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Disney Cruise Decorations

Planning a magical Disney Cruise and want to make your stateroom door stand out, or celebrate a special occasion? You're in the right place!

Do people decorate on Disney cruises?

YES! Disney cruisers practically invented door decorations. Walking down the stateroom hallways you'll likely see more doors with decorations than without - and you don't want to miss out!

Disney guests love to decorate their doors for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries, and to show off their favorite fandoms. Disney cruisers have also created other fun activities like Fish Extender exchanges and Pixie Dusting.

Cruise door magnets are the ideal option for Disney cruise decorations as they're effortlessly packable, and go up in seconds on metallic surfaces. NOTE: Concierge level rooms on the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream are wooden.

Why Decorate?

Find Your Room

Easily spot your room in endless cruise ship hallways - even while sporting that Pirate Night eye patch!

Celebrate Good Times

Anniversaries, Birthdays and so many other special occasions are better at sea. Decorate and celebrate!

For Keep's Sake!

Cruise door magnets make a fantastic souvenir of your seafaring adventures. Collect one for every cruise!

Where to find Disney Cruise decorations?

Stateroom Statements is thrilled to offer an extensive collection of original cruise magnets that will make your cruise cabin door pop and add an extra touch of personalization to your vacation. Our unique designs and high-quality products have become a hit with Disney Cruise Line passengers.

Whether you're a first-time cruiser or a seasoned pro, make sure to check out our collection of cruise door decorations to show off your personality and add some extra flair to your Disney cruise vacation.

What are the rules for Disney Cruise Decorations?

Disney Cruise Line Decoration Rules:

Leave no trace.

Disney requires that cruise door decorations must not leave any mark on stateroom doors or walls. Only use magnets (or command strips for non-metallic surfaces)

Disney is the family-friendly cruise line. Cruise door decorations must not include language or imagery that may be considered vulgar or offensive.

Safety First

For safety reasons, almost all cruise lines require door decorations to be made out of flame retardant materials. Stateroom Statements cruise door magnets use an approved vinyl material.

Cruise Decorations should only be on your door or inside your room. They should not interfere with clear access to your room or the hallway for crew and fellow guests.

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Decorating with Disney Cruise Door Magnets and Decorations

Posted on Published: 01/10/2024

If you are going on a Disney Cruise Line cruise for the first time, you may not realize that many cruisers decorate their stateroom doors with Disney Cruise door magnets. The stateroom doors are magnetic, and with just a little bit of work, you can put together some great things to decorate your Disney Cruise Line stateroom door and make it stand out.

Disclosure: Affiliate links within. Purchasing and/or clicking on some of the links in this post may result in a commission paid to us. I’ve been on one media cruise as well as two cruises as part of Disney Social Media Moms (as well as many cruises at my own cost), but all opinions are my own.

Decorating your stateroom door is a fun way to celebrate your family vacation and an easy way to spot your stateroom door. If you are traveling on the Disney Magic, Disney Dream, Disney Wish, Disney Wonder, or Disney Fantasy , here’s everything you need to know about Disney Cruise stateroom door magnets.

Why Make or Buy Disney Cruise Door Magnets to Decorate Your Door?

Cruise door decorations aren’t required at all. I’ve cruised a few times without them, because I’d either forgotten to pack them, or I didn’t realize they were an option. Disney cruise door magnets make it easier to spot your door among a sea of doors, and they are so fun to look at.

My kids love looking at all of the Disney Cruise door decorations as we walk through the hallways. It’s a great way to decorate your room and make it feel like your own. But it is completely optional, and you’ll see other doors that aren’t decorated among the sea of decorated doors.

How Do You Find Graphics For Your Disney Cruise Door Magnets or Where to Buy Disney Cruise Door Magnets?

Thinking about doing a Disney cruise door magnets DIY? You can certainly create your graphics, especially if you are familiar with using PicMonkey, Canva, or Photoshop.

Or, for a partial DIY, there are many different Facebook groups with designers offering fun free printable Disney door magnets. Just search Facebook for the different groups.

You can also choose to purchase custom graphics from the many sellers on Etsy that offer them. Some of the sellers offer digital files that you need to download, while others will ship you the magnets already made.

Make sure that you look at the item descriptions carefully. If you are getting custom-made magnets, you’ll want to make sure that you order them with plenty of time for them to arrive before your vacation.

What Types of Disney Magnets Do People Use?

If this is your first Disney Cruise, you may wonder what stateroom door magnets most people use. The sky’s the limit! I’ve seen so many wonderful creative stateroom door decorations.

Many people make a magnet for each family member. You could choose each family member’s favorite character as an inspiration for their magnet.

Others make a magnet for each cruise that they’ve been on – adding a new one with travel dates for each new cruise. It’s fun to add the cruise itinerary to these magnets too – especially for those ships with lots of different itineraries.

When we traveled on the Disney Fantasy a few years ago, it was on my son’s birthday. So we had a big Happy Birthday magnet for him on the door. We save all of the magnets from each sailing and reuse them.

So now that we’ve been on seven Disney cruises as a family, we have a pretty big collection! If you plan on saving them and reusing them, I’d recommend making smaller magnets so you’ll have room for all of them as your collection grows.

As my kids have gotten older and are less excited about magnets, we’ve focused more on purchasing completed magnets from Etsy sellers. I typically buy a new one for each sailing.

In recent years, I’ve seen such creative doors that even go beyond just magnets. I’ve seen Haunted Mansion themes, lollipop boards, Christmas lights, and other creative themes. I’d encourage you to get as creative as possible – but just be sure to stay within the rules and don’t do any damage to the doors.

How To Make Disney Cruise Door Magnets

Many of the resources listed above will provide you with a digital file to print out yourself and make into a magnet. While some people choose to print them directly on magnetic paper sheets, I prefer a stronger magnet. I have found that the magnet paper sheets aren’t very strong, and can often fall off the door.

I print out the graphics on regular printer paper, laminate them with my laminator , cut them out, and then attach magnets. I put all of my custom stateroom door decorations in a folder to keep them from bending.

Don’t forget to take them off of your door when you leave – we’ve almost forgotten them a few times! It’s always sad when you remove them and see a plain door again. I usually do it the night before I leave so I don’t forget.

Where to Buy Disney Cruise Door Magnets

If you’d prefer not to do any DIY, there are still plenty of options. I’ve seen Disney magnets in the shops on board, but that’s not always a guarantee. Plus, you’ll probably want something a little more unique and original. I’d recommend searching on Etsy for magnets that you don’t have to print.

You can also purchase a selection of personalized magnets on Amazon . Just make sure that you know if you are getting an electronic file or a physical product in the mail.

White Board for Your Disney Cruise Door

Wondering what other things to put on your Disney cruise room door? A whiteboard is great to have, especially if you have family members headed off in different directions. You can easily leave notes on the board.

In years past, silver, gold, and platinum Castaway Club members received a small whiteboard as a gift, but I haven’t seen a whiteboard as a gift in a while.

Related: Read our Adventures by Disney review here.

Fish Extenders:

If you are also interested in decorating with a fish extender and participating in a fish extender exchange, check out my fish extender post for more information!

On a separate note: For cruises leaving from Port Canaveral, we stay at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport . Check  reviews on TripAdvisor  and book here )

How have you decorated your Disney Cruise Line stateroom door?

When booking a Disney Cruise, I recommend booking with Get Away Today. Plus, when you mention Family Travel Magazine, you get an extra $25 on-board credit! Give their agents a call at 877-510-2929.

More Disney Cruise Ships Resources: Click to read more about the Disney Cruise Line ships including restaurants, tips, itineraries, activities, and more.

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Friday 24th of September 2021

What kind of magnet do you use?

Jodi Grundig

Saturday 25th of September 2021

@Jillian, I got magnets at Michaels. It was a while ago, but they are something like this: https://www.michaels.com/pro-mag-magnetic-strips-.5in-x-4in/10579052.html

Monday 2nd of March 2020

We have a cruise planned soon on the Fantasy. I read somewhere that not all doors are metal that some are wood. I had planned on ordering magnets, but not sure what I can place on a wood door? Thanks!

Tuesday 3rd of March 2020

Hi Lisa, I'm not 100% positive, but I'm pretty sure the wood doors are in the concierge area. If you have a wood door, I don't think there's anything you can put on it, but I'm not entirely sure.

Friday 3rd of May 2019

Whiteboards were not provided for Castaway Club Silver on my Dec 2014 Dream sailing, either.

Barbara Jones

Friday 22nd of March 2019

We are planning a Disney cruise and my question is ... can I attach a ribbon or fabric bow to my Minnie door decoration?

Sure, I would just make sure it doesn't make it too heavy so the magnets don't hold.

Sunday 12th of July 2015

Hi, leaving on a cruise 7/19, just wondering if the door decorating has to be Disney related? Are we allowed to put spirited college or local football team logos on the door? Just asking because everything I've seen up until now has been Disney related on the door, and I don't have time to buy Disney magnets at this point :( Thanks!!

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

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

Decorating Your Stateroom Door with Custom Magnets

If you have ever been on a Disney Cruise you will most likely remember seeing door decorations.  If not, then you will be in for a surprise when walking the hallways.  Some stateroom doors are fully covered, while other just have a Disney Vacation Club Welcome Home magnet.  All the stateroom doors on the ships are metal except for the concierge rooms on the Dream & Fantasy which have a beautiful wood laminate.  The white stateroom doors make a perfect canvas to display your custom door magnets.

There are many ways to create door magnets, of course there’s always my way .   (See that, It’s October so I stuck in a Haunted Mansion reference!)  When I first started making door magnets I looked at a handful of options including magnetic inkjet paper , but I was not happy with the end results.  If you looked over any of my cruise photos , you already know I prefer vibrant images.  After trying a few different methods I found a method that worked, and best of all it is quite cheap.

Step 1: Creating A Graphic

The first step is coming up with a design.  First, determine how large of  a magnet you want to have on your door.  I try to keep to an 8×10, 5×7, or a 4×6 canvas size, as it makes for easier printing. However, the final graphic and be any size, such as this wine bottle graphic.

For each cruise we create one large magnet on an 8 inch by 10 inch canvas.  Sometimes the design is based on a theme like Halloween, or Valentines Day. Other times, as was the case of the Little Mermaid magnet, it was a request from my daughter.

We also have bumper sticker sized magnets with each of our names featuring some of our favorite Disney characters.

To make the individual magnets with each of our names I found a bold font that I liked and collected clip art of our favorite characters. Using Photoshop I placed the characters and applied the necessary masking.

It is completely up to you, if you want to personalize the graphics with your name.  I’ve found that unpersonalized magnets have the tendency to grow legs, and disappear.  For  example, we’ve had some of the small Pascal magnets disappear.

So, what if you are not the artistic type?  Check out some of the Disney online fan sites/forums.  There are a few great designers that have a catalog of design templates available, and will be happy to customize them just for you, FREE of charge (see rules below) .

Step 2: Printing Your Door Magnet Design

This is the easiest part of the process, printing your graphic.  Just treat your graphic like a digital photograph you want to get printed, and upload or take the file to to your local one hour photo center.  I always select glossy prints, even though they are susceptible to fingerprints.  The photo lab will print your image/graphic just as they would any other photograph. (note: while I’ve never had an issue printing, but you may encounter a shop that will not print Disney graphics. Just go to another location.)

Step 3: Printed Graphic to Finished Door Magnet

This entire process came about one day when I found a roll of Magnetic Adhesive Sheets at the craft store.  I buy the the larger 1’x2′ rolls, but they also come in smaller sizes.  You can usually purchase a roll for less than $10 at Michaels with a for a 40% off coupon often offered in the weekly  Michaels online ad .

Start by unrolling the magnetic sheet to flatten it out. You might need to reverse roll it to get it to lay flat or put a book on it for a few minutes.  Then, peel back just enough of the protective sheet on the magnetic paper and place your first picture.

At this point I put a sheet of paper on top of the printed photo to protect the image, and used a rolling pin to get out any air bubbles and make sure there was good adhesion. Similar to the way a roller is used when laminate counter-tops are installed.

The last step is to trim your graphic from the magnetic sheet.  An Exacto knife works great for this job as the magnetic sheets are quite easy to cut in fact they can easily tear so be careful.

#1 DO NOT use tape, or any other adhesive on the stateroom door. (Click here to read about the policy change April 2013)

#2 DO NOT use tape, or any other adhesive on the stateroom door. Yes, I repeated this rule.  Do not do it, widespread use of tape could lead to a ban on all door decorations.  That would not be cool.

#3 DO NOT pay for design work that use any Disney related graphics!!!!  The only exception is buying officially licensed graphics, such as a scrapbook page or even the door magnets DCL is selling in the gift shops.

#4 Have fun

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47 Replies to “Decorating Your Stateroom Door with Custom Magnets”

Last year we stayed in a Concierge room on the Fantasy. We made magnets for the door which stuck to the metal door in our garage just fine but didn’t stick to the wood laminate door on the ship. I had read that they DO work on those doors but none of the ones that we made or bought would stay on the door 🙁

Magnets don’t stick to wood. Ever.

If the magnet is strong enough it will work as the doors are still steel beneath the laminate.

Maybe because it was a “concierge” room the door being wood/wood laminate was probably the problem because we’ve stayed on The Dream & The Fantasy both on deck 7 and had no trouble with our magnets staying on.

I read somewhere that the magnets had to be really strong to stay on the doors. I bought the magnetic laser paper at Hobby Lobby that has a magnetic strength of 1 which sticks to my fridge just fine but I am worried they won’t stick to our ship door. I ended up going and buying additional magnets with a stronger strength just in case I have to hold them up another way. Hopefully one of those will work out. I hope I didn’t just waste a bunch of money for nothing! Does anyone have any input on this? Thank you!

Tammy, we have never had an issue with magnets sticking to the stateroom doors. The only issue would be if you are staying in concierge on the Dream & Fantasy as those doors have a wood veneer over the steel door.

Thanks, Scott! We are going on the Magic so hopefully we will be fine.

Hi I am computer illiterate and came across this blog in hopes of finding a magnet making tutorial using graphics already created, please help!!

You’ll need sheet magnet. We have white magnet and self adhesive magnet.

I printed my graphic on photo paper then encased it in clear plastic with my heat sealing machine (Hobby Lobby). I then cut the peel and stick sheet magnet to fit my graphic. It holds on the door with no problem.

We used the magnetic computer paper from Office Depot to make magnets for our door. Sadly, most of them slid down (not magnetic enough) and those that didn’t slide would fall off every time we shut the door. 🙁 Our plan is to re-use them next time but add stronger magnets. We will first add felt to the magnets though, so they don’t scratch up the door.

FYI – Inkjet magnetic paper (Avery or other brands) work nicely on non-concierge staterooms in the Dream and Fantasy, however, they don’t work as well in the older ships (Magic and Fantasy) due to the additional coats of paint. I have a feeling that folks will have more problems on the Magic after the dry dock as I’m sure all the doors will have another fresh coat of paint.

Fantasy? That isn’t an older ship. Did you mean to say Wonder?

Scott, what fond did you use for the individual names, and how close did you change the leading?

Have you ever used Neodymium Magnets, or know anyone who has?

I have not use them however I’ve seen them used. Just have to make sure they don’t slide and scratch the paint.

Does the roll of magnets thin strips work on the disney fantasy door!

Magnet strips will, as long as you have a large enough strip to hold up the item on the door so it will not slide down or pop off when the door closes.

Use a whole back sheet magnet. 20 mil thick should do.

I use full sheet as graphics sometimes curl. With the full sheet covering the back of your graphic it sticks well and lies flat. No worries of did-I-put-enough-strips-on, they work beautifully.

Hi Scott – How can I contact the owner of the “Door-Magnet-Reimagined-Magic-October-2013” as I would like to have it updated for a January 2015 cruise, if possible. Thank you.

The original design for this door magnet was a print by Don “Ducky” Williams. I modified the base image to create the custom door magnet.

Scott, would happen to have a template of the Disney Dream door? We will be taking a cruise the end of August. I recall from an earlier cruise that the security peep hole is below the large porthole cabin number. I’ve made a Donald Duck magnet; the sailor hat above and his duckbill below. I need to cut a circle so the bill fits around the peephole and need placement template.

Sorry, I do not have a door template.

Do you know where can I find the ship logo font (Dream, Fantasy, Magic, Wonder)? Thanks!

I would like the the ship logo as well….. Wonder

Graphics for all lovers Disney….Facebook page. They have thousands of graphics

What name is the facebook page please

Hello, I am interested in making some magnets for my door. Can anyone tell me what program they use to do this. Also what tidbits of info do I need to know to make this a success for me. Thanks Charles

I use Photoshop, but there are many different and even free applications that you can get to create designs.

Have you used any of the free apps or know anything about any of them

I have not, but I didn’t not want to suggest buying/subscribing to Photoshop just to design one door magnet graphic.

how big are the holes where the numbers are, if you want to add ears to turn it into a mickey head?

hi Scott what size should the magnets be? For example the one that says Mickey head you have with the horse above is that an 8×10? thanks

The Mickey head with the Headless Horseman started out as an 8×10 and was cut to the shape.

Sadly I don’t have knowledge of Photoshop or have a printer in decent condition. It can print out a grocery list and that’s it.

Where would you suggest I buy a magnet package? I’d love to get a Christmas one. We’ll be on the Merry Christmas cruise in early Dec. ’15.

Any help is really appreciated!

What types of magnets do you recommend? I have seen all sorts of recommendations and concerns over the different options. I thought I still had a whole roll of magnetic tape in my office, but can’t find it. So, I have to buy something and don’t want to spend a fortune. BUT, don’t want them falling off the door.

John, I am still a big fan of the magnetic sheets mentioned in the article. Finding Michaels coupons are your best bet.

Just wondering for anyone that has sailed on the Wonder recently; have you had any prob;ems with the sheet magnets sticking?

What do they mean by Disney graphics not being used?

Scott – Would you consider making a headless horseman magnet for a “donation” wink wink? If you are interested, please let me know!

No, but if you send me an email on what you need I will do it for free.

I would love for someone to make me some peronsalized Halloween deco for our cruise next September 2017. I’m happy to print them and laminate but I’m kinda not to savvy on the photoshop and creating images etc. ??

What is the diameter of the inside circle of the porthole on the stateroom door?

Is there someone who can make the rectangular name template for me please? Thanks!

Thankyou to everyone on here. Shame that I had to cancel our Disney Halloween cruise for 2021 (first cruise ever), but we will go in 2022 or 23 and this has answered all my questions about magnets for our door. Very helpful.

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Table of Contents

10 fun and creative ideas to decorate your disney cruise door in 2023 .

  Onique Campbell

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10 Fun and Creative Ideas to Decorate Your Disney Cruise Door in 2023

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If you're planning to sail on a Disney cruise in 2023, you'll likely be excited to make your stateroom feel like home away from home. A fun and creative way to personalize your cabin is by decorating your Disney cruise door.

