After years of adventure at sea—navigating pandemic protocols, changing roles, and sailing on three different ships—my fourth contract with Disney Cruise Line felt… oddly normal. I returned to the Disney Dream, the ship where my journey began in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. But this time, it wasn’t pixie dust and princesses—it was black truffle pasta, Tamagotchis, and printers affectionately known as Larry and Petunia.
Contract Log
Contract: 4
Year: 2022
Ship: Disney Dream
Countries Visited: United States – Bahamas
Life at Sea in 2022: The “New Normal” Post-Pandemic
Cruising was back, but life onboard still carried the marks of the pandemic:
- Face masks
- Social distancing dots on the floor
- Isolation cabins
Despite that, returning to the Disney Dream felt like a reunion—with both the ship and the people. One of the best parts of working as a Disney Cruise Line crew member is running into familiar faces no matter where you sail.
Birthday Magic (and Black Truffle Pasta)
I celebrated my birthday at sea with the best kind of magic: a surprise unicorn cupcake from my teammates and a dinner at Animator’s Palate, my absolute favorite onboard restaurant. I went for the black truffle pasta (no surprise there!) and stayed for the apple crumble rice pudding. Heaven.
What It’s Like to Be an Entertainment Integration Manager
This contract, I worked as the Entertainment Integration Manager, a role I loved. My focus was shifting our team toward a more tech-forward approach—less paper, more digital efficiency. I also ran the onboard Print Shop and became very attached to my printers:
- Larry (reliable but dramatic)
- Petunia (temperamental)
- Matilda (queen of paper jams)
Yes, they had names. Yes, they had personalities. Yes, they were part of the ship family.
The “Nassau Express” Routine
In 2022, the Disney Dream rotated between 3- and 4-night cruises to Nassau and Castaway Cay—an itinerary we lovingly dubbed the Nassau Express. It could get repetitive, but there was a comforting rhythm to it. And honestly? I never get tired of Castaway Cay. Ever.
One highlight? Docking next to the Disney Magic for a rare reunion with friends from another ship. We had a crew lunch in Nassau that felt like a big family get together.
Mental Health & Personal Growth
While this contract was lighter in chaos, it was heavier emotionally. My post-pandemic anxiety reached a high point and impacted some friendships. But it also forced growth—quiet, necessary, and sometimes uncomfortable. I’m proud of how far I’ve come since then.
Highlights of Disney Cruise Line Contract 4
- 🎂 Celebrated my birthday with a unicorn cupcake & black truffle pasta
- 🏝️ Lived the island dream on Castaway Cay
- 🎨 Taught an animation class onboard
- 🐚 Docked with the Disney Magic for a nostalgic crew lunch
- 🎢 Took a spontaneous trip to Magic Kingdom during the 50th anniversary
- 🍥 Discovered a cinnamon roll the size of my face
- 🌈 Stumbled upon the cutest umbrella street in Nassau
- 🧑💻 Worked with three chaotic printers (Larry, Petunia & Matilda)
- 🧸 Tried to raise Tamagotchis (and failed)
- 💫 Found joy in routine, tech upgrades, and quiet moments of magic
This contract didn’t have the intensity of a first contract, or chaos of ship transfers or the adrenaline of a post-pandemic relaunch—but it did have Tamagotchis, three temperamental printers, and a cinnamon roll the size of my face. It also had quiet moments of growth, a few emotional speed bumps, and a lot of magic tucked into the day-to-day routine. This contract on the Dream gave me exactly what I didn’t know I needed—growth, a lot of laughs, and best of all – black truffle pasta (did I mention that once or twice? Haha!)
Disclaimer: Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line I’ve worked for, so I can’t speak of the experience with other cruise lines. All opinions in this post are my own and not affiliated with Disney in any way.
🚢 More Ship Life Posts
Check out more of my contracts from life at sea:
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Jess at Sea 
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