8 of Our Top Tips for Planning a Disney Cruise
With Easter Weekend almost here, now is the perfect time to get together with your family to start planning your Disney Voyage at Sea! Packages are currently available for sailings through until September of 2020! For those considering a cruise or those who have already booked one of Disney’s amazing sailings we thought we’d give you a jumpstart on the planning process with 8 of our quick tips!
1. Board the Ship Early for Some Downtime
Your cruise will typically finish the boarding process around 3pm. Though it may seem like a good idea to wait until close to this time to board to avoid having to wait around, we here at MickeyBlog actually think this is a missed opportunity. Scheduling an early boarding time means that you can enjoy a relatively quiet ship as it slowly starts to welcome passengers. During this time you can get a lay-of-the-land, head to Cabana’s for some delicious food or go for a dip in the pool without it being super crowded. It’s good to go through your online check-in as early as you can to select your arrival time. Disney Cruise Line assigns embarkation windows and early spots fill up pretty quickly!
2. Remember Food is All-You-Care-To Enjoy
Disney Cruise Line operates on a rotational dining system for your evening meal. This means that during each night of your stay you’ll be able to enjoy one of your ships amazing eateries before moving to the next one the following day. One of the great perks of this method is that the staff assigned to your table actually move with you each night. However, many guests don’t realize that a slightly under-the-radar perk is that all the meals at these restaurants all-you-care-to-enjoy! Can’t decide between appetizers? Order two! Have a sweet tooth? Sample more than one dessert! And moms and dads, with dining included in the cost of your sailing it’s the perfect time to let the kids go crazy!
3. Give Room Service a Try a Least Once
There are a ton of amazing services included in the cost of your Disney Cruise Line fare. One of our favorites is definitely the fact that you can have room service delivered directly to your stateroom at no extra cost! Whether it’s indulging in the luxury of having breakfast in bed or ending your night with some tasty bites its one of those things that we promise will make you feel extra pampered. Though a wide range of menu items are complimentary, it’s always good to have a bit of cash on hand to tip your server!
4. Check Your Navigator App for Ship Tours
On embarkation day or on your first full day of cruising, Disney will typically offer tours of the ship for families to enjoy at no extra charge. These quick walkthroughs are an ideal way of getting acclimated to your cruise ship. It’s also a great opportunity for you to ask any initial questions about the layout or where you may find certain amenities!
5. Pre-Pay Gratuities for Hassle-Free Cruising
There are so many things including in the cost of your Disney Cruise that here at MickeyBlog we’ve devoted a whole article to it! (Check it out here.) However, one of the things not included are tips for the amazing staff that look after your every need while at sea. However, with a little forward planning, you can save yourself unexpected cruising expenses by pre-paying your gratuities before you set sail! The pre-paying option allows you to pay $13.50 multiplied by the length of your cruise (per person) and covers everyone from your porter to the awesome restaurant staff! For more information on pre-paid gratuities check out this article.
6. Book Your Character Meet and Greets and Bibibidi Bobbidi Boutique Appointments Well in Advance
When it comes to pre-booking activities for your Disney Cruise most guests focus on the Port Adventures. However, booking select onboard activities are equally as important. This is particularly true when it comes to character meet and greets. Though some of the opportunities to mingle with your favorite Disney characters at sea can be spontaneous other more in-demand characters (like Anna and Elsa) require you to book in advance. Also if you want to treat your little one to a Pirate or Princess Makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, make sure to book your slot when booking your Port Adventures to ensure availability!
7. Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle at the Spa
Senses Spa bookings are something I typically don’t book in advance. Rather head to the Spa on embarkation day and ask them about any spa specials or promotions. If the Spa has lots of open slots they’ll often offer you incentives to book including complementary services added into your package! it’s a great way to save on a bit of pampering!
8. See if a Facebook Group Has Been Set Up For Your Sailing
One of the best ways to prep for your sailing is to connect with other guests that will be joining you on your voyage at sea. This is one area where the Facebook community really comes up trumps. Seasoned cruisers will often create Facebook groups for a specific sailing. It’s a great way to meet fellow travellers, get answers to questions and make friends that you can meet and mingle with while on your cruise. Can’t find a group? Then take the initiative and start your own! You’ll be surprised at how many fellow travellers will join up!
Thinking about a Disney Cruise? Getting started is easy! Simply fill out our form below to get your FREE, no-obligation quote from MickeyTravels.
Thinking about embarking on a Disney Cruise? Packages are currently available to book through Summer of 2020. Getting started is easy! Simply fill out our form below to get your FREE, no-obligation quote from MickeyTravels.
Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to assist you with everything from finding your perfect sailing and stateroom to helping you plan lots of special touches to make your visit truly magical. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook