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Disney Western Caribbean Cruise – What You Need to Know

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Are you thinking of sailing on a Disney Western Caribbean Cruise? Here we share information and tips on how to make the very best of your Disney Cruise.

We look at the itineraries available, how to save money and give you the low down on how to get the most out of your Disney Western Caribbean Cruise.

Disney Western Caribbean Cruise

Disney Western Caribbean Cruise

disneywesterncaribbeancruise

Disney are regularly voted the top rated cruise lines in the industry for families. There is a whole lot to do on a Disney cruise for every member of the family, no matter what their age.

We have sailed on a Disney Western Caribbean cruise a number of times in different staterooms. Every time it has been an amazing trip which we highly recommend.

What Choices Do You Have of Disney Western Caribbean Cruise?

A Fantastical Morning in Jamaica

If you want to sail the Western Caribbean you have a number of choices. There are 4, 5, 6 and 7-night cruises available.

The majority of the Disney Western Caribbean Cruises are 7-night itineraries sailing from Port Canaveral on the Disney Fantasy. The Fantasy is Disney’s newest cruise ship.

disneywesterncaribbeancruise

However,if you are wanting to book a Disney Cruise Western Caribbean cruise there are a number of options. The Disney Dream is the only ship which does not offer any Caribbean cruises. The Disney Dream only sails the Bahamian cruises.

Here we will explore exactly what the Caribbean itineraries are available on the different Disney ships. Then we will look at why you might choose one over the other for your Disney Caribbean cruise.

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Disney Western Caribbean 4 Night Cruise Sailing on Disney Wonder

disneywondership

The 4 night Western Caribbean cruises are rare for Disney cruise lines. For  2019 they sail from Galveston. In 2020 there will be 4 night Disney Western Caribbean sailings from New Orleans

The Disney Wonder sailed from Galveston on November 8th and 12th 2018.

The 4 night Disney Western Caribbean Sailings on the Disney Wonder for 2019 are on January 9th and 12th and 16th December 2019.

Day 1 Galveston, Texas Day 2 At Sea Day 3 Cozumel, Mexico Day 4 At Sea Day 5 Galveston, Texas

New for 2020 is the sailings of the Disney Wonder from New Orleans. There are only 2 sailings scheduled so far for 2020. These are on February 27 and March 2.

Day 1 New Orleans, LA Day 2 At Sea Day 3 Cozumel, Mexico Day 4 At Sea Day 5 New Orleans, LA

This is one of the few Disney Western Caribbean cruises which does not visit Castaway Cay. You may want to consider if this cruise is a good option as Castaway Cay is probably on your wish list.

Here you can see our complete Guide to Castaway Cay so that you can make a decision about whether or not this is important to you.

5 Night Disney Western Caribbean Cruise From Miami Sailing on Disney Magic

Disney Cruise Ship

The Disney Magic  sails in 2019 on this itinerary on February 3rd and 17th, March 3rd, 17th, and 31st and April 14th

Friday Miami, Florida Saturday At Sea Sunday Cozumel, Mexico Monday At Sea Tuesday Castaway Cay Wednesday Miami, Florida

These 5-night sailings include a port stop in Grand Cayman instead of Cozumel.

The Disney Magic sails in 2019 on this itinerary on December 21st, 2019. The 2020 dates are March 28, April 11 and April 25.

Sunday Miami, Florida Monday At Sea Tuesday Cozumel Wednesday At Sea Thursday Castaway Cay Friday Miami, Florida

There is a third variation of Disney Magic sailing from Miami on a 5 night Western Caribbean cruise. This includes Grand Cayman as a port stop. The Disney Magic will sail on 28th December 2018 and January 6th and 20th, April 28th and December 7th, 2019.

Sunday Miami, FL Monday At Sea Tuesday Grand Cayman Wednesday At Sea Thursday Castaway Cay Friday Miami, FL

6 Night Disney Western Caribbean Cruise From Galveston

The Pelican View

This is an itinerary that the Disney Wonder rarely sails.

Friday Galveston, Texas Saturday At Sea Sunday Cozumel Mexico Monday Grand Cayman Tuesday At Sea Wednesday At Sea Thursday Galveston, Texas

This will sail on 21st December 2018, The 2019 Disney Cruise 6-night sailings on the Wonder are on January 3rd and December 6th.

6 Night Disney Western Caribbean Cruise From Port Canaveral

disneywondergoofypool

This is a rare 6 night Disney Fantasy Western Caribbean sailing.

Sunday Port Canaveral Monday At Sea Tuesday Cozumel Wednesday Costa Maya, Mexico Thursday At Sea Friday Castaway Cay Saturday Port Canaveral

This will sail on January 3rd and October 27th, 2019 and March 29th, 2020.

6 Night Disney Western Caribbean Cruise From Miami

Saturday Miami Sunday At Sea Monday Grand Cayman Tuesday Cozumel Wednesday At Sea Thursday Castaway Cay Friday Port Canaveral

There is only one sailing scheduled for the Disney Magic from Miami on this 6 night Western Caribbean cruise. It will sail on November 23rd, 2019.

6 Night Disney Western Caribbean Cruise From New Orleans

Friday New Orleans, LA Saturday At Sea Sunday Cozumel Monday Grand Cayman Tuesday At Sea Wednesday At Sea Thursday Port Canaveral

There is one sailing for the Disney Wonder from New Orleans on this 6 night Caribbean cruise. This sails on February 21st 2020.

7 Night Western Caribbean Cruises from Port Canaveral on Disney Fantasy

Fantastical Night

These are the majority of the Disney Western Caribbean sailings. They set sail from Port Canaveral on the Disney Fantasy. Most of the sailings have these port stops in this order.

The 2019 dates are January 5 and 19, February 2 and 16, March 2, 16 and 30, April 13 and 27, May 11 and 25, June 8, July 6 and 20, August 17 and 31, September 14 and 28, October 12, November 9 and 23, December 7 and 21.

The 2020 dates released so far are January 4, 18, February 1, 15, 29, March 14, April 11, 25, May 9, 23

Saturday Port Canaveral Florida Sunday At Sea Monday Cozumel Mexico Tuesday Grand Cayman Wednesday Falmouth, Jamaica Thursday At Sea Friday Castaway Cay Saturday Port Canaveral Florida

7 Night Disney Western Caribbean Cruise Sailings on Disney Wonder From Galveston 2018

disneywonderpromenadedeck

There are two sailings in 2018 on the Disney Wonder from Galveston which are a 7-night Caribbean itinerary. They sail on November 30th and December 20th, 2018.

Friday Galveston, Texas Saturday At Sea Sunday Cozumel, Mexico Monday Grand Cayman Tuesday Falmouth, Jamaica Wednesday At Sea Thursday At Sea Friday Galveston, Texas

7 Night Disney Western Caribbean Cruise Sailings on Disney Wonder From New Orleans 2020

Friday New Orleans, LA Saturday At Sea Sunday Cozumel, Mexico Monday Grand Cayman Tuesday Falmouth, Jamaica Wednesday At Sea Thursday At Sea Friday New Orleans, LA

This is due to sail on February 14th, 2020.

Which Disney Western Caribbean Cruise Should You Choose?

Fancy The Fantasy

Now you know all the dates and the possibilities you may be overwhelmed and not know which Disney Western Caribbean cruise to book. There are some questions that you can ask yourself to narrow it down so that you can make a choice.

Probably the first question that you need to ask yourself is, how flexible are you with your Disney cruise dates? Most people have a limited time frame that they can travel, so you need to look at this question first to see if this rules out any of the options.

Which port is it easier for your family to sail from? If you are combining a Disney cruise with a visit to Walt Disney World you will most likely want to sail from Port Canaveral as this is an easy transfer from the parks. However, if you live in the Western United States, Galveston may be easier to get to and start your cruise. Some people may also find Miami a better option for them.

Another very important question is which Disney ship do you want to sail on? They all have their own special personalities and features.

The newest ship is the Disney Fantasy. It has the Aquaduck which is a huge draw for many people.

It is the biggest ship and many would say that the Fantasy is the best. The Disney Fantasy also has the largest choice of dates for your vacation. The Fantasy has the most 7 night Western Caribbean sailings of all of the Disney ships.

The Water Cannon

To read more about the Aquaduck here is our guide:

Disney Fantasy Aquaduck

However, you may want to sail on one of the classic ships – either the Disney Magic or the Disney Wonder.

We love the Disney Fantasy, but always see the Disney Wonder as our “first love”. The Magic and the Wonder are smaller than the newer ships, but in some ways, we prefer this.

Both the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder are recently re-imagined and so have a number of new features.

Take some time to read about the different ships to see which you think would be best for you and your family.

Price is, of course, a very important factor in deciding which Disney Caribbean cruise to choose. The Disney Fantasy tends to be more money per person per night than the Magic and the Wonder.

disneyshipsandiego

This is very much a generalization and will depend upon which sailing you choose and how far ahead you book.

However, the lower fares are generally found on the classic ships of the Disney Wonder and Magic. This may be the deciding factor for you.

The next question is do you have a particular port stop that you want to see? Most of the itineraries include the same port stops, but there are variations.

If you are set on going to Key West Florida, your choices are going to be pretty limited as only the February 11th, 2018 sailing on the Disney Wonder has this port stop on a Western Caribbean sailing.

Most of the other choices are going to be rather easier for you as most of the sailings go to the same ports. It really doesn’t tend to matter which ports are in which order.

You need to ask yourself all these questions so that you can narrow down your choice and then decide upon the perfect Disney Caribbean cruise.

Which Stateroom Should You Choose for Your Disney Western Caribbean Cruise?

disneycruisestateroom

This is a very important decision because this will determine the cost of your Disney Western Caribbean cruise.

We have sailed in many different categories of stateroom on the Disney ships and we would say that we haven’t found that our level of enjoyment was directly proportional to the category of the stateroom we chose!

We have been just as happy in an Oceanview Stateroom as we have in the Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah.

Of course, it is nice to have a balcony and some extra space, but we think the Disney cruise staterooms are comfortable and spacious.

If you don’t want to spend that extra money on a larger stateroom and you think that your family can survive in a small space for 7 nights we think that you should go for the category that you can comfortably fit into your budget.

We have written a comprehensive guide to staterooms on the Disney Fantasy and you can find that by clicking on the link below:

Disney Fantasy Cruise Staterooms

Isn’t A Disney Caribbean Cruise Just For Kids?

A Quiet Night at Quiet Cove

We know that it is a very common misconception that Disney cruises are just for kids. They really aren’t.

Anyone who is already a fan of the Disney parks is probably already convinced that they can have fun, even as a grown-up on a Disney cruise. Disney brings out the child in all of us and that is a big part of the appeal.

However, Disney cruise lines have made very sure that they appeal to the adults as well as to the children. They have dedicated spaces and entertainment on the Disney ships which are meant just for the adults.

All of the ships have a very large amount of space and facilities which are childfree. The Disney Fantasy, in particular, has a huge amount of space which is for the adults only. The pool deck spaces are a sanctuary for adults looking for child-free time.

Still not convinced? If you want to bring back the romance in your life check out our guide:

Top 10 Romantic Things To Do on a Disney Cruise

What Makes a Disney Western Caribbean Cruise Worth It?

disneytransatlanticcruise

We think that Disney cruises offer amazing value for money. Of course, we know that their basic price per night is more than many other cruise lines.

However, we really do go by the saying “You get what you pay for”.

We have sailed on many other cruise lines and we still rate Disney the highest by a long way. This is not just because we are Disney fans, but because their cruises just offer a much higher quality of experience.

There are a number of important differences which we think makes Disney a much better value than other cruise lines. Here are some of the reasons which we think sets Disney apart.

