Ultimate Guide To Your First Disney Cruise

While added opulence might come with a price, Disney Cruises provide premium service, exquisite culinary options and world class entertainment options, all while creating this unparalleled fun-filled family oriented vibe while cruising across aquatic highways. The sky’s the limit as your imagination takes you to embark on a magical journey onboard one of Disney’s Majestic Cruise Ships.

Is this your first time cruising with Disney? Here is our ultimate guide and things to know on your first Disney Cruise. It may almost be time to wish upon a star, pack up your bags, and make all your dreams come true.

Click here to check out Disney Cruise Gears before you cruise.

#1 Travel Documents

Travel documents depend on the requirements of your nationality and the ports you’re visiting. They must be in your possession when you check in at the terminal. Without proper travel documents, you will be denied boarding and no refunds will be given.

A valid passport is the recommended form of travel document for domestic or international travel via land, sea or air. For US citizens who don’t have a passport, here are some documents you can bring on closed-loop cruises or cruises that depart and arrive at the same port:

a. Passport card
b. State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License
c. Certificate of Naturalization with a government issued photo ID
d. State-issued Birth Certificate with a government issued photo ID
e. Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
f. Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State AND Government-issued photo ID

Note: Children 15 years or younger do not need to present a Government-issued photo ID.

#2 Dining and Beverage Options

What’s a fun vacation if without an exquisite dining experience to indulge in or a few drinks to wash it all down.

Rotational Dining
To add more thrill to their guests’ dining experience, each night of your cruise, you and your personal wait staff will rotate to one of the three elegantly themed dining rooms that is unique on each ship. Click here for the complete list of dining options on your Disney Cruise.

Seating Times
Seating times available when you cruise:

a. Main Seating at 5:45pm
b. Second Seating at 8:15pm

Note: Depending on availability, you can pick a seating time when you book your cruise. Once onboard, your assigned seating time, restaurant schedule and table number will be printed on your Key to the World card (keycard)

Specialty Dining
While several dining options are complimentary to your cruise fare, you can feast your senses with exclusive fine dining experiences available onboard for an additional charge. Also available are sweet shops, juice bars and snack bars.

Complimentary Dining
Even without paying extra for specialty dining, there is a plethora of dining options available to Disney Cruise Guests at no extra cost. These include rotational dining at themed dining rooms, buffet dining at the Cabanas, several snack bars serving burgers and pizzas, soft serve ice cream, and all soft drinks served at meals.

Note: There is a surcharge for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages at the bars and lounges on board.

Room Service
Room service is available 24 hours a day and is complimentary to your cruise fare except for select snacks, wines and beverages which may incur additional costs.

Breakfast items are delivered between 7 and 10am, and can be ordered by filling out a Room Service Request Card in your stateroom and leaving it outside your door before 3am the day you want breakfast delivered. Alternatively, you can also call room service and order a continental breakfast in the morning.

Lunch and dinner is available all day except the hours when breakfast is served in the morning. You can order by selecting “In-Stateroom Dining” on your stateroom phone.

Wine Packages
You can purchase either the Classic or the Premium Wine Package for your cruise. Prices are as follows. Note: Prices subject to an additional 15% service charge.

3 Bottles (Classic $95, Premium $145)
4 Bottles (Classic $124, Premium $192)
5 Bottles (Classic $149, Premium $234)
7 Bottles (Classic $199, Premium $309)

Non-Alcoholic Drink of the Day
A non-alcoholic drink of the day is available to you, priced at $4.89 including tax and gratuity. You can also purchase a souvenir cup with it for an extra charge.

Beer Package
This package allows you to purchase a 6-pack for the price of 5 beers at $30 plus 15% gratuity.

Disney Cruise Beer Mug
Another way you can save on beer is to purchase a 22oz Disney Cruise Beer Mug initially. For all subsequent 22oz beer purchases, you will only be charged for a 16oz portion each time. Note: If you do not wish to carry your Beer Mug around with you, you can bring a Beer Mug token with you instead. Simply show the bartender your token and you will get a 22oz beer at a discounted price.

