper.

Anchor from Finding Nemo

Anchor is a hammerhead shark who Marlin and Dory meet on their search for Nemo. He is a pacifist shark who refuses to eat fish and narrowly escapes when an underwater mine explodes. 

Andy from Toy Story

Andy is the boy who owns the toys in Toy Story. His favorites are Woody and Buzz but all the toys love him and want to make him happy. When Andy grows older, they have to adjust to life with him playing with them less often. 

Anger from Inside Out

Anger is Riley’s red angry emotion in the movie Inside Out. He has a hot temper,  is very controlling, and always thinks that he knows best.

Anna from Frozen

Anna is one of the most loved Disney characters beginning with A. She is a princess of Arendelle and Elsa’s younger sister in the animated movie Frozen.  She becomes estranged from her sister when they are young after Elsa accidentally hurts her with magic. 

Antonio Madrigal from Encanto

Antonia is the youngest of the magical Madrigal family in the animated movie Encanto. He is shown discovering his gift of talking to animals.  He is one of the few members of the family who is respectful of his cousin Mirabel, who has no magical gift.

Apollo from Hercules

Apollo is one of the Olympian gods who is sent to find Hercules when he gets kidnapped from Mount Olympus. Apollo fails in this quest and is later rescued from imprisonment by Hercules himself.

Archimedes from The Sword in the Stone

Archimedes is an owl who is kept by Merlin in the animated movie The Sword in the Stone. He can talk and often reminds Merlin of things that he has forgotten. He has a fear of the witch Madam Mim.

Archimedes Q. Porter from Tarzan

Archimedes is an English scientist who travels to Africa to study gorillas in the movie Tarzan. He travels with his daughter Jane, and he is supportive when she falls in love with Tarzan.

Arianna from Tangled

Arianna is the Queen of Corona and Rapunzel’s mother in the animated film Tangled. She took a healing draft while pregnant which gives Rapunzel special healing powers. This leads to her kidnapping and imprisonment in a tower.

Ariel from The Little Mermaid

Ariel is the youngest daughter of King Triton and the main character in The Little Mermaid. Ariel is obsessed with the human world, and makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula, trading her voice for legs. 

Arlo from The Good Dinosaur

Arlo is the youngest member of an Apatosaurus family who is afraid of everything. He falls into a river and must brave the wilderness to find his way back home.

Art from Monsters University

Art is one of the least well-known Disney Pixar characters that start with A. He is a furry purple monster who attends Monsters University where he takes part in the Scare Games with Mike and Sully.

Arthur from The Sword in the Stone

Arthur is an orphan who becomes the apprentice of the wizard Merlin in the animated movie The Sword in the Stone. He is able to pull the sword from the stone, which reveals that he is actually Arthur Pendragon, the true heir to the throne of England.

Asha from Wish

Asha is a 17-year-old girl who helps the citizens of the Kingdom of Rosas to have their wishes fulfilled despite the controlling power of King Magnifico. She’s the heroine of the movie a new major Disney character beginning with A.

Atta from A Bug’s Life

Atta is a Disney Pixar character beginning with A who is the princess of the ant colony in the film A Bug’s Life. She is nervous about taking over from her mother as queen but grows more confident thanks to her friendship with Flik.

Audrey Ramirez from Atlantis

Audrey Ramirez is the chief mechanic on an expedition to discover the lost continent of Atlantis. Eventually, she turns on the captain of the ship when she discovers that he plans to destroy the people of Atlantis for his own personal gain. 

Audrey from Home on the Range

Audrey is a Disney character that begins with the letter A in Home on the Range. She is a  nervous red hen who lives at Little Patch of Heaven farm. She is prone to panicking easily and often lays an egg when she does so. She assists the cows in their capture of Alameda Slim the cattle rustler. 

Augustin Madrigal from Encanto

Augustin is the father of Isabela, Luisa, and Mirabel in the animated musical, Encanto. He does not have any magic powers and is rather accident-prone. Fortunately for him, he is married to Julieta who has the gift of healing. 

Aurora from Sleeping Beauty

Princess Aurora is the unfortunate child who is cursed to die in the future on her christening day by the evil Maleficent. Luckily, the three good fairies are able to alter the curse so that she only falls into a deep sleep when she pricks her finger on a spinning wheel. She must wait for true love’s kiss to wake her. 

Auto from WALL-E

Auto is a Disney Pixar character that begins with A. He is a robot built by the Buy N Large Corporation who appears in the movie Wall-E. He is programmed to follow a 700-year-old rule not to let anyone return to Earth. 

More in this series:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

There are some amazing crew stories on the internet about their time working on cruise ships, including lots of very funny tales about their time on board.

But there are clearly some nightmare scenarios as well, including some where the passengers have absolutely no idea anything is even going wrong!

I’ve picked out 11 of the best nightmare stories from cruise ship workers – how would you have reacted during these incidents?

A Silent Tragedy

A passenger tragically passed away in a hot tub during the first night out of port. A crew member recounted that for hours, the man’s demise went unnoticed as he remained propped up, with his sunglasses concealing the situation. During this time, other passengers joined the hot tub, mistaking his lack of interaction for antisocial behaviour.

The grim reality was only discovered by the crew when they came to close the pool area for the night. The body was discreetly moved to the ship’s morgue.

Remarkably, aside from the deceased’s family, none of the other passengers was made aware of the incident, preserving the tranquillity of the voyage for the rest.

