disney halloween cruise pirate night

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Pirate Night

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On select itineraries, eat, dance and be merry at a buccaneer bash fit for a pirate.

Party like a pirate, it’s a pirate’s life for you, pirate’s rockin’ parlay party on the disney wish.

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Halloween on the High Seas Disney Cruise Guide

Ready to set sail on the high seas during the spookiest time of the year? We love Halloween. And cruising during a Halloween on the High Seas cruise has been one of our all-time favorite vacations to date.  So we’ve compiled a guide perfect for helping you plan and knowing what to expect during a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise with the Disney Cruise Line. 

Disney Halloween Cruise Planning

Planning a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise is really no different than planning most other Disney Cruises.  With a few magical extras, the Disney cruise ships are transformed into a Halloween wonderland. We’ll go into all the spooky details in this post!

Disney’s Halloween on the High Seas Cruise

Halloween on the High Seas is a special event cruise complete with decorations, festive foods, parties, and more. Each ship and itinerary may feature its own kind of fun, but the basics of this special cruise remain the same no matter where you are sailing! 

Which Disney Cruise Ships have Halloween on the High Seas Cruise?

Every Disney Cruise ship has the ability to offer Halloween on the High Seas, including Disney Cruise Line’s New Disney Wish Cruise Ship ! Previously, we had sailed on the Disney Magic for Halloween on the High Seas and most recently the Disney Wish. 

What Ports Do You Visit on a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise?

Halloween on the High Seas cruises are not tied to specific ports but rather offered in the fall months. So ports and Itineraries will change from year to year, and your best bet is to check Disney Cruise Line’s Official site for dates and ports of call offered for Halloween on the High Seas cruises .  Due to the time of year, many itineraries are available so you can sail to places like Jamaica, The Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean or enjoy a cold-weather cruise like New England and Canada .  Once in a while you can even find a Panama Canal sailing during Halloween on the High Seas!

Is Halloween on the High Seas Cruises more expensive?  

It really depends! Although generally specialty cruises can be a little more expensive, Halloween on the High Seas Cruises are often during hurricane season and that can help you snag a great deal.  Also, some of the itineraries and ships that tend to be a little less popular are less expensive. When we cruised from New York City to Maine and Canada, our 5-night cruise was actually about the same price as our 3 night Very Merrytime in the Caribbean . 

There are a lot of things that can affect the pricing of specific cruises. So don’t let the idea of it potentially being more expensive keep you from dreaming of a Halloween-themed cruise. Because that is not always the case!

What Should You Pack for a Halloween Cruise?

We love a theme! So we say, pack all the Halloween things you can! Ok just kidding. But seriously, there are a few things you might want to pack for a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise. If you want to dress up for the festivities, don’t forget a costume. And be sure to review the rules for costumes onboard. Truthfully, there are not a lot of extra things that need to be packed for a Halloween cruise. But, if you want a good list, check out our What to Pack for a Disney Halloween Cruise post. 

What Halloween Extras Can You Get to Make the Experience Special?

There are always extras available to add a bit of festivity to your stateroom! I surprised my daughter with an onboard gift specific to the season, which costs extra and comes fully assembled in your room upon arrival. Ours included a fleece blanket, pillow, trick or treat bag, and glow-in-the-dark ghosts hanging from our ceiling. During our sailing, the cost of this onboard gift was $75, but the prices do vary from year to year. That is a little bit high, but since we don’t tend to go crazy with souvenir spending, I just factored into the cost of goodies we may have wanted to splurge onboard. 

If you want to see what’s available for your cruise, just link your Disney Cruise Reservation , and you’ll be able to see what is available for your sailing.  

What are the Halloween decorations like on a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise?

One of the most noticeable and constant- reminders that you are on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise is the decorations! Onboard you will find Disney-themed carved pumpkins, fall foliage garland, and the pumpkin tree! You will also see lots of Halloween magic sprinkled throughout like window clings, fall ribbon, and pumpkin decor. Check out what the Disney Magic Cruise Ship Halloween Decorations looked like in our photo tour. 

Halloween on the High Seas Activities

There are many Halloween activities onboard a Disney Cruise at Halloweentime! Here’s a recap of everything we’ve experienced on our Halloween on the High Seas sailings!

Mickey’s Mouse-querade

Mickey’s Mouse-querade was probably our favorite event of the entire Halloween on the High Seas cruise.  A dance party with all of our favorite characters dressed in full Halloween attire, trick or treating, festive character meet and greets, and games, this party is fun for all ages.  Trick or Treat bags are left in guests staterooms the day of the party so no need to worry about bringing your own. 

You don’t have to dress up for this one, but it’s a lot more fun if you do! We ended up being so busy before our cruise that Halloween costumes kind of slipped my mind. So my daughter and I both just decked ourselves out in Halloween attire that we had accumulated from Walt Disney World over the years and it worked out just fine. If you’re looking to save room in your luggage but still want to dress up, you can always double up your Pirate Night costume as a Halloween costume as well! This party can get pretty crowded; but if you want to be where all the action is, head to the atrium. Or head to decks 4 and 5 for a great view with fewer crowds.  

Edited for 2022: Mickey’s Mousequerade has been seen to be held in both the atrium on the smaller ships, and on deck 11 on the larger ships. On our recent Disney Wish sailing, this event was held on deck 11 and we had a great view from deck 13! Trick or treating was also not involved in this party. Rather, it was held in Hero Zone at certain times noted in the app. We recommend arriving early for the best experience!

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream

The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream is an interactive movie experience. With 3D animation and 4D effects, this is a fun show for any Nightmare Before Christmas fan. Unfortunately for us, there was some sort of issue with the effects and well, it wasn’t really a whole lot different than just watching Nightmare Before Christmas on the big screen.  And during our Halloween on the High Seas cruise, this was actually during Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party and we left halfway through because we knew we’d rather be at the party.  As much as we love Nightmare Before Christmas, we preferred to be where the action is. 

This is, however, your opportunity to meet Jack and Sally, which I know for many people is a big deal. So if you’re excited about that, the meet and greet with Jack and Sally is directly after the Sing and Scream. And with that being said, if it wasn’t held during the same time as the party, and had all of the original effects we had planned to see, we likely would have stayed all the way to the end. 

Edited for 2022 : On our most recent Disney Cruise on the Disney Wish, Hocus Pocus was played instead of the sing along. We haven’t heard yet if this is a permanent change or just one made for the Wish. But wanted to note it!

Character Meet and Greets

Character Meet and Greets happen all throughout your sailing and outfits may change each time. Not all meet and greets during a Halloween on the High Seas cruise will be Halloween-themed, but all of the ones during Mickey’s Mousequerade will be! There are other opportunities other than Party night to find your favorite characters in costume. When you get the Navigator each day, or when you check the app for your daily activities, you can see who will be available for a meeting that day! It will give you the location and time so you can plan accordingly. *NEW* Minnie, Daisy and Clarabell don the iconic Hocus Pocus Sanderson costumes, for their spookiest Halloween meet and greet yet! 

The lines for characters are usually not terribly long, but we recommend getting there close to the start time as Cast Members will “close” the line when the character’s time slot is almost over.  The Sanderson Sisters line gets very long, so we recommend arriving early. They will close this line once it appears to be at the 40-50 minute mark. So plan ahead if you want to see them! We arrived 20 mins early and ended up waiting a total of about 35 mins. 

The Pumpkin Tree

The Pumpkin Tree may seem like just a decoration but it’s far more than that! On the first night of our cruise, we got to meet the Caretaker, who told the tree’s story. Since we were on the Disney Magic, our tree was named Reap. The caretaker then lights the tree for the remainder of the cruise. This is the only time you can see the lighting of the pumpkin tree, so we don’t recommend you miss it! The pumpkin tree serves as a backdrop for many of the photo ops during the cruise. And he even plays a fun part during the Mouse-querade Party!

The Disney Wish welcomes a new Halloween Tree this year. Known as Boo, she represents the story of Cinderella. If you’re sailing on the Disney Wish, they also light up the wishing star to match the Halloween vibe. 

Haunted Stories By The Sea

On select nights, you can cozy up on the main pool deck and watch this spooky feature on the jumbo screen.  A mysterious sailor tells ghost stories and occasionally the cast members join in on the fun. This was probably one of the lowest crowd events in terms of entertainment, but that could also be because nights were really cold and most people had retired to their rooms at that point. 

Edited for 2022: This was not present on our cruise, 

What other Halloween activities are there?

Aside from all of the events and entertainment, there are also lots of Halloween activities available onboard! Halloween crafts, Halloween-themed “Anyone Can Cook” demos and Halloween-themed trivia are just a few of the festive activities you can find on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise.  In addition to regular Halloween fun available to everyone, the kid’s clubs also have fun Halloween activities for little ones. Pumpkin carving, crafts, face painting, and more are just a few things your kids can enjoy. 

Halloween on the High Seas Spooky Treats

If there was one thing I would have loved more of onboard the Disney Magic for Halloween on the High Seas, it would be the spooky treats! The treats aren’t really announced or published anywhere; but you can find them at places like Cove Cafe, Cabanas during lunch, and even the occasional seasonal treat during your regular meal.  In addition to all of the spooky treats, you can find pumpkin-spiced everything onboard as well!

Is there Pirate Night during Halloween on the High Seas?

Pirate Night is a fan favorite and for good reason! Not all cruises have Pirate Night; but all of the ones we’ve been on have, even cruises that are not in the Caribbean. We sailed in the North Atlantic for our Halloween on the High Seas cruise and we still had a Pirates Night. Truthfully I was surprised by this since the event is literally called Pirates in the Caribbean, but I can’t complain because we love Pirate Night! You’ll be able to tell if your cruise includes Pirate Night when you receive your itinerary so that you can plan accordingly. 

With a special meal, fun entertainment, and appearances from all of your favorite characters dressed in pirate gear, Pirate Night is not to be missed! Many families dress up with the theme, and while it’s not mandatory, it’s definitely fun. One thing that makes Pirate Night extra special on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise is that it gives cruisers the opportunity to dress up twice! 

Is there an Adult only Halloween Party onboard Halloween on the High Seas?

Halloween isn’t just for kids! Adult-only Halloween fun can be had on a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise. So whether you’re a solo cruiser, a childless cruiser, or a parent needing a break, this is for you! There’s a costume contest, music, and dancing. And creepy cocktails of course! So get ready for this Villainous takeover and dance the night away! The location for this event will vary by ship, but you can find all the info in the navigator. 

Edited for 2022: The Halloween Party for adults seems to be put on pause for this year. However, you can still find spooky fun for adults all over the ship. Halloween themed cocktails and Halloween activities for adults only are still available for 

Is there Trick or Treating on a Disney Halloween Cruise?

Yes there is! There does seem to be some confusion about it though, since it has changed. If you’re sailing on the Disney Wish, it is held in the Hero Zone on deck 12. It’s only held at specific times, so you’ll have to check the navigator app to find out when it is. Other cruisers from other ships have reported that it has been held in both the atrium and on the upper deck of the ship, so just be sure to check your Disney Cruise app for details. And if you can’t find the info there, just ask someone! The cast and crew on Disney Cruise Line are so helpful and will be able to direct you to the right place. 

Is there a character breakfast during Halloween on the High Seas? 

Character breakfasts are only available on 7 night or longer cruises and reservations must be made in advance. You can book the character breakfast when your excursion booking date opens. 

Edited for 2022: Since the reopening of Disney Cruise Line in 2021, character breakfasts have not returned. This may change in the future though!

Are tickets required for Halloween events?

As of the time of writing this post, no they are not! However, with the future of cruising a little uncertain, it’s possible that once cruising begins again, tickets may be required for certain events. We will keep this section updated to reflect current policies. 

Is there Special Halloween on the High Seas merch?

Yes, there is! And it is cute! Gift shops are only open on board when the ship is at sea, so I highly recommend purchasing any special merch you want at the earliest possible time. Remember, you’re on a boat. They won’t be receiving a new shipment of merchandise during your cruise, so if something sells out while you’re on board, you likely won’t be able to get it at a later time.  The moral of the story is if you want that special Halloween mug, just buy it. Waiting will only end in heartbreak. 

Disney Cruise Halloween on the High Seas Tips

Ready to book a Halloween on the High Seas cruise? Here’s a few tips!

This is always a top tip when it comes to cruising with Disney Cruise Line. Booking early can be tough sometimes, but it’s usually when you’ll see some of the lower prices available. Sometimes, the opposite of that is true, and we talk a little about this in our post about cruising on a budget . 

Seasonal sailings generally tend to sell out a little quicker as well, so booking early will help you secure your choice of the stateroom onboard. 

Disney Cruise Halloween Door Decorations

We always recommend that you decorate your door when you cruise . Not only does it add a little extra magic to an otherwise boring stateroom door, but it will also help you find your door in the long corridors of the cruise ship. You can make this as simple or detailed as you like. The doors are metal, so magnets are your best bet. We have a Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Magnet we like to add to the decor with our family name and destination. 

When we’ve also made our own in the past, we just grab a pack of magnets from Amazon , design something on the Cricut , and voila! Pumpkins, bats, witch hats, and Mickey heads are all easy shapes anyone can master. And will add a bit of spooky spirit to your door with little effort.  And if you show up unprepared, never fear. Because the gift shops onboard usually have a few options to choose from as well!

Dress Up for your Halloween on The High Seas Cruise

Even if dressing up for Halloween isn’t your thing, something simple will do.  Most families and even adults traveling without children will be dressed up.  If costumes aren’t your thing, Halloween shirts , hats, or something as simple as light-up necklaces will work! I feel like every Halloween event I’ve ever been to either on land or at sea, I always hear people say they wish they would have dressed up. So just do it!

Check your Cruise Navigator daily for Halloween happenings

It’s great to be able to read a blog post like this and get all the ideas for what you want to do. But there is nothing that will be more accurate than your Daily Navigator or the app once you’re onboard. The truth is, no matter how many trips we take or how much research we do, things can change quickly and even from sailing to sailing. So be flexible and check daily to see what’s offered. 

Disney Halloween Cruise Shirts

And of course, no Disney Cruise is complete with a souvenir shirt to remember the occasion. While we have loads of Disney Cruise Shirts in the shop if you’re traveling for the spooky season, then why not grab our Halloween on the High Seas Shirt to ear on board and get into the mood? These are soft jersey, unisex shirts. And we always recommend sizing up if you’re unsure, for a more relaxed look. You can also grab a Halloween on the High Seas Stateroom Door Magnet in this collection to match. Check out the links for all our shop collections. 

Halloween on the High Seas with Disney Cruise

Hopefully, this guide has helped you get a good idea of what to expect onboard a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise with Disney Cruise Line. We love this seasonal cruise and highly recommend it if possible. Let us know what other questions you have about sailing during a Halloween on the High Seas cruise with Disney Cruise Line!

Want to book a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise with Disney Cruise Line ? We can help you book that! Click here for a free vacation quote .

Melanie Renee

Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .

• Melanie Renee https://www.polkadotsandpixiedust.com/author/melanniee/ Disneyland Pixar Fest Snacks 2024
• Melanie Renee https://www.polkadotsandpixiedust.com/author/melanniee/ How a Disney Cruise to Europe is different
• Melanie Renee https://www.polkadotsandpixiedust.com/author/melanniee/ 11-night Disney Cruise to Northern Europe on the Disney Dream
• Melanie Renee https://www.polkadotsandpixiedust.com/author/melanniee/ Meridian Lounge on Disney Cruise Line

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Disney Cruise Pirate Night Ultimate Guide!

Posted on Last updated: February 9, 2024

Ahoy there, matey!

Welcome to the enchanting world of Disney Cruise Pirate Night, a tradition steeped in whimsy, wonder, and swashbuckling fun!

The aim of this guide is to provide you with a treasure map leading to the heart of this exhilarating experience. So, hoist the colors, grab a cruise planner , don your pirate garb, and get ready to navigate through the magical realm of Disney Cruise Pirate Night!

Historical Background

Embarking on a journey through the whimsical tradition of Pirate Night requires a glimpse into its historical bearings.

