disney cruise 75 days

Disney Cruise Line Planning Tips and Timeline

Are you thinking about taking a Disney cruise vacation? If so, this planning guide is for you!

If you have ever planned a family vacation to Walt Disney World, you may feel overwhelmed with organizing a trip with Disney Cruise Line. Rest assured, planning a Disney cruise is much less tedious than preparing for a visit to WDW. Once you create a timeline of exactly what needs to be done and when, you’ll see that Disney cruise planning is actually a breeze!

And to make it even easier, we are sharing the timeline that we use for planning our family’s Disney cruise vacations. So, you can see specifically what we focus on during each step of the planning process. Whether this is your first time cruising with Disney or you’re an experienced traveler, read on for all the info you need to make your Disney cruise planning process super simple!

Things to Do Before Your Disney Cruise

Before you can prepare for a Disney cruise, you first need to complete the booking process for your Disney cruise vacation. You can find general information about Disney Cruise Line’s ships, itineraries, and activities by visiting the official DCL website. But you won’t be able to completely start planning for a Disney cruise until you have booked one.

This is because all of your cruise plans will be affected by which of the Disney ships and itineraries you ultimately choose. Once you complete your Disney Cruise Line reservation, I recommend doing three things:

• Make sure your passport will be up to date for your trip. Although you don’t always need a passport to sail with Disney Cruise Line, it’s a good idea to have one. So, you’ll want to make sure your passport isn’t expired, especially if it’s required for your sailing.
• Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. Once you download the Disney Cruise Navigator App, you will see a countdown to your cruise AND the date when you can complete online check-in . This countdown will help you remember to complete online check-in on time, which is SUPER important! We will discuss more about online check-in below.

• Call DCL to make any special dining requests you may have. If you weren’t able to secure your desired dining time in the main dining rooms, you can request to be added to the waiting list. You can also ask the cast member on the phone to make a note of any dietary restrictions or special needs.

Disney Cruise Planner and Timeline

Once you have secured your reservation with Disney Cruise Line , you can get started organizing details for your vacation. I created a printable planning guide you can download on Etsy to organize all of your travel details. You do not have to purchase the guide in order to find the information below useful.

However, each section below fully explains the pages of the printable cruise planner. I find it helpful to print the planner before going through each section of this article. This way, you know what tips to follow for every step along the way. I like to make a binder to keep all of the important information for our family trip.

↓↓ Check out My Etsy Shop Here ↓↓

To do this, I print the packet from my Etsy shop because it has everything I need when planning my family’s cruise vacations. The printable Disney cruise planner includes the following pages:

• Timeline Checklist
• Cruise Comparison Sheets
• Hotel, Flight, and Ground Transportation Comparison Sheets
• Outfits Planner
• Fish Extenders Organizer
• Daily Itinerary with Sample Itinerary
• Packing List
• Budget Planner

I use a three-hole puncher to make holes in the packet so that I can store it in a binder. That way all of our family vacation information is in one place, and I don’t have to worry about forgetting something. Inside the Disney Cruise Planner above, you’ll find worksheets that follow the planning timeline below:

3-4 Months Before Your Cruise

These are some of the important tasks you should complete 3-4 months before your Disney cruise:

Make Final Payment

In addition to your online check-in date, be sure to note the date your final payment is due. Depending on the cruise itinerary you booked, full payment must be made either 90 days (for cruises 1-5 nights in length) or 120 days ( for cruises 6 or more nights) before sailing.

Most first-time cruisers have a decent time frame between final payment and online check-in, which is when you book your cruise activities. Now, if you booked your cruise last minute and your online check-in has already opened, you will just have less time to research and probably fewer options from which to choose. But that’s ok! You will still have the best time!

Research Activities to Book

This next step requires you to do a bit of research on Disney Cruise Line activities. If this is your first cruise with Disney Cruise Line, you will typically book activities 75 days before sailing. Doing research on cruise activities well in advance gives you an idea of what you want to book BEFORE your online check-in date arrives.

There are two types of activities you can book once your online check-in window opens up: Port Adventures and Onboard Activities. You will want to spend some time to determine which excursions and activities are important to your family. We will discuss how to do this in detail below.

Port Adventures (aka Excursions)

Port Adventures (aka excursions) are those activities that take place off the ship and at a port of call. You can look at the excursions that Disney Cruise Line offers on their official website. Pay close attention to the age requirements. I have a toddler, and her age really narrows down the options for port adventures.

You don’t have to book a shore excursion through Disney. You can also research the ports of call you are visiting to get some ideas on activities that are offered. For example, when my family and I visited Port Grand Cayman, we chose to grab a taxi to the beach rather than to book a port adventure through DCL.

When deciding which excursions to book, I like to use the TripAdvisor website. It usually has tons of reviews on pretty much any place I want to research, and you can search for keywords in their reviews. For example, when you scroll down to where the reviews begin on your TripAdvisor excursion, you will see a search box.

You can type a keyword into this box, and it will pull up ONLY the reviews that mention your keyword. I find this really helpful, especially when looking for reviews from parents with little kids. If I type the keyword toddler into the search box, a lot of my questions are usually answered by another family who traveled with their toddler and left a review.

Things to Do Onboard

Once you come up with a list of excursions for your family in each port, you can research the onboard activities that Disney offers. Most of the cruise activities do not require reservations. However, there are some special experiences that Disney does require you to book ahead of time (like meeting certain Disney characters).

You can use the official Disney Cruise Line website to see a list of these activities for your ship. Make a note of which ones are important to you. This way when your booking window opens up, you will be prepared to reserve those activities.

Compare Flights, Hotels, and Transportation

During your online check-in, you will be asked to provide details on your flights, hotels, and transportation to and from the port. You do not have to include this information at check-in, and you are able to change these details at a later time if you need to. However, it is a good idea to start researching pre-cruise hotels, ground transportation, and flights if needed.

Depending on your cruise departure port, these reviews from my family’s experiences can help you when making decisions about your cruise transportation and pre-cruise hotel stay:

• Pre-cruise Hotel for Port Canaveral
• Hotel Stay before a Miami Cruise

2-3 Months Before Cruise

As I mentioned above, first time cruisers with Disney Cruise Line may check-in and book activities typically 75 days before sailing. Your account should open up at midnight (eastern standard time) for you to begin the check-in process.

Online Check-in Process

Online check-in is where you put in your contact information, sign up for youth clubs, choose a port arrival time etc. This process can be very tedious, and I sometimes don’t have all of the information (like flight times) this far in advance. You are welcome to go back and edit/update the information up until a few days before sailing.

So, if I don’t know the answer to a question, I just make something up. This way I can continue on to the next step. For example, if I haven’t booked my flights for the trip, I just fill in the blanks with a possible flight I may book. You could also choose the option to arrive by car and then change it later. This way I can continue moving through the check-in steps so that I get a chance to choose a port arrival time and book activities before all the good times are taken.

Book Pre and Post Cruise Travel

I highly recommend flying in at least the day before your cruise. This way you don’t have to worry about missing the ship due to a flight being delayed for weather or mechanical errors. Once you make the decision to fly in the day before the cruise, you can then choose a hotel near the airport, port, or anywhere else in the city.

We like to book our hotels and ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line because we have little kids who require car seats. The Disney Cruise Line transfers either provide car seats or don’t allow them, so this saves us from having to travel with them. The Disney ground transportation often comes with a slightly higher cost than renting a car or using a taxi, but it allows us to start our vacation with a lot less stress.

1-2 Months Before Cruise

Once you hit the 1-2 months mark, you are undoubtedly becoming really excited for your trip. There are several important things you need to do during this time, though.

Personal Navigators

I use the DCL daily newsletters, aka Personal Navigators, from previous Disney cruises to create daily itineraries. These personal navigators are one of the most helpful resources when planning a Disney cruise. This newsletter breaks down the schedule of activities for the day. I like to visit the Disney Cruise Line Blog to find old personal navigators .

Just search for the Disney ship you are sailing on, and then try to find the itinerary that matches yours. While not exact, these personal navigators will show you what activities tend to be available each day of your cruise. You can then decide which ones are important for you and your family.

I like to start my packing list by breaking down each day of the cruise and listing every item I need for that particular day. I start with breakfast and continue on until bedtime trying to determine what each member of the family will need during parts of the day. If you are using my Disney Cruise Planner to create a packing list, you will see a box on each daily itinerary where you can easily add a packing list.

This way you will know that on Day 3 of your trip you need to pack the specific items and outfits listed. For example, if I have “swimming” on my itinerary, I will add swimsuits, coverups, sunscreen etc. to the itinerary for that day. This way when I go to actually pack for the trip, I have each day covered.

I also like to create my packing list and carry-on bag list well in advance in case I need to order or shop for anything before our trip. For more information on the items that we include on our Disney Cruise Line packing list , you can check out this post. We cover all the organization and space-saving hacks for your stateroom.

The article also includes essential items to pack for the entire family as well as what to pack in your embarkation day bag. (Your embarkation day bag is the carry-on bag you take when boarding the Disney cruise ship. Since you may not receive your luggage until later in the evening, you will want to pack some important items in your carryon.)

Don’t Forget

When preparing for a Disney cruise vacation, make sure you take care of any housekeeping items prior to departure. Some of the extra things you may want to consider before leaving for your trip include the following:

• Documents – Make sure you have all of your identification and cruise documents handy. Also, double check the expiration dates to be certain they are still valid.
• House Sitter – Organize a house/pet sitter while you are gone if needed. Make sure you include notes and emergency contact information for the sitter.
• Notify Teachers – If your child will be missing school to go on your trip, make sure you notify the teachers ahead of time.
• Surprise Your Kids – You could always surprise your family with the character phone call Disney Cruise Line offers for FREE. It’s a super cute feature where the characters talk about how excited they are to see you on the cruise.

Final Thoughts on Planning a Disney Cruise

I hope you found this complete guide on Disney cruise planning super helpful. It’s really such an exciting process, and Disney Cruise Line makes it so easy to organize and plan for your trip.

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or you have sailed with other cruise lines, it’s always helpful to get the inside scoop on what to expect. The information in this post and on our printable planning guide will have you well on your way to feeling prepared for your upcoming Disney vacation.

We hope you have a magical vacation no matter which of the Disney Cruise Line sailings you choose. Disney’s ships feature the best staterooms, Broadway-caliber shows, and kid-friendly activities. Not to mention Disney’s private island paradise in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay !

Do you have more tips to add to our Disney Cruise Planner? Comment below to share!

Shari is an experienced planner and organizer for Disney vacations, cruising, and U.S. travel. Her family vacation information, reviews, and tips provide insight for moms and dads everywhere. You can read more about her story, including her journey through breast cancer, in the about me page.

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The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney Cruise (in 7 easy steps!)

Planning a Disney Cruise Line vacation is an experience like no other! With the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation, it’s a getaway that your family won’t soon forget. From exciting onboard activities like character meet and greets and Broadway-style shows to tropical destinations like the Caribbean and Bahamas, there’s something for everyone. Plus, the all-inclusive nature of a Disney cruise means that you won’t have to worry about meals, entertainment, or even childcare. And with exceptional service and attention to detail, you can rest assured that your every need will be taken care of.

*This post may contain affiliate links.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy .

Planning to sail on Disney Cruise Line in the coming year? Be sure to check out our guide to all that Disney Cruise Line has to offer this year including exciting itineraries, new ports of call, themed events at sea, and more!

1) Choose Your Itinerary

One thing to consider when choosing your itinerary is the cruise’s embarkation point. Most cruises are “round trip” in that they start and finish at the same port, but Disney does offer several “repositioning” cruises per year that allow you to start and finish at different ports. (Disney moves their ships to new locations depending on the season.) These cruises are unique and can even be less expensive.

2) Select Sail Dates

School breaks, major holidays, and special sailings will make for more crowded ships. But you’ll also want to take notice of the weather. While you may have smaller crowds and cheaper prices during the rainy season, you’ll have to take the risk of sailing during less-than-perfect weather. (You may also run the risk of having your vacation canceled or postponed due to hurricanes.) Weigh the pros and cons, and decide what’s best for you and your family.

Also, be sure to check out our seasonal guides for more information on sailing during different times of the year:

DCL in the Summer 2023 & 2024

Dcl in the fall 2023 & 2024, dcl in the winter 2023, dcl in the spring 2024, 3) select your room.

• Motion – If you are prone to seasickness, the location of your room on board is really important. One of the most popular suggestions for dealing with motion sickness is to stay in a lower-level stateroom. (Although I personally found that my motion sickness was better on upper floors.) Mid-ship is also a popular place to stay if motion is an issue for you. In the front of the ship, you will feel more movement, but in the back, you may feel more vibration… especially at night. This makes mid-ship a popular option.
• Proximity – If you know where you will be spending most of your time on board, this should also play a part in making your room choice. My family likes to stay in a room with easy access to Cabanas in the morning for breakfast. We also like to be near the elevators, but not so close that we hear a lot of noise.
• Amenities – Do you want an inside stateroom? An ocean view? A verandah? Are you traveling with others and need connecting staterooms? These are all things to consider when picking your family’s stateroom.

4) Reserve Your Cruise

There are several ways to book a Disney Cruise… on their official website , over the phone, or via a travel agent. I personally love using the website as it’s the easiest way for me to see all my options in one place. But I have booked over the phone with ease as well. I also know that travel agents often offer incentives and promotions to book through them. So in the end… you can’t go wrong with any of these options.

5) Book Travel Arrangements

This is where you book your airline tickets (if necessary) and a hotel stay before or after your cruise. You’ll also want to arrange your transportation to and from the port. If you are cruising out of Port Canaveral and staying at a Disney hotel, you can arrange to have the official Disney Cruise line transportation take you to the ship. Our family has used this option several times now, and we have enjoyed the ease of it.

6) Make On Board Reservations

Once you’ve paid for your cruise in full (and you are within your activities booking window listed below,) you can complete your online check-in and make reservations for various cruise activities. This includes spa reservations, adult dining options, port adventures , nursery reservations, and other onboard fun such as beverage tasting seminars, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, character greetings and breakfasts, and the Royal Court Royal Tea. (Be sure to check out our Disney Cruise Line dining guide as you plan your days onboard and make your reservations!)

• First-Time Guests – 75 days prior to sail date
• Silver Castaway Club Member – 90 days prior to sail date
• Gold Castaway Club Member – 105 days prior to sail date
• Platinum Castaway Club Member – 120 days prior to sail date
• Pearl Castaway Club Member – 123 days prior to sail date
• Concierge Guests – 123 days prior to sail date

7) Let the Countdown Begin!

One thing we love to do as a family is to plan our attire for the cruise. There are many special activities and evenings onboard where you may want to dress up a little (or a lot!). Many cruises offer formal nights and themed parties. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Disney Cruise passengers LOVE to go all out with these festivities! We’ve dressed in our finest for formal night, as pirates for Pirate Night, and even as Star Wars characters for Star Wars Day at Sea . So be sure to check out your cruise’s special activities so that you can be prepared!

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The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney Cruise: 80+ First Time Disney Cruise Tips

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Disney cruises are a magical way to get a dose of Disney while also seeing different parts of the world. Whether you’re new to cruising or just new to Disney Cruise Line, planning a Disney cruise can be a little overwhelming. Between figuring out what to pack, checking in and booking onboard excursions, we have you covered with these first time Disney Cruise tips from start to finish. 

Keep reading for over 80 tips for Disney cruises for first timers (from a travel agent!)

Table of Contents

General information on disney cruises.

Disney Cruise Line currently operates five cruise ships: The Dream, Fantasy, Wonder, Magic and Wish. The Wish is Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, which had its inaugural sailing in 2022.

Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of sailings, including:

• Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral, New Orleans and Galveston
• Baja Mexico cruises out of San Diego
• Alaskan cruises out of Vancouver
• New England and Eastern Canadian cruises departing from New York City
• European Cruises including the Mediterranean, British Isles and Norwegian Fjords
• Transatlantic and Panama Canal Cruises
• Starting in 2024, Disney Cruise Line will also be sailing around Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand

Wondering what’s the best Disney cruise for first timers? A 4-night cruise is always a good place to start if you’re unsure about cruising for 5+ nights. 3-night cruises can feel rushed, but a short Disney cruise is better than no Disney cruise!

Planning a Disney cruise for summer 2024? Summer 2024 Disney Cruise Line itineraries were just released, and you can book at summer 2024 Disney cruise starting on March 30, 2023. This includes the new Lighthouse Point , which is Disney’s private oasis on the island of Eleuthera that will debut in the Bahamas in June of 2024.

Tips for Booking a Disney Cruise

Booking a Disney Cruise is very involved, from choosing the right sailing to picking the best stateroom. Below is some information to get you started with planning.

• Use a travel agent who specializes in Disney. A Disney focused travel agent knows the ships and ports of call best. They will help you pick the best room, walk you through the pre-cruise processes and answer questions along the way. 
• You can search Disney cruise itineraries by visiting disneycruiseline.com , calling Disney Cruise Line or contacting your travel agent. 
• A deposit is required to secure your cruise , and it’s typically refundable prior to final payment at 90 days. Be sure to read the full terms and conditions before making a deposit. 
• Disney Cruise room types include inside rooms, oceanview rooms, verandah rooms, concierge rooms and suites. The suite sizes and locations can vary by ship. 
• Oceanview and Verandah rooms both have split bathrooms and they also have a bathtub. (Something you don’t typically see on other cruise lines!)
• Inside rooms are the least expensive and smallest room types.
• Not sure which location of the ship is best between forward, aft and midship? Midship rooms are typically known for experiencing less motion than aft (back) or forward (front) rooms.  Motion on the ship affects people differently, however, so what works best for one person in terms of deck number and location may not be an ideal room choice for someone else. 
• Guaranteed (GTY) rooms are generally made available for certain room categories at a discount as inventory starts running low. It means that your category is guaranteed, but your actual room number and deck will be assigned prior to departure. 
• If you’d like an elevated experience, Disney Cruise Line concierge rooms are available as well. These offer things like specific concierge lounges, larger rooms, complimentary alcoholic drinks and booking excursions and experiences early.
• Standard cabins only sleep a maximum of 5 people. For families of 6+ , either 2 connecting cabins or a 1+ bedroom concierge suite are required regardless of your kids’ ages. 
• If you need a passport for your cruise, be sure to apply for it at least 3 months before, unless you do expedited processing. 

If you’re not currently working with a travel agent, feel free to contact me to get started. Not only do I provide Disney Cruise tips and tricks, but I also assist with each step and actions required along the way.

Pre-Cruise Tips

• Excursions and onboard experiences can be booked starting at 75 days out from your cruise (at midnight) for first time cruises. It will be earlier if you have Castaway Cay Club status or are cruising concierge. 
• Online check-in dates depend on your Castaway Cay member status and room type. Pearl and Concierge guests can check in as early as 40 days prior to sailing. Platinum is 38 days, Gold is 35 days and Silver Castaway Cay members can check in 33 days prior to sailing. Everyone else can check in 30 days prior to sailing, starting at midnight. In order to get an earlier port arrival time, checking in at midnight is recommended, but it’s not required. Have images of your documents and headshots saved in a folder on your phone or computer to work through the process more quickly.
• Upon checking in, you’re assigned a Port Arrival Time (PAT.) This is the time you can arrive at the port before boarding. You’re also assigned a boarding group #, which determines when you can actually board the ship once you pass the initial checkpoints at port. 
• Disney Cruise Line bus transportation is available from the airports or hotels to port at select locations. Check here to find out if it’s available for your sailing. You can call DCL to have it added up to 3 days before sailing (or ask your TA to do it for you!)
• Royal Gatherings and special meet and greets for Marvel and/or Pixar Day at Sea sailings are also available for booking 30 days out at midnight.
• Passports are recommended for cruising, but for many sailings that start and end in the US they’re not required. Find the Disney Cruise Known Before You Go overview here for sailing requirements and acceptable proof of identification for cruising on Disney Cruise Line. 
• You can prepay gratuities prior to sailing, otherwise they will be added to onboard expenses at the end of your cruise. As of February 2023, prepaid gratuities are $14.50 per person per night. 
• Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on everyone’s phone before you sail. This will make it easier to access the itinerary and activities when you get onto the boat. 
• To engage with other cruise goers and stay informed, join the Facebook group for your cruise . You can usually find this by searching Disney [ship name] and the date of sailing. 
• Disney Cruise Line Fish Extender groups exchange items like ornaments, snacks, etc and are usually managed by the Facebook groups. You can buy a fish extender here to put outside of your cruise door. 
• Disney cruisers are big on decorating their doors, and cruise door magnets are a fun and easy way to do it. 
• You can schedule a Disney Cruise Line pre-cruise call with Minnie and Mickey or Goofy. To book your DCL character call, go to My Reservations and select “Request Call.”
• Vaccinations and covid tests are no longer required for DCL sailings as of November 14, 2022. 

Packing Tips for Disney Cruises

When packing for a Disney Cruise, our biggest tip is to not over pack. Cruise cabins are smaller than traditional hotel rooms and you will likely need less than you think. Below are a handful of packing tips for Disney cruises.

• Pack anything you need for the first day in your carry-on , including prescription medicine, identification documents and port arrival forms. We recommend bringing a swimsuit or change of clothes, sunscreen and anything else you need until your luggage is delivered.  
• Make sure you have the identification documents you used for online check-in. You will not get on the cruise if you forget these! I always recommend taking a picture of birth certificates as a backup as well.
• Each adult 21+ can bring up to 2 bottles of wine or a 6 pack of beer or hard seltzer onboard. Another one of our lesser-known Disney cruise tips is that you can also bring unopened bottles of water and packaged snacks. Just make sure any alcohol, bottled water and snacks are unopened and in your carry-on bags. (Note: So many people ask about alcohol packages on Disney Cruise Line, and there isn’t one.)
• What should you wear on a Disney cruise? Disney cruises tend to be more casual than other cruise lines. Casual clothes like shorts and tees or a swimsuit and cover up are great for during the day. While we tend to dress a little nicer for dinner, you can also get away with wearing shorts and t-shirts unless you’re dining at the adults only restaurants. 
• Itineraries with 7+ nights typically have a formal night and those with 4+ nights typically have a dress up night. Call DCL or ask your travel agent to find out what night this is. (But again, with Disney cruises being more casual, you won’t be out of place if you don’t participate!)
• Don’t forget to pack your Disney gear! Minnie ears, Disney shirts and princess dresses are all encouraged on Disney Cruise Line. 
• Some extra things we like to pack for a Disney cruise: refillable water bottles, magnets for your door and inside the room, and activities/ fidget toys for the kids to have at dinner.

See Disney Cruise Line packing tips for more tips on packing and what to bring your cruise carry on.

Booking DCL Excursions & Onboard Experiences

Like all cruise lines, Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of excursions at each port. In addition, Disney cruises offer several free and paid activities on the ship for both adults and kids. You can find more information on both below.

• You book them on any day under onboard activities and they will be available for the duration of the cruise. 
• If you don’t purchase the photo package, you can still purchase individual pictures before you leave the ship. 
• Photos are available for download up to 45 days after your sailing at disneycruise.disney.go.com/photos/ .
• Disney cruise offers a specific list of excursions, and they can change by sailing. You can find the list of Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures here . 
• If you need towels for an excursion, they’re provided when you get off the ship. 
• If you have to make changes to excursions or onboard experiences , you can go to Guest Services or cancel directly in the app. Just be sure to review cancellation policies as you will be charged if you don’t cancel within the specified timeframe. 
• The shows on the Disney Cruise Line are Broadway style and offered two times a night. The first show is typically at 6:30pm and the second show is typically at 8:15pm. Shows differ by ship and sailing. 
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on Disney Cruise Line is offered for ages 3+ and includes a full makeover, hair and nails. You can pack your own outfit or purchase something there for an additional charge. This can be booked in advance under onboard activities or when you arrive on the ship. 
• Disney Cruise Line offers a great spa, salon and barber shop for adults. You can book these in advance under onboard activities or head to the spa when you arrive to schedule a time. (I got a haircut and style at the Tangled Salon on the Disney Wish and had such a good experience!) 

One of our biggest first time Disney cruise tips is to take full advantage of the included activities offered on the ship. You can easily have an amazing time without spending any additional money. 

Disney Cruise Embarkation Day Tips & Overview 

Wondering how the Disney cruise boarding process works? The highlights are below. 

• When you arrive at the port, the porters will take your luggage except for carry-ons. (I recommend having a few dollars on you for a tip!) 
• When it’s your port arrival time, you’ll go through screening so they can check carry-ons, Port Arrival Time (PAT) form and documents for identification. 
• Have your PAT document accessible at all times since they’ll ask for it multiple times as well as your docs (ID + Birth Certificate or passport.)
• When it’s time for you to board your ship, your boarding group number will be called over the loudspeaker. There’s typically a holding area to wait until your boarding group is called which is similar to airport gates. (Note: Your Disney Cruise boarding time will vary depending on how quickly they move through the boarding groups. On our most recent cruise, we had a PAT of 11:15am and our boarding group was called at 11:45am.)
• When you get on the ship, you can do a number of things including lunch at the buffet or available table service restaurant, check out the kids’ clubs, use the pool etc. (One of our biggest Disney Cruise embarkation tips is to explore and check out the areas you may not otherwise get to access during the cruise, like adults only dining, kids’ clubs, etc.) 
• Rooms are typically ready around 2pm and luggage will arrive after that. 

Tips for During Your Cruise

There were a handful of things we didn’t realize on our first Disney cruise. These tips for first time Disney cruisers include a handful of things we learned on the cruise. 

• The full itinerary , character greetings and activities will be available in the Navigator app when you arrive at port. Be sure to review the daily schedules on your first day. One of our Disney cruise hacks is to “favorite” the activities you want to do so that you get reminders throughout the cruise. (This applies for things like character greetings, family crafts, adults only activities and more.)
• The Sail Away Party is a can’t miss activity on Disney Cruise Line. It’s a fun party with singing, dancing and so many characters as the ship sails away. 
• Pirate Nights take place on most Caribbean Sailings and have fun activities, characters dressed in pirate gear, a special show and fireworks at night. The Disney Cruise pirate night menu is also available for most sailings, which is a special themed dinner with items like crab cakes, shrimp and jerk chicken. 
• If you’re looking for free adults only activities on Disney Cruise Line, there are things like adults only trivia, crafts and more that are only for 18+. You can also use The Cove, which is an adult only pool and relaxation area on Disney Cruise Line.
• You can communicate on the ship using the chat feature between those in your stateroom. To communicate with those outside of your stateroom, you need to get their chat ID number. 
• Wi-Fi on Disney Cruise Line is an extra charge and options vary by ship. To avoid additional cell phone charges, put your plan on airplane mode with the onboard Wi-Fi.
• Character meet & greets typically take place in the ship’s grand hall/ atrium or in the kids’ club areas. Lines typically go quickly, and you likely will not wait more than 15 minutes for a meet and greet. Try to arrive a few minutes early to get in line. 
• Take a screenshot of your charges in the app before leaving the ship, as it’s the only way you can review the detailed charges. Visit Guest Services to resolve any discrepancies before disembarking.

Dining Tips for Disney Cruise Line

One question I get a lot is, how does dining work on Disney Cruise Line? Each cruise line has its own approach to dining, and Disney has some unique features that we feel sets it apart. 

• Disney Cruise Line has rotational dining each night for dinner, which means you will rotate to different themed restaurants each night of your cruise. You can request a specific dining rotation prior to your cruise by calling DCL or asking your Travel Agent to do so. You won’t find out the confirmed dining rotation until you board the ship.
• There are two Disney cruise dining times . Main dining is at 5:45pm and second dining is at 8:15pm. Main dining fills up first, but you can be added to a waitlist if you don’t initially get the seating you want.
• Smaller groups are typically sat with other families. You can request a private table, but it’s not guaranteed. DCL usually aims to put people of similar ages/ families together.
• There’s a buffet on Disney Cruise Line that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a variety of options for every age and diet. On most ships, the buffet is called Cabanas, but on the Disney Wish it’s called Marceline Market. 
• The pool decks offer unlimited soft serve and fountain drinks as well as a variety of lunch options.
• Standard tips for servers and room hosts are automatically calculated per person. Envelopes and tickets with the total amount of gratuities are provided on your last night. You can add additional cash to the baseline tip for the amazing staff at the end and then hand it to the servers at your last meal.  Note: When you purchase an alcoholic drink at dinner or in a lounge, 18% gratuity is automatically added up front.
• The bars throughout the ships typically serve specialty coffees in addition to alcoholic drinks. Punch cards are available for a free coffee after you purchase 5. 
• Lounges on Disney cruise ships are open to kids during the day, and they are adults only in the evenings.
• Room service on Disney Cruise Line is included with your rate. It includes everything from coffee and pastries to dinner and Mickey bars. A $1 per item tip is recommended for delivery. 
• Adults only dining on Disney cruises is also available. These specialty dining experiences are available for an additional fee, and you can book them when your onboard activities booking window opens. 

Tips for Cruising with Kids on Disney

There are so many amazing Disney cruise activities for kids, that it’s no surprise it’s one of the best cruise lines for families. Below are a few tips for going on a Disney Cruise with kids. 

• Kids must be potty trained to use the regular pools, but all Disney Cruise ships have a splash pad for younger kids. 
• Life vests are provided on board and at Castaway Cay for kids.
• Strollers are available to borrow at Castaway Cay, and some ships also have them available as you leave for excursions. 
• With the exception of the nursery, the kids’ clubs on Disney Cruise Line are included with your rate. They include: Oceaneers Club for ages 3-12, Vibe for ages 11-14 and Edge for ages 14-17. 
• Disney Cruise Line kids’ clubs are open for all ages during Open House on the embarkation day. It’s a fun way for the whole family to explore these areas. 
• Your kids ages 3+ will get a wrist band to access the kids’ clubs during the cruise.  They charge you $12 up front, and the charge is removed when you return it.
• The nursery is available on a half hour basis for kids up to (and including) age 3. The current rate is $4.50 per half hour for the nursery on DCL. You can sign up for the nursery in advance on the Disney Navigator app or book when you arrive on the ship. 
• Your room host will set up your pull-down beds based on your family’s needs. Pack-n-plays and bed rails are available upon request.
• If you’re going on a Disney cruise with a baby or toddler in diapers, a diaper genie will also be provided in your room. Baby food can be requested as well.
• The minimum age for infants on a Disney cruise is 6 months for most sailings.

Disney Cruise Disembarkation Tips

Disembarking is always the saddest part about a Disney cruise. Below are a few tips so you know what to expect when disembarking a Disney cruise. 

