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Very Merrytime Cruises

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Create a new family tradition and celebrate the holidays at sea immersed in a winter wonderland of fun!

Onboard activities, featured 2024 itineraries.

Disney Cruises With Special Themes

Disney’s themed cruises are designed for families and often showcase popular movie franchises or holiday celebrations. These are a prime choice for Disney enthusiasts or those searching for a unique cruise experience. This article explores seven Disney cruises with special themes, where I’ll emphasize their unique features and reasons they might be perfect for your next trip.

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The Magic of Disney’s Themed Cruises

Disney Cruises are much more than just voyages. They are magical escapades where stories come to life.

While almost every Disney Cruise has a theme night (such as Pirate Night or Frozen Night), those events are limited to only a few hours — typically just dinner and a deck party afterward.

Themed Disney cruises elevate this experience by infusing specific themes into every corner of the cruise, creating an immersive adventure for at least one full day — if not the entire cruise. These include:

• Unique Atmosphere : From staterooms to dining areas, the entire ship transforms according to the theme.
• Tailored Entertainment : Witness shows, parades, and fireworks displays tailored to the cruise’s unique theme.
• Themed Activities : Every activity, whether it’s a treasure hunt or a dance party, is designed to resonate with the theme.

Now, let’s look at the six themed cruises that Disney Cruise Line currently offers and one that may or may not be returning.

Special “Days at Sea” Themed Disney Cruises

Experience enchanting tales come alive with day-long events dedicated to iconic Marvel comics and the magical world of Pixar films. Enjoy exclusive meet-and-greets, deck celebrations, and activities that separate these themed cruises.

1. Marvel Day at Sea

Special onboard offerings may vary from year to year

Step aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship for a journey like no other as the world of Marvel comes alive around you. With the exclusive Marvel Day at Sea , be prepared for a day packed with action, entertainment, and unforgettable memories that cater to fans, young and old.

Essential Details:

• Set Sail On : Disney Dream
• Journey Dates : Multiple departures from January to March 2025
• Route : Luxurious 5-night Disney cruises from Fort Lauderdale , exploring the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean

Highlights & Experiences:

• Marvel Meet & Greet : Capture the moment with over 30 Marvel legends, ranging from the valiant Captain America to the formidable Thanos.
• Super Shows : An exclusive, jaw-dropping superhero stunt show, unique to these sailings. Perfect for family entertainment!
• Deck Extravaganza : Day and nighttime Marvel-inspired deck parties ensure non-stop fun.

Why Marvel Day at Sea?:

• Exclusive Photo Ops : With both beloved heroes and notorious villains. Perfect for your social media profiles.
• Epic Entertainment : From unique stunt shows to immersive deck parties, there’s no dull moment.
• Themed Activities : These activities are suitable for people of all ages. You can dive deep into the Marvel universe, participate in trivia, or simply enjoy the atmosphere.

My friend Luis took his family on a Marvel-themed cruise earlier this year, and they absolutely loved it. The kids were so excited to meet characters dressed up as their favorite superheroes. Luis said the nighttime parties up on the deck were the highlight of the trip for everyone.

2. Pixar Day at Sea

Pixar Day at Sea is an exclusive Disney Fantasy cruise where fans of all ages can immerse themselves in their favorite Pixar stories.

• Ship : Disney Fantasy (2024). 2025 TBD.
• Journey Dates : 2024 sailings were 7-night Caribbean cruises between January and early March. 2025 TBD.
• Destinations : These Disney cruises depart from Port Canaveral and explore Eastern and Western Caribbean ports like Cozumel, St. Thomas, and Disney’s private island of Castaway Cay .

Highlights & Features:

• Meet and Greet : Rub shoulders with Pixar legends, from the Toy Story gang to The Incredibles.
• Dazzling Deck Party : Revel in festivities with The Incredibles, and end the night with a breathtaking fireworks display.
• Hey Howdy Breakfast : Enjoy melodies and meals with Sheriff Woody, Jesse, and Bullseye.
• Pixar Day at Sea Dinner : Feast on cuisine inspired by iconic Pixar tales.
• Undersea Magic with Crush : Engage in animated conversations with Crush, the sea turtle from Finding Nemo, amidst a mesmerizing aquatic setting.

Why Pixar Day at Sea?:

• Diverse Character Interactions : Meet a vast range of Pixar characters that will delight the children.
• Animation Everywhere : Be swept away by shows, movies, and experiences that cover the spectrum of Pixar’s impressive portfolio.
• Activities for All : Whether you’re looking to dive deep into Pixar trivia, engage in themed crafts, or simply enjoy the atmosphere, there’s something for everyone.

My son Ben adores Pixar films, so my wife Jaimie and I surprised him with a Pixar Days at Sea cruise earlier this year. He was floored!

Free Help Planning Your Disney Cruise

The Vacationeer is here to help you with everything from WiFi on the ship and tipping guidelines to choosing the best month for your Disney Cruise or understanding Disney cruise dining options .

As a trusted Authorized Disney Vacation Planner agency, working with The Vacationeer ensures a blend of experience and expertise to craft your perfect Disney cruise experience. This esteemed Disney travel agency will expertly guide you to the best staterooms , dates, and itinerary for your trip all while getting you the lowest cost .

Here’s what sets them apart:

• Onboard Extras : Get up to $1,000 in Disney onboard credit for your ship activities.
• Zero Hidden Costs : Benefit from their guidance without any extra charges.
• Direct Assistance : Avoid the hassle of big call centers; connect directly with a dedicated agent.
• Competitive Rates : Receive the same prices as direct bookings.
• Alerts on Discounts : They continuously scout for new deals, even post your booking.
• Stress-Free Queries : Curious? Their no-pressure, free quotes mean you can inquire with ease.
• No Strings Attached : Every service The Vacationeer offers is free. Reach out with confidence!

Holiday-Themed Disney Cruises

From mid-September to year’s end, immerse yourself in the festive magic as Disney Cruise Line offers special cruises celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmastime, and New Year’s Eve.

3. Halloween on the High Seas

What if Disney combined the magic of Disney with the spookiness of Halloween? Disney’s Halloween on the High Seas does just that. Imagine sailing through the vast oceans while enjoying haunted antics and delicious treats. A cheerful, not-scary theme dominates parties and entertainment on the ships.

• Set Sail On : Typically on Disney Magic, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish
• Journey Dates : Numerous departures span September and October
• Route : Varies by ship; typically Eastern/Western Caribbean or the Bahamas.
• Disney Halloween Meet & Greet : Capture whimsical moments with Disney’s iconic figures donned in Halloween attire. From a spellbinding Minnie Mouse to a ghostly Goofy, they’re all aboard!
• Signature Spooky Shows : Immerse in exclusive experiences like “The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream” and the renowned Mickey’s “Mouse-querade Party.”
• Deck Celebrations : Participate in vibrant deck parties imbued with the timeless Halloween spirit.

Why Choose Halloween on the High Seas?

• Enchanting Photo Ops : Stand beside festively adorned Disney characters.
• Non-Stop Entertainment : From unique shows to dynamic deck parties, you will have a blast!
• Diverse Activities : This family-friendly event features ghostly crafts, delicious treats, and a mystical atmosphere.

Jaimie and I enjoyed a “Halloween on the High Seas” cruise a few years ago. The fun deck parties – and mingling with Mickey and friends – remain a treasured memory. Every Halloween enthusiast and Disney fan will love this cruise!

4. Thanksgiving at Sea

Experience the magic of Thanksgiving on a Disney cruise, where you’ll be surrounded by festive decorations, delicious food, and Disney’s signature hospitality.

• Set Sail On : Disney Magic , Disney Wonder , Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish .
• Journey Dates : The exact Thanksgiving Disney cruise dates for 2024 and 2025 aren’t usually officially announced, but they are typically limited to the individual cruises which will be in progress on Thanksgiving Day itself. (Don’t expect every November sail date to include Thanksgiving touches, unlike Halloween/Christmas which tend to “creep” into surrounding months.)
• Route : Sail from ports such as San Diego and Port Canaveral, exploring the Mexican Riviera, the Western Caribbean, and the Bahamas.
• Thanksgiving Feast : Indulge in a delicious traditional turkey dinner, carefully prepared to evoke the feeling of home.
• Festive Ambiance : Enjoy the seasonal decorations that adorn every corner of the ship, creating a heartwarming atmosphere.
• Live Entertainment : Tune into live satellite broadcasts of football and experience the thrill of the game while at sea.

Why Thanksgiving at Sea?

• Effortless Celebration : Leave the meticulous tasks of cooking, cleaning, and decorating to Disney’s expert crew.
• Bonding Time : Prioritize quality moments with loved ones as you sail from one enchanting port to another.
• Unique Festivities : From the traditional turkey feast to the Very Merrytime Cruises’ offerings, there’s always something magical to experience.

Last year, my cousin Rachel and her family went on a magical cruise that combined the wonder of Disney with the cozy warmth of Thanksgiving. They were enchanted by the experience! With Disney’s Thanksgiving at Sea , you, too, can redefine your Thanksgiving traditions.

5. Very Merrytime Cruises

Hop on board Disney’s Very Merrytime Cruises for a dazzling holiday experience. Dive into the spirit of Christmas with an unforgettable journey, made even more special by Disney’s magical touch.

• Set Sail On : Typically on Disney Magic, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish.
• Journey Dates : Sailings throughout November and December, from short 3-night trips to extended adventures. Check with The Vacationeer for dates and pricing.
• Route : Leave from Galveston , Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, and more. Travel the sunny beaches of the Bahamas, explore the Western Caribbean, and visit the Mexican Riviera.
• Holiday Deck Show : Enjoy performances by your favorite Disney characters, celebrating the holiday spirit with music and cheer.
• Seasonal Décor : The ship transforms into a Christmas paradise with sparkling lights, a massive 24-foot tree, and festive decorations everywhere.
• Santa Claus Visits : Look out for special moments with Santa, always ready to spread happiness and gather Christmas wishes.

A life-size Gingerbread House may be seen on a Very Merrytime Cruise

Why Very Merrytime Cruises?:

• Magical Atmosphere : Experience the classic Disney Christmas magic throughout the ship.
• Time Together : Bond with loved ones as you travel to amazing destinations, all while wrapped in holiday joy.
• Holiday Activities : From lighting the tree with Mickey and Minnie to festive surprises on board, there’s always something special happening.

For Jaimie and me, this cruise stands out, rivaled only by Halloween on the High Seas. It’s like a Christmas fairy tale!

6. New Year’s Eve at Sea

Set sail into the new year aboard Disney Cruise Line, where the night sky sparkles with stars and breathtaking fireworks. A joyous voyage that will ensure you end the year in the most beautiful way and launch you into the next with a heart full of happiness.

• Set Sail On : Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish.
• Journey Dates : Various sailings, limited to the individual cruises that will be in progress on December 31.
• Route : 4-7-night Disney cruises from Florida , Galveston, and Sydney; most travel to the Caribbean and Bahamas, stopping at Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay.
• A Night to Remember : The ship decks come alive with music, food, and festivities for revelers of all ages, continuing past the midnight chime.
• New Year’s Feast : Dive into a special dinner menu designed exclusively for this auspicious evening.
• Fireworks Display : Look up to the enchanting night sky and witness the dazzling New Year’s Eve fireworks, a spectacle that adds magic to the night.

Why New Year’s Eve at Sea?

• Unmatched Celebration : Start your year surrounded by Disney’s magic, from the ships’ magnificence to the dedicated New Year festivities.
• Family Bonding : With activities catered to all ages, it’s the perfect occasion for families to come together and celebrate.
• Destinations Galore : Sail from enchanting ports, witnessing the first sunrise of the year over horizons ranging from the Caribbean beaches to the Australian coast.

Disney’s New Year’s Eve at Sea is a magical end-of-year experience on the high seas.

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A Themed Disney Cruise with an Uncertain Future

At least one popular specialty cruise is in limbo at the moment.

7. Star Wars Day at Sea (Suspended)

Combining the magic of Disney with the allure of a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars Day at Sea became an instant hit among cruise aficionados and Star Wars enthusiasts alike. From its inauguration in 2016 up to 2022, these specialized Disney Caribbean cruises set sail on 7-day voyages, punctuated by a special day where Star Wars reigned supreme, complete with characters wandering the decks, movie-themed events, and even the ship’s horn playing the iconic “Imperial March.”

During these 7-Night Caribbean adventures departing from Port Canaveral, passengers were treated to:

• Epic Encounters : Memorable moments with Star Wars icons, including Chewbacca, R2-D2, and Darth Vader.
• Out-of-this-World Entertainment : Evening celebrations highlighted by Star Wars music and an unforgettable seaside fireworks display.
• Galactic Activities : Engagements ranging from costume events, dedicated movie screenings, and trivia to youth club sessions featuring the endearing BB-8.

Unfortunately, as of 2023, this cherished voyage has been put on hiatus . The event’s future remains uncertain despite being a top destination for Star Wars fans from its birth in 2016 to its final cruise in 2022. There is some speculation among fans that the Star Wars cruises were halted due to the launch of the land-locked Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World, but that experience is no longer being offered. Will Star Wars Day at Sea come back?  Know, we do not.

To stay updated – or for suggestions on alternative cruising experiences – we recommend reaching out to The Vacationeer .

Q & A on Disney’s Special Themed Cruises

Q: how kid-friendly are these cruises.

A: Disney cruises, themed or otherwise, are designed with families in mind. Kids of all ages will find entertainment, activities, and characters catered to them.

Q: Are there adult-only areas on these cruises?

A: Absolutely! While the cruises are family-focused, there are adult-exclusive areas such as Disney’s specialty restaurants , nightclubs, lounges, and spas to ensure that adults have their own sanctuary of relaxation and fun.

Q: Can we still enjoy standard cruise amenities on themed cruises?

A: Yes, the themed cruises offer all the standard included amenities like gourmet dining, entertainment, pools, etc., in addition to the special themed activities and events.

Q: Are costumes allowed or encouraged on these themed cruises?

A: Costumes are encouraged, especially for theme-specific days like Marvel Day or Halloween on the High Seas. However, there are costume guidelines, especially for adults, to ensure a safe and inclusive environment. Don’t wear anything that’s “obstructive, objectionable, offensive, or violent”– and don’t bring anything that looks like a weapon (even a toy one). Costume masks that cover the face may only be worn while standing still to have a photo taken with a character. Make sure you consult all of the costume guidelines as you’re making your packing list so you don’t accidentally bring something prohibited onboard.

Q: What if we are not big fans of the specific theme? Will we still enjoy the cruise?

A: While the themes add an extra layer of magic, Disney Cruise Line offers a robust range of entertainment and activities. So even if you’re not a fan of the specific theme, there’s still plenty to enjoy.

Q: Given the slightly higher cost, are special-themed Disney cruises worth it?

A : Weighing the worth of special-themed Disney cruises depends on individual preferences and what one seeks in a vacation experience.

• Pros : These themed cruises present world-class entertainment, exclusive events, and one-of-a-kind experiences, catering especially to die-hard fans and those looking for something more than the usual cruise.
• Cons : The premium price might be a barrier for some, and travelers not particularly enamored with the specific theme might not see the added value.

Final Thought : Disney’s special themed cruises are more than just a cruise; they are an immersive narrative journey that brings beloved stories to life. Jaimie and I love the festive seasons, so Halloween and Christmas-themed cruises are a big deal for us. They are undeniably worth the extra investment.

