disney cruise tips for toddlers

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Tips for a disney cruise with a toddler or preschooler.

Are you planning a Disney Cruise with your toddler or preschooler in tow? Maybe you’re questioning whether cruising with a toddler is a good idea, or if you should wait until they’re older. We’ve done a few Disney cruises now with our children at all different milestones. Our first was when our daughter was 1 and our most recent was when our son was 2 and our daughter was 4. I’m happy to share my personal tips for cruising with a toddler or preschool aged child in hopes that they’ll be helpful for you!

Disney Cruise Toddler and Preschooler Tips

I’d like to start by saying that we had an amazing time on every Disney Cruise we’ve been on as a family. If you’re cruising with little ones in tow, you can’t go wrong with a Disney Cruise. They absolutely cater to families and young children and I think that makes the world of difference when it comes to cruising with young children. Plus if your kiddos are Disney fans, they’re destined to feel the magic on a Disney Cruise.

Understand what Childcare Options are Available for You

Disney Cruises offer special childcare options for children of all ages. Toddlers or Preschoolers will be able to spend time in either the Small World Nursery or the Oceaneer Club.

Disney Cruise Small World Nursery

The Small World nursery is available for children aged 6 months – 3 years old. You can reserve the nursery for an additional fee and reservations can be made in advance or same day (if there is availability). Rates are as follows:

• $4.50 per half hour for the first child
• note: reservations are a one hour minimum

Disney Cruise Oceaneer Club

The Oceaneer Club is available for children aged 3 – 12 that are fully potty trained. There is no additional cost to utilize the Oceaneer Club.

We’ve used both the Small World Nursery and the Oceaneer Club and they’re both wonderful! The counselors are so sweet and the available toys and entertainment are exactly what you’d expect from Disney; they don’t disappoint!

If your little one is too young for the Oceaneer Club, they can still spend time there with you during the Open House hours they have onboard. My son loved exploring the Oceaneer Club during the Open House when he was 2 and too young to actually be checked in during the day.

Choose your Stateroom Wisely

There are different stateroom categories to consider when booking your Disney Cruise with little ones in tow. We personally like spending the extra money for the Deluxe Family Stateroom (either Verandah or Oceanview).

Not only is your room larger, but you also have an additional murphy bed available. We personally felt better about our kids each sleeping in a bed close to the floor vs using the pull-down ceiling bunk.

If you’re a family of 5, the Deluxe Family Stateroom is a great choice as well!

On our first cruise when we only had one kiddo and she was used to her crib at home, we booked a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom (not the Family Stateroom) and she slept in the pack n play and that was perfectly fine!

Regardless of stateroom size, bed rails and Pack n Plays are available to request (or you can bring your own).

Early Dining or the Early Show?

When cruising with littles ones that struggle to stay up very late, you may want to consider whether spending time as a family at dinner is priority vs watching the shows together each night.

When you book your cruise you’ll have the choice between the Main Dining or the Second Dining options.

The Main Dining is around 6pm and the Second Dining is around 8pm. The idea is that if you eat during the Main Dining, you would watch the late show. And if you eat during the Second Dining, you would watch the early show.

On our most recent cruise we tried the Second Dining because my daughter had struggled to stay awake for the shows on our previous cruise. She LOVED watching the early show with me and then making our way to the late dining. Our server was wonderful about bringing her food quickly and then she often fell asleep at the table while laying across 2 chairs. It was nice that she got to watch the entire show and also eat before she fell asleep (vs falling asleep and missing the show).

Another option you have available if you choose the Second Seating is the Dine and Play program that the Oceaneer Club hosts. You simply tell your server that you’ll be utilizing Dine and Play. Your server will bring your child’s food more quickly and then a counselor will bring the children to the Oceaneer Club while the adults take their time with their meal.

The Pools & Potty Training

Another thing to keep in mind if you’re cruising with little ones is that they must be potty trained to enjoy the pools. They cannot swim with a swim diaper.

However they can play in the themed splash zones! My kids loved these but it was a whole new world for my daughter when she could finally swim in the pools and enjoy the slides!

Lifevests are available for those who need them while swimming (or you could bring your own from home).

Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay (pronounced Castaway Key) is Disney’s private island and it’s a ton of fun! My kids really enjoyed swimming, playing in the sand, and adventuring around the island.

Scuttle’s Cove is also available at Castaway Cay for children that are aged 3-12 and potty trained. It’s essentially the Oceaneer Club option on the island.

One tip I have for Castaway Cay is that there are a limited number of strollers and wagons available on the island. They’re first come first serve, so grab one early if that would be useful to you.

There’s also a tram that runs on the island and stops at all of the main attractions along the way. It may be worthwhile using the tram if your hands are full and there aren’t any wagons or strollers available.

Don’t Forget to Reserve the Special Extras

There is so much to do on a Disney Cruise that you’ll no-doubt have an amazing time. BUT! There are extras to reserve that you don’t want to miss! While you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet characters on board, some special character meet-and-greets are by reservation only (no additional charge but you must have a reservation).

You can make these reservations before your cruise however they do go quickly. If you miss out on booking a special character meet-and-greet ahead of time, try to reserve it right when you get on board.

Something else you may want to reserve for your children is an appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or Pirates League onboard. This is an additional fee but it’s a lot of fun and very special.

I hope these tips are helpful if you’re considering a Disney Cruise with your toddler or preschooler! We loved our cruises and my kiddos still talk about all of the fun they had onboard!

If you need help booking your Disney Cruise, I recommend Love of the Magic Vacations ! They’re an amazing agency that I personally use to book our Disney Cruises. They can answer your cruise questions and get you ready to sail! You can request a free vacation quote right here .

Follow along on all of our Walt Disney World fun on  Instagram @brbgoingtodisney ! I share tips and tricks LIVE from the parks each week on Stories!   See you there!

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Tips for Disney Cruise Line with Toddlers & Preschoolers

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: April 17, 2017

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So many family travelers wait to do certain kinds of travel until their kids are “old enough.” After recently cruising aboard the Disney Wonder with my 3 year old son and his 7 year old big sister, I can definitively say that a Disney cruise is not one of those experiences that needs to wait. Disney Cruise Line handles the toddler and preschooler set well — very well. We adored the experience so much so that our family is already looking into Disney cruises to Alaska for next summer.

But face it: travel with toddlers and preschoolers anywhere can be a challenge, even at the places that cater to them best. Their little legs can’t walk as much, they may still need naps and early bedtimes, and they often have a short fuse. Travel with toddlers without preparation at your peril. I know from my extensive toddler travel experience with both of my kids that planning is essential. I personally did a lot of research before our cruise to make sure we knew what to expect with our 3 year old especially. And I was constantly on the lookout during our trip for things that would matter to other toddler and preschool parents as well.

Here are the essentials you need to know about cruising with Disney with toddlers and preschoolers so you can be prepared too!

Water fun with toddlers at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay!

Disney Cruise Cabins with Toddlers

I’ve cruised on a number of cruise lines over the years and have seen a wide variety of cruise cabins. I can honestly say that Disney has the best cabin I’ve ever seen, particularly for families with little ones. The staterooms are bigger than on other cruise lines, giving families more room to move around. The sleeping arrangements, bathroom design, and amenities work well in tight spaces.

Sleeping Options.  The bed options are especially well-designed. Standard rooms have a queen bed in the center of the room. There is also a couch facing the room’s main desk and vanity that converts into a twin lower bunk bed. A top bunk comes down from the ceiling above that. The bunk part of the room (which is next to the balcony or porthole side of the ship) is separated from the rest of the room with a heavy curtain divider. This allows you to put your children to bed without having to turn the lights off in the rest of the cabin. As you can probably imagine, the sleeping arrangement is as good as it can get in such tight quarters for families.

Master bed in a Disney Wonder cruise cabin. Note the curtain to divide the room from the kids bunks!

Toddlers who are comfortable in a real bed are best put on the bottom bunk. Disney has bedrails available for extra safety.

Disney also has ample Pack N Plays if your little one still prefers a crib-like option. Just ask your cabin steward to deliver one after you arrive in your room. We had a Pack N Play in our room and it made things a little tight around our balcony door, but we were still able to manage quite well. I’ve even heard of families managing two Pack N Plays in these cabins with twins!

The Bathroom. The bathroom layout on a Disney cruise ship is pretty ingenious. It’s one of the key family-friendly perks that Disney Cruise Line offers over the competition. The bathroom is split into two rooms, one of which has a sink and toilet. The other room has another sink and a tub/shower combination. This means that two people can be brushing teeth or getting ready in front of a sink at the same time. Or someone can use the toilet while someone else is taking a shower. The extra space is essential for families.

The first cabin bathroom with sink and toilet.

And if you noticed, I said tub ! Like many toddlers, mine son much prefers baths to showers. Being able to bathe him in a real tub was a huge plus. The tub isn’t full size, but both of my kids were able to get in together successfully for a quick bath so it’s certainly big enough.

The second cabin bathroom with tub and sink.

Storage. Storage space in the cabins is exceedingly generous and well-thought out, with drawers and nooks and crannies everywhere. Suitcases of any size fit easily under the main bed for space-saving efficiency. We had no trouble unpacking our family of four completely (my aunt was also along for the fun). Believe it or not, we ran out of drawer space earlier in our trip when were staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Our Disney hotel room ultimately didn’t have as much storage space as the cruise cabin did!

Other Little Extras. All cabins on Disney cruise line have a mini-fridge , which is huge for families with young kids. We used ours to store milk for our son, as he still loves his morning and bedtime sippy cup full of milk. It was also great to store a few snacks so we didn’t need to call room service or go up on deck for a quick bite.

The other little amenity we loved was the pair of wave phones that comes in each room. You can use these phone to text or call on board and at Castaway Cay. They are also essential for the childcare centers to communicate with you if your child needs to be picked up from the kids clubs. And speaking of kids clubs….

Childcare on Disney Cruise Line with Toddlers & Preschoolers

Childcare on Disney cruises is pretty amazing, both for the kids who get to attend and the parents who get to have a break. Depending on the age and needs of your toddler or preschooler, you have a couple of options.

“it’s a small world” Nursery. Kids under age 3 or who aren’t yet potty trained can only go to the it’s a small world nursery. The nursery charges $9 an hour. Due to more rigid staffing requirements for the little ones, reservations are recommended.

Oceaneer Club & Lab. Once your child is three years old and potty trained, they are eligible to head over with the big kids to the Oceaneer Club. The club is where most of the younger kids hang out, although it is also connected to the Oceaneer Lab which has a different set of activities that many older kids will prefer. Kids can roam as their interests dictate. Security is, of course, top notch so no need to worry if you have a preschooler escape artist. Kids wear special Magic Bands and have to be checked in and out with a secret security word and a scan of the band.

The Oceaneer Club is pretty much a dream come true for young kids. Younger ones like my 3 year old will probably spend most of their time in Andy’s Room, a Toy Story themed area with a slide. Every time I picked my son up from the club, his face was bright red and forehead glistening with sweat because he was climbing up and sliding down so many times.

Oceaneer Lab

My son was only 4 months past his third birthday on our trip, so he was right on the dividing line between the nursery and the Oceaneer Club. He was potty trained but not what I would call 100% self-sufficient. We usually made sure he went to the bathroom right before dropping him off and never left him in the club for more than a few hours at a time. After spending all morning in the Oceaneer Club the first full day day, he actually asked to go to the nursery for a bit of a break. He had a blast being the big kid there and playing with the little ones. But he ultimate was drawn back to the Oceaneer Club for the rest of the cruise – Andy’s Room and the slide was too tempting. But we found it really nice to have the nursery option too, especially if you have a more sensitive child who needs more staff attention.

Activities for Toddlers on Disney Cruises

It’s Disney, so it probably goes without saying that there are activities galore for kids of every age, including toddlers and preschoolers. There’s always something to keep them busy, from movie showings to special events like the Pirate Party or sail-away party. The must-dos for toddlers and preschoolers include:

Character Meet & Greets. There are ample opportunities to meet and greet your toddler’s favorite characters on a Disney cruise. With toddlers, I would recommend planning ahead if your child is character obsessed. You can pre-book many of these experiences online before your sailing which saves time in line. But even if you don’t pre-book experiences, characters make appearances for photos before some of the dinners and are abundant on Castaway Cay. Since we had just been to Disney World right before our cruise, our children had plenty of character interactions there so we didn’t seek them out quite as much as we might otherwise have done.

The Pools.  On the Wonder, the biggest hit with my three year old was Dory’s Reef, a themed splash pad area. Disney is one of the very few cruise lines that has this sort of water play splash area where even children in swim diapers can participate (swim diapers are not allowed in any cruise ship pools). Even though my son is potty trained and could go in the pools, he preferred the splash pad anyway. Bonus that the water was much warmer on our February sailing!

The Shows. All of the shows aboard Disney Cruise Line are appropriate for kids of all ages. And no one gives you dirty looks on a Disney cruise if your kiddo makes a little noise in a show either. Fellow cruisers totally understand if you need to get up and take a toddler out. Whether you want to take your toddler or preschooler to the evening shows, of course, depends on your child’s age and attention span.

One our 3 night cruise, we took our son to one of the the three evening shows and that was about right. He made it through about 75% of the Golden Mickey’s before getting antsy and needing sleep. We intended to take him to Frozen: A Musical Spectacular the final night (he’s a huge Olaf fan), but he was having so much fun in the kids club at the time he refused to leave. My best advice when it comes to shows? Just gauge your child’s mood at the late night hour and make game-time decisions when it comes to shows.

The Food & Dining Experience Aboard Disney Cruise Line

If you are worried about what your toddler or preschooler will eat on a Disney cruise, don’t. My three year old is the pickiest eater on the planet and even he did better than usual on the ship. He may have ordered macaroni and cheese for dinner every night, but he actually ate it which can sometimes even be a challenge for us. And he may have finished it off with a Mickey Premium Ice Cream bar, but hey – that’s vacation. There were healthy choices every night too if you have a toddler who eats better than mine!

Disney cruise ships have three different sit-down restaurants for dinner, with two different seatings. Families with young children will likely do best choosing the earlier 5:30 seating as we did. While the advantage of choosing the later seating is that you get to go to the evening shows earlier, the obvious downside is cranky and hungry kids who can’t make it until 8pm to eat.

On the Wonder, the restaurants are Tiana’s Place, Triton’s, and Animator’s Palate. Other ships have slightly different choices. Your server, assistant server, and maître d’ rotates with you each night as your table cycles through the restaurants. Our servers got to know our kids well, playing games with them and helping keep them happy. We actually succeeded in keeping my toddler at the table for an hour plus long sit down meal for three nights straight which is near impossible. Disney clearly had the magic touch. Kids menus came on cute coloring and activity sheets with crayons. And the dinner entertainment certainly helped. At Tiana’s Place, there was a full New Orleans jazz band and our evening at Animator’s Palate had a magical show to end the cruise with a bang.

For other meals, the options are pretty endless. We ate breakfast at the main buffet at Cabanas most mornings. The choices – from fresh fruit to cereal to all sorts of hot options – were almost so extensive as to be overwhelming. The Mickey waffles and entire wall of donuts might have caught our kids’ eyes.

Donuts as far as the eye can see at the Cabanas breakfast buffet.

For quick bites, the pizza counter out by the pool deck is convenient and easy. There’s a soft-serve ice cream machine around the corner too. Room service is available in a pinch if you find yourself stuck in the room with a sleeping toddler and you get hungry!

Castaway Cay with Toddlers & Preschoolers

Meeting Donald Duck at Castaway Cay.

Disney’s Caribbean itineraries stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. Castaway Cay deserves a whole post all its own because there is so much to do and see. But there are a few things to know specifically about making the most of your day on Castaway Cay with toddlers and preschoolers. The essentials:

• Consider taking the shuttle as the walk to the two family beaches can be a bit long for toddler legs. I was worried we’d lose time waiting for shuttles, but they ran often so they were well worth it.
• Leave the stroller behind on the ship (if you have one). Castaway Cay has strollers available to borrow for free as well as wagons to pull your child and stuff if you prefer that alternative.
• Want to enjoy a family bike ride? Disney rents adult bikes with child seats and also has the tiniest child-sized bikes if your preschooler is already a bike-riding pro. Helmets are, of course, available.
• Life vests are available all over the beaches to borrow for free.
• There’s no nursery on Castaway Cay. Only kids ages 3 and up who are potty trained can go to Scuttle’s Cove, the island kids club. Scuttle’s Cove is located away from water, so it’s totally safe and enclosed!
• Don’t try to do too much with toddlers and preschoolers on Castaway Cay. Sand and water play time may be all they want to do.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Land & Sea Celebration in 2017, which included a three night cruise aboard the Disney Wonder. Disney provided my family and me with discounted conference admission, tickets, and lodging. Disney and its conference sponsors also provided me with additional gifts during the event. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Blue | Traveling to Disney with Toddlers Loop:

• 1st Stop – Love Our Crazy Life | 5 Reasons Not To Go To Disney With Toddlers
• 2nd Stop – Trips with Tykes | Tips for Disney Cruise Line with Toddlers & Preschoolers  – YOU ARE HERE
• 3rd Stop – Saving Up for Disney | Walt Disney World Guide for Toddlers at Magic Kingdom
• 4th Stop – Distalgic | Our Kids’ First Trip: Arriving on Property
• 5th Stop – Disney Mamas | 3 Tips for Handling Your Toddlers Schedule Disruptions at Disney Parks

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Tuesday 6th of July 2021

He is the cutest little boy!

Shelby Chung

Tuesday 7th of January 2020

If you ask to be waitlisted things open up, they did for us about 2 months out. Also on departure day, go to guest services and ask, they often have a few spots saved for just such a situation.

Thursday 25th of April 2019

These tips are great if you have cruised with Disney before. We are going on Disney cruise for the 1st time, I have been on several other cruises on other companies. I could get NOTHING that we would have liked to do as a family including 1st seating dining because all were taken by cruisers that have used Disney before. If I had known this before putting down money Disney would not have been the cruise we chose no matter how much my grandson loves Mickey.

Saturday 27th of October 2018

Hi! Thanks so much for sharing your experience with a little one. I noticed that you mentioned going on a 3 night cruise. Did you feel like this was enough time to experience all the things the ship has to offer and at the ports? Did your vacation feel rushed? Were you local or did you have to fly into the departure port? Was it worth all the hassle for just 3 nights? I just go back and forth whether we will feel too rushed on vacation with two kids and if its a waste. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Stephanie G

Thursday 22nd of February 2018

Hi there, really appreciated your opinions here. We are thinking on doing a Disney Cruise when the kids are 4 & 2 (my sister-in-law is having a big group sail for her 40th bday). My main concern is that we will be divided as the 2 year old will not be able to join in on the 4 year old things...did you have any of that division during your experience? How did you handle? I just am afraid it will be too much having the 2 separate age groups and wonder if we should hold off for when we can all 4 participate together.... I appreciate any feedback and/or advice. Stephanie Gonsalves Chesapeake, VA

tripswithtykes

The nursery (where the 2 year old would be) is totally physically separate from the Oceaneer Lab & Club where the 4 year old would be. So there is no way for them to be together if you drop them off in the childcare. But of course, the kids aren't in childcare all or even most of the time. The nursery is super cute and tons of fun so as long as your 2 year old is used to doing some separation (like in daycare or with a babysitter), I'm sure it would be fine! If the kids are unhappy, you will get a call to pick them up.

Disney Cruising with Toddlers

Last Updated on July 26, 2020

Like any vacation, Disney Cruise Line can be an exciting holiday with the family. There is so much for them to see and do, and everything is practically designed for them in mind.

But travelling with kids can be exhausting, frustrating and crowded. So how does one take a family of small children on a Disney Cruise?

Here are some essentials you need to know about cruising with toddlers and preschoolers on Disney Cruise Line.

>> read the full guide on Cruise banned items and more, here<<

Tips for Cruising with Toddlers

Our master list of Disney Cruise Line tips for toddlers begins from the moment you book your vacation;

Pick an early time to board. The sooner you can get on board, the sooner you can get exploring. You won’t be able to dump your bags just yet since your stateroom probably won’t be ready until at least 3 pm, you are welcome to explore the top deck and get a lay of the land. Have some lunch.

Scheduled Nap Time . If your kids require a nap at home, it’s best to keep them to the same schedule. The last thing you want is a crying toddler at the dinner table because they didn’t get their usual nap time.

Speaking of naps, the safety drill at 4:00 is mandatory. Make nap time and activity plans accordingly. This is also why you want to board early, so you can explore BEFORE being summoned.

Consider a Baby carrier vs Stroller . The hallways are just wide enough to fit your standard wheelchair, for legal reasons. If you bring a stroller on board, it’s going to be a potential hassle getting around all the other strollers and wheelchairs and people walking down the halls. Leave it at home, or in your stateroom if you are doing a Land and Sea holiday.

Request a playpen. Not all toddlers are comfortable sleeping in a big kid bed. Sometimes space is just too much for them. And sometimes the freedom is just too much for mum and dad to handle as well. While we have always travelled with a travel cot to keep the kids from falling off hotel beds, this doesn’t offer much in the way of containing toddlers. Request a playpen as soon as you board from the front desk.

Bring a night light – and yet we always seem to forget. The rooms are dark, for a reason. And they don’t offer much in the way of low light from the standard lamps in the room. If you want your kids to get up in the middle of the night to pee without stubbing a toe or find today’s outfits without waking them up, you will need a nightlight.

Pre-register for the Oceaneer Club and Lab . This isn’t always something one thinks about until the day of. You can pre-register your children online or once you board the ship.

Children younger than 3 are not allowed in the kids club. Little ones have a lot of needs and the kids club just isn’t the right space for them. It sucks when all their siblings are in kids club and the toddler has to stay behind or go to the nursery (for a fee) but it is for their safety.

Children that are not independently potty trained are not allowed in the kids club . Not only is there an age limit, but also a potty training limit. Unlike the nursery where trained caregiver will “happily” change diapers and wipe bums, kids club has a strict hands-off policy – staff is not allowed to enter the toilets with a child, assist in dressing or undressing, or even reminding them that it is time to use the toilet.

Some have said that mild accidents can be forgiven but they will ask you to register in the nursery if it happens too many times.

Children that are not potty trained are not allowed in the pools. It is US Federal law that diapered-babies are not allowed in the pools. While others have questioned why a water-diaper wearing baby can’t swim, but the law is the law.

Accept that you can’t do it all. There will be a handful of things on the agenda during your cruise that you simply can’t attend; they are scheduled at the same time, your kids don’t want to cooperate, or it’s passed their bedtime. These things happen. It’s best to accept it now and make your peace before having this particular reality thrown into your face while on the cruise.

Do your research at Ports of Call. Some excursions have age requirements . There are several excursions available at each Port of Call, especially Castaway Cay, but not all are toddler-friendly. Castaway Cay 5k for example, does not allow strollers or children under the age of 12 to participate. If these particular excursions are a must, make arrangements for Nursery care or switch off with your partner.

Bring a costume, or two. There is always a reason to wear a costume on a Disney Cruise. Even if there isn’t, it’s Disney! No one will mind.

Dinners are still long, consider bringing toys and packing colouring pages . We love the sit-down dinners on Disney Cruise but they can be so long and drawn out. And this is part of the experience, so it’s not necessarily a complaint on my part, more so a complaint on the children’s part. No sooner have their butts touch the chairs, they are asking where their dinner is and when are they leaving.

Get the early dining option . Speaking of food, we strongly suggest parents with toddlers take advantage of the early dining option. This will sit you down closer to your regular dinner time from home and the kids are less likely to freak out. This also means you have a better chance of making it through the evening show since the kids are potentially sleeping off their food-coma.

Don’t freak out about the balcony – there is plexiglass on the INSIDE of the railing, so they can’t climb or wiggle their way overboard.

Pack diapers, wipes and a change of clothes in your carry on . You won’t get your luggage back for a few hours, so this means it is the perfect time for your toddler to have his daily movements. And when we say a change of clothes, we mean for you too. True story.

Pack more wipes than you will think you will need . Again, it never fails. Just bring a whole pack.

Get a magnetic door decoration for your stateroom. This will help you and your kids find your door amongst the myriad of doors along your corridor. That way, you don’t have to hear “is it this room?” the entire time. They just need to walk (read; run) until they find your door decoration.

If you enjoyed your Disney Cruise experience, don’t forget to book your Placeholder – it’s like a Bounceback offer but for the cruise.

Quick Disney Cruise with Kids Packing List

It’s hard to come up with a one-size-fits-all packing list for any vacation, let alone a Disney cruise. But these are the bare minimum child-centred add-ons that you will need while on your next Disney Cruise vacation.

• Baby carrier
• Motion sickness remedies
• Fancy outfit
• Autograph book
• Diapers/wipes/formula
• Kids camera

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The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney Cruise: 80+ First Time Disney Cruise Tips

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Disney cruises are a magical way to get a dose of Disney while also seeing different parts of the world. Whether you’re new to cruising or just new to Disney Cruise Line, planning a Disney cruise can be a little overwhelming. Between figuring out what to pack, checking in and booking onboard excursions, we have you covered with these first time Disney Cruise tips from start to finish. 

Keep reading for over 80 tips for Disney cruises for first timers (from a travel agent!)

Updated 4/26/24

Table of Contents

General information on disney cruises.

Disney Cruise Line currently operates five cruise ships: The Dream, Fantasy, Wonder, Magic and Wish. The Wish is Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, which had its inaugural sailing in 2022.

Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of sailings, including:

• Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral, New Orleans and Galveston
• Baja Mexico cruises out of San Diego
• Alaskan cruises out of Vancouver
• New England and Eastern Canadian cruises departing from New York City
• European Cruises including the Mediterranean, British Isles and Norwegian Fjords
• Transatlantic and Panama Canal Cruises
• Starting in 2024, Disney Cruise Line will also be sailing around Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand

Wondering what’s the best Disney cruise for first timers? A 4-night cruise is always a good place to start if you’re unsure about cruising for 5+ nights. 3-night cruises can feel rushed, but a short Disney cruise is better than no Disney cruise!

Planning a Disney cruise for summer 2025? Summer 2025 Disney Cruise Line itineraries were just released, and you can book cruises any time between now and September 2025. This includes the new Lighthouse Point , which is Disney’s private oasis on the island of Eleuthera that will debut in the Bahamas in June of 2024.

Tips for Booking a Disney Cruise

Booking a Disney Cruise is very involved, from choosing the right sailing to picking the best stateroom. Below is some information to get you started with planning.

• Use a travel agent who specializes in Disney. A Disney focused travel agent knows the ships and ports of call best. They will help you pick the best room, walk you through the pre-cruise processes and answer questions along the way. 
• You can search Disney cruise itineraries by visiting disneycruiseline.com , calling Disney Cruise Line or contacting your travel agent. 
• A deposit is required to secure your cruise , and it’s typically refundable prior to final payment at either 90 or 120 days, depending on the length of your cruise. Be sure to read the full terms and conditions before making a deposit. 
• Disney Cruise room types include inside rooms, oceanview rooms, verandah rooms, concierge rooms and suites. The suite sizes and locations can vary by ship. 
• Oceanview and Verandah rooms both have split bathrooms and they also have a bathtub. (Something you don’t typically see on other cruise lines!)
• Inside rooms are the least expensive and smallest room types.
• Not sure which location of the ship is best between forward, aft and midship? Midship rooms are typically known for experiencing less motion than aft (back) or forward (front) rooms.  Motion on the ship affects people differently, however, so what works best for one person in terms of deck number and location may not be an ideal room choice for someone else. 
• Guaranteed (GTY) rooms are generally made available for certain room categories at a discount as inventory starts running low. It means that your category is guaranteed, but your actual room number and deck will be assigned prior to departure. 
• If you’d like an elevated experience, Disney Cruise Line concierge rooms are available as well. These offer things like specific concierge lounges, larger rooms, complimentary alcoholic drinks and booking excursions and experiences early.
• Disney offers Deluxe Oceanview and Oceanview Verandah cabins that sleep 5 people. For families of 6+ , either 2 connecting cabins or a 1+ bedroom concierge suite are required regardless of your kids’ ages. 
• If you need a passport for your cruise, be sure to apply for it at least 3 months before, unless you do expedited processing. 

