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Disney Wish 3-Day Bahamas Cruise Review

In our signature day-by-day Disney Wish Bahamas cruise review, we detail our 3 days onboard this new Disney Cruise Line ship.

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Ship overview.

Disney Wish is Disney Cruise Line’s 5th ship. This 144K gross ton vessel is DCL’s first new ship in over a decade and now the largest ship in the fleet. Carrying up to 4,000 passengers, this brand new vessel features a number of new dining concepts, onboard amenities, and one-of-a-kind features that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

While the rotational dining concept remains on Disney Wish, the cruise line has reimagined the three dining venues. Each new restaurant has its own story to tell.

Named for the year The Walt Disney Company was founded, 1923 celebrates the golden age of animation. World of Marvel is the first Marvel cinematic dining adventure, where guests play an interactive role in an Avengers mission with the use of digital screens and special effects. Finally, there’s Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. This dining room brings the Frozen characters to life to celebrate the engagement of Queen Anna and Kristoff with plenty of music and fun.

Disney Wish also features new specialty restaurants and casual dining spots. Palo Steakhouse and Enchante are the upscale, adult-only restaurants that do come at an up-charge. The Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods is a new pool deck favorite. This open-air eatery features five themed food stalls including the new Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue and Donald’s Cantina. Disney Wish is the first in the DCL fleet to offer dedicated quick-service venues for barbeque and Mexican-inspired fare.

In terms of entertainment, there’s plenty for everyone to love. There are three Disney-themed production shows in the Walt Disney Theater along with many other activities occurring at the various lounges around the ship. From character meet & greets, to live music, to parties and games- like the Pirates Rockin’ Parlay Party on the pool deck or the Incredi-Games in the Hero Zone, it will be tough to fit it all in on these short cruises.

When it comes to the pool deck, families have more pools and more deck space than ever before. The ship features six family pools staggered among tiered decks and surrounded by lounge chairs. There’s also the new Toy Story Splash Zone for the little ones and the first of its kind water attraction at sea, the AquaMouse. As guests wind their way through the tubing suspended high above the pool deck, they will be immersed in The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse animated shorts, complete with show scenes, lighting, and special effects.  

The children’s areas on Disney Wish are spectacular too. The Disney’s Oceaneer Club features a number of well-themed play areas. These include the Fairytale Hall, Marvel Superhero Academy, Star Wars Cargo Bay, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, and Mickey and Minnie’s Captain Deck. Here, your kids will have endless opportunities for fun. They can engage in storytelling, arts and crafts, dress-up, toys and games, watching Disney movies, and so much more.

As we mentioned before, adults will love Disney Wish too . Of course, there is the adult-only Quiet Cove. This area features an 18+ sundeck, a whirlpool, an infinity pool, a bar, and a cafe. There’s also the newly located Senses Spa. The Senses Spa features your typical beauty treatments as well as tranquil relaxation areas with plush loungers and swings, including the new outdoor space at the bow of the ship. You can also rejuvenate in the Rainforest room thermal suite. This area features a sauna, steam room, cold room, heated loungers, and more.

Of course, there’s plenty of adult-themed fun on the bar front as well. Perhaps, the most anticipated is the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge with galactically inspired drinks and scenery. There’s also the Princess and the Frog themed bar, The Bayou, with a variety of cocktails and even beignets. If that’s not enough, there’s Nightingale’s piano bar, Keg & Compass pub, and many other bars throughout the ship.

Finally, all guests sailing on Disney Wish are sure to be enchanted by the Grand Hall. The 3-story Grand Hall is truly your castle at sea. With a grand staircase, the starry chandelier, and a life-sized Cinderella statue, the décor is opulent. This area even evolves throughout the day from a gathering space to a theater through the use of special effects, culminating the evening with a special Kiss Goodnight light show.

Now, we have just returned from a sailing on this brand new ship and want to share all the Disney magic with you in our exclusive Disney Wish 3-day Bahamas cruise review.

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Get Deals on Disney Wish Cruises!

Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review – Day 1

Against our own advice.

Due to a family obligation, we flew into Orlando on the morning of this Disney Wish Bahamas cruise review. Against our own advice, we were up at the crack of dawn to drive to the airport. Thankfully, there were no flight delays, so we arrived at the MCO airport by 8 AM.

Prior to the cruise, we completed our online check-in in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. This included choosing a port arrival time. The earliest time slot available was 12:15 PM.

Since this was our first Disney cruise, and we had read that DCL is strict with these arrival times, we inquired about a cruise line transfer from the airport. We learned that the first shuttle was scheduled to depart for the cruise terminal around 9 AM for a cost of just $39 per person. Thus, we hopped on this opportunity in hopes of boarding the ship a bit earlier.

Taking the approximately hour bus ride to the Disney Cruise Line terminal in Port Canaveral, we arrived around 10 AM. Here, we waited outside for an additional 15 minutes or so before being allowed to enter the terminal.

We were through security and the check-in process quickly. We then proceeded to wait in the terminal for over an hour before any guests were allowed onto the ship. Our boarding group 2 was called at 11:50 AM.

Now, we were finally ready to get our first look at the brand new Disney Wish.

Our First Look at Disney Wish

Like usual, we started our Disney Wish ship tour all the way at the top on deck 14. For the next 2.5 hours, we tried to cover as much ground as possible before the areas became too congested with other passengers.

From the several pools and outdoor spaces, to the kids club, and the spa, we couldn’t help but love all the public spaces we had seen so far.

Around 2:30 PM, we decided it was time to take a break for some lunch. Heading to the Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods on deck 11, we opted to try some of the new offerings on Disney Wish. This outdoor food hall is the first to offer BBQ and Mexican quick-service dishes.

We both ended up sampling some tacos from Donald’s Cantina. Our selections were warm and filling. For those that have cruised on Royal Caribbean, we would say the food was a step above the similar El Loco Fresh.

Now that we were nourished, it was time for some mandatory items on our check list, like Muster Drill. This safety briefing is even easier on DCL than some other cruise lines.

First, we needed to visit our muster station, which was the Marvel dining room, where we simply scanned a QR code to check-in. Once checked in, all we had to do was watch a safety video on the app and listen to the Captain’s announcement and sounding of the emergency alarms prior to sail away.

After 3 PM at this point, we finally made our way to deck 8 to check out our stateroom. For this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review, we booked a guarantee deluxe oceanview stateroom with verandah. A couple weeks out from our sailing, we were assigned cabin 8194.