• The night before you disembark your Disney cruise, you’ll get luggage tags with a Disney character. Place them on your luggage and leave them outside of your door for pickup by 10:30pm.
• If you have an earlier flight the next morning, you can use express walkoff and take your luggage yourself, versus leaving it outside the night before. (Pro Tip: Check the recommended departure flight times for Disney Cruise Line to ensure you have enough time to get to the airport.)
• Disembarkation day breakfast is usually at the same restaurant you ate at the prior night, which your servers will confirm. Those with Main Dining have breakfast around 6:45am, and those with Second Dining typically have breakfast around 8am.  You can also have breakfast at the buffet on your Disney cruise disembarkation day. It’s usually open from 6:30- 8:30am. 
• The ship will typically clear customs around 7:30am, pending any issues. At that time, an announcement will be made over the loudspeaker that guests are able to disembark. 
• Guests should plan to bring checked bags to breakfast and vacate the ship directly after breakfast.  You’ll pick up your luggage after disembarking in the area with the character that matches your luggage tags. 
• There isn’t technically a set disembarkation time for Disney cruises . At most ports, guests are asked to clear the ship by 9am and should exit by 9:30am at the latest.

Disney Cruise Line Placeholder

If you loved your Disney cruise experience (as I’m sure you will!) be sure to check the Navigator app for an offer to put down a deposit for a placeholder for 10% off a future cruise. You can reserve up to 2 placeholders by paying a $250 fully refundable placeholder deposit that will go toward the cruise. (Pro Tip: We usually do 2 placeholders just in case we invite family or friends- knowing that we can cancel the 2nd for a refund if we don’t use it.)

You can then apply the placeholder(s) to the same cruise for up 24 months from your current sailing. Be sure to also select your travel agent in the drop down if you want to work with them again! After purchasing your placeholder, you’ll receive an email with a reservation number to book your next cruise. This is a great offer if you think there’s even a chance you will sail again on Disney Cruise Line. 

Pre and Post Cruise Plans

• We always recommend flying in the night before your cruise and staying nearby. If you experience flight delays (which is so common right now) you could risk missing the cruise disembarkation if you fly that day.
• If you have a late flight out on the evening of disembarkation day, many rental car companies have free shuttles from port if you want to explore for the day.
• If you’re traveling out of Port Canaveral, you can tack on a visit to Disney World or stop at Kennedy Space Center on the way back to MCO airport. 

If you book your Disney cruise with a travel agent, they can also help with your pre-cruise and post-cruise travel plans and logistics. Another reason to book with a TA!

Have you been on a Disney cruise before? I’d love to hear any tips for planning a first Disney cruise in the comments.

Related Blog Posts

• Disney Very Merrytime Cruise Tips
• Tips for Cruising with a Baby or Toddler
• Disney Cruise Packing Tips

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Disney Cruise Line First-Timers: What You Need to Know for Smooth Sailing

by Kimberly Beckman | Jul 24, 2023 | Disney Cruise Line

Do you know what to expect on your very first Disney Cruise Line vacation? Here’s your guide!

A Disney Cruise Line trip is truly unlike any other cruise on the open sea! But as a Disney cruise first-timer, knowing what you need to do before your sailing date – and figuring out when to do it – can seem overwhelming. However, planning for your vacation doesn’t have to be a challenge. In fact, preparing for your cruise can be part of the fun! 

Consider this your guide for Disney Cruise Line first-timers! If you’re about to take your very first sailing with Disney, here’s what you can expect in the months and weeks leading up to your sailing.

As Soon As You’ve Booked: Download the Disney Cruise Line App

Once you’ve officially booked your cruise, you’ll want to start off by downloading the Disney Cruise Line app onto your phone. The DCL app is essential for your upcoming cruise – both while you’re planning out your activities, excursions, and meals and while you’re onboard the ship.

After downloading the app, you’ll not only be able to watch the countdown clock (featuring magical icons!) tick away, but it also serves as a reminder of your balance and pay-in-full date. You’ll easily be reminded of any payments coming up, and you can track any remaining to-dos. Plus, the Disney Cruise Line app gives you access to change your dining time, view your itinerary, and digitally explore the ship.

And you’ll want to keep the DCL app on your phone when you arrive for embarkation! After you set sail, the app will be your key to knowing what’s happening on board.

6 Months to Embarkation: Book Dining and Excursions

Excited to try out all of the delicious dining options as a Disney Cruise Line first-timer? You won’t know what your dining rotation looks like until you arrive at the port, but you will have at least one night at each of the ship’s main restaurants. And you can learn about your dining options when you’re six months out from your sailing date!

The dining locations vary by Disney cruise ship, so at six months out, open the DCL app and you’ll be able to tour the themes for your ship’s restaurants. 

When we cruised on the Disney Wonder for my dad’s birthday, we rotated between Triton’s (think upscale Little Mermaid ), Animator’s Palate , and Tiana’s Place. Knowing what the restaurants were ahead of time allowed us to plan what we wanted to wear for dinner. We even picked up some festive masks to match the New Orleans theming of Tiana’s Place. 

In addition to a medley of restaurants, first-timers should know that each Disney cruise offers a variety of fancy or specialty themed nights. On 3-night cruises, you’ll have one casual night (no swimwear or tank tops), one pirate night deck party, and one optional dress-up night. On 4-night cruises, the first and last nights are cruise casual, and you’ll also get to participate in a Pirate Night deck party (or a Pixar or Marvel party, if you’ve booked a sailing with Pixar Day or Marvel Day at Sea !) and an optional dress-up night. A 7-night cruise starts off with cruise casual, also includes a theme night with deck party, three cruise casual nights, one formal night, and one semi-formal night.

When it comes to dressier formal nights, a ball gown and tuxedo aren’t a requirement; however, you won’t feel out of place if that’s what you choose to wear. You can use the different themed nights to plan special attire as you shop for your cruise. And cruise Guests do dress for each occasion! For example, on Pirate Night, I saw everything from cruise casual to pirate t-shirts to full head-to-toe swashbuckling attire. Have fun with selecting your wardrobe six months out, but be yourself. 

Use this time to explore the types of port adventures (shore excursions) available at your ports of call so you’ll have an idea of what you might want to book when your booking window opens. Don’t feel that you need a port adventure to have a good time. We didn’t book one for our first two Disney cruises and were still able to have fun on the ship as well as visit the port area within walking distance. 

Six months out from your sailing is also a good time to find some cute matching cruise shirts or personalized magnets to decorate your stateroom door. Door decor is an easy way of finding your home on the high seas. If you forget to get magnets, no worries; you can find them in one of the shops on board.

75 Days to Embarkation: Book Port Adventures

While you’ll have plenty to explore throughout the Disney Cruise Line ship you’ll be sailing on, you don’t want to overlook the opportunity to book port adventures. Port adventures, or excursions, allow you the chance to explore the destinations you’ll dock at, and there’s something for every kind of traveler.

Booking port adventures is done by your cruising status, or Castaway Club membership. It’s Disney’s way of rewarding returning cruisers with earlier booking windows. First-time cruisers are last to book, which means you’ll be able to book about two and a half months out from your sailing date. So, 75 days before your cruise , set an alarm for just shy of midnight (EST) and brew yourself some coffee. As long as your cruise balance is paid in full, this is your chance to book port adventures on any itinerary.

Additionally, even if you aren’t big on excursions, you’ll still want to hop online 75 days out from your sailing. This is also when booking for specialty dining at restaurants like Palo , Remy , or Enchanté (depending on the ship) and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opens, and it’s your chance to snag those in-demand reservations. Just keep in mind that all of these are an additional charge!

Lastly, this is also the time to get anything you might want to make your port adventure more enjoyable! Depending on the adventures you book, you may need items like reef-safe sunscreen , water shoes , or a beach bag . Gather those items now, because embarkation will be here before you know it!

1 Month Until Embarkation: Book Special Events

Are you a little sad that first-timers on a Disney cruise seem to get the booking leftovers? Don’t worry! At 30 days out from sailing, booking certain special events becomes an even playing field. When you’re just one month away from hitting the water, you’ll be able to secure reservations for fun extras like character meet and greets and some specialty dining experiences.

For example, I had the pleasure of embarking on the second Pixar Day at Sea cruise in January 2023, which offered a meet and greet with the Disney princesses, the chance to meet Pixar characters, and a specialty dining experience. All of these activities were included in the price of the cruise itself, but reservations were required. Pro Tip: Since all Disney cruise Guests books at the same time for these events, make sure you’re caffeinated and ready to go before midnight (EST), right at the 30-day mark! And here’s another tip for first-timers: Try to make these reservations on port days, if possible, for more availability.

Additionally, at 30 days out from embarkation, you will select your PAT, or Port Arrival Time . If you’ve booked Disney transportation to the ship, you won’t need to worry about this. However, if you’re providing your own transportation, you’ll want to pick a port arrival time that’s right for your traveling party. I love to get the earliest arrival possible because I feel that once we’re on board, our vacation has started! Lunch at Cabanas is our go-to trip starter. However, I know other Guests will sometimes choose a later arrival time to avoid the large crowds that tend to gather during earlier Port Arrival Times. Whatever time you get, you’re about to embark for the trip of your life!

This is also when you’ll complete your Disney cruise online check-in by uploading your traveling documentation (passport or birth certificate and driver’s license). It’s best to have these scanned into your computer or added to your phone in advance so you’re ready. Also, make sure to take a head and shoulders picture individually of each person in your traveling party, done against a neutral background. These become your photo ID for the cruise, which Cast Members will use to check when you leave and return to the ship at ports. 

Lastly, during these final 30 days before your cruise, you may also want to prepay any gratuities . If you miss this date, don’t worry; you can add gratuities to your folio through Guest Services once you board. 

I also like to take the final month as a time to start organizing my packing and gathering anything I need. For first-timers on a Disney cruise, this is also a good time to explore the ship in the DCL app with your family so you’re familiar with the amenities available and their locations.

Something to note for fellow Guests who must sleep with a fan like myself: Carry your fan on board, if you can. You will stop at a booth after going through security, and they will take it from you for inspection. After it passes, it will be returned to your stateroom! Pro Tip: If you forget your fan, head to Guest Services upon arrival. They have a limited amount on a first-come, first-serve basis.

It’s Embarkation Day!

After a months-long wait, it’ll finally The time has come to embark on your very first Disney cruise! There’s one last thing to do: Attach the luggage tags Disney Cruise Line sent you before arriving at the port.  

Time flies as you countdown to a Disney cruise, whether you’re a first-timer or a returning cruiser. Use that year to build on the excitement and make the journey as much fun as the destination. Just keep one thing in mind as you get ready to set sail on your first Disney Cruise Line adventure. You won’t be able to do everything – and that’s okay! There is seriously so much available on a Disney cruise that you could pack your day from rise-and-shine to sleepy-time, or you can do absolutely nothing but chill and eat all of the soft-serve ice cream your heart desires. You can customize your experience to however you like to vacation.

If you’ve already booked, get ready to have the most magical time of your life! It’s one of my most favorite ways to vacation. If you haven’t booked yet, click below to contact our friends over at Destinations to Travel. They’re a wonderful resource to guide your first adventure, especially because some of the items mentioned here are subject to change. Be sure to book as early as possible for the best rate. Then, get ready to explore the big blue world! 

This post contains affiliate links, and if you use these links to buy something, WDW Magazine may earn a commission.

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26 Disney cruise tips, tricks, secrets and extra magic to unlock when setting sail with Mickey

Disney Cruise Line might be a comparatively small cruise line with just five ships, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in popularity and enthusiastic fans. It also has some unique approaches to cruising that may surprise you — whether you're a first-time cruiser or an experienced cruiser on a different line.

After sailing on six Disney Cruise Line voyages across four of its ships in the last few years, I've picked up a few hacks and money-saving techniques I'm happy to pass on to you. No matter if this is your first time at sea or your 99th, you can benefit from this list of 26 Disney cruise tips, tricks and secrets.

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

You can find discounts on Disney Cruises

Disney cruises are generally more expensive than other family-friendly competitors such as Royal Caribbean , but there are still ways to save money on a Disney cruise . Here are some different discounts you can find for Disney Cruise Line.

When booking a Disney cruise, your best move is to book the cruise as soon as it becomes available. You'll have the best selection of cabins and generally the best prices. Sometimes, you can find discounts closer to the sailing if certain room types aren't selling as hoped.

Sail one-way

A few times a year, Disney ships based in seasonal homeports need to head toward their next cruising region. When that happens, the ships sail one-way (aka repositioning) cruises , starting in one port and ending in a different one. You can often book these one-off sailings for less money than the normal round-trip cruises that start and end in the same spot.

For example, Disney Dream will sail a three-night cruise to move it from San Juan to Ft. Lauderdale in November. You can book a cabin with a balcony for $1,580 for two people, which is a solid price on Disney Dream. The $3,326 price tag for a concierge-level cabin is very good; those cabins usually start at close to $800 to $1,000 higher on many other three-night sailings.

Remember to factor in the cost of two one-way flights when you're calculating the savings bonus of taking a one-way cruise.

Related: Ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line

Let Disney pick your cabin

If you're not picky about which cabin you get, an easy way to save a substantial amount of cash on your Disney cruise is to let Disney pick your cabin for you. You select a room type (such as an inside room or one with a balcony) and then let Disney assign you to a specific cabin location closer to sailing. For your flexibility, this type of guaranteed fare comes at a discount.

In the example below, you'll see the cheapest inside cabin where you pick a specific room on the ship is $2,072, while the price starts at $1,488 if you let Disney choose which inside room you get. This type of fare comes with additional restrictions, so read the fine print carefully. I've done this multiple times and have always been happy with the room location I've received.

Upgrade your room at the port for less

Depending on the ship's occupancy, it can be cheaper to upgrade your cabin at the port right before you board than in advance. There's no guarantee a better room will be available, but it can't hurt to ask when you are checking in inside the port just before boarding if nicer rooms are available.

If higher room categories have gone unsold, the check-in staff can tell you the price to upgrade to a nicer room; they can reference a spreadsheet that outlines the upgrade rates based on your current cabin and fare. In my experience, you can save up to half the cost compared to upgrading your room in advance.

Pay with points or discounted Disney gift cards

You can pay with discounted Disney gift cards to save a little money. There are many ways to do this, but stacking credit card bonus categories with discounted gift cards that can be available at places like Sam's Club or even Target can knock around 5% off the total price without too much effort.

You can also use some types of credit card points and miles to pay for a Disney cruise. For example, you can use Capital One miles from cards such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , (see rates and fees) to cover all or part of any charge that's considered a travel expense.

The Disney Visa Card also offers some onboard savings perks and you can enjoy 0% APR for six months on your Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 19.24%-28.24%.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

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

2 rooms are cheaper than a suite

If your family is considering getting a suite to spread out and have more space, but are finding the prices for Disney Cruise Line suites to be prohibitively high, consider connecting staterooms instead. A family of four can expect to spend about 50% more on connecting cabins instead of all staying in one room, which is likely a lot less than buying up to a suite which can be several times the cost of a regular room.

Get free Mickey ice cream bars (and more) from room service

Unless you're staying in a concierge-level stateroom (more on that soon), room service on a Disney cruise is relatively basic. However, it's available at no extra charge, so use it as much or as little as you like.

I'm a fan of ordering room service for a quick breakfast (or that first hit of coffee) or for a fun anytime treat of Mickey ice cream bars. I often order Uncrustables from room service the night before port days to toss in my bag for the family to eat while ashore. My girls learned how to politely call to order these by the second or third day of the cruise.

It's a common courtesy to add a few dollars for a tip to the slip that you'll sign when the order is delivered.

Order as much dinner as you want

On Disney Cruise Line, you'll be assigned a dinner rotation through the three included restaurants on the ship. Your serving team will rotate with you, which is pretty fun as they get to know you and your preferences.

Since this food is all included, don't be shy. If you can't decide between the shrimp or salmon entree, try both. Order a couple of appetizers or be daring and try a dish you've never tasted before.