While Disney is a realm where fantasy reigns, the inception of Pirate Night is anchored in the storied tradition of buccaneers and the age-old allure of the high seas, melded seamlessly with the enchanting Disney narrative.

• The legacy of Pirate Night commenced with the initiation of Disney cruises, aiming to create a thematic voyage brimming with adventure and magic.
• This extraordinary night has since evolved into a cherished tradition, offering a distinct experience that leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of its attendees.
• The essence of Pirate Night is a fascinating blend of pirate folklore and the magical Disney milieu. Through imaginative storytelling, Disney has an enduring relationship with pirate tales, most notably demonstrated in the classic “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.
• Pirate Night is a real-world extension of this captivating narrative, bringing to life a pirate’s world with a dash of Disney magic.
• Disney’s rendition of pirate life has contributed significantly to the popular romanticized image of pirates.
• By incorporating Disney characters and tales into a pirate theme, Pirate Night provides a unique interpretation that resonates with both young and adult adventurers alike.
• Disney Cruise Pirate Night not only invites guests to a thematic soirée but encourages them to be part of a living, breathing narrative of pirate lore.
• It’s an homage to the timeless tales of treasure hunts, and battles on the high seas while weaving the iconic Disney magic into every element.

This section delves into the heritage of Pirate Night, painting a broad picture of its evolution and significance in the Disney cruise experience.

Understanding the historical roots enriches the anticipation and enjoyment of the festivity, creating a bridge from the fantasy world on deck to the storied past of pirates in the annals of maritime lore.

With a trove of memories awaiting to be discovered, the tradition of Pirate Night beckons every sailor to don a pirate hat, step into a tale of adventure, and be part of a story that sails through the night under the starlit sky.

Preparing for Pirate Night

Preparing for Pirate Night is an adventure in itself. From donning pirate garb to learning the lingo, a little preparation can transport you and your family from mere spectators to lively participants in this whimsical pirate saga. Here’s how you can gear up for a night of swashbuckling fun.

• Pirate Night is all about immersion, and costumes play a crucial role. From simple bandanas and eye patches to elaborate pirate captain outfits, there’s a range of options to suit every budget and style.
• Coordinating costumes with family members adds an extra layer of fun. Consider themed costumes that incorporate Disney characters for a unique twist.
• You can find pirate attire online, at costume stores , or even on the cruise. Disney Cruise Line also offers pirate gear, but purchasing beforehand can save some doubloons!

Pirate Lingo

• Immerse yourself in the pirate persona by learning some pirate phrases . “Ahoy” (hello), “Arrr!” (yes), and “Shiver me timbers!” (an expression of surprise) are a few to start with.

Booking Pirate-themed Activities in Advance

• Pirate Night extends beyond just costumes and dinner. There are themed activities throughout the ship. Be sure to book any special activities or reservations in advance.
• If your itinerary allows, explore pirate-themed shore excursions that can enhance your Pirate Night experience.

Planning Your Evening

• Secure your dinner reservations early, especially if you prefer to dine at a specific time.
• Take note of the schedules for pirate-themed shows and entertainment, and plan accordingly to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the fun.
• The fireworks are a highlight of Pirate Night. Find out the best viewing spots and get there early to secure a good view.

Engaging in the anticipation and preparation for the Disney Cruise Pirate Night not only enhances the excitement but ensures a more enriching experience once you set sail on this pirate-infused journey.

With costumes ready, pirate phrases at the tip of your tongue, and a Disney cruise packing list and plan in hand, you’re setting the course for a memorable venture into the fantastical world of Disney pirates.

The Day Of: Embracing the Pirate Life

As dawn breaks on the day of Pirate Night, the anticipation aboard the ship is palpable. The regular cruise ambiance subtly starts to morph, revealing hints of the pirate realm that will soon take over.

This section will guide you through making the most out of this transformation from the moment you rise to the grand evening festivities.

Breakfast and Morning Activities

• Start your day with a hearty pirate-themed breakfast. Keep an eye out for special menu items that might sail into the breakfast buffet for this special day.
• Join in on a pirate scavenger hunt often organized for the young and the young-at-heart. It’s a fantastic way to explore the ship and kickstart the pirate festivities.

Afternoon Onboard and Ashore

• Engage in pirate craft sessions or attend a pirate lore workshop. These activities are not only fun but enriching, setting the stage for the evening’s festivities.
• If your ship docks, explore the locale for any pirate history or themed attractions. This real-world exploration can add a layer of excitement to the pirate narrative.

Getting Ready for the Evening

• Once back onboard, it’s time to don your pirate garb. Add any final touches to your costumes, and perhaps even some temporary pirate tattoos for added authenticity.
• Grab a light snack to keep the energy up; you’ll need it for the evening packed with pirate merriment.

Setting Sail into the Evening

• Before the evening activities kick off, gather your crew for a pirate group photo to capture the memory of your transformation into buccaneers.

The transition from a typical cruise day to a pirate extravaganza is gradual but exciting. Each activity, whether onboard or ashore, builds up to the main event, keeping the anticipation alive and the pirate spirit aflame.

As you prepare to immerse yourself into the evening’s pirate saga, remember, it’s all about embracing the whimsy, the adventure, and the camaraderie that is the essence of the Disney Cruise Pirate Night.

Evening Festivities

As the sun dips below the horizon, the ship plunges into a whirlpool of pirate festivities, each more exhilarating than the last. The evening is when the Pirate Night spirit truly comes alive as some of the most fun cruise experiences at sea!

This section guides you through the cascade of activities and shows that set the night ablaze with pirate merriment.

Pirate Deck Party

• The deck transforms into a pirate haven with lively music, interactive games, and captivating performances. It’s a spectacle where guests and Disney characters come together in a communal celebration of the pirate spirit.
• Be ready to dance, sing along, and partake in the games. The more you immerse yourself, the more memorable the experience.

Dinner and Pirate Menu

• Your dining experience will be unlike any other night with a special pirate menu. From seafood treasures to tropical delights, the menu is a culinary voyage through pirate-infested waters.
• Take part in or cheer on the costume parade, where fellow guests showcase their pirate finery.

Shows and Entertainment

• This is your chance to meet Disney characters donned in their pirate outfits. Don’t forget to take photos!
• Gather around for a pirate tale or two. It’s an enchanting experience especially for the young ones.

Fireworks at Sea

• The night sky bursts into colors with the only fireworks display at sea. Get to the viewing areas early to secure a prime spot, and enjoy the breathtaking display that lights up the pirate night sky.
• The fireworks mark a grand closure to the pirate festivities but the night is still young. Post-fireworks, enjoy the continuation of music and dancing or perhaps a late-night pirate snack.

The evening is a crescendo of pirate festivities, each moment building up to the grand fireworks display.

This night of swashbuckling fun is bound to leave you with stories to tell and memories to cherish.

From the deck party to the dinner, and all the way to the dazzling fireworks, Pirate Night promises a unique and immersive experience that sets a Disney Cruise apart from any other voyage on the high seas.

Capturing the Memories

In the midst of swashbuckling fun, capturing the moments that define your Pirate Night adventure is crucial.

These memories are the treasures that you’ll carry home, ready to be relived and shared with your loved ones. Here’s how you can capture the essence of this magical night.

Photography

• Bring along a good quality camera or smartphone to capture the high points of your pirate journey. Ensure your gadgets are fully charged and have enough storage space.
• Take advantage of Disney’s onboard photographers who are skilled in capturing the magic amidst the pirate frenzy. They are stationed at various locations, ready to snap professional photos that encapsulate the essence of Pirate Night.

Video Recording

• Video snippets of the deck party, fireworks, and other lively activities will allow you to relive the dynamic atmosphere of Pirate Night.
• Record personal messages or reflections on your pirate adventure. Capturing your family’s reactions and excitement adds a personal touch to your memory bank.

Pirate Night Souvenirs

• Collect pirate-themed merchandise available on board. From apparel to collectibles, these tangible memories are wonderful reminders of your pirate escapade.
• Participate in pirate craft sessions and take home your creations. They are not only fun to make but serve as personalized mementos.

Social Media

• Share your Pirate Night experiences in real-time with friends and family on social media. Creating a special hashtag can make it easy for others to follow your adventure.
• Keep a travel journal to document your thoughts, experiences, and the pirate tales that unfolded during the night. Sketches, pressed flowers, or even a sprinkle of pirate glitter could be added to bring your narrative to life.

Capturing your Disney Cruise Pirate Night adventure is about more than just photos and videos; it’s about preserving the magical essence that makes this experience uniquely Disney.

As you sail back into the ordinary world, these captured moments become your portal back to a night where you danced under the stars with pirates and celebrated amidst the cannon roars of fireworks over the boundless sea.

Tips and Tricks for a Memorable Pirate Night

Diving into the whimsical world of Pirate Night is a one-of-a-kind experience.

To ensure you unearth the full treasure trove of memories, here are some seasoned sailor cruise tips and tricks to navigate through the evening smoothly and make the most of every cannon-blasted moment.

Planning Ahead

• Be prompt with reservations, whether for dining or pirate-themed activities. The early pirate catches the worm (or, in this case, the best seats)!
• Familiarize yourself with the Pirate Night schedule to avoid missing out on any cherished activity. A little planning goes a long way in ensuring a smooth sail through the evening’s events.

Costume Comfort

• While dressing up is a huge part of the fun, ensure your costumes are comfortable for a night of energetic festivities. Comfortable footwear is a must to keep you dancing the night away.

Pirate Etiquette

• Pirate Night is a family event. While enthusiasm is encouraged, remember to keep it friendly for the young ones aboard.
• Embrace the communal celebration. Engage with fellow guests and crew members who are all part of the pirate story unfolding around you.

Staying Energized

• Keep hydrated and have snacks handy to maintain your energy levels through the high-seas adventure.

Embracing the Unexpected

• Be open to spontaneous moments that weren’t in the plan. Some of the best memories are unplanned and come from fully immersing yourself in the pirate experience.

Preserving Memories

• Along with photos and videos, collect tangible memories like pirate merchandise or crafts created during the event.

Social Connection

• Share your experiences and tips with future Pirate Night adventurers on social media or travel forums. Your insights could help others discover the magic of Pirate Night.

In the sea of Pirate Night activities, these tips and tricks serve as your compass, guiding you towards a memorable adventure.

By planning ahead, embracing the pirate spirit, and being open to the whimsical twists of the night, you’re on course for a Pirate Night filled with laughter, camaraderie, and magical memories.

As the echoes of pirate laughter fade into the starry night and the Disney ship sails towards new horizons, the memory of Pirate Night anchors itself within the hearts of every adventurer on board.

This guide serves as your map through the buccaneer-laden festivities, steering you towards a treasure chest filled with joyful memories, whimsical encounters, and the magic that is quintessentially Disney.

Recapitulation

• Reflecting back on the phases of preparation, immersing in daytime activities, diving into the evening extravaganza, and capturing the whimsical moments, Pirate Night unveils itself as a unique blend of adventure, creativity, and communal celebration.
• The essence of Pirate Night extends beyond the event, residing in the memories created, the stories shared, and the camaraderie experienced.

Carrying the Adventure With You

• As you disembark, you carry with you stories of pirate shenanigans that will bring smiles for years to come. Each tale is a ticket back to the magical night where you danced under a sky ablaze with fireworks, amidst a sea of pirates.
• With every horizon that beckons, the allure of another Disney cruise, another Pirate Night, awaits. The magic continues to unfold with each voyage, each pirate adventure building upon the last.

Your Pirate Legacy

• Share your Pirate Night tales with friends, family, and the world. Inspire others to embark on their own pirate adventure, to experience the magic that awaits aboard a Disney Cruise.

Disney’s Pirate Night is more than just an event; it’s a doorway into a realm where the ordinary is swathed in the extraordinary, where every guest becomes part of a whimsical pirate tale.

So, as you step ashore with a heart full of pirate tunes and a mind brimming with fantastical adventures, the spirit of Pirate Night sails along, awaiting the day it can welcome you back onto the mystical seas of Disney magic.

Additional Resources

To further enrich your Disney Cruise Pirate Night adventure and ensure a sea of smooth sailing, we’ve compiled a list of additional resources.

These treasure troves of information provide deeper dives into specific aspects of Pirate Night, along with broader insights into making the most of your Disney Cruise experience.

Official Disney Cruise Line Website

• Dive into the official page for Pirate Night to get the latest updates, schedules, and offerings directly from the source.

Disney Cruise Line Blog

• Read reviews and tips from previous attendees to get a feel for personal experiences and additional advice.
• Immerse yourself in the pirate festivities through vlogs shared by previous cruisers. Seeing Pirate Night through the eyes of others can provide a fun and insightful preview of what’s to come.
• Take virtual tours of the Disney ships to familiarize yourself with the layout before your cruise.

Disney Fan Forums

• Engage with fellow Disney enthusiasts and seasoned Pirate Night adventurers to gather more tips and learn about others’ experiences.
• Follow Disney Cruise Line on platforms like Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates, photos, and announcements.
• Browse through #PirateNight and other related hashtags to discover photos and posts from past Pirate Nights.

These additional resources are your compasses to an even more enriched Disney Cruise Pirate Night adventure.

By delving into these, you arm yourself with a cannon of knowledge, ready to make a grand splash as you dive into the roiling seas of pirate merriment on your Disney Cruise.

FAQs on Disney Cruise Pirate Night

Pirate Night is a treasure chest of excitement, and naturally, it comes with a bounty of questions. Here, we address some of the frequently asked queries to help you navigate through this swashbuckling night with ease.

What is Disney Cruise Pirate Night?

• Pirate Night is a themed evening on Disney cruises where guests are invited to celebrate everything pirate. The event includes a range of activities such as a pirate deck party, character meet and greets, themed dinners, and spectacular fireworks at sea.

When does Pirate Night take place?

• Pirate Night typically takes place on one night during the cruise. The exact day can vary, so it’s advisable to check the itinerary of your specific cruise for details.

Is there an extra charge for Pirate Night?

• No, Pirate Night activities are included in your cruise fare. However, there may be additional costs for certain things like exclusive merchandise or specialty drinks.

Do I have to dress up for Pirate Night?

• While dressing up is not mandatory, it’s a big part of the fun. Guests are encouraged to don pirate attire and join in the themed festivities.

Where can I buy pirate attire on board?

• Pirate-themed attire and accessories can be purchased on board at the gift shops. However, for a wider variety and potentially lower prices, consider buying your pirate gear before you set sail.

Can I book dining and other experiences in advance for Pirate Night?

• Some dining and experiences can be reserved in advance through the Disney Cruise Line website or your travel agent. It’s advisable to check and make reservations as early as possible to secure your spots.

What is the age suitability for Pirate Night?

• Pirate Night is designed to be a family-friendly event that appeals to pirates and princesses of all ages. There are activities tailored for kids, teens, and adults alike.

Are the fireworks display available on every cruise?

• The fireworks are a hallmark of Pirate Night, but availability can be subject to weather and itinerary conditions. It’s always good to check the specific details for your cruise.

What happens if it rains on Pirate Night?

• Disney Cruise Line has contingency plans for inclement weather. Some outdoor activities might be moved indoors or rescheduled, and information will be communicated to guests through the ship’s announcement system and daily navigator.

How can I ensure to have the best Pirate Night experience?

• Planning ahead, dressing up, engaging with the activities, and keeping a positive pirate spirit are key ingredients for a memorable Pirate Night adventure.

Do I need to bring my own pirate accessories?

• It’s not necessary, but bringing your own pirate accessories can add to the fun. Disney Cruise Line also offers pirate gear on board for purchase.

Are there any adult-only events during Pirate Night?

• Yes, there are usually adult-only events or areas during Pirate Night, allowing adults to revel in their own pirate revelry.

Can I get pictures with the pirate characters?

• Absolutely! Pirate Night offers opportunities for meet and greets with pirate-clad Disney characters, making for some picture-perfect memories.

Is there a special menu for Pirate Night?

• Yes, many dining venues on board offer special pirate-themed menus to bring a culinary voyage to the night’s adventure.

