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Disney Cruise Advice: Tips & Tricks Onboard the Ship

LAST UPDATE: 2/14/24

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

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

Disney Cruise Advice & Important Things to Know

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

Spa: Treatments, Products & Fitness Center

Disembarkation

Additional tips & tricks, trip reports.

Other useful Disney Cruise information pages:

For discounts and tips on saving money on the cruise itself , visit our Disney Cruise Discount page.
For tips and tricks that will help you plan your cruise , visit the Planning Tips & Tricks for Disney Cruises page.
For advice that will help you with excursions, tours and activities while in port, visit the Tips & Discounts for Port Excursions page.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Onboard Entertainment & Activities Tips

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

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

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

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

Embarkation Day

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

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

Breakfast and Lunch

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

Dinner Rotations

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dinner Shows

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

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

Premium Restaurants

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

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

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

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

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

Alternate Dining Options

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kids’ Meals

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

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

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

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

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

Dine and Play Program

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

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

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

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

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

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

Room Service

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coffee and Tea

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

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

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

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

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

Wine Packages and Refillable Beer Mug

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

Wine Packages

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

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

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

Refillable Beer Mug

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

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

Disembarkation Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read our tips, tricks and discounts on Port Excursions !

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

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

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

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

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

Where to Buy Disney Cruise Wear

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

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

See current discounts and offers for DisneyStore.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spa: Treatments, Products and Fitness Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Rainforest

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

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

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

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

Towels and drinking water are provided.

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

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

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

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

Fitness Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 1: Disney Handles Your Bags

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

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

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

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

Option 2: You Handle Your Own Bags

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

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

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

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

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

CruiseMapper
Ships and Lines

Cruise Ship Refurbishment Schedule

This is CruiseMapper's cruise ship refurbishments schedule of dry-dock dates, news, and information on deck plan changes during vessel refits, regular maintenance and repairs, overhauls and renovation of small and big passenger cruise ships. Next links jump down directly to the cruise line refurbishment schedule of RCI-Royal Caribbean , CCL-Carnival , NCL-Norwegian , Princess , Celebrity , Holland America , P&O (UK-Australia) , Oceania , DCL-Disney , MSC , Costa , TUI-AIDA , Windstar , plus various small-ship and luxury brands .

Cruise ship refurbishment tends to be the best value-for-money strategy and highly successful policy for major cruise line companies in a time of worldwide economic uncertainty.

cruise ship refurbishments - CruiseMapper

For your convenience, this link goes directly to the list of all cruise line refurbishments 2018-2019-2020 schedule . To read more cruise ship technology news, please visit our engines-propulsion-fuel survey.

At CruiseMapper's list of new vessels under construction or on order , you'll also find an impressive number of passenger ships (river-, ocean- and cruiseferries ) being built/launched in the period 2015-2019. The majority of those joined the fleets owned by the world's biggest cruise companies - Carnival Corporation and RCCL-Royal Caribbean - via their subsidiaries/brands.

Cruise ship refurbishments, renovations, refits

Cruise ship drydocking (vessel refits and onboard refurbishments) is a multi-billion market with regularly scheduled vessel renovation projects every 2-3 years. Most drydocks are planned by the world's largest cruise shipowners - Carnival Corporation, RCG-Royal Caribbean Group, MSC Shipping Group, and NCLH-Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

2019's drydock schedule featured the industry's largest (so far) vessel reconstruction project - Carnival Triumph's conversion into Carnival Sunrise . The 60-day project (at Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz Spain ) was budgeted ~USD 200 million. For comparison, Carnival Destiny-Sunshine conversion (2013) cost ~USD 155M. Navigator OTS ' drydock reconstruction (Jan-Feb 2019) was budgeted USD 115M. Also in 2019 were conducted the drydocks of the NCLH-owned Oceania (6 ships) with fleet refurb budget ~USD 100 million.

Cruiseship refurb and newbuild contractor companies

One of the industry's largest companies contracted for cruiseship and yacht interior outfitting (both of newbuilds and refitted boats) is De Wave Group (based in Genoa Italy). The company's cruiseship order book in 2022 was EUR 104 million. De Wave Group's latest projects included the newbuilds Seabourn Venture, Seabourn Pursuit, Discovery Princess (EUR 15M), Norwegian Prima (EUR 10M), Celebrity Beyond (EUR 9M/April 2021), as well as refit projects for Virgin's Resilient Lady (June 2021/EUR 40M), NCL (EUR 6M), Oceania's Marina and Riviera (~600 staterooms + public areas).

ALMACO Group is another major turnkey manufacturer serving the marine and offshore industries. The company designs, manufactures and installs staterooms (crew and passenger cabin units), galley/kitchen equipment, provision stores, cold freezer rooms, refrigeration machinery systems, laundry facilities, pantries, bars. ALMACO is also contracted for lifecycle services (scheduled maintenance works) and spare parts supply for passenger vessels (including cruiseferries), as well as for and expert engineering and project management. Among ALMACO's customers (multi-million projects) are Carnival Corporation, Saga Group UK, Ritz-Carlton Yachts, Swan Hellenic, VIKING LINE.

Why cruise ships are being refurbished?

Time is money - while a cruise ship overhaul takes 15-30-days, building a new liner (design to launch) takes ~3 years (depending on vessel size, specifications, special features, owner, budget, etc).

In comparison to cruise newbuilds' cost (especially of bigger units), ship refurbishments are a lot cheaper than building a new one. Due to the impact of the Coronavirus crisis and IMO's new maritime regulations, all major cruise shipping companies started to sell (and eventually replace) the fleet's oldest units to smaller travel operators.

In most cases, "refurbished" is synonymous with "maintenance and repairs", "freshened up" and "overhauled". Works include engineering/machinery updates, hull cleaning-painting, new furniture and decors (sometimes only changing the color schemes), new carpets, smart HDTVs (interactive systems), shipwide Wi-Fi coverage and faster satellite Internet, replacing handrails and glass, upgrades of venues (sometimes creating new lounge areas or expanding old ones), new amenities and services, etc. This would cost the company between US$10-30 million per ship. Some refits may cost up to US$50M.

Drydock refit projects for older vessels always include installing low-water usage toilets (urinals and fixtures), energy-efficient LED lighting (inside and outside), energy-efficient windows, HVAC system (heat-ventilation-air conditioning), hull coating (to reduce the boat's resistance through water).

What the list of cruise ship renovations generally includes?

Major cruise ship overhauls may include reconstructing or adding new cabins, lounges, restaurants, a SPA facility, swimming pool(s), sometimes adding a whole new deck, and even better - a whole midsection, like the case of MS Enchantment of the Seas refurbishment / lengthening in 2005 (next photo and the YouTube video below).

Enchantment Of The Seas drydock refurbishment / lengthening

Some technical enhancements, like a new external coating or an updated propulsion, for example, could significantly reduce fuel consumption (improving the ship's efficiency and environmental performance), while "most fun" modern time gadgets and contraptions attract huge crowds - like virtual "real-time" windows in all Inside cabins, or a water park with a slide, or a kids-only area, or a hugely-huge movie screen by the main pool.

Cruise ship refurbishment news are some of the "most wanted" and extremely popular on all major online travel forums. All big lines put their liners into dry dock every few years to update (or upgrade) them - it costs money, but again - it's cheaper than going on newbuilds. It's a fact that many travelers are hesitant to take the first sailing post-drydock.

Most dry-docks are routine - just refreshing, do not include major changes and have a fairly accurate schedule. A major refit, on the other hand, usually involves significant changes in construction (or services) and have an "unpleasant" tendency to start prior to the actual drydock (even during the sailing prior) and often continues into the first sailing after.

The next YouTube video shows the timelapse of the MS Braemar 's drydock extension at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg Germany .

Cruise ship refurbishment jobs

Cruise ship refurbishment jobs are another issue. In 2009 Saga Holidays (UK company) refitted and refurbished its newly purchased Saga Pearl 2 ship (former name ms Astoria) spending 20 million pounds on this project and providing more than 300 jobs over a 3-month period.

The next video is about the April 2016 drydock refurb of Splendour OTS (now Marella Discovery) done in Freeport Bahamas.

Often vessels' need unscheduled repairs - not matching with planned maintenance schedules. In such cases are used teams of underwater specialists for fast, high-quality repairs, thus avoiding potential loss of income due to drydocking. The world's first global underwater ship repair service provider is Wartsila which provides any marine services and maintenance works, regardless of the ship's current location.

In 2017, Wartsila (Finnish marine corporation) acquired Trident BV (a global provider of commercial diving services) Via Trident, Wartsila offers worldwide underwater repairs, propulsion systems overhaul, regular maintenance works (hull cleaning, propeller polishing, welding), scrubber-cleaning and retrofitting, even major underwater overhauls. Corporation's main underwater teams are in Holland, Italy, and the Canaries. They can be dispatched to any location in a matter of hours, providing fast-response vessel inspections, repairs, refurbishments, equipment installation/replacement.

Cruise ship refurbishment schedule 2020-2023

This is a regularly updated list of dry-dock dates, with concise info about the cruise ship upgrades, deck plan changes and refits by the cruise company. All links in the following table are internal (CruiseMapper) and redirect to the ship's deck plan page.

Note1: All Singapore-based vessel refurbishment projects are done by Sembcorp Marine (at the Admiralty Yard). The company is among the leaders on the cruise ship refit market. Among its regular clients are Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Star Cruises (Asia).

Note2: All Cadiz (Spain)-based ship refurbishments are done by the Navantia shipbuilding company - Europe's 5th and the world's 9th largest shipbuilder. The company's ship-repair services are provided to both commercial and military (naval) vessels.

RCI Royal Caribbean drydock refurbishments

RCI's "Royal Advantage" renovation program (2011-2016) was budgeted US$300 million. RCI's 6-ship refurbishment project "innovation renovations" was implemented in 2016. The vessels Adventure, Empress, Jewel, Liberty, Majesty, and Radiance received some of the company's most popular shipboard features.

In mid-March 2018, Royal Caribbean announced a USD 1 billion fleetwide refurbishment project ("Royal Amplified", 2018-2022) covering 10 liners in 3 classes (Oasis, Freedom, Voyager). By this program were introduced new and innovative features/technologies, experiences and amenities, pool deck areas and venues, dining options, nightlife concepts, onboard attractions.

RCI drydocks are usually conducted at the shipyards in Freeport (Grand Bahama), Singapore, and Cadiz (Navantia's shipyard in Puerto Real). RCI ships usually enter drydocks in up to 5-year periods. For details see the RCI's link.

Next are listed only RCI's recent dry docking, the majority of which are for general maintenance works and technical overhauls.

Explorer OTS (2023 Jan-Mar) Perfect Storm added
Independence OTS (2023 Jan-Feb)
Mariner OTS (2023 Feb-Mar)
Vision OTS (2022 February)
Rhapsody OTS (2022 April-May)
Serenade OTS (2022 March)
Harmony OTS (2021 April)
Symphony OTS (2021 May)
Jewel OTS (2024 May)
Liberty OTS (2021 July)
Enchantment OTS (2021 Sept)
Radiance OTS (2024 March)
Freedom OTS (2020 (January-March) Royal Amplified, cost US$116 million
Allure OTS (2020 March-May) Royal Amplified, cost US$165 million
Navigator OTS (2019 Jan-Feb) Oasis- and Quantum-class cabin updates, Perfect Storm added
Ovation OTS (2019 April)
Oasis OTS (2019 Sept-Nov) US$165 million
Voyager OTS (2019 Sept-Oct) US$97 million
Quantum OTS (2019 Oct-Nov) US$65 million
Brilliance OTS (2018 April) Oasis-class upgrades
Grandeur OTS (2024 April)
Majesty OTS (2016 May) Perfect Storm added

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line drydock refurbishments

CCL's refurbishment schedule shows newly added onboard amenities and facilities. These old and future planned fleetwide upgrades are by the company's "Fun Ship 2.0" fleet renovation program. The company's additional program for ship technology upgrades (also fleetwide) was budgeted USD 300 million.

(new facilities): bars (RedFrog, BlueIguana, Library, Alchemy, EA Sports), Guy's Burger, BlueIguana Cantina, Punchliners (George Lopez), DJ IRIE (Spin U /DJ Academy), Seuss at Sea (kids venue), Hasbro The Game Show, Playlist Productions (dining menu and show programming upgrades).
Some have Bonsai Sushi
technology upgrades (scrubbers, shoreside power capabilities)
WaterWorks Aqua Park, Camp Carnival (kids playground)

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line drydock refurbishments

All drydock refurbishments 2016 thru 2019 as projects were part of NCL's "Norwegian Edge" fleet renovation program (budgeted ~US$500 million). Each drydock cost ~US$35-40 million.

Princess Cruises drydock refurbishments

P&o cruises (australia and uk) drydock refurbishments, hal-holland america line drydock refurbishments.

In 2003-2008, by the SOE ("Signature of Excellence") program, HAL upgraded all older vessels, on which were also added new venues, stateroom categories, and amenities. In November 2015 was announced company's USD 300 million fleetwide renovation program, including Suite cabin improvements (new decors, furnishings, amenities, services) for all suite categories on Vista-Class, Signature-Class and R-Class vessels.

In 2018, HAL contracted ABB Group (Swedish-Swiss corporation specializing in robotics, marine power, and propulsion equipment) for installing shore-power systems fleetwide. The technology allows docked in ports cruise ships to receive shoreside power supply (from the city's grid) and turn off their engines, thus reducing to zero emissions and noise. ABB installed its shore-power equipment on 11x HAL ships. Switchover (ship-to-shore power) at seaports takes around 20 min.

In 2023, HAL conducted 5 refurbishment projects to expand the casino space on its vessels in the Pinnacle-class (Nieuw Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam) and Signature-class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam). Each of the enlarged gambling facilities now has 140 of the gaming industry's newest slot and video poker machines. In addition, a separate non-smoking area was added in the casinos of Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam.

Celebrity Cruises drydock refurbishments

In July 2018, the company announced a USD 500 million fleet modernization (drydock refurbishment) program dubbed "Celebrity Revolution".

The 4-year fleet refurbishment project was conducted in the period February 2019-2023.

The next table lists all ship drydocks by the Celebrity Revolution project, as well as drydocking projects for regularly scheduled maintenance works.

Oceania Cruises drydock refurbishments

In August 2018, Oceania announced the company's OceaniaNEXT fleet renovation project budgeted USD 100 million. It includes drydock refurbishments of 4 R-Class liners (Regatta, Insignia, Sirena, Nautica).

As a result, the fleet was expanded with 1368 new staterooms (342 per boat), and all shipboard restaurants, bars, and lounges were redesigned and redecorated.

