Find Out What Is/Isn’t Included In the Cost of Your Disney Cruise
For those thinking about going on a Disney Cruise in 2020 and beyond, it’s always helpful to have an overall sense of cost! One of the amazing things about cruising with Disney is that many incredible experiences from onboard dining to children’s activities are included in the cost of your cruise. However, there are still some niggly expenses you will still want to be aware of when budgeting for your holiday. That’s why we here at MickeyBlog thought we’d give you a quick rundown of items that are included and aren’t included in your travel plans!
Some Awesome Items That Are Included In Your Disney Cruise
Let’s start with some of the amazing onboard perks that are included in the cost of your Disney Cruise! From delectable dining to entertainment galore, there’s no need to splurge on the following items!
1. All Onboard Meals Are Included
During the duration of your Disney Cruise, all of the onboard meals you have each day are included in the cost. From tasty buffets to tables service meals at restaurants like Animator’s Palate (pictured above), you can dine until your heart is content. And for those that think it couldn’t get any better, all the menu items are all you care to eat! If you can’t decide which dessert to choose pick two! If you loved one of the side dishes ask for more!
2. Complimentary Room Service
Breakfast in bed, afternoon treats or a midnight snack – cravings can be satisfied any time of day with 24-hour complimentary room service on all Disney cruise ships. One of our favorite treats to order after a long night of fun in the sun? Milk and cookies of course!
3. Unlimited Soft Drinks
Definitely, one of my favorite perks, you’ll find self-serve soda fountains that you can revisit as often as you like at no extra charge. In addition to soft drinks, you’ll also find teas, coffees and juices on board! It’s nice to know that when you work up a thirst in the hot Caribbean sun, Disney has you covered!
4. Lunch at Disney’s Private Island Castaway Cay
For those lucky enough to be on Caribbean or Bahamian sailing that stops at Castaway Cay, you won’t have to worry about paying out of pocket for lunch. A meal at this tropical island paradise is on the house! The island has three eateries. Cookies BBQ, Cookies Too and Serenity Bay BBQ (which is in the Adult’s only section of Castaway Cay.) Each of these restaurants serves up picnic-style treats like hot dogs, ribs, corn on the cob and ice cream!
5. Unlimited Ice Cream
We went on a Disney Cruise a few months ago and one of the things my daughter still talks about is the unlimited banana ice cream available during our sailing. Unlimited soft serve is available at select locations throughout your cruise at no extra cost. It comes in a variety of different flavors.
6. Screenings of the Latest Disney Films
Each of Disney’s cruise ships comes kitted out with a full-size cinema where you can enjoy free screenings of some of Disney’s latest films. To save even more money when you head to the movies, pick up some free grab and go items from the Quick Service locations on the ship and bring them with you in lieu of spending money on popcorn and other treats at the movie’s concession stand!
7. Broadway-Style Entertainment
Each night during your Disney Cruise Line sailing you have an opportunity to be “wow-ed” by the Broadway-style performances that are included in your fare. On every Disney cruise, you will be treated to the most elaborate productions at sea! Disney has taken the most imaginative elements from modern and classic Disney films to bring the stories you love to life all while you’re at sea!
8. Fun Little Stateroom Touches
After a day spent adventuring, it’s nice to be able to come back to your stateroom and be greeted with some extra special touches. Disney Cruise Line offers a nightly turndown service. You’ll find a chocolate on your pillow, a towel animal and other fun items like pirate bandanas for Pirate Night. We love this extra way that Disney makes you feel looked after!
9. Incredible On Board Activities for Kids of All Ages
Each Disney Cruise Line sailing is choc-a-block with incredible activities for kids of all ages. Children will love the Oceaneers Club and Lab where they can do everything from learn superhero moves from Spider-Man to have a pajama party with Goofy! There are also awesome lounges for teens and pre-teens, special themed nights, fireworks at sea, character meet and greets and so much more all included in the cost of your Disney Cruise!
Items that Aren’t Included in Your Disney Cruise
Now that you know about some of the amazing perks of opting to sail with Disney Cruise Line, we also wanted to take some time to briefly outline some of the items that won’t be included in the costs of your sailing. If any of the options on our list are a must-do for your family then you’ll want to be sure to budget accordingly!
