Disney Cruise Line allows each Guest to bring two pieces of checked luggage, a carry-on bag, and a personal item. The only size limitations pertain to the carry-on bag, which must meet typical airline carry-on luggage dimensions (no larger than 22" x 14" x 9') and be able to go through the cruise terminal scanners.

The good news is although your luggage tags didn't arrive at your home before embarkation day, porters will greet you and have luggage tags ready to fill out as you arrive at the port! Simply ask one of the porters at the cruise port for tags and they will be happy to tag all your bags with your stateroom number. They will ensure your bags are loaded onto the ship and delivered to your stateroom that evening!

Have a fireworks display at sea, like only Disney can do, a stunning entertainment element for the “Pirates in the Caribbean” celebration.

Implement an innovative rotational dining concept, featuring three themed restaurants, where guests dine in a different venue each evening, accompanied by their same serving team

Have a dock at the line’s private island (Castaway Cay), allowing guests the ease of walking on and off the ship at their leisure, thus eliminating the need to use tender boats.

Have a shipboard water coaster – AquaDuck!

Give inside staterooms a “window” on the outside with a Magical Porthole, a wall-mounted monitor that displays real-time video views from high-definition cameras outside of the ship.

Allow guests to become animators and see their own drawings magically come to life and dance on screen.

Make the princess and pirate fantasies of young guests a reality, giving them full pixie-dusted and piratical makeovers at the first Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Pirates League at sea.

Offer movie premieres at sea on the same day a film debuts in theaters.

Feature nearly an entire deck dedicated to children’s activities.

Offer exclusive spaces just for tweens and teens. 11-13 year old can hang out at Edge, while 14-17 year old have their own club, Vibe.

Offer free soft drinks any time of day or night, with a free 24/7 beverage station offering sodas, coffee, tea and water.

Design staterooms with a family-friendly bath-and-a-half.

Apply a hull coating that is non-toxic and innovative in reducing surface resistance in the water, allowing the ship to be more fuel efficient and eco-friendly.

Have yellow-colored lifeboats, rather than the traditional regulation color of orange. Disney was granted special permission by the U.S. Coast Guard to paint the lifeboats yellow, in order to keep with the special color theming of the ship – the colors of Mickey Mouse himself.

Get to know your staff

Catch a sunrise or sunset

You cannot do it all on your first cruise

Pick a couple of things before you board that are priorities

Rest of the time see how you all are feeling

Attend at least 1 Broadway like show

The shows have amazing actors, singing and special effects

The shows will last less than 1 hour in length

Bring a refillable cup

Free soft drinks, water and coffee is served on pool deck

Book placeholder

10% off future non-concierge staterooms

You have 24 months to sail again using it

It is refundable if you change your mind

Old gift card or hotel room key

You insert them to keep the lights on in your room when you are in them

It is easier than using your current room key and you leave your room with it still in there

Get a passport

Any DCL ship is amazing

Yes they all have a little something different but there is no bad ship

Ice cream sandwiches

Order room service cookies (do not forget to tip the staff) and bring them up to ice cream on the pool deck and make a sandwich

Fly into the port location one day before you leave

Try new food and order seconds

The menu on the ships has a lot of variety so it is an excellent time to get the picky eater to try something new

If you love your meal and want more just ask for a second plate

Redistribution of bars, lounges, and a new entertainment venue to increase their visibility and accessibility

Relation of “it’s a small world” nursery and Oceaneer’s club to deck 2 below main hall

Reposition and expansion of the spa and fitness facilities to deck 5

Reimagined sports court that is indoors

More pools, more water amusement, and better views on and from the upper decks

Reducing number of elevator banks and stair halls from three to two

But there are more elevator bays and provide better flow throughout the ship

Only certain elevators go to the top floor FYI

First DCL ship building cabins in an assembly line with 21 steps (everything pre-tested, pre-cut and pre-bent)

Atrium/Grand Hall first one with a balcony

Once upon a wish show when we walk onto ship

Greater than 4000 pieces of art

Themed rooms

Concierge Tangled

Staterooms

Fairytale castle = Cinderella, Frozen

Forrest & animals = Princess & the Frog, Sleeping Beauty

Spirit of the sea = Little Mermaid, Moana

Stateroom lamp shade has a hidden mickey

The backing of the lampshade has a cutout that has filigree from the sheets with mickey mouse’s head

When the lamp is off, it’s just a lamp

Turn the light on and see it

Servers asking/requesting to leave 5 stars for food even though they do not cook it

Coffee concentrate versus cove café real coffee beans

After hours drinks available only from room service

Previous cruises the soft drinks on the pool deck have been turned off

This could have been updated since Covid precautions have changed

Disney Navigator App not always working when on the ship Disney Cruise Line Navigator App Information

Internet is slow and very poor on ship even when paying for it

Common issue on all ships

Meet Santa

Mrs. Clause reading at bedtime

Wear family matching pajamas for extra special pictures

Christmas tree lighting ceremony

Hearing Christmas songs all throughout the ship/hallways

Christmas tree on the Wish from pictures seems to be a classier tree with the colors of gold and white and very shiny instead of red and green

Christmas tree on other ships is more of the red and green traditional colors

DCL typically has lots of “magic” on the ship but with it being a VMT cruise it is taken up to the next level

Castaway Cay being decorated for the holidays

Gingerbread house competition between the ships

Before embarkation

Manage reservation, make payments, book activities

Download before leaving port

Onboard chat

Dining à learn about your table and where you are eating, the time and menu

Menus at bars, room service, quick service restaurants

Entertainment and activities

Purchase future cruise holder

Overwhelmed: find a blog, podcast, and do research

Hire a travel agent if overwhelmed after research

Might receive 5% of cruise cost as on-board credit

Wave month aka January

Many people book in this month aka the wave affect

Research transportation all ways

Research time of year especially for weather

Start to make a budget or set aside money

Join Facebook group that matches your date and ship

Search port adventures before booking time open

Look on dcl website

Sign up for fish extender

Spend time on Etsy for ideas for shirts and cabin door

Know when you have to paid in full by in order to book

Started in 2018 by a 10-year-old girl named Abby Davis

She gathered 50 toy ducks and hid them on her 7-day Carnival Breeze cruise

It has spread to many different cruise lines

Purchase rubber ducks, make tags for them, and hide them in any public place on a cruise ship

People will sometimes take pictures when hiding them to remember where they are and to give people clues

People will search for them or randomly find them

Once they are found they can be kept or re-hidden

People can post pictures of ones they have found to say thank you

The goal is to see how far the ducks travel and where their journey takes them

How to participate

Purchase some ducks

Dollar store or Etsy are great options

Write your information on the bottom or on the tags

Your name, the date, home, etc.

Add a unique hashtag and ask people to use it when posting.

It makes it easier to track your ducks

Feel free to go crazy and make a custom tag

Go have fun and hide the ducks

Must be hidden in public spots

What to do if you find a duck and want to play

When you find one, take a picture of the duck, and post it to the Cruising Ducks Facebook page use the hashtag if one is on the tag

Cruising ducks original group on Facebook

Keep the duck you found or hide it again

If you hide it again, consider adding your name to the tag or bottom of the duck

Avoid areas to hide ducks

Pools or hot tubs

Onboard ships

Not able to retrieve the duck standing (you need a chair or table to stand on)

Risk losing the duck overboard

It’s a small nursery 6 month – 3-year-old charged per hour

Each club has a quota for max number of kids and once that number of kids is booked on the ship it will not show any rooms available for booking

Kids get a dcl specific magic band to check in and out

You can keep them for a charge at the end of the cruise

Open house/tour for anyone on embarkation day and during the cruise

Cast members/counselors have lots of experience and training to be counselors

Edge 11 – 14-year-olds

They can check themselves in and out

Vibe 14 – 17-year-olds

Communication through the app if need to pick up or anything

Meals offered in the club

Not sure if still offered but was in the past

Need the kids checked in 15 minutes before service

Dine & play

Cast member will bring child from the club to main dining and return them to club after meal

Kids will be feed very quickly roughly within 15 minutes of sitting

Organized classes and activities in all clubs and plenty of free time

My Disney Cruise is a 30-page document on DCL website that parents can work on with kids to learn what will happen on the ship

My Disney Cruise Adventure Booklet

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/traveling-with-little-ones/

Kids club attend open house 1st day

***Have kids go in first day when open house is over which is very important because most friendships and groups form the first day VERY IMPORTANT TIP***

Receive bonus credit after using card for 3 first months

Ability to receive vacation financing

Earn 2% in Disney rewards dollars on everyday purchases

Earn 5% in Disney rewards for a Disney + subscription

Redeem Disney rewards for airline or cruise travel

Save 10% on dining, shopping & recreation at Disney Parks

Exclusive Disney Visa Card member photo Op locations

Access to limited time offers

Pay for the cruise with it and use rewards towards on-board activities

Many different designs for all the cards

Rolling pros

Space saver

Easier to access clothes and see what is packed

Rolling is great for small items and can place in shoes or other objects packed that are empty

Rolling cons

Thicker or longer items will take up more space rolled

Will take a longer time than folding if items are already folded

Certain clothing items are harder to roll up

Typically, Formal wear does not roll up well

Folding pros

Folding clothes is quick

It’s an easy way to pack

Typically done this way at home therefore no need to re-fold

You can fold items along their existing creases

Folding cons

Clothes can form creases and wrinkle

Items like t-shirts and dresses are hard to fold wrinkle free

Takes up more space

Can leave gaps and not maximize space

When stacked hard to pull out or find one item

Hard to “live” out of suitcase

Packing cubes

Organize by each day

Compress your clothes

Easy to grab one thing and keep rest in drawers or suitcase

Can be expensive but re-usable

Helps if using a hard suitcase

5k medal might be at guest services if not at the finish line or on the island

Snorkeling and sting ray encounters

Have heard really great things about these both

Cookies 1 and 2 BBQ 11 – 2:30 pm

Exclusive items only on the island in gift shops

Tower on the run has great views of entire island

Serenity bay is adult only area but water is shallow and lots of shells/rocks so bring water shoes

Scuttles cove excellent kids club

Cabanas are amazing and pricy if you can score one

Send one person off early to reserve beach chairs and shade especially on family beach otherwise will have to walk long ways

Term fish extender comes directly from the description of hanging the holder on the decorative fish (or seahorse, depending on which side of the ship a cabin is on) outside a guest’s stateroom door

Gifts are placed in the Fish Extender holder outside the participant’s stateroom

Gifts can run the gamut from being store-bought or homemade, dollar store trinkets or pricier Disney merchandise

There is no real rule as far as what is given, other than to “give what you would like to receive”

There are Fish Extender groups for families, children only, adults-only, cabin only (one gift for everyone in the cabin to share) or some combination of the above

Generally, when a cruiser decides to participate in their sailing’s exchange, there is a form on the cruise group page that lets them specify specifics like favorite Disney character, age, any allergies they have, or any special events they may be celebrating while on board

You are crafty and want to share

It does make cruising more exciting/fun

Who does not like to open presents almost daily

You are an organized person and want to handle the extra responsibility

You like to spread cheer and joy

Added another layer of pre-planning to our vacation that I felt took away from the relaxing element of a Disney Cruise

Ensure I can fit everything in my luggage

Keep in mind that you will be receiving gifts in exchange so you need to make sure you have ample room to bring your goodies home

I’m participating in a Fish Extender exchange, I am purposefully adding another to-do item to my pre-cruise planning. I must purchase or make gifts tailored at least in some way to every person’s liking in my group.