New public spaces include a redesigned Lobby with Reception Hall (lower level) and Upper Hall (2nd level) connected via Grand Staircase (decorated with railings and balustrades) and featuring a large crystal chandelier (with hanging pieces of hand-painted glass).
Grand Dining Room (Deck 5 aft) received new premium furniture (leather chairs with metallic bronze threading) and new crystal chandeliers.
Martinis (piano bar lounge on Deck 5) was redesigned, new silver-white marble bar top and walnut paneling were added.
All staterooms were completely overhauled (redesigned and refurnished) and upgraded with custom-made furniture, polished wood, stone finishes, designer accessories, smart HDTVs, USB ports, LED lighting. All cabin bathrooms were overhauled and received new tiling, surfaces, fixtures, designer accessories, vanities glass shower enclosures. Penthouse-Vista-Owner suites' bathrooms were enlarged and upgraded with Carrara marble tops, onyx, polished granite.

Works on the fleetwide refurb project involved 1000+ artisans and craftsmen and resulted in 1368 new cabins, 8000 new light fixtures, 12000 new sofas and chairs.

Disney Cruise Line drydock refurbishments

Msc cruises ships lengthening and drydock refurbishments.

MSC Cruises announced in late December 2013 the start of the EUR 200 refurbishment program (named "renaissance") involving not only the revitalization of all Lirica-class vessels but also stretching all four of them in the period 2014-2016 (a total of 38 drydock weeks).

During drydocks in the period 2019-2024, MSC will install a fleetwide ZOE - in-cabin digital assistant developed by Samsung. ZOE is a voice-enabled artificial intelligence device available in all passenger staterooms. ZOE speaks 7 languages, answers cruise-related questions, provides info on shipboard services-activities-facilities, makes reservations-bookings.

Costa Cruises drydock refurbishments

Besides the ship's staff and crew, Costa cruise passengers are also served by Peper robots - the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation, and also assist them throughout the voyage with information and tips. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian).

TUI and AIDA Cruises drydock refurbishments

Besides the ship's staff and crew, AIDA passengers are also served by Peper robots - the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation, and also assist them throughout the voyage with information and tips. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian).

Windstar Cruises refurbishments

On November 15, 2018, Windstar announced the "Star Plus Initiative" - drydock fleet renovation program budgeted USD 250 million. The project includes enlarging (stretching) and engine changes for fleet's three Star-Class mega-yachts Star Breeze , Star Legend , Star Pride .

The project resulted in bigger passenger capacity, adding new staterooms, venues, public spaces, new and more efficient engines. Each ship's capacity was increased by 68% (from 212 to 312 passengers). The drydocks were scheduled for the period October 2019 through November 2020, at Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo Sicily.

The Star Plus project increased Windstar fleet's capacity by 24%. Star Plus was partially financed through the Export Credit facility guaranteed by SACE Italy (financial and insurance products and services).

The drydock lengthening included cutting each vessel in two and installing a new/prefabricated midship section with length 25,6 m (84 ft). Vessel's LOA length was increased from 135 to 161 m (443 to 528 ft). The midship section has an additional elevator.

Following drydock, each ship now has 2x new dining venues, new shop, new retail space; enlarged Gym, new Spa, larger swimming pool, new tender loading area (midship), 2x new tender boats (90-seats each), expanded and upgraded staff-crew areas and cabins. The two new dining venues are an alternative Spanish specialty restaurant ("Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso") and a casual BBQ space (adjacent to Star Bar).

The old diesel engines (7 per ship) were replaced with 4 new engines running on ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel) fuel, thus reducing SO emissions. Each ship received 50 new cabins (to 156 total), which (based on the total investment) meant shipbuilding cost per berth USD 267,000. Among the new cabins are two larger Owner Suites. All existing staterooms were completely refurbished, including their bathrooms, balconies, sliding doors. The new public spaces and cabins were designed by the NYC-based "The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry".

Windstar sailships refurbishments 2024-2025-2026

On December 6, 2023, Windstar started a multi-million refurbishment project to extensively redesign and update the fleet's three sailing ships (Wind Star, Wind Spirit, Wind Surf). Each ship is refurbished in two phases, starting with Wind Star (2025 & 2026), follows Wind Spirit (2025/complete) and Wind Surf (2024 & 2026).

By this project will be fully redesigned all public areas and venues (changing layouts, furniture, wall coverings and flooring, lighting, artworks). All passenger staterooms will be fully refurbished (interiors, furniture, smart TVs).

Among the remodeled/redesinged areas are the Lobby (expanded reception area, more seating and retail space), Bar Lounge (furniture, finishes, lighting), updated evening entertainment), Wellness Complex (The World Spa by Windstar & Fitness Center/new color palettes, finishes, gym equipment), Pool Deck (expansion by removing the SkyLight, new swimming pool and Jacuzzi, larger Pool Bar, new poolside furniture/sofas, poufs, ottoman beds, deckchairs, outdoor lighting, speakers, greenery).

The sailships' technology updates/upgrades include larger smart TVs in all staterooms (with interactive content and on-demand movies) and new WiFi points (with access to Starlink Internet).

Small-ship and luxury cruise lines refurbishments

At the following tag-link can be found listed all CruiseMapper's news related to drydock refurbishments .

The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What TPG loves about Disney Cruise Line

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

What we could do without

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

Disney Cruise Line fleet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Cruise Line destinations and itineraries

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

Disney Cruise Line destinations include:

New Zealand
Pacific Coast
South Pacific

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who sails Disney Cruise Line?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Cruise Line cabins and suites

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: Is Disney Cruise Line concierge service worth it?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Cruise Line restaurants and dining options

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

Rotational dining

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

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

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

Included restaurants on Disney Magic

Animator's Palate
Lumiere's
Rapunzel's Royal Table

Included restaurants on Disney Wonder

Tiana's Place
Triton's

Included restaurants on Disney Dream

Enchanted Garden
Royal Palace

Included restaurants on Disney Fantasy

Royal Court

Included restaurants on Disney Wish

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
Worlds of Marvel

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

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

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

Room service

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

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

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

Buffet and grab-and-go

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

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

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

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

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

Extra-cost, adults-only restaurants

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

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

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

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

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

Coffee shops and snack shops

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food on Castaway Cay

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

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

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

However, if you don't like what is on offer on the island, you can always hop back on your ship for lunch and then continue your afternoon on the island after you eat.

Entertainment and activities on a Disney cruise

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

Theaters and shows

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

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

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

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

Game shows, karaoke, bingo and more

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

Other interior attractions and activities

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

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

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

Decktop attractions

Waterslides.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Splash pads

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

Sports deck

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

Children's programs

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

Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab for children ages 3–12

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edge tween club for children ages 11–14

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

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

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

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

Vibe teen club for children ages 14–17

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

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

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

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

What to know before you go

Required documents.

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

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

Related: Tips for getting a child's passport

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carry-on drinks policy

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

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

Smoking policy

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

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

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

Electrical outlets

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

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

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

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

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

Drinking age

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: What to pack for your 1st cruise

Disney Cruise Line loyalty program

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

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

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

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

Silver members

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

Gold members

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

Platinum members

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

Pearl members

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

How much does a Disney cruise cost?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on a cruise

How to book

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

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

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

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

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

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

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

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

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3 points per dollar on travel and dining and an annual up-to-$300 travel credit.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2 points per dollar on travel.
The Disney Premier Visa Card is also a good option, specifically with Disney Cruise Line, as it gives you access to a 0% introductory annual percentage rate for six months following the purchase date on eligible Disney vacation packages, such as a Disney cruise (then a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% applies). The card also gets you 10% in savings on some onboard activities and packages while at Castaway Cay.