This balcony cabin was located all the way aft on the ship and was actually an accessible cabin with plenty of space. We took a few moments here to collect photos and video of this stateroom and drop off our carry on bags.

Our First Evening Onboard Disney Wish

Wanting to make the most of our short amount of time on the ship, we headed back out to continue exploring, but first coffee. Caffeine was going to be essential to get through this long day!

After checking out more of the indoor bars and lounges, we jaunted back up to the pool deck prior to 4:30 PM for the sail away party.

In typical Disney fashion, this sail away party consisted of a magical celebration with appearances by the Fairy Godmother, Captain Minnie and Mickey, and many of your other favorite characters.

With lots of singing, dancing, and the signature Disney ship horn sounding, it was time to set off on our adventure.

Staying as long as we could, we headed back to the room slightly after 5 PM. With a 5:45 PM dining time, we needed to freshen up and make a costume change before dinner.

Disney Wish continues the Disney rotational dining concept. For those unfamiliar with this concept, guests rotate between three dining venues during the cruise. The waitstaff also rotate, so you can keep the same table number and wait team each evening.

However, Disney Wish does offer three brand new restaurant concepts, each with a unique menu and story to tell. Tonight, we were assigned to 1923. This restaurant pays tribute to the golden age of Hollywood with props, sketches, and other retro decor.

Dinner and Drinks on Disney Wish

Upon checking in at the restaurant, we were escorted to a table for six on the Roy Disney (starboard) side of the venue. Yes, Disney Cruise Line is seating guests with other parties! While we typically prefer a table to ourselves, we did not make a big deal over it as it was only for three days.

Here, we met our waitstaff of Marvin and Jhoni. This team was personable and timely with taking orders and explaining the menus. However, we did have an issue where we were charged for the entire table’s drinks. After visiting Guest Services three times, the issue never got resolved!

To start, we ordered a couple cocktails. I went with a cosmo, while the hubby ordered the signature Riverside Old Fashioned. How can you go wrong with a drink that is topped with bacon?

For appetizers, we sampled three dishes off the menu. The pear and tatsoi salad, burrata and prosciutto, and spiced ahi tuna. All three dishes were pretty average when compared to other cruise lines’ main dining room selections.

In terms of entrees, I opted for the Riverside Roasted Chicken. The chicken dish was a generous portion and was more on par with a dish from a specialty steakhouse on other cruise lines. Don ordered the Peppered Filet Mignon. This entrée was cooked to the perfect medium rare temperature and had just the right amount of seasoning.

His Apple Cheesecake dessert was also a hit. Overall, the trend was that the desserts on DCL shined over other cruise lines.

Following our approximately two hour dinner, we made a dash to the Mickey’s Main Sail shop to purchase some mandatory Disney Wish inaugural merchandise. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones as the store was packed.

Scoring a spirit jersey, inaugural t-shirt, and obligatory ship ornament, Don waited in the check out line while I headed to the theater to secure seats for tonight’s show.

The 8:30 PM show was busy, so we had to deter from our typical portside theater seats. Disney Seas the Adventure is an approximately 40 minute revue show featuring Captain Minnie, Goofy, and some of your other favorite Disney characters. This felt like a show you would see in a Disney theme park. While fun, it certainly wasn’t a Broadway quality performance.

After the show in the Walt Disney Theater, we made our way to the Bayou. This Princess and the Frog themed bar on deck 3 has dazzling décor and a specialty cocktail menu. The venue exudes a New Orleans vibe, right down to the drink menu with cocktails like a hurricane. While enjoying the atmosphere and cocktails, we listened to a set by the Wishers. This 3-piece band played a variety of Disney classics.

Wanting to see and do as much as we could during our three days onboard the ship, we moved on to the next venue around 10:15 PM.

Luna’s is a small two-story theater that hosts adult-only entertainment in the evenings. Tonight’s activity was DCL’s version of the Love and Marriage game show, Match Your Mate. This game show is always fun to watch.

Going strong since 2:30 AM, we had to call it a night when this show ended just after 11 PM.

Tomorrow was our first port of call in Nassau, Bahamas.

Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review – Day 2

Staying on the ship today.

Day 2 of this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review was a scheduled port stop in Nassau, Bahamas. Like most of our cruises, we decided to stay on the ship today. There is a lot to see and do on the new Disney Wish, and we wanted to make the most of it.

Up at 6:30 AM, hubby made the usual morning run for photos and videos, returning to the cabin with some lattes.

The ship was cleared around 9 AM; although, it felt like very few passengers got off the ship. This meant that the outdoor decks were still very busy. In fact, the AquaMouse line was over an hour long by mid-morning.

Our first order of business for the day was to test out the Marceline Market for breakfast. This buffet on Disney Wish offers a variety of selections, as well as both indoor and outdoor seating. At the very back of the venue is an omelet station. Of course, I had to put Disney Wish to the omelet test. And, I have to say that it was better than most cruise lines. The hubby sampled some eggs, quiche, and sausage which he thought were good also.

A Busy Morning Onboard Disney Wish

After breakfast, we spent the next few hours walking around the ship, continuing to capture photos and videos. The weather was hot and sunny, so there were plenty of cruisers enjoying the pools and outdoor amenities. The nice thing about Disney Wish is that there are a number of pools and lounge spaces dispersed throughout the outdoor decks.

The Chip and Dale pool on deck 14 forward is a quieter space away from the other six main pools on decks 11 and 12. Not to mention, there is the Toy Story Splash Zone on deck 12 forward for the little ones and the adult-only Quiet Cove on deck 13.

Around noon time, we made our first drink stop of the day at Wheezy’s Freezies. Located near the kids splash zone, this venue serves up sno-cones and dole whip treats. Of course, we opted for an adult version of dole whip with some rum.

Relaxing in the shade for a bit, it was time to test out more of the stations at the Festival of Foods for lunch. Don grabbed some barbecue from Mickey’s Smokestack, while I grabbed chicken tenders and fries from Goofy’s Grill. We also sampled a slice of pizza from Daisy’s Pizza Pies.

The food items here were all served warm and freshly prepared. We really liked this casual food spot, and it was a clear winner over the buffet. Everything we sampled was good and better than many casual spots on other cruise lines when comparing the BBQ, grill, and cantina; however, Princess and Virgin definitely have better pizza.

