disney cruise 4 day itinerary

The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

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

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

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

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

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

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

What TPG loves about Disney Cruise Line

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

What we could do without

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

Disney Cruise Line fleet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Cruise Line destinations and itineraries

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

Disney Cruise Line destinations include:

• New Zealand
• Pacific Coast
• South Pacific

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who sails Disney Cruise Line?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Cruise Line cabins and suites

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: Is Disney Cruise Line concierge service worth it?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Cruise Line restaurants and dining options

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

Rotational dining

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

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

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

Included restaurants on Disney Magic

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

Included restaurants on Disney Wonder

• Tiana's Place
• Triton's

Included restaurants on Disney Dream

• Enchanted Garden
• Royal Palace

Included restaurants on Disney Fantasy

• Royal Court

Included restaurants on Disney Wish

• Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
• Worlds of Marvel

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

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

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

Room service

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

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

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

Buffet and grab-and-go

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

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

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

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

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

Extra-cost, adults-only restaurants

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

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

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

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

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

Coffee shops and snack shops

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food on Castaway Cay

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

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

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

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

Entertainment and activities on a Disney cruise

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

Theaters and shows

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

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

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

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

Game shows, karaoke, bingo and more

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

Other interior attractions and activities

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

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

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

Decktop attractions

Waterslides.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Splash pads

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

Sports deck

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

Children's programs

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

Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab for children ages 3–12

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edge tween club for children ages 11–14

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

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

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

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

Vibe teen club for children ages 14–17

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

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

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

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

What to know before you go

Required documents.

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

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

Related: Tips for getting a child's passport

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carry-on drinks policy

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

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

Smoking policy

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

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

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

Electrical outlets

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

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

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

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

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

Drinking age

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: What to pack for your 1st cruise

Disney Cruise Line loyalty program

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

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

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

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

Silver members

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

Gold members

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

Platinum members

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

Pearl members

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

How much does a Disney cruise cost?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to book

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

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

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

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

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

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

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

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

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

Related: How to save money on booking a Disney cruise

Bottom line

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

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

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

More stories to help you plan your next cruise:

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

Sign up for the FREE MouseSavers Newsletter and get a monthly email with exclusive discounts!

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2024 Disney Cruise Schedule – Sail Dates, Ports & More

LAST UPDATE: 3/12/24

Itineraries for 2024 Disney Cruises  are listed below, along with the complete  2024 Disney Cruise Line schedule .

If you’re thinking about taking a Disney Cruise in 2024, you may also want to read our comprehensive Disney Cruise discount guide  and  Disney Cruise planning tips  pages.

• 2024 Itineraries

Get On the Early Booking List

• 2024 Holiday Cruises, Themed Cruise & Other Special Cruises

2024 Adventures by Disney Pre- and Post-Cruise Escape Packages

2024 drydock plans.

Sailings for Winter/Spring 2024 (January through April/May) were announced on December 7, 2022. They went on sale for Platinum Castaway Club members on December 12, 2022, Gold members on December 13, Silver members and DVC members on December 14, and everyone else on December 15.

Pixar Day at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea 2024 cruise dates (January through March) were announced on February 2, 2023.

Sailings for Summer 2024 (June through September) were announced on March 23, 2023. They went on sale for Platinum Castaway Club members on March 27, Gold members on March 28, Silver members and DVC members on March 29, and everyone else on March 30.

Sailings for Winter 2024 (October through December, and a few early 2025 itineraries) were announced on June 13, 2023. They went on sale for Pearl Castaway Club members on June 19,  Platinum Castaway Club members on June 20, Gold members on June 21, Silver members, Adventures Insiders and DVC members on June 22, and everyone else on June 26.

Inaugural sailings for the Disney Treasure (Late December) were announced on September 5, 2023. They went on sale for Pearl Castaway Club members on September 12, 2023, Platinum Castaway Club members on September 13, Gold members on September 14, DVC and Adventures By Disney Insiders on September 18, Silver members on September 19, and everyone else on September 20.

Disney Cruise 2024 Itineraries

Disney treasure, disney wish, disney fantasy, disney dream, disney wonder, disney magic.

Schedule in a nutshell:

• Late December:  — 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral

Complete 2024 Disney Treasure Cruise Schedule

• If you are interested in booking a 2024 cruise on the Disney Treasure , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.
• Small World Vacations is a full service agency, offering a personal travel agent you can contact by email or direct phone number. It costs you nothing to use them, PLUS their FREE onboard credit offer applies to these special fares (the total cruise fare for the stateroom must be at least $1000 to get their onboard credit). 
• Undercover Tourist is a self-service booking site similar to Expedia or Priceline, but with years of focus on the Disney travel market. They offer the special rates mentioned above PLUS they add their own discounts. 

The Disney Wish sails 3-night and 4-night Bahamian cruises from Port Canaveral, visiting Nassau and Castaway Cay, for 2024.

Complete 2024 Disney Wish Cruise Schedule

• If you are interested in booking a 2024 cruise on the Disney Wish , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

The Disney Fantasy sails 7-night Western and Eastern Caribbean and 3- to 6-night Bahamian cruises from Port Canaveral in 2024, with a few double-dips and triple-dips to Lighthouse Point and Castaway Cay.

Complete 2024 Disney Fantasy Cruise Schedule

• If you are interested in booking a 2024 cruise on the Disney Fantasy , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.
• January – early May: Fort Lauderdale — 3- to 5-night Bahamian and Western Caribbean cruises, then across the Atlantic to Barcelona
• Late May – Late July: Barcelona & Civitavecchia — 5- to 11-night Mediterranean cruises, then reposition to Southampton
• Late July – Early October: Southampton — 3- to 12-night Northern Europe, Norwegian and Iceland cruises, then a possible drydock and a reposition across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale
• Late October – December: Fort Lauderdale — 3- to 5-night Bahamian and Western Caribbean cruises with several double-dips

Complete 2024 Disney Dream Cruise Schedule

• If you are interested in booking a 2024 cruise on the Disney Dream , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.
• January – mid-March: Sydney, Melbourne — 2- to 6-night Australian cruises, then reposition to San Diego via Honolulu & Vancouver
• Mid-March – early May: San Diego — 3- to 7-night Mexican cruises, then up the coast to Vancouver
• Mid-May – October: Vancouver — 5- to 9-night Alaskan cruises, then across the Pacific to Sydney, Australia via Hawaii.
• Late October – December: Australia — 2- to 6-night Australian and New Zealand cruises from various ports, many with no stops (cruises to nowhere)

Complete 2024 Disney Wonder Cruise Schedule

• If you are interested in booking a 2024 cruise on the Disney Wonder , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.
• January: Galveston — 4- to 6-night Western Caribbean cruises
• February: New Orleans — 4- to 7-night Western Caribbean cruises
• March – mid-April: Galveston  — 4- to 7-night Western Caribbean cruises, then reposition to San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Late April: San Juan — 7-night unique Southern Caribbean cruises 
• May – October: Fort Lauderdale — 3- to 5-night Bahamian and Western Caribbean cruises, including some visiting Disney’s new private beach: Lighthouse Point
• November – December: Galveston — Reposition to Galveston via San Juan, with a 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise in the middle, then 3- to 6-night Western Caribbean cruises

Complete 2024 Disney Magic Cruise Schedule

• If you are interested in booking a 2024 cruise on the Disney Magic , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

Interested in booking a cruise for a date or itinerary that hasn’t been announced yet? You can submit a booking request for a Disney cruise, even before Disney Cruise Line releases the schedule. Save yourself some stress and fill out the Small World Vacations Wait List form in advance and they’ll book your preferred cruise the first day you are eligible, at no cost to you! Plus, you can get up to $1000 in FREE onboard credit  courtesy of Small World Vacations! (All staterooms and cruises are subject to availability at the time of booking.)

Disney Cruise Line announces their cruise dates and itineraries for only a few months at a time: January through April, then May through September and finally, September through December. Once the new itineraries come out, booking begins just a day or two later, first to Castaway Club members (people who’ve been on a previous Disney cruise) and then to the general public.

The people who book earliest almost always get the lowest possible price . Sometimes there will be last-minute deals via the restricted guarantee fares or Florida Resident fares , but only a small percentage of cruises ever have those fares, and those fares aren’t always cheaper than opening day fares. In addition, early bookers get first dibs on staterooms, making it the best way to land one of the hardest-to-get staterooms like the Secret Porthole and Secret Verandah rooms. Lots of people know about these advantages, so on the days the new itineraries become available for booking, both the phone lines and website get slammed.

There’s an easy way to avoid the scramble to book on the first day the bookings open:  submit a request to Small World Vacations now. You just need basic information like where you want to go (Caribbean, Alaska, Norway, Europe, etc.), the date range you want, the kind of stateroom you want (inside, outside, verandah) and the names and ages of the people going. Let them know if you are a Castaway Club Member by including your Member Number and Level (Platinum, Gold or Silver). You can add other preferences or priorities as needed – early dining, lower deck, upper deck, not over a nightclub – whatever is important to you.  Their agents will review your request, contact you to confirm they understand your priorities, and then you can relax and let your personal agent book your cruise when the time comes. Your agent will provide their email and direct phone number, so you can discuss your options and preferences.

On the day the itineraries become available for your Castaway Club level, your agent will be up bright and early while you sleep in (or go about your usual day). If Disney releases a cruise that fits your criteria, your agent will typically go ahead and put a hold in place, thus reserving your stateroom(s), then email you with your cruise details and deposit information. You’ll be able to have your choice of room type and location and will lock in the opening day price. If later on you decide to change rooms on the same sailing, Disney will give you the opening day price on the new room , even if the price has gone up in the intervening days or months. 

Even if you aren’t 100% sure whether you’re going to be able to go, there’s no real risk in getting a cruise booked early . Disney Cruise Line deposits for any stateroom types other than Concierge are fully refundable up to the Payment In Full date, which is 120-75 days before sailing, depending on the specific cruise and time of year. You have lots of time to figure out whether that cruise will work for you. If it doesn’t, you can get the deposit back or just transfer it to a different sailing date that works better.

The agents who handle cruise bookings for Small World Vacations have collectively sailed on more than 400 Disney cruises, and know a truly astonishing amount about all four ships, the various Disney ports of call, shore excursions and all the common itineraries (and many uncommon ones). Many of them are Platinum members of Disney’s Castaway Club, meaning that they have personally been on 10 or more Disney cruises! They’re happy to share their firsthand experience with the kids’ clubs, dining, character meets, entertainment, transportation, etc. In our experience, the travel agents at Small World Vacations are great at finding the best fares. They know all the tricks that will save you money, and they know the Disney Cruise Line inside and out. We’re confident that once you work with a really great travel agent, you’ll never want to book a cruise any other way. Read more about why we recommend using Small World Vacations to book your cruise!

• If you are interested in booking a cruise that hasn’t been announced yet , fill out the Small World Vacations Wait List form and get on their Early Booking List!
• Small World Vacations offers onboard credit of $50-$1000 per booking, good toward most onboard activities and extras such as spa treatments, shore excursions or even your bar tab. Small World Vacations also gives you full service, including a personal travel agent you can contact by email or direct phone number. Best of all, it costs you nothing to use them! (Onboard credit courtesy of Small World Vacations.)

2024 Holiday Cruises, Themed Cruises & Other Special Cruises

Holiday cruises, themed cruises.

• Double Dip Cruises

Repositioning Cruises

Unique cruises, adventures by disney cruise packages, disney vacation club cruises, independence day, halloween on the high seas, thanksgiving, very merrytime cruises (christmas), new year’s eve.

On sailings that include July 4th, there is usually a special celebration with characters dressed in red, white and blue outfits. There has not been a special fireworks show in the past, but sometimes on sailings in the Caribbean or Bahamas they move pirate night to July 4th so they will have fireworks on Independence Day. (There is no pirate night or fireworks on sailings outside the Caribbean and Bahamas.)

During this period there will be special Halloween events onboard, including Halloween-themed parties, storytellings, movies and elaborate décor, including The Pumpkin Tree, which magically transforms throughout the cruise. You will also find characters dressed in Halloween costumes, as well as a costume party for families and, just for adults, a costume contest and a Villainous Takeover on the dance floor in the nighttime entertainment district.

In the past there has not been any special menu for Halloween night itself, over and above what they do on all the Halloween themed cruises during the whole period, but there will be some special Halloween-themed treats.

Halloween on the High Seas takes place on the following sail dates:

• Disney Dream : (Not yet announced)
• Disney Fantasy : September 14 – October 26
• Disney Magic : September 9 – October 31
• Disney Wish: September 13 – October 28
• Disney Wonder :  (Not yet announced)

In the past there has been a special menu on Thanksgiving Day, and pictures with Pilgrim Mickey and Minnie. The Christmas decorations will be fully up by Thanksgiving, and there will be a full set of holiday activities and events.

The following sailings include Thanksgiving Day (November 28, 2024).

• Disney Dream : 5-Night Bahamian on November 27
• Disney Fantasy : 7-Night Eastern Caribbean on November 23
• Disney Magic : 6-Night Western Caribbean on November 25
• Disney Wish: 4-Night Bahamian on November 25
• Disney Wonder : 5-Night Australian on November 24 ( note: since New Zealand & Australia don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, we don’t know if there will be a Thanksgiving Menu. )

Typically, Christmas decorations will be up from early November through the final New Year’s sailing, and there will be special holiday events during that whole period, including meet and greets with Santa Claus and with Disney characters in special Christmas outfits. Some of the more elaborate Christmas decorations, including a huge, real gingerbread house or other gingerbread decoration, will not be up until later in November.

Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, will be transformed with “snow” flurries, a Christmas tree and more. Be on the lookout for Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, dressed in their island attire. Plus, the island’s tram is decorated to resemble a reindeer, complete with antlers and a tail.

Very Merrytime Christmas-themed cruises will be offered on sailings departing between the following dates:

• Disney Dream: November 14 – December 21
• Disney Fantasy: November 10 – December 22
• Disney Magic: November 21 – December 23
• Disney Wish: November 4 – December 23
• Disney Wonder:   (Not yet announced)

There are unique special events and a special menu on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The following sailings include Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 24-25, 2024).

• Disney Dream : 5-Night Western Caribbean on December 21
• Disney Fantasy : 4-Night Bahamian on December 22
• Disney Magic : 6-Night Western Caribbean on December 23
• Disney Treasure : 7-Night Eastern Caribbean on December 21
• Disney Wish:  4-Night Bahamian on December 23
• Disney Wonder : 4-Night Australian on December 24

There is a special party with countdown and balloon drop on New Year’s Eve.

The following sailings include New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2024).

• Disney Dream : 5-Night Bahamian on December 30
• Disney Fantasy : 7-Night Eastern Caribbean on December 29
• Disney Magic : 4-Night Western Caribbean on December 29
• Disney Treasure : 7-Night Western Caribbean on December 28
• Disney Wish:  4-Night Bahamian on December 30
• Disney Wonder : 6-Night Australian on December 28
• If you are interested in booking a holiday Disney cruise , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

Pixar Day at Sea

Marvel day at sea, star wars day at sea.

Pixar Day at Sea includes a Pixar film festival; photo opportunities with Pixar characters; a character breakfast with Woody, Jesse and Bullseye; a theatrical performance based on Coco ; a Pixar-themed dinner; a dance party with Pixar characters; and a nighttime spectacular featuring the Incredibles.

Pixar Day at Sea will take place on select Disney Fantasy 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral in early 2024. The Eastern Caribbean cruises are January 6, 20; February 3, 17 and March 2. The Western Caribbean cruises are January 13, 27; February 10 and 24.  

Marvel Day at Sea is a special all-day celebration of the Marvel Universe. Special features include multiple Marvel character meet-and-greets, Marvel-themed activities for families, Marvel movie screenings, a costume party, special merchandise and food, and an exclusive Marvel deck party. There is also an adults-only dance party with Star-Lord and Gamora.

Marvel Day at Sea will take place on select Disney Dream 5-night Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale on January 7, 12, 21, 26; February 4, 9, 18, 23; March 3 and 8. 

Star Wars Day at Sea cruises generally feature a full day of Star Wars celebrations, including a deck party, meet-and-greets with favorite characters, Star Wars -themed youth activities, at-sea screenings of Star Wars films, unique food and beverage offerings, and special merchandise. The night before Star Wars Day at Sea, Darth Vader and Stormtroopers march into the ship’s atrium for an Imperial takeover.

Guests are encouraged to bring their costumes and participate in the costume celebration held in the ship’s atrium. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique offers special makeovers on Star Wars Day at Sea. Kids ages 3-12 can transform into Rey, Kylo Ren, Leia and Poe. Adults and teens, can get a Rey makeover that includes a stylish dress, makeup and hair style or choose from one of four Star Wars-themed T-shirt options. All come with a personalized name tag, lanyard with medallion and magnet set.

No Star Wars Day at Sea dates have been announced for 2024. Star Wars Day at Sea appears to have been replaced with Pixar Day at Sea, but DCL has not made an official announcement one way or the other. 

• If you are interested in booking a themed Disney cruise , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

Double Dip Cruises

A “Double Dip” sailing is one that visits Castaway Cay or Lighthouse Point twice on the same cruise, or goes to both of them on the same cruise. Many people (including us) feel the day at one of Disney’s private beaches is the highlight of a Bahamian or Caribbean cruise, and this gives you a double dose! Both days follow the typical Castaway Cay & Lighthouse Point schedule: off the ship at 8:30 am (depending on sea conditions), and all aboard at 4:45 pm. The same excursions and activities will be available both days, though if you want to do the same activity or book a cabana for both days, you’ll need to book each day separately. If you are going to Castaway Cay twice, you can run the Castaway Cay 5K twice!

In the rare event that the ship visits Castaway Cay or Lighthouse Point two days in a row, the ship will not stay docked overnight. It will leave the island at the usual time on the first day and come back the next morning.

Double Dip cruises scheduled so far for 2024:

• Disney Dream : March 17
• Disney Magic : July 1, July 15, July 29, August 12
• Disney Fantasy : Jun 8 (technically a triple-dip!), July 20, July 25

Repositioning is when a cruise starts in one port and finishes in another. These cruises can be a good deal, as they usually are cheaper per night than conventional round-trip cruises. They also tend to go to more unusual locations. The longest repositioning cruises are the Panama Canal and Transatlantic cruises, which are almost always the cheapest cruises (per night) of the whole year.

Unique cruises have an itinerary that is different from other cruise itineraries that particular ship is sailing around that time. They either visit an unusual location or locations or visit a unique combination of common locations. Repositioning cruises are all unique as well.

• If you are interested in booking a specialty Disney cruise , we recommend either Small World Vacations or Undercover Tourist . We have worked with both companies for over 15 years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. It’s really a question of whether you prefer full-service booking or self booking. These staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

2024 Adventures by Disney Cruise Packages have not yet been announced.

The Adventures by Disney Cruise Packages include 2 Adventures by Disney guides available onboard and in port; special VIP privileges; private onboard receptions; unique onshore activities; early debarkation at each port; all meals, snacks and water while in port; a photo CD with all ship photographer pictures, all Adventures by Disney guide photos and an Adventures by Disney slideshow.

• If you are interested in booking an Adventures by Disney Cruise Package , we recommend filling out a quote form with Small World Vacations . They give you full service, including a personal travel agent you can contact by email or direct phone number and we recommend them wholeheartedly ! Best of all, it costs you nothing to use them, PLUS they give you FREE onboard credit for any Disney Cruise Line booking of over $1000 total fare, good toward most onboard activities and extras such as spa treatments, shore excursions or even your bar tab.

DVC member cruises are only open to Disney Vacation Club members who have purchased at least some of their vacation points directly from Disney (rather than from another member via resale). Members can use their vacation points to book the cruise or can pay cash rates. Typically DVC cruises are significantly more expensive than similar cruises for the general public, but guests will be given a wide variety of DVC special gifts and will get to experience some exclusive member events including talks by special guests including artists, imagineers and/or actors from classic Disney movies.

