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Disney Cruise Line Port Excursions – Discounts & Tips

LAST UPDATE: 2/14/24

Disney Port Adventures are not cheap, and they can add a significant amount to the total cost of your Disney Cruise. This page covers discounts, deals, and advice about port excursions at ports of call visited by Disney Cruise Line. We have collected our best tips and advice to help you save time, save money and have more fun when you get off your cruise ship. After all, sightseeing in exotic destinations is one of the primary reasons to take a cruise!

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

General Tips

Port safety, disney shore excursions, self-booking excursions & exploring independently, booking excursions with viator, castaway cay, lookout cay at lighthouse point, nassau, bahamas.

Other useful Disney Cruise Line 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 save time and get the most out of your cruise once you are onboard , visit the DCL Onboard Advice page.

If you’re not an adventurous traveler, you may want to book a Disney port excursion the first time you visit a port just to get the lay of the land, so to speak. That said, it’s pretty easy to go it alone in most of these ports, either by booking your own port adventures or just wandering. Every day in each of these ports, 3,000-18,000 cruise passengers flood the streets, so the ports are pretty good at providing services and infrastructure to travelers. And because they don’t want to risk the lucrative flow of tourism dollars, most of these places will have plenty of security in the major tourist areas. If you stay in tourist-oriented areas with lots of foot traffic during daylight hours, you may encounter vendors who are pushier than you might be used to, but safety should not be a major problem. Do read the port safety section and keep your wits about you.

A limited number of strollers are available from Guest Services while in port. They are free with a deposit. Since they are limited, don’t wait until most people have left the ship to ask for one.

Port days are a great time to take advantage of the ship’s amenities — such as the pools, spa and the AquaDuck or AquaMouse — with minimal crowds. Most people leave the ship in the morning and return in the afternoon. If you want to enjoy the ship when it’s nearly empty, reverse your schedule so you’re on the ship in the morning and in port during the afternoon. Depending on the ship’s arrival and departure times, this is easier to do at some ports than others.

If you’re wondering how busy a port will be, a great resource is CruiseTimeTables.com . Select your ship and dates, and it will show you which ships will be in port on each day of your cruise. From that, you can click on each ship name to see the details of that ship and see how many passengers it carries. Add all the passenger counts for all the ships in a particular port, and that’s the “port load” for that day. On low-load days, it will be easier to get a taxi, the tourist spots will be less crowded, etc. On high-load days, expect crowds everywhere. It’s a good idea to look at the port load on other days that month to get an idea of what’s a “normal” load. If the port usually handles 15,000 people, then a 10,000 person day might be fairly light. But in another port, their normal day might be 6,000, making 10,000 a huge crowd.

And of course, any of these ports will be busier during peak vacation times, which for the Caribbean and Bahamas is spring break (generally late March through early April) and Christmas season (the two calendar weeks that contain Christmas and New Year’s Day). During those times, you can expect major tourist destinations, beaches, resorts, restaurants, etc. to be very busy and booked up well in advance. The resorts will be full of guests, and the cruise ships will be running as full as possible. Surprisingly, summer in the Caribbean is only moderately busy, as it’s very hot, and a lot of cruise ships are in Alaska and Europe then.

If you want to get away from the tourist gloss and go a little deeper, you might ask some of the crew on the ship where they like to go when they have free time in that port. You still won’t necessarily be seeing the “real” country, but it’s a good way to find something more like a local hangout and less like a chain restaurant. Keep in mind that crew care more about things like free Wi-Fi and cheap drinks, and less about fancy décor and beautiful views.

A warning: reading this section can make you feel like it’s a mistake to leave home, which is not our intent. We don’t want people to get the impression that they’re in grave danger when they leave the ship, but it’s important to be clear-headed and travel smart. Most travelers have no real trouble, especially on organized cruise excursions and shopping in busy tourist areas. However, crime rates are quite high in some of the countries Disney Cruise Line visits, and it’s worthwhile to take some basic precautions.

In almost all developing countries, including many ports in the Caribbean, you are highly likely to encounter vendors who will call to you, ask questions, shove items in front of you, touch you to get your attention, etc. This is not a safety problem per se, it’s just much more aggressive selling than most first-world residents are used to. The vendors know that cruise ship passengers have money, and they hope to get some of that money by selling crafts, t-shirts, hair-braiding, etc. If you’re not interested in what they are selling, you should say “no thanks,” shake your head, or something equivalent, and keep walking . If you ignore them, they don’t know if you have heard them or not, and they may just get louder and closer. If you stop, they’re going to assume you’re interested. Politely making it clear that you’re not interested usually works; you want to act like someone who’s got somewhere to be. If they persist after that, stop responding and move away from them. Do not answer questions from vendors if you aren’t interested in what they’re selling. Usually these vendors are concentrated right around the cruise terminal and a few other big tourist hot spots and if you get a block or two away it gets much better. If you know that dealing with aggressive vendors is going to make you uncomfortable, you’re best off sticking with organized excursions, either through Disney, Viator or large tour operators, or hiring your own guide or driver to take you around.

We strongly recommend against doing any kind of motorized watersports excursions, such as jet-ski rental or parasailing, on a walk-up basis on any beach in the Caribbean, Mexico or Bahamas. These vendors are typically effectively unregulated, and incidents of accidents due to under-maintained equipment and/or poor safety procedures are high enough to make us uncomfortable. Any such excursions should either be purchased through Disney, Viator or some other intermediary that you trust to do reasonable vetting of the final provider. Note that the jet-ski vendors working the beaches in front of major hotels are not typically affiliated with, or recommended by, the hotels. We also recommend doing thorough research on any boat tour, fishing tour, snorkeling or scuba tours booked independently. There are plenty of good independent companies in any of the ports, but there are also lots of tiny companies that may not carry adequate insurance, may not have proper equipment maintenance, may not have proper safety certifications, etc. You should look for how long they’ve been in business, how many reviews they have on major review sites like TripAdvisor, and whether their staff have certifications from recognized organizations like PADI.

We advise not straying far from the port or other tourist areas in Nassau, Bahamas, especially at night. Violent crime against tourists is rare, but it does happen, including bold armed robberies of tour groups. Don’t just take our word for it, read the US State Department’s advisory , under Safety & Security. The vendors are also extra-aggressive here, though it dies down considerably once you get a block or two away from the cruise terminal. If you just want to shop or walk around in Nassau, we advise staying within a few blocks of Bay Street, which is the main shopping street running along the shoreline, or take a cab over to Paradise Island, where the shopping area is much less chaotic and less sketchy.

Falmouth, Jamaica  has had ongoing problems with extremely aggressive vendors near the port. While Jamaica does have serious crime problems, most of it is found in poor areas of Kingston and Montego Bay. Falmouth itself is not an especially crime-prone area. Certainly the large gated shopping area of the cruise port is completely safe to explore, as only employees and cruise-ship passengers are allowed in, and while inside the gated area you will not be accosted by sellers. However, outside the port gates there are quite a few souvenir and craft vendors on the street who buttonhole cruise passengers as they go by. Firmly and politely saying “no thanks” is generally enough to get them to leave you alone. If you ever feel unsafe, during the day there are tourist police stationed at intersections near the port, who wear white helmets, white shirts and black pants.

Crime and violence have been on the increase in Mexico for the last few years. Relatively little of the violence has been directed against tourists, but it does happen occasionally: in February 2012, a busload of people on an official excursion from a Carnival ship were robbed of all their valuables , including passports, in Puerto Vallarta. (This was a giant mess for those who lost their passports, which is why we say do not take your passport off the ship! ) Disney adjusts its port calls in response to current events and will make every effort to visit the ports that are safest. We recommend staying with a group and/or taking an official excursion when visiting Baja ports, except for Cabo San Lucas, which has had few crime problems. For Western Caribbean cruises, Cozumel is a fairly safe port.

Barcelona  is an amazing city but has a big problem with pickpockets. According to a tour guide we spoke with there, under local laws most such thefts are a hand-slapping offense (basically if the pickpocket is caught, a ticket is issued and they don’t have to worry about going to jail). Personally, we saw a lot of tourists wandering around with expensive handbags hanging open over their arms. Don’t make yourself such an obvious target and you’re likely to be fine.

Some safety tips when getting off the ship in any port:

• Be aware of your surroundings. Look on a map before leaving the ship so you know the general layout of the port and have an idea of where the ship is docked. Don’t rely exclusively on a smartphone or other electronic device for directions, since those might be stolen. Take a paper map with you so you can find your way back to the ship.
• Don’t carry your whole wallet around. We recommend getting a travelers pouch (worn inside your shirt around your neck, or around your waist inside your pants), plus a cheap wallet. Preload the wallet with a little cash and maybe one credit card, and nothing else. In the travelers pouch put more cash, a different credit card, your ID, room key, and any phone numbers you might need (see below). Don’t put the ID in the wallet, since you’ll usually need the ID to get through customs and back on the ship. If you get mugged or pickpocketed, the thieves will get some cash, a credit card (which you’ll cancel as soon as you get back to the ship), and a wallet.
• DO NOT take your passport with you when you leave the ship, unless the country requires it, or you plan to rent a car (in which case you’ll need it). If it is stolen, you will have a real problem. Very few countries require you to carry your passport around. If not having your passport with you makes you nervous, make a color photocopy of the identity page of your passport before you leave on the cruise, and carry that with you when you get off the ship.
• DO put your passport (and any other necessary documents, credit cards, etc.) in your stateroom safe when you leave the ship. If for some reason you can’t make it back to the ship, Disney will send two security officers into your stateroom, open the safe, retrieve your passport and leave it with the port agent so you can arrange to rejoin the ship or head home.
• Don’t wear expensive-looking jewelry/watches/handbags, particularly when visiting places with a lot of poverty (e.g. Mexico and the Caribbean) or that are known for pickpockets (e.g. Barcelona and Naples). It just makes you a target for thieves. Very expensive/complicated SLR cameras can also make you a target. If you have a great camera, stay in the safest areas and don’t wander too far alone.
• Write down the name and phone number of the “ship’s agent” for the port (which will be available in the Navigator app), and carry it with you. Putting it in your cell phone or other electronic device is a good backup, but put it on a piece of paper, too, in case your phone is lost or stolen. You’ll need to contact the ship’s agent if something bad happens while you’re onshore (i.e., you get sick/robbed/miss the ship’s departure, etc.) If something happens and you lose the number for the ship’s agent, call the port – they will know the agents for the various cruise lines. It would be a good idea to also have the number of the nearest US embassy or consulate and a local cab company.
• Do not take unlicensed cabs, unless the car was arranged by yourself or a trusted intermediary such as your hotel concierge or bell captain. If a random driver offers to take you somewhere, don’t take them up on it. Your best bet is to only pick up cabs at managed cab stands at ports, airports, hotels or major tourist destinations. In cities with well-regulated cab systems with clear markings, hailing a cab on the street is fine.

Disney offers a wide variety of shore excursions (which they call “port adventures”) of varying quality. In almost all cases the excursions are offered by third parties contracted by Disney. If you’re wondering whether an excursion is worthwhile, we recommend buying a guidebook that reviews them, or searching the internet for reviews on cruise sites, since nearly all shore excursions are the same ones offered to all the cruise ships. Keep in mind that there are often many tour operators offering similarly-named excursions in each port, so just because you find a fantastic review of a city tour, for example, doesn’t mean it’s the same city tour offered by Disney.

Some excursions are very popular and fill up early, so book them as early as you can . If you’re not able to get an excursion you wanted before you embark, go to Guest Services or the Excursion Desk as soon as you get onboard and see if they can add you to a waiting list. Or you can check our tips below for booking the tour on your own. Sometimes the tour or experience itself still has space, but the bus that Disney chartered is full – if  you’re willing to take a cab direct to the facility you can still do the excursion.

Booking excursions directly, instead of via Disney, can save you money and give you extra flexibility. As we mentioned earlier, the shore excursions offered at each of Disney’s ports of call are provided by third-party tour companies, with the exception of most of the Castaway Cay excursions. They are (with a few exceptions) the exact same excursions offered by every other cruise line, and are often offered directly to the public via the tour operators’ own website, or via various aggregators like Viator . In some cases the tour is cheaper when you book directly (since they don’t have to split the profit with Disney), but even if it’s the same price, booking yourself allows you to choose excursions or optional add-ons Disney doesn’t offer, or alternative times that might fit your schedule better. And of course you can choose to do tours and activities that are not offered by Disney, or just get off the ship and explore the town.

Families with kids can often save significant money booking direct! Disney Cruise Line almost always uses a standard age range for pricing port excursions: anyone 10 or older pays the adult price, ages 3-9 pay a child price and ages 2 and under are usually free (or sometimes there’s an infant price). But if you book your port excursion directly with the tour operator, you often find that they offer child discounts up to age 12 and sometimes up to age 16 or 17. Some don’t charge for kids 3 or under, or even 4 or under. That can save you a lot of money, depending on the ages of your kids. You have to book directly (or through another vendor like Viator ) to get the more generous child discounts.

Some people worry that an independent tour company might not getting them back to the ship on time. In practice, it’s extremely  rare for a tour operator to get passengers back late enough to miss their ship. Any tour company that services cruise passengers risks the wrath of a busload of incredibly angry guests if they miss their ship. You can be sure they do not want that to happen, and they will go to great lengths to avoid it. If they have a bus breakdown, they will have a contingency plan to bring in another bus or provide alternative transportation. Some third-party tour companies provide a guarantee that they’ll get you back to your boat on time or they’ll pay to get you to the next port, which tells you that they’re confident they’ll be on time. They take cruise-ship passengers around every day of the year; they’re very aware of the need to stay on schedule.

On a Disney-booked tour, the tour operator will contact the Disney ship’s agent immediately if they get into trouble, so the ship staff know what’s going on. You should do the same: if you are exploring independently or on a self-booked tour and suffer an issue that might make you late, immediately call the ship’s agent and tell them what’s happening. The name and phone number of the ship’s agent for the port is in the Navigator app, or you can call the port and ask for the name and number of the Disney port agent. The ship may wait for you if they know where you are and when you’ll be arriving; they usually won’t wait very long if they have no idea when you’ll be there.

In the very unlikely event that a tour operator doesn’t get you back to the ship before it has to leave, third-party trip insurance may cover your cost to get to the next port, via the “trip interruption,” “missed connection” or “travel delay” coverage, if the tour operator or a cab, bus, or train is delayed as a result of one of the covered events. Covered events usually include a tour operator or carrier suffering a mechanical breakdown, traffic accident or weather-related delay. Check the description of coverage of your trip insurance, or call their customer service number to see if you’re covered. Be careful; some of them only cover trip interruption or missed connections if the carrier ceases service for more than a certain amount of time, sometimes as much as 24 hours.

Most people who miss their ship departure are not on an excursion at all. They just get sidetracked while shopping or sightseeing (or drinking),  often within walking distance of the ship. When you’re close to the ship you don’t have the stress of worrying about getting a cab or whether your tour is going to leave on time, and it’s easy to stop paying attention. Another reason people miss the ship is that they mis-remember the all-aboard time. Don’t let this be you! Write down the all-aboard time, and set an alarm on your phone or watch for when you should be heading back to the ship. Something to be aware of is that if your phone connects to the local cell towers or to local Wi-Fi, it may reset its clock to local time, which might not match ship time. Make sure you know whether your all-aboard is in local time or ship’s time, and also know what time zone your watch or phone is set to. Allow 30 minutes to get through port security, plus 30 minutes for each transportation leg you have to take, in addition to estimated travel time , just in case.

Another thing to keep in mind about self-booked tours: occasionally the ship has to miss a port or arrive late because of weather or some other issue. If you have an excursion in that port that you self-booked, that tour operator’s cancellation policy applies. In our experience many tour operators will refund your money if the ship doesn’t make port, and most will wait for you or put you on a later tour if the ship is late, if they can find a way to do it. It’s definitely worth checking the “missed port” policy before you book, though. Again, your trip insurance may cover missed port excursions under “trip interruption,” “travel delay” or “missed connection;” check with your insurance provider to be sure.

No matter how you book your tour it’s a good idea to have your own contingency plan just in case. You should always have the number of a local cab company in your phone (and written on a piece of paper in case you lose your phone). And you always want to give yourself some leeway. We strongly recommend against self-booking a tour or activity that ends less than 2 hours before the ship leaves . You could make exceptions if you know the activity happens completely within walking distance of the ship, such as the lumberjack show in Ketchikan, which is literally a block and a half from the dock. Be careful though – sometimes the location given by the tour operator is just the pick-up spot; they may transport you somewhere else for the actual activity. The bottom line is that you want to have enough time to find alternative transportation back to the ship if you have to, especially if you’re just exploring on your own. When in doubt, contact the tour operator directly if you can, and ask them how much time it takes to get to and from their pick-up/drop-off points.

Viator.com is an easy, reliable way to book cruise excursions, tours and activities. Like Disney, they work with third-party operators in the various port cities. They hand-pick tour operators that meet their standards for experience, financial soundness, and customer service. They have reviews on their excursions, written by actual customers. You need to take these reviews with the same skepticism that you would with any online reviews: some people are ultra-picky, and some people love everything. But it can give you useful details about the kinds of things you’ll get to do, the kinds of problems that can arise, whether you have to take a long ride from the port to get to the tour beginning, etc.

We have been recommending Viator.com for several years and have had good feedback from readers. They often have the best prices we’ve found on shore excursions, and offer many of the popular excursions in the major ports Disney visits. In some cases they offer the exact same excursion as Disney, provided by the exact same tour company, but with a wider range of available times or more options. We have on several occasions chosen one of their excursions as an alternative to Disney’s excursions, and we’ve always been happy with the tour operators and tours.

To give an example, on our trip to Alaska on the Disney Wonder, we booked a whale-watching excursion in Juneau with Viator because it left earlier, which left us more time for sightseeing and the Mendenhall Glacier. It turns out there are about 5 big whale-watching companies in Juneau, and they all share information about whale sightings, so everyone’s boats spend most of their time in a group traveling from sighting to sighting, then occasionally splitting up to look for more whales. The boat we were on was smaller and faster than the other boats, which allowed us to reach several whale pods first, but in the end everyone saw the same whales. The bottom line: we got a basically identical (maybe a little better) whale-watching trip for about 70% of the Disney excursion price.

Here are direct links to the tours and activities pages on Viator.com for the most popular Disney Cruise Line ports, including departure ports. Note that many excellent tours that work well for cruise passengers are not necessarily listed in the “shore excursions” category. You just have to look at the start and end times of any tour you’re considering and compare to the cruise schedule. We recommend avoiding picking start times less than 30 minutes after your scheduled arrival time in port (plus any travel time needed to get from the port to the tour’s start point). And we strongly advise not picking tours with ending times less than 2 hours before the cruise’s scheduled departure time (plus any travel time needed to get from the tour’s end point to the ship).

• Nassau tours and excursions

Western Caribbean :

• Miami tours and excursions
• Cozumel tours and excursions
• Grand Cayman tours and excursions  (Remember to allow time for tendering into port)
• Falmouth, Jamaica tours and excursions

Eastern Caribbean :

• Tortola shore excursions
• St. Maarten tours and excursions
• St. Thomas/St. John shore excursions
• Vancouver, Canada tours and excursions
• Juneau tours and excursions
• Skagway tours and excursions
• Ketchikan tours and excursions

Mediterranean :

• Barcelona, Spain tours and activities
• Venice, Italy tours and activities
• Villefranche (French Riviera) tours and excursions
• Pisa, Italy tours and excursions (Note that you need to allow travel time to/from La Spezia)
• Florence, Italy tours and excursions (Note that you need to allow travel time to/from La Spezia)
• La Spezia, Italy tours and excursions
• Rome, Italy tours and excursions  (Note that you need to allow travel time to/from Civitavecchia)
• Naples, Italy tours and excursions

For other locations, go the Viator.com home page  and search for the name of the port.

Many of Disney’s Bahamian and Caribbean cruises include a day at Disney’s original private island: Castaway Cay (pronounced like “key”), which is a tiny islet in the Bahamas. For many people Castaway Cay is the best part of a Disney Cruise, as you get the wonderful white sand beaches and clear water of the Caribbean without annoying distractions like roaming vendors and hair braiders. There are plenty of beach chairs for everyone (though you may need to hike to the far end of the beach if you take your time in the morning getting off the ship), and lots of things to do or not do as you prefer.

On your Castaway Cay day, we definitely recommend getting off the ship early . Use room service to have breakfast in your cabin or head to the buffet when it opens and then get off the ship as soon after 9:00 am as you can. You’ll have your pick of chairs, no lines for character greetings and photo opportunities, and the snorkeling will be undisturbed by others stirring up the bottom.

If you’re the adventurous type and don’t want to just lie around on the beach, take advantage of the package excursions at Castaway Cay that include snorkel equipment, float/raft rental, and a one-hour bike rental. The bundle deal is not available once you leave the ship (i.e., you have to pay the individual price for each activity, which will cost more). However, MouseSavers.com reader Kelly M has this to offer: “at Castaway Cay, there is so much to do that we couldn’t get to everything. We booked four passes for the snorkel, float and bicycle package. Next time we will only book two passes and share. We ran out of time and could have easily shared two sets. We didn’t even get to pick up the bikes since we ran out of time.”

Castaway Cay has its own post office, so your stop there is a great opportunity to send postcards to your friends. All of you scrapbookers out there will want to bring an extra postcard or two to mail to yourself; they’ll receive the Castaway Cay postmark! Definitely buy your Bahamian stamps on the boat at Guest Services before you arrive at Castaway Cay, or you can buy them in Nassau if you go there first. If you do buy stamps at Castaway Cay you will need CASH to pay for the postage — it can’t be charged to your room key, and you may find that the post office has very limited hours (as in it may not open at all). If you have stamped postcards, you can drop them in the slot any time. Note that it can take quite a long time (months) for the postcard to reach home, and we have multiple reports of postcards never arriving at all.

Every visit to Castaway Cay includes a running of the Castaway Cay 5K , which is a nice way to start your day if you like running. You’ll (usually) get a souvenir medal for completing the race (though sometimes they don’t give them out, seemingly at random), a feeling of accomplishment, and an excuse to have a second helping of cookies and ice cream at lunch. Look at the Navigator app for instructions on where to meet. Usually the race gets going pretty early in the morning to avoid the heat.

Take some time to explore the public parts of the island, including the old landing strip . Disney has placed a bunch of artfully arranged flotsam and jetsam all over, including a couple of DC-3’s with Disney nose art that make a great backdrop for a group photo. Taking a walk or bike ride to the observation tower makes a nice expedition. The walkway is paved and well-marked, and there are water dispensers at regular intervals. From the top of the tower you can see the ship in the distance, the native landscape of Castaway Cay (which is admittedly pretty sparse), and some fun surprises placed here and there by Disney imagineers.

Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is Disney’s newest “private island” experience , created to take some pressure off Castaway Cay and add new private beach experiences to the Disney Cruise portfolio. It has all the same basic features as Castaway Cay: a nice private beach with plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas, included buffet lunch, and exclusive shore activities and excursions.

Lookout Cay is not actually a separate island, but rather a private piece of land near the southern tip of Eleuthera , one of the larger Bahamian islands. However, from a practical point of view it works the same way as a true private island. It’s just easier for the locals to come to work, since they can just drive over instead of taking a boat.

Lookout Cay has something for everyone. You can snorkel, get a spa treatment, walk the nature trails, participate in Disney shore adventures, meet characters and learn about Bahamian arts and culture. As with Castaway Cay, there are a few extra-cost experiences, but most of it is FREE.

Lookout Cay is not open yet as of this writing, so a full set of details will have to wait until June 2024, when the first Disney cruise passengers will get to see it in person.

All of Disney Cruise Line’s popular 3- and 4-day cruises stop in Nassau, which is probably the single most visited cruise destination in the world. Every day, up to 18,000 cruise passengers arrive at the Nassau cruise terminal and head out to a variety of adventures, shopping, or just to the beach. The Bahamas is a former British colony with a rich history, and traces of its Georgian heyday are visible in the lovely old buildings, some dating back to just after the American Revolution.

There is plenty here for the cruise visitor, including the amazing Atlantis mega-resort, snorkeling, scuba-diving, or just lying on the beach. You can also just get off the ship and explore, though read the Port Safety notes; the tourist areas of Nassau are quite safe during normal business hours, but it’s not recommended to wander too far on your own beyond the downtown and resort areas, especially at night.

Getting Taxis in Nassau

• Atlantis & Aquaventure
• Aquaventure Tips
• Savings Tip: Aquaventure Via Comfort Suites

Nassau Beach Options

• Other Nassau recommendations

There is quite a bit to explore within walking distance from the cruise terminal, but if you want to get to the further beach and resort areas like Paradise Island or Cable Beach you’ll want to get transportation. We generally recommend taking taxi cabs. There is a water taxi to Paradise Island near the cruise terminal, but it doesn’t have a schedule; it waits until it is full, which can take a long time. And there are jitneys, which are local buses. The #10 jitney runs back and forth along Bay street from near the cruise terminal to the far end of Cable Beach, but the waits can be long, and they can be crowded and stop semi-randomly. Be sure to take the #10, which stays on Bay Street, and not the #10A, which goes through side streets and takes forever. The fare is $1.25 each way per person, cash only, no change given. Our feeling is that you have limited time in Nassau; make the most of it and take cabs. It’s a small town and very few places will cost more than $4/person to get to in a cab. Getting from the cruise terminal to the far end of Paradise Island or Cable Beach might go as high as $6/person.

You should know in advance that taxis in Nassau are not always in particularly great shape. The air conditioning may not work or the driver may not run it to save gas. The car or van itself may look well-used. The driver may stop to get gas on the way to your destination. It’s the Caribbean, and that’s pretty much the standard for cabs all over the region. Ultimately if you don’t like the look of a cab, wait for another one. If all of this sounds like it would make you uncomfortable, then don’t take cabs; book excursions with included transportation via Disney or Viator  or direct with a tour company. Disney and Viator work with large tour companies that generally use nice, clean air-conditioned vans and minibuses.

Licensed cabs say “Taxi” on the side in fancy lettering and have a taxi license plate and a meter. There are shuttles as well, mostly doing back and forth runs between the cruise terminal and Paradise Island, and they can be a perfectly reasonable option, if picked up inside the cruise terminal gates or called for you by the bell captain at a hotel. We would not recommend taking an unlicensed cab anywhere else, unless you arrange the booking yourself through a reliable transportation company. Often even if you take a licensed cab with a meter the driver will refuse to use the meter and will just quote a price, which you are free to negotiate. Just about anywhere within 15 minutes of the cruise terminal should be $4/person or less. If the driver tries to change the agreed price, just repeat the price you agreed, hand them the money and get out.

At the cruise terminal, the shuttles to Paradise Island are easy to get, but be aware that they are not organized into a well-behaved line. There is a large, chaotic area inside the cruise terminal gates with shuttle vans, van hawkers, drivers, etc. all trying to get the attention of cruise passengers. You can go to one of the counters offering shuttles, or just tell the first driver you see where you want to go. The drivers will usually want to wait until they’ve filled up their van, but that shouldn’t take long. If you want to get a personal taxi for just your party, you may want to walk outside the terminal and look for a licensed cab.

At a resort like Atlantis or the One & Only Ocean Club, just go to the bell stand out front and ask for a taxi. They’ll whistle one over, or call one if there isn’t one waiting.

If you’re somewhere else and need a ride back to the cruise terminal, if you’re near Bay Street you can just hail a taxi; there are plenty going up and down it all day. On Paradise Island, you can find taxis in any tourist spot or driving on Paradise Island Drive.

It’s normally about 15-20 minutes drive from Atlantis or other locations on Paradise Island to the cruise terminal. The far end of Cable beach is about the same driving distance from the cruise terminal in the other direction. But near the end of the day there can be significant traffic trying to get back to the terminal that can push the total travel time to 30 minutes or more, so don’t push your luck. Allow plenty of time, and remember you have to get through port security.

Atlantis & Aquaventure

Atlantis   is a truly massive resort and casino on Paradise Island, about a 15-minute drive from the cruise terminal . It’s one of the most popular destinations for cruise-ship passengers in Nassau, largely because of its massive water park, Aquaventure . It also has a very large and beautiful aquarium called The Dig, which is designed to look like you’re touring an ancient section of the mythical land of Atlantis that has been submerged and discovered centuries later by archaeologists. Atlantis is located right on Cabbage Beach, perhaps the most beautiful of all Bahamas beaches, and it has an enormous casino and lots of high-end restaurants and shopping. It’s all very impressive, but the prices are equally impressive.