Book your Themed Disney Cruise with The Vacationeer

Are you thinking of a Specialty Disney Cruise? Let The Vacationeer steer your voyage! Here’s why:

• Expertise : As a Diamond-Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Agency, they possess unmatched knowledge of the Disney Cruise Line.’
• One-on-One Guidance : Every client gets their own dedicated Vacationeer planner, guiding you from the very start till the end.
• Best Deals : They’re not just about booking your cruise. From ensuring you get the lowest prices to grabbing Florida Resident Discounts, they’ve got it all covered.
• Ports Galore : Whether you’re setting sail from Miami , Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, or even from ports like Galveston, San Diego, and overseas, they’re your go-to.
• Dining & Reservations : Let them handle your dining preferences, reservations, and special dietary needs.
• Bonus : They gift you onboard credit for choosing them, and their exceptional service comes at no extra cost!

Are specialty Disney cruises the right fit for you? Contact The Vacationeer . They’ll present accurate pricing, activities, itineraries, and more. Dive into your dream Disney Cruise with them now! Book your dream Disney Cruise today!

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Your Complete Guide To A Disney Christmas Cruise

Embarking on a Disney Christmas Cruise is like stepping into a holiday storybook where festive cheer meets the magic of Disney on the high seas. A Very Merrytime Cruise with Disney Cruise Line is not just a journey; it’s an immersive holiday experience! These cruises offer families a unique way to spend the holiday season with their favorite Disney characters and the chance to meet Santa Claus himself! Whether it’s your first cruise or a cherished family tradition, a Disney Christmas Cruise promises to be an extraordinary holiday adventure. That’s why we have created this helpful guide to give you the tools you need to have a magical adventure to remember!

We hope you find this post helpful! And if you are planning a trip to Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation and find the cheapest Walt Disney World vacation packages!

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Complete Guide to a Disney Christmas Cruise

Sailing on a Disney cruise ship is an experience drenched in the enchantment of Disney. From the intricately themed staterooms and dining venues to the exclusive character encounters. But what truly sets Disney cruises apart are their special-themed sailings! Guests can immerse themselves in the festive spirit with Very Merrytime Cruises.  My first cruise with DCL was a Halloween-themed voyage back in 2019, I can confidently say that it was a spellbinding adventure. And as a former Cast Member and someone who loves cheap tickets to Walt Disney World , it was the most magical vacation I’ve ever had. In this post, I’ll provide helpful information for those considering a Very Merrytime Cruise . Helping you decide if this holiday-themed journey is the perfect fit for your family’s festive celebration.

What Are Disney Cruise Line’s Very Merrytime Holiday Cruises?

Disney Cruise Line’s Very Merrytime Cruises transform the already magical voyage into a winter wonderland at sea. These cruises, scheduled around the Christmas season, offer guests a unique blend of Disney’s enchanting entertainment and the festive spirit of the holidays. Imagine boarding a ship adorned with holiday décor, complete with a giant Christmas tree, twinkling lights, and garlands galore, setting the scene for a truly memorable Christmas experience.

Related Post: What are the Best Disney Cruise Rooms

When Are the Very Merrytime Disney Cruise Dates?

Now that we know what a D isney Christmas cruise  is, we can start to uncover more details on these cheerful sailings! The V ery Merrytime Disney Cruises  sail dates are November 8th – December 28, 2023. And November 4th – December 29th, 2024. These dates are chosen to maximize the holiday experience, allowing guests to soak in the Yuletide spirit throughout the entire holiday season. When booking a Disney Cruise , one of the first things you should look at is the sailing calendar. This will help determine where you’re sailing from, sailing to, and on what ship you’ll be sailing on. This is also where you can see if your vacation will line up with any specialty cruises!

What are Disney Merrytime Cruise Sail Dates?

• 2023 : November 8th – December 28th
• 2024 : November 4th – December 29th

Christmas Disney Cruise Ships 2023/2024

Disney Magic:

• Sail Dates : December 17, 2023 – December 28, 2023 & November 21, 2024 – December 23, 2024
• Sailing From : Galveston, Texas
• Ports of Call : Progresso & Cozumel, Mexico, & George Town, Grand Cayman

Disney Dream:

• Sail Dates : November 20, 2023 – December 23, 2023 & November 14, 2024 – December 21, 2024
• Sailing From : Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Ports of Call : Nassau, Bahamas,  Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point , Disney Castaway Cay, & Cozumel, Mexico

Christmas on the Disney Fantasy:

• Sail Dates : December 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023 & November 10, 2024 – December 22, 2024
• Sailing From : Port Canaveral
• Ports of Call : Nassau Bahamas, Disney Castaway Cay , Lighthouse Point, George Town Grand Cayman, Falmouth Jamaica, Cozumel Mexico, Tortola British Virgin Islands, St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands

Disney Wish:

• Sail Dates : November 20, 2023 – December 11, 2023 & November 4, 2024 – December 23, 2024
• Ports of Call : Nassau Bahamas, Disney Castaway Cay

Related Post : Discounted Disney Cruise Line Staterooms

What is the Cost of a Disney Christmas Cruise?

You might be wondering if the extra activities and unique experiences of a Very Merrytime Cruise come with a higher price tag compared to regular Disney cruises. While themed cruises may sometimes carry a slightly higher cost, the final price is influenced by several factors beyond just the theme. With Disney Cruise Line, the key elements determine the cost of your cruise . These factors include the sailing date, selected ports of call, and stateroom occupancy. Therefore, it’s possible that your Very Merrytime Cruise could align in price with a standard cruise, or even be more budget-friendly.

How Much is a Very Merrytime Disney Cruise?

• $1,004 – $3,059 per person

It’s worth noting that If you’re looking to sail on a themed Disney cruise, we suggest the Halloween on the High Seas cruises for the price point. The Halloween period overlaps with Hurricane Season. This is often met with lower cruise prices. However, the Holiday sailings tend to be a peak time for travel, potentially impacting the cost and availability.

Related Post :   How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost Per Person?

Very Merrytime Cruise Activities

The distinctiveness of the Disney Very Merrytime Cruises  lies in the complete transformation of the ship to embody the festive theme. This type of comprehensive thematic overhaul is exclusive to the Halloween and Christmas seasons. During other times of the year, Disney cruises showcase the natural elegance and charm of the Disney fleet without any specific themes. But for Very Merrytime Cruises, the experience is entirely different. The ships are adorned with Christmas decorations, including sparkling lights, festive wreaths, and towering Christmas trees. In addition to the visual transformation, these cruises feature an array of themed activities, entertainment, and special appearances by beloved Disney characters in holiday attire. This level of detailed theming is consistent across all ships that host the Very Merrytime Cruises. With each vessel offering a uniquely immersive holiday experience at sea.

Very Merrytime Cruise Info & Entertainment

• Mickey’s Tree Lighting Magic

Characters Wearing Christmas Outfits

• Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball
• The Gingerbread House
• Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Deck Party

Meeting Santa Claus

• Storytime with Mrs Claus
• One of the highlights of the Disney Christmas Cruises is the opportunity to meet beloved Disney characters donning their festive holiday attire. It’s a perfect chance for memorable photos and a unique way to interact with these iconic characters in a Christmas setting.
• No Christmas celebration is complete without Santa Claus, and Disney’s Very Merrytime Cruises make sure of that. Children and adults alike can meet and take photos with Santa, adding an extra layer of holiday cheer to their sea voyage.

Related Post : When is the Cheapest Time to Go on a Disney Cruise?

Is Disney Cruise Christmas Worth It? – V ery Merrytime Cruise Review

Having experienced the magic of a themed Disney Cruise, I wholeheartedly would recommend it to everyone. Especially when you can seize the opportunity to book discounted staterooms through The Park Prodigy. These cruises encapsulate the wonder of the holidays with a unique Disney twist. And offer an array of festive activities, enchanting entertainment, and unforgettable character encounters. The convenience and savings provided by The Park Prodigy make the experience even more enjoyable ensuring a stress-free booking process! This cruise is not just a vacation; it’s a festive celebration that brings the joy of Disney and the spirit of Christmas! Together in a way that’s unparalleled to what you can experience in the theme parks.

Which Cruise Line Is Best for Christmas?

When considering a Christmas cruise, Disney Cruise Line stands out for its unparalleled combination of holiday festivities and Disney magic. From the festive decorations and unique holiday-themed entertainment. Disney offers an experience that’s hard to match. The attention to detail, quality of service, and overall atmosphere make it a highly recommended choice for families seeking a special way to celebrate the season.

Related Post : Enjoy Thanksgiving at Sea!

Disney Christmas Cruise FAQ

Q: Does Disney Do a Christmas Cruise?

A: Yes, Disney Cruise Line offers special Christmas cruises known as Very Merrytime Cruises. These cruises are specifically designed to celebrate the holiday season, featuring festive decorations, themed entertainment, and unique activities that embrace the spirit of Christmas.

Q: Is There a Pirate Night on Disney Christmas Cruises?

A: While Pirate Night is a beloved staple on many Disney cruises, its inclusion on a Disney Christmas Cruise can vary. These themed cruises focus more on holiday festivities. So it’s best to check the specific itinerary of your Very Merrytime Cruise for any themed nights, including Pirate Night.

Q: Do Disney Cruises Decorate for Christmas?

A: Absolutely! Disney cruises are renowned for their elaborate decorations, and this is especially true for the Very Merrytime Cruises. The ships are transformed into a holiday wonderland with Christmas trees, lights, garlands, and other seasonal adornments, enhancing the festive atmosphere onboard.

Q: Can You Do a Disney Cruise in December?

A: Yes, December is a prime time for Disney Very Merrytime Cruises. These special holiday cruises are scheduled throughout the Christmas season, including the month of December, offering guests a unique opportunity to celebrate the holidays in a magical Disney setting at sea.

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our   Disney  World Crowd Calendar  is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down   the best time to visit Disney World   based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a   Disney World Travel Agent   for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a  Free Quote  for all  Disney World Vacation Packages .  The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your   Walt Disney World Tickets.   A nd we offer promotional discounts for special events such as   Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets   and  Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets .

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Who We Recommend

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Kurt Gillman

Kurt is a former Disneyland Cast Member and seasoned explorer and is your trusted guide to the world of theme park travel. With countless visits to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, Tokyo Disneyland, and even aboard the Disney Cruise Line, Kurt's expertise and passion make him the perfect companion for your enchanting adventures. As the Multi-Media Manager, Content Creator and Writer for The Park Prodigy, Kurt hopes his experience and knowledge of the theme park industry can not only save people money, but give them the stress free vacation of their dreams. If he isn’t found trying the newest treats in Disneyland, Kurt enjoys relaxing at home with his dog Sam and playing video games with friends in his free time.

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Disney Cruise Line Christmas and New Year

Christmas cruises 2024 new year's eve.

All Disney Cruise Line Christmas and New Year cruise offers listed here are just itineraries and not cruise deals for sale. Vessels are ordered alphabetically. Comparing all the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet is a most convenient way to select the best for you Holiday voyages as departures (homeports, dates), destinations (regions, visited countries), itineraries (ports of call, arrival dates, port times) and also to compare cruise prices.

CruiseMapper shows cruise prices per person. These are only indicative fares on the ship's lowest category staterooms. All rates are based on double occupancy (twin share) and don't include cruise line or travel agency promotions, group booking rates or any other special offers and discounts.

See here the Walt Disney's cruise line's Christmas and New Year's Eve special offers of the "Mickey Mouse ships" as itineraries and departure dates, and compare DCL tickets prices per person.

DCL-Disney Cruise Line's December Holiday deals are in the "must-do" list of all vacationers with fun-loving kids, and plenty of money to spend on their Xmas extravaganza. DCL's Christmas and New Year prices listed here are only suggestive, in US dollars, per person. These are the company's min fares (cheapest Inside cabins, based on double occupancy). All itineraries listed here include only information, and they are not deals for sale. December and January dates of arrival in ports of call are shown in brackets. 

DCL's Xmas and New Year specials are a good choice for uniquely themed sailings on all four Disney ships. Families are able to enjoy their vacation in the company of Mickey and Minnie, all their good friends and all the bad villains in the immense family of Disney fun characters. The Walt Disney company's product combines traveling fun family, the Xmas fun itself, the New Years' Eve fireworks at sea, and not to forget the special dinner menus on the ship. All Disney ships are also full to their top decks with themed activities and modern technological innovations.

Excepting only Alaska (as a summer destination), DCL's Caribbean Holiday deals are among the most popular. On each of these voyages, passengers will be visiting the most famous of all private islands in the world - the line's Castaway Cay island in The Bahamas. Being an exclusive island for Disney ships and passengers only, Castaway Cay has all that children need for one unforgettable Xmas Disney-style vacation. 

The Caribbean is operated by Disney with regular roundtrip departures from Florida (Miami, and Port Canaveral/Orlando). The Caribbean packages as destinations visit The Bahamas and the Western Caribbean. When sailing to the Western Caribbean, the itinerary visits Mexico (Cozumel and Costa Maya) combined with Grand Cayman (where are available a large number of shore excursions for booking). The Eastern Caribbean also voyages visit the islands St Thomas (USVI) and St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles).

Walt Disney's "merry time maritime" itineraries

During the Walt Disney Xmas-themed "Merrytime Voyages", passengers on each ship can enjoy the following "bow-to-stern" theme events:

• On the voyage's first night, guests can enjoy “Mickey’s Tree-Lighting Magic”, celebrated in the atrium lobby. Disney characters will be around the 3-deck-high Xmas tree and singing holiday carols.
• “Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball” also takes place in the atrium's lobby. The guests of honor - Santa and Mrs. Claus - are welcomed with a Broadway-style show, traditional holiday tunes, and all-favorite Disney characters.
• There's a holiday storytime under the giant Xmas tree, where kids gather to hear all the classic Christmas tales, including the storytelling with the charming Mrs. Claus.
• Kids can join on the stage numerous Dickens-inspired carolers, sometimes accompanied by Disney characters, for a farewell show at the end of the cruise itinerary.
• Family-themed Disney holiday cruising activities, such as meeting Santa Claus and building gingerbread houses, are also offered fleetwide.
• Traditional for the Disney line kids holiday crafts activities are offered. Among those are decorating gingerbread men cookies and Xmas stockings, creating holiday animations, making holiday cards.
• “Deck the Deck Holiday Party” is a tropical-themed celebration hosted by Disney friends who lead signature games, such as limbo and hula hooping, along with dances enjoyed by all family members - conga line around the pool and the “Yuletide Slide”.
• A special holiday farewell celebration event is offered on the last night of each Xmas voyage. All the most popular Disney characters together with the ship's crew will perform in a musical finale. It will be guided by the mouse of all times - the Mickey Mouse.
• Santa Claus and his helpers will surprise kids at the atrium's lobby tree on Christmas Day morning. There will also be a musical performance by children and a traditional Christmas Dinner served in all the ship's dining room restaurants.
• When Disney ships visit the Bahamas and stop at the line's private island Castaway Cay during the Christmas holidays, passengers will be greeted by holiday island music, a decked-out Xmas tree, “snow flurries" (Bahamian) and Disney character meet & greets.
• On the cruise liner, expect special amenities (must be purchased in advance of sailing) available for stateroom delivery. These include holiday-themed treat baskets, gift packages, mini Xmas trees (decorated with red berries, mini carnations, ornaments, bow topper). During the Disney line's holiday cruises, the themed merchandise collection and ornaments will be available for purchase in the ship's gift shop.
• A midnight mass will be held on Christmas Eve.
• Disney sailings over Christmas will also include a special New Year's Eve party. It will feature music, sparkling wine, and the traditional midnight countdown.