#3 Internet

Stay connected at sea with Disney’s Connect@Sea internet packages with pricing as follows:

a. Small ($19 per 100 MB of data or $0.19 per MB)
b. Medium ($39 per 300 MB of data or $0.13 per MB)
c. Large ($89 for 1000 MB of data or $0.09 per MB)
d. Pay As You Go ($0.25 per 1 MB of data)

Note: Once onboard, you can access DCL-GUEST Wi-Fi network to learn about different options and pricing. Data plans are charged to your stateroom folio and you can connect as many devices you want. There is no cost for connecting to the ship’s Wi-Fi network when used only for the DCL’s Navigator app.

#4 Luggage Tags

Prior to your sail date, you will receive a document package via mail which will include two DCL luggage tags per passenger with your cruise information printed on them.

Remember to attach the luggage tags to all your checked bags. The tags are needed so your luggage will be properly delivered to your stateroom once you dropped them off at the port.

Note: Alcoholic beverages and other prohibited items in a checked bag transported onboard by Disney Cruise Line will be removed and stored until the end of the voyage. 

#5 Electrical Outlets

All staterooms have multiple standard US 110V outlets. Those on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy have a combination of both 110V and 220V European outlets. Each stateroom is already equipped with a hair dryer for your convenience.

Wattage Limit
For your safety, a 1500W limit is placed on 110V electrical items and a 2000W limit on 220V items.

#6 Transportation Options

Disney Cruise Line offers ground transportation that picks you up at the airport in a coach bus and takes you to Port Canaveral. Price is $78 per person roundtrip.

For airport transfers from Miami International Airport to Port Miami, price is $21 per person roundtrip.

If you would like to add air travel, ground transportation or a hotel stay to your cruise booking, you can call Disney Cruise at (800) 951-3532.

Onboard Airline Check In
This service is available to those who purchased ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line and has the following advantages:

• Receive your boarding passes ahead of time.
• Check your luggage for your return flight before disembarking the ship.
• Skip luggage claim at the port terminal.
• Bypass the airline check-in counter at the airport.

Here’s how it works:

• Reserve ground transportation through Disney Cruise Line, and sign up for Onboard Airline Check-In when you check in at the cruise port.
• On the day prior to disembarkation, your airline boarding passes and valet luggage tags will be delivered to your stateroom.
• Attach the tags to your luggage and leave your bags outside your stateroom on the evening prior to disembarkation. Your luggage will be collected and delivered to your airline for you.
• Upon arrival at the airport, you can proceed to security and continue to your departure gate.

Note: Available to Guests flying Delta Air Lines, American Airlines or United Airlines out of Miami International Airport on domestic flights or those who fly internationally on American Airlines and United Airlines.

#7 Laundry Services

Laundry service options are available onboard Disney cruise ships.

24 Hour Self Service Laundry
For a small fee charged to your Key to the World card, you can operate onboard washers and dryers as well as purchase detergent and dryer sheets.

Ironing equipment is complimentary but can only be used in the laundry rooms.

Full-Service Laundry and Dry Cleaning
To take advantage of this service, place your laundry in laundry bags found in your stateroom along with a form you need to fill out. Call Guest Services by 9am for pickup and next-day return. Express Laundry Service is available at an extra charge.

#8 Cruise Cabin Types

Disney Ships have ten cabin types grouped under four main categories.

Concierge
Most luxurious cabin type with a spacious private verandah and premium amenities.

• Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah
• Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
• Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

Verandah
Cabins equipped with a private balcony and a great view

• Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
• Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
• Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah

Oceanview

More spacious than a standard interior cabin with a porthole window

• Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom
• Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

Inside
Most affordable cabin type featuring a classic nautical motif, porthole mirror and no exterior view:

• Deluxe Inside Stateroom
• Standard Inside Stateroom

#9 Bringing Beverages on Board

Guests 21 years and older may carry in up to 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (750 ml or less) or 6 beers (12oz or less) upon initial boarding and at each port-of-call.

You can drink your wine or beer in your stateroom for free. However, there is a $25 charge If you want to drink it in one of the restaurants.

#10 Personal Navigator Newsletter

Personal Navigator is DCL’s daily newsletter sent each evening of your cruise to your stateroom. You can also get it through the Navigator app. It contains the next day’s schedule of the following:

a. Onboard entertainment
b. Character greetings and activities
c. Operating hours for the gym, spa and pools
d. When in port, it shows the local weather, debarkation time and return time.

#11 Assembly Drill

US Coast Guard mandates that all guests must participate in the pre-departure assembly drill. This is to get everyone informed of what to do in an emergency situation. Instructions are announced over the ship’s intercom and your lifeboat station is printed on your Key to the World Card. When it is over, it’s time to start cruising.

#12 Pregnancy

According to DCL policy, “Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during the cruise will not be allowed to board the ship.”

The ship does not have an Obstetrician/Gynecologist on board. Pregnancies can potentially be life threatening when unstable and poorly controlled. Since the ship is in the middle of the ocean, getting timely expert medical care is unlikely.

#13 Key to the World Card

A Key to the World (KW) Card will be given to you as you check-in on the port. It has the following uses:

a. Stateroom Key (Note: For security reasons, your stateroom number will not be printed on the card itself)
b. Power source – your KW Card must be inserted into the slot next to the light switches to turn power on inside your room
c. Onboard Charge Card – all purchases made onboard will be charged through your KW Card
d. Dining Information – your KW Card will have information such as your seating preference and time, rotational dining venues and table number.
e. Ship Pass – your KW Card will be scanned when you disembark or return to the ship at ports of call

#14 Online Check In

For first time Disney cruisers, you can check in online 75 days before your cruise date. Checking in online has the following advantages:

a. Save time during final check in at the cruise port
b. Get the earliest possible port arrival time to beat the crowds and start your vacation early
c. Customize your vacation your way by reserving spa treatments, booking excursions, sign up for special activities, and choosing your preferred dining experience.

#15 Automatic Gratuities

Automatic gratuities are added to your final cruise bill at a rate of around $13.50 per person for each day of your cruise. A 15% gratuity is added to all bar beverages, while an 18% gratuity is added to all spa & salon services.

If you would like to pay your gratuities in advance, you can contact DCL or your travel agent no later than 3 days before your cruise starts.

# 16 Professional Cruise Photos

DCL’s professional photographers are always up to the challenge to capture the moment while you have fun!

Buy a photo package before you cruise by clicking here. At your departure port, swipe your Key to the World Card, put on a big smile and get your first of many photos taken at different points of your cruise. For specific locations and schedules, check your DCL Navigator App , Personal Navigator newsletter or stop by Guest Services.

You can then visit Shutters to view and pick up your cruise pictures.

#17 Castaway Club Loyalty Program

DCL’s Castaway Club is the cruise line’s loyalty program that rewards repeat cruisers with exclusive onshore and onboard benefits.

Reward Tiers
a. Silver – first time Disney cruiser
b. Gold – completed 5 Disney cruises
c. Platinum – completed 10 or more Disney cruises

You can click here for details on the program’s benefits and perks.

#18 Different Ways to Communicate Onboard

Whether you are looking for ways to get in touch with your fellow cruisers, or maybe landlocked family members you left behind, here are some ways to get this done.

a. Disney Cruise Line Navigator App – free app that allows you to send messages to fellow cruisers and gain access to valuable information regarding your cruise.
b. Wave Phones – with it, you can call any shipboard phone, stateroom phone or other Wave Phone. Your stateroom will have two wave phones that are complimentary. Additional fee applies if you need more.
c. Connect@Sea Internet – with this service, you can send emails, messages or make voice calls using VOIP.
d. Cellphone service – Disney ships are equipped with a cell tower that allows you to call or send text messages while at sea. However, carrier roaming charges do apply. Note: Make sure you put your phone in airplane mode to prevent surprise roaming charges if you don’t plan on using this service.