This is both a time-consuming and financial effort.

Cost financially even if making the gifts

Land and sea trip combo

Start at Disney World and finish with the cruise

Concerns how you will feel/handle the ship or being at sea

Great way to dip your feet into cruising

Stay on ship during port days to get to know the ship

On 7-day cruises, very interested to get off boat

Nice long weekend

Can minimize the number of days off or vacation days used from work because of the weekend

If you like to be on the go all the time

You will not get to do everything during the short cruise but it is easier to be going full steam a head for a few short days

Budget friendly because the cruise is shorter

Down payment will be cheaper also

Local ports typically

Nassau, private island, and Mexico

Enjoy a mini vacation

Pick up bags from hotel room (might not be at all hotels)

Disney movie played in route to port

Only stop at Disney Cruise Line port

Nice large coach buses with Bathroom

Travel with Disney minded people

Port Check-in time assigned very early (Group 3 11 am) or typically port check-in time does not matter when you use them (you basically get right through the port and wait minimal time to board ship)

Seamless and honestly priceless

I used this one time and have never looked back

Buses ready once you are off the ship

Very easy to find the bus when need them

If going on your first cruise do not think you will get to experience and see everything

Prioritize each day and see how you feel

Only read information from DCL website

There are tons of websites, blog, videos, and podcasts that can provide so much more information

Documentation

Proper documentation to ship takes time especially passports, therefore plan accordingly because you will need documentation of them at least 30 days out from the cruise besides on the cruise

On Board Activities

If this is your first cruise you get to sign up last therefore the selection might be minimal

Therefore, once on the ship join the waitlist for activities at Guest Services

Do not wait until you are on the ship to book everything

DCL Excursions or non-DCL Excursions

By booking your Port Excursions through the DCL, you’ll have the relief of knowing you are guaranteed to make it back to the ship before departure, even if something such as a transportation issue goes wrong while you’re at port. If you’re with a Disney Port Adventure, you will be taken care of.

We can’t say this for the other excursions.

Disney has its name attached to the excursions, making guests confident they know they are paying for the best of the best.

Character meet and greets

Sail away party

Broadway style live shows

Rotational dinning

Interactive games/scavenger hunts

Use navigator app

Character meet and greets

Experience castaway cay

Port excursions to experience new places

Pirate night

Fireworks at sea

Auto 18% on the bill gets pooled by all servers

Additional gratitude line only goes to that server

Even if you do not put tip card in envelope, they still get it

Pay in cash as often as you can or feel comfortable

Can be pre-paid before you board ship otherwise charged during cruise

Can go to guest services to adjust or change to cash only payments

I typically use the credit card to pay Disney standards of around $14.50 per guest per day and then add cash to the envelopes based on experience

Expensive compared to other transportation ways

Must stay at Disney hotel or hotels they have deals with

Still need to check in at hotel to see what time bus you get assigned

Port Canaveral 9:20 am to 11:20 am possibility

Not an option based on airport (port Miami to FLL airport)

Not going to Disney hotel or etc.

Do not like traveling with large groups

Want to travel privately

Do not want to wait for a bus or need transportation to be quicker leaving the port

Disney Visa card save 10% on items when on ship

Must be on file to use and get stickers at guest services

Must ask for the discount when paying

Disney Visa card pay for cruise with credit card and use the points to pay for on board items

Costco or travel agents that can provide onboard credits

Place holder purchased on future cruise

$250 get 10% off on non-concierge rooms and must sail within 24 months

Target credit card gets 5% off Disney gift cards

Discounts/sales/offers listed on DCL web site

DCL Facts and ways to save money

DCL is a ship destination for some and not where the ship is going

Evaluate the cost of the trip on a per person per day

You can cruise for base fare only (no extra activities)

Book as early as you can

Late February and early March and May release times

If you missed out on a cruise wait until final payment date and see if people cancel or more opens up

Special offers Can be cheaper if you are flexible and book VGT/IGT/OGT but

Valid for new bookings only

Full payment is required at the time of booking for all Guests and is non-refundable

Full legal names of all Guests are required at time of booking and no name changes are allowed

Specific stateroom will be assigned at a later time, based on availability.

Travel agents can give onboard credit typically around 5%

Rebook on board with place card holder and receive 10%

Does not include concierge and must sail within 24 months

Disney Visa (double points when purchasing cruise and then use those points for on board items

10% off on cruise ship on certain items

Target debit/credit card purchase gift cards & save 5%

What time of year you book Sept/Oct hurricane season cheapest

Anyone can cook (From Ratatouille)

Chef teaches a dish live

You typically get to taste the dish

Done on a sea day

Get a recipe card to bring home

20-minute directions roughly

Mid-ship detective

Fantasy and Dream

Interactive game to solve mysteries

3 different ones to complete

Uncharted adventure

Wish

Trivia

Key chain, luggage tag or medal winners

Varity options

Adult, Pixar, Marvel, name the toon, etc.

Bingo

Very popular

Closest to gambling on DCL

Must yell out Bingo

All electronic but a lot of fun

Learn how to draw

Classes to teach each pen stroke to draw character

Scrap booking pages

Make pages to keep for your book

Have everything they need in the class

Free class

Game shows

Family ones during day

Newlywed at nighttime

Karaoke

Family or adult only

Jack’s diaper dash

Lanes set up for crawlers

They sometimes perform this in the Grand Hall or Atrium

Napkin folding

Towel folding

Friends of Bill W

AA meeting daily

18 – 20 society

To old for Vibe and too young for adult bar

More expensive but more is included also

Staterooms are typically larger than other cruise lines

Kids clubs are amazing and staff top notch

Split bathroom design with tub and sink and other one is toilet and sink

Dream and Fantasy have magic porthole in the inside room

A screen that shows what is seen outside the boat but with w Disney flair to it

Food offerings restaurant quality food in the main dining

Soft drinks included and coffee on deck

Not included in bar and theatre

Exceed cleanliness CDC passes with ease and high scores

Service unparalleled to other cruise lines or even Disney land/world

Entertainment shows are top notch and considered Broadway like style quality

Lifeguards at all pools when they are open

More room on pool decks to watch shows/fireworks because of the extra staircases and pool deck areas not being 1 level

Arendelle dining experience show

Music and singing are outstanding

Mickey & friends festival of foods (deck 11)

The food selections is vast and all delicious

Two different pirate shows

Fireworks shot from both sides of the boat

Bathroom improvements

Shower seems bigger

Shower has a glass door

Marceline Market

Organized in pods therefore no long lines to wait in

Storage space and drawers have been decreased

Tv does not rotate

Bathroom tub/shower is glass instead of plastic curtain

Quick service food on pool decks (Mickey’s Friends)

Huge improvement compared to other ships

Palo is a steakhouse and not just an Italian restaurant

I believe the plan is for the entire fleet to become steakhouse also

Uncharted adventure is a different onboard game compared to Midship Detective

Sea days are great to learn and explore more about the ship

Cove Café all the way in the back of the ship and in the adult only area

Currently no free snacks like other ships

Adult area pools and hot tubes are smaller and seem an after thought

No adult district but the lounges are all over the ship/decks

Hook’s Barbery

Top notch drinks and amazing services

Lack drawer space in staterooms

Hard to watch tv when siting on the couch

To get to adult dining, need to be in the back 4 elevators to get to the top, otherwise you need to get out and hit the up button

Takes time to warm up to the ship and learn the differences

Take the time to find new hidden gems

Pros

Everything is done for you (easiest route)

If the excursion runs late or transportation issues DCL will hold the boat for you

Because the excursion company typically wants to keep their DCL contract the staff is very knowledgeable, can speak multiple languages, and will go above and beyond like DCL

Everyone's experience might be a little different just FYI

Transportation to and from the excursion is included

Bring cash for tips

Towels are provided

Cons

Expensive compared to booking the same excursion not with Disney

Must cancel 3 days before the ship sails

Will get charged if you go or not (can not modify)

If you wanted to return to the boat earlier than the transportation on the excursions many times they will not allow that

Limited selection and once sold out you would have to choose something else

If have very young children limited options

Some can be very long over 6 hours and that is the whole port day

If you have early dinner sometimes feel rushed to get ready or run the risk of being late or missing it

Examples of Non-DCL excursions

Shore excursions. com

You are able to search by cruise ship dates and ports

You will have to figure out transportation also

Easy to plan compared to Disney world/land

Most relaxing

Not a ton of time planning like Disney world/land

No dinning needs to be planned besides Palo/Remy

Like staying deluxe resort with a themed room with great views, dining like going to signature dining, and dinner and a show (world class entertainment) plus much more items on the ship

Waiter staff and stateroom staff really care for you and the service they provide is top notch

Almost all food is included, entertainment included

Interact a lot with cast

3 or 4 nights on Dream or Wish to get your sailing feet wet

Book as soon as you can because more rooms available the cheaper price

Verandah is a private space to look at the ocean with a cup of coffee

Make stateroom feel bigger and only about $500 roughly more per entire cruise

Flights not earlier than noonish

You can walk off with your luggage once cleared

Dietary requirements they excel at

Download navigator app early on and get to know it

If you heart an item it will give you 15-minute warning on your phone

Chat with guest services in the app (this might have disappeared now)

Set aside a quiet time and see a sunrise and sunset

Adult only areas

Spa and rainforest rooms/lounges

Art of the cruise ship tour once on ship

Recommend kids to spend time in the kids club once it is open to make friends on day 1

Very important, they make friends that day that last the entire cruise

o Do not miss the shows

Book early up to 18 months in advance

Not just for kids (adults only area)