When it comes time for dessert, create your own sampler-platter for the table and taste them rather than limiting yourself to one selection.

You aren't locked into your assigned dining plans

If, for some reason, your assigned order of restaurants or tablemates (if you have any) aren't working out, don't be shy about asking guest services to make alterations. They will connect you with the appropriate people within the dining team to make necessary adjustments.

New movie releases are shown in the theaters

While a movie theater may sound like a strange place to spend a few hours at sea, I recommend making time to go see a new Disney movie while on your next Disney Cruise. The ships show first-run movies, so instead of heading to your local theater to see the next Marvel, Pixar or other Disney film released close to your cruise date, save some money and enjoy the movie at sea for no extra charge.

In fact, if you are at sea when a new Disney movie premieres on land, you'll get to see it the same night on the ship, too.

It's cash-free on the ship — except for this

You don't need much cash while on a Disney cruise. Your "Key to the World" room key serves as your form of payment and identification on the ship. I highly recommend bringing a lanyard to keep track of this important card if it's your first Disney voyage. Return cruisers are given a lanyard in their cabin.

However, if you want to add an extra tip to your service team at the end of the cruise beyond the standard amount that's charged to your folio, it's nice to do that with cash. If you are staying in a concierge-level room, you may want to pack some extra cash for the concierge lounge hosts and the evening bartenders, too.

Your kids can (maybe) get into an older club

Disney Cruise Line divides kids into four age groups — the nursery (up to age 3), the primary kids club (3–12), a tween club (11–14) and a teen club (14–17). The clubs, other than the nursery, are complimentary, so the magic age for a Disney cruise begins once your child is at least 3 years old and potty-trained, so they can enjoy time in the kids clubs while you enjoy … whatever you want.

Once your kid is ready to age up to the next club, they can actually do that a little early with your permission. For example, my oldest was able to level up to the tween club at 10 years old and the teen club at 13 years old with a signed slip from me, so use (or hide) that information as it suits you best. I will say that once your kid levels up in those clubs, they probably won't go back much to the previous club.

Take note that the tween and teen clubs allow kids to come and go at will. If you need your child to be monitored, then they will need to stay in the main kids club, which is open through age 12.

Hit the pools early or late to avoid crowds

If you don't want to swim in a crowded pool or wait in a long line for a slide around the AquaDuck or AquaMouse, you'll need to employ some strategy. I recommend heading to the waterslide the second you board the ship if it is warm enough in your port, as that is as empty as it's going to get.

If you miss that window, mornings are also pretty empty, as are late afternoons as everyone starts to get ready for the evening. Avoid mid-day on sea days at all costs unless you like swimming with dozens of your new best friends.

You'll want to decorate your door

The cabin doors on a Disney cruise are almost all metal, so decorative magnets will stick to the doors nicely. Pack themed magnets to decorate your door. Not only is it fun to participate in this shipwide decoration, but the personalized door serves to help kids (or tired adults) find their cabin should they forget the room number.

You can keep things simple or order personalized magnets on a site like Etsy in advance of your sailing. You may see some doors that go all out and even have pouches with goodies in them. Those hanging pouches are known as fish extenders (as they hang off of a fish built into the ship). They often signify that the cabin is participating in a gift exchange with others on the cruise that they arranged beforehand on Facebook.

Your sailing has a Facebook group and it's worth joining

Speaking of Facebook, the odds are excellent that your individual sailing has a Facebook group with several hundred people in it. If you wish to participate in gift exchanges, get to know your shipmates pre-cruise or tap into a hive mind for advice on picking excursions and packing, it's a big asset to belong to a group specific to your sailing.

Go to Facebook and search for your sailing (e.g. Disney Wonder Alaska June 12 - 19). You'll likely find a "private" group that's not officially affiliated with the cruise line. Join the group to be kept in the loop and to drum up excitement for your trip before you set sail.

Soda is free if you know where to look

If you order a can of Coke in the dining room or from room service, it's going to cost you a few dollars, but you can get as much free soda as you want from the fountain. These are usually located on the pool deck and in the buffet area. Bring a refillable bottle so you can easily take your soda with you around the ship.

Check the app for happy hours

Alcohol isn't free on board, but you can find discounted drinks at happy hour. On my most recent Disney cruise, select drinks were 50% off from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the ship's pub. Check your Navigator app during your sailing to look for happy hours on your Disney cruise.

The best merchandise sells out

If you see a cool hat, sweatshirt or shirt you adore, buy it as soon as you spot it. The onboard gift shops are only open while the ship is at sea, and the popular items sell out (and generally don't get restocked while you're on board).

A Disney cruise is not just for families

There's no doubt that families make up a large portion of the Disney Cruise Line passenger base, but a Disney cruise is not just for kids . The ships cater to childless couples and friend groups with special spaces reserved just for grownups.

Each ship has an adults-only nightlife area and/or multiple bars and lounges to visit in the evening. An adults-only sun deck includes a pool and space to sunbathe. Each ship also has one or two adults-only restaurants you can retreat to at dinnertime if you want to ensure a high-end and kid-free meal. (You'll have to pay extra for these meals, however.)

Disney offers legitimately good liquor and tastings

On top of the cocktails and drinks you may expect, Disney ships offer some very high-end liquors on board. I shared a photo of the below beverage cart on Instagram while on a recent cruise and got dozens of messages from people shocked Disney would have Pappy's bourbon. That specific 23-year-old bottle goes for several hundred dollars per drink, and it's on board Disney cruise ships.

If you're looking for something more affordable, sign up for one of the various beverage-tasting classes on offer. Most of the tastings are $40 - $50, and you'll get to sample a few drinks, as well as learn more about wine, tequila, bourbon and other beverages.

You don't need to pay for motion sickness pills

If you find the motion of the ocean to be a bit more than you bargained for, head to guest services, and they will give you — and your kids — motion sickness pills free of charge.

Pro tip: Don't wait until you are feeling terrible to start battling any potential motion sickness . At the first signs of queasiness, seek out a remedy. Green apples and ginger candy are alternatives for travelers who prefer not to take medicine.

The concierge lounge is extra magical

If you want your own personal Fairy Godmother who all but ensures you get the bookings you want, the best meal times, coveted reservations at the adults-only restaurants and cabana access at Castaway Cay, then book yourself into a concierge-level cabin or suite.

You'll get all that, plus you can board the ship first and skip the lines when disembarking. Concierge guests get exclusive access to a lounge with included evening drinks and a private sun deck (with a hot tub on Disney Wish ). You can order meals from the onboard restaurants to your room, and hang out with a Disney character in the lounge one evening of the cruise.

Not to mention, you'll be staying in some of the nicest and largest accommodations on the ship.

Concierge-level rooms do not come cheap, but they're the way to go if you want cream-of-the-crop service on a Disney cruise. I'd venture that the added perks and extra booking window for specialty restaurants and Castaway Cay are most valuable on the shorter Disney cruises of three or four nights.

Related: What it's like on a $10,000 Disney Wish concierge cruise

Find your way by looking at the carpet

It can be disorienting at first to find your way around a cruise ship, but Disney makes it easy to know if you are heading forward or aft when you're in the long cabin hallways. If the carpet design is upside down, you're heading toward the back of the ship, but if it is right side up, you're heading to the front of the ship. In the photo below, the globe is the clue.

Late dinner is better

Disney cruise ships offer two dinner options — early or late seating. Your showtime for the evening entertainment is opposite your dinner; if you have an early dinner, you have the late show and vice versa.

It's logical to assume that an early dinner at 5:45 p.m., as opposed to late dinner at 8:15 p.m., is better if you have little kids. Having done both, I'd say that late dinner is vastly superior in most situations.

First, 5:45 p.m. is too early to have made the most of your day and be ready for dinner. With all there is to eat on the cruise, you might not even be hungry yet. Beyond that, if you aren't heading into the dark theater to see the show until 8:15 p.m., it can be hard for little ones to sit still or stay awake.

However, if you see the show first and then eat dinner, the servers are great about expressing your meal with little kids. It's better to do a quick dinner and then head to bed (or back to the kids club!) than an early dinner and miss the evening shows because your kid no longer has the ability to sit still.

The $45 adult restaurant is worth it

If you enjoy fine dining, book a fancy dinner at one of the adults-only restaurants. Depending on which ship you are on, there will be one or two restaurants that are reserved for adults — Palo and perhaps also Remy or Enchante .

Remy and Enchante are super-fancy and pricy, but Palo is approachable-fancy and costs an additional $45 per person for the set menu. It's 100% worth the money if you can get a booking.

You'll leave any cartoony trace of Disney behind as you leisurely indulge on beef tenderloin, sea scallops, grilled lobster with pasta, calamari and chocolate souffle.

The best character meetings aren't the posted ones

You'll find many character meet-and-greets on the itinerary for each day where it's known that Mickey, Donald or Minnie will be at a specific place at a specific time for a brief hello and a photo. Those meetups are great, but they are not the best character interactions you'll find on Disney Cruise Line.

The best time you'll have with characters will be when you least expect to see them. You might spot Goofy walking around in his pajamas, Donald waddling out on the deck or Minnie strolling the halls in her finest dress.

These encounters can't be planned or predicted, but without the lines and forced nature of a quick photo, the more free-form interaction with the characters is better than any planned photo sessions you'll find on land or sea.

All the characters come out to say goodbye on the last night

On the last night of each cruise, all of the classic characters come out to the atrium for a short time (15 - 20 minutes) so you can snap a quick photo with anyone you missed before they do their final farewell presentation. Check your app for this goodbye show, which usually occurs around 10 or 10:30 p.m.

Pro tip: If you have a specific character you want to photograph, ask a cast member setting up for the event where that character usually stands during photo time. That way, you can position yourself in the right area to snap a photo because the event can turn chaotic in a hurry.

Skip the debarkation line by carrying your own bags

Getting off the ship at the same time as thousands of other guests can be a buzzkill, so don't do that. If you can manage your own bags, don't put them out the night before and take them off the ship yourself the final morning.

That leaves you free to disembark as early as possible before the regular disembarkation begins, which might be around 7:30 a.m. or so, depending on the port, weather and other factors. You can avoid the crowds because you don't have to wait for your luggage to be assembled along with everyone else.

You can bring your own water and wine

If you want to have bottled water at the ready, bring a case of it onboard. It will need to be sealed in its original packaging and you have to carry it on (instead of having it in checked luggage), but it can be worth it if you want to save money for the truly yummy drinks.

If you enjoy wine or beer out on your veranda, you can save a little cash by bringing your own alcohol onboard , with limits. Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or a six-pack of beer (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. Again, these beverages need to be carried on and not stashed in checked bags.

You can enjoy the spa without a treatment

If you love the idea of spa-like quiet and relaxation without paying around $200+ per treatment, look into the Rainforest Room in the Senses Spa, which costs much less than that per day. Depending on demand, you can book a one-day pass or get a pass that lasts the duration of your cruise. Inquire in the spa as to availability and exact pricing, but it's certainly going to be less than a spa treatment.

Each of the Disney ships has its own version of this room. On Disney Wish, the space has not only the heated loungers that are a common fixture in each of these thermal areas, but also an indoor and outdoor lounge component, a steam room, a chilled ice room and a relaxing water feature for dangling your feet.

Bottom line

You can't go wrong in booking a Disney cruise as there is already so much included and available at your fingertips. But with a little knowledge, you can skip some of the common first-timer mistakes and board like a pro, starting with your first cruise.

Related reading:

• What it's like inside the Disney Wish Star Wars-themed bar
• Everything you need to know about Disney Wish
• The best credit cards for Disney
• Best destinations you can sail to on a Disney cruise
• Everything you need to know about Disney's loyalty program
• The 2 types of Disney Cruise Line ships, explained

Booking Onboard Activities and Port Adventures for a Disney Cruise

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So you have booked a Disney Cruise! One of the most exciting things is planning all the fun things you are going to do onboard and at the ports. New Disney Cruise Line Cruisers are able to start booking port adventures and onboard activities for their Disney Cruise at midnight Eastern time 75 days out from their sail date. Before booking these extras, you must complete online check-in. The walk through of this process can be found here .

Once you have completed your online check-in you will be able to start the fun process of adding onboard activities, adult dining, spa activities and port adventures. Hopefully, before this day you have done some research and have an idea of what you want to book. If not, read up on some of the information here .

I find the process of checking in and adding activities easier on the computer since the screen is bigger and I can see more. Disney recently updated the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App to allow you to do this whole process from the app. Read more about that here . The process will be the same whether you are on the app or the website, the screens will just look slightly different.

Booking onboard Activities and Adventures:

You should already be logged in to the Disney Cruise Line page from check-in. You will then want to select “My Plans” or “Book Now” to begin selecting activities:

If it is too early to book activities you will see this error page:

Otherwise you will see your itinerary:

Then click on “Add Activities” the right. I recommend starting with “Onboard Fun” or “Dining”:

You will then be able to see the availability for that day:

And what is not available:

When you find something you would like to book you will have to click “Select”. On the next screen you will choose the guests that will participate in the activity and then click “Check Availability”:

Popular activities can often sell out while you are in the process of booking. (Don’t fret, I’ll talk more about sold out activities later.)

The website won’t let you book activities that overlap, and you can only book Remy, Palo, and special meet and greets once each.

Your plan page will show you what you have booked and on what days:

Other extras:

Once you have all your activities, dining and port adventures booked you can also schedule a character call, add special requests, and add photography packages.

These options are found at the bottom of the main reservation screen:

Choose from Mickey, Goofy or Mickey AND Minnie. The Character calls are fun and can be scheduled in advance or fairly immediately:

Inform DCL of any dining needs, extras for your child or onboard celebrations:

Select photo packages at a   lower cost if purchased at least 2 days before the cruise than the onboard price:

These photo packages can also be refunded before the end of your cruise if you decide you don’t like the pictures or want to change packages.

Activities sold out?

You were up at midnight Eastern time, you checked in fast, but there wasn’t any availability for the Frozen meet and greet !?! Don’t panic! As a first time cruiser I was worried when I didn’t get the Princess Meet and Greet, Palo brunch or a Mixology class. When I got on board the cruise ship I was able to go the dining location that was assigned for changes. They accommodated my changes from late dining to main dining and got me a perfect Palo brunch time.

Later I went to Guest Services and they found a Princess Meet and Greet. I waited on the Mixology class because I didn’t know what my husband would want to do. We decided on Day 3 that we wanted to do a Mixology later that afternoon. Guest Services was able to add us into a class. So don’t fret, just ask for availability once you get on the ship. You will have an magical cruise no matter what you pre-book 75 days out!

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Can I use my Platinum Perk for Brunch at Palo instead of dinner?

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What Can I Book Before My Disney Cruise Line Sailing?

You’ve booked your Disney Cruise, yay!

While you could be done with your planning until it’s time to check in for your sailing , many guests take them extra step to book additional elements of their vacation in advance. Here’s what you need to know.

When can I book additional DCL items?

Your booking window opens after you’ve paid in full for your cruise, based on your Castaway Club status or stateroom level.

• First Time Guest s may make reservations 75 days prior to sailing.
• Silver  Castaway Club Guests may make reservations 90 days prior to sailing.
• Gold  Castaway Club Guests may make reservations 105 days prior to sailing.
• Platinum  Castaway Club Guests may make reservations 120 days prior to sailing.
• Pearl Castaway Club Guests may make reservations 123 days prior to sailing.
• Concierge-level Guests may request reservations from the shoreside concierge 130 days prior to sailing. They will add the reservations to you account 123 days prior to sailing.

Am I required to book anything in advance?

