First Time Disney Cruise Tips: The Complete Guide for 2023
Table Of Content
On the upper decks, quick-service food stations, soft-serve ice cream and a buffet are available. Some examples of starting prices for each ship and its major itineraries for an inside cabin or a balcony cabin are listed below so you can get a sense of pricing across the fleet. Over at Circle "C," teens ages 12 to 14 have a hangout spot that's all their own with counselor-led activities like dance parties, games and outdoor movies. Older teens ages 15 to 17 head to Club O2 to enjoy karaoke sessions, movies and video games with their peers. Carnival's standard cabins are more casual, with plenty of storage and colorful decor.
💡 Key Takeaways for First Time Cruisers
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Royal Caribbean Blog - Unofficial blog about Royal Caribbean cruises.
Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 14:28:09 GMT [source]
Expect Alaska and Europe cruises to start at $5,000 to $6,000 for inside cabins for a week, and prices go up for longer sailings and upgraded cabins. When you are on the ship, you will not need cash or a credit card — all incidentals, purchases and services will be charged to your cabin folio. Your Key to the World card (or your DisneyBand+ on Disney Wish) serves as your onboard payment method.
Kids, Tween, and Teen Clubs
The type of stateroom — and its location on the ship — affects the price paid. There are plenty of ways to make both options cheaper, and there are ways to make them both costlier. If you’re trying to decide between the two, reach out to a Disney travel agent who can run some comparisons for your situation.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Alternate Dinners
Kids can also play dress-up and get a full regal or pirate (only available on Pirate Party Nights) makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, found on every Disney ship. Depending on the package you booked for your child, expect to pay $100 to $450 for each makeover. I've experienced all five ships in the Disney fleet and have sailed seven times to destinations around the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Both cruise lines have larger suites with extra amenities, but Disney gets the nod in this category.
Included restaurants on Disney Dream
Soda is included during sit-down meals, but if you’re craving a thirst quencher outside of those times, go to the free-flowing beverage stations near the pools on each Disney ship. If you want to bring something home from your trip — whether from a port of call or from the onboard shops — you'll want to budget for that extra cost. Souvenirs off the ship can range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, depending on what you buy. Be prepared that some shops will only take local currency; purchases at Castaway Cay shops will be charged to your onboard account. If you're looking for specialty coffee, tea or hot chocolate drinks, look for the Cove Cafe on all ships; there are also specialty counters off of the atrium on Disney Dream, Fantasy and Wish. You can also order alcoholic drinks from the coffee bars, which run the typical cocktail prices.
Entertainment and activities on a Disney cruise
Perks of booking a concierge suite include access to the concierge lounge, where snacks and drinks are available all day. Attentive hosts can book specialty dining reservations, excursions and more for your family. Concierge guests also get priority access to embark and disembark the ship and the first pick of seats inside the Walt Disney Theatre for shows. If the price is the determining factor of your vacation, then Carnival is easily the best value for the price.
Some Disney cruises do what's called a "double dip" and make two stops at the private island, where you can step ashore without leaving the Disney bubble. Now, Disney Cruise Line has five ships sailing in those signature colors, along with three more on order. In a normal year, those five ships take tens of thousands of families on sailings to the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Europe, Bermuda, Bahamas, through the Panama Canal and even to Australia and New Zealand. If you’re not doing Express Walk Off, you’ll head to breakfast at the designated time and place. Then, you wait for the announcement that you’re clear to leave the ship, and off you go.
Dinner (Rotational Dining)
You won’t see your bag again until you’re off the ship, so be sure not to pack anything you’ll need prior to that — shoes, undies, medicine, etc. Breakfast on the last morning of your cruise will take place at a set time, at the same restaurant you were assigned to dine at on the night before. The nightly dinner service is a highlight for most Disney Cruisers. Each ship has different restaurants — some offer just a meal service while others add in live entertainment. Onboard, you’ll find hotel-style guest rooms, restaurants, nightclubs & lounges, theaters, shops, pools & water slides, and even a medical center.
Video shows Coast Guard rescuing pregnant woman from Disney cruise - Scripps News
Video shows Coast Guard rescuing pregnant woman from Disney cruise.
Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:55:36 GMT [source]
If you are on a ship that charges by day instead of by the amount of data used, expect the prices to vary from $12-$36 per day, depending on the speed you select. There are often discounts for buying Wi-Fi access for the length of the cruise. Disney Wish has the added perk in the kids club of a slide that takes the kids straight from the main atrium and into the fun. As a parent, my favorite part of a Disney cruise might be the included kids programs that children actually want to attend. If the kids are happy for a few hours, the parents can actually relax, too.
Disney Magic has the most thrilling waterslide in the fleet, called AquaDunk, and Disney Wonder has its own waterslide in the AquaLab splash area. Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy also have a juice bar that costs extra. These reservations are hard to get, especially for brunch, so you'll want to make them the second you are eligible and keep checking back for cancellations if you miss out the first time.
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. While there are water fountains and bottle refill stations on board, they can be far away from your room — and disposable bottles (not included in the fare) can add up. The tap water in each room is drinkable, but sinks are often too small to accommodate big bottles. You can bring packs of bottled water, but you'll have to carry it through embarkation — it cannot be packed with luggage — so consider bringing refillable bottles or tumblers. Disney uses a dynamic pricing system, meaning the earlier you book, the more you’ll save. You can even book your next cruise while on board to save even more.
Waiting to book may also mean that cheaper types of staterooms are booked, so only more-expensive categories are left. The best sail dates can even sell out, meaning you have to pick another. Like airfare, cruise prices can change as the travel date approaches. You might find last-minute deals, but prices are often cheapest when they are first released. 2023 cruises and 2024 cruises are already bookable, and some 2025 cruises are also accepting bookings. Solo travelers should expect to pay almost as much as two adults would have paid.
You'll have to get yourself back home from that port, but you may save on the cruise in the process. 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. For an additional fee, Disney ships offer full-service laundry and dry cleaning services that will pick up and deliver clean clothes to your cabin.
Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy both have a virtual sports simulator that requires a reservation and a fee. You can play various sports, from football to golf, for either 30- or 60-minute time blocks. You will have to pay to park at the port or at a third-party parking lot. While the off-site parking lots are often cheaper, you will need to think about how to get to and from the ship, tipping the porter or driver, plus the added time to get from your car to the ship. For instance, many people drive to Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral if they already live in the southern U.S. Driving can save money versus flying, and you might not have to stay in a pre-cruise hotel if you can drive right to the port.
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