But with so many ideas out there, where do you start? In this guide, we'll share 10 fun and creative ideas to decorate your Disney cruise door in 2023 that will make your stateroom stand out and show off your Disney spirit.

Choose Your Topic:

Onpage links ↓.

• Video - 10 Fun and Creative Ideas to Decorate Your Disney Cruise Door in 2023

What are the benefits of personalizing your Disney cruise cabin?

How can you make your disney cruise door decorations stand out even more, are there any rules or guidelines you should follow when decorating your disney cruise door, other related pages links ↓.

• Draw your favorite Disney characters on it:! Grab some removable/ washable art supplies and your most creative skills to bring your favorite characters to life. Plus, other people on board will love to see your art!
• Stick magnets on it: There are tons of fun and creative Disney magnets available to decorate any door. Plus, you can add your own special touches to them too.
• Get custom Disney door decorations: You can order custom Disney decoration, printouts, and or stickers that can make your door stand out like no other.
• Put up Disney vacation photos: Photos of your Disney vacation are easy to stick up in places like your door. Doing this will make it look even more like your own little kingdom.
• Decorate with colored lights (RGB): String up some Disney-inspired twinkle lights to light up your door. Just be sure to follow the ship’s on-board safety guidelines.
• Stick Disney themed stickers: Choose from Disney’s vast selection of stickers and create your own work of art on your door.
• Hang character bunting: Find Disney character inspired fabric and hang it up for a festive look.
• Put up a banner: Hang up a banner with your favorite Disney movie quote to get a more fun and creative look.
• Pretty up with pins: Show your Disney side by dressing up your door with pins of your favorite characters.
• Add personal accessories: pom-poms, tassels, or faux-flowers for a fun and creative look.

• Happiness: By personalizing your Disney Cruise cabin, you can create a unique space that reflects your style and makes you happy – bringing a little bit of your own home away from home.
• Increased Comfort: By personalizing your cabin, you can create an environment that is comfortable and cozy. You can choose to add items such as extra pillows, blankets or a small area rug to make your cabin even more inviting.
• Memory-Making: With a personalized cabin, you’ll have the chance to create a setting for making long-lasting memories with your family. Whether it’s taking a photo of all of the decorations before the cruise or laying out your favorite books in the room – personalizing your cabin is a great way to document and preserve such a special experience.
• Fun: Personalizing your Disney Cruise Cabin can add an extra dimension of fun to your vacation. You can add unique decorations or special items from home that will create a fun atmosphere for you and your family or friends!
• Sense of Achievement/ Ownership: When you personalize your cabin, you’ll have a greater sense of ownership, comfort and accomplishment. In addition, by adding personal touches to your cabin, you’ll feel more at home and therefore more relaxed, allowing for a better and more meaningful experience overall.
• Streamers: Hang colorful streamers from the top of your door and around the door.
• Balloons: Tie balloons to the handle of your door or to the walls beside it.
• Photo Collage: Create a collage of photos of your family or the cruise; print it on a poster board and hang it on your door.
• Glitter: Make the decorations sparkle by adding some glitter. Use glitter glue sticks to draw images or make a cool design on your door.
• Disney Characters: Cut out your favorite Disney characters and attach them to the door or wall.
• Personalized Touches: Add personal touches with quotes, by painting or drawing Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse silhouettes, or by using stickers with your favorite characters.
• Movie Night: Create a movie night theme with a poster from a favorite Disney movie and hang it on the door.
• Lights: Add some extra bling to your door decorations with battery powered lights.
• Welcome Sign: Perk up your door with a sign that reads “Welcome aboard!”
• Wreath: Hang a wreath on the door with your name and the cruise date on it.
• Keep decorations in the spirit of Disney: - Disney characters, colors, logos, and designs are all great ideas for door decorations.
• Use magnets and plastic hooks instead of nails: - Because you can’t use nails or tape, use lightweight decorations that stick to steel doors with magnets or hang from plastic hooks.
• Follow Cruise Department Rules: - Cruise departments usually have rules regarding door decorations, like the size and placement of decorations, so make sure to follow them.
• Remove all decorations before disembarking: - Make sure to take all your door decorations down before you disembark the cruise. That way, your decorations don’t get left behind!

Disclosure: This article was extensively researched and arranged to provide benefit to the intended viewer. The contents of this page may or may not contain affiliate links, in which I may receive a small commission at no absolute cost to you. These are products I fully recommend as the best options as of current, clicking a product and saving item to cart will allow you to lock in the best deal for that item. You can read more about my full disclosure here in my Privacy Policy

Disney in your Day

A blog all about Disney

Decorating your stateroom door on a Disney Cruise

March 13, 2017 by Becky 10 Comments

Welcome to this month’s Blogorail Green Loop . Today we are sharing tips for your Disney Cruise.

If you’ve ever been on a Disney Cruise, you’ve probably walked around the ship and noticed all of the stateroom doors.  It’s become a bit of a tradition to decorate your door and it can be a lot of fun for the family!  I didn’t realize it was such a big thing my first cruise, and I was a little sad that I didn’t do anything with it.  Once we sail again someday I will definitely have a better plan!

Photo credits: Jennifer Kaufman (left), Leslie Neeland Harvey (right)

There are some guidelines from Disney Cruise Line about exactly what you can do with your door.  The two major ones are this: you can only use magnets on your door – no other sort of adhesives like tape, gel, etc.  The doors are magnetic so this is the easiest way to do it anyway!  The other thing is that you can’t use an over the door hanger of any kind.  This is so the doors don’t get scratched or damaged.

All of the doors on Disney cruise ships so far has been magnetic like this, and we are hoping that the Disney Wish is the same so fans can continue this fun tradition.

But there is a lot you can do with magnets!  Many people make their own customized magnets, but if you’re not as crafty the good news is that there’s plenty on Etsy too.  I’ve gone through and found just some of my favorites, and I’d like to share them with you!

General cruise magnets

You don’t have to go crazy, over the top with how you decorate your door.  Just one magnet, or a couple to represent your trip, is an easy and fun way to do it.  These are some that are more general and would be good for lots of people.  They are either specific to the cruise, the destination, or your family/group.

Movie marquee magnet – Grayson Tags and More

Pirate night magnet – Kim’s Creations

Basic Mickey head magnet – K-LEY Designs

Alaska/destination magnet  – Sugah n Spice

1st cruise magnet – Emory Lane Studios

Postcard style magnet – The Raspberry Souffle

Another way people really like to customize their doors is by putting all of the names of everyone in the family or stateroom.  That way everyone gets their own personal magnet.  They can be the same with different names or part of the same theme, or totally different according to each family member’s personality!  Here are some of my favorites.

Mouse ear names – Ten Favors and More

Cast member style nametags – Special Kreations

Mickey Princess heads – Pixie & Dust

Lightsabers – Alluna

Personalized names – Keller’s Kustom Kreations

Tsum tsums (Inside Out featured) – Kim’s Kreations

Other cool stuff

Even though you can really only use magnets to put stuff on your doors, there are other ways to incorporate some cool stuff to decorate!  These are some of the more unique items that I wouldn’t have thought of, but are more interactive or just super fun.

Disney Cruise to-do list – Peachy Graphics

Jedi Mickey body – Ashalina Ballerina

White board – Pixie Dusted Stitches

Cruise rules – Grayson Tags and More

Just married magnet – Disney Cruisin’

Disney banner – Joyful Floral Creation (not actually a magnet but uses suction cups!)

These are some small Disney magnets I’ve found.  They are great if you want to put up pieces of paper or other small decorations that don’t have magnets themselves.  It’s nice to have a few on hand so you can add whatever decorations you might desire!

Mickey head magnets – Lil Helping Hands

Clothespin magnets – Making Life Memorable

Pirate magnets – Pixie Dusted Stitches

Donut magnets – Emporium on Main

Winnie the Pooh magnets – Awesome Craft Supplies

Bottlecap style magnets – Shaebugs

Have you ever been on a Disney Cruise?  How would you like to decorate your door?

For more Disney Cruise Line tips, check out the other great posts from the Blogorail!

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Green | Tips for Your Disney Cruise Loop:

• 1st Stop – The Delightful Life | So… what’s NOT included on a Disney Cruise?
• 2nd Stop – What’s the Point? | Disney Cruising with Kids Under 3: Tips and Tricks
• 3rd Stop – Post 50 Rx | Top 5 Tips for Running the Castaway Cay 5K
• 4th Stop – Adventures in Familyhood | Everything You Need to Know About Fish Extenders
• 5th Stop – Disney in Your Day | Decorating Your Stateroom Door on a Disney Cruise

March 14, 2017 at 2:13 am

I’m a huge cruise fan, but I’ve never been on a Disney cruise! I think I missed the age growing up when I’d enjoy it, and though I still would now, my boyfriend is not necessarily a huge Disney fan (he loves Lion King, don’t mistake me- just not a fanatic), so I’m not sure he’s the target audience. Maybe I’ll find myself a best friend who loves Disney and we can have a girls’ trip at some point in our lives!

March 20, 2017 at 3:01 pm

A girls trip would be great too! Funny enough, my husband is also not a fanatic – he was kind of against doing a Disney cruise because they are more expensive than other cruise lines and he’s just not that into it. But after we did one he ended up totally hooked and wants to look at Disney cruise options first! He loved some of the things they offered that other ships didn’t have, especially their “Rainforest Room” in the spa area!

March 14, 2017 at 12:54 pm

I was truly so impressed at the amazing decorations on the door. I also selfishly loved them because they helped me find my stateroom each day! I think the name tag magnets are my favorite and will definitely get a set for us next trip.

March 20, 2017 at 3:02 pm

I agree, I love how unique everything is! There were some really creative decorations, I went around taking pictures of people’s doors just because I liked what they did!

March 14, 2017 at 4:08 pm

Having JUST spent almost 5 hours on our signs today, and wondering if I’ll get them done before we leave on Friday…. I wish I’d have seen this sooner and just gone to Etsy! 🙂 Great finds, thanks for sharing!

March 20, 2017 at 10:01 am

Haha, I felt the same way doing fish extenders on our last trip – I took so much time to make everything! I hope you’re having a great cruise!

March 19, 2017 at 5:00 am

Decorating your stateroom door is a lot of fun! It really gives you an opportunity to show your family’s personalities and it is also functional, as it makes it easy to find your room! A dry erase board is handy for leaving messages to each other if you should split up.

I agree, i think it’s a great idea! I can’t wait to do something with my door next time I cruise.

March 29, 2017 at 11:12 am

This is another “insider” aspect of Disney cruising! On our first cruise in 1998, this was not something that was widespread, but upon my return last September, I was in awe of some of the decorations. We were lucky; one of the “girls” in our group of 12 was crafty. She made magnets, flags and all sorts of fun things for our three cabins. (I know the items I had scoped out on Etsy were pricey, and would have added substantial cost to our adventure.) Stateroom decoration certainly adds more magic to any cruise, especially if you are sailing for a week or longer. Thanks so much for the leads!

April 7, 2017 at 5:28 pm

It’s really cool to see how it will grow! I think it’s awesome how many people make their own stuff too. I’ll probably make some but buy some because I don’t have a ton of time for crafting!

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Disney Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Ideas and Free Printables

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When you set sail on a Disney Cruise , part of the fun is most definitely decorating your door!! Many many cruisers decorate their doors on a Disney Cruise!

Disney Cruise Decoration Ideas

Similar to how campers decorate their campsites, many cruisers decorate their cabin doors! We have seen many cruise door decorations on many different cruises, but Disney Cruise Line ships definitely seem to take the cake.

You can decorate your stateroom door with magnetic decorations (all doors on Disney Cruises are metal, minus the wooden doors on concierge staterooms on the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish). Scotch tape would work too, if your decorations do not have magnets on them.

Our fellow Disney cruisers had door decorating down to a science!

Common Cruise Door Decorations

Some of the most common cruise door decorations on a Disney Cruise:

• Dry erase board
• Magnets (store bought and DIY)
• Fish Extenders (these hang on the fish hook NEXT to your door)
• Signs or pictures hung on the door with tape or Command Strips

Where to buy personalized magnets for your cruise

One of our favorite things to take on a Disney Cruise are personalized Disney Cruise magnets. I actually make our own magnets. I use my Silhouette Cameo to cut them, design them in Canva or PicMonkey, and laminate them before placing some adhesive -backed magnets on them.

You could also use printable magnet paper and print your own images on simple magnets using your home printer.

If you don’t have the time or the desire or the know-how you make your own magnets, you can find a wide variety of them for sale! Etsy has hundreds of personalized Disney Cruise magnets to purchase.

You can also search online for blogs that offer printable magnets.

I made these Mickey Ice Cream Bar Magnets – hop over to that post if you’d like the template and tutorial!

Ideas for Disney Cruise Door Decorations

Check out the pictures below for some fun ideas for your next cruise. Decorations can be a fun way to show off your favorite characters, any special occasions you’re celebrating like birthdays and anniversaries, etc. If you don’t care about having personalized Disney Cruise door magnets, look for Disney magnets (or cruise ship, beach, etc magnets) at the Dollar Tree and on amazon .

We took these pictures on our family vacation on the Disney Magic.

Check out the super cute lollipop holder on the door below. Looks like you can buy them online .

Can you tell what time of year these cruise door pictures were taken? If you guessed Halloween, you are correct! This was on our Halloween Disney Cruise to Bermuda! (Disney calls these cruise itineraries “Halloween on the High Seas.” Many cruise doors reflected the Halloween theme.

We had such a fun time wandering up and down hallways with the kids, looking at the unique and creative stateroom door decorations. Our fellow cruisers put on quite a display!

Free Printable Disney Cruise Ship Door Decorations

I made up these free printable Mickey-inspired signs that you can save, print and personalize for YOUR Disney Cruise! You can even save them to your computer and open them in a photo editing software (for example Photoshop or PicMonkey ) and add your text before you print.

There are 3 designs to print on – you can have any or all that you’d like!

I recommend printing them on white cardstock. To reinforce them even more, you might want to run them through a laminator (I have this one !).

Yellow Mickey Sign

Mickey Striped Sign

White and Red Mickey Sign

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Prohibited Items – Frequently Asked Questions

Can I decorate my stateroom door or hang items over the doors?

To ensure an enjoyable cruise experience for all our Guests, we ask that you take note of the following guidelines for decorating your stateroom door. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

You are welcome to place magnetic signs on your stateroom door. Though, please note that Concierge staterooms on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy have wooden doors. You may not affix items to your stateroom doors using tape or any adhesive, including removable gel adhesives, as this can damage the doors’ finish.

Also, using over-the-door hanging organizers is prohibited, as they can scratch and/or disfigure stateroom doors and trim.

Guests who damage doors in violation of these guidelines will be assessed a $100 fee per incident to cover the cost of repairs.

See a complete list of items prohibited on board Disney Cruise ships and on Castaway Cay .

Did you find this answer helpful?

Related Questions

Are Guests allowed to bring alcoholic beverages on board the ship?

May I decorate my stateroom verandah or hang a sign from the ship's railing?

What items are prohibited on board the ship and on Disney Castaway Cay?

Disney Cruise Door Decorations And Free Printables

We haven’t cruised with Disney Cruise line yet, however we are part of lots of lovely Disney Cruise communities, have some fab guest posts about Disney cruising and are Disney mad ourselves. So when a reader contacted us asking how to make Disney Cruise Door Decorations we got a little giddy. Also see my Disney Cruise Alphabet.

You see Donna and I are also mad crafters. So after losing hours on Pinterest looking at all the amazing ways you can decorate a Disney Cruise stateroom door, I decided it was time to bring a little Extraordinary Chaos over to Cruising With Kids and do a DIY Disney Cruise Door Decorations   tutorial with my trusty Cricut Maker .

If you are a lover of craft, pop over and have a peek at what I get up to in my other life .

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But if you have not been on a Disney Cruise before you will be wondering what all this Stateroom Door Decoration malarky is?

Well let me tell you, I need to go on a Disney Cruise just for the doors. In my other life I have a bit of a door obsession. But before we get started, scan the pincode below with your Pinterest camera or click on the link to see some Disney Cruise Door Decorations Ideas.

What are Disney Cruise Door Decorations ?

Decorating your stateroom door is part of Disney Cruise Life, cruisers revel in decorating their doors in with their favourite Disney Characters, movies or family names.

Can you use Magnets on all Disney Stateroom Doors?

No, concierge staterooms on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy have wooden doors. Using glue, tape or any adhesive, including removable gel adhesives is prohibited as it will damage the door.

To Cut These Mickey Door Magnets Out By Hand

Simple download, scroll down for the link and download, you can print these Cruise Mickey files on magnetic printable paper and cut out by hand. Or print onto card and laminate, then cut out by hand.

How to make Disney Cruise Door Magnets with the Cricut Maker.

If like me you are a crafter you will know you can cut a multitude of materials with the Cricut Maker and one of those is Magnetic Print And Cut Paper! I discovered this after a year of loving my Cricut Maker, but print and cut has revolutionised how I craft.

So here goes, step by step, how to make Magical Disney Cruise Door Decorations?

In Cricut Design Space start by selecting 3 circles.

Resize the circles to create a Mickey shape, it takes a bit of perfecting but use your eye and you will get there eventually.

Once you are happy with your shape, right click select all and weld the shape together to create a Mouse template.

Right click and duplicate until you have several black Mouse shapes.

For Mickey, slice a circle in half and colour this red. Then select a new circle, resize and shape to a small oval and colour it yellow for buttons and duplicate.

Once you are happy with Mickey right click and flatten.

For Minnie and the pirate bandana, choose your bow or bandana shape in design space. If you can’t find one, choose an image of a pirate, ungroup and delete unwanted images.

Colour the bow/ bandana to the correct shade of red.

Now select a circle for the polka dots. Resize colour the circle white and keep duplicating over the bow/ bandana until you are happy. I find it better to resize every now and them to create a variety of sizes.

Once you are happy right click and weld the dots to the bow/bandana.

Now position over your Minnie/Mickey shape and flatten.

To create the AHOY, search in design space, also search for Mickey, simply overlay, recolour and then flatten.

Lastly you can add your name or create mini name discs. Or you can personalise with a white marker once cut out.

Once you are happy with the size of your images you can send to print and cut on magnetic paper.

To add these designs to Cricut Design Space and for the free PNG Disney Cruise Door download click here.

Check Out Our Step By Step Vlog Below.

If you don’t have a Cricut Maker check out our free PDF Printable Disney Door Decorations

Click here for the PDF printable versions 1 and 2 , just make sure you print onto magnetic paper and good luck cutting out!

Also check out our Free Disney Cruise Alphabet SVG Files.

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Sarah also writes for Mini Travellers Family Travel Blog and Extraordinary Chaos Craft and Lifestyle Blog. Both are award-winning blogs with a travel and family focus. She is married and has two boys, aged 18 and 22, who all love cruising as a family. Nothing is better than waking up every day in a new port with new and exciting things to explore. She aims to share how cruising as a family with young adults is the perfect choice for family travel. Her boys are sporty and love the activities, sports and dining options cruising offers. Sarah has worked with brands such as Walt Disney World, Mark Warner, Ikos Resort, Center Parcs, Laura Ashley, Belling and Next.

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2 thoughts on “Disney Cruise Door Decorations And Free Printables”

Thank you so much!!! I’m so excited to make these. I’m a Disney Travel Agent and I am excited to gift these to my cruising clients for their doors. I know how huge a deal it is to have magnets on your door. 🙂

yay, going on a staycation cruise on the magic in august, and just got a maker. this is awesome. do you have any of the body parts to fit round a porthole on the door?

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Decorating Cruise Doors: A Complete Guide

Ideas & rules – everything you need to know about cruise ship door decorations.

If you’ve been on a cruise lately, you’ll likely have seen a variety of magnets, signs, or even full banners across stateroom doors. Cruise door decorations are a trend found on almost all family-friendly cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and of course Disney Cruises.

Why decorate your stateroom door + a few ideas

There are so many reasons people might choose to add a little personalization on their cabin door during a cruise vacation! Sometimes it’s as simple as quickly identifying which cabin is yours. Elaborate decorations might be used to celebrate a life event or holiday. 

These are a few common reasons people participate in door decorating on a cruise ship:

It helps you to recognize your room/cabin

With the size of ships now, the chances of getting lost in finding your stateroom are pretty good! People use cruise cabin door decorations to mark their cabin and quickly identify it. Then there are those who tend to indulge too much and after an evening of breaking even on the drink package, a door magnet or small decoration will help you know when you’ve arrived — at the right cabin!

Stateroom Door decorations To celebrate a special occasion

Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, retirement, or any other special occasion with a fun door decoration on your cruise cabin. Walk through the halls of most cruise ships and you’ll see people of all ages being announced on their door!  

Cruise Door Decorations to Celebrate a holiday

Christmas is a great time to take a cruise and an even better time to decorate your cabin door for the festive season! On a recent MSC Cruise on the MSC Meraviglia, we couldn’t believe the number of door decorations we saw with so many creative takes on the holidays! It was great fun!. 

But don’t limit the door decorating to Christmas, we’ve seen both large and small decor for Valentines Day, easter, and especially Halloween. 

You can leave messages on your cabin door

Fun + Practical, use a decorative magnet wipe board and announce to your travel mates where you’ll be. Want even more fun and live on the edge a little? Leave a dry-erase marker tied to the board and see other passengers get creative with your message board. Be warned, this is risky! 🙂

Meet like-minded travelers

Do you love beer? Maybe you’re loyal to a cruise brand? Rainbow flags and pink triangles, anyone? Or… are pineapples your thing ??? (if you know you know). Cruise door decoration s are a good way to express yourself! 

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Cruise Ship Door Decoration Ideas

Cruise door magnets and banners.

The easiest way to add a little fun to your cruise cabin door is simply getting magnets you love. There are magnets for everything available on Amazon and Etsy, or even design your own and have them made! The ideas are endless. Additionally, this is the safest way to go when trying to adhere to cruise policies about flame-retardant materials. 

Other passengers go all out with banners and foil letters that can be adhered with command strips or even double-sided magnets. 

See a few great ideas on Pinterest for decorating your cabin door .

DIY & Personalized Cruise door decorations

Don’t feel like you’re stuck with what’s available in big box stores or online. If you’re creative, make your own door decorations! The most popular method is printing on magnetic material which is available at most craft stores or online. 

Avery Printable Magnet Sheets, 8.5" x 11", Inkjet Printer, 2 Packs, 10 White Magnetic Sheets Total (5814)

Where to buy cruise door decorations.

There are so many places to buy cruise cabin decorations including Amazon, Etsy, and specialty shops. But don’t feel like you’re limited to buying the ideal door decor, make your own! In fact, seeing the personalized nature of door decorations is what makes them special. 

Some of our favorite cruise door magnets from Amazon:

Don’t forget to check out Etsy for some great ideas on decorating your stateroom door for your next cruise!

Can You Decorate Your Stateroom Door on All Cruise Lines?

While some cruise lines encourage decorating and personalizing your cabin door, others have decided to rule the practice out. Norwegian Cruise Line & Virgin Voyages explicitly prohibit door decorations (though some people still do it). 

Cruise line rules about decorating cabin doors by each cruise line 

Some cruise lines promote door decorating fun and sell decorations to guests, however, there are some important rules to decorating your door! Here’s a list of rules for each cruise line.

Can you decorate a cabin or stateroom door on Disney Cruise Line?

Yes, you can! Decorating a stateroom door on a Disney Cruise is a great family activity as well as a great roll call or group cruise activity!

Disney Cruise Line door decoration rules

You may not affix items to your stateroom doors using tape or any adhesive, including removable gel adhesives or command strips.  Over-the-door hanging organizers are prohibited. Light bulb strings are not permitted. 

The recommended door decorations for Disney Cruises are magnetic only… but it’s important to know that not all doors are magnetic.  Concierge staterooms on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy have wooden doors. 

Can you decorate a cabin door on Carnival Cruise Line?

Yes! you can decorate your stateroom door, but there are rules about what’s allowed and what’s not. 

Carnival cruise door decoration rules

Carnival cruise line has put out the most extensive rules about decorating your cabin door. Some people may feel like these rules are too restrictive, but the fact that Carnival actually embraces the concept as well as they do, it’s no surprise there are rules. 

Rules are updated on occasion and it’s good to read the Carnival website about  decorating your stateroom door and stateroom here .

This is what Carnival allows, and doesn’t allow for cruise door decorations: 

• All decorations must be fire retardant from the factory (not sprayed with fire retardant material after the fact). 
• Only decorations on the actual door, not in the hall or on the frames & walls. 
• Magnets and command strips only – no tape.
• Nothing is allowed on the balconies (which is no surprise)
• Nothing can be hung to restrict airflow or lights.

Most importantly – what I see violated sometimes, is the fact people hang string lights. This is a no-no. Not even battery-powered fairy lights are allowed.

When in doubt, Carnival Cruises sells door decorations directly, but here are a few tips on Carnival Cruise Line door decorations.

Can you decorate your cruise cabin door on Princess Cruises? 

Princess is not necessarily the first cruise line that would come to mind to embrace creative door decor as the clientele trends older and there are fewer children (normally). There are no rules against decorating your cabin door on a Princess Cruise, but following the general guidelines of no adhesives and using items that are fire-rated will keep you from getting in trouble with the cruise line. 

Generally speaking, most passengers on Princess Cruises, should they do a door decoration, it’s usually a simple magnet to help identify a cabin or a small magnetic celebration door sign. I’ve yet to see elaborate door decor on a Princess ship the way you might on a Disney ship. 

Can you decorate your door on Royal Caribbean?

Following basically the same guidelines set out by Carnival, RCCL allows door decorations as long as they’re not hazardous or stuck to the door with tape or adhesives. 

Norwegian Cruise Line door decoration rules

Stateroom stewards have been instructed to remove all decorations and place them inside the room. A real bummer, right?

The reality is, while NCL published a policy against cruise decorations in 2019, there are still plenty of people who put magnets on their doors and they go ‘unnoticed’. Much more than magnets, however, will likely get the decorations removed. Just know that it’s officially against NCL rules to decorate a door, but it seems that the cabin stewards have some discretion. 

The below photo was from a Norwegian ship. So while they have rules, how they are applied or adhered to will vary. Just be prepared to have your treasures removed since it’s the official policy on NCL.

Can you decorate your cabin door on Virgin Voyages?

If you ask around about door decorating on Virgin Voyages , you’ll find that most people don’t participate and some travel agents have even said it’s against Virgin policy (we can’t find it in writing, though we’ve tried to confirm). On a couple of Virgin Voyages cruises, we saw only 2 doors that had anything on them and they were simple magnets. If in doubt, contact Virgin directly, just know it’s not a common practice with this cruise brand. 

Do you decorate your cabin door?

Let us know what you think of cruise cabin door decorations.

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I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

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Home » Cruise Tips » Dos and Don’ts for Decorating Your Cruise Ship Cabin Door

Dos and Don’ts for Decorating Your Cruise Ship Cabin Door

Find out everything you need to know about decorating your cruise ship cabin door, including which cruise lines allow it and which don't.

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If you’re a first-time cruiser, perhaps one of the items not on your initial vacation to-do list is decorating your cruise door. But if you cruise often, you’ll come to find that on many cruise lines, decorations on cabin doors are a fun way that some passengers express their personality and display their excitement about the sailing. Whether it’s a banner to mark a milestone birthday or a wreath during Christmas, cruisers have been known to take full advantage of door real estate to transform their stateroom into a home away from home for the entire voyage — from the outside in.

Of course, even cruise door decorations aren’t without a little controversy. Some passengers lean into the over-the-top embellishments. Others feel it’s a bit tacky. Even cruise lines are divided on the issue of decorating cruise ship doors. Some actually ban the practice claiming it’s a fire hazard.

So ultimately, what are the dos and do nots of decorating your cruise door? Find out everything you need to know if you’re curious about snazzing up the door of your cruise ship cabin — including which lines don’t allow it. 

Do check whether your cruise line allows door decorations.

Many family-friendly cruise lines embrace their guests’ creative compulsion to dress up their stateroom door. Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Princess Cruises all allow cruise door decorations. These can range from enthusiastic cutouts of Disney characters with kids’ names on them to hanging hearts for a honeymoon or anniversary celebration.