Whether the DVC member cruise is worth booking is a personal judgment call. The extra events are difficult or impossible to experience any other way. The various DVC gifts are usually a mix of the usual kinds of tote bags, pens, and so forth you can get by attending a DVC meeting or buying a new DVC contract, plus at least a few special and unique items. Some people love the DVC member cruises and try to go on each one. Others go once and feel it’s not worth the extra money.

Disney Cruise Line has announced two Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member cruises for 2024:

• May 18: 7-night Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona on Disney Dream
• June 14: 5-night “triple dip” Bahamian cruise with two visits to Lighthouse Point and one visit to Castaway Cay on Disney Magic

Adventure by Disney Pre- and Post-Cruise Escape Packages take place before and after select Disney Cruise Line sailings. These 2- to 3-night Escapes include 2 Adventure by Disney guides; hotel accommodations; multiple, daily excursions; special VIP privileges; all transportation during the trip and a photo CD with all the Adventure by Disney guide photos.

• If you are interested in booking an Adventures by Disney Pre- or Post-Cruise Escape Package , we recommend filling out a quote form with Small World Vacations . They give you full service, including a personal travel agent you can contact by email or direct phone number and we recommend them wholeheartedly ! Best of all, it costs you nothing to use them, PLUS you could save up to $1,000!  Read more about the Small World Vacations savings offer here .

No drydock plans have been officially announced for 2024 yet.

Disney Cruise Line Planning Guide

This Disney Cruise Line planning guide covers things to do, packing tips, dining recommendations, Castaway Cay advice, and more. Whether you’re setting sail on a Caribbean itinerary aboard the Magic or heading to somewhere else, this will help you prepare. ( Updated March 9, 2023 .)

Let’s start with the good news, which is that as of 2023, Disney Cruise Line is largely back to normal for sailings departing from the United States and Puerto Rico. There are no longer vaccination or pre-cruise test requirements and face masks are now entirely optional.

Beyond that, entertainment is no longer modified, character meet & greets are no longer distanced, and all-you-can-eat buffets are once again self-service. There are still relatively minor ways the Disney Cruise Line experience remains modified, but nothing you’d notice unless you’re actively looking for it. The number of hand-sanitizing stations has increased, but that’s really about it.

The biggest change is that Disney Cruise Line has added a new ship to its fleet! The Disney Wish is now sailing on 3 and 4-night Bahamian cruises from Port Canaveral to Nassau and Disney’s Castaway Cay. We’ve been on this new ship a couple of times, and share whether it’s worth the premium pricing in our Disney Wish Cruise Ship Review .

We also have lists covering the “Best of” and “Worst of” the Disney Wish . Suffice to say, this new ship will be incredibly appealing for some families, and has a number of subtle enhancements that will improve the experience for some families. It also has frustrating and perplexing design decisions, and features that make it less appealing for certain audiences.

While we like the Wish, we prefer the legacy ships. That’s just our  personal  perspective based on our priorities and circumstances. You should read reviews and pros & cons to determine which ship is right for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

A few more ships will be added to the Disney Cruise Line fleet in the next 5 years, but the even bigger development on the horizon is that the Lighthouse Point Private Island Destination Opens to Disney Cruise Line in Summer 2024 . Lighthouse Point will offer beaches for families, adults, and kids–complete with play areas, cabanas, kids’ clubs, and more. One highlight will be the Bahamian art and culture pavilion featuring special programs and local artists will provide visitors to Lighthouse Point opportunities to learn and celebrate the traditions and natural beauty of The Bahamas.

We think Lighthouse Point looks incredible–like a mashup of the best parts of Castaway Cay and Aulani Resort in Hawaii! Only select sailings will stop at Lighthouse Point, so be mindful of that when booking your Bahamian cruises.

To that point, this Disney Cruise Line planning guide focuses on Bahamian cruises aboard the Disney Cruise Line fleet. These are the perfect “starter” cruises to discover whether you’re going to be a certified cruise addict, or if it’s not for you. While some of the specifics in this Disney Cruise Line Guide are tailored towards the Disney Magic, we have sailed on all of the other ships to a multitude of destinations, too.

Most of these same tips apply to the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wonder. This guide applies equally to those ships in terms of the basics of things to know before you go, and recommendations for activities and other things you should try to do once you’re on board the ship.

While we prefer the larger and newer ships, the Disney Magic is arguably the most approachable ship and often has the least expensive itineraries. It’s smaller (964 feet long and holds 2,700 passengers plus ~950 Cast Members), but the spaces feel fresh and modern. By contrast, the Disney Fantasy is 1,115 feet and holds 4,000 passengers (plus ~1,500 Cast Members).

Th overall style and aesthetic of the Disney Cruise Line is evident the moment you step aboard one of the ships and step into its lobby. The lobby is a signature area of each Disney Cruise Line ship, with each having a one-of-a-kind chandelier, beautiful design and detail work, and great use of color and lines. Now, this isn’t unique to the reimagined Disney Magic–the original design was stunning, too–but it just goes to show how well-designed the Disney Cruise Line ships are.

We will cover other elements of Disney Cruise Line in the sections that follow. Let’s get started with planning your voyage aboard Disney’s cruise ships!

What to Pack

One big one for the adults is alcohol. That’s right, you can take alcohol aboard the Disney Cruise Line in your carry-on bag when you board the ship or return from port. This used to be huge, because there were no limits. However, Disney Cruise Line now has a policy significantly limiting the amount of alcohol guests can bring on-board.

Other than that, all you need to pack is “basic cruise stuff.” We always recommend taking a look at our Unique Disney Packing List , which can give you some good ideas of things to pack, but the basics are a pair of quality water shoes and Frogg Togg Chilly Pads . You might want to consider the Frogg Togg Super-sized Chilly Cooling Towel for putting on your lounge chair to keep cool around the pool or on Castaway Cay.

If you plan on getting into the pirate spirit for the Pirate Night deck party, we recommend buying some random pirate accessories before the cruise. We did not do this, and the two of us spent ~$40 on random pirate stuff in the gift shop that we will probably never wear again. It was fun for photos and to just get us in the mood for the party, but lesson learned on that one…

Two more things that might seem obvious: swimsuits and sunscreen. You can buy both of these things on the cruise, but you will pay a significant premium. Make sure to take your sunscreen off the ship at Castaway Cay, as they will really price-gouge you if you need to buy it there!

Getting There

Although Disney Cruise Line sails out of many ports, the most common one is Port Canaveral in Florida. If you’re expecting a simple Disney’s Magic Express-type arrangement to get from Orlando International Airport to the Disney Cruise Line boarding area, you are in for a surprise, as there is no such free service. Instead, you either have to rent a car, take a non-Disney shuttle, or take a Disney shuttle. It’s fairly simple once you figure out which of these transportation methods you’ll be using, but figuring it out is easier said than done.

Disney’s transfer bus costs $39/person per way from either the airport or any Disney hotel, and is the easiest option. However, given the per person nature of the bus, it can be a more expensive option. It also is probably the least efficient option. You are at Disney’s whims in terms of pick up and drop off times, meaning that you may not be able to board the cruise ship as early as you would like. If you are a family of 4, a car service generally charges $200-300 round-trip, which is generally a cheaper option than Disney’s transportation–and it’s more efficient.

Renting a car is another option, and if you go this route, you will want to do a “one-way” rental from wherever your point of origin to Port Canaveral. Then, once you return, do another one-way rental from Port Canaveral to wherever you’re going. The reasons for doing this are two-fold: 1) you avoid paying for rental car days while you’re on the cruise, and 2) you avoid paying $15/day.

Sometimes, one-way rental costs have a higher per-day cost than round-trip rentals, but the difference should be insignificant. Sarah used this strategy when going on a cruise recently, and her one-way rental cost (times two) was only ~$50, as opposed to the $140 round-trip Disney shuttle cost she would have paid for her and her sister, or the ~$200 cost she would have paid to do a round-trip rental plus parking at Port Canaveral. This does require taking a shuttle from the rental car location to Port Canaveral, which Sarah found to be a hassle.

Even if you’re only a party of 2, two separate one-way car rentals are almost always going to be the cheapest option for transportation to and from Port Canaveral. This is a hassle in its own way in having an additional rental car booking plus having to use the rental car shuttle, but we feel it’s a good balance of autonomy, efficiency, and price.

Cruise liners have reputations for having small, claustrophobic staterooms that guests should really only use for sleeping and showering. We are not here to suggest that the Disney Cruise Line ships are large and luxurious, but they have exceeded our expectations. On the one hand, they absolutely are smaller, smaller than even a room at a Value Resort at Walt Disney World.

On the other hand, they use space efficiently, are laid out so that you can use them for more than just sleeping and showering, and are well-designed. (I guess we sort of are going to say they’re luxurious!) They are still small and I wouldn’t want to spend more than a couple hours of free time in the stateroom each day, but the rooms are nice.

Not all of the rooms in the same class are the same! It might seem easy to pick a room since there’s only inside, oceanview, and verandah categories. However, there are actually several “secret” verandah and porthole staterooms, as well as mini-suites and oversized rooms, all of which are priced in a lower tier than you might expect .

As for which class of stateroom you should get, that’s entirely up to you. On our first cruise, the cost of upgrading to a verandah was insignificant, so we did that. We quickly realized that for a short cruise, we weren’t spending enough time in the room to get our money’s worth (and we paid very little for the upgrade). The longer the cruise or the more time you plan on spending in your room, the more worthwhile a verandah or oceanview room becomes.

The Disney Cruise Line ships feature rotational dining, plus adults-only fine-dining restaurants like Palo and Remy, and an assortment of quick service options so that you can grab food on the go or eat while lounging around on the main deck. Here are our quick-hit summaries of the main dining rooms on the Disney Magic–click each name for a detailed review and food photos–which are similar to the restaurants on the other Disney Cruise Line ships.

Animator’s Palate – Animator’s Palate is a restaurant that’s more like a dinner show. Besides the stage shows, this is probably the biggest dose of “Disney magic” that you’ll have aboard the Disney Cruise Line, as it features an animation-centric transformation of the restaurant via some clever Imagineering. I don’t want to spoil anything, but it’s definitely not to be missed. The restaurant is supposedly “Pacific Rim,” but it more or less seemed like standard, American cuisine to us.

Lumiere’s – Lumiere’s is an American and French cuisine fusion restaurant. It combines Art Deco and Beauty and the Beast themes into a stylized restaurant that is elegant, yet full of Disney whimsy and charm. We really liked our meal at Lumiere’s and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. The dining room is a bit chaotic and loud, but the food and design are both great.

Palo – This is the adults-only fine dining experience aboard the Disney Magic, with a per guest surcharge. It is soooo worth that surcharge that you should not even hesitate to make reservations here. Seriously, so many people pass on Palo because they already paid a lot for the cruise and want to take advantage of the “free” dining (really dining built into the cost of the cruise), but Palo is worth the added cost as compared to the other restaurants. Do it. You will not regret it.

Carioca’s – We skipped Carioca’s for Palo during our rotational dining, having heard that it was the least impressive restaurant on the Disney Magic. It is themed to be an outdoor marketplace set in Rio, and transforms from day to night as it changes from day to night on the ship. The name comes from Jose, the parrot from The Three Caballeros. We were in here once outside of the rotational dining, and it seemed like an interesting concept.

In addition to the rotational dining, here are the other restaurants on the Disney Magic:

• Cabanas (Table Service)
• Daisy’s De-Lites (Quick Service)
• Pete’s Boiler Bites (Quick Service)
• Pinocchio’s Pizzeria (Quick Service)

Drinking gets its own section because, for a lot of people, getting your buzz on is an essential part of the cruise experience. We aren’t of that mentality, but there certainly is something to be said for lounging on the top deck and having a drink or two.

The big thing to know with drinks aboard the Disney Cruise Line is that their costs vary widely. Drinks in the ‘cool’ hurricane glasses (made of plastic) at the Sail Away Party are weak Miami Vices that are expensive. There’s also a souvenir beer mug, which is also expensive. We’d avoid these both; even if you want a souvenir, put your money towards something better than a cheap plastic glass.

Drinks elsewhere on the ship are less expensive, but we were never really blown away with any of the concoctions at any spot we tried. We’ve heard of drink specials ( Disney Cruise Line Blog’s drinking page lists a few examples), but we didn’t see any. Keep your eye out for these!

Nightlife aboard the Disney Cruise Line ships is…how do we put this…not all that full of life. Each ship has a few options, but in our experience, none are all that popular. Here’s what you can find aboard the Magic…

After Hours is the adults-only entertainment district, and it’s pretty cool in theory. There are three venues here: O’Gill’s Pub, Keys, and Fathoms. The main area here is Fathoms, which is used earlier in the night for hosted interactive shows like “Pops” before becoming a dance club later. O’Gill’s and Keys are variations of the same concept, with one being an Irish pub and the other being a modern piano bar.

In terms of concept and design, all three of these venues are cool. And, so long as you’re fine with your entertainment ending at around 9 or 10 pm, they are fun in practice, too. The problem is, once you get past about 10 pm, the number of adults on any given Disney Cruise Line ship looking for nightlife is minimal, and this already low number is spread across multiple venues. If you like the quiet of having a venue (more or less) to yourselves so you and friends can chat, this is a great thing. If you’re looking for an energetic scene, this is an awful thing.

I am somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. I hate going to dance clubs in our town because they are loud and obnoxiously crowded. Conversely, I am not keen on pubs and other places where no one else is around. At that point, why not just “party” at home? We have found that After Hours skews too close to “empty” to really do a ton for us. In fairness, one night we did see some adults who had overindulged go absolutely crazy on the dance floor…that was a lot of fun to watch!

This is something that will vary to a degree on every sailing, but one thing that appears consistent is that Disney Cruise Line attracts a disproportionate number of families as compared to other cruise lines. Parents are often too tired or have outgrown the idea of nightlife, and aren’t as likely to partake as singles. We’d hazard a guess that these nightlife spots are busier on cruises that are geared more towards adults (like an Alaska cruise or a repositioning cruise). You can still have fun with the nightlife, especially if you’re the one bringing the party (or more importantly, the people).

Family Stuff & Kid’s Clubs

If you are looking for family-friendly entertainment, or just a place to deposit your kids for the day, the Disney Cruise Line has you covered!

D Lounge is the main hangout for family-friendly activities. Lots of different things happen here throughout the day, from trivia to dancing to even Disney Vacation Club presentations. Kids, what’s more family-friendly than convincing your parents to buy into Disney Vacation Club? This is your future we’re talking about! 😉

The Oceaneer Club is for children age 3-12, and has numerous themed experiences that will appeal to a variety of different interests and age levels. We had a chance to tour this club, but since we don’t have kids, we have no first-hand feedback on how the experiences are. The spaces themselves sure look cool, but if anyone has feedback from their kids as to how enjoyable this stuff actually is, please share in the comments.

First, and probably the most interesting is Marvel’s Avengers Academy. There’s also Disney’s Pixie Hollow, Andy’s Room from Toy Story, and Mickey Mouse Club. Each of these areas is pretty-well themed. So, Andy’s Room actually resembles his room from Toy Story, Pixie Hollow looks like it might be inhabited by fairies, and Mickey Mouse Club has a strong Mickey Mouse motif.

The Oceaneer Lab, also for children age 3-12, is basically the activity center. The coolest thing about this, I think, as a Disney fan is that it incorporates the S.E.A. (Society of Explorers and Adventurers) concept found at Tokyo DisneySea and Hong Kong Disneyland and brings it to the Disney Magic! It has a pirate-themed area where kids can steer a pirate ship through the Caribbean, plus Captain’s Workshop, Animator’s Studio, and Craft Studio, all of which offer interactive activities.

Both locations are open from 9 am until midnight, and are connected by a kids-only hallway, so kids can utilize both spaces easily. Truthfully, I’m not sure what the distinction between the Club and Lab is, since both venues offer interactive activities. Maybe they just couldn’t fit the entire kids area into one space, and since there are two locations, they needed two names? No clue.

There’s also Edge and Quarter Masters, both of which are basically places to play video games. Vibe is the teens-only ‘club’ hangout.

The nursery aboard the Disney Magic is called ‘it’s a small world’ Nursery, and is themed to the park attraction. It’s for kids under 3, and has an additional charge. So remember, parents, babysitting is FREE for your kids over age 3, but costs extra for those under 3. Plan accordingly when determining when to book your cruise! 😉

Like all things Disney, the Disney Cruise Line nails themed entertainment. Currently, the Disney Magic has three Broadway-style shows “Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic,” “Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story,” and “Tangled: The Musical” These shows play on Deck 4, Forward in the Walt Disney Theatre (a beautiful theater worth checking out in its own right).

One thing several people have asked us is whether it’s worth it to see the shows. Our answer is always a qualified “absolutely.” We absolutely recommend the shows because these are a big part of what puts the “Disney” into the Disney Cruise Line, and more than anything else aboard the ship, they are something you will only find on the Disney Cruise Line. Why would you skip the entertainment that’s a defining feature of the Disney Cruise Line?!

We qualify that ‘absolutely’ response because we want to make it clear that we don’t think these shows are across-the-board incredible. Each of them has its flaws, but they’re all elaborate, ambitious, and well worth watching at least once. They all have really strong production values, very talented casts, and memorable music. I would say that you will probably like 2 out of the 3 shows if you’re a serious Disney fan. You might even like them all–I suppose it depends upon how critical you are.

The big impediment you might have in seeing all of these shows is dinner. The shows each have two performances on select nights of your cruise, and these occur at 6:15 pm and 8:30 pm (check your Personal Navigator to confirm this). The idea is that if you have an early dinner seating, you go to the late show, or vice-a-versa. For adults traveling without kids, this presents no issue (perhaps unless you’re having a long meal at Palo), but for parents with kids, dinner and a show can be a bit much.

We have two potential recommendations for this: change your meal seating time (you can have it adjusted when you first board the ship) depending on whether you think dinner-first or show-first is better for your kids, or do dinner first and watch the shows from bed on your in-cabin TV. The latter suggestion is less ideal, but possibly more realistic. Obviously, you lose a lot of what makes the shows special by watching them on TV as opposed to in the theater, but if you realistically wouldn’t be able to do both dinner and the theater (and enjoy both), then that’s not really a good option.

Characters & Other Entertainment

It’s impossible to cover every single piece of entertainment available on the Disney Cruise Line. First of all, because there are like 20+ different things to do everyday. Second, because it changes from cruise to cruise, so we could never keep up. For this area, the Personal Navigator is your friend. Refer to the paper Personal Navigator or the iPhone app regularly, and determine what looks interesting to you on a daily basis.

The stage shows covered above are the flagship entertainment aboard the Disney Magic, and those are not to be missed. Additional entertainment consists of activities in the D Lounge (mentioned above), nightlife (also mentioned above), trivia, and other unique seminars and presentations. There’s really so many entertainment options that you could spend your entire cruise “being entertained.” Based upon what we saw, not all of the entertainment options were created equally, and others are advertisements for other Disney offerings.

There’s also recreation like basketball, shuffleboard, ping pong, soccer, and more. The Fitness Center offers weight machines and elliptical. Aerobic and yoga classes are also offered.

Of course, the pools are the most popular places for ‘fitness’ on the Disney Cruise Line, and there are three of them. One for families, one for adults, and one for kids–you can read more about these pools here . Add to that play areas and the AquaDunk, and there’s a lot to do. Our favorite pool was the family pool, although it was always crowded because it’s open to everyone.

However, it’s also in the center of everyone, and it was nice to lounge around. The AquaDunk always had a long wait in the middle of the day–I finally did it in late afternoon and only waited 10 minutes, and didn’t think it was worth even that. It seems like Disney needed something that looked like the AquaDuck water coaster on the other ships, and this was all the Disney Magic could support. It’s fine, but way too short.

Another big thing for many guests is the Buena Vista Theater. This shows first-run Disney movies, and is very popular with guests. To each their own, but we aren’t fans of taking from out of a cruise to see a movie. At home, we can see a movie for ~$15 per person, and while it might seem like a “good deal” to see movies for “free” on the Disney Cruise Line, your per hour waking cost of the cruise is probably significantly more than ~$5. Why not do things that are actually unique to the cruise? That’s just our take, though, and we understand some people might need downtime, or might just want to relax as a family and enjoy the latest Disney film.

