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Table of Contents

About Disney Cruise Line cruises

Disney cruise line prices, disney cruise line loyalty program: castaway club, what is the best disney cruise line ship.

Disney has a massive global footprint across its theme parks, films and merchandise. And it doesn’t stop there. Among its many offerings is the Disney Cruise Line, whose fleet of five ships sails all over the world.

Family-friendly but with adults-only areas, Disney cruises offer some of the most comprehensive cruise options around. Let’s break down everything there is to know about the Disney Cruise Line, including pricing, destinations and its loyalty program.

You can always expect some magic from Disney, and there is no exception when sailing on Disney Cruise Line. Although its fleet is small, it offers a high-end, family-friendly experience for guests. Here’s a quick overview of Disney Cruise Line’s key features.

Cabin types: Disney Cruise Line offers all the usual cabin types, including inside, oceanview, verandah and concierge-level rooms . Disney Cruise Line’s cabins are larger than average and designed for families, with split bathrooms and privacy curtains. Their largest rooms can accommodate up to seven guests. 

Main U.S. routes: Disney has several departure points from within the United States, including options from San Diego, New York City, Miami, and Galveston, Texas. However, its most frequent departures are from Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida, to the Bahamas and the Caribbean or from Vancouver, British Columbia to Alaska.

Loyalty program: Disney Cruise Line offers the Castaway Club to repeat guests. It has four membership levels — Silver, Gold, Platinum and Pearl. The first level is earned by completing a single cruise. 

» Learn more: Disney Cruise Review — Mickey at Sea Gets an A+

Disney Cruise Line destinations

Although Disney currently operates only five ships, the cruise line still manages to cover most of the world. Here are the locations you can currently sail on a Disney cruise:

New Zealand.

Pacific Coast. 

Panama Canal.

South Pacific. 

Transatlantic. 

Cruises are available in a variety of lengths, from three nights up to 15 nights.

Disney cruises tend to be more expensive than the average cruise. Currently, for example, the cheapest cruise departing from Port Canaveral is a three-night trip to the Bahamas, which costs $1,958 for two guests.

And you’ll pay more to take a "special occasion" Disney cruise. The same three-night Bahamas cruise sailing during Disney's Silver Anniversary at Sea starts at $2,345 for two guests.

When it comes to timing, standard logic applies. The high season will cost more, especially during holidays and the summer break.

The cheapest rate we found — the previously-mentioned $1,958 — is for a cruise in late January, a time when those with school-aged children might have trouble getting away. Meanwhile, the most expensive period for this cruise takes place over the Christmas holiday and rings in at $3,737 for an inside stateroom.

For all destinations, if you’d like to save money, avoid peak periods and search all available dates to find the lowest rates . This is true even on less popular cruises, such as those sailing up to Alaska .

The cheapest cost for two guests to Alaska from Vancouver is $2,983 in mid-September, while the same cruise will cost you $4,607 if you sail over the Fourth of July holiday.

One-way positioning cruises — that is, those that end in a different location from where they started — are often much cheaper per night than standard round-trip cruises.

What’s included

Disney cruises are more inclusive than most cruises. You don’t, for example, need to pay extra for soft drinks on a Disney cruise like you would on Norwegian Cruise Line . You’re also entitled to complimentary room service 24/7, unlike on Virgin Voyages, where you'll be charged a $5 fee for each delivery.

Here are more inclusions you can expect.

Live, high-quality entertainment.

Large staterooms (designed for parties of up to three guests).

Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay (on most Bahamas and Caribbean cruises).

Upscale restaurants, quick-service dining, poolside snacks and room service.

Adults-only lounges and pool areas.

Waterslides (on some ships).

» Learn more: How much does a Disney cruise cost?

Disney isn’t known for its loyalty programs. For example, there is no frequent traveler program associated with staying at one of its resorts or frequenting its parks. However, Disney Cruise Line rewards repeat customers with various benefits, including a complimentary specialty dinner, free photo downloads and an exclusive terminal check-in area.

Castaway Club levels

The Castaway Club levels are Silver, Gold, Platinum and Pearl.

How to earn : Sail on one cruise.

Best benefits : Book cruises one day before the general public, online activity planning 90 days before sailing, check in 33 days early, exclusive terminal check-in.

How to earn : Sail on five to nine cruises.

Best benefits : Book cruises two days before the general public, online activity planning 105 days before sailing, check in 35 days early, onboard reception, special discounts. 

How to earn : Sail on 10 to 24 cruises.

Best benefits : Book cruises three days before the general public, online activity planning 120 days before sailing, check in 38 days early, complimentary specialty dinner.

How to earn : Sail on 25+ cruises. 

Best benefits : Book cruises four days before the general public, online activity planning 123 days before sailing, check in 40 days early, complimentary unlimited digital photo package. 

» Learn more: Which is cheaper, Disney World or a Disney cruise?

The Disney Wish is the newest Disney Cruise Line ship and certainly its best. It just launched in the summer of 2022. Among its many amenities, guests can find the first-ever Disney attraction at sea. It’s a 760-foot water slide filled with show scenes, lighting, music and more that touches down into a lazy river.

The Disney Wish also has dedicated areas themed for "Frozen," the Marvel Universe and "Star Wars."

In addition, the Disney Wish has all the regular amenities you’d expect on a Disney cruise, including live entertainment, pools and spacious staterooms.

Disney Cruise Line does not offer free Wi-Fi. Instead, it has three levels of packages from which to choose:

Stay Connected: $10 per day for the entire cruise or $12 per day for a 24-hour period.

Basic Surf: $20 per day for the entire cruise or $24 per day for a 24-hour period.

Premium Surf: $30 per day for the entire cruise or $36 per day for a 24-hour period.

These packages are available on the Disney Wish, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream. The Disney Wonder still operates on the old data-usage Wi-Fi packages.

Most of your daily expenses, including your food and non-alcoholic beverages, are included when sailing on a Disney cruise. However, if you’d like specialty drinks or alcohol, you’ll need to pay extra. Gratuities are not included, and Disney Cruise Line's recommended tip is a minimum of $14.50 per guest, per night.

Disney Cruise Line doesn’t offer the standard drink package other cruise lines offer. Drink packages allow you to pay a flat-rate price and drink as much alcohol as you’d like.

Instead, you’ll either pay per drink or purchase bundled quantities onboard. It’s also possible to purchase a specialty beer mug at the pub onboard, which can then be refilled across the ship. Much like Disney’s popcorn buckets, your beer mugs entitle you to cheaper refills on all your beer.

In the past, Disney Cruise Line required that you be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 before sailing, but this is no longer the case. Guests departing from the United States are not required to do either, though the cruise line highly encourages you to get vaccinated before sailing.

Most of your daily expenses, including your food and non-alcoholic beverages, are included when sailing on a Disney cruise. However, if you’d like specialty drinks or alcohol, you’ll need to pay extra. Gratuities are not included, and

Disney Cruise Line's recommended tip

is a minimum of $14.50 per guest, per night.

(Top photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line)

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The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

After decades of success making families smile and laugh at its theme parks, Disney dipped its toes into the world of cruising in 1998. Disney didn't just copy another cruise line's model for success or slap its name on the side of an existing ship. It created its own brand of cruising.

Disney went so far into charting its own path as to get special approval from the U.S. Coast Guard for its ships' lifeboats to be yellow instead of regulation orange, to tie into the colors of Mickey himself — black, red, white and yellow.

Now, Disney Cruise Line has five ships sailing in those signature colors, along with three more on order. In a normal year, those five ships take tens of thousands of families on sailings to the Caribbean , Mexico, Alaska, Europe, Bermuda, Bahamas, through the Panama Canal and even to Australia and New Zealand.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Having sailed four of Disney Cruise Line's five ships, I can say the experience is indeed special — especially if you have kids. But Disney's not a one-trick cruise line that's only good for one age group. It offers kids clubs and activities to suit babies through teens and has several adults-only areas of the ship . Its newest ship, Disney Wish , provides more cool spaces for adults than any previous vessel.

Disney's attention to detail transfers to its voyages on the sea. But unlike at the Disney theme parks, which can be a bit complicated to navigate, long lines and complex strategies are rarely a part of the Disney cruise experience.

Get the free planning help of a Disney vacation planner via TPG's partner, Mouse Counselors .

