The question occurs to me as I gaze upon the sea of velvet and plastic Mickey Mouse ears waiting to board the luxury liner: what have I agreed to?

My wife, myself and our two daughters – aged five and two – are set to take our first cruise on a four-night round trip from Sydney to Hobart, Tasmania. Even bigger than that, it’s Disney’s first sailing in Australia. The kids couldn’t be more excited. But can the parents survive?