#19 It’s A Small World Nursery

Between 9am and 11pm, you can take advantage of the ship’s child care center for youngsters 6 months up to 3 years of age. Space is extremely limited so plan to book as early as possible. First time cruisers can book as early as 75 days before cruise starts, and up to 120 days prior for platinum members.

Rates are $4.50 per half hour for the first child, and $4.00 per half hour for each additional child with a minimum reservation time of one hour.

#20 Seasickness

When you’re on a cruise, getting seasick is a sure way to ruin the cruising experience. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent you from being seasick.

Here’s a few of our recommendations that helps:
a. Scopolamine patch (Prescription – prevents motion sickness)
b. Dramamine (Over the counter but get the less drowsy kind)
c. Zofran (Prescription – helps with nausea)
d. Ginger Pills (Natural way to prevent motion sickness)
e. Seabands (Naturally prevents motion sickness by applying pressure to certain point on your wrist)
f. Choose a stateroom on a lower deck and located mid ship.  Rooms closest to the front or the stern of the cruise ship experience most of the rocking motion.

#21 Smoking

Smoking is permitted but only in designated areas of the ship. A $250 fee is charged to guests found smoking in their staterooms or on their verandahs.

Designated smoking areas on the ships

Disney Magic and Disney Wonder

• Deck 4, outdoors, starboard side from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM
• Deck 9, forward, portside, any time

Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy

• Deck 4, port side, aft, on the outside Promenade Deck from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM
• Deck 12, port side, aft, the outdoor area accessible through the Meridian Lounge at any time
• Deck 13, port side, forward, near Currents Bar, at any time

#22 Youth Program

Disney Cruise offers customized fun-filled experiences for the younger crowds. Here are the youth programs available onboard DCL ships:

a. Oceaneer Club
For children 3-12 years old who want to immerse in tons of fun activities, games and character interactions.

b. Oceaneer Lab
Lots of fun themed activities, games and crazy experiments designed for children 3-12 years of age.

c. Edge
Lots of fun and engaging activities for tweens. Watch movies, play games, participate in arts and crafts, and many more.

d. Vibe
At this teen exclusive youth club, they have a fun place to just chill, listen to some tunes, play group games or just watch TV.

#23 Castaway Cay

If you think the ship was a lot of fun, there’s more to be found at this private island owned by DCL in the Bahamas. Here you can soak up the Caribbean sun, get a great tan and swim up in turquoise waters, spend the afternoon snorkeling, shop for fun trinkets and souvenirs, or enjoy a scrumptious meal and some refreshments. Remember that you’ll be using your Key to the World card for all your spendings on the island, and all the food is complimentary to your cruise fare.

#24 Character Meetings

What separates Disney from other cruise lines is the opportunity to meet with some of your favorite Disney characters onboard the ship.

Here are some things that are good to know:
a. Character meetings are free, but lines can be long and starts forming around 15 minutes before scheduled greeting time. Be there a few minutes before that if you want to get ahead.
b. Some popular character meetings might require advance bookings.
c. Some breakfast or afternoon teas with characters might have an added cost.
d. You can check meeting schedules on the Navigator App or the Personal Navigator Newsletter.

To learn more about cruising, check out other articles on our site:
1. Gear Up For Your Next Disney Cruise Adventure
2. 33 Things To Pack For A Cruise Besides Clothes
3. Things to Leave Behind When Packing For Your Next Cruise
4. 18 Hidden Costs That Bump Up Your Cruising Budget