Spa treatment top notch compared to ones on land

Fly or drive in the day before and stay local

Port check –in time arrive with 15 minutes of time

Download app before being on the ship

Make reservations/shore excursions early

If they ARE BOOKED STOP AT GUEST SERVICES ONCE ON SHIP TO JOIN WAITLIST

Ask for view of Castaway Cay when docked when booking your room

Gift card to turn on or keep lights on in room

Room service (door hook menu in desk)

Order night before for the next morning

Order the kids cereal, fruit bowl, etc. and yourself coffee so parents can sleep in, and eat a little something before family goes to breakfast

Order after port adventures

Many people hungry at same time causes long lines so order food and get changed and enjoy skipping the lines and avoid all those people on the pool deck

Navigator verandah

Only a few rooms per ship

Not all ships have these rooms

Verandah with an obstructed view not full

Honestly typically outside area has a solid wall at end

In exchange a discounted price than one with a full view

Bring strong magnets and shoe organizer to hang on back of the door

An amazing way to store and organize things for the room

You might be able to see the Pirate’s Night fireworks from your verandah

Inside room with magical porthole

Not only see what is around the ship at the moment but get to see some Disney characters appear also

These rooms sell out fast also

1. You’ll Find Family-Friendly Fun Galore

Spending quality time as a family can feel seemingly impossible while trying to keep up with the daily grind. A cruise vacation offers an impressive mix of activities everyone can do together, making it an ideal way to squeeze in that bonding time you’ve been craving. During a high-seas escape, you can catch live shows, live it up at a deck party, watch first-run movies, play group games, share memorable meals, enjoy plenty of pool time and soak up the sights in exotic locations. Disney Cruise Line even offers specially themed sailings like Marvel Day at Sea and Very Merrytime Cruises that feature celebrations, crafts and other interactive family events.

Thinking about a Bahamian escape? You won’t believe the sheer amount of things to do on a tropical oasis. Take Disney Castaway Cay, our private island reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line Guests. Once there, you can roam the sprawling beaches, snorkel in the blue lagoon, feast on barbecue fare, rent a boat and much more.

2. Voyages Are Chockfull of Included Amenities

The average land vacation may be filled with great à la carte options, but they can definitely add up! What’s so refreshing about a cruise is that there are so many offerings that are built-in to the cost of your fare. You can typically expect full meals, live performances, shipboard facilities and recreational activities to be a part of a fixed rate.

With Disney Cruise Line, you get all that and more. All ships feature at least 3 pool areas with waterslides, a full-service fitness center with ocean views, access to youth clubs and adult-only spaces, and top-notch entertainment―think Broadway-quality shows, themed deck parties and photo ops with popular Characters like Mickey and Stitch. If this piques your interest, read more about what’s included on a Disney Cruise.

3. Hassle-Free Planning Gives You Peace of Mind

Let’s face it: attempting to put together an itinerary of vacation experiences that pleases everyone in your family can be daunting, even for the most creative research mavens among us. That’s exactly why uncovering a getaway that meets everyone’s expectations is worth its weight in gold. Or perhaps we should say pixie dust? Cruises offer an amazing variety of things to do at sea and on land. And the best thing about them is that all the heavy lifting has been done for you. You’ll discover everything you need for a fun, relaxing trip all in one place―delicious dining options, cozy staterooms, epic pool areas, diverse recreational activities, exciting entertainment

and tried-and-true excursion ideas. It’s also the easiest way to travel to multiple destinations without long car drives or plane rides (a huge plus when you have little ones in tow).

Want to customize your onboard adventures? There’s an app for that! For example, everyone in your family who has a smartphone can download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for free and use it to manage their own schedules. Seriously, adding can’t-miss events is as simple as tapping a button.

4. Destination Hopping Is a Breeze

When it comes to cruise itineraries, the choices are endless. You can get a taste of paradise with a short, 3-to 4-night sailing to The Bahamas, Mexico or the Caribbean. Or go all-in with a week-long escapade throughout Europe or Alaska. Either way, cruises provide an easy and convenient way for you to experience several iconic locales without the stress of figuring out the nitty-gritty logistics of getting to and from each destination. Plus, there’s something really thrilling about arriving to a city by ship. Looking for some ideas? Check out some of the unique hot spots Disney Cruise Line travels to throughout the year.

5. Kids, Teens and Adults Have Plenty of Ways to Unplug and Unwind… On Their Own

What’s more rewarding than satisfying every whim? When you set sail on a cruise vacation, members of your family can shape their own day at sea―making it all about recreation, relaxation or a perfect combo of the two. With Disney Cruise Line, Mom and Dad can get massages at the Senses Spa & Salon or chill by the Quiet Cove Pool reserved for grown-ups, while the kids make friends at supervised hangout spots designed especially for them. If you need a few more examples, here’s a handy breakdown of activities we offer for Adults, Teens & Tweens and Kids.

6. You’re Essentially Getting the Ultimate Vacation

A cruise checks all of the right boxes when it comes to creating an unforgettable family vacation. Picture VIP-style hospitality, exposure to different cultures, endless entertainment, gourmet cuisine, access to some of the coolest pools imaginable and the chance to make your friends envious when they see photos of all of the fun you’ve had in postcard-worthy settings. You can even take it up a notch by mixing in a little Disney magic. Our ships offer an array of unique possibilities you won’t encounter anywhere else, like a Pirate Night deck party with fireworks, a Disney’s Oceaneer Club for kids ages 3 to 12, Disney-themed dining and memorable Character Experiences.

Top 6 provided by DCL information

Planning to set sail with Disney Cruise Line? I’m excited to introduce an all-new collection of animated Instagram stickers, which serve as the perfect way to bring a dash of pixie dust to your vacation photos!

Accessible through the story feature within the Instagram app, you can locate these adorable Disney Cruise Line-themed sticker packs by searching “MyDisneyCruise.” And if you’re sailing on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Wish, you can type “MyDisneyWishCruise” to unlock a dedicated line of Wish-specific stickers.

By enhancing your vacation memories with your favorite Disney Cruise Line stickers, you’ll be able to share a touch of Disney magic with your family and friends back home. Get inspired by new ways to tell your vacation story below!

1. Add a Little Character to Your Photos

Literally! Discover playful portraits of Captain Mickey Mouse, Captain Minnie Mouse and their friends Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n Dale, all in their sailor attire.

2. Set Your Out of Office

You’re going on vacay — leave everything else behind with a sticker that sets your status to “Cruise Mode” or “Do Not Disturb.”

3. Celebrate Your Ship

Every Disney Cruise Line ship pays tribute to Disney characters through a unique sculpture on the stern and a golden statue in the atrium. You can celebrate your voyage by choosing special stickers that are inspired by the many stern scultures and atrium statues of the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

4. Delight in Dining

Phone eats first with our new culinary-themed animated stickers. Food photographers can choose from whimsical designs featuring Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” or Pascal from “Tangled.”

5. Share Where Magic Meets the Sea

Find a selection of magical stickers that represent iconic Disney Cruise Line offerings from the classic red funnel to fireworks at sea. Each sticker is designed to complement the many adventures and experiences you will share onboard with loved ones.

6. Seize Your Day at Sea

Sailing during a themed Day at Sea? There’s a sticker for that too! Make sure to check out Marvel and Pixar-inspired animated artwork.

Whether you are planning to share photos from an upcoming sailing or revisit treasured Disney Cruise Line memories, there are so many ways to share you Disney cruise vacation stories! Keep following the Disney Parks Blog for more Disney Cruise Line fun and learn how to book your next cruise via our website.

The first thing that I invite you to do is to log in to your Disney Cruise Line Account and see if your Guest information is "pending approval" or if it is listed as "complete". You can view this information from the Cruise Details page after logging in and selecting your reservation.

If it is listed as "complete", you may try to modify your travel documentation and submit a photo of your new passport.

As it is very close to your sailing, I encourage you to contact Disney Cruise Line and notify them that you have a new passport.

If your old passport is in your possession, it may be best that you bring both your old passport and new passport to the port for check-in. With your current valid passport with you at the cruise terminal, you will be meeting the necessary citizenship requirements to board.

Disney Cruise Line has received more than 250 distinguished awards from the travel industry since first setting sail in 1998.  These awards have included all aspects of the operation from dining and entertainment, to youth activities and spa facilities.

2020

Travel + Leisure readers ranked Disney Cruise Line as the top ocean cruise line among those ships carrying 2,200 passengers or more as well as the best for families in the publications 2020 World’s Best Awards.

For the ninth consecutive year, the Port of Vancouver recognized Disney Cruise Line with a Blue Circle Award for for our voluntary efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions while the Disney Wonder is in the Port of Vancouver.

2019

Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney were named “Best for Families” in the ocean and river cruise categories in the 2019 Cruise Critic’s Editors’ Picks Awards for the fourth consecutive year.

For the seventh consecutive year, Disney Cruise Line earned first place awards in the Best Cruise Lines for Families and Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean categories in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cruise Lines rankings.

Newsweek ranked Disney Cruise Line as the brand that exemplifies America’s best customer service for the second year in a row.

For the eighth consecutive year, Disney Cruise Line was voted the No. 1 Top Large Cruise Line in the World in Condé Nast Traveler  Readers’ Choice Awards.

Parents Magazine selected Disney Cruise Line’s Oceaneer Club as the“Best Kid’s Club on a Cruise” in the 2019 Kids Travel Awards.

For the fourth consecutive year, Disney Castaway Cay has been named the “Top Cruise Line Private Island” in the Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards. Disney Cruise Line also was recognized by Cruise Critic members as the “Top Cruise Line in the Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda,” as well as “Top Cruise Line in the Western Caribbean and Riviera Maya” – both in the Large Ship Cruise Line category.

Fodor’s named Disney Cruise Lines as Best Family Cruise in its first-ever Fodor’s Travel Awards.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has awarded Disney Cruise Line a Blue Circle Award for our voluntary efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions while the Disney Wonder is in the Port of Vancouver.

Disney Cruise Line was named the No. 1 Ocean Cruise Line among those carrying 2,200 passengers or more in the 2019 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards.

Disney Magic was voted “Best for Families” in Cruise Critic’s 9th Annual Cruisers’ Choice Awards.

2018

Disney Cruise Line was named “Best for Families” in the 2018 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards.

Disney Cruise Line was named No. 1 for 2019 Best Customer Service in the Cruise Operators Category by Newsweek. Disney Cruise Line also received the highest score overall for any brand recognized by Newsweek.

Disney Dream’s “Beauty and the Beast” received Best Theatrical Performance for 2018 from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA).

Disney Cruise Line won gold badges for “Best Cruise Lines for Families” and “Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean” in the U.S. News & World Report 2019 Best Cruise Lines rankings.