No. If you want to stick to a modest budget or if you just want to have a totally unplanned vacation, then you don’t have to bother with any of the things below. That said, if you do want to partake in onboard or port activities that are available for pre-booking, you should reserve them in advance. Popular items like mixology classes will almost certainly fill up in advance and will likely be unavailable for onboard walk-ins.

Will all my options be available when my booking window opens?

The vast majority of items that can be pre-booked will be available on the DCL website when the first booking windows open. However, I’ve seen enough exceptions to this to know that it makes sense to check back periodically, even during the morning of embarkation. DCL may add extra classes or additional slots on a port adventure if interest warrants. And other guests make cancellations all the time. Don’t panic if your preferred activities are not available right away.

What Can I Book Before I Cruise?

Adult dining.

All five ( soon to be six ) Disney Cruise Line ships have at least one restaurant that is available only to guests ages 18+. The lower priced adult dining venue is called Palo on the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy and called Palo Steakhouse on the Wish and Treasure. Additionally is there a more luxe, and more expensive, adults-only restaurant on four ships, called Remy on the Dream and Fantasy and called Enchante on the Wish and Treasure.

These venues all offer brunch and dinner on select days of every sailing. Additionally you may find that your sailing has special events such as dessert tastings .

Port Adventures

Port adventures are planned excursions off the ship during port days. Port adventures vary widely depending on your ship’s itinerary and may include anything from an inexpensive city walking tour to a multi-thousand dollar helicopter ride to a glacier.

Beverage Seminars

Every sailing hosts a range of adult beverage seminars. These last approximately one hour, cost between about $40 and about $100 depending on the beverage, and are limited to guests ages 21+. The seminars are lead by an onboard bartender or sommelier. They include some education information about the drinks as well as tasting-size portions of five or so representatives of type of alcohol. These seminars are extremely popular and are some of the first activities fully booked on every sailing.

You may find that your sailing offers seminars focused on bourbon, champagne, rum, cognac, beer, wine, tequila, or general mixology.

Spa and Salon Treatments, for Kids and Adults

Every DCL ship includes a spa and salon for adults as well as a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover venue for children.

Treatments for adults (and sometimes teens) include things like hair styling, manicures, facials, shaves, massages, and minimally invasive medical procedures like teeth whitening, aucpuncture, and Cool Sculpting. BBB makeovers are designed to transform your child into a princess, prince, or pirate.

Photo Packages

You may book onboard photo packages in advance of your sailing. There’s no true imperative to do this ahead of time; DCL will never “sell out” of photo opportunities. However, these is a modest price break if you reserve your photo package in advance.

Some Character Meet & Greets

Most sailings have a few reservation-only character greeting opportunities. These might include a session with four of five princesses at once or a meeting with rarer characters such as Guardians of the Galaxy Heroes on a Marvel-themed cruise. There is typically no fee for these Meet & Greets.

During a non-themed sailing (not Marvel, Pixar, or Halloween), most of the reservable characters will also be available to all guests at other times, you might just encounter a longer wait.

Character Dining

Some longer sailings offer character breakfasts that may be reserved in advance. They operate similarly to the character dining experiences in the Disney theme parks – characters stop by your table to pose for photos during your meal. There is, however, one giant difference between character breakfasts on the ships versus those in the parks: the character breakfasts on the ship are free.

Decidedly NOT free are the specialty children’s experiences on some sailings such as the Royal Court Tea and Olaf’s Royal Picnic, which also can, and should, be booked in advance.

Nursery Time

Reservations are not required for the youth spaces for potty-trained children and youth ages 3 and up (Oceaneer Club/Lab, Vibe, and Edge).

Reservations ARE required for the it’s a small world nursery. Use of the nursery also requires a modest fee, while the clubs for older kids are included with the price of your cruise.

Sports Simulators

The Dream and Fantasy only house an indoor sports simulator on their sports decks. If you want to faux play a round at Pebble Beach, you can reserve this in advance.

There are fewer than 30 private cabanas available on Castaway Cay and presumably there will be a similar number available at Disney’s second private island, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, when it opens in 2024. The popularity of these few private oases means that they are almost always fully booked by Concierge, Pearl, and Platinum level guests. Try not to get your hopes up for a cabana if you’re not at least a Platinum level guest.

Note: Don’t confuse beachside cabanas with the buffet restaurant on the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy named Cabanas. Everyone is welcome to eat at Cabanas with no reservation; pre-booking is not available. 

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Erin Foster

Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. She's been to WDW, DL, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Aulani, DVC Vero Beach, and DVC Hilton Head. She's a Platinum DCL cruiser and veteran of 10 Adventures by Disney trips. Erin lives near New York City, where she can often be found indulging in her other obsession - Broadway theater.

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Disney Cruise Discounts and Deals

LAST UPDATE: 4/18/24

Disney Cruise discounts can be hard to find, but this is the place to find them! Listed below is every known deal, offer, coupon, onboard credit or discount available for Disney Cruise Line (DCL), plus lots of FREE information about how to save money on a Disney cruise!

Easy Ways to Save on Your Disney Cruise

Onboard credit.

• New! Last-Minute Restricted Stateroom Discounts

Onboard Booking Discount

• New! Discounts for Florida Residents
• New! Discounts for Military
• Discounts for Canadian Residents
• Discounts for European Residents
• Discounts for Annual Passholders
• Discounts for Southern California Residents
• Discounts for UK and Ireland Residents
• Discounts for Disney Visa Cardholders
• Discounts for Disney Vacation Club Members

Group Incentives

Costco rebates, travelocity deals on disney cruises, expedia deals on disney cruises, other useful disney cruise line information pages:.

• For tips and tricks that will help you plan your cruise , visit the Planning Tips & Tricks for Disney Cruises page .
• For advice that will help you save time and get the most out of your cruise once you are onboard , visit the DCL Onboard Advice page .
• For advice that will help you with excursions, tours and activities while in port, visit the Tips & Discounts for Port Excursions page .

In our opinion,  you should always book a Disney cruise with a third-party travel agency or site that provides a bonus or discount . The extra onboard credit or discount is effectively FREE money. The primary question is whether you prefer to handle your bookings directly ( self-service ), or work with a personal agent ( full-service ). They’re both good options and they both offer essentially similar savings: one via their own extra-discounted fares and the other via FREE onboard credit. 

Booking a Disney Cruise With a Self-Service Site

Our pick for self-service booking is Undercover Tourist . We’ve recommended them for more than a decade as a fantastic source for tickets, but they also have impressive deals on Disney cruises. Unlike other self-booking options like Expedia or Priceline, Undercover Tourist adds an additional discount over and above any special pricing Disney offers (like restricted guarantee , Military , or Florida resident rates)! We know of no other site that adds their own discounts to the baseline fare for Disney cruises. Occasionally one of the big online travel sites will do a limited-time small onboard credit or in-room gift, but Undercover Tourist offers extra discounts , on every Disney cruise, every day. Undercover Tourist further guarantees to MouseSavers readers that you will always get their lowest possible prices when booking through our links here and through our monthly newsletter and Hot Deals emails.

Keep in mind that this is a self-service option , for people who know exactly what cruise they want to take, what stateroom, how dining works, etc. If you like to handle your own bookings directly, Undercover Tourist is a great choice. If you would like to have a personal agent who can help guide you through the decision process and be available to answer questions, then the full-service approach will be a better fit.

• Check out Undercover Tourist’s discounted cruise rates for Disney Cruise Lines ! Undercover Tourist guarantees MouseSavers readers get their lowest rates!

Booking a Disney Cruise With a Full-Service Agent

The benefits of using a top travel agent are significant, both in convenience and price. First off, the best travel agents give you onboard credit, which is effectively FREE money, since the cruise fare isn’t any higher than if you booked through Disney. Furthermore, Disney Cruise Line has lots of confusing options involving tradeoffs that aren’t always clear. Using an experienced travel agent is like getting a FREE expert who knows everything about the Disney Cruise Line and is happy to walk you through the process and offer advice.

The travel agency we personally recommend here on MouseSavers.com, Small World Vacations , has some of the most experienced agents in the industry . The agents who handle cruise bookings for Small World have been on multiple Disney cruises, and know a truly astonishing amount about all four ships, the various Disney ports of call 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 each have a direct phone number and email address they give out to their clients, so you can email them questions or requests any time.

Small World Vacations offers an onboard credit of up to $1,000 when you book a Disney Cruise with them. (Credit depends on your total cruise fare; the minimum fare to get credit is $1000.) Your onboard credit is good toward anything you can charge to your room, such as spa treatments, special dining, shore excursions or even your bar tab! Plus, this onboard credit offer is on top of any other discounts for which you may qualify (like restricted guarantee , Military , or Florida resident rates). And perhaps most importantly, the Small World Vacations agents know how to maximize value by making use of tricks like secret porthole rooms , secret verandah rooms , secret connecting rooms , and other clever strategies.

We pretty rarely encounter a deal that qualifies as a “no brainer,” but this is absolutely one, because it’s effectively FREE money . Small World Vacations’ fares are exactly the same as Disney’s; there are no other hidden markups or extra fees. The onboard credit is a bonus you won’t get booking with Disney.

Finally, if you’re going on a Disney cruise, be sure you take advantage of the onboard booking discount and list Small World Vacations as your preferred travel agent (or transfer the booking to Small World Vacations after your cruise is over), because it’s an essentially risk-free way to get significant discounts from Disney plus onboard credit from Small World Vacations in one fell swoop on a future cruise.

If you have any questions about onboard booking, email your questions directly to Small World Vacations at [email protected] before you leave on your cruise, and mention that you heard about onboard booking on MouseSavers.com. 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.

• Learn more about the Small World Vacations onboard credit offer and request a price quote for your Disney cruise .
• Small World Vacations gives 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!

Onboard credit is cash value linked to your stateroom account on the ship, which you can spend by using your room key to pay for pretty much anything on the ship or on Castaway Cay. Onboard credit can be used for merchandise, adult beverages, bottled water, spa treatments, shore excursions, Palo, Remy, Palo Steakhouse or Enchanté meals, and other onboard activities, or even applied to gratuities for your servers and stateroom attendant.

Small World Vacations Onboard Credit

The travel agency we personally recommend here on MouseSavers.com, Small World Vacations , offers an onboard credit of $50 – $1000 when you book through them. (Credit depends on your total cruise fare; the minimum fare to get credit is $1000.) To learn more, visit the Small World Vacations website , where you can see full details about the onboard credit offer and request a quote on your cruise vacation .

Last-Minute Restricted Stateroom Discounts

Restricted Guarantee fares, when offered, are a great way to save if you are flexible about your stateroom location and willing to book “last minute,” usually meaning 21-75 days prior to departure. The savings can be very large, but you won’t know your exact stateroom at booking time. Disney guarantees you will get at least the stateroom type specified, and you could get assigned a higher level. You usually will get an actual stateroom assignment about 14 days before embarkation, but it could be assigned as late as the embarkation day.

There are complicated rules for Restricted Guarantee bookings ; be sure to read them if you’re not already familiar with them. The “Restricted Guarantee” room categories are offered on select sailings. The categories are:

• Guaranteed Inside Stateroom with Restrictions (category IGT) – Guarantees an inside or better stateroom (minimum category 11C)
• Guaranteed Oceanview Stateroom with Restrictions (category OGT) – Guarantees an oceanview or better stateroom (minimum category 9D)
• Guaranteed Verandah Stateroom with Restrictions (category VGT) – Guarantees a verandah or better stateroom (minimum category 7A)

New! As of April 18, 2024, the following cruises had availability in the Restricted Guarantee categories . Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise.

General Notes:

• A single guest gets charged essentially the same price as two guests. (Cruises are generally priced for a minimum of two guests per cabin.)
• 5-passenger rooms are not available with this discount .
• These discounts come and go as room inventory for a cruise changes. If you check for one and it doesn’t come up, it may come back. It’s worth checking back a few times over the next day or two to see if the discount becomes available again.
• If a price isn’t listed, that doesn’t mean the category is completely sold out , just that it isn’t available with this discount.

Select number of guests to see total sailing price (for one stateroom):

• If you are interested in booking one of these special restricted last-minute rates , 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. 

Important details you need to know about Restricted Guarantee fares:

• Can be combined with the Small World Vacations onboard credit offer as well as Undercover Tourist’s own bonus discounts.
• Cannot be combined with any other Disney discount or promotional offers.
• The specific stateroom is assigned by Disney, generally within a week of cruise departure. You cannot select a stateroom number or make special requests as to stateroom location.
• If you book two or more Restricted Guarantee staterooms, there is no way to ensure that they are near each other, or even on the same deck. Disney will put the rooms as close together as they can, but sometimes they just don’t have any rooms left that are near each other.
• Applies to new bookings only. Existing reservations cannot be modified to these new categories.
• Full payment is due at time of booking. Booking holds are not permitted.
• Reservation is non-refundable . (This only applies to situations where you cancel the cruise. If Disney cancels the cruise, for example because of pandemic restrictions, you will get a refund.)
• Reservation and applied payment are non-transferable .
• Full legal names and birthdates for all stateroom occupants are required at time of booking.
• Name changes after booking are not allowed .
• Sail date, stateroom category and cruise itinerary changes are not allowed .
• You can book a maximum of four people per stateroom on a Restricted Guarantee booking.
• There is typically more availability for three or fewer guests per room. All Disney Cruise staterooms can hold three guests, but only some can hold four.
• If you’re looking for these cruise fares on Disney’s web site, look for fares labeled “Guaranteed Inside Stateroom with Restrictions” or similar for Oceanview or Verandah. The key words are “…with restrictions.”

The one major change that you can make after booking: additional guests can be added to a stateroom, subject to space restrictions. Restrictions and booking rules are subject to change.

If you are going on a Disney cruise and think there is any chance you or a friend or relative may want to go on another Disney cruise in the next 24 months, be sure to book a future cruise while you are still onboard the ship . Disney has one of the most generous onboard booking programs in the cruise industry, and it’s a great way to get a discount and lower deposit on a future Disney cruise. When you book a future cruise while still onboard the ship you get all of the following benefits:

• A 10% discount on the final cruise fare (with some blackout dates ; see below). Does not apply to Concierge bookings.
• A lower deposit requirement of only 10% on 7+ night cruises (regular deposit requirement is 20%). Does not apply to Concierge bookings.
• If you booked your current cruise with Small World Vacations and also use them as your agent for the future cruise , you’ll also get half their normal onboard credit . (Note that if you didn’t book your current cruise with Small World Vacations, the onboard booking agents may not let you add Small World as your agent while onboard. In that case, you would have to transfer your booking to Small World after you get home, but you would still be eligible for half their normal credit.)

You can book either a specific cruise or a “placeholder” cruise. A placeholder lets you make a booking without picking a specific cruise. It can be associated with a specific cruise later, after you get home and decide. To book a specific cruise onboard, you put down a deposit of 10% or 20% of the whole fare, depending on the length of the cruise. To book a placeholder, you put down a flat $250 deposit per future stateroom. When you change a placeholder to a specific cruise booking you’ll have to pay any increase in deposit. Keep in mind, there is an advantage to booking a specific cruise as early as possible: you lock in the rate. So, if there is a cruise you might want to take, it’s a good idea to book that specific cruise rather than a placeholder. Even if you’re not 100% sure that’s your perfect cruise, remember you can change it later with no penalty.

If you ultimately decide not to take a cruise, Disney will refund 100% of your deposit or placeholder payment . You always get a 100% refund as long as you haven’t passed the penalty date (120-75 days from sailing, depending on the cruise), and you didn’t book a concierge room or suite. There’s basically no risk, though it does tie up some deposit money while you think about your options.

You can change almost every aspect of your booking as many times as you need to and still keep the benefits . The name of one adult in each stateroom must stay the same, but you can change the names of any of the other guests, or increase or reduce the number of guests. You can change the stateroom category. You can change the ship or the sailing as long as the sail date is within 24 months of the initial booking date. If you end up changing to a more expensive booking, you’ll need to make up the difference between your original deposit and the new deposit. Keep in mind that if you later add a guest to a stateroom, they will get added at current rates, not at your initial booking rates. For the lowest final price and most flexibility, it’s a good idea to make the initial booking with everyone who might go, rather than only the people you know are going to go.

You get the full discount for up to two future staterooms or placeholders per household (i.e. per mailing address). Once you leave the ship, you can’t book more , so we recommend booking two (or more) every time, if you can afford to tie up the deposit money. If you later decide that you want to bring another family along, or put the kids in their own stateroom, you’ll be glad to have two rooms booked with the discount.

You can get the full discount for friends or relatives who are not sailing on your cruise. You’ll need your friends’ full legal names (as written on their passport) and their birth dates. Under the current rules, the first stateroom or placeholder you book with this discount on the future cruise needs to include at least one adult who is on the current cruise, in addition to anyone else you want to add, and then the second stateroom can have anyone in it. For example, say you wanted to book a cruise for your friends, the Smith family. You could book one room for your own family, then book the second room (on the same cruise) for the Smith family.

If you already have a future cruise booked, you can usually “re-shop” your existing booking and get the discount. However, you basically have to make a new booking and cancel the old one, and the price might have gone up since you booked originally, potentially wiping out your discount. Be sure to compare the bottom-line price for both bookings.

A few other terms & conditions:

• There is no discount or lower deposit for 1- or 2-night sailings, IGT, OGT and VGT Restricted Guarantee bookings, or concierge staterooms and suites.
• You can get the 10% discount and reduced deposit on a maximum of two staterooms per household.
• Onboard booking incentives CANNOT be combined with any group discounts organized by a travel agency.
• Disney could change these rules and benefits at any time. Check onboard for the latest terms.

Onboard Discount Blackout Dates:

Please note: there is no 10% discount when you book the following holiday and peak dates onboard (but you do get the smaller deposit):

• Disney Dream : 3/31, 11/23, 11/27, 12/21, 12/26, 12/30
• Disney Fantasy : 3/23, 3/30, 6/8, 11/23, 12/22, 12/26, 12/29
• Disney Magic : 6/6, 11/25, 12/29
• Disney Treasure : 12/21, 12/28
• Disney Wish : 3/25, 3/29, 4/1, 11/25, 12/23, 12/27, 12/30
• Disney Wonder : ( none announced yet )
• Disney Dream : ( none announced yet )
• Disney Fantasy : ( none announced yet )
• Disney Magic : ( none announced yet )
• Disney Treasure:  ( none announced yet )
• Disney Wish : 4/14, 4/18, 4/21
• The full legal names of everyone who is going to go on the future cruise, as listed on their passport or birth certificate
• The number of rooms you want to book and what type ( inside, outside, verandah or placeholder )
• Who’s in each room ( keeping in mind the maximum passengers for each room type )
• Specific cruises you’re interested in, if you plan to book a cruise and not a placeholder ( or just rough notes with your needs/restrictions like dates or region )
• Birth dates for everyone ( optional, but makes everything go smoother )
• Bring the info with you on the cruise. If you just want to book a basic placeholder, you can do that while on the cruise with the Disney Navigator App on your phone (if you don’t already have it, just search for “Disney Navigator” in the Apple or Google app stores; you can download it before the cruise leaves to save time). If you want to do anything more complicated you’ll need to talk to a consultant at the future cruise desk.
• If you can’t or don’t want to use the the Navigator app, at some point early in the cruise, go to the Future Bookings Desk on deck 4 and either fill out a form, or just put your room number and name on the sheet you brought (if it has all the details on it they’ll need) and drop it in the box. You can also wait for a consultant if they’re there, or check the schedule and come back when they’re scheduled to be there. If you drop off a form, they’ll secure a hold on a reservation and leave a printout by your stateroom door. If the reservation looks good, either go back to the desk to finish the booking or call 7-2848 from your stateroom phone. Either way, when the booking is done ask for a printed confirmation of your final reservation.
• Before you leave the ship, confirm that everything is correct . You should have a printed confirmation or an emailed confirmation. The confirmation should show that your deposit is paid (if not, the booking will be canceled). If this isn’t on your confirmation, go to the Future Bookings Desk or Guest Services and make sure everything is correct. If you are working with a travel agent, verbally confirm that they are listed on the reservation before you leave the ship.
• That’s it! If you booked a “placeholder” cruise, you can start the process of finding your actual cruise. If you are using a travel agent , email them to let them know you booked onboard. Once you’ve settled on the cruise you really want to take, change the booking as soon as you can to the actual sailing date to lock in the lowest possible fares and get the best choice of staterooms.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Florida Residents

New! As of April 18, 2024, the following cruises had availability in the Florida Resident category . Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise. The room category available at that fare is in parentheses.

• 5-passenger rooms are rarely discounted for Florida residents , but they do show up occasionally.

Other stateroom categories may be available at other rates. Rates are per adult, based on double occupancy. Occupancy restrictions may apply. Excursions are not included. See Disney Cruise Line brochure for details and applicable terms and conditions. Other discounts do not apply. Only one discount may be used at a time. Rates in US dollars.

A copy of a valid proof of Florida residency for at least one adult in each stateroom needs to be transmitted (via fax or email) within 48 hours when booking with the Florida rate, and the same proof will need to be produced at check-in. The other guests in each stateroom do not need to be Florida residents.

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Florida resident rates , 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.

Disney Cruise Discounts For Military

Members of the US military and their families qualify for special cruise rates.

New! As of April 18, 2024, the following cruises had availability in the Military category . Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise. The room category available at that fare is in parentheses.

• 5-passenger rooms are rarely discounted for military members , but they do show up occasionally.

Valid for new bookings only. Other stateroom categories may be available at other rates. Rates based on double occupancy. Occupancy restrictions may apply. Excursions are not included. See Disney Cruise Line brochure for details and applicable terms and conditions. Other discounts do not apply. Only one discount may be used at a time. Rates in US dollars. The following are eligible for the Military rate: active duty or retired military; 100% disabled retired military; reservists for National Guard and Army Reserve with active duty orders (active duty papers must be dated as of January 1st of the previous year to qualify); Department of Defense personnel.

Military personnel may book one stateroom under the military rates program. A second stateroom may be confirmed, if needed, to accommodate immediate family members only. For example, a family of two adults and four children may confirm two staterooms, based on availability, with the offer. Extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) do not qualify as immediate family members for the second stateroom. Active duty or retired military personnel and 100% permanently disabled veterans do not have to travel as long as their spouse has a valid military ID to show at the port. Reservists must be part of the travel party and must show ID at the port.

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Military rates , 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.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Canadian Residents

Canadian residents sometimes qualify for special rates on select sailings on Disney Cruise Line.

As of April 18, 2024, the following cruises had availability in the Canadian Resident category . Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise. The room category available at that fare is in parentheses.

• 5-passenger rooms are rarely discounted for Canadian residents , but they do show up occasionally.

Select number of guests to see total sailing price:

Proof of Canadian residency will be required at time of check-in (your passport is fine).

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Canadian resident rates , 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.

Disney Cruise Discounts for European Residents

European (EEA) residents sometimes qualify for special rates on select sailings on Disney Cruise Line. When they become available we list them below.

No current offers.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Annual Passholders

Walt Disney World Annual Passholders sometimes qualify for special rates on select sailings on Disney Cruise Line. When they become available we list them below.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Southern California Residents

Southern California residents (ZIP codes 90000 to 93599) sometimes qualify for special rates on select sailings on Disney Cruise Line.

Prices given are lowest available fares for a single stateroom, in US dollars, including taxes, fees and port expenses, rounded to the nearest dollar. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise. The room category available at that fare is in parentheses.

• 5-passenger rooms are rarely discounted for Southern California residents , but they do show up occasionally.

A copy of a valid proof of Southern California residency (ZIP codes 90000 to 93599) for at least one adult in each stateroom needs to be transmitted (via fax or email) within 48 hours when booking with the Southern California rate, and the same proof will need to be produced at check-in. The other guests in each stateroom do not need to be Southern California residents.

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Southern California resident rates , 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.

Disney Cruise Discounts for UK and Ireland Residents

There’s a useful site listing the latest Disney Cruise Line deals for UK visitors, plus a FREE phone number you can call to learn more and book your cruise!

• Learn more about UK offers for Disney Cruise Line.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Disney Visa Cardholders

Disney Visa cardholders who use their card as their payment method onboard automatically get several discounts on purchases on the ship and on Castaway Cay. In order for this to happen, you have to register your Disney Visa card when you check in at the port. You do not need to charge the cruise fare on your Disney Visa to get the discounts.

You should not need to ask at purchase time to get the discounts; if you have the card registered any discounts should automatically be applied when you make an eligible purchase.

These discounts cannot be combined with any other discounts you might qualify for, such as Disney Vacation Club discounts.

Discounts include:

• 10% off selected merchandise purchases of $50 or more. Excludes sale merchandise, gift cards, Castaway Cay merchandise, DVDs, CDs, big-ticket items like art, jewelry, fragrances, cosmetics and watches, plus several vague catch-all categories like “selected special items.” Basically, ask first if you’ll get the 10% off, if it’s important to your purchase decision.
• 10% off 10-photo, 15-photo, 20-photo or unlimited photo packages.
• 10% off the Castaway Cay Getaway package (combination of snorkeling, bicycle and float or inner-tube rental).
• 20% off full-priced massage or facial treatment in the onboard spa while in port . This does not include massages on Castaway Cay or treatments discounted as part of onboard specials.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Disney Vacation Club Members

Dvc onboard spending discounts.

Disney Vacation Club members get several discounts on purchases onboard any Disney Cruise. You need to ask for the discount and show your Disney Vacation Club card at time of purchase.

This discount cannot be combined with any other discounts you might qualify for, such as Disney Visa discounts. DVC members who only own points purchased via resale after April 4, 2016 are not eligible for discounts, including this one.

• 10% off selected merchandise purchases of $50 or more.
• 10% off any digital photo package.

DVC Cruise Fare Discounts

The following cruises have discounts available for Disney Vacation Club members for up to 3 persons (some may also be available for 4 or 5). Prices given are base fares per person (Guest 1 & 2/Guest 3+). 3rd, 4th and 5th guest fares for children 12 and under will be lower. Taxes, fees and port expenses are not included. All sailings are from Port Canaveral unless noted otherwise.

Other stateroom categories may be available at other rates. Rates are per adult, based on double occupancy. Occupancy restrictions may apply. Taxes, fees, port expenses and excursions are not included. See Disney Cruise Line brochure for details and applicable terms and conditions. Other discounts do not apply. Only one discount may be used at a time. Rates in US dollars. Offer open only to Disney Vacation Club members.

• If you are interested in booking one of these special Disney Vacation Club rates , 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 their FREE onboard credit offer applies to these special fares (though note that the total cruise fare must be at least $1000 to get their onboard credit). Be sure to tell them you want to book a Disney Vacation Club fare. You will need to fax or email proof of DVC membership to finalize the booking. Note that these staterooms often sell out fast, so if you see one you like, snag it quickly.

Organizing your own group? Disney Specialist travel agents are adept at handling large groups and offer on-board credit and sometimes other incentives. Contact a Disney Specialist travel agency such as Small World Vacations for details. Remember, it costs you nothing to use them!

Costco members can get rebates on Disney cruises, which come in the form of a Costco gift card. However, Costco Travel is not a full-service travel agency: don’t expect much service or information.

In our experience, Costco reps are very nice, but don’t know much about Disney Cruise Line. They almost certainly have never been on a Disney cruise, and may have never been on a cruise of any kind. If you choose to go this route, be prepared to spend time and energy doing your own research about what your package includes and how everything works. Heaven help you if you need to book something complicated like connecting rooms or want to know the pros and cons of different stateroom options. Costco Travel most definitely won’t be able to offer any insider tips on what to expect or help you take advantage of special booking tricks or “secret” room upgrades. Effectively you’re just booking the cruise yourself, but through Costco instead of Disney.

In addition, we find the Costco reps are clueless about Disney’s promotional offers — they really only know about the Costco rebate. You will have to do your own monitoring to see if any specials or price drops come out, and then see if you can get them applied to your booking. A top-notch Disney specialist agency will do this for you automatically, adjusting your reservation to reflect any current offers or discounts.

Travelocity sometimes has special deals on Disney cruises. They are usually fairly last-minute offers, most typically no more than 6 months in advance. Travelocity also sometimes advertises “15% off shore excursions” but be aware that those are privately booked excursions through a company called Port Promotions, NOT the official Disney excursions.

Expedia has the same base prices as everyone else, but occasionally they will have their own additional offer, like onboard credit or extra Expedia rewards points. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully; in some cases there are sharp limits on the extra rewards or credit, or it will only apply to the cruise fare for the first two guests instead of the entire cruise fare.

Disney Alaska Cruise Planning and Tips

Taking a Disney Wonder Alaska cruise is a great way to experience nature with all the comforts and fun of a Disney vacation. Use our Disney Alaska cruise planning timeline and tips to make the most out of this expensive, but incredible vacation.

• 12 months or more before Alaska cruise
• 10 months or more before cruise
• 4 to 6 months before cruise
• 2 to 4 months before cruise
• 1 month before cruise
• Embarkation Day
• Our Favorite Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise Excursions

Disney Alaska Cruise Vacation Tips

12 to 15 months before your alaska cruise, book your disney alaska cruise.

Disney Alaskan cruises are extremely popular bucket-list vacations. Many people reserve their Alaska sailings as soon as the booking window opens for the best prices and room locations.

Pricing first increases not long after the Disney Alaska cruise itineraries are released and usually continue to climb. Guests booking their first Disney cruise should reserve a cabin when the dates open.

The best way to save on a pricey Disney Alaska cruise for experienced Disney cruisers is booking early and using a placeholder reservation. 

Placeholder reservations are only available to those who have previously cruised with Disney. Pay a $250 deposit while still on a Disney cruise and you’ll get a “placeholder”. Once this placeholder is reserved you have 24 months to use it. 

Placeholder deposits are applied to your next reservation and also provide a 10% discount on the Disney cruise. This discount saves a lot of money on expensive cruises like Alaska and Europe.

We used our placeholder discount for a Disney Wonder verandah room. These rooms have private outdoor balconies perfect for gorgeous inside passage views, but these are more expensive cabins.

Guests saving money with inside staterooms can head to Disney Wonder’s top deck for stunning wildlife views.

Alaskan Disney Cruise itineraries vary slightly by sail date. We were locked into specific dates so our ports of call were Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway.

In the end I was grateful our Disney Wonder Alaska cruise stopped in Skagway instead of Icy Point Straight. The White Pass Railway in Skagway was incredible versus what I think are less interesting Icy Strait Point excursion options.

10 Months Before Disney Alaska Cruise

Book your hotel.

Hotels near Canada Place are in-demand with all Alaska cruise lines guests.  Easy access to Canada Place on embarkation day and a limited number of hotels within walking distance make prices soar and availability plummet much earlier than you’d expect. 

We opted for Pan Pacific Fairmont which is directly above Canada Place. Although the price was shockingly high for a mediocre room, embarkation was a breeze. 

Pan Pacific bell services has a convenient, tip-only service that brings your marked bags down to your ship straight from your room. This means no lugging heavy suitcases through the terminal.