Having enough of the heat, we made our way back inside to grab some afternoon lattes before retreating to our cabin. We spent the next couple hours working and enjoying the air conditioning until dinner time.

Worlds of Marvel for Dinner

Night 2 of this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review took us to the Worlds of Marvel for dinner. This dining rotation is assigned to guests based on their staterooms.

Arriving on time, we were escorted to table 411 once again, with our same tablemates and waitstaff. With Avengers theming, digital screens, and even a Quantum Core on every table, we were ready for tonight’s adventure.

To begin the evening, we each ordered a drink from the specialty menu. I ordered the Stinger, and Don ordered the Widow’s Bite. Both drinks were well-balanced.

For appetizers, I started with the potato soup and iceberg wedge salad. The hubby ordered the bao bun and fried shrimp. Of the four selections, only the jumbo fried shrimp was a standout dish.

The entrees too were just average. Don ordered the ribeye steak, and I did the chicken schnitzel. Neither dish was very flavorful. However, once again, the desserts were great. We sampled the PYM doughnut sundae, key lime pie, and cheesecake byte and enjoyed all three of them.

Without giving too much of the experience away, there is a story that unfolds with Ant Man and The Wasp during dinner. The characters may even make a special appearance to thank you for helping to save the day.

While I am not a Marvel fan, even the hubby was not a fan of the interactive show as he thought it did nothing to enhance the dining experience. Personally, this was our least favorite of the three dining venues.

Let’s Make the Jump to Hyperspace

Out of dinner in about two hours again this evening, we continued our “drink around the ship”. Given the Aladdin production in the main theater was not ready for our sailing, there was no show tonight.

First up on this tour was the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge. This Lounge is popular (and small), so it requires reservations. During our sailing, we made a reservation in the Triton Lounge upon boarding the ship for this evening at 8:30 PM. Of note, we have been reading that this experience is now available to book in the app once on the Disney WiFi.

A reservation allows guests to spend 45 minutes in this venue, which is plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and drinks. We sampled the Berken’s Flow and the Chancellor, which were good but on the pricey side.

Honestly, we were expecting a bit more from this venue. After seeing the elaborately themed Star Wars: Cargo Bay kids area, the Hyperspace Lounge didn’t measure up. Still, it is a fun and complimentary experience for adults to enjoy on Disney Wish (drinks will incur a charge).

Next up was Nightingale’s. This piano bar is located nearby on deck 3. Featuring a specialty menu of wines and champagne, this Cinderella-inspired bar has a modern design with a piano and large chandelier as the focal point. Unfortunately though, there was no live music when we visited this venue.

While there were plenty of nighttime activities and character meet and greets, it did feel like live music was a bit lacking.

Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life For Me

Still, we enjoyed our drinks for the next 30 minutes or so before making our way outside for the Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party at 10:15 PM. Playing some classic rock songs, the two lead singers and cast of dancers put on a good show. The short fireworks display at the end of the performance was a perfect way to close out the party.

This is a fun activity for all ages and should not be missed. If you want to step it up a notch, pack some pirate attire for the festivities.

After the party, we headed back inside to pop into one more bar, the Keg & Compass. This nautically-themed pub on deck 5 features a menu with a few craft brews available exclusively on Disney Wish. Unfortunately though, they were all sold out by the time we visited the venue. Still, it is a casual spot to relax with some friends.

The Keg & Compass also offers an a la carte food menu. During our visit, we did not see anyone order any of these food items.

Approaching midnight, we exited to the Grand Hall to watch the chandelier show. Given it was pirates night, the short light show featured a musical excerpt of Pirate’s Life from Peter Pan.

Exhausted from two long days, we needed to get some rest. Tomorrow was already our final day of this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review.

Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review – Day 3

A visit to castaway cay.

Day 3 of this Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review was our second port stop of this short cruise. Today, we were visiting Disney Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas. This was our first time at Castaway Cay. Still, with so much to see and do around the ship, we decided to go ashore for only a couple hours in the morning.

We figured that we could get our remaining photos and videos of the ship minus some of the crowds in the afternoon. After all, we will be returning in October. So, we will have more time to relax and enjoy Castaway Cay then.

Up by 7 AM, we did a bit of work in the morning before heading ashore around 9 AM. We spent about 2.5 hours exploring all the island has to offer. Not realizing how far of a walk it was, we made the trek out to Serenity Bay, the adults only area of the island. Needless to say, we took the shuttle back though.

For those who are not familiar with Castaway Cay, this private retreat in the Bahamas is available only to DCL guests.

The resort has plenty of sandy beachfront, a stingray adventure, a snorkeling lagoon, a small children’s waterpark, bike rentals, beach sports, games, and more. There is also Scuttle’s Cove, the kid’s programming on the island.

Not to mention, there are cabanas available to rent, plenty of bars to quench your thirst, shops, and two BBQ lunch spots. The island lunch is complimentary and includes grill items like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs, along with sides and desserts.

While the food looked tempting, we wanted to fully test out the options on the ship. Thus, we made our way back onboard around noon time.

Checking Out the AquaMouse

After dropping off some gear and getting our air conditioning fix in the cabin, we decided to test out the offerings at Marceline Market for lunch. In general, we are not big fans of buffets, and that held true for this lunch buffet on Disney Wish.

While there was a seafood section in the back, the rest of the stations included many heavier options that we don’t typically eat at lunchtime. Further, there were no real options to customize salads or sandwiches as much of the selections were pre-made. Even the chicken tenders at the kid’s section of the buffet were not as fresh as those at the outdoor Festival of Foods.

Feeling a bit overheated from the island, I decided to go back to the cabin to rest up while the hubby took on the AquaMouse. The quoted wait time was 30 minutes; though, he ended up waiting close to an hour as the ride broke down for a 15-minute period.

The AquaMouse is another signature feature that did not live up to our expectations. More than half of the ride was the conveyor belt lift to the top, and even the rest of the experience was not all that exciting. In our opinion, some of the waterslides on other contemporary cruise lines surpass the AquaMouse on the fun scale.

For the First Time in Forever

Back in the stateroom, we did some work for a couple hours before getting ready for our final dinner of the cruise. Tonight, we were experiencing Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure.

While the food in 1923 was better, we would say this was the best overall dining experience.

Of course, we started our dining adventure with some cocktails. I went with the Frozen Fractals, and Don went with the Ice Harvester. While some tablemates thought the drinks were too sweet, we enjoyed them.