Disney Cruise Line received Best Ship for Most Family Oriented, Best Onboard Experiences for Best Children’s Programs and Best Onboard Experience for Best Entertainment in the 2018 Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards.

Disney Cruise Line claimed the No. 1 spot in the “Large Cruise Line” category in Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for the seventh consecutive year.

For the third consecutive year, Cruise Critic Members recognized Disney Castaway Cay in the Bahamas as the “Top Cruise Line Private Island” in the third annual Cruise Critic’s Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards.

Porthole Cruise Magazine honored French-inspired, fine-dining restaurant Remy, onboard the Disney Dream, with its 2018 Editor-in-Chief Award for Best Specialty Restaurant.

Disney Cruise Line received honors in the 2018 Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards placing first in the Entertainment category.  In total, Disney Cruise Line was recognized with 19 awards.

2017

Disney Cruise Line won gold badges for “Best Cruise Lines for Families” and “Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean” in the U.S. News & World Report 2018 Best Cruise Lines rankings.

Disney Cruise Line received honors in the Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 19th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards placing first in 3 categories ranging from “Most Family Oriented Line”, “Best Children’s Programs” and “Best Entertainment.”

Disney Cruise Line claimed the No. 1 spot in the “Large Cruise Line” category in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

For the second consecutive year, Cruise Critic Members recognized Disney Castaway Cay in the Bahamas as the “Top Cruise Line Private Island” in the second annual Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards.

In the 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards, Disney Cruise Line took home a total of eight first-place awards, including the Best For Families and Best Overall Ship for both the Disney Dream and Disney Magic.

Porthole Cruise Magazine honored Remy, the French-inspired fine dining restaurant onboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, with its 2017 Editor-in-Chief Award for Best Specialty Restaurant.

Condé Nast Traveler recognized Disney Cruise Line in their annual Gold List for 2017 as one of the top cruise lines. The Gold List is compiled by Condé Nast Traveler’s editors based on their favorite hotel and cruise experiences around the world.

2016

In HAWAI’I Magazine’s 4th annual Readers’ Choice Awards, Disney Cruise Line was voted in the top 5 best cruise lines for travel to Hawaii.

Disney Cruise Line received record honors in the 2016 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards placing first in 11 categories ranging from best overall ship to best dining, best entertainment, best service, best cabins and more.  In total, Disney Cruise Line was recognized with 32 awards

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority awarded Disney Cruise Line with the Port of Vancouver’s Blue Circle Award for its EcoAction Program, which celebrates our environmental stewardship and the use of shore power when the Disney Wonder is in port.

Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, was recognized as the “Best Cruise Line Private Island” in the Cruise Critic’s Cruise Choice Destination Awards.

Disney Cruise Line was awarded the title of Best Overall Premium Cruise Line for Travel Pulse’s Premium Cruise Lines. Disney Cruise Line also placed first for in Entertainment, Service and Activities categories.

Disney Cruise Line was ranked No. 1 on the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2016 list of Top Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines for Families.

In Cruise Critic 9th annual Editors’ Picks Awards, Disney Cruise Line was cited as the “Best for Families” and “Best for Dining.”

Disney Cruise Line won “Most Family-Oriented Line”, “Best Children’s Programs”, “Best Entertainment” and “Best Onboard Photography” in Porthole Cruise Magazine‘s 18th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

Disney Cruise Line claimed the No. 1 spot in the “Large Cruise Line” category in_Condé Nast Traveler_ ‘s Readers’ Choice Awards.

Disney Cruise Line was awarded the coveted Gold Badge in both the Best Cruise Line for Families and Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean categories in the 2017 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cruise Lines rankings

In Travel Weekly’s 2016 Readers Choice Awards, Disney Cruise Line was named the best “family experience” cruise line.

2015

U.S. News & World Report, a nationally recognized publisher of consumer advice and rankings, recognizes Disney Cruise Lines as the “No. 1 Best Cruise Line for Families” and the “No. 1 Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean” in the publication’s 2016 Best Cruise Lines rankings.

Disney Cruise Line was recognized in Porthole Cruise Magazine 17th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards as the “Most Family-orientated line,” “Best Children’s Program” and “Best Entertainment.”

Disney Cruise Line was once again honored by Condé Nast Traveler readers as the No. 1 “Large Ship Line” in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards.

The 2015 Cruise Critic US Editors’ Picks Awards recognized Disney Cruise Line for the “Best Inside Cabins.”

Disney Cruise Line was named “Best for Families” in the 2015 Cruise International Awards.

In the Travel + Leisure 2015 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey, Disney Cruise Line was ranked No. 1 on the list of Top Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines and the No. 1 Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line for Families.

All four ships were named among the top 10 “Best Cruise Ships for Families” in the USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice poll.

Disney Cruise Line was named the Best Family Cruise Line in Global Traveler’s third annual Leisure Travel Awards.

Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards recognized Disney Cruise Line with 12 first-place awards. In the Large Ship category, the Disney Dream won Best Overall; Best Entertainment; Best Public Rooms; Best Cruises to the Bahamas. In the Large Ship category, the Disney Fantasy won Best Cabins; Best Embarkation; Best Service; Best for Families. In the Mid-Size category, the Disney Wonder won Best Overall and Best Service. In the Mid-Size category the Disney Magic won Best Embarkation and Best Entertainment.

Disney Cruise Line was named Cruise/Passenger Operator of the Year at the Lloyd’s List North American Maritime Awards 2015.

In U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 Best Cruise Line rankings, Disney Cruise Line was No. 1 in the Best Cruise Lines for Families and Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean categories and No. 2 in the Best Cruise Lines for the Money category.

2014

In the annual _Cruise Criti_c Editors’ Picks Awards, Disney Cruise Line was named Best for Families.

In the 16th annual Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards, Disney Cruise Line won in the following categories: Most Family-Oriented Line, Best Children’s Programs and Best Entertainment.

Disney Cruise Line was named North America’s Leading Cruise Line in the 2014 World Travel Awards.

Disney Cruise Line was named the No. 1 “Large Ship Line” in the Condé Nast Traveler 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Travel + Leisure readers ranked Disney Cruise Line the Top Mega-Ship Cruise Line for the first time and once again named it the Top Mega-Ship Cruise Line for Families in the magazine’s World’s Best Awards.

Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards recognized Disney Cruise Line with 29 awards, including 13 number one awards.  In the Large Ship category, the Disney  Fantasy won Best for Families, Best Overall Ship, Best Cabins, Best Dining, Best Entertainment, Best Public Rooms and Best Service. In the Mid-Size category, the Disney Wonder won Best Overall Ship, Best Entertainment and Best Service. The Disney Dream won Best Cruise to the Bahamas and the Disney Fantasy won Best Cruise to the Caribbean and Best Cruises from Florida.

All four Disney ships were ranked among the “Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World” by _Condé Nast Travele_r readers, claiming four of the top five spots in the Best Large Cruise Ships category.

Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2014 Editor-Chief Award for Best Makeover was awarded to the Disney Magic.

2013

U.S. News & World Report named Disney Cruise Line #1 in Best Cruise Lines for Families, #1 in Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean and #2 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money in their inaugural Best Cruises rankings.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine named Disney Cruise Line the Top Large-Ship Line in its 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards for the “Best of the Best” in travel.

Porthole Cruise Magazine named Disney Cruise Line “Most Family-Oriented,” “Best Children’s Programming,” “Best Entertainment” and “Best Social Media” in their annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

Cruise Critic recognized Disney Cruise Line as “Best for Families” and “Best Shore Excursions” in their annual Editors’ Picks Awards.

The American Association of Port Authorities honored Disney Cruise Line with the 2013 Cruise Award, which recognizes the positive impact the company makes on Port Canaveral and other ports around the world.

Disney Cruise Line was ranked as the third most loved travel brand, according to New Media Metrics.

Cruise International magazine named Disney Cruise Line “Best for Families” and “Best for Entertainment” in their annual Cruise International Awards, selected by readers.

Disney Cruise Line was named a finalist in Condé Nast Traveler‘s 2013 World Savers Awards, which honor travel companies for exceptional achievements in environmental and social responsibility in education, environmental and cultural preservation, healthy, poverty relief and wildlife preservation.

Travel + Leisure readers named Disney Cruise Line the Top Mega-Ship Cruise Line for Families in the World’s Best Awards for the fifth consecutive year.

The Disney Fantasy, the newest ship in our fleet, recently earned the top honor of Best Large Ship in the Cruise Critic 2013 Cruisers’ Choice Awards. The Disney Fantasy also received the top spots in four other categories — Large Ship Best Service, Best Cabins, Best Entertainment and Best Public Rooms. The Fantasy’s sister ship, the Disney Dream, won for Best Shore Excursions.

Condé Nast Traveler Readers recognized all four Disney Cruise Line ships as among the best in the world in the 2013 Readers’ Poll, with the Disney Magic ranked No. 1, the Disney Wonder No. 2, the Disney Dream No. 3 and the newest ship, the Disney Fantasy, No. 8.

2012

In recognition for making notable contributions to advance the environmental aspects of cruising, Disney Cruise Line was presented with the Environmental Initiative Award at the Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards 2012.

Porthole Cruise magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as the Most Family-Oriented Cruise Line, Best Spa Facilities and Best Children’s Programs in the Reader’s Choice Awards.

Condé Nast Traveler named Disney Cruise Line the No. 1 Cruise Line in the Large Ship category in its annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Linethe No. 1 Large-Ship Cruise Line for Families for the fourth consecutive year.  Disney Cruise Linehas been named to the top five cruise lines overall list for eight consecutive years.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine readers placed all three Disney ships at the top of their “Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World” survey. The Disney Magic was voted  No. 1and the Disney Dream and Disney Wonder tied for No. 2.

The Disney Dream won the top spot for “Best Bahamas Cruises” and “Best Cabins” in the 2012 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards. The Disney Dream also won #2 for “Families,” #3 for “Entertainment,” #5 for “Shore Excursions” and #9 for “Public Rooms” in the large ship category and #1 for “Families” in the U.K. 2012 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards. The Disney Magic won #2 for “Service,” #3 for “Entertainment,” #3 for “Families,” #6 for “Cabins,” #6 for “Fitness” and #9 for “Best Overall Ship” in the medium ship category. The Disney Wonder won #2 for “Entertainment” in the same category.

2011

Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line the No. 1 Large-Ship Cruise Line for Families and the No. 4 Large Ship Cruise Line overall.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as the No. 3 Medium-Sized Cruise Line.