Are there any restrictions for Pirate Night costumes?

• While dressing up is encouraged, costumes should adhere to Disney’s costume guidelines, which promote family-friendly attire and ensure the safety and comfort of all guests.

Can I skip Pirate Night activities if I’m not interested?

• Certainly! The cruise offers a plethora of other activities and amenities to enjoy, ensuring there’s something for everyone, even if you prefer to skip the pirate festivities.

Is there a designated viewing area for the fireworks?

• Yes, there are designated viewing areas for the fireworks display to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all guests. Be sure to check the cruise itinerary for details.

Are there pirate activities during the day leading up to Pirate Night?

• Typically, yes. There are pirate-themed activities throughout the day leading up to the main event in the evening, making Pirate Night a full day of buccaneer fun.

What if I have dietary restrictions, will I still be able to enjoy the Pirate Night dinner?

• Yes, Disney Cruise Line is known for accommodating dietary restrictions. It’s advisable to communicate any dietary needs in advance to ensure a tasty Pirate Night feast.

Are the pirate activities suitable for young children?

• Absolutely! Pirate Night is crafted to be a family-friendly event with a variety of activities suitable for young children.

Complete Guide to Pirate Night on Disney Cruise Line

by Kelly Coffey-Behrens | Apr 12, 2023 | Disney Cruise Line

We’re sharing a complete guide for everything you need to know about the swashbuckling good time that is Pirate Night on Disney Cruise Line sailings!

Ahoy, mateys! If you are getting ready to set sail aboard Disney Cruise Line, you may want to pack your eye patch and secure your treasure because Disney Cruise’s Pirate Night is something you won’t want to miss. Pirate Night aboard Disney Cruise Line is a special-themed night that occurs on select sailings, complete with themed entertainment, dining, and an on-deck party. We’re sharing your complete guide with everything you need to know about Pirate Night before setting sail.

What Is Pirate Night?

Photo by Danny Shuster

Pirate Night is a special themed night that occurs on all five Disney Cruise Line ships: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish. Bring your best pirate-themed outfit and dress for the occasion, as Cast Members and Disney Characters will be channeling their inner Jack Sparrow for the evening. 

From special events such as Pirates of the Caribbean trivia to special meet and greets, including rare character appearances like Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and Captain Jack Sparrow , Pirate Night aboard Disney Cruise Line is a fun-filled evening, perfect for the whole family. 

Special Activities During Pirate Night

Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Guests sailing on Disney Cruise Line during Pirate Night will find special-themed trivia, games, and even meet-and-greets with characters who will be dressed in pirate attire, making for unique photo opportunities. 

“Pirates of the Caribbean” will also be playing either on the Funnel Vision by the pool deck or inside the movie theater on board. Guests wishing to get into the pirate spirit may also stream the Pirates of the Caribbean films, or Peter Pan , via their television inside their stateroom. 

Disney Cruise Pirate Night-Themed Dinner

Guests will find a special pirate-themed dinner in one of the Main Dining restaurants. The wait staff, who will be dressed for the occasion, will greet you with a cheerful “Ahoy matey” and “Arrr!” making the dining experience unique from the moment you step inside the restaurant. Once you are seated, you will find a pirate party bandana at your seat, one for each guest (make sure to tie it around your head to celebrate the festivities!), as well as a special pirate-themed dinner menu.

Dinner items in the past have included options such as Jolly Rogers Barbecue Rib Salad, Pirates Gold-en Pot Stickers, and Chilled-to-the-Bone Honeydew Melon and Watermelon Soup. However, menu offerings are subject to change.

Pirate-Themed Deck Party and Show

Photo by Scott Smith

After your special pirate-themed dinner, make sure to visit the pool deck for the Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party, an entertaining pirate show which includes a fantastic fireworks display! For those sailing on the Disney Wish specifically, the show is not to be missed as Captain Redd, who Disney fans may recognize from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction , makes an appearance and even sings a rock rendition of the iconic pirate tune “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me).”

DCL Sailings That Include Pirate Night

Disney Wish at Port Canaveral. Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

All of the current Disney Cruise Line ships offer a Pirates Night for most of their itineraries aboard the Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, Disney Dream, Disney Wonder, and Disney Wish . If you are sailing with Disney Cruise Line, be sure to check your itinerary to find out if Pirate Night is included in your Disney Cruise itinerary. If so, the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app will let you know which night Pirate Night will fall on for your cruise. 

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Disney Cruise Pirate Night Guide: What to Know Before You Go

First, congratulations on booking your Disney Cruise! Our entire family has wonderful memories of our time aboard the Disney Fantasy in the Caribbean. Perhaps one of the parts I was least looking forward to was the Disney Cruise Pirate Night. Oh, how wrong I was. Pirate Night ended up being a highlight of our Disney Cruise. Be prepared and get in the spirit with our Pirate Night tips!

Disney Cruise Pirate Night Tips

1. Pack pirate costumes for the entire family

2. Purchase swords for Pirate Night at the gift shop

3. Gather on the deck early for Pirate Night

4. Stay for the show and fireworks

5. End the night with dancing or late night fare

What is Disney Cruise Pirate Night?

A Disney Cruise is chock full of entertainment ranging from Broadway style performances to shows outdoors on the main deck. All of the Disney Cruise Line ships offer a Pirates Night for most of their itineraries aboard the Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, Disney Dream and Disney Wonder. Check your itinerary to find out when this is and to make sure it is included in your Disney Cruise itinerary.

Pirate Night is one night, well actually, one day that is full of pirate themed entertainment. The culmination of this day is a show and party on the main deck that ends with fireworks. It really is a night of not-to-be-missed swahbucklin’ fun. You’ll even get the chance to catch a glimpse of Captain Jack Sparrow!

What To Know About Disney Cruise Pirate Night Before You Go

Pack Pirate Garb for the Entire Family

What do you wear on pirate night on a disney cruise.

Getting dressed up in costume is not something I am generally a fan of. It is a rare Halloween when my arm gets twisted to put on a standby witch costume. However, in preparation for our Disney Cruise I ordered both kids a pirate costume . I knew that they would want to dress up. There are lots of fun pirate costumes for kids out there. Disney cruise pirate night attire can be anything from a custom Disney pirate shirt to a full costume. We recommend a full pirate costume.

Costume Ideas for Disney Cruise Pirate Night

There are some fun Disney Cruise Pirate Night costume ideas out there. I debated striped shirts or something simple for my husband and I. It would have been easy enough to pull off without spending much money. But he wasn’t a big fan of that idea. So, I did nothing for us. Until the day before departure when we were already packed and ready to go.

That’s when I remembered that our neighbors had been on a Disney Cruise and had talked about getting dressed up for Pirate Night. I texted my neighbor asking if I might be able to borrow her costume. She graciously said, “Of course!” And pulled them out. Both her costume and her husband’s were a one size fits all. She offered up the male costume as well.

Insider Tip: If you want something that isn’t just for a one-time use, buy a red and white striped shirt and pair it with black shorts or pants. Add an inexpensive pirate hat and you are set!

Pirate Night arrived aboard the ship. The whole family dressed in costumes for the evening’s show and dinner. Our kids had the best time pretending to be pirates as we walked the ship’s decks. We thought that most of the adults wouldn’t be in costume, but no. The adults not wearing some sort of pirate costume were odd man out.

If you really wanted to go all out you should make the kids (ages 3 or over) appointments at Pirates League at the the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for a pirate make over.

This is such a fun night. And, the photos of our entire family dressed as pirates is a cherished souvenir from the vacation.

Purchase Swords for Pirate Night at the Gift Shop

Everything in the ship’s gift shop is authentic Disney merchandise, so good quality. We were hesitant to pack plastic swords in our luggage. So we planned to make this purchase aboard the ship. Having the swords added to the fun for the kids. They really took on the persona of a pirate. Those swords came home with us and continue to get lots of play at home.

Gather on the Deck Early for Pirate Night

What time is pirate night on a Disney Cruise? You will want to check the itinerary for your specific cruise. But most guests get dressed up before dinner. It is fun to see all the pirates running around the ship. So, I don’t think anytime is to early to start.

There’s really not a bad spot for the Disney Cruise Pirate Night show . But I do think the main deck is better than up on the sides for the fireworks. The upper deck on the left facing the stage may be the best spot to see the fireworks. Regardless, getting there early ensure that you can find a good place to set up.

We took that opportunity to take photos and get lemonade from the soda fountains. Watching all the cast members in costume is fun. Just be aware that if you ask a cast member to take a photo of your family you might later discover a crazy pirate photo like below on your phone later. But if you want to be sure to get photos with the pirates, you can sign up in advance for a character meet. Likely you can find Mickey dressed in his pirate attire, and some other fun characters too such as Captain Hook.

Stay for the Show and Fireworks

If you have younger kids you might even want to try to get them a nap earlier in the day. Out youngest wakes at the crack of dawn regardless of the time zone and was always wiped out by dinner time. The show and fireworks go fairly late. And, it isn’t something you want to have to leave early. Try to rest up for it.

Our five-year old was awestruck as pirates boarded the ship. Fortunately Captain Jack Sparrow was on board to save the day. A pirate rappelling down the ship’s funnel is quite a sight to see. There was plenty of action and it felt as though you were in the midst of the action.

Fireworks aboard a ship at sea are also quite a sight, and special experience.

End the Night with Dancing or Late Night Pirate Themed Dining

If you aren’t exhausted stay for a pirate dance party on the pool deck. Or, check out pirate themed late night fare at Cabana’s. It is surely a night that will create fun memories for your entire family. Enjoy it however feels right to you. We found Pirate Night fun for kids and adults alike.

Additional Disney Cruise Tips:

Why Our Family Will Take Another Disney Cruise

What to Expect from DCL Star Wars Day at Sea

12 Tips to Make the Most of Your Disney Cruise

Headed to Walt Disney World before or after your cruise? Find out where to stay!

This is an updated post originally published March 2019.

Have you taken a Disney Cruise? What did you like about Pirate Night? Did your entire family dress in costume? Tell us in the comments below!

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Liana Moore

Liana Moore is a third-culture kid with a hangover from those days that is a severe case of wanderlust. She is more comfortable driving the cliffs of Amalfi, Italy or the dirt roads of Costa Rica or attempting to decipher the street signs of Osaka, Japan than navigating the theme parks of Disney World. But she loves it all. She doesn't believe a vacation is complete without an adventure. Her husband and kids know well that "adventure" often is code for mishap or challenge and it usually results in a good story. They seek outdoor experiences whether in the mountains, on a beach or in the jungle of a tropical country. Her favorite vacation is... all the ones she hasn't yet taken, as well as those she plans on taking again. And, that list is so, so long. But she continues to extensively explore her home state of Colorado, spends lots of time wandering Texas, California, New Mexico, Costa Rica, Mexico, Norway and has even explored Kazakhstan.

2 thoughts on “ Disney Cruise Pirate Night Guide: What to Know Before You Go ”

We haven’t ever been on a cruise, but we have been to a Walt Disney World Pirate night, and it was great fun. We enjoyed it more even more than the Disney Halloween Night for sure. Thank you for sharing on #farawayfiles

Love the pix of the cute little pirate.

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Disney Cruise Pirate Night Guide: Our Top Tips And Everything You Need To Know

If you ask people what activities they enjoyed on a Disney Cruise in the Caribbean, Pirate Night always seems to top the list. At first I wasn’t sure about the Pirate Night hype, but now it is one of my favorite on board activities. Here is our complete guide to Pirate Night with our family-tested tips so you can avoid rookie mistakes on your Disney Cruise Pirate Night.

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

What Is Disney Cruise Pirate Night?

Select Disney Cruises in the Caribbean have a special event called Pirate Night. This event is a combination of pirate-themed live shows, fireworks, a pirate makeover option, a late night dance party with full buffet, and special character meet and greets.

For the cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay we’ve always enjoyed pirate night on our Nassau port day. Check your exact cruise itinerary to know which night is your scheduled Disney Cruise Pirate Night.

The party officially starts around 7:30PM with Pirate Games, but you can get into the pirate spirit much earlier than that with a makeover at Pirates League starting in the late afternoon.

Pirates League

What is pirates league.

You have probably heard of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for princess makeovers, but did you know on Disney Cruise Pirate Night you can get pirate makeovers? These pirate makeovers start on the afternoon of Pirate Night when Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is taken over by rogue pirates and turned into the Pirates League.

Pirates League is for those age 3 years and older. In fact, there is no upper age limit at Pirates League. We mostly see kids, but some full families have gotten pirate makeovers for the night.

The Pirates League makeover options are make-up only or make-up plus a costume. Either choice will provide your pirate-in-training some keepsake goodies. There are 3 makeover options for the boys which feature different beards and make-up. For girls there is only one pirate makeover choice.

We’ve always opted to bring our own costume from home because there was only one option for a girl’s pirate costume. However, on our most recent trip I did notice they had a second costume option for girls. It wasn’t actually a costume, but a cute pirate themed t-shirt and tutu set.

Pirates League Makeover Experience

When entering Pirates League don’t expect a polite welcome, but that’s part of the fun. The pirates take the job very seriously and expect you to have the right swagger to join their crew. Their first task is to get you a new pirate name. You roll dice and the numbers decide what your new name will be.

Then the next available pirate calls you to their chair. Here you will choose exactly which make-up option you would like. There are some additional choices to be made during the princess pirate makeover such as eye shadow, blush, nail polish, and lipgloss color.

During the entire makeover your pirate stays in character and makes a big show of getting you ready to join the crew. Once you look the part you take the pirate oath. This oath binds you to the pirate crew.

The take home goodies from Pirates League, other than a costume if you choose that option, are a sword, a special bandanna, your pirate oath with new name, a medallion necklace, and an eye patch. For the pirate princess makeover you also get to keep the nail polish and lip gloss.

If you ask Elizabeth her favorite Pirate Night activity her answer is an emphatic “makeovers at Pirates League”, but really that  is just the beginning of the Disney Cruise Pirate Night fun.

Disney Cruise Pirate Night Events

Pirate Night on Disney Cruise Line encompasses several events. There are pirate character meet and greets, two live stage shows, fireworks, a dance party, and special late night buffet.

Special Pirate Character Meet And Greets

On Disney Cruise Pirate Night several characters get a pirate makeover. For example, Mickey meets guests in his full pirate outfit.

You can also meet some other special pirates like Captain Hook, Smee, or Captain Jack Sparrow. Please note that the wait times for these special character meet and greets can sometimes get long.

Find out more about meeting characters on a Disney Cruise in this article .

Pirates In The Caribbean

The first live show of the night is Mickey’s Pirates in the Caribbean.  This show usually begins at 7:45pm right after first seating for dinner is done.  The show takes place on the stage in front of Funnel Vision on the pool deck.

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy are a pirate crew looking for new recruits – you! They train you on the most important lessons a pirate needs to know with a mix of songs and activities.

After your lesson, Captain Hook and Smee take over Mickey’s ship with their pirate crew. For Mickey to regain control of the ship the audience needs to answer Smee and Hook’s tough pirate questions.

After Mickey’s Pirates in the Caribbean there is a short lull in activities while second dining takes place. This is a time you can try to meet those special characters or catch a show.

Buccaneer Blast

After second seating dinner has ended the next live show begins around 10:15pm. This show also takes place on the pool deck in front of Funnel Vision.

The live show has a pirate crew, including Captain Jack Sparrow, improvising silly songs with the help of the audience. The show is fun, but I don’t think it is as good as Mickey’s Pirates in the Caribbean. After the live show it is time for fireworks.

For me the highlight of Buccaneer Blast is the fireworks. Seeing fireworks launched from the ship over the ocean was such an impressive sight.

Club Pirate

After the fireworks a DJ takes over the stage in front of Funnel Vision. They play a variety of family friendly dance favorites. I enjoyed dancing and being silly with Elizabeth and lots of families were on the dance floor living it up.

Pirate Night Buffet

Cabanas buffet reopens with a full special Pirate Night buffet during Club Pirate. We were still stuffed from dinner, but others were indulging on the late night meal. I loved looking at the pirate themed watermelon carvings and other pirate decor in the buffet line.

Are Costumes Required On Pirate Night?

The quick answer is “no”. This was my biggest concern about Disney Cruise Pirate Night on our first Disney Cruise . I am not really a costume person, but didn’t know if I would feel left out without one. I opted to wear regular clothes our first Pirate Night, and although it was fine I did wish I had done a little something pirate inspired.

I still don’t wear a pirate costume, but I do opt for a pirate inspired look with regular clothes. On our most recent trip I used black jeans, black booties, a necklace and bracelets I already owned. I added a striped T-shirt and big hoop earrings from Target and ordered an inexpensive red scarf from Amazon that I used as a sash. This allowed me to participate in our Disney Cruise Pirate Night, but in a way I felt comfortable.

If you are a costume person then go for it. There are lots of people in full pirate gear and make-up and it is awesome. I especially love to see when full families get into the costume spirit. My only rule is do the level of pirate night costume you are comfortable doing.

My Tips For Disney Cruise Pirate Night

Schedule your pirate league makeover early in the afternoon.

Pirates League makeovers cost money and I think that the earlier you get the makeover the more time you have to enjoy it. Scheduling your appointment near the opening time of Pirates League is especially important if your have first dinner. Otherwise you may have to miss out on part or all of dinner to get your makeover done.

Make Your Pirates League Appointment Before Your Trip

Don’t wait until you are on the ship to schedule Pirates League. Instead book it online when you are choosing your other cruise activities such as scheduled character meet and greets , spa treatments, or excursions. Scheduling ahead of time gives you the largest number of appointment time options.

Set Up Early For The Best Views Of Mickey’s Pirates in the Caribbean Show

Unlike setting up for a Disney parade you don’t have to arrive that early to secure a good viewing spot. At 7:30pm we were still able to grab off-center seats pretty close to the stage for Mickey’s Pirates in the Caribbean. I really like this show and enjoy being close to the action.

Pick Your Fireworks Viewing Spot Carefully

We were running late to Buccaneer Blast after second seating dinner on our most recent trip. I rushed upstairs and grabbed a good spot to watch the live show on the starboard side of the stage, but I forgot all about the firework viewing.

The fireworks are launched over the starboard side of the ship. For those who don’t speak boat that means on the right side of the ship if you are facing front. We were able to see the fireworks, but had a obstructed view because of the AquaDuck tubing.

For the best fireworks view grab a spot on the port side of the boat. The best pirate night fireworks viewing spot is probably port side on the upper deck, but then the view of the live show isn’t as good. Just remember to pick port side (left side of boat when facing forward) and you’ll be in good shape for fireworks viewing.

I think this is the most important part of a Disney Cruise Pirate Night. People are generally in a good mood and have a lot of fun on Pirate Night. Do what makes you feel comfortable with costume and make-up. The main thing is to just go out and have a great time with these special activities.

Don’t Over-Do Pirate Night

My only words of caution are this: if you want to be off the boat early the next morning, don’t stay out partying too late. We always see parents and kids struggling on the morning after Pirate Night. And generally the entire port day after can be a challenge if everyone is tired. Know yourself and your family to choose the right level of Pirate Night party for you.

Final Thoughts On Disney Cruise Pirate Night

I think the reason people love Pirate Night so much is that it is a chance for everyone to be a bit of a kid for the night. People are in a good mood and the feeling of fun is infectious. The live shows, fireworks, Club Pirate, and late night buffet keep the Pirate Night fun going for hours. I really enjoy this special Disney Cruise event on our Caribbean cruises and I hope you do, too!

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Disney Cruise Pirate Night

Disclosure: This Disney Cruise pirate night post contains affiliate links. Read full Disclosure Policy .

This guide has everything you need to know about pirate night on your Disney Cruise vacation.

Table of Contents

What happens on pirate night.

• What to Wear for Pirate Night

About the Fireworks

Frequently asked questions, pirate themed dinner.

The party begins with a special pirate dinner in your assigned main dining restaurant. It’s similar to most main dining dinners but with a pirate flair. Servers will be dressed in their pirate-y best as well as many of the cruisers.

You will be handed a menu that looks like a treasure map with such food items like Jolly Rogers Barbecue Rib Salad or Chilled-to-the-Bone Honeydew Melon and Watermelon Soup.

There will most likely be some Caribbean dishes as well such as Tia Dalma's Jerk Chicken and Rum-Soaked Chocolate Cake.

Pirate Night Games & Activities

Pirate night actually starts in the afternoon when most of the regular entertainment shifts to a pirate theme.

A big hit with the wee lad’s and lassie’s is the Disney Junior Pirate and Princess Dance Party .

You can also get crafty and create your own pirate treasure with the cruise staff.

Later, Captain Mickey and his pirate crew host a Pirate Celebration on deck between the first and second dinners.

Do you like game shows? Then join in the fun at the action packed pirate game show at A Pirate's Life For Me or test your pirate knowledge by participating in pirate trivia.

So much to do!

Stage Shows

There are two pirate-themed stage shows on the pool deck.

The first show, which is more family-friendly and geared towards younger kids, will be between the two dinner seatings - around 7:30pm - and the second show is right before the fireworks which starts at 10:30pm. (Check your daily Navigator for exact times.)

The later show can be scary for some children if they are sensitive to loud noises.

(Don’t get me wrong, both shows are safe for kids of all ages; just be prepared if you have little ones who might be sensitive.)

The Big Highlight: Buccaneer Blast Fireworks

Buccaneer Blast fireworks are one the most anticipated events on a Disney Cruise .

This pyrotechnic spectacular is set to a dramatic score featuring songs from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

We go into more detail on this explosive show below including where the best viewing spots are. So keep reading...

Late Night Buffet

Finish off the night with - what else? - more food!

If you’re like me, I get hungry about every two hours when I’m cruisin’ so why not enjoy the late night pirate buffet in Cabanas?

The buffet usually opens around 10:45pm so it will be waiting for you once the fireworks are over. There will be a smorgasbord of food for you to indulge in including giant turkey legs.

What to Wear for Disney Cruise Pirate Night

M any guests will dress up in swashbuckling gear for Pirate Night... but there is absolutely no obligation for guests to dress up at all.

Everyone will receive a free Pirates in the Caribbean bandana to wear if they’d like. It will most likely be left in your cabin or given to you at dinner.

Some guests just tie on the provided bandana or put on an eyepatch and call it good. Some will go all out and be in full pirate costumes while others will be somewhere in between.

There really is no right or wrong here. It’s totally up to you!      

If you do want to dress up, most people do so to dinner and keep it on for the remainder of the evening. You will see your servers as well as Mickey and Minnie and friends dressed in in their pirate garb too!  

Before you start purchasing your costumes for Pirate Night, you need to know that any type of toy sword is prohibited on DCL and will not be allowed on the ship. (Note: I’ve heard that there are approved toy swords for sale in the shops onboard but I haven’t verified that.)

Pirate Night Costume Ideas

N eed some ideas? Well, I’m here to help!

Here are a few ideas to get your creative pirate juices flowing.

Idea #1: Online Costume Ideas

I personally love to shop Amazon because many of their costumes have free returns so if it doesn’t fit or it doesn’t look good on me, I just return it for free and try again.

Shopping without getting out of my pajamas? Uh, yes please!

Just make sure you see “FREE Returns” next to the price. If you see that then you can return that item for any reason and receive a full refund. You won’t even have to pay return shipping fees!

I did notice that Free Returns are harder to find on children’s costumes but on adult costumes it’s quite common.

Pirate Night Costume Ideas for Women

Pirate Night Costume Ideas for Men

Pirate Night Costume Ideas for Girls

Pirate Night Costume Ideas for Boys

Pirate Night Costume Accessories

Idea #2: Shop in Stores

I f it’s near Halloween then hit a Halloween store for costumes. Even better, if it’s the day or week AFTER Halloween you can get costumes on clearance. YES! I love saving money!

You can also check your local dollar store. They typically have a selection of pirate items such as eye patches, pirate hats, etc for cheap.

If you get on the cruise and realize you forgot something, the shops onboard the ship do have select merchandise available.

But if dad forgot his puffy pirate shirt, he’s out of luck. The onboard stock is mostly just for kids.

Idea #3: Get Creative

R ather not spend money on a costume? No problem. You probably have some items in your closet that will do the trick.

Just stick with the colors red, black and white and maybe throw in some stripes. That way you’ll be festive without being in a costume.

Here are some ideas:

• A white or black off-the-shoulder top or a black/white or red/white striped shirt
• A black vest
• A red sash belt
• A bandana (remember they give you a free bandana on the cruise)
• Black or red skinny pants, jeans, leggings or skirt
• Black boots (if they have buckles or cuffs then that’s a plus)
• Hoop earrings
• Bangle bracelets
• Pirate-y necklace (skulls anyone?)
• Heavy eyeliner 🙂

Idea #4: Keep It Simple

D on’t want to take up precious suitcase space on pirate garb?

Don’t sweat it, matey. Nobody'll make ye walk the plank.

Just throw on an eye patch and the provided bandana and call it good.

If you wanna do a little more, go with a simple Jolly Roger t-shirt like this one . They come in all sizes and colors.

Idea #5: Get Gussied Up at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

I f  you really want to take it to the next level make an appointment for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on the day of Pirates Night.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique transforms into The Pirates League just for the day where kids of all ages (yes, you too, Mom and Dad) are able to get pirate makeovers for an additional fee.

After your transformation you will be sworn in with a sacred pirate oath making you an official member of Captain Jack’s crew!      

Space is extremely limited, so be sure to book your appointment early.

How to Book the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (aka The Pirates League)

Before you embark.

Once you are checked into your cruise, go online and view the My Cruise Activities page. This will show when the themed days and nights are scheduled and allow you to begin booking your Pirates League reservation.

Book While Onboard

Visit or call Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique during business hours. The hours vary so check the Navigator when onboard.

The Pirate League Packages

The following special packages are available only on Pirate Night at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

Empress Package

• Shimmering makeup
• Nail polish
• Coin necklace

First Mate Package

• Pirate facial effect (choose from Captain Jack, Captain Hook or Blackbeard)
• A sword and sheath

Deluxe Maiden Package

• Everything in Empress Package
• Your choice of costume: an Empress gown or a T-shirt and tutu

Captain’s Package

• Everything in First Mate Package
• Your choice of costume: Jack Sparrow, Captain Hook, or Bony Pirate

PIRATE LEAGUE TRANSFORMATIONS TAKE 45 MINUTES

D isney’s fireworks are spectacular! While the the onboard display isn’t quite as awe-inspiring as the ones at the Disney parks, the Buccaneer Blast is still one of the most anticipated activities on the ship.

Disney was the first cruise line to introduce fireworks on their sailings and is currently the only cruise line offering a fireworks show at sea.

This event is weather permitting but Disney does their best to make sure that it happens whether it’s re-positioning the ship to a better location or rescheduling it for a different night.   

Disney’s Fireworks ARE Environmentally Friendly

The best place to view the fireworks on disney cruise.

Fireworks are launched from the starboard side of the ship - slightly aft of midship.

There are several good locations to view the fireworks, so I thought I'd list some of my favorites.

First, some definitions.  If you are facing forward towards the bow (front) of the ship...

• Port = left side of the ship
• Starboard = right side of the ship

On Disney Wonder / Disney Magic

Deck 10: starboard side, deck 10: port side -- just be sure you're not behind the funnels which may partially block your view, on disney fantasy / disney dream, deck 12: port side -- against the railing that overlooks the pool/deck stage.

This location lets you watch the pirate show below and still see the fireworks across the ship on the starboard side without having to move. If you end up closer to the outer railing that overlooks the water, be careful that the Aquaduck above you does not obstruct your view.

Deck 12: Starboard Side -- close to the outer railing overlooking the water

You can watch the stage show on the Funnel Vision. Be careful that the Aquaduck above you won’t obstruct your view.

Deck 11: Port Side

Don't sit under Deck 12 on the starboard side or you will have trouble seeing fireworks.

Deck 13: Starboard Side -- forward

This is an adults only area for guests 18 and up. You will not be able to see the pirate show that is on the Deck Stage from this viewing area but you will be able to enjoy the fireworks sitting in a lounger with a cocktail in hand.

If You Have a Starboard Verandah Stateroom...

Will there be a pirate night on my cruise.

Unfortunately, not all DCL itineraries offer a Pirate Night.

Due to environmental laws, the Alaskan itineraries and some European sailings do not have a Pirate Night.

If you are booked on one of these itineraries, make sure to check first before planning for pirate festivities .

Also, Pirate Night festivities don't take place on Disney Marvel Cruise or Star Wars Disney Cruise , as there are other celebrations on those sailings.

When is Pirate Night?

For specific dates and times, check the Personal Navigator or Disney Cruise Line Navigator mobile app once onboard the ship.

If you want to know what day of your cruise it will be before you get on the ship, call Disney at 800-951-3532 once you are close to your embarkation date.

You can also find out by looking online (once you’ve checked in ) to see when The Pirates League makeovers are available. They will only be available on Pirate Night. So the day you are able to book one of the Pirates League packages is the night you will have your Pirate Night.

You view this on the My Cruise Activities page on the Disney Cruise website .  

TRADITIONAL PIRATE NIGHT SCHEDULES (subject to change - your cruise may be different)

• 3-Night Cruise: Night 2
• 4-Night Cruise: Night 3
• 5-Night Cruise: Night 2
• 7-Night Cruise: Night 4 or 5

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I change or modify my reservation?

Everything You Need To Know About Halloween On The High Seas – Disney Cruise Line

This article is your complete guide to Disney Cruise Line’s H alloween on the High Seas  specialty cruises! During the Halloween season, Disney is known for going all out. From specialty park celebrations like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in Disney World, to original content on Disney+. And the Disney Cruise Line is not immune to the celebration! Beginning in early September through Halloween, you can embark on special Halloween-themed cruises on all of the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. This Disney Halloween cruise is known as Halloween on the High Seas and is full of spell-binding enhancements to the ship!

We hope you find this post helpful! And if you are planning a trip on a Disney cruise, be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation and find the best deals on Disney cruises!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World check out our Disney Crowd calendar!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

A Complete Guide on the Disney Halloween Cruise 

When sailing on a Disney ship, you are surrounded by the magic of Disney. From themed rooms and restaurants to specialty characters and even fireworks at sea! But something that makes sailing on a Disney ship even more unique is the themed cruises they offer! Guests can enjoy a Halloween on the High Seas , Very Merrytime Cruises, Pixar Day at Sea, Star Wars Day at Sea, and Marvel Day at Sea cruise. My very first Disney cruise was a Disney Halloween cruise  back in 2019! And as a former Cast Member and as someone who loves cheap tickets to Walt Disney World , it was the most magical vacation I’ve ever had. Below are some of my experiences on the Halloween Disney cruise , along with information to help you discover if a Halloween on the High Seas cruise is right for you!

What is Halloween on the High Seas?

• Halloween on the High Seas is a Disney Cruise Line exclusive Halloween-themed sailing. Setting sail in mid-September through October, this season of extra-special sailings will bring the fun of Halloween to guests on select cruises across the entire DCL fleet. Guests can dress up in their Halloween costumes and join Disney characters in theirs! You can also find dance parties throughout the ships; enjoy a variety of themed food and beverages; and immerse yourself in a ghostly ship takeover with elaborate décor and the magical Pumpkin Tree!

When looking closer at the specially themed cruises, Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime cruises are the only savings that completely change the cruise experience. The other special Days at Sea are just that, Days at Sea. So your entire cruise will not be themed around the day, it will just be one day of the sailing that will be a special theme.

Related Post: When is the Cheapest Time to Go on a Disney Cruise?

When is the Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Dates?

Now that we know what  D isney Halloween on the High Seas is, we can start to uncover more specifics on this spooktacular sailing! The Disney cruise Halloween on the High Seas sail dates are September 9th – October 31st, 2024. When booking a Disney Cruise , one of the first things you should look at is the sailing calendar. This will help determine where you’re sailing from, sailing to, and on what ship you’ll be sailing on. This is also where you can see if your vacation will line up with any specialty cruises!