Is Atlantis worth visiting while on a Bahamas cruise? It’s hard to say. Purely as a water park, we’d have to say no. If you book it through Disney, it’s about $250 for adults and $140 for kids. If you self-book and work every angle, you might be able to get access to Aquaventure for $120-$140 so per person in the peak season, or $95-$110 in the off season. Compare that to Blizzard Beach , Typhoon Lagoon or Aquatica in Orlando, all of which are $75-ish for a full-price adult ticket (even less if you use one of the many discounts available). Atlantis Aquaventure is huge and has some very neat water slides and a great rapids river called the Current, but it’s not so much better than the Orlando parks to merit the price difference. In fact, we’d say the Orlando parks are easier to navigate and better planned for practical touring. All that said, Atlantis as a whole is pretty spectacular and a unique destination. The Dig, the predator lagoons, the Aquaventure park and the art and the architecture are all unlike anything anywhere else (except maybe the other Atlantis resorts), so it’s very hard to say what it’s worth. If you have people in your party who love water parks, or love aquariums, it’s probably worth a visit. If you find the architecture intriguing, you’ll like it even better up close. But if you expect to get your money’s worth as a “theme park” experience, then it’s going to be a disappointment.

Most of Atlantis , including Aquaventure and the aquariums and other exhibits, is only open to their own hotel guests, cruise-ship guests with a day pass , or guests of the Comfort Suites next door, at least during daylight hours. Even the Royal Towers lobby is off-limits if you don’t have a wristband or the paperwork you need to get a wristband.

There are several options for visiting the paid sections of Atlantis, including several Disney-sponsored excursions. It is almost always cheaper and faster to get to Atlantis on your own. We recommend taking a cab right outside the cruise terminal, which allows you to leave immediately after docking and beat the other cruise passengers to the water slides.

You can get an Aquaventure pass on-site, when available, which includes beach and Dig access. However, when the resort is very full, such as during spring break, they may not offer walk-up Aquaventure passes, or they may sell out quickly. If you know you want to visit Aquaventure, it’s a good idea to book through Disney or use the tip below to book a hotel day room. If you just want to view the Dig or the beach, there are passes that don’t include Aquaventure available at a lower price.

These prices were correct when gathered (early 2024), but are subject to change any time, and may vary based on season and demand:

• The Atlantis Aquaventure day pass includes access to pretty much everything at Atlantis except the Dolphin adventures and the grounds and pools of the ultra-pricey Cove and Reef areas. It includes access to Aquaventure, pools, the beach, the Dig, the predator lagoons and the Royal Towers lobby. Same-day passes cost $250-275 (depending on season and whether lunch is included) for adults (13+), and $140-$160 for children (4-12). Children 3 and under are FREE with a paying adult. Note that these may sell out, especially at peak times like spring break. 
• The Discover Atlantis pass includes the Dig, the predator lagoons, and access to the Royal Towers lobby. It includes a guided tour of the Dig (which you can take or not). Same-day passes cost $55 for all ages (4+). Children 3 and under are FREE with a paying adult. We have never heard of these being sold out.
• The Atlantis Beach Day pass includes use of beach chairs and umbrellas, plus access to the Dig, predator lagoons, and the Royal Towers Lobby. Same-day passes cost $95 for all ages (4+). Lunch is not included. Children 3 and under are FREE with a paying adult. We have heard of these selling out during spring break, and possibly other times, but perhaps not as often as the Aquaventure passes.

Some (but not all) of these day passes can be purchased in advance on Atlantis’s website .

To buy a day pass in person, go to the ticket booth at the Coral Towers entrance and show your Key to the World card to prove you’re on a cruise. (They don’t want guests of other unaffiliated Bahamas hotels to be able to get access to the Atlantis facilities, which is why they need to see proof that you’re a cruise passenger.)

If you don’t want to pay for a day pass, there are a few areas of Atlantis that are free to visit , most notably the casino, shops and restaurants in and around the Coral Towers. If you just want to soak up the atmosphere, gamble, or have some lunch, you’re welcome to do so by coming in the Coral Towers entrance. You should know, though, that pretty much all of the iconic Atlantis architecture and decor is in and around the Royal Towers, which are off-limits without a pass. You can also walk outside and visit the Marina Village shopping center and the Paradise Shopping Plaza across the street, which features a local handcrafts area that is like the Straw Market in downtown Nassau, but with slightly less aggressive vendors. If you want to eat, many of the signature restaurants in Atlantis are only open for dinner, but there are quite a few restaurants open for lunch in the Marina Village, or you can walk through the conference center to the Beach Tower and eat at the Cave Grill without needing a day pass.

When you’re ready to leave Atlantis, if you have any day pass (or a room at the Comfort Suites) and thus have a wristband, just walk out the front doors of the Atlantis Royal Towers and ask them to call you a taxi or cruise terminal shuttle. There will likely be several of them waiting, and there will be a posted flat rate to the cruise terminal. If you’re just visiting with no day pass or band, you will have to pick up a taxi at the Coral Towers, Beach Tower or the Marina Village.

Aquaventure Tips & Tricks:

• Whether you book the Disney Aquaventure tour or go on your own, our advice is to ignore the guided tour of the Dig and just head straight to Aquaventure as soon as you get your wristbands. The Dig is well worth visiting, but not during prime morning hours; it stays open much later than the pools, so save your visit for later in the day when you’re tired of slides, during a mid-day break or in the last 30 minutes before you need to return. Obviously if you get there so early that they won’t let you into the Aquaventure area, congratulate yourself on your efficiency and take a turn through the Dig, or take the opportunity to check out the predator lagoons over by the Coral Tower or the murals and decorative elements in the Royal Towers lobby.
• The slides and Current usually open at 10, and the pools and Dig open at 9 . It’s a good idea to get in as early as you can to get a locker and towels and stake out some lounge chairs. If you manage to get all settled before the slides open, you can walk around and check out the lay of the land and get yourself oriented.
• In the late summer and fall, it’s not uncommon for the pools and slides to close in the mid-afternoon because of thunderstorms, and they might not open again, so it’s important to get an early start.
• The best locker and towel area is the Hospitality Center. In defiance of logic, it is in the back of the park as far as possible from the lobby and entrances. From the desk where you get the wristbands, head up the stairs to the lobby level of the Royal Towers and follow the signs to Aquaventure, and then to the Hospitality Center, or ask any staff about the most direct route. There are lockers, fresh towels, and deck chairs there, and it’s right next to a good place to enter the Current. However, we’d suggest spending the morning riding water slides, and then check out the Current once you’re tired of slides or the lines are getting long.
• The Current is not a “lazy” river. It’s a rapid river, and there are sections of it that can hurt you if you’re not paying attention, including a speed run through concrete “rocks” you could hit your head on or get a bad scrape from. If you’re paying attention, you’ll have no trouble; it’s not crazy fast. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you can just relax and float. In some sections it can look that way, but then it can speed up and start knocking you around. Think carefully before sending small children on it, or walk around and take a look at the hairier sections. There is an actual lazy river way over by the Beach Towers (which is a hike), should you want a more sedate experience.
• The concrete walkways appear to be some kind of cool-deck material, but they still can get pretty hot. Flip-flops or water shoes are highly recommended. You can wear flip-flops or water shoes on the slides, as long as they don’t have metal on them that might scratch the slide surface.
• Towels are available early in the day from big carts near the Hospitality Center. Later in the day those carts disappear but they still have towels, so if you don’t see any, just ask at the Hospitality Center desk and they’ll hand you fresh towels.
• The food and merchandise locations in Aquaventure do not accept cash. They only accept Atlantis room keys or credit cards, so make sure you bring a working credit card with you if you want to be able to get food and rent a locker.
• There is no central float and tube distribution location. Tubes are included in the price of Aquaventure , and you just grab any empty one as it floats by, or from any stack you see. There’s no point in dragging them around the park; there will be more available just about anywhere you would need one. In a few cases you have to lug your own tube up the stairs to the top of a slide, and that will be obvious, as everyone will be carrying tubes up the stairs.
• Several of the fancier tube slides can be accessed from the Current ; you just float around until you see a fork in the river, with one side leading to the “Rapids” and one to the “Power Tower.” Take the Power Tower path to get to two elaborate slides called The Drop and The Falls via a conveyor belt that carries you to the top of the Power Tower without you even having to get out of your tube. To get to the other slides in the Power Tower you have to leave the Current and walk up some stairs.
• The food from the snack bars is pretty ordinary and similar to theme-park food. If you want more exciting food, there is a full-service restaurant in the water park area called Shark Bites that serves a few Bahamian specialties like conch salad, conch chowder, and johnnycake (in addition to the usual burgers, salads and chicken strips). You could also head over to the Beach Tower and try the Cave Grill, which has a nice view of Cabbage Beach, and you could check out the sharks in the predator lagoons while you’re over there. If you have a lunch voucher it may only be good at certain restaurants, so check on that before you hike all the way over to the Beach Tower.

Savings Tip: Aquaventure Via Comfort Suites

Guests of the Comfort Suites Paradise Island   get FREE admission to the aquariums, exhibits, pools, beach and most importantly Aquaventure , just like guests of Atlantis itself. The Comfort Suites is conveniently located right next door to the Atlantis Coral Towers. Each room you book gives you up to four passes to Atlantis (one for each person in the room). The hotel has a 3:00 pm check in time, but you can “check in” early in the morning and get the paperwork you’ll need to get your Atlantis wristbands; they will be happy to tell you how to get to Atlantis. You can even check in and check out in one transaction so you don’t have to stop by on your way back to the ship, or if you’d like to use the room you can come back after 3 to shower and change before heading back to the ship.

Important note : To discourage people from waiting to book the Comfort Suites until the day their cruise ship arrives, a one-night stay booked same-day, either online or at the front desk, does not come with access to Atlantis. A one-night stay booked in advance (at least a day earlier than the arrival date), still includes access to Atlantis .  If you were thinking you’d book a room same-day because you’re worried about the ship not being able to dock, our advice would be to get travel insurance that covers trip interruption, which will reimburse any non-refundable expenses you incur if you are unable to experience part of the trip. Also, keep in mind that it’s very rare for ships to be unable to dock in Nassau. It’s the most popular cruise ship port for a reason.

In the last few years the Comfort Suites has raised the price for single-night stays considerably, and added fees that take the final price for one night to $120/person or more at times. However, if you check their web site regularly, you can sometimes snag deals in the off season, and they offer a small discount for AAA members . Kids under 16 are FREE, but anyone 16 or over is considered an adult, and there’s a $40 fee for every adult after the first one. Even at their top rates, one night at the Comfort Suites  plus cab fare is almost sure to be less expensive than getting day passes to Aquaventure or buying the Disney excursion for a family of 3 or 4, and you can book it in advance easily. For families of 5 or more, you’ll have to get two rooms unless one or more of the kids is 3 or younger ( children 3 or under don’t need a wristband to get into Aquaventure when accompanied by a paying adult, so they don’t need to be on the Comfort Suites booking ). For two adults, the Disney excursion is often the least expensive way to go, but price it out just to be sure.

You may see reports on the internet from people who were charged a bunch of surcharges at checkin, but that only happens if you book via shady online travel agencies that are booking special consolidator rates (rates for group tours) that don’t include the resort fees. If you book via the Choice Hotels web site, they are already figured into the final price you see on the final booking page. You’ll see a very large “Taxes and fees” amount added to the total, and that includes all surcharges. They will not charge you anything more when you check in to the hotel, as long as you book directly with the Choice Hotels site and list the correct number of adults and children when booking . If you see a much lower rate on another site, it probably doesn’t include the fees. As mentioned above, you don’t need to list children 3 or under if you’re only using the room to get Atlantis wristbands; you won’t need a wristband for them.

Once you check in at the Comfort Suites, ask the front desk clerks to direct you to Atlantis. The quickest way is via the back exit from the Comfort Suites. It’s about 100 yards to the entrance, and then a short walk through the shopping area to the guest services desk, where they will take your Comfort Suites paperwork and give you the wristbands you need to enter the grounds.

One nice thing about booking the Comfort Suites is that you don’t have to wait for the official Disney tour , which often leaves somewhat late in the morning. You can get off the ship immediately, get into a cab and go straight to the Comfort Suites, check in (and immediately check out, if desired) and collect your paperwork, then walk over to Atlantis and get your wristbands. If you’re off the ship at 9:30 am you can be on the water slides at 10:00 am, assuming everything goes well. It’s not hard to beat the cruise ship tour buses by 30-60 minutes. On our first trip to Aquaventure, we got off the ship 15 minutes after the ship was cleared, got a very slow cab that made several stops before getting to the Comfort Suites, got lost multiple times while walking to the guest services desk to get our wristbands, and we still beat the Disney excursion; they were arriving as we were walking away from the service desk. The second time we went, we beat the excursion bus by roughly 50 minutes, which meant almost an hour of extra water slides!

• Book a day room at the Comfort Suites Paradise Island , including full access to Atlantis and Aquaventure for up to 4 guests!

Free Beaches :

There are several public beaches in Nassau which cost nothing to visit other than transportation costs , plus of course any snacks, drinks, souvenirs, hair braiding, etc. you might purchase while you’re there. Most of the public beaches will have vendors hawking drinks, chairs, pictures, souvenirs, etc. and some of them can be pushy. Generally just politely saying “no thanks” is enough to get them to move on.

It’s very important to note that public beaches in the Bahamas do not have the same level of amenities as most public beaches in the USA . If you are used to California or Florida public beaches with bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, maybe a boardwalk, you will need to reset your expectations. In the Bahamas, as in many developing countries, there is very little public money for beaches, and (with a few exceptions mentioned below) the only infrastructure is provided by private vendors, who will charge money for access. At the more popular beaches there may be vendors who will rent you a beach chair or umbrella for a fee, or people just walking around with cold drinks for sale, but don’t expect much more than that. Also, depending on the tides and weather some of these beaches can have heavy surf and riptides, and there are no lifeguards.