From Redditor Wolfgang7990

Bullet Scare

During a routine voyage, an unexpected and alarming incident occurred when a bullet was fired from the shore at the ship’s navigation bridge. The bullet ricocheted off the bridge and struck a crew worker’s hand, causing no serious injury but leaving her understandably shaken. She subsequently took a few weeks off to recover from the traumatic experience.

While the ship awaited the arrival of local police to investigate and record statements, the guests were informed of a delay in departure under the pretence of taking on fresh water. Remarkably, this harrowing event remained a well-kept secret, never reaching the ears of the guests or the public.

From Redditor ElGofre

The Unplanned Swim Home

On a cruise near Australia, a crew member hailing from a nearby Pacific island made a dramatic exit. As the ship sailed away from his homeland, he chose that moment to resign, leaping overboard in an attempt to swim home.

However, the ship was already about a mile away from the island, turning his bold endeavour into a risky situation. The crew member was eventually rescued.

Blaming a Rogue Wave

A bizarre rescue unfolded off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico, when a passenger from one cruise line was found floating in the open ocean by a ship from another line. Astonishingly, the man was discovered alive and unharmed.

Upon reviewing security footage, it was revealed that the man, intoxicated and dancing alone on Deck 5 in the middle of the night, performed a running jump off a lifeboat into the sea, leaving his phone behind.

His drunken state seemingly protected him from injury upon hitting the water. He was subsequently rescued by the passing cruise ship.

Adding to the oddity, his family, travelling on the same ship but in a different room, was unaware of his absence. The man later claimed to the news that he was pushed off the ship by a rogue wave, a statement met with scepticism given that such a wave would need to be over 40 feet tall to reach Deck 5. Possible, but the security footage undermined his story.

From Redditor too-tsunami

Fake Terror Threats At Sea

Aboard the Legend of the Seas, a bizarre incident occurred one morning. The staff, accustomed to typical onboard dramas like brawls or passenger liaisons, were summoned unexpectedly by their manager while they were enjoying some ‘relaxing’ time after their shift.

They learned of a terrorist threat specifically targeting Americans on the ship, originating from a note found in the toilets. The situation escalated with the FBI and their dogs boarding, receiving an unusual welcome with applause from the crew and passengers.

The plot took a surreal turn when the perpetrator was revealed to be a 23-year-old pregnant woman, desperate to reunite with her boyfriend, who had recently been released from jail. Her identity was uncovered through a matching note found in her room.

In a strange twist, her family chose to remain onboard for the remainder of the cruise. Meanwhile, her boyfriend, interviewed on CNN, disassociated from her.

Amidst this chaos, the crew was instructed to open the shops to distract passengers. This led to complaints from guests eager to disembark in Hawaii to visit a volcano, adding to the surreal atmosphere of the ordeal.

From Redditor Lazeniabeach

Stormy Debut

In his first weekend on his maiden voyage, a crew member faced the wrath of Storm Katie off the British coast in 2016, enduring winds over 90mph/145kmph.

Working in the onboard stores, he witnessed significant stock loss, including shattered Swarovski crystal sculptures, as the ship rolled violently. Navigation was challenging due to the ship’s constant list, and routine activities were upended.

Adding to the turmoil, a recent norovirus outbreak had escalated to a “red level” hygiene alert, necessitating strict sanitisation protocols and disrupting normal operations. Despite the chaos and discomfort, there were no serious injuries or damage to the ship.

After enduring this ordeal for several days, the weather cleared, and the alert was lifted. The crew celebrated their resilience with an exceptionally memorable party.

From Redditor ElGofre

From Redditor Puzzleheaded_Job835

Inebriated Leap

During a crew member’s tenure on a cruise ship, a memorable incident unfolded when a guest, cut off from the bar for excessive drinking, caused a scene. 

Escorted by security to his cabin, he redirected his anger towards his wife, who promptly locked him out on the balcony. In a rash decision, the man jumped off the balcony but fortuitously landed on a lifeboat decks below. 

Miraculously unharmed, likely due to his intoxicated state, he was disembarked at the next port. His wife chose to continue her cruise solo, a decision that seemed quite reasonable under the circumstances.

From Redditor bestbet33

Shortcut Gone Wrong

Once, a drunk passenger thought that using the gangway between the ship and the dock was going to be too slow a process, so he thought it would be easier just to jump from the ship.

He didn’t make it, falling between the ship and the dock. Thankfully, he escaped without injury.

From Redditor Puzzleheaded_Job835

The Great Toilet Paper Shuffle

On the second day of a 14-day voyage to Antarctica, disaster struck in the form of a burst water pipe in a storeroom, drenching the entire supply of spare toilet paper.

Faced with a potential crisis, the cabin stewards embarked on a stealthy mission. They meticulously rotated toilet paper rolls between cabins with lower and higher usage, carefully managing the limited resource.

Remarkably, this operation was so discreet that none of the guests noticed the shortage. As a result of this close call, toilet paper storage was reorganised, with supplies now strategically hidden in each cabin, rather than in a central location.

From Redditor myjobisawesome

Secret Fires

Over a span of 2.5 years on a cruise ship, the crew confronted three major fires, all breaking out in areas designated for the crew. Each time, these emergencies were swiftly and effectively handled by the ship’s highly trained fire team. The passengers remained oblivious to the true nature of these incidents, only noticing the absence of their waiters during dinner service.

This scenario underscores the extensive training that cruise ship crew members undergo to manage such critical situations. Unbeknownst to the passengers, their waiter wasn’t just serving meals but was also part of the team that played a crucial role in safeguarding the entire ship.

