Completing the Turner Movie Classics cruise,  we have nothing but good things to say about the sailing.  Onboard programming, specific to classic films, was well thought out and interesting.  Turner did a good job with that.  The ship and her facilities where all the events took place was simply stunning.  The cast and crew of Disney Magic saw to that.  Other passengers?  Could not have asked for a nicer bunch.   So let’s take a look back at the last five days when a full ship of movie fans make a little swing through the Caribbean, embracing their passion with like-minded cruise travelers.

The Turner Classic Movie cruise set sail for the fourth time in as many years on Disney Magic.   Loaded with a full ship of passionate movie fans sharing and watching films, those on board saw the actors and talent who made them, hearing stories from behind the scenes and enjoying special panels.

 

Sailing October 21-26 from Port Canaveral, Disney Magic took movie fans to Key West and Disney Cruise Line‘s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.  On board?  Along with movie stars and producers Richard Dreyfuss , Shirley Jones , Roger Corman, Tab Hunter, Ann Blyth,  Diane Baker andJames Karen, game show host Alex Trebek, producer-writer-actress Illeana Douglas, author and film noir expert Eddie Muller and film historian Bruce Goldstein of The Film Forum.

 

TCM’s Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz served as the official hosts for the star-studded cruise. Also featured, the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, which celebrated 20 years of reviving the art of silent film music. Back by popular demand were the Hot Sardines, a foot-stomping jazz band from New York that made their third  TCM Classic Cruise appearance.

 

This year’s voyage marked the second time the Turner Classic Movie cruise did it aboard the Disney Magic, the Disney Cruise Line ship that ranked #1 in the large ships category of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Poll. One of the most admired and recognizable ocean liners in the world, the Disney Magic underwent a complete renovation just prior to the December 2013 TCM Classic Cruise.

 

On the first day of the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) cruise, passengers boarded Disney Magic much like any other sailing. But on this full ship charter sailing from Port Canaveral was full of movie fans. Avid movie fans. They were here for the classic films, lectures, question and answer sessions with stars of the films and games. But they were also here to meet up with other like-minded cruise travelers, in a family reunion sort of way.

 

Around the ship was evidence that Turner Classic Movies has taken over Disney Magic. From banners and posters bearing TCM-related text and photos to dry erase boards for each cabin door, just to get the conversation started. But nowhere was it more apparent that this is a ship full of film fans than in the hallways, elevators and in dining venues where they gather. We did not need a sail away party to get that ball rolling; half those on board had been on a TCM Classic Movie cruise in the past.

 

On the way to Key West from Disney’s Castaway Cay, the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas, we hugged the coast of Florida most of the day on the Turner Classic Movies cruise.

 

Many on board spent the day watching classic films being showed on Disney Magic’s big screen while others attended some of over 15 different events during the day. Some used cell phones when our route allowed a signal and others prepared for a major event that evening.

 

Another festive evening, the Night of Noir, was tagged to encompass much of the film genre in the evenings activities, brought out passengers in period costume, or something like it.

 

When it was all said and done, cruise travelers on the TCM Classic Movie cruise got all they bargained for.  Stars, films, lectures and casual talks about films, their history and more.  I don’t know that they could have asked for much more.

Want To Know More About The Turner Classic Movies Cruise? Follow along, a variety of ways:

Right here on ChrisCruises for daily blog posts.  Catch up here:

• TCM Classic Movies Cruise Sails Today
• TCM Classic Movies Cruise Begins Much Like A Family Reunion
• Ten Reasons To Like The Turner Classic Movies Cruise
• TCM Cruise: A Chat With Stars, Film Noir And Fireworks
• TCM Classic Cruise:  Your Questions Answered

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