For starters, we sampled the ham and cheese tart, koldtbord (seafood board), and fields of greens salad between the two of us. The ham and cheese tart was the winner in this category. Many other cruisers raved about the baked scallops, but Don is allergic so wasn’t able to try it.

Our entrees consisted of the juniper spiced chicken and the Arendelle kjottkake (Norwegian meatballs and gravy). Both of these dishes were pretty average main dining room selections.

Finally, our dessert selections were the apple cake, Norwegian pancake roulade, and Elsa’s Coronation sundae. The apple cake was the best, as the Norwegian pancake had a very odd presentation.

The premise of the show is that guests are attending an engagement party for Anna and Kristoff. Thus, there’ll be music, there’ll be fun. There is even a special appearance by Olaf! We would liken this to a character dining experience in the Disney parks, with the characters walking around to the tables for photos during dinner.

In comparison to the Marvel show, this one felt more appropriately paired with dinner to provide a bit of fun without being overly distracting.

Our Final Night on Disney Wish

Following dinner, it was on to the final show of the cruise in the main theater. The Little Mermaid is a 60-minute, Broadway-style adaptation of the original film. The singing, dancing, and stage set made for a great performance, even if we thought the ending deviated a bit too much from the original film.

This is definitely a show that you won’t want to miss when cruising on Disney Wish.

After the show, we ascended up to the Rose to complete our drink around the ship. This elegant bar is situated on deck 12 near the two specialty restaurants. The venue also features a signature cocktail menu. I tried Plant & Fleurs while hubby ordered Mrs. Tea on the recommendation of the waitress. Overall, the drinks on Disney Wish were always well-balanced and expertly prepared.

It’s too bad Disney Cruise Line does not offer a drink package though, as the costs can add up pretty quickly.

While we had made another reservation for the Hyperspace Lounge at 11 PM tonight, we decided to close out the evening at our favorite bar on the ship instead, The Bayou.

Here, we enjoyed two espresso martinis while listening to the pianist, Alex, perform an 80’s set. While I enjoyed all the Disney theming throughout the cruise, Don was glad to hear something other than Disney music tonight.

When the set ended at 11:30 PM, we finished up our drinks and headed to the Grand Hall to watch the Kiss Goodnight lightshow at midnight. This was a magical way to end our Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review.

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Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review – Disembarkation

Sea ya real soon.

Alas, our Disney Wish 3-Day Bahamas Cruise Review was already over. However, that didn’t mean our Disney fun was ending just yet. Today, we would be disembarking the ship and heading back to Orlando. We would be spending the next few days at the theme parks.

We were able to score a great deal on the Animal Kingdom Lodge hotel, one on my bucket list for a while. So, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Up at 5:45 AM, we got showered and ready then finished up our packing.

After pricing out Ubers, we decided to book a transfer through the cruise line to our Disney hotel as it was going to be the cheaper option. We were told that we needed to disembark the ship by 7:45 AM. So, we skipped breakfast and completed self-assist disembarkation.

Exiting our stateroom, we were able to score an empty elevator down to the Grand Hall without any issues. It then took about 30 minutes to go from scanning off the ship, through CBP, and loaded onto a bus.

Actually, we were mislead when booking this transfer, as we were under the assumption that there would be multiple buses with the last one departing the cruise terminal at 9 AM. However, we proceeded to sit on the bus for the next hour along with some other unhappy guests.

Finally, we were en route at 9 AM. We arrived at the Animal Kingdom Lodge around 11 AM as we made stops at three other hotels first.

Being our first Disney cruise, we really enjoyed the Disney Wish and can’t wait to get back onboard to experience even more of what this new cruise ship has to offer. In fact, we have another trip already booked for October!

In the meantime, we have a couple busy and exciting months ahead. Stay tuned as we set sail on Oceania Marina, Norwegian Prima, and Valiant Lady this summer.

Did you enjoy our Disney Wish Bahamas Cruise Review? Do you have plans to sail on this brand new Disney Cruise Line ship? Drop us an anchor below to share your DCL cruise reviews!

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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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3-Night Bahamas Disney Cruise Line Report

Our cruise report from the Disney Dream’s 3-night Bahamas itinerary covers a lot of topics, from Disney Cruise Line v. Walt Disney World, to whether Nassau is worth visiting, to the quality of entertainment and dining aboard the ship.

This report details our day by day experience aboard the Disney Dream as we departed Port Canaveral, headed to Nassau, Bahamas, followed by Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island), and everything we did along the way. Over the course of cruise report, we share some of our strategy for making the most of the experience, thoughts on the daily schedule, dining, shows, random anecdotes, and opinions of what we did.

If you don’t care what we have to say, that’s cool, too, as the cruise report include hundreds of photos of the Disney Dream, Nassau, and Castaway Cay. Among these photos are sunset shots from the ship, food photos of everything we ate on Disney Cruise Line, and more.

This trip report is written in a way that (we hope!) allows you to join us vicariously, but also numerous details for those of you debating whether Disney Cruise Line might be worth the money to you, or those who are planning your own cruises. (Spoiler alert: we had a great time on the cruise. Double spoiler alert: there are a couple photos of Olaf in it. You’re welcome .)

You can click on each link below to read through the cruise report. As to some of our past trip reports, this is a pretty quick read…

Part 1 — Destination: Relaxation Part 2 — Stopping in Nassau, Bahamas Part 3 — An Amazing Day at Castaway Cay! Part 4 — Overall Thoughts & Walt Disney World v. Disney Cruise Line

If you just can’t get enough trip report fun, “Like” the DisneyTouristBlog Facebook Fan Page to see more photos and video from our past (and future) trips, including our next cruise aboard the Disney Magic! If you’re new to our trip reports, make sure to check out The Brickers’ Disney Trip Reports page for more of our adventures around the world of Disney.

Planning to set sail aboard one of the Disney Cruise Line ships? Read our comprehensive Disney Cruise Line Guide to prepare for your trip, plan entertainment and other activities, and learn what to expect from your Disney cruise!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Have you ever set sail aboard Disney Cruise Like? What did you think of the experience? Which of the ships is your favorite? Ever done a land and sea cruise with Walt Disney World followed by Disney Cruise Line? Thoughts on dining aboard the Disney Dream? Any thoughts on Nassau, Castaway Cay, other ports, entertainment, or anything else we’ve covered in this cruise report? Any other Disney Cruise Line tips to add or recommendations? If you have questions or thoughts, please share them below and we’ll try to respond!