Disney Cruise Ship Entertainment

Disneywondertheater

Disney knows how to put on a very impressive show. You will experience Broadway-quality shows and this is all included in your cruise price. We know of no other cruise line which even comes close to this.

Of course, these are all Disney themed and if you are not a fan of the Mouse you will probably not enjoy the shows.

However, who is going on a Disney cruise who really isn’t a fan of Disney? If you even have a passing interest in the House of Mouse you will be impressed by the shows.

All of the Disney cruise ships have their own shows. If we had to pick a cruise ship with our favorite shows we would pick the Disney Wonder as it has “Golden Mickeys” and the new “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular”.

However, it is really difficult to choose a winner as all the Disney ships have amazing stage shows.

The Disney Magic has a number of stage shows including the newest “Disney Tangled: The Musical” and the always popular “Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic”.

The Disney Fantasy favorites include “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular”, which is also on the Disney Wonder.

Really Disney excels at the big production shows. No one comes close. Think about how much it would cost if you took your family of 4 to a Broadway Disney show.

You would not have change from $500 so we think of that as part of the value of a Disney cruise. It really is an excellent value for entertainment.

The Buena Vista Theater also shows a lot of great Disney movies. If there is a Disney premier it will be shown on the ship.

You can see classic Disney movies as well as new releases in this very comfortable setting. Again, if you think about how much a trip to the movies would be for your family. This all adds great value to a Disney Caribbean cruise.

Disney Cruise Dining

disneydreamfood

No one does it quite like Disney with the dining concept either. We admit that the food can be hit and miss. This actually seems to be the norm these days on most cruise lines as the standard of food declines.

However, what we really love about Disney cruise lines is Disney rotational dining . What this means is that you get to experience three different restaurants at least once, and you take your wait staff with you.

The rotational dining experience is unique to Disney cruises. We think it is genius. Instead of going to the same restaurant every evening on your cruise you get to “rotate”.

disneymagicfood

In other words, you go to a different restaurant every evening. As you can imagine, Disney restaurants are the most imaginative at sea.

Where else can you draw a figure and then see it animated on the wall at the end of your meal?

Animators Palate is one of the highest-rated restaurants on the Disney ships. If you sail on the Disney Fantasy you can even have a conversation with Finding Nemo’s Crush Turtle whilst you eat your meal.

The attention to detail in all of the Disney cruise restaurants is amazing. It is more than a place to dine. It is an immersive experience.

The attention to detail in all of the Disney cruise restaurants is outstanding. The food is sometimes very good. Other times it is a miss.

However, as an overall experience, you will look forward to dining in the rotational restaurants on your Disney cruise.

The best thing is that the food is all included in your basic Disney cruise rate.

Sure, you can upgrade to one of the Disney adult restaurants if you want a treat – they are really very good for a reasonable upcharge. However, the included dining is going to be more than enough.

disneywondertritonsrestaurant

Another great thing about Disney cruise rotational dining? The service. Your wait staff will follow you to each restaurant.

The great thing about this is that they get to know you very quickly. They are the best waiters we have ever experienced at sea. They get to know what you need and so you will arrive on your second day to your favorite drinks.

Nothing is too much trouble for your server and almost without exception (yes we have seen one bad waiter out of many) they will look after you as though they are family. We have never experienced that on any other cruise line apart from Disney.

Disney Castaway Cay

Disney's Human Element - Chase the Oasis

Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. It is paradise. There are no tender boats to get on the island.

Disney thought of everything and built a dock so that you can step right off the ship and on to the island. That kind of fundamental detail makes a very big difference from the very start.

They have pretty much thought of everything on Castaway Cay. There are separate idyllic beaches for the family as well as having a separate adult-only and supervised kids only beach.

You can not spend anything on Castaway Cay if you don’t want to. You simply walk off the ship and go to the beach.

Sure, you can spend money on activities, but you really don’t need to. A buffet lunch is provided and is included in your cruise fare.

Disney - Welcome to Paradise

All of the beaches are idyllic. The white sand and the incredibly pleasant ocean are all designed so that you have the ultimate island experience.

Cruisers consistently rate their experience on Castaway Cay as the highlight of their cruise. Other cruise lines have private islands, but none comes close to offering the Castway Cay experience .

Disney Characters

disneycruisecharacters

A Disney cruise is a great opportunity to see Disney characters. It is so much more of an immersive experience than at the parks. It is somehow exciting every time Mickey Mouse passes you in the corridor.

There are lots of scheduled character greetings each day. There are lines, but it is so much easier to see the Disney characters than it is in the parks.

Disney Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party

Disneycruiseplaceholder

This is another very unique Disney cruise experience – The Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party. This is a whole lot of fun on your Disney cruise. The evening starts with a pirate-themed dinner in your rotational dining restaurant. Everyone is encouraged to join in the pirate fun. Some guests dress up as pirates and of course, there is plenty of pirate merchandise for you to purchase on the ship.

Captain Jack Sparrow and Mickey Mouse are an unusual, but highly entertaining combination. At the end of the deck party, the highlight is the fireworks which appear high in the sky at the side of the ship.

Disney is the only cruise line authorized to have a firework display on a ship. The end of the evening is a very lavish buffet – it is worth seeing the display even if you have had so much food during the day that you simply cannot have anymore!

Disney Kids Clubs

disneycruisekidsclubs

As you would expect, Disney cruises do this very well. There are kids clubs for every specific age group up to the age of 17.

Disney is one of the very few cruise lines with a babysitting service for the under 3s. The baby and toddler babysitting service does have a nominal extra charge, but everything else is free.

The kids themed spaces are excellent, with lots of organized activities for the kids. You will probably have a problem getting your kids out of the kid’s clubs!

A Disney Cruise is For Adults Too

disneywonderbars

When you think Disney cruises you tend to think that it’s all about the kids. Whilst it is true that there are many things to keep the kids happy, Disney definitely thought just as much about keeping the adults entertained as the young ones.

Every ship has an adults only area where the grown-ups can be child-free for a while. This takes up a lot of space on each of the ships, particularly the Disney Fantasy.

There is also adults only dining available. Palo is on all of the Disney cruise ships. For a small extra charge, you can enjoy a fabulous brunch or dinner.

Appetizer at Remy's

The newer Disney Dream and Fantasy have the multiple award-winning gourmet restaurant, Remy, to keep the adults very happy. For an extra charge, you can enjoy Michelin 3-star restaurant quality food and service.

If you want to know more about what a great job Disney cruises do in making adults feel just as special as the children you can read our guide at:

Is A Disney Western Caribbean Cruise Worth It?

disneycruiseworthit

In our opinion, we absolutely think that it is. It is pretty obvious that we are huge Disney fans. However, this is not the only reason why we would choose a Disney Western Caribbean cruise over any other cruise line.

We are seasoned cruise travelers and we admit that we sail on non-Disney cruises. This is because we love the cruise experience and to be honest, many other cruise lines cost less than Disney.

However, given the choice between one Disney Western Caribbean cruise and two cruises with a rival cruise line we would choose Disney. Why? Because they are just of a higher standard.

When you have limited vacation time, as most of us do, you need to choose your experiences carefully. For us, Disney cruises win every time. We are careful where our cruise dollars go, but for us, Disney cruises win every time.

The Disney Fantasy Western Caribbean Cruise is our first choice. What about you? Let us know if you are thinking of your first Disney Western Caribbean Cruise or are already a veteran of the Disney cruise experience.

disneywesterncaribbeancruise

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

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Disney Cruise to Grand Cayman (Excursion Mistakes to Avoid)

Disney ship at Georgetown Grand Cayman

If you’re wanting to visit one of the best islands in the Caribbean, you really can’t beat the Cayman Islands. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and it’s easy to get to if you’re sailing on a Disney Cruise!

My family and I were lucky enough to visit George Town, Grand Cayman on a 5 night Disney cruise out of Miami, Florida. I can honestly say that this destination had the most beautiful water I have ever seen. Plus, the ocean water was super warm – even in December!

If you have a Disney cruise to Grand Cayman booked, you’re in for a treat! This amazing place is full of fun things to do in addition to its natural beauty and friendly residents.

In the post below, we will cover the popular port adventures in Grand Cayman as well as a rundown on how the tender process works when getting off the ship. So, continuing reading below for information and tips on making the most of your Grand Cayman cruise excursions!

Grand Cayman Excursions

After booking this cruise, I browsed through the Grand Cayman Port Adventures that Disney Cruise Line offered and noticed that most of them weren’t going to work for us. We were sailing with our one year old, and a lot of the excursions had minimum age requirements that were far older than toddler ages.

For example, some of the Grand Cayman shore excursions offered on this cruise were as follows:

  • Stingray City Sandbar (5 and up)
  • 2-Tank Dive Tour (12 and up)
  • Catamaran Tour (5 and up)
  • Dolphin Swim (6 and up)
  • Starfish Beach and Mangrove Forests (5 and up)
  • Kittiwake Snorkel Sail (5 and up)
  • AGUA Glass Bottom Boat Tour (5 and up)

After reading through the list, I realized our options for our one-year-old included the dolphin observer, island tour, undersea tour, private boat, or the beach. Luckily, we are beach people and just really wanted a nice place to hang out for the day.

Seven Mile Beach Grand Cayman

Since Grand Cayman is known as a safe, easy island to tour, I felt comfortable with just grabbing a taxi in port instead of booking an official excursion through Disney. This seemed to be the cheaper way to go, and I wanted the freedom to return to the ship whenever we pleased.

I had also read that the beaches in Grand Cayman are all public and free, so we decided to just do the beach on our own. Once onboard the ship, our Concierge Hosts enthusiastically agreed that this was a super easy and great way to spend the day.

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On a side note, if you haven’t read our Disney Trip Report from Miami you can find it here. We were lucky enough to upgrade to the concierge level on that trip, and the hosts were absolutely amazing.

They instructed our family to find a taxi in port and request to be dropped off at Royal Palms . In my head, I envisioned quickly hopping in a cab, requesting Royal Palms, and being driven directly there. However, this is NOT what happened, but I will detail our actual experience below.

Grand Cayman Cruise Port Map

Before our scheduled stop in Grand Cayman, our stateroom host placed Grand Cayman port information in our cabin. This included a detailed map of the George Town cruise ship port, which you can see below.

Map of Port Grand Cayman

We also received information on safety precautions you should take while in port. We left our passports in the safe inside our stateroom, but we took our Key to the World cards and drivers’ licenses off the ship with us. Note that you need your Key to the World card any time you get on or off the cruise ship, even on Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island in the Bahamas).

Safety letter from Disney Cruise Line in Grand Cayman

As mentioned above, we had towels for each family member to take to the beach. We also took a backpack with baby supplies like diapers and wipes. In addition to these necessities for our toddler, I packed the following items in our day bag:

  • Snacks – You are allowed to take pre-packaged food off the ship. I brought Lara Bars with us on the cruise, so I put a few of these in our bag.
  • Water Bottles – We grabbed water bottles from the Concierge Lounge before leaving. You could also take your refillable water bottle with you.
  • Beach Toys – We brought a few Barbie dolls and toys for my six year old and one year old to play with on the beach.
  • Sunscreen – I packed extra sunscreen to take to the beach so that we could re-apply it throughout the day.

Tendering Process

In addition to the information about the port, our stateroom host left a Disney Cruise Line letter explaining the Grand Cayman tendering process. At the time of our sailing, Grand Cayman did not have a dock at their port. (I believe they are planning to build one in the near future.)

Because of this, the ships visiting Grand Cayman must anchor offshore. Then small boats (called tenders) pick up passengers from the cruise ships and transport them to the shore.