From Redditor wanderinggal

DJ Gone Rogue

An incident aboard a Carnival cruise ship, narrated by cruise director Big Sexy Josh, now a Carnival travel agent, involved a DJ who, under the influence of alcohol, made a reckless decision.

At around 3 am, the DJ accessed the ship’s intercom system and announced an abandon ship order. This ill-advised action resulted in utter chaos and panic among the passengers and crew.

The aftermath of this pandemonium led to a significant change in the ship’s protocol, with stricter limitations being placed on who could access the intercom system.

From Redditor tortuga_tortuga

Final Word

It’s a good thing that most cruises go smoothly, right? Because these stories sound horrendous – I’m glad they are rare.

I’ve stuck to cruise ship stories from workers, but there were loads from cruise guests as well. Have you ever experienced a nightmare cruise, or had something shocking happen during your sailing? Leave your tale in the comments!

Related Posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

MSC Cruises has 22 ships currently in service in 2024 following the addition of the newest ship, MSC Euribia.

With so many ships, it can be tricky to know which one to choose. When you see a particular cruise advertised, it’s good to know if it’s on one of the newer, bigger ships or an older, smaller one. This can help you to work out if the cruise you want to book is good value for money.

Even regular cruisers can get mixed up about which ship is which, so I’ve created this handy guide to MSC Cruises ships, with tables to order the MSC ships by size, year and class.

MSC Ships By Size

The following table shows MSC cruise ships by size, ordered from largest to smallest:

Gross tonnage is a measurement of the overall internal volume of a ship. It’s one of the best ways to measure the size of a cruise ship.

The passenger number is based on how many passengers each cruise ship can accommodate at maximum occupancy. That would mean that all the extra beds are in use.

In reality, ships don’t cruise at maximum occupancy because sometimes you will have just two people in a cabin and so they won’t use the sofa bed or Pullman beds.

How Big Are MSC Cruise Ships?

MSC Cruises’ ships range in size from 248 metres long to 333 metres long. Each ship can accommodate between 2,520 and 6,762 passengers over 13 to 21 decks.

Compared to other mainstream cruise lines, MSC Cruises’ ships are quite average in size, with some mega-ships, some large ships and a few medium-sized ships.

MSC Cruises has no small ships. However, in 2023, the MSC Group launched a new cruise line called Explora Journeys. This features only small, luxury ships, the first of which was Explora I.

Which MSC Cruises Ship Is the Biggest?

The biggest MSC Cruises ship is MSC World Europa, which launched in November 2022. This World-class mega-ship can accommodate up to 6,762 guests with 21 decks.

MSC World Europa was used as a World Cup Cruise Ship Hotel in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Yacht Club area of the ship provided accommodation for the family members of the players while the rest of the ship offered luxury accommodation for fans.

MSC World Europa is one of the top-10 biggest cruise ships in the world, behind Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships and the newer Icon Class. MSC World Europa is only around 5% smaller than the Oasis-class ships. However the rest of the MSC fleet is more aligned with other cruise ship sizes, not quite being the biggest.

Prior to the launch of MSC World Europa, the biggest MSC cruise ship title was a tie between MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa.

These virtually identical sister ships are 331 metres long and can accommodate up to 6,334 passengers. They each have 19 decks, 15 of which are accessible to passengers.

Are Bigger Cruise Ships Better?

Which size of ship is the best is a matter of personal preference and each has its advantages. For some people, bigger is always better, whereas other people will only choose to cruise on small or medium-sized ships.

Bigger ships tend to be newer and have more features and attractions on board, this can also mean that cruise tickets cost more.

Smaller ships have their advantages in that they tend to offer more port-intensive itineraries as they can access some ports which larger ships cannot.

MSC Ships By Year

The following table shows MSC Cruises ships from newest to oldest…

Which Is the Newest MSC Cruises Ship?

The newest MSC Cruises ship currently in service is MSC Euribia, which launched in 2023. She’s not the biggest ship in the fleet, but instead focuses on being a super-stylish cruise option packed with innovative technology.

Future MSC Cruises ships

In 2025, we can expect to see a sister-ship to MSC World Europa with the name of MSC World America. Third and fourth World-class ships will follow in 2026 and 2027.

MSC Ships By Class

In the MSC Cruises fleet, the ships are grouped into classes. Each ship in a class is very similar, with a few small differences on board.

The following table shows MSC Cruises ships grouped by class…

Seaside EVO Class

MSC Cruises had a new class of ship for 2021, the Seaside EVO-class. Beginning with the launch of MSC Seashore in August 2021, Seaside EVO-class ships are slightly larger than Seaside-class ships.

Ultra Luxury Class

In the spring of 2023, MSC launched the first of a new class of small, ultra-luxury cruise ships. These six new ships, built over five years, will be the smallest in the fleet at around a third the size of MSC Grandiosa. These aren’t part of the MSC Cruises fleet, instead, they fall under a new sister brand called Explora Journeys.

MSC’s Ultra Luxury Class ships will be aimed at guests who enjoy the MSC Yacht Club, offering a premium experience for wealthy guests who want the best of the best. They will be named Explora I to Explora VI.

To Conclude

MSC Cruises has ships of various sizes, with the largest ships being almost three times the size of the smallest ones in terms of volume (gross tonnage). As with all cruise lines, ships have got bigger over the years and the newest ships tend to be larger.

If you prefer smaller, more intimate ships, then look out for the MSC Group’s new ultra-luxury ships in the Explora Journeys brand.