If you’re not currently working with a travel agent, feel free to contact me to get started. Not only do I provide Disney Cruise tips and tricks, but I also assist with each step and actions required along the way.

Pre-Cruise Tips

• Excursions and onboard experiences can be booked starting at 75 days out from your cruise (at midnight) for first time cruises. It will be earlier if you have Castaway Cay Club status or are cruising concierge. 
• Online check-in dates depend on your Castaway Cay member status and room type. Pearl and Concierge guests can check in as early as 40 days prior to sailing. Platinum is 38 days, Gold is 35 days and Silver Castaway Cay members can check in 33 days prior to sailing. Everyone else can check in 30 days prior to sailing, starting at midnight. In order to get an earlier port arrival time, checking in at midnight is recommended, but it’s not required. Have images of your documents and headshots saved in a folder on your phone or computer to work through the process more quickly.
• Upon checking in, you’re assigned a Port Arrival Time (PAT.) This is the time you can arrive at the port before boarding. You’re also assigned a boarding group #, which determines when you can actually board the ship once you pass the initial checkpoints at port. 
• Disney Cruise Line bus transportation is available from the airports or hotels to port at select locations. Check here to find out if it’s available for your sailing. You can call DCL to have it added up to 3 days before sailing (or ask your TA to do it for you!)
• Royal Gatherings and special meet and greets for Marvel and/or Pixar Day at Sea sailings are also available for booking 30 days out at midnight.
• Passports are recommended for cruising, but for many sailings that start and end in the US they’re not required. Find the Disney Cruise Known Before You Go overview here for sailing requirements and acceptable proof of identification for cruising on Disney Cruise Line. 
• You can prepay gratuities prior to sailing, otherwise they will be added to onboard expenses at the end of your cruise. As of February 2023, prepaid gratuities are $14.50 per person per night. 
• Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on everyone’s phone before you sail. This will make it easier to access the itinerary and activities when you get onto the boat. 
• To engage with other cruise goers and stay informed, join the Facebook group for your cruise . You can usually find this by searching Disney [ship name] and the date of sailing. 
• Disney Cruise Line Fish Extender groups exchange items like ornaments, snacks, etc and are usually managed by the Facebook groups. You can buy a fish extender here to put outside of your cruise door. 
• Disney cruisers are big on decorating their doors, and cruise door magnets are a fun and easy way to do it. 
• You can schedule a Disney Cruise Line pre-cruise call with Minnie and Mickey or Goofy. To book your DCL character call, go to My Reservations and select “Request Call.”
• Vaccinations and covid tests are no longer required for DCL sailings as of November 14, 2022. 

Packing Tips for Disney Cruises

When packing for a Disney Cruise, our biggest tip is to not over pack. Cruise cabins are smaller than traditional hotel rooms and you will likely need less than you think. Below are a handful of packing tips for Disney cruises.

• Pack anything you need for the first day in your carry-on , including prescription medicine, identification documents and port arrival forms. We recommend bringing a swimsuit or change of clothes, sunscreen and anything else you need until your luggage is delivered.  
• Make sure you have the identification documents you used for online check-in. You will not get on the cruise if you forget these! I always recommend taking a picture of birth certificates as a backup as well.
• Each adult 21+ can bring up to 2 bottles of wine or a 6 pack of beer or hard seltzer onboard. Another one of our lesser-known Disney cruise tips is that you can also bring unopened bottles of water and packaged snacks. Just make sure any alcohol, bottled water and snacks are unopened and in your carry-on bags. (Note: So many people ask about alcohol packages on Disney Cruise Line, and there isn’t one on DCL.
• What should you wear on a Disney cruise? Disney cruises tend to be more casual than other cruise lines. Casual clothes like shorts and tees or a swimsuit and cover up are great for during the day. While we tend to dress a little nicer for dinner, you can also get away with wearing shorts and t-shirts unless you’re dining at the adults only restaurants. 
• Itineraries with 7+ nights typically have a formal night and those with 4+ nights typically have a dress up night. Call DCL or ask your travel agent to find out what night this is. (But again, with Disney cruises being more casual, you won’t be out of place if you don’t participate!)
• Don’t forget to pack your Disney gear! Minnie ears, Disney shirts and princess dresses are all encouraged on Disney Cruise Line. 
• Some extra things we like to pack for a Disney cruise: refillable water bottles, magnets for your door and inside the room, and activities/ fidget toys for the kids to have at dinner.

See Disney Cruise Line packing tips for more tips on packing and what to bring your cruise carry on.

Booking DCL Excursions & Onboard Experiences

Like all cruise lines, Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of excursions at each port. In addition, Disney cruises offer several free and paid activities on the ship for both adults and kids. You can find more information on both below.

• You book them on any day under onboard activities and they will be available for the duration of the cruise. 
• If you don’t purchase the photo package, you can still purchase individual pictures before you leave the ship. 
• Photos are available for download up to 45 days after your sailing at disneycruise.disney.go.com/photos/ .
• Disney cruise offers a specific list of excursions, and they can change by sailing. You can find the list of Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures here . 
• If you need towels for an excursion, they’re provided when you get off the ship. 
• If you have to make changes to excursions or onboard experiences , you can go to Guest Services or cancel directly in the app. Just be sure to review cancellation policies as you will be charged if you don’t cancel within the specified timeframe. 
• The shows on the Disney Cruise Line are Broadway style and offered two times a night. The first show is typically at 6:30pm and the second show is typically at 8:15pm. Shows differ by ship and sailing. 
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on Disney Cruise Line is offered for ages 3+ and includes a full makeover, hair and nails. You can pack your own outfit or purchase something there for an additional charge. This can be booked in advance under onboard activities or when you arrive on the ship. 
• Disney Cruise Line offers a great spa, salon and barber shop for adults. You can book these in advance under onboard activities or head to the spa when you arrive to schedule a time. (I got a haircut and style at the Tangled Salon on the Disney Wish and had such a good experience!) 

One of our biggest first time Disney cruise tips is to take full advantage of the included activities offered on the ship. You can easily have an amazing time without spending any additional money. 

Disney Cruise Embarkation Day Tips & Overview 

Wondering how the Disney cruise boarding process works? The highlights are below. 

• When you arrive at the port, the porters will take your luggage except for carry-ons. (I recommend having a few dollars on you for a tip!) 
• When it’s your port arrival time, you’ll go through screening so they can check carry-ons, Port Arrival Time (PAT) form and documents for identification. 
• Have your PAT document accessible at all times since they’ll ask for it multiple times as well as your docs (ID + Birth Certificate or passport.)
• When it’s time for you to board your ship, your boarding group number will be called over the loudspeaker. There’s typically a holding area to wait until your boarding group is called which is similar to airport gates. (Note: Your Disney Cruise boarding time will vary depending on how quickly they move through the boarding groups. On our most recent cruise, we had a PAT of 11:15am and our boarding group was called at 11:45am.)
• When you get on the ship, you can do a number of things including lunch at the buffet or available table service restaurant, check out the kids’ clubs, use the pool etc. (One of our biggest Disney Cruise embarkation tips is to explore and check out the areas you may not otherwise get to access during the cruise, like adults only dining, kids’ clubs, etc.) 
• Rooms are typically ready around 2pm and luggage will arrive after that. 

Tips for During Your Cruise

There were a handful of things we didn’t realize on our first Disney cruise. These tips for first time Disney cruisers include a handful of things we learned on the cruise. 

• The full itinerary , character greetings and activities will be available in the Navigator app when you arrive at port. Be sure to review the daily schedules on your first day. One of our Disney cruise hacks is to “favorite” the activities you want to do so that you get reminders throughout the cruise. (This applies for things like character greetings, family crafts, adults only activities and more.)
• The Sail Away Party is a can’t miss activity on Disney Cruise Line. It’s a fun party with singing, dancing and so many characters as the ship sails away. 
• Pirate Nights take place on most Caribbean Sailings and have fun activities, characters dressed in pirate gear, a special show and fireworks at night. The Disney Cruise pirate night menu is also available for most sailings, which is a special themed dinner with items like crab cakes, shrimp and jerk chicken. 
• If you’re looking for free adults only activities on Disney Cruise Line, there are things like adults only trivia, crafts and more that are only for 18+. You can also use The Cove, which is an adult only pool and relaxation area on Disney Cruise Line.
• You can communicate on the ship using the chat feature between those in your stateroom. To communicate with those outside of your stateroom, you need to get their chat ID number. 
• Wi-Fi on Disney Cruise Line is an extra charge and options vary by ship. To avoid additional cell phone charges, put your plan on airplane mode with the onboard Wi-Fi.
• Character meet & greets typically take place in the ship’s grand hall/ atrium or in the kids’ club areas. Lines typically go quickly, and you likely will not wait more than 15 minutes for a meet and greet. Try to arrive a few minutes early to get in line. 
• Take a screenshot of your charges in the app before leaving the ship, as it’s the only way you can review the detailed charges. Visit Guest Services to resolve any discrepancies before disembarking.

Dining Tips for Disney Cruise Line

One question I get a lot is, how does dining work on Disney Cruise Line? Each cruise line has its own approach to dining, and Disney has some unique features that we feel sets it apart. 

• Disney Cruise Line has rotational dining each night for dinner, which means you will rotate to different themed restaurants each night of your cruise. You can request a specific dining rotation prior to your cruise by calling DCL or asking your Travel Agent to do so. You won’t find out the confirmed dining rotation until you board the ship.
• There are two Disney cruise dining times . Main dining is at 5:45pm and second dining is at 8:15pm. Main dining fills up first, but you can be added to a waitlist if you don’t initially get the seating you want.
• Smaller groups are typically sat with other families. You can request a private table, but it’s not guaranteed. DCL usually aims to put people of similar ages/ families together.
• There’s a buffet on Disney Cruise Line that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a variety of options for every age and diet. On most ships, the buffet is called Cabanas, but on the Disney Wish it’s called Marceline Market. 
• The pool decks offer unlimited soft serve and fountain drinks as well as a variety of lunch options.
• Standard tips for servers and room hosts are automatically calculated per person. Envelopes and tickets with the total amount of gratuities are provided on your last night. You can add additional cash to the baseline tip for the amazing staff at the end and then hand it to the servers at your last meal.  Note: When you purchase an alcoholic drink at dinner or in a lounge, 18% gratuity is automatically added up front.
• The bars throughout the ships typically serve specialty coffees in addition to alcoholic drinks. Punch cards are available for a free coffee after you purchase 5. 
• Lounges on Disney cruise ships are open to kids during the day, and they are adults only in the evenings.
• Room service on Disney Cruise Line is included with your rate. It includes everything from coffee and pastries to dinner and Mickey bars. A $1 per item tip is recommended for delivery. 
• Adults only dining on Disney cruises is also available. These specialty dining experiences are available for an additional fee, and you can book them when your onboard activities booking window opens. 

Tips for Cruising with Kids on Disney

There are so many amazing Disney cruise activities for kids, that it’s no surprise it’s one of the best cruise lines for families. Below are a few tips for going on a Disney Cruise with kids. 

• Kids must be potty trained to use the regular pools, but all Disney Cruise ships have a splash pad for younger kids. 
• Life vests are provided on board and at Castaway Cay for kids.
• Strollers are available to borrow at Castaway Cay, and some ships also have them available as you leave for excursions. 
• With the exception of the nursery, the kids’ clubs on Disney Cruise Line are included with your rate. They include: Oceaneers Club for ages 3-12, Vibe for ages 11-14 and Edge for ages 14-17. 
• Disney Cruise Line kids’ clubs are open for all ages during Open House on the embarkation day. It’s a fun way for the whole family to explore these areas. 
• Your kids ages 3+ will get a wrist band to access the kids’ clubs during the cruise.  They charge you $12 up front, and the charge is removed when you return it.
• The nursery is available on a half hour basis for kids up to (and including) age 3. The current rate is $4.50 per half hour for the nursery on DCL. You can sign up for the nursery in advance on the Disney Navigator app or book when you arrive on the ship. 
• Your room host will set up your pull-down beds based on your family’s needs. Pack-n-plays and bed rails are available upon request.
• If you’re going on a Disney cruise with a baby or toddler in diapers, a diaper genie will also be provided in your room. Baby food can be requested as well.
• The minimum age for infants on a Disney cruise is 6 months for most sailings.

Disney Cruise Disembarkation Tips

Disembarking is always the saddest part about a Disney cruise. Below are a few tips so you know what to expect when disembarking a Disney cruise. 

• The night before you disembark your Disney cruise, you’ll get luggage tags with a Disney character. Place them on your luggage and leave them outside of your door for pickup by 10:30pm.
• If you have an earlier flight the next morning, you can use express walkoff and take your luggage yourself, versus leaving it outside the night before. (Pro Tip: Check the recommended departure flight times for Disney Cruise Line to ensure you have enough time to get to the airport.)
• Disembarkation day breakfast is usually at the same restaurant you ate at the prior night, which your servers will confirm. Those with Main Dining have breakfast around 6:45am, and those with Second Dining typically have breakfast around 8am.  You can also have breakfast at the buffet on your Disney cruise disembarkation day. It’s usually open from 6:30- 8:30am. 
• The ship will typically clear customs around 7:30am, pending any issues. At that time, an announcement will be made over the loudspeaker that guests are able to disembark. 
• Guests should plan to bring checked bags to breakfast and vacate the ship directly after breakfast.  You’ll pick up your luggage after disembarking in the area with the character that matches your luggage tags. 
• There isn’t technically a set disembarkation time for Disney cruises . At most ports, guests are asked to clear the ship by 9am and should exit by 9:30am at the latest.

Disney Cruise Line Placeholder

If you loved your Disney cruise experience (as I’m sure you will!) be sure to check the Navigator app for an offer to put down a deposit for a placeholder for 10% off a future cruise. You can reserve up to 2 placeholders by paying a $250 fully refundable placeholder deposit that will go toward the cruise.

Pro Tip: We usually do 2 placeholders just in case we invite family or friends- knowing that we can cancel the 2nd for a refund if we don’t use it!

You can then apply the placeholder(s) to the same cruise for up 24 months from your current sailing. Be sure to also select your travel agent in the drop down if you want to work with them again! After purchasing your placeholder, you’ll receive an email with a reservation number to book your next cruise. This is a great offer if you think there’s even a chance you will sail again on Disney Cruise Line. 

Pre and Post Cruise Plans

• We always recommend flying in the night before your cruise and staying nearby. If you experience flight delays (which is so common right now) you could risk missing the cruise disembarkation if you fly that day.
• If you have a late flight out on the evening of disembarkation day, many rental car companies have free shuttles from port if you want to explore for the day.
• If you’re traveling out of Port Canaveral, you can tack on a visit to Disney World or stop at Kennedy Space Center on the way back to MCO airport. 

If you book your Disney cruise with a travel agent, they can also help with your pre-cruise and post-cruise travel plans and logistics. Another reason to book with a TA!

Contact me , Amanda Emmerling, for assistance with planning and booking your next Disney Cruise!

Have you been on a Disney cruise before? I’d love to hear any tips for planning a first Disney cruise in the comments.

Related Blog Posts

• Disney Very Merrytime Cruise Tips
• Tips for Cruising with a Baby or Toddler
• Disney Cruise Packing Tips

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First Time Disney Cruise Tips: The Complete Guide

If you’re already a fan of the Disney theme parks , you might have wondered what cruising with Disney is like. Maybe you’ve never even cruised before — a whopping 40% of Disney Cruise passengers say they wouldn’t have even considered cruising if Disney Cruise Line didn’t exist.

So what’s it like cruising with Disney? And what do first-time cruisers need to know ? Here, we’ll cover the basics so you can decide if a Disney Cruise is right for you!

In a rush? Check out the 💡 Key Takeaways at the end of each section

Magic Onboard   |  Costs   |  Ports   |   Itineraries   |  Ships Staterooms   |  Dining   |  Requirements   |  How to Book

Prefer to Speak With Someone? Connect with a Vacationeer Who Specializes in First Time Cruisers.

Magic Onboard: What Makes Disney Cruises Special?

Image © Disney

Perhaps you’re wondering what’s the big deal about cruising with Disney. Or maybe you have taken another cruise before and aren’t sure if Disney will be that different. Here are a few quick highlights of the things that make a Disney Cruise special, whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned cruiser.

Disney Characters

It’s no surprise that Disney ships host Disney characters throughout the journey. It starts with a sail-away party and continues with traditional character meet-and-greets each day. You’ll have many opportunities to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, plenty of princesses, and a smattering of other beloved characters.

Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

Disney’s private island in the Bahamas offers a special getaway for passengers on select cruises. Castaway Cay (pronounced “key”) offers dedicated beaches for families and adults, plenty of fun recreation such as snorkeling and water slides, and free meals on-site. You’re sure to have a great day in the sun!

Meanwhile, Disney’s newest private port,  Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point , is currently under construction in Eleuthera, Bahamas. It is expected to welcome its first guests in Summer 2024.

Disney introduced the cruise industry’s first-ever fireworks at sea. It won’t quite be the same as what you’d see inside Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, but it’s still quite impressive. Note that not every voyage offers fireworks.

Kids, Tween, and Teen Clubs

Many cruise lines offer a kids club, but Disney’s are (not surprisingly) among the most impressive. Disney doesn’t have casinos on its ships, so they have room to devote nearly an entire deck just to younger cruisers. Children will get a special wristband on the first day and can use it to check themselves into the clubs whenever they like. Clubs are divided into specific age groups so everyone has an ideal experience.

The Oceaneer Club (ages 3-10) features extensively themed play areas and character interactions. This is where most kids spend the majority of their cruise — even eating lunch there! The Kid’s Club on each ship is a little different, but they’re all great fun. There’s even a kid’s club on Castaway Cay! It’s no wonder we consider Disney to be the best cruise line for kids !

For older kids, Edge (ages 11-14) gives tweens a high-tech hangout of their own. Teens can visit Vibe (ages 14-17), a venue that runs the gamut from chill relaxation to energetic dance parties.

Best of all, these spaces (and many more) are already included in the cost of your cruise!

For the tiniest cruisers (up to age 3), the “it’s a small world” nursery! offers babysitter-style daycare for an additional fee.

Not Just for Kids

Worried that you won’t be able to escape the kids on your Disney Cruise? You’ll be happy to learn that each ship contains spaces limited to those ages 18 and up. Relax at the adults-only Quiet Cove pool, or dance the night away at each ship’s entertainment district, featuring several nightclubs and lounges. Many adults enjoy relaxing at Senses Spa and its Rainforest Rooms . There are even adult-exclusive dining options. You don’t need to have kids to take a Disney Cruise — there’s plenty for adults to enjoy onboard !

Unique Dining

Most meals are included in the cost of your cruise and you’re never far from a snack throughout the day. There’s even free room service 24/7!

Disney is unique in that most non-alcoholic drinks are included in your fare — most other cruise lines require you to buy a separate drink package even for sodas. Alcohol and specialty drinks still cost extra on a Disney cruise.

Disney cruise ships feature a unique “ Rotational Dining ” concept in which you dine at a different restaurant each night but your servers travel along with you. You’ll have the same dining staff each night, so they’ll get to know you and your preferences. Some restaurants even feature live entertainment or character dining during your meal!

Themed Nights and Themed Cruises

Disney holds special themed nights on many of its cruises, going far beyond usual cruise line mainstays such as Formal Night.

For example, some Disney cruises have a Pirate Night where everyone dresses up as pirates, enjoys a special meal, and then heads up to the pool deck for a pirate-themed party.

Sometimes an entire Disney Cruise can be themed . One popular offering is the Halloween on the High Seas cruise, which includes a giant pumpkin tree in the ship atrium, costume parties, and trick-or-treating. Very Merrytime cruises bring the holidays onboard, with Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, and visits from Santa.

Family-Friendly Staterooms

Extra care was put into the design of your stateroom (your “hotel room” on the ship). You’ll find space-maximizing designs like hideaway bedding, under-bed storage space, and room dividers. Most stateroom bathrooms are in a split configuration that allows two people to get ready at the same time.

Water Rides and Pools

Most Disney ships have unique water coaster style attractions which propel you along on a raft or let you plunge down a steep drop. There are also plenty of pools and splash zones.

Broadway-Style Shows and Live Entertainment

Each night offers live entertainment, including Broadway-style shows featuring Disney characters. Some are stage adaptations of Disney films such as Frozen or Tangled , while others are entirely original. Admission is free — there are no assigned seats, so all you have to do is show up, sit wherever you like, and enjoy the show! Each show is presented twice nightly, so you won’t have to miss dinner.

Free Movies

Cinema buffs will enjoy the unlimited free movies onboard. No ticket needed — just drop in and catch the latest from Disney, Marvel, PIXAR, and LucasFilm! Should you be cruising during the release of a highly-anticipated Disney film, you’ll be treated to a Prem-EAR at Sea !

Navigate with the App

The convenient and free Disney Cruise Line Navigator app lets you count down to your trip and then chart your course onboard with planning tools, deck plans, daily schedules, and even a chat function to reach fellow cruisers.

Download the app before you get onboard and you can use it for free — just follow the on-screen instructions to avoid data charges. Separate Wi-Fi connectivity is sold onboard the ships should you desire to keep up with emails and social media.

A Cashless Experience Onboard

No need to carry your wallet everywhere — all your purchases onboard and at Castaway Cay (except for postage stamps) are conveniently charged right back to your room account. Just settle up at the end of your cruise.

Castaway Club

Cruisers are automatically enrolled in DCL’s loyalty program, the Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club . Starting with your second Disney Cruise, you’ll receive gifts in your stateroom, earlier booking windows for onboard activities, and other perks for being a repeat passenger.

💡 Key Takeaways for First Time Cruisers

✔️  The special magic of a Disney Cruise goes far beyond just seeing Disney characters

✔️  Disney offers kids, teens, and adults their own dedicated spaces, so families can have together time and alone time

✔️  Live entertainment is presented every night onboard, with three Broadway-style shows plus additional entertainment

✔️  Innovations like rotational dining and fireworks at sea offer an experience you won’t find on other cruise lines

✔️  Disney cruises include extras that other cruise lines may charge extra for

There’s So Much That Makes a Disney Cruise Special. Ready to Experience It All?

Cost of a Disney Cruise

Cost is obviously a major consideration for people considering a Disney Cruise. Let’s look into what’s included and how much you’ll pay.

What’s Included in the Cost

Cruises aren’t truly all-inclusive , but they’re close! Your cruise fare includes your stateroom, most meals (including room service), most non-alcoholic drinks, live entertainment, pools & water slides, most onboard activities, and taxes & fees.

You’ll need to pay extra for specialty dining, specialty drinks, off-ship activities, tips, and souvenirs, among other things. Getting to the ship (airfare, ground transport) and optional travel insurance is also extra.

Read More: What is Included on a Disney Cruise – and What Isn’t?

Cost of Disney Versus Other Cruise Lines

There’s no denying that Disney is one of the more expensive cruise lines . A similar cruise on another cruise line will almost always be cheaper than cruising with Disney.

• On the Disney Wish : $2,880
• On Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas : $2,370

You’ll have to decide if what you get when cruising with Disney is worth the additional expense . Disney Cruises may cost more when compared to Royal Caribbean , Princess , Norwegian , or Carnival , but many families still wouldn’t cruise with anyone else.

Cost of Disney Cruise Versus Disney World

Comparing the cost of a Disney Cruise to a Disney World vacation is a bit difficult, because there are so many variables and differences between the two. For example, Disney World requires theme park tickets while a Disney Cruise includes all meals.

• 4-Night Cruise to Nassau and Castaway Cay in Oceanview Stateroom: $4,902, meals included
• 4 Nights in Disney Moderate Resort Preferred Room, with Tickets: $4,241, meals extra

There are plenty of ways to make both options cheaper, and there are ways to make them both costlier. If you’re trying to decide between the two, reach out to a Disney travel agent who can run some comparisons for your situation.

Read More: Disney Cruise Versus Disney World

Cost Factors

Several factors contribute to the cost of a Disney Cruise:

Departure Port and Itinerary

It’s no surprise that a 4-night cruise will cost more than a 3-night cruise. More nights cost more money.

• 3-Night Cruise: $1,988+
• 4-Night Cruise: $2,554+

Destinations matter, too. Some ports are more expensive to visit than others and some itineraries are simply more popular and command higher prices.

• Western Caribbean Cruise: $3,372+
• Norwegian Fjords cruise: $5,423+

Stateroom Type and Location

The type of stateroom — and its location on the ship — affects the price paid. A “better” stateroom generally costs more.

• Inside (no view) stateroom: $2,564+
• Oceanview (window) stateroom: $2,780+

Who is Traveling

Cruise fares are per-person . The first two people in a stateroom always pay full price for the type of stateroom they’re staying in.

The remaining people pay a reduced rate based on their ages: adult (13+), child (3-12), and infant (2 or younger) . These rates usually don’t change much (if at all), no matter the type of stateroom.

• First two adults: $1,329 each
• 15-year-old: $759
• 7-year-old: $728
• 2-year-old: $401

Prices are based on double occupancy. Solo travelers should expect to pay almost as much as two adults would have paid.

• Total for Two Adults: $1,404+
• Total for One Adult: $1,178+

Time of Year

Cruises are typically more expensive during popular months — such as summer and spring break.

• In January 2024: $2,128+
• In April 2024: $4,810+

Other Factors

Like airfare, cruise prices can change as the travel date approaches. You might find last-minute deals , but prices are often cheapest when they are first released. 2023 cruises and 2024 cruises are already bookable, and some 2025 cruises  are also accepting bookings.

Waiting to book may also mean that cheaper types of staterooms are booked, so only more-expensive categories are left. The best sail dates can even sell out, meaning you have to pick another.

And special events onboard the ship, such as Very Merrytime cruises and Halloween on the High Seas cruises may command higher prices.

Read More: How Much Is a Disney Cruise?

When calculating the cost of a Disney Cruise, don’t forget gratuities (tips). It is customary on a cruise to pay gratuities to dining room staff and stateroom hosts (housekeeping). These amounts are not included in your cruise fare.

On Disney Cruise Line, the standard gratuity rate is $14.50 per passenger, per night (plus a little more if you’re staying in a Concierge room). This will be automatically charged to your stateroom account at the end of the cruise unless you visit Guest Services to adjust the amount (or pre-pay it).

Tips for other crew, such as bartenders and porters, is at your discretion and separate from the standard gratuities described above.

Read More: How Does Tipping Work on a Disney Cruise

Onboard Credits

One way to make your cruise money go further is using an Onboard Credit , which is somewhat like a rebate.

Onboard Credits don’t directly reduce your cruise fare, but they act as money that can be used while onboard the ship to purchase things that cost extra — souvenirs, specialty dining, alcoholic beverages, and even gratuities for the crew.

Some travel agencies offer up to $1,000 in onboard credit for Disney Cruises. Most travel agencies don’t charge any planning fees to book cruises through them, so it truly is free money for those already planning a cruise.

Read More: Disney Cruise Onboard Credit

✔️  Basic expenses such as lodging, most food and non-alcoholic drinks, and most activities are included in the cruise fare

✔️  Disney cruises generally cost more than other cruise lines, due to being a premium experience

✔️  Prices are based in part on the type of cruise, type of room, time of year, and who is traveling

✔️  Booking early gives you the best chance at getting the room and sail date you want at the lowest price

✔️  Book through a travel agency to receive an Onboard Credit (money to use while onboard the ship)

Get a Personalized Price Quote and Onboard Credit

Cruise pricing can be confusing and it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Fortunately, you can get free help planning your Disney Cruise from the Disney experts at The Vacationeer !

Working with an Earmarked Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner  such as The Vacationeer is the best way for first-timers to plan a cruise .

You’ll have one, dedicated agent from start to finish — no giant call centers and waiting forever on hold! Your Vacationeer will answer your questions , share great advice , and help you find a cruise that fulfills your dreams and respects your budget .

When you’re ready, they’ll book your reservation , set up your payment plan , and help you keep track of important dates along the way.

Best of all, they provide a generous Onboard Credit of up to $1,000 .

Their services are completely free , and there’s absolutely no obligation to book  when you contact them.

Departure Ports: Where to Start Your Disney Cruise

Disney Cruise Line sails from 19 departure ports around the world. If you want to take a Disney Cruise, you’ll need to get to one of these locations to board the ship.

Florida Departure Ports

• Port Canaveral, FL
• Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), FL

Other U.S. Departure Ports

• Galveston, Texas
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• New York, New York
• San Diego, California
• San Juan, Puerto Rico

International Departure Ports

• Auckland, New Zealand
• Barcelona, Spain
• Brisbane (Queensland), Australia
• Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Dover, England
• Melbourne (Victoria), Australia
• Sydney (New South Wales), Australia
• Southampton, England
• Vancouver, Canada

It’s tempting to just book a Disney Cruise that starts close to home; but you might need to travel to a far-away port to get a certain type of cruise, your preferred time of year, or your preferred Disney Cruise ship.

For example, Disney’s Alaska cruises start only in Vancouver. Galveston hosts Disney ships during winter only, not summer ( Florida is the only state that hosts Disney cruises every month of the year) . And the popular new Disney Wish cruise ship sails only from Port Canaveral.

Port Canaveral — Disney’s Home Port

Port Canaveral, Florida is the Disney cruise departure port that’s closest to Walt Disney World, about 60-90 minutes away. It’s close enough that many people choose to bundle some time at Disney World with a Disney Cruise.

Multiple Disney Cruises sail from Port Canaveral each week, year-round. The port is so busy that Disney has its own private cruise terminal building there.

Port Everglades — Disney’s Second Home Port

Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida becomes a second year-round home port for Disney Cruise Line in late 2023. The Disney Dream will be the first Disney cruise ship assigned to there, starting November 2023. At least one more ship is expected to join by 2025, and Disney will likely build its own dedicated terminal there.

Getting to the Departure Port

Most people take flights to reach the city of their departure port. We strongly suggest you fly in a day early and spend the night at a hotel. This helps prevent missing your cruise due to a flight delay. (Your return flight home shouldn’t be too early, either, in case of port delays.)

Disney has agreements with hotels near each departure port; you can stay a night or two before/after your cruise and bundle the hotel reservation in with your cruise reservation. Of course, you can also stay at any hotel you like by booking separately.

Disney also sells ground transfers that will get you from select airports to the departure port, and to/from Disney Cruise Line’s approved hotels. Or, you can take a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or a shuttle.

If you’re driving yourself to the port, you’ll have to pay for extended parking onsite. Port parking prices are set by the Port Authority, not by Disney.

✔️  You’ll need to find a balance between a departure port that’s easy to get to — and one that hosts the kind of cruise you want to take

✔️  Some ports host Disney Cruise departures year-round. Others might only host a Disney ship for a short time each year.

✔️  It’s wise to fly in a day early so flight delays don’t cause you to miss the ship

✔️  You can add pre/post cruise hotel stays and ground transportation to your cruise reservation

Get One-on-One Help Planning Your Cruise

Disney Cruise Itineraries: Where the Ship Goes

A big part of booking your Disney Cruise is picking your itinerary — which ship you’re on, when/where the cruise begins, where it goes, and how long it lasts.

Picking a Cruise

You can choose short 2-night jaunts or longer cruises lasting up to two weeks. 3-, 4-, and 7-night itineraries are the most common.

As for where to travel, there are numerous possibilities. The most popular — Bahamas cruises and Caribbean cruises — are offered year-round.

Bahamas cruises are a perennial favorite

Other options are offered only at certain times. Alaska cruises happen in the summer to avoid the worst of the cold weather. And at least one Disney ship spends part of the year cruising in Europe .

It’s not just warm-weather destinations — sail through misty fjords on an Alaska cruise with Disney

Additional options include Hawaii cruises , Mexico, the Pacific Coast, Canada, Bermuda, the South Pacific, and New Zealand / Australia.

There are even a few one-way cruises, which start in one location and end in another. These include Transatlantic, Transpacific, and Panama Canal cruises.

Read More: Best Disney Cruise Line Itineraries

Ports-of-Call

There’s enough to do onboard the ship to keep you busy from breakfast to bedtime, but cruising is also a great way to experience other parts of the world. After all, where else but on a cruise does your hotel move to a different city each day?

Any time your ship visits a port-of-call (a stop during your cruise), you’ll be able to leave the ship for a few hours to go exploring. There’s no charge to leave the ship, but you’ll pay for any activities you do while you’re there.

Just be sure to make note of what time the ship will be leaving — you don’t want to be left behind!

Read More: Where Does the Disney Cruise Go?

Castaway Cay

Disney has its own private island in the Bahamas. Castaway Cay  is included as a stop on many Bahamas and Caribbean Cruises. The island is so popular among Disney Cruise passengers that a few cruises offer two stops at Castaway Cay.

Because Castaway Cay is Disney’s own island, you won’t be competing for beach space with passengers from another cruise line — Disney doesn’t even bring two of its own ships there on the same day.

Highlights include a family-friendly beach, an adults-only beach, a kids club, water slides, all-you-can-eat BBQ, and all types of water recreation. There’s lots to do and enjoy on the island!

Read More: Castaway Cay — Disney’s Private Island

Port Adventures

Although it’s free to leave the ship and explore on your own, you might choose to take a Port Adventure . This is a paid activity, usually organized by a tour operator who has an agreement with Disney. Some cruise lines call these shore excursions .

Port Adventures can be as simple as transportation and admission to a nearby tourist attraction, or as complex as a guided tour with special activities and a meal. Popular Bahamas and Caribbean Excursions include everything from dolphin interactions to Jamaica “Bobsled” rides.  Alaska cruise excursions allow you to ride the White Pass Railway through Yukon territory or take a helicopter flight to land on a glacier. Castle tours are popular excursions on European departures. Or explore volcanoes on a Hawaiian cruise excursion.

You can book similar experiences on your own, but there’s a huge benefit to booking Port Adventures through Disney: if your Disney-arranged tour runs late, they’ll hold the ship at the port — or pay for you to catch up to the ship at the next port!

Many itineraries include at least one Day at Sea. The ship won’t stop at any ports that day — you’ll just stay out on the open ocean. It’s a fantastic way to relax without feeling like you’re missing anything! Catch a free movie, watch a show, try a new restaurant, go swimming, or just order room service and stay in bed!

✔️ Your cruise will visit different ports, allowing you to exit the ship and experience a new area and culture.

✔️ Choose to visit the Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, or many others.

✔️  You can explore on your own, or pay for prearranged activities called Port Adventures

✔️  Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, is a popular stop on many Bahamas and Caribbean Cruises

✔️  A Day at Sea lets you enjoy the ship without missing anything on shore

Need Help Picking an Itinerary? A Vacationeer can help!

Disney Cruise Ships

Image © Disney / Kent Phillips

Your Disney Cruise ship is almost like a floating city. Onboard, you’ll find hotel-style guest rooms, restaurants, nightclubs & lounges, theaters, shops, pools & water slides, and even a medical center.

Disney has five ships to choose from , with three more under construction. We’ve listed them here alphabetically.

Disney Dream

The Disney Dream was the third ship in the fleet, first sailing in 2011. It has 1,250 Guest Staterooms for 4,000 passengers and is similar in size to the Disney Fantasy . It is significantly larger than the Disney Magic .

Itineraries: Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Transatlantic

Departure Ports: Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), Copenhagen, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New York, San Juan, Southampton

Rotational Dining: Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace

Adult-Exclusive Dining: Palo, Remy

Broadway-Style Shows: Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s Believe, The Golden Mickeys

Youth Clubs: Edge, “it’s a small world” nursery!, Oceaneer Club, Occeaneer Lab, Vibe

Oceaneer Club Features: Andy’s Room, Disney Infinity Game Room, Pixie Hollow, Star Wars – Millennium Falcon, Disney’s Once Upon a Time, Puzzle Playtime with Mickey and Friends, Jedi Training – Experience the Force

Disney Fantasy

The Disney Fantasy was the fourth ship in the fleet, first sailing in 2012. It has 1,250 Guest Staterooms for 4,000 passengers and is similar in size to the Disney Dream .

Itineraries: Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean

Departure Ports: Port Canaveral

Rotational Dining: Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Court

Broadway-Style Shows: Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, Disney’s Believe, Frozen – A Musical Spectacular

Youth Clubs: Edge, “it’s a small world” nursery!, Oceaneer Club, Oceaneer Lab, Vibe

Oceaneer Club Features: Andy’s Room, Star Wars – Command Post, Marvel Super Hero Academy, Pixie Hollow, Puzzle Playtime with Mickey and Friends, Woody’s Roundup, Doctor Strange – Defy the Dark Dimension

Disney Magic

The Disney Magic was the first ship in the fleet, first sailing in 1998. It has 877 Guest Staterooms for 2,713 passengers and is similar in size to the Disney Wonder .

Itineraries: Bahamas, Mexico, Panama Canal

Departure Ports: Galveston, Miami, New Orleans, San Diego, San Juan

Rotational Dining: Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s, Rapunzel’s Royal Table

Adult-Exclusive Dining: Palo

Broadway-Style Shows: Disney Dreams – an Enchanted Classic, Tangled – The Musical, Twice Charmed – An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story

Oceaneer Club Features: Andy’s Room, Marvel Super Hero Academy, Disney Junior, Pixie Hollow, Thor Becoming Worthy, Puzzle Playtime with Mickey and Friends, Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Disney Royal Academy, Join the Lion Guard

Disney Wish

The Disney Wish was the fifth ship in the fleet, first sailing in 2022. It has 1,254 Guest Staterooms for 4,000 passengers.

Itineraries: Bahamas

Rotational Dining: 1923, Arendelle – A Frozen Dining Adventure, Worlds of Marvel

Adult-Exclusive Dining: Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, Palo Steakhouse

Broadway-Style Shows: Disney Seas the Adventure, Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular, The Little Mermaid

Youth Clubs: Edge, “it’s a small world” nursery!, Oceaneer Club, The Hideaway, Vibe

Oceaneer Club Features: Marvel Super Hero Academy, Star Wars – Cargo Bay, Fairytale Hall, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck.

Disney Wonder

The Disney Wonder was the second ship in the fleet, first sailing in 1999. It has 877 Guest Staterooms for 2,713 passengers and is similar in size to the Disney Magic .

Itineraries: Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia, Pacific Coast, South Pacific

Departure Ports: Auckland, Brisbane, Honolulu, Melbourne, San Diego, Sydney, Vancouver

Rotational Dining: Animator’s Palate, Tiana’s Place, Triton’s

Broadway-Style Shows: Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic, Frozen – A Musical Spectacular, The Golden Mickeys

Oceaneer Club Features: Andy’s Room, Marvel Super Hero Academy, Disney Junior, Frozen Adventures, Captain America’s Super Hero 101, Mickey’s Roadster Racers, Join the Lion Guard

Future Ships

Disney is building three more cruise ships , which will eventually bring the total fleet size to eight.

The Disney Treasure will become the sixth ship in the fleet in December 2024 and should be similar in size and design to the Disney Wish .

Disney has purchased the partially-constructed Global Dream and will convert it into the new Disney Adventure  by 2025. This ship will be based in Singapore for at least five years.

The Disney Destiny , an additional custom-built ship (similar to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure ), is also expected to join the fleet in 2025.

✔️  There are five Disney Cruise Ships to pick from, with more being built

✔️  Each ship offers different itineraries and leaves from different departure ports

✔️  The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are smaller ships, while the rest of the fleet is significantly larger

✔️  Each ship has unique elements not found anywhere else in the fleet

Ready to Book? Vacationeers are standing by!

Staterooms (Cabins)

Your stateroom is your “hotel room” on the ship. It’s your own private space to sleep and relax onboard. Disney designed its staterooms thoughtfully, with sensible layouts and extra storage space that’s perfect for families. You’ll have a stateroom host who provides daily housekeeping and a nightly turndown service.

What’s in a Stateroom?

Your stateroom includes these amenities and more:

• A traditional bed, usually queen-sized, designed to sleep two
• A sleeper sofa (plus a pull-down upper berth and/or Murphy bed in rooms holding 4-5 people)
• A private bathroom, usually in a split design which lets two people get ready at the same time
• A mini-fridge
• A television
• A desk or table
• Drawers, closets, and other storage space
• An in-room safe

Some staterooms even include (locking) internal doors that allow you to reach a neighboring room without going into the hallway — a great option if you’re sailing with extended family or as part of a group cruise .

Four Types of Staterooms

There are four main types of staterooms to pick from, and the price changes based on what you pick.

Inside Staterooms

Inside staterooms do not offer any direct outside view. These are the smallest and least expensive rooms onboard the ship.

An Inside Stateroom on the Disney Wish | Image © Disney

Oceanview Staterooms

Oceanview staterooms have at least one window, called a porthole, that lets you look out from your room. The window does not open.

The giant porthole featured in some oceanview staterooms on the Disney Dream | Image © Disney

Verandah Staterooms

Verandah staterooms have private balconies that let you step outside your room to enjoy the fresh ocean air.

A stateroom verandah onboard the Disney Magic | Image © Disney

Concierge Staterooms

Concierge staterooms are either oceanview or verandah, but add in additional perks and benefits . They may be a traditional room, a one- or two-bedroom suite, or even an astounding multi-story room. These are the costliest rooms onboard the ship.

The stunning Concierge Wish Tower Suite stateroom on the Disney Wish | Image © Disney

Picking Your Stateroom

To pick a stateroom for your cruise, you first need to select the Type of stateroom.

Next, you’ll pick a stateroom Category , which is based on room size, layout, and occupancy.

Then, you’ll pick a Subcategory , which is based mainly on location within the ship — forward (toward the front), midship (toward the middle), or aft (toward the back), and whether you want to be on an upper or lower deck.

Finally, you’ll pick the exact stateroom you’ll be staying in. This is one of the big ways that reserving a cruise stateroom differs from reserving a hotel room.

There are lots of things to consider when picking a stateroom. You’ll want to study the ship’s deck plans (or get help from a travel agent) to decide what’s best for you.

Read More: Best Staterooms on a Disney Cruise

✔️  A Stateroom is your private “hotel room” on the ship

✔️  There are different types of staterooms: Inside (no view), Oceanview (window), Verandah (balcony), and Concierge (window or balcony plus extra service)

✔️  Your choice of stateroom affects the cost of your cruise

✔️  You’re usually able to pick the exact stateroom you’ll stay in

Get Free Stateroom Advice from a Disney Cruise Expert

Because you pick your exact stateroom on a cruise, you’ll want to make sure you’re thinking of everything before choosing.

Get free guidance from The Vacationeer ! They’ll discuss costs , help you choose, and book your stateroom for you at no additional charge !

They’ll even give you a free Onboard Credit of up to $1,000 to use toward purchases on the ship!

You’re never under any obligation to book, so there’s no risk in contacting them!

Dining on Disney Cruises

If you go hungry on a cruise ship, you have only yourself to blame! There’s plenty of food available 24/7, most of which is already included in the cost of your cruise.

Dinner (Rotational Dining)

The nightly dinner service is a highlight for most Disney Cruisers. Each ship has different restaurants — some offer just a meal service while others add in live entertainment.

Oaken, Elsa, and Olaf toast Anna and Kristoff’s engagement at Arendelle – A Frozen Dining Adventure

Dinner when you cruise with Disney includes something called rotational dining . Passengers are pre-scheduled to visit a different restaurant each night of the cruise — no need to make separate reservations. The same servers travel with you to each restaurant; by the end of the cruise they’ll know you well enough to have your favorite drinks ready and remember how you like your steak.

When you make your cruise reservation, you’ll pick your dining time — either Main Dining (around 5:30 PM) or Second/Late Dining (around 8:15 PM). Want Second Dining but are concerned about the kids? Servers will expedite children’s meals if requested, and Oceaneer Club representatives come to the dining room to take the kids while the grownups continue eating.

You may be seated with another group ; if so, it will be the same people for the entire cruise. Some families love this because they can make new friends — but if you want to be seated at a private table with no other guests, ask your travel agent to note that request on your reservation.

Your dinner is already included in the cost of the cruise, so it’s a great way to try something different. Fearlessly order the escargot or pate — if you don’t like it, you can always get something else at no charge.

You’ll never know if you like Escargot unless you try it!

Even “complicated” foods like crab legs and lobster are served in a way that’s easy for novices to eat. Can’t decide between steak or chicken? Get both ! Your crew will happily serve you two entrees or bring three desserts.

There’s usually at least one optional dress-up night / formal night during dinner. If you don’t want to participate, you can always pick an alternate dinner option.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Alternate Dinners

Breakfast and Lunch onboard are less “rigid” than dinner. Each ship features a buffet-style restaurant where you don’t have to show up at a set time and can sit wherever you like.

Marceline Market on the Disney Wish

This same location also typically serves an “alternate” dinner if you’re just not that impressed by your assigned restaurant’s menu.

One of the usual dinner restaurants may also offer breakfast or lunch on some days of the cruise. These can be a more-relaxed meal than the often-lively buffet restaurant.

Adult-Exclusive Dining ($)

Each ship has at least one adult-exclusive restaurant which offers elegant meals for an additional fee. Reservations are required, and a dress code applies. Service is mainly at dinner, with an occasional brunch offering.

Lumiere leads the way to Enchanté, an adult-exclusive restaurant on the Disney Wish

Snacks can always be found on the pool deck — food windows offer up everything from chicken tenders to hot dogs to pizza to BBQ or Tex-Mex (offerings vary by ship). And there are free ice cream cones, too!

You don’t need to purchase a drink package if all you want is soda, milk, juice, or standard coffees/teas. They’re included at no additional charge — just fill up at one of the complimentary drink stations onboard the ship.

Specialty beverages (smoothies, iced coffees, etc.) and alcohol cost extra.

Room Service

Room service operates 24/7 and is included in the price of your cruise (but please tip the crew member who brings it to you).

The menu is relatively simple, but not sparse. You’ll find salads, soups, burgers, sandwiches, wings, fruit/cheese trays, cookies, and cake, among other offerings. Canned sodas and packaged candies are also offered, but cost extra.

You can get breakfast through room service, but it’s mainly pastries and cereals — no eggs, bacon, or oatmeal. Room service shuts down on the last night of the cruise, so you will not be able to get room service breakfast before you leave the ship at the end of the cruise.

Lounges and Bars ($)

There are plenty of lounges and bars on each ship. These can be simple places to get a drink, lively dance clubs, or highly themed experiences such as a Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge.

No wretched hive of scum and villainy here! Hyperspace Lounge offers amazing views.

Offerings vary by ship. Most drinks here cost extra, but you can purchase optional drink packages to help ease the cost.

Read More: Food on Disney Cruise Line

✔️  Most meals and non-alcoholic drinks are already included in your cost. Alcohol and specialty treats cost extra.

✔️  Breakfast and Lunch are casual meals with buffet-style service

✔️  You pick a dinner time when you book your cruise. You’re automatically assigned a different restaurant each night.

✔️  You have the same servers at each dinner

✔️  Youth Activities Counselors pick up children from Late Dining so parents can continue eating

✔️  You might be seated with other cruisers at dinner unless you request otherwise

✔️  Snacks, room service, and lounges fill in the gaps between meal times

Questions About Dining? Consult a Specialist

Requirements for Booking & Cruising

Booking and boarding a cruise is a bit more complex than booking and checking into a hotel.

What’s Needed to Book a Disney Cruise

When you’re ready to book a cruise, you’ll need to have some information handy.

First, you’ll need to know exactly which cruise you want to take .

You’ll also need to know who is traveling . “Guessing” now and modifying later can be complicated and costly.

For each passenger, you’ll need:

• Legal name (exactly as it appears on government-issued ID)
• Country of Citizenship
• Phone Number

Infant/Pregnancy Restrictions

Infants must be at least six months old on the day the cruise begins. For Transatlantic and Panama Canal cruises, the minimum age is 1 year old.

Passengers who enter their 24th week of pregnancy before or during their cruise may not sail.

Neither a doctor’s medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted.

When do You Pay for Your Cruise?

You’ll usually only need to pay a deposit (typically 20%) when you book; you might even be able to hold a spot for 2 or 3 days before the deposit is due. Either way, once your deposit is paid, you can pay the balance on your own schedule . There is a final payment deadline and you won’t be able to book any onboard activities until you’ve paid in full.

If you need to modify or cancel, do so before cancellation penalties begin. Some last-minute bookings must be paid in full right away and have strict cancellation rules.

Requirements to Board a Disney Cruise

Cruising is a method of international travel. You’ll need to present proof of citizenship and proof of identification  to board.

Accepted Documents

Some cruises allow U.S. citizens to board with only a Government-issued photo ID and an official copy of a birth certificate . There are very specific requirements for this — check the information provided with your cruise booking.

The best option is to have a passport. If you have a mid-cruise emergency or miss the ship at a port-of-call, you will  need a passport to board a plane.

Read More: Do You Need a Passport for a Disney Cruise?

Boarding the Ship for the First Time

Ahead of your cruise, you’ll be able to do Online Check-In to complete and print important documents . By all means do so — it’s no fun doing paperwork at the terminal! You’ll also pick a port arrival time during this step.

You’re allowed to have both checked bags and carry-on bags . You’ll receive airline-style luggage tags in the mail prior to your cruise — put those on any bags you want to check at the port, then give the bags to a Porter at the terminal (don’t forget to tip) . Those bags won’t be delivered to your stateroom until later on the first night, so be sure your carry-on contains any medicines, sunscreen, swimsuits, etc. that you’ll need for the first afternoon and evening. I like to give those items their own section on my Disney Cruise packing list to make sure I don’t accidentally put anything important in the wrong bag.

Passengers and bags undergo security screening at the terminal , so don’t pack or bring any prohibited items . You’ll then head to a check-in counter for a quick security photo, basic health questionnaire, and other necessary info. Then you’ll wait until your boarding group is called.

Once you board the ship, you’ll be able to access most areas right away, but your stateroom may not be ready until mid-afternoon.

Exiting the Ship at the End of Your Cruise

On the last night of the cruise, you’ll have the option to have your checked bags picked up and delivered directly into the terminal.

If you DO let them pick up your luggage, everything must be packed and placed outside your room by a certain time (which might be during your dinner). You won’t see your bag again until you’re off the ship, so be sure not to pack anything you’ll need prior to that — shoes, undies, medicine, etc. You’ll be given new luggage tags to place on each bag. Breakfast on the last morning of your cruise will take place at a set time, at the same restaurant you were assigned to dine at on the night before.

If you DO NOT have them pick up your luggage, you’ll be taking part in Express Walk Off . You will be responsible for getting all of your luggage off the ship with no help. You’ll need to leave the ship as soon as the Express Walk Off announcement is made, as early as 7:00 AM. Those doing Express Walk Off skip their scheduled breakfast on the last morning, though there are usually some pastries and coffee available somewhere on the ship.

Either way , you’ll need to clear Customs at the port after you exit the ship. You’ll receive a declaration form in your stateroom on the last night. Take some time to fill it out then — it’s no fun, but it’s even less fun to have to rush to do it the next morning.

If you’re not doing Express Walk Off, you’ll head to breakfast at the designated time and place. Then, you wait for the announcement that you’re clear to leave the ship, and off you go.

And that’s it! Your first cruise with Disney is sadly over – but it’s already time to start dreaming about the next one!

✔️  Make sure you’ve gathered all of the necessary information before you book your cruise

✔️  You usually only need to pay a deposit to book, with the remaining balance due later

✔️  Be prepared to provide photo ID and proof of citizenship to board

✔️  Consider getting a passport, even if your cruise doesn’t require one

How to Book Your First Disney Cruise

There are many ways to book a Disney Cruise , including directly through Disney Cruise Line’s website or phone number.

But for first time cruisers , you’ll get the best service and guidance by booking through an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner such as The Vacationeer.

Here’s why:

• Free help planning your Cruise — there’s no charge to book with The Vacationeer and they’ll walk you through every big decision
• The best prices — they know all the  ways to save , so you’ll never pay more than if you’d booked it yourself
• The best discounts — they can help with  Military discounts , Florida resident rates , and more
• One dedicated agent from start to finish — no huge call centers and no waiting on hold ( unlike major wholesalers )
• Expert advice from frequent cruisers — your agent knows the ships because they sail on them, too
• They’re First Cruise experts — Vacationeers book thousands of trips each year and specialize in helping first-timers
• Up to $1,000 to use onboard — get a free Onboard Credit for Port Adventures, gratuities, souvenirs, and more
• Land and Sea Specialists — Want to spend some time at Disney World, too? Your Vacationeer handles it all!

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26 Disney cruise tips, tricks, secrets and extra magic to unlock when setting sail with Mickey

Disney Cruise Line might be a comparatively small cruise line with just five ships, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in popularity and enthusiastic fans. It also has some unique approaches to cruising that may surprise you — whether you're a first-time cruiser or an experienced cruiser on a different line.

After sailing on six Disney Cruise Line voyages across four of its ships in the last few years, I've picked up a few hacks and money-saving techniques I'm happy to pass on to you. No matter if this is your first time at sea or your 99th, you can benefit from this list of 26 Disney cruise tips, tricks and secrets.

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You can find discounts on Disney Cruises

Disney cruises are generally more expensive than other family-friendly competitors such as Royal Caribbean , but there are still ways to save money on a Disney cruise . Here are some different discounts you can find for Disney Cruise Line.

When booking a Disney cruise, your best move is to book the cruise as soon as it becomes available. You'll have the best selection of cabins and generally the best prices. Sometimes, you can find discounts closer to the sailing if certain room types aren't selling as hoped.

Sail one-way

A few times a year, Disney ships based in seasonal homeports need to head toward their next cruising region. When that happens, the ships sail one-way (aka repositioning) cruises , starting in one port and ending in a different one. You can often book these one-off sailings for less money than the normal round-trip cruises that start and end in the same spot.

For example, Disney Dream will sail a three-night cruise to move it from San Juan to Ft. Lauderdale in November. You can book a cabin with a balcony for $1,580 for two people, which is a solid price on Disney Dream. The $3,326 price tag for a concierge-level cabin is very good; those cabins usually start at close to $800 to $1,000 higher on many other three-night sailings.

Remember to factor in the cost of two one-way flights when you're calculating the savings bonus of taking a one-way cruise.

Related: Ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line

Let Disney pick your cabin

If you're not picky about which cabin you get, an easy way to save a substantial amount of cash on your Disney cruise is to let Disney pick your cabin for you. You select a room type (such as an inside room or one with a balcony) and then let Disney assign you to a specific cabin location closer to sailing. For your flexibility, this type of guaranteed fare comes at a discount.

In the example below, you'll see the cheapest inside cabin where you pick a specific room on the ship is $2,072, while the price starts at $1,488 if you let Disney choose which inside room you get. This type of fare comes with additional restrictions, so read the fine print carefully. I've done this multiple times and have always been happy with the room location I've received.

Upgrade your room at the port for less

Depending on the ship's occupancy, it can be cheaper to upgrade your cabin at the port right before you board than in advance. There's no guarantee a better room will be available, but it can't hurt to ask when you are checking in inside the port just before boarding if nicer rooms are available.

If higher room categories have gone unsold, the check-in staff can tell you the price to upgrade to a nicer room; they can reference a spreadsheet that outlines the upgrade rates based on your current cabin and fare. In my experience, you can save up to half the cost compared to upgrading your room in advance.

Pay with points or discounted Disney gift cards

You can pay with discounted Disney gift cards to save a little money. There are many ways to do this, but stacking credit card bonus categories with discounted gift cards that can be available at places like Sam's Club or even Target can knock around 5% off the total price without too much effort.

You can also use some types of credit card points and miles to pay for a Disney cruise. For example, you can use Capital One miles from cards such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , (see rates and fees) to cover all or part of any charge that's considered a travel expense.

The Disney Visa Card also offers some onboard savings perks and you can enjoy 0% APR for six months on your Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 19.24%-28.24%.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

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

2 rooms are cheaper than a suite

If your family is considering getting a suite to spread out and have more space, but are finding the prices for Disney Cruise Line suites to be prohibitively high, consider connecting staterooms instead. A family of four can expect to spend about 50% more on connecting cabins instead of all staying in one room, which is likely a lot less than buying up to a suite which can be several times the cost of a regular room.

Get free Mickey ice cream bars (and more) from room service

Unless you're staying in a concierge-level stateroom (more on that soon), room service on a Disney cruise is relatively basic. However, it's available at no extra charge, so use it as much or as little as you like.

I'm a fan of ordering room service for a quick breakfast (or that first hit of coffee) or for a fun anytime treat of Mickey ice cream bars. I often order Uncrustables from room service the night before port days to toss in my bag for the family to eat while ashore. My girls learned how to politely call to order these by the second or third day of the cruise.

It's a common courtesy to add a few dollars for a tip to the slip that you'll sign when the order is delivered.

Order as much dinner as you want

On Disney Cruise Line, you'll be assigned a dinner rotation through the three included restaurants on the ship. Your serving team will rotate with you, which is pretty fun as they get to know you and your preferences.

Since this food is all included, don't be shy. If you can't decide between the shrimp or salmon entree, try both. Order a couple of appetizers or be daring and try a dish you've never tasted before.

When it comes time for dessert, create your own sampler-platter for the table and taste them rather than limiting yourself to one selection.

You aren't locked into your assigned dining plans

If, for some reason, your assigned order of restaurants or tablemates (if you have any) aren't working out, don't be shy about asking guest services to make alterations. They will connect you with the appropriate people within the dining team to make necessary adjustments.

New movie releases are shown in the theaters

While a movie theater may sound like a strange place to spend a few hours at sea, I recommend making time to go see a new Disney movie while on your next Disney Cruise. The ships show first-run movies, so instead of heading to your local theater to see the next Marvel, Pixar or other Disney film released close to your cruise date, save some money and enjoy the movie at sea for no extra charge.

In fact, if you are at sea when a new Disney movie premieres on land, you'll get to see it the same night on the ship, too.

It's cash-free on the ship — except for this

You don't need much cash while on a Disney cruise. Your "Key to the World" room key serves as your form of payment and identification on the ship. I highly recommend bringing a lanyard to keep track of this important card if it's your first Disney voyage. Return cruisers are given a lanyard in their cabin.

However, if you want to add an extra tip to your service team at the end of the cruise beyond the standard amount that's charged to your folio, it's nice to do that with cash. If you are staying in a concierge-level room, you may want to pack some extra cash for the concierge lounge hosts and the evening bartenders, too.

Your kids can (maybe) get into an older club

Disney Cruise Line divides kids into four age groups — the nursery (up to age 3), the primary kids club (3–12), a tween club (11–14) and a teen club (14–17). The clubs, other than the nursery, are complimentary, so the magic age for a Disney cruise begins once your child is at least 3 years old and potty-trained, so they can enjoy time in the kids clubs while you enjoy … whatever you want.

Once your kid is ready to age up to the next club, they can actually do that a little early with your permission. For example, my oldest was able to level up to the tween club at 10 years old and the teen club at 13 years old with a signed slip from me, so use (or hide) that information as it suits you best. I will say that once your kid levels up in those clubs, they probably won't go back much to the previous club.

Take note that the tween and teen clubs allow kids to come and go at will. If you need your child to be monitored, then they will need to stay in the main kids club, which is open through age 12.

Hit the pools early or late to avoid crowds

If you don't want to swim in a crowded pool or wait in a long line for a slide around the AquaDuck or AquaMouse, you'll need to employ some strategy. I recommend heading to the waterslide the second you board the ship if it is warm enough in your port, as that is as empty as it's going to get.

If you miss that window, mornings are also pretty empty, as are late afternoons as everyone starts to get ready for the evening. Avoid mid-day on sea days at all costs unless you like swimming with dozens of your new best friends.

You'll want to decorate your door

The cabin doors on a Disney cruise are almost all metal, so decorative magnets will stick to the doors nicely. Pack themed magnets to decorate your door. Not only is it fun to participate in this shipwide decoration, but the personalized door serves to help kids (or tired adults) find their cabin should they forget the room number.

You can keep things simple or order personalized magnets on a site like Etsy in advance of your sailing. You may see some doors that go all out and even have pouches with goodies in them. Those hanging pouches are known as fish extenders (as they hang off of a fish built into the ship). They often signify that the cabin is participating in a gift exchange with others on the cruise that they arranged beforehand on Facebook.

Your sailing has a Facebook group and it's worth joining

Speaking of Facebook, the odds are excellent that your individual sailing has a Facebook group with several hundred people in it. If you wish to participate in gift exchanges, get to know your shipmates pre-cruise or tap into a hive mind for advice on picking excursions and packing, it's a big asset to belong to a group specific to your sailing.

Go to Facebook and search for your sailing (e.g. Disney Wonder Alaska June 12 - 19). You'll likely find a "private" group that's not officially affiliated with the cruise line. Join the group to be kept in the loop and to drum up excitement for your trip before you set sail.

Soda is free if you know where to look

If you order a can of Coke in the dining room or from room service, it's going to cost you a few dollars, but you can get as much free soda as you want from the fountain. These are usually located on the pool deck and in the buffet area. Bring a refillable bottle so you can easily take your soda with you around the ship.

Check the app for happy hours

Alcohol isn't free on board, but you can find discounted drinks at happy hour. On my most recent Disney cruise, select drinks were 50% off from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the ship's pub. Check your Navigator app during your sailing to look for happy hours on your Disney cruise.

The best merchandise sells out

If you see a cool hat, sweatshirt or shirt you adore, buy it as soon as you spot it. The onboard gift shops are only open while the ship is at sea, and the popular items sell out (and generally don't get restocked while you're on board).

A Disney cruise is not just for families

There's no doubt that families make up a large portion of the Disney Cruise Line passenger base, but a Disney cruise is not just for kids . The ships cater to childless couples and friend groups with special spaces reserved just for grownups.

Each ship has an adults-only nightlife area and/or multiple bars and lounges to visit in the evening. An adults-only sun deck includes a pool and space to sunbathe. Each ship also has one or two adults-only restaurants you can retreat to at dinnertime if you want to ensure a high-end and kid-free meal. (You'll have to pay extra for these meals, however.)

Disney offers legitimately good liquor and tastings

On top of the cocktails and drinks you may expect, Disney ships offer some very high-end liquors on board. I shared a photo of the below beverage cart on Instagram while on a recent cruise and got dozens of messages from people shocked Disney would have Pappy's bourbon. That specific 23-year-old bottle goes for several hundred dollars per drink, and it's on board Disney cruise ships.

If you're looking for something more affordable, sign up for one of the various beverage-tasting classes on offer. Most of the tastings are $40 - $50, and you'll get to sample a few drinks, as well as learn more about wine, tequila, bourbon and other beverages.

You don't need to pay for motion sickness pills

If you find the motion of the ocean to be a bit more than you bargained for, head to guest services, and they will give you — and your kids — motion sickness pills free of charge.

Pro tip: Don't wait until you are feeling terrible to start battling any potential motion sickness . At the first signs of queasiness, seek out a remedy. Green apples and ginger candy are alternatives for travelers who prefer not to take medicine.

The concierge lounge is extra magical

If you want your own personal Fairy Godmother who all but ensures you get the bookings you want, the best meal times, coveted reservations at the adults-only restaurants and cabana access at Castaway Cay, then book yourself into a concierge-level cabin or suite.

You'll get all that, plus you can board the ship first and skip the lines when disembarking. Concierge guests get exclusive access to a lounge with included evening drinks and a private sun deck (with a hot tub on Disney Wish ). You can order meals from the onboard restaurants to your room, and hang out with a Disney character in the lounge one evening of the cruise.

Not to mention, you'll be staying in some of the nicest and largest accommodations on the ship.

Concierge-level rooms do not come cheap, but they're the way to go if you want cream-of-the-crop service on a Disney cruise. I'd venture that the added perks and extra booking window for specialty restaurants and Castaway Cay are most valuable on the shorter Disney cruises of three or four nights.

Related: What it's like on a $10,000 Disney Wish concierge cruise

Find your way by looking at the carpet

It can be disorienting at first to find your way around a cruise ship, but Disney makes it easy to know if you are heading forward or aft when you're in the long cabin hallways. If the carpet design is upside down, you're heading toward the back of the ship, but if it is right side up, you're heading to the front of the ship. In the photo below, the globe is the clue.

Late dinner is better

Disney cruise ships offer two dinner options — early or late seating. Your showtime for the evening entertainment is opposite your dinner; if you have an early dinner, you have the late show and vice versa.

It's logical to assume that an early dinner at 5:45 p.m., as opposed to late dinner at 8:15 p.m., is better if you have little kids. Having done both, I'd say that late dinner is vastly superior in most situations.

First, 5:45 p.m. is too early to have made the most of your day and be ready for dinner. With all there is to eat on the cruise, you might not even be hungry yet. Beyond that, if you aren't heading into the dark theater to see the show until 8:15 p.m., it can be hard for little ones to sit still or stay awake.

However, if you see the show first and then eat dinner, the servers are great about expressing your meal with little kids. It's better to do a quick dinner and then head to bed (or back to the kids club!) than an early dinner and miss the evening shows because your kid no longer has the ability to sit still.

The $45 adult restaurant is worth it

If you enjoy fine dining, book a fancy dinner at one of the adults-only restaurants. Depending on which ship you are on, there will be one or two restaurants that are reserved for adults — Palo and perhaps also Remy or Enchante .

Remy and Enchante are super-fancy and pricy, but Palo is approachable-fancy and costs an additional $45 per person for the set menu. It's 100% worth the money if you can get a booking.

You'll leave any cartoony trace of Disney behind as you leisurely indulge on beef tenderloin, sea scallops, grilled lobster with pasta, calamari and chocolate souffle.

The best character meetings aren't the posted ones

You'll find many character meet-and-greets on the itinerary for each day where it's known that Mickey, Donald or Minnie will be at a specific place at a specific time for a brief hello and a photo. Those meetups are great, but they are not the best character interactions you'll find on Disney Cruise Line.

The best time you'll have with characters will be when you least expect to see them. You might spot Goofy walking around in his pajamas, Donald waddling out on the deck or Minnie strolling the halls in her finest dress.

These encounters can't be planned or predicted, but without the lines and forced nature of a quick photo, the more free-form interaction with the characters is better than any planned photo sessions you'll find on land or sea.

All the characters come out to say goodbye on the last night

On the last night of each cruise, all of the classic characters come out to the atrium for a short time (15 - 20 minutes) so you can snap a quick photo with anyone you missed before they do their final farewell presentation. Check your app for this goodbye show, which usually occurs around 10 or 10:30 p.m.

Pro tip: If you have a specific character you want to photograph, ask a cast member setting up for the event where that character usually stands during photo time. That way, you can position yourself in the right area to snap a photo because the event can turn chaotic in a hurry.

Skip the debarkation line by carrying your own bags

Getting off the ship at the same time as thousands of other guests can be a buzzkill, so don't do that. If you can manage your own bags, don't put them out the night before and take them off the ship yourself the final morning.

That leaves you free to disembark as early as possible before the regular disembarkation begins, which might be around 7:30 a.m. or so, depending on the port, weather and other factors. You can avoid the crowds because you don't have to wait for your luggage to be assembled along with everyone else.

You can bring your own water and wine

If you want to have bottled water at the ready, bring a case of it onboard. It will need to be sealed in its original packaging and you have to carry it on (instead of having it in checked luggage), but it can be worth it if you want to save money for the truly yummy drinks.

If you enjoy wine or beer out on your veranda, you can save a little cash by bringing your own alcohol onboard , with limits. Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or a six-pack of beer (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. Again, these beverages need to be carried on and not stashed in checked bags.

You can enjoy the spa without a treatment

If you love the idea of spa-like quiet and relaxation without paying around $200+ per treatment, look into the Rainforest Room in the Senses Spa, which costs much less than that per day. Depending on demand, you can book a one-day pass or get a pass that lasts the duration of your cruise. Inquire in the spa as to availability and exact pricing, but it's certainly going to be less than a spa treatment.

Each of the Disney ships has its own version of this room. On Disney Wish, the space has not only the heated loungers that are a common fixture in each of these thermal areas, but also an indoor and outdoor lounge component, a steam room, a chilled ice room and a relaxing water feature for dangling your feet.

Bottom line

You can't go wrong in booking a Disney cruise as there is already so much included and available at your fingertips. But with a little knowledge, you can skip some of the common first-timer mistakes and board like a pro, starting with your first cruise.

Related reading:

• What it's like inside the Disney Wish Star Wars-themed bar
• Everything you need to know about Disney Wish
• The best credit cards for Disney
• Best destinations you can sail to on a Disney cruise
• Everything you need to know about Disney's loyalty program
• The 2 types of Disney Cruise Line ships, explained

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Traveling with Little Ones

Minimum Ages for Travel Baby on Board! Nurseries Toddler Play Areas My Disney Cruise Adventure Booklet

Minimum Ages for Travel

The minimum age to sail aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship is 6 months on the day of sailing; however, the minimum age for Transatlantic, Panama Canal and Hawaii itineraries is one year on the day of sailing.

Baby on Board!

• Complimentary diaper disposal units, bottle warmers, bottle sterilizers, cribs and playpens are available upon request from the stateroom host.
• Complimentary strollers are available at Guest Services.
• Complimentary Pack-n-Play portable cribs are available. Your stateroom host can set the crib up and take it down for you each day.
• Complimentary high chairs are available at all onboard restaurants.
• Fresh pureed vegetables can be prepared at the main dining rooms and through room service upon request.
• At Disney Castaway Cay, our private island in the Bahamas, complimentary wagons are available to facilitate navigating the island’s sandy beaches.
• Essential baby supplies are available for purchase at the onboard merchandise shops, including diapers, training pants, rash cream, infant formula (ready to feed), bottles, pacifiers, baby food, baby shampoo, baby lotion and baby powder.

Our nurseries are for children ages 6 months to 3 years (or ages one to 3 years for Transatlantic, Panama Canal and Hawaii itineraries) and offer extended hours to accommodate the ships’ many activities.

“it’s a small world“ nursery! is located on the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy, the Disney Magic, the Disney Wonder and the Disney Wish.

Toddler Play Areas

Nemo's Reef is located on the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy. Dory's Reef is located on the Disney Wonder, and for tots up to age 3, Nephews' Splash Zone is located on the Disney Magic. And on our newest ship, the Disney Wish, little ones can splash it up at Toy Story Splash Zone.

My Disney Cruise Adventure Booklet

Download the My Disney Cruise Adventure Booklet in English

Let's Cruise Kids!

Cruise Tips for Families

Disney Cruise Tips

Disney is known for their theme parks and Disney Cruise Line is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the best cruises for babies, toddlers and kids.

Just like their theme parks, a Disney Cruise requires a bit of research and planning. And we’re here to help cut that time in half (or more) for you!

This page is dedicated to all things DCL! Get tips, advice, and first-hand trip reports from families who’ve cruised with their babies, toddlers, and young children on Disney Cruise Line.

Disney Cruises with Kids – Tips & Info

Why families will love cruising with disney.

Stateroom size, character meets and kid-friendly nightly entertainment. These are a few reasons why parents choose to cruise with Disney. Read more about the 7 things Disney Cruise Line does to wow guests and make their cruises unique.

 Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport Hotel Review & Guide

Detailed guide about pre-cruise, post-cruise and day use room stays at the Hyatt Regency. Also learn how to use Disney Cruise Lines’s transfer service to from this hotel to Port Canaveral.

5 Steps to Planning a Disney Cruise

Thinking of sailing with Disney Cruise Line but not sure how to do it or where to start? Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to plan and book a Disney cruise.

8 Tips for Choosing a Cabin on a Disney Cruise Ship

From inside staterooms to concierge suites with private balconies, there’s a lot of cabin options for families to choose from. Keep these 8 things in mind when deciding on which stateroom to book.

7 Things to Know about Disney Alaska Cruises

Not sure if an Alaskan Cruise with DCL is right for your family? We took the kids on an Alaskan cruise in 2015 and would highly recommend it! Here’s what you need to know about Disney Cruise Line and The Final Frontier.

Benefits of Staying at a Disney Hotel Before or After Your Caribbean Cruise

Should you book a room at a Disney World Resort Hotel before or after your cruise? We explain why you should consider a pre- or post-cruise Disney World stay.

READ ALL DISNEY CRUISE LINE POSTS

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25 Best Disney Cruise Tips for First Timers

It’s no secret that planning a vacation can be a lot of work! But it can also be totally worth it for an unforgettable family trip.

Disney Cruise Line is the perfect option for families because the ships offer so much to see and do onboard. In addition to this onboard fun, you can visit amazing ports of call in locations all around the world.

This means Disney cruises offer activities and adventures for all guests and are sure to please everyone in your family. Before you leave to embark on your cruise, be sure to check out our Disney cruise tips and tricks below.

From the planning process to debarkation day, these tidbits of advice will help you map out the do’s and don’ts of your Disney cruise vacation. Read all about our favorite hacks for packing, dining, visiting Castaway Cay, and more in our Disney cruise tips for first timers guide!

Planning Tips for Disney Cruise First Timers

If this is your first cruise, the planning process for a Disney Cruise Line vacation may seem a bit overwhelming. However, Disney really does a great job of organizing the information you need. Below are my top tips for getting through the planning process of a Disney Cruise Line vacation.

Download the Disney Cruise Line App

We recommend downloading the app right after you initially book your cruise. In addition to the Disney Cruise Line website, the Disney Cruise Navigator App features a ton of information and features. My family and I especially love the cruise countdown on the app as it really gets the family super excited for the upcoming trip.

The Disney Cruise app also holds important details about your trip, including information about your account, stateroom, port adventures, and more. And once you’re onboard, you will notice it contains everything you need to know about the ship in general. You can use the Navigator App for directions, dinner rotation information, daily schedule of activities, reservations, etc.

It’s also a great way to communicate (at no extra charge) with your family members while on the ship. You and your family can text each other via the Navigator App without having to worry about using up all the data on your phone.

Use Disney Ground Transportation

Disney Cruise Line ground transfers are a super reliable and easy way to arrive and leave the port. I highly recommend adding this shuttle service to your cruise reservation, especially if you are cruising with toddlers or babies.

(Note that your travel agent would need to add this onto your reservation if you booked through an agent.)

My husband and I like that the Disney shuttles take care of our luggage so that we aren’t trying to keep up with two little kids, carryon bags, AND large suitcases. If you have a family of four, these Disney buses are really cost effective as well.

You can find out more information about the pricing and other details on the official website for Disney Cruise Line.

Get an Early Port Arrival Time

We like to arrive at the port and board the ship as early as possible. This allows you to enjoy lunch and the ship’s pools before your room is ready. This early Port Arrival Time is popular, so you will want to be diligent about choosing your time as soon as its available.

This means you will want to login to your Disney account as soon as online check-in becomes available. Then, you can make sure to snag the coveted early times before they book up.

There is a trick to getting an early port arrival and boarding time even if they are all taken by the time you check in. Guests who book the Disney Cruise Line ground transportation do not have to choose a port arrival time since you are permitted to enter the terminal when the DCL bus arrives.

Furthermore, it has been my family’s experience that when we choose to use the Disney Cruise Line ground transportation AND we book a pre-cruise hotel through Disney Cruise Line, we are also given a low boarding number for embarkation day.

↓↓ Check Out My Etsy Shop ↓↓

Now, if you are staying at a Walt Disney World hotel before your cruise, the DCL shuttles do not pick you up super early. However, if you book one of Disney’s pre-cruise hotels near Port Canaveral, you can board the ground transfers early to be one of the first to arrive at the terminal.

Book Activities ASAP

If you’re a first-time cruiser with Disney Cruise Line, you may book certain cruise activities 75 days before cruising as long as you are paid in full. This is especially important if you are wanting to book super popular activities activities like the Princess Gathering and other character meet and greet opportunities. 

That being said, you’ll find plenty of Disney characters available onboard and on the private island that do not require reservations. If you aren’t able to snag a reservation for something that you really want, keep checking the app for cancelations.

In addition, we highly recommend joining the Facebook group for your specific sailing as other families tend to post when they cancel a reservation, which allows you to pick one up. If all else fails, visit Guest Services once you get on the ship, and a cast member should be able to add you to a list for the activity you are wanting.

Fly in a Day Early

If you live somewhat close to your departure port, you may be tempted to fly in the morning of your cruise, but don’t do it! The weather is so unpredictable, and I’m sure you don’t want to feel stressed about missing the ship. 

Flying in the day before you are scheduled to set sail allows you extra time to ensure you make it to your final destination…the Disney cruise ship! If you would like to read reviews and tips on where to stay the night before your cruise, you can check out these posts:

• Best Hotel before a Port Canaveral Cruise
• Where to Stay the Night before a Miami Cruise

Best Tips for Boarding Day

The day that you finally get to board the Disney cruise ship is known as Embarkation Day . This can be a hectic day since you will be juggling your cruise documents, luggage, transportation information, and more.

Our Embarkation Day post provides a packing list for your day bag as well as tips to help the day run smoothly for your family. Below are some additional tips for boarding on embarkation day:

Wear Bathing Suits

I know you are probably wondering what to wear on your cruise. You will see all types of clothing worn on the ship. No matter how formal or casual you choose to be, you won’t be alone.

Most of the people I see on our cruises look casual and comfortable. This is especially true on embarkation day when a lot of kids are just wearing swimsuits and coverups. As a family, we tend to wear our swim gear under our clothes.

My husband and I also like to board the ship wearing flip flops or sandals that slip off and on easily. My kids like to spend time on the pool deck after our embarkation lunch, and I usually need to take off my shoes for the splash zone and pool area. Embarkation day is a great time to experience the water slides and pools without standing in line or being surrounded by a lot of people.

Ask to Upgrade Your Room

I want to preface this by saying that you should first make sure you book a room that you are completely comfortable with. Then, you can ask the cast member who is checking you in at the port if there are any room upgrades available. 

If Disney Cruise Line has available rooms, you can choose to upgrade for significantly less than what the room regularly costs. My family and I used this trick on our most recent cruise when we upgraded at the port to a concierge-level room.

This was a huge perk as concierge guests receive a lot of additional perks. Again, this is not guaranteed and it’s not even common. So, make sure you have a room you love in case an upgrade isn’t available.

Disney Cruise Stateroom Tips

As mentioned above, even if you are planning to inquire about a room upgrade at the port, you should initially book a stateroom that meets the needs of your family. These are some of my personal guidelines for booking a stateroom. This list also includes some little known facts about your cabin:

Stay Aft or Mid-Ship

If you have never cruised before, I recommend booking a stateroom in the middle or back of the ship. This may just be a personal preference for me, but I feel the motion of the ship much more at the front.

If you are concerned about seasickness , you may want to consider a room in an area other than the forward (front) end of the ship. We typically feel the movement a lot more when we are in a venue at the front of the ship compared to at the back (aft) or middle.

Pack Magnets

You have probably seen photos of decorations on the outside of stateroom doors. These items attach to the door with a magnet. Similarly, the walls and doors INSIDE the cabin are also magnetic. One of my favorite packing hacks is to bring magnetic hooks with us on our cruises. You can stick them to the walls and doors in the stateroom to hold all kinds of things.

We hang our wet swimsuits, hats, towels, etc. on these hooks. I also use the magnetic hooks on the bathroom door in our cabin. This is a great place to hold an over-the-door shoe organizer. You can store all kinds of things in the shoe organizer from hairbrushes to sunscreen to toiletries.

Memorize Your Room Number

You will be asked for your room number often during your cruise vacation. For example, when you are in line to take pictures with characters, the photographer will need your stateroom number. It’s a good idea to memorize the room number early on so that you can quickly recite it when a crew member asks.

Disney Cruise Dining Tips and Tricks

The dining rooms on the Disney cruise ships provide really great food, service, and entertainment. The rotational dining method that DCL uses can seem confusing if you are a first time cruiser. Below are some of our top tips for dining on your Disney Cruise Line vacation.

Get on the Waitlist

Depending on when you book your cruise, the main dinner seating may be full. If you would prefer your family eat at the main dining time (around 5:45) rather than at the second seating (around 8:15), call Disney Cruise Line and ask to be put on the waiting list.

Then, check your online Disney Cruise Line account often (like daily). Sometimes the early time opens up, and it will randomly become an option for you to choose in your account. (This happened for me on my last cruise at about 30 days before sailing.)

If you really need the early dining time and it does not open up in the app, just check the appointment spot for dining requests on embarkation day. You will see a time and place to make dining requests onboard.

↓↓ Visit My Etsy Shop ↓↓

To make changes onboard, you just stand in line until you can meet with the cast member in charge to request early seating. Disney has always been able to meet our request on board; although, we tend to sail during the off-peak season.

If you are okay with eating at the later dining time, many avid cruisers actually prefer it. The dining rooms tend to feel less crowded and rushed during this time.

Request a Private Table

If you would rather eat at a table with only your travel party and not with strangers, you can mark this request in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. Disney will not guarantee to grant this request; but, they will do their best to make it happen.

On embarkation day, you will receive a paper newsletter (called a Personal Navigator) that lists a meeting place and time for dining changes. You can go to this location at the specified time to confirm your request for a private table was granted. 

Specialty Drinks include Tips

If you order an adult beverage or a specialty kid’s drink, a gratuity is automatically applied to the price. When you get your receipt, make sure you don’t double tip…unless you just want to.

Best Tips for Castaway Cay

If you are lucky enough to visit Castaway Cay on your cruise, you won’t be disappointed! Disney’s private island in the Bahamas provides stunning beaches and lots of fun activities. You will find some great tips for visiting Castaway Cay below. (Since I have a toddler, some of the tips are baby or toddler specific.)

Borrow a Stroller

If you don’t want to bring a stroller from home for your young children, you can borrow one from Guest Services. They will charge your account $250 for the stroller, but DCL will remove the charge once the stroller is returned.

The ship strollers are City Mini Baby Joggers. We had to fold it up before fitting it through the stateroom door on the Disney Magic, but they are super easy to collapse.

The stroller can then be stored in your room, under the bed, or even in the closet. If you are cruising with a little one but don’t want to borrow a stroller on the ship, you can grab any of the available strollers or wagons on Castaway Cay to use for free on the island.

Sit near the Climbing Feature

Castaway Cay has a climbing feature that’s perfect for young kids just off the shore of one of the family beaches. The beach and water in front of this play zone often has far fewer people than other areas on the island.

Even at prime beach time, you should be able to find loads of seats and umbrellas in this area. If your kids enjoy climbing, you can easily monitor them from the beach in this area.

Pack Water Shoes

The sand and water at Castaway Cay is often full of tiny (and sometimes sharp) shells. You can get by without water shoes if you are careful. However, you may want to add them to your beach bag for peace of mind and for your kids’ feet. 

Disney Cruise Packing Tips and Hacks

Below you will find some brief notes on packing tips and hacks for your Disney Cruise Line vacation. For a full guide to packing, we suggest checking out our post that includes a free printable Disney Cruise packing list . In that post, we list all the essentials you need for your trip. Plus, we explain the reasoning behind some of the really unique items be make sure to take with us!

Bring $1 Bills

We often find that we need dollar bills for tipping various people throughout our trip. These are some of the positions we tipped on our last cruise:

• motor coach driver who drove us to the port
• porter who handled our bags at the port 
• $1 per item ordered from room service
• motor coach driver who drove us to the airport

We also added cash to the gratuity envelopes for our room host and dining servers. Note that you do not need to add additional tips to these envelopes unless you feel you received exemplary service. The regular tip amount is fine to leave. For more information, please check out our post on Disney Cruise gratuities .

Pack an Embarkation Day Bag

Your room probably won’t be ready until 1:30, and your luggage may not arrive until after dinner. So, pack a carryon bag for boarding the ship in case you need certain items before your luggage arrives.

Insider Tips for Shows

The Broadway style shows on Disney Cruise Line provide really great family entertainment that kids of all ages can enjoy. Here are a few tips for visiting the theater and enjoying onboard activities:

Arrive Early

The seats in the theater fill up during the nightly live shows. We try to arrive 15-20 minutes before the show starts to make sure we find seats together as a family. My kids typically don’t mind being seated early as we bring snacks and coloring books to entertain them before the show starts.

Grab a Booster Seat

I have a six year old who is really small for her age. My husband likes to grab a booster seat for her to sit on during the shows. You can get a booster seat at the entrance to the theater each night. This allows little ones to better see the stage from their seats. 

Pack Snacks and Drinks

You can purchase popcorn, candy, and drinks right outside the theater at Preludes . However, you are welcome to bring your own snacks as well. This is a great way to save money and stay on budget for your cruise! Just make sure any food you bring on board is pre-packaged as you are not permitted to carry on opened or homemade items.