Grand Cayman tender letter from Disney Cruise Line

You can read the letter pictured above for Disney Cruise Line’s full procedure for tendering. My experience was a bit different because we had upgraded to Concierge in Miami.

One of the Concierge perks is that you get priority tendering. This was a huge bonus for us since we were traveling with our toddler who isn’t quite known for her patience. Our Concierge Hosts had given us instructions to meet in the Concierge Lounge at 8:00 AM.

Towels and Sunscreen in the Concierge Lounge on the Disney Magic

So, after eating breakfast at the buffet, Cabanas, we headed to the Concierge lounge for the hosts to escort us to the tender boats. There were towels and sunscreen on the sun deck of the Concierge Lounge that we were permitted to use for free.

We had already grabbed towels from the pool deck after breakfast, but we did use the sunscreen provided. Then, the hosts led the Concierge passengers down to Deck 1 where the tender boat was waiting.

Tender Boat in Grand Cayman

We swiped our Key to the World cards to get off the ship, and then we walked onto the tender boat. I’m not sure how many people each boat holds, but it has seating both upstairs and down. So, a lot of people fit on each tender.

Once the boat was full, we pulled away from the ship and headed toward the shoreline. This whole process took maybe ten minutes – so not long at all. The ride on the tender boat goes by really quickly and is so scenic.

Grand Cayman on Your Own

We stepped off the tender boat and right into the Grand Cayman cruise port. The port featured little stands that were set up selling merchandise and excursions. Then, we walked toward the exit to where the taxis were located.

Since we had decided to experience Grand Cayman on our own, we did not have organized transportation options through Disney to take us to the beach. Instead, we followed the signs to where the local taxis were parked. These taxis actually looked like mini buses and held maybe 20 people a piece.

Disney Magic in Grand Cayman

So, we walked out of the port gates to the taxi area. There were TONS of taxis (mini buses) waiting. I stopped and asked a gentleman for a cab to Royal Palms like our Concierge Hosts had recommended. He said to follow him, and he showed us to his minibus.

Before climbing onto the bus, I asked again if he was going to Royal Palms. He said yes, so we climbed on. Since no one was in the cab yet, we went to the very back. And we sat – with no air conditioning – and an impatient toddler – for over 30 minutes.

Disney Wonder In Grand Cayman

The driver of the taxi had left to gather more people who wanted to go to the beach. As we watched out the minibus window, we realized that all the drivers were trying to fill their taxis up before leaving the port, which makes complete sense for them. However, this meant that we had to sit in the steaming vehicle for over half an hour.

And when I say that the drivers were filling up the taxis, I mean PACKING people in. Our taxi looked insanely full to me at one point, but the driver added more people so that we were elbow to elbow.

I say all of that to give you this tip: Choose a taxi that is almost full if you can ! If you are not able to find a taxi that is loaded and ready to leave, hopefully this post at least gives you a heads up on what to expect once you board the minibus.

Beaches Near the Cruise Port

Our taxi driver drove our bus load of people through town for a short drive (about 15 minutes) before we reached our destination. He pulled up in front a beach shack that said Calico Jacks and had us all pay him as we exited.

It was $6 per person for the ride. The driver initially told me I owed for four people, but my husband told him that our one year old didn’t take up a seat since we held her. The driver quickly agreed and just had us pay for the three of us who took up seats.

Grand Cayman Beach Chairs Public Beach

We walked through the shack and right onto the beach where we saw people renting out chairs with umbrellas. We paid $20 for two chairs and an umbrella, and we were given wrist bands to show that we had paid.

The beach here seems to have eroded pretty badly, but I had read about this before our trip. The lounge chairs we rented were probably only two feet from the water because there wasn’t much sand/beach space at all. Even with the erosion, this beach was AMAZING and probably the most beautiful beach we had ever seen!

seven mile beach grand cayman

The white sands and ocean floor were both soft, so we didn’t need water shoes. The shallow waters of the ocean were the prettiest color I have ever seen! It was crystal clear and SO warm…even in December! I don’t think I even needed to get used to it. I just walked right in, and it felt incredible!

I will note that we didn’t see any marine life. So, if you’re looking for a place to snorkel, this may not be the right spot. The beach area we initially stopped at was a popular destination, and it started to get a little busy. This is because it was the first place you came to when you entered the beach.

Also, I think we may have been the first cruise ship to arrive in Grand Cayman that day. The people who rented the chairs had told us to grab ANY set of blue chairs we wanted. And, we noticed more chairs further down the beach.

↓↓ Visit My Etsy Shop ↓↓

It was much less busy at that end, so we took our things down there. We were right beside a resort called Seafire. I had never heard of Seafire prior to this trip, but now I really want to stay there! They had a huge sandy beach area with loungers and cabanas. It all looked really upscale and clean!

As I was admiring Seafire, I realized I didn’t see any mention of Royal Palms anywhere. Well, this is because we weren’t at Royal Palms. I was kind of annoyed because I had specifically told the driver twice that that’s where we wanted to go. Still the beach that we were on was beautiful, so it all worked out in the end.

Final Thoughts on Our Disney Cruise to Grand Cayman

We spent a few hours enjoying the beach, and then we decided to head back to the ship. I wanted to grab lunch on board before putting our one-year-old down for a nap. So, we walked back up to the beach shack, and a lady approached us asking if we wanted to go back to the port.

She told us she had a FULL bus and that we could leave immediately. Since we sat for 30 minutes to get to the beach, the option to get on an already full bus sounded much better. We washed the sand off in the outdoor showers and headed to the taxi.

Disney cruise ship with text Disney Magic Western caribbean Trip Report

**Note that there were also restrooms here that my husband said “weren’t bad” for public restrooms. The driver then pulled away from the beach, and we took the 10-15 minute drive back to port. The driver dropped us off in a big parking lot near the gates to the cruise port.

Here, we had a really pretty view of the ships anchored offshore. A couple security guards stood at the entrance to the port and asked us to show them our Key to the World cards to enter.

Seating on Top Level of Tender boat

They didn’t ask for ID or anything. We then strolled over to the signs for the Disney Magic. I believe there were signs posted for the other major cruise lines too. We showed our key cards again and walked right onto a waiting tender boat.

The tender had plenty of seats for us to choose since it was fairly early in the day to return. Most of the Disney Magic passengers were still enjoying the island. The tender boat pulled off to take us back to the ship without waiting to fill up with passengers. Once back on the ship, we went through security on Deck 1. Then we headed up to the pool deck for lunch.

Do you have any tips for visiting Grand Cayman on a Disney cruise? What are your favorite excursions? 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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Travel Babbo

Travel Babbo

A Family Travel Blog

A Review of Our Disney Fantasy Caribbean Cruise

By Eric Stoen on March 20, 2023 • Last Updated January 21, 2024 This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Disclosure here .

A Disney Fantasy Cruise in the Western Caribbean

When I posted to Instagram that we were booked on a spring break Disney Fantasy Cruise, a lot of people DMed me to ask why. It’s a reasonable question – although we’ve been on a number of cruises, we don’t love cruises, and we’re not a big Disney family. 

It goes back a decade. When my kids were small, starting at 1, 3 and 5-years-old, we did three 12-night Disney Cruises in Europe . We booked them because they were easy – unpack once and see a lot of cool places – and because Disney is, by definition, family-friendly. Our kids went to the kids club a few times, and waited in line for character photos every once in a while, but really they just enjoyed the ship and the independence, since they could run around by themselves, and we (the parents) liked the days in port. 

The Disney Fantasy

There’s a sweet spot with Disney cruises, between maybe 3 and 10-years-old, when a lot of kids love Disney and the character interactions and shows are magical. Then the magic kind of disappears….except that my oldest daughter always watched the teens on the ship and thought they were having the most fun. On our last cruise she made us promise to bring her back when she was a teen. And this year, at 17, she took us up on it. 

A Disney Fantasy Cruise for Spring Break

As I’ve mentioned before, my youngest daughter has one-week school breaks in February and April, and my two high schoolers have a two-week break in March. This year my wife and I took our 13-year-old to Thailand for her February break , and then I was tasked with the Disney Cruise in March. Looking at Disney’s cruises, they only had one option for a 7-night cruise that fit within our spring break dates – the March 11-18 Western Caribbean sailing. The port stops on the itinerary weren’t exciting, but this wasn’t about the stops; it was about my daughter (hopefully) having fun on the ship with other teens. We dragged my 15-year-old son along since he had nothing else planned for break.

Disney Fantasy Cruise - Heading back to the ship in Cozumel

This Disney Caribbean Cruise Review

I hadn’t intended to write about our cruise, but so many people have commented on my Instagram posts and stories with questions about the cruise, wanting my honest thoughts about Disney cruises for families and for couples, that I’m writing this up. Just keep in mind that it’s coming from a cruise skeptic and a non-Disney person. If you love cruises and you love Disney and your kids love Disney, you can stop reading now. Just book it! You’ll love it. 

Disney Cruises – What Disney Does Well

We spent a few days at Universal Orlando before our cruise and then took an Uber from Sapphire Falls Resort to the Disney Cruise Terminal at Port Canaveral (1.5 hours with traffic, $58 plus a very good tip). Check-In was bizarrely easy. Getting out of our Uber, port personnel immediately took our checked suitcases. We then proceeded inside, well before our assigned arrival time, checked in right away with no wait, and were on the ship less than 5 minutes later. This was completely different than our last European cruise with Disney where check-in in Copenhagen was a disorganized nightmare. If you’re sailing from Port Canaveral from Disney’s Terminal 8, expect things to be easy. Then our luggage was delivered to our cabin a couple hours later, far earlier than promised. 

Disney's Terminal 8 at Port Canaveral

The Disney Fantasy itself

This trip we sailed on the Disney Fantasy. The ship is very nice – the attention to detail is impressive, and the ship’s nicer than a lot of others I’ve been on. We had a “Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah”. The two bathrooms worked out really well – my son and I had our things in the bathroom with the toilet, and my daughter took over the one with a shower. Speaking of the shower, it was excellent – really well-designed and larger than most ship showers, and the water pressure was better than at a lot of hotels. I like that there was a curtain between my bed and the kids’ beds, effectively turning the cabin into two bedrooms at night. I loved the main cabin door – it actually closed quietly so I could sneak out in the morning for coffee and not wake anyone. The balcony was great too. FYI, we were in cabin 7090 and loved it – a perfect mid-ship location. 

Cabin 7090 on the Disney Fantasy Cruise

Dinners on a Disney Fantasy cruise rotate among three themed restaurants – Royal Court, Enchanted Garden and Animator’s Palate. Animator’s Palate is by far the best-designed – playful and creative, with interactive elements. 

The interactive Crush the Turtle at Animator's Palate was a lot of fun

Disney-Themed Things

At the beginning of the year I traveled to Antarctica with Adventures By Disney on an amazing trip and I liked that there were Disney elements but not too many. Antarctica was the star. That’s not the case with Disney Cruise Line though. Disney art, characters, shows and music are omnipresent. If you love or even just like Disney, you’ll enjoy it. For us it’s fine – impossible to ignore and we wouldn’t book a cruise because of it, but not a big deal. It’s fun to see kids walking around dressed up like pirates and princesses – kind of Halloween in March. And there were current Disney films playing in the theater every day.

Disney Fantasy Cruise - The interactive art and travel posters throughout the ship are fun

The Staff and Service

I was impressed with the efficiency at which the Disney Fantasy cruise staff got us on and off the ship at every port stop, with our server at every dinner, and with all other staff that we interacted with (with the exception of the Vibe teen club staff, but I’ll get to that). Our cabin attendant was pretty good as well. On other Disney Cruises I’ve questioned some of the automatic gratuities, feeling like people didn’t always deserve them. I had no such thoughts on this cruise though. 