Next tables show all DCL-Disney Cruise Line's Christmas New Year itineraries as ships, departure ports, call ports (dates and arrival/departure times), and deployment/regions.

Very Merrytime Christmas Cruise Info & Review

We recently did a Very Merrytime Christmas sailing aboard Disney Cruise Line and thought it’d be worth sharing photos, info, and our review of the voyage. Our cruise was a 4-night trip from Port Canaveral, Florida (near Walt Disney World) on the Disney Dream, but these holiday cruises are offered fleet-wide in November and December.

These Very Merrytime voyages promise everything of a normal itinerary, including Pirate Night, holiday-themed atrium entertainment acts, and a stop at Castaway Cay. Disney Cruise Line’s private island is also decked out for the holidays with garland, and icon Christmas tree, and more.

Aboard each Disney Cruise Line ship, there are also entertainment highlights, themed activities for kids, youth parties & crafts, and interactive options. Of course, there’s also a variety of exclusive, holiday-themed DCL merchandise and gifts. In our estimation, this all sounds better than it is in execution…

We’ll start with some basic background info about Disney Cruise Line’s Very Merrytime sailings…

Very Merrytime Cruise Info & Entertainment

Mickey’s Tree-Lighting Magic – When you walk onto your Disney Cruise Line ship on day one, the Christmas tree and garland lights aren’t yet on. This is because there’s a show featuring Disney characters, Christmas music, crew members, and more in this tree-lighting ceremony that makes these festive lights twinkle.

Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball – Santa and Mrs. Claus invite in some special guests on each Very Merrytime sailing in this performance. This special holiday gathering featuring Broadway-style entertainment (per Disney–we’d say that’s overselling it), classic holiday tunes, Mickey & friends, and snow in the atrium.

Christmas Character Costumes – The costumes that the Disney characters don during Mickey’s Tree-Lighting Magic Ceremony and Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball are also worn throughout the cruise during meet & greets. The Navigator App specifies meet-and-greet times, but not attire.

Castaway Cay – Disney Cruise Line’s private island is decked for the holidays with a tropical flair. An icon Christmas tree, holiday island music, garland, and even snow flurries greet guests arriving to the island.

Gingerbread House – Each Disney Cruise Line ship features a life-size gingerbread house in the atrium, created by the Crew Members from scratch as they compete against each other for the most creative and whimsical creation.

See Ya Real Soon – The holiday version of See Ya Real Soon is modified, featuring the Dickens Carolers who sing “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” As with Epcot’s now extinct fireworks, this was a perfect way to end the cruise during the Christmas season. This show also provides another opportunity for guests to meet the characters, in a rushed-but-efficient process.

There isn’t enough Christmas. That’s pretty much it, in a single sentence. Don’t get us wrong–we love Disney Cruise Line and had a blast on this sailing. However, this isn’t simply a sailing that coincidentally occurs around Christmas-time, it’s actively marketed by Disney as a Very Merrytime Cruise. From that perspective, it falls woefully short.

First, the decorations. It’s nice to see the atriums of the gorgeous Disney Cruise Line ships decorated, but disappointing that these are generic Christmas ornaments, garland, and lights. They look nice, but there’s nothing on-theme about them, which is a bit of a letdown if you’ve been to the resorts at Walt Disney World around the holidays.

Beyond the ship atrium, there just isn’t much in terms of decor. There are trees in the lobby of each restaurant and scattered in a few other spots, but not much. A few wreaths and scattered pieces of garland, but nothing (that I can recall) that was even illuminated outside the atrium.

Castaway Cay does have an on-theme Christmas tree, which is really well done. Definitely the best photo op of the entire Very Merrytime Christmas Cruise.

Beyond that…Castaway Cay also does not have much. This would’ve been totally fine and more understandable if the ship had an adequate amount of decor.

Then there’s the entertainment. Three shows might sound like a decent amount, but that would be really overselling each. The tree lighting is pretty short and the See Ya Real Soon is a modified version of a normal (also short) goodbye.

Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball is decent, but it’s also way too short, and the substance of the show is over far too quickly. Disney describes these as “Broadway-style” entertainment, but that’s not even remotely accurate. These are not proper shows, they’re mostly character greetings with a mild musical component. If you’re expecting Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration or even A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas, lower your expectations.

The Dickens Carolers are great in the few moments they’re given to shine, but those are over way too quickly. (If our in-room survey is any indication, they roam the ship and perform carols, but we never saw this.)

A proper stage show featuring the Dickens Carolers in the Walt Disney Theatre would’ve been awesome, but we would’ve been content with much less. Something– anything –of substance would’ve been nice. As it stands, there’s way too much of an emphasis on the Disney characters being introduced and waving, and too little on…literally anything else.

Speaking of the Disney characters, they are one of the few Christmas bright spots. Each of the Fab Five (or is it Sensational Six now?) has multiple holiday-themed outfits, and they rotate in these costumes for meet & greets throughout the Very Merrytime cruise. If your primary concern is meeting a range of characters in rare costumes, you’ll probably leave very satisfied.

We enjoyed these character meet & greets, but they were not our primary motivation for taking the cruise. We were expecting something more akin to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Sea. We would’ve even settled for a holiday version of Star Wars Day at Sea, which we experienced earlier in the year and really enjoyed.

Speaking of which, we’ve previously done two cruises with a Star Wars and Frozen Day at Sea, and each of those single days offered more substance than the entirety of this Very Merrytime Cruise. It’s worth emphasizing that those are marketed as normal cruises with the themed day added to select dates after itineraries go on sale.

In any case, these other themed ‘day at sea’ cruises provide a template for what Disney Cruise Line could do to make the Very Merrytime Cruise satisfying as a Christmas-time experience. Add a deck party, more substantive stage show, daytime entertainment, themed menus & desserts, scavenger hunt, and decorations. (On the plus side, the themed cups were a decent touch.)

We’d personally go a step further and replace the tired and underwhelming Pirate Night offerings with something holiday-centric. Use the same fireworks but set them to Christmas music.

Have a nighttime stage show. Encourage guests to done their holiday finery and get dressed up in yuletide attire. These are not unrealistic expectations–Disney Cruise Line does all of these things well on other cruises, so it’s perplexing that they drop the ball with Christmas.

Overall, our Disney Cruise Line experience was still exceptional, and we remain of the belief that DCL offers a premium product worthy of the premium pricing, elevated level of service, and high standards…at least with all of the normal offerings. Our disappointment here comes in comparing the Very Merrytime Cruise to other days at sea we’ve experienced, as well as Disney Christmas entertainment in the parks.

We wouldn’t hesitate to take another Disney cruise, but will likely avoid November and December in the future. These itineraries are more expensive (at least, in our experience) than their counterparts in January and February, and we’d prefer to save the money and do one of the discounted off-season sailings. With that said, if you’re looking to do a family cruise around the holidays and are only looking for mild dashes of Christmas cheer, there’s no reason to actively avoid the Very Merrytime Cruises. Just don’t go out of your way to book one, either.

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

If you’ve done a Very Merrytime Christmas Cruise, did you have any similar disappointment? Did it live up to your expectations? Do you think we’re being too hard on it? Is this seasonal offering something you’d like to experience on Disney Cruise Line? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Any questions? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Thanks for the article! I’m wondering where I can get that black dress with red belt?! It looks great with the red ears!

We have the Wish booked this year for our first! Can’t wait to experience it!

We’ve done the Halloween on the High Seas cruise and we’re booked for the Very Merrytime this November. I had such high hopes for the Halloween cruise that I too was disappointed to see just how lightly themed the cruise was. I spoke to the acitivity director about it and he said i was the first person to mention being a bit let down by how little “halloween” there was (notably that …somehow… during the week long cruise there wasn’t a single showing of the Disney Halloween classic, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”!) I now have lower expectations going into our Merrytime cruise. DCL says they “don’t want do overdo it” with the theming so if you’re a holiday die hard, just expect a great cruise … with a touch of the season (Halloween or Christmas) added to make it even better.

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Disney Cruise Discounts and Deals

LAST UPDATE: 4/8/24

Disney Cruise discounts can be hard to find, but this is the place to find them! Listed below is every known deal, offer, coupon, onboard credit or discount available for Disney Cruise Line (DCL), plus lots of FREE information about how to save money on a Disney cruise!

Easy Ways to Save on Your Disney Cruise

Onboard credit.

• New! Last-Minute Restricted Stateroom Discounts

Onboard Booking Discount

• Discounts for Florida Residents
• Discounts for Military
• Discounts for Canadian Residents
• Discounts for European Residents
• Discounts for Annual Passholders
• Discounts for Southern California Residents
• Discounts for UK and Ireland Residents
• Discounts for Disney Visa Cardholders
• Discounts for Disney Vacation Club Members

Group Incentives

Costco rebates, travelocity deals on disney cruises, expedia deals on disney cruises, other useful disney cruise line information pages:.

• For tips and tricks that will help you plan your cruise , visit the Planning Tips & Tricks for Disney Cruises page .
• For advice that will help you save time and get the most out of your cruise once you are onboard , visit the DCL Onboard Advice page .
• For advice that will help you with excursions, tours and activities while in port, visit the Tips & Discounts for Port Excursions page .

In our opinion,  you should always book a Disney cruise with a third-party travel agency or site that provides a bonus or discount . The extra onboard credit or discount is effectively FREE money. The primary question is whether you prefer to handle your bookings directly ( self-service ), or work with a personal agent ( full-service ). They’re both good options and they both offer essentially similar savings: one via their own extra-discounted fares and the other via FREE onboard credit. 

Booking a Disney Cruise With a Self-Service Site

Our pick for self-service booking is Undercover Tourist . We’ve recommended them for more than a decade as a fantastic source for tickets, but they also have impressive deals on Disney cruises. Unlike other self-booking options like Expedia or Priceline, Undercover Tourist adds an additional discount over and above any special pricing Disney offers (like restricted guarantee , Military , or Florida resident rates)! We know of no other site that adds their own discounts to the baseline fare for Disney cruises. Occasionally one of the big online travel sites will do a limited-time small onboard credit or in-room gift, but Undercover Tourist offers extra discounts , on every Disney cruise, every day. Undercover Tourist further guarantees to MouseSavers readers that you will always get their lowest possible prices when booking through our links here and through our monthly newsletter and Hot Deals emails.

Keep in mind that this is a self-service option , for people who know exactly what cruise they want to take, what stateroom, how dining works, etc. If you like to handle your own bookings directly, Undercover Tourist is a great choice. If you would like to have a personal agent who can help guide you through the decision process and be available to answer questions, then the full-service approach will be a better fit.

• Check out Undercover Tourist’s discounted cruise rates for Disney Cruise Lines ! Undercover Tourist guarantees MouseSavers readers get their lowest rates!

Booking a Disney Cruise With a Full-Service Agent

The benefits of using a top travel agent are significant, both in convenience and price. First off, the best travel agents give you onboard credit, which is effectively FREE money, since the cruise fare isn’t any higher than if you booked through Disney. Furthermore, Disney Cruise Line has lots of confusing options involving tradeoffs that aren’t always clear. Using an experienced travel agent is like getting a FREE expert who knows everything about the Disney Cruise Line and is happy to walk you through the process and offer advice.

The travel agency we personally recommend here on MouseSavers.com, Small World Vacations , has some of the most experienced agents in the industry . The agents who handle cruise bookings for Small World have been on multiple Disney cruises, and know a truly astonishing amount about all four ships, the various Disney ports of call and all the common itineraries (and many uncommon ones). Many of them are Platinum members of Disney’s Castaway Club, meaning that they have personally been on 10 or more Disney cruises! They each have a direct phone number and email address they give out to their clients, so you can email them questions or requests any time.

Small World Vacations offers an onboard credit of up to $1,000 when you book a Disney Cruise with them. (Credit depends on your total cruise fare; the minimum fare to get credit is $1000.) Your onboard credit is good toward anything you can charge to your room, such as spa treatments, special dining, shore excursions or even your bar tab! Plus, this onboard credit offer is on top of any other discounts for which you may qualify (like restricted guarantee , Military , or Florida resident rates). And perhaps most importantly, the Small World Vacations agents know how to maximize value by making use of tricks like secret porthole rooms , secret verandah rooms , secret connecting rooms , and other clever strategies.

We pretty rarely encounter a deal that qualifies as a “no brainer,” but this is absolutely one, because it’s effectively FREE money . Small World Vacations’ fares are exactly the same as Disney’s; there are no other hidden markups or extra fees. The onboard credit is a bonus you won’t get booking with Disney.

Finally, if you’re going on a Disney cruise, be sure you take advantage of the onboard booking discount and list Small World Vacations as your preferred travel agent (or transfer the booking to Small World Vacations after your cruise is over), because it’s an essentially risk-free way to get significant discounts from Disney plus onboard credit from Small World Vacations in one fell swoop on a future cruise.

If you have any questions about onboard booking, email your questions directly to Small World Vacations at [email protected] before you leave on your cruise, and mention that you heard about onboard booking on MouseSavers.com. In our experience, the travel agents at Small World Vacations are great at finding the best fares. They know all the tricks that will save you money, and they know the Disney Cruise Line inside and out. We’re confident that once you work with a really great travel agent, you’ll never want to book a cruise any other way.

• Learn more about the Small World Vacations onboard credit offer and request a price quote for your Disney cruise .
• Small World Vacations gives you full service , including a personal travel agent you can contact by email or direct phone number, and we recommend them wholeheartedly ! Best of all, it costs you nothing to use them, PLUS they give you FREE onboard credit for any Disney Cruise Line booking of over $1000 total fare!

Onboard credit is cash value linked to your stateroom account on the ship, which you can spend by using your room key to pay for pretty much anything on the ship or on Castaway Cay. Onboard credit can be used for merchandise, adult beverages, bottled water, spa treatments, shore excursions, Palo, Remy, Palo Steakhouse or Enchanté meals, and other onboard activities, or even applied to gratuities for your servers and stateroom attendant.

Small World Vacations Onboard Credit

The travel agency we personally recommend here on MouseSavers.com, Small World Vacations , offers an onboard credit of $50 – $1000 when you book through them. (Credit depends on your total cruise fare; the minimum fare to get credit is $1000.) To learn more, visit the Small World Vacations website , where you can see full details about the onboard credit offer and request a quote on your cruise vacation .

Last-Minute Restricted Stateroom Discounts

Restricted Guarantee fares, when offered, are a great way to save if you are flexible about your stateroom location and willing to book “last minute,” usually meaning 21-75 days prior to departure. The savings can be very large, but you won’t know your exact stateroom at booking time. Disney guarantees you will get at least the stateroom type specified, and you could get assigned a higher level. You usually will get an actual stateroom assignment about 14 days before embarkation, but it could be assigned as late as the embarkation day.

There are complicated rules for Restricted Guarantee bookings ; be sure to read them if you’re not already familiar with them. The “Restricted Guarantee” room categories are offered on select sailings. The categories are:

• Guaranteed Inside Stateroom with Restrictions (category IGT) – Guarantees an inside or better stateroom (minimum category 11C)
• Guaranteed Oceanview Stateroom with Restrictions (category OGT) – Guarantees an oceanview or better stateroom (minimum category 9D)
• Guaranteed Verandah Stateroom with Restrictions (category VGT) – Guarantees a verandah or better stateroom (minimum category 7A)

New! As of April 8, 2024, the following cruises had availability in the Restricted Guarantee categories . Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise.

General Notes:

• A single guest gets charged essentially the same price as two guests. (Cruises are generally priced for a minimum of two guests per cabin.)
• 5-passenger rooms are not available with this discount .
• These discounts come and go as room inventory for a cruise changes. If you check for one and it doesn’t come up, it may come back. It’s worth checking back a few times over the next day or two to see if the discount becomes available again.
• If a price isn’t listed, that doesn’t mean the category is completely sold out , just that it isn’t available with this discount.

Select number of guests to see total sailing price (for one stateroom):

• If you are interested in booking one of these special restricted last-minute rates , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.
• Small World Vacations is a full service agency, offering a personal travel agent you can contact by email or direct phone number. It costs you nothing to use them, PLUS their FREE onboard credit offer applies to these special fares (the total cruise fare for the stateroom must be at least $1000 to get their onboard credit). 
• Undercover Tourist is a self-service booking site similar to Expedia or Priceline, but with years of focus on the Disney travel market. They offer the special rates mentioned above PLUS they add their own discounts. 

Important details you need to know about Restricted Guarantee fares:

• Can be combined with the Small World Vacations onboard credit offer as well as Undercover Tourist’s own bonus discounts.
• Cannot be combined with any other Disney discount or promotional offers.
• The specific stateroom is assigned by Disney, generally within a week of cruise departure. You cannot select a stateroom number or make special requests as to stateroom location.
• If you book two or more Restricted Guarantee staterooms, there is no way to ensure that they are near each other, or even on the same deck. Disney will put the rooms as close together as they can, but sometimes they just don’t have any rooms left that are near each other.
• Applies to new bookings only. Existing reservations cannot be modified to these new categories.
• Full payment is due at time of booking. Booking holds are not permitted.
• Reservation is non-refundable . (This only applies to situations where you cancel the cruise. If Disney cancels the cruise, for example because of pandemic restrictions, you will get a refund.)
• Reservation and applied payment are non-transferable .
• Full legal names and birthdates for all stateroom occupants are required at time of booking.
• Name changes after booking are not allowed .
• Sail date, stateroom category and cruise itinerary changes are not allowed .
• You can book a maximum of four people per stateroom on a Restricted Guarantee booking.
• There is typically more availability for three or fewer guests per room. All Disney Cruise staterooms can hold three guests, but only some can hold four.
• If you’re looking for these cruise fares on Disney’s web site, look for fares labeled “Guaranteed Inside Stateroom with Restrictions” or similar for Oceanview or Verandah. The key words are “…with restrictions.”

The one major change that you can make after booking: additional guests can be added to a stateroom, subject to space restrictions. Restrictions and booking rules are subject to change.

If you are going on a Disney cruise and think there is any chance you or a friend or relative may want to go on another Disney cruise in the next 24 months, be sure to book a future cruise while you are still onboard the ship . Disney has one of the most generous onboard booking programs in the cruise industry, and it’s a great way to get a discount and lower deposit on a future Disney cruise. When you book a future cruise while still onboard the ship you get all of the following benefits:

• A 10% discount on the final cruise fare (with some blackout dates ; see below). Does not apply to Concierge bookings.
• A lower deposit requirement of only 10% on 7+ night cruises (regular deposit requirement is 20%). Does not apply to Concierge bookings.
• If you booked your current cruise with Small World Vacations and also use them as your agent for the future cruise , you’ll also get half their normal onboard credit . (Note that if you didn’t book your current cruise with Small World Vacations, the onboard booking agents may not let you add Small World as your agent while onboard. In that case, you would have to transfer your booking to Small World after you get home, but you would still be eligible for half their normal credit.)

You can book either a specific cruise or a “placeholder” cruise. A placeholder lets you make a booking without picking a specific cruise. It can be associated with a specific cruise later, after you get home and decide. To book a specific cruise onboard, you put down a deposit of 10% or 20% of the whole fare, depending on the length of the cruise. To book a placeholder, you put down a flat $250 deposit per future stateroom. When you change a placeholder to a specific cruise booking you’ll have to pay any increase in deposit. Keep in mind, there is an advantage to booking a specific cruise as early as possible: you lock in the rate. So, if there is a cruise you might want to take, it’s a good idea to book that specific cruise rather than a placeholder. Even if you’re not 100% sure that’s your perfect cruise, remember you can change it later with no penalty.

If you ultimately decide not to take a cruise, Disney will refund 100% of your deposit or placeholder payment . You always get a 100% refund as long as you haven’t passed the penalty date (120-75 days from sailing, depending on the cruise), and you didn’t book a concierge room or suite. There’s basically no risk, though it does tie up some deposit money while you think about your options.

You can change almost every aspect of your booking as many times as you need to and still keep the benefits . The name of one adult in each stateroom must stay the same, but you can change the names of any of the other guests, or increase or reduce the number of guests. You can change the stateroom category. You can change the ship or the sailing as long as the sail date is within 24 months of the initial booking date. If you end up changing to a more expensive booking, you’ll need to make up the difference between your original deposit and the new deposit. Keep in mind that if you later add a guest to a stateroom, they will get added at current rates, not at your initial booking rates. For the lowest final price and most flexibility, it’s a good idea to make the initial booking with everyone who might go, rather than only the people you know are going to go.

You get the full discount for up to two future staterooms or placeholders per household (i.e. per mailing address). Once you leave the ship, you can’t book more , so we recommend booking two (or more) every time, if you can afford to tie up the deposit money. If you later decide that you want to bring another family along, or put the kids in their own stateroom, you’ll be glad to have two rooms booked with the discount.

You can get the full discount for friends or relatives who are not sailing on your cruise. You’ll need your friends’ full legal names (as written on their passport) and their birth dates. Under the current rules, the first stateroom or placeholder you book with this discount on the future cruise needs to include at least one adult who is on the current cruise, in addition to anyone else you want to add, and then the second stateroom can have anyone in it. For example, say you wanted to book a cruise for your friends, the Smith family. You could book one room for your own family, then book the second room (on the same cruise) for the Smith family.

If you already have a future cruise booked, you can usually “re-shop” your existing booking and get the discount. However, you basically have to make a new booking and cancel the old one, and the price might have gone up since you booked originally, potentially wiping out your discount. Be sure to compare the bottom-line price for both bookings.

A few other terms & conditions:

• There is no discount or lower deposit for 1- or 2-night sailings, IGT, OGT and VGT Restricted Guarantee bookings, or concierge staterooms and suites.
• You can get the 10% discount and reduced deposit on a maximum of two staterooms per household.
• Onboard booking incentives CANNOT be combined with any group discounts organized by a travel agency.
• Disney could change these rules and benefits at any time. Check onboard for the latest terms.

Onboard Discount Blackout Dates:

Please note: there is no 10% discount when you book the following holiday and peak dates onboard (but you do get the smaller deposit):

• Disney Dream : 3/31, 11/23, 11/27, 12/21, 12/26, 12/30
• Disney Fantasy : 3/23, 3/30, 6/8, 11/23, 12/22, 12/26, 12/29
• Disney Magic : 6/6, 11/25, 12/29
• Disney Wish : 3/25, 3/29, 4/1, 11/25, 12/23, 12/27, 12/30
• Disney Wonder : ( none announced yet )
• The full legal names of everyone who is going to go on the future cruise, as listed on their passport or birth certificate
• The number of rooms you want to book and what type ( inside, outside, verandah or placeholder )
• Who’s in each room ( keeping in mind the maximum passengers for each room type )
• Specific cruises you’re interested in, if you plan to book a cruise and not a placeholder ( or just rough notes with your needs/restrictions like dates or region )
• Birth dates for everyone ( optional, but makes everything go smoother )
• Bring the info with you on the cruise. If you just want to book a basic placeholder, you can do that while on the cruise with the Disney Navigator App on your phone (if you don’t already have it, just search for “Disney Navigator” in the Apple or Google app stores; you can download it before the cruise leaves to save time). If you want to do anything more complicated you’ll need to talk to a consultant at the future cruise desk.
• If you can’t or don’t want to use the the Navigator app, at some point early in the cruise, go to the Future Bookings Desk on deck 4 and either fill out a form, or just put your room number and name on the sheet you brought (if it has all the details on it they’ll need) and drop it in the box. You can also wait for a consultant if they’re there, or check the schedule and come back when they’re scheduled to be there. If you drop off a form, they’ll secure a hold on a reservation and leave a printout by your stateroom door. If the reservation looks good, either go back to the desk to finish the booking or call 7-2848 from your stateroom phone. Either way, when the booking is done ask for a printed confirmation of your final reservation.
• Before you leave the ship, confirm that everything is correct . You should have a printed confirmation or an emailed confirmation. The confirmation should show that your deposit is paid (if not, the booking will be canceled). If this isn’t on your confirmation, go to the Future Bookings Desk or Guest Services and make sure everything is correct. If you are working with a travel agent, verbally confirm that they are listed on the reservation before you leave the ship.
• That’s it! If you booked a “placeholder” cruise, you can start the process of finding your actual cruise. If you are using a travel agent , email them to let them know you booked onboard. Once you’ve settled on the cruise you really want to take, change the booking as soon as you can to the actual sailing date to lock in the lowest possible fares and get the best choice of staterooms.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Florida Residents

As of April 8, 2024, the following cruises had availability in the Florida Resident category . Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise. The room category available at that fare is in parentheses.

• 5-passenger rooms are rarely discounted for Florida residents , but they do show up occasionally.

Other stateroom categories may be available at other rates. Rates are per adult, based on double occupancy. Occupancy restrictions may apply. Excursions are not included. See Disney Cruise Line brochure for details and applicable terms and conditions. Other discounts do not apply. Only one discount may be used at a time. Rates in US dollars.

A copy of a valid proof of Florida residency for at least one adult in each stateroom needs to be transmitted (via fax or email) within 48 hours when booking with the Florida rate, and the same proof will need to be produced at check-in. The other guests in each stateroom do not need to be Florida residents.

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Florida resident rates , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

Disney Cruise Discounts For Military

Members of the US military and their families qualify for special cruise rates.

As of April 8, 2024, the following cruises had availability in the Military category . Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise. The room category available at that fare is in parentheses.

• 5-passenger rooms are rarely discounted for military members , but they do show up occasionally.

Valid for new bookings only. Other stateroom categories may be available at other rates. Rates based on double occupancy. Occupancy restrictions may apply. Excursions are not included. See Disney Cruise Line brochure for details and applicable terms and conditions. Other discounts do not apply. Only one discount may be used at a time. Rates in US dollars. The following are eligible for the Military rate: active duty or retired military; 100% disabled retired military; reservists for National Guard and Army Reserve with active duty orders (active duty papers must be dated as of January 1st of the previous year to qualify); Department of Defense personnel.

Military personnel may book one stateroom under the military rates program. A second stateroom may be confirmed, if needed, to accommodate immediate family members only. For example, a family of two adults and four children may confirm two staterooms, based on availability, with the offer. Extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) do not qualify as immediate family members for the second stateroom. Active duty or retired military personnel and 100% permanently disabled veterans do not have to travel as long as their spouse has a valid military ID to show at the port. Reservists must be part of the travel party and must show ID at the port.

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Military rates , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Canadian Residents

Canadian residents sometimes qualify for special rates on select sailings on Disney Cruise Line.

As of April 8, 2024, the following cruises had availability in the Canadian Resident category . Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise. The room category available at that fare is in parentheses.

• 5-passenger rooms are rarely discounted for Canadian residents , but they do show up occasionally.

Select number of guests to see total sailing price:

Proof of Canadian residency will be required at time of check-in (your passport is fine).

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Canadian resident rates , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

Disney Cruise Discounts for European Residents

European (EEA) residents sometimes qualify for special rates on select sailings on Disney Cruise Line. When they become available we list them below.

No current offers.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Annual Passholders

Walt Disney World Annual Passholders sometimes qualify for special rates on select sailings on Disney Cruise Line. When they become available we list them below.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Southern California Residents

Southern California residents (ZIP codes 90000 to 93599) sometimes qualify for special rates on select sailings on Disney Cruise Line.

Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise. The room category available at that fare is in parentheses.

• 5-passenger rooms are rarely discounted for Southern California residents , but they do show up occasionally.

A copy of a valid proof of Southern California residency (ZIP codes 90000 to 93599) for at least one adult in each stateroom needs to be transmitted (via fax or email) within 48 hours when booking with the Southern California rate, and the same proof will need to be produced at check-in. The other guests in each stateroom do not need to be Southern California residents.

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Southern California resident rates , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

Disney Cruise Discounts for UK and Ireland Residents

There’s a useful site listing the latest Disney Cruise Line deals for UK visitors, plus a FREE phone number you can call to learn more and book your cruise!

• Learn more about UK offers for Disney Cruise Line.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Disney Visa Cardholders

Disney Visa cardholders who use their card as their payment method onboard automatically get several discounts on purchases on the ship and on Castaway Cay. In order for this to happen, you have to register your Disney Visa card when you check in at the port. You do not need to charge the cruise fare on your Disney Visa to get the discounts.

You should not need to ask at purchase time to get the discounts; if you have the card registered any discounts should automatically be applied when you make an eligible purchase.

These discounts cannot be combined with any other discounts you might qualify for, such as Disney Vacation Club discounts.

Discounts include:

• 10% off selected merchandise purchases of $50 or more. Excludes sale merchandise, gift cards, Castaway Cay merchandise, DVDs, CDs, big-ticket items like art, jewelry, fragrances, cosmetics and watches, plus several vague catch-all categories like “selected special items.” Basically, ask first if you’ll get the 10% off, if it’s important to your purchase decision.
• 10% off 10-photo, 15-photo, 20-photo or unlimited photo packages.
• 10% off the Castaway Cay Getaway package (combination of snorkeling, bicycle and float or inner-tube rental).
• 20% off full-priced massage or facial treatment in the onboard spa while in port . This does not include massages on Castaway Cay or treatments discounted as part of onboard specials.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Disney Vacation Club Members

Dvc onboard spending discounts.

Disney Vacation Club members get several discounts on purchases onboard any Disney Cruise. You need to ask for the discount and show your Disney Vacation Club card at time of purchase.

This discount cannot be combined with any other discounts you might qualify for, such as Disney Visa discounts. DVC members who only own points purchased via resale after April 4, 2016 are not eligible for discounts, including this one.

• 10% off selected merchandise purchases of $50 or more.
• 10% off any digital photo package.

DVC Cruise Fare Discounts

The following cruises have discounts available for Disney Vacation Club members for up to 3 persons (some may also be available for 4 or 5). Prices given are base fares per person (Guest 1 & 2/Guest 3+). 3rd, 4th and 5th guest fares for children 12 and under will be lower. Taxes, fees and port expenses are not included. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise.

Other stateroom categories may be available at other rates. Rates are per adult, based on double occupancy. Occupancy restrictions may apply. Taxes, fees, port expenses and excursions are not included. See Disney Cruise Line brochure for details and applicable terms and conditions. Other discounts do not apply. Only one discount may be used at a time. Rates in US dollars. Offer open only to Disney Vacation Club members.