What TPG loves about Disney Cruise Line

• Broadway-caliber shows and first-run movies.
• Disney-level service and attention to detail.
• High-quality Disney character interactions and kids clubs.
• Innovative, included rotational dining.

What we could do without

• Disney cruises are expensive.
• The onboard Wi-Fi is not the fastest, especially on ships that haven't been upgraded. And it's not cheap.

Disney Cruise Line fleet

While Disney may be a household name, Disney Cruise Line is actually a small line. It currently sails just five ships, compared to 27 at its family-friendly competitor Royal Caribbean .

Of the five, two are smaller ships, and three are larger.

The largest ships in Disney's fleet are Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, at 1,115 feet long and 14 decks high, and Disney Wish , at 1,119 feet and 15 decks high.

These three ships each have a passenger capacity of 4,000 people spread out across approximately 1,250 cabins. The overwhelming majority of cabins on these ships have an ocean view or private verandah, with only 10%-12% being windowless inside cabins. (On its oldest four ships, these interior rooms have a "magical porthole" that displays a live feed from outside to replicate a window.)

Disney Treasure , expected to join the fleet in 2024, will be in the same larger Triton class of ships as Disney Wish.

Disney Wish is currently a workhorse of short three- and four-night sailings from Port Canaveral , Florida, to the Bahamas, home to Disney's private island , Castaway Cay.

Disney Fantasy often sails weeklong cruises out of Florida. With the addition of Disney Wish to the fleet, Disney Dream now spends its summer across the Atlantic, offering European cruises from May to September, then spending much of the rest of the year based out of Fort Lauderdale.

The smaller two ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet are Disney Wonder and the line's first ship, Disney Magic .

These two ships are 984 feet long and 11 decks high, and each has the capacity for 2,713 passengers across 875 staterooms. On these two smaller ships, 70% of passenger cabins have ocean views or verandahs.

Disney Wonder is often on the move and currently splits its time among Alaska , the South Pacific, Hawaii, California, Mexico and beyond. Disney Magic spends part of its year based out of Galveston, Texas, or New Orleans and much of the rest based out of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Related: Best destinations you can sail to on a Disney cruise

Disney Cruise Line destinations and itineraries

Disney Cruise Line has about 370 annual departures scheduled that range from two- to 15-night sailings. Many new-to-Disney itineraries have recently become available as the line is adding new ships for the first time in a decade.

Disney Cruise Line destinations include:

• New Zealand
• Pacific Coast
• South Pacific

Disney Wish has, by far, the highest number of annual sailings, with 105 three- and four-night cruises departing from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. These sailings all go to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay; some also stop in Nassau, Bahamas.

Some Disney cruises do what's called a "double dip" and make two stops at the private island, where you can step ashore without leaving the Disney bubble.

Pro tip: If you go to Castaway Cay, rent a bike for a little exercise and a self-guided tour of the island. Or, you can run the at-your-pace 5K that morning around the island.

Coming in summer 2024 , Disney will have a second exclusive beach destination in the Bahamas — Lighthouse Point.

This won't be an entire private island like Castaway Cay, but it will be an exclusive beachfront space designed for Disney Cruise Line with many similar offerings to Castaway. Disney Magic, Disney Wonder and Disney Fantasy will call on this new destination for the first time in 2024.

Related: Best tips and tricks for sailing with Disney Cruise Line

Who sails Disney Cruise Line?

Let's start with the obvious: Families love Disney Cruise Line.

The ultimate sweet spot for taking a Disney cruise starts when a child is at least 3 years old and potty trained (the criteria that get them into the included kids clubs) and lasts until they outgrow their love of Disney characters. Remember, Disney now includes the "Star Wars" and Marvel brands and offers themed cruises featuring those characters, too.

A Disney cruise costs more than a similar cruise on a line like Royal Caribbean , so it's easiest to justify the expense when your kids love Disney the most.

So, yes, the stereotype that Disney Cruise Line is full of families is 100% correct.

You'll see many families with kids in those preschool, elementary and middle school years. But you'll also see families with little babies (the minimum age is 6 months on most sailings, 1 year on Panama Canal and transatlantic sailings), tweens, teens, college-age kids and even grandparents who have made a Disney cruise an enjoyable multigenerational travel tradition.

Related: Comparing Disney, Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruises for families

You'll also see cruisers who love Disney regardless of age and are proud to wear their Mickey ears while hearing the first seven notes of the "When You Wish Upon a Star" melody blown from the ship's massive horn.

Just like you don't need kids to have a great time at Disney World or Disneyland, you can happily cruise as adults without offspring on Disney Cruise Line. All the ships have active adults-only sun decks, pool and lounges. Disney Wish especially invested in its adult offerings with an infinity pool, along with more bars spread around the ship instead of being clustered into one main area.

Disney Cruise Line cabins and suites

At a basic level, Disney Cruise Line offers five main types of cabins across the fleet. In its simplified version, the types of cabins on a Disney cruise include:

• Windowless inside cabins
• Ocean-view cabins
• Verandah cabins (with private balconies)
• Verandah cabins with concierge service
• Suites with concierge service

These cabins start at 169 square feet for a standard inside cabin and go up to a two-story, 1,966-square-foot Tower Suite on Disney Wish .

Unless you are OK with the smallest space on the ship or have a budget for the largest, the sweet spot for price and comfort on Disney Cruise Line vessels is probably the cabins that are around 204 square feet and usually come with a queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper-berth pull-down bed and a split bath.

This split bathroom situation places a sink and the shower/tub combo in one bathroom and the toilet and another sink in the other. Each has its own separate door, so someone could use the toilet/sink room while another takes a shower, all in private and at the same time.

You'll find this cabin layout within the Deluxe Inside Staterooms, Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms and Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah categories.

The Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms and Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah add about 40 more square feet to the equation. If you want the largest within those room categories, search for rooms that can hold five people on the Disney Cruise Line website.

Pro tip: You can ask your cabin host for cartoon bedding for the kid's bed if you think your child will be excited to come back from dinner to one of their Disney favorites.

You can connect many of the cabins on the ship , which is often a much more economical solution for a family looking for more sleeping space (and bathrooms) than upgrading to a multibedroom suite. Roughly speaking, a family of four will pay about 50% more for two cabins than they will for everyone to stay in one cabin of the same size.

Related: 7 nights. 4 people. 1 cruise ship cabin. Can we survive?

If you are going all-out on a particular trip, or are simply working with a larger budget, Disney concierge suites are special.

The smallest available room with this service is the Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, which isn't all that different from the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, other than the included concierge service. From there, you can go up to the one- or two-bedroom suites.

Be prepared for sticker shock, though, as these suites will almost certainly be near or over five figures on many sailings.

While pricey, Disney concierge service eliminates almost all of the potential pain points of a Disney cruise (not that there are many pain points to begin with).

Disney concierge service gets you access to the Disney Concierge Lounge, which has food offerings multiple times per day and a fully stocked fridge with sodas, juices and bottles of water.

In the evenings, you'll find included beer, wine and spirits in the lounge — which you can also take with you as you head out to dinner or to enjoy the view from the deck.

The Concierge Lounge also has its own private deck, and Disney characters have been known to make a private appearance there during the cruise. (Don't worry, you'll get a heads-up.)

Related: Is Disney Cruise Line concierge service worth it?

You also have your own check-in area at the port and are among the first to board the ship, which can mean extra time to enjoy having the waterslides to yourself. At the end of the cruise, you can have a private elevator that takes you down to be some of the first off the ship — which should protect you from a long line to say goodbye.

There are other perks of the concierge level, too, such as early front-row seating at shows, included popcorn and the ability to submit your request for meal reservations at Palo or Remy, cabanas on Castaway Cay, spa treatments, character meet-and-greets or whatever else you wish before other guests. These can be made for you starting 120 days before your sailing, which is before all other guests except those with the highest elite status tier in the Castaway Club .

Passengers on their first Disney cruise don't get to make those reservations until 75 days out if they aren't in the concierge level. The reality is the hottest items are often booked up by then, especially on shorter cruises when there's less time to do everything.

Those in the concierge level in one-bedroom suites and higher can also order room service from the restaurants to their cabin, which means you can have a hot breakfast on your verandah if you wish instead of the regular continental options available to most guests.

If you are on the fence about concierge service, it's arguably most valuable when you are on a shorter cruise, have some specific popular must-have items on your reservation wish list or want someone else to take care of everything. You can also inquire about discounted upgrades at the port, assuming rooms are left unsold on your voyage.