Related: How to save money on booking a Disney cruise

Bottom line

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

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

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

More stories to help you plan your next cruise:

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

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Find Out When You CAN’T Book a Disney Cruise Next Week

Looking for a chill Disney vacation without the stress of the parks ? Then you really need to check out the Disney Cruise Line . But be aware that there are a couple of days coming up when you CAN’T make reservations to set sail on Disney’s ships.

The Disney Cruise Line has some major events coming up, with the maiden voyage of the new Disney ‘Wish’ cruise ship at the forefront. Before you run to book your next trip, however, you need to know about an important update happening soon that might prevent you from reserving your spot.

The Disney Cruise Line reservation system is going to be down for a system upgrade from 4:30PM EST on Monday, March 7th, 2022 , through the morning of Wednesday, March 9th, 2022 . That means you won’t be able to make reservations for a cruise during that time (either online or through the Contact Center).

This upgrade is part of routine maintenance on the website, and you should be able to book your cruise again beginning March 9th.

Some other services will also be unavailable during the upgrade, including Online Check-In, Cruise Activity, and Port Adventure bookings. If you have a deposit or final payment due during the upgrade, you will have until 10PM EST on Thursday, March 10th, 2022, to make the payment.

We’ll keep an eye out for any more Cruise Line updates, so keep following AllEars for all the latest news!

Click here to see an update on Disney’s newest cruise ship!

Join the allears.net newsletter to get the free list of 50 tips for going on a disney cruise click here to get started.

Are you setting sail on a Disney cruise soon? Let us know in the comments.

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One Reply to “Find Out When You CAN’T Book a Disney Cruise Next Week”

Booked our first Disney Cruise on the Wish this December. Very excited

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Disney Cruise Line Frequently Asked Questions

Cruising can sometimes be confusing, especially for a first-time cruiser. Luckily, we have the most common Disney Cruise Line Frequently Asked Questions here for you to help you with the planning process.

Dive into our Disney Cruise Discount page for some fantastic deals that will have you sailing into savings!

General Information Getting Ready To Go Transportation On Board the Ship Stateroom Questions Money Matters

General Disney Cruise Line Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in your cruise price.

On board the Disney Cruise Line ship, your vacation package price includes almost everything — from your stateroom itself to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as snacks every day. In addition, guests can enjoy all the onboard programming and entertainment, complimentary. The price you have paid includes access to recreational activities, a fitness center, and kids programs for ages 3-17.

What is Not Included in the Price of the Cruise?

While you’re sailing, there are only a few things that will require an additional charge. Excluded, are spa or salon visits, phone calls, photos, video games, internet usage, bingo, some snacks in the sweet shops, coffee in the coffee shops, and all alcoholic or specialty beverages. There is a charge for childcare for children under the age of three if parents choose to use it.

There is also a nominal fee to dine at Palo or Remy (the adults-only restaurants found on both the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy . Enchante is the Remy equivalent on the Disney Wish .).

Shore excursions are at an extra cost. Prebook shore excursions via the Disney Cruise Line app or website. Finally, gratuities are an additional expenditure. Gratuities are one of the largest additional expenses most people will incur during the sailing.

Of course, another big expense that is not included in the price of your cruise are any Port Adventures that you wish to take. Those vary in price, depending on the adventure.

Will I be Bored?

You shouldn’t be. There is so much to do including recreational activities , nighttime shows, midnight buffets, live bands, movies, ports of call, swimming pools, fitness centers, kid’s activities, characters, incredible meals, shore excursions, dance clubs, family photos, unique ports of call like Castaway Cay, and so much more. You may be having so much fun; that you may forget to relax!

Do I Need a Passport?

All U.S. and Canadian citizens must travel with a valid passport, or a certified birth certificate (with an official raised seal) and a picture identification, if the cruise is a closed-loop cruise. (Meaning you depart and arrive back in the same port.) If you are going on a cruise that doesn’t end up at the same location where you started, you will need a valid passport. The passport should not expire for at least six months after the end of your cruise.

All Guests who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens must have valid passports and necessary visas at the time of embarkation. Any Guest traveling without proper documentation will not be allowed to board the vessel and will not be entitled to any refund.

More information on documentation can be found on our Required Documentation and Customs page.

Will I Get Seasick?

While seasickness used to be a common concern on cruises, it now affects fewer people.

The Disney Cruise Line has stabilizers and other high-tech controls that minimize the ship’s movement. Also, weather tracking devices help to keep the Disney Cruise Line in calm waters as much as possible.

Chances are you will experience a wonderful cruise and won’t have to worry about seasickness at all. There are several over-the-counter remedies for seasickness that some guests choose to bring with them just in case it happens, though. If you need to purchase anything over the counter, some medicines are available at the guest services desk on deck 3 of any ship, and a select shops on board.

Can Cruise Itineraries Change?

Occasionally, weather conditions and other circumstances beyond Disney Cruise Line’s control require an itinerary change. In these situations, the cruise line will make every attempt to visit alternative ports where guests will enjoy popular vacation destinations and safe conditions.

Sometimes itinerary changes will occur during the sailing. For example, occasionally rough seas make it impossible to dock at a certain port. While this doesn’t happen often, it is best to prepare for the unexpected.

Getting Ready to Go FAQ

What are the Best Times of the Year to Cruise?

Any time of year is perfect for a cruise, and each season has its pros and cons.

If price is your main concern, January, September, October, November and the first weeks in December offer good pricing. Be aware that hurricane season is June 1 – November 1, which the most activity happens in the fall. Hurricanes rarely cause any major interruption to your cruise. Should one come up during your sailing, Disney Cruise Line will alter plans, as needed.

Keep in mind that cruise dates near any major holiday or when children are generally out of school are more traditionally more expensive.

When Should I Book My Cruise?

Guests should book as soon as they have travel dates. By booking your cruise earlier, you can save big on pricing. As the number of cabins booked on a particular sailing date increases, the price of the cruise will increase. If you want the best price for a cruise, book once sailings are released.

We suggest you contact The Magic for Less Travel at www.themagicforless.com to assist with your booking. The Magic For Less Travel will provide excellent customer service. Disney has named them an Authorized Disney Planner. They can help with all your cruising questions, booking, planning, and more.

Should I Buy Trip Insurance?

Since cruises have steep penalties for canceling, we think trip insurance is a good idea. Most policies also cover things like lost luggage and illnesses while on vacation. Check the specific policy for inclusions.

Do I Need to Bring any Special Clothing?

Just like the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland , Disney Cruise Line offers a casual, informal resort atmosphere. Shorts, capris, pants, sundresses, etc. are all appropriate for warmer seasons. In winter, cooler days and nights may require a light jacket or sweater. Don’t forget to bring comfortable shoes as well as shoes for hanging out at the pool. Also, don’t forget to bring your swim attire.

As far as attire for the dining rooms, dining dress requirements vary by venue or theme night on your cruise. In general, most meals are “Cruise Casual”—no swimwear or tank tops. Most cruises also have special theme nights with additional attire requirements. For men, we recommend wearing button-down or polo shirts with open collars and slacks. Pants and a blouse or a casual dress are appropriate for ladies. In addition, shorts are now permitted in the three main dining rooms. Disney Cruise Line requests that no T-shirts or jeans be worn in any of the restaurants in the evening.

For Palo, Remy, and Enchante (Remy- Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy and Enchante-Disney Wish), a fancier dress code applies. When dining at these locations, the requirement is dress pants with a shirt or jacket for men. (Jacket is optional). Women should wear a dress or pantsuit and should avoid jeans, shorts, capris, flip-flops, and tennis shoes. At Remy, a tuxedo, sports jacket, or suit jacket is required along with dress pants for men, with ties optional. For women, a cocktail dress, pantsuit, or skirt and blouse are required. Jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops, and tennis shoes are also not permitted here.

