Disney Cruises – Ultimate Guide to Ships, Destinations, Entertainment!

Disney Cruises are a popular option for Disneyland and Walt Disney World fans looking for a vacation escape. With so many different cruise ships and options it can be hard to pick the right one! Our ultimate guide to Disney Cruises is here to help give you an overview of all the Disney cruises offered, the ships, how to save money, and tips on making the best of your cruise!

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NEW Disney+ Disney Cruise Line Deal!

Third and fourth guests sail FREE for Disney+ subscribers on select sailings on the Disney Magic, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy Jan- April 2023 in stateroom categories 4A – 11C.

Call our travel partner, Get Away Today, at 1 (855) 438-2929 and request the Mickey Visit special for Disney+ subscribers!

This is a limited time special that will run out. If you are intrigued by this deal call Get Away Today NOW.

Disney Cruises Right Now- Overview of the Return of Disney Cruises 

The Disney Cruise Line has returned but there are certain health and safety requirements guests need to follow in order to participate in a Disney Cruise. Keep reading for all the updated health and safety information you should know about before booking a cruise with Disney.

You can find the full breakdown of all policies, how to upload vaccine proof and about the safety measures Disney is taking on their website.

Vaccine Requirement for Disney Cruises

Disney Cruise Line requires all vaccine-eligible Guests (based on US eligibility requirements) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at the time of sailing. This is a requirement for all Guests (US and international) ages 5 and older. Guests who are not vaccine-eligible because of age must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken between 3 days and 24 hours before their sail date. Guests ages 4 and under must complete the testing requirements. The test should be a NAAT test, rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted.

Disney Cruise Pricing + What’s Included

The pricing of a Disney Cruise will vary depending on how long of a cruise you’re interested in, what level of stateroom you select, and what port you decide to cruise out of.

To give you an idea, a 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Miami to Disney Castaway Cay and the Bahamas would start at $1750 per person for a basic, inside stateroom. This doesn’t not cover the cost of any additional souvenirs, alcoholic drinks on board, airfare to the port, spending money at the destinations, and so on. The longer your cruise and the fancier of a stateroom you select, the higher the price. The further away your port is from where you live, the higher cost it will be for airfare. These are all important considerations to think through before selecting which cruise is right for you!

Before you book your Disney Cruise, it’s a good idea to make sure you know what’s included. Here is what is all included in your Disney Cruise:

• Entertainment: Broadway-caliber musicals, lively deck parties and fireworks at sea (fireworks on most cruises).
• Spacious Staterooms: Designed for Families: extra space and storage, sitting area, and split bath to allow more people to get ready at the same time.
• Disney’s Private Island: Relax in paradise with beach chairs, umbrellas, waterslides and a buffet lunch (on most Bahamian and Caribbean cruises).
• Dining: Enjoy upscale restaurants, buffets, poolside snacks and 24-hour room service.
• Youth Clubs: Play in themed clubs for every age, staffed by specially trained Disney counselors.
• Nightclubs & Lounges: Discover adults-only areas that include a variety of bars and pubs.
• Pools & Recreation: Splash it up in freshwater pools and waterslides at sea

While your dining may be included, this doesn’t usually include your gratuity. Follow the recommendations below- taken from the Disney Cruise website below to get an idea of how much you should budget for gratuity on your Disney Cruise. All of these numbers are per guest per cruise.

Dining Room Server

• $12 for a 3-night
• $16 for a 4-night
• $28 for a 7-night

Dining Room Asst. Server

• $9 for a 3-night
• $12 for a 4-night
• $21 for a 7-night

Dining Room Head Server

• $3 for a 3-night
• $4 for a 4-night
• $7 for a 7-night

Stateroom Host/Hostess

• $12 for a 3-night
• $16 for a 4-night
• $28 for a 7-night

Dining Manager, Room Service, Palo, Remy

• At your discretion

Senses Spa & Salon

• An 18% gratuity will be automatically applied to all spa servces

Babysitting

• Gratuity not expected

Disney Cruise ShipsDCL gives you a couple of options on how to pay gratuity. You can pay in advance (no later than 3 days before your cruise begins) by contacting DCL, pay automatically by having the suggested gratuity added to your onboard account prior to the end of your cruise, or stop by Guest Services onboard. If you do choose to pay in advance, you do have the option of making changes to any or all gratuity amounts. Remember, it’s always up to your own discretion on how much you tip.

The Disney Cruises Line Fleet is made up of four ships all with state of the art comfort, Disney quality service, dining, Disney entertainment and activities, and great exotic ports to stop at. Here is a breakdown of each ship in the Disney Cruises Line.

NEW: Disney Wish Now Sailing!

Disney’s newest ship, Disney Wish, is now sailing! This new ship features the first onboard Disney attraction along with beautiful staterooms plus a brand new Little Mermaid stage show. You can watch the video from Disney which takes you on a tour of the ship along with special details from Imagineers below:

NEW Little Mermaid Stage Show

“Disney The Little Mermaid” features innovative theatrical design, dazzling special effects, artistic choreography, and a reimagined script and score just for guests aboard the Disney Wish!