Pro tip: Regardless of your cabin, bring magnetic Mickey or nautical-themed decor for the entrance, as most of the cabin doors are magnetic. Decorating is a fun tradition on a Disney cruise.

Related: Review of sailing in a suite with Disney concierge service

Disney Cruise Line restaurants and dining options

You will not go hungry on a Disney cruise. From room service to evening dinners, meals are (mostly) all included.

Rotational dining

On each Disney ship, three main dining rooms serve as dinner restaurants that participate in rotational dining. Each ship has its own lineup of themed rotational restaurants, but the concept remains the same on each.

Each night, your tablemates and servers will move from one restaurant to the next as a team. This way, the servers get to know that you always want to start with a glass of red wine, or your kids' food needs to come ASAP so you can take them to the kids club as soon as they finish, or (in my case) your daughter wants a side of barbecue sauce with ... everything.

You must choose between an early and a late dinner time, with your showtime opposite your dining time. Some restaurants, such as Animator's Palate, are found on multiple ships, while others are unique to one ship, such as Tiana's Place on Disney Wonder and all of the rotational restaurants found on Disney Wish .

Included restaurants on Disney Magic

• Animator's Palate
• Lumiere's
• Rapunzel's Royal Table

Included restaurants on Disney Wonder

• Tiana's Place
• Triton's

Included restaurants on Disney Dream

• Enchanted Garden
• Royal Palace

Included restaurants on Disney Fantasy

• Royal Court

Included restaurants on Disney Wish

• Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
• Worlds of Marvel

At these restaurants, you can order whatever you want on the menu at no extra charge, with a few exceptions (for example, alcohol and specialty drinks cost extra).

While many guests dress up a bit for dinner (compared to their afternoon pool deck attire), most stay relatively casual for the rotational dining restaurants. Disney does not impose a specific dress-up requirement.

Disney cruise ships offer many other dining options beyond the three included themed restaurants — most included, some not.

Room service

Room service is mostly free (other than sodas or alcohol), though the menu is limited if you aren't staying in a concierge-level cabin. Still, it's free room service, so I'm not one to complain.

Pro tip: Fill the breakfast card out the night before and hang it on your stateroom to get breakfast exactly when you want it the next morning.

And you haven't lived until your kids learn how to call and order free Mickey ice cream bars to the cabin ... every night (just be sure and add a tip).

Buffet and grab-and-go

Your Disney cruise will also include a buffet known as Cabanas on the original four ships and Marceline Market on Disney Wish. The buffet is usually open for breakfast and lunch, though not in the evening hours.

In addition to the buffet, a few grab-and-go quick-service restaurants on the pool deck serve salads, chili, pizza, barbecue and more, depending on which ship you're sailing.

Don't miss these options, as some are quite good. They are typically open from late morning until later into the evening.

Room service, the buffet and the on-deck food counter dining options don't cost extra and are available to you in addition to or instead of your rotational dining.

You'll also find included ice cream on one of the upper decks. A pro-level hack is to get Mickey churro waffles from the buffet in the morning (only available some mornings) and add vanilla ice cream for a vacation-worthy breakfast.

Extra-cost, adults-only restaurants

At the top of the "costs extra" list are the restaurants Palo (found on all five ships, though it's Palo Steakhouse on Disney Wish), Remy (on Dream and Fantasy) and Enchante (only on Disney Wish).

Remy is a fancy adults-only French restaurant that costs $125 per person for dinner (more if you order drinks). This is the type of place where men need jackets and women are expected to wear dresses, pantsuits or a skirt and blouse. Enchante on Disney Wish is similar — you're dressing up for these meals.

Palo is also fancy, though a notch less fancy than Remy. You'll see jackets and dresses in Palo, but you can also get by with nice jeans if you want. This adults-only restaurant serves Northern Italian fare and starts at about $45 per person for a multicourse brunch or dinner, though you can also order a la carte for dinner, which could cost more or less, depending on your order.

I can say with 100% certainty that if you enjoy a nice meal, this is worth the extra $45 once during your cruise . From the breadbasket to the dessert, it's all amazing. You'll gain 5 pounds, but you won't regret a bite.

These reservations are hard to get, especially for brunch, so you'll want to make them the second you are eligible and keep checking back for cancellations if you miss out the first time.

Coffee shops and snack shops

On a Disney cruise, the snacks and pastries you'll see in the coffee shop or kiosk are all included, but the specialty coffee will cost extra. Drink prices are roughly similar to Starbucks, if not a notch lower. Be sure and ask for the Cafe Fanatic card if you're a regular, as your sixth drink will be free.

In addition to the included soft-serve ice cream and Mickey bars available via room service, your ship may have some shops with extra-fee ice cream. This can confuse kids, so I want to warn you beforehand. On Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish, you'll find an ice cream shop stuffed with candies, gelato and ice cream — all for an extra charge.

Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy also have a juice bar that costs extra.

The exact bars will vary by vessel, but you can expect spots like a wine and Champagne bar, a pub, a laid-back lounge and a bar with live entertainment.

These bars are a lot of fun and are not to be missed if you like live music or a nice drink at the end of the day. Keep an eye out in your app for when and where the happy hours are on board if you want to save a few dollars on your drinks. Some bars also offer a sommelier bin where you get a nice glass of wine at a discounted price — as long as you put the bartender in charge of choosing your drink.

Some of the drink-tasting classes that you book in advance can be a good value if you're a fan of the drink on offer and are interested in learning a little bit while you sip. You'll want to book these before sailing, as many do sell out.

Food on Castaway Cay

If your cruise takes you to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, you're in luck, as there's plenty of included food to eat there, too.

Just like on board, some of the food on Castaway is included, while alcohol and specialty drinks are not. The Cookie's and Cookie's Too lunch shacks on the island are both included, so load up on hot dogs, barbecue, hamburgers, fries and all the fixings. Vegetarian options are available.

While the food options here are somewhat basic, they still make for a fun and free meal.

However, if you don't like what is on offer on the island, you can always hop back on your ship for lunch and then continue your afternoon on the island after you eat.

Entertainment and activities on a Disney cruise

A valid reason to want to sail with Disney is the onboard fun that awaits — especially for those who love Disney characters and stories.

Theaters and shows

Each Disney cruise ship features two theaters. In the massive Walt Disney Theatre, you'll enjoy Broadway-caliber evening shows such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Frozen," "Tangled," "Disney Dreams," "The Golden Mickeys" and more. If you want a good seat, arrive about 30 minutes early since seating is first come, first served.

The Buena Vista Theatre screens first-run Disney films. These will be the same films still showing in theaters on land. If you happen to be at sea when a new Disney movie premieres on land, you'll also get that same first look at sea.

Pirate Night is a staple on many Disney cruises in the Caribbean. On that themed night, expect everyone to be dressed in their pirate-y best for the evening, so pack accordingly. Your dinner will also have a pirate theme, followed by a fun show up on deck, complete with fireworks.

Pro tip: If you plan to stay up late for Pirate Night, try to work in a nap that afternoon so you don't miss out on the nighttime fun.

Game shows, karaoke, bingo and more

The extensive lineup of interactive game shows, trivia, karaoke, dance parties, bingo and more listed in the Disney cruise app are worth checking out. Some of these are adults-only, while others are fun for the whole family. Most are included in the price of the cruise, though bingo does cost extra — and you could win real money.

Other interior attractions and activities

Meeting Disney characters is a fun part of a Disney cruise.

You can make reservations to meet the popular princesses, but most characters are easy to walk up to and meet via a short line. Or, even better, you often see them roaming about the ship at unexpected times.

You can work off some of those treats and drinks at the onboard fitness center on each ship.

The Senses Spa & Salon is a full-service spa with everything from massages to pedicures and hair care. Promotions are available if you book more than one treatment. If you have a Disney Visa card , you can also save 20% on select onboard services.

Pro tip: The showers in this part of the ship are full-size, in case you are getting a bit claustrophobic in the shower in your cabin.

If you like getting away to relax, look at purchasing access to the Rainforest Room for heated stone loungers, aromatherapy showers and even hot tubs on the larger ships. You can buy a one-day or full-cruise pass to this area of the spa, but get a tour first as the layout and inclusions in this space vary dramatically from ship to ship.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Little cruisers can be transformed into a princess or pirate at sea at the onboard Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, which does themed kid makeovers and sells costumes as part of the package. You'll need an appointment; expect to pay $100 to $200 for most packages.

This is a fun thing to do before meeting a princess, before a more formal night or anytime you want to see a huge smile on your kid's face. If you have a princess dress or outfit from home you want to use or reuse, you can purchase a cheaper package at Bibbidi Bobbidi.

Decktop attractions

Waterslides.

All of Disney Cruise Line's ships have some kind of waterslide on board.

The AquaDuck waterslide on Dream and Fantasy takes riders in single or double tubes 765 feet from Deck 12 up and down, through the forward funnel and on a four-deck drop. It's pretty epic. AquaMouse on Disney Wish is also an inner tube-based ride and is not to be missed.

These lines can get long, so I recommend riding first thing when you board if the port is warm enough. Nighttime rides usually have short waits, too.

Disney Magic has the most thrilling waterslide in the fleet, called AquaDunk, and Disney Wonder has its own waterslide in the AquaLab splash area.

Each Disney ship has multiple pools, though if you've never been on a cruise, you may be initially shocked at how small they are — and how busy they can get.

As with the waterslides, we recommend enjoying these first thing when you board if you want to try them without crowds. Otherwise, you won't find so many people in the pools on port days, early in the morning and right before dinner. There are thousands of people on the ship and only a few small pools, so plan accordingly.

Each ship has a pool and hot tub area for adults 18 and up. It can also get busy, but typically less busy than the family area. Select ships also offer an in-pool bar area for adults.

The adult sun deck is a nice place to grab a chair and relax, even if you have no intention of getting in the water.

Splash pads

Your little one has to be potty trained to use the onboard pools. The option for those still in swim diapers is some splash areas, such as Nemo's Reef and Dory's Reef.

Sports deck

If you want to be more active, head to your ship's sports deck to play basketball, foosball, miniature golf and more. You may even have some sports simulator options beyond your traditional in-person fun.

Children's programs

As a parent, my favorite part of a Disney cruise might be the included kids programs that children actually want to attend. If the kids are happy for a few hours, the parents can actually relax, too.

Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab for children ages 3–12

All five Disney ships have amazing spaces for kids in the 3-to-12-year-old range in the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab.

Here you'll find video games, an indoor slide, fun programs and games with the staff, arts and crafts, surprise character visits and more. Your kids need to be potty trained to stay in this club, so use that as motivation for a kid approaching 3 years old before your next cruise.

Your kids don't need an appointment to pop in here; they can come anytime from open to close — and the club stays open pretty late.

Parents can stay with kids and play during open hours on the first day and select times on other dates, but most of the time, the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are kids-only. Your kids will check in and out by scanning a special MagicBand that also tracks where they are within the kids clubs.

Disney Wish has the added perk in the kids club of a slide that takes the kids straight from the main atrium and into the fun.

Know that once your child turns 8, you have the option of giving them self-checkout privileges. While kids up to 12 are welcome in the main Oceaneer Club, they may start moving up to the tween club by the time they are 10 years old.

Edge tween club for children ages 11–14

When your kid outgrows the fun in the main kids club, don't worry. Edge is waiting just upstairs.

Technically, Edge is for kids ages 11-14, but you can get your 10-year-old in with permission — and once they figure that out, it's probably all over for the "little kid club."

Edge is a much smaller space, but tweens have tons of fun playing video games, having dance parties, doing crafts, playing trivia games and more with their newfound cruise friends.

This club does not utilize parent sign-in and -out, so you need to trust your kid if they are coming to Edge. If your 10-to-12-year-old child visits Edge, they can also play at the Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club, so they have options.

Vibe teen club for children ages 14–17

Get ready to be jealous of this one. On Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the teen club has its own set of small pools at the front of the ship.

Inside all versions of the teen club, Vibe, you'll find a tech-friendly world with loungers, dance parties, smoothies and other teen-approved fun. Some of the coolest inside space on Disney cruise ships is dedicated to teens ages 14-17, but you can request for your child to attend this club starting at 13 years old.

'It's a small world' nursery for children 6 months to 3 years old

While the three previously mentioned kids clubs are free and do not require reservations, the nursery operates differently. You will need to make reservations, and the fee is $4.50 per half-hour for the first child and $4 per half-hour for each additional child.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

The specific documents you will need will vary by cruise destination. Having a passport is always a good idea, but it's not technically required on all Disney cruises. For example, round-trip cruises originating in Port Canaveral, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, San Diego, New Orleans, New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico, often do not require a passport.

Passports, when required, must be valid for at least six months. For cruises from international ports, you'll need a passport. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Related: Tips for getting a child's passport

Disney Cruise Line adds a service gratuity of $14.50 per person per day to final bills. If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can lower this amount. Of course, you can visit guest services and adjust it upward, too.

To give an idea of the cost, a four-person family on a four-night cruise would pay $232 in recommended tips. The amount is split among your team of dining room servers who quickly learned your kids' preferences for dinner and your cabin hosts who made your room look like magic while you were out enjoying yourself.

An 18% gratuity is added to onboard spa, bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. You can always add an additional gratuity for any of your services or servers.

While room service is free, it's customary to add a few dollars of tip when you sign the "bill."

While some gratuity is included at Palo and Remy, you'll likely want to add an additional tip if you enjoyed the service. If you stay in a concierge-level room or suite, it is customary to tip the Concierge Lounge hosts at the end of your cruise a recommended amount of $8 per night per guest.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

Disney Cruise Line's Wi-Fi, Connect@Sea, is in the process of being upgraded, so speed, bandwidth and cost vary by ship.

If you are on a ship that charges by day instead of by the amount of data used, expect the prices to vary from $12-$36 per day, depending on the speed you select. There are often discounts for buying Wi-Fi access for the length of the cruise.

If you are on a ship that still charges by the amount of data used, we recommend not doing that and connecting either when you are in port or via a plan from your cellphone provider.

Related: What's the best international phone plan right now?

Carry-on drinks policy

Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 milliliters) or six beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage. You can keep drinks chilled in the small fridge in your cabin.

Guests wishing to consume wine or Champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corkage fee of $26 per bottle.

Smoking policy

Smoking is permitted only in designated deck areas. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies, and those who violate this rule will face a $250 cleaning fee.

For an additional fee, Disney ships offer full-service laundry and dry cleaning services that will pick up and deliver clean clothes to your cabin.

Ships also provide 24-hour, self-service guest laundry facilities equipped with washers and dryers, along with detergent and complimentary ironing equipment. You pay for the facilities by using your Key to the World card. These services can get busy during sea days on longer cruises, so plan accordingly.

Electrical outlets

All cabins are equipped with multiple 110-volt outlets, which are standard in the U.S. and Canada. Cabins on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are equipped with a combination of 110- and 220-volt (European) outlets.

Small electrical appliances such as electric shavers, curling irons and flat irons with standard North American plugs will function on board; 110-volt items should not exceed 1,500 watts, and 220-volt items should not exceed 2,000 watts. A hair dryer is provided in every cabin for your convenience, but you may bring your own as long as it meets the guidelines above.

The currency on Disney Cruise Line ships, regardless of location, is the U.S. dollar.

When you are on the ship, you will not need cash or a credit card — all incidentals, purchases and services will be charged to your cabin folio. Your Key to the World card (or your DisneyBand+ on Disney Wish ) serves as your onboard payment method. The only exception is if you want to tip a crew member in cash.

In port, you may wish to carry cash or a credit card to buy snacks and souvenirs or to tip your tour guide.

Drinking age

For most Disney sailings, the drinking age on board is 21.

However, on round-trip cruises departing European countries with a lower drinking age, passengers 18-20 years of age can drink alcohol on board with signed parental consent. For round-trip cruises from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Brisbane, guests 18 years of age and older may purchase and consume alcoholic beverages without parental consent.

During the day, people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach. T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are fine.

During the evenings, dining attire in the three main dining restaurants is "cruise casual," meaning no swimwear or tank tops, but you don't have to put on a party dress. That said, many guests do dress up a bit in the evening, but it's not required unless you are dining in Palo, Remy or Enchante.

Cruises that are seven nights or longer schedule one "formal night" — though even then, it's only encouraged, not required. On that night, you will see suits, sports coats, cocktail dresses and similar from some guests.

Pro tip: Be sure and pack that pirate gear for Pirate Night.