But even cruise lines that allow door decs have restrictions, which should be followed closely for safety reasons. For example, Carnival’s policy does not allow the use of materials deemed flammable or not fire retardant. In addition, they must be manufactured as flame retardant and can’t be transformed using a flame-retardant spray.

To avoid your room steward having to disassemble your cruise door masterpiece, read the fine print for your cruise ship before boarding with an entire bag of ribbons and posterboard.

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Don’t decorate your cruise door if the cruise line prohibits it.

This one is straightforward. Door decorating is a blast, but don’t do it if the cruise line tells you not to. If you’re cruising with a line that doesn’t allow anything on your door and you do decorate, it’s possible that your stateroom attendant will clean it off with a warning.

Cruise lines that don’t allow door decorations include but aren’t limited to:

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Virgin Voyages

Do use door decorations to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays.

If you and your travel party have established that (approved) cruise door decorations are permitted onboard your ship, then get ready to unleash your inner design artist. Surprise a friend or loved one by decorating their door for a birthday, bachelorette party, or a “just because.” Not only will they feel special every time they get to their stateroom but having a jazzy cruise door is also extremely helpful in spotting your cabin.

Not everyone is crafty, and that’s totally fine. Cruisers can easily purchase or customize online door signs and magnets intended for cruise ships. The best part is that some of them already adhere to cruise line rules about door décor materials. Others are even ready to adhere to the door. (Most cruise doors and cabin walls are metal and therefore work with magnets).

Don’t damage the door with your decorations.

Even if your materials are up to code, make sure you don’t affix them with tape or anything that could damage the door. After all, while it is your room for the week, it is still company property of the cruise line.

As mentioned, most cabin doors will be metal and should work easily with magnets. Though, there are some models with a wooden veneer. In many cases, Command strips that are easily removable after a few days might be a good option. If you’re not sure about the surface of your door, ask your travel advisor or look up some photos and reviews online to see if you can gage whether the door will be magnetic.

For those looking to turn their cruise door into a spectacular display of lights, know that no string lights or anything of the kind is allowed on the door or anywhere else in the corridor. This also extends to the ceiling of your cabin and your balcony if you have one. Regardless of cruise line, these rules are basic safety measures to avoid fire hazards and obstruction of the hallways.

If you do damage your door or insist on hanging prohibited materials, you could face a fine from the cruise line for the infraction.

Do use your cruise door as a way to engage with friends and fellow passengers.

We’re not talking about inciting a lively debate over politics. Consider hanging a white board and erasable marker so you can write simple messages or communicate with others in your cruise group.

Remember to only decorate a door even your mom could be proud of, meaning vulgarity is never acceptable. Not only will offensive content be removed from a cruise door, but you’re bringing bad vibes onboard. And, that is simply not cool.

Ask a question or a riddle, play Tic-Tac-Toe…the options for an entertaining cruise communique via door go on and on.

The holidays are an especially popular time to leave goodies on the door. Attach a small bucket or bag on Halloween so cruisers — or crew — can go “trick or treating”. Or, hang a few candy canes in December. A cruise vacation is all about having a good time, so spread the cheer beginning with your door.

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Don’t let fish extenders or pineapples confuse you.

On Disney Cruise Line specifically, you’ll find pouches hanging from a wooden dowel attached adjacent to many cabin doors. These are called “fish extenders”. The name is derived from the metal fish above each stateroom number on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. While this little metallic adornment varies by ship class (it’s a seahorse, for example, on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy), its purpose it to hold documents and tickets left by your room steward.

It also conveniently allows these fish extenders to hang, serving as a place for little gifts. Make your own fish extender or find an elaborate variety on websites like Etsy. Not only is it a place for friends and family to leave surprises for the kiddos, but prior to sailing, some Disney cruisers take to message boards to organize a White Elephant-style gift exchange for anyone who wants to participate.

In terms of the pineapple, it might seem like a festive, tropical fruit to brighten up your door for a Caribbean cruise. However, it’s worth mentioning that it has an alternative meaning when placed on a cruise door. Used in many cultures to symbolize hospitality, a pineapple on a door aboard a ship could signify that the couple inside is very hospitable…and open to meeting other like-minded couples, if you catch our drift.

Are you known for decorating your cruise door? What types of themes and décor have you used to decorate your cruise ship cabin? Drop us an anchor below with some inspirational tips.

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Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

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Disney Cruise Line Stateroom Door Decorations

One of the most unique activities families love to do on Disney Cruises is to decorate your stateroom door. While this is certainly not necessary, it is a lot of fun, and it makes your door easy to find! It’s also a great way to celebrate and show other cruisers what you’re celebrating!

This week, I got to sail on the Disney dream courtesy of the nice folks at Disney Media Relations. I saw some really clever door decorations, and I wanted to share them with you!

As you can see, decorating your door is fun for you and for other cruisers!

There are a couple of things you need to know though. Most doors are magnetic, so Disney welcomes you to use any magnetic decorations. However, the Concierge room doors on the Dream and the Fantasy are wooden, so magnets won’t work there.

Remember not to use any adhesives like tape or 3M, and Disney doesn’t allow any over-the-door decorations. Any doors that are damaged are subject to a $100 fee.

Have you decorated your stateroom door? Share a picture!

Cruise Cabin Door Decorations: The Ultimate Guide for Cruisers

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A Guide to Cruise Ship Door Decorating

Are you going on a cruise and planning to decorate your cruise cabin door? Decorating your stateroom door is a great way to make sure you always find your cabin, and have a little fun along the way.

However, there are a few things you’ll need to know before you go out and buy any cruise door decorations.

In this post, we’ll go over the cruise line rules and policies for cabin door decorating, as well as some frequently asked questions. You’ll find some tips and great ideas for decorating your cruise cabin door, as well as photos from real cruisers which are included throughout this post.

Should You Decorate your Cruise Cabin Door?

As long as your cruise line allows it and you follow the rules, why not? Decorating your cabin door is a fun thing to do , especially if you’re going on a family cruise , group cruise or even if you want to celebrate a special occasion or anniversary.

Benefits to Decorating your Cruise Cabin Door

In my Life Well Cruised Facebook community , many people who decorate their cruise cabin doors, cited the benefits.

• It makes it easier to find your cabin, even if you’ve had too much “ drink package” .
• You can personalize your stateroom door, as they all really look the same
• It’s fun to participate and see many doors that are uniquely decorated, like looking at store windows
• It’s a great way to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries
• You can decorate for Christmas and other holidays
• It’s a focal point on a long hallway
• It’s a great activity for a group or family cruise (door decoration contest)
• It makes it feel even more like home

Can You Decorate Your Stateroom Door on All Cruise Lines?

Cruise cabin door decoration is quite popular on Carnival and Disney Cruise Line, however you’ll find people who enjoy decorating their cabin doors on many cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises .

The exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. In August 2019, Norwegian banned cruise cabin door decorations , citing safety concerns.

Guidelines for Cruise Ship Door Decorating

Here are the rules and guidelines to follow if you decide to decorate your cabin door.

Firstly, make sure that your decorations are not placed on the door frame, wall, railings or light fixtures. To avoid damaging your cabin door, use magnets or command strips. Tape, glue and other adhesives are forbidden.

For safety reasons, all decorations must be made of flame retardant materials. No string lights are allowed on the door or in the hallway.

Most cruise cabin doors, like the walls in your stateroom, are metal . This makes decorating with magnets a preferred way to adhere the decorations. Many cruisers even make their own personalized magnets at home from photos and pictures.

However, suites on some cruise ships may have wood doors. Make sure to check your cruise line website for their current cruise cabin decoration policy.

Cruise Line Door Decoration Official Policies:

Carnival Cruise Line stateroom decoration policy

Disney Cruise Line door decoration policy

Read next: 30 Cruise Cabin Hacks All Cruisers Need to Know

Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Ideas

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

Life Well Cruised is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

In addition to the cruise door decoration pictures included throughout the post, here are some of fun door decoration magnets that you can order, and in many cases, personalize for your cruise.

10 Fun Cruise Door Magnets and Banners

1.  drink package magnet decoration – personalized.

This magnet sign is a lot of fun, whether or not you’ve got the drink package . Of course, personalizing it with your family name makes a great photo!

Check on Amazon here:  CAUTION We got the drink package sign

2.  Carnival funnel personalized magnet decoration

A great buy or gift for any Carnival cruise fans , these magnets are also great as cabin door decorations.

Check on Amazon: Personalized Carnival funnel magnets (see details here)

3.  Royal Caribbean cabin door magnet

If you’re a Royal Caribbean fan, how cute are these personalized magnets ?

Check on Amazon:  Royal Caribbean magnet decoration (see info & reviews here)

4.  Disney inspired personalized door magnet sign

I love this Disney magnet door sign set, which can be personalized for the entire family.

Check on Amazon:  Personalized Disney door decoration (see awesome reviews here)

5.  Nautical cruise magnet – available for ALL cruise lines

This nautical magnet decoration is available for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and most popular cruise lines. You can personalize with a family name, or even “Girl’s trip” or “Anniversary Cruise”.

6.  “Our First Cruise” door sign

If you’re a first time cruiser , this cruise cabin door sign is perfect. Like any of the other magnetic door decorations, it can be personalized.

Check on Amazon:  Our First Cruise Magnet Door Decoration

7. Birthday banner door decoration

Decorate your cabin and door for a birthday on a cruise!