Aboard the 7-Night Caribbean Cruise, there is a formal and semi-formal where Guests can wear more formal attire if they choose. “It is not mandatory to do so.”

For guests sailing on a 7-night Cruise, you will celebrate the spirit with a special deck party. You’re invited to wear festive island clothes such as colorful shirts, dresses, shorts, or pants to join in the fun.. This is the perfect time to dust off that Hawaiian shirt 😉

What to Pack?

Don’t stress about what to pack for your cruise. Consider what you will be doing each day on the cruise. Where will you be going? What will you be doing? Pack according to your probable activity. Think comfort and practicality . If you want to make sure you won’t forget anything, go through the Ultimate Cruising Packing List and pack to your heart’s desire!

Transportation Frequently Asked Questions

Where can i park my car while i cruise.

Parking costs are based on the cruise itinerary. Parking at Port Canaveral:

$60.00 per parking space for the 3-night cruise
$75.00 per parking space for the 4-night cruise
$90.00 per parking space for the 5-night cruise
$105.00 per parking space for the 6-night cruise
$120.00 per parking space for the 7-night cruise

If the Guest’s vehicle takes up more than one parking space (for example, RV or trailer), the guest is charged $15.00 per additional parking space per day.

Preferred parking is also available for $25.00 per day. The preferred parking area is located inside the secured area, next to the vehicle drop-off area.

Other departure ports will have parking available at the cruise port.

Should I Fly on the Day of the Cruise?

We strongly suggest that you fly in at least the evening before your cruise. You are responsible for arriving at the port at least an hour and a half before your scheduled ship sailing. Arriving the night before gives you peace of mind to board your ship.

Onboard Disney Cruise Line Frequently Asked Questions

Porthole Window - Frequently Asked Questions

How can I Communicate with Family and Friends at Home?

You can directly dial anywhere in the world right from your stateroom. Ship-to-shore rates apply. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to dial any 800 numbers from the ship, so your calling card will not work on the ships. Be aware, though, that the charges are quite high (upwards of $7 per minute).

Many guests find that e-mail is a less expensive method of communication, although be aware of data roaming charges if using a cell phone. There are internet usage packages are available. Check with your wireless carrier to see what is best for you. Also, if using a calling card, many ports will have a place to make those international calls for a little less.

If your friends and family at home need to reach you they can call (888) 322-8732, but only for emergencies.

How Can I Communicate With my Friends and Family Onboard the Ship?

Before your cruise, download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. Through this app, Guests can stay in touch with their shipmates with one on one or a group chat option. All Guests in the party should make sure to download the app prior to sailing.

Can I use the Internet While Onboard?

There are several options for internet packages while on Disney Cruise Line. At this time, time-based internet package are not available onboard the Disney Wonder. Pricing for internet packages on the other ships is as follows:

$16/day when purchased for the full voyage
$18/day when purchased for 24 hours
$24/day when purchased for the full voyage
$28/day when purchased for 24 hours
$34/day when purchased for the full voyage
$42/day when purchased for 24 hours

As a reminder, Guests can purchase Internet for 24 hour periods, or per voyage. Guests receive a 20% discount on voyage pricing vs 24-hour pricing, and adding additional devices to an Internet package will receive a 20% discount. If Guests purchase a voyage plan mid-voyage, they will only be charged for the remaining days. Please note: “Days remaining” change at midnight, so purchasing at 11:55 pm will still charge Guests for the full day.

Are there Laundry Services Available?

For a fee, onboard, laundry and dry-cleaning services are available. Guests have access to a self-serve laundry room, which includes washers, dryers, detergent, and ironing equipment. Guests may use their room key to operate the machines.

Are there Medical Services on Board?

A physician and nurse are on call 24 hours a day on every cruise to provide basic medical services. The physician and nurse will charge their standard fees for services. Insurance coverage is not accepted as payment for medical coverage. The fee will be billed to your stateroom account and the guest can then submit the bill to their insurance company if covered.

During daily clinic hours, there is a Health Center on each ship. It is located on Deck 1, Forward, and available for non-emergency situations.

More serious medical conditions would be assisted in the closest port of call.

Are Religious Services Available?

Although religious services are not typically available, during certain religious holidays, an onboard clergy performs services. Information will be provided onboard.

What are the Smoking rules?

Disney Cruise Line does not allow smoking in Guest staterooms. Smoking is also prohibited in all interior spaces throughout our ships. In addition, smoking is also prohibited on stateroom verandahs. Smoking (including the use of electronic cigarettes) is only permitted in designated areas of the ship. Guests found smoking in their staterooms or on their verandahs will be charged a $250 stateroom recovery fee, which covers deep cleaning that includes air filter replacement, carpet extraction, and the cleaning and replacement of drapes, comforters, blankets and pillows, along with verandah cleaning and maintenance.

Aboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder , guests can smoke:

Outdoors on Deck 4 starboard side from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. only
Deck 9, Portside anytime

On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy , guests can smoke:

Deck 4 port side, aft, the outside Promenade Deck from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Deck 12 port side, aft, the outdoor area that is accessible through the Meridian Lounge
Deck 13 port side, forward, by Currents Bar

On the Disney Wish , Guests can smoke:

Deck 14, forward, port side, any time
Deck 14, aft, port side, any time
Deck 4, port side from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Staterooms Frequently Asked Questions

Are there standard outlets in the staterooms.

All stateroom outlets are 110V/60 Hz. Standard U.S. electrical appliances will work on board. There’s a hair dryer in every stateroom . Guests may not bring along an extension cord or a power bar with them.

Are there Refrigerators in the Staterooms?

There is a small refrigerator that keeps beverages cold. There is also an ice bucket in each room.

Money Matters Frequently Asked Questions

How much cash will i need.

Disney Cruise Line has a convenient “cash-free” system on board. When guests complete online check-in, they must provide a credit card for charging privileges during the cruise. Any purchases on the ship, including beverage services, spa , salon services, photography, medical and laundry services, purchases from retail shops, gratuities, and any item or service of a personal nature must be charged to your room charge. All charges will be settled prior to debarkation from the ship by cash, personal check (with proper ID), traveler’s checks, Disney Gift Cards, or major credit card. Guests paying by a method other than the credit card on file will settle with guest services the evening before the end of the cruise.

Use your U.S. dollars and major credit cards in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. European and Canadian itineraries may require local currency for expenses in port and pre- and post-cruise.

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Disney Cruise Disembarkation Time and Options

There’s no doubt that disembarkation day is often the most dreaded time of a Disney Cruise Line vacation. For those first-time cruisers wondering what the term disembarkation day means, this is the last day of your cruise when you debark the ship for the final time.

Not only is debarkation day a huge bummer since it marks the end of your magical journey, but it’s also a super hectic time. Crew members and Disney Cruise Line guests often begin planning for disembarkation the evening before the cruise’s final day, and you can easily feel overwhelmed with the checklist of things to do. From organizing gratuity envelopes to packing to dining, the debarkation process can really put a damper on your relaxing vacation.

Luckily, Disney Cruise Line provides organized procedures to help disembarkation run super smoothly for its guests. If you are looking for tips on managing gratuities, luggage, and the debarkation breakfast, this post will walk you through the whole process of how to disembark your cruise on time and with as little stress as possible!