Pirate Night is the ‘biggest’ entertainment aboard the Disney Magic. It starts with character meet & greets in atrium, followed by normal rotational dinner (servers and guests seem to get into the pirate mood), followed by the Pirates in the Caribbean deck/dance party, and concluding with fireworks shot over the edge of the ship.

If you have kids, this is probably great fun. We had a blast getting into the pirate mood and dressing up a bit for it, but the actual deck party was a bit of a letdown. Pirate Mickey and the other characters were fun, but the music was pretty dated and it seemed like the whole thing was way too reliant on the dance element. Kids probably won’t know the difference and will have a blast, but we would have liked to see more scripted action from the characters, or a dance party that wasn’t stuck in the past.

In terms of character meet & greets, the scheduled meet & greets in the atrium were without a doubt the most popular ones we saw. This was especially true on Pirate Night, when the characters are dressed in pirate attire. If you want to do meet & greets on Pirate Night, make sure to arrive and line-up just before the meet & greets start. Other scheduled meet & greets drew long lines, but nothing as long as this.

We actually found the shortest lines to be on Castaway Cay, where the characters (plus Jack Sparrow) generally didn’t have much in the way of lines at all. Perhaps this was because people don’t want character photos when they are in swimsuits? Maybe guests forget their cameras? Whatever the case, we think this is the best time for character photos.

We’re not really sure if it’s “entertainment” per se, but we don’t have anywhere else to put it, so…there’s a spa on the ship. It’s called Senses Spa & Salon. We contemplated doing something here for the sake of “research”…until we saw the prices. Sorry, you’ll have to do your own research on this one.

Castaway Cay

Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, is the port of call that everyone going on Disney Cruise Line for a Caribbean cruise will see. We love Castaway Cay, and since there are so many tips and recommendations for this stop, we actually wrote a dedicated Castaway Cay Guide that you can reference for planning your day on Castaway Cay.

Overall, setting sail aboard the Disney Cruise Line is an incredibly enjoyable experience. Although the itineraries command premium pricing, but it’s a premium experience, too. All things considered, we feel DCL offers good value for money, Disney quality, and the ships don’t nickel and dime you like other cruise lines.

Since first setting sail with Disney Cruise Line, we’ve since done several additional itineraries, including to Norway, Alaska, and both the Eastern and Western Caribbean (multiple times). Our favorite destination by far was the Norwegian Fjords, which literally felt like a trip to Arendelle from  Frozen . Alaska was also a lot of fun, and of course we love cruising to tropical islands and enjoying Castaway Cay.

Even as Platinum Castaway Club Members, we do not consider ourselves the definitive authority on Disney Cruise Line. There are still far more itineraries that we have not done as compared to ones we have. With that said, we’re working on becoming seasoned cruise pros. If any of you experienced cruisers have additional tips or recommendations as to itineraries, excursions, or anything else, please share them. We wanted to put this guide together as a handy starting point, because we’ve been receiving a lot of questions about Disney Cruise Line.

If you want personalized recommendations for Disney Cruise Line itineraries, ships, and more, click here to get a cruise quote from a no-fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner . If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, we’d really appreciate it if you’d share it via social media to help spread the word. We put a lot of work into making this site a helpful planning resource, and hope it’s useful to you! 🙂

Your Thoughts

Have you ever set sail on the Disney Wish, Disney Magic, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, or Disney Wonder? Do you have a favorite ship or favorite itinerary? Do you think Disney Cruise Line is worth the premium pricing? What did you think of the ships? Any other tips to add or recommendations? If you have questions or thoughts, please share them below and we’ll try to respond!

Written by Tom Bricker

Great advice! we’re looking to book a cruise – any advice on if it’s better to book direct or recommended travel agents?

And don’t ask me why I’m saying like a lot so bye

If you could see like the hall then you would be surprised it looks so pretty. I never went on the cruise ship but like I seen it in pictures and it looks so beautiful and magical And like if you see the entire ship it’s like huge and when I saw it I thought there was like so many places that you could be in there. These are the things that Seriously say about the Disney cruise ship , 1. It’s like so fun and, 2. It’s the most Beautifullest place that I’ve ever seen , and last 3. I’m pretty sure everyone’s having fun So . Bye-bye,thx

You complain a lot

if you are a beer drinker, the beer mug package is 100% worth it, great value and way easier than hauling your own beer. the bottled beer packages are not. the mug package- you pay up front the cost of a 22oz beer and get the mug. you then can refill that 22oz mug for the price of a 16oz beer all cruise long. at the end of the evening, trade your mug in for a token/card at any bar. use that token/mug next time. the best part is at the end of your cruise, you can either take a clean mug home, or better yet, keep the token/card in a safe place to bring back on your next cruise to keep things rolling without needing to buy the package new again. also, this allows you to have any beer on tap, which is so much better than any beer bottled. they often have various seasonal offerings, even local offerings (alaska brewing co on alaska sailings, for example).

Like I will love it too I like the dining table and I like like everything I have on a Disney cruise ship it’s like so fine I don’t know what to say but this is the most best cruise ship I ever in like ever seen in my entire life is so magical if I’d be there i’d be surprised so like…thx

I’m hoping to provide color to the Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club, since I don’t see it anywhere in the comments. We have only experienced these options on the Disney Fantasy, so I can’t speak for the other ships in the line, but I expect that its similar. Kids are issues a wrist band at the beginning of the cruise that looks just like a Magic Band. This is how they are checked in and out, and how they are tracked throughout the different areas. My three year old liked to take his on and off, and when this happened, CMs would just put it back on his wrist or around his ankle. Don’t forget to return this band at the end of the cruise, or you will be charged $12.50, and the bands don’t work a second time around or at the parks. It’s a lame souvenir.

During Registration you’ll say who is allowed to check out with your child, and a CM will confirm the first time you drop off. At pick up they will tell you when you can find your kid so you don’t have to search the whole area.

In the Oceaneer Club each of areas, Marvel, Pixie Hollow, Andy’s Room, etc, have their really creative themeing and themed activities throughout the day. There is always something going on to keep kids engaged and active – our son loved meeting Dr Strange in Marvel and practicing flying an X-Wing in the Star Wars area. If that sounds overwhelming, there are always quiet areas kids can find to chill and unwind – we often found our son in Andy’s room watching a movie or playing with Mr. Potato Head.

Oceaneer Lab had lots of fun activities aimed at different ages and developmental levels. My son loved flying an airplane. I loved that they had CM led science experiments and cooking lessons from Ratatouille. The kitchen lab is also where kids are served lunch. CMs were extra awesome in accommodating my son’s food allergies during cooking labs and meals, as we have come to expect from Disney.

How have you found cheaper rates on DCL cruises? I was under the impression that the only way to get cheaper rates is to book 1.5 years out when the prices first come out. Have you done a post on this yet?

Disney sometimes offers last-minute discounted “guaranteed” rooms which means you cannot choose your room but will be assigned one in a specific category or better. Many of these have additional restrictions–e.g must b paid in full upon booking and aren’t nonrefundable. We are currently trying this out for our first cruise in April on the theory that the room won’t matter much for just a three day cruise. The other thing to note is because it is last minute, many on board activities and port excursions will be sold out (we got some and are happy with out options, but you have to be willing to be flexible and take what isn’t available)

Sorry for all of the typos in my above response! My phone autocorrect was acting pretty weird…

I also just realized Tom has a blog post about this, so check it out here for more/better info:

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/money-saving-tips-disney-cruise-line/

Palo Dining is now a $30 fee! But we are still going to try it on your recommendation.

Hi just an update you are no longer allowed to carry liquor onto the ship. You may carry on 2 bottles of wine per person or a 6 pack of beer person but nothing else. You can however carry the wine and beer limit on at every port. I believe this new rule went into effect this past September. For some people this is not a big deal but for others was one of the draws to a Disney cruise over other cruise lines.

Good point–I’ll update this in the post!

It was a big draw for our family (all adults) and I feel it was great for adults traveling sans kids. Sad to see this change.

Do you have recommendations on when to go? Is there a season when it is typically cheaper? A month where you wouldn’t risk bad weather? We are thinking a Caribbean Cruise from the same port.

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Disney Cruise Activity Schedule

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Want to know what activities are scheduled on a Disney Cruise ? Here is the schedule from our 4-Night cruise on the Disney Dream including screenshots from the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App!

This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on these links, I get a small percentage back at no cost to you! For more information see my  disclosure policy .

Check out prices below or get a free quote by calling 877-510-2929 and let them know Mommy Mouse Clubhouse sent you!

Disney Cruises are tons of fun! There are so many activities that are scheduled on days at sea as well as days when your ship will be at port. I promise, you will never be board on a Disney Cruise .

The activities and entertainment on these cruises is top notch, because it is Disney after all. In the past, your stateroom host would leave you a Navigator, or list of activities for the next day, each night.

Disney has discontinued printing and passing out these schedules, and you can now find all of this information on the Disney Navigator App. I’m not going to lie, I will miss looking at the physical schedule, but it was nice to have everything I needed to know, right on my phone.

Below, you will find the schedule of activities from our 4-night cruise on the Disney Dream. These activities will vary depending on the length of your cruise and what ship you are sailing on, but it will give you an idea of the type of activities you can expect on your cruise!

Wondering what is on the menu on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy? Here are screenshots for the Enchanted Garden Menu , Royal Palace Menu , and Pirate Night !

You can read all about Day One of our cruise here or watch the video here on YouTube !

Day 1 Disney Cruise Activities

• 12:00 pm- A Goofy Movie (Funnel Vision), Crafts: Door Hangers (D Lounge), Youth Activities Open House (Disney’s Oceaneer Club), Youth Activities Open House (Disney’s Oceaneer Lab), Youth Activities Open House (Edge), Youth Activities Open House (Vibe)
• 12:30 pm- Disney Trivia (Pub 687)
• 1:15 pm- Disney Animation (Evolution)
• 1:30 pm- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 2:00 pm- Appear and Wave (Disney’s Oceaneer Club), Making of the Dream (Pub 687), Operation Hit the Decks! (Deck 12 Midship), Operation Hit the Decks! (Deck 12 Stage)
• 2:30 pm- Operation Hit the Decks! (Deck 12 Midship), Operation Hit the Decks! (Deck 12 Stage)
• 2:45 pm- Disney Animation (D Lounge)
• 3:00 pm- Sarge Says! (Evolution)
• 3:15 pm- Disney Trivia (Pub 687)
• 4:30 pm- Cinderella (Funnel Vision)
• 4:45 pm- Disney Tunes Trivia (D Lounge)
• 5:15 pm- Good Vibes with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge), Movie Quotes Trivia (Pub 687)
• 5:30 pm- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 6:00 pm- Finding Nemo (Funnel Vision), Happy Hour at Pink (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Happy Hour at Pub 687 (Pub 687)
• 6:15 pm- ’80s Music Challenge (Evolution), Disney Animation (D Lounge), Showtime: Lynn Trefzger (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 7:15 pm- 1820 Society: Coffee Time (Cove Cafe), A Decade of Music with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge), Portraits with Scenic Backdrops (Lobby Atruim)
• 7:30 pm- Mouseketeer Madness! (D Lounge)
• 7:45 pm- Generation Quest (Evolution), Movie Quotes Trivia (Pub 687)
• 8:00 pm- Champagne Tasting (Skyline)
• 8:15 pm- NFL Football (Funnel Vision)
• 8:30 pm- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Buena Vista Theatre), Showtime: Lynn Trefzger (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 8:45 pm- Disney Animation (D Lounge)
• 9:00 pm- ’80s Music Challenge (Evolution), Happy Hour at Pink (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Happy Hour at Pub 687 (Pub 687)
• 9:30 pm- Cognac Tasting (Cove Cafe), Luxury of Time: Discover Breitling (White Caps), Portraits with Scenic Backdrops (Lobby Atrium)
• 10:00 pm- Mouseketeer Madness! (D Lounge), Whiskey Tasting (Skyline)
• 10:15 pm- Gershwin & Porter Tribute with Bernadett Bihari (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Match Your Mate (Evolution), Movie Quotes Trivia (Pub 687)
• 10:30 pm- Film Scores with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge)
• 10:45 pm- Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 11:15 pm- Family Superstar Karaoke (D Lounge), Jungle Cruise (Buena Vista Theatre)

Watch the Day 1 Video Here:

Day Two Disney Cruise Activity Schedule

• 7:00 am- Yoga (Goofy’s Sports Deck)
• 7:30 am- Core Conditioning Pilates (Goofy’s Sports Deck)
• 8:00 am- Appear and Wave (Disney’s Oceaneer Club), Body Sculpt Boot Camp (Goofy’s Sports Deck), Youth Activities Open House (Disney’s Oceaneer Club)
• 8:30 am- Friends of Bill W. (Outlook), Inside Out Memory Orbs (D Lounge), Operation Hit the Decks! (Lobby Atrium)
• 8:45 am- Appear and Wave (Lobby Atrium), Character Photo (Lobby Atrium), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 9:00 am- Big Hero 6 (Funnel Vision), Kick-Start Your Day (Skyline)
• 9:30 am- Character Photo (Lobby Atrium), Disney Trivia (District Lounge), Making of the Dream (Pub 687)
• 9:45 am- Disney Animation (D Lounge), Sarge Says! (Evolution)
• 10:00 am- 1820 Society: Movie Trivia (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Kick-Start Your Day (Skyline), Youth Activities Open House (Edge)
• 10:15 am- Character Photo (Lobby Atrium)
• 10:30 am- Disney Dream Shopping Show (District Lounge)
• 10:45 am- Bingo Pre-Sales (Evolution)
• 11:00 am- Beer Tasting (Pub 687), Moana (Funnel Vision), The Inside Out Game-Playing With Your Memories (D Lounge), Youth Activities Open House (Vibe)
• 11:15 am- Character Photo (Lobby Atrium), Family Bingo (Evolution)
• 11:30 am- Jungle Cruise (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 12:00 pm- Champagne Tasting (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Character Photo (Lobby Atrium), Martini Tasting (Skyline)
• 12:15 pm- Crafts: Door Hangers (District Lounge), Disney Tunes Trivia (D Lounge)
• 1:00 pm- Beauty and the Beast (Walt Disney Theatre), Disney Animation (Evolution), Making of the Dream (Pub 687)
• 1:30 pm- Family Time Game Show (D Lounge)
• 1:45 pm- Disney Trivia (District Lounge)
• 2:00 pm- Chocolate & Liquor Tasting (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Mixology (Skyline), Tangled (Funnel Vision)
• 2:15 pm- Generation Quest (Evolution), Once Upon A Gemstone (Pub 687)
• 2:30 pm- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 3:00 pm- Magical Times: Fine Timepiece Event (District Lounge)
• 3:15 pm- Disney Animation (D Lounge)
• 3:30 pm- Bingo Pre-Sales (Evolution)
• 3:45 pm- Coco (Funnel Vision), Pub Quiz (Pub 687)
• 4:00 pm- Family Bingo, Mixology (Skyline), Stem to Stern Wine Tasting (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar)
• 4:30 pm- Disney Trivia (District Lounge), Family Superstar Karaoke (D Lounge)
• 5:00 pm- ’90s Music Trivia (Pub 687)
• 5:15 pm- Good Vibes with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge), Portraits with Scenic Backdrops (Lobby Atrium)
• 5:30 pm- Jungle Cruise (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 5:45 pm- Beauty and the Beast (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 6:00 pm- Happy Hour at Currents (Currents), Happy Hour at Pink (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Happy Hour at Pub 687 (Pub 687), Malificent (Funnel Vision), Pixie Trivia (D Lounge), Tequila & Margarita Tasting (Skyline)
• 6:15 pm- Snippets (Evolution)
• 7:00 pm- Happy Hour at Cove Bar (Cove Bar)
• 7:15 pm- Discover Crown of Light Diamonds (Carriage Jewels), Portraits with Scenic Backdrops (Lobby Atrium)
• 7:30 pm- Taylor Swift Tunes with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge), The Inside Out Game-Playing With Your Memories (D Lounge)
• 7:45 pm- Family Time Game Show (Evolution), Pub Quiz (Pub 687)
• 8:00 pm- Whiskey Tasting (Skyline)
• 8:30 pm- Jungle Cruise (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 8:45 pm- Beauty and the Beast (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 9:00 pm- Happy Hour at Pink (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Happy Hour at Pub 687 (Pub 687), Pixar Trivia ( D Lounge), Snippets (Evolution)
• 9:15 pm- Appear and Wave (Lobby Atrium)
• 9:30 pm- Bourbon Tasting (Cove Cafe), Portraits with Scenic Backdrops (Lobby Atrium)
• 10:00 pm- Captain Marvel (Funnel Vision), Luxury of Time: Discover Hublot (White Caps), Rum Tasting (Skyline)
• 10:15 pm- ’90s Music Trivia (Pub 687), Broadway Hits with Bernadett Bihari (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Good Vibes with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge), The Inside Out Game-Playing With Your Memories (D Lounge)
• 10:30 pm- Krazy Karaoke (Evolution)
• 11:15 pm- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 11:30 pm- Family Superstar Karaoke

Watch the Day 2 Here:

Day Three Disney Cruise Activities

• 8:00 am- Body Sculpt Boot Camp (Goofy’s Sports Deck), Raya and the Last Dragon (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 8:30 am- Cool Runnings (Funnel Vision), Friends of Bill W. (Outlook)
• 8:45 am- Appear and Wave (Island Pathway)
• 9:00 am- Character Photo (Scuttle’s Cove), Disney Animation (D Lounge), Hanging at Teen Hideout @ Castaway Cay (Edge), Youth Activities Open House (Disney’s Oceaneer Club)
• 9:30 am- Crafts: Anchors (Pub 687)
• 10:00 am- Yoga on the Beach (Serenity Bay)
• 10:15 am- Disney Animation (Evolution), Frozen (Funnel Vision)
• 11:00 am- 1820 Society: Island Bike Ride (Bike Rentals), Jungle Cruise (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 11:15 am- Crafts: 3D Crafts (District Lounge)
• 11:45 am- Disney Trivia (Evolution), Hanging at Teen Hideout @ Castaway Cay (Vibe)
• 12:00 pm- Descendents (Funnel Vision)
• 2:00 pm- 1820 Society: Basketball Free Throw (In Da Shade Game Pavilion), Chocolate & Liquor Tasting (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Jungle Cruise (Buena Vista Theatre), Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (Funnel Vision)
• 2:30 pm- Inside Out Memory Orbs (Evolution)
• 2:45 pm- Disney Trivia (D Lounge)
• 3:00 pm- Appear and Wave (Island Pathway), Youth Activities Open House (Edge), Youth Activities Open House (Vibe)
• 3:02 pm- Toy Story of Terror (Funnel Vision)
• 3:15 pm- Pub Quiz (Pub 687)
• 3:30 pm- Bingo Pre-Sales (Evolution), Mickey’s House of Villains (Funnel Vision)
• 4:00 pm- Family Bingo (Evolution), Martini Tasting (Skyline), Stem to Stern Wine Tasting (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar)
• 4:15 pm- Crafts: Door Hangers (District Lounge)
• 4:30 pm- A Pirate’s Life For Me (D Lounge), Beer Tasting (Pub 687)
• 4:37 pm- Lonesome Ghosts (Funnel Vision)
• 5:00 pm- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 5:15 pm- Good Vibes with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge), Photos with a Touch of Magic! (Lobby Atrium), Portraits with Scenic Backdrops (Lobby Atrium)
• 5:30 pm- Character Photo (Lobby Atrium), Hocus Pocus (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 6:00 pm- Happy Hour at Currents (Currents), Happy Hour at Pink (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Happy Hour at Pub 687 (Pub 687), Mojito & Caipirinha Tasting (Skyline), Villains Quotes Trivia (D Lounge)
• 6:15 pm- Mickey’s Mouse-Querade Party (Deck 11 Stage)
• 6:30 pm- ’90s Music Trivia (Pub 687)
• 7:00 pm- Happy Hour at Cove Bar (Cove Bar), The Haunted Mansion (Funnel Vision)
• 7:15 pm- Photos with a Touch of Magic! (Lobby Atrium), Piano Classics with Bernadett Bihari (Lobby Atrium), Portraits with Scenic Backdrops (Lobby Atrium), Royal Safi Kilima Tanzanite Event (White Caps), The Inside Out Game-Playing With Your Memories (D Lounge)
• 7:30 pm- Family Time Game Show (Evolution), Good Vibes with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge)
• 7:45 pm- Marvel Trivia (Pub 687)
• 8:00 pm- Cognac Tasting (Skyline), Hocus Pocus (Buena Vista Theatre), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 8:45 pm- Villains Quote Trivia (D Lounge)
• 9:00 pm- ’90s Music Trivia (Pub 687), Happy Hour at Pink (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Happy Hour at Pub 687 (Pub 687)
• 9:15 pm- Mickey’s Mouse-Querade Party (Deck 11)
• 9:30 pm- Broadway Hits with Bernadett Bihari (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Luxury of Time: Discover Tag Heuer (White Caps), Photos with a Touch of Magic! (Lobby Atrium), Portraits with Scenic Backdrops (Lobby Atrium), Whiskey Tasting (Cove Cafe)
• 10:00 pm- A Pirate’s Life For Me (D Lounge), Bourbon Tasting (Skyline), Character Photo (Lobby Atrium), Krazy Karaoke (Evolution)
• 10:15 pm- Marvel Trivia (Pub 687), Modern Violin Hits with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge)
• 10:30 pm- Character Photo (Lobby Atrium), Sinatra and Buble Songs with Bernadett (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar)
• 11:00 pm- Krazy Karaoke (Evolution), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans’ Chest (Funnel Vision)
• 11:15 pm Family Superstar Karaoke (D Lounge), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Buena Vista Theatre)