Check on Amazon here: Cruise theme Happy Birthday Banner 

8.  Photo sticky frames – DIY door decorations

These removable adhesive frames are perfect for photos, pictures, collages and printed signs. They can also be used inside your cabin on the walls to keep your cruise itinerary or any other information.

9. Disney Fish Extender

If you’re going on a Disney cruise, then you’ve probably heard of the tradition of decorating your cabin door with a f ish extender for fish exchange extender gifts. You can also decorate your Disney fish extender with personalized items. This is a great family activity as well as a great roll call or group cruise activity. See details here .

Check on Amazon: Disney fish extender (see info & pricing on Amazon)

10. Cruise Ship Sign Plaque

“I have no cruise control… It’s like the cruises book themselves!”

If you’re a cruise addict, you’ll love this sign to decorate your cruise cabin door, or inside your cabin or even to use at home.

Check on Amazon: Cruise control sign (verify price on Amazon)

Read more:   50 Best Gifts for Cruisers (that are unique & practical)

Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner

Regular price: $27 now just $17.

Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Tips (from real cruisers)

Traveling with magnets

If you have your magnet decorations in your luggage, cruisers suggest labeling the items in an envelope or bag with “magnets” written. As well, if you have your magnet decorations in your carry on bag at the airport, let the TSA agents know that you have magnets in your bag.

Cabin Door Decorating Contents

Group cruise.

If you’re planning a group cruise with family or friends, consider organizing a fun cruise cabin door decorating contest. As everyone to make their decorations different, and have a fun prize like a bottle of wine or champagne, a cruise t-shirt or even a $25 on-board credit ( OBC ).

If you use one comment element, like a group cruise logo magnet, it can also be a good way to identify those in your cruise.

Read more:   Cruise On Board Credits (OBC): How Can You Use Them?

Even if you’re not on a group cruise, if you’re part of a cruise roll call on Cruise Critic or Facebook and you have an active group, a cabin door decorating contest can be a lot of fun!

Leave Notes on Your Door

Some cruisers place a small whiteboard on their cabin door so that people can leave notes. Others may write a message or a joke that gives people a smile as they pass the cabin.

Decorate for the Holidays

Even if you’re not part of a group, if you’re cruising over Christmas or Halloween, you’ll find that many people decorate their cabin doors or even their cabin.

Even if you’re cruising over the New Year or Thanksgiving (or any other holiday), decorating can add to the cruise experience and travel memories!

•   How is Christmas Celebrated on a Cruise (what to expect)
• 15 Special Ways to Celebrate Christmas on a Cruise

What Should You NOT Do When Decorating Your Cruise Cabin Door

Sometimes people ask if anything is off limits when it comes to decorating your cabin door. Cruise lines that allow door decoration ask that you “keep it clean”. In other words, don’t include profanity or “adult” photos on your cabin door. This is especially true if you’re on a family cruise .

What about pineapples? You may ask

I find this mildly amusing, as I like pineapple decor. However, ever since I learned of what pineapples on a door can actually mean, I cannot look at pineapples in the same way.

While I could send you to google this, I may as well explain if you haven’t heard this yet.

Pineapples on a door mat or as a door decoration are supposed to signify hospitality and welcome. However, it has more significance for those that know…

Pineapples on a door is a code that “swingers” use to let others know about their “interests”. Upside down pineapples are said to mean the couple is actively looking for more than friendship.

So, on land, and on cruises, if you see pineapples on a door, it may mean more than you know. Of course, it may just be that they like pineapple decorations or that they have friends with a sense of humor ;-).

Read more: 25 Strange and Surprising Cruise Ship Facts

More Useful Items to Bring on a Cruise

Here are 8 cruise essentials that many cruisers bring on each and every cruise.

I’ve included Amazon links so you can click and verify pricing and reviews of all items.

Packing cubes  – They really just make packing and unpacking easier, and nothing will make you feel more organized for your cruise (or any type travel)

Reusable luggage tags – It’s a good idea to buy luggage tag holders before you cruise. You’ll simply slip the printed luggage tags (from your cruise line) into the durable plastic sleeves and attach them to each suitcase.

Magnet hooks  – Cruise cabin walls are metal. This is why  magnet hooks  are a top recommendation by avid cruisers to add extra hooks and storage to your stateroom.

Over the door organizer –  A cruiser favorite, you can fit a lot of items in the organizer, and hang it on the bathroom door or cabin wall. This is really helpful for families cruising with kids .

Hanging toiletry bag –  this toiletry bag is a huge space saver, as it can hang on bathroom door or even magnet hooks.

Large zippered nautical stripe beach bag –  an awesome beach bag that can hold 4 big towels and everything you need on shore excursions. I use it as a cruise carry-on bag as well.

Bonine (seasickness meds)  – Make sure to bring along your favorite non drowsy motion sickness medication. Personally, I find  Bonine  to be very effective without negative side effects (for my family).

Going on a cruise? Here are some articles to read next:

What I Wore on a 7 Day Caribbean Cruise (Cruise Outfits with Photos & Links)

How to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise: 10 Tips that Work

17 Cruise Cabin Essentials to Organize (& more)

What To Wear on a Cruise Vacation (dress codes & more)

50 Must-have Cruise Essentials from Amazon

15 First Things to Do on a Cruise Immediately After Boarding

Cruise Luggage Tags and Holders (info & tags)

Final Thoughts: Cruise Cabin Door Decorations – The Ultimate Guide for Cruisers

Decorating your cruise cabin door can be a lot of fun, and a great way to highlight a special occasion like a birthday, anniverasy or graduation. Many cruisers buy door decorations, however you can get creative and make your own as well.

Have you ever decorated your cabin door on a cruise? If not, is this something you’d like to do in the future? I would love to hear about your experience! Please share your tips in the comments below.

Happy cruising!

If you found this post helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Share it on Facebook or Save for later Pinterest (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

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We were on NCL in May 2022. We put a few decorations on our cabin door with magnets, and no one told us to take them down. Maybe NCL has changed it’s policy

That’s great. I’ve heard this anecdotally from a few cruisers. Thanks for sharing your experience Annie.

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New Policy on Disney Cruise Line Door Decorations

There is a new policy for passengers on board for Disney Cruise Line door decorations. Many passengers enjoyed decorating their stateroom doors with pictures, characters, name tags, and more.

Disney Cruise Line now requires all passengers to refrain from using any type of adhesive (including removable gel adhesives) or over-the-door hanging organizers on their cabin doors. Passengers are only permitted to use magnetic decorations now. According to Disney, these adhesives can cause damage to the appearance and overall condition of the doors.

Disney’s Media Relations Manager, Jacqueline Lorenzetti, reported that any passengers found with a nonmagnetic decoration will be reminded of the policy. If the decorations are not removed, the cabin occupant faces a $100 fee to cover the cost of repairs for damage to the door.

Letters containing this message will be available to guests in every cabin. Magnetic door decorations are available for purchase on-board in merchandise areas and at guest services.

Disney’s official statement reads:

“As you may be aware, it is important to us to keep our facilities looking their best for all our guests. As part of our commitment to this area of focus, we ask that you do not affix anything to your stateroom door utilizing tape or any adhesive, including removable gel adhesives. We have found that these adhesives damage the finish on our stateroom doors; therefore we ask that you limit door decoration to those of the magnetic variety. 

Concurrently, we ask that guests not use over-the-door hanging organizers as they have been found to scratch and/or disfigure stateroom doors and trim.”

What do you think of the new policy on Disney Cruise Line door decorations? Do you decorate your cabin door?

Do you want to learn more about a Disney Cruise or are you ready to book your Disney Cruise? Siera, an authorized Disney vacation planner, can help!  When  Siera  isn’t helping plan Disney vacations, you can find her  spreading magic  on  Facebook  and Twitter. Plus,  you will receive a free gift card when you book with her! 

Related articles

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• New Orleans Could Be a New Port for Disney Cruise Line (chipandco.com)

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One thought on “ new policy on disney cruise line door decorations ”.

This is good to know. I only use magnets on the outside door, but do like taking my over the door hanger. I may experiment with magnets to see if I could attach one with magnets or in the closet on hangers.

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How to Order Disney Cruise Line Room Decor and Onboard Gifts

By: Author tanialamb

Posted on Published: November 7, 2022

Sailing on Disney Cruise Line is so much fun! You can decorate your Disney Cruise Line stateroom with your own decor or you can order room decor through Disney Cruise Line, so your room is already decorated when you walk in for an even bigger wow factor!

Photo: Disney

How to Order a Disney Cruise Line Room Decor Package

If you want to add a little extra pixie dust to your Disney Cruise Line room, you can order a Disney Cruise Line room decor package through Onboard Gifts . 

And it’s not only room decor! You can order Birthday Cakes, jewelry, sweets and snacks, alcohol, Star Wars and Marvel themed gifts and more. if you’re not the one sailing, you can also surprise a friend or family member with any of these options!

All packages and gifts must be ordered at least 3 days in advance of sail date. You can browse gift and room decor options with a reservation number or by port as some options may be different. 

Personally I’d rather spend my money on a room decor package to take home some souvenirs, because there is so much food and desserts on board the ships! Or I’d splurge on Palo Brunch as it’s my favorite meal.

Birthday Celebrations on Disney Cruise Line

There is also a birthday room package for Disney Cruise Line to help celebrate a birthday. Or again, you can also bring some of your own room decorations from home.

We did order my daughter a birthday cake in January of 2022 while we were onboard, and it was a fun surprise for her! We had to order at least 24 hours in advance at Guest Relations and they delivered it to her during our main dining room time. We were so full and had so much cake leftover!

