Frequently Asked Questions About Disney Cruises
Planning a Disney Cruise for your family can be overwhelming. You’ll have many questions, like which ship or itinerary is the best and whether you want to book excursions. Will there be too many kids on the ship? Let’s answer some of the most popular questions about Disney Cruises.
Pro Planning Tip: We recommend using Jessica Lieb with ET Family Travel to book your Disney vacation!
What is the Target Demographic for a Disney Cruise?
Are Disney Cruises designed only for kids and families, or will everyone be able to enjoy their time on the ship? Disney cruises are a great vacation destination for just about everyone. While Disney Cruise Line may not have a party atmosphere like some cruise lines, there is something that everyone onboard will enjoy.
Babies + Toddlers
If you have a baby or toddler, a Small World Nursery offers childcare services. It is an extra charge, paid by the hour, but it is a great option for mom and dad to have a date night on the ship.
Kids + Teens
If you have kids and teens, they can meet new friends and enjoy activities designed explicitly for them. Kids ages 3-10 can enjoy the Oceaneers Club. Tweens ages 11-13 can take on an interactive place space at Edge. Teens ages 14-17 can kick back with games and entertainment at Vibe.
Adults
When it’s just adults, they’ve gone there to hang out, too. Like the adults-only pool, lounges, spa, signature dining experiences, and the adults-only beach at Disney’s island destinations. There are even adult-only games and activities listed on the daily itinerary.
Why Are Disney Cruises So Expensive?
When you compare the price of a Disney Cruise to the prices of Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruises, Disney is typically a more expensive experience. The primary reason for the extra expense is the Disney part of the cruise. When you go on a Disney Cruise, you’re not just dining, lounging, and going to the beach. You’re dining with Anna and Elsa to celebrate a royal engagement. You’re lounging at Soul Cat to hear jazz music or spending time with Mickey and Minnie in between making sand castles. You’re watching Broadway-style shows that bring classic Disney animated films to life on stage.
While you are paying for the Disney brand, a Disney Cruise also offers top-tier service, well-maintained ships, and an overall elevated cruising experience.
Why Would I Pay More for a Disney-Themed Cruise?
Disney Cruises offers an immersive experience where guests can interact with popular Disney characters, but does that mean Disney cruises are better than other cruises? It depends. In the same way, you’d compare Disney parks to other amusement parks. Most amusement parks offer roller coasters and fried food at a lower rate with fewer frills. While a theme park like Disney will drop you into a new world and build a story around your ride experience. This means your overall park ticket will be pricier for the immersiveness alone. In the same way, Disney Cruise Line offers an immersive experience. You’re not just on a ship but inside a story with your favorite characters.
Do You Have To Dress Up For Dinner?
It depends. When you go to dinner on your Disney Cruise, you can take it as casually or fancy as you like. Most of the time, unless you opt for specialty adult-only dining, you’ll be dining in one of the 3 rotational dining locations. Each rotational dining room will have different themes depending on which ship you sail. Things stay pretty casual on a three- or four-night cruise in the Disney dining rooms. However, you can dress up like a pirate on Pirate Night, a specially-themed night that happens on every Disney Cruise. There is also an optional dress-up night where you can wear a sports coat, dress, or other nice clothes.
On a 7-night cruise, there will be formal and semi-formal nights that you can choose to attend, too, but this is not a requirement. Adult-only specialty dining restaurants with a required dress code will be the only restaurants onboard the ship. These restaurants cost extra and require reservations.
What is the Disney Navigator App?
The Navigator app has many essential cruise line features to help you before and during your Disney Cruise. You’ll want to download it before or immediately after booking your stateroom. A few of the features in the Navigator app include managing your reservations, equipping you with an onboard chat feature so you can stay connected with your fellow travelers, giving you up-to-date information on daily activities, and much more.
Which Disney Ship is the Best?
Every Disney Cruise ship is similar yet has its own unique features. No matter which ship you choose, you’ll have character meet-and-greets, kids’ clubs, rotational dining, spa services, deck parties, Broadway-style entertainment, and lots of Disney. However, each ship has its own personality, sailing itinerary, themed restaurants, and lounges branded differently, so it really depends on what type of cruise you want to take.