Cruise Critic recognized the Disney Dream with awards for “Best New Ship” and “Best Inside Cabins” as well as the entire Disney fleet for “Best Standard Cabins.”

Porthole Cruise Magazine named Disney Cruise Line “Best Entertainment,” “Most Family-Oriented Line” and “Best Children’s Programs.”

The Themed Entertainment Associationawarded Disney Cruise Line the “Ingenious Use of Technology” award for the new “Animation Magic” show at Animator’s Palate on the Disney Fantasy.

Travel Age West awarded Disney Cruise Line an Editor’s Pick award for “Cruise Line Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction (Big Ship)” as part of the 2011 WAVE (Western Agents’ Vote of Excellence) Awards.

A 2011 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Award was given to the Disney Wonder for “Best for Entertainment” in the mid-sized ship category.

The World Waterpark Association presented an Innovation Award to Disney Cruise Line for the AquaDuck.

Cruise International magazine gave Disney Cruise Line the “Best for Kids” award.

2010

Condé Nast Traveler readers named Disney Cruise Line the no. 1 cruise experience in the Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

Condé Nast Traveler recognized Disney Cruise Line in its 10th Annual Cruise Poll. In the mega ship category, the Disney Magic was rated No. 1 for activities and facilities, and the Disney Wonder was No. 1 for crew and service.

Travel + Leisure named Disney Cruise Line the Top Family-Friendly Large-Ship Cruise Line in the 2010 World’s Best Awards poll.

The British Travel Awards have named Disney Cruise Line the Best Family Cruise Line and Best Niche Cruise Line, both in the Bronze category.

Porthole Cruise Magazine has named Disney Cruise Line the Most Family-Oriented Line and Best Children’s Programs in their Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

2009

Condé Nast Traveler recognized Disney Cruise Line as the No. 1 cruise experience in the 9th Annual Cruise Poll.  Disney Wonder was ranked No. 1, while Disney Magic was ranked No. 4.

Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the top cruise lines in the industry in their annual reader’s choice awards.  Disney Cruise Line placed No. 4 in the large cruise ship category.

Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as the No. 1 family-friendly cruise line in its 2009 “World’s Best Hotels and Cruises for Families” travel awards in the large ship category.

SpaFinder named Disney Cruise Line Vista Spa as one of the top 10 spas in the “Best Spa on a Cruise Ship” category.

Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the top cruise lines in the industry in the 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards.  Disney Cruise Line placed No. 2 in the mega-ship category.

Zagat Survey recognized Disney Cruise Line in its first cruise line survey for “Top Activities” in the large ship category.  Disney Cruise Line ranked top in the Live Entertainment and Nightlife categories, and was recognized as the Best for Kids, Best for Weekend Getaways and Best for Families.

2008

Porthole Cruise Magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line with a “2007 Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Award” for Best Family-Oriented Line.

Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the top cruise lines in the industry in their annual reader’s choice awards.  Disney Cruise Line was No. 3 in the large cruise ship category.

Condé Nast Traveler recognized Disney Cruise Line as a finalist in four categories of their World Savers Awards.  Disney Cruise Line was a runner-up in the Wildlife category and received honorable mentions in the Poverty Alleviation, Education and Preservation categories.

SpaFinder named the Disney Magic Vista Spa as one of the top 10 spas in the “Best Spa on a Cruise Ship” category.

Condé Nast Traveler recognized Disney Cruise Line as No. 3  in the Large Cruise Ship category for the 2008 Reader’s Choice Awards

2007

Porthole Cruise Magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the recipients of a “2006 Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Award.”

Condé Nast Traveler rated the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder cruise ships in the top 10 in the “Top 80 Cruise Ships in the World” poll.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line in their annual “Gold List” for 2007 in the cruise category.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked the Vista Spa & Salon aboard Disney Cruise Line as the No. 3 cruise line spa in its Spa Poll, an annual guide to the Top Spas in North America, the Caribbean and at sea.

Travel Age West awarded Disney Cruise Line two Editor’s Pick awards on “Best Overall Spa Facility” and “Best Onboard Entertainment” as part of the 2007 WAVE (Western Agents’ Vote of Excellence) Awards.

Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the top cruise lines in the industry in their annual reader’s choice awards.  Disney Cruise Line placed No. 4 in the large cruise ship category.

AAA awarded Disney Cruise Line the “Preferred Partner of the Year designation for continued excellence in providing products and services to AAA and its members.

2006

Porthole Cruise Magazine awarded Disney Cruise Line the “2005 Readers’ Choice Award” for the Most Family-Oriented Line.

Cruise Critic ranked the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder in the “Top 10 Overall Cruise Ships.” Disney Magic was ranked second, while Disney Wonder was third.

Cruise Critic also ranked the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the best onboard entertainment category.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked the Vista Spa & Salon aboard Disney Cruise Line as the No. 4 cruise line spa in its Spa Poll.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line in their “2006 Condé Nast Traveler Cruise Poll,” ranking Disney Wonder in top categories for Crew/Service and Cabins.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line in their 12th annual 2006 “Gold List” in the transportation/cruise category.

2005

Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line 4th in its “The World’s Best” travel awards in the Top 10 Cruise Lines large ship category.

AAA Travel awarded Disney Cruise Line and The Walt Disney Travel Company with two out of its three “Preferred Partner of the Year” awards for AAA Vacations.

Disney Magazine’s “Reader’s Choice Awards,” named seeing a show at the Walt Disney Theatre as the favorite shipboard activity while Animator’s Palate was named as the favorite shipboard restaurant.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line No. 5 in the “Readers’ Choice Awards” Top 25 Cruise Lines in the large ship category.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked the Vista Spa & Salon aboard Disney Cruise Line as No. 3 in its “World’s Best Spas at Sea” list.

2004

Porthole Cruise Magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line in its “Readers’ Choice Awards” as Best Family-Oriented Line.

South Florida Parenting magazine readers awarded Disney Cruise Line with the magazine’s “Kids Crown Award.”

Family Travel Forum listed Disney Cruise Line in its “Top Ten Getaways for Tiny Travelers” list.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Wonder 8th and Disney Magic 19th in the “Best Cruise Ships in the World” large ship category.

Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line 6th in “The World’s Best” travel awards for the large ship category.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line No. 5 in the “Readers’ Choice Awards” Top 25 Cruise Lines in the large ship category.

Cacique Award (Bahamas) recognized Disney Cruise Line as the “Cruise Line of the Year” — the highest honor for tourism in the Bahamas.

2003

Porthole Cruise Magazine awarded Disney Cruise Line with the “Readers’ Choice Awards” as Best Family-Oriented Line.

AAA Travel awarded Disney Cruise Line the “2002 Preferred Cruise Partner of the Year” award under the service, product and marketing areas of criteria.

Disney Cruise Line won the title of “Best Marketing” amongst all cruise suppliers from AAA.  This award considers sales, training, promotional materials, support and brochures under the guidelines for evaluation.

Disney Cruise Line won the AAA award for achieving 100% satisfaction in the areas of Product Quality, Marketing Support and Overall Performance.

Cruise Reports awarded Disney Cruise Line the “Head of the Class” award for the top value rating and top combined score in resort category.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line 6th in its “Readers’ Choice Awards” for the Top 25 Cruise Lines in the large ship category.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked the Disney Magic 8th and Disney Wonder 10th in the large ship category for the “Best Cruise Ships in the World.”

2002

Carlson Wagonlit Travel awarded the “Cruise Supplier of the Year” to Disney Cruise Line, under the criteria:  quality, value, quality of brochure, reservations performance, sales and sales support.

The Travel Channel listed Disney Cruise Line as the best family cruise line in its “World’s Best Cruises” show.

The Discovery Channel listed Disney Wonder as the 7th Wonder of America in its “Seven Wonders of America” show.

Porthole Cruise Magazine awarded Disney Cruise Line the Best Family-Oriented Line in its annual “Readers’ Choice Gold Award.”

Bridal Guide magazine listed Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise, as the “Top American Honeymoon Destination.”

Daily Express Newspaper awarded the Disney Magic as the “Best Family Ship,” in its cruise awards.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line 5th in its “Readers’ Choice Awards” Top 25 Cruise Lines large ship category.

World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society named Disney Cruise Line “Best Cruise Value”

Travel + Leisure Magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line in its “The World’s Best” Top 10 Cruise Lines large ship category.

2001

Porthole Cruise Magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line in its “Readers’ Choice Gold Award” for Best Family-Oriented Line, the Most Innovative Dining Experience and Best Children’s Program.

Porthole Cruise Magazine also awarded Disney Cruise Line with the “Editor-In-Chief” award for Most Innovative Dining Experience.

Onboard Service Magazine awarded Disney Cruise Line the Overall Onboard Services Award, Tableware Diamond Award, Amenities Diamond Award and Equipment Sapphire Award.

2000

Sea Letter Cruise Magazine  recognized Disney Cruise Line in its “Readers’ Choice Awards” for Best Entertainment, Food, Midnight Buffet, Dining Room & Cabin Service, and Dance Clubs.

Onboard Services Magazine honored the signature stage show “Disney Dreams” with the Diamond award for the best onboard entertainment.

1999

Cacique Award (Bahamas) recognized Disney Cruise Line as the “Cruise Line of the Year” — the highest honor for tourism in the Bahamas.

Uniquely Disney

• The Disney ships are painted in Mickey Mouse-inspired colors – black hull, white superstructure, yellow trim and two giant red funnels, each with the Disney Cruise Line Mickey Mouse logo.

• Disney Cruise Line was the first cruise line to have yellow lifeboats, instead of the traditional regulation orange. Disney was granted special permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to paint the lifeboats yellow, to keep with the special color theming of the ship.

• The Disney Magic was built in two halves… one hundred miles apart! Part of the ship was constructed in Ancona, Italy then towed 100 miles to meet the stern in Marghera (just outside Venice) to be perfectly joined and welded together.

• Disney Cruise Line ships use the iconic first seven notes of the “When You Wish Upon a Star” song melody as their horn signals.

• Disney ships are the only cruise ships to have five captains – the ship’s captain, Captain Mickey, Captain Minnie, Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow.

• Measuring 964 feet in length, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are each longer than Main Street U.S.A at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. At 1,115 feet, the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream are longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and longer than the height of New York City’s famous Chrysler Building.

• The anchor on the Disney Magic weighs 28,200 pounds – about the same as three full-grown elephants.

• On a special night aboard most Disney cruises, the “Pirates IN the Caribbean” deck party features a spectacular pyrotechnics performance – fireworks at sea like only Disney can do!