The Inclusions 

Food and soda are included in your cruise fare, with exceptions. And I was impressed that a Disney person handed out towels at every cruise stop. I forgot to pack towels and wasn’t sure if I should try to sneak some from the pool deck for our port excursions. No need – they give them to you. And free coffee is always available on the pool deck. 

I’ve felt like staff on other cruises were always trying to sell us on things – drink packages, art, onboard shopping, port excursions, future cruises. Disney doesn’t do that. You can purchase any of those things, but they’re not in your face. I really appreciate that. 

The Disney Cruise App

Disney used to deliver daily briefings, on paper, to every cabin at night. They were a huge waste of paper, especially in Europe where Disney didn’t have shopping partnerships and the briefings were sometimes 50% blank. They’ve moved everything to the Disney Cruise App, which works well on board. There’s passenger messaging within the app too, so I could communicate with my kids. If I could suggest three improvements, they would be:

  • Please include the current time in the app. We had time zone changes and a daylight savings time switch during our cruise and people were often confused about what time it was, since we couldn’t trust our cell phones. 
  • It would be great to send photos within the messaging platform, like of the lunch buffet if one kid was still in the room.
  • I’d love to be able to add my own things to the schedule instead of only selecting from Disney’s pre-programmed options. Through a Facebook group a lot of the solo parents on board planned get-togethers. I couldn’t add those to my daily app calendar though and missed some of them.

Disembarkation

There’s no way to quickly get 3,800 passengers off a ship at the end of a cruise, but Disney does a pretty good job. It took us roughly half an hour to leave the ship, go through immigration/customs and get to the Disney airport bus. FYI, buses were leaving as quickly as they were filling up. We had a seated breakfast at 8:10am, got in line to leave the ship just after 8:30, were on a bus at 9:00 and at MCO airport at 10:00, well before our 12:34pm flight to LA. It would be amazing if they could add a Global Entry line at the port – it’s the first time we’ve waited in line for US passport checks in ten years! FYI, no issues on our flight back. We grabbed our car at LAX parking and were home by 6pm – not a bad travel day.

What Disney Could Improve On

Disney outsources its spa and fitness center to a company called One Spa World. One Spa World also manages the spas for most other major cruise lines, including Celebrity, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess and Virgin. The problem is they’re publicly-traded and they, and their employees, have a financial incentive to upsell you. I booked a 50-minute massage for the first at-sea day. It was the worst massage I’ve ever had. The spa personnel and massage therapist tried to upsell me six times in an hour, which ruined the experience. Massages are supposed to be relaxing! And when I posted about it on Instagram, I received over 50 comments from others with similar negative cruise experiences that almost all went back to spas run by One Spa World. My massage, with gratuity, was over $180. But I also, according to them, needed an upgrade from soft/medium pressure to medium/firm pressure for $30, orthotics for $199, a skin brush for $45, body oil for $65 and refreshing gel for $59. Please put a stop to this Disney! This is a horrible experience for everyone getting massages on board. And after declining all of the add-ons, I’m pretty sure my masseuse dumbed down my massage. Of the 50 minutes I paid for, only 35 or so was spent on my body. The rest was a really weak head massage. Such a letdown, and not worth anywhere close to $180. 

The food onboard the Disney Fantasy was ok. I mean, everything sounds great on the menus, but then it comes to the table and it’s…ok. One staff member even commented that he could make a certain dish better than Disney. I understand that the kitchen staff is feeding 3,800 passengers on board every day, which is a crazy undertaking that I don’t pretend to have a grasp of, but I wish things tasted a little better.

The lunch buffet at Cabanas

I should note that I had an excellent brunch at Disney’s adults-only restaurant Palo for $45, which is some of the best money I spent. But that just served to show that there are people on board who know how to cook well. The pizza at Palo was so much better than the poolside pizza at Luigi’s. Why not make better pizza for everyone? 

The brunch menu at Palo on the Disney Fantasy Cruise

Other thoughts: It would be great to have a buffet dinner option if you don’t feel like a rotational sit-down dinner. Indian entrée options would have been nice at lunch and dinner. And there’s a food dead spot between 6pm and 9pm at the casual places near the pool. That’s fine for people with the early dinner seating, but for us (with an 8:15 dining time every night), if we were hungry at 6:15 and needed something small to tide us over, the only option was room service. They should keep something open later than 6pm. 

Weird Pricing

My daughter loves Diet Coke. It was free if she got it herself by the pool or in the restaurants, or if a server in a restaurant brought it to her. But if a server from the bar or room service brought it to her, there was a charge of a couple dollars. Given that Disney Cruises don’t usually nickel and dime guests, it seems like a strange thing to charge for. They should be 100% consistent – included means included.

The Vibe Teens Club

My daughter had a lot of negative things to say about the staff at the Vibe Teens Club (for 14-17-year-olds). She and her friends just wanted a place to hang out, but it sounds like that’s not an option. If there was an event like karaoke or Disney trivia planned and you were in Vibe, you had to participate, and the other areas of the club were closed off when scheduled activities were going on. So she and her friends had to constantly move elsewhere on the ship. And there’s a Vibe sun deck, but it wasn’t open most of the time. Overall she says the counselors treated the teens like little kids, and were constantly disrespectful (except Casey). I heard the same thing from other parents, so it wasn’t just her. So disappointing since this should have been the primary teen hangout and the counselors continually sabotaged that.

St. Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day is my favorite food holiday and is always fun to celebrate. A lot of passengers wore green. Disney did…nothing. I wish meals had been St. Patrick’s Day-themed, with boxty, corned beef, potatoes, colcannon, soda bread and all other traditional Irish foods. There were no themed character appearances, no decorations, no green pools, no green soft-serve, no Irish food, no related activities – it was like every other day. Such a wasted opportunity to have fun! Beware if you’re booking a Disney Cruise over a holiday.

There was nothing St. Patricks Day-related at lunch (at Castaway Cay) or at dinner

Light Switches

It seems like the most basic thing in the world to me: put bathroom light switches inside the bathrooms. That way if it’s dark you can go in, close the door and then turn on the light, so you don’t wake up everyone in the cabin by flooding it in light. Yet Disney put the two bathroom light switches outside the bathrooms. Every night my daughter came back to the cabin between 3am and 5am. She was quiet, but as soon as she turned on the bathroom lights, it woke me up. Grrrrr. How did you get this so wrong Disney?

3,800 people are too many on what’s essentially a floating resort. The pools were packed, especially on days at sea. We preferred the smaller Disney Magic (2,400 passengers), and we like smaller ships even more.

It was hard to find a chair at the pool a lot of the time

Our Disney Fantasy Cruise

Having said all that, we had a good cruise overall. The Disney cruise was my daughter’s idea and I went into it thinking she would be disappointed. But she made great friends and stayed out until 3am or later every night with them, so from her perspective it was a success. My son and I hung out, played shuffleboard, threw a football in our cabin a lot, went to the fitness center daily, read and relaxed. There are worse places to spend a week than on a really nice ship.

I loved having coffee and reading on Deck 13 during sunrise every day while my kids were still sleeping

Our Disney Fantasy cruse port stops were in Cozumel, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Jamaica and Disney’s Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. We went onshore at all four. In Cozumel and Grand Cayman we walked around a little and got lunch. In Jamaica we hired a driver for the day, Richard Brooks of Excursion Ocho Rios . Richard picked us up at 8am, took us to Dunn’s River Falls for a fun hour of waterfall hiking, drove us all around Ocho Rios, and then took us to lunch before we returned to the ship at 3pm. It was a great day. Castaway Cay was a lot of fun – far more than I was expecting. We took a water ball, football and frisbee and threw all three in the ocean and on the beach. We also rode bikes around the island paths several times. 

Walking around Cozumel

In a perfect world I would have selected more interesting ports, or at least places that I haven’t been before, but there weren’t any other options that fit into our spring break dates. A Disney Caribbean Cruise is more about the ship and Disney experience than the ports though – kind of the opposite of their Europe sailings for us. Our favorites were in reverse order of the stops: 1) Castaway Cay; 2) Jamaica; 3) Grand Cayman; and 4) Cozumel. 

The water and beach at Castaway Beach were perfect

I highly recommend Disney Cruises for families with young kids – under 10 or so. For couples and families of older children, if you don’t really love Disney, I’m not sure that it’s worth it? I loved sailing on the Celebrity Edge, and thought the food on the Edge was better than on the Disney Fantasy. If Celebrity Edge -class sailings are priced better than Disney, and especially if the ports are more interesting, I’d probably opt for those instead.

How much is a Disney Cruise?

Our Disney Fantasy 7-night sailing was $8,864 for three of us. That’s a lot of money and the reason why I’m a little negative above. Disney overall delivers a very good experience, but can do better – especially when it comes to food, the spa and the Vibe teen club. I noted that we were in a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom. There are cheaper options available, including interior rooms. There are also more expensive rooms and, of course, if you have more people in your family it’s more expensive. 

We Ubered from Universal Orlando for $58. We paid twice that, $117, for a Disney transfer to Orlando Airport after the cruise, since I didn’t know how difficult it would be to order an Uber or Lyft from Port Canaveral. 

My massage was $185.82 with tip. Standard gratuities were $304.50. My daughter spent around $90 on internet access. Bicycles in Castaway Cay were $26 for two of us. Brunch at Palo was $55 with tip. Laundry was $7. Our driver for the day in Jamaica was $260. Dunn’s River Falls was $25/person. Internet seemed a little high at $24/device/day for the middle tier, and my massage was an absolute waste of money. 

Loved the bike riding on Castaway Cay

I should note that on our Adventures By Disney trip in January on an expedition ship gratuities were included, as were sodas and premium coffees, and there was coffee in the rooms. If Adventures By Disney can do that, I would think Disney Cruise Line could do that too. Automatic gratuities are like Resort Fees – completely unnecessary. Just build them into the overall pricing to make it easier for people to compare vacation options. 

Disney Fantasy Cruise – Health

Passengers on our sailing seemed healthy, and Disney made sure the ship stayed clean. Most hand sanitizer stations looked to be empty, but staff handed out disinfecting wipes to everyone before heading into the restaurants. I only saw three families regularly wearing masks on board.

I averaged 12,000 steps a day while on the cruise and worked out daily. I lost two pounds and was in better shape after the cruise than before. I didn’t go crazy at buffets or drink.

I took along our medical kit from Duration Health but didn’t need it. My kids took maybe six Dramamine tablets total when they were feeling the motion of the ship. After Antarctica in January, I’m pretty sure I’m immune to minor ship swaying. We likewise didn’t need to use our travel health/cancellation policy from G1G Travel, but given how expensive the cruise was, and the fact that we would have lost 100% of the cruise cost if we canceled within 14 days and 75% if we cancelled within 29 days, I was glad we were protected.

Disney Fantasy Cruise – Packing

We packed light for our Disney Fantasy cruise. We didn’t bring door decorations or alcohol or clothes specifically for formal night or semi-formal night, and we didn’t bring costumes. The weather was warm everywhere. We easily could have gotten by with swimsuits, shorts, a couple t-shirts, slightly nicer shirts (and dresses) for dinners, sunscreen, flip-flops and walking shoes. I wore pants, a button-down shirt and nice shoes for my brunch at Palo, but Palo is optional. My daughter wore a hoodie for her late-night partying since the decks cooled down at night. We had two half-filled Patagonia rolling duffels thinking we may shop at the ports, but we didn’t buy anything. Per my Castaway Cay comments above, we were glad we brought balls and a Frisbee for the beach.