For example, the Disney Magic is the only ship with Rapunzel’s Royal Table, and the Disney Wish is the only ship with the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge. The Disney Wonder is the only ship currently sailing to Alaska, while the Disney Dream has more European-based ports of call. The Disney Fantasy is the only ship with La Piazza, an adult-only lounge featuring a merry-go-round Carosello bar.
To learn more about which Disney Cruise ship has features that best suit your family, connect with travel agent Jessica Lieb. She will guide you through each ship and itinerary and help you choose the best one.
What Food is Included in the Disney Cruise?
You don’t have to pay extra for food on your Disney Cruise if you don’t want to. Most of the meals offered are all-inclusive, including the rotational dining in the evenings, the buffet available during breakfast and lunch, the food court near the pools, and the food locations on Disney’s island destinations. Even the soft-serve ice cream and soft drinks are included.
You can pay extra for other dining options, such as the premium adults-only restaurants. Palo is the most popular adult-only restaurant on all the Disney ships, except the Disney Wish. Palo is open for brunch and dinner and serves specialty Italian dishes. Remy’s high-end dining on the Disney Dream and Fantasy features French-inspired courses in an elegant dining room. On the Disney Wish, the classic Palo has been transformed into Palo Steakhouse, offering Italian options and Steakhouse cuts. Wish also has another signature dining option, Enchante, with international-inspired cuisine. Enchante is Disney Cruise Line’s highest-end experience to date.
The Disney Magic, Fantasy, Dream, and Wonder have a Royal Court Tea Party where kids ages 3-12 can have a tea party with the Disney princesses. The Wish has a similar character dining experience, Olaf’s Royal Picnic.
There are also lounges where you can purchase alcoholic beverages and enjoy the adult vibes in the evening. Lounge choices vary depending on the ship but typically include laidback, musical, or character-themed options. At night, the lounges are only open to guests 21 and older, but they may host activities for families of all ages during the day.
You can pick Other fun specialty treats from the premium cafes and coffee bars. Regular and decaf coffee is included on the ship, but if you want something fancier, like a latte or cold brew, you will have to pay extra. Another fun treat that costs extra is the candy stores. Each ship has a fun premium dessert location with specialty baked goods and over-the-top ice cream sundaes you won’t find anywhere else onboard.
What is the Castaway Club?
Becoming a Castaway Club member is effortless; all you have to do is book a cruise, and when you return home from your cruise, you are officially part of the Castaway Club. You will start your Castaway Club membership as a silver member, enabling you to book extra onboard activities sooner when you book your next Disney Cruise.
The Castaway Club is a rewards program for repeat Disney Cruise guests. Your Castaway Club level determines how soon you can book onboard activities. These activities include adult exclusive dining, the It’s a Small World Nursery, beverage tasting seminars, Bibbidi, Bobbidi Boutique, free princess character meet-and-greets, virtual sports simulators, tea parties, character picnics, private photography sessions, port adventures, island cabanas, and spa and fitness sessions.
First-time cruisers can start booking these extra activities 75 days before their cruise. There is a chance that the more popular activities will be booked up before you can reserve them. Especially the more popular activities like specialty dining, beverage seminars, and cabanas. The higher your Castaway Club membership ranking the sooner you’ll be able to book activities. The more cruises you take the higher up you’ll grow in the rankings with the highest membership level being Pearl.