Related Posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

A range of dates have been released for trains from Paris to Barcelona for summer 2024, offering cruise guests from the UK another way of reaching the cruise port if sailing from the popular Spanish port.

While most guests cruising from Barcelona will prefer the shorter flight journey, there are now several options for getting to Barcelona via train, with the journey achievable in a single day.

It’s a fantastic option for anyone who has a fear of flying or who would rather avoid the airport queues and luggage restrictions.

As highlighted by Mark Smith from The Man in Seat 61, the new departure options by French Railways include early-morning departures, so that guests could get an overnight train to Paris from London, board the next train in Paris and reach Barcelona in time to board their cruise ship.

The total journey time tends to be around 10.5 hours from London to Barcelona, so you’ll either need to do the journey in a single day and then book a Barcelona hotel for the night before you cruise, or you could overnight from London to Paris and then be in Barcelona by around 1pm.

There are several advantages to cruising from Barcelona instead of choosing a sailing from the UK – you get a wider choice of ships, including some of the largest ships in the world (Oasis of the Seas is based here in summer 2024, with Allure of the Seas scheduled for the port in 2025).

Plus, you’re already right at the heart of the Mediterranean, so there’s no time spent cruising the choppy Bay of Biscay in order to reach the warmer climates of this sparkling sea.

Taking the train will typically mean higher costs – expect to pay around £250 for a one-way fare – so it’s not something for everyone.

However, if you are really averse to flying but you are desperate to enjoy the Mediterranean or one of the ships sailing from the port, the train is a viable option – and it’s a lot more relaxing and scenic too!

Check out Rail Europe if you want to look at the options for booking a train from London to Barcelona for your cruise.

Related Posts

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

I never expected to be overwhelmed by a ship but after months of planning for this great adventure, I got a lump in my throat as we drove up the harbour toward the magnificent MSC World Europa!

As a first-time cruiser, I think we picked a rather ambitious journey, travelling with my son of 17 and three other family members in their late 60s. We had a broad range of needs and expectations.

Departing on the 9 February we heading off with a sense of adventure, a few great tips from the Cruise Mummy website and a decent amount of anxiety!

My story is one of a few ups and downs, but in general, some very smooth sailing, rather like the beautiful Persian Gulf we were about to embark upon.

The Journey to Qatar

We flew from Manchester to Qatar – approx 7 hours flying time. As we booked the cruise as a package with MSC, it meant that they block book the seats in relation to passengers booked on the cruise, in our case 44 people.

This would be fine but there was no consideration to the ‘groups’ that were travelling together which resulted in us all being split up despite arriving at the airport more than three hours before!

On arrival into Doha, the transfer time to the ship was less than half an hour and the views from the short transfer excite you to get stuck into the dazzling Middle Eastern cities.

How they keep the sidewalks and sky scrapers glistening every day is quite a feat and was quite consistent on our trip. It may be a dessert but it shines like a new penny!

Embarkation

As we were all so green around the gills regards cruising I was curious as to how the ship gets so many passengers on and off, how they deal with this level of people is really impressive. At check-in, check-out and each port there were hardly any queues and they operate a really fluid system.

I have never stood beside a cruise ship before and each time we got on and off each time I was in awe as to how they craft these things, it just went on and on!

We met several seasoned cruisers and the word is that this is one of the biggest that most people have travelled on. I believe that they host 5,000 passengers as well as 2,000 staff.

On arrival, we were directed to one of the buffet restaurants located on deck 18. After a glass of wine and an overloaded plate (the first of many!) we were truly fed and watered and ready to head out to see what all the fuss was about.

I can honestly say that I felt like a kid in a sweet shop, we didn’t know where to start so we set off exploring, eager to see what was around the next corner.

What Was Included

Our cabin was on deck 11. We took the Fantastica package which means that our cabins were linked together.

The other benefits of this are that we were able to pre-book our cabins (unlike the airline) our dinner sitting could be pre-selected and we were able to sit together.

Suggested read: MSC Cruises Cabins to Avoid

Our cabins had a balcony with a sea view and we also had the Premium Drinks package. The room was plenty big enough for the three of us, the beds were comfortable and it was cleaned very well.

These may sound like small gripes but the TV was dreadful, you couldn’t even get Sky News and you can get there everywhere! Plus, despite the multiple choices of places to get a drink, we missed having a kettle in the room.

My mum doesn’t drink so it was initially it was a tad frustrating that we had to get her a drink package – if one upgraded then all had to.

Tea and coffee is complimentary but cappuccinos or soft drinks aren’t. As a guideline, a gin and tonic would cost 10 euros and a bottle of wine at dinner approx 40 euros.

There was no limit to the number of drinks we had in a day so technically you can drink as soon as the bar opens until the last one closes. We never tried this of course but it felt good to know we weren’t on a quota!

On that package, you can drink in any of the bars including the Champagne bar. Any drink 13 euros and under is included, if the drinks are over then you pay the difference.

Suggested read: MSC Cruises Drinks Menus with Prices

The bars are stunning, think high-end Manchester lounge bars, many of the bars have entertainment each night. They even brew their own beer on board and showcase this as ‘Masters of the Sea’.

For non-drinkers, there is a stunning ‘Tea Saloon’ as well as the ‘Coffee Emporium’.

The Food

You can not possibly go hungry on board. The buffet restaurants open at 6 am and other than a very short turn around they open until 2 am in some instances.