Written by Tom Bricker

I can say that at dinner I asked for a Mickey bar and they were more than happy to oblige. 😉

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Disney Cruises to the Bahamas Disney Cruise Bahamian Itineraries and Shore Excursions

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The 3 and 4 night Disney cruises are also very popular as an addition to a land-based vacation at Walt Disney World. Many guests start out staying at a Disney resort, and move on to finish their vacation with a relaxing voyage aboard Disney Cruise Line.

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Jingle all the way to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, decked out just for the holidays. Enjoy a barbecue lunch, games, Character experiences and an adults-only beach. Back onboard, celebrate the season with winter wonderland décor, holiday parties, festive activities and more on itineraries departing November through Christmas. Check Dates

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Jingle all the way to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, decked out just for the holidays. Enjoy a barbecue lunch, games, Character experiences and an adults-only beach. Back onboard, celebrate the season with winter wonderland décor, holiday parties, festive activities and more on select itineraries departing November and December. Check Dates

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Setting Sail on a 3-Day Disney Cruise: A Dream Come True Experience

Thinking about setting sail on a 3-day Disney Cruise? It’s the perfect addition to a Walt Disney World vacation – and it makes the ideal pairing for a combination Disney World and Disney Cruise Line trip.

Every Thursday, the Disney Dream departs on a 3 night cruise to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay. Kids love a Disney Cruise. (Disney is trying to keep it secret is that adults love a Disney Cruise, too. Not really.) This is the shortest of the offerings from the Disney Cruise Line. It’s a great idea for first-time cruisers, and even experienced cruise veterans will be blown away by the experience.

Sailing Aboard the Disney Dream

The Disney Dream will be your home for your 3 day Disney Cruise. The Dream is brand new and the 3nd of the Disney Cruise Line’s beautiful vessels. There are over 1,250 cabins on the Dream that can accommodate 4,000 passengers. The Dream is decorated in classic cruise ship style with great Disney touches.

Staterooms on the Dream are larger than the industry average and are designed with families in mind. Several of the outside staterooms and suites have 2 bathrooms (heavenly on a cruise ship). The Dream has some great new features including a waterslide (the AquaDuck) which is a “water coaster” at sea.

Day 1: Sail Away

Sunday is sail away day on the 3 day Disney Cruise and the start of your Dream Come True Vacation

Join the Adventures Away! Sail Away Party . Every cruise ship has a sail away party, this one’s just a little different. It’s a child friendly party led by Captain Mickey Mouse and some of his friends. It starts about 15 minutes after the Dream departs Port Canaveral, Florida. Departure is at 4:00 pm and starts with a blast from the horn. (The horn plays “When you wish upon a star.) During the party, cameras circulate through the crowds projecting video of revelers on the big screen (it’s all G-rated fun.) Streamers and confetti are everywhere. A dance floor covers the Goofy pool and a great time ensues.

The rest of the day is filled with exploration, food, shows and more entertainment than Pluto can shake his tail at.

Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas

Wake up on Day 2 of your Disney Cruise in Nassau, which is located in the Bahama s. Nassau is just about 180 miles from Miami, Florida. During your day in Nassau, you can do all kinds of islandy things.

You can, take tours of old forts that are located around the island. For years the Bahamas served as a base for pirates (of the Caribbean). The Bahamas was a British colony and the British built 3 forts to protect the populace from the menacing horde of mangy pirates. Oh, how the times have changed (or not). Now the pirates come in really big ships.

Also in Nassau is the Atlantis Resort. This is one home of the worlds largest open-air marine habitat. Over 50,000 creatures live in this area. Disney offers a 3 hour guided tour. (Funny, but to some of us that “3 hour tour” thing brings back some interesting memories.)

Jump back on the boat for an evening of great shows and great food as you jet off to …

Day 3: Castaway Cay

Day 3 of your 3-day Disney Cruise (we don’t count day 4), is spent at Castaway Cay. You don’t want to miss this. One of the first things Disney looked for for the Disney Cruise Line was a private island where guests could spend time relaxing before returning to real life. They found a little island that was just perfect and Castaway Cay was born.

Castaway Cay is the perfect way to relax from the cares of the world. It has miles of those picture book white sand beaches surrounded by deep blue water. The water in the Bahamas is perfect for snorkeling and Castaway Cay is snorkeling paradise. Disney has even added some real nice touches for snorkelers. They’ve taken 2 of the old submarines from the old 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride and sunk them just for those who want to snorkel.

Disney has also added typical Disney touches all around the island. You’ll see remnants from airplane crashes and the buildings have been aged to look like they’ve been there forever, but it’s all just Disney magic.

Like most things they do, Disney has thought of pretty much everything. There is an area for adults only. It’s a quiet lagoon complete with open-air massages. You can find something for everyone somewhere on this 1,000 acre island paradise.

Day 4: Back to Reality (Debarkation Day)

When you wake up on Day 4 of your 3-day Disney Cruise (yep, a bonus day), you will probably be arriving back at Port Canaveral. Grab one last breakfast on the Dream before disembarking for the trip either home or to enjoy more of the magic back in Mickeyland. You will be asked to pack up your suitcases and put them out the night before for the ride home. Disembarkation includes a quick (or sometimes not so quick) trip through customs then on to a bus for the trip back to reality.

Want to take a longer trip? You can set sail on a 4-day Disney Cruise Line sailing next time!

Book Your Disney Cruise Line Vacation

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3 Day Disney Cruise Review (Is it worth it?)

Are you considering booking a Disney Cruise vacation with a 3-day itinerary? Maybe you’re afraid 3-night cruises are too short.

Is a 3-day Disney cruise even worth it? Some experienced Disney cruisers will tell you that they would never cruise for less than 7 days and that a longer cruise is always the way to go. That may be true for some, but not everyone has the budget for an extensive Disney cruise vacation.

Maybe you aren’t able to take off work for a long enough period of time to enjoy a week-long cruise. Or perhaps you are worried a cruise isn’t the right type of vacation for your family, and you don’t want to commit to a long itinerary. Regardless of your reasoning for choosing a 3 day Disney cruise, it’s important to note that you will still receive the same amazing service, experience, and activities as those families sailing on Disney Cruise Line’s longer itineraries.

The post below will review my family’s time on a 3 day Disney cruise so that you can see all the reasons why we think a 3-night cruise is totally worth it! We’ll compare prices for short cruises vs long itineraries, and we will discuss the family-friendly entertainment that you’ll enjoy while cruising with Disney .

Disney 3 Day Cruise Price

Let’s be honest, a trip with Disney Cruise Line isn’t the cheapest way to travel. But like many things in travel, you get what you pay for. And the quality Disney provides makes up for the cost. If you are looking for a budget friendly way to sail on Disney cruise ships, the three-day cruises are typically cheaper than those with longer itineraries.

You can really trim down the extra costs by traveling on one of these shorter itineraries, especially if your sail dates aren’t during peak season. For example, my family’s 3-night Disney cruise on the Disney Fantasy was much more budget friendly than the longer cruises we have taken with Disney and other cruise lines.

When you calculate excursions, tips, and items you buy onboard, this statement becomes even more accurate. There are several factors that go into the total price of a Disney cruise. Once you are aware of all the costs, you can possibly tweak your budget to save in some areas while maybe even splurging in others!

So, how much does a 3 day Disney cruise cost? In addition to the price you pay for booking your Disney Cruise stateroom, you will want to budget for some additional costs. We will cover these in more detail below, so you can better determine how much a 3 day Disney cruise vacation will cost you.

Port Adventures

Port Adventures (also known as shore excursions ) are those activities that you experience while you’re off the ship and while visiting ports of call. Many of Disney Cruise Line’s 3 day cruises are Bahamian cruises that visit Nassau and Castaway Cay. So, your port adventures would include the experiences you booked for those port stops.

For example, if you chose to book tickets to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, you would include this activity in your budget for port adventures . The total cost of a Disney cruise can largely depend on the shore excursions you book. If you’re looking to save money, Castaway Cay is a great place to stop on your Disney cruise.

Since Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, you can enjoy the beaches and many activities at no additional charge to your cruise fare. In fact, this is how my family and I saved on one of our 3-night Disney cruises. We booked a 3 day cruise that was classified as a double dip to Castaway Cay . This means we visited the private island twice on our cruise!

Since we chose to spend our two days on Castaway Cay just hanging out at the beach, this port didn’t cost us any additional money. Even if you aren’t able to find a double dip cruise, a 3 day Disney cruise only has time to visit a couple of ports. Therefore, you shouldn’t need to budget a ton of more money to pay for excursions on the islands you are visiting.

Another additional cost you will want to consider when budgeting for your 3 night Disney cruise is gratuities. Guests vacationing with DCL are charged $14.50 a day per person for gratuities. So, if you are traveling as a family of four, you would spend $58 per day on gratuities alone. This means that the total amount of gratuities at the end of a 3 night cruise would be $174 for a family of four.

When you compare this to the gratuity amount after a 7-night cruise, you can really see how much money you save on shorter itineraries. The gratuities for a family of four on a seven-night cruise totals $406, which is quite a bit more than the Disney 3-day cruise tip amount. As you can see, if you extend your cruise length, that tip money can add up quickly!

Additional Purchases

The more days and nights you spend on the Disney ship, the more you may feel enticed to make additional purchases. For example, when my family and I travel with Disney Cruise Line, we often spend extra money on things like popcorn for the live shows, adult beverages, and keepsakes from the gift shops.

These little items can add up, but the final bill for them typically isn’t that extravagant after only 3 days. On the contrary, if you make these little purchases each day for seven days, your final bill may end up coming with a bit of sticker shock.

If you’re someone who likes to plan and stay organized with your vacations, you’ll love this printable Disney cruise planner I created. While planning my family’s last cruise, I designed graphic organizers and spreadsheets for each step of the planning process.

↓↓ Visit My Etsy Shop ↓↓

Originally, I created this printable cruise planner for my own personal use. However, I ended up making it “pretty” and deciding to share it with my readers. The 30+ page cruise planner includes organized sheets for the following:

• hotel, flight, and transportation price comparisons
• list of essentials for packing plus blank packing list
• trip budget including many of the items discussed above
• fish extender planner
• planning timeline so you know what to do when

This planner also includes my daily itinerary complete with outfit planners. This REALLY helps in the packing process!

3 Day Cruise (but 4 Night Vacation)

As we discuss whether or not a 3 day Disney cruise is worth it, it’s important to point out that your vacation will (more than likely) be longer than three nights. If you are flying into the port for your cruise, I HIGHLY recommend getting there at least the day before embarkation day . Even if your travel party ends up making it to the ship, you will want to know your luggage has plenty of time to get there as well.

Flying into your departure port (at least) a day early allows for delayed flights, lost luggage, etc. This extra time allowance also extends your three-night cruise into a 4-night vacation! Similarly, you can extend your cruise vacation by adding an extra day to the end of your cruise.

Sometimes flight times and prices don’t work out to fly home immediately after you leave the ship. Instead, you may consider booking a hotel room for the day you disembark the cruise ship. This way you have more flexibility with flight times on the following day. This is an especially appealing idea if your Disney cruise sails out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Since Port Canaveral is less than an hour’s drive to Walt Disney World, you could get off the cruise ship and arrive at a Disney resort by late morning. It is much easier to say goodbye to your Disney cruise vacation when you know you have Disney World to look forward to!

3 Day Disney Cruise Activities

One of the reasons many families are nervous to book a 3 day cruise is that they are afraid they won’t have time to enjoy the Disney ship. From personal experience, I have to share that even though a 3-night Disney cruise is a shorter itinerary, you will still have plenty of time to experience the activities available on board. Now, don’t get me wrong. You definitely won’t get to see and do all the things that are offered on your cruise.

BUT cruisers say that very same thing about 7-night cruises! No matter how long you choose to sail, you will always feel like you missed some sort of activity or entertainment option. However, you spend so much time enjoying the activities you do get to experience that those options you missed really don’t matter in the end.

Our advice when planning a 3 day cruise is to go in super prepared. I like to look at personal navigators from prior cruises to see which activities are offered on a 3 day itinerary. From there, you can decide which activities are the most important to your family. More than likely, you won’t have a problem making time for each one.