Last Minute Tips and Advice for First Time Cruisers

These are some miscellaneous bits of advice for your first time cruising with Disney Cruise Line.

Return the Kids Club Band

If you receive a bracelet for the kids club (similar to a Magic Band at Disney World) for your child, make sure you return it to the club by the last day of your cruise. If you don’t, Disney Cruise Line will charge your account for the bracelet. 

Grab a Paper Navigator

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App is a great resource while on the cruise. However, I still prefer to have a paper copy of the daily personal navigator. You can easily pick up your Navigator at Guest Services each day.

You do not have to wait in line to do this. Guest Services should have a stack of Navigators set out for guests to freely grab and go.

If your final cruise day is at a port like Castaway Cay, it may be tempting to leave the packing until later so you can enjoy the beach. However, if you want Disney Cruise Line to handle your luggage on debarkation day , it needs to be packed and in the hallway that last night. 

Give yourself plenty of time to pack your bags and set them in the hallway by the luggage pickup time. This will help the end of the cruise and disembarkation day run much more smoothly. There’s nothing worse than spending your last night on board rushing to pack rather than enjoying the final entertainment options available with your family.

Schedule a Character Call

Disney Cruise Line provides two free calls from characters prior to your cruise. Depending on when you are cruising, you can receive a call from Goofy, Mickey, or Minnie. On a special note, if you are sailing on a holiday themed itinerary, you may be able to receive a unique holiday call from characters!

Don’t Stress about Laundry

If you are sailing on a longer Disney Cruise itinerary, you may feel uncertain about how to handle laundry on the ship. I assure you this process is super simple! You can read our full guide to Disney cruise laundry here , but I will briefly explain the process. We carry a bag of dirty clothes to the launderette onboard.

You use the digital screen to purchase the use of the washer and/or dryer. (The price is actually super reasonable, which you can read about in the post linked above.) Disney has all the detergents and things you need for an additional small fee. You then receive a message via the Navigator App once your clothes are finished washing.

You can then move them to the dryer where you’ll receive a second message once they are dry. If you prefer not to do your own laundry onboard, Disney Cruise Line offers full service laundry services as well.

Final Thoughts on Disney Cruise Tips and Tricks

I hope you found these tips for your first Disney cruise really helpful! Sailing with Disney Cruise Line is the most fun and relaxing way to travel. Whether you’re looking for pre-cruise advice or tips to use onboard, the information above should come in handy.

We hope your vacation runs smoothly with our planning and packing hacks. Once you are cruising with Disney , you’ll realize just how special a Disney Cruise Line vacation truly is.

Have a magical trip!

Shari is an experienced planner and organizer for Disney vacations, cruising, and U.S. travel. Her family vacation information, reviews, and tips provide insight for moms and dads everywhere. You can read more about her story, including her journey through breast cancer, in the about me page.

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Plan Your Dream Trip To Disney!

14 Insanely Useful Disney Cruise Tips to Know Before You Go

October 25, 2019 //  by  Stephanie Kastan //   Leave a Comment

If you’re thinking about planning a Disney cruise, or have already booked one, these Disney cruise tips will help you get the most out of your vacation. Disney cruises are tons of fun, but, like with any vacation, you can miss out on some fun and relaxation if you don’t prepare! If you’re interested in what to pack, how to save money, or how to make the most of your time on your Disney cruise, I’ve got you covered!

Disney Cruise Line (DCL) currently has four ships: The Fantasy, the Dream, the Magic, and the Wonder. There are also more coming in the next few years! Each ship has slightly different offerings, so, whether you have kids or are a kid at heart, Disney definitely has something to offer every passenger.

Get a FREE printable 30/60/90 day Disney countdown by joining our private Disney Facebook Group and share your photos and ask for tips and tricks! 

Tips for Booking Your Disney Cruise

Best time to go.

Timing is obviously important for vacations, and this is especially true for Disney vacations! Time of year for cruising will also depend on your family’s needs and wants. For example, anytime school is in session is a good choice for a Disney cruise. Fewer people and often cheaper prices are a huge benefit to the off-season. However, if you absolutely cannot go during the school year, that’s clearly not going to work for you.

September is often hailed as the number one Disney cruise trip for best time to sail. It’s a good choice because the weather is still warm enough to enjoy the onboard pools and white sand beaches (unless you’re doing an Alaska or Europe itinerary- though warmer weather will still help these!). However, September is also during Florida’s Hurricane Season, and it can be a busy time of the season for storms (Note that in recent years both Hurricanes Irma and Dorian were in September).

If your family is looking for a specific itinerary- those have specific dates attached to them. For example, Alaska cruises only sail during the summer, for obvious reasons. Disney Cruise Line also has specialty sailings at certain times of the year- Halloween on the High Seas, Very Merrytime, Marvel Day at Sea, and Star Wars Day at Sea. If any of those strike your fancy, be sure to pay attention to which dates they’re offered.

Choosing your Stateroom

I highly recommend picking your own stateroom! This is one of my biggest Disney cruise tips. However, this can be overwhelming as there are so many options and things to consider. Fortunately, when you book through Disney, or if you go through a travel agent, you are able to view the deck plans to make an informed decision. For example, if anyone in your party experiences seasickness or motion sickness, it is absolutely crucial to pick a stateroom as close to mid-ship as you can and as low deck as you’re comfortable with.

If you are traveling with a bigger party you may be considering a suite that can sleep more people, but it is usually recommended to instead get adjoining cabins. It is actually cheaper to get two cabins than it is to get a larger suite most of the time, plus everyone will have more room (and bathrooms) to spread out.

You should also think about where you want to be in relation to everything else. There is dining on the lower desks if you want to be close to it, but usually most people think about being close to the pool deck up top. This is great if you want to be right there with the action and fun, but you should also consider volume. If you like peace and quiet when you go to bed and night, you may want to be a bit further away from the top decks. Personally, I like to cruise midship because I’d rather have the quiet at night and take an elevator to get to the pool.

Dining Times

Disney Cruise Line has a super fun dining rotation that allows guests to experience different restaurants during their sailing. There are also two dining times to pick from when you book your cruise: early and late. If you’re okay eating dinner at a later time, I highly recommend choosing this option as it will have fewer kids in the dining room (making it much quieter!) and it has the added bonus of Dine and Play. The Dine and Play program means that families at late dining can have dinner all together before the kids are taken to the kids’ clubs!

Your dining time will also impact your timing for the shows! Early dining is much more crowded, which means that most families go to the second show when they finish dinner. If you have late seating for dinner, you can see the show first and get better seats because you won’t have to rush from dinner to the theater!

Specialty Dining

Specialty dining is a total experience on Disney cruises, and one of my biggest Disney cruise tips. If you think you want to do it, book in advance! You can always cancel later but many times you’ll find that by the time of your sailing most reservations will be taken.

Palo and Remy, Italian and French themed respectively, are fine dining experiences. There is an enforced dress code, so pack accordingly! The Palo brunch is often the highest regarded meal, but I think it depends on your tastes. I am a huge sucker for brunch so the Palo brunch did win me over, but the chocolate souffle on Palo’s dinner menu is TO DIE FOR.

The specialty dining options are a flat fee, so while that does mean they’re a bit pricey, it also means you can eat as much as you want to. Just don’t fill up too much before dessert!

Character Meet and Greets

There are plenty of characters to meet onboard Disney Cruise Line (and on the private island, Castaway Cay), and just like in the parks, they’re happy to meet you and your little ones. These characters also have the great benefit of being in great, sea-worthy outfits! Eskimo Minnie on the Alaska sailings has totally stolen my heart, but Captain Mickey (and now Captain MINNIE!) are iconic.

Just like in the Disney Parks, there are designated times for meet and greats with the characters, and you’re able to reserve a spot for them before you sail! I highly recommend doing this if anyone in your party wants to meet the characters (especially the more unique characters like the Star Wars and Marvel crews on those specialty sailings), as the lines can get long and close very quickly.

But don’t worry! If you don’t reserve a time to meet the characters in advance, your cruise Navigator (delivered to your stateroom each day) will list times and locations for meet and greets. Just be sure to arrive early! 10 minutes is the recommended window to ensure you grab a spot in the line. And don’t forget your autograph books!

Tips for Making the Most of Your Disney Cruise

What to pack.

If you get motion sickness or seasickness, Dramamine is a MUST for your Disney cruise. You can find it at any drugstore or here on Amazon. Important note about Dramamine- start taking it several days BEFORE you cruise because it can take awhile to start helping you. Also, if you discover you need it after you’ve set sail, or have run out, you can find it onboard all of Disney’s ships!

For most itineraries, sunscreen is another must-pack item. I highly recommend (and encourage) going the reef-safe route, especially because these sunscreens are as effective as the non-reef safe ones are. My favorite ones are All Good and MyChelle , both of which are animal cruelty free and feel great on my skin.

I’d recommend bringing a light sweater on your Disney Cruise for dining and shows, as I find the interior of the ship can get a bit chilly with the air conditioning- especially if you’ve been in the sun all day! For those sailing on colder Disney cruises, I’d still recommend bringing a light sweater in addition to your warmer clothes.

Pins! This is one my favorite Disney cruise tips. I wish I had known to bring pins on my first Disney cruise- my husband and I are big pin traders. For those who don’t know, Disney Parks’ cast members often wear lanyards with Disney pins on them for guests to trade with. However, what I didn’t know was that during Disney Cruise sailings, there is an event held near the theater where the ship’s officers come out and trade pins with the guests! It was a great way to find some unique treasures and can be a great way to bring home a souvenir with a fun memory attached!

Another fun Disney cruise tip is to pack magnets! Why? Because Disney cruise guests often decorate their stateroom doors to show who they are, what they like, or what they’re celebrating! It’s a really fun way to get to know the people you cruise with and make a statement!

For more great ideas on what to pack, check out our post on Disney packing lists !

Bringing Booze on a Disney Cruise?

All right, adult Disney fans, this one’s for you: Disney Cruise Line allows you to pack booze in your carry-on to bring on your sailing! Honestly, I think this is a great idea for everyone. They do have limits and specifications, so be sure not to exceed them and risk losing the money you spent on the booze AND the money you’ll spend buying more onboard!

Disney Cruise Line allows you to bring two (2) bottles of wine and one (1) six-pack of beer PER PERSON in your carry-on luggage. You are also allowed to buy wine and beer while you’re in a port of call and bring it back to the ship with you! This is such a great money-saver for those who want to drink on their Disney cruise. Additionally, you can also bring wine to your dining room if you want to drink with dinner- the restaurant will charge your stateroom $25 for the uncorking fee.

Tips for Pirate Night

Pirate Night is such a fun and exciting part of Disney cruising. This event is only featured on Caribbean itineraries, so if your Disney cruise happens elsewhere then you can skip this section! Pirate Night happens up on the pool deck, and is a pirate-themed show, with dressed up characters and fireworks!

There is a buffet on the pool deck during Pirate Night, so you may opt to skip the dining room in favor of the buffet and staking out a spot for the festivities. The pool deck is PACKED during Pirate Night, so definitely get there early. Plus, it’s windy up there and you may end up getting a bit chilly (trust me) so bring your sweaters!

At dinner, you will get a Mickey banana to wear for the party, but most guests choose to dress up much more! The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique onboard the ship does offer kids’ pirate makeovers for Pirate Night, but I highly suggest packing costumes/accessories with you.

Get Connected

Honestly one of the most convenient parts about Disney Cruise Line for me and my husband was the DCL mobile phone app. If you’re wondering what my favorite Disney cruise tip is, here you go: download the app! It allows you to communicate with your party without using data or paying for wifi. No more making plans for the whole day and trying to remember what time you need to meet up with your family. Now you can message them while onboard! The app has other handy features, including a fun countdown to your cruise before you go, but it is a MUST for Disney cruising.

Embarkation Tips

Best Disney cruise tips for embarkation? Check in online is number 1! You can do this in advance and it will save you so much time at the terminal. When you check in online you can also select your arrival time- be sure to write it down! This saves you so much time in the port AND can help you get on the ship early! If you do this, definitely keep your swim gear in your carry-on so you can grab lunch and hit the pool while others board. Just make sure to still arrive one hour before your scheduled time!

For cruisers with kiddos, it’s almost always easier to sign up for the kids’ club after you board the ship. You are able to in the terminal but the lines get very long, especially compared to the ones onboard the ship.

Shore Excursion Tips

I highly recommend shore excursions if they’re in your budget! These are a great and EASY way to explore your ports of call. However, if you’ve been to one your ports of call before, this is a great time to enjoy the ship with fewer people. I live in Florida and have been fortunate enough to cruise multiple times, but the itinerary is always the Bahamas, so I usually skip Nassau to stay on board. This is when I ride the Aquaduck without waiting in line!

However, if you’re going somewhere new then I highly recommend excursions. When I do go to Nassau, my favorite thing is the Atlantis waterpark. It’s awesome! Most ports have a lot of options for you, so definitely check them out and decide on your family’s must-dos. And, if you’re going to Alaska, you’ve got to do the sled dog racing for me! That’s my dream trip. If you’re not a dog person, my mom swears by the glacier helicopter rides.

Before and After Your Disney Cruise

Transfers to and from the port.

Disney offers their buses, which are super cute, for ground transfer for a per person fee. These are an awesome option because you can check your luggage into the bus and it will be delivered to your stateroom without you having to lug it around. Trust me, the cruise terminal before embarkation is PACKED. The last thing you want is to deal with your suitcases and carry-ons and children, if you have them! Plus, bus rides are better on the environment than everyone riding individually, which is a win in my book.

If the shuttle service doesn’t work for you, Uber, Lyft, and other shuttles are all great options to get to the port. Be sure to prepare for a wait in the drop-off lane, though, as that can take awhile! There is also parking at the terminal if you want to drive your own vehicle, just know that the parking is a bit pricey and must be paid upfront.

Best Hotels in Cape Canaveral and Miami

Cape canaveral.

If you aren’t local to your port and are flying to them, I cannot say enough how much I recommend arriving a day before your cruise. It means you need to get a hotel, but it also means you won’t miss your cruise if you have flight delays or cancellations. Plus, if luggage is lost the last thing you want is to board the ship without it! Even if the airline can’t get your luggage to you in time, at least you’ll have time to pick up some necessities before you set sail.

Many Disney cruises embark from Port Canaveral or Port of Miami, so you may struggle to determine where you should stay! Port Canaveral is in the very small town of Cape Canaveral (home to the Kennedy Space Center), so if you want to stay close to the port, or maybe check out the space center, then below are a couple of good picks.

Country Inn

Canaveral Towers

If y0u’re sailing out of Port Canaveral, you also have the wonderful option of staying at Walt Disney World, which is about an hour away. Disney World is also closer to the airport and still offers ground transfer with luggage checking from the resort to the port.

If you’re sailing out of Miami, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of options for hotels. Port of Miami is right by downtown Miami, it can be pretty hectic. If you’re wanting to see the sights while you’re there, hotels downtown on South Beach are your best bets (and are still close to the port). Here are my favorite choices for Miami.

For Downtown:

Guild Miami

Holiday Inn

For South Beach:

Casa Boutique

National Hotel

Gratuities are a hugely important part of budgeting for your cruise, because most cruise employees rely on tips for their income. Thankfully, gratuities for your cabin and waitstaff are automatically included in your fare so you don’t need to worry much about this on a Disney cruise! However, you have the option to go to Guest Services and adjust the amount of tips provided to your staff. You can also tip cash in most currencies at the end of your cruise if you want.

If you order room service, you will need to sign the receipt and write-in a tip amount to be charged to your cabin because this is not an automatically tipped service. If you enjoy services at the spa, specialty dining, or concierge, gratuities are also included in the price but you are able to tip on top of that if you so choose.

Now you’re ready to book and set sail on your Disney Cruise! You’re going to have a wonderful time. I hope these Disney cruise tips have helped you to feel more prepared for your vacation so that, when the time comes, all you need to do is have fun! Happy cruising!

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Posted on Last updated: April 18, 2024 Categories Disney Travel

By: Author Kate

10 Tips for an UNFORGETTABLE Disney Cruise with a Baby

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Thinking of doing a cruise with a baby? Disney offers the ultimate in baby-friendly cruise amenities.  We just returned from our first Disney Cruise with a baby on board the Disney Dream ! Our cruise was the 3 night Bahamas itinerary with one day in Castaway Cay (also known as PARADISE!). We traveled with our 3.5-year-old and 8-month-old sons. The trip was a blast and you can read my full review of the pros and cons here . Cruising with a baby is easy, and Disney goes out of their way to provide you will LOTS of baby amenities on board.

Cruising with an infant is a super easy way to travel. It’s great to be able to unpack only once, especially when I end up bringing the entire house for one 8-month-old baby! A Disney cruise with an infant is really the ultimate for a carefree vacation with a little one. Disney offers so much for every age and I found their cruise daycare to be absolutely top-notch.

There are a few tips that I think will make your cruise easier with a baby on board.

Here are my top 10 tips for a Disney Cruise with a baby

1. get on the ship early.

Ok, so this one isn’t really baby-specific because it’s ALWAYS a good idea to get on the ship early! However, with all of the extra stuff we were lugging in I was certainly glad to have booked the earliest possible entry time for my cruise. You can do this by adjusting your check-in time on ‘ My Disney Cruise’ section of the Disney website. We got on at 11 am and had time to eat lunch and check out the pool and splash pad before we even left port.

Remember that you might not have your luggage for a few hours after departure, so it’s really important to have a day bag with all everything you need! I’ve included my Disney cruise day bag packing list below. For a full list of what to pack for a vacation with kids, you can check out my family packing list pdf!  Or if you are looking for some Disney must-haves, head on over to Fill My Passport for an awesome  Disney Packing List.

Our Day Bag Packing list: Disney Cruise With a Baby:

• Change of clothes each child
• Floatie (we love this one )
• Portable Safe for Valuables 
• Swim Diaper
• Regular Diapers
• Diaper Cream (this spray kind is the best for travel!)
• My emergency medical kit  (click through to my post!)
• Water Shoes
• Two baby bottles
• Powdered formula Travel Packs

Being that this was our first Disney experience we were totally underprepared when it came to all the Disney themed accessories to wear on the first day. Next time we will be on it for sure! Check out this  great list of Disney accessories and gifts  for ideas.

2. Use the small world nursery

One of the main reasons that we decided to book with Disney was because of the Disney cruise nursery on board. The nursery is called “the small world nursery” and it was amazing for our children. Childcare for babies and toddlers is hard to come by at other resorts and having this service was amazing! We got to enjoy an AH-MAZING evening at Remy (see below) and we also booked our 8-month-old in for a few hours while we were at Castaway Cay with our older son. 8-month-old babies just don’t really care for sand, unless they are eating it, and this way we got to have a little date with our older son.

The ladies at the small world nursery on the Disney cruise are amazing. They were all so caring and clearly very experienced with young kids. I loved that they gave me a full report on how my son did when we would come to pick him up. As I was still nursing they also had a nice area for me to sit and nurse my son when he got hungry. It was perfect. The small world nursery does cost extra, but given the cost of the cruise, it was a small fee to pay for an amazing service!

Check out this youtube video by PassPorter Guides that details the entire nursery space.

3. Book Remy for an Adults-Only Dinner Date

Remy is the adults-only restaurant on the ship. We booked both our kids into the Small World Nursery and enjoyed the BEST MEAL OF OUR LIFE at this amazing restaurant. I seriously can not say enough good things about the food here. We are not novices when it comes to eating out, but Remy topped all of our expectations. Traveling with young kids can be exhausting, treat yourself to a date night on the Disney cruise and you won’t be disappointed! Remy does cost extra, but IMHO it was well worth the price!

4. Watch the shows from your room

I’m always amazed when I go on vacation and I see so many kids up and about at 9 or 10 pm enjoying the night. I guess there are two types of kids: those who can stay up late, and those, like mine, who absolutely have to go to bed by 8 pm or EVERYTHING WILL BE AWFUL for the rest of the trip. To be fair, I think they came by it honestly, I’m pretty grumpy when I don’t get my beauty sleep. With the kids tucked into bed, my husband and I would watch the shows on the TV in our rooms. We would also sit out on our balcony and enjoy a glass of wine before bed. The blackout curtain that separates the “kids sleeping quarters” from the adults was perfect for this. Also, we were basically both asleep by 9 pm as well. My kind of vacation!

If you have a ‘tough sleeper’ like we do, make sure to check out my post on how we get our kids to sleep on vacation.   We have a lot of tricks for getting our kids to sleep just like they do at home.

5. Use the SAFE-Go to lock up your stuff by the pool

If you’ve read any of my other blog posts , you will know that I am kind of obsessed with this product . Seriously though, this is literally the best “travel gadget” I have ever purchased. The Safe-Go is a portable safe that is big enough for a couple of cell phones and a wallet and attaches to pretty much anything (stroller, beach chairs, etc etc). I loved having this thing on the cruise. It was especially great for a cruise with an infant because you can leave your stuff while you chase around a toddling baby.   With two young kids, there is really no such thing with ‘one person staying back with the valuables’ My kids were all over the place and being able to lock up my cell phones and my room card was key. I felt more at ease knowing my stuff was safe wherever I left it.

6. Stay on the ship in Nassau

Unfortunately, this wasn’t much of a ‘secret tip’ on my cruise as I estimate that at least 75% of people seemed to stay on the ship in Nassau. Despite it being a bit crowded, we still had a great day on the boat in Nassau and I’m glad we decided to stay on the ship. My sons both loved the splash pad, and it was great that little ones who are not potty trained were allowed to use this area. We also took advantage of the Small World Nursery again this day for a few hours during my son’s nap and my husband and I got to relax in the adults-only section. Win!

7. Bring a stroller for your Disney Cruise with a baby

Before going on my cruise I joined a few Disney facebook groups and read a whole bunch of blog posts on Cruising with a baby. MANY people said not to bother with a stroller and just bring a carrier. When I mentioned on a facebook group that I was thinking of bringing a DOUBLE stroller I got a lot of comments about how it was really NOT a good idea. Of course, I didn’t listen (what else is new!) and I brought a double stroller on the cruise and ABSOLUTELY DO NOT REGRET IT!

My kids love the stroller and I love the stroller too. Both of my kids will sleep in a stroller, and if the kids are asleep in the stroller, the adults can be outside enjoying the fresh air and not cramped up in a small stateroom. Yes having a double stroller was a bit awkward in the tight hallways on the trip, and yes getting it into and out of the room required fully folding it up, but I WILL BRING IT BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN!

We chose the ZoeXL2, which is a great double travel stroller.  It folds up super small but still has a lot of the features of a full-size stroller (recliners, great canopy, decent under-basket). If I did it again, I might consider taking two super compact travel strollers as it would have been easier to navigate the halls.

8. Get a Balcony Room

We booked our trip somewhat last minute (1 month before departure), and when I compared prices at this time the balcony room was not much more expensive than an inside stateroom. The balcony is great for the adults when kids are napping or sleeping in the room. We used it at night to have a drink and watch the sunset. According to the concierge, we also could have watched the fireworks from our balcony but my husband and I didn’t make it to 10 pm when they were happening (HA!!)

At first, I was nervous about the balcony room safety because my 3.5-year-old son is definitely a climber and could easily climb up onto the furniture and jump overboard. There is a really good childproof bolt at the top of the sliding door so I immediately felt much more comfortable knowing that he couldn’t try to open the door.

9. Get the early dining seating

Since we booked so last minute the only seating that was left was the late seating. I have to give it to Disney though, my travel agent called to tell them that we were cruising with an infant and the seating was immediately changed. I am so glad because I think it would have been a big struggle to try to keep my kids up for the late seating. If you do end up with a seating that is not your first choice you are able to go to the Cabanas buffet instead, but my understanding is that Disney tries their best to give everyone the seating of their choice.

10. Bring a reusable swim diaper

Most cruise ships do not let toddlers and babies who aren’t potty trained near the pool. This is the same for the pools on Disney. They are quite strict with this rule, I was asked a few times if my 3.5-year-old was potty trained when he went swimming in the pool.   Babies and toddlers ARE allowed to use the Nemo’s Reef splash pad. This cute splash area was perfect for the little ones and both my son’s loved it. The splash pad is a huge plus compared to other cruise lines I looked at.

Reusable swim diapers  help to save on space and they come in lots of cute designs! Save some packing room (and the environment!) and go with a reusable diaper.

Disney Cruise Baby Facts

• The minimum age for a Disney cruise with an infant is 6 months. Some specific Disney cruises require infants to be over 12 months of age.  Check with your booking agent for more details.
• Infants are not free! As compared to an all-inclusive, you will pay more for a Disney Cruise with a baby.
• You can request amenities like a diaper disposal unit, bottle sterilizer, pack and play and pureed foods from guest services when you arrive on your cruise.

Have you cruised with a baby? Do you have any tips for a Disney cruise with a baby? Drop me a line in the comments below if you have any questions or suggestions. Enjoy your cruise!

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Best Disney Cruise Ship for Toddlers

By Kim LaPaglia Leave a Comment

Disney cruises are tailor-made for multi-generational vacations . And for parents (and/or grandparents) traveling with toddlers, it’s nearly impossible to envision a vacation where you might get some alone time while the preschooler(s) are safely engaged with childcare activities.

Mickey and Minnie on the Disney Wish!

Childcare on a cruise ship ? Yes, indeed! The Disney ships have world-class supervised spaces for your little ones .

So, you’re ready to book a voyage with Disney Cruise Line and want to pick the best Disney ship for your toddler?! Well, we’re here to breakdown your choices among the current fleet of five ships.

First up – is your child old enough to sail? The minimum age for most Disney cruises is 6 months by your sailing date. Rules tend to differ when sailing itineraries that include Hawai’i, Panama Canal, or transatlantic voyages. For these sailings, your child must meet their 1-year milestone by embarkation day.

Disney Cruise Ships

Let’s meet the fleet!

Disney Magic

There are currently five ships sailing for Disney Cruise Line:

• Magic, 1998
• Wonder, 1999
• Dream, 2011
• Fantasy, 2012

These are impressive, family-friendly ships !

Most accommodations aboard cruise ships are small. Disney ships, however, have split bathrooms with tubs! This is especially beneficial for families with toddlers.

Example of split bathroom. This section has the tub/shower and a sink.

Consider a suite if you would really benefit from more space, however you’ll want to be aware that suites are premium priced. Or you may want to consider an inside stateroom if having a balcony would rattle your nerves.

Disney Magic Stateroom

While safety features (door locks, etc.) are present, some parents may worry about their little climber.

A verandah on the Disney Dream.

It might be a great time to save money and book an inside stateroom !

The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin

Rotational dining.

You’ll find the popular rotational dining on all ships. Each night your server will follow you to your assigned restaurant. One thing to keep in mind: if your toddler is fond of a specific Disney character like Rapunzel or Tiana, you may want to consider booking a cruise on the ship that features characters and/or artwork with those Disney friends.

Rapunzel’s Royal Table

Some of the restaurants include: On Disney Magic, dine at Rapunzel’s Royal Table. Aboard Disney Wonder , you’ll eat dinner one night at Tiana’s Place. Royal Palace is themed to Disney Princesses on the Disney Dream, while Royal Court is also princess-inspired on Disney Fantasy . Finally, the new Disney Wish features Arandelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.

Ultimate List of Disney Cruise Line Tips and Secrets for 2023

Disney cruise ship toddler-friendly items available.

All of the Disney cruise ships have toddler-friendly items free of charge. Subject to availability you can request the following from your Room Steward:

• Diaper Genie
• Pack n Play

Mac & Cheese!

To avoid premium prices and lack of your preferred brands, you should pack supplies which your toddler typically needs when away from home . If you forget or run out of something, these items should be available at the store:

• Diapers/Pull Ups
• Baby bath supplies

We advise bringing extra when traveling via a cruise ship.

What is the Best Age for a Disney Cruise?

“it’s a small world” nursery.

Quality care is offered by highly trained counselors at it’s a Small World Nursery. The nursery actually supervises children from 6 months old to 3 years old   (1-3 years old on transatlantic, Hawai’i, and Panama Canal sailings) with a charge of $9 per hour. Additional children in the same family are charged at $8 per hour.

There are 3 areas that make up the Nursery. Children adjust to the new space in the acclimation zone. There is a main play area as well as a separate room for naps.

