Sunday, March 31, 2024

Disney Cruises: The Complete Guide

disney cruise tour package

Disney Resort & Spa, it is a beachside resort hotel at the Ko Olina Resort in Kapolei, Hawaii on the island of Oahu.Aulani Resort offers family fun and surprises at every turn. Snorkel in private Rainbow Reef lagoon, splash in the misty grotto, play in pools with special Disney touches, and dine at their wide variety of restaurants. Another reason to consider going through a travel agent is to get onboard credit. Some travel agents will offer onboard credit based on the amount you spend on your Disney cruise. This is credit you can use toward drinks, spa treatments, excursions or anything else you can charge to your room. However, on round-trip cruises departing European countries with a lower drinking age, passengers years of age can drink alcohol on board with signed parental consent.

Included restaurants on Disney Dream

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Its newest ship, Disney Wish, provides more cool spaces for adults than any previous vessel. Most of your daily expenses, including your food and non-alcoholic beverages, are included when sailing on a Disney cruise. However, if you’d like specialty drinks or alcohol, you’ll need to pay extra. Gratuities are not included, and Disney Cruise Line's recommended tip is a minimum of $14.50 per guest, per night. Building on the classic style of her sister ship, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy has a total length of 1,115 feet and a maximum width of 125 feet. Disney Wonder is distinguished for its sophisticated design and modern innovation.

disney cruise tour package

Sports deck

The cheapest rate we found — the previously-mentioned $1,958 — is for a cruise in late January, a time when those with school-aged children might have trouble getting away. Meanwhile, the most expensive period for this cruise takes place over the Christmas holiday and rings in at $3,737 for an inside stateroom. When you book your Disney vacation through AAA Travel, you get the added expertise of booking with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Our AAA Travel Agents have extensive knowledge of Disney Cruise Line as well as all Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort, Adventures by Disney® and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa vacations. This knowledge allows us to help you get the best Disney Cruise Line value and experience the magic of a Disney cruise. A hair dryer is provided in every cabin for your convenience, but you may bring your own as long as it meets the guidelines above.

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The Rest of the Disney Cruise Line fleet

Those sorts of prices will only be available during the offseason, such as in mid-to-late January and early February or for repositioning cruises as the ship moves from, say, Puerto Rico to Florida. That same cruise during spring break can cost double or more, so the more date flexibility you have, the better. They aren't the priciest voyages out there, but they will cost more than cruises with family-friendly competitors such as Royal Caribbean by a noticeable margin. Cruises that are seven nights or longer schedule one "formal night" — though even then, it's only encouraged, not required. On that night, you will see suits, sports coats, cocktail dresses and similar from some guests. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach.

Edge is a much smaller space, but tweens have tons of fun playing video games, having dance parties, doing crafts, playing trivia games and more with their newfound cruise friends. Know that once your child turns 8, you have the option of giving them self-checkout privileges. While kids up to 12 are welcome in the main Oceaneer Club, they may start moving up to the tween club by the time they are 10 years old.

You can always expect some magic from Disney, and there is no exception when sailing on Disney Cruise Line. Although its fleet is small, it offers a high-end, family-friendly experience for guests. You'll certainly pay more for the privilege of sailing with Mickey and Minnie than with some other family-friendly lines. But for those with kids in that Disney age range, or for adults who know and trust the Disney brand, it's hard to go wrong in choosing Disney Cruise Line for your next vacation.

Entertainment and activities on a Disney cruise

disney cruise tour package

The cheapest cost for two guests to Alaska from Vancouver is $2,983 in mid-September, while the same cruise will cost you $4,607 if you sail over the Fourth of July holiday. Disney has a massive global footprint across its theme parks, films and merchandise. Among its many offerings is the Disney Cruise Line, whose fleet of five ships sails all over the world. When the wave of pandemic-related cruise cancellations hit in 2020, I was so grateful to have a travel agent — instead of me — spending time dealing with the cruise line.