• Junkanoo Beach (also called West Esplanade Beach). This is the closest beach to the cruise terminal, and is an easy walk. Just come out of the cruise terminal, turn right and follow the road along the shore (which has a few twists and turns along the way) for a few blocks past the British Colonial hotel. As the nearest public beach to the main tourism area, it’s quite busy and full of tourists and vendors. We have seen frequent reports of litter and debris, but if you can find a section that has just been cleaned and raked, it can be quite nice, and some of the vendors who have permanent shacks on the beach are very good about keeping up the area near them. The water is much calmer here than on other beaches in the area, though the view is perhaps not as nice (mostly you can see the harbor and cruise ships). There are public facilities here of varying cleanliness, again depending on how recently they were serviced. 
• Saunders Beach . This beach is just a bit further east on Bay Street from the Fish Fry area but not all the way to Cable Beach. There are fewer (often no) vendors here, and on weekdays there may not be many people here, period. There are no bathrooms or other facilities, but there are shops and some fast-food restaurants across the street. The beach has nice sand, but once you get into the water it’s a bit rocky. The surf here is not typically very strong, but there are no lifeguards on duty, so you’ll want to keep an eye on children. You could conceivably walk here, but it would be a  long walk; we’d take a taxi. If you’re trying to get away from the touristy beaches, this is the place, or Goodman’s Bay, just a bit further along Bay Street.
• Cable Beach . This is about a 15-25 minute drive from the cruise terminal, depending on which end of it you visit. Cable Beach is a beautiful beach with soft sand, but it’s hard to access the best section of the beach without paying, because that portion, while technically public up to the high-water mark, is effectively controlled by the row of hotels in front of it. The easiest public access is via Goodman’s Bay park, which is essentially part of Cable Beach. The beach at Goodman’s Bay is a less crowded beach than Junkanoo, and in fact on weekdays there may be almost no one here. On weekends there will often be some locals out and about. There are no public facilities on the beach or in the park except for restrooms that are open erratically and a children’s playground. You can walk over to the section of beach in front of Breezes, but they will shoo you away if you venture too close to the resort. At the other end of Cable Beach, near the Melia, pretty much the whole beach is deliberately designed to be inaccessible except through one of the resorts, and if you can find your way through an alley to the beach, you’ll find that essentially anything you would want to do is reserved for hotel guests. Really, if you want to spend the day at Cable Beach, a day pass is your best option.
• Cabbage Beach . This is on the north side of Paradise Island, right next to Atlantis. Cabbage Beach is a beautiful beach with a great view of the ocean, but the surf is very strong, especially in the winter, and it’s often not safe to swim. The best public beach access is about a mile away from Atlantis, next to the Paradise Island Beach Club. There are no public facilities to speak of, but there will usually be lots of private vendors around renting chairs, selling drinks, etc. The nearest public restroom is at the Marina Village, about a 25-minute walk away. You can no longer get into the Atlantis Beach Tower from the beach without an Atlantis wristband. If you decide you want a day pass, both Riu and Atlantis offer them ( see below ), but you can’t buy them at their beach entrances; they will direct you to go all the way around to the front entrance of the Riu or the front entrance of the Atlantis Coral Towers to buy one, which is about a 25-30 minute walk. The bottom line is that while the beach is technically public, the resorts in front of the beach effectively control access to most facilities and for most travelers we would suggest buying a day pass to experience this beach.

Paid Beach Day Passes :

For a more relaxing beach experience, it may be worth your while to get a day pass for one of the hotels in the area , which will generally give you access to their private beach, or to a reserved area on a public beach with beach chairs and umbrellas, plus access to the rest of their hotel including pools, bathrooms, towels, recreation equipment, etc. Lunch is sometimes included with a day pass, but be sure to read the included amenities to be sure. Note that these hotel’s websites never seem to have any information about day passes. To find out more, you must generally call the hotel directly. The Bahamas uses the US/Canada phone prefix (1), so you can direct-dial Bahamas numbers easily. It is an international call from the US or Canada, so you might want to check what your phone company is going to charge before calling. Some of these hotels also have an email address, but our experience emailing foreign hotels is hit-or-miss. Some respond immediately and some never respond. All prices below were correct when we last checked them, but are subject to change without warning.

During peak times (spring break and Christmas, most notably), the resorts will be very full and the prices may be higher. The day passes tend to sell out, so it may be hard to get one as a walk-up guest. Pre-book if possible, or get to the resort as early as you can the morning you arrive. And of course even if you get a pass during peak season, it may be harder to find an empty beach chair or snag a kayak if you don’t arrive early.

• British Colonial, Nassau is a beautiful colonial-era hotel that was renovated extensively in 2023. Its best feature is its proximity to the cruise terminal – you can easily stroll there in 10 minutes. Just exit the cruise terminal, turn right and walk along the street for about 4 blocks. They have a private beach (with a view mostly of the port and cruise ships), and a nice restaurant. They offer a beach pass for $100 for adults, $55 for children. You can buy the pass in advance from ResortForADay . Direct phone: +1-242-605-9900
• Margaritaville Beach Resort is a new-ish resort right in downtown Nassau. It has multiple food outlets, a nice beach with a view of the cruise ships, and a small water park with a lazy river and a few water slides. It’s easy to get to – you just go out to the street, turn right, and walk along Bay Street for about 10-15 minutes. It’s just before Junkanoo Beach. A day pass is $110 for adults and $55 for children. This just includes access to the grounds, including the water park and beach area. No food or drink is included. You can buy the pass in advance from ResortForADay . Direct phone: +1-242-603-8400
• Breezes Bahamas is on Cable Beach, and only open to ages 14+, and at times (spring break) only 18+ . This is an all-inclusive resort, so day passes include all-you-can-eat food and drink including beer, wine, and cocktails for those over 18. Walk-up day passes are $110/person, or you can buy in advance from  ResortForADay . Direct phone: +1-242-327-5356
• Sandals Royal Bahamian is on the far end of Cable Beach, even further down than the Melia. It is an adults-only resort, so all guests must be 18+. They have by all accounts some of the nicest facilities in Nassau. This is an all-inclusive resort, so day passes include all-you-can-eat food and drink including beer, wine, and cocktails for those over 18. Walk-up day passes are at last report $115/person for 10 am – 6 pm. Direct phone: +1-242-327-6400
• Atlantis Paradise Island is on Cabbage Beach and last we checked, offers a beach day pass for $85 for all ages (4+), which includes lunch and access to the Dig aquarium (but not the pools or Aquaventure water park). Direct phone: +1-242-363-3000
• Riu Palace is also on Cabbage Beach, next to Atlantis.  It is an adults-only resort, so all guests must be 18+. This is an all-inclusive resort; day passes include all-you-can eat food and drink including beer, wine and cocktails. Day passes are available in person, or in advance for $160 through ResortForADay . Direct phone: +1-242-363-3500
• Blue Lagoon is best known for their popular Dolphin Encounter, but you can book a beach day on their private island for $94 for adults (13+), $70 for children (4-12), including lunch. Booking directly is a little cheaper than the Disney-arranged excursion, but you’ll have to take a cab to and from the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal to get to the embarkation point for the ferry to the island, whereas Disney includes all transportation and leaves from a dock near the cruise ship, so for most people booking this with Disney is the better option. More information: +1-866-918-9932
• Other day passes may be available from ResortForADay . The mix of resorts offering day passes changes from time to time, so it’s worth checking out what’s available on the date you’ll be in Nassau.

Other Nassau Recommendations

• The Fish Fry is a group of colorful restaurants and bars just a few blocks from downtown Nassau. It’s a good place to get authentic local food, including the local shellfish: conch (pronounced “KONK”). You can eat conch in many forms: fritters (which are generally heavy on the batter and light on the conch), “cracked conch” which is lightly battered and fried conch strips, tangy conch salad (kind of like ceviche), or spicy conch chowder (which has both cream and tomatoes, kind of like a cross between New England and Manhattan styles). You can also get fried or grilled grouper, snapper and other local fish. There are usually at least a few non-fish items on the menu for folks who aren’t fans of seafood. You can walk to it fairly easily in about 15-20 minutes, or take a very short cab ride. Just come out of the cruise terminal, turn right, and follow the road along the shore past the British Colonial Hilton, past Junkanoo Beach, and about two more blocks through Clifford Park until you see the row of fish joints. This is not fancy eating and may not be a good choice for picky eaters or young children (though most places have simple food like fries and chicken fingers available), but it is real Bahamian food and not expensive (at least not compared to other Nassau options), and during the day the walk is safe. You can Google “fish fry Nassau” for specific restaurant recommendations, but the competition here is fierce and tends to keep the quality up, so following your nose and checking out what other people seem to be enjoying is a good strategy.
• The Ardastra Gardens & Zoo is quite nice. It’s a small private zoo with some lovely grounds and a famous (and fairly amusing) “marching flamingos” show. Exactly how much the flamingos are “marching” versus “running away from the trainer” is debatable, but it’s all in fun and the narration doesn’t take the show too seriously. You can also feed apple chunks to Australian lorys (a kind of small parrot), who will land right on your hands and shoulders to take apple pieces. They have a wide variety of other interesting animals, including rare black swans. It’s good for a few hours, and our recommendation is not to bother with the Disney excursion that includes an overlong “island tour.” Just take a taxi there, and when you’re done, ask the Ardastra folks to call you a taxi back to the ship. You can also walk to/from Ardastra; it’s very near the Fish Fry. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the Fish Fry or a 20-25 minute walk from the cruise terminal, but definitely get a map at the cruise terminal; it’s tucked in among a bunch of houses and not in an obvious location. If possible, try to time your visit so you’ll be there for a lory feeding and flamingo show; the schedule is listed on the Ardastra Gardens & Zoo website .
• The Versailles Garden and Cloisters is a lovely terraced garden on Paradise Island that contains the ruins of a French monastery. The monastery was moved from France to the US by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, and subsequently to the Bahamas by supermarket heir and developer Huntington Hartford , who thought it would look nice on the resort island he was developing. The gardens are now part of the The Four Seasons Ocean Club Resort , but a good portion is open to the public. The gardens are in a narrow strip of land that goes from the resort to the water, going down to sunken gardens and back up to the cloisters. You can easily enter the gardens from Paradise Island Drive, the main artery going east-west on the island. If you walk south from the road, you’ll pass through the cloister and eventually reach an overlook with a gazebo and beautiful view of the water. If you walk north from the road toward the resort, you’ll get to see a fair amount of the gardens, but will eventually encounter security who will turn you away if you’re not a guest of the resort. If you want to see the whole gardens including the portion near the resort, you can have lunch at the Dune restaurant (which is nice, but very pricey) at The Ocean Club, then walk out through the gardens. Keep your receipt from the restaurant just in case you walk out past a guard and then want to get back in. You can take a cab here from the cruise terminal, or walk to or from here from Atlantis, the Comfort Suites, or the Marina Village; it’s about a 10-15 minute walk from the Marina Village down Paradise Island Drive on a paved pedestrian walkway. There is also a free shuttle van between Atlantis and the Ocean Club. Ask about it at the Atlantis front desk.
• John Watling’s Rum Distillery  is built around a large and lovely renovated historic house. The highlight is a FREE self-guided walk through that tells you about the history of the location and how rum is made. The actual rum production facilities are a little underwhelming, and are basically a big warehouse full of barrels with some stainless steel tanks and equipment in the back. The rum itself is perfectly fine and makes a unique souvenir, as it isn’t easily available outside the Bahamas. There is a lounge at the end of the tour where you can buy small samples of the rum for a few dollars per pour, and a gift shop where you can buy t-shirts, mugs, glasses and, of course, rum. You can bring children on the tour (though obviously they can’t buy rum), but it’s not the most exciting thing for kids. Depending on how long you care to stay, you can spend as little as 15 minutes on the tour or perhaps as long as 45 if you love learning about rum. For us at least, the house itself and the history displays were the most interesting part.

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Personal Navigators: Disney Fantasy 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – July 1, 2023

Personal Navigators, and other details from the Silver Anniversary at Sea  7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral . The  Disney Fantasy  set sail from  Port Canaveral, Florida  on July 1, 2023. There are  additional  Personal Navigators from other sailings of this same itinerary for comparison. The Cruise Director during the sailing was Ashley Long.

Day 1 – July 1, 2023 –  Port Canaveral, Florida

Guests Onboard : 3:45 pm

Attire : Cruise Casual

Dinner Menus :

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

Evening Entertainment :

• Featured Act –  The Juggling & Comedy of Coney Island Chris

Day 2 – July 2, 2023 – At Sea

Attire : Formal

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

Day 3 – July 3, 2023 –  Cozumel, Mexico

Guests Ashore : 8:30 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Frozen, A Musical Spectacular

Day 4 – July 4, 2023 –  Grand Cayman

Guests Ashore : 10:30 am  Guests Onboard : 5:30 pm

• Royal Court :  Captain’s Gala Dinner
• Animator’s Palate :  Animator’s Palate – Animation Magic
• Enchanted Garden :  Vista
• Movie –  Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Day 5 – July 5, 2023 –  Falmouth, Jamaica

Guests Ashore : 7:30 am  Guests Onboard : 4:45 pm

Attire : Pirate or Cruise Casual

• Royal Court :  Pirates in the Caribbean
• Animator’s Palate :  Pirates in the Caribbean
• Enchanted Garden :  Pirates in the Caribbean
• Featured Act –  Kid’s Ace Evening of Wonder

Day 6 – July 6, 2023 – At Sea

• Featured Act –  The Ventriloquism & Comedy of Lynn Trefzger

Day 7 – July 7, 2023 –  Castaway Cay

• Walt Disney Theatre Production –  Disney’s Believe

Buena Vista Theatre Movies

• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• Peter Pan & Wendy
• The Little Mermaid

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

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2 Replies to “Personal Navigators: Disney Fantasy 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – July 1, 2023”

Captain’s Gala menu in Royal Court and Vista menu in Enchanted Garden on Days 4, 6, 7?

Correct, the Vista menu was used in place of the Prince and Princess menu in Enchanted Garden.

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Best Disney Cruise Excursions in Bahamas, Caribbean, & Bermuda

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

Jump directly to the best excursions in:

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

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

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

What are Disney Cruise Port Adventures?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Get Free Excursions on a Disney Cruise

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

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

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

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

When Do You Pay for Disney Cruise Port Adventures?

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

Now, on to our list.

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

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

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

Castaway Cay — Best Port Adventures

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

Bicycle Rentals (C04)

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

Activity Level: Active

Requirements: Ages 3+

Duration: 1.0 hour

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

Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure (C13)

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

Activity Level: Moderate

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

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

Glass Bottom Boat Scenic Voyage (C11)

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

Activity Level: Mild

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

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

Parasailing (C08)

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

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

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

Get Free Help Booking Your Cruise to Castaway Cay

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

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

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

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

Costa Maya, Mexico — Best Excursions

Image © Disney

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

Salsa Cooking & Dancing with Beach Break (CM30)

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

Activity Level: Mild, Moderate

Requirements: Ages 6+

Duration: 3.0 to 3.5 hours

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

Adventure Park and Chacchoben Mayan Ruins (CM46)

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

Requirements: Open to all ages (6+ recommended)

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

Duration: 6.5 to 7.0 hours

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

Cozumel, Mexico — Best Shore Excursions

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

Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program (CZ48)

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

Requirements: Ages 10+

Cost: $49 for ages 10+

A Mexican Winter Holiday and Beach Adventure (CZ92)

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

Requirements: Open to all ages

Duration: 4.5 to 5.0 hours

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Activity Level: Moderate, Active

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

Duration: 5.0 to 5.5 hours

Cost: $255 for ages 10+

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

Falmouth, Jamaica — Top Excursions

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

Falmouth Dolphin Encounter (FA76)

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

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

Advisory:  Medical restrictions apply

Duration: 5.5 to 6.0 hours

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

Sky Explorer and Dunn’s River Falls (FA11)

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

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

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

Bobsled Jamaica and Dunn’s River Falls (FA10)

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

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

Duration: 6.0 to 6.5 hours

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

George Town, Grand Cayman — Best Port Adventures

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

Shipwreck and Reef Snorkeling (G15)

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

Requirements: Ages 5+

Duration: 2.0 to 2.5 hours

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

North Sound Mangrove Cruise & Star Fish Point (G70)

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

Activity Level: Athletic

Requirements: Ages 8+

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

Atlantis Submarine Expedition (G11)

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

Requirements: Ages 4+ Must be 36″+ tall

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

Find the Exact Cost of Your Dream Cruise

King’s Wharf, Bermuda — Top Port Adventures

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

Bermuda Triangle Evening Cruise (BR15)

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

Requirements: Ages 12+

Duration: 1.5 to 2.0 hours

Cost: $75 for ages 12+

Crystal Caves and Pink Flamingos (BR22)

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

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

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

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

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

Craft Your Own Pink Sand Jewelry (BR48)

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

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

Nassau, Bahamas — Best Excursions

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

Ardastra Gardens and Wildlife Conservation Centre (N16)

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

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

Seaworld Explorer Semi-Submarine (N42)

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

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

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

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

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

Blackbeard’s Revenge Pirate Ship Adventure (N23)

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

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

Atlantis Aquaventure (N25)

Image © Atlantis

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

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

Duration: 4.0 to 6.0 hours

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

Want FREE EXCURSIONS on Your Disney Cruise?