Castaway Club Levels
Silver – after completing 1 sailing
- Book new itineraries 1 day earlier than the general public
- Book Cruise Activities 90 days before sailing
- Select port arrival times and complete online check-in 33 days prior to sailing
- Unique Castaway Club member communications
- Dedicated Castaway Club phone number
- Exclusive cruise terminal check-in (where available)
- Welcome Back Aboard gift
Gold – after completing 5 sailings
- Book new itineraries 2 days earlier than the general public
- Book Cruise Activities 105 days before sailing
- Select port arrival times and complete online check-in 35 days prior to sailing
- All Silver member benefits
- Special discounts
Platinum – after completing 10 sailings
- Book new itineraries 3 days earlier than the general public
- Book Cruise Activities 120 days before sailing
- Select port arrival times and complete online check-in 38 days prior to sailing
- All Silver and Gold member benefits
- Complimentary dinner at Palo for you and guests sailing in your stateroom
Pearl – after completing 25 sailins
- Book new itineraries 4 days earlier than the general public
- Book Cruise Activities 123 days before sailing
- Select port arrival times and complete online check-in 40 days prior to sailing
- All Silver, Gold and Platinum member benefits
- Complimentary Unlimited Digital Photo Package
You can secure reservations for onboard activities without holding a high Castaway Club level; it’s by booking a concierge-level room. By staying in a Concierge-level stateroom, you’ll pay more for your cruise in exchange for access to the concierge lounge, a personal concierge team, and extra services to make your cruise more relaxing and memorable. You will also get first dibs at all the extra activities bookings regardless of how many Disney Cruises you’ve been on prior. Since concierge guests can start making those premium reservations 130 days prior to sailing.
Pro Planning Tip: We recommend using Jessica Lieb with ET Family Travel to book your Disney vacation!
How Do I Prepare for a Disney Cruise?
The most stressful part about any cruise is everything you must do before setting sail. Preparing well before you sail allows you to lay back and relax during your cruise. There are a few steps you’ll need to juggle before embarkation day, including:
Set up a payment plan that works for you
Working with a Travel Agent like Jessica Lieb with ET Family Travel will help you set up a payment plan that best fits your budget. Your cruise must be paid off before you begin to book onboard activities.
Gather Your Required Travel Documents
Your travel documents will vary depending on your citizenship and cruise destination. U.S. citizens need a valid passport or passport card. If you don’t have a passport or passport card, you can also bring an original copy of a state-issued birth certificate and photo ID. Read more about required travel documents on the Disney Cruise Line website.
You should also bring any vacation confirmation documents, medical or prescription documents, and emergency contact information. Keep all travel documents in your carry-on bag for easy access.
Plan to Booking Additional Activities
Mark your calendar when you can start booking those extra activities so you don’t miss out on your booking window. While you can still make reservations after your initial booking window opens, the sooner you can book, the better. Sometimes, you may skip the extras, and if you change your mind later on, you may be able to snag a last-minute reservation via the Navigator app. If you can’t secure the booking you want before you board the ship, you can visit guest relations as soon as you board the ship.
Pack for Your Disney Cruise
Check out our Disney Cruise Packing List. A few examples of things you may want to pack for your Disney Cruise include:
- excursion reservations and contact information if you didn’t book through Disney
- chargers and USB spitters
- multiple bathing suits
- sweaters and sweatshirts for the cold theaters
- comfortable shoes
- snorkel and beach toys
- reusable water bottles
How Small Are Inside Staterooms?
You can book multiple stateroom options for your group, but the cheapest option is an inside stateroom. Inside staterooms are pretty tight quarters, and you won’t get a window or veranda. However, many inside staterooms on the Disney Dream and Fantasy give you a magical porthole, which gives you the illusion of looking out across the sea and you might see one of your favorite Disney characters float by.
But how small are the inside staterooms? Let’s put it into perspective: one of the smallest hotel rooms you can book at Disney World is a standard room at one of the All-Star Resorts. The standard rooms at All-Star Resorts measure 260 square feet and typically include one queen bed or one kind of bed and a split bathroom. In contrast, an inside stateroom on a Disney cruise ship rooms starts at 169 square feet, so things can get really tight. Depending on the room inside, staterooms can usually sleep up to 3 or 4 guests. You’ll likely not be spending a lot of time in your stateroom, but if you want space to spread out, you may want to splurge a little for the additional square footage.
If you have a bigger group, you may consider booking connecting rooms with an interior door. Talk to your Travel Agent to help you book a connecting stateroom or find the best room for your group.