What are Halloween on the High Seas Sail Dates?

• 2024 : September 9th – October 31st

Halloween Disney Cruise Ships 2024

Disney Magic:

• Sail Dates : September 13, 2024 – November 5, 2024
• Sailing From : Miami & San Diego
• Ports of Call : Nassau Bahamas, Disney Castaway Cay , Lighthouse Point, George Town Grand Cayman, Ensenada Mexico, Cabo San Lucas Mexico, & Cozumel Mexico

Disney Dream:

• Sail Dates :
• Sailing From  New York
• Ports of Call : King’s Wharf Bermuda, Saint John (New Brunswick) Canada,

Halloween on the Disney Fantasy:

• Sail Dates : September 14, 2024 – November 2, 2024
• Sailing From  Port Canaveral
• Ports of Call : Nassau Bahamas, Disney Castaway Cay,  Lighthouse Point , George Town Grand Cayman, Falmouth Jamaica, Cozumel Mexico, Tortola British Virgin Islands, St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands, Philipsburg St. Maarten, & San Juan Puerto Rico

Disney Wish:

• Sail Dates : September 13, 2024 – November 1, 2024
• Ports of Call : Nassau Bahamas, Disney Castaway Cay

Related Post: Discounted Disney Cruise Line Staterooms

How is a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Different? – Activities on Board a Disney Halloween Cruise

The main way the  D isney Halloween cruises are different from non-themed cruises is that the entire ship receives an overhaul to fit with the theme. The only times of the year this happens are on Halloween for Halloween on the High Seas and at Christmas time for the Very Merrytime Cruises . All other sailings throughout the year will have no special theme which allows guests to take in the sheer beauty of the Disney fleet! And when I say complete overhaul for these special cruises, I mean it! Along with pumpkins, bats, and spider decorations, the ships also offer themed activities and specialty characters in Halloween-themed costumes! All of these enhancements are done on every ship that offers the event. Even the Disney Dream Halloween cruise.

What Activities Are on Disney’s Halloween on the High Seas Cruise?

• Mickey’s Mouse-charade – Shiver in delight during a scare-a-brain with some of your favorite Disney Pals bedecked in their Halloween finest. Do your ghoulish best and join in the fun!
• Awakening the Pumpkin Tree  – The centerpiece of H alloween on the High Seas Disney cruise . This tree is located in the main atrium and serves as the opening act for the entire Halloween on the High Seas celebration!
• Spine-Tingling Treats  – Enjoy unique Halloween-themed desserts, beverages and trick-or-treating!
• Movie Screenings – Watch all of your favorite Disney Halloween movies in the ship’s theaters or on the funnel vision display throughout your cruise. You can also catch world premiers of new Disney Halloween movies if you’re lucky!
• Friendly Ghost Stories – Guests can enjoy Haunted Stories of the Sea, told beneath the stars by a mysterious sea captain, and The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream, an interactive movie singalong.
• Adults-Only Halloween Dance Party – On the same night as the Mouse-masquerade dance party, adults have their dance party in the adult-only section of the ship! Come dressed to impress because you might run into some infamous Disney villains while you dance the night away.

Spooktacular Halloween Decorations Throughout the Ship

The ship is decorated from Bow to the Stern in garlands of autumn leaves, character-inspired pumpkins, and adorable jack-o-lantern stickers on portholes. Each ship gets a full H alloween Disney cruise  makeover with tons of beautiful touches that are sure to put you in the Halloween spirit !

Specialty Character Sightings and Unique Character Costumes

You can catch Micky, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto, along with Chip & Dale dressed up in their Halloween Best! In recent years Disney Cruise Line has gotten creative with the character costumes garnishing some much-deserved attention. In 2022, it was announced that Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle were going to dress in costume as the three Sanderson Sisters from the Disney cult classic, Hocus Pocus. This created so much buzz that the trio was also introduced to land lovers at Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash.

Related Post: Disney Cruise Cost Per Person 

What is the Cost of Halloween at the High Seas vs. a Typical Disney Cruise?

With all of the extra activities and perks of H alloween on the High Seas itinerary , you’re probably wondering if it’s more expensive than a normal sailing. And while themed cruises can be slightly more expensive in terms of cost, it depends on other factors of your cruise. When it comes to Disney Cruise Line, the factors that determine the price of your cruise are your sale date, ports of call, and occupancy. So it could work out that your  H alloween on the High Seas  sailing could be just as much or a little less than a normal sailing. Not so favorably, spooky season coincides with Hurricane Season. This is typically the time cruises are less booked and you can find a cheaper price.

What Disney Cruise Ships have Halloween on the High Seas?

Almost every ship in the Disney fleet has a H alloween on the High Seas itinerary . The only ship that doesn’t partake in the celebration is the Disney Wonder. This is because, during this time of the year, the ship is setting sail from different ports around Australia.

Related Post: What is the Best Disney Cruise Ship? 

Packing and Experience Tips & Tricks for a Disney Halloween Cruise

Knowing what to pack for a cruise is an essential part of going on one. Not only will you need your typical vacation items, but you’ll also need things like your passport, cash, a waterproof lanyard, and other items specific to a cruise. Now add in going on a H alloween Disney cruise  on top of that, and your list can get pretty long! Now we aren’t saying you need to bring an additional suitcase, but one must have in your suitcase for your  D isney Halloween cruise  is your costume!

Pack your Halloween Costume

Nothing screams Halloween like dressing up in a costume. And that’s no different on the Disney Cruise Line! Guests are encouraged to wear costumes to Halloween events throughout the sailing. If you’re wondering or concerned about a specific costume, you can find the DCL Costume Guide here . If you don’t have room in your bag for two costumes, don’t worry! There will still be a Pirate Night on H alloween on the High Seas  sailings. You can wear your pirate garb for both events!

Decorate your Stateroom Door with Halloween Themed Magnets

It is tradition to decorate your stateroom door for any Disney Cruise. However, with a D isney Halloween cruise , you can find doors decorated even more than normal! I have three words for you, go all out. If you think you’re doing too much, I promise you you’re not. There are even Facebook groups for individual sailings where you can connect with guests on your cruise to discuss door decor! Make sure to use magnets or bring them for your decorations as the stateroom doors are made of metal.

Related Post: Discounted Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Tickets

Disney Cruise Line’s Halloween on the High Seas FAQ

Q: Which Disney Ships have Halloween?

A: Almost every ship in the Disney fleet has a H alloween on the High Seas itinerary . You can set sail for Halloween on the Magic, Fantasy, Dream, and Wish. The only ship that doesn’t partake in the celebration is the Disney Wonder.

Q: Why doesn’t the Disney Wonder have Halloween on the High Seas?

A: During the Halloween season, Disney Wonder’s new global position is in Australia. September and October are the months this ship sets sail on the newest destinations in the Southern Hemisphere.

Q: Is Halloween on the High Seas Worth it?

A: This is completely up to you and based on individual vacation needs. But in my experience, it is completely worth it! The Disney Cruise Line fleet is beautiful and each ship is unique. There is nothing like having that beauty transformed for a special holiday. If your schedule allows for it, we highly recommend you try a Disney Halloween cruise .

Q: Do Halloween Cruises still have Pirate Night?

A: Yes! Every cruise will still have a Pirate Night regardless of its theme. On shorter sailings, Pirate Night can sometimes be held on the same night as another main event. For example, short Halloween sailings will take place on the same night as the main Halloween Mouse-quarade event.

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our  Disney  World Crowd Calendar   is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down   the best time to visit Disney World   based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a   Disney World Travel Agent   for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a  Free Quote   for all   Disney World Vacation Packages .  The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your   Walt Disney World Tickets ,  and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as   Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets   and  Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets .

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at  Theme Park Today ,  as well!

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Kurt Gillman

Kurt is a former Disneyland Cast Member and seasoned explorer and is your trusted guide to the world of theme park travel. With countless visits to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, Tokyo Disneyland, and even aboard the Disney Cruise Line, Kurt's expertise and passion make him the perfect companion for your enchanting adventures. As the Multi-Media Manager, Content Creator and Writer for The Park Prodigy, Kurt hopes his experience and knowledge of the theme park industry can not only save people money, but give them the stress free vacation of their dreams. If he isn’t found trying the newest treats in Disneyland, Kurt enjoys relaxing at home with his dog Sam and playing video games with friends in his free time.

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Home » Cruise » Disney Cruise Line » Everything You Need to Know About Halloween on the High Seas With Disney Cruise Line

Everything You Need to Know About Halloween on the High Seas With Disney Cruise Line

If you're considering a Halloween on the High Seas cruise, we share everything you need to know about this Disney Cruise Line event.

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There’s a lot to look forward to when you’re setting sail with Disney Cruise Line . But, if you’re traveling in September or October, there’s even more to get excited about because you’ll be celebrating Halloween with Disney!

Halloween on the High Seas is available on select dates and ships around the holiday. It brings all your favorite things about the spooky season to your Disney cruise. From characters dressed up in Halloween costumes, to trick or treating, to an entire night dedicated to all things Halloween, there’s so much more to do and see on these specialty cruises.

So, whether you’re deciding if you should book a Halloween on the High Seas cruise or if you’ve already got your itinerary set, we’re bringing you everything you need to know about this Disney Cruise Line event – let’s get to it!

Call to Book Your Next Cruise Now: 1-855-228-5584!

What is Halloween on the High Seas?

Halloween on the High Seas is a special event cruise exclusive to Disney Cruise Line during the Halloween season. This themed sailing brings the fun of Halloween to guests on select cruises across the entire Disney Cruise Line fleet. These events typically takes place on select cruises between September through October.

While you can enjoy all of the traditional Disney Cruise Line activities during these sailings, there’s even more to do during Halloween on the High Seas! Daily activities include Halloween crafts, Halloween movie presentations, meet and greets with characters dressed up in Halloween costumes, and more.

Plus, one night of your itinerary features Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party where you’ll get to meet more characters, bust a move during a dance party, trick-or-treat, and take in all the Halloween fun.

In addition to these activities, you’ll also be treated to holiday-themed foods, decorations, and other events throughout the ship. Of course, each ship and itinerary may feature its own kind of fun, but the basics of this special cruise remain the same no matter where you are sailing.

When To Book

If you want to experience Halloween on the High Seas with Disney Cruise Line, it’s important to know when to book your trip. These special-themed cruises are only available on select sail dates in September and October each year.

You should book your Halloween on the High Seas cruise as early as possible to ensure availability and get the best prices . Disney Cruise Line typically releases itineraries and opens bookings about 18 months in advance. So, keep an eye out for announcements and plan accordingly.

If you’re a frequent cruiser with Disney Cruise Line, you may be eligible for early booking opportunities and discounts. Disney Cruise Line also offers special rates for military personnel, Florida residents, and Disney Vacation Club members.

When booking your Halloween on the High Seas cruise, be sure to consider your preferred port of departure , itinerary, and cabin type . Prices can vary depending on these factors, so do your research and compare options to find the best fit for your budget and preferences.

Cost of Halloween on the High Seas vs. Other Disney Cruises

If you’re considering booking a Disney Cruise, you may be wondering how much more it will cost to sail on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise compared to a typical Disney Cruise.

The cost of a Halloween on the High Seas cruise can vary depending on the itinerary, length of the cruise, and stateroom category. However, in general, you can expect to pay a premium for Halloween on the High Seas.

For example, a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy departing on August 31st, 2024, starts at $1,638 per person for a standard oceanview stateroom. But, the same itinerary departing on October 28th, 2024, for the Halloween on the High Seas sailing starts at $1,701 per person for a standard inside stateroom. That’s a difference of $63 per person, or $252 for a family of four.

While the cost difference may not be significant for some, it’s important to consider your budget and what you’re willing to pay for the Halloween-themed activities and decorations.

If you’re on a tight budget, it may be worth skipping the Halloween on the High Seas cruise and opting for a typical Disney Cruise instead. However, if you’re a Halloween enthusiast and want to experience the spooky fun at sea, then the premium may be worth it for you.

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Get Deals on Your Next Disney Cruise!

Decorations and Atmosphere

When you set sail on a Halloween on the High Seas Disney Cruise, you’ll be welcomed by a ship decked out with spooky decorations and a festive atmosphere. The grand atrium is home to the centerpiece of the Halloween decorations – the pumpkin tree! The giant tree features dozens of glowing jack-o’-lanterns and is one of the most popular spots to grab a photo.

Throughout the ship, you’ll also notice fall garlands, pumpkins, and spider webs. Plus, all of the portholes in the main guest areas feature silhouettes of Disney villains and other Halloween icons.

And, if the decorations aren’t enough to get you in the mood, guests are encouraged to dress up for Halloween themselves. So, you’ll be surrounded by the Halloween spirit everywhere you go!

Halloween on the High Seas Activities

Perhaps the most popular aspect of Halloween on the High Seas with Disney Cruise Line is the signature activities! These specialty activities are only available during the Halloween-themed cruises, so you’ll be able to do something you otherwise wouldn’t on any other cruise!

Awakening the Pumpkin Tree

One of the highlights of the Halloween on the High Seas cruise is the Awakening of the Pumpkin Tree. This is a special ceremony where the ship’s pumpkin tree comes to life, complete with twinkling lights and a spooky face. It’s a great way to kick off the Halloween festivities and is usually only on the first two days of the cruise.

Mickey’s Mouse-querade

For a fun-filled evening, don’t miss Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party. This event is perfect for the whole family, with games, dancing, and plenty of candy. And of course, Mickey and friends will be there in their Halloween costumes!

Halloween-Themed Disney Character Meet-and-Greets

During the Halloween on the High Seas cruise, you’ll have the opportunity to meet some of your favorite Disney characters in their Halloween costumes. From Jack Skellington to Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle dressed up as the Sanderson Sisters, there are plenty of spooky characters to take photos with.

Halloween Crafts

If you’re feeling crafty, there are plenty of Halloween-themed arts and crafts to enjoy during the cruise as well. From pumpkin decorating to mask-making to button-making and more, there’s something for everyone. Keep in mind that these activities are geared towards younger kids; however, anyone is welcome to participate

Halloween Movie Screenings

For a more relaxed evening, why not settle in for a Halloween movie? The ship’s movie theater shows a variety of Disney Halloween films throughout the cruise including family-friendly classics to more frightening options for adults.

Adults-Only Halloween Dance Party

For the grown-ups, there’s an adults-only Halloween dance party featuring the Disney Villains. This is a great opportunity to let loose and enjoy some grown-up fun, with plenty of spooky surprises in store.

Specialty Food and Drinks

In addition to all of the activities and decorations, there’s also a lot to eat during your Halloween on the High Seas cruise…and it’s all themed! From spooky cocktails to themed treats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Each day, you can expect to find a new Halloween-themed cocktail on the menu in addition to a non-alcoholic option. Note that these are not included in the standard cruise rate, so you will have to pay an additional cost to enjoy them.

For those with more of a sweet tooth, there are plenty of themed treats to indulge in too! Some popular options from past Halloween on the High Seas cruises include the Jack Skellington Chocolate Mousse, the Mickey Mouse Halloween Cupcake, and the Haunted Mansion Cake Pop. These can usually be found in the dedicated treat shop on your Disney cruise ship and are an additional cost.

Which Disney ships offer Halloween on the High Seas?

Disney Cruise Line offers Halloween on the High Seas on select sail dates across four of their ships: Disney Wish , Disney Magic, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy. The sail dates vary by ship and port, so it’s best to check the sailing calendar when booking your cruise to ensure that you can participate in this spooky celebration.

Currently, Halloween on the High Seas is not available on the Disney Wonder or the upcoming Disney Treasure.

Does Halloween on the High Seas have a pirate night?

Yes, Halloween on the High Seas includes a pirate night, which is a staple of Disney Cruise Line’s regular itineraries. On this night, guests can dress up in their best pirate attire and enjoy a variety of pirate-themed activities. These include a deck party, fireworks, and a special dining experience.