Related: What to pack for your 1st cruise

Disney Cruise Line loyalty program

Disney Cruise Line has a simple loyalty program, the Castaway Club , with four "elite status" levels that you earn based on how many cruises you've taken with Disney. A three-night and 10-night cruise both count as one sailing for these purposes.

• Silver: One completed cruise
• Gold: Five completed cruises
• Platinum: 10 completed cruises
• Pearl: 25 completed cruises

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

This isn't the kind of loyalty program where you earn free cruises the way you earn free flights with airline miles. Instead, as you go up in status, you earn perks and earlier access to booking cruises and activities — which is key for getting those hard-to-snag adult dining or Castaway Cay cabana reservations

Silver members

• Book new cruise itineraries one day before the general public and book onboard activities 90 days before sailing.
• Get a "welcome back aboard" gift (such as a bag), have access to a Castaway Club members-only line when boarding and access to a Castaway Club direct phone number.
• Select port arrival time with online check-in starting 33 days before the general public.

Gold members

• All of those perks, but you can book new sailings two days before the general public and can book onboard activities 105 days before sailing.
• On eight-night and longer voyages, Gold Castaway Club members are also invited to a private reception with special entertainment. There are also select merchandise discounts available to Gold members and higher.
• Select port arrival time with online check-in starting 35 days before the general public.

Platinum members

• All of those perks, but you can book new sailings three days before the general public and can book onboard activities 120 days before sailing.
• Priority check-in at the cruise terminal.
• Complimentary evening dinner at Palo or Palo Steakhouse for themselves and everyone in the cabin age 18 and older.
• Select port arrival time with online check-in starting 38 days before the general public.

Pearl members

• All of those perks, but you can book new sailings four days before the general public and can book onboard activities 123 days before sailing.
• Exclusive cruise terminal check-in (where available)
• Unlimited Digital Photo Package.
• Select port arrival time with online check-in starting 40 days before the general public.

How much does a Disney cruise cost?

Magic ain't cheap, and Disney cruises are expensive. They aren't the priciest voyages out there, but they will cost more than cruises with family-friendly competitors such as Royal Caribbean by a noticeable margin.

For a family of four, the cheapest Disney cruise currently available (not counting the two-night cruises in Australia and New Zealand) is about $2,500. An ocean view will add about $90 and a verandah will add about $500.

On these shortest cruises, concierge-level cabins and access start at a little over $5,000 for a family of four.

Those sorts of prices will only be available during the offseason, such as in mid-to-late January and early February or for repositioning cruises as the ship moves from, say, Puerto Rico to Florida. That same cruise during spring break can cost double or more, so the more date flexibility you have, the better.

A seven-night cruise in the Caribbean will likely start around $5,000 for a family of four. Expect Alaska and Europe cruises to start at $5,000 to $6,000 for inside cabins for a week, and prices go up for longer sailings and upgraded cabins.

You can save money on your next Disney cruise by putting a $250 deposit down while you are at sea on a previous Disney cruise. It's a popular way to get 10% off your next cruise.

Another way to save on a Disney cruise is to look at a one-way repositioning sailing , as those often price lower than other similar cruises. For example, the cruise line may need to end a cruise in a particular port to reposition the ship to do some sailings from there. You'll have to get yourself back home from that port, but you may save on the cruise in the process.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on a cruise

How to book

You can book your Disney cruise directly with Disney Cruise Line either over the phone or online, but I'd argue you shouldn't.

Cruises are easy to enjoy but can be complicated to plan if you are new to this type of travel. This is an industry where a travel agent is still a good call. You want someone who can help you pick the right cabin type and location for your group and keep track of when you can snag those onboard activities you really want.

When the wave of pandemic-related cruise cancellations hit in 2020, I was so grateful to have a travel agent — instead of me — spending time dealing with the cruise line.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

Another reason to consider going through a travel agent is to get onboard credit. Some travel agents will offer onboard credit based on the amount you spend on your Disney cruise. This is credit you can use toward drinks, spa treatments, excursions or anything else you can charge to your room.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR DISNEY CRUISE, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Generally speaking, the sooner you book a Disney cruise after it goes on sale, the better, as prices usually only go in one direction — up.

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card points when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases and maybe even offers some built-in travel protections .

• The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3 points per dollar on travel and dining and an annual up-to-$300 travel credit.
• The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2 points per dollar on travel.
• The Disney Premier Visa Card is also a good option, specifically with Disney Cruise Line, as it gives you access to a 0% introductory annual percentage rate for six months following the purchase date on eligible Disney vacation packages, such as a Disney cruise (then a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% applies). The card also gets you 10% in savings on some onboard activities and packages while at Castaway Cay.

Related: How to save money on booking a Disney cruise

Bottom line

Whether you are on a three-night trip to Castaway Cay or a bigger crossing to the South Pacific, a Disney cruise is a special vacation that actually feels like a vacation.

The classic styling of the original four ships, the modern storybook styling of Disney Wish, the vast number of inclusions, the rotational dining, waterslides, private island, fun kids clubs, Disney characters, high-caliber entertainment and Disney service shine through.

You'll certainly pay more for the privilege of sailing with Mickey and Minnie than with some other family-friendly lines. But for those with kids in that Disney age range, or for adults who know and trust the Disney brand, it's hard to go wrong in choosing Disney Cruise Line for your next vacation.

More stories to help you plan your next cruise:

• Best Disney ships for everyone
• Everything we know about Disney Treasure, joining DCL in 2024
• Everything you need to know about Disney Wish
• Best credit cards for booking a cruise

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Disney Cruise Line Comments on Potential Impacts of Hurricane Ian

By Kelly Oliveros Leave a Comment

Hurricane Ian has strengthened to a category 3 storm and is still on a path that could impact Florida.

Disney Wish

Thus far, Disney World has announced a temporary change in dining cancelation policies  and closures for certain hotels. But what if you’re going on a Disney Cruise ? Well, now we have an important update.

Disney has a weather warnings page for its cruises. As of September 26th at 9PM, a message was posted indicating that Disney Cruise Line has been closely monitoring Hurricane Ian. Based on the projected forecast, Disney anticipates that the Disney Wish , Disney Fantasy, and Disney Dream will sail as scheduled.

Disney Dream

They note, however, that there is a “possibility” that the Disney Wish will return to Port Canaveral on Friday, September 30th, a little later than originally scheduled. Disney has said that they will notify guests if it becomes “necessary to delay embarkation” for the Disney Wish sailing on September 30th.

Captain Mickey

You can see Disney’s full message below.

If you’ll be going on a Disney Cruise, you can check their weather updates page for more news ahead of your trip. And check back with us for further details.

As of around 10AM on September 27th, some of the tropical model data showed an expected impact to Orlando and other areas of Florida from Hurricane Ian.

Brand new tropical model data coming in for #Ian … Here’s a look… This is the latest info the NHC is using to work on their new cone; pic.twitter.com/iISKEEbk6J — Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 27, 2022

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 5AM update from September 27th noted that hurricane-force winds are expected in the hurricane warning area in west-central Florida starting Wednesday morning, while tropical storm conditions are expected by late Tuesday.

Heavy rainfall is expected to impact central Florida Wednesday and Thursday, potentially causing flash, urban, and small stream flooding.

Update: On September 28th , the hurricane was upgraded to a category 4 hurricane. Disney also shared that The Wish cruise set to sail on September 30th, would be canceled. You can get all the details on that change here.

We are continuing to watch Hurricane Ian and will provide you with the latest updates. For more information, check out our links below:

• Click here for the latest updates on Hurricane Ian
• Click here for what you need to know about cruising during hurricane season
• Click here to see 6 items you need for a hurricane in Disney World
• Click here to see details about Florida hotels offering discounted rates for hurricane evacuees

Check back with us for more information.

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Shocking Disney Report Claims Characters Must Stay In Costume as Cruise Ship Sinks

in Disney Cruise Line

A shocking report has made some pretty major claims about what would happen if a Disney Cruise Line ship ran into trouble at sea.

In a recent update from Popbitch – a weekly British gossip newsletter that claims to share insider information from the entertainment at large – someone allegedly connected to the Disney Cruise Line opened up about what would happen if a cruiseliner was abandoned.

“As one of the most tightly controlled brands on the planet, Disney has some very strict protocols aboard their cruises – especially regarding emergency evacuations ,” the report claimed. “For instance, if a Disney cruise is to be abandoned, any employee who is in costume at the time of the alarm sounding must stay in costume.”

Yep, that’s right – they’re claiming that costumed cast members must stay in character even during an emergency situation . “They are not permitted to remove their heads and ruin the illusion for guests, so, therefore, have to navigate the deck dressed as a giant Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, etc,” they said.

That’s not the only shocking measure they’re claiming Disney takes to maintain the integrity of its characters. If a ship is sinking, it’s apparently one cast member’s shop to go to the costume store and “firmly lock it up.” This is to ensure that, if the ship does go down, the costumes go with it.

“They don’t want to risk the empty costumes getting loose and floating up to the top – leaving children traumatized by seeing Goofy’s lifeless body bobbing about on the surface,” they said.

(Personally, we feel like escaping a sinking ship would be much more traumatizing than seeing a Goofy costume at sea, but that’s just us).

While the rumor initially appeared in an issue of the Popbitch digital newsletter, it took on a life of its own after it was shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by tech journalist Olivia Solon.

However, the initial post has since been deleted because – good news – Solon has verified (as has Inside the Magic) that it is totally false . Cast members do not need to stay in costume while the Disney Cruise Line sinks. We didn’t doubt otherwise for a second, but it’s good to get official clarification and sink this rumor once and for all.

Rumors aside, the Disney Cruise Line has dropped a series of exciting bombshells recently. Earlier this week, it unveiled details on its newest ship, Disney Destiny , which will boast a heroes and villains theme when it joins the fleet in 2025.

Another new ship will set sail for the first time in December 2024 . The Disney Treasure will include a restaurant inspired by  Coco  (2017), Plaza de Coco, a superhero dining experience named Worlds of Marvel, the history-inspired restaurant 1923 (named for the year The Walt Disney Company was founded), and a Jungle Cruise-inspired bar.

What’s the strangest Disney rumor you’ve ever heard? Let us know in the comments!

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An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

Category Archives: Podcast

The official podcast of the unofficial Disney Cruise Line Blog.

Join us as we discuss various topics relating to DCL with recent news and a spotlight subject that could range from the ships, ports or maybe even a theme park to help balance a land and sea vacation.

Submit your questions, comments or feedback via twitter, show comments or by leaving a messages at (321) 765-3252.

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Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast – Episode 57: Summer 2023 Sail Dates & Itinerary Announcement

On this podcast episode I’ll go over the recent announcement of the Summer 2023 (May – September) itineraries featuring the Disney Dream’s inaugural season in Europe. Show Notes Disney Cruise Line Continue Reading →

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Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast – Episode 56: Disney Wish Destination D23 Creativity & Inspiration Set Sail Panel

On this podcast episode we are treated to the audio from the November 21, 2021 Disney Wish panel presented during the Destination D23 event. Thanks again for listening to our podcast. We Continue Reading →

Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast – Episode 55: Latest Disney Cruise News

On this podcast episode I’ll go over the recent news stemming from the CDC’s conditional sail order, an update on the new Disney Cruise Ship orders, and the latest on the Continue Reading →

Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast – Episode 54: Early 2022 Sail Dates & Itinerary Announcement

On this podcast episode I’ll go over the recent announcement of the Early 2022 (January – April/May) itineraries featuring a return to Hawaii for the Disney Wonder as well as New Continue Reading →

Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast – Episode 53: Fall 2021 Sail Dates & Itinerary Announcement

On this podcast episode I’ll go over the recent announcement of the Fall 2021 (September – December) itineraries featuring the return of the seasonal Halloween on the High Seas and Very Continue Reading →

Here’s Where Disney Cruise Line Sets Sail in Summer 2025

Disney Cruise Line announced itineraries through Summer 2024 for the Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy legacy ships, plus the newer Treasure and Wish. There are sailings to popular ports of call in the Greek Isles, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, and the Caribbean. This post covers the destinations, followed by commentary on pricing, our recommended destinations, and why we’ll be booking on opening day instead of waiting for a deal.

Note that “opening day” booking for the general public will begin on March 22, 2024. Do not call today–these itineraries cannot be booked yet by anyone. Prior to that, there will be a staggered advance booking period beginning next Monday. Here’s the eligibility timeline:

• March 18, 2024 – Pearl Castaway Club Members
• March 19, 2024 – Platinum Castaway Club Members, Golden Oak Club Residents
• March 20, 2024 – Gold Castaway Club Members
• March 21, 2024 – Silver Castaway Club Members, Disney Vacation Club Members, Adventures by Disney Insiders
• March 22, 2024 – All Guests

It’s always a good idea to use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to do the work for you, but especially for opening day bookings. For one thing, using them to book your cruise is a great way to save time and stress. For another, their services are free to you since they’re paid commission by DCL on the reservation. You can also book directly on disneycruise.com or by calling Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500. Anyway, here are full details about the DCL Summer 2025 sailings…

Disney Fantasy Marks Inaugural Season in Europe – The Disney Fantasy will spend its first summer season in Europe in summer 2025, visiting incredible European destinations from  Northern Europe to the Mediterranean from May to late July .

Five  to 12-night sailings  from Barcelona, Spain and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy will call on picturesque ports of call throughout the Mediterranean, while one special 12-night sailing to the Greek Isles will feature three stops in Greece, two in Italy and the season’s only stop in Valetta, Malta.   

From late July to September, the Disney Fantasy will sail from Southampton, United Kingdom to numerous destinations including Spain, Norway and British Isles.   

Alaskan Adventures Return –  The Disney Wonder will once again embark on adventures to Alaska from Vancouver, Canada, with  five-, seven-, eight- and nine-night sailings from  May to September.

Families will encounter  the breathtaking natural beauty of the last frontier, combined with the magic of Disney, on cruises to  Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan , with port adventures that offer excursions to Alaska’s majestic glaciers and gold mining relics.    

Tropical Escapes from Florida –  Four Disney Cruise Line ships will homeport in Florida in summer 2025 with three ships out of Port Canaveral and one out of Fort Lauderdale for tropical escapes to the Bahamas and Caribbean, including Disney’s island destinations.  

The new Disney Treasure will follow its inaugural season with seven-night itineraries from Port Canaveral to the Eastern and Western Caribbean .  Eastern Caribbean sailings will take families to Disney’s private island paradise, Castaway Cay, along with Tortola and St. Thomas.

Western Caribbean sailings aboard the new Disney Treasure will bring families to destinations such as Falmouth in Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. The week-long voyages will offer at least two days at sea, giving families more time to enjoy the unique spaces, immersive dining and world-class entertainment onboard the brand-new ship. Plenty of time to take semi-permanent residence inside the Haunted Mansion bar.  

The Disney Magic will homeport in Port Canaveral for the first time since summer 2016, taking guests on four- and five-night sailings to The Bahamas and both of Disney’s island destinations (Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point) .  One special 10-night  southern Caribbean sailing in July will take families to  both of Disney Cruise Line’s island destinations along with  Antigua, St. Kitts, San Juan and Tortola  in the British Virgin Islands.  

In Summer 2025, both the Disney Magic and the Disney Dream will take guests to Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, DCL’s one-of-a-kind retreat on the island of Eleuthera. The vibrant tropical getaway will provide a unique window into the rich culture of The Bahamas merged with Disney’s signature entertainment and service.

Select itineraries will include stops at both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, with six Disney Magic or Disney Dream cruises sailing exclusively to Disney’s island destinations, inviting guests to experience even more magic both onboard and on land.  

T he Disney Wish will also sail from Port Canaveral, offering 3 and 4 night sailings to Nassau and the beloved beaches of Disney Castaway Cay. In South Florida, the Disney Dream will sail from Fort Lauderdale on 3 to 5-night sailings to one or both of Disney’s magical island destinations along with Nassau or Cozumel.  

Here’s a listing of every single Disney Cruise Line sailing for Summer 2025:

When it comes to commentary, I’m really looking forward to setting sail with Disney Cruise Line again. We had a Mediterranean Greek Isles cruise booked last summer for our anniversary, but it was one of several trips we cancelled when we found out we’d be having a baby. (The best-ever reason to cancel travel!)

As much as we’d love to rebook that cruise for Summer 2025, I’m  guessing  that won’t happen. (I have not consulted with Sarah, who may have other ideas. I’m not the captain when it comes to cruise planning.) It just seems like a lot with a toddler to try to make that time change and enjoy all of the ports. But who knows, perhaps we will.