As an example of what your schedule may look like and how much time you need for activities, I’m going to share my family’s first few hours onboard the ship for our 3-night cruise to the Bahamas. Once we embarked on the first day at around 11:30, we had time to complete all of the following activities before we even set sail:

• meet Disney characters
• buffet lunch at Cabanas
• swim in ship pools
• unpack and organize stateroom
• visit guest services to request a stroller
• order snacks from room service

Additionally, I want to include that Disney 3 day cruises feature the same magical experiences as longer cruises, including Pirate Night, Broadway style shows, character meet and greets, fireworks, swimming pools, and more!

Ways to Save Money

As mentioned above, many of the 3 day cruise itineraries visit the Bahamas. This means that you more than likely would be making a stop at Castaway Cay during your cruise. Being able to experience this beautiful private island in the Bahamas is reason enough to book a Disney cruise.

Since guests do not have to pay an additional fee to use the beaches and many of the activities on Castaway Cay, this island is the perfect port of call for budget conscious travelers. The buffet lunch on Castaway Cay is even included in your cruise fare!

If you’re looking for an additional way to save money on a Disney Cruise Line vacation, you can book a future cruise onboard for a discount. This way your next Disney cruise vacation can be a longer, pricier one with possibly a less expensive price tag. Disney Cruise Line offers 10% off the price of your next cruise if booked onboard, which can add up to a significant discount.

I like to scope out the upcoming cruise itineraries before sailing so I have an idea of what I would like to book once onboard. If you decide not to take the cruise you booked onboard, you can cancel it and get a refund on your deposit as long as you are inside the cancellation window. So, it’s really a win-win situation!

There are a few restrictions on this deal, including that you must sail within 24 months of the onboard booking. If you aren’t sure which cruise to book on board, you can purchase a “placeholder” for $250. This holds the onboard booking deal until you choose the cruise to apply it to.

Also, you may receive a discount on TWO staterooms as long as you put down a deposit on each. (These two staterooms must be booked on the same future cruise.) So, you can entice your family or friends to join you the next time around, and everyone can save money!

Final Review of 3 Day Disney Cruise

We hope you can tell just how much we love sailing with Disney Cruise Line. The cost and time commitments associated with longer cruises aren’t always feasible for every family. So, if you have been holding back booking a Disney 3 day cruise because you weren’t sure if it was worth it, we totally think it is!

Although we prefer a 5 night cruise or longer, my family and I would never hesitate to take a 3-night cruise with DCL. No matter which of the Disney ships you choose to book (Disney Wish, Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Magic, or Disney Fantasy), you will truly have the time of your lives!

After your trip, come back and give us your feedback! Do you think a 3 day Disney cruise is worth it or not? Comment below to share with us!

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

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Hey, great read. I’m looking at the 2 or 3 night cruise from Sydney or Melbourne. On the 2 night cruise would it be worth it?

I’m so glad you enjoyed the article. A Disney cruise out of Australia sounds like an amazing experience! Personally, I think a 2 night cruise would be worth it for the same reasons mentioned above. Even though it’s not a long trip, you still get to enjoy the pools, shows, dining, and activities. Once onboard, you can book a second cruise for a discount and try a longer one then!

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Disney Cruise to the Bahamas Essential Guide 2024

Jill Robbins

Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has five – soon to be eight – ships that sail all over the world. From Europe to Alaska to the newly-added Australia and New Zealand routes, chances are good that Disney sails to at least one of your bucket list destinations. But perhaps no port is as perennially popular as the Bahamas. Finding a Disney cruise that stops in the Bahamas is not hard. In fact, DCL  has such a Bahamian presence that they have one – soon to be two – private islands there.

Bahamas Itineraries

DCL switches up their routes and itineraries every year, but the Bahamas cruises are a constant. Cruise enthusiasts and travel agents eagerly await Disney’s route releases because people want to see which ship is sailing where and whether there are any new routes. There are always a few surprises, but cruise ships sailing from the Florida ports to Nassau and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, are a DCL staple.

Disney Cruise Line currently sails to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, which is about 45 minutes from Orlando and Miami. They’ve also added routes leaving from Fort Lauderdale. Currently, Disney Wish is doing three and four-night cruises to Nassau and Castaway Cay, which looks to be the standard Wish route for the foreseeable future.

The Disney Magic has several 2023 and 2024 Bahamian cruises leaving from Fort Lauderdale The Disney Dream, which is spending this summer and next in Europe, is sailing several Bahamian routes from Fort Lauderdale in 2023 and 2024. The Disney Fantasy sails several Bahamian routes from Port Canaveral and several Eastern and Western Caribbean routes from Port Canaveral, including Castaway Cay stops.

How to Find Cruises

Finding a cruise to the Bahamas , or wherever else you want to go, is easy. Go to the Disney Cruise website and select the “Plan a Cruise” tab toward the top right, then go down to the “Find a Cruise” tab and enter your details. If you want to sail on a particular ship, go to “more filters,” and you can adjust the search only to show you certain ships.

If you want as many options as possible, just pick the destination – I recommend selecting Bahamas cruise and Caribbean cruise if you want to go to the Bahamas – and your dates and see what comes up. Disney sends cruise ships to the Bahamas all year round.

Stops at Nassau in the Bahamas

Veteran Disney cruisers have a habit of not getting off the ship in Nassau, so if you opt to stay on board, expect the ship to be a little more crowded than the average ports of call.

If you want to get off the ship in Nassau and explore, you can walk into town and check out the shops and restaurants. You can also book a shore excursion through Disney Cruise Line or on your own. One of the popular Nassau excursion spots is Atlantis . Atlantis has restaurants, epic water slides, and marine life experiences, such as swimming with dolphins, plus more.

Disney’s Castaway Cay

Disney’s Castaway Cay  (pronounced key) is a 1,000-acre island, 118 km due north of Nassau. Although DCL is the first cruise line to have a private island, most other major cruise lines have followed suit. Castaway Cay and Royal Caribbean’s island, CocoCay are two of the most well-appointed private cruise ship islands. You can only visit Castaway Cay as a cruise ship passenger.

Castaway Cay is the ultimate relaxing beach day, with activities such as snorkeling, bicycling, waterslides, and many opportunities to lounge in the shade. The gorgeous white sand beaches and clear turquoise water can be enjoyed all year round, although the water can get fairly chilly in the winter.

The ship’s kids clubs also relocate to Castaway Cay when the ship is docked at Castaway Cay, so parents who want to have some alone time to get a beach massage or hang out on the adults-only beach, Serenity Bay, have an easy time doing that.