Is WiFi Worth Purchasing?
When cruising with Disney, the provided Wi-Fi will be very limited. You’ll only be able to use it to access the features on the Disney Navigator app. For some people, that’s fine; disconnecting from the outside is the type of vacation you want. For others, being unable to check in with your friends and family back home might stress you out. Connect@Sea offers internet packages based on your online needs. Instead of paying by the minute, you’ll pay for the data you use. You can share a Connect@Sea package with those in your group by logging into your account on the device you want to use.
Disney Cruise Wifi Options
Stay Connected – Access to Social Media
Pricing Starts at $16 per day
Basic Surf – Acess to Social Media, Internet, Email & Phone Service
Pricing Starts at $24 per day
Premium Surf – Everything in the Basic Surf + Video and Music Streaming
Pricing Starts at $34 per day
If you need to access the Internet during your Disney Cruise, the Wi-Fi packages are reasonably priced and offer reliable, fast service.
Pro Planning Tip: We recommend using Jessica Lieb with ET Family Travel to book your Disney vacation!
When is the Best Time to Take a Disney Cruise?
Of course, this is subjective to your needs and wants. First, you need to ask yourself some questions to help you decide when you want to cruise. These questions will help you narrow down your options.
Where do I want to go?
Many people cruise to visit somewhere new, and Disney offers a multitude of itineraries and destinations. If you have a specific destination in mind, this will determine when you can cruise. For example, cruises to Alaska only occur during the warmer spring and summer months. Certain destinations like the Bahamas and the majority of the Caribbean have sailings available almost all year long, but some are limited to specific times of year.
Do I want a specialty cruise?
During certain times of the year, Disney offers cruises with special themes, such as Marvel at Sea, Halloween on the High Seas, and Very Merrytime Cruises. These cruises offer limited-time entertainment, seasonal treats, and exclusive meet-and-greets.
What type of weather do I want on my cruise?
Tropical overseas destinations like the Bahamas can still be warm during winter, with an average temperature in the 70s and 80s. The Caribbean cruise season can be popular in March and April due to moderate temperatures and people looking for Spring Break trips. During the summer, Alaska is a popular destination, but its slower season is in May since many schools are still in session.
Using a travel agent specializing in Disney Cruises can help you make these decisions. The agent will listen to your needs and wants and offer cruise itineraries that best suit your group.
How Many Disney Cruise Ships Are There?
There are currently five Disney Cruises ships you can sail on, but starting on December 21st, the Disney Treasure will make its maiden voyage as Disney’s 6th ship. In 2025, two more Disney ships will make their maiden voyages, the Destiny and Adventure. Several more ships are slated to sail between 2027 and 2031, bringing the total to 13 ships.
How Much are Gratuities?
When you pay for a stateroom on one of the cruise ships, you’re getting a lot of things included with that price, like food and tons of entertainment. However, there are a few expenses you’ll want to save for, like gratuities. The Disney Cruise website recommends a gratuity amount of $14.50 a night for those staying in a standard stateroom and $15.50 a night for those staying in concierge staterooms. The gratuities you pay will be split between 4 different crew member roles: your dining room server, assistant server, head server, and stateroom host.
Gratuities can be prepaid on the Disney Cruise website or the Disney Navigator app. If you forget to add a gratuity amount for your trip, Disney will add the default to the recommended gratuity amount. However, if you want to change that amount once onboard, you can do so through guest services. Remember that these gratuities do not include other crew members, like room services, adult-exclusive dining servers, port adventures crew members, spa and salon crew members, and the concierge lounge team. It’s a good idea to budget gratuities for these if you care to participate in any of these activities.
How Can I Get Help Planning a Disney Cruise?
Book your Disney Cruise through a travel agent instead of a third-party service or directly with Disney. It’s free! Disney pays your travel agent, giving you access to their expertise at no additional cost. They can answer your questions, assist with planning, and provide personalized recommendations.
Since your agent costs you nothing, you’re already saving time and money. Plus, having a Disney Cruise Line expert available to help you any day is invaluable!