Watch Day Three’s Video Here:

Day Four Disney Cruise Activity Schedule

• 8:00 am- Body Sculpt Boot Camp (Goofy’s Sports Deck)
• 8:30 am- Appear and Wave (Island Pathway), Friends of Bill W. (Outlook)
• 9:00 am- Character Photo (Scuttle’s Cove), Crafts: Memory Pages (D Lounge), Hanging at Teen Hideout @ Castaway Cay (Edge), Youth Activities Open House (Disney’s Oceaneer Club)
• 9:15 am- Raya and the Last Dragon (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 10:00 am- Character Photo (Scuttle’s Cove), The Little Mermaid (Funnel Vision), Yoga on the Beach (Serenity Bay)
• 10:15 am- Crafts: Anchors (District Lounge), Disney Animation (D Lounge), Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 11:00 am- 1820 Society: Basketball Free Throw (In Da Shade Game Pavillion)
• 11:30 am- Crafts: Memory Pages (D Lounge), Fantasia (Funnel Vision)
• 11:45 am- Hanging at Teen Hideout @ Castaway Cay (Vibe)
• 12:00 pm- Mixology (Skyline), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Buena Vista Theatre), Stem to Stern Wine Tasting (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar)
• 12:45 pm- Disney Animation (D Lounge)
• 1:30 pm- Appear and Wave (Deck 12)
• 1:45 pm- Appear and Wave (Lobby Atrium), Character Photo (Lobby Atrium), Generation Quest (Evolution)
• 2:00 pm- 1820 Society: Island Bike Ride (Bike Rentals), Champagne Tasting (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Hercules (Funnel Vision), Mixology (Skyline), Sarge Says! (D Lounge)
• 2:30 pm- Character Photo (Lobby Atrium)
• 2:45 pm- Jungle Cruise (Buena Vista Theatre), Pub Quiz (Pub 687)
• 3:00 pm- Youth Activities Open House (Edge), Youth Activites Open House (Vibe)
• 3:15 pm- Character Photo (Lobby Atrium), Disney Trivia (District Lounge), Sarge Says! (D Lounge)
• 4:00 pm- Chocolate & Liquor Tasting (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Family Bingo (Evolution), Inside Out (Funnel Vision), Tequila & Margarita Tasting (Skyline)
• 4:15 pm- Disney Trivia (District Lounge)
• 4:30 pm- Crafts: Memory Pages (D Lounge)
• 4:45 pm- Character Photo (Lobby Atrium)
• 5:45 pm- Disney’s Believe (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 6:00 pm- Frozen Fever (Funnel Vision), Happy Hour at Currents (Currents), Happy Hour at Pink (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Happy Hour at Pub 687 (Pub 687), Rum Tasting (Skyline)
• 6:15 pm- ’80s Music Challenge (Evolution), Disney Trivia (D Lounge)
• 6:45 pm- Tarzan (Funnel Vision)
• 7:15 pm- A Decade of Music with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge), Jewelry Spotlight: Diamond Sale (Carriage Jewels), Piano Classics with Bernadett Bihari (Lobby Atrium), Portraits with Scenic Backdrops (Lobby Atrium)
• 7:45 pm- Movie Quotes Trivia (Evolution)
• 8:00 pm- Bourbon Tasting (Skyline)
• 8:30 pm- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Buena Vista Theatre)
• 8:45 pm- Disney Tunes Trivia (D Lounge), Disney’s Believe (Walt Disney Theatre)
• 9:30 pm- Broadway Hits with Bernadett Bihari (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar), Cognac Tasting (Cove Bar), Discover Crown of Light Diamonds (White Caps)
• 9:45 pm- Appear and Wave (Lobby Atrium)
• 10:15 pm- Film Scores with Jordan Caswell (District Lounge), Match Your Mate (Evolution), Movie Quotes Trivia (Pub 687)
• 10:30 pm- Music and Martinis with Bernadett Bihari (Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar)

More Disney Cruise Tips:

• What to Expect on a Disney Cruise
• What to Wear on a Disney Cruise Formal Night
• Day 1 on the Disney Dream
• Day 2 at Sea on the Disney Dream
• Enchanted Garden Menu
• Royal Palace Menu

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Friday 15th of April 2022

So glad you posted this so I know what to expect, I’m going to pack exercise clothes for morning yoga!

Best Disney Cruise Line Itineraries

Disney Cruise Line offers outstanding vacations all over the world, but which itineraries are the very best? Choosing an amazing itinerary is essential to enjoy a memorable vacation, and Disney cruises offer great options no matter where you want to set sail. From explorations of the Caribbean to delving into the history and culture of Europe to enjoying the natural beauty of Alaska to celebrating the vibrancy of Mexico, there are magical cruises setting sail everywhere you want to go, but certain options do stand out above others.

About Disney Cruise Itineraries

While every Disney ship is a destination in and of itself, the cruise itinerary is the travel route along which the magic will happen. Not only does this include time aboard the ship on various sea days, but also the ports visited and how much time is spent in each one. Longer port visits permit more opportunities for port adventures, and longer, destination-rich itineraries can bring travelers to many different locations on a single, convenient cruise.

Disney Cruise Line offers itineraries worldwide, from the Caribbean to Canada, the Mexican Riviera to Alaska, Hawaii to Europe . Cruise lengths range from 3-12 nights, with both shorter and longer options available in many destinations. But how to choose between them?

Each itinerary offers something unique for travelers to explore, but we’ve curated the very finest of Disney’s cruise itineraries for the most magical getaway.

Want even more help picking the best Disney Cruise Line itinerary for you and your family?  Navigate on over to The Vacationeer .

Their team of Disney travel agents can help you find the right trip for you and your budget , plus provide a generous onboard credit you can use towards purchases while you’re on the ship.

There’s never any obligation to book, and their planning services cost you nothing!  Get a free quote today.

Best Disney Cruise Line Itineraries Worldwide

Disney offers cruise itineraries to suit every interest, budget , and vacation dream. But which itineraries are the best of the best? It depends on where you want to set sail.

Note: Example itineraries are subject to change; quoted prices are the starting rate for two adults and include applicable port taxes and fees. Contact The Vacationeer for updated pricing, additional itineraries, and more information for these 2023-2024 itineraries or any Disney cruises.

Disney’s Best Caribbean Itinerary

The Caribbean is a rich, diverse region with many different nations that make up the island-hopping experience. From tropical forests and sun-drenched beaches to mountains, waterfalls, and lagoons, the natural beauty of the Caribbean can be explored on every island, and cruise guests are often able to mingle with stingrays, dolphins, and other engaging wildlife through port adventures and swim experiences.

For guests who prefer to stay on dry land, historic tours, shopping centers, bike rides, and culinary experiences are all available, while more adventurous guests might try parasailing, kayaking, or zip lines for an exhilarating adrenaline rush. But which cruise itinerary offers the best options to do it all?

Disney Cruise Line’s best Caribbean itinerary is its 7-night Western Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral . The closest cruise port to Orlando and just an hour from Walt Disney World, this cruise is a great choice for combining with theme park visits for a well-rounded, once-in-a-lifetime Disney getaway.

After setting sail, the ship – Disney Fantasy in 2023 and early- to mid-2024 – will visit the most desirable Caribbean destinations. Guests will experience the friendly vibrancy of Cozumel, Mexico; enjoy the rich elegance of Grand Cayman; and delight in the warmth and charm of Jamaica, all on one cruise. Furthermore, the itinerary also includes a stop at Disney’s private island in The Bahamas, Castaway Cay , where guests will find even more Caribbean-inspired magic.

Grand Cayman, a port of call for Disney Cruise Line | Image © Disney

In addition to the amazing options inherent in this diverse itinerary, Disney Cruise Line is also offering theme sailings along this route. In 2023 and 2024, options include:

• 2023 Dates: January 14, 28. February 11, 25.
• 2024 Dates: January 13, 27. February 10, 24.
• 2023 Dates: November 18. December 2, 16.
• 2024 Dates: To be announced.
• 2023 Dates: October 7, 21.

Prices start at $3,239 for two adults in an inside stateroom ; $3,547 for an oceanview, and $4,051 for a verandah (balcony), including all port fees and taxes.

Disney’s Best Alaska Itinerary

One of the most sought-after cruise destinations in the world, Alaska is a dream destination for its unparalleled natural beauty and pristine wonder. From sailing past mountains and glaciers to experiencing authentic Alaskan native cultures to diving into some of the best seafood in the world, Alaska is a unique and enchanting place to visit.

Though the Alaska cruise season runs just from late April through early October, Disney Cruise Line offers a stunning way to see the Last Frontier on its 7-night sailing from Vancouver, British Columbia aboard Disney Wonder .

Skagway, AK, a Disney Cruise Line port of call | Image © Disney

This cruise hits all of Alaska’s top cruise ports – Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. In Juneau, Alaska’s capital, whale watching tours are always popular, while in Ketchikan, the quirky, fun, and even educational Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show is a good time for the whole family. In Skagway, the White Pass and Yukon Railroad offers a great train ride through impressive scenery and a glimpse of the state’s gold rush history. After the ride, don’t miss the fry bread at the Klondike Doughboy in downtown Skagway!

In addition to the ports of call, this cruise also features scenic glacier viewing in the Stikine Iceccap, among the most impressive glacial formations in Alaska. The breathtaking beauty and extreme isolation of the glacier is sure to be a stunning memory all Disney cruisers will cherish.

This 7-night Alaskan cruise aboard Disney Wonder starts at rates of just under $3,000 for two adults in an interior cabin during 2023 and 2024 departures, with sailing dates in the late spring and early fall being the most affordable rates.

Disney’s Best European Itinerary

Europe is a special destination for many Disney fans, as the phenomenal castles and landscapes so beloved in many Disney films have been inspired by European architecture, history, and literature. To that end, every European itinerary offered by Disney Cruise Line can be filled with extra special experiences.

For the best introduction to Europe and the most diverse exploration of the region, the best European Disney cruise itinerary is the 9-night Mediterranean voyage that includes the Greek Isles . The 2023 sailing, which is one-way between Barcelona, Spain, and Rome, Italy, stops in world-renowned destinations throughout the Mediterranean, including Marseille, France; Pisa, Italy; Santorini, Greece; Pompeii, Italy, and more. 2024’s sailing includes a stop in Kusadasi, Turkey.

Sailing aboard Disney Dream , this cruise will be a dream come true for anyone hoping to sail the ancient and storied waters of the Mediterranean. 2024 prices start at $7,486 for two adults in an inside stateroom and rapidly increase for oceanview and verandah staterooms.

Santorini, Greece, a Disney Cruise Line port of call | Image © Disney

Yet any ranking of European sailings is incomplete without at least mentioning other options that give Disney cruisers even more opportunities to embrace the elegance and history of the region. Other popular and outstanding European sailings include:

• 5-night Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona, visiting Villefranche (Monte Carlo, Nice), France; Livorno (Florence, Pisa), Italy; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.
• 7-night British Isles from Southampton, visiting Stonehenge, England; Cork, Ireland; Edinburgh, Scotland, and other incredible ports.
• 7-night Northern Europe and Norwegian Fjords from Southampton, visiting ports of call in Belgium, Denmark, and Norway.

Disney’s Best Mexican Itinerary

Guests interested in the warm, vibrant culture of Mexico can do no better than visiting aboard a Disney cruise, where the magic of the ship will combine with the south-of-the-border style for a uniquely memorable getaway rich in music, tastes, and flair. Disney Cruise Line offers visits to Mexican ports both from the Caribbean as well as the Pacific side of the country, with itineraries of various lengths and including other ports along the way.

The very best Disney Cruise Line Mexican cruise itinerary is the 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise from San Diego , visiting the quaint port of Ensenada as well as the picturesque Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. This relaxed itinerary still enjoys abundant time in port as well as days at sea to experience all the fun of Disney Wonder , the ship currently offering this vacation.

Cabo San Lucas, a port of call for Disney Cruise Line | Image © Disney

Prices for two adults start at $3,443 for an inside stateroom on the 2024 departure.

Disney’s Best Bahamas Itinerary

For a quick getaway, nothing beats a cruise to The Bahamas, and even a short sailing can be infused with all manner of classic Disney magic. While no cruise – even the longest one – could possibly explore the more than 3,000 islands, islets, and cays in The Bahamas, a short jaunt can offer great opportunities in the country’s charming and colorful capital city, Nassau.

Nassau, Bahamas, a Disney Cruise Line port of call | Image © Disney

Disney Cruise Line sailings, however, offer even more with a stop at the line’s award-winning private island, Castaway Cay . One of the most popular ports of call with repeat cruisers from Florida , Castaway Cay offers fun photo opportunities, one-of-a-kind port adventures, nature trails, an observation tower, relaxing beaches, water play areas, a snorkeling lagoon, and much more to explore.

The best Bahamas cruise itinerary is the 4-night sailing from Miami that includes stops in both Nassau and Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay. This popular cruise is offered on  Disney Magic in 2023. Select sailing dates also feature the “Halloween on the High Seas” theme.

Prices start as low as $1,808 for two adults in an inside stateroom during the 2023 sailing season.

Choosing Your Perfect Itinerary

With so many outstanding destinations to choose from, how is it possible to pick just one best Disney Cruise Line itinerary? Whether you’re a frequent cruiser or searching for that once-in-a-lifetime sailing, keep the key traits of your ideal vacation in mind when you’re choosing an itinerary:

• Does your dream vacation involve warm, tropical vibes? Go to the Caribbean or The Bahamas!
• Do you want to see the most amazing wildlife and natural scenery? Visit Alaska!
• Are you interested in a food-rich destination? Try the many flavors of Mexico!
• Are you a history, art, or literature buff? You can’t go wrong in Europe!
• Do you want a private, exclusive experience? Don’t miss Castaway Cay!
• Want minimal hassle getting to the ship? Sail from a nearby port! (Texans can board a Disney ship from Galveston , for instance).

Above all, it is important to be aware that even during the best of times, itineraries can and do change due to port regulations, weather conditions, ship maintenance, or other factors.

Working with an experienced travel agent is the best way to ensure smooth sailing even if there are changes, and The Vacationeer is ready and willing to help you choose the best Disney Cruise Line itinerary and saildate for your next getaway.

Their team of Disney travel agents can arrange every part of your cruise, and provide a generous onboard credit you can use towards purchases and activities while you’re on the ship.

There’s never any obligation to book, and there’s no additional charge to use their planning services!  Get a free quote today.

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Disney Dream

Cruise line Disney Cruise Line

• Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida)
• Southampton (England)

Disney Dream current position

Disney Dream current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 26.09521 N / -80.12306 W) cruising en route to USPEF. The AIS position was reported 3 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Disney Dream

Disney Dream current cruise is 5 days, round-trip Western Caribbean Cruise From Fort Lauderdale . Prices start from USD 3258 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 26 Apr, 2024 and ends on 01 May, 2024 .

Specifications of Disney Dream

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Disney Dream Itineraries

Disney dream review, review of disney dream.

The 2010-built MS Disney Dream cruise ship is Walt Disney 's third (Dream-class) liner with sistership Disney Fantasy (2012).

The vessel (IMO number 9434254) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311042900) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

DCL-Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (shipowner). The company was incorporated in 1996 as "Magical Cruise Company Ltd". Walt Disney also owns the Bahamian private island Castaway Cay (exclusive port of call - for Disney ships only) and an exclusive Cruise Terminal at Port Canaveral (Orlando Florida) . Disney cruises are marketed as "family vacations" and feature unique and exclusive activities, such as costumed Disney Characters, adults-only deck areas, dedicated facilities for teens, kids and infants-toddlers, signature (trademarked) shipboard facilities and activities, themed live entertainment.

The 4000-passenger ship Disney Dream is among industry's best cruise liners for families with small kids (younger than 8). MS Disney Dream is almost 50% larger, 2-deck taller and with 44% bigger passenger capacity in comparison to the older fleet mates Magic and Wonder . The ship design is inspired by traditional 1920s ocean liners. The vessel features a navy blue hull, 2 bright red funnels, elegant Art Deco decorations and some of the most innovative technologies and fun ideas at sea, including:

• 22 pieces of "Enchanted Art" adorning the walls of hallways - paintings and pictures that are actually framed LCD screens with a technology to recognize guests present and proceeding with one of several animations;
• wave phones in every stateroom (used to call or text other guests) and effectively replacing the old onboard beeper system (now the counselors' messages come directly to the parents' phones);
• the Magical Portholes on the walls of all Disney Dream Inside cabins (LED screens showing a real-time view of the ship).

The CLIENTELE consists almost entirely of North American travelers (the USA and Canada). The new Disney Lines approach to teens and young couples (by age-related activities and limited access onboard venues) adds a really strong appeal for multi-generational cruisers.

The DRESS CODE is similar to that of the Disney luxury resorts - day casual and evening resort casual (men - jackets (no ties) and pants, women - summer dresses). All Disney Dream sailings include one pirate and one semi-formal night. On 3-day Disney Dream cruises, one night is casual, 4-day sailings are with 2 casual evenings and on 5-day voyages 3 nights are casual.

Disney Dream TIPS (totaling the US $12 PP per day) are given to waiters (including the assistant waiters) and to cabin attendants. Additionally, a 15% gratuity on all drinks is automatically charged to guests' shipboard accounts.

Decks and Cabins

Most Disney Dream staterooms (1250 total, in 28 grades) are 205-255-ft2 Balconies. The ship has 21 Suites, 887 Balcony, 199 Oceanview and 150 Inside cabins. The largest accommodations are the Concierge Royal Suites (900 ft2 / 84 m2 plus 885 ft2 / 82 m2 terrace).

Disney Dream ship cabins are very well planned and equipped. Like on all Disney ships, Disney Dream staterooms are some of the industry's largest standard cabins, most of them designed to easily accommodate four passengers. Some of the best Disney cabins features are the ample closet space, the normal-sized living space and the split bathrooms (1 room with shower-bathtub-sink and a separate toilet and sink).

Beds on Dream are raised to allow storing 2 medium-sized suitcases underneath, staterooms also got 2 vanities, a 22-inches smart HDTV, an iPod docking station and 2 rechargeable "Wave Phones" to be used ship-wide. The Disney Dream Inside cabin has a most innovative feature (and the industry's first, for that matter) - the Magical Portholes, which are LCD screens (above the beds) in the shape of portholes, projecting a real-time view outside the ship (provided by cameras). Veranda cabins feature 2 chairs and a small table on the balcony. The Disney Dream suites. Concierge Suites and Concierge Family Cabins (Deck 11-12) are new for the line, offering direct access to the ship's concierge facilities (1 small lounge, a private sun deck area with chairs, free food and drinks).

