DCL Duo Podcast: A Disney Cruise Line Fan Podcast

By Brian & SamSociety & Culture Leisure Places & Travel Hobbies

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DCL Duo Podcast: A Disney Cruise Line Fan Podcast episodes

August 04Ep. 684 - Was 7-Nights on the Destiny too Many? An Honest Take.
Nathan and Alicea from Adventures and Mousecapades just got back from a brand-new 7-Night Eastern Caribbean sailing on the Disney Destiny, hitting two ports the Destiny doesn't usually visit: St. Martin and San Juan. Nathan even crewed an actual 1980s America's Cup 12-meter racing yacht in St. Martin, no motors, no electric winches involved. We break down the whole week.
In this episode:
Why Nathan and Alicea picked the second 7-Night Eastern sailing over the more common Western itinerary, and what it took to snag two staterooms at their booking window
A full breakdown of the 12-meter America's Cup regatta excursion in St. Martin, including how crew roles get assigned and how these boats moor with zero motors
Their honest verdict on the Destiny's Grand Hall vs. the Treasure's, plus first reactions to the Marvel theming throughout the ship
A 500-year-old fort in San Juan, a stop at Casa Bacardi, and why Alicea started photographing the historical placards instead of reading them onboard
Their take on the Sanctum's signature drink, a new Kentucky bourbon-aged ale worth hunting down, and which drinks are actually worth the tasting slots
Which villain show, Hercules or Dr. Facilier, won the week, and the audience member who filmed anyway right after being told not to
"They host, quite frankly, one of my absolute favorite shore excursions ever." — Nathan, on St. Martin
Support the Show:
Ready to set sail? Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our show sponsor, We Do Travel Right — the crew that handles the planning, so you can focus on relaxing!
And don't forget to check out DCL Magazine — your ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line tips and tricks! Use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the DCL 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) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
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.
1 hr 27 min
August 02Ep. 683 - Live Bonus Show - A Disney Content Creator's Honest Take on Disney Cruise Line
Kevin — you might know him as @dadslovedisney — joins Sam and Brian LIVE for a wide-ranging conversation about Disney Cruise Line, his journey as a content creator, and his honest take on the Hyperspace Lounge after his most recent Disney Wish sailing. He also shares the story of how he proposed to his now-wife on a Disney cruise, and it's a genuinely sweet one.
In this episode:
Kevin's Disney Cruise Line origin story, including his cabin proposal
His honest take on the Hyperspace Lounge aboard the Disney Wish
Building @dadslovedisney and lessons learned as a content creator
A new game — Sail It, Skip It, Sink It — put to the test with Kevin
Kevin's favorite DCL dad moments
The latest Disney Cruise Line news
Support the Show:

Book your next Disney cruise with our fabulous show sponsor We Do Travel Right. Tell them the DCL Duo sent you!
Subscribe today to DCL Magazine — use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off
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), Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
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.
1 hr 11 min
July 30Ep. 682 - Live Bonus Show - Is ABD's South Africa Trip the Ultimate Disney Adventure — or a Logistics Marathon?
Ashley's family turned a corner on a South Africa game drive and came face to face with an angry male rhino — who chased their Jeep for 15 minutes straight. That's one of many stories from their Adventures by Disney safari, shared live on this episode along with a real look at everything it takes to prep for 10 days of Jeeps, flights, and almost no downtime.
In this live episode:
A rhino chase, a packing list, and 14+ months of vaccine prep — the real logistics of an ABD safari
How the trip compares to Disney Cruise Line, and who the South Africa itinerary is really for
The guides who make the trip, and a moving account of South Africa's history woven into the tour
Live viewer questions on timing, allergies, and packing
DCL Magazine — your ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line tips and tricks! Use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off.
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) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
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.
1 hr 25 min
July 25Ep. 681 - Would You Run 100 Miles the Day Before a Disney Cruise?
He crossed the finish line of a 100-mile ultramarathon in the Florida Keys, showered on the beach, and drove straight to Fort Lauderdale to board the brand-new Disney Destiny the next morning. Nine-time DCL sailor Josh joins us to break down how he pairs grueling endurance races with Disney cruises — and what boarding a ship on legs that just ran four marathons back to back actually feels like.
In this episode:
How Josh turned Disney cruising from post-race recovery into a full-blown tradition across nine sailings
The wild 24 hours between crossing the finish line at Keys 100 and boarding at Port Everglades
Why trip insurance won't cover an ultramarathon-plus-cruise combo, and what that risk actually looks like
His honest take on the Destiny's dining, entertainment, and Wish-class layout, including one hot take about Lookout Cay vs. Castaway Cay
The one piece of advice he gives every Disney cruiser: be fluid, not over-scheduled
What's next for his race-and-sail tradition
"There is no moment like when they finally check your last passport, your last little thing, and you're like, OK, we're here."
Support the Show: DCL Magazine — use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off
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) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
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.
1 hr 11 min
July 20Ep. 680 - Is a Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise Worth It? One Family's Take
Gabe is back — and this time he traded a stormy, port-skipping Disney Fantasy cruise for the very first Disney Wonder Alaska sailing of 2026. His family lucked into a full week of sunny, 70-degree weather, and Gabe walks us through the planning, the ports, the excursions, and an honest verdict on whether DCL Alaska lives up to years of anticipation.
In this episode:
How choosing early May kept the price down — and why Alaska on Disney Cruise Line is still never truly "cheap"
The sideways inside stateroom that gave two adults real space, plus access to Mom and Dad's veranda down the hall
Excursion-by-excursion prices and takeaways: White Pass Scenic Railway, Mendenhall Glacier + whale watching, and the character Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
Palo brunch on Glacier Day — unobstructed views of Dawes Glacier and the character-photo tradeoff
The revamped main dining menus: "small plates," dessert ordered with your mains, faster dinners, and the classics that didn't survive the cut
A Broadway Star Series first sailing with Adam Jacobs (original Aladdin) and Josh Strickland (original Tarzan)
"It was probably a one and done we decided for us... we're very glad we were able to kind of check it off the list." — Gabe
Support the Show:
Subscribe to DCL Magazine and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off
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) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
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.
1 hr 9 min
July 15Ep. 679 - Live Bonus Show - Adventures by Disney Holland & Belgium River Cruise the Duo's Verdict
Eight days, two countries, nineteen windmills, and one official certificate proving Sam is not a witch. We're back from Adventures by Disney's Holland & Belgium River Cruise aboard the AmaLea, and this is the full trip report — every port, every excursion, the ones worth your money and the one Brian would trade for a chocolate-making class. After two ABD river cruises, we give you our verdict on whether the premium is justified.
First, Danny from DCL Magazine joins us for Disney Cruise Line news and a crash course in taking better travel photos with the phone already in your pocket.
In this episode:
Why five Adventure Guides are the real difference between an Adventures by Disney river cruise and booking AmaWaterways on your own
Our port-by-port breakdown: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Ghent, Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp, Dordrecht and the UNESCO windmills at Kinderdijk
The Antwerp food tour that ranks near the top of every ABD excursion we've done — and the Brussels beer tour that fell flat
Life aboard the AmaLea: the Chef's Table is now open for lunch, tips are fully included, and there is no reason to board before mid-afternoon
How to legally bring real farm Gouda home — and why shipping it is off the table
Danny's phone photography tips, including the parallax trick that keeps landmarks from shrinking into specks
Our verdict, and the Adventures by Disney trip we booked before we even got home
"They bring the magic all the way to Europe and onto the ship and make sure that you just have that little dose of Disney that you need if you're doing one of these." — Brian
Support the Show:
Subscribe to 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 | Listen on Apple Podcasts | Watch on YouTube
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) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
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.
1 hr 35 min
July 12Ep. 678 - Bonus Show - 12 Years Working at Disney and DCL: A Cast Member's Story
At 12 years old, sitting on Main Street USA, Theresa looked down at a single brick and decided it was hers — then spent 24 years at the Walt Disney Company proving it. She managed hotels, sold Disney Vacation Club onboard the ships for a dozen years, and came out the other side of a spinal cord injury that four doctors first mistook for ALS. This conversation covers all of it, plus the book she wrote about finishing hard things.
In this episode:
Why Theresa says the cast members are the most magical thing about Disney Cruise Line, and what she witnessed building that culture from the inside
The reason she boarded a Disney cruise the day before emergency spinal surgery
What onboard life as a vendor and DVC guide was really like: the perks, the boundaries, and the crew politics
How 50-plus marathons and multiple Ironmans shaped her "race to complete, not to compete" outlook
Her three straight-talk tips for first-time Disney Cruise Line families
The origin of her book Built to Finish, and the turtle on the cover
"If you take care of your cast members, your cast members are going to take care of your guests, which is then going to take care of your business needs." — Theresa
Find Theresa's Book:
Built to Finish (website): Built to Finish
Built to Finish on Amazon: Built to Finish on Amazon
Instagram: Built to Finish
Support the Show:

DCL Magazine — your ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line tips and tricks. Join the waitlist 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) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
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.
1 hr 12 min
July 09Ep. 677 - She Paid $3,000 More for Disney Wish Concierge — Was It Worth It?
Jenn brought her whole crew back to the Disney Wish in concierge — her older daughter who'd sailed before, her younger daughter on her very first cruise, and a husband who needed convincing. They entered the same Arendelle dining request that gave them a front-row table in 2023, but this time, after spending roughly $3,000 more for concierge, the family ended up three rows back. Jenn walks us through what concierge delivered, what it didn't, and whether the upgrade is worth it for a family of four.
In this episode:
What concierge actually gets you on the Disney Wish, and the one request that fell through this time
The Arendelle seating mix-up and the simple step to take the moment you board so it doesn't happen to you
Whether concierge is worth about $3,000 more for a family of four with elementary-age kids
Palo for the first time: the water tasting, the amaretto souffle, and why dinner felt like a genuine bargain
Two private islands, no Nassau, and how Lookout Cay plus Castaway Cay on one sailing went over with the girls
How a self-described Disney-skeptic husband got talked into booking the next cruise
"If you are not spending most of your time in that concierge lounge and on that concierge pool deck, you are not getting the value for that concierge level." — Jenn
Follow along with Jenn's future adventures at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kids_travel_tales/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KidsTravelTales
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kids-travel-tales-a-family-travel-podcast/id1849200222
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kids.travel.tales
Subscribe to 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 | Listen on Apple Podcasts | Watch on YouTube
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) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
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.
1 hr 5 min
July 07Ep. 676 - Is Lookout Cay Better Than Castaway Cay? One Family's Verdict
Two years ago, Meghan told us Castaway Cay was her favorite island. After sailing a five-night Disney Fantasy itinerary that stopped at both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay on back-to-back days, she changed her answer — and her reasoning comes down to a $1,000 cabana and a free beach day that delivered just as much. She's back to break down both islands, the Disney Fantasy, and a multi-generational trip with her parents.
In this episode:
Why the Mickey and Minnie's Cove Cabana won them over instead of the Sandcastle cabana
The Lookout Cay rocks hike to a hidden view of the ship, and the water shoes you need to do it
Bringing grandparents on their first Dream-class ship and first time through Disney's Terminal 8
Finding adult game shows in The Tube and family trivia in the D Lounge after five cruises of skipping them
Palo brunch favorites, the football-sized calzone, and why they book it on a port day instead of the last day
The case for not over-planning: two booked tastings missed, and no regrets
Pull quote (Meghan): "You could almost argue that Lookout without a cabana was just as good of a day as Castaway with a cabana. And one cost us $1,000 and one cost us nothing."
DCL Magazine — use promo code DCLDUO for 10 percent off: DCL Magazine
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 (No. 1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (No. 2) | Top Disney Podcasts (No. 4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (No. 12)
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.
1 hr 9 min
July 05Ep. 675 - What Happens When Disney Upgrades You to Concierge for Free?
Longtime listener and Patreon supporter Matt joins Sam (solo this week) to unpack a 4-night Disney Fantasy spring break sailing that turned into a string of firsts. The biggest one arrived by email two weeks out: a complimentary upgrade to concierge from Disney shoreside concierge services, with no added room cost — just the concierge gratuities. His honest take on whether it's worth it when you're the one paying might surprise you.
In this episode:
How a surprise comp concierge upgrade landed two weeks before sailing, and the family's theory for why they were chosen
First sailing as Platinum: a complimentary Palo brunch and a last-minute Lookout Cay cabana booking
Why Cabana 14 at Lookout Cay made for the best beach day they've ever had, and why they'd still steer first-timers away from a cabana
The Fantasy's expanded post-dry-dock concierge lounge and sun deck, now subtly Hercules-themed, with a hot tub and Pirate Night fireworks viewing
A 3 a.m. "assessment team" announcement and the small garbage-silo fire behind it
What's booked next: Alaska on the Wonder this summer, and a return to the Fantasy in concierge
"It's probably the best beach day we've ever had as a family." — Matt
Subscribe to 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 | Listen on Apple Podcasts
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) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12)
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.
1 hr 29 min

About DCL Duo Podcast: A Disney Cruise Line Fan Podcast

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DCL Duo is the #1 Disney Cruise Line podcast — your go-to resource for Disney Cruise Line tips, trip planning advice, honest ship reviews, and insider secrets from two of the most experienced DCL fans in the community.