Heading to dinner for semi-formal night. Amazing merino wool polo shirts from Unbound Merino.

Disney Caribbean Cruises – Your Turn

Have you taken a Disney cruise in the Caribbean with your kids? How do your thoughts (pro/con/good/bad) compare to mine? Please comment below!

And I have a post on how to decide if a Disney cruise is right for your family , summarizing all of my thoughts from our four cruises.

More from Travel Babbo

Adventures By Disney Antarctica: A Magical Expedition

January 21, 2024 at 8:36 am

Thank you for your review, and I agree for the most part. Having cruised 12 times with Disney, I got used to the food. The first 2 or 3 years, I ate off of the children’s menu, but eventually learned to enjoy the higher class of food above a burger and fries. The events are great, the guest costuming is fabulous, but the after dinner snacks were few and there was no late night buffet except for Pirate night. Very expensive is the only way to describe a Disney cruise, but you do get a lot more that what some other ships offer. You are paying for a 5 star experience in the dining room, up on deck, in your room and in your entertainment. All the other cruise lines are playing catch up with Disney. It is worth the one time experience, but at the lower price tiers, their is a lot of competition.

January 21, 2024 at 8:49 am

Oh, by the way, I believe you can still get a copy of the paper Navigator with the days activities at the concierge desk or from your room steward, at least at Royal Caribbean you could. For us seniors who have difficulty with the app life, the paper version is needed, and also I did not care for the pay for ice cream salon… again a nickel and dime-ing that Disney is not known for. Finally, they need more on board activities on at sea days. 90% of the offerings are alcohol related tastings. Cooking, towel folding, origami, etc. I do appreciate the DVC members meeting, they should have more DVC sponsored events.

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DCL western caribbean excursions which is best or worst

By kshark1958 , December 2, 2012 in Disney Cruise Line

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Cool Cruiser

Going on Fantasy Western Caribbean in February. First time cruisers so we are booking our excursions through DCL. We were just wondering if anyone out there has an opinion on excursions that are a must do or which one s are a waste of time.

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mom x4,grandma x4

We just got back yesterday from the Fantasy Western cruise.

At Cozumel we did the Adventure Park. We thought it was well worth the money. We have never had any experiences with zip lines, rope bridges, rock climbing walls before so we have nothing to comapre it to.

We thought it wa alot of fun, especially for beginners.

A couple of ladies on this tour thought it was a rip off because they thought it was really long zip lines through the jungle like they had done at a different port. So perhaps if your experienced this may not be fore you.

But I believe it lived up to the description and was as advertised on Disneys web site. Total time was 3 hours and during that time you could do the zip lines and repeling and climbing stuff as much as you wanted to.

Plus they had snorkeling right there at the beach. It was very choppy so nobody wanted to snorkel although the guides were willing to go out with you if you wanted to go. They really wanted everyone to have a great time. Lots of men there to assist you every step of the way.

Afterwards you got a free pop at the bar and there was food available for purchase, a nice large pool to play in too. The decor of the bar, restaurant and sitting areas were beautiful and very clean. I will show photos of this place in my trip report i will try to post by the end of the week, so check it out for photos of the place.

A taxi ride back to the port when ever you want is included.

At Costa Maya we did the Segway tour. I have always wanted to try to drive one and so we did. I thought it was fun and totally different way to see part of the island. You did have to walk about 10 minutes to a parking lot for learning to use them and get your pads and helmet. Our 3 guides were very patient about teaching us all.

I felt a bit uneasy about getting on and off the Segway even after practicing,so they had me be the last in line so if I needed help one of them would be there with me. They were so nice and helpful to everyone. We drove along the road for a few miles then rested at a beach view point. Your feet get tired of standing so wear comfortable tennis shoes for this excursion.

Then we went down an extra wide side walk to Mahuhaul (spelling?) which is a small village along the beach where we had 20 minutes to walk around, shop, use the bathroom, or look at the beach. You can dicker for oem great prices if you have a backpack to carry stuff in there for souvenirs.

Warning: Their bathrooms are not clean like we are use to, so take a travel size package of seat covers and toilet paper and a little bottle of hand sanitizer in your backpack.;)

Then we rode back out to the edge of town for beach time or you could take a free taxi ride back to the port. They gave everyone a free non alcoholic drink that was some lime drink. Of course there was mixed drink for purchase and nice covered tables to sit and relax at or walk in the water. If you like a cheap massage walk back to the main part of the village for one by the water. Then come back to catch your cab.

Again our gudes were friendly and very professional. Plus for the first time in 22 DCL cruises we had guides on both excursions that didnt give a speech about tipping them becaue they dont make much money. There was NO mention of tips which was nice.

Of course we did tip them because they were excellant guides and we enjoyed our excursions. Plus the extra help they gave me.

I recommend both of these tours.

Also if the waters are clam any of the semi sub or submarine rides are great. We are done those and you get great views like a scuba diver would see.

Any of the tours to see Mayan ruins are great . They are fascinating the first time you see them but after that they all look the same at each port so once is enough. Some of the ruins excursions are for the entire time your in port so no time for shopping, in fact they are often late and hold up the ship by 30 minutes.

Grand Caymen we just walked around this trip. We have seen the turtle farm and Hell before. They are ok if you like seeing thousands of turtles in ponds. For kids its great but we didnt have kids this time. Hell's rock formations are intereting and if you buy a post card there and mail it at the Post Office there the post mark will say it was sent from Hell which is fun to send to family and friends. It can take a month for them to arrive and you must use cash to pay the Post Office. Take small bills they dont have much change.

Hope this helps some. Watch for my trip report and maybe photos may help you osme too.

Thank you for the info. You seem like you have done this before so I have another question hoping you can answer. I wanted to book through DCL Seven Mile Beach Break excursion on Grand Cayman but it was already sold out on the first day I was eligible to book. So I was wondering are their other simple ways to get to the beach. First time cruisers so I appreciate your help.

We missed our Grand Cayman stop on our Magic cruise last year, but I did a lot of research about things to do in Grand Cayman. I found a lot of great information on tours and options for getting around on your own in the ports section of this forum.

I had a private boat tour booked for Grand Cayman through Fat Fish that would go to Stingray City, Snorkeling and Starfish beach. It was going to be pricey, but not much more than a ship tour for four would have been. They refunded my money promptly, without me asking by the way, when we missed the port. When we go again, I will try to book that tour.

In Cozumel we booked the Chankanaab dolphin encounter. My kids were 3 and 5 at the time so we couldn't do the swim. We had a good experience, the girls loved the dolphins and we had time to hang out at the beach at the park after the dolphins. But as with all ships tours you are always waiting on the slowest people. Very frustrating for me.

There are always Taxi's to take you anywhere you want to go.

Right at the end of the pier you will usually see people holding signs for different places to go to and someone at an information booth too.

Just be sure and settle on the price, per person to go there before you get in the taxi.

Also time how long it takes to get there, then when you come back allow at least double the time in case of heavy traffic. You don't want to miss the ship.

Also go to the Port excursions desk on the ship on your sea day to see if anyone may have cancelled so they can book you. This does happen a lot.

  • 2 weeks later...

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The highlight for us was the clear kayak and snorkel tour at playa uvas

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

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Best Disney Cruise Excursions in Bahamas, Caribbean, & Bermuda -- Water trikes in front of a Disney cruise ship

Best Disney Cruise Excursions in Bahamas, Caribbean, & Bermuda

They’re known by many names: Port Adventures, Land Adventures, Shore Excursions, Port Excursions, or Shoreside Activities. Whatever you call them, Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures all have one thing in common: they’re a great way to experience a local adventure during cruises! Depending on the destination, you might have hundreds of possibilities to choose from. So which should you choose, and which should you let sail you by? Here are our picks for some of the Best Disney Cruise Excursions in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Jump directly to the best excursions in:

  • Castaway Cay, Bahamas
  • Costa Maya, Mexico
  • Cozumel, Mexico
  • Falmouth, Jamaica
  • George Town, Grand Cayman
  • King’s Wharf, Bermuda
  • Nassau, Bahamas
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico

Or read on to find out more about Port Adventures and how to get them for free .

Get Free Help Planning Your Cruise and Port Adventures. Vacationeers are standing by!

What are Disney Cruise Port Adventures?

“Port Adventures” is the name Disney uses for organized off-ship activities. You can always leave the ship for free when it’s in port, and there’s never any charge to explore on your own. A Port Adventure is an optional paid experience that offers a bit more structure to your time on shore.

Whatever you’re looking for — invigorating or relaxing, cultural or touristy, complex or simple, short or long — odds are you’ll find it offered as a Disney Cruise Port Adventure.

How Much are Shore Excursions in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda?

There’s a Port Adventure for every budget. You can spend about $18 to rent a two-seater paddle boat at Castaway Cay — or you can charter a private fishing vessel for the day in Tortola, British Virgin Islands for $6,599.

Don’t let the priciest options scare you away. Many excursions fall well below $100 per-person and are quite reasonable.

We checked prices of all excursions Disney Cruise Line offered in the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Bermuda at the time we wrote this article, and here’s what we found:

  • $1 – $49: 103 options
  • $50 – $99: 303 options
  • $100 – $199: 186 options
  • $200 and up: 110 options

There are plenty of great options at each of the price points, and you don’t certainly don’t have to spend a huge amount to have a good time.

If you don’t mind splurging just a little, we’ve found that $125-$250 per person should be enough to buy you a truly unforgettable port adventure in the area. Though you likely wouldn’t want to spend this much in every port, it’s worth considering at least once during your cruise. And you can take heart in knowing that excursion prices in this part of the world are much more affordable than, say, Disney Cruise excursions in Alaska or European cruise excursions.

How to Get Free Excursions on a Disney Cruise

Port Adventures are not included in the cost of your Disney Cruise , but you can still get them for free if you know how.

Book your cruise through a Disney travel agent to earn Onboard Credit  for excursions and other purchases during your cruise.

The Vacationeer offers up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit when you book your cruise through them.

Your cruise won’t cost any more than if you’d booked it yourself , and they don’t charge any planning fees .

When Do You Pay for Disney Cruise Port Adventures?

In most cases, charges for your shore excursion are applied through your shipboard account; you won’t actually pay until you settle your account at the end of your cruise. That’s great news if you’re have an onboard credit from your travel agent, because it means you can use that “free money” toward your excursions.

Now, on to our list.

We’ve picked some of the best offerings at multiple ports and across different price points.

Prices shown are per person unless indicated otherwise. Some offerings may be limited to certain itineraries or times of year.

There are many more offerings and plenty of additional ports. So if you see something that looks almost perfect, you can check out the full list of Port Adventures to find similar offerings with different options, prices, and locations.

Castaway Cay — Best Port Adventures

A Disney Cruise Ship docked in the crystal waters of Castaway Cay

As Disney’s own private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay offers an exclusive Bahamian hideaway that’s open only to one Disney cruise ship a day — and no one else! There’s plenty to do for free on the island, but also a wide array of optional paid activities.

Bicycle Rentals (C04)

One of the most popular and cost-effective ways to explore Castaway Cay. Enjoy a one-hour bike rental as you explore nature paths and offshore terrain. Ride along the island’s historic (and historically dubious) airstrip and wheel your way to the observation tower for an elevated view of Disney’s Private Island.

Activity Level: Active

Requirements: Ages 3+

Duration: 1.0 hour

Cost: $13 for ages 10+ $13 for ages 3-9 Rates are per bike, per hour

Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure (C13)

Enter the shallow stingray lagoon for an up-close encounter. Using a specially-designed feeding ramp and tray, your guide will show you how to place food just right in your hand to allow a stingray to glide over and gobble up their meal. You’ll also have a chance to pet one of these beautiful, often misunderstood creatures. Then, grab your snorkel to observe 60+ stingrays in a beautiful lagoon. Concerned about safety? Stingrays have no teeth, and Castaway Cay keeps its captive stingrays’ barbs safely (and humanely) trimmed.