It’s a Small World Nursery

Not sure if your child will like the Nursery? Every day between 8-9 am there is an open house where you can spend time with your kiddo in the Nursery!

Nursery on the Disney Wish

There are only 16 toddlers permitted in the Nursery, so reserve your child’s stay early. You can book ahead online before your cruise or when you get onboard the Disney ship. According to your Castaway Club status , you may have an advantage at getting the hours that you need.

Toddler play area

Here is the schedule for how many days in advance you can book the It’s A Small World Nursery online:

• 120 days for Concierge and Platinum Castaway Club Guest
• 105 days for Gold Castaway Club Guest
• 90 days for Silver Castaway Club Guest
• 75 days for First-Time Cruisers

What should you bring to the nursery ? Bring your own diapers, wipes, spare clothes, beverage, and food. It is also a good idea to bring anything which is likely to make your toddler feel secure such as a favorite blanket or stuffed animal.

Food is provided for lunch and dinner in the Nursery . However, this is only solid food such as mac & cheese and chicken nuggets. Crackers and juice are available for snacks . If you want your child to have anything different, then you will need to provide it.

Save room for ice cream!

As you would expect, Disney Cruise Line staff are very good when it comes to accommodating food allergies. Tell the Counselors if your child has any special dietary requirements. Please note that nuts and peanuts are not allowed in the Nursery.

What Characters Are On Disney’s Castaway Cay?

Toddler friendly cruise activities.

Meet Characters . All ships offer ample opportunity to meet Disney pals.

Donald and Goofy

Watch movies or Broadway-style live performances . On Disney Magic, see Tangled: The Musical. Frozen: A Musical Spectacular can be watched on Disney Wonder. When sailing on Disney Dream, make time to view Beauty and the Beast. Disney’s Aladdin — A Musical Spectacular plays to audiences on Disney Fantasy. Or sit back and watch The Little Mermaid on Disney Wish.

Aladdin Show

Does your toddler love the water ? Toddler splash areas are a great diversion.

Toy Story Splash Zone

And many little ones are ready for a nap after a good splash session! While the splash zones are less elaborate on Disney Wonder and Disney Magic , young toddlers will still have a memorable time here. Older toddlers will likely enjoy Nemo’s Reef on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy and the Toy Story Splash Zone on Disney Wish.

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Character Meet and Greets on Disney Cruise Line

Which ship is best for toddlers.

The Disney ship that is best for toddlers will depend on your destination, vacation duration, and cruising season. If you consider the ships alone, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder offer a charming atmosphere that can be easier to navigate.

These ships are likely to be the most accommodating for little legs. And grown-ups won’t have as much traipsing around to do. And let’s face it — when you’re carrying a tired youngster or pushing a stroller with a cranky child, distance between point A and point B matters!

Disney Cruise Line Wonder Ship

Plus, there are plenty of elevators to help parents and families with strollers and luggage and tots in tow. These classic ships hold 2,700 passengers compared to the over 4,000 guests sailing aboard the newer ships.

Two bunk beds in the Tower Suite on the Disney Wish

We know that families with toddlers find it difficult to travel light! In fact, you’ll want to check out our Cruise Line Packing List to make sure you’ve got ALL the stuff that you’ll need for your sailing.

The Disney Dream

Another consideration for first time cruisers would be the duration of your vacation. Shorter cruises (3 to 4 nights) might be better suited to your family, however traveling and packing isn’t easy with a toddler so a longer vacation allows time for everyone to finally relax and unwind before having to pack up again!

Click HERE for the Ultimate Guide To Disney Cruise Line!

What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line

Learn all about disney cruise line and its various ships, explore disney’s mega cruise ship – the wish, a full list of what you can’t bring on a disney cruise, these are the best times to book your disney cruise, 10 things you need on your next cruise (that you won’t think to pack), what it’s like to live on a cruise ship for 6 months, join the dfb newsletter to get all the latest disney news delivered right to your inbox click here to subscribe, have you sailed with a toddler share in the comments below, trending now.

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Disney Cruise Advice: Tips & Tricks Onboard the Ship

LAST UPDATE: 2/14/24

On this page we have collected some useful Disney Cruise advice, tips, and tricks that can help you save time and have more fun while you are on a Disney Cruise. Read the advice below and you’ll have a much better idea what to expect, even if you’ve never been on a cruise before!

Thanks to Marjorie Treger and to MouseSavers.com readers Jeff Evernham and Aileen B, who contributed some great tips.

Disney Cruise Advice & Important Things to Know

Embarkation, first-day bag packing list, staterooms and what’s in them, knowing what’s going on & planning your day, oceaneer club and oceaneer lab, edge and vibe, port days/shore excursions, useful things to pack, things you don’t need to (or should not) pack, disney cruise wear, phone and internet.

• Spa: Treatments, Products & Fitness Center

Disembarkation

Additional tips & tricks, trip reports.

Other useful Disney Cruise information pages:

• For discounts and tips on saving money on the cruise itself , visit our Disney Cruise Discount page.
• 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 with excursions, tours and activities  while in port, visit the Tips & Discounts for Port Excursions page.

“Embarkation” means getting on the ship for the first time during your cruise; “disembarkation” or “debarkation” means getting off the ship at the end of your cruise.

“Port” is the left side of the ship as you face forward; “starboard” is the right side as you face forward. “Forward” is obvious; “aft” is the rear of the ship.

Cruise lines are required to ensure that every passenger knows the safety procedures and has been physically shown where they need to muster in case of emergency. A mandatory muster drill is held in the afternoon of embarkation day, usually around 4:00 pm. Everyone must attend in order to learn the location of your lifeboat station and other safety information. The drill takes 20 minutes or less and you do not have to bring your life jacket with you.

Make sure you turn off the cellular service on your phone while you’re at sea, so you don’t end up paying through the nose for “cellular at sea” service . There is a Disney Cruise Navigator app that you can use on most iPhones and Android phones without needing to pay for internet access. The Navigator app includes activity schedules and menus, and has a kind of text message feature that seems to work much better these days. We found that notifications were showing up quickly when people messaged using the app (our experience was with iPhone, we don’t know how well Android works).

“Cay” is pronounced “key” by locals – so unless you want to sound like a novice, remember this for Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island).

Disney asks you to select a P ort Arrival Time (PAT) when you do online check-in prior to your cruise. This arrival time was not rigidly enforced in the past, but lately, Disney has been enforcing people’s PATs pretty closely, especially during the early part of the boarding process. If you get to the terminal before 12:30, you will probably not be let in to the terminal until your time arrives. After 12:30 or so, Disney seems to just let people into the terminal as long as the check-in line isn’t completely full.

Bottom line: if you want to get on the ship as early as possible, definitely be ready to check in online on the morning your check-in opens! See below for when you can check in online:

• If you are staying at an official Walt Disney World resort or at Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport the night before your cruise, AND you booked that hotel as a package with the cruise, AND you are using Disney’s bus service to the port, your port arrival time is less important, and you may not even see an option to select one when you check in. From a Disney hotel, they’re going to assign you a bus, and generally you’ll just get there when you get there and the terminal staff will be ready to process and embark that whole busload of passengers. If you’re staying at the Hyatt, there will be multiple buses and you can take the first bus they’ll let you on. In either case, it’s rare to experience much wait no matter what your port arrival time is. But if you are offered the option to pick a port arrival time at checkin, pick the earliest reasonable time, just to be on the safe side. It can’t hurt, and it might save you some waiting.
• If you are staying in a concierge level stateroom or suite , you can check in and receive your port arrival time 40 days before embarkation day. That said, your shore-side concierge will likely offer to check you in on the first day you’re eligible, so effectively you can just let them handle it and they should get you the earliest arrival time (unless they know you won’t be arriving that early).
• If you are a Pearl member of the Castaway Club (25+ previous Disney cruises), you can check in and receive your port arrival time 40 days before embarkation day. 
• If you are a Platinum member of the Castaway Club (10-24 previous Disney cruises), you can check in and receive your port arrival time 38 days before embarkation day.
• If you are a Gold member of the Castaway Club (5-9 previous Disney cruises), you can check in and receive your port arrival time 35 days before embarkation day.
• If you are a Silver member of the Castaway Club (1-4 previous Disney cruises), you can check in and receive your port arrival time 33 days before embarkation day.
• If you have never before taken a Disney cruise, you can check in and receive your port arrival time 30 days before embarkation day.

When you arrive at Port Canaveral, you’ll hand off your bags to the dock workers. Tipping is theoretically optional, but it’s customary to tip them at least $1-$2 per bag, and we tend to tip on the high side for very helpful or friendly porters. Keep your carry-on/day bag with you. Get in line to go through check-in (during which time you’ll show your port arrival document several times), then get in line to go through security (you go through a metal detector and your carry-ons go through an x-ray).

The first people who will get on the ship are Group 1, which will usually be concierge level guests. Shortly after noon, announcements will be made for general boarding by group number. You’ll present your port arrival document as you board, have a family photo taken (or bypass the photo and get on the ship that much faster), and then your family will be announced as you arrive in the atrium of the ship. After that, the ship is yours!

Most people will head straight to lunch, and if you’re hungry, that’s a great idea. If you’ve brought your swimsuits in your day bag, this is a perfect time to enjoy the pool (or AquaDuck on the Dream or Fantasy and AquaMouse on the Wish), because the ship is still relatively empty and a lot of people will not have thought ahead. If you still need to make spa appointments, change your dinner rotation, sign up for shore excursions, book Palo, Remy or Enchanté, or book any specialty character meals or tea parties, now is the time to do that. You can also get your kids’ wristbands for the kids club. If it’s your first time on the ship, this is a good time to get a map and wander around familiarizing yourself with everything.

If you are a concierge level guest, there is a special concierge embarkation lunch, or you can go to the concierge lounge, where you can relax and enjoy a snack. You’ll be personally assisted with any bookings or changes you’d like to make (dining rotations, spa appointments, etc.)

At about 1:30-2:00, your room should be ready. Your bags will be delivered at some point in the afternoon (up until about 6:00 pm).

On the embarkation day, you won’t get access to your room until 1:30-2:00 pm, and you may not get all of your luggage until 6:00 pm (or occasionally even later), so its recommended you carry a bag that contains everything you’ll need between boarding the ship and dinner. If you want to swim or ride the AquaDuck or AquaMouse, for example, you will need all your swim stuff.

Here’s our checklist for packing our day bag. Some people like to use a rolling carry-on, but we prefer a small duffel. It’s your call; whatever you feel comfortable lugging around for an hour or two. You can also pack a small backpack for everyone to spread out the load.

• Flip-flops or water shoes (the deck can get hot )
• Reading material, iPad, videogames or other entertainment
• Camera, if you aren’t using your phone
• Medications you might need between noon and dinnertime
• Change of clothes for dinner, if what you wear to board the ship isn’t reasonable (though it almost certainly is fine, as long as it’s not a swimsuit).

The TV in your stateroom offers limited live TV programming, but a pretty extensive selection of Disney-owned movie and TV content. There is the Disney Channel, ABC and ESPN, all owned by Disney, plus some 24-hour news channels (MSNBC & Fox) and a small selection of basic cable channels. You can watch a huge variety of Disney movies and a few other family-friendly titles “on demand” (no extra charge).

Disney no longer provides the cordless Wave Phones; if you need to contact other members of your party, you are expected to use the Disney Navigator app on your phone. If you don’t have a compatible phone or don’t want to carry your phone, you have to fall back on the tried and true “let’s meet in XXX at YYY” or put a magnetic white board on your room door to exchange messages. Note that the kids club staff will only be able to contact you via the Navigator app, so if you don’t carry it around, you can’t be informed of issues with your kids.

Fire codes prevent cruise ships from having irons in staterooms, but irons are available for your use in the laundry rooms. Speaking of laundry, you can charge the cost of self-service laundry to your room key by swiping it through the readers on the washers and dryers.

Inside staterooms have no window (except the “ secret porthole ” rooms on the Wonder and Magic that are classified as inside but have an obstructed porthole). Inside staterooms on the Dream and Fantasy ships do have the “virtual porthole” that provides some light. It can be turned off with a switch by the bed. Bear in mind that on the Wonder, Magic and Wish (or on the Dream and Fantasy with the virtual porthole turned off), inside staterooms have no external light coming in to wake you up in the morning or give you a sense of what time it is. So if you’re anxious to get up and go in the morning, make sure you set an alarm or request a wake-up call.

A portable hair dryer can be found in a bag in the bathroom or in a desk drawer (call Guest Services if you can’t find it). It must be plugged into a European (220V) outlet at the desk. If you happen to be in a stateroom that also has a built-in hair dryer in the bathroom attached to the wall, we recommend leaving it alone; they don’t work well. Use the one in the drawer.

There is no longer a paper Navigator schedule given out in your stateroom, or even available from the front desk. You can only get the activity schedule via your phone or via the TV.

You can download the Navigator app for Apple or Android devices before you arrive at the embarkation port and then, once onboard, connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network—complimentary for app use only. Downloading the app does not enable general-purpose internet access – you have to pay extra for that. In addition to giving you the ship’s daily schedule, the app has some information that isn’t in the paper Navigator, including menus for the various restaurants and some other useful tidbits. 

The Navigator app also has the all-aboard time and the local number of the ship’s agent, who is your contact if you have an emergency or are running late and might miss the ship (or have missed the ship). It’s not a bad idea to write those things down on a separate piece of paper to carry with you when you’re in port, just in case you lose your phone or the Navigator app gets flaky. If you have an emergency and don’t have your phone or the info on paper, you can call the port and ask them who the port agent is for your ship, and then call Disney’s port agent to let them know what’s happening.

The Navigator app now has a FREE text messaging feature. The messaging feature is available on all five ships. You do not need to buy a data plan to send messages to other people in your party, assuming they also have a device that can run the app. We didn’t really use it much in previous years because there could be 20-30 minutes between sending and message and the recipient getting a notification on their phone, but on our most recent cruise everything worked fine. Also, if you get the newer internet service that you can leave on all the time (currently available on the Wish, Magic, Dream and Fantasy) it will work with iMessage, WhatsApp and other messengers, and it will work with SMS text messaging if everyone’s phone has Wi-Fi cellular enabled.

Onboard Entertainment & Activities Tips

If you’re curious to know what movies will be shown on your sailing before you get on the ship, call  Disney Cruise customer service (800) 951-3532 about two weeks before your cruise and ask.

Want to ride the AquaDuck water coaster on the Dream or Fantasy or the AquaMouse on the Wish? MouseSavers.com reader Bill V has this tip: “If you enjoy the AquaDuck during the day, find an EVENING to ride it as well! Riding it at night, with the red-and-white lights strobing around the tube at each of the supports, is a completely different experience than the daytime, not to be missed! Also, the lines are truly non-existent if you go during dinner or show times, far shorter than even the times when most passengers are ashore when the ship is docked–my daughter rode it one evening over a dozen times in less than 90 minutes, usually walking on with no line whatsoever.” (This advice would apply to the AquaMouse on the Wish as well.)

Some special activities require advance sign-up at Guest Services. For instance, “Tea with Wendy,” (or “Tea with Alice” or some other character) is sometimes offered on some 7-night cruises, but has limited seating, and on cruises near Christmas, there is a build-your-own-gingerbread house activity, but they have a limited number of kits available. Check for those activities (they’ll generally be listed in the Navigator app) and sign up as soon as you can. Certain popular character meetings are also now requiring advance sign-up, usually on the first day.

Theater snacks : the theaters where the movies and shows are presented have concession stands selling expensive goodies such as canned sodas, bagged popcorn and candy, which can be charged to your room key. If you want to keep costs down, go up on the pool deck to the self-serve beverage station and get FREE sodas (or lemonade, tea, etc.) to bring into the show with you. You can also usually get FREE cookies from one of the counter-service locations on the pool deck and bring those along (or order cookies from room service, for only the cost of a tip). Concierge level guests on the Dream and Fantasy can get snacks, including cans of soda and sometimes popcorn, from the lounge. The snack bar at the theater has a refillable popcorn bucket that can be refilled for the rest of your cruise at a much cheaper price, so if you like popcorn, it’s a good idea to get one at the beginning of the cruise. Some people have brought popcorn buckets from previous cruises or from Walt Disney World and had them refilled, though that may or may not be official policy.

Embarkation Day

Once you’re onboard on embarkation day, you can eat lunch in one of three locations (or the concierge lunch if you’re in a concierge stateroom): the buffet, the pool deck food outlets (burgers, pizza, etc.) or a dining room (on the Magic, the primary lunch dining room is Lumiere’s; on the Wonder, it’s Triton’s; on the Dream and Fantasy, it’s Enchanted Garden; on the Wish, it’s been 1923 or Arendelle). The primary dining room lunch is a la carte with a normal lunch menu similar to the menu served on sea days. It has a tendency to fill up pretty quickly, so if you want to eat there, get on the ship as early as possible. There is also a lunch just for concierge guests in a different dining room.

Note that if you head for the inside dining room, you will encounter multiple crew members who will try to herd you to the buffet, which can handle more people. Just tell them you’d prefer the interior dining room. 

Breakfast and Lunch

During the cruise, there are usually two or three breakfast and lunch locations with different hours (check the Navigator app for hours). You can choose from one or more full-service restaurants with open seating (just show up when you want during opening hours, and they’ll seat you), or eat at the buffet.

Dinner Rotations

Your dinner arrangements — meaning your restaurant rotation schedule, and whether you have the early or late seating for dinner — are assigned before you embark on the cruise. You can find your restaurant rotation by checking the “My Plans” section of the Navigator app. It will also show your table number and seating time, as well as the recommended dress code and menu. If you have trouble using the app, Guest Services or any of the dining locations can help you get that information. 

If you want to change your seating or your restaurant rotation, do that as soon as you embark. The location on the ship where changes can be made will be listed in the Navigator app, or just go to Guest Services and they can point you in the right direction.

If you go to your assigned restaurant for dinner each night, your servers will be the same for every night of your cruise. On longer cruises they’ll get to know you, and may even have your “usual” beverage waiting for you at your table. If you are served something you don’t like, tell the servers and they’ll bring you something else. And if you want to indulge, they’ll be happy to bring you two desserts (or two appetizers, or even two entrees)! In true Disney style, if you have a special event you are celebrating, make sure your servers know. You will get appropriate special treatment (usually a special dessert, and perhaps some singing).

We recommend not rushing to dinner. If you show up five minutes or so after they begin seating you’ll walk right in. If you show up early you’ll just have to wait in line! Don’t wait too long, though: in order to get everyone served in a timely manner, each server really needs to get all the orders from all their tables at once. If you come too late, it throws off their timing, necessitating multiple extra trips to the kitchen and long delays for everyone. Also, if you won’t be at the regular rotation dinner one night, it’s helpful to tell your server or head server in advance, so they won’t wait for you to arrive to start service for the other tables.

We also recommend having the Navigator app open to your dinner reservation and table number the first time you arrive at each restaurant, so you can be seated more easily. But if you remember your table number, you can just tell the servers.  

Each restaurant has a “special” menu that is only offered at that restaurant, which will be used on one of the nights you visit each restaurant (the same night as the show, if there is one for that restaurant). On the other nights, you’ll get “standard” menus that are the same at all three restaurants (they change every night, but each of the three restaurants gets the same menu). 

Dinner Shows

The following restaurants have special shows and menus on one night of your cruise . These shows are one of the unique entertainment experiences on a Disney cruise, so try to see them if you can! Ask at Guest Services or ask your server which night it will be for your rotation. Move your Palo, Remy or Enchante reservations or change your dinner rotation if you have to. 

• Animator’s Palate (Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy) — On the Magic & Wonder, this show allows everyone in the family to design a character and see it animated. It’s pretty neat! On the Dream & Fantasy, the show involves interacting with an animated character (Crush the sea turtle from Finding Nemo). On longer (7+ night) cruises on the Dream & Fantasy, they may also do a version of the “draw your own animated character” show on the second night you visit Animator’s Palate.
• Tiana’s Place (Wonder) — A rollicking dinner show with the characters and songs from The Princess & The Frog.
• Rapunzel’s Royal Table (Magic) — A fun musical show with characters and songs from Tangled.
• Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure (Wish) — An elaborate show where you’re a guest at an engagement party for Anna and Kristoff, hosted by Wandering Oaken. Enjoy songs and characters from the two Frozen movies.
• Worlds of Marvel (Wish) — A loud action spectacle involving Ant-Man and the Wasp (and some guest Marvel characters) takes place during dinner. Most of the action is ostensibly taking place elsewhere on the ship (you watch it on screens on the walls of the restaurant), but live-action Ant-Man and the Wasp appear near the end to wave at diners.

Premium Restaurants

If you enjoy fine dining, we definitely recommend making a reservation for Palo, Remy or Enchanté, particularly on a 4-night or longer cruise. There is a small extra cost (larger for Remy and Enchanté) but it is well worth it for the cuisine, the atmosphere, and the opportunity to enjoy a nice dinner without the kids. The Remy and Enchanté dinners are especially elaborate, and are similar to meals that cost much more at Michelin starred restaurants or Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World. Palo can be found on all five Disney ships, though the menu is slightly different (and more steakhouse-oriented) on the Wish. Remy is only on the Dream and Fantasy, and Enchanté is only on the Wish.

Alternatively, consider booking the Palo, Enchanté or Remy brunch (offered usually only once or twice on most cruises). We find the premium brunches particularly fabulous and might even prefer them to dinner in Palo.

Palo, Remy and Enchanté are very popular, so book them as early as you can . If you’re not able to get a reservation in advance, check the Navigator app or ask a crew member to find the location where you can go and request a reservation onboard.

If you want to skip one of the regular rotation restaurants in order to dine in Palo, Remy or Enchanté, our suggestion is to call Disney to find out the dining rotations for your cruise and pick a night that is the second visit to a restaurant, since the first night is very likely to be that restaurant’s special menu (and will have a show, if there is a show at that restaurant). For example, if your rotation is “Enchanted Garden, Rapunzel’s Table, Rapunzel’s Table, Animator’s Palate”, pick the third night, since it is the most likely to be a “standard” menu.

Keep in mind that the dinner rotations and timing of Animator’s Palate, Tiana’s, Rapunzel’s, Marvel or Arendelle shows are subject to change, and in our experience the folks at the Disney call center don’t always have accurate information about when the show will happen. The people actually on the ship know, so if you want to be sure your premium dining doesn’t happen on a dinner show night, go to Guest Services or the dining reservation location listed in the Navigator app on the first day of your cruise and ask. If there’s a conflict, they can either reschedule your premium dinner or put you on a different main dining rotation.

Alternate Dining Options

There are always plenty of options for food: check the Navigator app to know which restaurants are open at what times.

In the past, Disney has opened up the buffet area (Cabanas or Marceline Market) for dinner on most nights of the cruise (usually all but the first night), but as a table-service venue, not a buffet. There’s no specific time, you just show up and choose from a limited menu that includes some of the same foods served in the main dining rooms (but without all the hoopla). Of late they haven’t been doing it, but all indications are that this is a temporary post-pandemic measure because of logistics issues, so it could restart any time. If you’d prefer a quieter dinner at your own dining time, ask if it’s an option on your cruise.

There are fast-food locations up on the pool deck, serving kid-friendly fast food. We think the burgers and other sandwiches on a bun are edible, and the mini-wraps are quite good. The pizza is not a highlight – the toppings are fine, but the crust is sub-par, except on the Wish, where it is pretty good. The Wish also has a barbeque window, and a Mexican food window with choose-your-own ingredient bowls, tacos and burritos (think Chipotle), and both of those options are quite good. The fruit is fruit; nothing wrong with it. The soft-serve ice cream is not very creamy, but it makes a nice snack on a hot day, and they usually rotate in some unusual flavors like mango or strawberry over the course of the cruise.

On most ships, there are some small snacks available most of the day. In the adult coffee bar, there have generally been free mini-desserts available during the day, and little antipasto nibbles during the evening, but we didn’t see them on the Wish. In the adult lounge area on the lower decks, there is usually a (small) hot snack buffet available for part of the evening, either in the pub or the hallway between the various lounges. Usually there’s something like a build-your-own nacho bar, plus some sort of hot savory like pigs in a blanket or egg rolls. Again, this little mini-buffet has not been present on the Wish. In the pub on each ship, there are about 4-6 extra-cost hot snacks & entrees you can order. Typically at least one of the pool deck food stations will be open until midnight, usually pizza. From midnight until breakfast time (6:30 or so) room service is the only food option.

On Alaska cruises, there have usually been some snacks on the front of the ship on the pool deck on the glacier-viewing day , including hot soup in small bread bowls, cookies and hot cocoa. They also usually do a special barbecue lunch that day on the deck behind the buffet, typically sausage, fish, and steak. Sometimes they have been known to serve elk or another Alaska specialty. Make sure you go out to the deck to check it out; we met many people who had no idea the cookout was happening and just ate regular buffet food instead of the fresh-grilled options just a few steps away.

Concierge guests have access to snacks and beverages (bottled water, soft drinks, coffee drinks) in the concierge lounge.

Kids’ Meals

There are kid’s menu options at all the table-service meals , but children are not limited to eating from those menus. Your servers will bring your kids whatever they want, including full adult appetizers, meals and desserts, and in fact if there’s something on the ship they can get or make, they’ll usually try to accommodate you even if it’s not on the menu. In other words, if all your kids want is french fries, that’s not a problem, assuming you’re OK with it.

It’s worth noting that asking your server to bring you something from another restaurant is not a trivial undertaking . They will almost certainly do it, because they really want guests to be happy, but don’t spring a request on them unless you really can’t find anything else for your kids to eat. And if possible, let the service staff know early if your child has specific food issues. If they know in advance that your child will only eat french fries and chicken fingers, they can have those ready each night.

If you have kids in the Oceaneer Club, they will be offered lunch and dinner if they are in the Club at the appropriate time. There are not usually a lot of choices, but what they’ll offer is going to be pretty simple and kid-friendly, like chicken nuggets and apple slices.

Two key things to be aware of: one, they usually don’t serve the kids dinner on the first night of the cruise (the day of embarkation). So if you have Palo or Remy reservations for that night, you’ll need to feed your kids yourself. Fortunately that’s easy: all you have to do is get food for the kids before or after your reservation from one of the fast-food restaurants on the pool deck. Two: be aware of when the kids are served. Meal times may be too early for your liking if you leave your kids in the Club.

Also, keep in mind that the Disney crew members will not make your kids sit down to eat. They will make sure every child is informed that food is being served, but they can’t and won’t make your children stop playing to eat, and there is one opportunity to eat for each mealtime. There are no snacks served in the club between meal times. It’s a good idea when you pick up your kids to check if they ate and if they are hungry.

Dine and Play Program

Please note : The Dine and Play program is temporarily suspended, but may return at any time. Ask about it onboard if you’re interested.

The Dine and Play program allows children to get their meals quicker and adults to check in a child for Youth Activities without leaving the dining room. The Dine and Play program is offered for families assigned to second dining, and is open to children ages 3-12. 

Here’s how it works: You arrive in the dining room and inform the server that your child would like to participate in Dine and Play. The dining room team brings the child’s meal first while serving the adults at a more leisurely pace.

About 45 minutes after seating begins, Youth Activities Counselors arrive in the dining room and sign in the child to Disney’s Oceaneer Club, eliminating the need for you to escort the child to Deck 5.

Adults are then able to enjoy the full dining experience with the knowledge that their children are having a great time in a safe, fun and comfortable environment.

Alternative approach: You can ask your server to feed the kids as fast as possible, and then have an adult walk them over to the kids club and check them in. It only takes a few minutes to get to the club and back. Some parents have told us their kids prefer this method over using Dine & Play, as you can get the kids to the club whenever they’re ready and there’s less waiting around.

Room Service

Room service is not a strong suit on Disney Cruise Line. The food, in our experience, is merely adequate. It is free (though a tip is welcomed) and convenient, though. Selection is mostly very basic and very middle-American: sandwiches, basic soups, chicken wings, a few salads, a cheese plate, burger, pizza or topped flatbreads. 

If the buffet or top deck restaurants are open, we suggest sending someone to the buffet or top deck instead of ordering room service . The selection in the buffet is much better and the food better prepared. The top deck restaurants have a more limited selection, but sending someone to the top deck for food has always resulted in hotter, fresher food when we’ve done it. That said, if you’re worn out, or come back really late from a port excursion, it’s nice to know they will bring you food any time.

