Everything You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Ships

Table Of Content

• Third Disney Cruise Line crew member arrested on child pornography charges
• Included restaurants on Disney Magic
• Pools
• I love that the ship docks right at the island, so there are no tender ships involved
• Disney Cruises: The Complete Guide
• Everything You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Ships
• Included restaurants on Disney Wonder

This is your chance to sip on otherwise pricey pours at a bargain price. The most convenient way is by using a credit card that’ll wipe away your travel costs. Plenty of cards have this feature, but two fairly decent ones are the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Both cards will allow you to redeem your points toward purchases at a rate of 1 cent per point. If you’re looking for an all-out experience, it’s pretty easy to rack up a big bill. Disney cruises are well known as an expensive option, but tacking on high-end touches such as a concierge room and spa visits will really drive up the price.

Third Disney Cruise Line crew member arrested on child pornography charges

Ashton McGrady's golden retriever Forest is friendly with a lot of Disney characters, but it's clear he has a special love for a certain pup. The Disney Cruise Line vessel was 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico in the Atlantic Ocean when the passenger “required a higher level of medical care ashore,” according to an April 16 press release from the U.S. There's also the adults-only lunch spot where I always enjoy a beachside barbecue. My favorite things on the lunch menu are the ribs and macaroni salad. And if you're a fellow character hunter like me, Mickey and the gang all have Castaway Cay exclusive outfits, which are adorable and make for great family photos. I hate taking tender ships, which can feel like a bit of a time sink, so this is a big bonus to me.

Included restaurants on Disney Magic

Disney concierge service gets you access to the Disney Concierge Lounge, which has food offerings multiple times per day and a fully stocked fridge with sodas, juices and bottles of water. You'll see many families with kids in those preschool, elementary and middle school years. Instead, you’ll either pay per drink or purchase bundled quantities onboard. It’s also possible to purchase a specialty beer mug at the pub onboard, which can then be refilled across the ship. Much like Disney’s popcorn buckets, your beer mugs entitle you to cheaper refills on all your beer.

Pools

If the kids are happy for a few hours, the parents can actually relax, too. Each Disney ship has multiple pools, though if you've never been on a cruise, you may be initially shocked at how small they are — and how busy they can get. You can work off some of those treats and drinks at the onboard fitness center on each ship.

And don’t forget — the other youth clubs for kids, tweens, and teens are absolutely free. There are plenty of themed watering holes in the adults-only areas of the ships, but on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, Meridian is the place to be. The upscale bar and lounge is located next door to Palo and Remy, but it is open to all adults adhering to its business casual dress code. Though known for its martinis, Meridian also offers a cigar bar, custom craft cocktails, and a gin and tonic cart, as well as a private deck hosting a picture-perfect view of nightly sunsets.

Disney Cruises: The Complete Guide

Helicopter used to evacuate pregnant passenger from Disney cruise ship - WESH 2 Orlando

Helicopter used to evacuate pregnant passenger from Disney cruise ship.

Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:09:00 GMT [source]

Speaking of gear, at Castaway Cay, cruisegoers can borrow free towels as soon as they get off of the ship. There are plenty of towel-return stations around the island, so I also never have to carry wet, sandy towels back on the ship. You don’t want to sour a wonderful vacation with a never-ending line simply to exit the ship. Instead of leaving your luggage out the night before, carry it off the ship yourself and arrive at your final destination without having to wait in lengthy port queues.

Ships also provide 24-hour, self-service guest laundry facilities equipped with washers and dryers, along with detergent and complimentary ironing equipment. These services can get busy during sea days on longer cruises, so plan accordingly. While some gratuity is included at Palo and Remy, you'll likely want to add an additional tip if you enjoyed the service. If you stay in a concierge-level room or suite, it is customary to tip the Concierge Lounge hosts at the end of your cruise a recommended amount of $8 per night per guest. An 18% gratuity is added to onboard spa, bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs.

Meanwhile, the most expensive period for this cruise takes place over the Christmas holiday and rings in at $3,737 for an inside stateroom. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Casual meals can be had at Cabanas or ordered via 24-hour room service on board the Disney Magic. Otherwise, stop by Duck-In Diner for hot dogs, chicken fingers, or a shawarma sandwich or enjoy a quick lunch at Pinocchio’s Pizzeria.

Request the best seat in the house at dinner.

Disney cruise ships are covered in high-end decor and thoughtful design that feel more classy and less kid-focused, but select adults-only experiences, including exclusive lounges and pools, still thrive. Don’t miss the “rainforest room” in the Disney Magic’s Senses Spa, as well as adult beverage tasting seminars. Most of your daily expenses, including your food and non-alcoholic beverages, are included when sailing on a Disney cruise.

They aren't the priciest voyages out there, but they will cost more than cruises with family-friendly competitors such as Royal Caribbean by a noticeable margin. Cruises that are seven nights or longer schedule one "formal night" — though even then, it's only encouraged, not required. On that night, you will see suits, sports coats, cocktail dresses and similar from some guests.

You can always add an additional gratuity for any of your services or servers. As with the waterslides, we recommend enjoying these first thing when you board if you want to try them without crowds. Otherwise, you won't find so many people in the pools on port days, early in the morning and right before dinner.

Higher status translates to earlier booking windows, so Disney Cruise Line loyalists can score their desired bookings first. The cost of a Disney cruise can vary dramatically based on your needs and sailing preferences. However, you should expect to spend at least $1,000 on a cruise for two passengers. The price goes up from there depending on your cabin selection, trip duration and destination choices, among other options. Instead, enjoy the plethora of complimentary activities, such as pools, movies, shows, karaoke, dancing and more.

This could be your prime chance to experience the AquaMouse water coaster, the cruise line’s first attraction at sea on the Disney Wish, with little to no line. Enjoy the latest Disney releases at the on-board theater without having to buy tickets in advance. Many new Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars films have 3-D showings, allowing guests to experience eye-popping effects on the high seas. And during the holidays, classics are featured, like “Hocus Pocus” during Halloween sailings. Every Disney ship has a Vibe, an onboard youth club that is exclusively available for teens ages 14 to 17. There is supervision, of course, and Disney Cruise Line's famously fun activities, but it's practically a private resort for high schoolers to chill in all day and night — no parents allowed.

Repeat cruisers love this vessel for its smaller size, which makes for a more intimate trip. Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer. The pregnant passenger was taken to Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, where emergency service personnel were waiting, the US Coast Guard said.