Incredibles Themed Family Entertainment

The Disney Wish will feature a game show style family experienced themed around the popular Pixar movie The Incredibles called the Incredi-Games. Families can take on an obstacle course with physical challenges themed to the powers of the Parr family and Frozone.

• Heroes will first test their strength by busting through a “brick” wall during Mr. Incredible’s Power Punch.
• Jack-Jack’s Whack-A Rac will pit players against Rocky and his raccoon friends, who you might remember from “The Incredibles 2.”
• Only the most flexible families will conquer the twists and turns of Elastigirl’s Stretch-O-Rama.
• Family speedsters will be the front-runners of Dash’s Mad Dash Mayhem.
• Violet’s Force Field Swing will send supers soaring across a lava field. (Remember, we are using our incredible imaginations here!)
• The strong finish includes a cool down on Frozone’s Ice Slide, where heroes will ascend to the highest peak and slide down the icy slope to victory.

The game show will feature high energy hosts so it’s safe to say this sounds like a pretty realistic Disney themed game show experience.

Marvel Themed Dining Adventure

During dinner, guests can experience a screen show recorded by real Marvel actors as they “follow Ant-Man and The Wasp as they host a presentation of the most powerful Super Hero technologies in the world, including a hands-on demonstration of the latest and greatest Pym Tech. But when Ultron turns up with an army of robot sentries eager to take control of this world-changing technology, Ant-Man and The Wasp will need all the help they can get to save the day – calling on Captain America, Captain Marvel and even the brave diners of the Disney Wish for back-up. Oh, and there’s one more Super Hero who will make a surprise appearance during the show. “

To help bring this show to life, the restaurant will have immersive cinematic technology with hundreds of screens and special effects.

Disney Magic

The Disney Magic cruise ship is focused on nostalgia and family fun which plenty of entertainment options on board. This was the first cruise ship in Disney’s fleet and offers many traditional touches in the decor with plenty of hidden Mickeys to find.

You can read the full guide to the Disney Magic ship.

What makes this Disney Cruise ship special? This ship features a a high-speed Aqua Dunk waterslide, plenty of pool and splash zones for kids, Rapunzel’s Royal Table Restaurant, nightclubs for adults, and kids zone areas.

Where are the Ports of Call? This cruise ship features Ports of Call in the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Europe.

Entertainment on Disney Magic

Disney Wonder

The Disney Wonder cruise ship’s theme focuses on fantasy and the fantastical worlds Disney has created. This ship is known for its classic design with 11 decks filled with restaurants, pools, recreation, and entertainment options.

What makes this Disney Cruise ship special? This ship is celebrated for its on board dining experiences like Palo and Tiana’s Place and entertainment options like Frozen, A Musical Spectacular and Marvel Super Hero Academy for Kids.

Where are the Ports of Call? This cruise ship features Ports of Call in the Bahamas, Alaska, and the Caribbean.

Entertainment on Disney Wonder

Disney Dream

The award winning Disney Dream cruise ship is known for its Broadway style entertainment and the port stop to Disney’s own private island reserved for Disney Cruise guests, Castaway Cay.

What makes this Disney Cruise ship special? This ship is known for its custom built areas for magical moments such as Broadway caliber rendition of Beauty and the Beast, a kids play area themed after the Millennium Falcon, and French restaurant inspired by Remy.

Where are the Ports of Call? This cruise ship features Ports of Call in the Bahamas and Disney’s private island Castaway Cay.

Entertainment on Disney Dream

Disney Fantasy

Disney’s newest cruise ship and sister ship to the Disney Dream, this ship is considered a masterpiece of design and engineering with Art Nouveau allure with modern advancements.

What makes this Disney Cruise ship special? This ship is known for its custom built areas for magical moments such as Broadway caliber rendition of Beauty and the Beast, a kids play area themed after the Millennium Falcon, and French restaurant inspired by Remy.

Where are the Ports of Call? This cruise ship features Ports of Call in the Disney’s private island Castaway Cay. the Eastern Caribbean, and the Western Caribbean.

Entertainment on Disney Fantasy

Staterooms on Disney Cruise Ships

Each of the four Disney Cruise ships offer the same style and range of staterooms for guests to enjoy. Think of these as similar to hotel rooms with varying costs associated with upgrades to more space and better views.

Even the lowest priced option, the inside stateroom, has top notch amenities for guests. These standard rooms sleep up to four guests and comes with a TV, fridge, bathroom, couch, and all the amenities you’d expect in a standard Disney hotel room.

The neat part about the inside staterooms on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy ships is they feature a Magical Porthole which provides guests with a real time view of the ship’s exterior by reflecting your staterooms actual location. High-definition cameras feed live video to an LCD flat-screen monitor cleverly disguised as a porthole, with the help of a stylized frames. Watch for the Disney characters that may float by!