Other interior attractions and activities

These packages are available on the Disney Wish, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream. The Disney Wonder still operates on the old data-usage Wi-Fi packages. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence.

These lines can get long, so I recommend riding first thing when you board if the port is warm enough. All of Disney Cruise Line's ships have some kind of waterslide on board. The exact bars will vary by vessel, but you can expect spots like a wine and Champagne bar, a pub, a laid-back lounge and a bar with live entertainment. I can say with 100% certainty that if you enjoy a nice meal, this is worth the extra $45 once during your cruise.

The largest ships in Disney's fleet are Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, at 1,115 feet long and 14 decks high, and Disney Wish, at 1,119 feet and 15 decks high. Disney Cruise Line doesn’t offer the standard drink package other cruise lines offer. Drink packages allow you to pay a flat-rate price and drink as much alcohol as you’d like. The same three-night Bahamas cruise sailing during Disney's Silver Anniversary at Sea starts at $2,345 for two guests.

The reality is the hottest items are often booked up by then, especially on shorter cruises when there's less time to do everything. You also have your own check-in area at the port and are among the first to board the ship, which can mean extra time to enjoy having the waterslides to yourself. At the end of the cruise, you can have a private elevator that takes you down to be some of the first off the ship — which should protect you from a long line to say goodbye. Disney concierge service gets you access to the Disney Concierge Lounge, which has food offerings multiple times per day and a fully stocked fridge with sodas, juices and bottles of water. Disney Cruise Line has about 370 annual departures scheduled that range from two- to 15-night sailings.

The specific documents you will need will vary by cruise destination. Having a passport is always a good idea, but it's not technically required on all Disney cruises. For example, round-trip cruises originating in Port Canaveral, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, San Diego, New Orleans, New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico, often do not require a passport. Technically, Edge is for kids ages 11-14, but you can get your 10-year-old in with permission — and once they figure that out, it's probably all over for the "little kid club." Your kids don't need an appointment to pop in here; they can come anytime from open to close — and the club stays open pretty late.

Your Disney cruise will also include a buffet known as Cabanas on the original four ships and Marceline Market on Disney Wish. The buffet is usually open for breakfast and lunch, though not in the evening hours. Be prepared for sticker shock, though, as these suites will almost certainly be near or over five figures on many sailings. You'll also see cruisers who love Disney regardless of age and are proud to wear their Mickey ears while hearing the first seven notes of the "When You Wish Upon a Star" melody blown from the ship's massive horn. The smaller two ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet are Disney Wonder and the line's first ship, Disney Magic.

You'll have to get yourself back home from that port, but you may save on the cruise in the process. For a family of four, the cheapest Disney cruise currently available (not counting the two-night cruises in Australia and New Zealand) is about $2,500. An ocean view will add about $90 and a verandah will add about $500. During the evenings, dining attire in the three main dining restaurants is "cruise casual," meaning no swimwear or tank tops, but you don't have to put on a party dress. That said, many guests do dress up a bit in the evening, but it's not required unless you are dining in Palo, Remy or Enchante. Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 milliliters) or six beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call.

Disney Cruise Line: The ultimate guide to ships and itineraries

disney cruise tour package

The Senses Spa & Salon is a full-service spa with everything from massages to pedicures and hair care. If you have a Disney Visa card, you can also save 20% on select onboard services. If your cruise takes you to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, you're in luck, as there's plenty of included food to eat there, too. These bars are a lot of fun and are not to be missed if you like live music or a nice drink at the end of the day.

Sports deck

While room service is free, it's customary to add a few dollars of tip when you sign the "bill." The adult sun deck is a nice place to grab a chair and relax, even if you have no intention of getting in the water. Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy also have a juice bar that costs extra. These reservations are hard to get, especially for brunch, so you'll want to make them the second you are eligible and keep checking back for cancellations if you miss out the first time.