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Disney Vacation Club rates , we recommend filling out a quote form with Small World Vacations . They give you full service, including a personal travel agent you can contact by email or direct phone number, and we recommend them wholeheartedly ! Best of all, it costs you nothing to use them, PLUS their FREE onboard credit offer applies to these special fares (though note that the total cruise fare must be at least $1000 to get their onboard credit). Be sure to tell them you want to book a Disney Vacation Club fare. You will need to fax or email proof of DVC membership to finalize the booking. Note that these staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

Organizing your own group? Disney Specialist travel agents are adept at handling large groups and offer on-board credit and sometimes other incentives. Contact a Disney Specialist travel agency such as Small World Vacations for details. Remember, it costs you nothing to use them!

Costco members can get rebates on Disney cruises, which come in the form of a Costco gift card. However, Costco Travel is not a full-service travel agency: don’t expect much service or information.

In our experience, Costco reps are very nice, but don’t know much about Disney Cruise Line. They almost certainly have never been on a Disney cruise, and may have never been on a cruise of any kind. If you choose to go this route, be prepared to spend time and energy doing your own research about what your package includes and how everything works. Heaven help you if you need to book something complicated like connecting rooms or want to know the pros and cons of different stateroom options. Costco Travel most definitely won’t be able to offer any insider tips on what to expect or help you take advantage of special booking tricks or “secret” room upgrades. Effectively you’re just booking the cruise yourself, but through Costco instead of Disney.

In addition, we find the Costco reps are clueless about Disney’s promotional offers — they really only know about the Costco rebate. You will have to do your own monitoring to see if any specials or price drops come out, and then see if you can get them applied to your booking. A top-notch Disney specialist agency will do this for you automatically, adjusting your reservation to reflect any current offers or discounts.

Travelocity sometimes has special deals on Disney cruises. They are usually fairly last-minute offers, most typically no more than 6 months in advance. Travelocity also sometimes advertises “15% off shore excursions” but be aware that those are privately booked excursions through a company called Port Promotions, NOT the official Disney excursions.

Expedia has the same base prices as everyone else, but occasionally they will have their own additional offer, like onboard credit or extra Expedia rewards points. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully; in some cases there are sharp limits on the extra rewards or credit, or it will only apply to the cruise fare for the first two guests instead of the entire cruise fare.

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

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

A Look at Disney Cruise Line’s 2021 Very MerryTime Happy Holidays (Christmas) Dinner Menu

Disney Cruise Line’s Very MerryTime cruise season offers plenty of holiday themed experiences and offerings from stem to stern decorations, holiday themed activities, unique character costumes, special guests, and plenty of holiday treats. Guest sailings over Christmas are treated to the Happy Holidays dinner menu, which is offered exclusively on Christmas Day.

Thanks to Deborah, we have a look at the 2021 Happy Holidays (Christmas) dinner menu as offered on board the Disney Magic. The menu is similar to prior years with change to the specialty cocktail and dessert offerings.

SPECIALTY COCKTAILS

• Winter Wonderland Absolut Raspberry, Elderflower, Passion Fruit Boba Pearls, Champagne
• Enchanted Raspberry, Apple, Gingerbread, Caramel Popcorn (Non-alcoholic)

BREAD SERVICE

• Holiday Loaf Truffle Butter Dip
• Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Toasted Pumpernickel Bread
• Potted Chicken Liver Parfait Apricot, Date Compote and warm Brioche
• Christmas Seafood Sampler Marinated Shrimp, Jonah Crab Claw and Smoked Salmon with Cocktail Sauce, Aioli and Lemon
• Virginia Ham and White Cheddar Croquettes with Apple-Cherry Chutney

SOUPS & SALADS

• Winter Squash Soup with Creole Lobster
• Harvest Corn Chowder with Chorizo and Rye Croutons
• Baby Gem Lettuce with Cucumber, Red Onion, Roasted Tomatoes, and Bacon-Buttermilk Dressing
• Carrot, Yellow and Red Beet Salad with Chicory, Arugula and Orange Dressing

MAIN COURSE

• Roasted Chilean Sea Bass Celeriac Purée, Sea Asparagus, Parsnip Chips, and Truffle Red Wine Jus
• Pumpkin and Mascarpone Ravioli with Grated Asiago Fresco and Rosemary Virgin Olive Oil
• Marmalade Glazed Baked Virginia Ham with a Polenta Sweet Corn Cake, Buttered Spinach, Baby Carrots, and Wholegrain Mustard Jus
• Roasted Turkey Carved and served with Turkey Stuffing, Mushed Sweet Potato with Honey and Crushed Pecans, Roasted Vegetables, Pan Roasting Juices, and Cranberry Sauce
• Horseradish-crusted Standing Rib Roast Rousted Red Onions, Sugar Snap Peas, Thyme Potato Gratin, and Claret Wine Sauce
• Pumpkin Curry with Brown Lentils, Apples and Basmati Rice
• Pretzel and Cashew Crusted Tofu wAb Sweet Inion Chutner

LIGHTER NOTE OFFERINGS

• Honey Glazed Duck Breast On Red and Napa Cabbage Salad with Braeburn Apples and Spiced Pecans
• Grilled Grain Fed Sirloin Steak
• Slow-roasted Chicken Breast
• Oven-baked Filet of Salmon

The above three entrées are served with Garden Vegetables and your choice of steamed White Rice or Baked Potato

• Seasonal Apple Pie à la Mode served with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
• Chocolate Bavarian Cream served with Pistachio Sponge Cake and Mango Sauce
• Double Chocolate Yule Log Rich Truffle Cream, rolled in a thin Chocolate Roulade and served with Raspberry Sauce
• Panettone Sundae Rum & Raisin Ice Cream, Toasted Panettone and Whipped Cream

SIGNATURE DESSERT

• Red Santa Tart Diplomate Cream, centered with Soaked Spiced fruit Compote served in a Chocolate Tart

NO SUGAR ADDED DESSERT

• Roasted Hazelnut Panna Cotta with Vanilla Anglaise Sauce

As a bonus, guests were presented the limited edition commemorative lithography ‘Lets Cruise Through The Holidays Into the New Year by Don “Ducky” Williams.

What do you think of the Happy Holidays dinner menu? Would you like to see this offered in leu of the Pirate Menu during 4-night and longer Very MerryTime voyages ?

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One Reply to “A Look at Disney Cruise Line’s 2021 Very MerryTime Happy Holidays (Christmas) Dinner Menu”

Menu on the Fantasy was the same!

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Halloween and Christmas on Disney Cruise Line: Here’s What You Need to Know

Disney Cruise Line offers a number of special sailings, with enhancements above and beyond the normal cruise experience. Two of the most popular special sailings are Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime.

Halloween on the High Seas Cruises

Halloween on the High Seas sailings take place on every Disney Cruise Line ship. Halloween-themed cruise typically take place from mid-September until the ship’s sailing that includes October 31. You can search for Halloween sailings by visiting the “Our Ships” tab on the Disney Cruise Line website and scroll down to the “Themed and Holiday Cruises” section.

You can verify that a cruise will be Halloween-themed by looking for the Halloween banners on the sailing listing.

Components of Halloween Cruises include:

• Changes to ship decor. Each ship has version of a “pumpkin tree” that fills much of the lobby atrium. There will often be one night with a ceremony that brings the tree to “life.” Often ship portholes are filled with Jack-O-Lantern faces and the atrium railings are festooned with orange and black bunting.
• Changes to ship music. Instead of standard Disney tunes, you’re likely to hear songs like “Monster Mash” piped into the ship’s public areas.
• Characters. Many of the Disney characters on the ship will appear in costume. (I’m going to pretend you didn’t just think to yourself, “Aren’t they always in costume?”) Some variations occur from year to year, but often Mickey and Minnie are dressed as a wizard and witch, Goofy is often King Tut, Chip & Dale are often comical thieves.
• Onboard activities. Some of the normal onboard craft sessions will have a Halloween twist. For example, a character drawing class will have the character in a Halloween setting. Trivia sessions might include a Halloween trivia game. There might be face painting or temporary tattoos available.
• Guest costumes. Typically one day of the cruise will have a costume party or parade called something like a “Mouse-querade party.” Kids and adults are welcome to dress up, but there are a bunch of rules about acceptable costuming. For example, you’re not allowed to carry anything that looks like a weapon, you can’t dress exactly like a regular character (no Cinderella replicas, for example), and you can’t wear non-medical masks when you’re walking around. Be sure to check the DCL website for specifics. Costumes are absolutely NOT required. If dressing up is not your thing, you don’t have to participate in dress-up activities.
• Trick or Treating. Kids will be invited to visit trick-or-treat stations during one day of the sailing.
• Food and drink. The drink-of-the-day will likely have spooky name and a few of the offerings in Cabanas (or Marceline Market on the Wish) might include pumpkin.
• Movies. The selection of films shown on the Funnelvision screens or in the onboard theaters typically includes Halloween-themed Disney films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas , Halloweentown , or Hocus Pocus .
• Merchandise. There will be some Halloween-themed merchandise for sale in the onboard shops.
• Photo backgrounds. Some of the onboard photo backgrounds will have Halloween themeing.

Very Merrytime Cruises

Fun fact: the word “merrytime” in the Very Merrytime name for DCL’s holiday cruises is a play on the word “Maritime” meaning “connected to the sea.”

Merrytime cruises typically start in mid-November and end with the last sailing of each ship that includes December 25. If you’re on a New Year’s Eve cruise, the Christmas decor will still be up, but it won’t have the Merrytime designation. You can verify that you’re booking a Merrytime cruise by looking for the ornament and light illustrated banner on the listing for your sailing.

Components of Merrytime Cruises include:

• Changes to ship decor. Each ship will have a giant Christmas tree that fills much of the lobby atrium, which will also feature a life-sized gingerbread house. The atrium railings are festooned with faux pine boughs and holiday ornaments. Additional trees will appear in nearly every public corner of the ship – and even on Disney’s private island Castaway Cay.
• Changes to ship music. Instead of standard Disney tunes, you’re likely to hear songs like “Jingle Bells” piped into the ship’s public areas.
• Characters. Many of the Disney characters on the ship will appear in wintery variations of their usual clothes – think cozy scarves and hats. On some sailings, you may have the opportunity to meet Santa.
• Onboard activities. Some of the normal onboard craft sessions will have a Christmas twist. For example, a character drawing class will have the character in a Christmas setting. Trivia sessions might include a Christmas trivia game. There will often be one night with holiday storytelling.
• Stateroom gifts. For sailings that actually include Christmas day, guests will likely receive a small gift in their stateroom such as candy or a print of the ship.
• Food and drink. The drink-of-the-day will likely have festive name and a few of the offerings in Cabanas (or Marceline Market on the Wish) might include red and green embellishments.
• Movies. The selection of films shown on the Funnelvision screens or in the onboard theaters typically includes Christmas-themed Disney films such as Mickey’s Christmas Carol .
• Merchandise. There will be some holiday-themed merchandise for sale in the onboard shops.
• Photo backgrounds. Some of the onboard photo backgrounds will have Christmas themeing.
• Religious observances. The ship will typically hold a midnight mass on Christmas Eve as well as Catholic and non-denominational services on Christmas morning, all in the Walt Disney theater, check your Navigator app for exact times. The ship lobby will have a Jewish menorah and a Kwanzaa Kinara placed somehere and there will be brief lighting events during sailings that include these holidays, but expect that these celebrations will be dwarfed by all things Christmas. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, you’ll have to consider how you’ll feel about the pervasive merriment.

What is the Pricing Like?

There is no specific upcharge for the enhancements on these cruises. With a tiny handful of exceptions, all the holiday perks are included with the price of your cruise. Prices related more to the date of the sailings rather than the holiday overlay. For example, sailings during the first two weeks of December include all the Christmas decor, music, food, and more, but the prices are very reasonable. Rates go up as more children have their holiday school vacations and the cruises that actually include Christmas can be quite pricey.

If you need assistance with deciding whether a holiday sailing on Disney Cruise Line is right for your family, contact one of our specialist travel agents for consultation and free quote.

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Erin Foster

Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. She's been to WDW, DL, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Aulani, DVC Vero Beach, and DVC Hilton Head. She's a Platinum DCL cruiser and veteran of 10 Adventures by Disney trips. Erin lives near New York City, where she can often be found indulging in her other obsession - Broadway theater.

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Disney Cruise Deals – Top Ways to Get Discounts on a Disney Cruise

Setting sail with Disney Cruise Line is one of the most magical ways to vacation at sea. As soon as you board the ship on embarkation day, you’re treated like royalty. It all starts with a majestic name announcement as you enter the Grand Hall for the first time. From that point on, you’ll enjoy a cruise of a lifetime that’s filled with the Disney Difference. With character experiences, entertainment, activities, dining, clubs, and so much more, you’ll be ready to book another Disney Cruise before you disembark which means finding the best Disney Cruise deals is essential!

There is so much that’s included in the price of a Disney Cruise. Later on in this article, I will go into further detail about everything that’s included. For this reason, a Disney Cruise can arguably be a more affordable Disney vacation than a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World . However, saving even more money when possible is always a plus! Great deals and discounts can be a lifesaver .

In this article, I’m going to dive into different savings and discounts that are available for Disney Cruise Line.  I will go over different types of deals, where to get them, and how you can get assistance with planning your Disney Cruise. Keep reading to sea all of the wonders that come along with a Disney Cruise as well as ways to save!

Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don't miss our travel hacks newsletter!

In this planning guide:

Book Your Disney Cruise Adventure Now!

No matter what level of cruiser you are, Get Away Today is ready to help! Whether this is your first time sailing with Disney Cruise Line, your first cruise in general, or if you’ve gone on many cruises before, a Get Away Today agent will be able to assist with all of your needs. Your agent will help you pick the perfect sailing length, destination, stateroom, Port Adventures, and anything else you may need. They will handle all of the details of vacation planning so you can simply enjoy your magical Disney Cruise!

Even if you’re an experienced cruiser, Get Away Today’s agents can add so much value to your trip! With their experienced travel professionals in your corner, you’ll be able to rest assured that you are in good hands. Their industry knowledge of Disney Cruise Line will be put to use to help you plan the perfect trip for you and the rest of your party. Not only will you have continued support from the time you start planning with them, they will also be available to help you during your cruise and after you return back home.

You can view the currently available dates for  Disney Cruises 2024 and Disney Cruises 2025 in our guides. After viewing the dates be sure to come back and request a FREE quote from our travel partner for your cruise .  For a limited time, Mickey Visit readers get up to a $400 onboard credit.

Even though you may have gone on many Disney Cruises and are comfortable with booking your own trip, using an agent from Get Away Today offers you convenience and relief of stress that comes along with vacation planning. You won’t have to take the time to plan, book, remember deadlines and payments, or any other details.

Disney Cruise Line Price Factors

Before we look at the discounts and special offers that are available for Disney Cruises, let’s first take a look at how much a Disney Cruise costs without any discounts. Unlike theme park tickets, there isn’t one specific price that I’m able to list that will cover all of the available cruises. The price of a Disney Cruise varies depending on a few factors. The price of a cruise will be affected by things such as travel dates, how many nights you’re sailing, destination, how many Guests are in your party, if you’re sailing on a standard or specialty cruise, which ship you’re sailing on, and what level of stateroom you want to stay in.

There are ten destinations that Disney Cruise Line sails to.

• Alaska Cruises
• Bahama Cruises
• Caribbean Cruises
• Europe Cruises
• Hawai’i Cruises
• Mexico Cruises
• New Zealand and Australia Cruises
• Pacific Coast Cruises
• South Pacific Cruises
• Transatlantic Cruises

Not only are there many destinations that Disney Cruise Line sails to, there are also fifteen ports that Disney Cruise Line departs from!

• Auckland, New Zealand
• Barcelona, Spain
• Brisbane, Australia
• Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Galveston, Texas
• Honolulu, Hawai’i
• Melbourne, Australia
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Port Canaveral, Florida
• San Diego, California
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Southampton, England
• Sydney, Australia
• Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada

Currently, Disney Cruise Line has six ships in its fleet. These ships are:

• Disney Magic
• Disney Wonder
• Disney Dream
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Wish
• Disney Treasure

When it comes to staterooms, there are four different levels that you can choose from: Inside, Oceanview, Verandah, and Concierge. Inside Staterooms are on the innermost part of the ship. They are adorned with porthole mirrors, but have no actual view of the outdoors. Oceanview Staterooms have at least one (possibly two) porthole windows that give you beautiful views of the open ocean when you’re out at sea. As the name suggests, Verandah Staterooms have their own private verandahs. These are open-air balconies that provide you with a place to sit and take in the exquisite views that you’ll have. Verandah Staterooms are also the largest of the non-Concierge level staterooms. Concierge Staterooms are the most upscale (and priciest) stateroom option. These staterooms come with premium amenities and services. They also have large private verandahs.

How Much is a Disney Cruise?

Since there are so many different factors that could predict the price of your Disney Cruise, I’m going to pull up a quote for one specific cruise. This will give you a general idea of how much Disney Cruises cost without any discounts.

For this example, I’m looking at a 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral for 4 Guests from September 14th-21st, 2024 on the Disney Fantasy (This is also a Halloween on the High Seas sailing.)

• Inside – $5,575
• Oceanview – $6,359
• Verandah – $6,457
• Concierge – $16,859

These prices are for all 4 Guests, including Taxes, Fees, & Port Expenses.

For this specific cruise, the price per Guest is:

• Inside – $1,393.75
• Oceanview – $1,589.75
• Verandah – $1,614.25
• Concierge – $4,214.75

Let's not forget everything that’s included in the price of a Disney Cruise! This price not only already reflects all of the taxes, fees, and expenses for a 7-Night specialty Caribbean Disney Cruise, but it also includes all of the Disney Cruise Line inclusive benefits!

Read more about the full breakdown of what a Disney Cruise costs in our guide. 

Disney Cruise Line Special Offers

When looking for discounts and deals on your Disney Cruise, make sure that you take a look at what special offers Disney Cruise Line has. Currently, Disney Cruise Line has seven special offers available. These offers range from a deposit promo, to resident discounts, Military discounts, and more! Let’s take a look at what’s available.

50% Off Required Deposit – LIMITED TIME OFFER – Book a Disney Cruise by February 16th, 2024 and only pay half of the required deposit. This offer is valid for new reservations only for sailings that take place between June 17th, 2024 and May 31st, 2025. (The regular deposit amount for a Disney Cruise is 20% of your reservation amount. Book your cruise with this special offer and your deposit amount will only be 10% of your reservation total!)

Save Up to 30% on Select Sailings – For this deal, there are a number of select sailings with discounts available. The highest amount off is 30%. This offer is valid only for new bookings and non-Concierege level staterooms. If you’re using this deal, full payment is required at the time of booking.

• 15-Night South Pacific Cruise ending in Honolulu
• 4-Night Bahamian Cruise
• 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise with Pixar Day at Sea
• 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise with Pixar Day at Sea
• 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
• 13-Night Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise ending in Barcelona
• 12-Night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland Cruise

Florida Residents Save Up to 25% – Florida Residents can save on select Caribbean Cruises with this Disney Cruise Line deal.

• More Florida Resident rates are also available for a 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral with Pixar Day at Sea on February 24th, 2024

Save up to 25% on Select 2024 European Sailings – This offer is valid only for new bookings and non-Concierge level staterooms. If you’re using this deal, full payment is required at the time of booking.

• 13-Night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland Cruise

U.S. Military Rates

Special rates for Disney Cruises are available for U.S. Military members. These rates are available for select cruises and can only be applied to new bookings. Military discounted rates are limited to one stateroom per military member, per sailing.

• 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise

Save Up to 30% on Select Australia Sailings – This offer is valid only for new bookings and non-Concierge level staterooms. If you’re using this deal, full payment is required at the time of booking.

Canadian Residents Save Up to 25% – Canadian Residents can save up to 25% on multiple different cruises. This offer is good for select 2024 sail dates.

• 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise

Cast Away Club Rewards

Disney Cruise Line has a rewards program called Castaway Club . The more cruises that you sail on with Disney, the more rewards you’ll receive! All you need to do to become a member is sail one time with Disney Cruise Line.

There are four different tiers of Castaway Club Members: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Pearl. You will become a Silver Member after completing 1 sailing, a Gold Member after completing 5 sailings, a Platinum Member after completing 10 sailings, and a Pearl Member after 25 sailings. When you’re a Castaway Club Member, you’ll receive exclusive benefits such as early booking dates, exclusive cruise terminal check-in, complimentary dinners, complimentary photo packages, and discounts.

These exclusive deals include discounts on Disney Cruise Line voyages. After your first sailing, you’ll receive a Castaway Club Welcome Offer . With this offer, you can receive up to $350 off of a future 7-night or longer cruise. To receive this discount, you must book within 60 days after you disembark from your first Disney Cruise.

New members aren’t the only ones who receive deals on Disney Cruises. All members of Castaway Club receive special booking offers for future sail dates!

Disney Visa Cardmember Cruise Savings

Disney Visa Cardmembers can receive savings on Disney Cruise Line. However, these savings are different from the ones that we've currently been looking out.  There aren't currently any Disney Cruise Line discounts for Disney Visa Cardmembers where you will be saving a portion off of your trip. However, there are still savings and perks that Disney Visa Cardmembers can use in regards to their Disney Cruise!

Disney Visa Cardmembers can save on Disney Cruise Line merchandise, spa treatments, and other Disney Cruise Line packages. Here are all of the Disney Cruise Line deals that Cardmembers can receive. You must use your Disney Visa Card on these purchases in order to receive the discounts.

• Photo Packages – Receive 10% off a non-discounted photo package. This offer is good for 10-photo, 15-photo, 20-photo, and all-inclusive digital photo packages.
• Merchandise – Receive 10% off of select merchandise onboard Disney Cruise Line ships.
• Castaway Cay Packages – Receive 10% off of a Castaway Cay Getaway Package. This package includes snorkeling, bicycle rental, and float or inner-tube rental.
• Spa Treatments – Receive 20% off of a non-discounted massage of facial service onboard Disney Cruise Line ships. This offer is only available on port days.

New Disney Visa Cardmembers can also save with Disney Cruise Line. New Cardmembers can earn a $300 Statement Credit after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of their account being open. You can easily earn this $300 statement credit by using your new Disney Visa Card to pay for you Disney Cruise!

Other Disney Cruise Line Deals

Costco has exclusive Disney Cruise Line deals and promotions available exclusively for their members . Currently, they only have one offer with savings. However, with every Disney Cruise that you book with Costco, you'll receive a Digital Costco Shop Card. If you're unfamiliar with this, a Digital Costco Shop Card is an electronic gift card that is sent to you via email. This gift card can be used exclusively at Costco.

The Disney Cruise Line deal that Costco is currently offering is the Reduced Deposit Deal . With this deal, you can book select 2024 and 2025 Disney Cruise Line Sailings with a reduced deposit. This offer is valid for new bookings only and cannot be used on Concierge Staterooms. To receive the Reduced Deposit Deal, you must book your Disney Cruise through Costco by February 16h, 2024.

Currently, AAA does not have any special Disney Cruise Line deals. They can, however, help you filter through the different itineraries that are available and help find you the lowest price possible for the cruise that you're searching for! There are also additional benefits that you can receive by booking your Disney Cruise with a AAA agent.

While not guaranteed, it is possible that you may receive onboard ship credit from your AAA agent. There is also the possibility that you could receive discounts on hotels, activities, and rental cars that are associated with your cruise plans. To find out more about what AAA can offer you for your Disney Cruise, contact them today!

Last Minute Disney Cruise Deals

You can find some of the best deals on Disney Cruises by booking them last minute. The timeframe for a last-minute cruise is usually 60 days out from the sail date. Due to the last-minute status of the booking, stateroom availability is limited. You most likely will not find out the location of your stateroom until about 14 days out from your sailing (or less). But this is a great way to find Disney Cruise deals if you're flexible!

Book Your Disney Cruise

There are so many ways that you can get Disney Cruise deals! The best part about these savings is that they're available to both new and seasoned cruisers. When you're ready to book your Disney Cruise, don't forget that you will get the best price and assistance when you go through Get Away Today .

Their experienced travel professionals are aware of all of the deals and savings that are available for your Disney Cruise. Let them take the time to find the best way to save you the most money possible. They will also handle the rest of details for your trip. Get Away Today's agents will take care of everything so you can focus on enjoying your time at sea!

What's Included in a Disney Cruise

The best part about the price of a Disney Cruise is that it includes so much. Plus, there’s something for everyone! Your cruise cost will include your stateroom, dining, entertainment, access to pools and other recreation, youth clubs, a visit to Disney’s Private Island(s), plus access to nightclubs and lounges.

Don't forget to read our full Disney Cruise Line packing list so you don't forget the essentials!

The staterooms on Disney Cruise Line ships are made with families in mind. They provide enough space for everyone to be comfortable when getting ready, spending time in the room, and going to bed for the night. Additionally, there is plenty of space for all of your luggage! The raised beds provide space underneath to store all of your suitcases and bags.

Other standard amenities include:

• Split Bathrooms ( in most staterooms ) – These split bathrooms make it easier for more people to get ready at the same time. One of the bathrooms has a shower, sink, and mirror. The other bathroom has a toilet sink and mirror.
• Bathroom Amenities – In the bathrooms, you’ll find Disney Cruise Line branded toiletries. These toiletries are from the H2O+ Spa line. The products include Sea Marine Revitalizing Shampoo, Sea Marine Revitalizing Conditioner, and Sea Salt Body Wash. There is also a hairdryer provided.
• Refrigerator – The dining options on Disney Cruises are exceptional! Having a refrigerator in your room is a nice to way to keep any left-overs that you may have. It’s also a great way to keep your drinks cool.
• Television and In-Room Movies – If you’re having some down time in your stateroom, there are plenty of entertainment options provided on the television.
• Housekeeping – On Disney Cruises, housekeeping happens twice a day. This also includes turndown service to get your stateroom ready for the night!

You’ll never have to worry about what to eat when you’re on a Disney Cruise. Food is available 24 hours a day! From snacks and quick bites to quick-service and full-service meals, Disney Cruise Line has it all!

Dining Options Include:

• Complimentary Beverages – Soda, tea, and coffee are available for your convenience in multiple areas around the ship. You can find them in the dining areas as well as on deck.
• Quick-Service Dining – You can walk up to the available Quick-Service Dining locations and get a quick meal at your convenience. These dining options vary depending on which ship you’re on. On the Disney Wish, the Quick-Service Dining options are Mickey’s Smokestack Barbeque, Donald’s Cantina, Daisy’s Pizza Pies, Goofy’s Grill, and Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream.
• Themed Dining – On each Disney Cruise ship, there are three Main Dining restaurants. These dining locations are all full-service meals where you can sit back and relax while you’re waited on. These restaurants are also themed, with fun and exquisite details, and of course Disney storytelling. Again, these restaurants will vary depending on which ship you are on. On the Disney Treasure, you will find Plaza de Coco, Worlds of Marvel, and 1923.
• All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Soft-Serve Ice Cream – Whether you’ve been soaking up the sun on deck, or you’re just craving a sweet treat, stop by and get yourself some soft-serve ice cream… as many times as you’d like!
• 24-Hour Room Service – You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods delivered directly to your state room with the 24-Hour Room Service that's available on Disney Cruise Line. Breakfast food is delivered from 7am-10am and then lunch and dinner items are available for the rest of the day and night.
• Late-Night Snacks – Not only can late-night food be enjoyed with your room service, adults can also indulge in late-night snacks at the adult-only nightclubs and lounges.

Entertainment

Disney is known for its great entertainment. Live entertainment, nighttime spectaculars, movies, and more. We’ve experienced it at theme parks, on Broadway, at movie theaters, and even in the comfort of our own home. It’s no different when it comes to a Disney Cruise!

Entertainment includes:

• Characters – Just like at the Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line has a variety of character meet and greets. Get ready for hugs, autographs, and pictures with your favorite Disney characters. Enjoy the special outfits that the characters wear throughout the sailing. You can even meet rare characters on some of Disney Cruise Line’s specialty cruises!
• Disney Movies – While you’re on the deck, in the pool, or in one of the ship’s theaters, you can enjoy some of Disney’s great movies. Disney Cruise Line shows both classic Disney movies as well as new ones that are being shown for the first time!
• Live Music – Throughout the ship, you’ll be able to see and enjoy live music.
• Broadway-Style Musicals – Across the fleet of Disney Cruise Line ships, there are a number of extravagant musicals for you to enjoy. These musicals include Beauty and the Beast, Frozen – A Musical Spectacular, Tangled: The Musical, Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story, Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic, Disney’s Believe, Disney Seas the Adventure, The Golden Mickeys, The Little Mermaid, and Disney: The Tale of Moana.
• Shows, Trivia, Mixers, and Karaoke
• Kids Clubs – Children can enjoy some time with their peers in Disney Cruise Line’s imaginative kids clubs . These clubs, as well as the activities in them, are organized and geared towards specific age groups. Specially trained Disney counselors are at all of the kids clubs for supervision, help, and to assist with activities.
• Adult-Only Nightclubs and Lounges – The adults have a chance to get away for a moment by themselves to eat, drink, and dance at Disney Cruise Line Nightclubs and Lounges .
• Fireworks at Sea – There’s something special about Disney fireworks. Of course this isn’t something that could be left out of a Disney Cruise. Watch as magic fills the sky during these amazing nighttime spectaculars.

Pools & Recreation

There’s plenty of water fun to be had on the Disney Cruise Line ships. All of the ships have a variety of different pools, water play areas, and waterslides for all different age groups!

• Little ones can enjoy themed water play areas where they can splash around in fountains, misters, and more! These areas are exclusively for little cruisers ages 3 and below.
• Kids can enjoy the shallow depths of Mickey’s Pool or the water playground at AquaLab. The water slides also provide fun for children of all ages.
• Goofy’s Pool and Donald's Pool are both considered family pools. Everyone can enjoy splashing around in the water and participating in fun activities.
• On the Disney Fantasy, you can also find an Adult-only area called Satellite Falls. This is a splash pool that features a cascading rain curtain.
• For a more thrilling experience, you can try one of the water coasters: AquaDuck or AquaDunk . These are similar to water slides, but you’re being propelled through a tube. You even get to go through an acrylic tube over the side of the ship!

For those who are looking for a place to workout during their cruise, you can head to the fitness center onboard the ship. Here you’ll find weight machines, cardio equipment, and even fitness classes!

Island Destinations

Another inclusive part of a Disney Cruise is the opportunity to stop at an island destination. Currently, the destination is Disney’s Private Island, Castaway Cay. Beginning in the summer of this year, sailings will head to Disney’s newest island destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

Both of these islands are located in The Bahamas. In order to stop at either (or both) of these islands during your sailing, you must sail on a Bahamian or Caribbean cruise. For more information on both of these island destinations, head over to these detailed articles to read more about each one!

• Disney’s Castaway Cay
• Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

Themed Disney Cruises

Disney Cruise Line has a number of themed cruises that bring even more fun and adventure to the sea! Currently, these themed cruises include Pixar Day at Sea, Marvel Day at Sea, Halloween on the High Seas, and Very Merrytime Cruises. During these cruises, you will be able to enjoy themed dining, character encounters, merchandise, activities, and more!

Pixar Day at Sea

During Pixar Day at Sea , you’ll join your favorites from Pixar movies such as Monsters Inc., The Incredibles, and Toy Story! Character experiences during this charming day will include characters like Mike and Sully, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Woody, and Jesse! You’ll also be able to sing and dance with a wide array of Pixar characters during the Pixar Pals Celebration. And the fun doesn’t end there! An Incredible Deck Party is a super way to lead to the firework finale. The Incredibles are.. well.. incredible, but they may need your help saving the day during this deck party!

There are three different themed dining options available during Pixar Day at Sea. Hey Howdy Breakfast is a musical breakfast where you’ll be joined by Woody, Jesse, and Bullseye! Pixar Day at Sea Dinner serves up delicious dishes that are inspired by your Pixar favorites! During Undersea Magic with Crush , you’ll enter the world of Finding Nemo for your meal. But don’t forget… “Fish are friends. NOT food!”. While you eat, you’ll be able to see friends from the movie and possibly have a chance to talk with Crush!

Pixar Day at Sea is available on select 7-Night Caribbean sailings. These sailings take place from January through March. If you’re interested in experiencing Pixar Day at Sea, book now before it’s too late!

Marvel Day at Sea

Assemble your crew for an amazing day during Marvel Day at Sea . This special sailing is packed with over 30 Marvel Super Heroes and Villains. Suit up and get ready for scheduled photo opportunities with Thor, Loki, Black Panther, Shuri, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and Captain America (Sam Wilson). Other heroes that you may spot throughout the ship are Captain America (Steve Rogers), Star-Lord, Gamora, Hawkeye, Kate Bishop, Shang-Chi, Black Widow, and others!

There is no shortage of activities for you to enjoy during this heroic day.

• Dress up as your favorite Marvel Super Hero or Villain.
• Catch showings of Marvel movies up on deck or in the Buena Vista Theater
• Children ages 4-12 have the opportunity to participate in training to become part of the next generation of Super Heroes!
• Test your skills during Marvel trivia.
• Learn how to draw Marvel Super Heroes at Animation Academy.
• Watch Marvel TV animated series on deck during Funnel Vision screenings.
• Enjoy an interactive Super Hero session.

Of course, being Marvel themed, this cruise is action packed! There is so much entertainment throughout the day.

• Warriors of Wakanda Show – Okoye leads the Dora Milaje during this thrilling demonstration. During this demonstration, you will learn what training is like for the Dora Milaje!
• Strange Academy: A Spellbinding Spectacular – During this show, you’ll experience first-hand the power of the mystic arts with Doctor Strange and Sorcerer Supreme Wong.
• Mickey and Minnie’s Super Hero Celebration – You won’t want to miss seeing your favorite pals in their Super Hero best! Make sure to stop by to see Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy in their special costumes!
• Star-Spangled USO Show – At the Evolution Dance Club, you can see this tribute to Captain America. With singing, dancing, music, and possibly an appearance from Captain America himself, this is a show that you won’t want to miss!
• Marvel Heroes Unite – Marvel Super Heroes take flight during this action-packed nighttime spectacular. This display includes stunts, special effects, and pyro. Both Super Heroes and Villains will make an appearance as you watch an epic battle that takes place within the Multiverse.

Marvel Day at Sea is available on select 5-Night sailings to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale.

Halloween on the High Seas

Celebrate this spook-tacular time of year with Disney Cruise Line! During Halloween on the High Seas, you’ll experience not-so-scary activities, thrilling entertainment, special character meet and greets, and treats! The entire ship is decorated with Halloween decor. You won’t want to miss the magical Halloween Tree in the Grand Hall!

• Mickey’s Mouse-querade – This scary good celebration brings out all of the Halloween fun! See your favorite Disney characters in their Halloween best. Join them by wearing your costume too!
• Themed Meet and Greets – During this eerie cruise, you’ll be able to see characters in rare Halloween costumes. Stop by to see Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle dressed as the Sanderson Sisters!
• Halloween Activities – Everyone can join in on the fun and make Halloween themed crafts together.
• No tricks, just treats! – During this cruise, you’ll be able to indulge in Halloween-themed desserts and drinks. Of course, there will also be trick-or-treating!

Halloween on the High Seas takes place during most sailings from late September through Halloween.

Very Merrytime Cruises

‘Tis the SEA-son to sail with Disney Cruise Line! Experience the magic of the holidays mixed with the magic of Disney during Disney Cruise Line’s Very Merrytime Cruises. These sailings include gorgeous decor, holiday-themed entertainment, activities, and merchandise!

• Holiday Decor – You’ll be filled with the heart-warming feelings that come with the sight of cozy holiday decorations. The ship is beautifully decorated for the holidays. Decorations that you can expect to see are lights, garlands, poinsettias, and a 24-foot Christmas tree.
• Tree Lighting Ceremony – Join Mickey and Minnie for the holiday tradition of lighting the Christmas tree!
• Holiday Deck Show – This deck show is filled with music and holiday cheer. Gather those you love and enjoy the show.
• Character Meet and Greets – The ship isn’t the only thing that gets dressed up for the holidays. Your favorite Disney characters will be dazzling in their holiday finest and ready to take a picture with you!
• Santa Claus – Santa Claus will also be available for photo opportunities. Make sure that the little ones are ready to share what’s on their wish list this year!
• Activities for Kids – Holiday-themed crafts and activities will be available for the little ones and anyone else who would like to join in on the fun with them!
• Merchandise – Holiday-themed Disney Cruise Line merchandise will be available during Very Merrytime Cruises. Grab the perfect gift for your loved ones at home or for yourself!
• Holidays on the Islands – Celebrate the holidays on both Castaway Cay and, for the first time this year, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point!

There are so many different Disney Cruise Line options, there is something for everyone!

Ready to Plan Your Disney Cruise?

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Here are some of our other guides helpful planning guides

• Disney Wish – Tour of Disney's Newest Ship
• Guide to Disney Cruises – What You Need to Know
• Top Tips For Your First-Time Disney Cruise
• Review of the Disney Vacation Club Member Cruise – Worth It?
• Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews – Best Hotels On Property
• Disney Cruise Line Packing List

Disney Cruise Deals Q&A

September is usually the cheapest month to go on a Disney Cruise. The main reasoning for this is hurricane season. Bookings aren't as popular during this month because Guests want to avoid storms and the possibility of cancellation.

Yes, you can often find Disney Cruises on sale. You can find special offers directly on Disney Cruise Line's webpage.

The price of a Disney Cruise for a family of 4 depends on quite a few factors. The price of a Disney Cruise varies depending on the destination, length of sailing, travel dates, ship, and which stateroom you choose to stay in.

Yes, it can be cheaper to book a Disney Cruise last minute. However, if you're able to, I would suggest to book a Disney Cruise as soon as the booking period opens up. This is also a very cheap time to book a Disney Cruise and you will have more options available to you. Your stateroom location will be more restricted when you book last minute.

Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

About Rebekah Brown

Rebekah's love of Disney and passion for writing is what led her to Mickey Visit and Disney Dose. Her first visit to Walt Disney World was when she was a young child. Now she enjoys her Disney vacations with her own two children, husband, and parents. Rebekah will keep you up to date on all things that have to do with Walt Disney World. As a frequent visitor, Rebekah will share both her knowledge and personal experience with you through her articles.

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5 night caribbean, find the best disney cruise, why should i book a disney cruise.

If you're looking for an unforgettable vacation, Disney cruises are a perfect choice. Disney is one of the best cruise lines in the industry, with a successful history of providing excellent service and luxurious experiences. The Disney cruise vacations take you to some of the world's most beautiful and fascinating destinations. They’re sure to have features to please everyone in your group.

How to find the best Disney cruise deals?

There are many different Disney cruise deals to choose from depending on your destination and the experiences you would most like to enjoy. These deals let you include additional features for a lower price to make your vacation even more comfortable. You can find the best deals by searching for your destinations, and filtering by your desired cruise lines. This way only the companies you wish to travel with will appear. You can also sort your results by price and length of time.

How to choose your cruise with Disney?

If you want to book aDisney cruise there are plenty of amazing Disney cruise deals available. Add your destination, cruise vacation, and number of travelers. Then you can sort your results by price, duration, and departure date. You can also filter by cruise line, cruise ship and cabin type. You’ll find different amenities to suit your vacation needs on each Disney cruise. For example, youth programs, fitness facilities, and spa facilities.

What do I need to look out for when booking a Disney cruise?

When booking your 2025 Disney cruise it’s important to consider a few practical tips. Check what the cost covers, and what you may need to budget for or need insurance for. Think about any amenities or onboard service you’ll require, depending on the length of the Disney cruise. For example, youth programs, entertainment, fitness facilities, spa facilities, and room service. Secondly, research the weather conditions for your journey and destination. In some locations, summer and winter weather can vary a lot. Another tip is to go over the ship layout to see where you’d like to pick a cabin. Don’t forget to check visa requirements and any flight logistics.

When is the best time to book a Disney cruise?

You can book a Disney cruise as early as you like depending on availability. There’s a higher chance of finding cheaper Disney cruise prices by booking between 6 months to 12 months in advance. But there are also lots of last-minute cruise deals closer to your preferred departure date, but this will depend on your flexibility.

Are last minute deals available with Disney?

Yes, you can find last-minute Disney cruises on Expedia. Add your travel dates to the cruise finder and sort your results to find the best price available. Cruise deal discounts are indicated by a green box above the Disney cruise price.

How do I book a cruise with Disney?

To book a Disney cruise on Expedia select your Disney destination and filter by cruise line. You can also browse our extensive selection of pre-selected cruise deals and find the perfect cruise for you. Once you have found the one you want, choose your dates and the port of departure. You can also refine your search by cabin experiences, or cruise ship. Each ship will have amenities to suit your needs including room service, spa facilities, and fitness facilities.

Is Disney great value for money?

Disney cruises are excellent value for money if you're looking for an enjoyable and relaxing cruise vacations. A Disney cruise offers a high standard of service, a great selection of dining, modern amenities, friendly staff, and exciting activities. The exceptional quality of the experience is worth the price.

Can I cancel a Disney cruise booking?

Yes, you can cancel your Disney cruise. We all have unfortunate circumstances where we need to cancel a booking, so Expedia makes it easy to do so. All you have to do is head to your My Trips page on Expedia and click on the cancellation button. Another option is to contact customer service, where you’ll receive help with cancelling. Do make sure that you’re aware of the refund policy that applied to your booking, to see if you’re entitled to a full refund.

Disney Cruise Guide

Disney Cruise Line offers a unique 3-in-1 cruising experience like no other, combining the classic cruise vacation with the magic of Disney. The ships are designed with families in mind, but also cater to adults, with exclusive pools, hot tubs, nightclubs, and adult-only dining venues. Kids will love the onboard youth clubs, like Disney’s Oceaneer Club where they can interact with their favorite Disney characters, or Vibe, which is the lounge built exclusively for teenagers. Parents can also take advantage of the “It’s a small world” nursery hosted by Huggies®. A Disney Cruise wouldn’t be complete without Broadway-quality, original Disney musicals, like Frozen, Tangled, and Beauty and the Beast. Onboard you’ll also find first-run Disney movies and Disney character meet and greets. Disney Cruise Line is also the first in the industry to have fireworks spectaculars at sea. If you’re departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, you can easily add more magic to your trip by staying at Walt Disney Resort near Orlando, Florida before your Bahamian, Caribbean or repositioning cruise. All add-ons like hotel accommodations, theme park tickets, and more can be purchased as a package with your cruise so the trip. Most cruises also include a stop at Disney’s private Bahaman island, Castaway Cay, reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line Guests. On this island, you’ll find the Castaway Family Beach, a Snorkeling Lagoon, an adult-only Serenity Bay, a children’s play area and teen hideout, as well as a 2,400-square-foot floating platform called the Pelican Plunge. If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to introduce your family to the world of cruising, while experiencing premium Disney-style hospitality, Disney Cruise Line is a fantastic option.

Disney Promotions

Looking to save big and get the best deal on your next cruise? Check out Disney's latest promotion.

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Disney Articles

5 BEST SPRING BREAK FAMILY CRUISES

Expedia - November 27, 2018

Discover spring break vacations that appeal to both kids and adults, including some popular Disney ships!

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CRUISING 101: BEST CRUISE LINES FOR FIRST TIME CRUISERS

Heather Mcmanus - Sept 13, 2019

Cruise line branding will give you a lot of clues about what kind of travelers they’re targeting, but if I had to completely stereotype some of the major cruise lines and their typical guests, here’s how I’d do it. Consider this your cheat sheet on the best cruise lines for first time cruisers.

More Cruise Lines to Explore

• AmaWaterways
• Avalon Waterways
• Azamara Club Cruises
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruise Lines
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Cruises
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Holland America Line
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Oceania Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Uniworld River Cruises
• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Viking River Cruises

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Terms & Conditions

Fuel supplement may apply. Savings advertised are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates, and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings.

11 ways to save money on a Disney cruise

Update : Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Two travel truths right now are that travel has become very expensive and air travel is more unpredictable and unpleasant than normal. Personally, I spent $700 round-trip each on domestic economy tickets to take my kid to summer camp 1,000 miles away. That's absolutely insane.

On the other end of the spectrum, another type of travel is having a different kind of moment.

This type of travel remains affordable and typically isn't as stressful as dealing with airports, delays and cancellations. In fact, I'd argue it's the most relaxing and affordable vacation available right now: a cruise ship.

Personally, I'm partial to Disney Cruise Line .

Disney Cruise Line has a reputation for being expensive and designed just for families — though neither of those things actually has to be true . While these cruises can be more expensive than some other cruise lines, if you can select a port you can drive to, you may be surprised at how affordable a Disney cruise can be when viewed as an all-in vacation price.

Here's how to save money on a Disney cruise — and find the cheaper Disney cruises that start at around $500 per person (based on double occupancy) for the entire experience.

That's less than that painful $700 flight — which, unlike a cruise, doesn't include accommodations, meals or entertainment.

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Pick the dates that start at just over $1,000

Yes, Disney Cruise Line costs more than Carnival or Royal Caribbean, but throw away the notion that a Disney cruise is unattainably expensive. It simply isn't true. The peak school break weeks are expensive, but with so many three- and four-night sailings, you can choose a long weekend and avoid those pricey weeks if you want to.

As an example, two people can sail for three nights from Miami to the Bahamas on Disney Dream from Friday, Sept. 9 to Monday, Sept. 12 for just $1255.72 in a verandah cabin (not some windowless inside space).

Good luck finding a hotel you actually want to stay at that weekend for three nights in Miami for that price — and remember this $1,256 rate is the price for the entire cruise experience, not just the room.

You don't have to sail from Florida ports during hurricane season to find that $1,000-ish price point. You can sail for roughly the same price from Galveston, Texas to Mexico on Disney Magic in January 2023 on a four-night cruise to Mexico for just $1,441 for two people in a balcony cabin.

Adding two kids to that same Galveston itinerary to make a trip for four people would raise the price to $2,324.

Or, sail from San Diego to Mexico starting at $1,086 in an inside cabin or $1,278 for a verandah room.