Guest Experience

• Eighty-eight percent of the staterooms on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream and more than 70 percent of staterooms on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder have ocean views. Of those, nearly 90 percent and 60 percent, respectively, have private verandahs.

• In a cruise industry first, most staterooms on Disney ships feature a split “bath-and-a-half” design, providing families the added convenience of a sink and tub/shower in one room and a sink and toilet in a separate room.

• Onboard both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, there are about 950 crew members representing more than 86 different nationalities. That is approximately one crew member for every three guests.

Dining

• On an average seven-night sailing aboard the Disney Magic, the following food items are consumed:

• Beef – 5,000 pounds

• Chicken – 10,000 pounds

• Salmon – 1,200 pounds

• Shrimp – 1,300 pounds

• Lobster Tail – 1,000 pounds

• Melon – 15,000 pounds

• Pineapple – 4,500 pounds

• Eggs – 71,500

• Coffee – 57,820 cups

• Soda – 3,125 gallons

• Beer – 12,385 bottles/cans

• Wine and Champagne – 2,700 bottles

• Disney Cruise Line dining room Cast members represent, on average, 86 different nationalities.

• The décor and food of the Palo restaurant are inspired by Italy, the birthplace of both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.

• Palo takes its name from the poles that line the canals of Venice. Palo’s extensive reserve wine list features selections that hail from some of the most mature vineyards in the world and highlight some of the greatest Super Tuscans like Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Tignanello.

Onboard Features

• The Disney Magic and Disney Dream interior is in the art deco style, characterized by geometric designs and bold, solid colors. The interior on the Disney Wonder and Disney Fantasy is in the art nouveau style, which features organic influences and curved patterns.

• Every Disney Cruise Line ship has an atrium lobby statue celebrating a classic Disney character. Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse, dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage, graces the Disney Fantasy and Admiral Donald strikes a pose on the Disney Dream. They are the subject of as many memorable vacation photos as their counterparts: Mickey at the helm (Disney Magic) and Ariel sitting pretty (Disney Wonder).

• The décor of the Buena Vista Theatre was designed to emulate the elegant movie houses of the 1920s and 1930s, the period when Walt Disney was producing the first Mickey Mouse animated films.

• The main showplace for entertainment, the Walt Disney Theatre spans three decks and can seat 977 guests onboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder and 1,340 guests on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

• A leader in family entertainment, Disney is the only cruise line to first-run feature films, including films in 3-D, with movies premiering at sea on the same day that they are released on land.

• With ships purpose built for family cruising, Disney cruise ships boast nearly an entire deck of space dedicated to age-specific children’s activities.

• Don’t worry about getting a chill! The swimming pools on Disney ships are heated when the water temperature drops below 75 degrees.

• Stay connected, even at sea! Disney ships feature Wi-Fi service in staterooms and public spaces, allowing guests to surf the web at sea from their wireless-enabled device.

Castaway Cay

• Castaway Cay was the first private island in the cruise industry where the ship docks alongside so guests do not have to tender to land.

• Guests can mail a special souvenir message to family and friends back home by using the Castaway Cay Post Office.

• Water is procured in Port Canaveral and delivered to Castaway Cay by the ships to an 80,000 gallon fresh water storage tank on the island.

• Feels like home? Approximately 60 Disney Cruise Line crew members live and work full-time on Castaway Cay.

Environmental Programs

• Each Disney ship has an onboard Environmental Officer dedicated to overseeing all environmental systems and procedures, along with shipboard recycling, waste minimization and water reclamation efforts.

• Condensation from the shipboard air conditioning units is collected and re-used to wash the decks, saving more than 30 million gallons of water each year.

• Disney Cruise Line made history by being the first cruise line to utilize an innovative hull coating that is both 100 percent non-toxic to the marine environment, and effective in increasing fuel efficiency. The coating helps reduce the ships’ surface resistance in the water, decreasing the need for propulsion power as the ship glides through the sea.

• More than 1,000 gallons of used cooking oil from shipboard galleys is offloaded and recycled in ports of call around the world each week. Through a unique partnership with Bahamas Waste Management (BWM) in Nassau, the used cooking oil is being converted into biodiesel fuel used to power a local fleet of BWM vehicles.

• Shipboard recycling systems help divert more than than 325 tons of aluminum, plastics, paper and non-traditional recyclables from conventional waste streams each year. That’s the equivalent of over 54 school buses or 24 humpback whales.

• Disney Cruise Line and Disney Animal Programs have partnered with local non-profit organizations, Disney researchers and educators in a multi-year project to restore the health of the coral reefs around Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, and throughout The Bahamas. Researchers are taking long-spined sea urchins that are native to the area and translocating them to coral reefs endangered by algae overgrowth. The sea urchins graze on algae similar to a lawnmower keeping the grass short.

Disney Cruise Line Vacation Planning Checklist

Browse Itineraries

Discover itineraries that sail to places around the world! Browse sailing dates, departure ports, cruise length, and ports of call to decide which sailing is right for your travel party.

Book Your Cruise

Once you've selected your itinerary, you'll begin the booking process where you will choose your stateroom. You can then pay in full, make a partial payment or put down a deposit to hold your reservation.

Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

You can use the Navigator app to explore your ship, read articles and learn helpful tips before your cruise. You can also make modifications to your reservation, add special requests and services, and pre-pay gratuities. While on board, the app allows you to see all the activities on your cruise, view menus, communicate with your travel party and more.

Book On Board Activities and Port Adventures

Once your cruise is paid in full, and you’ve reached your booking activities window, you can reserve Port Adventures, spa treatments, adult-exclusive dining and more. If you're a first-time Disney cruiser, you can begin booking 75 days before your sailing date. Castaway Club members can book further in advance! Be sure to book your desired activities as soon as possible as activities may fill up fast.

Pre-Book Photo Packages

Consider booking a photo package to capture all magic that goes along with a Disney cruise. Pre-book select photo products at least 3 days before the start of your cruise for a discount off the on-board price!

Final Preparations

Make sure you have your travel documents with you as you board the ship, not in your checked luggage. You’ll need everyone’s passport or citizenship documents for check-in at the port. To ensure smooth sailing, review the prohibited items list before you arrive at the port.

Sea Ya Real Soon!

Finalize your travel accommodations and prepare to step aboard your Disney cruise vacation! Be sure to arrive at the port at your designated arrival time.

• Which ship are you taking

o Wish is higher also because it is 3 or 4 night

• Transatlantic or reposition sailing is cheaper

• Spring break or school break is typically more expensive

• Dream heads to Europe and Fantasy will take over sailings from Port Canaveral or Miami, Treasure would take over the 7 day sailings of the Fantasy

• Holidays or Themed cruises are more expensive

• On board

o Book with travel agent for on board credit

 Not all agencies do this

 No extra fees if you book with them

o Pre-pay gratuities

o Not heavy spenders on board (extra for food or drinks)

o Really no need to spend extra money on board when main dining is excellent

o Bring popcorn budget from previous cruise or Disney trip you can just pay for a refill

• Bring wine or beer on board to start or each port

• European or Alaskan excursions can add up or are very expensive

o Can you access the town yourself

o Third party tour options instead of just Disney

• Dinner time is family time so no adult dinning

• Adult dining palo is all you can eat?

• Fish extender instead of buying things at gift shop

o It can help you budget money

• Ask guest services and ask for free samples or even outside the medical center

• Book standard inside room especially for Europe

• Guaranteed staterooms can save money

• Attempt upgrade room at port before getting on ship

• Stationary at front desk

• Get Disney visa card sticker day 1

• Bring non-slip shoes for the pool deck and plenty of sunscreen! The sun at sea is different than on land.

• There are clothing lines to dry your swimsuits in the shower.

• Pack a refillable cup if you drink a lot of water. I also bring travel size dish soap to wash our cups daily.

• You can eat breakfast & lunch in the dining room if you want to skip Cabanas. When you first board the ship, the dining room is less chaotic than the buffet for lunch.

• Decorate your stateroom door! It makes it fun & easier for you to find your room. Remember the Wish cabin doors are a bit different from other ships.

• Pack $1 candy boxes for the theatre. People even bring blankets and wear pajamas to watch movies. Comfort is key!

• After the Pirate Night fireworks there is a pirate themed buffet in Cabanas.

• Pack an address label for every suitcase you bring. We stick the labels on our disembarkation luggage tags Disney will provide instead of filling out our address & names 4 times.

• You can put your luggage outside of your stateroom by 10pm night before if you don't want to carry it off the ship yourself. We bring a small suitcase with us for this reason, so we have something to pack our overnight items in.

• Luggage is not delivered until 5:30-6pm embarkation day. Take anything you will need prior with you on board to be safe (ex. bathing suit, medication, hairbrush).

• Shops are closed while in port. They should be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings starting around 5-6pm.

• We always bring cash to give extra money to our servers and stateroom attendant.

• Don't forget that you can book 2 placeholders while on board through the app. Saves you 10% off future Disney cruises. Google Disney Cruise Placeholder for more info.

• Alcohol needs to be with you when boarding ship

• Press pennies at port

• Order room service once on boat from port adventure

• Consider bringing door decorations with you on ship to do before room is completed

• DO not book bibbidi bobbidi boutique on embarkation day

• Sign up for royal gathering before checking in

• Disney Room Service Secret Menu

o Coffee carafe

o Ask for warm chocolate cookies

o Mikey ice cream bars

o Soft pretzel with cheese

o Uncrustables (PB & J)

o Cake of the day

o Pie of the day

o BLT

o Pre-breakfast cereal, bagel, juice)

o Muffins looked great in pictures

o All hands-on deck cheese plate embarkation day

o Request chocolate molten cake

o Mozzarella sticks

o Curry

o Pirate night buffet after show

• Many different cruise lines, ports, rooms, destinations, dates of embarkation etc.