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Best Port Excursions

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

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

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

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

Duration: 2.5 to 3.0 hours

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

Horseback Riding Adventure (SJ25)

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

Requirements: Ages 9+. Maximum weight 250 pounds.

Duration: 3.5 to 4.0 hours

Cost: $92 for ages 9+

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

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

Requirements: Open to all ages (5+ recommended)

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

Caving and Body Rafting (SJ59)

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

Requirements: Ages 10+. Special clothing requirements apply.

Cost: $289 for ages 10+

Do I Have to Book Port Adventures Through Disney?

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

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

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

Peace of mind

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

Flexible Payment and Refunds

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

Automatic Adjustments

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

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

Extra Magic

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

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

Want FREE HELP from a Disney Cruise Expert?

Disney Cruise Port Adventure FAQs

Do disney cruises visit disney world.

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

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

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

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

Can You Book Excursions Once You’re Onboard?

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

Do Disney Cruise Excursions Sell Out?

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

When Can You Book Disney Shore Excursions?

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

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

Are Port Adventures Always Guided Tours?

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

Are Disney Cruise Excursions Wheelchair Accessible?

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

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

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

Best Way to Book Disney Cruise Excursions

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

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

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

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

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

Bon voyage!

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Building on the classic style of her sister ships, the Disney Fantasy is the fourth cruise liner in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. This ship features the same attention to detail that Disney is known for, while introducing new and immersive, one-of-a-kind venues and experiences for everyone in the family.

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Cruise and Stay at Walt Disney World ®

Free Disney Dining & Drinks + 14-Day Ticket for Price of 7 in 2025!

Book a Hotel & Ticket package by 7th November 2024 for selected arrivals between 7th January - 17th December 2025 and you'll enjoy FREE Disney Dining & Drinks and so much more when staying at selected Disney Resort hotels. Available during most school holidays , you can reserve this amazing holiday package from as little as £50 deposit per person.

Disney Cruise & Stay Package

Package for two adults and two children arriving 17th Aug 2025:

• 10 nights at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
• 1 FREE Quick-Service Meal per day - save £189 per adult
• 1 non-alcoholic/alcoholic drink per meal
• Disney 14-Day Magic Ticket for the price of 7
• Memory Maker worth $210 (at the gate)
• 4-night Bahamian cruise onboard the Disney Magic
• Exceptional full board dining on your cruise
• Entertainment, including all child activities and world-class musicals
• Plus, save an extra £200 on your package!

£ 1,473 . 00 GBP

Plus, add flights to boost your package saving to £300 per booking when you book by 2nd July!

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A world of wonder awaits onboard Disney Cruise Line. With decks of sun-drenched Disney magic you won't find anywhere else, Disney Cruise Line puts everyone in the family on course for spectacular Disney entertainment and unrivalled relaxation.

• Explore the idyllic Bahamas or the Caribbean , including Disney's Castaway Cay , Disney's private island paradise
• Revel in Disney Deck Parties , open-air extravaganzas with themed dinner parties and spectacular fireworks at sea
• Enjoy award-winning original Disney musicals in our state-of-the-art theatre
• Immersive Kids' Clubs tailored to all ages, with trained Disney Youth Coordinators
• Get pampered in the spa , sunbathe on deck or chill out in areas exclusively for adults
• A wide range of  dining  options to choose from, from elegant to entertaining, from fine dining to completely casual
• From meet and greets to extra special storytelling, beloved characters are on hand to add an extra helping of pixie-dust
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Build memories to last a lifetime at Walt Disney World Resort! There's something for everyone to enjoy with 4 Theme Parks and Water Park fun, plus countless opportunities for entertainment, shopping and relaxation!

• Live the fairy tale at Magic Kingdom Park across six enchanted lands of magical attractions
• Experience plenty of high-tech fun and the wonder of 11 diverse cultures at EPCOT
• Step into the magical world of showbiz at and explore Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Visit Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and explore the wonders of nature and authentic adventures
• Discover thrills and relaxation at our splashtastic Water Parks
• Enter an eclectic mix of boutiques, one-of-a-kind eateries, jaw-dropping entertainment and nightlife at Disney Springs

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A cruise and stay holiday is the perfect way to spend quality family time together and make unforgettable memories. Every day and every night, there's something fun to do for all ages.

Explore our recommendations for families

Both Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World are brimming with special magic created just for adults, from luxurious spas to nighttime entertainment areas on board to dance the night away!

View our recommendations for adults

On Disney Cruise Line, our spacious staterooms have been designed with families in mind. Almost all staterooms offer a split bathroom with separate sinks and a bathtub, so the whole family can get ready at the same time! Choose from four styles: Concierge, Oceanview with Verandah, Oceanview or Inside . All staterooms accommodate at least three people, and most Deluxe Family Staterooms with Verandahs up to five.

With over 25 uniquely themed Disney Resort Hotels at Walt Disney World, there are accommodations to suit every family's tastes and budget. Stay in the heart of the magic and enjoy a range of guest benefits.

On a Disney cruise, you get to experience three uniquely-themed main restaurants in rotation, so there's a different place to go for dinner each night. The twist is that your Disney waiting staff rotate with you, so the same friendly faces are there to welcome you to your table each evening! For sophisticated, subtle elegance, make sure to visit our adult-exclusive restaurants, Palo ‡ or Remy ‡ . Enjoy a Northern Italian menu at chic and modern Palo, or savour French-inspired fare and timeless Art Nouveau décor at Remy.

At Walt Disney World, there are a range of incredible dining options to suit the whole family. Indulge in culinary delights from around the globe, from award-winning fine dining to beautifully presented eateries from your favourite Disney classics. Experience Character Dining and enjoy a delicious meal that comes with appearances by your favourite Disney Characters. What's more, there are plenty of healthy options for all guests, from fruit-filled snack carts to fresh menu options.

To help you plan your Disney holiday we've put together a two-week itinerary based on a ten-night stay at Walt Disney World ® and a four-night Bahamian cruise onboard the Disney Dream .

Please note, for other itineraries and lengths of stay, please contact us with your travel dates.

Arrive at Orlando International airport, where you will make your way to your magically themed Disney Resort Hotel. Relax and unpack before heading over to Epcot , make your way to World Showcase and pick a country for dinner.

Spend the day at Magic Kingdom Park . Take in Main Street and Fantasyland, where you'll race through a diamond mine on swaying family coaster, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train . Stop for lunch before seeing Mickey and launching into the grid with TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland! Complete the day watching Happily Ever After ; a nighttime spectacular with stunning fireworks, projections and classic Disney music.

Enjoy Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park . Board a treasure raft and hit the high seas on Miss Adventure Falls before relaxing on the Sandy White Beach. In the evening visit Disney Springs and explore over 50 brand names and Disney-themed shops before dinner at the Boathouse , an upscale waterfront dining experience complete with retro dream boats and vintage American Amphicars. Conclude your day enjoying some live music at the House of Blues .

Experience Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park : go on safari in 'Africa' and explore mesmerising Pandora - The World of Avatar. Journey deep into a bioluminescent rainforest on Na'vi River Journey , perfect for younger adventurers. Thrill seekers will love Avatar Flight of Passage , where you fly on the back of a mountain banshee during an exhilarating, 3D ride.

Take centre stage at Disney's Hollywood Studios . Get ready to play big in the new Toy Story Land , with adventures for kids and grown-ups alike. Take the family for a ride on Slinky Dog Dash , where Slinky's coils twist around curves, hills and drops. In the evening head to Disney's BoardWalk and cycle around the lake before dining at Flying Fish Cafe , and watching performers on the promenade.

Spend your morning exploring EPCOT Future World and fly high on hang-gliding adventure, Soarin' Around the World . Later, take a lush trail and explore Journey of Water, inspired by Moana for some interactive water fun! In the evening, grab a drink and gather around World Showcase Lagoon for Luminous The Symphony of Us !

Spend the day at Disney's Hollywood Studios where you can step into a galaxy far, far away. Venture to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge where legendary Star Wars stories come to life and you can blast through space on Star Tours - The Adventures Continue . Also don't miss Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway!

Have a lie-in before letting the kids run riot in the themed hotel pool or take time out in a quiet pool. In the afternoon, head back to Disney's Hollywood Studios and see Chewbacca at Star Wars Launch Bay . Prepare to "let it go" as Frozen springs to life in For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration , perfect for little ones! Hurtle up and down the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror or Take a ride on the cartoon side with Mickey, Minnie and friends on Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway .

Head back to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park to explore the rest of the Park. Career through the Himalayan Mountains on Expedition Everest , spin and slide on a time-machine coaster back to the dinosaur age on DINOSAUR and meet Dug and Russell in Discovery Island. In the afternoon, return to Magic Kingdom Park to discover Frontierland and Adventureland before dining at The Crystal Palace , where you can meet Winnie the Pooh and friends.

Get up and head over to World Showcase in Epcot and explore 11 different countries in one day! Little ones will love Frozen Ever After in the Norwegian Pavilion whilst the big kids rock out on brand-new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind .

Time to pack up and get ready to embark on an unforgettable Disney Cruise! The Disney Cruise Line transportation bus will pick you up and whisk you over to Port Canaveral where you will be taken onboard your ship. Celebrate the start of your cruise with the fantastic Sailing Away Deck Party Celebration as you depart the port, followed by an evening spent watching a spectacular musical show and savouring your first rotational dining experience at a uniquely themed restaurant.

Arrive at Nassau in the Bahamas where you can spend the day sunbathing, swimming and relaxing on the soft sands. Return to the ship to watch the latest 3D Disney release in the Buena Vista Theatre , before getting ready for the night ahead. Adults can enjoy exclusive fine-dining at Palo or Remy and dance the night away at one of the lounge areas onboard while the children are enjoying the kids' clubs.

Arrive at Disney's private island, Disney Castaway Cay for a day exclusive to Disney Cruise Line guests. Enjoy tropical leisure activities on Castaway Family Beach, such as snorkelling, boating and swimming or simply chill out and sunbathe. Little ones can play at Scuttle's Cove where they will be supervised by Disney Youth Coordinators, while adults relax on their own exclusive beach, Serenity Bay. When you return to the ship, it's Pirate Night! Dress up and get ready for an evening full of shows, sing-alongs and fireworks during this swashbuckling deck party.

Enjoy the wonders of the Disney Wish as you spend the day at sea. Why not take a dip in one of the many onboard pools, be one of the first to adventure down AquaMouse, Disney's first attraction at sea or take some me-time by relaxing at the adult-exclusive Quiet Cove Pool whilst the kids are enjoying Disney excitement in the children’s and teens clubs. In the afternoon, take on a family trivia challenge at the lounge and enjoy a dance party with your favourite Disney characters! Finish your sailing watching a classic Disney movie under the stars.

Make the most of the final morning onboard and pick up any more souvenirs you need to take home! As you leave the ship, Disney Cruise Line transportation will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight home with memories that will last a lifetime.

Set sail onboard Disney Cruise Line

Disney's 13-night holiday for 2 adults and 2 children (aged 3-12) from £1673 per person, based on arrival into Orlando on 17th August 2025. Includes 10 nights in Orlando, with accommodation in a Standard Room at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort and a 4-night Bahamian cruise onboard the Disney Magic departing from Port Canaveral, Florida full-board in a standard inside stateroom. Excludes flights. Includes Disney 14-Day Magic Ticket and applicable discounts while at Walt Disney World. Includes transfers between hotel to port and taxes, fees and port charges of approximately £96 per person for a 4-night Bahamian Cruise, charges may be subject to change. Prices are correct as of 28th March 2023 and may vary based on travel date. All rates, dates and availability are subject to change without notice, and prices are valid for new bookings only. Bookings are subject to availability and our booking conditions . Holiday price is not confirmed until purchased. Prices do not include insurance.

§ 10% Disney Cruise and Stay Offer: 10% Disney Cruise and Stay discount offer is available to book 31st August - for bookings arriving between 1st January - 26th December 2022 when (i) adding a cruise departing from Port Canaveral Cruise to an existing booking OR (ii) making a new Cruise and Stay booking. The 10% Cruise and Stay discount offer is combinable with 50th Anniversary Package if applicable.

§ Free Disney Dining & Drinks offer is available for bookings made until 7th November 2024 for selected arrival dates. Full terms and conditions available here .

Memory Maker is included with Disney 7-Day and 14-Day Magic Ticket (adult tickets only).

Memory Maker includes Disney PhotoPass® photos and other digital content taken during the Memory Maker window and linked to the Memory Maker guest's Disney account. Subject to Memory Maker terms and, if applicable, Family & Friends terms Disney is not responsible for missing, lost, or damaged photos or other digital content. On the gate price $210 correct at time of printing.

Ships' Registry: The Bahamas ©Disney. ©Disney ©Disney/Pixar Jenga ® Pokonobe Associates. All Rights Reserved. Not contractual. ©Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR is a trademark of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. As to Disney Properties ©Disney. ©& ™ Lucasfilm Ltd.

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The Best Ways To Save When Booking Your Next Disney Cruise

F orget about the Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride, if you want to elevate your Disney vacation to the next level, you can take a real Caribbean cruise aboard one of the Disney Cruise Line ships. Guests who visit the Bahamas or the Caribbean can also access Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. That's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of potential global destinations, too. In fact, if icebergs are your thing, Disney's Port Adventures partners even have a port of call in Alaska, where you can board the Hubbard Glacier Explorer and wind through an iceberg field for a couple of hours.

