Here in the Midwest, it's cold, it's snowy, and there is more of this nasty winter weather on the way. Every time I bundle up to head outside, I dream of sunshine, warm sand, and the sound of the ocean. What better way to experience all of those things and more than on a Disney cruise? Yet another item on my Disney bucket list, a Disney Cruise Line® vacation is a unique way to enjoy a Disney vacation that is different from yet every bit as magical as a trip to a Disney Park thanks to a top-of-the-line cruising experience.
Disney Cruise Line® is a fleet of four luxury cruise ships that are a throwback to the golden era of the cruising. The Disney Wonder, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Dream all provide guests with state-of-the-art amenities, Disney-exclusive activities and experiences, and legendary service.
(Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
While there are differences from ship to ship, they all bring guests similar opportunities for entertainment, dining, and activities. I am going to talk about what you'll find aboard all ships, as these are the things that make a Disney Cruise Line® vacation the most magical and special way to cruise as a family, as a couple, or as a group.
What's Included
There are so many magical things included in a Disney Cruise Line® vacation. You have a choice of stateroom accommodations with housekeeping services twice a day. You will have access to amazing entertainment and recreation activities, from live shows and deck parties to pools and kids clubs. Oh and of course lots of opportunities to meet your favorite Disney characters!
Feeling hungry at 2 am? No problem! You can access room service 24-hours a day, along with amazing dining options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, including all-you-care-to-eat soft-serve ice cream. Yes, you read that right. Unlimited ice cream. All day.
If you are traveling to the Bahamas or Caribbean, your itinerary may include a stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. You'll also be able to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App to your mobile device once onboard the ship. This is the cruise equivalent to the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps for the parks so that you can access menus, activity times and locations, ports of call information, and even a special texting app with Disney emojis to communicate with other cruisers.
Some of the very important information you can find on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.
(Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Staterooms
All four Disney Cruise Line® ships offer four different types of rooms:
Inside, a windowless interior stateroom with a Porthole Mirror that sleeps 3-4 people.
Oceanview, a stateroom with one or two portholes that sleeps 3-4 people.
Verandah, a spacious room with a private, child-proofed balcony that sleeps up to 5 people.
Concierge, a room big enough to sleep 5-7 people, depending on configuration and number of bedrooms, along with a verandah and additional amenities exclusive to Concierge-level guests.
A verandah stateroom on the Disney Wonder. (Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
All staterooms come equipped with premium linens, an LCD flat screen television, refrigerator, in-room safe, hair dryer, bath products, individual climate control, privacy curtains, elevated bed frames to store luggage, and WiFi access (additional fee required).
(Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Concierge-level staterooms feature upgraded amenities including a stocked pantry and wet bar, blu-ray DVD player, premium bath products, choice of pillows, personal robe and slippers, media library, and complimentary WiFi. Concierge guests may also utilize Concierge services to book onboard activities, Port Adventures, and special requests.
Your MousePros agent can help you determine which type of room, which deck, and which side of the ship makes the most sense for your party.
Entertainment
No one does onboard entertainment quite like Disney Cruise Line®! You can take in a Broadway-caliber live show, cool off in the Buena Vista Theater while watching one of the newest Disney movies, meet your favorite characters, participate in games, or dance the night away during a deck party.
One of the deck parties that you'll find during select itineraries across all Disney Cruise Line® ships is Pirate Night. Pirate-themed dinners are followed by a "Pirates in the Caribbean" deck party with a pirate show and dancing with some of your favorite Disney characters. Weather-permitting, Pirate Night may also includes a fantastic fireworks show!
(Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Recreation
All ships feature multiple pools, including spaces designated for toddlers and adult-only quiet pools. If you're traveling on the Disney Magic, you can take a ride down the 3-story high AquaDunk bodyslide and rocket over the side of the ship on a 20-foot curve. If you're aboard the Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy, you can hop in a raft and ride the 765-foot long AquaDuck water coaster through the twisting transparent tube and then splash into the lazy river.
The Aqua Lab slide on the Disney Wonder. (Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
One of the pool areas on the Disney Wonder. (Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Kids will be begging you to let them spend time in the youth clubs. Each ship is home to age-appropriate spaces for kids to hang out, staffed by fully trained Cast Members. Little ones ages 6-months to 3-years can spend time in the "it's a small world" nursery! Reservations are required for families who wish to take advantage of the "it's a small world" nursery! and can be made at minimum 75 days in advance of your departure. Unlike the other kids' spaces, this room is not complimentary. The rate at time of posting is $9/hour for the first child and $8/hour for additional children. Your MousePros agent can confirm current rates for you and help you make nursery reservations.
Kids who are fully toilet-trained and 3-years of age through 12-years-old will love spending time in Disney's Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. These specially-themed spaces feature multiple rooms for kids to spend time in. Depending on your ship, your kids will be able to play in Andy's Room, Pixie Hollow, Mickey Mouse Club, or Star Wars, MARVEL, or Frozen themed rooms. Children must be registered to enjoy time in the Oceaneer Club or Oceaneer Lab. You can complete the registration either at the terminal or once onboard the ship. Or you can pre-register online. Your MousePros agent can also help you with online pre-registration.
(Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
A crafting activity area in the Oceaneer Lab onboard the Disney Wonder. (Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Younger children may also enjoy a trip to the onboard Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where they can transform into a princess, a knight, a pirate, Captain Mickey, and on special sailings, a Jedi knight or Jedi princess. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique packages are available at a variety of price points. Reservations are required and available on a first come, first serve basis. They can be made prior to embarkation or once onboard by visiting the Boutique. Your MousePros agent can help you with making these reservations.
A sample of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique looks your child can choose from during Star Wars Day at Sea sailings.
(Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog)
Tweens ages 11-to-14-years-old can spend time in Edge, a special space with high-tech entertainment equipment, including flat-screen TVs, computers, video games, and guided activities. Vibe is the teen-exclusive space found on all four ships. Guests ages 14-to-17-years-old can visit this area to dance, lounge on the sun deck, play video games, or watch a movie. Both Edge and Vibe are staffed by Disney Cast Members who are there to both lead and chaperone activities. Registration for Edge and Vibe must be completed onboard the ship.
A video game activity area inside tween club Edge onboard the Disney Wonder. (Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
A lounge area inside teen club Vibe onboard the Disney Wonder. (Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Fear not, though. Kids don't get to have all the fun aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship! Adults have access to the Senses spa, an adult-only quiet pool, adult-exclusive dining at Palo, and can spend time at the adult-only nightclub, Keys. Your MousePros agent can even help you make spa appointments in advance of your departure.
(Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Dining
No matter which ship you’re on, you’ll have fantastic dining options. The previously mentioned adult-exclusive Italian restaurant Palo can be found aboard all four ships in the fleet. All ships also use rotational dining as a way to ensure that all guests get to experience all three uniquely themed restaurants aboard the ship. You’ll be assigned to either the Main Seating at 5:45 pm or the Second Seating at 8:15 pm, and your server will travel with you each night to the next restaurant. I love the idea of rotational dining and getting to know that one server really well! All four ships also offer the unique dinner show starring Disney characters at Animator’s Palate, and several quick service locations can be found on all four ships.
(Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Inside Animator's Palate (Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
The Disney Magic includes Lumiere’s, designed after The Beauty and the Beast, and Carioca’s, which is becoming Rapunzel’s Royal Table! The Disney Wonder has Tiana’s Place, a southern dining experience with a The Princess and the Frog theme, and Triton’s, which is the Disney Wonder equivalent of Lumiere’s and boasts a Disney’s Little Mermaid theme. The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy both have an Enchanted Garden restaurant, along with an additional adult-only restaurant, Remy, a French-inspired dining experience with a Ratatouille theme. The Disney Dream has a princess-inspired restaurant called Royal Palace, and The Disney Fantasy has the Royal Court.
(Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Dining is included in your cruise, though both Palo and Remy require reservations, which can be made online in advance of your departure. Your MousePros agent can help you make these reservations. Palo and Remy also have dress codes, which your MousePros agent can explain to you in more detail.
Itineraries
From Alaska to the Caribbean, and Mexico to the Norwegian Fjords, there is a Disney Cruise Line® itinerary for everyone. Depending on your destination, departure port, and month of travel, you can book a cruise from 2-nights to 14-nights. All cruises include at least one port of call and Port Adventures, or shore excursions at your ports of call, can be booked in advance once your cruise is paid in full. Your MousePros agent can help you choose and reserve Port Adventures. Disney Cruise Line® even has a private island, Castaway Cay, which is often a port of call for itineraries in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Some itineraries include special days at sea with a full day of special activities, character meet and greets, and entertainment. Star Wars Day at Sea is offered from January 2018 - April 2018 on select 7-night Caribbean cruises on the Disney Fantasy. Marvel Day at Sea is offered on select 5-night Western Caribbean cruises on the Disney Magic between January 2018 and April 2018.
(Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog)
(Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog)
Beginning in September, Disney Cruise Line® guests can experience the magic of the holidays on their cruise. Halloween on the High Seas, Thanksgiving at Sea, Very Merrytime Cruises, and New Year's Eve celebrations happen on all of the ships for select itineraries. Stay tuned to the blog over the next few weeks for more information on these special days at sea and Castaway Cay!
The Disney Wonder dressed up for Halloween. (Photo Credit: MousePros Agent Emily Milligan)
Booking
If this has you ready to check "take a Disney cruise" off your bucket list, you can contact MousePros for a free, no-obligation quote. This is a great time to book, too. Only half of the required deposit is due on cruises booked by February 15th!
If you've been on a Disney Cruise Line® cruise in the past, tell us about it! Share your experience on our Facebook page or in the comments and help other MousePros clients and fans learn more about why a Disney cruise is a magical vacation!