Disembarkation Process

As mentioned in the introduction, Disney Cruise Line really does a great job of preparing guests for disembarkation. On the last evening of your cruise, Disney Cruise Line will provide specific instructions about each step of the debarkation process. Disney Cruise Line guests will find a letter (similar to the one below) in their staterooms the last night of the cruise.

Disney Cruise Line Debarkation Letter with breakfast and disembarking instructions

This debarkation letter details exactly what you need to know about the disembarkation procedures. The letter pictured above is from my family’s disembarkation in Miami, but the process works similarly in Port Canaveral and in other cruise ports. The letter itself is really informative, but I will break it down into more detail below.

It’s also important to note that your stateroom host, dining servers, and cast members at guest services can often answer any questions you may have once onboard the ship. When determining your Disney cruise disembarkation time, you have a couple different options depending on your travel schedule and preferences.

And, no matter which option you choose, Disney Cruise Line provides specific instructions regarding your luggage. Before we discuss each of your debarkation options in depth, let’s take this step-by-step and talk about the time you need to vacate your stateroom on disembarkation day.

What time do guests need to be out of their rooms?

Since the stateroom attendant needs to clean the cabins for the next guests, Disney Cruise Line asks that your family is out of the room by 8:00 am. Depending on which breakfast option you choose, you may want to vacate your room prior to this.

Debarkation Day Breakfast

If you want to eat a full breakfast on debarkation morning, your options are pretty limited. Most families choose to eat in the main dining room during their assigned breakfast time, although the ship’s buffet is typically open as well. It’s important to note that room service is not available on debarkation morning.

Main Dining Rooms

You can choose to eat your debarkation day breakfast in the main dining room where you will be served by your serving team one last time. The debarkation letter will specify what time you need to show up for breakfast. Basically, if you had the main dining time during your cruise, you would attend the early breakfast (typically at 6:45 am or 7:00 am) on disembarkation day.

Guests assigned to the early breakfast time may choose to leave their luggage in the stateroom while dining. Just make sure you are back to the cabin by 8:00 am to collect your things.

Rapunzel’s Royal Table show on Disney Magic

If you had the second seating dining time for dinner, you would attend the second breakfast time (typically 8:00 am or 8:15 am) the next morning. Also, note that you will enjoy breakfast in the same dining room you were in the night before for dinner.

For example, my family and I ate dinner at Lumiere’s on our final night of our recent cruise. So, we were scheduled to eat breakfast at Lumiere’s on debarkation day. Since you need to be out of your stateroom by 8:00 am, guests with the later breakfast time will have to take their carry-on bags and/or luggage with them to breakfast. You will not be able to go back to your room to get your personal items.

Buffet Breakfast

Rather than attending a formal breakfast in the main dining room, my family and I actually prefer to eat at the buffet for breakfast on debarkation day. Disney Cruise Line doesn’t really advertise this as an option, but Cabanas has a breakfast buffet available on this final morning as does Marceline Market on the Disney Wish. We usually give our serving team their gratuity envelopes the night before at dinner. This allows us to say our goodbyes and let the servers know that we won’t be there in the morning for breakfast.

On our most recent cruise, we headed up to Cabanas at around 7:30 am for a quick meal before disembarking the Disney Cruise Line ship. Guests choosing to eat breakfast at Cabanas or Marceline Market will need to either bring their carry-on bags and/or luggage with them to the buffet or gather it from their stateroom no later than 8:00 am.

Disney Cruise Disembarkation Time

As per the Disney Cruise Line debarkation procedures, guests must disembark the ship and make their way through U.S. Customs by 9:00 am . You have several options for disembarking the ship, which we will discuss in detail below.

Express Walk Off

Express Walk Off is the disembarkation option that allows you keep ALL of your bags with you. When it is time to disembark, you carry/roll your luggage off the ship. If you choose to take part in Express Walk Off, Disney Cruise Line will give you a place to meet onboard the ship on debarkation morning. Once the ship has been cleared by U.S. Customs, you will be permitted to walk off the ship with your bags.

↓↓ Visit My Etsy Shop ↓↓

This option is great for those guests who need to be off the ship to catch an early flight in the morning. (Although, make sure your flight isn’t TOO early as you want to allow plenty of time for your family to debark and travel to the airport.)

It’s also important to note that you can choose to keep your bags with you and NOT get off the ship immediately. However, you still need to be out of your stateroom by 8:00 AM. So, you may have to drag all of your bags to breakfast with you depending on your scheduled breakfast time.

Debarking with Luggage Tags

If you would rather not have to juggle your luggage on debarkation day, you can choose to have Disney Cruise Line pick it up the night before. Personally, my family does not like messing with large suitcases plus two little kids on disembarkation day. So, we pack up all of our large suitcases the night before debarkation and set them in the hallway.

This is a super simple process. On the final night of your cruise, you will see luggage tags in your room with the debarkation letter. If you choose to have Disney Cruise Line handle your luggage, you just attach the luggage tags to your bags BEFORE placing them in the hallway. (Just remember the Disney characters on your luggage tags because it is important the next day.)

tip jar with text overlay Guide to Disney Cruise Gratuities

The debarkation letter pictured at the top of this post states that bags need to be in the hallway between 8:30 pm and 10:15 pm on your last night. This is so your luggage is packed and ready to go when the stateroom hosts start collecting bags during this time slot.

If you choose this method, it’s a good idea to keep a carry-on bag with items you will need on the last night of your cruise AND on debarkation morning. We usually keep our carry-on bag with us and the following items inside:

debarkation outfit and shoes
hairbrush and accessories
toothbrushes and toothpaste
medications
passports and travel documents
cell phones and chargers
Key to the World Card

You will not see your luggage until you debark the ship on the final day, so the list above is really important. You don’t want to be walking off the ship in pajamas and slippers because you forgot to set out a change of clothes.

Disney Cruise Line guests who choose to utilize luggage tags do not have to worry about dragging their suitcases with them to breakfast in the morning. Once you are ready to debark the ship, you wait for the announcement of the Disney character pictured on your luggage tags. Once your character is called, you may disembark the ship and find your luggage in the cruise terminal.

How long does it take to disembark?

As mentioned above, once you disembark the cruise ship and enter the cruise terminal, you will see tons of luggage sorted into sections by character. Disney Cruise Line has made it super easy to find your luggage. Guests just need to look for the Disney character that was pictured on their luggage tags.

Once you narrow down the section your bags are located in, it’s really easy to find your suitcases. After you collect all your bags, you walk to the U.S. Customs and Immigration line to officially get cleared to enter back into the country. This is very similar to the experience of U.S. Customs at the airport, and it shouldn’t take very long for your family to be cleared.

You will see lots of employees in the terminal to guide you on where to go to clear customs, so it’s not confusing at all. The entire process of walking off the ship, collecting our bags, going through the Customs line, and boarding our transportation typically takes us around 30 minutes.

After Your Cruise

After you are cleared by Customs, you will head out to the parking lot and transportation area. Again, plenty of employees will be on hand directing cruisers to the different modes of transportation available. If you are utilizing the Disney Cruise Line Transportation , cast members will show you exactly where to go.

The DCL transfer buses will transport guests to the local airport, the Disney Cruise Line partner hotel, or to Walt Disney World if you are sailing out of Port Canaveral. You just join the clearly marked line for your destination. The bus driver will load your larger luggage pieces onto the bottom of the bus. You can take your carry-on bag on the shuttle with you to hold in your lap. If you are not booked on the Disney transportation, you will find ride share options and taxis readily available as well.

Many families book a pre-cruise or post-cruise hotel through Disney Cruise Line in order to have some flexibility with flights. To do this, you call Disney Cruise Line prior to your trip, and they will give you hotel options for your departure port. (Note that if you booked your cruise vacation through a travel agent, you need to ask your agent to call Disney Cruise Line on your behalf.)

Depending on availability, Disney Cruise Line should give you a few different options on hotels to book. If you are flying in and out of the Orlando International Airport, we highly recommend the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. It’s located right inside the airport, which makes it super convenient for travelers. My family and I also love the Hyatt Regency because it offers clean rooms, several restaurants, and a swimming pool. Families can even book a day room at the hotel if you need to kill time before your flight!

In Miami , Disney Cruise Line often utilizes EB Hotel and another option for pre-cruise and post-cruise options. My family and I had the pleasure of staying at the Four Seasons Miami before our most recent Disney Cruise vacation, and it was pure luxury! We were even able to score a great deal on our room through Disney Cruise Line.

Final Thoughts on How to Disembark

The Disney Cruise Line debarkation process may seem to have a lot of moving parts with lots of decisions to make. However, the cast members are super helpful, and the process is well organized. So, the entire morning actually runs quite smoothly.

From managing luggage to eating breakfast to clearing customs, Disney Cruise Line will guide you through each step of the way as you disembark the ship. Our final tip for disembarkation day is to NOT wait until the last minute to pack up your stateroom. It’s never fun to accept that your Disney Cruise Line vacation is coming to end, but you will feel much better knowing your belongings are packed and ready.

In conclusion, although debarkation morning isn’t the most exciting day of your trip, Disney Cruise Line truly does a great job of organizing the whole process. Their procedures for the disembarkation process help this bittersweet morning run smoothly. And then it’s back to reality!

So, what do you think? Do you enjoy the efficiency of Express Walk Off or do you prefer to stay on board as long as possible? What time do you like to disembark a Disney cruise? Comment below to share why you choose this method!

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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Disney Cruise Line Important Travel Information

Our approach to health and safety.

Our focus remains on operating our ships in a responsible way that continues to create magic for all on board. We are resuming sailing in a gradual, phased approach that emphasizes multiple layers of health and safety measures, developed in consideration of guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical experts. Visit Know Before You Go to learn more about COVID-19 protocols and sailing requirements.

Disney Cruise Line names its newest cruise ship

I t was bound to happen sometime, but Disney Cruise Line waited until its last of three new sister ships to name one Disney Destiny.

The sister ship to Disney Wish, which debuted out of Port Canaveral in 2022 and the soon-to-debut Disney Treasure arriving in Central Florida this December, the third ship in what was originally called the Trident class had its keel laying ceremony Wednesday at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

It won’t start sailing until 2025, and its home port has yet to be named, but among the details revealed for what will be the eighth ship in the cruise line’s fleet was the theme of the vessel, “Heroes & Villains.”

As such, the filigree artwork for the bow will be of Minnie Mouse wearing a superhero-style outfit complete with a cape.

The cruise line said among the characters from which it will mine features on board will be classic Disney animation films, “The Lion King,” “Hercules” and “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.”

Disney of course owns plenty of good vs. evil intellectual property including Star Wars and Marvel.

“The Disney Destiny will celebrate our most legendary Disney stories and characters, bringing them to life in new and exciting ways exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager for the cruise line, in a press release. “As we continue to expand our fleet, the Disney Destiny will further strengthen our position as a leader in family cruising.”

Just like Disney Wish and Treasure, Disney Destiny will be powered by liquefied natural gas, a cleaner burning fuel that’s part of the cruise industry’s efforts to reduce emissions.

All three are the 144,000 gross-ton, 1,254-stateroom vessels but still targeting the 4,000-passenger capacity of its older ships, 2011’s Disney Dream and 2012’s Fantasy. The line’s first ships are the smaller Disney Magic that debuted in 1998 and Disney Wonder in 1999. They come in at 84,000 gross tons with 875 staterooms.

The line also is finishing construction for an Asia-bound cruise ship named Disney Adventure that will be the largest in the fleet at 208,000 gross tons.

Disney Wish became the line’s first new ship in more than a decade. It continues to do short three- and four-night Bahamas sailings while Disney Treasure will pick up seven-night trips to the Caribbean.

Early morning view of the Orlando Florida Skyline

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

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

Tag Archives: Maintenance

DisneyCruiseLine.com Reservation System Undergoing Maintenance [Update: Back Online]

Disney Cruise Line’s online cruise search and reservation system is undergoing maintenance this afternoon. What does this mean? It could mean that 2014 dates are on the horizon, but more Continue Reading →

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Office Services Administration Coordinator

Job summary:, about the role & team.

Every day at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products we take pride in bringing the magic of Disney to life. In fact, we continue to find ways to grow and bring our service and storytelling to new and different places through a collection of vacation brands called Disney Signature Experiences. Whether that’s with Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions or Storyliving by Disney, we find joy in creating cherished family memories and forming genuine connections with our guests.

As an Office Services Administration Coordinator, you will support Disney Signature Experiences (DSE) Office Services at the Celebration Campus facility with daily building operations coordination and project execution.

What You Will Do

Provide general office services support and coordination for internal clients including assistance with custodial, maintenance, technology, facility and asset access and general campus knowledge

Provide general office services support including bill payment, receipt of shipments, access requests, asset liquidation and repair and maintenance follow-up

Ensure mail and package delivery processes are efficient and effective across the campus including accepting receipt, sorting, and informing recipients of arrivals (inclusive of ship and island “bullets”)

Facilitate DSE Tenant Representative meetings, including agenda preparation, scheduling and meeting recaps, and follow-up on identified issues

Represent DSE in Celebration Campus Tenant Rep meetings lead by WDW Building and Property Management

Share important facility related information to tenant representatives on a timely and efficient basis

Provide on-site support for vendors or partners working within our spaces

Provide system administration support for the workstation scheduling tool (Appspace) Participate in the DSE / Celebration safety committee

Assist the Office Services Manager on projects as needed

Work with Building and Property Management, maintain and update DCL floor plans

Active participant of DSE Safety & Wellness Team

Manage Office Services Inbox

Process access control requests/audit access control

Required Qualifications & Skills

Experience with Office Services and/or administrative support tasks

Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently

Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills

Demonstrated strong project management and communication skills

Demonstrated strong time management and organizational skills with an attention to detail

Proficient in Microsoft Office Products, SAP and Coupa

Ability to lift 50 lbs +/-

Ability to walk frequently within campus

High school degree or equivalent

Bachelor's degree or equivalent, preferred

About Disney Cruise Line:

A leader in the cruise industry, Disney Cruise Line provides a setting where families can reconnect, adults can recharge and children can experience all the magic that Disney has to offer. Guests can sail out of ports around the world on exciting itineraries to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska and Europe, among others. Aboard the fleet of five ships – the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish – and Disney’s private island paradise in the Bahamas - Castaway Cay, crew members provide guests with unparalleled service, enchanting storytelling and immersive family entertainment that only Disney can deliver.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Magical Cruise Company, Limited , which is part of a business we call Disney Cruise Line .

Magical Cruise Company, Limited is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.