Mickey bars (Mickey head shaped ice cream bars) and Smuckers Uncrustables (packaged peanut butter & jelly sandwiches) are not on the menu, but have usually been available on request.

Special orders are limited , but if you want something simple that is not on the menu, but is made with components used in items that are on the menu, such as a grilled cheese sandwich, plain salad without dressing, plain hamburger patty with no bun or just an order of french fries, they will usually make that for you on request.

Room service breakfast in the regular staterooms is a very basic Continental offering of various baked goods, cereal, milk, hot drinks and juice. There is nothing hot and no real protein, so if you like eggs and bacon in the morning, head for the buffet or whichever dining room is serving breakfast (it’s listed in the Disney Cruise Navigator app). We do sometimes use room service to get coffee delivered in the morning. Though lately we just have them deliver hot water, because we prefer the Starbucks Via packets to the ship’s reconstituted coffee product.

Guests in concierge staterooms and suites can order dinner from the rotation restaurants during regular dinner hours . Ask your concierge staff for a menu. All courses of your meal are brought at once, which doesn’t do good things for the quality of the meal, but it’s still better than the regular room service offerings. Concierge level guests can order hot breakfasts in their suites and staterooms during the cruise.

Many common beverages (including sodas) are available FREE most of the time , but there are situations where you could be charged for them. Here are the basic rules:

• The self-service drink station on the pool deck offers milk , juice , tea (hot or iced) , coffee, hot cocoa , lemonade, plain water and fountain sodas  at no extra charge 24 hours a day.
• The dining rooms (including Palo, Remy and Enchanté) offer milk , juice , tea (hot or iced) , coffee , hot cocoa ,  lemonade, plain water and fountain sodas  at no extra charge with meals. All other drinks can be ordered, but cost money.
• Castaway Cay offers milk , juice , tea (iced only) , lemonade, plain water and fountain sodas  for free. All other cold drinks (except iced espresso drinks) can be ordered at a bar, but cost money. No hot drinks are available. 
• Room service offers milk , juice , tea (hot or iced), plain water and  coffee free. All other drinks cost money. 
• All bars (including espresso bars) charge for all beverages , except plain tap water.
• Bottled water, canned and bottled soda and soft drinks , alcoholic beverages , mocktails , smoothies, shakes  and espresso drinks (and related drinks like chai lattes) always cost money no matter where you order them.
• The fountain sodas are all Coca-Cola products (which could change any time, but Coca-Cola has had a strong partnership with Disney for many years). The bars have a wider selection of canned and bottled beverages available, at a charge.

Consider bringing your own bottled water if you think you’ll drink a lot of it on shore excursions, Castaway Cay, etc. Bottled water on the ship or Castaway Cay is expensive. Consider packing a small carry-on suitcase with just bottled water. Then on the way home you’ll have room for all those things you didn’t plan to buy. (If you are staying on concierge level on the Dream or Fantasy, bottled water is provided in the lounge without cost.)

Disney allows each adult to bring up to two 750 ml bottles of wine or six 12 oz beers onboard at embarkation and at each port visited. Bottles must be sealed and they must be in your carry-on luggage.  Spirits (rum, vodka, whiskey, etc.) are not allowed (they will be confiscated and given back to you at disembarkation).

Sealed bottles or cans of non-alcoholic beverages can be carried on in any amount that will fit through the x-ray machines (carry-on bag sized, in other words). As for coolers, Disney officially says that you can only take aboard small (12″ x 12″ x 12″ max) soft-sided coolers for keeping things like insulin and breast milk cold. In practice, soft coolers can be any size that’s small enough to fit through the x-ray machine (again, basically the size of a carry-on bag), but no hard-sided or wheeled coolers.

Disney, like all other cruise lines, does not allow any beverages in checked bags , because checked baggage is stacked up and handled roughly during the loading process, which could cause containers of liquids to break and/or leak onto other people’s luggage. They do screen for those items. If they find disallowed items, the items will be confiscated and given back at the end of the cruise.

Coffee and Tea

Regular American-style coffee on Disney ships is unfortunately not good. The “drip” coffee they serve throughout the ship is made in a machine that looks vaguely like a coffee urn, but actually produces instant coffee on demand by mixing liquid concentrate and hot water. When it’s made in a properly-calibrated machine it tastes like OK instant coffee (not as good as Starbucks Via, but better than Folger’s Crystals). If the machine is out of calibration, it can be really weak or very strong.

If you like your coffee with cream and sugar or just aren’t picky about coffee, you may be fine with the reconstituted coffee . If you like quality coffee, you may want to order espresso drinks (at extra cost), which are available at most bars and sit-down restaurants and at the bar in the Wish, Dream & Fantasy’s buffets. You might also consider bringing Starbucks Via packets if you like them. In our experience the Via is much better than the reconstituted stuff.

If you’re a tea drinker, the news is better: there are a wide variety of Twinings tea bags (regular and herbal) at the main deck drink stations and in the dining rooms. And in the dining rooms, they almost always serve tea properly, with acceptably hot water and a small pitcher of milk upon request.

The iced tea served everywhere is unsweetened reconstituted iced tea from a soda machine (Fuze brand from Coca-Cola), but you can make your own iced tea by brewing fresh hot tea and adding ice and water, and that is much better. Our recipe: put two regular black tea bags in a cup of hot water, steep three minutes, stir in sugar if desired, then pour over a full cup of ice. Add water to taste.

Most bars on the ship have espresso machines , including the adults-only Cove Cafe on the pool deck and the all-ages Promenade Lounge on deck 3 (Wonder & Magic), Vista Café on deck 4 (Dream & Fantasy), and all bars and lounges on the Wish. Espresso is also available in the main dining rooms, the premium restaurants, and the Dream, Fantasy and Wish buffets. All espresso drinks cost extra, generally about the same price as on land. If you are a regular consumer of espresso drinks, be sure to get a coffee card. Each time you buy a latte, cappucino, etc. they will mark the card. Your sixth beverage is FREE! If you don’t fill your card during the cruise, hold onto it — it can be used on a future cruise, even on a different Disney ship!

Wine Packages and Refillable Beer Mug

Disney doesn’t have any “all you can drink” packages available. You don’t really need one for sodas, since they’re included (except at bars). Alcohol and other specialty beverages are always a la carte. There are, however, two programs that could save you some money (albeit with a few caveats).

Wine Packages

This is an opportunity to pre-pay for a certain number of bottles of wine, which you can enjoy at any of the sit-down restaurants. If you don’t finish one, you can get it recorked for the next night (and they’ll take it to the next restaurant in the rotation, or you can get it brought to you at Palo, Remy or Enchanté), or you can take it with you to your room. If you don’t end up drinking them all, you can take the remainder home. Your server will usually suggest buying one bottle per cruise night, but you can buy more or less if you like. The wines are all from a set list, which changes from time to time, and usually includes about 10-12 white wines and 8-10 red wines. There are two tiers, with the more expensive one including fancier bottles of wine. The wines on the list change regularly, but we think the choices are all pretty good, with a few real winners on each list. Disney pushes these packages aggressively: a brochure will be on the table your first night, and one of your servers will offer a sales pitch the first night.

We went to the trouble a few years ago to price out all the wines on the list and compare to the average cost per bottle from the packages . The price per bottle in the packages was about $2-3 cheaper than the average price of the bottles included in the package. However, the packages typically have only 5-7 selections that sell for more than the average price, and 12-15 selections that sell for less than the average price. So if you pick random bottles from the list, you’re very likely to end up spending more (or at least not much less) by buying the package. To come out ahead, you have to consistently order from the few bottles that are higher priced.

Frankly, our opinion is that it’s not worth the trouble, at least as a money-saving strategy . If buying your dinner wine in advance will help you relax, then go ahead; you certainly won’t lose much money unless you happen to always pick the cheapest wine on the list. And if you really love a particular wine or wines that you know are higher-priced, and you plan to only drink those, the plan will save you a few bucks per bottle.

Refillable Beer Mug

This is a large 21 oz glass souvenir beer mug that you can buy at any bar for $17 (last we checked). When you get it filled (at any bar or restaurant), you get 21 ounces for the price of a 16 ounce draft beer. One nice thing is that you don’t have to cart the mug around; they’ll give you a little token you can trade for a mug at any time. So you give the token to your server and get a mug of beer, and when you’re done you can give them the mug and ask for the token back. At the end of the cruise, just stop by any bar to get a nice clean mug to take home. The selection of draft beers is pretty good, and in addition to the standard American beers, there are always a few craft beers like Widmer or Full Sail and even sometimes a cider like Strongbow. (Disney Cruise Line advertises this as a 21 oz glass, but we heard from a reader who measured it and found it actually held 20 oz when filled to the rim.)

Purely as a money-saving strategy, it’s hard to get your money’s worth out of the mug unless you really like beer. However, if you like the idea of having a Disney Cruise Line souvenir beer mug, and the price seems reasonable, then the extra beer is basically FREE. Make sure to tell your spouse that when you buy it.

Disembarkation Day

Breakfast is served on the day of disembarkation. In fact, you’ll have an assigned restaurant and time for breakfast for disembarkation, or you can choose to eat at the buffet instead. It will be a much smaller selection than during the cruise: welcome back to the real world!

Regular guests do not have access to room service on disembarkation morning. Concierge level guests can order a standard Continental breakfast from room service on disembarkation morning.

Most kids find the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab, for ages 3-10, to be the best part of a Disney cruise. There is a lot to do, with great hands-on organized activities going on all the time.

Signing in and out is a relatively easy process considering what needs to be done to protect the children. However, you may have to wait in line either to drop them off or pick them up. Plan at least 5 minutes for the pick up or drop off process. If your children are 8 years old or older, they can be given the ability to sign themselves in and out on their own.

The Navigator app will tell you what’s happening and where your kids are at any given time. Check the app to see if your children will be out of the Club at the time you want to sign them out – for instance, they could be up on the deck playing basketball. Using the app to plan will save you a wasted trip. Also, when the kids are moving from one location to another, they will not allow you to sign them in or out, so there can be a 10-15 minute window where you have to wait.

You can keep your child signed in to the Oceaneer Club while at Castaway Cay. They will take the kids off the ship to special play areas for supervised games and activities throughout the day. If you do this, be sure to bring your phone with you. The Wi-Fi covers much of Castaway Cay and the app tends to work OK. But if you want your kids to join you for some time on the island, make sure you know their schedule of activities. They eat lunch fairly early, and are taken back to the ship before the beach closes.

Edge is the “tween” club for ages 11-14. Vibe is the teen club for ages 14-17. A 14-year-old can access both Edge and Vibe, but they will have to register for both. Disney will sometimes be slightly flexible about the age groups for these clubs, and will sometimes allow a child that is a little younger than the target age into the older teen club if they have space in the club your child wants to attend, especially if they have a friend or sibling in the older club. This is not guaranteed, but it’s worth asking.

The Disney Cruise offers many opportunities to meet characters . You will see most of the popular characters at some point or another on the Disney Cruise. Greeting times are available in the Navigator app. The lines for character greetings usually start forming about 15 minutes before the scheduled greeting time, so if you can get there 10 minutes beforehand, you won’t have a long wait once the characters arrive.

Some popular character meetings and meals may require advance booking . There’s no charge for the character meetings, but certain breakfasts or teas with characters may have an additional fee. You should book these as early as you can online; the bookings open on the same schedule as  booking excursions and Palo/Remy/Enchanté . You can also call or stop by guest services on the first day and ask about tickets; they may hold back some slots for onboard booking. Thanks to Sarah B and Rachel P for info.

Bring your kids’ Disney costumes, if they have any. The cruise is a great opportunity to get pictures of your daughter dressed as Belle with the “real” Belle herself, without her having to wear the costume all day.

If you’re on a 7-night cruise, you may have an assigned Character Breakfast on one of the days of the cruise. You’ll get a chance for photos with all the main Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie!

Most of the character greetings will include a Disney professional photographer , so if your own photo doesn’t turn out you can still buy a memento from Shutters, the onboard photo location.

Read our tips, tricks and discounts on Port Excursions !

The list below is mostly based on reader suggestions. We have to admit, we have taken Disney cruises at various times without these, and everything went just fine. So don’t go too crazy with overpacking! But some of these are good ideas for specific needs.

• Water shoes – Always a good idea if you’ll be snorkeling or wading where there are coral reefs and sharp rocks. Also handy to protect your feet on hot sand, concrete or the pool deck; the sun can make the deck very hot and you’ll want some of these or some simple flip-flops while hanging around the pool. You can wear water shoes that are secure and not likely to come off on the AquaDuck, AquaMouse and AquaDunk, but flip-flops or water shoes that slip off easily will need to be stowed before riding.
• Safe Sea lotion – This is a lotion that protects against jellyfish, sea nettle, and seabather’s eruption , caused by jellyfish larvae that are sometimes called “sea lice.” There is actual independent research that backs this up – we’ve read it and are satisfied that it works. We want to reassure people that large jellyfish are kept out of the lagoon at Castaway Cay by netting under the water, so we’ve never heard of anyone getting a serious sting there, but people do occasionally get seabather’s eruption. At other beaches in the Bahamas and Caribbean jellyfish stings are not common, but they do happen. The peak season for jellyfish is summer (June-August) and they’re rare in winter. We actually had a very minor issue with seabather’s eruption on one trip to Castaway Cay (on some skin that didn’t have lotion; we failed to note that you need to apply some underneath the swimsuit for full protection), and we can attest that while it’s not the end of the world, it’s quite unpleasant and worth avoiding. Certainly the lotion is a cheap form of insurance, and there are formulations that include sunscreen, which you’ll need anyway. Another option is to bring some jellyfish after-sting gel  just in case, or some sources recommend hydrocortisone cream or antihistamine cream .
• Body Powder – If you’ve ever tried to wipe beach sand off your body, you know it tends to stick in an annoying manner. It turns out it sticks to your skin because of residual moisture, and if you just rub your skin with water-absorbent powder (i.e. scented cornstarch), the sand drops right off. We used to recommend a very useful little mitt that contained cornstarch-based body powder for wiping off sand. Apparently that mitt isn’t made any more, but you can get the same effect by just sprinkling the powder on a towel and wiping with that. Do make sure you’re getting plain cornstarch powder, or at least talc-free powder. Talc is not good to breathe.
• Robe – if you like to wear one in your room, you’ll need to bring your own unless you’re in a concierge room. Some people have had luck asking their stateroom attendant, but it’s not guaranteed they can get you one.
• Pop-up Hamper – We like the rectangular kind with a circular opening on the top, as opposed to the ones that look like a big round cloth-covered spring. The squarer ones seem to hold their shape better. They only weigh 8 ounces, fold down to a small circle, and fit nicely into hotel and stateroom closets.
• Dry box/case – Basically, a small waterproof box or pouch on a lanyard. Used by scuba divers and snorkelers, these are handy for any beach visit, because you can keep your ID and some money around your neck, instead of sticking valuables in your shoe and leaving them on the beach (yeah, everyone knows about THAT hiding place!)
• Clothespins – These have a variety of uses, from weighing down a shower curtain that wants to stick to you, to anchoring your beach towel to a lounge chair. You can clip your curtains together if you want to minimize light leakage in the morning. Oh, and you can use them to hang laundry up to dry, too (there’s a retractable clothesline in the bathtub).
• Night light – Particularly if you are staying in one of the Inside cabins on the Magic, Wonder or Wish, this is nice to have. It’s pitch black in those rooms when the lights are off. If you don’t want to use up a wall plug, you can get a USB light that plugs into an empty USB charger port. (It’ll also work in a laptop USB port, but not all laptops keep power to the USB ports when they go to sleep, so you’d want to check that first.) An LED flashlight or headlamp can also be handy if you need to get up in the middle of the night and don’t want to turn on lights.
• Magnets – The stateroom doors are metal (except for the doors in the concierge section of the Dream and Fantasy). You can stick magnets on them to decorate your door, and it makes it easier for your children (and you) to identify your room. Don’t bring anything you can’t bear to lose: these do get taken sometimes. Please note that you are not allowed to use any type of adhesive on your door, including removable gel adhesives that supposedly come off clean. You will be charged for any damage to the door.
• Multi-USB charger – When we have a lot of things to charge while travelling, normally we bring a  travel power strip , but as mentioned below, power strips are generally not allowed on Disney ships. Now we bring a multi-charger, which can charge 4 or more devices from one outlet. We’ve used Anker brand as well as Amazon Basics, and they’ve both been perfectly fine. You’ll need to also bring the USB cable for each device. We’d recommend getting at least a 40W model if you have anything more than just a phone or two. A 60W model typically has six outlets and might be just the thing if you have a lot of tablets and phones to charge, or you want a spare port to plug a USB night light into. Note that on the Magic and Wonder, they’ve installed a few more USA-type power outlets near the desk, and there are a couple of USB charging ports at the desk and on the alarm clock next to the bed. The Wish staterooms have tons of USB charging outlets at the desk and next to the bed, including two USB-C ports, so you can probably get by without a USB charger on that ship.
• Irons are NOT ALLOWED as they are a fire hazard. Fire is a huge danger on cruise ships. If you take an iron it will be confiscated from your luggage. Irons are available for your use in the laundry rooms.
• Rolls of quarters – In the past, these were needed for the self-service laundry onboard, but now you just swipe your room key for use of the washer, dryer, soap and dryer sheets. The cost is charged to your account.
• Over-the-door shoe organizer – Some people have used these to store toiletries or other small items. Disney now asks that you do NOT use them as they “scratch and/or disfigure stateroom doors and trim.” You will be charged for any damage.
• Seasickness medication – Unless you KNOW you get seasick on cruise ships, don’t bother bringing this. If you do get queasy, the ship’s health center or the guest services desk will give you FREE over the counter medication (generic meclizine, the ingredient in Bonine or non-drowsy Dramamine). If you get super-queasy the health center can get you prescription medication (for a fee).
• Beach towels – They are provided when you get off the ship on beach days.
• Power/outlet strip – These are not allowed on the ship. MouseSavers.com reader Christina N reports: “… they confiscated these from my bag and from others. They do not allow them as it blows circuits in the room.” Technically, they only ban extension cords, and power strips with surge protectors, but in practice people have reported having just about any kind of multi-outlet strip or adapter confiscated, because the people doing the screening don’t want to figure out whether your power strip is one of the “bad” ones. One thing not many people know is that there’s an open outlet behind the TV in most cabins on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy. The TVs are on a pivoting arm, so it’s easy to pull them out and expose the spare plug. Many smartphones and smaller tablets can be charged through a USB cable connected to a laptop, so if you take a USB cable you’ll only need one outlet, to plug in the laptop. Or you might want to pack a multi-USB charger like the ones mentioned above. And over time Disney has been adding USB charging ports to the outlets near the desk, so you might not need a power strip depending on how many devices you have.
• Extension cords – the only extension cords allowed on the ship are ones you can borrow from Guest Services ($50 deposit required; refunded when you return the cord). There are a limited number and availability is first-come, first-served. If you need one for a CPAP or other medical device, one will be made available, but all of the ships now have a plug next to the bed, so you shouldn’t need an extension for a CPAP. On the Wish, there are US-style plugs next to one side of the bed, and a European plug on the other side. So if you have a CPAP or other device that goes next to the bed, and you really prefer to sleep on a specific side, make sure you have the correct plug adapter and your CPAP power supply handles both 110 and 220 volt current (almost all of them do, but you should check).
• Hairdryer (maybe) – Hairdryers are provided, but the ones provided might not be up to your standards. If you’re not picky, don’t bother packing one.
• High chair / booster seat – Both are provided on request in the dining room.
• Pack and play crib – These are provided onboard (request when booking your cruise).
• Stroller (maybe) – There are some strollers available to borrow onboard (deposit required) and on Castaway Cay. However, there are a limited number and it’s first-come, first-served. If you have a little one, it’s not a bad idea to bring a small umbrella stroller along.

During the day and most evenings on the Disney Cruise Line, you can wear casual clothing. At dinner, you are asked to stick to “cruise casual.” Most men wear a collared shirt (aloha shirts and golf/polo shirts are fine) and long pants (chinos or dress slacks) or nice shorts. Most women wear a skirt, dress, nice pants or dressy capris. Disney requests no swimwear or tank tops at dinner, but in practice, dressier tank-style tops will usually be acceptable. People who show up to the main dining rooms in swimsuits are almost always asked to change.

There are times when dressing up to some extent is either required or encouraged:

• When having dinner at Palo, Remy or Enchanté, the dress code is basically “business casual plus.” Men are required to wear long pants suitable for professional work (which could include “nice” jeans), collared shirts and dressier shoes. Some men wear suits or even tuxedos. Women can wear pretty much anything “nice” that isn’t swimwear, casual t-shirts, shorts or sportswear. Semi-formal or even formal wear would not be out of place. At Brunch or Tea at either restaurant, the dress code is “cruise casual,” which basically means no shorts, swimsuits, tank tops or flip-flops.
• On 4-night or longer cruises, there will be one or two “optional dress up” nights that you can interpret how you will. Dressing up is not required, but some folks will make an effort to change for dinner. On our most recent Disney cruises we’ve seen a handful of tuxedos on dress-up nights and a few dozen men wearing jackets. A fair number of women were dressed in nicer outfits. Lots and lots of people were just in normal “cruise casual” outfits, so if you don’t like to dress up don’t feel like you’re under any obligation to do so. On the other hand, if you like to dress up, it’s a great opportunity. The crew and the Disney characters will be in nicer clothes, there will be photo stations where you can get a picture of the whole family in nice outfits, and you won’t feel overdressed in a gown or tux.
• Some people like to wear dressy or semi-formal clothing on the nights when they dine in Lumiere’s (Magic), Triton’s (Wonder) or Royal Palace/Royal Court (Dream or Fantasy), since those are the restaurants with the fanciest theming but this is not by any means required.
• Similarly, a few people like to dress in 1920’s inspired clothes when dining in 1923 on the Disney Wish. This is just a fun thing to do and not in any way required.

Where to Buy Disney Cruise Wear

If you’re looking for Disney-themed casual cruise wear (aloha shirts, etc.), a good place to look is DisneyStore.com . Unfortunately they only offer resort wear on a seasonal basis (usually spring and summer), but even in the winter it’s always worth looking to see if they have anything in the sale section.

DisneyStore.com  carries a significant amount of Disney Cruise Line clothing and other logo merchandise as well.

• See current discounts and offers for DisneyStore.com.

Your phone should still be able to reach a tower on land as long as the ship is in port, but once you are at sea, we strongly advise you to turn off international roaming and data roaming, to avoid having your phone accidentally use the “Cellular@Sea” service, which is very expensive. You can (and should) leave wi-fi turned on, so you can use Disney’s Navigator App to see the current schedules and menus and so forth.

You can also use the Disney Navigator App on your own phone to send messages to other people in your party. To get message notifications as quickly as possible, make sure that notifications are enabled for the Disney Navigator app, as well as background updates. Basically in our experience, the Navigator app needs to have all permissions set to “on,” including Location, Bluetooth, Notifications, and Background Update. You can (and perhaps should) turn those off again once your cruise has ended.

If you absolutely must use your phone to call or text while at sea, service may be available on Disney ships through the “Cellular@Sea” service. It is a very expensive form of international roaming and the ship must be 8 to 10 miles out to sea before you can access it. Most phones will just connect to Cellular@Sea without needing any special setup, but be aware that the service includes phone, text messaging, and data . If your phone is set to auto-update, you could end up on the hook for a large data charge because it decided to download a 100MB game update or something. Definitely turn off your cellular data, or set it to not use cellular data when roaming.

US phones will work in most international ports if you have turned on international roaming. You might need to arrange with your provider for that feature to be turned on in advance, but most providers have it set up by default. Depending on your provider, roaming may be very expensive (potentially over $2 per minute, and $10 or more per megabyte of data). Check with your provider for special international roaming packages, which may save you money if you plan to use your phone a lot.

Wireless internet service is available on all Disney ships . All internet is over satellite, and you shouldn’t expect speeds or responsiveness similar to what you get on land, though it’s usually good enough to send messages and emails and use Facebook and other social media.

Internet service on Disney ships is paid for by the day, and is theoretically “unlimited .” It’s pretty fast for cruise ship internet, but still slower than most land-based systems. You’re sharing bandwidth with all the other passengers and crew, so right after you leave a port, expect the internet to crawl as everyone starts posting pictures of their excursions to social media. If you have cellular internet service that works in that country (and is reasonably priced), you may want to post your pictures before you leave port via cellular rather than via wi-fi. If your cellular is flaky, get to the top deck and walk over to the side of the ship closest to land. Alternatively, wait until dinner time, when the wi-fi speeds will pick up considerably.

Prices are (so far) pretty reasonable for cruise ship internet, with a basic single-device plan that lets you use Facebook and similar apps (but not email or web) for $16/day (when purchased for the whole cruise), a fancier plan that includes email and web (but no streaming) for $24/day, and a premium plan that includes music streaming for $34/day. Video streaming is not supported on any plan , so no Netflix or Hulu. Plans cost a little more if you only buy a plan for individual days rather than the whole cruise, and there is a small discount for adding additional devices.

Spa: Treatments, Products and Fitness Center

Spa treatments are very popular and fill up early , so book them as early as you can . If you’re not able to get an appointment before you embark, go to the Spa when you get onboard and you’ll probably be able to arrange one in person.

We don’t recommend having any spa treatments done on the first (embarkation) day , because people are touring the Spa all afternoon and evening, making it busy and not very relaxing. It’s a good day to set up your future appointments, but not as good for actually having treatments done.

The changing rooms in the spa have fluffy robes for your use. Sadly, the robes are all “one size fits most” and aren’t big enough for many people. You then can choose a locker that contains a clean pair of spa sandals. The lockers allow you to set your own combination for secure storage of your personal items. We don’t find the sandals they provide very comfortable (again, they’re “one size fits most”), so we just wear a clean pair of sandals or flip-flops to our spa appointment.

You can change into your robe in the open locker room or in one of the toilet cubicles. Once you’re in your robe and sandals, an attendant will escort you to a quiet waiting room, where you can enjoy some water while you wait for your treatment. After your treatment you’ll be escorted back to the locker room, where you can use one of the spacious showers if you wish. Basic toiletries, disposable combs, etc. are provided. On the Dream and Fantasy, there is a dry sauna in the locker room that you can enjoy after your treatment for no additional charge.

If you are considering a Cabana Massage on Castaway Cay, here are a few things to consider first:

• The cabanas are rustic. There is no running water in them, so your massage therapist cannot wash her hands during your treatment. There is no air conditioning (there is a ceiling fan) or heat so it can be unpleasantly hot in the summer and uncomfortably cool in the winter.
• Your feet and lower legs will almost certainly be covered with sand by the time you get to the cabana, and there’s really no facility for removing it. (There is an outdoor shower near the waiting area, but you’ll then proceed across the sand to the cabana… you’ll get sandy again, trust us.) So the sand inevitably becomes part of the treatment. How you feel about having sandy oil rubbed into your skin is a matter of preference. And remember, the massage oil dissolves any sunscreen you’re wearing, so you’ll need to reapply it afterward, which enters the mix with the sand.
• When you envision this experience, you might think you would be relaxing to the sound of the ocean waves. Nope. The cabanas are located right above the lounge chairs along the beach (though visually separated by some plants), so you will hear the chatter of people sitting right below you.
• The Cabana Massage is billed as featuring “breathtaking views of Serenity Bay.” Well, that’s true for the massage therapist, but you’ll be lying on a table, and you won’t see the scenery from there.
• The Cabana Massage is more expensive than a regular massage in the ship’s spa, yet in many ways you are getting less for your money. If you have a massage on the ship, you’ll have access to showers, a locker room, robes and sandals, etc. With the Cabana Massages, you get none of that.

The Rainforest

The Rainforest is a lovely, relaxing co-ed spa area on each ship.

• On the Magic and Wonder , the Rainforest includes three tiled steam rooms (each a different temperature), some open showers with different scented “rain” programs and a few heated loungers.
• On the Dream and Fantasy , the Rainforest has a dry sauna, a hot steam room and a hammam (a large, tiled steam room that is less hot than the regular steam room), four scented showers with multiple “rain” programs, numerous heated loungers with views of the sea and two hot tubs on a private deck overlooking the water.
• On the Wish , the Rainforest has a dry sauna, hammam, a cryotherapy (cold) room, showers with rain programs, heated loungers, and a nice sun deck ( much larger than the one on the Dream & Fantasy) with two hot tubs and plenty of sun beds. The sun deck is tucked into the nose of the ship, one deck below the promenade, so there’s no ocean view, but you can see the sky and relax in the sun or the shade according to your preference.