We took breakfast at Hexagon restaurant which is one of the complimentary restaurants. This is the only one that opens for breakfast and you can have a sit-down four-course breakfast, avoiding the hustle and bustle of the buffet before your first brew!

For our evening meal, we were allocated to La Foglia, another of the complimentary restaurants. You are allocated to your restaurant and will be on that table for the week. Our waiters were fab and looked after us very much.

Throughout the day there is an abundance of pizza, burgers, hot dogs, cookies and on and on! There are a number of places that you can get these from. The Deck 18 pool bar serves food from midday until late.

The Pool Decks

Around the ship are plenty of pools and hot tubs, dotted around so the whole upper decks are available for sunbathing.

On sea days you need to get up and find a spot early doors as the sun beds go quite quickly. If it’s too hot then there is a fantastic indoor area pool area that also has entertainment like ping pong and fuss ball.

The water park is great and the highlight for kids on the sea day. There are four slides and they are not too adventurous and not too boring!

The Facilities on Board

Around the ship, there are large interactive screens where you check daily activities and you can book your shows or excursions. These are basically large versions of the MSC 4 ME app.

This app works best onboard, I couldn’t get it to work before I travelled but as soon as we checked in it worked fabulously. It was really clear and up to date with any additional charges, such as excisions or arcade games that you bought. You were able to check out using this app also which made disembarking really straightforward and we had no unexpected charges.

The lift system is awesome, this may sound like an odd comment but there were 10 lifts and when you call a lift it guides you to the quickest arriving cab so there were not many queues and you got up and down really efficiently. I don’t think we realised how awesome this system in until you speak to other passengers – it was slick!

On board things are expensive like the F1 simulator and games at the arcade. The bridge and control room tour was 87 euros each! The internet is probably not worth the price.

Excursions

There are a good choice of excursions and they know the hot spots so to make sure you maximise your time these are good options.

We took the hop on hop off bus tours and we loved them, they did the trick and we feel like we saw a lot.

The Verdict

Our first cruise was marvellous. The food, drink, engineering, attention to detail and the decor all score top points!

The ship sails to the Med in the summer as it’s too hot to cruise in the Middle East then.

Would I go on a cruise again? Yes, when I have managed to de-cruise my body from this one!

A week on the ship, a lifetime on the hips 🙂

Lyndsy x

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Welcome to our blog post where we’ll be delving into the wonderful world of Disney characters that you may or may not see on your next Disney cruise.

This time, we’re going to focus on characters whose names begin with the letter “M”. Of course, you’ll see Mickey and Minnie Mouse – but who else is there?

With a wide range of characters from the beloved Disney and Pixar movies, books and TV shows, we’re sure you’ll find some old favourites and maybe even some new ones.

From the daring adventurers to the adorable sidekicks, there’s no shortage of characters to explore. So whether you’re a Disney aficionado or simply searching for inspiration for your next costume party, come along with us as we embark on a journey into the mesmerizing world of Disney characters that start with “M”.

Disney Characters That Start With The Letter M

Young MacGuffin from Brave

Young MacGuffin is one of the sons of local chiefs who visit the castle hoping to marry young Princess Merida in the Disney Pixar movie Brave. He is kind but speaks in an accent that most people cannot understand. 

Machiavelli from Luca

Machiavelli is a pet cat owned by Guilia in the movie Luca. He was the first one to realize that Luca and Alberto are sea monsters.

Lord Macintosh from Brave

Lord Macintosh is a Scottish noble who wants his son to marry Merida. He almost always wears his blue war paint and is always ready for battle (or so he claims)

Mack from Cars

Mack is a Disney character that starts with M in the animated movie Cars.  He is a race car transporter who is Lightning McQueen’s best friend.

Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland

The Mad Hatter is one of the characters in Alice in Wonderland. Alice meets him when he throws a tea party with March Hare and Dormouse. Alice is allowed to join when they realise it is her unbirthday too. 

Major from Cinderella

Major is a horse given to Cinderella by her father. Major is transformed into the coachman of Cinderella’s magical coach by the Fairy Godmother. 

Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty

Maleficent is one of the most famous evil Disney characters starting with M. She is a fairy that curses the baby Aurora so that she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die before her 16th birthday.

Manny from A Bug’s Life

Manny is a Disney Pixar character that starts with M. He is a praying mantis who works at the insect circus as a magician in the movie A Bug’s Life. Manny convinces Flik to return to the ant colony and help save the Queen.

March Hare from Alice in Wonderland

The March Hare is one of the characters that Alice meets in Wonderland. Alice has a tea party with the March Hare to celebrate their unbirthdays.

Marian from Robin Hood

Maid Marian falls in love with the outlaw Robin Hood after she is saved by him. She helps Robin and his merry men rise up against Prince John. 

Marie from The Aristocats

Marie is one of three kittens that the cat Duchess has in the movie The Aristocats. She is a talented musician like her mother.

Marlin from Finding Nemo

Marlin is a clownfish who is Nemo’s father in the movie Finding Nemo. He is an overprotective and anxious dad who travels across the ocean to find his son. 

Marshmallow from Frozen

Marshmallow is a snow monster created by Elsa in the movie Frozen. Elsa summons the monster to protect her ice palace and keep her sister Anna and other unwanted guests out. 

Mary from WALL-E

Mary is a human passenger on the Axiom, a huge spaceship that has flown for 700 years following the near destruction of Earth. She is a Disney Pixar character starting with M in the movie Wall-E.