• When to sail

o Hurricane season, Alaska (may to September), trans-Atlantic

o Price of the cruise versus when to sail

• Where and how long to sail for

o When and where go hand and hand

o If beginner try to start with a 3 – 4-night cruise

• What cruise line to pick

o Holland or Celebrity does not have the best kids clubs

• Royal, DCL or Norwegian  Price, date when ships leave, 4-night leave Monday, 3-night leave Friday, some leave on weekends, and some 5 nights rotate which day they leave

• Stateroom

o Ocean-view is just a window

• Double occupancy  means that if only one person is staying in the room, the cruise lines will typically have you pay for 2 people minus the taxes and fees for the second person

• Sometimes it is cheaper to put 2 people in 2 rooms than 4 people in one room

o Joining staterooms cheaper than 1 suite

• Budget  do you want to spend more money on the staterooms or excursions

o Europe has very long port days 12 plus hours therefore want to spend the money there

o Alaska wants a verandah with amazing views

• When you book you get to select your room (different than hotels)

• Decide which port to leave from  San Diego, Miami, Texas, Port Canaveral

o Collapsible hangers

o Over the door shoe organizer

o Very strong magnet hooks to use with #2

o Charging station tower

o Clothes pin to hang wet clothes in bathroom

o Service

o Servers are happy & nice

o Not nickeled and dimes like Disney world

o Palo

o GO to the spa

 Try out the sensory showers

o Ride Aquaduck, aquamouse

o Watch Broadway like show

o Run 5k on castaway cay

o Dress like a pirate

o Join a fish extender exchange

o Attend sailing away party

o Stay up for fireworks

o Characters have different wardrobes throughout the cruise

o Use Disney transfer and your bags will magically show up in your room

o Can request to get a better view/seat in main dining room

o Adults can see the kid’s area during open house

o Mickey ice cream bars always available at dinner

o Concierge guests have their own deck area

o Water and soft drinks included unless ordering via room service

o Movies are released on board and in theaters at the same time

o Don’t forget about the “Til We Meet Again goodbye show

o Ask your stateroom host for cartoon bedding for the kid bed if you think your child will be excited to come back from dinner to one of their Disney favorites

o Regardless of your cabin, bring magnetic Mickey or nautical-themed decor for the entrance as most of the stateroom doors are magnetic and decorating is a fun tradition on a Disney cruise

o Ask at check-in if any upgrades available

o Fish extender

o Facebook group

o Pirate night

o Character meet and greets

o Rotational dining

o Fireworks

o Use DCL website to research options by selecting port

 Port adventures page

 If first time on DCL and your booking window is last, you might not get the excursion you want

 But once on board go to guest services and join the waitlist

o Some excursions are age specific

 Helpful to be 5 years old and older

o Whenever my family books excursions, we always stick to official Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures for the ease and peace of mind they offer. From getting you to the tour operator, to ensuring you won't be left behind if your return to the ship is delayed, there is nothing like not having to worry!

o You do not have to sign up for one

 You can enjoy the day on the ship

o If the one you wanted is sold out stop at guest services once boarded to ask about it spots might open up

 Or look to book it outside DCL

o Must cancel at least 3 days before on the ship otherwise you can not cancel unless the rare situation that someone else on the ship wants that excursion

 Even if you do not go you will still have to pay

o Adults can order off the kids menu

o You can order as many dishes as you like

 Feel free to ask for seconds

o Pirate night buffet in cabanas after last show

 Some people have said it has not fully returned since Covid

o Main dining room for breakfast instead of Cabanas/Marceline Market

o Early dining typically 5: 30 pm start which is the same time you must be on board for most end of day ports therefore you either need to rush to get to dinner or end your port day early

o Second dining positives

 Less kids

 Broadway shows are early in the day

o Dine and Dash

 Server takes children’s order immediately and bring the food out within 15 minutes

 Once the kids are done someone from the children’s club can pick up the kids or the kids can walk themselves there

o Endless Mickey Bars

o Casino at Atlantis since not one on the DCL ships

o A lot of activities on ship since most repeated port

o Atlantis is expensive

 out of the box idea is to book a local hotel room that includes passes for the family might be cheaper than paid port excursion

o Taxi is very cheap to get you from the port and very expensive to get back to port

 Always confirm cost before getting into taxi

o The walk from the ship to the port is long and they are golf carts for those that need help

 Please remember to tip driver

o Lots of shopping within walking distance of the port

o Many excursions offered even outside of booking with DCL

 Check out shoreexcursions.com

 Know the risk and benefits of booking with or without DCL

o Port excursions

 Beach, or historical tour

 With the ability to host multiple cruise ships, the port/day can be very crowded

o Bahamas can accurately be described as the industry’s leading destination, with the capital city of Nassau being cruising’s number one port of call. In 2019, the Bahamas hosted 5.43 million cruise visitors, more than any other global cruise port, and it greeted nearly 1 million more travelers than Cozumel, Mexico, the next most-visited port.

o 2 outfits per day

 Swimsuit and dinner

 Reuse dat wear with evening wear

o Packing cubes to stay organized and store well during cruise

o Laundry bag and laundry items

 Bring Tide pods

o Save room for items you purchase on the cruise in your suitcase

o Pack large and smaller suitcases so that they can be stored inside of each other to save room in the stateroom

o If you forget something, ask guest services before shopping in the stores for them

o Remember any liquid you bring on the ship must be in carry on only

o Don’t forget basics

 Sunglasses, hat, bathroom toiletries, sandals, etc.

o Large party 6 and more can be expensive

o Spend more money away from the ship

o The vacation is the ship

o If something happens to you off the ship and you booked through DCL they will hold the boat for you

o Young kids might not have lots of options

o Evaluate by weighing time away from the ship versus costs for excursions

o They can be very helpful if in a different country and not speak that language

o Adventures by Disney add on for Alaska or Mediterranean

o Some can be very long 6 + hours basically the whole day

o If you miss you still get charged

o Can cancel up to 3 days before the ship leaves

o Book early they fill up fast

o You do not have to do DCL ones but weigh risk/reward

o Lots of character meet and greets

o Sleep in

o Spend extra time at the Pool or aqua slides

o Spa day

 Rainforest day pass

o Enjoy a sit-down breakfast in one of the restaurants

o On-board activities such as

 Beverage tasting, towel folding, anyone can cook

o Enjoy adult only time while kids are in the kids clubs

o Adult dining brunch

 How to make it work

• Bring the kids to the pool and then lunch and then kids club

• It should give you about 1 ½ hours for brunch

o Work out in the gym or walk on the decks

Have the ship to yourself and less crowded

Great way to score some hard-to-get on-board activities

Been to this port many times and nothing new to explore

Many cruise ships in port that day therefore it will be very crowded

Do not want to get up early on vacation

 Many port excursions have the meeting time earlier than 10 am therefore you have to get up early for breakfast

o Numerous amounts of character meet & greets

o Equidistantly service

o Cruises from port Canaveral stops at Disney private island Castaway Cay

o Dining experiences with rotational dining and dinner shows on show ships

o Kids club

o Food is considered above par/good

o Character interactions

o Numerous activities on board

o Themed cruises

o Taking a DCL is a family milestone

o Magical moments

o DCL enhancements

o Less tiring than a Disney world/land trip

o Pixie dust

o Disney themed music

o Level of Disney is up to you, characters as much/little

o But lines are long at times for characters

o Navigator app lists all mee and greets and you can heart them and it will get you a reminder 15 minutes before

o Maintenance is done consistently and cleanly down persistency and consistency

o Top notch service which they are friendly and they care, they choice to be there and go above and beyond

o Entertainment with Broadway style shows lasting 40 minutes which is not too long for kids to enjoy and sit through, movies and music performances

o Kids club and many age groups (price included)

o At meal take kids order first and feed quickly so they can return to clubs

o Themed nights pirate night and only cruise line that does fireworks which is environmentally strong as they change to fish food

o Food excellent

o So many different on board activities so should have something for everyone

o Disney movies free in room and theater

o Research port adventures both through Disney and not through Disney

o Research Disney ground transportation and other transportation routes

 Know what dining seating you have and your flight information

o Know when your

 Final payment is due by

 Booking window opens

 Checking in date 30 days out

o If you missed an on-board activity once on the ship join the waitlist at guest services and see if it is open

o Facebook group based on your cruise

 Meet other families

 Sign up for Fish extender or magnet exchange

o Research a packing list based on itinerary and start to get organized

o Overwhelmed  find a blog, podcast, and do research

o Hire a travel agent if overwhelmed after research

o Research transportation all ways

 Ways to get to and from the port

o Research time of year especially for weather

o Start to make a budget or set aside money

o Research trip insurance

o Learn what you need to cruise

 Luggage, passports, etc.

o Pick a port or two that you want to visit

• Avoid booking early flights home

o Typically nothing earlier than noon

o If during the week think of traffic also

• Instructions given the day before

o What breakfast sports are open, where to go and what to do with your luggage

o Take your time and read it

• Time and procedures

o Express walk off you handle your own bags

 Great for early flights or day at the theme parks

• Luggage instructions

o Where to put it and by what time

o Keep with you: medications, documents and Room Cards

• Check cruise account before leaving

o Make sure credit card is working

• Cruise survery

• Download or pick up photos

• Purchase place holder before the last night

• Need key Card to scan off the ship

• Know your transportation or have a plan

o Many new and/or different destinations (Mexican)

 Panama Canal, Hawaiian, etc.

o Live on West Coast therefore save on flight costs and can drive to the port

o Different ships

 Can be a smaller ship therefore less cruises on the ship

o Burnt out of Caribbean itineraries

o Hotels and airports are extremely close to the port

o Port being smaller could lead to a cheaper cruise or ability to find deals on the sailing

o Able to book last minute because not as busy port

o Can visit Disney land or other parks in California

• Port  left side of the ship as you face forward

• Starboard  right side of the ship as you face forward

• Book the right kind of rate

o Example of non-refundable rate is cheapest

• Book with a travel agent

• Know when your final payment is due

o Have the funds available about 1 week out

o Some credit cards have a daily limit so be cautious

• Trip insurance

o Hope you never have to use it

o Medical evacuation is expensive

• Passport versus birth certificates

o If you do not have a passport you cannot come back into the country unless it is the same way (i.e. left and come back on a cruise ship, cannot fly, helicopter, etc.)

o The embassy can help

o Birth certificates are only useable on a closed loop cruise

 Starts and stops in the same location

o Some cruise lines require a passport to be valid for 6 months after the sailing date

 Disney does not have that rule

o Check if going to Europe

• Travel logistics

o Know how to get to the port and back home

o Arrive the night before

o Art of theme is only on embarkation day

o Everything on the ship is Disney themed

o Tiered pricing system which increases over time so book early if you can, basically every 10% capacity of the ship prices increase

o Tiered booking windows for on-board activities and excursions

o Characters at terminal rotate every 30 minutes

o Meet and greet lines even with tickets can take time >30 minutes therefore make sure to choose or organize by your most prized one

o Some meet and greets need tickets

 Check guest services to get on waitlist

o Mickey bars can be ordered via room service or at any main dining restaurant

o Facebook group for your cruise and fish extenders

o Shows are also on tv in your room

o Per person 2 bottles of wine or 6 beers can be brought on

o Post office on castway if want to mail anything and need cash to purchase anything

 It takes about 6 months to receive it at home

o September/October cheapest time to book hurricane season

o No limits on food ordering during dinner

o Only cruise ship with fireworks show on the ship

o No breakfast served on castway cay

o Special character and photo opportunities on castway cay

o Basically, a weekend get away

 Minimize number of vacation days taken from work

o Shortest trip if concerned with motion issues

o Don’t want to commit to a long itinerary

o Budget friendly

o Can plan a land and sea family vacation

 Always do the land/Disney first before cruise

o Maximize your time on DCL

o Do not fill like you will get to do everything

 You need to prioritize each day

o Great way to try a new ship

o Budget friendly

o Typically get to visit cruise line’s private island

o Port days get off the ship since you will typically have multiple sea days

o Eat Palo/Remy early in the cruise because you get stuffed as days go with all the food you eat

o If multiple port days in a row, be cautious if they all involve looks of walking back to back

o Rotational dining will have you eat in the same restaurant more than once but the menu will change each time

o More cruise days is always better

o Get to know the crew better and other cruising guests

o Get to know the ship better and explore more of it

o Pace yourself on both eating and daily activities

o More time to relax and enjoy vacation

That is an excellent question, and I'm glad that I'm answering it for you as I had a similar experience over the years as I sailed Alaskan itineraries out on the West Coast. Now while we never want to have to end any cruise early, life does happen sometimes and from time to time there are folks who need to cut their voyage short to make it home for a myriad of good reasons. In my case, I had a family situation that forced me to make my way home immediately; my experience took a few hoops to jump through to accomplish, yet was not impossible. Disembarking permanently from any ship is not an easy process and may require a lot of patience if you choose to make that decision.