Keep in mind that pirate night is separate from the Halloween festivities. In fact, it occurs on a completely different night during the cruise.

Is Halloween on the High Seas worth it?

If you’re a fan of Halloween, Disney, and cruising, then you’ll likely find that Halloween on the High Seas is worth the extra cost for you and your family. This special event offers a wide range of activities and experiences that are only available during the Halloween season. From trick-or-treating and character meet-and-greets to themed parties and spooky décor, what’s not to love.

However, if you’re someone who doesn’t celebrate Halloween or is traveling on a smaller budget, you may want to consider other Disney Cruise Line itineraries.

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All About Halloween On The High Seas – Disney Cruise Line

A Disney cruise is amazing any time of year, but especially during spooky season. In September and October, guests can set sail for Halloween at the High Seas, a special themed cruise featuring everything from Disney characters in costume and trick-or-treating to autumn-inspired arts & crafts and an adults-only party guest-starring the Disney Villains.  

But what else does this frightfully fun cruise have in store, and is it worth it for your next family vacation? We booked a stateroom on the Disney Dream to find out. Put on your bewitching best and read on as we dig into all the treats a Disney Halloween cruise has to offer, as well as a few tricks to help you make the most of it.

Celebrating Halloween on the High Seas

So, which Disney cruise ship has Halloween on the High Seas? Where does a Halloween Disney cruise go? When do Disney Cruise Line Halloween festivities begin? Here are all the devilish details. 

Disney Cruise Ships With Halloween on the High Seas

While we got into the spooky spirit on the Disney Dream, every Disney cruise ship takes part in Halloween on the High Seas, even the all-new Disney Wish. Each ship has its own scream-worthy setting especially for the season, including a unique Pumpkin Tree that serves as the centerpiece of the festivities.  

Departure Ports & Destinations Visited on a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise

Think of Halloween on the High Seas more like a costume for your Disney cruise ship than a completely themed cruise. In other words, don’t expect a stop in Salem, Massachusetts, port adventures like ghost tours or a pop-up haunted house on Castaway Cay. 

Rather, Disney Halloween cruises depart from several of the same ports as regular Disney Cruise Line sailings, including Port Canaveral and Miami in Florida, San Diego in California, and New York City. Halloween on the High Seas cruises also visit many of Disney Cruise Line’s most popular destinations, from fair-weathered voyages to Bermuda, the Bahamas, Mexico, and the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean or through the Panama Canal to cold-weather cruises to Canada.

Cost of Halloween at the High Seas vs. a Typical Disney Cruise

You might be wondering if Halloween on the High Seas is more expensive than a typical Disney cruise. That depends on a few factors. While many themed Disney cruises can cost a little more than normal, factors like where you are sailing or which ship you are on can actually earn you a deal. 

With sailings departing in September and October, many of Disney’s Halloween on the High Seas cruises go to the Caribbean, where spooky season sadly coincides with hurricane season, in search of warmer weather. Fortunately, as long as you can get past the overall uncertainty that comes with cruising during this occasionally treacherous time, you can sail away with quite a savings . 

You may also notice that certain Disney cruise ships or ports are more in demand than others. As a result, Disney Cruise Line may drop the price for less popular departures, including Halloween on the High Seas sailings. So, you could save a buck or two if you are more flexible on the itinerary.  

Halloween on the High Seas Sail Dates 

Disney Cruise Line Halloween sailings start in mid-September and continue through the end of October, with the last cruises departing on October 31. Itineraries are offered from several different departure ports to a variety of popular destinations, from short 3-night jaunts to longer 5-night tours. 

Why Do a Disney Cruise, Halloween Style

A Disney Halloween on the High Seas cruise is as jam-packed with fun as a trick-or-treat bag bursting with candy. Once onboard, you’ll find enough autumn-inspired activities and enchanting events to keep you up long into the night – both from the Halloween candy sugar rush you’re sure to get and the sheer number of things that is available to do. 

Fang-tastic Halloween Decorations

One of the most charming parts about Halloween on the High Seas is the magical décor. From fiery garlands of autumn leaves to character-inspired pumpkins to adorable jack-o-lantern stickers on the ship’s massive portholes, each ship gets decked out with tons of boo-tiful touches that are sure to put you in the Halloween spirit. 

The highlight of these All Hallows’ Eve decorations, however, is each ship’s signature Pumpkin Tree. Designed to have its own unique face, personality and even name (the one on the Disney Dream is named Grim, while those on the Fantasy, Wonder and Magic are respectively called Mucklebones, Bog and Reap), the Pumpkin Trees are said to keep the spirit of Halloween.

With the introduction of the Disney Wish, this quartet of terrifying trees also got a sister. Named Boo, this elegant Pumpkin Tree has willowy branches heavy with glittering jack-o-lanterns, lighter bark and a graceful face, and once grew the fated gourd that would carry Cinderella to the ball. 

Tricks, Treats & Enchanted Entertainment

Halloween on the High Seas means all sorts of spirited special events, along with the many typical activities that are available on a regular Disney cruise. Cruising with Disney during spooky season can even mean double the fun, as many of these spine-tingling sailings also include the ever-popular Pirate Night in their itinerary. 

When you aren’t showing off your trivia skills, sunbathing by the pool or channeling your inner swashbuckler, here are the many haunted happenings you can enjoy during Halloween on the High Seas with Disney.

Awakening the Pumpkin Tree

The Pumpkin Tree on each Disney cruise ship is so much more than just an elaborate centerpiece. It also serves as the opening act for the entire Halloween on the High Seas celebration. On the first night, you’ll be treated to storytime by the tree’s caretaker, who tells the tale of the Pumpkin Tree. 

Then, it’s time to light the tree’s jack-o-lanterns, which continue to glow for the rest of the trip, making for a can’t-miss photo backdrop. This dazzling display sets the tone for the rest of the cruise’s Halloween festivities and shouldn’t be missed. 

Mickey’s Mouse-querade

It wouldn’t be Halloween with Disney without a costume party. Mickey’s Mouse-querade is a spooktacular scare-a-bration starring much-loved Disney characters in full Halloween costumes. If you’d rather not do meet-and-greets, this can be a great way to see your favorite characters show off their frightful finest without spending a ton of time waiting around in line. 

Equally as fun is seeing the many creative costumes donned by your fellow cruise guests. From jack-o-lantern t-shirts to clever DisneyBounding takes to extravagant group costumes, you’ll see it all. Make sure to wear your own costume and join the mouse-querade.

Halloween-Themed Disney Character Meet-and-Greets

Disney characters do meet-and-greets throughout your cruise and could even change outfits each time they appear. While it is possible to see your favorites in their bone-chilling best at other points during the cruise, the main time characters will wear their Halloween costumes is on the night of Mickey’s Mouse-querade. 

For character chasers, these meet-and-greets are a must. Thankfully, with the exception of characters like Minnie, Daisy and Clarabelle as the Sanderson Sisters of Hocus Pocus fame and The Nightmare Before Christmas ’s Jack and Sally, to a slightly lesser extent, meet-and-greet lines typically aren’t that long. That said, for these more popular characters, you may want to jump in line early or risk missing out if the line gets cut. 

Those dressing up like or who share a costume with a particular character definitely won’t want to give these meet-and-greets a miss. For our cruise, my sister, sister-in-law and I DisneyBounded as the Sanderson Sisters, so we made it a point to meet Minnie, Daisy and Clarabelle during their very first appearance. Without a doubt, the pantomimed conversations we had over our shared costumes were some of the most magical moments of our cruise. 

Spookalicious Sweet Treats and Other Festive Eats

No Halloween is complete without some trick-or-treating, and the same goes for Disney’s Halloween on the High Seas. On the Disney Dream, crew members passed out generous handfuls of the good stuff along a makeshift trick-or-treat trail through Cabanas. And don’t worry about needing to pack your own bag to store your stash – trick-or-treat bags are left in your stateroom earlier that day. 

But, those aren’t the only Halloween eats on offer during this cursed cruise. For dinner in the main dining rooms on the night of Mickey’s Mouse-querade, your table will even tuck into some Chocolate Spider Cake (don’t worry, it isn’t actually made of cocoa-y arachnids). 

Your cruise ship’s culinary team also cooks up a buffet of bewitching bites all cruise long. Spine-chilling sweets like cookies, cupcakes, meringues and more (hello, pumpkin spice!) are on offer at the ship’s casual buffet restaurant, certain lounges and the onboard sweetshop. Just keep an eye out for the special Halloween signs. 

Haunted Hands-On Activities

One of the best parts of Halloween is getting your hands dirty making jack-o-lanterns. In the spirit of this Halloween tradition, cruisers can also try their hand at a number of autumn-inspired activities. 

From creepy cooking demonstrations to arts & crafts to terrifying trivia, there’s something spooky to do for everyone. Little cruisers can even enjoy extra-special Halloween arts and crafts activities especially for them, such as face painting and pumpkin carving.

Spine-tingling Ghost Stories and Movie Screenings 

Does your family love a good ghost story? Or perhaps you can’t celebrate Halloween without watching the latest frightful flick? Well, you’re in luck. 

Along with showings of favorite Disney Halloween movies on the Funnel Vision screen – Hocus Pocus 2 had just premiered during our cruise and played multiple times during our trip – guests can also enjoy Haunted Stories of the Sea, told beneath the stars by a mysterious sea captain, and The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream, an interactive movie singalong. 

Exclusive Halloween on the High Seas Merchandise

Disney never misses out on a merchandising opportunity, Halloween on the High Seas included. In addition to regular Disney Cruise Line souvenirs, cruisers also have access to special Halloween-themed items created especially for the event, including apparel, pins, mugs and more. 

As a result, scary swag can be quite the hot ticket, and it isn’t unheard of for things to sell out before the cruise is through. So, if you see something you like, buy it sooner rather than later or risk missing out. 

Halloween Isn’t Just for Kids

Just like Disney Cruise Line isn’t only for families, you don’t need to be a kiddo to get into the spooky spirit during Halloween at the High Seas. On the night of Mickey’s Mouse-querade, the Disney Villains run amuck in the adults-only part of the ship during a ghoulishly grown-up Halloween party. 

Sadly, don’t expect them to hang around too long. After all, they’ve got places to be and people to terrorize. Still, their steamy dance appearance is sure to cast a spell. With the villains out of the way, it’s time for a comical (and highly competitive) costume party followed by music and dancing. 

On the Disney Dream, this was a silent dance party, which, if you’ve never experienced one before, is both weird and hilarious. Most people weren’t into it and, besides a few lurkers laughing at folks on the floor dancing like no one was watching, the place cleared out pretty quickly after the last award was announced. Still, the costume contest was a ton of fun. 

Packing Tips & Experience Tricks for a Spook-tacular Disney Halloween Cruise  

Hoping to make the most of your Halloween on the High Seas experience? These suggestions are sure to take your cruise from ordinary to hex-traordinary. 

Don’t Forget Your Costume

Dressing up in costume is a Halloween tradition for a reason – it’s undeniably fun! While you don’t need to don anything too extravagant (even a Halloween t-shirt or creative DisneyBound will do), getting in costume will help put you in the appropriate spirit. If you’re anything like us, you’ll also love seeing everyone else on the cruise in their frightening finery. 

Worried that you won’t have enough room in your suitcase for two costumes? Just double up and don your pirate attire twice – you’ll save space without having to skip out on the fun. Consider swapping out your swashbuckling accessories or trading with cabinmates to keep your costume feeling fresh. Just be sure that you follow the rules. Certain types of masks are prohibited, as are some prop weapons.

Give Your Door a Pixie-dusted Halloween Makeover 

Expert Disney cruisers decorate their stateroom doors. Not only does this make it easier to pick your room out of the lineup of generic doors, but the extra pixie dust is sure to put a smile on your face each time you return “home.” 

Stateroom doors are metal, so we recommend using magnets to create your décor. DIY your own or buy some premade off of Etsy – go for a Halloween theme or a general Disney design. If you forget to plan ahead, you might even be able to find some in one of the ship’s onboard gift shops. 

Dress Up Your Stateroom with Spell-binding Décor 

Don’t confine the Halloween vibes to your stateroom door. For the ultimate spine-chilling experience, consider decorating inside your room, too. If you don’t mind having to set it up, BYOD (bring your own decorations) and save some cash. Or, splurge and arrange to have Disney decorate your room for you. Sure, it’s expensive. But, the surprise of walking into your scream-worthy room for the very first time will be worth it. 

Commemorate Your Disney Halloween Cruise with Plenty of Pictures

You’ll find no shortage of photo opportunities on a Disney cruise. And with everyone all dressed up for Halloween with nowhere to go except around the ship, it’s the perfect time to strike a pose. 

Use the scream-worthy decorations as a festive photo backdrop, snap a pic alongside your favorite Disney characters in their Halloween best or take advantage of the ship’s dedicated photoshoot spots. Manned by professional photographers, these mini-photo studios boast bewitching backgrounds and monstrously fun Magic Shots for the cruise’s official Halloween party night. 

Refer to the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App for Daily Halloween Happenings 

There’s so much going on during your Halloween Disney cruise that it can be tricky to keep it all straight. To make things easy, take advantage of the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. Similar to My Disney Experience or the Disneyland app , the Navigator lists out the various activities that are available and lets you bookmark anything that sounds appealing. Then, simply wait for the reminder around 15 minutes before the event starts. 

Well, that wraps up our guide to Halloween on the High Seas with Disney Cruise Line. Have you been on a Disney Halloween cruise? What is your favorite part of this spirited sailing? Let us know in the comments! Then, learn how to save on your next Disney cruise.  

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What Is Disney Cruise Line’s Pirate Night All About?

When you cruise with Disney Cruise Line, most itineraries have one night during the voyage that’s dedicated to the “Pirates IN the Caribbean.” A pirate-themed dinner is followed by a deck party featuring Captain Hook, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Captain Mickey and the evening concludes with fireworks at sea.

Guests are encouraged to bring costumes from home, but fear not, if you forget or weren’t aware of Pirate Night prior to your sailing, the gift shops aboard the ships sell full costumes for the littlest cruisers, T-Shirts for the adults, and all kinds of pirate accessories for everyone in the family.

Pirates League packages are also available (on Pirate Night only) at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique onboard for young guests ages 3-12 who are looking to transform into pillaging pirates. Parents should be sure to set up appointments right away once onboard as they do fill up quickly.

Your stateroom attendant typically leaves a Mickey Mouse pirate bandana for each member of your party along with some chocolate gold coins to kick off the evening. Guests can wear the bandana as a simple costume if they don’t want to get too dressed up for the festivities. We should note that you are not required to dress up at all; it’s completely up to you.

A pirate-themed dinner with a special menu is part of your  main dining room rotation  and will take place in whichever restaurant you’re scheduled to dine at on Pirate Night . Your servers will be dressed up in swashbucklin’ garb and will speak like pirates, too! Pirate Night is a good opportunity for repeat cruisers or those who don’t care for the Pirate menu to enjoy premium dining at Palo or Remy depending on which Disney ship you are on.

ARTICLE: Not Everyone Hates the Pirate Night Menu on Disney Cruise Line

The Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party is not to be missed. Check the DCL app for the listed time, as it will depend on your seating time for dinner. You can watch the full performance in the video below.

The perfect finish to Pirate Night is Buccaneer Blast – DCL’s fireworks show at sea! Whether you have the first or second seating for dinner, head to the pool deck and find a spot to view the fireworks show. This is a cruise industry first and can only be seen from the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Though the show is not as long as the fireworks shows you see at the Disney theme parks , it is amazing and a must-see! Take a look at the video below to see the whole show.

On the Disney Wish , Pirate Night will have a rock and roll twist!

Hosted by Captain Redd — a descendent of the famous red-headed rogue from the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park attractions —  Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party  will feature live music, remarkable stunts, special effects and plenty of surprises. Throughout the party, she and her band of head-banging buccaneers will perform famous radio hits from the genre, plus a rockin’ rendition of the classic pirate tune “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me).” When Redd assembles a fearsome council of captains, including the notorious scoundrel Captain Jack Sparrow, they’ll unlock a sparkling treasure that lights the night sky: a fantastic fireworks display underscored by an original arrangement of the sensational soundtrack from the Walt Disney Studios Pirates in the Caribbean films.