Activity Level: Moderate

Requirements: Ages 5+ (ages 5-16 with adult 18+)

Cost: $56 for ages 10+ $45 for ages 5-9

Glass Bottom Boat Scenic Voyage (C11)

Did you know Castaway Cay has a barrier reef? Board a glass bottom boat for a voyage beyond the protected lagoon out to the undeveloped north side of the island. You’ll stay dry as you look down through bottom-mounted windows to discover tropical fish, sea creatures, and the coral reefs that protect the island.

Activity Level: Mild

Requirements: Open to all ages. Limited seats; guests may be required to stand.

Cost: $59 for ages 10+ $39 for ages 3-9 $39 for ages 2 and under

Parasailing (C08)

Meet and mingle with fellow cruisers as you’re divided into groups and board separate boats. Soon, it will be your turn to experience an unforgettable beauty parasailing flight 600-800 feet in the air. You’ll enjoy about 5-7 minutes of flight time before being gently pulled back down to the boat.

Requirements: Ages 8+ (under age 13 must fly with adult age 18+). Age 13-19 must check in with parent/guardian. Must weigh 90-375 pounds. Tandem riders max 375 pounds combined. Tandem ride may be required.

Cost: $129 for ages 10+ $129 for ages 8-9

Get Free Help Booking Your Cruise to Castaway Cay

Considering on a Disney Cruise? Reach out to an Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at The Vacationeer to make sure you don’t miss anything!

You’ll have your own dedicated agent from start to finish — no massive call centers and no waiting on hold ! Not only will they book your cruise , but they’ll also handle all your Port Adventure bookings .

And best of all, their services are completely free ! Your cruise won’t cost a penny more than if you’d booked it yourself (and it might even cost less )!

So contact The Vacationeer today, and ask about their free onboard credit to spend on excursions or virtually anything else onboard the ship!

Costa Maya, Mexico — Best Excursions

People climbing stairs at the Mayan Ruins

Image © Disney

Located on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Costa Maya offers a unique mix of lush jungles and sandy beaches. With a history shaped by ancient Mayans, English pirates, and the Mexican Navy, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this enchanting area of unspoiled natural beauty.

Salsa Cooking & Dancing with Beach Break (CM30)

Take a hands-on cooking class that teaches you how to make authentic Mexican salsas and guacamole. You’ll get to taste your creations afterwards (with complimentary margaritas, beers, and flavored waters) — and take recipes with you to create them again at home. Speaking of Salsa, you’ll also learn the steps of the famous dance of the same name. A bit of beach time rounds out your experience.

Activity Level: Mild, Moderate

Requirements: Ages 6+

Duration: 3.0 to 3.5 hours

Cost: $75 for ages 10+ $54 for ages 6-9

Adventure Park and Chacchoben Mayan Ruins (CM46)

Mix the ancient with the exhilarating on this multi-faceted experience. First, spend nearly two hours on an educational guided tour of the Mayan ruins of Chacchoben — a renowned archaeological site. Then, move on to the purely fun-focused portion of the day at Mayá Lost Mayan Kingdom , featuring 8 water slides, a slow inner tube ride, and two zip line courses.

Requirements: Open to all ages (6+ recommended)

Advisory:  Mexico Government charges $5 USD fee for camera use in ruins. Tripod use requires a permit and payment of a fee described by Disney Cruise Line as “exorbitant.”

Duration: 6.5 to 7.0 hours

Cost: $160 for ages 10+ $155 for ages 3-9 Free for ages 2 and under

Cozumel, Mexico — Best Shore Excursions

People swim in blue waters at Cozumel

From its earliest days of settlement by the ancient Mayans, natural beauty has drawn people to Cozumel. Over the years it has played host to everyone from pirates to refugees — and now tourists. Whether you’re seeking the stunning coral reefs or a plate of tantalizing food from one of the 100+ restaurants, Cozumel is yours to explore.

Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program (CZ48)

Take a brief ride to Sunset beach, then help a group of local nonprofit’s marine biologists restore the coral reefs of Cozumel. This activity includes hands-on restoration work, followed by recreation such as snorkeling and beach time. End the experience with a certificate of participation and a ride back to the ship.

Requirements: Ages 10+

Cost: $49 for ages 10+

A Mexican Winter Holiday and Beach Adventure (CZ92)

Set out on foot for the traditional Las Posadas nativity procession, singing carols and making decorations. Feast on sweet bread, tamales, fried codzitos, and pumpkin seed salsa. Then, spend about 90 minutes at Playa Mia Grand Beach before picking up your keepsake and returning to the ship

Requirements: Open to all ages

Duration: 4.5 to 5.0 hours

Cost: $94 for ages 10+ $79 for ages 3-9 Free for ages 0-2

Dolphin and Manatee Encounter in a National Park All Inclusive (CZ04)

Visit Dolphin Discovery for a 40-minute in-water encounter with gentle and playful dolphins. Then, enjoy a brief manatee encounter along with an internationally-inspired lunch.

Requirements: Ages 3+. Ages 3-12 must book w/ adult 18+ on same CZ04. Ages 13-17 must book w/ adult 18+ on CZ04 or matching CZ25.

Advisory:  Medical restrictions apply. No cameras. No jewelry.

Cost: $114 for ages 10+ $99 for ages 3-9

Dolphin Trainer For A Day in Cozumel – All Inclusive (CZ40)

A person wearing a life jacket interacts with a dolphin in the water

Travel to Dolphinaris to begin your dolphin training experience. Shadow professional trainers as you learn how to feed the dolphins and how to train them using hand signals. Teach your dolphin students to vocalize and jump at your request, and experience a thrilling “hang on tight” swim with one of the dolphins, followed by a flipper shake and a kiss. This experience includes lots of close contact with these amazing creatures.

Activity Level: Moderate, Active

Requirements: Ages 10+. To observe but not participate, book CZ41.

Duration: 5.0 to 5.5 hours

Cost: $255 for ages 10+

Have Questions But Don’t Want to Wait on Hold?

Falmouth, Jamaica — Top Excursions

A small yellow boat floats in clear waters

Falmouth has come a long way from its early days as a shipment hub for sugar plantations, but still retains some of its old world charm — right down to the architecture. Its bustling days are over, but that’s just fine for a relaxing visit during your cruise. So go ahead — enjoy a plate of jerk chicken and dip your toes in the sparkling waters of this peaceful Caribbean destination.

Falmouth Dolphin Encounter (FA76)

Take a one-hour motorcoach ride along the Jamaican coastline to Dolphin Cove for an up-close encounter with friendly dolphins. Mount a shallow-water platform for a 30-minute interaction full of hands-on activity, splashes, and maybe even a dolphin “kiss” Then, enjoy the pool, whirlpool tub, or lounge chairs on the pool deck before returning to the ship.

Requirements: Open to all ages (6+ recommended). Ages 0-12 must book w/ adult 18+ on same FA76. Ages 13-17 must book w/ adult 18+ on same FA76 or matching FA78.

Advisory:  Medical restrictions apply

Duration: 5.5 to 6.0 hours

Cost: $89 for ages 10+ $69 for ages 3-9 Free for ages 0-2

Sky Explorer and Dunn’s River Falls (FA11)

Travel one hour to Dunn’s River Falls — then, if you like, begin a 600-foot climb up the cascading falls (additional one hour). Then, take a short ride to Mystic Mountain where you’ll ride the Sky Explorer chairlift through dense tropical forests with stunning views of the cliffs and turquoise waters below. At the end of your 15-minute journey lies Mystic Pavilion , featuring educational and interactive history exhibits. A Jamaican-inspired lunch is included, and you can round out your visit with views from the observation tower. Take a second ride on the Sky Explorer to begin your return to the ship.

Requirements: Open to all ages (6+ recommended). Must be 36″+ tall to climb falls.

Cost: $124 for ages 10+ $69 for ages 3-9 Free for ages 0-2

Bobsled Jamaica and Dunn’s River Falls (FA10)

Travel one hour to Dunn’s River Falls for an optional hike up the 600-foot falls, followed by another short ride to Mystic Mountain. Ride the Sky Explorer chairlift and explore the educational pavilion before continuing to Rainforest Bobsled Jamaica . This coaster-style attraction evokes the design of bobsleds used by the famed Jamaican Olympic team. The 3,280-foot track is specially designed to avoid disturbing the natural landscape, so expect plenty of twists and turns around ancient trees, majestic cliffs, stone outcrops, and dense rainforest canopies. You control the brakes, so your trip can be as leisurely or as thrilling as you like. Your bobsled then slowly returns back up the mountain. A Jamaican-inspired lunch is also included, and you’ll have time to take in mountaintop views from the observation tower before you head back to the ship.

Requirements: Ages 5+. Must be 42″+ tall. Must weigh 275 pounds or less.

Duration: 6.0 to 6.5 hours

Cost: $144 for ages 10+ $79 for ages 5-9

George Town, Grand Cayman — Best Port Adventures

Boats floating and people swimming in the waters off Grand Cayman

Located on the largest of the Cayman Islands, and home to the majority of islanders, George Town is known for its lively culture. Like so much of the area, it has a rocky history of territorial disputes, hurricanes, and economic challenges. Now a British Overseas Territory, it’s a haven for tourists seeking natural beauty and great weather.

Shipwreck and Reef Snorkeling (G15)

Board a custom-built snorkeling ship and explore two different sites. First, spend about 45 minutes snorkeling the shipwreck of the Cali , a 220-foot steel schooner that sank in the 1940s. Then, snorkel a nearby reef as your guides feed the fish to bring them closer to you.

Requirements: Ages 5+

Duration: 2.0 to 2.5 hours

Cost: $54 for ages 10+ $34 for ages 5-9

North Sound Mangrove Cruise & Star Fish Point (G70)

Set out from Morgan’s Harbor, then cruise up the North Sound and the area’s Mangrove Swamp, en route to the “starfish petting zoo” at Starfish Point. You’ll have a chance to not only see — but also to touch and hold — starfish during your experience.

Activity Level: Athletic

Requirements: Ages 8+

Cost: $56 for ages 10+ $50 for ages 8-9

Atlantis Submarine Expedition (G11)

Climb down the hatch of a 65-foot, 80-ton submarine and dive 100 feet through Grand Cayman’s underwater marine park. You’ll spend about 40 minutes exploring this underwater paradise, viewing the amazing Coral Canyons through large porthole windows directly in front of your seat. A marine expert accompanies your voyage to share information and answer questions.

Requirements: Ages 4+ Must be 36″+ tall

Cost: $120 for ages 10+ $70 for ages 4-9

Find the Exact Cost of Your Dream Cruise

King’s Wharf, Bermuda — Top Port Adventures

Rock formations and cliffs jutting out into the waters of Bermuda

Bermuda plays host to an eclectic mix of American, British, and West Indian culture.  Add natural attractions such as the Crystal Caves to manmade sights including the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, and one can quickly understand why Bermuda draws so many tourists each year.

Bermuda Triangle Evening Cruise (BR15)

A special treat on cruises that spend the night in King’s Wharf, this unique nighttime adventure takes takes you into the heart of the mysterious Bermuda Triangle. Board a 50-foot glass-bottom boat for ghostly commentary about the history and legends of the area. Underwater lights and windows reveal sea life below.