Disney Merrytime Cruise Room Decor Packages

How cute is this Merrytime Cruise Christmas Decor package? For some reason it’s not showing up online through Onboard Gifts, but many guests have said you can order it by calling Disney Cruise Line directly. 

You’ll receive the room banners, blanket, pillow, and Goofy scarf all for around $100. 

All aboard for holiday fun!

This Santa Mickey pillow is adorable!

There are so many magical ways to surprise and delight guests on Disney Cruise Line. You could also make a reservation at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or buy your teens Disney Cruise Line wifi 😉  Or how about running the Castaway Cay 5k together?

No matter what your family’s love language is, you’re sure to have a great time on board. Bon voyage!

Disney Cruise Line Tips for First Timers

D isney Cruises can be so much fun for families. In addition to the daily port visits, you will also enjoy activities, shows, fun kids’ clubs, delicious food, character greetings, shopping, and so much more.

If you are headed out on your first Disney Cruise Line cruise, you’ll definitely want to be prepared. Preparing for a cruise can often be stressful for families, especially if you aren’t sure what to expect. Since we absolutely want you to have the best experience, here are a collection of Disney Cruise Line tips for first timers.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and purchasing and/or clicking on some of the links (or calling the number) may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. We’ve been on a media preview cruise and two cruises as part of Disney Social Media Moms (as well as 12+ cruises that I paid for on my own). All opinions are my own.

Book Your Disney Cruise

First, you’ll want to book your cruise. If you really aren’t sure what to do, it’s a good idea to go with a Disney travel agent, who can help you remember key dates (for final payments, etc). Otherwise, you can book directly through Disney. You’ll need to research sailing dates, ships, itineraries, and stateroom categories before you book.

When booking a Disney Cruise, I recommend booking with Get Away Today. Plus, when you mention Family Travel Magazine, you get an extra $25 on board credit! Give their agents a call at 877-510-2929.

Think about the type of experience you want to have. Obviously, an Alaskan cruise is much different than a Caribbean cruise. For a first cruise, I like the Disney Wish 3-day itinerary. It’s a good way to get started cruising, without too much risk. Many families even combine that agenda with a Walt Disney World trip for a Disney land and sea vacation .

Disney Cruise Line currently has five ships (the Dream, the Fantasy, the Wish, the Magic, and the Dream). While these ships do vary in size and amenities, I would generally recommend starting with the itinerary you want to go, rather than the ship.

You’ll also have your choice of staterooms. My family typically books a family stateroom with verandah. I like being able to stand out on the verandah throughout the day, and it also extends the room a bit. Other options include interior, oceanview (but no balcony), and concierge rooms.

When you book, you’ll also choose a seating time for dinner. I prefer the earlier time when traveling with my kids. Be sure to select a time when booking your cruise, and if your preferred time isn’t available, you can get on the waitlist.

Research Your Disney Cruise 

After you’ve paid your deposit, it’s a good idea to do some research – about the ship, and the ports of call. You’ll find that there are so many excursions offered, and you’ll want to book them ahead of time because they do fill up.

Keep in mind the ages of your kids – some of the excursions are definitely too challenging for younger kids, but the Disney Cruise Line website does a fantastic job showing that info. You should also research the different entertainment and dining options available on board, that way you know exactly what to expect.

Remember that you don’t have to do an excursion in every port, if you don’t want to. There’s always the option to explore on your own, or to stay on the ship.

In Grand Cayman , for instance, I booked a day stay at a hotel on Seven Mile Beach. I contacted the hotel directly for that, and just took a cab to and from our destination. Just keep in mind that you’ll be responsible for getting yourself back to the ship in time at the end of the day. If you don’t want to be worried about that, booking an official excursion is your best option.

Book Hotel, Airfare, and Transportation

I always recommend arriving the night before sailing if you are flying into your port of call. That will help avoid the potential of flight delays.

If flying into Orlando International Airport , I like to stay at the  Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport  (see the  reviews on TripAdvisor  and book here ). You should also plan transportation to the port.

When we sail out of Port Canaveral , I prefer to take the Disney shuttles, which makes it nice and easy. Port Miami and Port Everglades (in Fort Lauderdale) are very close to the respective airports, which makes it easy to get there.

Check In For Your Disney Cruise

As a first-timer, you’ll be able to check-in 75 days before sailing. Disney Castaway Club members are able to check in earlier, which means that you may find some excursions that are already booked up by the time you check-in.

I definitely recommend that you already know which excursions you want, so you can book them right after checking in. Prepare a second and third choice option as well.

At this time, you’ll also fill out the guest information form, the payment authorization form for your on board purchases, and some other forms. If you need special services when on board, this is the time to request them.

You can also book certain on board experiences, like a meal at Palo. Because you’ll be one of the last to check in, you’ll want to do it right when your booking window opens. Your cruise will have to be all paid off before you are able to book anything.

Prep Door Decorations and Fish Extenders

If you aren’t aware, many Disney Cruise Line guests participate in a fun little unofficial program called  Fish Extenders . Essentially, you get together with other families and swap little gifts throughout your cruise. It’s completely optional, but can be a fun thing to do. My fish extender post contains all of the information that you need to know.

In addition, many families decorate their stateroom doors, so you’ll want to check out my post on decorating your Disney Cruise Line stateroom door  if you are interested in doing that.

Most families do some form of decorating, so you’ll probably want to do at least something. It’s a good way to be able to identify your door among the sea of doors that look exactly the same.

A relatively new tradition on cruise ships (not just Disney) is cruise ducks. It’s completely unofficial, but some guests hide rubber ducks on the ship for others to find. You can learn more about cruise ducks on this post.

Shop Before Your Trip and Pack Appropriately

There are shops on the ship, but they aren’t open when the ship is in port, and they have a limited selection of merchandise. So, you’ll want to have everything you need in your suitcase . Be sure to pack any medications you definitely need, as well as anything that you may potentially need on your trip.

Bags are delivered throughout the afternoon and evening, so you’ll want to pack a day bag for the first day on the Disney Cruise Line . We typically put essentials, sunscreen, medications, electronics, and evening dinner apparel in our day bag.

That way, if our suitcases don’t show up before dinner, we are still prepared. We also put our door decorations in that day bag so we can start decorating right away.

You won’t be able to get in your room until the early afternoon, so you won’t want your day bag to be too heavy. If your kids are older, you may want everyone in your family to carry a small backpack to spread out the weight.

If you are traveling to a warm weather destination, you may find yourself wearing a bathing suit much of the day. In that case, you may not need as many daily clothing items as you’d expect.

We often rewear things on a longer cruise because we aren’t wearing them for more than a few hours. Overpacking isn’t a big deal – but keep in mind that there isn’t tons of space in your stateroom.

If your ship will have a pirate night , you may want to bring pirate apparel. It’s totally optional, but many guests do dress up. We never dress up for pirate night, but we are generally in the minority. You’ll see all levels of pirate dress, from t-shirts and bandanas to full costumes.

Bring whatever you are comfortable in. Kids may like to have glow sticks for pirate night as well.

There are a few cruise specific things you may want to bring. The doors in the room are magnetic, and along with door decorations, I like to bring magnetic hooks.

That gives us a few places to hang wet clothes beyond the shower. I bought ours at the Container Store, but these from Amazon.com are similar. You may also want to purchase autograph books in advance. They are also available on the ship, but shops don’t open on the first day until after you set sail.

If you are participating in a fish extender exchange , in addition to your gifts, you’ll want to buy or make a fish extender. There are lots of options on Etsy. Fish extenders can be as deluxe or as basic as your want. I’ve seen some people use a tote bag, while others have personalized, embroidered fish extenders.

Activities on the Ship

Even if your kids don’t generally love kids’ clubs, they’ll probably love the clubs on the Disney Cruise Line. As a result you may find yourself with some free time.

When you book at the activities available to book on the app, you’ll probably see some availability for beverage seminars. These are adult-only, and include martini tasting, wine tasting, and mixology. I’ve done most of them, and we always enjoy them.

During your cruise, you’ll be using the Disney Cruise Line app often. You’ll want to download that while you are still able to access cellular data. The app includes a daily schedule, menus, and information about the various ports of call on the trip.

You can also communicate with other passengers on the ship using the app, even if you don’t purchase WiFi or have cellular service turned on. My family regularly uses the app to communicate because it’s a great way to keep in touch as we head in different directions throughout the day.

Disney’s Castaway Club

Once you’ve completely your first sailing on the Disney Cruise Line, you’ll be a member of Disney’s Castaway Club. Castaway Club members receive a lanyard at check in.

For your first sailing, you won’t receive one. They are pretty handy to have, however, so you may want to bring a regular lanyard or purchase one on board to hold your Key to the World card.

Disney Cruise Line is rolling out MagicBand use on the ships. These are optional, and you do have to purchase them separately.

You won’t have to sign up to become a member of the Castaway Club – it just happens when you complete your first sailing. There are four levels of the club, and you’ll get different perks and benefits as you sail more times.

What’s Included on a Disney Cruise Line trip

As you budget for your Disney Cruise Line trip, you’ll probably want to know what’s included. Alcohol, packaged snacks, premium coffee, popcorn, excursions, premium meals (in Remy, Enchante, and Palo), photos, the spa, and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique all cost extra. If you don’t prepay your tips, you’ll do that on board as well.

To know what to expect on your first day, be sure to read this post .

More Disney Cruise Ships Resources: Click to read more about the Disney Cruise Line ships including restaurants, tips, itineraries, activities, and more.

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