Depending on where you set sail and for how long, a Disney cruise can be cheaper, in some cases, than a Disneyland or  Disney World trip. It might not feel that way when you're paying one big amount upfront (after the requisite deposit), but the price of a cruise is generally all-inclusive. It even includes complimentary room service, 24 hours a day. At a Disney theme park, by contrast, a week at a deluxe resort hotel, plus park tickets, meals, and other add-ons, can sometimes total up to a higher cost than a week-long cruise would. If it's your first time going on a Disney cruise , or you're just looking to save on your next one, it helps to arm yourself with some money-saving tips beforehand. With that in mind, here's how you can get the best deals when booking on the Disney Cruise Line.

Read more: Tips For Spending Less On Food When Traveling

Book Through A Travel Agent

One Disney cruise tip you'll often hear is to book through a travel agent. The Disney Cruise Line does have special offers, such as discounts for Florida or Canada residents, or other limited-time deals on select sailings. However, when you book directly with Disney, it can be disorienting trying to make sense of all the different itineraries available through its fleet of six ships. The Caribbean region alone has options from 4 to 10 nights for the Western, Eastern, or Southern Caribbean, with multiple states and territories of departure.

Authorized Disney Vacation Planners like The Vacationeer and Small World Vacations can employ their expertise to help you narrow down your choices and get the lowest possible cruise fare. They're just two examples of well-known agencies that have reached Diamond Earmarked status, the highest level for an authorized planner (followed by Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze). Such agencies might be able to give you a fuller picture of the best deals, and they often come with the added benefit of an onboard credit.

A credit starting at $50 for a cruise of $1,000 or more might not seem like much, but fares aren't truly all-inclusive. Sure, the Cabanas buffet is free, but alcohol, gratuities, and certain other restaurants and activities (not to mention Wi-Fi service) all come at additional costs. The onboard credit helps cover these types of things. Currently, Costco members who book a Disney Cruise through Costco Travel can also get a $100 to $200 gift card.

Use A Cruise Search Engine

Travel agencies like the aforementioned Vacationeer and Small World Vacations advertise their services as free, so you shouldn't have to pay extra for your Disney cruise with them. For first-timers, it can be helpful to have someone walk you through the many decisions you'll need to make, like what kind of stateroom to book. However, if this isn't your first Disney cruise, you may prefer to eliminate the middleman and survey all the best booking options yourself. In that case, you can approach your cruise like you would if you were booking a flight or hotel through other third-party sites, like Priceline and Expedia.

Both those sites have their own dedicated Disney Cruise Line page where you can input a destination and dates and find deals, the same as you would for a non-Disney search. These sites are a good option if you already have some idea about where and when you want to go. Another specialty site, which works the same way and frequently comes recommended for Disney cruises, is Undercover Tourist . It offers an onboard credit, and its other big selling point is that it will apply its own discount to your fare. That's in addition to any built-in discounts Disney may be offering, like its reduced military rates.

Book Early And Watch For Last-Minute Stateroom Deals

While "book early" works as a general piece of travel advice, it's an especially good rule to follow with Disney resorts and cruises. This is because of the way the surge pricing system works. Like Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines, Disney tends to offer its best prices when an itinerary first becomes available. As the ship fills up with passengers, prices on the remaining cabins will go up to meet demand.

One way to get around this is by keeping an eye on Disney Cruise Line news via the official site . If you hear about a new itinerary, you can try to book it as soon as it goes on sale. Anyone who's already been on at least one Disney cruise should also be automatically enrolled as a Silver Member in Disney's cruise loyalty program, Castaway Club. Being a member allows you to book new cruises a day or more before the general public, depending on your membership level.

The flip side of booking early is deals that come along on last-minute staterooms with restricted fares. These non-refundable deals usually open up a few weeks or months before a cruise departs, and they require you to pay in full beforehand. Offsetting the price savings is the fact that your room will be assigned at the last minute based on availability. However, they'll guarantee you the room category you reserve or better, so you might even luck out and get an upgrade.

Book A Shorter, Off-Peak Season Cruise In An Inside Cabin

Disney has some European cruises, for instance, that sail for up to 11 or 12 days. However, these can cost upwards of $11,000 for two people. Again, a one-week Disney cruise might be cheaper than a one-week Disneyland or Disney World stay, but a 3- or 4-night cruise could give you an equally enjoyable experience without breaking the bank.

Since Disney cruises are family-friendly, they tend to be more in demand (and thereby, more expensive) when school is out. The same rules about steering clear of holiday breaks apply as much to the Disney Cruise Line as Disney theme parks. If you're looking to save, the best times of year  are January, February, May, October, and before or after Thanksgiving (but before Christmas and New Years). Just keep in mind that weather is also a factor in determining the off-peak cruise season. For that reason, you might want to avoid a cruise somewhere like Bermuda or the Bahamas during the month of September, when it's the height of hurricane season.

Consider, also, what type of stateroom you book. Disney is not so different from other cruise lines when it comes to inside cabins being cheaper. With an inside cabin, you won't have a window, but on two ships — the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy — you will have a "magical porthole." It's a flat-screen monitor with a live camera feed of the outside of the ship. Sometimes, Disney characters join the feed.

BYO Alcohol And Book A Second Cruise While Onboard

Once you know which Disney cruise is right for you , there are other things you can do to save money onboard. This includes being frugal about add-ons and bringing your own alcohol. That's right: passengers are allowed to carry on up to six 12-ounce beers or two 750-milliliter wine or champagne bottles (unopened). If you're on one of Disney's round-trip cruises from Australia or New Zealand, you can bring that much onboard for each port of call.

This could help reduce your bar tab if you plan on drinking. The only catch is that you can't bring your own alcohol into public lounges, and there's a $26 corking fee if you bring a bottle to dinner. With a standard verandah-type stateroom, though, you can always just enjoy sipping your beverage on your balcony.

If your Disney cruise turns out to be an experience worth repeating, one final thing you can do to save on a future trip is reserve your next cruise while you're still onboard the current one. The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app gives access to a special onboard booking offer where you can make an open-ended "placeholder reservation" for another cruise within the next two years. You can choose a sail date later, and in the meantime, it will give you a 10% discount on the normal rate. Though you have to pay a $250 deposit, it's refundable if you decide to cancel before you've locked down a date.

Read the original article on Explore .

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Disney Cruise vs. Royal Caribbean: How They Stack Up

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Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are two well-known companies for cruises. Although they both set sail from multiple ports within the United States, that’s about where their similarities end.

Let’s take a look at Disney Cruise versus Royal Caribbean, including the main differences between these two powerhouses.

» Learn more: The best ways to book a cruise

The main difference: Disney Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean

The biggest difference when it comes to Disney versus Royal Caribbean is fleet size. Disney Cruise Line has just five ships, while Royal Caribbean boasts 26 ships in its fleet.

Royal Caribbean also has much larger ships; its Wonder of the Seas craft can accommodate 6,988 passengers. In comparison, the Disney Wish — the biggest ship on Disney’s cruise line — can only hold 4,000 passengers.

Royal Caribbean vs. Disney Cruise Line

Because Royal Caribbean is a much larger cruise line, it can sail many more routes than Disney Cruise Line. You can find a Royal Caribbean cruise nearly anywhere in the world, including but not limited to:

North America.

The Panama Canal. 

South America.

Disney does have quite a few routes, despite its much smaller size. You’ll find destinations including:

The Caribbean.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of cruises

Cabin types

Most cruise lines feature fairly similar cabin types, and Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line are no different. You can expect all the standard cabins, such as interior, oceanview, verandah and suites on both cruise lines.

However, Royal Caribbean has done its best to differentiate itself with interior rooms featuring windows to indoor spaces. Some of its ships also include virtual balconies, which operate gigantic digital screens to show outdoor views in every room.

Disney Cruise Line, meanwhile, is a little different in that all its rooms are built to accommodate families. You’ll find group-friendly features such as curtained room dividers. You’ll also be able to enjoy split bathrooms; these include a toilet and sink in one room and a shower and sink in another.

» Learn more: How Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cruise lines differ

Not sure whether to take a Disney Cruise or one on Royal Caribbean? You’ll certainly want to consider the amenities that each cruise line offers. Again, you can expect to enjoy certain standard amenities when cruising on either of these lines. This includes daily activities, dedicated children's areas, live entertainment, pools, spas and fitness centers.

However, you can find much more on these ships. Royal Caribbean’s ships can accommodate many more activities, so you’ll find things such as:

Indoor skydiving 

Multiple water slides.

Rock wall climbing.

Wave pools.

Zip lining. 

Although smaller, Disney Cruise Line’s ships still provide plenty to do. This can include:

Broadway-quality shows.

Character meet and greets.

Movie screenings

Water slides and more. 

The biggest enticement here is that Disney’s ships all offer Disney-branded entertainment, so if you’re a fan of, say, "Frozen," "The Lion King" or Mickey Mouse, you’ll have a blast on a Disney cruise.

» Learn more: Disney cruise review 2023

Cruises generally aren’t all-inclusive so it’s definitely something you’ll want to consider in a comparison of a Royal Caribbean cruise and a Disney cruise. When onboard, your food is included, as is entertainment, access to the pools and many other activities.

However, there are a few differences in inclusions between these two cruise lines.

First, those sailing on a Disney Cruise Line ship will not need to pay extra if they’d like to drink soda, as soft drinks are included on these cruises. This is not the case for Royal Caribbean; if you’d like to have soda, you’ll need to pay or purchase a soda package.

Second, Disney cruises offer complimentary in-room dining. This is available 24/7 and even includes unlimited Mickey ice cream bars sent to your room. While Royal Caribbean also offers 24/7 room service, it charges a fee for delivery.

» Learn more: Are cruises all-inclusive?

Pricing is probably where the Disney-versus-Royal Caribbean breakdown is most noticeable. Disney cruises are significantly more expensive than Royal Caribbean ones.

For example, a three-night cruise from Miami to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean will cost as little as $770.48 for two people.

On Disney, meanwhile, a three-night cruise departing from Port Canaveral and heading to the Bahamas is a minimum of $1,993. That’s more than twice as much as a Royal Caribbean cruise.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Both Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line offer packages for purchase for your cruise. If you’re interested in Wi-Fi , you’ll be able to purchase a package on either cruise line. The cost is going to vary based on the speed you choose and how long you’re sailing.

Royal Caribbean also offers the ability to purchase a drink package that includes alcohol. This means you’ll be able to have as many alcoholic drinks as you’d like, including wine, beer and liquor.

While Disney does allow you to buy a reusable beer mug that grants you discounted refills, there’s no beverage package available for guests. This is true for both alcohol and specialty drinks such as smoothies; these are charged on a per-item basis.

» Learn more: How much does a Disney cruise cost?

If you’re debating Royal Caribbean vs. Disney Cruise Line

While it's true that both Disney and Royal Caribbean offer cruises, they’re fairly different overall.

Royal Caribbean has larger ships, more amenities, and more cruises available.

Disney Cruise Line, meanwhile, has a much smaller fleet that carries fewer passengers. But you’ll still find a wide variety of sailings across the globe.

You can expect to pay more for a Disney Cruise than Royal Caribbean, but you’ll also be able to enjoy free unlimited sodas and room service.

(Top photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean)

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Cruise line showdown: Comparing Carnival, Disney and Royal Caribbean for families

When I first started cruising more than 25 years ago, the typical ship was heavy with honeymooners and retirees — the "newlywed and nearly dead," as the old joke goes. The most exciting thing for families on the top deck of many vessels, other than a pool, was a shuffleboard court. The line perhaps most associated with family cruising, Disney Cruise Line , didn't even exist yet. Things sure have changed.

Among the lines that dominate the industry, the game increasingly is all about families. The world's two biggest cruise operators — Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean — now draw hundreds of thousands of families a year and, along with smaller players Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises, are increasingly packing their ships with every sort of family-friendly attraction imaginable, from massive waterslides and deck-top "sky rides" to go-kart tracks, bumper-car pavilions and laser-tag courses. Carnival is even planning a roller coaster for its next vessel .

In short, ships are becoming floating versions of the most over-the-top family resorts on land and there's never been a more exciting time to try family cruising. That is, if you can figure out the right ship and cruise line for you.

Related: Why now is the best time to save money on a cruise

For a first-timer , booking a family cruise can be more than a bit overwhelming. Each of the aforementioned lines has a different vibe, and no two ships — even vessels from the same series — are exactly alike.

What's more, pricing for family cruises is all over the map. A sailing with Disney can cost two or three times as much per day as a sailing with Carnival, Norwegian or MSC.

Below we offer considerations and pricing comparisons for three of the biggest players in the family cruise market: Disney, Royal Caribbean and Carnival.

Cruise lines overview

You might assume Disney is the Hercules of family cruising — the all-powerful competitor with no rival. But in the cruise world, Disney is still somewhat of a niche player. With just four ships compared to the 52 operated by family cruise giants Carnival and Royal Caribbean, Disney is like the cruising equivalent of Olaf from "Frozen" — a bit secondary to the plot, if still much beloved. In terms of passenger capacity, Disney is currently barely a tenth the size of Royal Caribbean alone, and it doesn't offer nearly as diverse an array of home ports and itineraries.

Note though that Disney Cruise Line plans to launch three new ships in its Triton class with the 4,000-passenger Disney Wish set to premier in January 2022.

What Disney does offer that no one else can is Disney. From Disney tunes piped into cabin hallways and Disney-shaped food items on menus to Disney-themed evening shows and the promise of meeting your favorite Disney princess, Disney ships are mouse bait for the diehard Mickey lover. If Disney is your thing, nothing in cruising quite compares. Just be prepared to pay up big time for the privilege of sailing with Captain Mickey or Minnie (more on that in a moment).

Related: Cruising with a family: Booking two staterooms for the price of one

Carnival long has claimed to be the biggest cruise line for families, with more than 800,000 children a year traveling on its 26 ships (out of 5.2 million total passengers). Known for its affordability as well as its lively, unpretentious, fun-focused vibe, this is the most budget option of the three lines we are comparing. You're likely to pay considerably less to sail with Carnival than Royal Caribbean or Disney.

For families craving the mega-resort experience, there's nothing quite like a Royal Caribbean vessel. The biggest of the line's 26 ships are more than 70% bigger than the biggest Disney and Carnival ships afloat and feature a lot more "stuff" that will get your kids' hearts racing — everything from rock-climbing walls and surfing pools to skydiving simulators and ice-skating rinks. Royal Caribbean also will offer you a lot more choices when it comes to itineraries. The line will have seven ships in Europe this summer, for instance, compared to one for Disney and three for Carnival. (Carnival, it should be noted, is a line that primarily focuses on cruises out of U.S. ports that are easy for its budget-conscious customers to reach by car or with a short, inexpensive flight.)