Four main categories of Staterooms are available for guests to choose from all with great amenities you can expect from Disney. 

Concierge
The most luxurious accommodations, each with a large private verandah and premium amenities and services:

• Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah
• Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
• Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah

Verandah
The most spacious non-Concierge staterooms, each with a private verandah, some with partial views:

• Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
• Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
• Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah

Oceanview
More space than Standard and scenic vistas through a real porthole window—or possibly 2!

• Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

Inside
The basic accommodations, featuring a classic nautical motif, porthole mirror and no exterior view:

• Deluxe Inside Stateroom
• Standard Inside Stateroom

Many options are available with guests with disabilities in each price range, for more information read the Guests with Disabilities page on Disney’s website.

Disney Cruises: Disney’s Personal Island Castaway Cay

A port of call on many Bahamian and Caribbean crusies, Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island paradise reserved for Disney Cruise Line Guests. Offerings include:

• A buffet-style barbecue lunch
• Coffee, tea and soda
• All-you-care-to-eat ice cream
• Beaches, including a family beach and adult-only beach
• Beach chairs, umbrellas and hammocks
• Beach towels
• Island entertainment
• Clubs for kids and teens
• Hiking trails
• Beach sports
• Yoga classes
• A splash zone
• Pelican Plunge waterslide
• Tram transportation
• Castaway Cay 5K with finisher medal

Castaway Cay is a place to enjoy tropical weather and world-class recreation on a Bahamian oasis with Disney hospitality. The instant you step onto the island you can get beach towels and use your Key to World cards for transactions on the island. Everything needed for the beach is provided—from lounge chairs and beach umbrellas.

Read more about Castaway Cay on the Disney Cruise website.

Disney Cruises: The Destinations

NEW: Pixar Day at Sea

This Pixar themed cruise will be full of Pixar characters, themed dining and Pixar entertainment. The Pixar Day at Sea will be available on select 7-night Caribbean sailings out of Port Canaveral from January 2023 through early-March 2023.

Marvel Day at Sea

Enjoy a day packed full of Marvel Meet and Greets, costumes, movies, and entertainment. The ‘Day at Sea’ events are typically added on to one of your typical Disney Cruises.

Star Wars Day at Sea

Enjoy a day packed full of Star Wars Meet and Greets, costumes, movies, and entertainment. The ‘Day at Sea’ events are typically added on to one of your typical Disney Cruises.

Halloween Disney Cruises

The Halloween Disney cruises run from 4-7 night adventures including plenty of Halloween entertainment such as:

• Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party- Ghoulish games, trick-or-treating, dancing and some favorite Disney Pals bedecked in Halloween attire.
• Halloween Activities- Including mask-making and pumpkin-carving.
• Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream- It’s “Season’s Screamings” during this interactive movie experience, followed by a meet-and-greet with Jack and Sally.
• Haunted Stories of the Sea-Ghost stories campfire-style on deck.
• Halloween Isn’t Just for Kids- Adult only costume party.

The Halloween Disney Cruises typically take place on all four ships so you can choose with one you’d prefer!

Holiday Disney Cruises

The Very Merrytime Cruises offer vacations varying from 3-14 day adventures aboard any of the four Disney cruises ships. Enjoy fantastic Disney Cruises Holiday entertainment like:

• Mickey’s Tree Lighting Magic Ceremony-Kick off the season during this festive gala where kids can help light the ship’s Christmas Tree.
• Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball-Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a grand celebration in the atrium featuring Broadway-quality entertainment, Disney Characters and classic holiday tunes. Then, experience extra enchantment when a pair of royal sisters stops by and ushers in a flurry of “frozen” fun—plus a magical snowfall.
• Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Party -Candy-cane limbo, dancing and games—share in the yuletide magic of the season during this jovial celebration.
• Santa Claus Meet-and-Greet-Share hugs and snap photos with the one-and-only Kris Kringle before he takes to the sky to deliver gifts to the children of the world.
• Disney Character Greetings-Meet some beloved Disney Characters in jolly holiday attire and take one-of-a-kind pictures to cherish throughout the year.
• Gingerbread House-Made completely from edible ingredients, the ship’s gingerbread house is a life-sized treat that you can photograph, but can’t eat!
• Storytime with Mrs. Claus -Gather the children in the atrium to hear Mrs. Claus read well-known Christmas stories from her rocking chair by the tree.
• Themed Activities and Crafts for Kids -Decorate stockings, create festive cards, embark on a holiday scavenger hunt and more—it’s Christmas cheer for the young and young-at-heart.
• Youth Parties-Teens and tweens can party it up with new friends during music and dance extravaganzas that fill the air with joy.
• Holiday Merchandise

Disney’s private island Castaway Cay is transformed with “snow” flurries, Christmas trees, Snowmen, and more making it a top choice to visit for the holidays for the Disney Cruises!