Think about it. That $2,324 rate from Galveston for four people works out to $145 per person, per day — which isn't bad compared to what other trips cost these days.

For those same travel dates of Jan. 27-31, 2023, it would cost a family of four $1,444 for four nonstop Basic Economy flights on United from Houston to Cancun. Four nights of lodging at the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva resort in Cancun (which includes meals, entertainment and a kids club, like the sailing does) come to $3,392 for those four nights.

For the flights and hotel stay, that's just over double the cost of the Disney Cruise for the same number of days visiting roughly the same destination.

Related: 7 ways the brand-new Disney Wish surprised me

Let Disney choose your cabin

A good way to save money on a Disney cruise is to let the cruise line choose your cabin in exchange for a discounted fare. These are called guaranteed rates. You pick the room type (inside, verandah, etc.) but Disney gets to be the one that selects exactly which room within that category you get.

These fares come with additional restrictions around payments and changes, but you can save up to 35% off the going rates. I've had great success with these discounted fares in the past. As long as you aren't too picky about where your room is on the ship, this strategy can be a tremendous way to save on your Disney cruise.

Book via a travel agent that gives you onboard credit

You can log onto the Disney Cruise Line website and book the cruise yourself, but you may not want to when you know a travel agent can do the work for you — and give you some credit back in the process.

The amount varies, but I've gotten up to $750 as a statement credit when I booked a pricier Disney cruise at the concierge level . On the more affordable cruises and cabins, expect the credit to be more in the $75-$200 range.

While the amount will vary, you can often get somewhere between 5-10% of the price of your cruise back in the form of a gift card or shipboard spending credit through a travel agent or even via Costco Travel .

If you aren't sure where to start, you can get offers from agents who want to book your cruise — sometimes with extra perks and credits — via Cruise Compete .

Pay with discounted Disney gift cards

At wholesale clubs, such as Sam's Club and Costco, you can reliably purchase Disney gift cards at a discount . Sometimes, these discounts get even bigger around sales such as Black Friday. But on an ongoing basis, you can usually get a $500 Disney gift card for about $485.

That's not a huge discount, but if you paid for your $3,000 Disney cruise with those cards, it would save you $90.

If you have a Target credit card, you can also save 5% on Disney gift cards at Target. On that same $3,000 Disney Cruise, that's $150 saved by going that route.

Remember that you can often earn bonus points with certain credit cards when shopping for Disney gift cards depending on where you purchase them. Office supply stores, grocery stores and even wholesale clubs can be good bonus categories for different rewards credit cards, allowing you to earn 3, 4 or 5 points per dollar on your card while you buy your gift cards.

Use your credit card points

Not all credit card points can easily translate to a "free" Disney cruise, but some can.

The easiest way to do this is to pay some — or all — of the cruise with a credit card that lets you use your points at a fixed value to erase a travel charge. This way, you could book with a travel agent to get that onboard credit and then use your points to wipe out your deposit or final payment.

For example, if you put the charge on your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , you could use the miles at 1 cent each in value to wipe out the cost. The first example given, on the three-night cruise from Miami to the Bahamas for $1,255 ,would take about 125,500 Venture miles to fully erase the cash cost.

With those two welcome bonuses currently each at 75,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in spending in the first three months from account opening, that's not an unrealistic goal.

Earn 75,000 bonus miles worth $750 in travel with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card after $4,000 in spending in three months from account opening.

Upgrade at the port for less

This tip isn't exactly about saving money overall, but it is a way to get a better room for less than the original list price.

If the cruise isn't sold out, you can go to a special desk at the port before you board and ask about any space-available discounted upgrades. At Port Canaveral, where all the Disney check-in desks are on the left side of the terminal building, the upgrade desk is the rightmost desk.

The cost to upgrade will be related to the room type you've booked and the one you'd like to upgrade to. The supervisor will use a pre-printed chart to find that cost differential. It will cost less than if you had booked a better room initially, sometimes by about half, though that number varies.

On our Disney Dream cruise this spring, I was able to upgrade to a larger and more deluxe cabin for $34. Total. Get to the terminal as soon as you can if you are hoping for a suite or concierge upgrade because those are very limited and go quickly.

While I haven't done it, I've also heard that even cheaper prices become available on board once the ship sets sail, though I haven't tried that myself.

Related: Is Disney Cruise concierge-level worth it?

Save 10% by putting a deposit for your next cruise down while you're on board

The easiest way to save 10% on a Disney cruise doesn't work for your first cruise, but can work for all subsequent ones.

When you are on a Disney Cruise Line ship, you can put a $250 placeholder deposit down on a future Disney cruise to be used within two years. This can be done in your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app while on board.

You don't have to pick which cruise you want to do at that moment, but by putting that $250 in a placeholder you can not only apply that $250 when you ultimately pick your next Disney cruise but also save 10% off the rate valid on most dates and room types in the process.

That one step can save you hundreds of dollars on your vacation. Worst case scenario, that $250 is refunded to you if you don't book another cruise in the next two years. That happened to us during the pandemic, and the money came back automatically and without a problem once the 24 months were up.

Related: 12 ways new cruisers waste money on their first cruise

BYOB and skip the extras

If you are looking to trim costs on your Disney cruise, bring things from home that you would otherwise likely purchase.

For example, you can bring up to six cans of beer or two bottles of wine per person aged 21 and up. Instead of paying cruise prices for those beverages, you can bring what you want from home at regular land-based prices, up to those maximum limits.

You can also bring one case of unopened water bottles on board. These come in handy for shore excursions or when you need to hydrate by the pool. (Better yet, pack a refillable water bottle.)

Since a Disney Cruise already includes meals, room service, snacks, soft-serve ice cream, fountain drinks and plenty of entertainment, you don't need to spend anything additional on board if you don't want to. This is especially true on a new-to-you ship and on those shorter three- and four-night cruises where there is more than enough to do and explore already.

Just carry on a few beverages and skip all the extras.

If your sailing goes to Disney Cruise Line's private island, Castaway Cay , beach chairs, umbrellas, the ocean waterslide and lunch on the island are also included at no extra charge.

Seek out spa discounts

If you're focused on saving money, you'll want to skip the spa entirely on your cruise. But if nothing says vacation like a massage, you can find a discount on onboard spa services on a Disney cruise.

I've received a port day discount that was about 20% off because most people book their treatments on sea days, and the spa is less busy when the ship is docked. The Disney Visa also advertises a 20% discount on select massages or facials on port days on an ongoing basis.

I've also received $50 off a second service while checking out for my first. It's fairly common for cruise ship spas to offer discounts when you book multiple treatments.

If you don't see a discount advertised, just ask at the spa desk. That's how I got hooked up with spa deals on previous Disney cruises.

Use Disney Visa onboard cruise discounts

In addition to the 20% off select spa treatments, Disney Visa cardholders also get 10% off a Castaway Cay package that includes snorkel gear, a bike rental and an inner tube. Additional discounts include 10% off onboard merchandise purchases of $50 or more and onboard photos.

If you need time to spread out payments, those with a Disney Visa can also get a 0% annual percentage rate on their Disney vacation for six months. Right now, the card also has a welcome bonus of up to $300 toward a Disney vacation.

Related: Best credit cards for booking a cruise

Book early and go off-peak

This is a no-brainer tip to avid cruisers, but if you are newer to cruising, know that booking early and sailing off-peak are great ways to save money on a Disney cruise.

I booked our Alaska cruise for the summer of 2023 the day the calendar opened this year because the price typically increases as the sailing date nears. You can sometimes find last-minute specials, but most of the time, cruise prices only go one direction — up.

You'll put 20% down when you first book and then have until much closer to sailing to pay off the remaining 80%.

Date flexibility will also help you save money on a Disney cruise. The same itinerary that costs $2,000 in September will be up to three times more expensive if you want to sail over winter break.

If you can't find any affordable prices, I recommend scrolling the cruise list by price instead of starting with the perfect date or itinerary. A sailing you may not have initially considered may turn out to be the perfect vacation option.

Bottom line

Believe it or not, a Disney cruise can be much cheaper than a trip to the Disney theme parks. ( A cruise is often much less stressful, too .)

Remember that $2,324 four-night sailing from Galveston to Mexico for a family of four? At $145 per person, per night, it's absolutely less than a trip to Disney World. Park tickets alone these days can be close to $145 per person and Disney resort rooms are $200-$700 or more per night, depending on your resort choice.

Add food costs on top of that, and you're almost certainly well above the price of a Disney cruise.

Related: How much does a Walt Disney World vacation cost ?

If you stack on some of these tips to save money on your Disney cruise, you could knock anywhere from 10-25% off the list price, depending on how many of the tips you are able to use.

As for me, I'm seriously contemplating that January getaway from Texas that will take us to Mexico and provide for all our lodging, meal and entertainment needs in the process.

Now I just need to figure out how much in additional savings I can stack onto the already pretty fair rate.

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The Best Ways To Save When Booking Your Next Disney Cruise

F orget about the Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride, if you want to elevate your Disney vacation to the next level, you can take a real Caribbean cruise aboard one of the Disney Cruise Line ships. Guests who visit the Bahamas or the Caribbean can also access Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. That's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of potential global destinations, too. In fact, if icebergs are your thing, Disney's Port Adventures partners even have a port of call in Alaska, where you can board the Hubbard Glacier Explorer and wind through an iceberg field for a couple of hours.

Depending on where you set sail and for how long, a Disney cruise can be cheaper, in some cases, than a Disneyland or  Disney World trip. It might not feel that way when you're paying one big amount upfront (after the requisite deposit), but the price of a cruise is generally all-inclusive. It even includes complimentary room service, 24 hours a day. At a Disney theme park, by contrast, a week at a deluxe resort hotel, plus park tickets, meals, and other add-ons, can sometimes total up to a higher cost than a week-long cruise would. If it's your first time going on a Disney cruise , or you're just looking to save on your next one, it helps to arm yourself with some money-saving tips beforehand. With that in mind, here's how you can get the best deals when booking on the Disney Cruise Line.

Read more: Tips For Spending Less On Food When Traveling

Book Through A Travel Agent

One Disney cruise tip you'll often hear is to book through a travel agent. The Disney Cruise Line does have special offers, such as discounts for Florida or Canada residents, or other limited-time deals on select sailings. However, when you book directly with Disney, it can be disorienting trying to make sense of all the different itineraries available through its fleet of six ships. The Caribbean region alone has options from 4 to 10 nights for the Western, Eastern, or Southern Caribbean, with multiple states and territories of departure.

Authorized Disney Vacation Planners like The Vacationeer and Small World Vacations can employ their expertise to help you narrow down your choices and get the lowest possible cruise fare. They're just two examples of well-known agencies that have reached Diamond Earmarked status, the highest level for an authorized planner (followed by Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze). Such agencies might be able to give you a fuller picture of the best deals, and they often come with the added benefit of an onboard credit.

A credit starting at $50 for a cruise of $1,000 or more might not seem like much, but fares aren't truly all-inclusive. Sure, the Cabanas buffet is free, but alcohol, gratuities, and certain other restaurants and activities (not to mention Wi-Fi service) all come at additional costs. The onboard credit helps cover these types of things. Currently, Costco members who book a Disney Cruise through Costco Travel can also get a $100 to $200 gift card.

Use A Cruise Search Engine

Travel agencies like the aforementioned Vacationeer and Small World Vacations advertise their services as free, so you shouldn't have to pay extra for your Disney cruise with them. For first-timers, it can be helpful to have someone walk you through the many decisions you'll need to make, like what kind of stateroom to book. However, if this isn't your first Disney cruise, you may prefer to eliminate the middleman and survey all the best booking options yourself. In that case, you can approach your cruise like you would if you were booking a flight or hotel through other third-party sites, like Priceline and Expedia.

Both those sites have their own dedicated Disney Cruise Line page where you can input a destination and dates and find deals, the same as you would for a non-Disney search. These sites are a good option if you already have some idea about where and when you want to go. Another specialty site, which works the same way and frequently comes recommended for Disney cruises, is Undercover Tourist . It offers an onboard credit, and its other big selling point is that it will apply its own discount to your fare. That's in addition to any built-in discounts Disney may be offering, like its reduced military rates.

Book Early And Watch For Last-Minute Stateroom Deals

While "book early" works as a general piece of travel advice, it's an especially good rule to follow with Disney resorts and cruises. This is because of the way the surge pricing system works. Like Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines, Disney tends to offer its best prices when an itinerary first becomes available. As the ship fills up with passengers, prices on the remaining cabins will go up to meet demand.

One way to get around this is by keeping an eye on Disney Cruise Line news via the official site . If you hear about a new itinerary, you can try to book it as soon as it goes on sale. Anyone who's already been on at least one Disney cruise should also be automatically enrolled as a Silver Member in Disney's cruise loyalty program, Castaway Club. Being a member allows you to book new cruises a day or more before the general public, depending on your membership level.

The flip side of booking early is deals that come along on last-minute staterooms with restricted fares. These non-refundable deals usually open up a few weeks or months before a cruise departs, and they require you to pay in full beforehand. Offsetting the price savings is the fact that your room will be assigned at the last minute based on availability. However, they'll guarantee you the room category you reserve or better, so you might even luck out and get an upgrade.

Book A Shorter, Off-Peak Season Cruise In An Inside Cabin

Disney has some European cruises, for instance, that sail for up to 11 or 12 days. However, these can cost upwards of $11,000 for two people. Again, a one-week Disney cruise might be cheaper than a one-week Disneyland or Disney World stay, but a 3- or 4-night cruise could give you an equally enjoyable experience without breaking the bank.

Since Disney cruises are family-friendly, they tend to be more in demand (and thereby, more expensive) when school is out. The same rules about steering clear of holiday breaks apply as much to the Disney Cruise Line as Disney theme parks. If you're looking to save, the best times of year  are January, February, May, October, and before or after Thanksgiving (but before Christmas and New Years). Just keep in mind that weather is also a factor in determining the off-peak cruise season. For that reason, you might want to avoid a cruise somewhere like Bermuda or the Bahamas during the month of September, when it's the height of hurricane season.

Consider, also, what type of stateroom you book. Disney is not so different from other cruise lines when it comes to inside cabins being cheaper. With an inside cabin, you won't have a window, but on two ships — the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy — you will have a "magical porthole." It's a flat-screen monitor with a live camera feed of the outside of the ship. Sometimes, Disney characters join the feed.

BYO Alcohol And Book A Second Cruise While Onboard

Once you know which Disney cruise is right for you , there are other things you can do to save money onboard. This includes being frugal about add-ons and bringing your own alcohol. That's right: passengers are allowed to carry on up to six 12-ounce beers or two 750-milliliter wine or champagne bottles (unopened). If you're on one of Disney's round-trip cruises from Australia or New Zealand, you can bring that much onboard for each port of call.

This could help reduce your bar tab if you plan on drinking. The only catch is that you can't bring your own alcohol into public lounges, and there's a $26 corking fee if you bring a bottle to dinner. With a standard verandah-type stateroom, though, you can always just enjoy sipping your beverage on your balcony.

If your Disney cruise turns out to be an experience worth repeating, one final thing you can do to save on a future trip is reserve your next cruise while you're still onboard the current one. The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app gives access to a special onboard booking offer where you can make an open-ended "placeholder reservation" for another cruise within the next two years. You can choose a sail date later, and in the meantime, it will give you a 10% discount on the normal rate. Though you have to pay a $250 deposit, it's refundable if you decide to cancel before you've locked down a date.

Read the original article on Explore .