Most 1-bedroom suites are with connecting doors (1 queen bed a sitting area with a double convertible sofa, 1 pull-down bed in the living rooms, a walk-in closet, 2 bathrooms (one with a hot-tub). The largest Disney Dream stateroom, the Royal Suite, adds to all previously mentioned a living room, a wet bar, a kitchenette, media library and a Jacuzzi on the balcony.

The boat has 14 decks , of which 9 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The Disney Dream three themed main restaurants are called "Animator's Palate", "Enchanted Garden" and "Royal Palace". There are 2 adults-only specialty restaurants - "Remy" (named after the "Ratatouille" movie star, French cuisine) and "Palo" (Italian cuisine) as alternative dining options. The line's Rotational Dining system allows you to rotate to each of the three main restaurants each night while your servers follow you. The Animator's Palate has screens showing animated Disney characters and themes from "Finding Nemo" movie. The Enchanted Garden is a Versailles-inspired room, featuring lighting effects, transforming day into night. The Royal Palace is princesses-themed with numerous portraits of "Cinderella" and the "Sleeping Beauty" movie characters (even the bread baskets are shaped as Cinderella's coach). The food quality is very good, the service staff is amicable and timely.

The Remy specialty restaurant is a classy place to be on any special occasion, offering a marvelous French menu and charging serious prices - a service fee of $75 PP (reservations are required, along with the formal dress code), drinks and wine are additional. The Palo restaurant is an Italian (Mediterranean) eatery with $20 cover PP (serves dinner and on selected days - Champagne brunch). Superb fish and seafood entrees, a cold buffet (meats, cheese, shrimp, salads and desserts) and several hot made-to-order items. The "Cabanas" casual dining complex on Deck 11 has several food and drink stations for hot and cold buffet items (including made-to-order omelets and sandwiches). The "Flo's Cafe" offers burgers, chicken fingers, wraps, pizza, salads.

Follows the complete list of Disney Dream restaurants and food bars.

• Enchanted Garden Restaurant (696-seat forward Dining Room, inspired by the gardens of Versailles; serves as a buffet for breakfast and lunch, full service for dinner 5:45-8:15 p.m.)
• Royal Palace Restaurant (696-seat forward Dining Room, offers complimentary French cuisine; specialty coffees and drinks are extra)
• Animator's Palate Restaurant (696- seat aft Dining Room, animator's studio design, features favorite Disney-character dinner shows; serves complimentary drinks; Rotational Dining with two fixed Dinner seatings - at 5:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.)
• Flo's Cafe (quick service restaurant with 3 food stations: "Fillmore's Favorites" (lite lunch, complimentary), "Tow Mater's Grill" (burgers bar, complimentary) and "Luigi"s Pizza")
• Cabanas (self-service complimentary restaurant with American cuisine, pasta, sushi)
• Remy (reservations-only, adults-only French specialty restaurant for lunch and dinner; aft location, bookings via the Internet or onboard)
• Palo (144-seat Italian specialty restaurant; adults-only, reservation-only; aft location; bookings via the Internet or on board).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Disney Dream kids cruise fun clubs are the main reason for the line's high loyalty passengers ratio. Besides all the Disney characters and most innovative technologies and fun attractions on ships, the Disney children counselors are a pretty big reason many families to repeat their visits. Always smiling and friendly, they are hugely experienced, all college educated, attentive and downright. The Oceaneer's "Club" and "Lab" facilities (ages 3-10) are connected, thus doubling the fun space. The "Oceaneer's Club" features the "Andy's Room" (with oversized Disney characters for kids to climb on) and the "Laugh Floor" (with its "laugh-o-meter" and Mike and Sully of "Monsters Inc"). The "Oceaneer's Lab" is maritime-themed, featuring an Animator's Studio and a small Sound Studio. The new Disney approach allows all kids ages 3-10 to access the same clubs with separate rooms and age-related activities.

The ship's children club is called "Edge" (ages 11-13) properly secluded on Deck 13 in the funnel. The best attractions here are the 18 ft (5,5 m) tall LCD wall, the video karaoke, and numerous interconnected PCs. The teen-only "Vibe" club (ages 14-17) is of 9,000 sq. foot (836 m2), with a fountain bar and its own sun deck and pools.

The list with adults-only entertainment venues includes a dozen different lounges and bars (cocktail places), like the "Pink's Champagne Bar", the "687" sports bar, the "Evolution" nightclub, the top-deck "Meridien" wine bar (between Palo and Remy). Public spaces are decorated in deep blue and red, with numerous "Mickeys" just about everywhere (cabin, artwork, dinnerware, railings). One of the ship's most memorable places is the 3-deck high Atrium lobby with its golden hue, the wide royalty-style winding staircase, and the Donald Duck bronze statue. The Dream Atrium is a hub area connecting restaurants, theaters, and shops. You may check emails in the Internet cafe, but there's also Wi-Fi coverage throughout the ship. Like all Disney ships, Dream has no casino.

• Fun activities on board

All Disney stage shows feature intricate sets and Disney-themed captivating performances, and the big place for grand entertainment is the Disney Theater with goldies like the "Golden Mickeys" and "Villains Tonight", new amazing stage productions, like the "Disney's Believe" (directed by Gordon Greenberg) and all the best Disney movies in 3D. The themed Disney characters onboard have always been the greatest sensation of all, and there are countless opportunities to meet and greet Mickey and company around the ship - in contrast to Disneyland, here they all are accessible and will always stop for a hug and a photo with you. Another big success is the "Pirates in the Caribbean" kids party divided into two programs - the sing-along called "Mickey's Pirates in the Caribbean" followed by the "Club Pirate" (with many special effects) and great Disney fireworks between the shows.

• SPA and FITNESS, pools, waterslide, technology

The "Senses" Spa & Salon offers all the usual treatments (haircuts, manicures) and more exotic choices (hot-stone massages, mud baths). The "Chill" is a teen-only Spa within the facility. The Fitness Center along with the usual equipment offers at additional fee Yoga and Pilates classes. The Sports Deck has a small sports court, a mini-golf course, Ping-Pong tables, a walking/jogging track.

The pool deck has a large area for family fun water activities, featuring 2 hot tubs and 2 kids pools - "Donald's" (5 ft deep) and "Mickey's" (with a spiral slide). A big attraction here is the big LED screen mounted on the funnel. There's a toddler splash area (Nemo themed) located in the center on Deck 11 with huge glass panes for parents to monitor their kids.

The AquaDuck waterslide - the ever first water-coaster at sea is located atop the ship, featuring a 765 ft (233 m) long 4-decks high transparent tube, reaching the incredible 150 ft (46 m) above the ocean (there's a 42-inch (107 cm) height requirement). The "Nemo's Reef" is a small kids waterpark. And while speaking of water and pools - the adults-only "Quiet Cove" pool area is a great place to hide from all the little angels and devils around the ship.

Follows the complete list of Disney Dream lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Walt Disney Dream Theatre (1340-seat, offers live shows, aerial acrobatics performances, grand-style productions, 3D movies; with two evening shows - at 6:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.)
• Dream's Atrium (3-deck high central ship area, featuring marble-carpet flooring, grand staircase, and panoramic glass elevators)
• Mickey's Mainsail (Disney brand logo shop for postcards, souvenirs, DVDs, toys, clothes, games)
• Sea Treasures (duty-free crystal, brand jewelry, watches, precious stones, Disney merchandise, underwear, sport, and swimming apparel)
• Whitecaps (duty-free brand jewelry, perfumes, liquor, and tobaccos)
• Bon Voyage Bar (adults-only, serving wine, beer, and cocktails)
• Buena Vista Theatre (399-seat 4D cinema, features 3D movies, Dolby Surround 7.1 and Dolby 3D movie technology)
• Preludes Bar (quick wait-service snacks & beverages bar)
• Shutters PhotoShop (photo packages, accessories, photographic services)
• Vista Cafe (atrium bar for specialty coffees and teas, dinner cocktails, complimentary snacks, and pastries; Wi-Fi spot)
• D Lounge Bar & Nightclub; Evolution Disco & Nightclub; Vista Gallery
• The District (adults only area including the District Lounge, Evolution night club, Pink Champagne Bar, 687 Sports Bar, Skyline Bar)
• Pink (adults-only champagne bar; chocolate and alcohol tasting classes)
• Skyline Lounge (adults only cocktails bar, with glass walls and 7 LED screens)
• Vibe Disco & Club Lounge (teens only)
• It's A Small World Nursery (for 3 months to 3 yo infants and toddlers; reservations required)
• Dream's Oceaneer Club (kids 3-12 yo; with four play areas with themes from Disney films); Dream's Oceaneer Lab (play area for kids 3-12 yo)
• Senses Spa & Fitness Complex (with 17 treatment rooms; 1 Whirlpool; "Rainforest Room"; "Relax Room"; Fitness Centre /health and wellbeing seminars; Beauty Salon)
• Luxurious Spa Villas (two private suites with own hot tub, private verandah, Roman bed with canopy, open-air shower)
• Quiet Cove Pool (adults only pool, served by Cove Bar; with 2 Whirlpools)
• Chill Spa (teens only spa with separate relaxation area and treatment rooms)
• Cove Cafe (adult-only, with big TV screen; Wi-Fi spot)
• Eye Scream Treats Bar (complimentary ice cream, poolside)
• Frozone Treats (iced fruit smoothies bar, poolside)
• Whozits & Whatzits (pool shop for AquaDuck related stuff)
• Donald's Pool; Mickey's Pool
• Nemo's Reef (waterplay kids zone; features characters meetings and greetings)
• Arr-cade (kids/teens video games arcade)
• Waves Bar (family poolside bar)
• Outdoor LED movie screen (24x14 ft)
• Meridian Lounge & Bar (adults-only venue for dinner cocktails)
• Currents Bar (outdoor bar for cold drinks, refreshments, cocktails)
• Edge Lounge (11-14 yo teens-only club area, with a giant video wall, interactive games, Internet)
• Goofy's Sports Deck (Walking Track, Jogging Track, 9-hole Mini Golf Course, Virtual sport games simulators, combined sports court, Ping Pong/Foosball tables)
• Radio Studio (live radio programs for Disney Dream itinerary-related news and onboard events)
• Outlook Bar (retreat area with a piano and full bar; hosts weddings receptions).

Itineraries

Between 2011-2022, Disney Dream's itinerary program was based on short-breaks (3-night and 4-night) roundtrips to The Bahamas departing from Port Canaveral/Orlando Florida . Call port destinations included Castaway Cay (DCL's private Bahamian island) and Nassau .

The ship's last voyage from Port Canaveral was on June 3, 2022 (3-day to Castaway Cay), while the last departure from Port Canaveral was on June 6st, leaving for the new homeport Miami . The first voyage from PortMiami departed on June 7th (4-day maiden voyage). Out of Miami, Disney Dream offers two itineraries: 4-day "Bahamian Cruise" (Nassau and Castaway Cay) and 5-day "Western Caribbean Cruise" ( Grand Cayman and Castaway Cay). Select 7-day Western Caribbean voyages visit Cozumel Mexico, Grand Cayman, Falmouth Jamaica).

In Port Canaveral, Disney Dream was replaced by the new Disney Wish , starting on July 22, 2022.

In 2023, Disney Dream will be homeported (for the first time) in Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale (Florida USA) . The new homeporting (beginning November 2023) follows the European deployment (Mediterranean from Barcelona and Civitavecchia-Rome, and UK-Baltic from Southampton). The new 4- and 5-night itineraries visit ports in The Bahamas (Castaway Cay, Nassau) and Western Caribbean (Cozumel Mexico, Grand Cayman).

Disney Dream - user reviews and comments

Photos of disney dream.

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Disney Dream Wiki

The Walt Disney ship Dream is company's third liner, with sistership Disney Fantasy . Each vessel is 40% larger in size than the oldest Disney ships ( Magic and Wonder ). While its capacity (at double occupancy) is 2500, the Dream-y ship of Disney can accommodate up to 4000 passengers at full/max occupancy (all berths).

The vessel (Mayer Neptun yard/hull number 687) is powered by MAN B&W marine diesel engines (3x 12-cyl, 2x 14-cyl) plus diesel generators (3x 14,4 MW, 2x 16,8 MW) with total power output 76,8 MW. The propulsion system is electric (based on two converteam propulsion motors) with total power output 26 MW, plus two FPPs (5-blade Fixed-Pitch Propellers/inward-turning).

The vessel was ordered on February 22, 2007. The design was announced on Oct 29, 2009. Vessel's construction started with the keel-laying ceremony on August 19, 2009. The exterior (hull and superstructure) was completed on June 1, 2010. The ship was launched (floated out from drydock) on October 30, 2010, and paid in full by the shipowner Walt Disney Company on December 8, 2010. Liner's first cruise/maiden voyage was on January 26, 2011. The Bahamian itinerary from homeport Canaveral-Orlando (Florida) visited Nassau and Castaway Island .

The Disney ship Dream has company's classic "ocean liner" design inspired by the 1920s-30s' passenger ships. The hull is painted in navy blue, both funnels are in bright red. The Art Deco-styled Atrium Lobby looks jazzy and elegant, with a huge glass chandelier and the bronze statue of Donald Duck - standing right in front of the marble stairway. Walt Disney's most famous character - Mickey Mouse - can be seen everywhere - in staterooms, artworks, on dinnerware, on railings. The swimming pools are small, but the AquaDuck has the craziest waterslide at sea, with a transparent tube spinning over the ocean. The ship provides numerous regularly scheduled activities for families, kids, teens and adults, and plenty of dining and entertainment options.

On November 6, 2017, on MS Disney Dream was the premiere of the "Beauty and the Beast" musical developed as an exclusive evening production show.

The vessel's last drydock (for regularly scheduled maintenance works) was in 2020 (at Damen Shiprepair Yard in Brest France ).

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The 2024 Guide To Disney World Itineraries for EVERY Type Of Visitor

Updated: March 18th, 2024

Disney vacations are for kids. Right?

But it’s also one of the most popular spots for weddings, honeymoons, proposals, family reunions, and even school field trips and team competitions.

There’s much to cover at the four Disney World parks. But we will go through each park to give you an idea of the best restaurants, attractions, and shows you might consider checking out.  While you may not get to  everything  on each itinerary, it will definitely help get your plans in motion!

Before you skip Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll need to decide whether you plan to use Disney’s Genie+ planning tool or are willing to purchase Individual Lightning Lanes for those high-demand attractions. Your budget and your priorities will be the ultimate deciding factor in whether or not this tool will work for you. The two parks we think you can get the most value out of the Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lane options are in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, which are both heavy hitters in terms of attractions.

You can still get a lot accomplished without it, but if your goal is to complete as much as each park has to offer, you’ll want to take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours  if you can.

You’ll also want to pre-plan any table service meals you want to enjoy during your Disney World vacation. Advanced Dining Reservations for Disney World table service restaurants open up 60 days prior to your vacation, and the most popular dining locations book up quickly!

So, that means not only do you want to figure out where you want to eat as early as you can, but you may also want to set an alarm on your calendar to book those reservations as early as 6AM EST on that 60-day mark!

Disney World is comprised of four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping and dining district, two miniature golf courses, over 20 resorts, and more than 200 restaurants and lounges. So even though hundreds of thousands of guests visit Disney World every year, no two trips are ever the same. You can tailor your Disney experience to your preference. Looking for thrills and some Broadway-quality shows? Disney’s got you covered! Looking to relax in a hammock or lounge by a pool with a fruity frosty drink? Disney can provide that, too.

Depending on who’s in your group, you can tailor your Disney plans to fit everyone’s needs. But don’t stress out, we did the work for you to help find an itinerary that can fit almost any visitor in your group!

• Best Disney World Itinerary for a 5 Day Trip
• Best Disney World Itinerary for a 7 Day Trip
• Best Disney World Itinerary for Toddlers
• Best Disney World Itinerary for Adults
• Best Disney World Itinerary for Couples
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• Disney World for the Fan Who Has Done It All
• Disney World for Guests with Sensory Issues, Autism, or NeuroDiversity
• Disney World for Guests with ADHD
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• Disney World for Guests with Mobility Issues
• Disney World for Expectant Mothers
• Disney World in Large Groups

So whether you’re planning a solo trip, a trip with your pals, or even a honeymoon, we’ve got an itinerary to help you accomplish your Disney vacation goals! We also have handy checklists for each park so you can prioritize your own goals and not miss a thing!

Keep following AllEars for the latest Disney news, tips, and travel info, and be sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Join the AllEars.net Newsletter  to get a list of ways to have the Perfect Day at Disney Springs! Click here to get started!

What is your favorite thing to do in the Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments below!

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Disney Very Merrytime Cruise Tips & Itinerary

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Last year we did the 4-Night Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Wish cruise ship and had an amazing time. Whether you already have a Very Merrytime cruise planned or are thinking about doing one in the future, it’s such a fun way to kickstart the holiday season. We’ve put together some of our top Very Merrytime Cruise tips, including onboard activities, itineraries and what to wear for these special Disney Cruise Line sailings.

What is a Very Merrytime Cruise on Disney Cruise Line?

First things first, it’s helpful to know what Very Merrytime Cruises actually are. These special itineraries are part of Disney Cruise Line’s themed cruises, and they include holiday activities during the entire sailing. The ship is decorated for Christmas, and the characters are dressed in cute Christmas outfits. Plus, each day has special activities like crafts and Santa visits to get you in the holiday spirit throughout the entire cruise.

Disclaimer: Toddling Traveler participates in Amazon Affiliates and other affiliate programs. That means we could earn a commission for qualifying purchases made through our links.

Disney Very Merrytime Christmas Cruise Activities

The main draw to a Disney Cruise Line Christmas cruise is the special activities offered throughout. I read several Disney Christmas cruise reviews prior to our trip, and I wasn’t able to find a lot of information on the fun activities a DCL Christmas cruise offers. Here are some of the activities on our Very Merrytime Christmas Cruise:

• Christmas Tree Lighting: This is offered on each Very Merrytime sailing on the first night. It’s typically around 7:45pm, between first and second dinners. Santa comes out and everyone can watch the tree lit together. 
• Storytime with Santa and/or Mrs Claus: This special activity is offered once per sailing, and on our cruise it was at 1:45pm on the Nassau port day. The best part about storytime was the surprise dance party afterwards. The characters came out in their Christmas gear and spent time with the kids dancing to popular Christmas songs.
• Holiday crafts like ornament making for either adults only or all ages offered throughout the cruise.
• Character Greetings each day with characters dressed in the cutest Christmas outfits. For the most part, the characters were wearing Christmas outfits with the exception of Pirate Night and Castaway Cay. 
• Visits with Santa are offered on a few days and times throughout the sailing. He was the best Santa I’ve ever seen!
• Special Photo Ops: Get pictures with or without Santa in front of the tree or with special photo backgrounds. Many people either dress up in their best Christmas outfits or matching Christmas pajamas. 
• Holiday Music Performances: In the evenings, there are special musical performances with holiday music. 
• Gingerbread house making or cookie decorating have also been offered on Very Merrytime cruises in the past, but we didn’t see it on our particular sailing.

Christmas Decorations on Disney Very Merrytime Cruises

Another benefit to doing a Very Merrytime Disney Cruise is getting to see the ships beautifully decorated with Christmas decor. Some of the amazing Christmas decorations include:

• A huge Christmas tree in the Grand Hall, with special colors and theming based on the ship. The Disney Wish Christmas tree is unique in that it’s a gold tree with gold decorations throughout. While it’s different from your traditional tree, we absolutely loved it! The lights are off when you first board the ship, and then there’s a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on all DCL Christmas cruises the first night. 
• Themed Christmas trees in each area of the ship. The kids’ clubs each had a special tree in each area, and the lounges and even the hair salon and spas had their own trees. It was fun looking for them throughout the ship!
• A Gingerbread House on each Disney cruise ship. Each ship puts together their own Gingerbread house for display, and they have a contest at the end to see which ship has the best tree. The gingerbread house on the Disney Wish was unique in that it was more of a tower than a house. 
• Castaway Cay is decorated for Christmas with its own Christmas tree and beachy themed snowmen for a fun photo op as well as decorations throughout the island. Sadly, with a hurricane and other events, Castaway Cay wasn’t decorated for our Nov 14-18 Very Merrytime Bahamas cruise on the Disney Wish. (So keep that in mind that if you’re on an earlier Very Merrytime itinerary in November, Castaway Cay may not yet be decorated!)

What to Pack for a Very Merrytime Cruise

Not sure what to pack for a Disney Very Merrytime Cruise? One of our biggest Disney Christmas Cruise tips is to get super festive! Regardless of whether you’re sailing in November or December, you’ll see people decked out in holiday gear throughout the cruise. It’s such a fun way to get in the holiday spirit. Some things to pack for a Disney Christmas Cruise include:

• Disney Christmas pajamas for the whole family. If you’re planning ahead, Target, Old Navy and Kohls tend to have matching family PJs by late September. Little Sleepies also has the comfiest family matching Disney Christmas pajamas that would be great for a cruise. I bought slipper socks for everyone for nighttime as well.
• Disney Christmas shirts . I stocked up on Christmas gear at ShopDisney after the holidays the year before, and we typically find great deals for kids at Old Navy, Target or Kohls. You can also shop for matching Very Merrytime cruise shirts here on Etsy.
• Disney Cruise Christmas door magnets are a fun way to get festive and “decorate” your room. Some people go all out, but we kept it simple and ordered these Christmas cruise magnets.
• Disney Cruise Christmas Ornaments if you’re participating in an ornament exchange with your cruise group. You also can find some here . 
• Fun accessories like Christmas ears, bows or Santa hats. 
• Nice Christmas outfits for family pictures with Santa or in front of the tree. I bought this dress for me, a gold toddler dress for my daughter and a similar Mickey Christmas button down shirt for my son. 

Head to our Disney Cruise packing list for a full list of items to bring with you on a Disney Cruise. 

Disney Very Merrytime Cruise Itineraries

Very Merrytime cruises typically run from early to mid-November through December each year.  Historically, all five Disney cruise ships have had Christmas cruise sailings that visit Mexico and the Caribbean during this time. 

In 2023, 4 of the 5 Disney ships will have Very Merrytime sailings, with the Disney Wonder being the only one that will not offer them. The 2023 Disney Very Merrytime Cruise itineraries include:

• 5 Night Western Caribbean & 4 Night Bahamian Very Merrytime cruises on the Disney Dream out of Fort Lauderdale
• 6-7 night Western and Eastern Caribbean Very Merrytime cruises on the Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral
• 3-4 night Bahamian Very Merrytime cruises on the Disney Wish from Port Canaveral
• 5 Night Baja Very Merrytime Cruise from San Diego and 14-Night Panama Canal Very Merrytime Cruise from San Diego to Galveston on the Disney Magic

Looking for a 2024 Disney Very Merrytime Cruise? Fall 2024 Disney Cruise Line itineraries are currently available for booking on Disney Cruise Line. The Very Merrytime Cruises in 2024 include:

• 3 and 4-night Bahamian Very Merrytime cruises on the Disney Wish from Port Canaveral (with stops at either Lighthouse Point or Castaway Cay)
• 4, 5 and 6-night Western Caribbean Very Merrytime cruises from Galveston on the Disney Magic
• 4 and 5-night Bahamiam Very Merrytime cruises from Fort Lauderdale on the Disney Dream (includes itineraries with either Lighthouse Point and Castaway Cay stops)
• 6 and 7-night Bahamian, Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises on the Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral

If you’re specifically looking for a Disney cruise over Christmas, there are also special Very Merrytime Disney Cruises on Christmas Day. They also have itineraries for Disney cruises over New Year’s Eve. If you’re sailing out of Port Canaveral, be sure to also check out Disney at Christmas either before or after your trip!

Not sure where to start? Contact me Amanda at [email protected] for help planning your next Disney Cruise Vacation!

Additional Tips for a Disney Cruise Line Very Merrytime Cruise

• Be sure to check the Navigator app for all scheduled holiday activities when you board the ship. It’s easy to miss some of the holiday activities.
• Characters tend to be in Christmas gear during most of the cruise, with the exception of Pirate Night and on Castaway Cay.
• Consider purchasing the DCL photo package in advance of your cruise. It’s a great way to get family Christmas photos, and we plan to use our picture in front of the tree for Christmas cards this year.
• Plan outfits in advance, particularly if you want to purchase matching Very Merrytime Cruise shirts like these or something similar on Etsy. Shipping can always take a bit longer this time of year, and we totally missed the window for our cruise!
• Be aware that special one-time events like the Christmas tree lightning will fill up fast. Get there early and try to go on the top floor of the grand hall for the best viewing.
• If you’re on a Bahamas Very Merrytime sailing, consider skipping port excursions at Nassau for more ship time. There’s so much to do, and some special Christmas activities only happen on the Nassau day.
• Join a cruise group on Facebook for ornament exchanges as a way to interact with other guests and leave with several fun and special souvenirs.
• Speaking of souvenirs, if you’re looking for special Christmas gifts on a Very Merrytime cruise, be sure to go to the gift shops on the first night. Inventory is typically lower, and they will sell out.

Related Posts:

• Disney Cruise Packing List & Tips
• Orlando at Christmas
• Cruising with a Toddler

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Disney in your Day

A blog all about Disney

• Sailing the Disney Wish, day 4: Day at Sea

August 31, 2023 by Becky 1 Comment

Continuing our sailing on the Disney Wish in November 2022 – today we look at our fourth day (and last full day) on the Wish, when we had a day at sea.

This sailing on the Disney Wish was unique because we had a different itinerary than originally expected – instead of the Bahamas, we ended up going to Mexico because of a tropical storm. So while our last full day should have been spent at Castaway Cay, we were on the ship instead. The Wish was a gorgeous ship with a lot to do, so I was okay with that!

I woke up before Jason did, so I headed off to the gym to get in a run on the treadmill. They have some really nice treadmills with lots of fancy features – and many of them were positioned right in front of a porthole-style window, so you had some great views. I just did 3 miles and then went off to grab some breakfast.

Beer tasting seminar

With my crazy busy life (and so much of my time spent planning trips for other people), I actually missed our date to book events on board the Wish. Everything filled up quickly… but because you don’t have to pay upfront, people end up canceling or moving things around all the time. I checked the app a lot on board to see what might open up, and there was constantly stuff coming and going.

I really enjoy doing the drink seminars on the Disney cruises , as it’s a good way to try new things and to learn as well. “Fun + educational” is pretty much my sweet spot! I managed to grab a reservation for the beer tasting for 1 person. Since Jason isn’t really into beer I figured he wouldn’t mind (don’t worry, I was right!). 

I wouldn’t say I’m a beer expert, but I definitely try a bunch of things and have learned a lot along the way. I was excited to hopefully learn a bit more and to see how much I already knew.

Our instructor was very good for this class and I thought it was an excellent mix of some of the basics I was familiar with, and more detailed information that was new to me. We also got some information and fun facts on beer in general.

For each beer we tried he had us guess what style of beer it was. You might think you know your beers pretty well, but this can be harder than you realize! Especially with so many of the twists and interpretations on types of beer. 

During the tasting, we had a lager, pale ale, red ale, Tripel, and Trappist amber ale. It was a really good variety of different beers and great to get the background information.

Once my tasting was done, Jason met up with me in the pub and well, we had more drinks. Hey, it’s vacation! When I learned they had beer cocktails on the menu I wanted to try another one of those, and Jason took the opportunity to enjoy some Mead. 

We went to trivia next, but I have to admit we didn’t win this time… might have been all the alcohol beforehand?

Lunch, sweets, and drinks

We took much of the afternoon to just explore more of the ship that we hadn’t seen yet, as it was our last day. We had lunch up on the pool deck and then visited a few other areas of the ship. I tried playing the on-board interactive game, but it wasn’t quite finalized yet and I definitely encountered some glitches.

We also spent some time in the Rainforest Room again before we headed back up to the pool and tried the drink of the day.

We also looked through Joyful Sweets, the “Inside Out” themed ice cream and sweets shop. Of course, I had to try something! They had some really interesting and unique flavors of ice cream and gelato. In some ways, I wish I hadn’t eaten so much throughout the cruise to leave more room for ice cream, because I wish I had room to try more flavors!

There was one other spot I really wanted to visit, and that was the “Princess and the Frog” themed lounge, the Bayou. We decided to grab and drink there before the show.

In true Disney fashion, the themeing and décor of this area were stunning. Princess and the Frog is one of my favorite movies, and the aesthetic is a big reason why. It wasn’t too crowded, so we were able to grab one of the really cool booth-type tables.

And a good thing too, because shortly after we arrived our friends from our dinner table also happened to be there! So they came to sit with us and have a drink for awhile before we all went off to the show for the evening. They also ordered the beignets so we got to try those, and they were pretty fantastic.

Our final show of the sailing was Aladdin, and I have to say I liked this one a lot more than The Little Mermaid. I had seen Aladdin on Broadway so I was curious what was similar in this shorter production. Of course, some things have to be changed or adapted from the film to the stage, and I wasn’t sure if they would do things the same or not.

I had also seen the Aladdin show that used to play in California Adventure, and I think there were similarities here as well, though it wasn’t identical.

One thing that was definitely the same for all versions of the shows was that the Genie is the true “star” of the show, and steals the show every time. He seems to have some leeway to improv, and I’m guessing that he must update the material fairly often because they try to keep it relevant with more current jokes.

There were some great musical performances, the Genie was very funny, and it was an entertaining show. I think they perhaps could have chosen a stronger singer to play Aladdin, but even as the title character, he’s really secondary to the Genie. I also wasn’t particularly impressed with the special effects of the magic carpet – at least from where we were sitting, you could clearly see the mechanical arm that was operating it.

There have been a lot of newer versions of Aladdin lately, and they seem to also try to make Jasmine a stronger character. This is something that I think the live-action movie did well . They gave Jasmine a new song in the Disney Wish show, but I wish they had used “Speechless” from the movie because I think that song is far superior. 

Dinner at 1923

After the show it was time to dine, and this evening we were eating at 1923. This feels the most “formal” of the dining rotation restaurants, as it’s not character-influenced and doesn’t have any sort of show or entertainment accompanying it.

It does have a beautiful atmosphere, with all sorts of Disney drawings, props, etc. decorating the walls from their animated films.

The food here was quite good, as I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ate. We also had a wonderful time with our dining companions again. I had the burrata and prosciutto appetizer and the pasta for my main course. All of the women at our table had ordered the pasta, and all 3 of us picked out all of the mushrooms! It was a funny moment. But even working around the mushrooms, the pasta was delicious. It had a prosecco cream sauce that was excellent.

Normally it would be off to bed at this point, but there had been a special announcement of something happening at midnight that night…

Black Panther 2

The newest Marvel movie was due to come out the next day, and they shared that they would be doing a midnight showing that night. They also would be showing it in the morning, as we’d already learned that our embarkation would be delayed due to waiting for the port to be cleared from the storm. 

With the knowledge that we were definitely going to be able to sleep in the next morning, we decided to head to the midnight showing!

The souvenir cup which I had resisted at the World of Marvel restaurant was on sale again, and this time I didn’t resist. YOLO I guess. 

My thoughts on Black Panther 2 could be a whole separate blog post, but suffice it to say that I didn’t find the movie riveting enough to stay awake for almost 3 hours. I watched about half and then decided to head out and go to bed. Jason stayed through the ending.

Normally I wouldn’t write a post about debarkation day, as it’s just breakfast and getting off the ship early in the morning. This was NOT the case for our sailing this time around though, so stay tuned for a Disney Wish Day 5 post…

Related Posts

• Sailing the Disney Wish, day 5: Disembarkation day
• Sailing the Disney Wish: Day 1, Arrival Day
• Sailing the Disney Wish: Day 2, Day at Sea
• Sailing the Disney Wish: Day 3, Cozumel

What do you think of this trip? Would you want t o  do a Sailing on the Disney Wish?

September 1, 2023 at 10:33 am

What flavor ice cream did you get at the Inside Out place?

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• Disney Details

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Disney world 4 day itinerary – making the most of a short disney trip.

Disney World 4 Day Itinerary 

Following our  disney world  4 day itinerary “template” .

• must do attractions 
• must do dining locations 
• must do activities (pool time, miniature golf, etc.)

What is the Best Itinerary for Disney World?

If you answer those questions above you’ll quickly realize that there is not one tried and true perfect Itinerary for Disney World. Instead, it’s far more important to craft a vacation that fits what you and your family want to do. Everyone’s travel style is different but at the same time I think it’s important to have a basis of what does tend to work and allows you to maximize your time in the parks. That’s the only reason I share this itinerary today. I hope you modify it heavily to fit your needs! I truly do. Use this as a touring plan template, guideline, or starting point, but then let things you’re not interested in fall off your agenda.

Choose What’s Most Important to You 

Consider your budget first .

Before we get into the specifics, as you prepare for your trip planning, really consider your budget. I know that sounds obvious, but the type of resorts you can afford and travel expenses can play a big role in the length of your stay and the type of things you may consider during your vacation. Instead of eating table service meals, you may want to look into quick service options. Or perhaps look into my  10 Excellent Entrees Under $15 at Walt Disney World for some budget friendly options !

If you’re looking at flying to the parks, you may be able to save money by driving and in turn stay in a deluxe resort instead of a value or moderate tier as a tradeoff. In the big picture, this is what we tend to decide first. The budget may change a little as the planning progresses, but starting with a basic idea of what you can spend and how you plan to spend it will play a big role in how your itinerary is altered or changed in comparison to ours. See my Flying to Disney World post for more tips on that topic! 

One last thing you’ll want to consider is that our Disney trips tend to be pretty fast paced. With the exception of really long trips 7+ days, we tend to spend long hours in the parks, and make the most of the park hopper option. Also worth noting is that we’ve almost mastered Disney’s transportation systems and as a result it makes our park hopping a bit more efficient than many first time guests. I don’t say that to discourage anyone, but it’s something to consider as you attempt to jump from park to park.

Don’t let that missed bus or missed fastpass+ selection destroy your trip. Unfortunate circumstances are inevitable at Walt Disney World every once in a while, but above all else try to enjoy every little moment of the experience and don’t let the trivial problems be what you remember long after your trip draws to a conclusion. 

With all those little things out to the way, here’s a closer look at the plan I recommend in order to get the most out of 4 days at Walt Disney World! I call it a Disney World 4 Day Itinerary but it’s infinitely customizable and should be customized!    

Day 1 – Partial Day at Magic Kingdom

For most four day stays a majority of guests will lose either part of the first day or part of the last day traveling. If you’re arriving on any other day than Monday I would recommend heading straight to Magic Kingdom after dropping off your luggage at the hotel (Mondays are incredibly busy at Magic Kingdom) . Magic Kingdom is typically the park that most guests want to accomplish the most attractions, shopping, and shows in throughout their stay. By utilizing this partial day, you can really accomplish quite a few things in a short amount of time. I don’t recommend doing this on Mondays because crowds tend to be the heaviest on Mondays.  

Something that is important to note is that if you make your fastpass+ selections far enough in advance you can manipulate the times in My Disney Experience so that each of your selections fall in the afternoon/nighttime hours of the day. If you can work out the times just right you’ll guarantee yourself rides on some of the most popular attractions even if the park is ridiculously crowded on your arrival day. 

In a simliar way, if you can manage to stay late (near park closing time) you can catch a few more attractions as many guests leave directly after the nighttime performance of Happily Ever After concludes. You wont find a short wait for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but you may catch a short queue at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin or Dumbo before the park officially closes. If you’re staying until close you wont want to miss these two articles: 

• A One of A Kind Disney Experience: Shutting Down the Magic Kingdom! 
• The “Kiss Goodnight” – A Unique Disney Experience Many Guests Completely Overlook

These things can truly be a highlight and a perfect add on item to your Disney World 4 Day Itinerary!

Our plan for our first day consisted of an early dinner at the The Plaza Restaurant at around 3:45, followed by our first fastpass+ selection of the day, Peter Pan’s Flight. After that experience we hopped on the train for a quick ride around (considering on this particle day even the Peoplemover had a 20 minute wait) the entire loop starting and ending in Storybook Circus. At that point, we checked a few wait times in Fantasyland but ultimately ran out of time before our second fastpass, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Upon exiting the attraction (one of our favorites) we headed to Frontierland for our final fastpass of the day, Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Day 2 – A Full Day at Epcot  

From our experience, the best case scenario for our needs is to head straight to Soarin and get a fastpass+ reservation for Test Track. After riding Soarin you may have a few minutes to ride Journey Into Imagination with Figment, The Land, or even the Seas with Nemo and Friends before your designated fastpass+ timeframe. If you’re looking for a great breakfast options to throw in the mix, we highly recommend Garden Grill !

Once you complete the attractions you would like to experience, head to the World Showcase to spend the afternoon or to eat your way around the countries and take your time exploring the little details as they unfold before your eyes. While a more in depth plan of our ideal day at Epcot can be found in the article –  Our Tried and True “Epcot in a Day” Touring Plan  this should give you a quick idea of what to expect out of day two!

Day 3 – Split Day at Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom… And Even Animal Kingdom!  

As day three arrives, you’ll really start to make the most of the park hopper option. In our case, we started our day with early extra magic hours at Magic Kingdom. If you get there when the gates open, you’ll be shocked at how much you can get done in a very short amount of time. The first 90 minutes will be your most successful and productive time of the entire day and quite possibly the entire trip. If you’re careful about managing your time, you can  Ride 6 or More Attractions in 90 Minutes or Less: With Only 1 Fastpass+!  That particular article is one of my favorites because it really puts into perspective how important those early hours can be for those looking to ride as many attractions as possible.

After making that grand 6+ attraction run, take a break and head to breakfast. In our plan we went to Crystal Palace because it truly is one of our favorite breakfasts on property. It even made our list of top character dining options on property . If you want to follow our plan step by step, at this point we left Magic Kingdom and went over to Hollywood Studios. It feels like a short time at Magic Kingdom, but you’ll be surprised by what you can get done in a few short hours.

As a bit of a side note… on this particularl day, we avoided using our fastpasses in Magic Kingdom in order to guarantee rides late in the day at popular attractions and shows in Hollywood Studios. Our first fastpass was Voyage of the Little Mermaid, but before that experience began we made a quick trip into Star Wars Launch Bay for a quick look at the exhibits and to make a pass through the gift shop (a great place to pick up unique merchandise) before enjoying the Little Mermaid show.

As soon as that was finished we were ready for our Toy Story Mania Fastpass. Toy Story Mania is a fairly quick attraction, so once it concluded we caught a quick show and still had plenty of time to head to our final fastpass at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.

I know that sounds like a quick trip through Hollywood Studios, and in all reality it is. However, we did leave the park at this point in order to arrive at a Whispering Canyon reservation for dinner that night. Truth be told, if you spent a few more hours at Hollywood Studios you could really accomplish nearly every attraction and show offered in that park minus Rise of the Resistance. Later that night we went straight to Animal Kingdom to take in the miraculous spectacle that is Pandora – The World of Avatar at Night!

Another great option is to stick around in Hollywood Studios and tour Star Wars – Galaxy’s Edge. The land truly comes alive at night and the crowds really fall off in Hollywood Studios as closing time approaches. The crowds tend to make their way to Fantasmic at the end of the day leaving attraction queue much shorter.

Day 4 – Split Day at Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and Magic Kingdom 

Can you do animal kingdom in half a day.

On our final day we started at Animal Kingdom and made every effort to enjoy our favorite attractions early on in the day. For years, Animal Kingdom was a half-day park for us. It wasn’t that way because you could do everything in half a day, but rather because we wanted to spend more time at Epcot or Magic Kingdom.