Mary from Wreck-it Ralph

Mary is one of the Nicelanders in the Fix-it Felix game that features in the movie Wreck-it Ralph. She makes a cake for Felix. There aren’t many Disney characters beginning with M that share a name – Disney likes to make each character unique – but there are two Marys.

Mater from Cars

Mater is the owner of Tow Mater Towing and Salvage in Radiator Springs in the movie Cars. He is one of the first locals to make friends with Lightning McQueen and teaches him useful racing skills like how to do Tractor Tipping and to drive backward.

Matthias from Frozen 2

General Mattias is a member of the Arendelle army who has been imprisoned in the Enchanted Forest for 34 years until Elsa and Anna arrive in the movie Frozen 2. 

Maui from Moana

Maui is a demigod in the animated movie Moana. He has the strength of a giant and a magical fish hook. He accidentally awakens a terrible darkness and reluctantly teams up with Moana to save the world. 

Maurice from Beauty and the Beast

Maurice is Belle’s father in the movie Beauty and the Beast. He works as an inventor in a village in France, where most people think he is eccentric. He accidentally finds the Beast’s castle and is imprisoned there.

McLeach from The Rescuers Down Under

McLeach is a poacher who kidnaps Cody in the animated movie The Rescuers Down Under. He realizes that the boy can tell him the location of the golden eagle Marahute, and plans to kill him once the bird is found. 

Meeko from Pocahontas

Meeko is a raccoon who is friends with Pocahontas. He eats a lot and loves the biscuits that John Smith carries with him.

Megara from Hercules

Megara is a mortal woman who is forced to serve as a minion of Hades due to a debt she owes. She is sent after Hercules as a femme fatale. His genuinely pure spirit starts to rub off on her.

Mei Lee from Turning Red

Mei Lee is a teenager who has the ability to turn into a giant red panda in response to strong emotions in the movie Turning Red.

Melpomene from Hercules

Melpomene is a Disney character beginning with M, who is a muse in the animated movie Hercules. She has long, curly hair and is the muse of tragedy. 

Merida from Brave

Merida is the princess of DunBroch in the Disney Pixar movie Brave. She is a free spirit who enjoys riding and shooting, rather than the courtly traditions that are expected of her. She accidentally turns her mother into a bear, and they must reform their bond to save her mother’s life.

Merlin from The Sword in the Stone

Merlin is a wise (but absent-minded) wizard who takes in a young boy named Arthur, who is heir to the English throne in the movie The Sword in the Stone.

Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty

Merryweather is one of the three good fairies in the animated classic Sleeping Beauty. She manages to change Maleficent’s curse from death to a sleep from which the princess can only be woken by love’s true kiss.

Michael from Peter Pan

Michael is the youngest of the three Darling children who travel to Neverland with Peter Pan. He is the first to start to forget about home while living in Neverland.

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse is by far the most iconic Disney character of them all. He first appeared in 1928 in “Steam Boat Willy”  and has starred in over 130 films since.

Miguel Rivera from Coco

Miguel Rivera is Coco’s great-grandson and an aspiring musician. He can’t follow his dream as music has been banned in the family since Coco disappeared. Miguel travels to the land of the dead to find him. 

Mike from Monsters, inc.

Mike Wazowski is one of the main characters in the Disney Pixar movie Monsters Inc. He is a round green monster with one eye who works as a scarer for Monsters Inc. Mike works with Sulley to protect the toddler ‘Boo’ and return her to her room. 

Ming Lee from Turning Red

Ming Lee is Mei Lin’s mother in the movie Turning Red. Like her daughter,  she has the ability to turn into a red panda and is very wary of her daughter changing as she had accidentally hurt her own mother while in panda form.

Minnie Mouse

Probably the second most famous Disney character that begins with M is Minnie Mouse. She was originally created to be Mickey Mouse’s girlfriend in 1928. Her personality has changed over the years from a no-nonsense foil to Mickey’s silliness to a sugary sweet character. 

Mirabel Madrigal from Encanto

Mirabel is the lead character in Encanto and is the only one in her family who doesn’t have a magical gift. She is treated harshly for this but when the family magic fades, Mirabel’s resourcefulness helps to restore the family magic.

Moana from Moana

Moana is the daughter of the village chief on a Polynesian island. She loves the sea and leaves her island in order to save it from dark forces. She teams up with the demi-god Maui to save the world.

Mowgli from The Jungle Book

Mowgli is the orphan boy who is raised as a man-cub in the jungle by a pack of wolves and the black panther Bagheera. He is taken to a man-village in order to save him from animals who want to eat him. 

Mufasa from The Lion King

Mufasa is the King of the Pride Lands and the father of Simba in The Lion King movie. He is powerful, kind and loved by his followers. His brother Scar is jealous of him and kills him in order to usurp his role as king. 

Mulan from Mulan

Mulan is a major Disney character string with M and the titular protagonist in Disney’s 1998 animated feature film, Mulan. She is a strong-willed and tenacious character who strives to uphold her family’s honor. 

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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You might be struggling to think of Disney characters with names beginning with the letter B, but when you consider all of the Disney and Pixar movies, TV shows and books, there are actually quite a lot!

I’ve listed them all here for you…

Disney Characters That Start With The Letter B

Bagheera from The Jungle Book

Bagheera is a panther that helps to look after the man-cub Mowgli in the Jungle Book. Bagheera is short-tempered and argues with Baloo but in the end they work together to take Mowgli safely to the village. 

Bailey from Finding Dory

Bailey is a Disney character that starts with B in Finding Dory. He is a beluga whale at the Marine Life Institute who helps Dory to find her parents and then escape into the ocean.