If you opt for a hotel further away, budget for extra travel time. Heavy traffic and large crowds make arriving, dropping bags, and embarking take longer than you’d expect. 

6 Months Before Disney Alaska Cruise

Check Your Passports

Everyone flying into Canada must have a valid passport to enter. Passports are routinely checked throughout the cruise since guests often cross the US and Canada border on excursions, too.

Last year US passport applications had a significant processing time with expected waits of 10 to 13 weeks plus mailing time. Thankfully 2024 US Passport application and renewal times have significantly decreased. Expect new passports to take 6 to 8 weeks or 2 to 3 weeks for renewals plus mailing time.

To avoid last minute drama, I still recommend applying for all new passports and renewals at least 6 months in advance. This ensures passports are in your possession well before Disney Alaska cruise check-in.

5 Months Before Disney Alaska Cruise

Research Excursions and On Board Activities

Excursion and on board activity reservations open as early as 120 days before the cruise so it’s wise to research options ahead of time. 

Each port has a range of potential excursions from simple sightseeing to ziplining, helicopter rides, and other active options. Excursion descriptions on Disney’s website have an overview of what to expect, mobility or age restrictions, and prices.

There are many excursion options at each port, but some fill up more quickly than others. For example, a tender boat excursion where guests take a ramp off the Disney Cruise Line ship onto a waiting boat for close up glacier viewing is one that routinely sells out. 

Glacier dog sledding via a helicopter is another excursion that sells out quickly despite the high price and risk of same-day cancellation due to weather. 

Disney Alaska cruises also have several sea days where guests can book special on board activities. The most popular on board options are alcohol tastings, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeovers , and Palo brunch or dinner reservations.

75 to 120 Days Before Disney Alaska Cruise

Book Excursions and On Board Activities

On board and excursion booking windows vary by Castaway Cay Club status with higher status and concierge guests booking further ahead of time. 

Disney Cruise Line Booking Windows:

• Concierge – 130 days prior to departure
• Pearl ( After completing 25 DCL sailings ) – 123 days prior to departure
• Platinum ( After completing 10 DCL sailings ) – 120 days prior to departure
• Gold ( After completing 5 DCL sailings ) – 105 days prior to departure
• Silver ( After completing 1 DCL sailing ) – 90 days prior to departure
• First Time Disney Cruisers – 75 days prior to departure

Narrow down preferred Disney Alaska cruise excursions and then have one or two back up options in case your first choice is unavailable. This is especially important for guests who have later booking windows.

If you don’t get your preferred reservations, keep checking back. Sometimes availability is added closer to the sail date or as other guests cancel. 

We loved all of our Disney Alaska Cruise excursions and felt like they were the right choice for our family and friends. There’s tons of options, but here’s a quick overview of what we did.

Glacier Viewing (Stikine Icecap), Alaska

Glacier Explorer is the only Disney Wonder excursion on glacier viewing day. Your excursion begins by checking in and waiting for instructions in a holding area. 

From here the group walks down to a lower deck where a ramp leads from Disney Wonder directly onto a smaller glacier viewing boat. This tender boat gets incredibly close to glaciers where we were able to see both glacier calving and baby seals along the shore with our binoculars. 

This port adventure is expensive, but we enjoyed the experience and gorgeous pictures of Disney Wonder in icy surroundings. However, on our sailing Disney Wonder was able to get pretty close, making the excursion less crucial.

The picture above shows our view from the tender ship and the picture below shows the glacier view from our stateroom.

Skagway, Alaska

Steeped in Gold Rush history, Skagway is a small town with shops and cool National Park Service museums . We explored these on our own before taking our port adventure. 

We booked the Yukon Suspension Bridge, City and White Pass Railway excursion. This port adventure began with a bus ride back into Canada where we explored a small Yukon suspension bridge. From here we took the bus back to Fraser and climbed aboard the White Pass Railway.

The White Pass Railway runs along the same tracks used during the Gold Rush with incredible views of the Alaskan wilderness. Guests can sit inside the train car and watch through the large windows or stand on outside train platforms for an even more exciting experience.

I absolutely recommend riding the White Pass Railway. This train ride was unlike anything we’d done before and an iconic part of the Skagway area.

Some of our group did the Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp & Salmon Bake Featuring Exclusive Disney Character Experience instead. Although the characters were cute and food decent, they didn’t love the overall experience and regretted forgetting bug repellant.

Juneau, Alaska

We booked the Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sled port adventure despite my nervousness about the helicopter ride to the top of Mendenhall Glacier. The flight provided stunning views of the glacier and riding a dog sled across the snowpack felt surreal.

Our group was lucky to experience a Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sled excursion. Groups before, and after, us had their port adventures canceled due to weather conditions right before leaving.

Want a dog sled experience without the risk of cancellation or the high price tag? We also considered the Dog Sledding Summer Camp port adventure which lets you play with puppies and ride on a cart through a forest.

Ketchikan, Alaska

We mostly explored Ketchikan on our own, visiting Creek Street, museums, and Salmon Ladder. However, we did opt for one super touristy excursion in Ketchikan, The Exclusive Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.

The lumberjack show was a hit with all ages in our group which encompassed a future Kindergartener, tween, teens, and adults. The riotous show demonstrated incredible lumberjack skills with most of the lumberjacks having serious competition credentials. 

We opted for the Disney Wonder Exclusive Lumberjack Show since some of the storytelling was modified to be more family friendly.

30 to 40 Days Before Disney Alaska Cruise

Complete Online Check-in

Castaway Club status determines when online check-in is available for guests. Online check-in is an important step for anyone sailing on Disney Cruise Line since this is when guests choose a port arrival time.

Have family member pictures on a plain background, think passport style photos, taken on your phone before check-in.

Also have everyone’s passport information and pictures of the documents ready which are required to complete online check-in. Once all the essential documents and photos are uploaded you can book your port arrival time. 

Early port arrival times are ideal since you have early access to the ship to explore, swim, and eat even though staterooms are not available until later in the afternoon. 

Disney Cruise Line Online Check-in Windows:

• Concierge/Pearl – 40 days prior to departure
• Platinum – 38 days prior to departure
• Gold – 35 days prior to departure
• Silver – 33 days prior to departure
• First Time Disney Cruisers – 30 days prior to departure

Book Royal Gathering

Royal Gathering is a popular Disney Alaska cruise princess meet and greet.

Book a reservation time and then stand in one short line to meet several Disney princesses. On our Disney Alaska Cruise we met Tiana, Belle, Ariel, and Cinderella in just a few minutes.

Reservations for Royal Gathering open 30 days before the sail date for all guests, regardless of Castaway Club status. Book this popular onboard activity right at 30 days for the best chance of reservations.

Find out more about Disney Cruise line character experiences in this article.

14 to 30 Days Before Disney Alaska Cruise

Start packing.

Alaska cruise packing is not for the faint of heart. Active outdoor excursions, formal nights, daytime clothes, and an unbelievably wide range of weather means you really need to pack for every option. 

I purchased so many things I wasn’t sure I’d use, like waterproof boots and pants, but ended up needing almost everything at least once. 

Packing early meant that as I thought of missing items I still had time to order them. Avoid the stress I felt by using my free, printable Disney Alaska Cruise packing list to keep track of everything you’ll need.

Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise Day Of Embarkation

Complete online questionnaire.

Every guest embarking Disney Wonder on an Alaska cruise must complete a health questionnaire before boarding. This form is easily done online and only takes a minute. 

Disney Wonder Embarkat ion

When completing online check-in you signed up for a port arrival time. This port arrival time window is when you complete the in-person check-in and then wait to board the ship. Earlier groups access the ship sooner. 

Wear a comfortable outfit you’d like for pictures. There are a couple photo ops before boarding Disney Wonder and it’s best to be camera ready.

Pack important items like medications, all documents like passports and IDs, and any other essential items in your day pack. Luggage arrives at the staterooms late. 

For example, on our Alaska cruise our luggage was the last to arrive of anyone we knew. It came so late we didn’t even have time to change for dinner the first night.

Start Your Epic Adventure

Have some lunch, explore the ship, and even take a dip or ride the water slide once you’ve embarked. Since the weather looked cool on embarkation day we didn’t wear our suits on, but I did pack them in our day pack.

The water was plenty warm and crowds were low so Elizabeth and her friends changed into suits and had a good time using the pool and slide before the Sail-A-Wave party.

The Sail-A-Wave party occurs on embarkation day and is usually timed to coincide with departing from the dock. The party features Disney friends in an energetic pool deck stage show and gets everyone excited for the trip to begin.

Book Wildlife Viewing Tours For (Almost) Guaranteed Experiences

We read a lot of reviews that wildlife viewing was easy on Disney Wonder Alaska cruises. While we did see some wildlife, it was few and far between. I regret we didn’t do a whale watching tour excursion or take one in Vancouver.

Most wildlife excursions don’t guarantee sightings, but reputable companies work hard to ensure the best chances to see wildlife.

Spend Time In Vancouver Before Your Cruise

We always recommend arriving in a port city at least one day before embarkation just in case there are flight delays or cancellations.

Vancouver is such a lovely destination we easily filled two whole touring days exploring this beautiful city. Our three night pre-cruise stay seemed perfect.

Pack Waterproof Gear

I read everywhere that I needed to pack waterproof gear, but I was skeptical we would actually use it. However, everywhere we went locals told us that we were in a temperate rainforest.

We used our waterproof gear on the ship, in Ketchikan, and in Juneau. I was so glad I bought and packed our waterproof boots, pants, and rain jackets. 

Have A Plan For Alaska Port Days

Alaska port towns are generally small and touristy with lots of shops. Although it is nice to walk around the towns it doesn’t provide the Alaska experience most of us picture when planning. 

Booking excursions lets you explore outside the port and experience more of what Alaska has to offer. I recommend booking excursions ahead of time, especially through Disney Cruise Line, for a generally seamless experience.

Walking off the ship you’ll find lots of booths hawking excursions, but often these tours are expensive and underwhelming. 

If you opt out of excursions, make a plan of what you’d like to do. For example, tour the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center in Skagway to learn about the area’s Gold Rush history.

Bring Binoculars

What wildlife we saw from Disney Wonder on our Alaska cruise generally needed binoculars. Views of Bald Eagles, a couple whales, and seals were all better with our binoculars.

Arrive Early For Broadway-Style Shows Like Frozen

There are three big productions on Disney Wonder: The Golden Mickeys, Disney Dreams, and Frozen. Both Disney Dreams and Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, are incredible shows.

Arrive when the doors open for the best seats since the theater fills up quickly for performances.

Book Palo Brunch On Sea Days

Palo is an adult-only restaurant on Disney Wonder. The food, service, and atmosphere provide an elevated dining experience perfect for a day at sea. We enjoyed a long, multi-course brunch on our sea days without missing out on port adventures.

Buy The Disney Cruise Line Unlimited Photo Package

Although the unlimited downloads photo package is expensive, we loved having good quality photo ops where we are all in the picture.

Take advantage of photo opportunities at character meet and greets, dinner, and cool backgrounds in the lobby available before dinner on most nights. 

On our Disney Wonder Alaska cruise I pre-booked the Unlimited Digital Package which was $295.95 when reserved ahead of time. Once on the cruise the same package would have cost $349.95.

Check The Prohibited Items List

I knew our formal clothes would likely be wrinkled upon arrival. Irons are only available on-board in the laundry rooms for safety reasons. I packed a travel steamer so we could avoid the laundry room which gets very busy.

Fortunately the night before embarking I double checked the prohibited item list and discovered that steamers are not allowed.

I sadly had to leave a great steamer in our hotel room, but if I had left it in our bag it would have been confiscated and also delayed our luggage.

For Extra Fun Participate In Fish Extender Activities

We had never participated in a Fish Extender before our Alaska cruise. One family in our group surprised us with an extender (a hanging pouch placed outside your stateroom) and the other families delighted us each day with fun trinkets. 

We couldn’t wait to see what was waiting in the pouches when we went back to the room. If you aren’t traveling with a large group you can find Disney Alaska cruise fish extender Facebook groups for your sail date.

Understand Disney Cruise Line Rotational Dining

There are three Disney Wonder dining rooms: Tiana’s Place, Animator’s Palate, and Triton’s. Guests experience the restaurants more than once over the course of a Disney Wonder Alaska cruise.

The dining rotation and tables are assigned to guests.  Upon embarkation you can see which restaurant you’ll dine at each night. 

We enjoyed our experiences at each of the restaurants. Tiana’s Place atmosphere is super fun with live music during dinner, but conversation is difficult on these nights. 

Another incredible dinner experience was on our third night at Animator’s Palate.

Everyone is encouraged to sketch a character on a special paper when they arrive for dinner. Through Disney magic these characters are animated and come to life on the screens surrounding the restaurant during dinner.

Final Thoughts On Disney Alaska Cruise Planning Timeline and Tips 

Our Disney Wonder Alaska cruise was a bucket list item and I did tons of planning for this once in a lifetime trip. I loved each of our excursions, the incredible scenery, and wonderful Disney vacation experiences.

Follow our Disney Alaska Cruise planning timeline and tips to make the most of this unique and expensive Disney vacation.

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Silver Anniversary at Sea: Disney Cruise Line Celebrates 25 Years – Introduces PEARL as New Castaway Club Level

Today, Disney Cruise Line announced plans to celebrate their silver anniversary with enchantment-filled voyages this summer and a new Castaway Club tier.

On a warm summer day in July of 1998, the Disney Magic embarked on its maiden voyage, introducing the world to a new kind of cruise vacation where families are immersed in Disney storytelling, dazzling entertainment and unparalleled hospitality at sea. For 25 years, Disney Cruise Line has been a porthole through which guests experience global destinations and create cherished memories onboard a one-of-a-kind fleet of enchanting ships.

In 2023, new magic will unfold on the high seas as Disney Cruise Line celebrates its 25th anniversary, bringing special entertainment, merchandise and celebratory experiences to select summer sailings. Guests are invited to take part in limited-time “Silver Anniversary at Sea” offerings across all five Disney Cruise Line ships from May through September of 2023.

“For two-and-a-half decades, Disney Cruise Line has built an incredible legacy of creating unforgettable vacation memories for families around the world,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Cruise Line. “Of course, at the heart of this anniversary celebration are our dedicated cast and crew members who continuously deliver legendary service and create magic at sea for our guests every day. Whether returning as a member of our Castaway Club or sailing with us for the first time, we are thrilled to invite guests of all ages to be a part of our very special anniversary festivities next summer.”

Summer Sailings Offer Celebratory Surprises

The “Silver Anniversary at Sea” celebration will be featured on summer cruises aboard all five Disney Cruise Line ships. Guests will encounter new entertainment, limited-time enhancements, eye-catching decor, whimsical merchandise and other delightful surprises, all imbued with the magical spirit of this once-in-a- lifetime event.

• Captain Minnie Mouse and Captain Mickey Mouse will don dazzling new ensembles to mark the occasion. Their coordinated looks will feature shimmering, multi-toned fabric and swirling designs reminiscent of ocean waves. The iconic duo will make appearances in their festive attire exclusively aboard “Silver Anniversary at Sea” sailings across the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
• Disney Cruise Line will debut a signature song to serve as the soundtrack of the celebration, tunefully threading nostalgic memories of vacations past with the of anticipation of new family adventures to come. The uplifting new melody will manifest in a variety of ways during summer sailings. New family entertainment and activities will culminate in shimmering evening experiences created exclusively for the anniversary celebration.
• Throughout their voyage, guests will discover themed culinary creations, from fanciful desserts to inspired craft cocktails and beyond.
• Guests can commemorate Disney Cruise Line’s “Silver Anniversary at Sea” with the Shimmering Seas Collection, a line of dedicated merchandise featuring a new signature color. Inspired by the magical glow of sunshine reflecting upon turquoise waters, the Shimmering Seas Collection will include an assortment of apparel, accessories, drinkware, keepsakes and more.

