First Time Disney Cruise Tips: The Complete Guide for 2023
Table Of Content
Cruises with Mickey Mouse and his pals range in price depending on many factors such as the embarkation port and destination, departure date, length of the cruise and cabin type you book. No matter which cruise you book, it will be pricey, like any Disney vacation. You'll have to determine what value you put on experiencing the "magic" of Disney. Starting with the Dream class of ships, the outdoor decks feature an added ropes course; on the Vista-class ships, the upper decks include a suspended bicycle that goes around the perimeter of a deck. Carnival's newest ships – Mardi Gras, Celebration and the upcoming Jubilee – all feature a roller coaster, water park and ropes course. Carnival is known for its over-the-top upper decks where families can have thrilling adventures throughout the sailing.
Port Everglades — Disney’s Second Home Port
Each night offers live entertainment, including Broadway-style shows featuring Disney characters. Some are stage adaptations of Disney films such as Frozen or Tangled, while others are entirely original. Admission is free — there are no assigned seats, so all you have to do is show up, sit wherever you like, and enjoy the show! Each show is presented twice nightly, so you won’t have to miss dinner. One popular offering is the Halloween on the High Seas cruise, which includes a giant pumpkin tree in the ship atrium, costume parties, and trick-or-treating.
Sports deck
Inside this space, kids can enjoy learning how to fly the Millennium Falcon in a "Star Wars"-themed area or building roller coasters at the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab. Kids can also see and play with their favorite Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Thor. Many cruise lines offer a kids club, but Disney’s are (not surprisingly) among the most impressive. Disney doesn’t have casinos on its ships, so they have room to devote nearly an entire deck just to younger cruisers. Children will get a special wristband on the first day and can use it to check themselves into the clubs whenever they like.
Magic Onboard: What Makes Disney Cruises Special?
You’ll have one, dedicated agent from start to finish — no giant call centers and waiting forever on hold! Your Vacationeer will answer your questions, share great advice, and help you find a cruise that fulfills your dreams and respects your budget. It’s no surprise that a 4-night cruise will cost more than a 3-night cruise. Comparing the cost of a Disney Cruise to a Disney World vacation is a bit difficult, because there are so many variables and differences between the two. For example, Disney World requires theme park tickets while a Disney Cruise includes all meals.
Disney Dream
While Remy and Enchante can be pricey, you can enjoy Palo for as little as $50. Wait until you see them in their exclusive Disney Cruise Line wardrobe. Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Mickey, and Minnie wear special outfits for Pirate Night, and they also tailor their outfits to where the ship is headed that day. On Alaska sailings, expect to meet Mickey in fisherman's overalls and Minnie in a fur-lined coat; on trips through the Mediterranean Sea, Goofy dons an Italy-inspired suit.
What’s Needed to Book a Disney Cruise
Disney Cruise Line has a simple loyalty program, the Castaway Club, with four "elite status" levels that you earn based on how many cruises you've taken with Disney. A three-night and 10-night cruise both count as one sailing for these purposes. 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. While the three previously mentioned kids clubs are free and do not require reservations, the nursery operates differently. You will need to make reservations, and the fee is $4.50 per half-hour for the first child and $4 per half-hour for each additional child.
Video shows pregnant woman being airlifted off Disney cruise ship - WESH 2 Orlando
Video shows pregnant woman being airlifted off Disney cruise ship.
Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:15:00 GMT [source]
Pregnant woman on Disney cruise airlifted by USCG after emergency - New York Daily News
Pregnant woman on Disney cruise airlifted by USCG after emergency.
Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:53:31 GMT [source]
It'll cost a few bucks, but the joy of sipping a “Mickeyccino” will always outshine the complimentary coffee served on board. This is especially important if character meet-and-greets are a priority for you. “The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app will list character appearance times and locations so that you can be sure to catch your favorite Disney characters on board,” Hwang adds. Whether you're planning for this year or the next, prepare yourself for a hefty dose of Disney knowledge, because for you, these Disney cruise tips and secrets are no longer under wraps. If you're looking for a room upgrade, but that's not a make-it-or-break-it deal for your family, consider waiting to upgrade your room until you get to the port.
See characters in their special cruise wardrobe.
Carnival and Disney offer connecting rooms and cabins that can sleep four or more. However, they vary in design and layout, with different specialty cabins and perks for the top categories of accommodations. Disney designed its staterooms thoughtfully, with sensible layouts and extra storage space that’s perfect for families. You’ll have a stateroom host who provides daily housekeeping and a nightly turndown service. For these reasons, you don't necessarily have to spend much on board to have a fantastic vacation. The cruise can be a good value depending on the extras you choose to add.
The incredible display is only offered on longer sailings on the Disney Magic and Disney Fantasy, so make sure you don’t skip it. Request that your rotation allows two visits to Animator's Palate that don't overlap with Pirate Night to ensure you enjoy the show. Don't miss the character dance parties either, which allow kids and adults to line dance with Goofy and shake it off with Donald Duck for an experience that goes beyond a hug and photograph. Disney cruises are packed with family-friendly programming, but adults can find spaces and events geared just for them in the adult-only nightclubs and lounges on board. Live music, interactive games and shows are only some of the nightly activities. If you're looking for a cheap Caribbean or Bahamian sailing, consider a three-night Bahamas cruise on Disney Magic starting at $1,500 for an inside cabin for two people.
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. On Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the teen club has its own set of small pools at the front of the ship. 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. 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. The option for those still in swim diapers is some splash areas, such as Nemo's Reef and Dory's Reef.
Very Merrytime cruises bring the holidays onboard, with Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, and visits from Santa. Disney is unique in that most non-alcoholic drinks are included in your fare — most other cruise lines require you to buy a separate drink package even for sodas. What Disney does best — and why many people choose to cruise with the brand — is it provides a high level of service to families, even those in the least expensive cabins.
As with the waterslides, we recommend enjoying these first thing when you board if you want to try them without crowds. Otherwise, you won't find so many people in the pools on port days, early in the morning and right before dinner. There are thousands of people on the ship and only a few small pools, so plan accordingly. Just like on board, some of the food on Castaway is included, while alcohol and specialty drinks are not. The Cookie's and Cookie's Too lunch shacks on the island are both included, so load up on hot dogs, barbecue, hamburgers, fries and all the fixings. Room service, the buffet and the on-deck food counter dining options don't cost extra and are available to you in addition to or instead of your rotational dining.
Meanwhile, Disney’s newest private port, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, is currently under construction in Eleuthera, Bahamas. When available, cruisers may be able to snag an affordable last-minute room upgrade at the port, saving hundreds on a higher-tier room. These tips will make your Disney cruise vacation even more magical. Disney Cruise Line has three classes of ships while Carnival Cruise Line has eight. You can book your Disney cruise directly with Disney Cruise Line either over the phone or online, but I'd argue you shouldn't.
The swashbuckling fun includes scheduled character meet-and-greets with Disney pirates such as Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow, and themed menus and waiter attire at dinner. The culmination of the event is a massive deck party with singing, dancing and appearances by Disney characters followed by a fireworks display. One of the most popular meet-and-greet times is the Princess Gathering, an opportunity to meet multiple Disney princesses at the same time. On Disney cruise ships, passengers aren't assigned to one main dining room, as they are on Carnival, but rotate through three themed dining rooms with their waiters in tow.
Comments
Post a Comment