Baloo from The Jungle Book

Baloo is a sloth bear who becomes best friends with the Mowgli in the Jungle Book. He tries to teach Mowgli how to survive in the jungle but eventually takes him to live with humans in the man village. While it’s an older movie, he’s still one of the most iconic Disney characters beginning with B.

Bambi from Bambi

Bambi is one of the most famous Disney characters starting with B. Bambi is a young white-tailed deer who loses his mother before growing up to be the Great Prince.

Banzai from The Lion King

Banzai is one of the hyenas who help Scar to kill King Mufasa in The Lion King. Scar lets them live at Pride Rock but they eventually turn on him. 

Barbie from Toy Story 3

Barbie in Toy Story 3 is a fun-loving party girl who loves clothes and fashion, she initially falls for the villainous Ken, but ends up working with Andy’s toys to save the day. While you could argue she’s not one of the Disney names that start with B, since she’s a Mattel toy, her appearance in this movie means that she counts.

Bashful from Snow White

Bashful is one of the seven dwarves who look after Snow White when she hides from the evil queen. Bashful is quite shy and self-conscious and often blushes and hides behind his beard when Snow White is around. 

Basil from The Great Mouse Detective          

Basil is The Great Mouse Detective. He is based upon Sherlock Holmes and must face his arch-nemesis Professor Ratigan to save the Queen.

Baymax from Big Hero 6

Baymax is a Disney character beginning with B who is part of the superhero team in Big Hero 6. He is a healthcare robot programmed to help people; he becomes Hiro’s best friend and gets reprogrammed with superpowers. 

Beast from Beauty and the Beast

Beast was a handsome young prince who was turned into a beast by an enchantress. To break the spell, he must love someone selflessly and earn their love in return.

Becky from Finding Dory

Becky is an easily confused, but helpful loon that Marlin and Nemo meet while trying to get into the Marine Life Institute. Becky helps rescue Dory and the other fish from a lorry and finds her own freedom.

Belle from Beauty and the Beast

Belle is the beautiful, kind, book-loving daughter of an inventor in a French village. She ends up imprisoned by the Beast in his castle, but she sees beyond his appearance, and they fall in love, breaking the curse. 

Bellwether from Zootopia

Bellwether is a sheep who works as assistant mayor in Zootopia. She seems sweet, but in reality, she is the mastermind behind a plan to get prey animals to rise up against predators. 

B.E.N. from Treasure Planet

B.E.N. is the Big Electronic Navigator that piloted Captain Flint’s spaceship before he was stranded on Treasure Planet and reprogrammed to destroy the planet.

Benjamin Clawhauser from Zootopia

Benjamin Clawhauser is a warm-hearted Cheetah who works at reception for the Zootopia police department. 

Berlioz from Aristocats

Berlioz is a grey furry kitten who is the youngest son of Duchess in the animated movie The Aristocats. . He is a talented musician who likes to show off by playing the piano. 

Bernard from The Rescuers

Bernard is a mouse who is a Disney character that begins with B in The Rescuers. He is a janitor who helps Miss Bianca in her adventures.

Bernie Kropp from The Incredibles

Bernie Kropp is a Disney Pixar character that starts with B. He is  Dash’s teacher in The Incredibles. Dash plays lots of pranks on his teacher until Bernie ends up thinking he has magic powers. 

Bianca from The Rescuers

Bianca is a brave and clever mouse in the animated movie The Rescuers. She works as the Hungarian Ambassador for the Rescue Aid Society and is given the task of finding Penny. 

Mr Big from Zootopia

Mr Big is an Arctic Shrew in the movie Zootopia. He is the leader of the Mafia and lives by a strict code of honor despite being ruthless.

Big Daddy from The Princess and the Frog

Big Daddy is a sugar baron who is one of the most powerful men in New Orleans in the movie The Princess and the Frog. He is good friends with Tiana’s mother, Eudora, and is a father figure for Tiana. 

Big Mama from The Fox and the Hound

Big Mama is an owl who befriends Tweed’s pet fox Tod in the animated movie The Fox and The Hound. 

She is surprised when Tod becomes friends with Copper (a dog) and warns him of the dangers of this friendship.

Bill from Alice in Wonderland

Bill is a Disney character that starts with the letter B in Alice in Wonderland. He is a lizard who works as a handyman and is asked to get rid of a monster from the rabbit’s house (it’s Alice). 

Bill Sykes from Oliver and Company

Bill Sykes is a criminal in Oliver and Company. He terrorizes Fagin after lending him some money, which forces Fagin to lean on Oliver to help him repay his debt.

Billy from Meet the Robinsons

Billy is the matriarch of the family in Meet the Robinsons. She spends her time controlling a full-sized model train around the Anderson Observatory and uses small trains to pass food around the dinner table.

Billy Bones from Treasure Planet

Billy Bones is a turtle-like humanoid salamander who pilots an alien pirate spaceship in the movie Treasure Planet. He warns Jimmy to be wary of the cyborg but Jimmy doesn’t understand the cryptic message.

Bing Bong from Inside Out

Bing Bong is a Disney Pixar character beginning with B. He is Riley’s imaginary friend who lives inside her mind alongside her emotions. As she grows older Bing Bong eventually fades from memory.

Bloat from Finding Nemo

Bloat is a porcupine pufferfish in the animated film Finding Nemo. Bloat lives in the fish tank at the dentist’s office. He is welcoming to new fish but blows up when he gets upset and needs the others to calm him down.  

