What Do You Need to Know About Disney Cruises?

The Disney Destiny is now delighting guests, while the Disney Adventure is right around the corner.

As of March, Disney Cruise Line will have doubled its fleet since the start of 2022.

Disney didn’t do that randomly; its cruise business is soaring in popularity.

So, those of you who haven’t sailed the high seas with Disney should be considering it.

What do you need to know about Disney cruises? A lot, actually…

Embarkation Day Can Be Chaotic

I’ll speak in glowingly positive terms about the cruise experience, save for this one warning.

Disney cannot control how local port authorities run their operations.

Sure, the company can make friends and grease the wheels behind the scenes, but it’s still limited.

When you prepare to board a Disney cruise, you’re likely heading into international waters.

You’ll need your paperwork to prove you’re an authorized traveler who can legally enter other countries.

Importantly, you’ll do this at the same time as thousands of other passengers.

The experience can be chaotic and maybe even overwhelming at times.

I’ll post a few tips for you in a later article, but let’s focus on the basic one to save you some stress.

You’ll want to pay attention to Port Arrival Time. Book the earliest one you can!

You can do that via the Disney Navigator app, which you should download.

This app will be your everything during the cruise.

What Port Arrival Time should you target? Well, the sooner you arrive, the sooner you can get on the boat, and that’s when the fun begins!

To a larger point, make sure that you get in the right line once you’re at the port.

By doing this minimal amount of preparation, you can streamline embarkation.

You’re There to Eat, Drink, and Relax

The rise of Disney cruises isn’t an accident. You’ll totally understand that once you take one.

When you visit a Disney park, you’re always on the go during a kinetic vacation adventure.

Conversely, cruises strip away much of the stress at the theme parks and replace it with tranquility.

In simplest terms, you’re there to eat, drink, relax, and have a good time.

Keep that in mind the instant you board the ship. Your priorities differ from a theme park visit.

Be on the lookout for coffee shops you want to try. In fact, if you board early enough, you may need java anyway.

This brings me to an important point about cruises. Disney’s the most all-inclusive one in the industry.

Even so, some things cost extra, and coffee shop items are on that list.

Similarly, you’ll pay for your drinks when you visit Disney bars and lounges.

Generally speaking, you’ll always have access to free food and drinks throughout your trip, though.

Fountain drink stations are readily available, and they even come with a happy bonus in the area.

As part of the cruise experience, you’ll find ice cream dispensers. Since it’s free, you should always have a cone in hand!

That’s really the point here. Your goal on a cruise is diametrically opposed from a theme park visit.

Once you board the ship, your itinerary should be totally spontaneous and dependent on your mood.

You’ll discover that many of the ship’s activities repeat. So, if you can’t do trivia now, it’ll be available later.

The lone caveat here applies to the cruise’s Broadway-quality plays.

These run once a night. So, unless you’re sailing for at least six days, you’ll only get one shot at some of them.

Find the Hangout Spots

Unlike at the parks, many of the prized activities come to you.

Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration, but the design of these ships maximizes your vacation efficiency.

You’ll find Disney characters in the Grand Hall and other greeting spots throughout the ship.

The Disney Navigator app will clearly tell you where you can find them and when.

You should also be on the lookout for the various hangout spots where you’ll spend lots of time.

In between swimming and exploring the ship, you’ll visit coffee shops, bars, and lounges.

Remarkably, many of them feature Disney theming, and that’s especially true on the newer vessels.

Some bars extend Disney theme park attractions to sea, with Haunted Mansion Parlor as the blueprint example.

These are the experiences that will define your cruise, the ones you’ll remember years from now.

So, I’d encourage you to do a bit of scouting before you embark on your cruise.

Take some time to research the most popular events and activities on that particular vessel.

Each Disney ship features an entirely unique set of amenities, which plays in your favor.

You can sail on a different cruise ship each time, giving you new experiences to try each time.

For example, on the Disney Dream, we fell in love with an adults-only sitting area just past Cabanas.

However, we still took time to explore Goofy’s Sports Deck, a place that features a mini-golf course.

In terms of activities, we made time for Disney’s Believe and The Golden Mickeys.

Note that some cruise ships share Broadway plays, while others have exclusives.

Also, should you not feel like leaving your room, Disney simulcasts the shows on your cabin’s television.

Don’t forget that your cabin is a terrific hangout spot, too!

Don’t Miss the Big Events!

When we arrived on our first cruise, we took a quick tour of the ship.

By the time we returned to the main pool area, a crowd had formed.

We legitimately had no idea what was going on. It was the Disney Cruise Sail Away Party.

Whenever a Disney cruise departs from the port, Cast Members throw a party!

You’ll discover a few special events like this sprinkled throughout every sailing.

Whether it’s pirate night, nighttime fireworks, or even a themed event like Marvel at Sea, it’s worth your time.

If you notice people gathering at a Disney cruise, take a moment to ask what’s happening.

These people have probably cruised a lot more than you, and they know what’s worth their/your time.

Also, please be aware that Pirate Night is a thing, and many of your fellow cruisers take it seriously.

You should consider packing some pirate gear to wear for the big event lest you feel a bit left out.

Honestly, an eyepatch and a hook hand are fine to get you in the spirit, and you can buy cheap ones on Amazon.

Dine Like Royalty

Earlier, I said that you should eat, drink, and relax on your cruise.

Well, the “eat” part of that merits special mention. Everything you’ve heard about cruises is true.

You’ll dine like royalty throughout your cruise, with Disney taking care of you every step of the way.

Throughout the day, you’ll enjoy constant access to a buffet…and not just any buffet.

This will probably be the largest one you’ve ever seen, much less dined there.

Disney cruise buffets comprise virtually an entire level of some ships.

So, you’ll just keep walking in a circle and loading your plate with anything that looks good.

You’ll also participate in something called rotational dining, which you’ll adore.

During each night of your cruise, you’ll eat dinner at a different restaurant.

All of them are the equivalent of upper-tier Table Service restaurants at Disney theme parks.

However, you won’t pay for these meals. They come standard with your cruise package.

So, these will be the most carefree fine dining experiences of your entire life.

Oh, and the service will be impeccable. That’s because your team of servers rotates along with you.

Throughout your trip, they’ll learn your tendencies and thereby act as your personal dining staff.

Again, ALL of this is included in the basic price of the cruise. Somehow, that’s not all, though.

You can also order room service 24/7 during your cruise…and it’s free, too!

Well, you will need to pay for any bottled drinks, and a tip is expected for room delivery.

Still, the joy of ordering a Mickey Bar whenever you want is so addictive.

Final Thoughts

Folks, you owe it to yourself to take a Disney cruise. It’s the best relaxing vacation you can have.

For a single all-inclusive price, you gain access to Broadway-quality shows and Disney’s most delicious dining.

Also, you can meet Disney characters in low-stress environments throughout the day.

At all times, you’ll have access to a plethora of activities, some of which I’ve barely even mentioned.

Did you know that Disney cruises have full-sized movie theaters onboard?

They absolutely do, and that’s not all. Disney screens first-run movies in these theaters.

I’m not joking. You can book a Disney cruise this December and watch Avengers: Doomsday!

You can understand why Disney cruises are so popular and why it’s time to try one.

Please speak with one of the marvelous MickeyTravels agents to learn your best options for a cruise.

MickeyTravels is a Diamond Earmarked agency, signifying that it’s the best of the best.

Despite their sustained run of excellence, MickeyTravels still offers its services free of charge to you.

So, you can have an agent who has booked hundreds of cruises find you the best deal.

Take a Disney cruise, my friend. You’ll never regret it.

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