1. Alcohol
This is a big one so we’ll start with it first! If your idea of a nice relaxing cruise is sipping on Pina Coladas poolside then you’ll definitely want to budget a bit extra as these beverages are not included in the cost of your cruise. Prices start at around $6.50 for and go upwards of $14 for more elaborate cocktails. Because all of Disney’s cruise ships run on a cashless system, any drinks you purchase will be billed to your stateroom!
2. Ground Transfers
This is one that tends to surprise guests who have stayed at Disney World in the past and used the complimentary Magical Express Service. Unlike Magical Express, Disney Cruise Line does charge for transfers to and from the cruise terminal. The cost to get from a Walt Disney World Resort or Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral is $39 per person or $78 round trip. This price may vary at other departure locations. If you will be using ground transfer service we advise adding it in at the time you make your booking as it will be added to your total balance.
3. Gratuities
The one thing that has Disney Cruise Line coming back time and time again is the impeccable level of customer service. From your dining room server to your stateroom hosts, if you’re happy with the service you receive be sure to set aside a bit of your vacation budget to pay gratuities. Disney does provide guests with the option of pre-paying gratuities for $13.50 per person per night. This amount gets split amongst the staff that work with you during your time at sea. Otherwise, it is possible to pay on your last day! Your stateroom host will provide you with tipping envelopes for your convenience.
4. Port Adventures
If you want to make the most out of your stops at incredible ports around the World than be sure to set aside a bit of extra money in your budget as these activities do come at a cost. Optional activities can range in price from $14.00 for an intertube rental at Castaway Cay to over $500 for private fishing excursions. The great thing about Disney is that at each port you’ll find a wide range of activities covering all budgets. The date that Port Adventures open up for booking depends on your travel dates and Castaway Club level. Your booking date, as well as a full list of port adventures for each port in your sailing, will be available when you log into your disneycruiseline.com account.
5. Internet Usage
When it comes to sailing with Disney Cruise Line, you’ll want to leave your work at home. Each stateroom is offered 50MB of complimentary Wifi on embarkation day. However, after that rates can get steep. On my recent sailing, Disney was charging $.25 per MB or offered bundles of 100 MB ($19.00) 300 MB ($39.00) and 1000MB ($89.00)
6. Photo Packages
If you think you’ll want to preserve those magical memories with a Disney Cruise Line photo package then you’ll definitely want to budget! Disney has incredible photographers on hand to capture everything from family portraits to encounters with some of your favorite characters. However, taking these images home with you does come at a price. On board, you can view pictures taken of your family and purchase individual prints (starting at $20) or photo packages that are upwards of $200.00. You also have the options of pre-paying for photos at MyCruisePhotos.com.
7. Nursery
As we mentioned above, free access to the amazing array of activities at Disney Cruise Line’s children’s activity centers is a huge perk of sailing with Disney. However, for families with children between 6 months and three years Disney does charge for their nursery services. The current cost is $4.50 per half hour for the first child and $4.00 per half hour for any additional children.
8. Pamper and Makeover Packages
Feeling pampered is synonymous with cruising, however, spa and makeover services are an additional charge. Senses Spa is the perfect place for adults to indulge in treatments ranging from facials to full-body massages. However, these treatments are pricey with most over $100.00. Disney Cruise Line also offers special pirate, mermaid and princess makeovers at the onboard Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique which are perfect for making your little ones feel extra special. These packages range from $64 to upwards of $199 depending on the options you choose.
9. Fine Dining
For grown-ups looking for a romantic night at sea Disney Cruise Line offers two gourmet restaurants. Remy can be found aboard the Dream and Fantasy and focuses on delicious French dishes. Palo offers up wonderful Italian cuisine and is available on all four ships. Both restaurants offer Dinner Service as well as special culinary events. Visitors can usually expect to spend around $50 or more per person.
10. Speciality Treats
Over the past few years, Disney has introduced a couple of speciality shops offering food that comes at an extra cost. One such example is Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats aboard the Disney Dream. The shop offers delightful confections and frozen treats. However, anything in this shop will need to be billed to your staterooms. Similarly, the concession stands at the theaters will charge you for popcorn, candy and other snacks. In addition, some of the venues in the Adults Only district offer limited menus at an extra charge. Always be sure to check with a Cast Member to find out whether items may cost extra.
We here at MickeyBlog hope we’ve made your Disney Cruise planning a bit easier with our list of the things included/not included in your vacation package! For those looking to plan a Disney Cruise Line getaway fill out our form below to receive your FREE no-obligation quote with 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 stateroom to helping you plan lots of special touches to make your Disney Cruise 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