Instead, maybe we’ll stay in the same time zone and take a do-over on one of the Alaska itineraries. Everyone else we knows–including Sarah’s parents–who have done that sailing had effusive praise and saw far more wildlife than we did. Not that we had a bad time by any means, I just feel like we didn’t have an optimal experience. My hesitation there would be that I don’t feel like it’s something we need  to redo just yet, and perhaps we’d be better off waiting a few years when Megatron can walk and would remember the experience. (Three year olds can do 5-mile hikes, right?!)

Setting aside our personal preferences and priorities, if you’re looking for a recommendation, pretty much everyone who has done one will shower the Alaska itineraries with praise. They’re also pretty approachable, and Vancouver is a world-class city. However, our all-time favorite cruise is the Norwegian Fjords itinerary–by a pretty wide margin.

We cover the similarities and differences in Norway vs. Alaska Cruises , but the bottom line is that for us, Norway was much better. Others we know who have done both give the edge to Alaska–you really can’t go wrong either way. At some point, we’ll definitely be redoing both. (See our  Norway Disney Cruise Report & Planning Guide for more on our experience with the fjords voyage.)

In any case, I cannot say enough good things about the Norwegian Fjords cruises. If you have a child who is obsessed with  Frozen , it’s basically the perfect vacation that blends real-world destinations and culture with Disney. I cannot wait to revisit Norway, but that’s mostly to show it to our daughter and seeing it through her eyes–so we’re still several years off from that happening. She’ll probably be obsessed with  Frozen 3/4  by then!

Every year opening day price-points make waves on social media, as prices always jump. This is not really a surprise at this point, but it’s nonetheless easy to be taken aback when first seeing each year’s prices…especially if you remember what prices were 5 years ago.

This has been  especially true  with Disney Cruise Line in the last couple of years as compared to the post-reopening period. We talk a lot about pent-up demand, and it’s important to recognize that DCL has seen a tremendously lagged version of that. Remember, there were restrictions in place through 2022, and ‘revenge travel’ didn’t really arrive in full force until last year.

We’ve had some sticker shock in looking at DCL prices lately, especially as compared to the post-reopening period when Sarah went on several sailings with friends–there were a ton of last minute steals back then. Now, it’s the opposite. Sorta like Walt Disney World in 2022 when resort discounts were scarce.

My  hope  is that a similar scenario plays out with Disney Cruise Line. That pent-up demand will start exhausting itself, discounts will return, and pricing will trend back towards “normal” levels. That’s probably wishful thinking, though. Walt Disney World is still up considerably since 2019, and that’s even before taking into account all of the cuts.

To that point, it’s worth noting that opening day stateroom rates are typically on the lower end of the eventual pricing spectrum. Which is to say that as itineraries start to book up and stateroom inventory becomes more scarce, rates invariably increase. Pricing is demand-based, with cruises in recent years rarely decreasing in price–increases are far more common. (Basically, this is my warning to  not  bank on the exhaustion of pent-up demand leading to price decreases. That’s my wishful thinking, but history is not on my side.)

Ultimately, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with Disney Cruise Line, just like all other aspects of travel. We already have Megatron’s first cruise booked for this year (finally getting the chance for a do-over of the Very Merrytime Cruise) and my guess is that we’ll be doing another sailing in Summer 2025.

From my perspective, summer is the ideal time to do Disney Cruise Line–it’s my least-favorite time to travel pretty much everywhere else due to climate and crowds. (“Everywhere else” meaning the places I like to go: theme parks and National Parks.) Since the ships are capacity-constrained, largely indoors, and have a cool breeze outside in the evenings, I find them to be great summertime alternatives to the normal tourist destinations. There’s more to it than that, but anyway, that’s a rundown of the Disney Cruise Line itineraries for Summer 2025!

Planning to set sail aboard one of the Disney Cruise Line ships? Read our comprehensive Disney Cruise Line Guide to prepare for your trip, plan entertainment and other activities, and learn what to expect from your Disney cruise! If you want personalized recommendations for Disney Cruise Line itineraries, ships, and more, click here to get a cruise quote from a no-fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner . They can find you all of the current discounts, and help you plan the details of your cruise!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think of these Summer 2025 Disney Cruise Line itineraries? Any that appeal to you? Any thoughts on pent-up demand for cruises exhausting itself by next summer? Will you be booking on opening day, or taking a wait and see approach hoping to score a deal later? Do you think Disney Cruise Line is worth the premium pricing? Any other tips to add or recommendations? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

When you get back to this post, will you please elaborate a bit on the shoes and boots you packed for Alaska and Norway?

Many thanks.

Tom, We did multiple trips to Europe when our boys were under the age of five. Three with our now 9 year old when he was 2, 3 and 4 and two with our now 6 year old when he was 9mo and 1 year. Several trips since…they always adapt to the time change better than the adults! We learned after the first long haul trip that even though it saves a lot of money, always get them their own seat…so worth it in the end.

DON’T BOOK ANY OF THEM! Enjoy the “before School Age” years when you can save absolutely loads of money by sailing DCL at times when there are no school breaks. And frankly, with a little one, the relaxing Caribbean cruises where you can just enjoy a pina colada on a white sand beach while your kid builds castles in the shade of the umbrella are the way to go. You can book the overpriced summer sailings when you are forced to by draconian school districts in a few years.

But when that happens, Alaska is incredible.

You’re welcome.

Thanks for the advice!

Our “problem” (so to speak) is that we have a lot of travel we want to do before she starts school, and almost everywhere is going to have seasonal crowds, weather, and pricing.

So given that, I’d rather push the cruises to summer (even if it means paying an arm and a leg…he says, before seeing the actual pricing) and do the other things we enjoy more–and think will be impacted by crowds to an even greater degree–the rest of the year. Does that make sense?

A Disney Cruise is 1 of the best vacations with young children, as they actually have childcare you can rely on. Best for ages over 3, but extra fee nursery for under 3 — So a vacation where mom and dad can still enjoy a romantic dinner or going to a show, while baby is in the nursery.

Let’s put it this way — It’s a much better vacation with a baby than going to a Disney theme park.

At ports, your excursions are basically limited to what you can do with a stroller for a couple hours at a time.

Yup, we did a Norway DCL cruise eight years ago and it ranks as one of our favorite trips we’ve ever done. There’s a lot that I love about cruising but excursions are typically pretty “meh” except in Norway where our hiking and kayaking experiences were out of this world.

And hooray for a Very Merrytime Cruise with baby! Our only Merrytime Cruise was with our then-six-month-old baby and it was a near-perfect experience from beginning to end. I was convinced, watching how well Santa Claus interacted with and adapted to each kid in line, and how effortlessly he handled our little girl, that he was the real thing!

I’d love it if a ship other than the Wonder would come out to California

Nothing against cruising, but you might really enjoy Norway via land instead. Far, far cheaper and you can explore some of the country’s inland national parks and get to some really nice hikes and glaciers. Like cruising, Norway is great in the summer due to the weather/climate. And I used to follow page for the famous Kjeragbolten hike and saw a couple do it with a 12-month-old baby in a backpack in 1-2 hours less time than it took me, so it’s Megatron-friendly!

I’ve never visited Alaska, but know many who have taken a cruise there in the past few years. All loved it. It does seem similar to Norway, but I’d still like to visit. Though, again, for me I’ might rather fly and do a land trip.

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‘furiosa’: anya taylor-joy, chris hemsworth & george miller kick off warner bros cinemacon 2024 with extended first look, breaking news.

• Peter Bart: Bob Iger’s Proxy War Victory Recalls Corporate Skirmishes Of Hollywood Past

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It had all the elements of a good action movie – jeopardy, revenge, a mega budget – with even some casualties thrown in (albeit corporate).

The Bob Iger vs Nelson Peltz (who?) war is over now and Iger has won. But some filmmakers and ticket buyers might wonder: Did any of it matter? Would a modest change on the Disney board of directors have had any impact on the future of entertainment? (Peltz himself runs a hedge fund called Trian Partners and has no background in entertainment.)

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But now Iger has won – again. The onetime TV weatherman has played a winning hand over a succession of rivals and doubters dating back to the Michaels (Eisner and Ovitz) and Jeffrey Katzenberg and even an occasionally skeptical Disney relative or heir.

Walt’s nephew, Roy, once disdainfully critiqued Eisner’s grandiose Disney headquarters building and Eisner’s mania for “branding.” Still, he understood that, during Eisner’s 20-year reign starting in 1984, Disney income soared from $100 million to $4.5 billion.