Blue Fairy from Pinocchio

The Blue Fairy is the one who grants Geppetto’s wish and brings Pinocchio to life. She helps Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket on their adventures as they try to turn Pinocchio into a real boy.

Bob Parr from The Incredibles

Bob Parr is better known by his secret identity, Mr Incredible.  He is physically invulnerable and obsessed with saving the world (even doing it in secret without telling his family). He thinks that he can do it all on his own, which puts him, his family, and the world in danger.

Bogo from Zootopia

Chief Bogo is a Cape buffalo who is the head of the Zootopia police department. He is initially reluctant to have rabbit Judy as part of his team and tries to sabotage her work. 

Bolt from Bolt

Bolt is a white German Shepherd who is the star of his own TV show where he is a live-action superhero. Bolt believes that his powers are real but when he is separated from his owner Penny he must learn to survive as a normal dog.  

Bomb Voyage from The Incredibles

Bomb Voyage is a minor villain who is a Disney Pixar character beginning with B. His real name is Remy Bot Mot, but he gets his super villain name from his use of bombs in his crimes. 

Bonnie from Toy Story 4

Bonnie is a young girl who becomes the owner of most of Andy’s toys in Toy Story 4. She finds Woody at the daycare center where her mother works and Woody gets Andy to donate most of his old toys to Bonnie.

Boo from Monsters Inc.

Boo is a toddler who follows the monster Sully through her closet and into monster land. Mike and Sulley work to protect her and send her home. They also learn that laughter is more powerful than screams.  

Bruno Madrigal from Encanto

We don’t talk about Bruno who is the youngest child of Alma and Pedro. He has the gift of seeing the future. He foresees a disaster and leaves the family home becoming estranged from his family who no longer mention him.  

Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story

Buzz Lightyear is one of the best known Disney Pixar characters that begin with B. He is a space adventurer action figure who is given to Andy as a birthday present in the original Toy Story. He initially thinks he is a real spaceman rather than a toy but soon becomes firm friends with Woody and the other toys.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

The newest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet – Sun Princess – set sail on her maiden voyage this week to great fanfare.

The ship – the first of the brand-new Sphere Class for the cruise line – is without a doubt the most impressive and luxurious ship to have ever launched for this historic cruise line.

She is also the biggest ship ever built for Princess Cruises – she has a gross tonnage of 177,882 and a capacity for 4,300 guests.

However, she is actually the third ship in the cruise line’s history to have been named Sun Princess – the first sailed for the cruise line between 1974 and 1989, with the second cruising for Princess between 1995 and 2020.

Sun Princess is absolutely gorgeous and guests are going to love her. The architecture is unbelievable and the amenities on board are next level, especially the glass dome at the front of the ship which is incredibly stunning. Princess is evolving and looking more toward families and generational cruises, which I think is absolutely wonderful because more and more families are cruising together.

Monika Best, the most-travelled guest on the Sun Princess inaugural cruise, enjoying her 141st sailing with the cruise line!

There is much to love on this impressive new ship, including 30 exciting dining and bar venues, ranging from Spellbound by the Magic Castle (where magic and mixology combine) to The Butcher’s Block by Dario, a new pop-up restaurant serving speciality beef and steak.

The Princess Arena is the most advanced theatre of any Princess cruise ship, while at night guests can enjoy incredible Cirque Eloize performances in The Dome.

Park19 is the brand new family activity zone on the ship, which offers fun for every generation. Guests will love the scenic views from the Sea Breeze glider ride, while thrill-seekers can test themselves on Coastal Climb, the new climbing structure.

Of course, the cruise line also offers beautiful new accommodation options and an impressive two-storey Lotus Spa, perfect for relaxing, while there are over 20 new retail stores making their debut on the ship.

Cruises to both the Mediterranean and Caribbean are on sale for this impressive new cruise ship – so why not check it out?

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Virgin Voyages has announced that it has cancelled the entire Australia and Asia Pacific cruise season for ship Resilient Lady in 2024/25 due to the ongoing tensions in the Red Sea.

While several cruise lines have cancelled individual sailings or a small handful of cruise options, Virgin Voyages is the first to cancel an entire cruise season.

Now, once Resilient Lady completes her summer Mediterranean season, she will instead cross the Atlantic and cruise the Caribbean for the 2024/25 winter period.

The cruise line is still considering a return to the Australia and Asia Pacific region in future, once the repositioning sailings to reach that part of the world are safer.

Based on the regional and government advice we have received, we remain very concerned about potential escalations in the Red Sea over the next 12 months.

This significant and ongoing conflict puts unacceptable risks for safe passage through the region for our Sailors, crew and vessel. As a result, we have been left with no choice but to cancel our 2024/25 voyage season plans for Resilient Lady, impacting the late 2024 and early 2025 repositioning voyages between Europe and Australia  and a second sailing season in Australian waters.

Virgin Voyages statement

The cruise ship is currently in Australia and will depart on 27th March, making a journey to the Mediterranean via the revised route around the western coast of Africa.

Itineraries for the new Caribbean season haven’t yet been confirmed but will depart from San Juan in Puerto Rico, and it’s expected that sailings of between 7 and 11 nights will be made available.

Any guests who were booked onto the original winter 2024/25 cruises on the ship will be given the chance to transfer their booking to a new one, or receive a full refund. Details will be sent to guests or their travel agents.

These guests will also be given priority for bookings on future cruises around Australia and Asia Pacific once they become available again.

Related Posts

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me