You can purchase a day pass or a longer pass for the length of your cruise. A limited number of passes are sold on each sailing. Tip: the Rainforest Room is closed until around 5 on embarkation day, so you won’t typically get a lot of usage on the first day of the cruise. You may find it’s a better deal just to pay day-by-day, or ask if you can buy a shorter pass. The single-day passes for the sea day(s) will go first, followed by the full-cruise passes. A pass for the Castaway Cay day or other port day might be available same day, and could be a good alternative if you’re not interested in that port.

When you want to use the Rainforest, just tell the front desk staff at the spa and they’ll give you a wristband that opens the door to the Rainforest area. They will hold your room key while you are in the Rainforest. You then proceed to the locker room, where you can choose a locker and get a robe and sandals, if desired. A swimsuit must be worn since the Rainforest is mixed-gender.

Towels and drinking water are provided.

The spas on the Disney ships are operated by Steiner, a huge British spa company that runs spas for cruise lines and resorts. The staff do a great job performing the spa treatments, but Steiner trains them to offer product upsells at every reasonable opportunity. The result is that they almost always give cruise passengers a sales pitch on spa products. The products themselves are fine, but they are expensive and getting a sales pitch after your relaxing treatment can be annoying.

You’ll be given a “health form” before your treatment, asking about various health issues. Any issues you write on that form are used to help them sell you stuff (“Oh, I see you have very dry skin. You should try this cream.”). For that reason, unless you have an allergy or injury that directly affects your treatment , we recommend leaving the form as blank as possible .

Some people have tried writing “no sales pitch” on the form, but that is frequently ignored. Here are some other approaches we’ve used with success:

• A polite and friendly “no thank you” when they start showing the products or going through their list of recommendations is our first line of defense. That’s often the end of it! But if they start offering a second sales pitch, we make a concerned/confused face, pause for a moment, and say, again politely, “I’m really not interested, thanks.” The subtext you want to get across is that by not paying attention to your clear and polite “no,” they’re running the risk of affecting your overall satisfaction, with all that implies about things like tips and guest comment cards. You don’t need to make this explicit; the concerned face and second “no” usually does the trick.
• If they start the sales pitch while we are getting a relaxation treatment such as a massage or wrap, we usually just stay silent. We keep our  eyes closed and don’t respond to questions. Usually they quit talking, because it becomes quite awkward for them. But if they persist, we say politely, “Sorry, I’m trying to relax, and silence really helps me with that. Thanks!”
• If we are getting a haircut or pedicure, it’s harder to ignore the sales pitch. So instead we act very enthusiastic about every product they are pushing. Usually they’ll use one or more of the products on us during the service. If they offer samples we take them, with sincere thanks. When we go to check out, there is always a big stack of “suggested” products at the front desk. When they ask us what we’ll be buying, we say “oh, I want to see how the stuff I tried today works out, so I’m not buying anything right now.”
• Remember that no matter what happens, you can always change your mind about the add-on products when you check out. Until you sign the purchase slip, you haven’t purchased anything. Just say, “after thinking it over, I don’t need any products right now. Could you take these off the bill? Thanks.”

Fitness Center

A well-equipped Fitness Center can be accessed through the Spa on all of the ships. It’s usually open from early morning to fairly late – check the Navigator for specific hours. There is no charge to use the Fitness Center. The locker rooms, sauna and showers for the Fitness Center are shared with the Spa. Towels, robes and water are provided, and you can borrow an iPod shuffle if you don’t have your own iPod with you.

You never are expected to add any extra tip over and above the automatic gratuity amounts, which are listed below . You may , if you wish, add more, and you can even adjust certain tips down if you feel it’s warranted. Many people add extra gratuities purely because the service staff on a Disney cruise are extremely helpful and work very hard, but again, no one should ever make you feel like you are required to tip more.

Disney provides suggested tip amounts for the crew members who will assist you throughout the week: your server (takes your food orders for each dinner), assistant server (takes your drink orders at each dinner and delivers the food), head server (in charge of the overall dinner experience, special dietary requests and special occasions), and stateroom host/hostess (takes care of your room). As on all cruise lines, tips are the primary source of income for people working in these positions.

The suggested gratuities for your servers and stateroom host are automatically added to your stateroom bill. If you want to adjust the amount, you can go to Guest Services. Toward the end of the cruise you will be provided with slips indicating the tip amounts, which you can present to your servers during your last dinner on the cruise and leave in your room for your stateroom host. (They will get the money in their accounts whether you give them the slips or not, it’s purely a symbolic way of thanking them for their service. Don’t feel you need to do it if you don’t enjoy that kind of interaction.)

If you are staying in a concierge room, a separate form is provided to add tip for the concierge staff, with a suggested “average” tip amount. You can use your discretion to adjust it up or down based on how much help they provided your family. 

If you dine at Palo, Remy or Enchanté, many people add an additional tip to the per-person charge, though the basic charge is considered by Disney to cover the gratuity.

An automatic gratuity is added to all beverages ordered in bars and lounges; soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and bottled water from room service; and alcoholic beverages/smoothies/bottled water ordered in the dining room. There will also be a line where you can add an additional tip at your discretion.

You can add room service tips to your room bill. Even if your order costs nothing, you’ll be asked to sign a slip, and there is a space for tips on that slip. A dollar or two per item ordered is pretty common, but entirely optional.

You are allowed to give tips to crew members in cash, if you like, and they’re happy to take it in any major currency. If you have a meaningful amount of foreign currency (more than a few dollars worth) after your cruise that you’re unlikely to use anytime in the near future, feel free to leave it for your room host in addition to the automatic gratuity; they’ll be happy to get it.

As the skippers say on the world-famous Jungle Cruise, “You all have been outstanding on this cruise, but now I need you out standing on the dock!” Sadly, your cruise will eventually have to end, and Disney needs to get a few thousand people and their bags off the ship in the space of about 3 hours, so “efficiency” is the word of the day.

A few days before the end of your cruise you should be reminded to check the disembarkation instructions in the Navigator app , and you might get a paper form listing your specific disembarkation instructions. Disembarkation can feel very complicated and rushed, but it’s not that bad once you know how it works.

The first important decision is whether you want Disney to take your big luggage off the ship for you. If you have a lot of bags, or they’re unwieldy, you probably are going to want to have the bags moved for you, but if you can handle your own bags in one trip, that makes things immensely less complicated. These days we always choose to handle our own bags, but there are times we wonder whether it’d be easier to have Disney do it, usually when we’re wrestling our big roller bags down the gangplank. It’s worth trying it both ways if you go on multiple cruises, because you never can tell which one will feel easiest for you.

Whether or not you handle your own bags, you’re supposed to be completely out of your room on the final morning by 8:00 am so they can start cleaning and resetting it for the next guests (sometimes this time can change depending on the disembarkation port – check the sheet they give you or the app to make sure). This can make things logistically complicated, since if you want to do a table-service breakfast, it will be on a fixed schedule based on whether you are on the early or late dinner seating. The first breakfast seating starts early enough to get done before 8:00 am, but the later one does not. So if you plan to do table-service breakfast and you’re on late seating, you will have to take your luggage with you. Most people on late seating line up their bags in the hallway leading to the dining room. Don’t worry, no one will take your bags; your fellow guests are all far too tired. You can take smaller bags into the dining room and park them next to the table as long as they aren’t in the servers’ way. If you are planning an early breakfast in the buffet or you’re having sit-down breakfast on the earlier seating, you can just leave your bags in your room and then come back and retrieve them by 8:00 am.

Option 1: Disney Handles Your Bags

If you decide to have Disney haul your big bags to the terminal, then you’ll need to put most of your bags out the night before (typically by 10:30 pm – check the app to make sure). You need to hang on to at least one or two small bags to hold the stuff you can’t pack early, like toiletries and your pajamas. Make sure not to pack the clothes you’ll need to wear the next morning! You’ll get a set of luggage tags to put on the bags you’re putting out, and there will be a guide showing roughly when each group of bags will be ready to pick up in the terminal. For example, if you have bag tag “Donald Duck”, the sheet might say that your bags will be ready between 8:30-8:45 am. If you need to leave early to catch an flight or something, make sure you’ve got the earliest time they can give you. You can go to Guest Services to change your bag group if needed. On disembarkation morning, they will make periodic announcements about every 15 minutes, as each set of bags gets delivered to the terminal. They ask that you not leave the ship until your bag group gets called.

If you’re out of the room, but they still haven’t called your bag group, you’ll need to find somewhere to wait . In our experience, the lounges in the adult area of the ship are the most likely to have empty seats available, especially the main adult show lounge on the Magic, Wonder, Dream & Fantasy (Fathoms/Azure/Evolution/The Tube). Those are on deck 3, so you can just walk to the atrium when your group is called. On the Wish, there are fewer options on deck 3, so you may end up needing to go to another deck or sit on the floor. On the other hand, if you’re still in the dining room when they call your bag group, there’s not really any harm in waiting until you finish breakfast to disembark, assuming you don’t have transportation waiting for you. Typically they want everyone off by 9:30 am or so, so that’s your hard deadline.

When you get into the terminal, if you’re in a hurry, it’s not a bad idea to ask for a porter’s help. They’re usually lined up in the luggage area with carts, and they know the terminal well and will know if there’s any shortcuts or faster ways to get you into a cab or shuttle. They work for tips, and a typical tip is $1-2 per bag; more if they go above and beyond.

If you booked Disney’s transfers to Walt Disney World or the airport, then the timing is much more fixed. They will assign you a time to get off, and you really need to get off at that time so they can get you on the right bus. Arrange your breakfast plans accordingly.

Option 2: You Handle Your Own Bags

If you’re handling your own bags, there’s not really much you have to do the night before to prepare . Get mostly packed up the night before. Finish packing on the morning of disembarkation, get breakfast if you like, and then just leave the ship. You can leave any time after the ship is cleared, which will be 15-30 minutes after the ship is docked. They won’t necessarily announce to the whole ship that disembarkation has begun, because it’ll happen as early as 6-6:30 in the morning and they don’t want to wake everyone up with an announcement. If you can see that the ship is docked, just head down to deck 3 and wait for them to start letting folks off.

Skip the talks, except for the nature talks on the Alaska cruises, which can be excellent. The shopping talk is just a “rah-rah” for certain shops that are paying a marketing fee, and you might get a few coupons for free (junky) souvenirs. Both the shopping and disembarkation talks are replayed on the television repeatedly. Don’t waste your vacation time attending these lectures in person.

Read additional tips specific to the Disney Dream (which will also apply to the Fantasy) .

So what’s it really like to take a Disney cruise? Here are a few different perspectives on the experience:

• A look at what’s new and different on the Disney Wish , from a preview sailing in July 2022.
• A comparison of taking three cruises on three different ships in a six-month span between March and August 2014. It was rough, but somebody had to do it.
• Taking a cruise on the Disney Fantasy with a baby and a 3 ½-year-old , May 2012.
• First-hand report on the  Disney Fantasy  from March 2012: what’s new and different? See photos and learn more!
•   First impressions of the Disney Dream , from a preview sailing in January 2011.
• In summer 2007, friends of MouseSavers.com Ann and Danilo V wrote a travel blog about taking their 5 children to Europe for the summer. At the end of their trip they took a Disney Mediterranean cruise (10 nights roundtrip from Barcelona) in a Category 3 and a Category 4 stateroom. Then they did the 14-night Transatlantic cruise on the Disney Magic in the Walt Disney Suite!

Disney Cast Life

Tips for Beginning a Disney Career

by Ashley Jones , Communications Manager, Walt Disney World Resort

With the May 3 deadline for applying to work at Walt Disney World through the  Fall 2024 Disney College Program  quickly approaching, we thought it’d be a perfect time to share a few secrets of success from seven of the thousands of Disney executives and leaders who have their dream careers after starting as interns.

Disney Programs like the Disney College Program have led cast members to career opportunities throughout all areas of Disney, from theme parks to entertainment to sports and beyond, and it could be the start of your dream career, too!

Debbie Hart,  Vice President, Food & Beverage and Merchandise Lines of Business, Walt Disney World

Years at Disney:  33

First role:  Merchandise Hostess in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park

Favorite part of her internship: “I have so many favorites, including:

• Meeting people and making friends from all over the world – literally!
• Learning guest service and  delivering hospitality that is above and beyond .
• Embracing the power of our Disney brand and ensuring we deliver magical and memorable experiences.
• Having FUN and discovering that work can be joyful  when you are able to do what you LOVE!”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “It really is the Disney Difference. There are so many benefits to being a cast member, including career opportunities, cast discounts, wellness offerings and of course the lifelong friendships we make along the way.”

Advice to future interns:  “Enjoy every moment. Adventure is in front of you and Disney is full of opportunity,  you are the author of your Disney story  – your story can be more than you ever dreamed. Dream BIG!”

Audrey Hauser,  Controls Software Development Principal, Walt Disney Imagineering

Years at Disney:  7

First role:  Fairy Godmother in Training at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Favorite part of her internships:  “I learned how our frontline operations work, which helps me now when I’m developing software for new attractions. I also had access to intern programs that broadened my network and introduced me to areas of engineering within Disney that I never would’ve known about.”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “I’ve always been interested in technology and engineering as well as art, and  at Disney I can do both . Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway was the first big new attraction that I worked on; I’d always dreamed of working with our Audio-Animatronics figures, and helping bring Mickey’s first ride to life was a dream come true.”

Advice to future interns:  “Once you have your foot in the door, you’ll have so many opportunities to network and learn about other roles.  Reach out to people, because nine times out of ten, they’re going to be willing to talk to you .”

Ketan Sardeshmukh,  Director, Transportation Operations, Walt Disney World

Years at Disney:  18

First role:  Industrial Engineering Intern

Favorite part of his internship:  “I spent so much time getting to know others and learning how important this company is to so many people. Living in the program housing felt a lot like dorm life, too, which I loved.”

Why he loves working at Disney:  “I love being on teams and working together to figure out how we can solve problems — we get to do that all the time and that’s why I’ve stayed here for over 20 years.”

Advice to future interns:  “Understand what a good job is and try your best to do it.  If I had just gone through the motions instead of fully embracing the thing I was being asked to do and everything around me, I don’t think I would’ve learned the things that I was supposed to learn.”

Ronke Olatunji, Senior Manager, Groups Events and Services, Disney Cruise Line

Years at Disney:  20

First role:  Front Desk Hostess at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Favorite part of her internship:  “I love the College Program! It gave me a career I didn’t even know was possible and experiences I didn’t know I could have. I’ve had a lot of only-at-Disney moments. I even took classes and earned my ‘ducktorate’.”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “I get to show up in a space with people that want to be around me and each other.  Disney has allowed me to just be my true self, and I’m appreciated for it.”

Advice to future interns:  “I learned very quickly to not put any limitations on yourself, because you don’t know what you don’t know. The great thing about our organization is  if you are inquisitive and you ask questions, people will help you. ”

Punam Dayabhai-Jairambhai,  Director, Premium Services, Walt Disney World

Years with Disney:  25

First role:  Merchandise and Outdoor Vending Hostess in the United Kingdom Pavilion at EPCOT

Favorite part of her internship:  “Living and working together with people from all over the world! I can honestly say those connections will last you a lifetime. You create deep-rooted friendships. And on your days off,  you get to experience the theme parks yourself , and then you get to tell people about that. You’re learning about the product and having fun at the same time.”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “I’ve been able to raise my hand for things. This is an amazing company where you can learn to do different things and not be boxed into one specific type of role. You just have to  put in the effort and show the curiosity and courage to say ‘I want to learn and do more.’ ”

Advice to future interns:  “Learn as much as you can. Grow. Embrace every experience and build those great relationships. The brand you start creating for yourself now will follow you wherever you go, whether you stay with this company or go elsewhere.”

Sarah Riles,  Vice President, Magic Kingdom Park

Years at Disney:  25

Favorite part of her internship:  “When I came to Disney to do my internship, I didn’t know anyone, I had never been to Orlando and I had never been to Disney, so I felt completely overwhelmed. Thankfully, I quickly realized what an incredible opportunity I had and loved it so much I made the decision to extend my internship. I met so many people who I’m still friends with today and best of all, I realized I could do what I love for a company that I love.”

Why she loves working at Disney:  “Disney is a big company with endless opportunities. It’s a company with  a welcoming culture that allows you to find your passion, gain new experiences and meet inspiring people along the way .”

Advice for future interns:  “You all bring a fresh perspective, excitement for learning and a passion for our brand. No matter what role you are in,  you’ll learn how to serve others, solve problems, be a leader amongst your peers and provide the best guest service . Work hard, have fun, and make memories and connections. No matter whether you continue to work here or go on to do other things, the lessons you learn will influence you far beyond today.”

John Dent,  Director, Worldwide Auditing Publications and Projects, Worldwide Safety Assurance

Years with Disney:  34

First role:  Attractions Host in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park

Favorite part of his internship:  “I still say that my Disney internship was probably one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. It may seem simple, but it involved teamwork, managing success and failure, problem solving and learning the business.  One of the big rewards for me was exposure to our senior leadership and the lessons they took time to share.  They were approachable and genuine and understood the business … and now I’m proud to be the one that passes on those lessons to future leaders.”

Why he loves working at Disney:  “The people I meet and the passion we all have are the differentiator. The connections you make through the College Program and within Disney can lead to a lot of other places. The company has grown so much over the past 34 years, and  there are hundreds of paths you can take advantage of. ”

Advice to future interns:  “The Disney College Program is a great catalyst to figure out what you really want. Don’t hold back. Take full advantage of the time you’re given and realize that the company is equally — if not more — interested in seeing you succeed.”

Topics: Disney Cast Life

Hi! My name is Kayla and I completely agree with Brad in the above comment about how to get your foot in the door if you are already in your career and can’t do an internship anymore. I graduated in the fall of 2022 and have been networking via LinkedIn and checking the Disney careers site daily to find opportunities. I am in the marketing/advertising field and because I graduated in 2022, and 24 years old, I am early in my career. I have a little over a year of marketing experience but am not sure what the correct path is to try to get my foot in the door for an entry level position with Disney. I have gotten on zoom with multiple senior/department heads and they have told me that I’m doing the right things by networking, but I have also applied for almost 30 jobs on the Disney careers website and always get denied. I’m not sure what to do differently and would just love some guidance!

To whom it May concern, Good morning, I’m a big Disney fan. I lived in Quebec for 54 years and now I live in British Columbia, Canada’ and I’ve been visiting you for at least a dozen times. I am at the stage of putting into practice the motto “if you can dream it, you can do it” and realizing My biggest dream of working for you this summer. I am 55 years old and I am a teacher. I’m getting older, I told myself that it’s time that I dared to live my dream. As I am on summer leave, I am available to work 6 to 7 weeks. I wish I was in the parks. I speak French and that is an asset because many Quebecers will visit you in the summer and we have difficulty with their English. I’m doing well in English. I can sell popcorn, cashier in stores, usher for shows or restaurants, be at the entrance to households or parks… I am not looking for a specific job. I am open and I adapt very well. For me this magical experience is very important. If it is not possible to work for you, I am available to volunteer. Please forward my message to the correct department and follow up on my request. Good to you! « If you can dream it, you can do it! » Quote of Walter Disney

Great piece! I wish I could redo my college program experience with the wisdom I have now! Content idea for you: How about a piece on how mid-career professionals can get their foot in the door? And another piece on people wanting a late-career opportunity or second-career opportunity?

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The 7 best cruise ships for kids

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Kids can make or break your family cruise. If they’re bored and hate the food options, they will loudly and repeatedly express their displeasure. Pick the wrong cruise ship, and parents will feel as trapped as if they were stranded on a deserted island … with biting crabs underfoot.

The best cruises for kids take advantage of ships with endless fun for the under-18 crowd, plentiful dining that appeals to both young palates and bottomless teen tummies, accommodations and ship services that keep families in mind, and opportunities to meet and hang out with peers. No matter your family size or price range, you can find some incredible vacations at sea that will have kids exclaiming, “Best cruise ever!” by the end of the week.

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

Find the top ship for your next trip with our list of the seven best cruise ships for kids (and their parents).

Disney Wish

No one is surprised that kids are highly entertained on a Disney cruise — but what might be surprising is how much there is for adults to do and enjoy , too. That’s especially true on the new Disney Wish , which debuted in the summer of 2022.

Disney Wish has four kids clubs divided by age, but the main Oceaneer Club for 3- to 12-year-olds has an all-new and exciting grand entrance. Kids get to enter the club by slide — and once inside, can explore the club’s spaces themed to “Star Wars,” fairy tales, Marvel and Disney Imagineers.

Along with the kids club on Disney Wish, junior cruisers will find two movie theaters with first-run Disney movies, Broadway-caliber shows featuring Aladdin and the Little Mermaid and dining experiences themed around Arendelle from “Frozen” and the Worlds of Marvel .

In addition to a “Star Wars-” themed bar and adults-only fine dining restaurants, adults will appreciate the little touches on Wish that make family cruising easier — split bathrooms in most cabins, a drop-off nursery, a splash area for toddlers and restaurant staff members who will offer high chairs and puree baby food.

Disney Wish sails short three- and four-night trips from Port Canaveral , Florida (near Orlando) that include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island , with its family beach, supervised child care, splash pad and strollers to borrow.

Related: How to save money on the cost of a Disney cruise  

A nearly identical sister ship, Disney Treasure , will debut in 2024.

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas

It hasn’t even launched yet, and we’re already confident that Royal Caribbean ‘s new Icon of the Seas , soon to be the largest ship afloat, will be one of the top cruise ships for kids. Kids will never be bored on a ship with a six-slide water park, wild ropes course, surf simulator, rock-climbing wall, sports court and Surfside — a half deck of play spaces and restaurants devoted to little kids and their families.

Kids (and parents) who like a good show can gasp as ice skaters land jumps on a rocking ship, and acrobatic divers flip and splash in the AquaTheater, now up high on the ship under a glass dome. Don’t miss pizza and parades on the Royal Promenade, Icon’s indoor shopping strip.

The ship will also have innovative new family cabins and suites, some with separate kids’ rooms, to better accommodate guests of all ages. The Ultimate Family Townhouse will be a massive three-floor living space with a screening room, karaoke machine, in-suite slide and a backyard that leads out to the Surfside family neighborhood.

Related: 5 best Royal Caribbean ships for kids

Icon of the Seas will sail weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami beginning in January 2024.

Norwegian Encore

Norwegian Encore has a more grown-up vibe than many of the family-focused ships on our list, but its onboard attractions make it a huge hit with teens. Its top decks lure older kids with one of the biggest go-kart tracks in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet and an open-air laser tag arena ideal for shooting matches under the stars. A huge virtual reality playground features rides and games that blow the standard cruise ship arcade out of the water.

Note to parents: Cruiselong passes for the go-kart race track , virtual reality games and laser tag do not come cheap. Be prepared to pull out your wallet to keep the teens happy.

At night, teens can feed their growing bodies with tacos, hibachi and barbecue, plus 24/7 burgers and comfort food at The Local. Afterward, they’ll agree to be seen in public with their parents at a show as cool as “Choir of Man.” It’s an easy concession, as they know they can always escape to the teen club, Entourage, to hang out with the cool kids late at night.

Related: 5 best cruise lines for families

Norwegian Encore spends its summers in Alaska and winters in the Caribbean, with a handful of Panama Canal and Pacific Coast sailings in between.

Carnival Celebration

Passengers and crew members on Carnival Cruise Line ships come ready to meet new friends or share a laugh, a story and a drink with their shipmates. Social kids will fit right in and love the line’s huge, new ship Carnival Celebration . They can make friends at the Family Harbor Lounge, Camp Ocean and Dr. Seuss Bookville; older kids will enjoy the teen and tween clubs conveniently located near Guy Fieri’s burger stand and the video arcade.

Carnival Celebration and its near-identical twin fleet mate, Mardi Gras , are the only cruise ships boasting a top-deck roller coaster called Bolt. (That is until a third sister, Carnival Jubilee, debuts in late 2023.) A ride here is Instagram gold and the ultimate bragging rights for kids on vacation. The coaster dominates the Ultimate Playground area of the ship, where young cruisers can challenge their new friends to miniature golf, waterslide races, basketball and ropes course domination.

Kids who love a good food court can meet up with friends or family at several no-fee, casual eateries, including Shaq’s Big Chicken restaurant and a trio of Street Eats venues featuring dumplings, meat on a stick and loaded French fries. All-hours pizza and ice cream will keep the whole family fueled up for the interactive “Family Feud Live” show.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries

Carnival Celebration sails weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami. Its sister Mardi Gras sails similar Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida (near Orlando). Carnival Jubilee will be based out of Galveston, Texas, and offer seven-night Western Caribbean cruises only.

Sun Princess

It may seem odd that two of our top ships for kids haven’t debuted yet. However, like Icon of the Seas, Princess Cruises ‘ new 4,300-passenger Sun Princess will be heads and shoulders above the rest of the fleet in terms of family entertainment. If you’re booking a multigenerational family cruise for 2024 or beyond, you will definitely want to keep this ship in mind.

Sun Princess will be the first Princess cruise ship to feature an expansive upper-deck activity zone that kids will love. Named Park19, it will feature nine fun-in-the-sun activities spanning three decks. The attractions include the Sea Breeze Rollglider (imagine a safer version of hang-gliding from an elevated track), a climbing structure with obstacles and a slide, a ropes course, a splash zone and a sports court.

Inside the ship, Firefly Park will have drop-off kid programming and family play spaces for kids 6 months to 7 years old. Tweens and teens will each have their own hangouts, Neon Grove and The Underground, with cozy lounge furniture and plenty of video and other games.

Related: Which cruise ship cabin category should your family book?

Sun Princess will split its time between Mediterranean cruises out of Civitavecchia (the port for Rome), Piraeus (the port for Athens) and Barcelona as well as Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale.

MSC Seascape

MSC Cruises ‘ MSC Seascape is a floating megaresort with something for every type of kid. The ship stands out from its sisters because of its Robotron amusement park-style ride . Three riders at a time buckle into seating attached to a robotic arm, which then twists and turns to fly the riders over the ship and sea.

Water babies will make a break for the Pirates Cove Aquapark, with slides, a splash zone and a rope bridge. Other kids might spend their parents’ money on more virtual fun, indulging in F1 race car simulators, VR motorcycle racing, a 4D movie theater and a video arcade. Family groups can split into teams for sports court competitions or participate in organized games that rely on the latest technology to challenge guests of all ages.

The ship’s Lego-themed Doremi Land kids club has dedicated spaces for babies, kids and teens. The 7,567-square-foot space includes two Lego rooms (one for little kids to play with Duplos, the other with regular Lego bricks for older kids); the area also includes three spaces for teens — a gaming area (with VR options), a hangout with ping pong and foosball and a dance club.

Related: 7 cruise lines where kids sail free

And let’s not forget the line’s amazing pizza (including dessert versions slathered in Nutella) that families are sure to love.

MSC Seascape sails seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami.

AmaWaterways’ AmaLea

The typical river cruise draws a lot of retirees — except when Adventures by Disney partners with AmaWaterways. The two travel companies have created a river cruise vacation that is fun for grown-ups and kids.

AmaLea is one of the ships AmaWaterways custom-built for these family cruises. Certain twin balcony cabins sleep three, and suites sleep four to accommodate kids, with connecting cabin options for families who need more space. Unlike many river ships, AmaLea has a pool, as well as a surprise kid hit — giant outdoor chess.

While other ships sail the Seine and Rhine rivers, AmaLea travels the Danube through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Adventures by Disney makes the most of your time with shore excursions planned to entertain kids and adults, with options for supervised kid activities while parents head out on more grown-up tours. Your family might meet farm animals in Hungary, play hide-and-seek in a palace’s labyrinth maze in Austria and hang around in a treetop playground in Germany.

Related: Best river cruises in Europe

On board, kids’ menus are available, and the occasional pajama party whisks kids away for pizza and a movie while adults linger over dinner.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.