About Post Author

Jackie Gailey

Senior Editor at The DIS and DCL Fan | Disney Vacation Club Member | Thrilled to have been a ’13/’14 Disney Parks Moms Panelist (now planDisney) | Lover of all things Disney; the Magic of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line | ºoº

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Disney Magic Cruise Pirate Night — Everything You Need to Know

By Wendy Leave a Comment

If you’re going on a Disney Cruise , there’s something you should be warned about…

Captain Hook and Mr. Smee on the Disney Magic

Or maybe I should put it this way: BE YE WARNED , me hearties, because your ship — specifically, the Disney Magic — may be taken over by PIRATES, and they’ll want YOU to join their crew! So we’re here to walk you through EVERYTHING you need to know about Pirate Night on the Disney Magic so YOU don’t walk the plank!

Pirates IN the Caribbean Deck Party

On Disney Cruise Line, Pirate Night can vary from ship to ship. For instance, on the new Disney Wish , passengers experience the Pirates Rockin’ Parlay Party .  Here on the Disney Magic… well, you’ve heard of Pirates of the Caribbean, right? The highlight of Pirate Night on Disney’s first ship to ever set sail is the Pirates IN the Caribbean Deck Party !

Pirate Night

You’ll gather with your fellow pirates on the pool deck for a nighttime party like no other. Disney pals and crew will entertain you with a show and teach YOU how to party like a pirate! But beware…

They may be joined onstage by some uninvited scoundrels and scallywags! From this point… well, I don’t want to spoil things. Let’s just say that someone very special just may show up to save the night.

Pirate Mickey

The entire thing is capped off by something Disney Cruise Line is known for: FIREWORKS AT SEA !

Now we pirates don’t like rules, do we??? HECK, NO! Still, we must remind that fireworks are weather-permitting.

Also, be aware that Pirate Night is part of select sailings, so check your itinerary on the Disney Cruise Line website, or with help from your Travel Agent .

Disney Characters and Costumes

The fun starts even before the sun sets on Pirate Night! As the ship prepares for the party, Disney characters prepare in their own way… by donning their best PIRATE COSTUMES so you can get a hug and have your photo taken with the cutest band of pirates you ever did see.

The Disney Pals Pirate Crew

Doesn’t Daisy make an especially pretty pirate?

Pirate Daisy

(Not to leave out Pirate Minnie, of course!)

Pirate Minnie

But here’s the thing… Disney pals aren’t the only ones who get to gear up with gold hoop earrings, tricorn hats, striped shirts and socks, and… umm, HOOKS.

Captain Hook

You see, passengers are likewise encouraged to dress for the occasion ! And you won’t believe how many guests go ALL OUT for the big night.

Didn’t pack any pirate garb? That’s ok, matey! Disney Cruise Line has you covered, as every guest on the ship receives their very own Pirates in the Caribbean bandana to fit right in. (If you really won’t feel like your look is complete without an eye patch, though… you’re on your own.)

Pirate Eats

Of course, a pirate’s gotta eat to be ready to party, so Pirate Night features a special menu for dinner at each of the Main Dining restaurants .

Rapunzel’s Royal Table

On the Disney Magic, these are Rapunzel’s Royal Table, Lumiere’s , and Animator’s Palate . But don’t you fret… no matter where you are dining on Pirate Night in Disney Cruise Line’s signature Rotational Dining , the special Pirate Night menu will be served.

Roasted Privateer Strip Loin

Pictured above is the Roasted Privateer Strip Loin served with thyme-roasted potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding. Though subject to change, other options may include dishes like Jolly Rogers Barbecue Rib Salad, Vegetable Samosas, Pirates Gold-en Pot Stickers and Chilled-to-the-Bone Honeydew Melon and Watermelon Soup. Oh, and you’ll likely spy Rum-Soaked Chocolate Cake as one of the dessert choices, of course. AHOY!

Pirate-y Extras

Pirate Night fun extends beyond dinner and the deck party onboard the Disney Magic! You might join in on Pirate Trivia or a themed game show as one of the many onboard activities.

Get a little GOOFY on Pirate Night!

Lil’ Pirates may enjoy pirate-themed activities at their own dedicated clubs (like Disney’s Oceaneer Club or Oceaneer Lab for kids ages 3 – 12 years old).

Oceaneer Club

No matter which activities you’d like to participate in, you can refer to the free Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to find times and locations.

©Disney Cruise Line

Didn’t have enough to eat at dinner? (HA! Like that would ever happen on a Disney Cruise…) Your itinerary might include a special late-night buffet following the deck party on Pirate Night ! (Your attentive server will let you know at dinner, if that’s the case.)

Cabanas Buffet on the Disney Magic

Oh, and you may just find another pirate has joined you as you finally head into your stateroom to dream of the treasure chest full of memories you’ve made during your perfectly pirate-y day at sea…

Pirate Night Towel Animal

So, I guess there’s just one question to ask at this point: AAAAARRRRR ye ready to set sail on a Disney Cruise and channel your inner PIRATE?

If so, you can reach out to our friends over at  Small World Vacations! They can help answer your questions and take the stress out of booking your next Disney cruise vacation!

Get the Magic started and complete a request for a price quote. An agent will review your travel preferences and provide you with a no-obligation quote along with their phone number so you can talk with them.

What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line

Learn all about disney cruise line and its various ships, explore disney’s mega cruise ship – the wish, a full list of what you can’t bring on a disney cruise, these are the best times to book your disney cruise, the best ways to save space in your tiny cruise cabin, 10 things you need on your next cruise (that you won’t think to pack), what it’s like to live on a cruise ship for 6 months, join the dfb newsletter to get all the latest disney news delivered right to your inbox click here to subscribe, trending now.

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Disney Cruise Pirate Night

Last Updated on August 25, 2021

Everyone booking a Caribbean Disney Cruise knows that there is a Pirate Night following the Day at Sea, but what is a Pirate Night?

With bookings becoming available, we are showcasing all the amazing things families will experience on their perfect Disney Cruise holiday.

Fall 2021 Bookings

While each voyage’s activity schedule can vary and is always subject to change, typically there is one deck party that begins after the second dinner seating, so usually around 9:00 PM.  

Your dinner will be pirate-themed, as will all the Cast Members so your entire day at sea will get you in the mood for Pirate Night. If you are second seating, you won’t have a problem doing it all. You can explore the Pirate Games and Deck party before dinner, and be back in time for the 9:45 pm (ish) Fireworks. Disney wouldn’t plan anything without thinking of how everyone can experience it.

Know what to expect before you go

Mickey’s pirates in the caribbean.

Mickey’s Pirates in The Caribbean is a show set on the stage of Deck 11. Mickey Mouse is the head of the group and he comes out with some of his Disney friends in order to show everyone what it takes to be a pirate.

Buccaneer Blast

Buccaneer Blast is a live-action pirate showdown between the good guys and villains, which culminates with a spectacular display of fireworks at sea like only Disney can do!

For the best views, situate yourself on the RIGHT side of the ship if you are facing toward the front of the ship. The best place to watch the fireworks is on the upper deck.

Club Pirate

Club Pirate is an open-air dance party for the whole family.

Don’t forget to bring pirate clothes/costumes

As we did Disney Cruise on our honeymoon and I was too busy planning on the land portion of our Land and Sea holiday, we didn’t have costumes… which meant we were just about the only people on the ship that wasn’t dressed up.

Maybe I’m exaggerating, but there were very few of us in street clothes and way too many pirates on deck. We were outnumbered

Get photos of Mickey and the gang in their best Pirate Costume

I love getting pictures with the same character, but in a different costume. I love collecting pictures. So when the Daily Navigator said I would see Chip and Dale, Stitch and Mickey Mouse in their Pirate-y best, I knew I would wait in line as long as I needed to (it wasn’t long at all).

Late-night pirate buffet

After all the festivities, the buffet will be open to Pirate themed eats and treats. While we partied, the staff put out the buffet. There is more than enough for everyone and they constantly refill it, but we do suggest you get there sooner rather than later. Just in case.

Book the The Pirates League in advance

The Pirates League is part of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and is only available on Pirate Night days. Instead of being transformed into a beautiful princess (or prince) you are transformed into a pillaging, plundering pirate! Boys, girls, teens, and adults can all enjoy this fun experience.

Prices range from $44.95 for First Mate and Empress Packages, to $99.95 for Deluxe Maiden Package and Captain Packages

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Disney Cruise Pirate Night- Fireworks on Disney Cruise Line Ships

Pirate Night is a Pirates themed day on the Disney Cruise Line ships that ends with a spectacular fireworks show! Pirate Night is included on all Disney Cruise ships and is a popular event especially for Pirates of the Caribbean fans.

Pirates Night starts off with Pirates of the Caribbean themed music playing in the ship with Pirate themed character greetings, themed food, games, and of course, the fireworks show. Pirates Night is a fun event for families and many guests get into the spirit with full pirate outfits!

Keep reading for all the details on Pirates Night on the Disney Cruise Line including my recent experience celebrating Pirates Night on the Disney Dream which included special themed characters, a pirate deck show and fireworks! This was a cool event to experience especially to see how dedicated Disney Cruise guests are to celebrating the event.

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Disney Cruise Line Pirate Night

Pirate Night includes a pirate-themed dinner, show and deck party, fireworks, plus a variety of pirate inspired experiences throughout the day!

You might even see Disney characters dressed in their best pirate gear. But one highlight for many guests will be the chance to meet Jack Sparrow as he is often a big part of Pirate Night on the Disney Cruise!

Each guest receives a party bandana but we saw so many guests decked out in full pirate gear- adults and kids alike! Disney Cruisers go all out for themed events. It had us wishing we had more than just the included bandana but it was still a fun touch.

The Pirate Night fun starts with a family game show in the afternoon and many of the activities at the youth clubs will be pirate themed!

Pirate Night Themed Dining

Dinner in your main dining restaurant for the night will be Pirate themed with all the servers dressed in their pirate best and ready to greet you you in their ‘Pirate' accents.

The themed menu resembles a treasure map and options include the Jolly Rogers Barbecue Rib Salad or Pirates Gold-en Pot Stickers or even Chilled-to-the-Bone Honeydew Melon and Watermelon Soup.

Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party

The Pirates in the Caribbean deck party will include a dance off and singalong with pirates and interactive games. Kids will love this sing along and we saw families really loving this experience.

Teens might not be as impressed by this show as it definitely felt like it was geared towards children 12 and under. My son was a bit antsy during it and wasn't too impressed. But the show does pick up when Jack Sparrow makes an appearance!

After Jack Sparrow joins the stage, the show does pick up a bit for adults and teens as this is a fan favorite character with many Disney fans.

Pirate Night Fireworks

The Pirates Night show ends with fireworks above the Disney Cruise line ship. Keep in mind that fireworks are weather permitting and could be postponed or cancelled if there are high winds.

During our Pirate Night, there were high winds and our show still took place which surprised me! I think it takes some serious weather to cancel these events which is great news for fans.

You can see the fireworks well from nearly any vantage point on the top deck but those on the upper most level did have the best view. They were also more exposed to the wind and the preference of many guests was to sit on the deck by the stage.

Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party on the Disney Wish

Pirate Night on the Disney Wish is a bit different than the other Disney Cruise ships! This show on the top deck features live music, stunts, special effects, and other surprises.

This show also features Captain Redd, a descendent of the famous red-headed rogue from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, and her band of Pirates performing famous radio hits along with a rendition of “Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me).”

This show also ends with a fireworks spectacular over the ship underscored by an original arrangement of the soundtrack from the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

Pirate Party vs. Pirate Night on Disney Cruise

• Pirate Party does not include free Pirate bandanas
• Dining rooms keep their standard menus and serving team is dressed in regular clothes for the restaurant

Overall, the experience and show remains the same unless you are sailing on a 3-Day Disney Cruise on the Disney Wish which has a different Pirate Night stage show.

Plan Your Disney Cruise!

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• Disney Treasure FAQs & Guide
• Disney Cruise Dates
• Disney Alaska Cruise Guide
• Disney Wish Cruise Ship
• Disney Cruise Line Packing List

Pirates Night includes a themed Pirate deck show, fireworks, plus pirate activities throughout the day and character greetings.

Once you board the ship and connect to the Disney Cruise wifi for the Disney Cruise Line app, you will see your itinerary for your cruise which will reveal what night Pirate Night is.

Some groups go all out in full Pirate costumes! But all Disney Cruise guests receive a free Pirates theme bandana.

Most Pirate Nights take place starting at 7:30PM on the ship with fireworks at 11:30PM.

Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay is a college English instructor and has years of writing experience through various nonprofits, charities, newspapers, and online magazines. As the content director of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disney Parks trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose- you can also view her recently featured posts on Disney Parks travel on Visit Anaheim, Nerd Wallet and SFGate. Lindsay comes from a dedicated Disney family and enjoys taking her son to the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Disney Cruise Pirate Night – The Ultimate Guide

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Pirate Night on a Disney Cruise is one of the highlights of a cruise for many guests.

But what is really involved in a Disney Cruise Pirate Night?

It has become a huge part of the entertainment on a Disney Cruise.

Whether you want to embrace the Pirate Life completely or just enjoy it from the sidelines, here is a complete guide to show you exactly what is involved and how to make the most of the experience.

PIRATE NIGHT ON DISNEY CRUISE LINE

There are several elements to Pirate Night on your Disney Cruise.

It varies slightly on each ship, but the main things offered are the same.

• Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party

Pirate Night Menu

• Late Night Buffet (not on all cruises)
• Buccaneer Blast Fireworks
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• Pirate Costumes

The Deck Party

The highlight of Disney’s Pirate Night for many people is the Deck Party.

There are usually two shows, with the second show being followed by the fireworks. Sometimes there will be just one show.

Just like the stage shows each evening, the Pirate Night shows are designed so that you can attend the show whichever dinner seating you have.

The timing of the shows is subject to change so you should check your Navigators for the relevant time for your sailing.

The Pirates in the Caribbean Party follows basically the same formula on all the ships, with the exception of the Wish.

On Pirate Night on the Wish, this is Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party hosted by Captain Redd.

In a reference to the classic Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disney Park, Captain Redd is a descendant of the iconic redhead woman in the park attraction.

I won’t go into any particular detail about the show, except to say expect lots of singing, some Pirate Villains and Heroes, and maybe even an unexpected spectacular entrance from Mickey Mouse and Captain Jack Sparrow.

The grand finale of the evening is the Buccaneer Blast Fireworks Show.

I have written about where to pick the best viewing spots for the shows and fireworks later in this article.

All of the rotational dining restaurants will serve the same special-themed menu on Pirate Night.

APPETIZER MENU

• Sri Sumbhajee’s Vegetable Samosa  – with Potato, Peas, Garlic, Cumin, and Ginger served with Tamarind Chutney and a Plain Yogurt Raita.
• Angelica’s Lime Marinated Shrimp – With Chili, White Corn, Sweet Potato, and Onion.
• Deep Fried Calypso Crab Cake  – With Cajun Remoulade, Green Onion, and Lemon
• Swann’s Red and Yellow Beetroot Carpaccio – With Asparagus, Pickled Radishes, Cornichons, and Mustard Dressing

SOUP AND SALADS

• Carrot and Cilantro Soup  – with Banana Bread Croutons
• Chilled Mango Soup  – with Passion Fruit and Coconut
• Fennel, Orange, and Quinoa Salad  – with Saffron, Pine Nuts, and Pomegranate
• Baby Gem,  With Blue Cheese, Radish, Cherry Tomato, Shallots, Sweet Pecans, and Thousand Island Dressing.