And under Iger’s acquisitive surges, Disney had grown into a nation-state encompassing theme parks, cruise ships, streamers, sports channels and residential communities — and even an occasional movie.

In contrast to other mega corporations, some 33%-40% of Disney’s shareholders are non-institutional – families and inherited trust funds and moviegoers. Its share price has jumped some 35% since the start of the year.

For every adversary, like Marvel’s Ike Perlmutter, there’s been an ally, like George Lucas. And for every enemy, like Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis, there was an important ally, like Joe Biden.

He also killed major movies being directed by world-class filmmakers like David Lean, Fred Zinnemann and Michelangelo Antonioni — some in pre-production, some actually shooting. He brought in a TV executive named Jim Aubrey to run the overall company. The studio never recovered, nor did Aubrey.

Barry Diller’s strategy for the future of Paramount and Viacom was vastly different from that of his vitriolic rival Sumner Redstone. Redstone won that fight, but was so intimidated by his rival Rupert Murdoch, who controlled Fox, that he fired his gifted CEO, Tom Freston, fearing that Murdoch had gained the upper hand in social media ventures. He hadn’t, and Redstone never found a worthy successor to Freston.

With all their idiosyncrasies, the studio chiefs of early Hollywood remained fixated on their prime product – movies. “He was a giant in his day,” Spencer Tracy intoned at the funeral of Louis B. Mayer, praising the MGM boss for fostering an expanded studio system and trusting the decisions of his creative chief, Irving Thalberg.

In launching his attack on Iger, Peltz, an activist investor, criticized the Disney CEO for overspending on streaming strategy rather than expanding theme park rides (streamers lost millions in the last quarter). He also charged that Iger hadn’t acted quickly enough on his ESPN and other linear TV problems and lacked a plan for succession.

If anything, however, the net effect of the Peltz-Perlmutter-Jay Rasulo offensive was to rebuild stockholder appreciation for Iger. Perhaps more important, it also prompted Iger to re-focus on Disney’s prime product: entertainment.

Old Walt would likely have been pleased about that.

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UConn beats Purdue and cruises to sixth NCAA championship

Seth Greenberg and Jay Williams laud Dan Hurley and UConn after they beat Purdue 75-60 to secure back-to-back national titles. (1:13)

• Graduate of University of Delaware. Follow on X

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- On paper, the plan wasn't working.

Zach Edey had 14 points, the reigning Wooden Award winner was talking trash to Dan Hurley and the UConn bench, and Purdue led the Huskies with 8 minutes left in the first half.

UConn had elected to guard Edey one-on-one with Donovan Clingan , essentially allowing him to score at will, while focusing most of their defensive attention on the Boilermakers' other players. Edey was dominating UConn's projected lottery pick center like nobody else had all season.

But UConn, as it has done consistently over the past two years, stayed the course and trusted its game plan. Edey couldn't beat the Huskies by himself, and his teammates weren't doing much to help.

The floodgates opened for UConn in the second half, and the Huskies ultimately beat Purdue 75-60, winning their second straight men's national championship and becoming the first team to go back-to-back since Florida in 2006 and 2007.

"What could you say?" UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "We won -- by a lot again."

And after one of the most dominant NCAA tournament runs in history last year, when UConn beat its six opponents by 20.0 points per game, it was even more unbeatable this year. The Huskies' average scoring margin in their six 2024 NCAA tournament wins was 23.3 points.

Once again, all six wins came by double digits -- making that 12 straight NCAA tournament wins by at least 10 points dating back to last season.

"I think it's up there in terms of the greatest two-year runs that a program maybe has ever had," Hurley said. "I just think it's the best two-year run I think in a very, very long time just because of everything we lost from last year's team. To lose that much, and again, to do what we did again, it's got to be as impressive a two-year run as a program's had since prior to whoever did it before Duke . To me, it's more impressive than what Florida and Duke did because they brought back their entire teams. We lost some major players."

Purdue was expected to be UConn's most difficult test in two years. The Boilermakers were arguably the second-best team in the country all season, boasted the best player in the college basketball and were a connected group that also happened to be the second-best 3-point shooting team in the nation.

The numbers supported the Huskies' decision to focus most of their defensive effort on Purdue's complementary players. In Purdue's wins this season, Edey averaged 24.9 points. In Purdue's losses, Edey averaged 25.0 points. The 7-foot-4 center was going to get his production regardless.

As a result, the much-anticipated matchup between Edey and Clingan was one-sided in the early minutes of the game. Edey short-armed his first shot over Clingan, hitting the front rim. For the next 11 minutes, though, he did whatever he wanted against UConn's big man. He scored over Clingan, absorbed contact to finish through Clingan, and even caught a lob and dunked against Clingan.

Purdue was getting Edey the ball in good position, and he was scoring consistently.

After he scored his 13th and 14th points with 8:07 left in the first half to give Purdue a 2-point lead, he looked over at the UConn bench and exchanged a few words with Hurley as the two teams jogged back to their respective huddles at the media timeout.

"I got a couple looks," joked Huskies assistant coach Luke Murray, who was assigned to scout and plan for Purdue in preparation for Monday's game.

"Their offensive efficiency numbers really don't fluctuate that much depending on whether he's really good or great or excellent. Where it really starts to change is when [Fletcher] Loyer , [Braden] Smith and [Lance] Jones and [Mason] Gillis and those guys make 3s. ... We felt if Zach had a great game and we did a great job of holding those other guys in check, that we'd have a really good shot to win."

After Edey's opening salvo, though, he struggled for a long stretch, and Purdue couldn't keep up with the Huskies. He made just one field goal in the next 14:28 as UConn turned a 2-point deficit into a 9-point lead.

UConn tasked freshman Stephon Castle , who had previously helped shut down Northwestern 's Boo Buie and Illinois ' Terrence Shannon Jr. earlier in the tournament, with pressuring Purdue point guard Smith, while veteran guards Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer looked to keep Purdue's perimeter players from getting clean looks.

The Boilermakers attempted just two 3-pointers in the first half and seven in the game, with the lone made 3 coming when Smith had to put up a desperation jumper with the shot clock winding down in the first half.

"We watched the film," Newton said. "They get their 3-pointers off, people going down there and helping on Edey. They did a great job game planning and made sure it was a focus that we didn't leave the 3-point line and let Edey do his damage. He only shoots 2s. He doesn't shoot 3s. If he makes 15 2s like he did today, that's 30. Where are the rest of the points going to come from?"

"I just think it's the best two-year run I think in a very, very long time just because of everything we lost from last year's team. To lose that much, and again, to do what we did again, it's got to be as impressive a two-year run as a program's had since prior to whoever did it before Duke. To me, it's more impressive than what Florida and Duke did because they brought back their entire teams. We lost some major players." UConn coach Dan Hurley

"The coaches made a point that we'd be really locked in if we could control their 3-point attempts," Spencer added. "I think holding them to seven, we were just really locked in on not letting those other guys get involved in the game."

Purdue briefly threatened UConn early in the second half, when Camden Heide had an aggressive put-back dunk to cut the lead to seven and when Edey scored four straight points to cut the lead to nine. But the Huskies constantly countered with key shots when it mattered and led by double-digits for nearly 15 minutes in the second half.

They became the third team to win multiple title games by 15-plus points and just the second team to do it in consecutive years, joining UCLA 's three-year run from 1967 to 1969, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

"To win [by] double digits these past two years, it's just a tribute to our culture here," forward Alex Karaban said. "We're never satisfied. We're always hungry. We're always going to go on runs and we're always going to continue to play hard to where we're going to break the other team. No team practices like us, no team goes as hard as us. It showed in the second half."

Newton won the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player award after finishing with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists -- the second time he has been UConn's best player in the championship game. In the 2023 title game win over San Diego State, Newton went for 19 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists.

Castle continued his stellar postseason, finishing with 15 points and 5 rebounds after tallying 21 points and 5 rebounds against Alabama in the semifinals.

Edey had 37 points for the most points scored in a losing effort in the national championship game.

While last year's fifth championship seemingly settled the debate around UConn's blue-blood status, going back-to-back for the Huskies' sixth title in 26 years puts the program in truly rarified air. Only six other schools have produced back-to-back men's basketball champions, and UConn is now tied for third all time with six championships.

"We're going to try to replicate it again. We're going to maintain a championship culture," Hurley said.

"I don't think that we're going anywhere."