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Brest hosts Disney Cruise Line ships undergoing technical maintenance
Disney Cruise Ships
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How to Make the Most of Your First Disney Cruise
Disney Cruise Line reveals first look at interior for new ship Disney
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Maritime and Cruise Operations jobs at DISNEY
Disney Cruise Line: Bahamas: Island Maintenance Technician - AC & Refrigeration: Feb. 17, 2024: Disney Cruise Line: Bahamas: Sous Chef: Feb. 17, 2024: Disney Cruise Line: Shipboard: Enter number to jump to a different page. You are currently on page 1 of 3.Page of 3 Go. Prev Next. Show All. Filter Results
Help & Support
Entertainment. Live entertainment, parties on deck, movies and more. For assistance with your Disney Cruise, please call (800) 951-3532. Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern time; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern time. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. help, support, help ...
Search our Job Opportunities at DISNEY
Disney Cruise Line Shipboard Apr. 24, 2024; Island Guest Tram Driver/Landscape Tech - Bahamas Disney Cruise Line Bahamas Feb. 26, 2024; Ship Investigation Manager Disney Cruise Line Shipboard Apr. 15, 2024; Island Maintenance Tech-Wastewater Treatment Op Disney Cruise Line Bahamas Apr. 10, 2024; Chief Officer Disney Cruise Line Shipboard Oct ...
Onboard Services
A: It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of excep... Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern time; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern time. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. Onboard services frequently asked questions for Disney Cruise Line. The Disney Cruise Line ...
Disney Cruise Line® Site
DisneyCruiseLine.com is currently undergoing maintenance. On deck, onshore and online, Disney Cruise Line is committed to providing you and your family with the most magical vacation on the high seas. Currently, we're making things even better at DisneyCruiseLine.com, so please be sure to check back here shortly.
A First Look at Disney Cruise Line's Revised Online Check-In Process
August Disney Cruise Line sailings are on the horizon (at least as of publication), and guests are entering the 30-day online check-in window for their scheduled voyages. That's right, you can check-in for your Disney Cruise 30-days prior which is different from the tiered activity booking window based on your Castaway Club Status…
Brest hosts Disney Cruise Line ships undergoing technical maintenance
In July 2019, the port of Brest welcomed Disney Magic on its premier call. In 2020, for the first time in history, the port and the city of Brest welcomed all the ships of one company during the autumn. For four months, the vessels of the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) were in Brest for technical maintenance in the port and for drydock at Damen ...
Disney Cruise Line Jobs
Disney Cruise Line: Bahamas: Island Maintenance Technician - AC & Refrigeration: Feb. 17, 2024: Disney Cruise Line: Bahamas: Island Maintenance Technician - Electrician/IT ... Bahamas: Island General Maintenance - Plumbing: Feb. 04, 2024: Disney Cruise Line: Bahamas: Filter Results Refine Results Go. Category. Building, Construction and ...
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
In addition, at the beginning of a career with Disney Cruise Line, all new crew members and officers receive in-depth onboarding and training so they are set up for success to connect with The Walt Disney Company, feel comfortable in their position, and engage with guests and crew members. ... Maintenance, Island Services, Security, and ...
Disney Cruise Advice: Tips & Tricks Onboard the Ship
Disney Cruise Advice & Important Things to Know. "Embarkation" means getting on the ship for the first time during your cruise; "disembarkation" or "debarkation" means getting off the ship at the end of your cruise. "Port" is the left side of the ship as you face forward; "starboard" is the right side as you face forward.
Why Fleet Maintenance is So Important for Cruise Lines
Disney Cruise Line also gets an honorable mention with only a few exceptions of wear and tear. ... Besides its scheduled maintenance revitalization, the ship received some of the line's latest attractions, namely water slides. As cruise lines discover new formulas that work for future ships, it becomes clear to them that their existing ships ...
Cruise Ship Refurbishment Schedule, Dry-Dock News
Cruise ship refurbishment schedule 2024-2025-2026 - drydock dates and news about the cruise lines' vessel conversions and refurb projects, fleet refits and renovations ... (2020, USD 40 million drydock in Freeport) Miracle - hotel maintenance works, Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades (Guy's Burger, WaterWorks, Red Frog Rum Bar, Blue Iguana Cantina ...
Current Ship Locations • The Disney Cruise Line Blog
Current Ship Locations. Posted on May 15, 2012 by Scott Sanders. The current locations of the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish if in range of an AIS receiver. A ship may still appear on the map at the last known position when out of range. Typically, this is indicated by a lighter shade of blue.
The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries
The smaller two ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet are Disney Wonder and the line's first ship, Disney Magic. These two ships are 984 feet long and 11 decks high, and each has the capacity for 2,713 passengers across 875 staterooms. On these two smaller ships, 70% of passenger cabins have ocean views or verandahs.
maintenance jobs at DISNEY
Search for available maintenance jobs at DISNEY here. Be part of the story. Search for available maintenance jobs at DISNEY here. ... Disney Cruise Line: Celebration, Florida, United States: Enter number to jump to a different page. You are currently on page 1 of 15.Page of 15 Go. Prev Next. Filter Results
Find Out When You CAN'T Book a Disney Cruise Next Week
The Disney Cruise Line reservation system is going to be down for a system upgrade from 4:30PM EST on Monday, March 7th, 2022, through the morning of Wednesday, March 9th, 2022. That means you won't be able to make reservations for a cruise during that time (either online or through the Contact Center).
Disney Cruise Line Frequently Asked Questions
The Disney Cruise Line has stabilizers and other high-tech controls that minimize the ship's movement. Also, weather tracking devices help to keep the Disney Cruise Line in calm waters as much as possible. ... along with verandah cleaning and maintenance. Aboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, ...
Disney Cruise Disembarkation Time and Options
Disney Cruise Line guests will find a letter (similar to the one below) in their staterooms the last night of the cruise. This debarkation letter details exactly what you need to know about the disembarkation procedures. The letter pictured above is from my family's disembarkation in Miami, but the process works similarly in Port Canaveral ...
PDF Disney Destinations Commission Research Information for Travel Agency
Disney Cruise Line @ [email protected], or National Geographic Expeditions @ [email protected]. • Issues with . DSMP/APEX or other payment issues (not commission research), please create a ticket in the . Disney PTP Customer Service Inquiry Section: https://dwss-ptp.disney.com
Disney Reveals $60 Billion Investment to Try and Right the Ship
The article cited the potential of Disney's parks and cruise lines, as well as "more than 1,000 acres of land available for development across the company's six resorts."
Phone Directory
For assistance with your Disney Cruise, please call (800) 951-3532. Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern time; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern time. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. For assistance with your cruise vacation, contact Disney Cruise Line by phone or email.
FAQ
Ports & Port Adventures Excursions. For assistance with your Disney Cruise, please call (800) 951-3532. Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern time; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern time. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. Frequently Asked Questions about Disney Cruise Line.
Disney Cruise Line Important Travel Information
Disney Cruise Line Important Travel Information ... For assistance with your Disney Cruise, please call (800) 951-3532. Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern time; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern time. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
Disney Cruise Line names its newest cruise ship
The line also is finishing construction for an Asia-bound cruise ship named Disney Adventure that will be the largest in the fleet at 208,000 gross tons. Disney Wish became the line's first new ...
Maintenance • The Disney Cruise Line Blog
DisneyCruiseLine.com Reservation System Undergoing Maintenance [Update: Back Online] Posted on September 20, 2012 by Scott Sanders — Leave a reply. Disney Cruise Line's online cruise search and reservation system is undergoing maintenance this afternoon. What does this mean? It could mean that 2014 dates are on the horizon, but more ...
Office Services Administration Coordinator at DISNEY
About Disney Cruise Line: A leader in the cruise industry, Disney Cruise Line provides a setting where families can reconnect, adults can recharge and children can experience all the magic that Disney has to offer. Guests can sail out of ports around the world on exciting itineraries to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska and Europe, among others.

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