• Jack’s Treasure-of-the-Seas Grilled Shrimp and Seared Scallops  – served with Spinach, strings of Pasta, Tomato Provencal Sauce, and black Tomato Pearls
• Cortes’s Cilantro Marinated Caribbean Grouper Filet  – On Curried Rice served with a Mango, Lime, Avocado, Red Onion, and Black Sea Salsa.
• Tia Dalma’s Jerk Chicken 48-hour  Jerk-Marinated Chicken = Grilled and served with Rice and Peas, Fried Plantains, and a Pineapple-Chili Salsa
• Gugliemo Grasso’s Veal Osso Bucco  – Center Cut Veal Shank Slowly Braised in Red Wine and Served with Crisp Onions, Buttered Green Beans and Parsnip Mash
• King George’s Roasted Privateer Strip Loin  – with Time-Roasted Potatoes, Buttered Savory Cabbage, Yorkshire Pudding, and a Rosemary Wine Sauce

VEGETARIAN ENTREES

• Shanghaied Noodle Stir-fry Egg Noodles  – with Nori, Edamame Beans, White Soy Sauce, Marinated Tofu, Scallions, Peppers, Carrots, and Sesame Seeds
• Barbary Coast Falafel Fried Ground Chickpeas  – with Cumin Spice served with Whole-Grain Pita Bread, Hummus, and Tzatziki

LIGHTER NOTE OFFERINGS

These entrees are served with  Garden Vegetables and your choice of steamed White Rice or Baked Potato

• Braised Barbecue Beef Rib Salad slow Braised Barbecue Beef Rib –  with Romain Leaves, Spinach, Macadamia Nuts, Carrots, Roasted Corn Kernels, and Shallots served with Cornbread and a Tomato Sour Cream Dressing
• Gilled Grain-fed Sirloin Steak
• Slow Roasted Breast of Chicken
• Bounty Fruit Cobbler  – with vanilla ice cream
• Bananas in Paradise  – layered Banana Bread with Hazelnut Fudge Filling served with a Banana Spice Puree
• Rum Soaked Chocolate Cake  – with Raspberry Glaze and Whipped Cream
• Crunch Time Sundae  – Rum Raisin Ice Cream, Pineapple, Whipped Cream, and Croquant

SIGNATURE DESSERT

• Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake Tart  – Served with Whipped Cream and Caramel Ganache

NO SUGAR ADDED

• Coconut Creme Flan  – served with Tropical Fruits

PIRATES IN THE CARIBBEAN DINNER KID’S MENU

• Boson’s Cream of Chicken Soup
• Sunken Honeydew Melon Boat
• The Pirates freshly cut Garden Salad  -with your favorite choice of dressing

Chef’s Entree Selection of the Day

• Strings of Mozzarella  – with Scarlet Red Tomato Sauce
• The Galleys Large Corn Dog
• Totally Carved Sirloin of Beef

For The Main Event

• Mickey’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese
• Minnie’s Mini Burger
• Pizza  -Hearty Barbecue Chicken
• Golden Chicken Strips  – with Barbecue Sauce

A Sweet Finish

• Buccaneers Chocolate Brownie  -topped with Vanilla Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, and Strawberry Sauce
• Swan’s favorite Raspberry Cheesecake and Raspberry Sauce
• Mickey Bar Ice Cream
• Selection of Assorted Ice Cream

Pirate Night Buffet

The Pirate Night Buffet always used to be a feature of the evening. Following the deck party at around 10.30 pm, guests were invited into Cabanas to have even more food!

However, since the resumption of cruising, the buffet only seems to be happening on a select number of cruises.

Even before the shutdown, it wasn’t entirely predictable as to whether or not there would be a Pirate Buffet.

Really, at this point, so late in the evening, the last thing I wanted was even more food! However, it was another fun element to the evening and it is sad to see that it doesn’t often feature anymore.

The Pirate Night Turkey legs were very popular!

What is the Best Place to View the Fireworks on Disney Cruise?

The highlight of Pirate Night is the fireworks. So you want to make sure that you snag yourself a good viewing spot.

Obviously, fireworks are in the sky!

So there are many good places to view this part of the evening.

However, some viewing spots are better than others.

The best viewing places depend upon which Disney ship you are sailing on.

Also, be aware that some spaces may be blocked off by Cast Members. This varies, but obviously, if space is blocked off from public access there is a safety reason, so just don’t break the rules.

Disney Magic and Wonder Fireworks

On Classic Ships the Magic and Wonder fireworks can be seen in the sky on the Starboard side of the ship.

If you stand at the Family Pool and look towards the Starboard side, that is where they will appear.

If you are on Disney Magic or Wonder Deck 10 is the place to be.

Most places on Deck 10 are going to give a decent view of the fireworks.

I tend to prefer Deck 10 anyway for Pirate Night as it is slightly less crowded than Deck 9.

The disadvantage is that you can’t then be on the pool deck for the Party. But I think that the benefits outweigh this, particularly if you are not experiencing this for the first time.

If you are on Deck 9 you will still be able to watch the fireworks from most places.

However, there are certain places on this Deck where your view will not be as good as from higher up.

Don’t stand to the far Starboard side under the Deck 10 overhang as you are going to have a severely restricted view here.

If you are sailing Concierge on the Magic or Wonder the very best place to watch the fireworks on Pirate Night is from the outdoor concierge deck.

The Concierge Deck is, of course, my favorite place to watch the fireworks. Unfortunately, you do not have a view of the Pirate Show as this is directly below you.

Having sailed many times though, if I am sailing Concierge I always watch from this deck. You get a great sense of the atmosphere, without having to deal with the crowds.

Another place to be if you do not want to follow the crowd is Deck 4 Starboard. Relatively few people will be watching from here as you can’t see the show at all. You can hear the music.

Deck 4 is a good alternative place to view but if it is your first Pirate Night you will probably want to be in a different place. It is a very different, much quieter experience here.

Disney Dream and Fantasy Fireworks

The Dream and Fantasy fireworks are also fired from the Starboard side of the ship.

One of the best places to view both the show and the fireworks is Deck 12 Port Side. The show is on Deck 11 which means that you will be above it looking down.

This location on the Port Side of Deck 12 gives one of the best views of the fireworks. However, do be aware not to stand too close to the AquaDuck as this can block your view.

The ideal spot to get a great view of the fireworks and the show is at the front of the railings on Deck 12 Port Side. However, be prepared to stake out this viewing spot early.

You can also stand on the Port Side of Deck 12 to watch the fireworks and you will be able to see the show on Funnel Vision. However, just be careful not to stand so that your view is obscured by the Aquaduck.

If you want to feel more like part of the show then Deck 11 is the place to be. Just avoid being under the overhang of Deck 12 on the Starboard side or you will not have a good view of the fireworks.

Deck 13 is a quieter location for two reasons. The first is that not as many people know about it. The second is because it is an adult-only area. This is an area for viewing the fireworks only as you can’t see the show at all from here.

You can also view the fireworks on Deck 4 Starboard. However, just as for Wonder and Magic, this is a very different experience. One probably not for first-timers unless you do not like being in large crowds.

Disney Wish Cruise Fireworks

The advice for the best places to view the fireworks and show is the same as for the Fantasy and Dream.

It is likely that when the Disney Treasure is launched in 2024 all advice will be the same as the Wish with regard to Pirate Night.

Can You Watch the Disney Cruise Fireworks from your Verandah Stateroom?

Only Verandah Staterooms on the Starboard side would have a view of the fireworks.

There is now a Safety Warning on the Disney Cruise Line App saying that all loose items should be removed from the balcony, the door should be shut and viewing should be from inside only.

Other Highlights

There are a number of other elements to Pirate Night including the chance to see Mickey and Minnie dressed up in their finest pirate outfits.

Of course, this is your big chance to meet Captain Jack Sparrow.

There will be special Pirate Night backdrops for photos, Pirate Trivia, and Crafts.

Do You Need to Dress Up in a Pirate Costume?

We have ads on our blog to provide this as a helpful resource for you We also use affiliate links; if you click on a link and purchase an item we may receive a small commission.

Wearing a Pirate outfit is not compulsory but it is very much encouraged!

Over the years an increasing number of guests do dress up in Pirate costumes. Some are incredibly detailed and elaborate. Others wear the simple bandana which is provided for all guests.

Really, anything goes and you won’t feel out of place either in your usual cruise wear or full-on Pirate garb.

If you are looking for a higher-quality Pirate Costume then this one is a good choice.

This women’s pirate costume set has a high-low velveteen lace-up dress, gold foil skull sash, and wide belt.

Check Current Pricing

This Pirate Outfit for men is a great choice for Disney’s Pirate Night. It arrives with a shirt, vest, pants, wrist cuffs, belt boot covers and a head tie.

This boys pirate costume includes: a shirt and mock suede vest, stripy pants with boot covers, belt with gold buckle and blue sash, hat with an attached bandana, eyepatch, and foam sword

This is a great all-inclusive set that will pack easily in your suitcase for your Disney Cruise Pirate Night.

This is a nice quality good-value pirate dress that is available in a variety of sizes.

For more Disney Pirate Night outfit ideas go to:

Complete Guide to Disney Pirate Night Costumes

Can I Buy Pirate Costumes on the Ship?

You will find a limited range of pirate-themed clothes and accessories on the ship.

You can also book a Pirates League Package at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for children aged 3 to 12.

All packages below take approximately 30 minutes to apply and are designed for Guests ages 3 and older. Please also note that all Pirates League packages are available on Pirate Party Nights only.

Pirate Costume (Youth)

Price: $199.95

• Choice of pirate costume
• Treasure chest cinch bag
• Coin necklace
• Makeup application
• Shoulder parrot
• Bandana, eye patch, and earring

Swashbuckle

Price: $99.95

• Pirate vest and waist belt

Pirate Makeup and Accessories

Price: $59.95

Disney Pirate Night FAQs

Here are some common questions about Disney Pirate Night on a Cruise:

When is Pirate Night on a Disney Cruise?

This is the usual pattern – but is subject to change so always check your Navigators.

• 3-Night Disney Cruise: Night 2
• 4-Night Disney Cruise: Night 3
• 5-Night Disney Cruise: Night 2
• 7-Night Disney Cruise: Night 4 or 5

Do all Disney Cruises have Pirate Night?

Not all Disney Cruises have Pirate Night.

Disney Alaskan Cruises and European Cruises do not have a Pirate Night.

The 2 and 3-night Australian and New Zealand cruises will not have Pirate Night. DCL originally confirmed that the 3-night cruises would have Pirate Night but then, in August 2023, said that this was no longer the case.

If you are sailing on a Disney Cruise from Australia I would suggest that you contact DCL directly to ask if there will be a Pirate Night, as the information at the moment seems to be contradictory.

Do they have Pirate Night on a 3-day Bahamian and Caribbean Cruise? Yes, there is a Pirate Night on a 3-night cruise.

Want to Know More About Disney Cruise Line?

We have hundreds of pages of information for you sharing our first-hand experience over many years sailing with Disney! Here are some guides you may want to start with:

Disney Cruise First-Timer Mistakes

Disney Cruise Staterooms to Avoid

Disney Cruise Guide to the Kids Clubs

How Much Does a Disney Wish Cruise Cost?

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

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

Tag Archives: Pirate Night

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I’ve been on a lot of Disney cruises . In fact, I’ve been on almost every single Disney cruise ship (one more to go!).

But, it wasn’t until last year that I took my first ever week-long cruise. I had always stuck to 3- and 4-night cruises . Well, I had no idea that this is what happens on a 7-night Disney cruise.

There’s a lot of excitement on a long cruise but for just a portion of it, check out my PERFECT day during one of the at-sea days on my 7-nighter.

But here’s what I WASN’T expecting!

Rotating Rotational Dining and Activities

Disney cruises have a super fun way of doing dinners that they call Rotational Dining . Basically, each day of your cruise, you’ll rotate to one of three restaurants and you’ll rotate between those for the duration of your cruise. Now, on a shorter cruise, that means you’re only doubling up once, if at all.

But, with a week-long cruise, you’ll find yourself at each rotational dining spot twice and one of them another time on top of that. Though I expected to see menu changes, I was not expecting there to be different menu themes and sometimes completely different entertainment experiences. With 7-nights on the Disney Fantasy , I experienced two different menus at Enchanted Garden and Animator’s Palate .

Animator’s Palate is an interactive restaurant, and it also had two different experiences. The first dinner there featured a  Finding Nemo show where diners can interact with Crush the sea turtle. The second dinner featured a show where diners could create their own character to magically animate along the walls courtesy of Mickey’s magic. Interestingly, I loved the second show WAY more; guests on short cruises don’t ever make it to that one.

Then at Royal Court, we experienced three very different nights — the regular menu, the Pirate Night menu (something I was familiar with from shorter cruises) and Lobster Night! I thought the varying experiences at these spots really helped to keep dinners interesting despite having repeat dining locations.

Click here for a review of Animator’s Palate on the Disney Magic and Wonder!

Tired of the food.

That said, I absolutely did not expect to get as tired of the food as I did. Disney cruises have awesome food from the rotational dining, to the grab and go options, to the buffet, and to the upcharge lounges and adults-only restaurants. I ate like a KING, so you can imagine my surprise when on night 7 I was dreading dinner. I was dreading dinner on LOBSTER NIGHT. What’s wrong with me?

Well, the answer is that having heavy three-course dinners every single night was just not something I was used to. Sometimes, you just want a slice of pizza and to watch a movie and there is a bit of a feeling of obligation to head to that planned dinner seating.

That said, you absolutely don’t have to (unless you for some reason are also obligated to cover Lobster Night for work)! Instead, you CAN grab a piece of pizza and hang by the pool if you’re getting a touch overwhelmed with all the eats at dinner. You’re also welcome to skip courses at dinner.

To learn more about dining on the Disney Fantasy, click here!

Hangin’ with the crew.

Now I kind of expected this next one but it was fun to experience it first hand. Disney Cruise Line is known for its standard of service, and you’ll probably interact with dozens of crew members during your voyage. In particular, you’ll see your serving team a lot (they’ll follow your from restaurant to restaurant) and your room attendant who takes care of your housekeeping and turn-down service each day.

I took a shorter cruise with my family when I was a kid and we STILL talk about our server, Ganesh, who made our dinners so fun and memorable. With a week-long cruise, you make even stronger connections with your crew team.

I cruised with my friend Cassie from Disney Food Blog on my week-long cruise and we made sure to get a picture with our server. We were also blown away by the attention to detail that our room attendant had. We had a banner in our room that kept falling and every day when we came in it was taped back up.

By the time we made it home, we were commenting about missing the crew and my memories of the trip aren’t complete without them!

To see what it’s like to be a crew member on a Disney Cruise, click here!

Vibe with other cruisers.

I had also heard folks talk about getting to know other cruisers when they sailed but on shorter cruises, you’re usually only running into the same people once or twice. On longer cruises, it’s a lot more common to run into people a few times. After all, it’s seven days and there are only so many people on the ship!

We found ourselves running into and hanging with a few other groups over the course of the voyage. Cruises can be a surprisingly great time to make new friends and longer cruises set you up to be able to do that pretty easily!

Vibe with Your Cruisers 

This last one definitely varies by group but it is certainly something to be aware of when cruising for longer! Seven days is a looooong time to share a tiny cabin and do a lot of activities with your family or friends. Tensions can flare and it can feel like it’s difficult to get alone time.

Now, Cassie and I didn’t have much issue with this. One, we split up during the cruise sometimes to do our own things which certainly help. Plus, she and I don’t get to spend a lot of in-person time together so it was a nice change of pace for us.

BUT, I’ve heard horror stories from folks who want nothing more thant to be AWAY from their cabinmates by day five — with two more days to go. Yikes. To combat this, make sure you’re taking time for yourself and getting the space you need. It’s something you have to be really intentional about on a ship.

Overall, I absolutely preferred a week-long cruise to a shorter one — but I don’t think it’s for everyone. It gave me enough time to settle into the cruise life but for others it can feel really limiting. Keep an eye on AllEars.Net for more cruise takes and tips!

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Your jaw will DROP when you see the NEW Disney popcorn buckets coming soon!

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McDonald's just released new Happy Meal Toys! We have the details and where you can...

A ton of new changes just rolled out at Orlando International Airport -- see them...

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The Matterhorn is closing for renovation... kind of.

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