Drinking age

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Ships also provide 24-hour, self-service guest laundry facilities equipped with washers and dryers, along with detergent and complimentary ironing equipment. These services can get busy during sea days on longer cruises, so plan accordingly. For an additional fee, Disney ships offer full-service laundry and dry cleaning services that will pick up and deliver clean clothes to your cabin. While the three previously mentioned kids clubs are free and do not require reservations, the nursery operates differently.

Disney Castaway Cay

But unlike at the Disney theme parks, which can be a bit complicated to navigate, long lines and complex strategies are rarely a part of the Disney cruise experience. After decades of success making families smile and laugh at its theme parks, Disney dipped its toes into the world of cruising in 1998. Disney didn't just copy another cruise line's model for success or slap its name on the side of an existing ship. In the past, Disney Cruise Line required that you be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 before sailing, but this is no longer the case. Guests departing from the United States are not required to do either, though the cruise line highly encourages you to get vaccinated before sailing.

These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage. Disney Wish has the added perk in the kids club of a slide that takes the kids straight from the main atrium and into the fun. Parents can stay with kids and play during open hours on the first day and select times on other dates, but most of the time, the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are kids-only. Your kids will check in and out by scanning a special MagicBand that also tracks where they are within the kids clubs.

Included restaurants on Disney Wonder

Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. This club does not utilize parent sign-in and -out, so you need to trust your kid if they are coming to Edge. If your 10-to-12-year-old child visits Edge, they can also play at the Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club, so they have options.

Keep an eye out in your app for when and where the happy hours are on board if you want to save a few dollars on your drinks. Some bars also offer a sommelier bin where you get a nice glass of wine at a discounted price — as long as you put the bartender in charge of choosing your drink. Remy is a fancy adults-only French restaurant that costs $125 per person for dinner (more if you order drinks). This is the type of place where men need jackets and women are expected to wear dresses, pantsuits or a skirt and blouse.

In addition to the buffet, a few grab-and-go quick-service restaurants on the pool deck serve salads, chili, pizza, barbecue and more, depending on which ship you're sailing. While many guests dress up a bit for dinner (compared to their afternoon pool deck attire), most stay relatively casual for the rotational dining restaurants. On each Disney ship, three main dining rooms serve as dinner restaurants that participate in rotational dining. Each ship has its own lineup of themed rotational restaurants, but the concept remains the same on each. Passengers on their first Disney cruise don't get to make those reservations until 75 days out if they aren't in the concierge level.

Drink prices are roughly similar to Starbucks, if not a notch lower. Be sure and ask for the Cafe Fanatic card if you're a regular, as your sixth drink will be free. At these restaurants, you can order whatever you want on the menu at no extra charge, with a few exceptions (for example, alcohol and specialty drinks cost extra). In addition, the Disney Wish has all the regular amenities you’d expect on a Disney cruise, including live entertainment, pools and spacious staterooms.

T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are fine. Guests wishing to consume wine or Champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corkage fee of $26 per bottle. If you are on a ship that charges by day instead of by the amount of data used, expect the prices to vary from $12-$36 per day, depending on the speed you select. There are often discounts for buying Wi-Fi access for the length of the cruise.

disney cruise tour package

These cabins start at 169 square feet for a standard inside cabin and go up to a two-story, 1,966-square-foot Tower Suite on Disney Wish. Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations. For all destinations, if you’d like to save money, avoid peak periods and search all available dates to find the lowest rates. This is true even on less popular cruises, such as those sailing up to Alaska. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research.

It has the capacity to comfortably accommodate 2,700 passengers, along with 950 cast and crew members to cater to the needs of guests. To give an idea of the cost, a four-person family on a four-night cruise would pay $232 in recommended tips. The amount is split among your team of dining room servers who quickly learned your kids' preferences for dinner and your cabin hosts who made your room look like magic while you were out enjoying yourself. Just like you don't need kids to have a great time at Disney World or Disneyland, you can happily cruise as adults without offspring on Disney Cruise Line.

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