Requirements: Ages 12+

Duration: 1.5 to 2.0 hours

Cost: $75 for ages 12+

Crystal Caves and Pink Flamingos (BR22)

Descend 80 feet below the surface of the earth, traveling past limestone formations and crystalized stalactites and over underground lakes. Then, visit the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo to explore more than 200 species of animals. View sea creatures from nearby coastal waters, flamingoes, seals, tortoises, and more.

Cost: $155 for ages 10+ $125 for ages 3-9 $85 for ages 0-2

Haunted History Tour of St. George’s (BR41)

Take a motorcoach to St. Georges, a UNESCO World Heritage town which dates back to 1609. Enjoy dinner at Fort St. Catherine before beginning a guided haunted history walking tour. Cast members bring ghost stories to life as you explore 18th-century homes, the historic cemetery of Their Majesties Chapel of St. Peter’s Church. Conclude at the land-based replica of Deliverance , a 1600s ship that was itself built from the remains the shipwrecked Sea Venture .

Cost: $199 for ages 10+ $149 for ages 5-9

Craft Your Own Pink Sand Jewelry (BR48)

Three silver pieces of jewelry with pink sand inlay

Experience an exclusive, behind-the-scenes jewelry-making activity at Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery . You’ll enjoy themed pink refreshments and locally-made treats, then get hands-on while customizing your very own keepsake from the region’s famed pastel sands.

Cost: $389 for ages 10+ $239 for ages 5-9

Nassau, Bahamas — Best Excursions

Crystal waters behind an orange and teal building

Arguably the most famous port in the Bahamas, Nassau’s close proximity to the United States makes it a frequent cruise destination. Far removed from — yet still shaped by — a history marked with piracy and colonialism, Nassau is now a vibrant and colorful town welcoming millions of tourists by air and sea each year.

Ardastra Gardens and Wildlife Conservation Centre (N16)

Start with a brief bus tour of the city’s architectural treasures and 200-year old pastel buildings including the Houses of Parliament and Government House. Upon arrival at the conservation center, participate in the Bahamas only authentic flamingo experience. The “Ballerinas in Pink” here have been trained to march and delight guests. Enjoy up-close and personal encounters with macaws, peacocks, snakes, turtles and more creatures in a nearly century-old stone-walled garden setting.

Cost: $69 for ages 10+ $49 for ages 3-9 Free for ages 0-2

Seaworld Explorer Semi-Submarine (N42)

Take a 20-minute scenic cruise through Nassau Harbor to the marine park at Athol Island. Then, transfer to the SeaWorld Explorer for a 45-minute adventure. The vehicle remains above water but features underwater windows allowing you to view the Sea Gardens coral colony and tropical fish. Then, spend a bit of time in downtown Nassau before returning to the ship.

Cost: $69 for ages 10+ $46 for ages 3-9 $46 for ages 0-2

Graycliff Chocolatier – The Art of Chocolate Making and Factory Tour (N54)

Visit Graycliff Chocolatier for a delicious hands-on exploration of the chocolate-making process. You’ll start with a fascinating factory tour, witnessing cacao beans being ground and roasted, liquid chocolate being mixed, and molds being filled. You’ll also learn a bit about the importance of responsible farming in the chocolate trades. Afterwards, its time to dress in special hygienic clothing and try it for yourself! An expert chocolatier teaches you how to dip, glaze, and fill molds to create your own delectable chocolate treats to take home with you. And for good measure, you’ll get to sample several different kinds of chocolate during the event. Note that this is by far one of the most popular excursions in the entire region , and space is extremely limited — book as early as you can.

Cost: $69 for ages 10+ $62 for ages 5-9

Blackbeard’s Revenge Pirate Ship Adventure (N23)

Board Blackbeard’s Revenge , a replica of an 18th-century pirate ship, and sail along Nassau Harbor and Paradise Island for a pirate adventure. Your crew enacts tales from the Golden age of piracy while you learn about the area’s rich history and historic forts. Feel free to join in the pirate antics if you like. You’ll also catch glimpses of (but will kindly refrain from pillaging) celebrity mansions and super yachts throughout the tour.

Cost: $74 for ages 10+ $44 for ages 3-9 $34 for ages 0-2

Atlantis Aquaventure (N25)

Atlantis - Aquaventure - The Surge Waterslide

Image © Atlantis

One of the more popular Nassau attractions is the renowned Aquaventure water park at Atlantis Bahamas . Your tour includes transportation for the 25-minute trip from the cruise docks to the resort and admission to its 141-are water park. Enjoy Poseidon’s Playzone, the Leap of Faith slide, Rapids River, and other water attractions during your visit. Take a self-guided tour of The Dig, view the world’s largest open-air marine habitat (home to 50,000+ sea creatures), soak up the sun on the beach, or visit the casino. Prices are a bit higher than just purchasing a day pass to the water park , in part because transportation is included.

Requirements: Open to all ages. Many attractions have height requirements.

Duration: 4.0 to 6.0 hours

Cost: $239 for ages 10+ $124 for ages 4-9 Free for ages 0-3

Want FREE EXCURSIONS on Your Disney Cruise?

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Best Port Excursions

Tall stone walls protect buildings in San Juan Puerto Rico

San Juan is Puerto Rico’s capital and most populated city, and the oldest city under jurisdiction of the United States. More than 3,000,000 Americans call Puerto Rico home, and many more are fortunate to visit this lush island as it hosts 500 cruise ships each year. The island’s early Spanish influence is still prevalent, not only in language but also in culture and cuisine.

Bacardi Rum and Distillery Tour — Adult Exclusive (SJ55) or Children Welcome (SJ03)

Take a 30-minute ride to the Bacardi Rum Distillery, followed by an hour-long guided tour through the facilities. Learn the history of the company and its production process. Tour the Visitor’s Center and explore the ways sugarcane is converted into molasses and rum. After the tour, enjoy free time for rum tasting in the Visitor’s Center (ages 21+) and shopping in the museum. Then either return directly to the ship or spend additional time shopping in Old San Juan.

Requirements: Ages 18+ for SJ55. Ages 3+ for SJ03. Must be 21+ to drink.

Duration: 2.5 to 3.0 hours

Cost: $46 for ages 18+ $31 for ages 10-17 $21 for ages 3-9

Horseback Riding Adventure (SJ25)

Visit Hacienda Campo Rico , where your guides will demonstrate how to ride your horse. Riders and horses will be paired by previous riding ability, size, and age for a 2-hour trail ride through a scenic 2,200-acre private ranch that was once a sugarcane plantation. Ride past lagoons, through tropical vegetation, and see the Karsts Mountains and coastal plains.

Requirements: Ages 9+. Maximum weight 250 pounds.

Duration: 3.5 to 4.0 hours

Cost: $92 for ages 9+

A Flair of Spain – Paella Cooking Demonstration and Flamenco (SJ57)

Visit a local restaurant to watch the fascinating process of making Paella. You’ll then enjoy your freshly-made meal (along with a glass of Sangria for those ages 21+) and receive the recipe to take home. During lunch, an energetic Flamenco dance performance highlights your experience.

Requirements: Open to all ages (5+ recommended)

Cost: $115 for ages 10+ $99 for ages 3-9 Free for ages 0-2

Caving and Body Rafting (SJ59)

Start with a 60-minute drive to a private nature reserve, observing the island’s karst (dissolving limestone) landscape in an area that was once the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. Upon arrival, don your protective gear and hike through an untouched jungle while learning about the Taíno people. Then, climb down into a cave for a hands-on geology lesson. After that, it’s time for Body Rafting, floating downstream by underground springs. Take a brief rest at a traditional mountain cottage until it’s time to head back to your Disney cruise ship.

Requirements: Ages 10+. Special clothing requirements apply.

Cost: $289 for ages 10+

Do I Have to Book Port Adventures Through Disney?

You don’t have to book your excursions through Disney Cruise Line, but you probably should.

Shore excursions are operated by outside companies which contract with Disney. And it’s true many of them offer a substantially similar experience — often at a lower price — when booked independently. And virtually every port has information booths right outside the dock where you can book experiences directly.

So why “waste money” booking through Disney? There are a few reasons:

Peace of mind

If you’ve booked through Disney, they’ll keep track of your experience from start to finish. This is critical if the excursion run late. Disney will hold the ship to allow straggling tours to return — or pay for you to catch up to the ship at the next port-of-call. If you booked on your own, then you’re on your own.

Flexible Payment and Refunds

Port Adventures booked through Disney are charged to your shipboard account and paid at the end of your cruise. Payment for privately-booked tours is often due in full at the time they’re reserved. Disney’s excursions are also usually fully refundable up until three days before your cruise. Privately-booked excursions might have stricter rules or simply be nonrefundable.

Automatic Adjustments

Excursions booked through Disney Cruises are exclusive to Disney passengers, so there’s no worry if the ship’s schedule changes. If the ship arrives in port late, the tour won’t start without you.

If the ship’s scheduled day in port changes, your tour will be automatically adjusted, too. And if the ship has to completely miss a port for some reason, you won’t have to pay for any excursions booked there.

Extra Magic

Not that it’s a crucial part of the experience, but Disney often nudges its tour providers into providing a few extra touches on their Disney Cruise excursions.

For all of these reasons, it’s often best for you or your travel agent to book your excursions directly through Disney Cruise Line.

Want FREE HELP from a Disney Cruise Expert?

Disney Cruise Port Adventure FAQs

Do disney cruises visit disney world.

It’s very rare for a Disney Cruise to directly include time at Walt Disney World. In the past, Disney Cruises from New York visited Port Canaveral and included a one-day Disney world ticket. But that hasn’t been the case for a few years.

You can, however, easily add a Disney World visit immediately before or after your Disney Cruise from Florida . It won’t be included in the cost of your cruise , but you can’t argue with the proximity and convenience.

Disney Cruise Line’s primary home port is Port Canaveral , about 60 miles from Disney World. Orlando International Airport services both destinations. The Disney Cruise shuttle service transports guests between the port, the airport, and Disney World.

Your Disney Travel Agent can help you price out the cost of adding some Disney World time to your Disney Cruise.

Can You Book Excursions Once You’re Onboard?

Port Adventures can be booked onboard the ship, subject to availability. Each ship has a Port Adventures desk.

Do Disney Cruise Excursions Sell Out?

Yes, it’s common for the more popular excursions to sell out well in advance. For the best chance at getting what you want, book as early as possible. There’s no wait list, but you can keep checking to see if space becomes available.

When Can You Book Disney Shore Excursions?

For those cruising with Disney for the first time , Port Adventures can be booked 75 days prior to your sail date. The booking window opens very early — midnight Eastern Time. Your cruise must be paid in full before you can book.

Repeat passengers get an early booking advantage that varies based on Castaway Club level (the number of times they’ve cruised with Disney).

Are Port Adventures Always Guided Tours?

Port Adventures take many forms, and not all of them have tour guides. A few examples include hiring a private vehicle, renting water trikes, chartering boats, or purchasing admission to local attractions.

Are Disney Cruise Excursions Wheelchair Accessible?

Disney’s cruise ships are easily accessible to those using wheelchairs, but the accessibility of experiences offered in ports-of-call can vary. It’s easy to forget that ADA regulations apply only to the United States — it’s the Americans with Disabilities Act — so it can be a bit of a shock when you arrive in another country and find that some areas are not as accessible as one might hope.

That said, Disney now partners with Accessible Travel Solutions to offer wheelchair-accessible Port Adventures in more than 25 countries. Not every excursion will be fully accessible — and while there’s certainly room for improvement — but progress is being made.

Accessible Port Adventures typically include vehicles with wheelchair lifts/ramps, attractions and tour routes with no stairs or with elevators, bathrooms with wider doors, and guides familiar with the needs of guests with disabilities. Disney maintains a list of all its accessible Port Adventures .