Related: How to book a cruise using miles and points

Comparing prices: A specific example

In general, on very similar itineraries, you'll a pay a premium — sometimes a huge premium — to take your teens and toddlers on a Disney ship instead of a Royal Caribbean ship, and both of those lines will cost you more than Carnival. Just how much more? We priced similar summer sailings to the Caribbean on the three lines and found a hypothetical family of four would pay about 2.6 times more to get aboard a Royal Caribbean ship than a Carnival ship and more than four times that to sail with Disney.

For the comparison, we looked at specific seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailings offered by each line out of Port Canaveral, Florida, at the beginning of August. We chose this routing because it allowed for one of the most apples-to-apples matchups you can make between the brands. All three of the companies have positioned one of their newest, snazziest vessels in Port Canaveral for seven-night Caribbean sailings.

In Carnival's case, it's Carnival Breeze, which debuted in 2012 and is one of the line's newer Vista-class vessels. For Royal Caribbean, it's Harmony of the Seas, which began sailing in 2016 and is part of the line's popular Oasis class. Disney's contender in the market is Disney Fantasy, the line's newest ship. It debuted in 2012, just two months before Carnival Breeze.

Related: Which Cruise Ship Cabin Category Should Your Family Book?

When pricing, we assumed we were booking a family with two adults and two children ages 8 and 12 who would share a single cabin. We found:

• The least expensive cabin available for Carnival Breeze at the time of our pricing would have set our family back $2,020.56 (an average fare of $562 per person, plus $139.64 per person in taxes and fees). For that, our family would have gotten an Interior cabin measuring 185 square feet. Such rooms have two twin beds that convert into a king bed, plus two beds that pull down from the wall.
• The least expensive cabin on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas costs $5,310.80 (an average fare of $1,213.75 per person, plus $113.95 each in taxes and fees). Notably, that higher price would have gotten our family a cabin measuring just 149 square feet — nearly 20% smaller than the cabin on Carnival Breeze. As with Carnival, it was an interior cabin — in this case with two twin beds that convert into a king bed and a double sofa bed.
• The least expensive cabin on Disney Fantasy costs a relatively sky-high $8,259.16 (an average fare of $1,959.44 per person, plus $105.35 each in taxes and fees). For that, our family would have gotten a Standard Inside Stateroom that measures 169 square feet — a bit bigger than the comparable cabin on Harmony of the Seas but smaller than the one on Carnival Breeze. Such rooms have a queen bed, a sofa that converts into a single bed and a pull-down bunk.

Trading up to a balcony cabin: The differential stays the same

Sometimes the cheapest cabin on a ship just won't do, so we also priced the cost of trading up to a balcony cabin on each of the vessels — an exercise that helps to illustrate two big things.

First: A "splurge" on a balcony cabin versus an inside cabin isn't nearly as costly as many people think. In our pricing test, passengers would only have to pony up 1% more for a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean and just 4% on Disney Cruise Line. Carnival was the outlier with its balcony cabin pricing out 26% more expensive than an interior (which isn't always the case).

Second: The premium you'll pay for a Disney or Royal Caribbean ship versus a Carnival ship is roughly the same when booking a balcony as it is when booking an entry-level cabin. In this case, we found our family of four would pay double to get on Harmony of the Seas than Carnival Breeze and four times more to get on Disney Fantasy. Specifically:

• The least expensive balcony cabin on Carnival Breeze would have cost our family $2,554.56 (an average of $499 per person, plus $139.64 per person in taxes and fees). For that they would have gotten a Cove Balcony that has basically the same footprint as the previously priced interior cabin (its interior space is an identical 185 square feet) with the addition of a 45-square-foot balcony.
• The least expensive balcony cabin available on Harmony of the Seas costs $5,363.80 ($1,227 per person, plus $113.95 each in taxes and fees). For that, you get a cabin overlooking the ship's Boardwalk amusement area with 182 square feet of interior space and a 52-square-foot balcony.

• The least expensive balcony cabin on Disney Fantasy costs $8,609.16 ($2,046.94 per person, plus $105.35 per person in taxes and fees). This for what the line calls a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Extended Veranda — Mickey sure has a fondness for long names. These cabins have 204 square feet of interior space, plus a 43-square-foot balcony. The room has a queen bed, single convertible sofa, upper bull-down bed (in some) and a split bath design with tub and shower (in most).

Related: The Best Credit Cards for Booking Cruises

Going big with suites and concierge-level service

For those willing to splurge on even bigger cabins and upgraded service, the comparisons between the ships get more complicated.

Carnival offers relatively few suites on most of its vessels. Fewer than 75 of the 1,845 cabins on Carnival Breeze are suites. The line also lacks a premium "concierge class" of cabins that come with dedicated concierge service and other extras.

Royal Caribbean's recent vessels, by contrast, are awash with suites in a wide range of sizes, including enormous (and super-pricy), two-deck-high complexes that are among the most luxurious accommodations at sea. Royal Caribbean, in recent years, also has added a concierge-class-like program for suite passengers on some of its vessels (Harmony of the Seas among them). Called Royal Suite Class, it offers more polished service and exclusive access to shipboard restaurants, lounges and attractions.

Like Carnival, Disney offers relatively few suites on its ships. Just 21 of the 1,250 cabins on Disney Fantasy are suites. But the line does offer exclusive Concierge cabins that come with access to a concierge team that can help arrange onboard activities and services. On Disney Fantasy, the Concierge service is available with all 21 suites, plus 20 nonsuite Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah cabins. In addition to concierge service, all 41 rooms come with access to a private concierge lounge and sun deck. Other perks include priority boarding.

For our hypothetical family:

• The least expensive suite on Carnival Breeze — a 340-square-foot Ocean Suite — priced at $3,934.56 (an average of $844 per person, plus $139.64 in taxes and fees). This is, notably, still half as expensive than even the least expensive cabin available on Disney Fantasy.
• For the suite life on Royal Caribbean, our family would pay at least $7,538 ($1,884.50 per person, plus $113.95 in taxes and fees). That's for a Junior Suite, which measures 287 square feet plus an 80-square-foot balcony.
• The least expensive suite on Disney Fantasy priced at a stratospheric $23,546.60 ($5,781.30 per person, plus $105.28 per person in taxes and fees). That's for a 622-square-foot Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah. That said, you can get into one of the nonsuite Concierge cabins for about half that cost. Disney doesn't call those cabins suites, but they measure a respectable 306 square feet. That's not much smaller than the smallest suites on the other ships.

Related: Alaska cruise tips: best itineraries, ports and ships

What's included and what's not

As regular cruisers know, the fares that lines quote for sailings include more than just your lodging. For all the ships in our comparison, the price also includes breakfast, lunch and dinner (at main restaurants and buffets); nightly entertainment in showrooms; and a significant swath of onboard activities. What's not included are alcoholic and, in some cases, nonalcoholic drinks (Disney offers free sodas on its ships; the others don't); meals at "specialty" restaurants; spa and salon services; shore tours and some onboard activities.

We won't run through every extra charge here. But consider that you'll pay around $6 to $7 for a beer on all three ships, and a cocktail can run anywhere from $7 to $14 (in general, Harmony of the Seas has the highest drink prices). Among extra-charge restaurants, you'll find a flat fee of $38 per person at the signature steakhouse on Carnival Breeze, a tad less than the $43-per-person charge for the Chops Grille steakhouse on Harmony of the Seas. Disney Fantasy doesn't have a steakhouse, but its signature, adults-only Palo eatery is in the ballpark at an additional $40 per person.

You'll also pay extra for the service charges that have become commonplace on ships. For most cabins on Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney vessels, a family of four would pay $391.72, $406 and $378 per week, respectively, in such fees. Passengers in suites pay more.

The bottom line: It's frustratingly easy for a family of four on any of these ships to run up $1,000 or more in extra charges.

Family attractions

Each of the ships in our comparison is among the most alluring in their respective fleets for families. You'll find watery play zones, family pools and other kiddie lures on the top decks of all three vessels, and plenty of supervised kid zones in their interiors.

Specifically, Carnival has loaded the top of Carnival Breeze with one of its signature, family-focused WaterWorks waterpark areas that has two giant waterslides, a soaking "dump bucket" and other get-you-wet features; a suspended-in-the-sky ropes course; a miniature golf course; and a basketball court. Family attractions on the inside of the vessel include a 3D theater with moving seats and special effects (a cruise ship rarity).

Not to be outdone, Disney has given Disney Fantasy one of the most innovative deck-top attractions at sea, the 765-foot-long AquaDuck "water coaster." Disney Fantasy's top deck also is home to a family pool, kiddie waterslide, kiddie play area, miniature golf course and basketball court. Its insides are loaded with some of the most elaborate children's play areas at sea — all Disney themed, of course.

Still, when it comes to family-friendly attractions, neither Carnival Breeze nor Disney Fantasy comes close to offering the array of options available on Harmony of the Seas.

At 226,963 gross register tons, the ship is about 75% bigger than its two competitors, and all that extra space allows for a crazy array of amusements. You'll find a waterpark area with three large slides; a separate dry slide that plunges nine decks (Royal Caribbean says it's 10, but don't be fooled; it counts a Deck 13 that doesn't exist); three main pools and separate surfing pools; a watery kiddie play zone; two rock-climbing walls; a miniature golf course; a basketball court; and a zip line. There's also an outdoor Boardwalk area that mimics the Jersey Shore with a carousel and arcade. Teens have their own onboard disco, part of interior kid zones spread over parts of two interior decks.

Crowds and service

On all three of the ships in our comparison, you're going to feel the crowds at times (just ask TPG Family founder Summer Hull, aka Mommy Points, who recently wrote about the pool area pileup she saw during a Disney sailing). This is just par for the course on big, mass-market vessels that sail with thousands of people.

Still, when it comes to feeling the jam, there are some significant differences between the three ships in our comparison.

For starters, you'll often find more people packed onto Carnival Breeze than Disney Fantasy, even though the two ships are roughly the same size (about 130,000 gross register tons). Carnival Breeze can hold up to 4,891 passengers if every berth is filled, about 22% more than Disney Fantasy. The differential is even more notable if you look at the "double occupancy" numbers for the two ships — the number of people they would carry if two people occupied every cabin. Carnival Breeze's capacity based on double occupancy is 3,690 — nearly 48% higher than the comparable number for Disney Fantasy. Packing in more people on a similarly sized ship is one of the key ways Carnival keeps it price point low. Another way is by keeping tight controls on staffing. Carnival Breeze sails with a staff of 1,386 — 72 fewer than Disney Fantasy. The result: A crew-to-passenger ratio, based on total occupancy, of about 1 to 3.5 for Carnival Breeze versus 1 to 3.2 for Disney Fantasy.

Comparing crew-to-passenger ratios on ships can offer a rough guide to their service levels, though there are caveats to this approach. A significant chunk of the extra staff on Disney Fantasy are involved in the ship's entertainment program, which is far more elaborate. It doesn't necessarily mean Disney is devoting more staff to service positions in restaurants, bars and other areas. Meanwhile, of the three vessels in the comparison, it is Harmony of the Seas — the ship with, by far, the highest passenger capacity — which boasts the best crew-to-passenger ratio. While the ship can sail with up to 6,687 people, it operates with 2,200 crew. That gives it a crew-to-passenger ratio, based on total occupancy, of around 1 to 3.

Related: Which cruise brand is best for you?

Destinations and private islands

As noted above, our pricing comparison for the ships assumes an Eastern Caribbean itinerary out of Port Canaveral, Florida. While roughly similar, the routings that each of the vessels take are not identical:

• Carnival Breeze stops at Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Grand Turk in the Turks & Caicos.
• Harmony of the Seas also visits San Juan, but substitutes St. Kitts and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay , for the other ports.
• Like Carnival Breeze, Disney Fantasy heads to St. Thomas, but combines it with visits to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and Disney's private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.

When it comes to private islands, Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day is the most elaborate by far. The line is just finishing a $200 million overhaul of the getaway that has brought a major waterpark with 13 waterslides, including the tallest one in North America; the Caribbean's largest freshwater pool; the Caribbean's largest wave pool and a balloon ride that takes you up 450 feet above the island. There's also an exclusive — and expensive — private beach club coming in December.

Related: Best Cruise Line Private Islands for Families

Disney's Castaway Cay is more of a traditional cruise line private island with beach areas (snorkels, tubes and floats are available for rent), a small floating waterslide complex and games such as volleyball. You also can rent bikes for a bit of exploring around the island. Paddleboards, kayaks and aquabikes are also available.

While Carnival doesn't have a private island of its own, two of the stops on Carnival Breeze's itinerary are private port developments built by its parent company that come with their own pool areas and more. The 25-acre Amber Cove development has a sprawling pool with a swim-up bar, waterslides, zip lines and private cabanas as well as bars, restaurants and shops. The 18-acre Grand Turk Cruise Center complex has its own pool area, beach areas and cabanas as well as bars, restaurants and shops.

Bottom line

I've sailed on all these lines many times over the years, and they all offer a lot for families. Which one is right for you? The answer depends on a number of factors specific to you and your family: your budget, the ages of your kids, their personalities and interests in specific activities and the destinations that you hope to see.

For those on a tight budget, Carnival is hard to beat — as the pricing comparison above makes clear. But if you have a little more wiggle room with your pocketbook, there are good arguments for paying up for a week with Royal Caribbean or Disney. When it comes to the quality of service, entertainment and dining, it's a little bit of "you get what you pay for" with the lines.

As noted above, you'll find a higher ratio of crew-to-passengers on Royal Caribbean and Disney ships, and all those extra crew members do make a difference in the experience. The difference is particularly notable when it comes to entertainment offerings, with both Royal Caribbean and Disney fielding much more elaborate shows with bigger casts and name-brand stories. Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, for instance, features a 90-minute adaptation of one of Broadway's biggest crowd-pleasers, "Grease," in a soaring theater that puts many on Broadway to shame, plus an outdoor "aquatheater" that's home to dazzling aerial performances. Disney's ships are chock full of Disney-themed entertainment that wins kudos for its high production values.

With its greater number of "older kid" amusements, such as surfing pools and rock-climbing walls, Harmony of the Seas is a particularly good choice for families with teens. Disney ships, like many of the Disney parks, aim younger with their attractions and are probably best when your kids are in the 6- to 12-year-old range. Just remember that you're paying a hefty "Disney premium" to get on board. If you're a big Disney fan, it makes sense. If you're not, it probably doesn't.

Is your family thinking about a cruise vacation? Here are some more insights:

• These Are the Best Cruise Lines for 2019
• Interesting Way to Save Money on a Disney Cruise
• Are River Cruises Right for Kids?
• An Overview of Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

Gene Sloan has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA TODAY's award-winning cruise site, USA TODAY Cruises. He's sailed on nearly 150 ships.