Even more magic lies in store for guests aboard sailings that include “Silver Anniversary at Sea” offerings. Additional details about new entertainment, merchandise and other celebratory experiences will be announced at a later date.

Castaway Club Introduces a New Membership Tier

The anniversary of Disney Cruise Line also heralds the unveiling of a brand-new membership tier for Castaway Club, which recognizes returning Disney Cruise Line guests with exclusive rewards and perks.Honoring 25 years of Disney magic at sea, members will now earn the distinction of Pearl status after 25 Disney Cruise Line vacations. As the line’s biggest fans, Pearl members will unlock new at-home and onboard benefits, which will be announced in early 2023.

Enchantment-filled Voyages Sail to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe and Alaska

Cruises featuring the “Silver Anniversary at Sea” celebration will sail to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe and Alaska during the summer of 2023.

• Departing from Miami May 24 to Sept. 4, the Disney Magic will visit destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean, including Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
• The Disney Wonder will depart on Alaskan voyages from Vancouver, Canada May 15 to Sept. 11 with stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and more.
• From May 7 to Sept. 17, the Disney Dream will sail transatlantic and European itineraries, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Greek Isles.
• The Disney Fantasy will set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida May 6 to Sept. 2 to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, each with a day at Castaway Cay.
• Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Wish, will depart on sailings to Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay May 1 to Sept. 8 from Port Canaveral.
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55 Replies to “Silver Anniversary at Sea: Disney Cruise Line Celebrates 25 Years – Introduces PEARL as New Castaway Club Level”

I think that there are lot of people who hit this level already. We were on 9th cruise years ago when someone in our Castaway Club Mixer had 40 cruises.

Would have been nice if they did something for anyone who sailed that inaugural season as well.

Totally agree. We did 9 seven night cruises and a 12 night. Spent thousands more than those with 10 three night cruises. Plus they have taken away so many benefits.

I was on that maiden voyage. Looking forward for some rewards.

I did. And still going every year. sometimes more than one. I do live in California so not cheap to do Florida cruises.

A new tier would be a perfect opportunity for DCL to change how they recognize guests by adding a dimension to the program that tracks total DAYS cruised. 25 three-night cruises out of Port Canaveral is a very different level of devotion to the cruise line than 10 14-day Transatlantic Cruises (140 days at sea) but the Port Canaveral cruise guest would be considered a higher level status and seen as a bigger supporter of the cruise line.

Completely agree, Mark. I’ve argued this point for years. They need to look at actual days on board, as opposed to how many 3-day Florida Resident Rate cruises people have sailed.

My husband and I discuss this issue often. We have cruise #9 and #10 scheduled. We do not live in FL but are 800+ miles from Port Canaveral and typically do 5 or 7 day cruises. We have spent many, many bucks yet feel a bit slighted under the current system.

The length of cruise has no bearing on “devotion”. That costs a ton of money that many don’t have. If they cruise with Disney, it’s still a Disney cruise. Doesn’t matter the itinerary or length.

@ Mindy, I agree. A DCL cruise is a DCL cruise. Also, Florida residents are Disney’s not just DCL’s bread and butter. I see no reason for anyone to look down on a fellow cruiser. There are some families that still dream of being able to take any DCL cruise even at Florida resident rates—which are DCL’s way of filling cabins that would not have been booked otherwise. Congrats to ALL who will be Pearl!

Your comment sort of makes my point, though… The longer itineraries have a higher cost to them, but the “cost per day” can be similar to that of shorter itineraries. DCL lets you “celebrate” how many round trips you took as opposed to how much you have actually cruised. People that are currently Platinum wipe out all of the sought after excursions, cabanas, tasings, etc. simply because of total itinerary count while even Gold status that may well have 10x as many days at sea keep missing out on things. Since the only thing Disney actually -offers- you through their “loyalty program” is additional opportunities to spend money, the lack of ability to earn status for folks that DON’T live near the port (and prefer longer cruises overall) is kind of a slap in the face.

Disney created this program almost 25 years ago. The expectations they had when they built it were not aligned with well over 40 million people sailing with them over the years and SO many cruising multiple times to earn the status. Also, they really only had 3 and 4 night cruises to choose from at the time.

All of their assumptions and plans for the program have changed – the program should change with it.

I was thinking the same. Every other cruise line does it by days traveled, not total cruises booked (with allowances often for higher tier rooms earning more points). I’ve noticed a lot of high status folks on the west coast because it’s easier and cheaper to do a lot of those short cruises out of San Diego.

I currently have 68 cruises completed (Another 17 cruises booked) with an average of 6.96. When I reached 10 cruises I had completed 73 days of cruising; that’s an average of 7.3 days per cruise. I don’t live in Florida; I’m just a DCL fan! I don’t like the short (3, 4, or 5 day) cruises, but if there is a show or itinerary I want I’ll book B2B.

I have now completed 71 DCL cruises and packing for #72 that leaves from Port Canaveral on Feb 2nd. I have another 28 cruises already booked after that. If you do the math that will be 99 cruises completed Jan 02, 2023. Number 100 is booked for Jan 2-8, 2024 onboard the MAGIC. I am retired and live on an annuity in Broken Arrow, OK. If I lived in the Orlando area the lack of airfare would mean a few more cruises each year.

I agree .. I just hit Platinum and have 96 days on board. It bothers me that someone with 75 days will get higher benefits than me. 🙁

I fully agree, we have 225 days onboard, but only 23 cruises. Guess who has spent more on DCL – me or Fl resident doing 3 nighters. But we will stay at free Palo Brunch. Yippee!

If only! Instead they will likely honor those that have hit up those 3-4 day cruises.

Completely agree! We have been in 16 cruises of 11 days or more. 9 Mediterranean , 5 Northen Europe, 1 transatlantic + caribbean. And I have the same level as a person who made 16 cruises of 3 days in Florida. It’s not fair at all. We always talk about that is much better in other companies.

I can’t agree more! I’m shocked Disney hasn’t made a change. How is a 3 day voyage comparable to a 10+ day trip?! Make it equitable for all!

I completely agree. The majority of our cruises have been 7, 11 and 12 night cruises.

Entitled rich snobs.

Its actually cheaper and more affordable to book longer cruises if you look at the cost per day. I can’t afford multiple 3 days but can afford a 7 day cruise. Not rich, just use my money wisely

What about those who live in Florida and do the short cruises out of San Diego. You should also consider dollars spent for the cruise per day. Is there a difference between long cruise per day and short cruise per day?

I’m happy to see Disney add another level to their Castaway Club program. As a Platinum member, the program seemed like it had out-lived it’s shelf life, and was long overdue for a revamp. As someone who will fall in the Pearl tier, I’m excited to learn what the offerings are. Thanks for the info, Scott

I still disagree on basing tier levels on number of sailings. Tier levels would be better served being based on the number of nights sailed. Those of us that take longer (more expensive) cruises are being penalized using the current method.

Also, if number of sailings is to be the method, then Concierge sailings should count as Double. After all, the cost is often at least double for Concierge.

If you really think you get the value out of these, that makes no sense at all.

I will be Pearl+ from day 1 (35 by then) but could not agree more: number of nights should count, not number of cruises. I have made several 10+ days cruises (HI, Transatlantic, Panama) and in other lines, those would count “extra”. Oh well… the Mouse is the Mouse…

I don’t care who goes where or for how long. The price of the cruises is what counts. I am already Pearl so no worries. I just hope for the new surprises to be worth the while. A higher discount on merchandise would be nice!! Maybe even a discount on the cruise without a placeholder.

True the price is what counts. Do some simple math and see what the cost per day is for short cruises and long cruises. I do the short cruises because of what is offered on the Walt Disney Theater stage, i.e. Beauty and the Beast on the Dream, or what the theme of the cruise is, i.e. HOTHS, Pirate night, Very Merrytime. I don’t like living out of a suitcase, so when I book a short cruise (anyone under 7 days) I do B2B.

I just want to see the early 2024 itineraries already. This stuff is further down the road.

Reading these comments, i am waiting for the concierge crowd to chime in and say they should have better perks because all their 25 cruises were concierge while another family did IGT for 25 cruises… why does it really matter. I have been cruising DCL since 1999, and i stayed in all room types but in the end, the concern for CC status is really more of an ego boost than anything else it seems these days. Not worth the worries!

This infuriates me

It’s a loyalty program! Who cares if it is days, cruises, whatever? It’s a benefit that Disney doesn’t HAVE to do.

The one thing I hope they give back is no port arrival time. I miss that for the few cruises they dont have disney transportation.

Family of 6 booking two rooms for 7 day sailings.. we spend more than most and get none of the perks lol

Disney shouldn’t be giving perks to people who spend less than $1mil on cruises. If people don’t want to work hard to show their appreciation they’re just casuals. Congrats on being able to quote Walt to your Walmart coworkers tho.

Don’t choke on your caviar Ken. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go eat my cake.

You watch airline programs become all about the $$$ and nothing else…

But also, the person with 9 Alaska cruises who couldn’t get a booking on SYD-HNL but the 10x 3 day IGR cruiser could?

(Yes, the extremes)

(And as someone who did their honeymoon on an inaugural sailing…. A silver anniversary bonus would be nice.)

So being a platinum member, will my benefit of a free meal at palo, my priority boarding be taken away and awarded to pearl members know

We will all find out when DCL releases these details. Until then, it is just speculation.

All the belly aching I’ve seen about it should be nights is quite funny, how many soon to be Pearl cruisers have only done 3 night cruises? That would have to be the most boring way to get to Pearl let alone Platinum. Disney chose not to penalize the less well off who maybe can’t afford the longer cruises. Status is still gained even on shorter cruises.

Perhaps Disney Cruise should do some combination of numbers and days so you could reach the levels for days or for number of cruises. So you could have something like this (numbers for the nights are just guesses, it could be higher or lower):

Silver: 1 cruise Gold: 5 cruises or 20 nights Platinum: 10 cruises or 50 nights Pearl: 25 cruises or 100 nights

They probably needed some more levels – at least a 50 and 100 level, maybe titanium and diamond. Things like titanium, emerald, saphire ruby, diamond for the 50, 75, 100 etc ranges.

And then continue on: Titanium: 50 cruises or 200 nights Diamond: 100 cruises or 400 nights

As someone who will be Pearl (31 cruises, more than 175 days), I don’t really care, but when we started much of the 2000-2008 timeframe were shorter summer cruises on the Wonder given the Magic was in Europe some of the summers (not 2009 though, which was awesome) although we could get the 7 nights in over Christmas breaks, we couldn’t due to time sharing over spring break given it was only a week.

A few things I’d like to see at the Pearl level: 1. Priority luggage to your room. 2. Discounts without placeholders would be nice. 3. Bring back the Platinum gathering, except at Pearl I guess. 4. Earlier booking for new itineraries I presume will be part of it, ditto excursions.

On a different note, I do miss the intimacy of the Magic and Wonder where you could see crew year after year and they’d remember you. I wasn’t a fan of the Wish layout, btw, let’s hope the next ships improve it closer to the original 4.

Here I am at Pearl + with 68 cruises and 473 days (6.956 days per cruise). 20 days to gold; 66 days to platinum, and; 186 days to pearl. I live in Oklahoma, raised in Los Angeles started going to DL in Aug 1955. Can’t remember when I first went to WDW, I worked at The Disney Store, I am a WDW AP holder, a member of D23 I bought into DVC while on a cruise July or August, 2015 SSR and VGF. I discovered the joy of B2B cruises (to extend my time onboard) going from San Diego to Alaska to Vancouver. My longest to date was a 9XB2B on board Wonder 12/3/21 through 1/14/22 made up of 4 and 6 day cruises. I prefer Port Canaveral as a starting point because I can use my DVC before the cruise(s), but I have sailed out of or to Vancouver, San Diego, Galveston, NOLA, New York, Barcelona, Miami, and Copenhagen. Like CHFR I appreciate being recognized by cast and crew when I wander around the various ships of the DCL fleet.

All this talk of cost per day forgets about solo cruisers like me. The only difference between what a couple pays and me are the port fees. So why don’t the solo-cruisers get extra credit?

p.s. PS to my previous comment, I’ll be interested to see the start date.

Cool to know. I wonder what exact date though.?

Look at the initial posting. Each ship has a start date.

Ah, so it starts with Silver Anniversary at Sea sailings. To me that wasn’t clear, thanks!

Nice swing and a miss Chapek with the 25 sailings for Pearl. Glad he is gone. Six five-night cruisers seem dedicated to Disney just as much as someone with ten three-night cruisers, yet they get less rewards for it. Odd. Maybe it would be fair across the board to award castaway status based on nights since it would be given equally no matter how much you pay or can afford. I can’t afford to routinely miss work for multiple three- and four-day sailings. Work and cost per day guide me to five- and seven-day sailings.

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Disney+ and national geographic unveil galápagos islands giveaway for earth day: here’s how to enter.

Disney+ subscribers can score a trip to the Galápagos Islands with Nat Geo experts.

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Disney+ is one of the most popular streaming services out right now, especially with its National Geographic originals — such as Earth Moods , Animals up Close With Bertie Gregory , Life Below Zero , The Space Race and Wild Yellowstone — that aim inform, educate and entertain its subscribers. While there are already plenty of perks and deals with a Disney+ subscription , the streamer is upping the ante with a contest to get a free cruise to the Galápagos Islands for Earth Day, thanks to Nat Geo.

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The giveaway is part of Nat Geo’s ourHOME Collection of nature docuseries, originals and short films — including Secrets of Elephants , Queens , Dolphin Reef , The Olympic Elk and Fire of Love — on Disney+ that’s designed to celebrate Earth Month .

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Travel | Revamped Carnival Glory headed to Port Canaveral

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Carnival Cruise Line has revamped its Carnival Glory cruise ship with new features before it heads to its new home at Port Canaveral.

The 110,000-gross-ton ship is taking on three- and four-night Bahamas sailings from the port, joining three other Carnival ships. Built in 2003, the ship has a 2,980-guest passenger capacity based on double occupancy.

It recently came out of a 21-day dry dock at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, receiving some enhancements found on other Carnival ships.

Changes include a new casino layout, including a nonsmoking area, and a Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge that pays deference to military veterans and active-duty service members, taking over the SkyBox Sports Bar. Also added were a Dreams Photography Studio and upgrades within the spa.

When it debuted more than 20 years ago, Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, was named its godmother. Its space-themed pedigree extends to enhancements added to the youth area Camp Ocean, which now has a large video wall for its Space Cruisers program. Its curriculum was developed in partnership with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Also updated is the video arcade and redubbed The Warehouse.

The refurb also removed the aft-pool Sky Dome, while the ship received routine hotel maintenance, cosmetic enhancements, ADA compliant updates in public areas and select staterooms including the addition of Ambulatory Accessible staterooms.

Stateroom balconies were also redone with new windows and doors and every stateroom had new LED lighting and bathroom nightlights added.

The ship sailed out of Barcelona on Thursday for a 14-night transatlantic voyage to Port Canaveral.

Its first sailing from Florida will be May 2. It joins Carnival Freedom, Carnival Vista and Carnival’s Mardi Gras calling the Orlando-area port home.

Leaving is Carnival Liberty, which is moving to New Orleans.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said Carnival Glory received an updated hull paint scheme during the 2024 dry dock. It had its hull paint scheme updated in 2021.

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