To an extent, that same concept remains true with this length of stay and considering this is a Disney World 4 day itinerary with things that will have to get cut. Some sacrifices will sadly have to be made. To me, Animal Kingdom is not a “half day park” but it is the one park I’d personally devote less time to if you are short on time during your vacation. Of course that is simply personal preference and I’ll explain exactly how we manipulated this particular day.  

We spent the morning riding Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, catching breakfast at Yak and Yeti (their quick service option), enjoying Na’vi River Journey, and of course Festival of the Lion King! To an extent, the order you complete these attractions and shows doesn’t entirely matter, but I highly recommend going to Na’Vi River Journey first. If you can secure a fastpass for Flight of Passage it’s your best bet to go ride Na’Vi River Journey early in the day. If not, go straight to Flight of Passage when the gates open.

To make this day unfold a little easier, we had secured a fastpass for Flight of Passage and in turn managed to avoid the line for that attraction. It was the last thing we did in that park before leaving and heading to a late lunch reservation at Homecomin’ Kitchen over at Disney Springs . After the meal (or any other number of dining options at Disney Springs you would like to choose) we explored the area a bit and went in a few of our favorite stores before moving locations one last time and heading to Magic Kingdom to round out the vacation.

At the end of that last day I recommend one final thing that so many guests overlook. Take a moment upon returning to your resort to find a quite place and reflect on the vacation. Our accommodation of choice for this trip was the Boardwalk Resort . In my opinion, it was the ideal place to think back on the events of our short stay. No matter what resort you’re at, find a quiet place, sit and enjoy the moment, and reflect upon the memories you’ve created with friends and family. In my opinion, it is the very best way to end a trip of any length.                 

Things to Consider As You Plan Your Itinerary: 

Can you really do disney in 4 days with a “template” plan.

So, to be quite honest the answer to this question is no. I know that sounds weird coming from the guy that pushed out an article touting a “Disney World Vacation in 4 Days” article, but stick with me for a minute. You can experience a truly incredible WDW vacation in 4 days. Heck, I even served up a template for you to do just that here in a round about way. However, the important thing to note is that you can never see and do everything at Walt Disney World. You certainly can’t do so in 4 days, or 7 days, or even 10 days. I’ve been doing this for a lifetime (quite literally touring the parks my entire life) and I still haven’t seen and done everything at WDW.

The important thing to remember in all of this is that you can’t go into your short vacation with the expectation of seeing and doing everything. There is no “perfect” touring plan for a day in Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or even Magic Kingdom. You have to be infinitely adaptable and if you are you’ll have a far better experience in the parks. Avoid over planning at all costs! If you plan down to the minute you’ll miss out on the subtleties of your vacation more often than not! Just enjoy being there in the moment and it’ll be more than worth it in the end. Savor the memories, not your attraction count for the day.

Check Park Hours Before Planning Days 

Are disney park hopper tickets necessary .

Disney Park Hopper tickets are 100% worth it in most cases. Especially if you’re following our Disney World 4 Day itinerary. For those of you who may be asking “What is a Park Hopper Ticket at Walt Disney World?” you are certainly asking a good question and one that can be so difficult to understand when planning your first WDW vacation. A park hopper ticket is an add on option to any Walt Disney World ticket that allows you to visit multiple parks on the same day and “hop” from park to park all you want to. Essentially, it allows you to visit all 4 Disney parks in one day.

Would I recommend visiting all four parks in one day? No, probably not, in most cases. However, visiting two parks in one day is a really good plan for shorter days in case you overlooked something in one park or missed your favorite show due to rain or some other issue. The park hopper ticket option also gives you the amazing opportunity to manage your time more effectively and allocate time at the parks you enjoy the most while still being able to visit all four parks on a short stay.

It’s also worth noting that the park hopper and park hopper plus option are different. Ultimately, the park hopper plus option includes access to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. I would not recommend visiting water parks on a 4 day trip. For longer trips and summer trips it can be an incredible option and an amazing way to escape the heat for a day or even a few hours.       

If you want to use our plan or a variation of it, the park hopper option is a must when buying tickets. If you don’t buy it you’ll be limited to whatever park you start the day in and will have to visit just that one park for the day. You can come and go as you please, but any other park is off the table. 

So there you have it, all the details of our Disney World 4 Day Itinerary!

Let Someone Guide You

Modify the plan as you go.

Even if you follow every single element of this plan, you will have to modify it along the way. Alter your plans as you go and do what works best for you as the situation unfolds. Be a bit spontaneous in your travels and the results may genuinely surprise you!

Your Thoughts

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Plan Your Day With the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

Using a mobile app to find cruise activities makes it difficult to get away from your phone on vacation. Never fear, TouringPlans is here! Today I’m going to run through how to find scheduled activities, fast , so that you can plan your day quickly. If you’re a DCL veteran who used the paper Navigators in the past, you might even find that the digital Navigator has some big advantages.

This post is tightly focused on how to find activity and entertainment information. Do you already know the basics of using the DCL Navigator app on board? Then you can skip straight to the Use It Like A Pro section. Don’t have any idea where to start with the Navigator app? Then you may want to check out Step-By-Step: How to Use Disney Cruise Line Navigator on Board first.

Ship Information

Tapping “Today’s Itinerary” on the Home Screen gives you the big picture. You’ll find weather, what the ship is doing that day, etc. If it’s a port day this is where you’ll find the All Ashore and All Aboard times, and tapping the “Going Ashore” icon will give you a variety of information that is the same for every port.

Scrolling the Today’s Itinerary screen on a port day will bring up information about Emergency Contacts and the Ship’s Agent at the port. If you’re going ashore, it can be a good idea to take a screenshot of the Contact Information screen. That way you’ll have the information no matter what the internet situation is.

The Explore Screen

For entertainment, activity, and dining schedules, you’ll want to head for the Explore screen. To use this section well, remember there’s more than one way to peel an orange. Want to see movie schedules? There are at least four different ways to access them. Disney has worked hard to expose a lot of information so don’t be afraid to tap, tap, tap.

Start by tapping the ship on the bottom icon bar to open the Explore screen. At the top of this screen, there are four features you’ll want to take note of.

⭐ You can change the date you’re looking at — tap the date at the top and select a different day. This is an advantage over the old paper Navigators, where tomorrow’s schedule was always a mystery.

⭐ The slider menu lets you quickly zero in on activity types. Once you are familiar with this slider, it will often be the fastest way to access what you’re looking for.

⭐ The Filter button can narrow the big list in the Daily Activities tab rapidly. This Filter button is only visible when the slider menu rests on Daily Activities.

⭐ On the top left, you can tap the small ship for deck plans to find your way around the boat and not just around the schedule.

In the lower part of the screen, you’ll see a list. This can be a list of activity “cards” or a list of venue “cards”, depending on which tab of the slider menu is selected. Let’s talk about the activity cards first; the Daily Activities and Character Greetings tabs will have this type of list.

Activity Cards & Schedules

Activity cards show the time and location of the activity, how long it takes, and what age group it’s aimed at. They also have a heart in the upper right corner; tapping the heart adds or removes activities from your personal plans. Once you’ve hearted an activity, its card will appear on the My Plans screen. You’ll get reminder notifications for everything in My Plans 15 minutes in advance.

What might not be obvious is that you can tap the activity card to open its activity page and get more information. Each activity page has two tabs: Overview and Schedule. The overview tab has a description of the activity. The schedule shows the cards for all the times that this same activity is offered throughout the cruise, labeled with the location instead of the activity name.

Filtering the Daily Activities Tab

Straight talk: unless you really want to look at everything, the Filter is your friend on the Daily Activities tab. Yes, it is a couple of extra taps, but it’s a much more pleasant experience. Unfortunately, the filters do not persist if you close and reopen the app.

Venue Cards and Schedules

The remaining slider tabs are Dining & Lounges, Spa & Salon, Youth Clubs, Pools, Sports & Recreation, Shopping, Live Shows & Movies, and Guest Services; some of these are shown below as examples. All of these tabs will have a listing of venue cards, instead of activity cards. Venue cards have hours of operation and the location on the ship.

Like the activity card, you can tap on a venue card to open its page. Venue pages come in three basic flavors: overview and schedule, dining, and hours of operation only.

⭐ Overview and schedule-type pages are similar to the activity pages. The difference is the list of activity cards: it’s the scheduled activities for the space. Scroll down to see days in the future.

Activity pages and the overview-and-schedule type venue pages are different ways of listing the same information. It’s a bit like organizing a cookbook – do you make a chapter for vegetarian dishes and a section for appetizers, or a chapter for appetizers and a section for vegetarian dishes? If you find activity cards on an activity listing or a venue page schedule, they’ll be labeled with the name of the activity. But if you find them on the activity page schedule, they’ll be labeled with the name of the location that is hosting them. No matter where you find it, it’s the same activity, and tapping the heart will make it appear on your My Plans tab.

⭐ Dining pages show the hours for meal periods (breakfast, lunch, etc.) at each location. You may also see a link to view the menu, which is good for those of us who like to plan our dinner first thing in the morning. You’ll find dining-type cards in the Dining & Lounges tab, but you’ll also see them other places. For instance, tap More → Dining Schedule to see your full dining rotation for the whole cruise.

⭐ Some locations will have a hybrid page that shows both a menu and the overview and schedule tabs. That’s because these are multi-purpose locations. During the day, they’re used for activities, but in the evening they’re devoted to nightlife.

⭐ Hours of operation-only pages are for locations like shops and pools that are either open or shut; they don’t have a Schedule tab. You’ll quickly learn which venues have these kinds of pages and stop tapping on those cards.

❗Be aware! Venue cards may appear under more than one tab in the slider. For instance, the Oceaneer Lab/Club may appear under both the Youth Clubs tab and the Sports & Recreation tab. No matter where you find it, the venue’s schedule tab will show the same information. Non-sports activities won’t be filtered away because you started in the Sports & Recreation tab.

Use It Like A Pro

OK, here are six of my best tips for finding everything you want without wading through a ton of stuff that you don’t.

1️⃣ The schedule tab is your friend. Let’s say you added an 8:15 am showing of the Marvels in the Buena Vista Theatre, and when your alarm goes off you wonder why you did this to yourself on vacation. Tap the activity card in My Plans to quickly check the schedule; if there’s another showing that works for you then heart that one instead and go back to sleep.

2️⃣ For a character you want to meet, find a time the character appears in the Characters tab. Then drill down to the schedule and heart any appearances that might work with your plans. After you’ve successfully bagged a meet and a photo, you can cross off the others. Not all characters meet every single day, so you will want to do a quick skim through each day for new appearances.

3️⃣ To quickly get rid of all the Youth Club activities in the Daily Activities tab, use the Filter and select “Adult Exclusive” and “Fun for All Ages”

4️⃣ Kids’ club Open Houses are considered to be a single activity: Youth Activities Open House. If you’re interested in these, find the first Open House, then use the activity’s schedule to find all the Open Houses for Oceaneer Lab/Club, Edge, and Vibe.

5️⃣ Be wary of activities that have a colon in the name such as “Animation: Donald Duck” or “Anyone Can Cook: Apple Strudel”. You might think that checking this activity’s schedule will find all the Animation events, or all the Anyone Can Cook events. But it doesn’t work that way; the first part of the name is just a general category. If you want to find “Animation: Daisy Duck”, you’ll need to be clever and peruse the schedule for the D Lounge (or the equivalent space on your boat) since all the Animation activities are held there.

6️⃣ The “My Favorites” filter on the Daily Activities tab shows almost the same thing as the “My Plans” tab. But your reserved dining time will be missing and the view is much more compact. Screenshot the Daily Activities tab with the “My Favorites” filter on, and set it as your lock screen for the day. This way you can check your plans at any time without having to open your phone and tap around in the app.

Do you have a great tip for using the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app? What’s your favorite thing about it? Let us know in the comments!

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Personal Navigators

• Disney Magic
• Disney Wonder
• Disney Dream
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Wish
• Disney Treasure
• Disney Adventure
• Disney Destiny

86 Replies to “Personal Navigators”

Pingback: 7 Day Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Fantasy | Wheelchair Traveling

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Does anyone have a recent navigator for the Disney Magic 5 night Western Caribbean with stops in Caymans and Castaway Cay?

Michelle, The Disney Magic will not sail this itinerary until October 2015. For now, you can look at the navigators from a January sailing of the same itinerary aboard the Disney Wonder .

Hi Scott: I just uploaded two files from my cruise 4/3/15-4/8/15. I was in Cabin # 5522. I also sent you a copy of the 2015-2016 cruise brochure.

I do Michelle. I am going to send them over to be posted.

Did this ever get posted?

My mistake, I did not cruise on the Magic. It was the Wonder. I did post my Navigators. They are under the 5-Night Western Caribbean Easter Cruise on Disney Wonder – Itinerary C – April 3, 2015

Does anyone have a navigator for the fantasy April 2016 trip

anyone have any 2016 merrytime navigators from the fantasy?

Vanessa, the first Very MerryTime sailing on the Fantasy in this year is November 19th which is an Eastern followed by the Western on the 26th.

Any new Fantasy Western Navigators?

Hi, Does anyone have a Dream Navigator for Itinerary I ? It’s not a usual run and I’ve never seen anything for it? Thanks!!

Does anyone have copies of the New Dream 5 days cruise? Thanks!

Does anyone have copies of the navigators for itinerary D on the Fantasy? Thanks in advance!

The Disney Fantasy will not sail the 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise – Itinerary D until December 19, 2015.

I thought the Fantasy sails the 7-Night Eastern Carribbean through 2015. We are booked in Nov. for St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Castaway Cay, 7 nights on the Fantasy.

Sara, I was specifically taling about Itinerary D which includes Tortola. Here is a d aily schedule for the Disney Fantasy listing the specific itinerary.

Hi! can someone send me personal navigator for the Disney Magic 4 nights in 2015 bahamas ?

The Disney Magic has not sailed this itinerary from Miami yet. The sailings being in October. There are some from 2013 that may help. Additionally there are more from the Wonder here , here and here .

Hi! Can anyone who already travelled share with me their experience of onboard activities? What is must-see, what is not? Thanks!

I thought there was a western fantasy c listed prior?

Vanessa, Yes. When DCL relaunched their website the made the itinerary names generic. In this case they dropped the itinerary letter. You can find the old Itinerary C here , but DCL is now calling it a 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral.

I submitted the 7 night Bahamian from Galveston 12/11 to 12/18 this morning.

Thanks. I am a little behind with the personal navigators. I hope to get through them during the holiday week.

Hi Scott, I have the Navigator for the December 23rd Magic cruise. Do you need them? Where should I send them. Thanks for doing this I have used your site many times. Louise

You can upload them using this page .

Hi Louise. Do you have a Miami Western Caribbean personal navigator for the 7 night cruise? If you do, would you be so kind as to share it please and thank you.

I am trying to find a 7-night southern Caribbean navigator on the Wonder out of San Juan. I understand there have only been two cruises so far this year, but wondered if they are available anywhere.

I uploaded my Navigators and activity changes schedules (port issues due to weather) for our Jan 20 cruise – did you receive them? Not sure how helpful they will be though as the Magic is changing home ports in Feb 2016!

Hello Laurie. No, I didn’t receive them… Would you be so kind as to email it to me? [EMAIL ADDRESS REDACTED]. I will be on Dec. 2016 cruise and wondering what activities, dining, etc will be like. Also, what ports did you go to? Thank you so much!

I will be posting them soon. I removed your email address to prevent any bots from scrapping your address and spamming you.

Is there a navigator for the 4 day Bahamas cruise on Dream?

Veronica, You can find a full list of Personal Navigators here . The most recent 4-Night on the Dream can be found here .

I am looking for the 7 night Eastern Caribbean navigator.

Can you provide me the email address to send Navigators?

Please use our Personal Navigator upload page . If you prefer email, click on the mail icon on the top of the webpage.

Would love to see one for the Canadian/New England 5 day cruise from NYC.

Does anyone know what movies are currently playing on the Disney cruises? I will be sailing on the 5 night western Caribbean cruise out of Miami next week. What is the most recent personal navigator?

Hello. I will be traveling from Miami in December on the 7 night Magic. Has anyone traveled these dates previously? How was the water temperature on the ship and on the excursions? I believe I’ll be going to St. Johns Tortilla and Castaway Cay. Being from Miami, I’m used to really warm waters so I’m kind of concerned if to plan any water activities. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I see a link to April 4 Navigators for the Dream, but when I click it I get a 404 page error. Just FYI.

They were just published . They appeared on this page early.

Does anyone have the 5 day Disney Magic cruise from New York to Nova Scotia?

Hello! Does anyone have Navigators from the 2016 Alaska Sailing Season?

Susan, the first sailing is still underway.

Ah! That explains it. Thanks so much. We fly to CA 6/2 for the 6/6 sailing. Hopefully some kind sole on the current sailing will quickly upload Navigators. Thanks again.

Where is the thread for Disney fantasy departing from port canaveral on September 17

Daniel, Here is the link to the cruise page.

Does anyone have the navigators from the sailing over Christmas Day 2015 on the Wonder? Thank you!

Does anyone have a copy of the Fantasy Eastern Caribbean New Years Eve cruise

Hello do you have the 3 night Halloween cruise navigator for the Dream yet for 2016?

Can I presume nobody has been on the Wonder since the revamp? Is the cruise now starting the first with passengers?

Matt, the November 10th sailing is the first guest cruise following dry dock.

I’m looking forward to the 2017 PNs to start appearing to see what Star Wars Days at Sea look like in 2017!

Yes — please please please, someone submit the Eastern Star Wars Navigators!

I booked the 3 night Fantasy with a double dip to Castaway Cay. Having trouble getting an idea of what the navigators will look like. Any suggestions? I like to plan in advance…in detail.

Jessica, I would expect a similar experience to that of a 3-night Disney Dream sailing. For the Fantasy sailing, I foresee each of the main stage shows performed and each night will be the standard rotational dinner menu. Pirate Night festivities would likely be held on the second day.

Are there any more recent personal navigators on this site? It didn’t get updated recently for newer personal navigators

New navigators are posted on a regular basis as we receive them.

Thanks for posting all this wealth of information. Always so appreciated. One really minor suggestion, in the listings maybe you could add a little Star Wars icon of some sort next to those sailings, just like you have the pumpkins and trees for the holidays.

Thanks for the suggestion. In addition to the ? and ? I updated the site with ? for Star Wars Day at Sea and Ⓜ️ for Marvel Day at Sea.

Anyone have any Personal Navigators from either the Magic or Wonder from 2007?

Hello, I’m Marianne’s 14 year old son, Marcus Tran, and me and my mom love your blog so much that I had to ask you this question: I submitted some personal navigators of my family’s Disney Magic cruise on January 5-12, 2008, and I’m wondering if you could upload them. If you do, that would be appreciated. Thank you!

I have a back log of older navigators that need to be added to the site.

Where would the back log be?

In a folder on my hard drive.

Okay. Thank you for letting me know. I really do hope that those navigators are put up soon.

Scott, I’m still waiting for you to upload the navigators I sent to you. What’s taking so long?

just uploaded our navigators from the June 11, 2018 Alaska cruise. One note – we did go to Endicott Arm instead of Tracy Arm. Hope you received the files

Yes, thank you. I will get them posted ASAP.

When did the Personal Navigators start to look like they do today? I saw a Wonder navigator published from 2005 that looked white and bland.

Between 2010 and 2011. The Disney Dream entered service with the new look.

Hi does anyone have the 5 night Mediterranean cruise for july 9 2019 departs at bercelona

Heath, Navigators are not available for future sail dates. There are links to navigators from the 2017 and 2018 sailings of this same ternary available on this page .

what do the blue color cells mean? Does that mean you have to pay to participate?

No, the blue spaces in the kids spaces highlight the open house times where it is non-secured programing. During open house time, adults can join their children in the designated youth activity space.

There was a special guest on all the 2019 SW cruises. Anybody else upset that Star Wars day at sea 2020 cruises no longer have a special guest?