Featured graphic by Abbie Winters

Travel | Port Canaveral chalks up record month amid…

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Travel | madeline soto: stephan sterns charged with first-degree murder, things to do, subscriber only, travel | port canaveral chalks up record month amid growing cruise demand.

Port Canaveral saw just under 800,000 cruise passengers move on and off its ships in March as part of a record year that keeps topping expectations.

That set a one-month record for the port with an average of nearly 25,600 people a day around 93 cruise ship calls. March is traditionally one of the strongest months of the year for the port with its spring break traffic.

It also marked the halfway point of the fiscal year that began in October 2023. Six months in, the port has seen 3.9 million passenger movements from 479 ship calls.

“The industry itself is very, very strong right now,” said Port CEO Capt. John Murray at the port commission meeting on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of expansion plans. The companies are starting to reorder ships again after the pandemic.”

NCL details new dining on Canaveral-bound Norwegian Aqua

That includes more ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, which has been sending its new vessels to Port Canaveral as they debut including next year’s Norwegian Aqua.

“So a lot of great things, a lot of great things, a lot of enthusiasm and I can say that the industry is 110% of what it was prior to the pandemic,” Murray said. “They are back and booming right now. So we’re fortunate to be taking advantage of that here at the port.”

Operating revenue for the year is already at $98 million, which is $3.6 million above budget. It also means the record projection of $187 million in operating revenue through the end of the fiscal year in September is likely to get surpassed as well.

Ship capacity is determined to be at 100% if each stateroom is occupied by two passengers, so ships sailing with families, for instance, will push capacity above 100% and in turn increase revenue for the port from the cruise lines as well as add to an uptick in parking charges.

Royal Caribbean to send massive Utopia of the Seas to Port Canaveral

One of the big drivers has been the addition of a second Oasis-class vessel by Royal Caribbean so that the port hosts two of the largest cruise ships in the world.

Allure of the Seas joined Wonder of the Seas last fall to begin short three- and four-night sailings to the Bahamas, and will continue that until the debut of Royal’s new Utopia of the Seas this summer. Since arriving, it has added more than 650,000 passenger movements to the port’s growing tally.

The port has been home port to 13 ships from Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian and MSC Cruises, and is set to welcome its first ships from both Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises this fall.

Port Canaveral plots timeline to take over marina for new cruise terminal

Right now it has six cruise terminals, but is beginning the work to eventually build a seventh later this decade. During an interview earlier in April at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach, Murray said the key to growth for the port will be a shift in how the port gives access to each terminal, such as how it plans to operate its seventh terminal.

“It’s going to be multiuser. It’s not going to be a single-use facility. That’s going to be how our concept of operations would be going forward,” Murray said. “The only way you’re going to get good utilization of a terminal is if you can put multiple brands in there and not have it dedicated to just one user.”

That’s how it runs several of its terminals now including Disney Cruise Line at Cruise Terminal 8 and Carnival Cruise Line at its newest terminal, Cruise Terminal 3.

“If they’ve got seven days a week at one terminal and they’re only using three, maybe four days, that’s not high utilization,” Murray said. “Yet, it’s a facility that we’ve got blocked out that we’re not getting any benefit from it for the investment we’ve made.”

He notes Cruise Terminal 10, which gets used by three brands, gets used six days a week.

Murray said with newer and bigger ships on order from all the major lines, the demand is just going to continue to spike for parking space at Florida’s big three ports.

“I think the point now for all of the major brands is finding somewhere to operate,” Murray said. “Because there’s only Miami, [and] we all know how full Miami is; Everglades, [which has] limited capacity or opportunity for growth; and we have more land, but you know, it’s not all going to get committed to the cruise industry.”

“So the question is, how do we allow more opportunities for the cruise lines to operate? This is one — get high utilization out of the terminal.”

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The 5 best kids sail free cruises for 2024 & beyond.

Save on your family cruise with these kids sail free deals.

The Best Kids Sail Free Cruises

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Several cruise lines offer kids sail free promos throughout the year.

If you're angling for an affordable family cruise , you'll be happy to know that several major cruise lines let children sail for free (either regularly or during special promotions). Read on to discover which lines cater to families with kids sail free offers.

Cruise lines where kids sail free

Holland america line, norwegian cruise line, royal caribbean international, costa cruises, msc cruises.

Find your perfect cruise

Courtesy of Holland America Line

Deal: Holland America Line is offering a "Kids Cruise Free" promotion on select itineraries in 2024. The offer applies to several itineraries including Hawaii , the Caribbean and the Panama Canal; to qualify, children must be 18 or younger and cruising as third and/or fourth guests in the same cabin as adults. As with similar promotions, taxes and port fees are still required for each child's sailing.

Family-friendly perks: Amenities onboard Holland America ships include kids clubs and youth programs, as well as shore excursions oriented to families with little ones in tow. Plenty of stateroom options can also accommodate larger bookings. The Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam ships, in particular, feature oversized staterooms with beds for four, a large sitting area and a spacious veranda.

Book a Holland America Line Cruise on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Deal: Norwegian Cruise Line lets third and fourth guests cruise free on select itineraries throughout the year. Cruises to which this promotion applies are offered all over the world, including bucket-list destinations like Alaska and the Mediterranean .

Some of the itineraries that qualify for free third and fourth guests also come with complimentary amenities like an unlimited open bar, specialty dining, shore excursions and/or complimentary Wi-Fi. Additionally, some of the itineraries include generous discounts on the total cruise cost , as well as free airfare for a second guest (when booked through the cruise line).

Family-friendly perks: With Norwegian's all-ages kids clubs, family dining, entertainment and activities included in one bundled rate, planning a kid-approved vacation with the cruise line is a breeze. Many Norwegian ships also feature an array of family-friendly staterooms with plenty of extra space. For example, the luxurious Norwegian Prima offers a two-bedroom family villa with a large balcony in "The Haven" – its exclusive area for VIP guests.

Explore Norwegian Cruise Line deals on GotoSea.

Michel Verdure | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Deal: Royal Caribbean offers a "Kids Sail Free" deal several times each year, allowing children 12 or younger to cruise free provided they are the third guests (or beyond) staying in the same cabin as at least two paying adults. The only catch is that blackout dates apply – typically during holiday and school breaks.

Family-friendly perks: There's a reason so many families choose Royal Caribbean ; kid-friendly amenities range from age-specific programming to zip lining at sea. The line's  exclusive island for cruisers , Perfect Day at CocoCay in  the Bahamas , is also a big hit with young passengers thanks to its waterslides and splash areas.

Compare Royal Caribbean cruise itineraries on GotoSea.

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Courtesy of Costa Cruises

Deal: Costa Cruises may not be as popular as some other cruise lines on our list, but it's a worthwhile option for cruisers looking to sail through Europe, the Middle East or South America. The cruise line allows kids traveling as third or fourth guests to sail for free with two adults in the same cabin, and this promotion applies to passengers ages 2 to 17. This offer is valid on all sailings offered by the line, many of which feature destinations in desirable ports along the Mediterranean such as Barcelona , Marseille and Rome .

Family-friendly perks: Costa Cruises vessels offer abundant family-friendly amenities, from water parks to arcades to mini golf. Kids clubs are available for children ages 3 to 11, and they provide entertainment like arts and crafts, themed parties, and games galore. A teen zone also hosts cruisers ages 12 to 17 who want to mingle, sing karaoke and play group sports when ships aren't in port.

Find a Costa Cruises deal on GotoSea.

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Deal: MSC Cruises lets children younger than 18 cruise for free on select itineraries, depending on the ship's capacity. (Other exclusions or eligibility requirements may apply.) Kids must be the third or fourth guests traveling in the same cabin as their parents (at least two adults) for the deal to be valid; note that any port fees and taxes still apply to children's fares.

Family-friendly perks: MSC Cruises offers a variety of leisure activities and amenities designed specifically for kids. On board, youngsters can take advantage of perks from water parks with slides and swimming pools to Broadway-style shows and interactive dinners. The line also hosts fun family excursions and a "Lego Experience On Board" event on every cruise. In addition, there are a myriad of amenities for parents to enjoy while the youngest passengers are occupied by one of five dedicated kids clubs.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a seasoned travel writer who has covered family travel and cruises for more than a decade. Johnson has traveled with her family to more than 50 countries, and her many trips have included cruises all over the world. Johnson lives in Indiana with her two children and her husband, Greg.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Cruises for Babies & Toddlers
• The Best Cruises for Teens
• Do You Need a Passport to Cruise?
• How to Get Your Child a Passport
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Top Resorts Where Kids Stay Free

Tags: Travel , Cruises , Family Vacations

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 Port Adventures Caribbean

Exciting shore excursions specially selected by Disney Cruise Line

 Ports of Call

•  Basseterre, St. Kitts
•  Bridgetown, Barbados
•  Castaway Cay
•  Castries, St. Lucia
•  Costa Maya, Mexico
•  Cozumel, Mexico
•  Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
•  Falmouth, Jamaica
•  Fort-de-France, Martinique
•  George Town, Grand Cayman
•  Key West, Florida
•  Kralendijk, Bonaire
•  Miami, Florida
•  Oranjestad, Aruba
•  Philipsburg, St. Maarten
•  Port Canaveral, Florida
•  Progreso, Mexico
•  Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
•  Puntarenas, Costa Rica
•  Roseau, Dominica
•  San Juan, Puerto Rico
•  St. John’s, Antigua
•  St. Thomas, U.S.Virgin Islands
•  Tortola, British Virgin Islands
•  Willemstad, Curacao

 Experience Type

•  Sightseeing
•  Private Adventures
•  Signature Collection
•  Beach and Water Adventures
•  Culinary Adventures

 Activity Level

 accessibility.

•  Port Adventures by Accessible Travel Solutions
•  Wheelchair Transfer Required
•  Wheelchair Accessible

 Price Range

•  Less than $50
•  $50 to $99
•  $100 to $199
•  $200 to $399
•  $400 to $799
•  $800 and Above

Twelve Metre Regatta (SM04)

• Active, Nature
• $104.00* (ages 12 and up)
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten

2 Tank Certified Dive (For Certified Divers Only) (CM20)

• Active, Beach and Water Adventures
• $145.00* (ages 12 and up)
• Costa Maya, Mexico

2-Day Bicycle Rentals - Castaway (C16)

• Active, Sightseeing
• $19.00* (ages 10 and up), $19.00* (ages 3 to 9)
• Castaway Cay

2-Day Castaway Cay Getaway Package (C17)

• Active, Nature, Beach and Water Adventures
• $75.00* (ages 10 and up), $45.00* (ages 5 to 9)

2-Day Float/Tube Rentals - Castaway (C15)

• Nature, Beach and Water Adventures
• $19.00* (ages 10 and up), $19.00* (ages 5 to 9)

2-Day Snorkel Lagoon Equipment Rental (C14)

• $57.00* (ages 10 and up), $33.00* (ages 5 to 9)

2-Tank Dive Tour (G03)

• $219.00* (ages 12 and up)
• George Town, Grand Cayman

4 X 4 Beach Adventure (TT13)

• Nature, Sightseeing
• $99.00* (ages 10 and up)
• Tortola, British Virgin Islands

4 X 4 North Coast Adventure and Beach Break (AR20)

• Active, Nature, Sightseeing
• $114.00* (ages 10 and up), $89.00* (ages 6 to 9)
• Oranjestad, Aruba

4x4 Adventure and Monkey Encounter (B04)

• $89.00* (ages 10 and up), $64.00* (ages 5 to 9)
• Bridgetown, Barbados

4X4 Beach Safari (SL01)

• $58.00* (ages 10 and up), $31.00* (ages 8 to 9)
• Castries, St. Lucia

4x4 Island Safari and Beach (SK20)

• $84.00* (ages 10 and up), $69.00* (ages 5 to 9)
• Basseterre, St. Kitts

4x4 Jeep Expedition and Beach (SK48)

• Sightseeing, Beach and Water Adventures
• $84.00* (ages 10 and up), $74.00* (ages 3 to 9)

4x4 Jeep Safari and Beach - 4 Person Jeep (SM96)

• $449.00* (All Ages)

4X4 Natural Pool Adventure (AR11)

• $124.00* (ages 10 and up), $94.00* (ages 8 to 9)

4X4 Rainforest Drive, Trafalgar Waterfalls & Cave Swimming (RSU19)

• $89.00* (ages 10 and up), $64.00* (ages 6 to 9)
• Roseau, Dominica

5-Star Catamaran and Turtle Encounter (B03)

• $112.00* (ages 10 and up), $85.00* (ages 5 to 9)

A Dino Quest (PGO34)

• $169.00* (ages 10 and up), $139.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)
• Progreso, Mexico

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

• Sightseeing, Cultural
• $115.00* (ages 10 and up), $99.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)
• San Juan, Puerto Rico

A Mexican Halloween and Beach Adventure (CZ91)

• Signature Collection, Beach and Water Adventures, Cultural
• $79.00* (ages 10 and up), $64.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)
• Cozumel, Mexico

A Mexican Winter Holiday and Beach Adventure (CZ92)

• Signature Collection, Cultural
• $94.00* (ages 10 and up), $79.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)

A Tale of a Local Farmer (SL78)

• Nature, Cultural
• $69.00* (ages 10 and up), $55.00* (ages 2 to 9)

A Walk In The Clouds (PU18)

• $98.00* (ages 10 and up), $90.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)
• Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Accessible Chankanaab National Park (CZ205A)

• $199.00* (ages 3 and up), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)

Accessible Chankanaab National Park (For Guests with Limited Mobility) (CZ205)

Accessible city tour by trolley (cz208a).

• $69.00* (ages 10 and up), $64.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)

Accessible City Tour by Trolley (For Guests with Limited Mobility) (CZ208)

Accessible dutch & french island tour (for guests with limited mobility) (sm206).

• $69.00* (ages 10 and up), $69.00* (ages 3 to 9), $0.00* (ages 0 to 2)

Accessible Dutch & French Island Tour (SM206A)

Accessible grand cayman island tour (for guests with limited mobility) (g205).

• Sightseeing
• $119.00* (ages 3 and up), $00.00* (ages 0 to 2)
• * All prices subject to change without notice.

Fact Check: Article about Disney buying Epstein island is satire

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Fact Check: Hush money trial judge did not say Trump can’t attend son’s graduation

As of this article’s publication, Justice Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over Donald Trump’s ongoing hush money trial, has not ruled on whether Trump will be able to attend his son’s graduation on May 17 due to the timing of the trial, contrary to posts shared online that the judge has ruled to prohibit Trump from attending.