Best Way to Book Disney Cruise Excursions

If you’re ready to book your Disney Cruise and all your excursions, we highly recommend contacting  The Vacationeer . As  Authorized Disney Vacation Planners , their expert agents will make sure everything on your cruise is taken care of , from rooms to dining to Port Adventures.

Worried about the cost? Don’t be!  Their planning services are completely free and they’ll make sure you get the best possible price on everything .

What’s more, they’ll give you a free onboard credit of up to $1,000 to use for excursions and other shipboard spending.

Add in the convenience of having a single, dedicated travel agent from start to finish , and it’s easy to see why using The Vacationeer is the best way to book your Disney Cruise.

We hope our article has helped you understand more about Disney Cruise excursions in the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Bermuda — and maybe inspired you to explore some of the amazing adventures offered in port during your cruise.

Bon voyage!

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Caribbean Cruises

4-night western caribbean cruise from galveston.

Chart a course for sun, fun and adventure on this scenic cruise through the Western Caribbean. Plus, delight in blissful days at sea lounging poolside, savoring gourmet dishes and enjoying Disney entertainment for the young and young at heart alike.

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Celebrate the season in grand Disney style with dazzling décor, enchanting holiday parties and festive surprises for the whole family. Also call upon exciting, sun-kissed ports throughout the Western Caribbean, where sun, fun and laid-back tropical vibes await.

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5-Night Halloween on the High Seas Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale

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5-Night Very Merrytime Western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston

Ring in the holidays with winter wonderland décor, enchanting holiday parties, seasonal surprises, joyous caroling and themed activities on board the ship. Cruise from Galveston, the “Playground of the South,” to sunny Cozumel, where mysterious Mayan ruins and exciting Port Adventures from snorkeling to jungle off-roading await. Two days at sea give you time to explore the ship’s many onboard offerings, including imaginative pools, themed restaurants and fun spaces just for kids, tweens and teens.

5-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from San Juan ending in Fort Lauderdale

Stroll San Juan’s lively plazas and cobblestone streets lined with colorful buildings and historic monuments from centuries past before setting sail through the eastern Caribbean. Play golf, bike ride along the shore or simply relax on one of the many sunny beaches of St. Thomas. In Nassau, settle into the old-world colonial charm and sample some of the delicious island fare. Continue to our very own private island paradise—Disney Castaway Cay—and have a blast sailing, kayaking, swimming and snorkeling in the blue lagoon. Or take part in endless activities like tetherball, volleyball and soccer at the Sports Beach—maybe even run into one of your favorite Disney Characters. Conclude your magical vacation at sea in Fort Lauderdale, where more sun, fun and adventure await.

5-Night Very Merrytime Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale

Delight in seasonal magic at sea during a glittering Very Merrytime Cruise through the Western Caribbean. Join a festive celebration on deck—complete with garlands, shimmering lights, a 24-foot Christmas tree and beloved Disney Characters dressed in their holly-jolly best. Enjoy holiday fun in the sun at our private island paradise, Disney Castaway Cay, including select sailings to Cozumel or Grand Cayman.

5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston

Cast off on a scenic cruise through the Western Caribbean where sun, fun and exotic adventures await. And while sailing the high seas, explore an exciting array of onboard offerings, including pools, themed restaurants and cool spaces designed especially for kids, tweens and teens.

5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale

Cast off for sun-splashed ports of call brimming with natural wonders and vibrant island culture on this magical cruise through the Western Caribbean. While sailing the open waters, relax poolside, savor gourmet dining and experience world-class entertainment sure to delight the entire family.

5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from New Orleans

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6-Night Very Merrytime Western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston

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6-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

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6-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston

Escape to the balmy weather, soft-sand beaches and crystalline waters of the Western Caribbean. While sailing, discover magical fun for all ages—from freshwater pools and Character greetings to adult-exclusive dining and imaginative kids clubs.

6-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston ending in San Juan

Embrace the spirit of adventure on a scenic cruise through the Western Caribbean on your way to Puerto Rico. Between stops at sun-kissed ports of call, delight in all the magic on board—from Broadway-style shows to festive deck parties and more.

7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston

Soak up the sun on white-sand beaches, explore ancient ruins or try your hand at snorkeling on this magical voyage through the Western Caribbean. While at sea, delight in the world-class entertainment and amenities that only Disney can create.

7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral with Pixar Day at Sea

Set sail for sun, fun and adventure on this whimsical sailing through the Eastern Caribbean. Swim with the dolphins in Tortola, zip line over a lush rainforest in St. Thomas and drop anchor at our private island paradise, Disney Castaway Cay, for white-sand beaches and recreation of all ages. While at sea, delight in a fun-filled day with the beloved toys, supers, monsters and more from Disney and Pixar—complete with an incredible deck party and fireworks.

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Disney Treasure Maiden Voyage 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

Be among the first to experience the all-new magic on board the Disney Treasure—where the spirit of adventure meets the daring tales of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Disney park attractions. Enjoy an exciting 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise, with stops at Tortola, St. Thomas and our private island oasis, Disney Castaway Cay. On board, explore the limitless possibilities. Enter the worlds of Coco and the Avengers, delight in a Broadway-style production of Beauty and the Beast and make a splash on the AquaMouse water coaster. Plus enjoy action-packed kids clubs, stylish adult-exclusive spaces, fun-filled deck parties and so much more.

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Celebrate Halloween like never before—aboard an eerie ghost ship filled with treats, tricks and spooky surprises, from elaborate décor to themed entertainment. Then discover a unique blend of cultures, white-sand beaches and Disney family fun, with a day at our private island, Castaway Cay, and stops in 2 more Caribbean ports of call.

7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise from San Juan

Call upon charming ports of call where white-sand beaches and an intriguing blend of cultures are waiting for you to explore. A day or 2 at sea grants you time to enjoy the onboard fun your Disney cruise ship has to offer, while your home port of San Juan, Puerto Rico will provide you with an array of sightseeing opportunities.

7-Night Very Merrytime Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

Make Christmas last all week long, with a glittering winter wonderland décor, enchanting parties and seasonal surprises galore! Then discover a unique blend of cultures, white-sand beaches and Disney family fun, with 3 festive days at sea, a day at Castaway Cay—decked out just for the holidays—and stops in 2 more Caribbean ports of call.

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Celebrate the season in the sun as you sail to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth and our private Bahamian paradise, Disney Castaway Cay—decked out especially for the holidays. Enjoy a boatload of festive fun, including a glittering winter wonderland décor, enchanting holiday activities, caroling and themed activities the whole family will adore.

7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral with Pixar Day at Sea

Explore the mysteries of the Western Caribbean while experiencing the magic of Disney. Scuba dive among colorful reefs in Cozumel, interact with friendly stingrays in Grand Cayman and get a behind-the-scenes look at how rum is made in Jamaica. Plus, drop anchor at our private island paradise, Disney Castaway Cay, for white-sand beaches and recreation of all ages. While at sea, delight in a fun-filled day with the beloved toys, supers, monsters and more from Disney and Pixar—complete with an incredible deck party and fireworks.

7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

Set sail for Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise where you can feast on barbecue fare and enjoy watersports, beach games or simply relaxing in the sun. Balmy breezes and white-sand beaches await in ports of call while onboard fun for the whole family is always on deck, from pool parties to Broadway-style shows to themed dining.

7-Night Halloween on the High Seas Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

This frightfully fun Halloween getaway takes you to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth and Disney Castaway Cay, our private Bahamian island. During your spooky days at sea, creep about and enjoy your ghost ship’s eerie atmosphere and the many treats, tricks and spellbinding surprises we’ve been brewing in anticipation of your arrival!

10-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

Embrace the spirit of the tropics on a 10-night voyage through the southern Caribbean. Ease into your sun-splashed escape with 2 blissful days at sea—then island hop to such dreamy locales as Antigua, St. Lucia, Dominica and Tortola for balmy breezes, gorgeous beaches, lush rainforests and a treasure trove of exciting activities. Plus, enjoy stops at our very own Bahamian island destinations, Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay—both home to magical family fun, relaxing adult escapes and imaginative play areas designed especially for kids.

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Personal Navigators: Disney Fantasy 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – December 2, 2023

Personal Navigators, and other details from the Very MerryTime  7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral . The  Disney Fantasy  set sail from  Port Canaveral, Florida  on December 2, 2023. There are  additional  Personal Navigators from other sailings of this same itinerary for comparison. During this cruise, the ship was under the control of Captain Fabian Dib. 

Map Fantasy 7 Night Western Caribbean PCV SEA CZM GEC FMH SEA GOC

Day 1 – December 2, 2023 –  Port Canaveral, Florida

Guests Onboard : 3:45 pm Personal Navigator – Day 1

Attire : Cruise Casual

Dinner Menus :

  • Royal Court :  Royal Court
  • Animator’s Palate :  Animator’s Palate
  • Enchanted Garden :  Enchanted Garden

Personal navigator PDF is not available for this day.

Day 2 – December 3, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 2

Attire : Formal

Drink of the Day :  Cool Breeze  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Crazy Shake

Evening Entertainment :

  • Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular

Day 3 – December 4, 2023 –  Cozumel, Mexico

Guests Ashore : 8:30 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm Personal Navigator – Day 3 Cozumel Port Shopping Information

Drink of the Day : Jolly & Bright •  Non-Alcoholic : Merry Julep

  • Movie –  The Marvels

6:30pm & 8:45pm: Mickey & Minnie’s Holiday Party – Deck 11 Stage

Day 4 – December 5, 2023 –  Grand Cayman

Guests Ashore : 10:30 am  Guests Onboard : 5:30 pm Personal Navigator – Day 4 Grand Cayman Port Shopping Information

Attire : Pirate or Cruise Casual

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

  • Royal Court :  Pirates in the Caribbean
  • Animator’s Palate :  Pirates in the Caribbean
  • Enchanted Garden :  Pirates in the Caribbean
  • Featured Act –  The Juggling & Comedy of Coney Island Chris

Pirate Night Highlights

  • 7:35pm – Mickey’s Pirates in the Caribbean Party – Deck 11 Stage
  • 10:15pm – Buccaneer Blast – Deck 1 Stage
  • 10:30pm – Fireworks (to be fired on Starboard side)

Day 5 – December 6, 2023 –  Falmouth, Jamaica

Guests Ashore : 7:30 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm Personal Navigator – Day 5

Drink of the Day :  Yellow Bird  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Lava Smoothie

  • Royal Court :  Captain’s Gala Dinner
  • Animator’s Palate :  Animator’s Palate – Animation Magic
  • Enchanted Garden :  Prince & Princess
  • Featured Act –  The Ventriloquism & Comedy of Lynn Trefzger

4:25pm & 9:55pm –  Merrytime Carolers  – Lobbby Atrium 4:45pm & 10:15pm –  Storytime with Mrs. Claus  – Lobbby Atrium

Day 6 – December 7, 2023 – At Sea

Personal Navigator – Day 6

Attire : Semi-Formal

Drink of the Day :  Mai Tai  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Cranberry No-Jito

  • Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Frozen, A Musical Spectacular
  • Movie –  Wish

Day 7 – December 8, 2023 –  Castaway Cay

Guests Ashore : 10:00 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm Personal Navigator – Day 7

Drink of the Day :  Stingray  •  Non-Alcoholic :  Princess Delight

  • Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Disney’s Believe

10:15pm –  See Ya Real Soon!  – Lobby Atrium

Buena Vista Theatre Movies

  • Dashing Through the Snow
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
  • The Little Mermaid
  • The Marvels

Thank you  Bonnie1222   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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