One of the things that most Disney Cruise Line guests often do not consider when embarking on their journey are laws and regulations that govern travel by sea, which include the Passenger Vessel Services Act. I recommend taking some time to read up on it online, but in short as it applies to your situation you may find it challenging to permanently disembark in Alaska if you were to begin your cruise in an American port. Luckily however, cruises on board the Disney Wonder tend to begin and end in Vancouver, British Columbia which thankfully avoids this and any fines levied against the ship by U.S. Customs and Border Protection!

I found that the best Port to head home from with the most options to explore in a shorter amount of time was the state capital, Juneau; it was a quick ride to Juneau International Airport (JNU) that took less than 20 minutes. As a secondary option, Ketchikan and Sitka also have smaller airports with limited flight options. I would caution against the more northerly Port of Skagway, as the few folks I've known to leave the ship permanently from there have had to take a combination of seaplanes and overland vehicle routes in order to reach any airports to take them further onward.

I highly recommend speaking with Guest Services Crew Members and connect with the Guest Service Manager on board to them know in advance as soon as you board if there is any chance of you having to debark early during the voyage, as there will likely need to be a number of logistics involved to make that happen; the more advance notice they have, the more likely that this can be arranged. Be aware though that itineraries and any onboard passenger movements are subject to change and can never be guaranteed, so it's always best to be as prepared and patient as possible. (In my situation, I had to debark with just a few hours of advance notice and jumped at the opportunity as soon as I could!)

I see that you may have already been able to check in for your cruise, so hopefully everything went smoothly. You should have been able to check in using your government-issued id and birth certificate.

Now, when your passports do arrive, you should be able to update your documents with your passport information. In order to do this, you will need to log in to your Disney Cruise Line Account and navigate to the Already Booked tab, and then My Reservations. There you will find the Cruise Details information. Check there to see if your Guest information is "pending approval" or if it is listed as "complete.” If it is listed as "complete," you may try to modify your travel documentation and submit a photo of your new passport.

Since you are less than a month out from your cruise, I recommend that you contact Disney Cruise Line and notify them that you have a new passport. Alternatively, if you are unable to update your documents prior to your cruise, you will need to take the documents that you used for online check-in and present those, along with your passport, for your cruise terminal check-in.

• Party of six

o Look to book adjoining rooms that have a connecting door

o Need to place an adult in at least each room

o Wonder and magic have more oceanview rooms for this

o Dream, fantasy and wish have more verandah rooms for this

 Can sometimes open the verandah wall also

• Can not book a guaranteed room and ask for adjoining

• Anyone can get extra keys to each room

• Base on the number of people might want to look for a room to sleep 3 or 4 persons so that everyone gets their own bed and not fighting over the big bed

• First two people In each room have adult pricing

o Therefore place your oldest kids as adult number 2 in each room versus the youngest child

o You will save money doing this

• Need to know who is in what room especially for getting off the ship, checking out of kids clubs and disembarkation

• Checking in

o Need to check in each room separately

o Make sure reservations are linked

o Can have different port arrival times but typically very close

o Can board with either of the arrival times hopefully

o Adults can set charging responsibility for the kids

o Make sure to select other under the who can check the kids out of the clubs and add the other parent in the other room and any older kids

 Disney will default to the only adults in the room

• Kids club

o Can age up or down

 11 year old can be in Oceaneer club or Edge

• Port Adventures

o Might be best to look at private ones because 6 people port adventures will be expensive and might be cheaper going the private route

Welcome aboard planDisney! You must be thrilled to have both a Disney Cruise Line and a Walt Disney World Resort vacation coming up. It’s the perfect combination of land and sea for sure!

Loralie, you will be happy to know you can use your Disney Cruise Line DisneyBand+ at Walt Disney World Resort, too. You can link your DisneyBand+ to your My Disney Experience account at any time, just as you would your MagicBand+ I would recommend that you go ahead and do it now. I don’t anticipate that you will have any issues with the process, but just in case, this will give you time to troubleshoot them before your magical vacation begins.

The Disney Wish is a beauty, and you will adore her, Loralie! I encourage you to take the complimentary Walking the Wish tour, which shares some of the impressive technology and magical touches that went into making the Disney Wish. You don’t need to register, just check your Disney Cruise Line Navigator App when you board for the time and meeting location. In the meantime, you can explore this beautiful ship in this planDisney Pocket Guide to the Disney Wish!

You become an official member of this special club the moment you step foot back on land from disembarking your very first sailing with Disney Cruise Line, and the perks only keep accumulating from there! Let’s dive in and take a look together.

First, navigate to the Disney Cruise Line website and hover over the menu bar at the top labelled Already Booked.From there, click on Castaway Club and a new screen will appear. Select the Log In button and enter your usual Disney account information.The page will refresh, and you will see the Disney Cruise Loyalty Program information, Castaway Club, with an overview of the different levels and benefits.Scroll down on that page and you should see a dashboard with an overview of your membership level and benefits. Just below that, you’ll see a chart of your past cruises including the ship, sail dates, and stateroom number.For any sailings within the past 90 days, you can also download a copy of your folio to see itemized charges.

I love this new feature with details at my fingertips to reminisce about our past cruises and to help me plan more for the future! I will share that when recreating these steps for you, I had to do this twice as the page initially did not show my full cruise history. Please be sure that you’re logged in and navigate to the Castaway Club page for the right details to appear for your account.

I hope this is the buried treasure you were seeking, Holly! There are so many amazing things on the horizon for Disney Cruise Line, so I hope knowing the benefits you’re eligible for helps you reserve everything needed and finalize the details for a special adventure.

First, I recommend letting Disney Cruise Line know about your nephew's birthday so the Crew can share in your joy. Locate your reservation and select Special Requests > Celebrations to note your special occasion. Letting your dining room servers know which night you’d like to celebrate is also a good idea. They will go out of their way to ensure his day is extra magical. Be sure to stop by Guest Services to pick up a "Happy Birthday" button that can be worn throughout the entire cruise. The Crew, other Guests, and even the Disney Characters will notice the button and share their good wishes with him.

For an extra special surprise, browse the Onboard Gifts offered on your sailing. There are cakes, cupcakes, and various gifts from which to choose. My sister ordered the Celebrate Today Birthday Décor package for my son. His eyes lit up when he entered the stateroom to find it decorated for his birthday. Alternatively, you could bring a couple of magnets and a birthday banner to put on his stateroom door to mark the occasion.

Something else I like to do is bring small gifts from home and pixie dust the birthday Guest. Each night I set out a small surprise. It doesn’t have to be expensive. For my son, I’ve given him sand toys, action figures, coloring books, and candy. Don’t forget that a trip to the gift shop is always an excellent idea for a unique souvenir.

You’re sailing during my favorite time of year! I’m so excited for you to experience everything a Disney Cruise Line vacation offers. From incredible dining rooms, beautiful Bahamian ports of call, and family-friendly entertainment, there’s a flurry of activities for Guests of all ages on board. I have no doubt that you’ll come home with memories to last a lifetime.

Some of my favorite memories have been made while exploring new destinations. Disney Port Adventures are a convenient, hassle-free way to experience an exotic port of call. It’s also nice to leave the planning to someone else! Disney Cruise Line handles your transportation, admission fees, and more! Plus, each excursion is led by a knowledgeable guide. Unfortunately, there is no price match policy.

If you decide to book the Atlantis Aquarium independently, please keep track of the all-aboard time. Captain Mickey is on a tight schedule and cannot wait for late Guests. When I stopped in Tortola, I booked a dolphin encounter on my own. We were delayed interacting with the dolphins because they let those with cruise excursions go ahead of us. We spent a lot of time in the hot sun with our three-year-old, who didn’t understand why we were waiting. We wasted a lot of time in port, and I regretted not paying more for a Disney Port Adventure.

First, make sure the app is downloaded to your junior sailors' mobile devices. They do not need a Disney Cruise Line account. On embarkation day, the app transforms for everyone once you’re connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi. Each Guest will be prompted to link their stateroom. Once linked, your children can access the onboard activities and the chat feature.

For safety, Guests under the age of 13 may only use the chat function by obtaining a unique pin from the Primary Guest in the stateroom. This is usually the name of the first person on the reservation. Tap the child’s name in the app on a grownup's phone to obtain the pin. Your kids can then enter this pin on their app and start chatting.

Keep in mind that the Wi-Fi on Disney Castaway Cay can be spotty. If your kids are going off on their own, I recommend having a meeting time and location planned as a backup. I hope this information helps, Tiffany. One of my favorite app features is the ability to see all the activities planned for the entire cruise. You can favorite activities and will receive a push notification about 15 minutes before the fun is about to begin.

o Let the crew take care of you and put aside the negative in your life

o Manage expectations

o Do as much on the ship that works for you

o Make sure to pick correct ship which can change personalities over time be aware

o Changes with itinerary are common so go with it

o Bring snack bags to take items from buffet if needed

o Pre-pay for as much as you can beforehand

o Start nausea meds before getting on the ship

o Bring as many medications are you need (allergy, cough, cold etc.)

o Bring thank you cards

o Bring air freshener