Dining on Castaway Cay

Dining is included on Castaway Cay. Guests are treated to a BBQ buffet that includes burgers, hot dogs, ribs, chicken, and salmon, accompanied by salads, fruit, and desserts. There are two buffet locations, Cookies and Cookies Too, on the family beaches. A third buffet location on the adult-only beach, Serenity Bay, usually has grilled ribeye steaks in addition to the other proteins.

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There are self-service soda fountains and soft-serve ice cream adjacent to each buffet. There are several bars on Castaway Cay, but alcohol isn’t included in your cruise price.

Cabanas on Castaway Cay

There are a limited number of beachfront cabanas available on the family beach and on Serenity Bay. The family cabanas go for around $700 for the day and include a fridge with cold drinks, snorkel equipment, beach floats, and bike rentals.

Cabanas are usually snapped up by concierge guests and Platinum and Pearl cruisers , who get first dibs on the booking windows for cabanas, shore excursions, and all the things. However, if you want one, be persistent, and maybe you’ll get lucky. Concierge and Platinum and Pearl cruisers often book cabanas early because they can cancel them later. Keep refreshing the app; maybe one will be available when someone cancels. You never know.

Disney Characters on Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay offers many opportunities to meet and take pictures with your favorite Disney characters. See Mickey and his friends in their beach gear at dedicated photo spots between where the Disney Cruise ship docks and the family beach. The meet and greet times will be in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

The Disney characters on Castaway Cay drive around in colorful Jeeps – even if you don’t get a picture with them, you can sometimes snap photos of them whizzing around the island and waving merrily at the beachgoers.

Lighthouse Point

DCL is opening a second private island. Lighthouse Point, located near Eleuthera, is opening in 2024. The Lighthouse Point cruises are scheduled to go out of Fort Lauderdale. Some of these cruises stop at Castaway Cay.

Some cruises have two stops at Castaway Cay, known in Disney cruising circles as a “double dip.” So far, a cruise that stops at Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point is unnamed, although “double island paradise” sounds pretty good.

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3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral

What's included in the price of a disney cruise.

Broadway-Quality Shows

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• Be a part of the magic at Walt Disney World Resort
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• Swim with dolphins at Atlantis, Paradise Island
• View coral reefs and exotic fish from a semi-submarine
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Personal Navigators: Disney Magic 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Miami – May 24, 2023

Personal Navigators, and other details from the Silver Anniversary at Sea  3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Miami . The  Disney Magic  set sail from  Miami, Florida  on May 24, 2023. The Cruise Director during the sailing was Matthew O. 

Day 1 – May 24, 2023 –  Miami, Florida

Guests Onboard : 12:00 am Personal Navigator – Day 1

Attire : Cruise Casual

Drink of the Day :  Paradise Punch  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Espresso Chiller

Dinner Menus :

• Lumiere’s :  Lumiere’s
• Animator’s Palate :  Animator’s Palate
• Rapunzel’s Royal Table :  Rapunzel’s Royal Table – Lantern

Evening Entertainment :

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Tangled: The Musical

Day 2 – May 25, 2023 –  Castaway Cay

Guests Ashore : 8:30 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm Personal Navigator – Day 2

Attire : Pirate or Cruise Casual

Drink of the Day :  Stingray  •  Non-Alcoholic : Coco Bali

• Pirate Night Fireworks

Day 3 – May 26, 2023 –  Nassau, Bahamas

Guests Ashore : 12:00 am  Guests Onboard : 12:00 am Personal Navigator – Day 3

Drink of the Day :  Sunken Treasure  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Parrot Song

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic

This was the first 25th anniversary sailing for the Magic. Although, it was not originally scheduled, guests were presented to Shimmering Seas Light the Sky fireworks show.

Buena Vista Theatre Movies

• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Peter Pan & Wendy
• Strange World

Thank you  Danielle  for sharing. If you have any navigators you would be willing to share, please send me an email. If you would rather upload the files you can use our  upload form .

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The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What TPG loves about Disney Cruise Line

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

What we could do without

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

Disney Cruise Line fleet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Cruise Line destinations and itineraries

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

Disney Cruise Line destinations include:

• New Zealand
• Pacific Coast
• South Pacific

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who sails Disney Cruise Line?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Cruise Line cabins and suites

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: Is Disney Cruise Line concierge service worth it?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Cruise Line restaurants and dining options

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

Rotational dining

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

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

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

Included restaurants on Disney Magic

• Animator’s Palate
• Rapunzel’s Royal Table

Included restaurants on Disney Wonder

• Tiana’s Place

Included restaurants on Disney Dream

• Enchanted Garden
• Royal Palace

Included restaurants on Disney Fantasy

• Royal Court

Included restaurants on Disney Wish

• Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
• Worlds of Marvel

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

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

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

Room service

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

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

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

Buffet and grab-and-go

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

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

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

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

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

Extra-cost, adults-only restaurants

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

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

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

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

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

Coffee shops and snack shops

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food on Castaway Cay

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

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

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

Entertainment and activities on a Disney cruise

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

Theaters and shows

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

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

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

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

Game shows, karaoke, bingo and more

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

Other interior attractions and activities

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

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

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

Decktop attractions

Waterslides.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Splash pads

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

Sports deck

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

Children’s programs

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

Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab for children ages 3–12

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edge tween club for children ages 11–14

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

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

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

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

Vibe teen club for children ages 14–17

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

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

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

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

What to know before you go

Required documents.

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

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

Related: Tips for getting a child’s passport

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carry-on drinks policy

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

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

Smoking policy

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

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

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

Electrical outlets

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

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

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

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

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

Drinking age

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related:  What to pack for your 1st cruise

Disney Cruise Line loyalty program

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

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

Related:  The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

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

Silver members

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

Gold members

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

Platinum members

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

Pearl members

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

How much does a Disney cruise cost?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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How to book

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3 points per dollar on travel and dining and an annual up-to-$300 travel credit.
• The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2 points per dollar on travel.
• The Disney Premier Visa Card is also a good option, specifically with Disney Cruise Line, as it gives you access to a 0% introductory annual percentage rate for six months following the purchase date on eligible Disney vacation packages, such as a Disney cruise (then a variable APR of 18.99% to 27.99% applies). The card also gets you 10% in savings on some onboard activities and packages while at Castaway Cay.

Related: How to save money on booking a Disney cruise

Bottom line

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

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

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

More stories to help you plan your next cruise:

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

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And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.