I do know Ashley Eckstein was on SW day at sea cruise last week with her family, but don’t know if she was considered a special guest or not. Note, many of the special guests would travel with family since they only did a couple presentation/meets on that one SW day at sea, like most celebrities, you would see them dining and around the ship. One of the few places they can roam freely without security since it’s the closed environment of cruise ship and of course, cameras are everywhere. My wife met Brandon Auman, executive producer of Star Wars Rebels on our SW cruise 2019. A cruise in 2014 our table was next to Jodi Benson family in all dining rooms on cruise the week after she did Candlelight processional at Epcot. We got to watch Jodi perform and meet her as part of a Disboards large group cruise!>)

Does anyone have a navigator for the 4 night Cozumel Disney Winder Cruise? We are going March 2nd. Thanks

Hi Jesse, at this time we do not have a set of Navigators for this itinerary. The first sailing of this itinerary sails from New Orleans at the end of February.

Is this still being updated? I’m curious why there aren’t any more recent Dream navigators since the return to cruising. We’re having a heck of a time figuring out what our 3-night will look like, and we board tomorrow! 😛

Hi Jennifer, We rely on readers to submit this information. Since DCL is no longer offering paper navigator handouts, it is not as easy to share the data as it requires a bunch of screenshots from the app. Some have opted to screen record the phone instead of individual screenshots. Regardless, the information is not as readily available to share. I do have some that our fine readers have taken the time to compile the information, but the steady stream that once was, is no more.

Thanks so much! I assumed as much – especially with fewer people cruising in general. I was just surprised to see no updates for the dream at all! Thanks for the quick reply. I’ll try to remember to save ours!

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The 7 best 3-day cruise itineraries for 2024.

Plan a long weekend getaway aboard a cruise for fun, scenery and entertainment.

The Best 3-Day Cruise Itineraries

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Hop aboard the Carnival Radiance for a short but fun-filled cruise weekend.

Whether you're short on vacation days or you only have a long weekend to spare, three-night cruises offer a fun and affordable way to get a change of scenery. These shorter sailings from the U.S. often amount to a weekend cruise and only depart from Florida and California for now. However, short cruises still let you dine and dance on board, enjoy world-class entertainment, and visit nearby destinations like Nassau in the Bahamas; Key West, Florida; or Ensenada, Mexico.

If you're looking for short cruises that pack a lot of good times into a weekend vacation, you should know that many cruise lines offer these trips, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. Read on to find out which short cruises we recommend, where they depart from, and everything you can see and do over the span of three incredible nights.

3-Day Cruises From Florida

Norwegian sky from miami.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Dates: Aug. 2 to 5, 2024

Departure port: Miami

Stops: Key West, Florida; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $399 per person

This three-night cruise on Norwegian Sky departs from Miami in August 2024 with stops at two iconic tropical destinations. The vessel's first stop is Key West , where cruise passengers will have the day to visit the southernmost tip of the United States, book a snorkeling or kayaking tour, or bar hop along the world-famous Duval Street. From there, the cruise stops at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, which is a private island paradise that's only for cruise passengers. Here, visitors can enjoy some beach time, plan a WaveRunner adventure or snorkel the clear waters to watch out for wildlife.

When not at port, passengers on Norwegian Sky can enjoy the ship's 10 dining options, onboard spa, casino at sea, and variety of pools and hot tubs. The Norwegian Cruise Line vessel even has a sushi bar and a Starbucks onboard, and it was completely renovated from top to bottom in 2019.

Book a Norwegian cruise on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

MSC Seashore from Port Canaveral

Conrad Schutt | Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Dates: Multiple dates in November and December 2024

Departure port: Port Canaveral, Florida (Orlando)

Stops: Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, Bahamas

Starting price: $169 per person

This three-night cruise on MSC Seashore departs from Port Canaveral near Orlando and takes passengers to two tropical destinations in the nearby Bahamas . The first is the island of Nassau, which is known for its luxury resorts (including the exclusive Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas), huge casinos and powder white sands. After that, guests can spend a second day at port at MSC Cruises ' private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. This island offers a perfect beach retreat for people who just want to relax, including several expansive white sand beaches with ample seating, an interior ocean lagoon for swimming, and beach bars and eateries dotted throughout.

MSC Seashore features huge pools, an onboard water park for kids, the expansive MSC Aurea Spa and 11 distinct dining venues for passengers to choose from. The ship also boasts the exclusive "ship within a ship" Yacht Club area, which offers the best of everything for discerning guests.

Find an MSC Cruises deal on GoToSea.

Celebrity Reflection from Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Dates: Ongoing in 2024

Departure port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Stops: Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas

Starting price: $273 per person

This three-night cruise on Celebrity Cruises ' Celebrity Reflection departs from Fort Lauderdale and leaves for two days in the sunny Bahamas. The first stop gives guests a full day to enjoy at Perfect Day at CocoCay, a cruise line private island that's typically reserved for Royal Caribbean guests. This island paradise features an exclusive beach club, idyllic white sand beaches for swimming and floating, a water park, a zip line, and plenty of places to eat and drink all day. The next stop is Nassau: Visitors can dine and shop their way through the port area or book a fun day pass to the Baha Bay water park, which is located at resort Baha Mar and features waterslides, an expansive lazy river and incredible cuisine options right at the park.

Celebrity Reflection was recently refurbished in 2022. It features an incredible array of included dining options, eight specialty and exclusive dining establishments, and bars and lounges throughout the ship. The Retreat, a VIP ship-within-a-ship concept, is also offered on board for those who want an elevated cruising experience.

Explore Celebrity Cruises on GoToSea.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks Newsletter

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Disney Dream from Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Dates: Nov. 6 to 9, 2024

Stops: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $1,973 per stateroom

This three-night Bahamian cruise on Disney Dream stops at two exclusive destinations in the Bahamas – Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, then Disney Castaway Cay. The first stop offers incredible beaches with play areas and crystal-clear water for swimming, as well as the Bahamian Arts and Culture Pavilion for families who want to learn something about the local culture on vacation. At Disney Castaway Cay, families can relax the day away on white sand beaches, go biking or kayaking, ride two waterslides, and more. Both destinations even have adults-only beach areas for cruisers who are traveling kid-free.

Disney Dream holds a maximum of 4,000 passengers and has everything you would expect on an exclusive Disney Cruise Line vessel, including kids and family areas, adults-only dining options and pools, and two large theaters. The ship also has several supervised kids clubs as well as dedicated clubs for teenagers and tweens .

Read: The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Liberty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Stops: Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

Starting price: $263 per person

Royal Caribbean International also boasts a Bahamas cruise from Fort Lauderdale that stops in Nassau and at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. In Nassau, cruisers get the chance to explore one of the most popular cruise ports throughout the Caribbean, where you can book an excursion to a local beach, plan a snorkeling adventure or play in one of the two biggest casinos throughout the region at Atlantis or Baha Mar. At Perfect Day at CocoCay, families can stay active with waterslides, book a kayaking tour or ride a hot air balloon up to 450 feet in the air.

Liberty of the Seas is also an ideal ship for families thanks to fun features like a huge onboard water park with slides, an ice skating rink with shows and the Broadway at Sea theater. The Royal Caribbean vessel also has nearly a dozen different dining venues, including Cupcake Cupboard, Johnny Rockets, a pizza kitchen and an old-world Italian eatery called Giovanni's Table.

Compare Royal Caribbean International cruises on GoToSea.

3-Day Cruises From California

Navigator of the seas from los angeles.

Dates: Throughout 2024

Departure port: Los Angeles

Stops: Ensenada, Mexico

Starting price: $282 per person

Royal Caribbean offers a three-night West Coast adventure on Navigator of the Seas that includes a fun day at sea and a full-day stop in Ensenada, Mexico. This Mexican destination is known for the many activities that can be enjoyed along its rugged shores, which can include leisurely days at nearby Estero and Mona Lisa beaches, hiking experiences, exploration of Baja California's wine region, whale watching and more.

Dates for this sailing are offered throughout 2024, and the ship itself has plenty to keep passengers enthralled while at sea. For example, Navigator of the Seas features the longest waterslide at sea, enlarged pool deck areas for relaxation, ice skating shows and shopping – not to mention Broadway-style shows with dancers, acrobats and singers. There are also 12 unique dining options onboard, including Starbucks, Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver and Johnny Rockets.

Carnival Radiance from Los Angeles

Dates: Jan. 26 to 29 and Sept. 24 to 27, 2024

Departure port: Long Beach (Los Angeles)

Starting price: $244 per person

Carnival Radiance also embarks on three-night journeys to Mexico from Los Angeles throughout the year, including in January and September 2024. This Carnival Cruise Line itinerary includes a fun day at sea and a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, where passengers can plan a sightseeing trip, nosh on the unique Baja cuisine the area is known for, shop for silver jewelry and other keepsakes, or spend the day relaxing on the beach.

Carnival Radiance itself serves as the perfect floating vessel for this fun weekend vacation, with onboard amenities that span the Cloud 9 Spa and WaterWorks water park with slides to a comedy club and special clubs for kids and teens. The ship also boasts an adults-only solarium and 10 different bars to choose from.

Book a Carnival cruise on GoToSea.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer and cruise expert who has covered family travel and cruises for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 40 times across most of the major cruise lines in destinations throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate the itineraries for this article.

You might also be interested in:

• Cruise Packing List
• Beach Packing List
• Cruise Drink Packages: Your Options by Cruise Line
• First-Time Cruise Tips
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

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The 7 Best 3-Day Cruise Itineraries for 2024

W hether you're short on vacation days or you only have a long weekend to spare, three-night cruises offer a fun and affordable way to get a change of scenery. These shorter sailings from the U.S. often amount to a weekend cruise and only depart from Florida and California for now. However, short cruises still let you dine and dance on board, enjoy world-class entertainment, and visit nearby destinations like Nassau in the Bahamas; Key West, Florida; or Ensenada, Mexico.

If you're looking for short cruises that pack a lot of good times into a weekend vacation, you should know that many cruise lines offer these trips, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. Read on to find out which short cruises we recommend, where they depart from, and everything you can see and do over the span of three incredible nights.

3-Day Cruises From Florida

Norwegian sky from miami.

Dates: Aug. 2 to 5, 2024

Departure port: Miami

Stops: Key West, Florida; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $399 per person

This three-night cruise on Norwegian Sky departs from Miami in August 2024 with stops at two iconic tropical destinations. The vessel's first stop is Key West , where cruise passengers will have the day to visit the southernmost tip of the United States, book a snorkeling or kayaking tour, or bar hop along the world-famous Duval Street. From there, the cruise stops at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, which is a private island paradise that's only for cruise passengers. Here, visitors can enjoy some beach time, plan a WaveRunner adventure or snorkel the clear waters to watch out for wildlife.

When not at port, passengers on Norwegian Sky can enjoy the ship's 10 dining options, onboard spa, casino at sea, and variety of pools and hot tubs. The Norwegian Cruise Line vessel even has a sushi bar and a Starbucks onboard, and it was completely renovated from top to bottom in 2019.

Book a Norwegian cruise on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

MSC Seashore from Port Canaveral

Dates: Multiple dates in November and December 2024

Departure port: Port Canaveral, Florida (Orlando)

Stops: Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, Bahamas

Starting price: $169 per person

This three-night cruise on MSC Seashore departs from Port Canaveral near Orlando and takes passengers to two tropical destinations in the nearby Bahamas . The first is the island of Nassau, which is known for its luxury resorts (including the exclusive Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas), huge casinos and powder white sands. After that, guests can spend a second day at port at MSC Cruises ' private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. This island offers a perfect beach retreat for people who just want to relax, including several expansive white sand beaches with ample seating, an interior ocean lagoon for swimming, and beach bars and eateries dotted throughout.

MSC Seashore features huge pools, an onboard water park for kids, the expansive MSC Aurea Spa and 11 distinct dining venues for passengers to choose from. The ship also boasts the exclusive "ship within a ship" Yacht Club area, which offers the best of everything for discerning guests.

Find an MSC Cruises deal on GoToSea.

Celebrity Reflection from Fort Lauderdale

Dates: Ongoing in 2024

Departure port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Stops: Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas

Starting price: $273 per person

This three-night cruise on Celebrity Cruises ' Celebrity Reflection departs from Fort Lauderdale and leaves for two days in the sunny Bahamas. The first stop gives guests a full day to enjoy at Perfect Day at CocoCay, a cruise line private island that's typically reserved for Royal Caribbean guests. This island paradise features an exclusive beach club, idyllic white sand beaches for swimming and floating, a water park, a zip line, and plenty of places to eat and drink all day. The next stop is Nassau: Visitors can dine and shop their way through the port area or book a fun day pass to the Baha Bay water park, which is located at resort Baha Mar and features waterslides, an expansive lazy river and incredible cuisine options right at the park.

Celebrity Reflection was recently refurbished in 2022. It features an incredible array of included dining options, eight specialty and exclusive dining establishments, and bars and lounges throughout the ship. The Retreat, a VIP ship-within-a-ship concept, is also offered on board for those who want an elevated cruising experience.

Explore Celebrity Cruises on GoToSea.

360 Kiosk Email : Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Disney Dream from Fort Lauderdale

Dates: Nov. 6 to 9, 2024

Stops: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $1,973 per stateroom

This three-night Bahamian cruise on Disney Dream stops at two exclusive destinations in the Bahamas – Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, then Disney Castaway Cay. The first stop offers incredible beaches with play areas and crystal-clear water for swimming, as well as the Bahamian Arts and Culture Pavilion for families who want to learn something about the local culture on vacation. At Disney Castaway Cay, families can relax the day away on white sand beaches, go biking or kayaking, ride two waterslides, and more. Both destinations even have adults-only beach areas for cruisers who are traveling kid-free.

Disney Dream holds a maximum of 4,000 passengers and has everything you would expect on an exclusive Disney Cruise Line vessel, including kids and family areas, adults-only dining options and pools, and two large theaters. The ship also has several supervised kids clubs as well as dedicated clubs for teenagers and tweens .

Read: The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Liberty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale

Stops: Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

Starting price: $263 per person

Royal Caribbean International also boasts a Bahamas cruise from Fort Lauderdale that stops in Nassau and at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. In Nassau, cruisers get the chance to explore one of the most popular cruise ports throughout the Caribbean, where you can book an excursion to a local beach, plan a snorkeling adventure or play in one of the two biggest casinos throughout the region at Atlantis or Baha Mar. At Perfect Day at CocoCay, families can stay active with waterslides, book a kayaking tour or ride a hot air balloon up to 450 feet in the air.

Liberty of the Seas is also an ideal ship for families thanks to fun features like a huge onboard water park with slides, an ice skating rink with shows and the Broadway at Sea theater. The Royal Caribbean vessel also has nearly a dozen different dining venues, including Cupcake Cupboard, Johnny Rockets, a pizza kitchen and an old-world Italian eatery called Giovanni's Table.

Compare Royal Caribbean International cruises on GoToSea.

3-Day Cruises From California

Navigator of the seas from los angeles.

Dates: Throughout 2024

Departure port: Los Angeles

Stops: Ensenada, Mexico

Starting price: $282 per person

Royal Caribbean offers a three-night West Coast adventure on Navigator of the Seas that includes a fun day at sea and a full-day stop in Ensenada, Mexico. This Mexican destination is known for the many activities that can be enjoyed along its rugged shores, which can include leisurely days at nearby Estero and Mona Lisa beaches, hiking experiences, exploration of Baja California's wine region, whale watching and more.

Dates for this sailing are offered throughout 2024, and the ship itself has plenty to keep passengers enthralled while at sea. For example, Navigator of the Seas features the longest waterslide at sea, enlarged pool deck areas for relaxation, ice skating shows and shopping – not to mention Broadway-style shows with dancers, acrobats and singers. There are also 12 unique dining options onboard, including Starbucks, Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver and Johnny Rockets.

Carnival Radiance from Los Angeles

Dates: Jan. 26 to 29 and Sept. 24 to 27, 2024

Departure port: Long Beach (Los Angeles)

Starting price: $244 per person

Carnival Radiance also embarks on three-night journeys to Mexico from Los Angeles throughout the year, including in January and September 2024. This Carnival Cruise Line itinerary includes a fun day at sea and a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, where passengers can plan a sightseeing trip, nosh on the unique Baja cuisine the area is known for, shop for silver jewelry and other keepsakes, or spend the day relaxing on the beach.

Carnival Radiance itself serves as the perfect floating vessel for this fun weekend vacation, with onboard amenities that span the Cloud 9 Spa and WaterWorks water park with slides to a comedy club and special clubs for kids and teens. The ship also boasts an adults-only solarium and 10 different bars to choose from.

Book a Carnival cruise on GoToSea.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer and cruise expert who has covered family travel and cruises for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 40 times across most of the major cruise lines in destinations throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate the itineraries for this article.

You might also be interested in:

• Cruise Packing List
• Beach Packing List
• Cruise Drink Packages: Your Options by Cruise Line
• First-Time Cruise Tips
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Copyright 2024 U.S. News & World Report

I worked on cruises for 3 years. Here are 6 things I'd never do on board.

• I used to work on cruises. After many days at sea, there are things I'd never do on a cruise .
• I never wear my room key around my neck and try to avoid misnaming the ship.
• I never buy the drink package or pay for meal upgrades in the main dining room.

I've sailed around the world as a cruise-ship employee , and now I enjoy cruising as a passenger.

I love the salty sea air, waking up in a new country, and lazy days by the pool, but a week at sea could get more complicated this year with cruises predicted to be in high demand .

While fighting a little harder to secure a prime seat on the pool deck, you may as well also avoid some rookie mistakes.

Here are six things I'd never do on a cruise after working on them for three years.

Pay for upgrades in the main dining room

Typically, main dining room meals are included in the cost of a cruise. But in recent years, it's become common for cruise lines to charge guests extra if they want to upgrade to "supplementary" items like lobster or certain steaks.

I know $12 may not seem like much for a steak or lobster tail at dinner, but the cost of the cruise is supposed to include your food.

So, even though I enjoy lobster, I stick with the items without the upcharges.

Buy the drink package

I enjoy a piña colada by the pool or a Manhattan while listening to a jazz set after dinner. Even so, it doesn't make sense for me to pay in advance for 12 to 15 cocktails a day.

I've done the math on typical unlimited drink packages , and the cost simply isn't worth it for me.

This is especially true with a port-heavy itinerary. If I've gone ashore to explore all day, that means I'm not sidled up to the bar slurping down alcoholic slushies.

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I prefer to buy as I go and take advantage of happy hour and other drink specials that are available on certain cruise lines. I also check the beverage policy in advance and bring on my own wine, if allowed.

Touch shared contact surfaces with my fingers

Fellow guests will never see me touching the elevator buttons with my fingertips. Knuckles and elbows do the trick.

Some cruise lines are better than others at wiping down commonly touched surfaces, but I don't take any chances. I avoid touching things others frequently touch, and I wash my hands frequently.

This strategy has worked for me, as I have never contracted norovirus, even when it was running rampant on a ship I was on. It's quite contagious and can linger on your fingertips even after using hand sanitizer . I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry.

Wear my room key around my neck

I never walk around the ship with my room key around my neck, and I especially never do this when on land.

There are two reasons for this. First, I see many passengers using the room keys dangling from their necks to flaunt their cruise loyalty status . It just looks pretentious.

The sophisticated cruisers with the highest status, with the most days at sea, never show off their fancy room keys.

That's because they know the more important reason — safety. In port, that room key bouncing off your chest looks like an invitation to be robbed. It screams, "I have money! Come and take it from me."

Misname the ship

English is a funny language that has its quirks. Naming conventions make that even more complicated.

Ships have proper names, and so do not require a definite article. For example, "Tomorrow I am embarking on Discovery Princess," or "I enjoyed scenic cruising on MS Westerdam."

If you want to look like a savvy sailor, learn to drop the "the!"

Plan my port-day itinerary so tight that I may not make it back to the ship on time

Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day.

I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two. Just recently, as a passenger, my taxi driver got lost returning our group to the port at night.

When I realized how late we were going to be, I forked over $8 per minute to be connected with the ship. I pleaded with them to wait for us. It was a sprint through the port to get back on and we received quite a scolding from the first officer.

That time, we got lucky. In the future, I'll be giving myself more time than I think I need to make it back.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

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