disney cruise line unofficial blog

Thursday May 05, 2022

Episode 57: Summer 2023 Sail Dates & Itinerary Announcement

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Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast

The official podcast of the unofficial Disney Cruise Line Blog.

Friday Dec 17, 2021

Episode 56: Disney Wish Destination D23 Creativity & Inspiration Set Sail Panel

On this podcast episode we are treated to the audio from the November 21, 2021 Disney Wish panel presented during the Destination D23 event. A video is available over on the website http://DisneyCruiseLineBlog.com Thanks again for listening to our podcast. We appreciate your continued feedback. If you have any question, comments or feedback please leave a comment below. We also have a voice mail line (321) 765-3252 where you can call at any hour and leave a comment or ask questions that we might feature on a future podcast. You can subscribe to the Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play Store, Amazon Music, Spotify, Stitcher, PodBean, Radio.com, or the plain old rss feed.

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Friday Nov 13, 2020

Episode 55: Latest Disney Cruise News

On this podcast episode I'll go over the recent news stemming from the CDC's conditional sail order, an update on the new Disney Cruise Ship orders, and the latest on the terminal renovation project at Port Canaveral. Show Notes CDC Conditional Sail Order Port Canaveral State of the Port - Disney Cruise Terminal Renovation Construction Tour Royal Caribbean Test Cruise Volunteer Sign Up Future Disney Cruise Ship Order Delay to 2024 and 2025 Thanks again for listening to our podcast. We appreciate your continued feedback. If you have any question, comments or feedback please leave a comment below. We also have a voice mail line (321) 765-3252 where you can call at any hour and leave a comment or ask questions that we might feature on a future podcast. You can subscribe to the Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play Store, Amazon Music, Spotify, Stitcher, PodBean, Radio.com, or the plain old rss feed.

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Friday Oct 16, 2020

Episode 54: Early 2022 (January - April/May) Sail Dates & Itinerary Announcement

On this podcast episode I'll go over the recent announcement of the Early 2022 (January – April/May) itineraries featuring a return to Hawaii for the Disney Wonder as well as New Orleans. Show Notes Disney Cruise Line Announces Early 2022 Itineraries (January – May) – Featuring a Return to Hawaii Disney Cruise Line’s Early 2022 Sailings – A Look at Opening Day Prices (Coming Monday) PSA: Verify Your Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club Status Before Opening Day Fleet-wide Stateroom Category Changes on the Horizon Ahead of the Disney Wish Launch Disney Wish Maiden Voyage Rescheduled to Summer 2022 DCL Blog Cruise III - July 21, 2021 | 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Disney Cruise Line's Itinerary Announcement History Thanks again for listening to our podcast. We appreciate your continued feedback. If you have any question, comments or feedback please leave a comment below. We also have a voice mail line (321) 765-3252 where you can call at any hour and leave a comment or ask questions that we might feature on a future podcast. You can subscribe to the Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play Store, Amazon Music, Spotify, Stitcher, PodBean, Radio.com, or the plain old rss feed.

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Friday Jul 24, 2020

Episode 53: Fall 2021 Sail Dates & Itinerary Announcement

On this podcast episode I’ll go over the recent announcement of the Fall 2021 (September – December) itineraries featuring the return of the seasonal Halloween on the High Seas and Very MerryTime themed cruises.   Show Notes Disney Cruise Line Announces Fall 2021 Itineraries (September – December) Disney Cruise Line’s Fall 2021 Sailings – A Look at Opening Day Prices (Coming Monday) DCL Blog Cruise III – July 21, 2021 | 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral DCL Blog Cruise II Trip Report Day 1 – Miami Day 2 – Nassau Day 3 – Castaway Cay Day 4 – At Sea Disney Cruise Line's Itinerary Announcement History Thanks again for listening to our podcast. We appreciate your continued feedback. If you have any question, comments or feedback please leave a comment below. We also have a voice mail line (321) 765-3252 where you can call at any hour and leave a comment or ask questions that we might feature on a future podcast.   You can subscribe to the Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play Store, Spotify, Stitcher, PodBean, Radio.com, or the plain old rss feed.

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Friday May 08, 2020

Episode 52: TWDC Q2-FY2020 Earnings Call Summary

On this podcast episode I cut up the audio call from this week's Walt Disney Company Q2 earnings call for fiscal year 2020 to accompany our coverage of the call earlier in the week. Normally, I call this highlights from the call, but that comes across as a positive, given the times I'm just calling it a summary as this episode focuses on the Parks, Experiences and Products segment of which Disney Cruise Line is included. Near the end of the episode, there is a call in question specific to the cruise line. Show Notes Walt Disney Co Q2 2020 Earnings Results Full webcast recording Thanks again for listening to our podcast. We appreciate your continued feedback. If you have any question, comments or feedback please leave a comment below. We also have a voice mail line (321) 765-3252 where you can call at any hour and leave a comment or ask questions that we might feature on a future podcast. You can subscribe to the Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play Store, Spotify, Stitcher, PodBean, Radio.com, or the plain old rss feed.  

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Friday Mar 06, 2020

Episode 51: Disney Cruise Line's Summer 2021 Itinerary Announcement

On this podcast episode I'll go over the recent announcement of the Summer 2021 (May – September) itineraries featuring the Disney Magic’s return to the Greek Isles, the Disney Wonder's Alaskan options, and the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy's offerings from Port Canaveral. Show Notes Disney Cruise Line Announces Summer 2021 Itineraries (May – September) Disney Cruise Line’s Summer 2021 Sailings – A Look at Opening Day Prices DCL Blog Cruise III - July 21, 2021 | 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral DCL Blog Cruise II Trip Report Day 1 – Miami Day 2 – Nassau Day 3 – Castaway Cay Day 4 – At Sea Thanks again for listening to our podcast. We appreciate your continued feedback. If you have any question, comments or feedback please leave a comment below. We also have a voice mail line (321) 765-3252 where you can call at any hour and leave a comment or ask questions that we might feature on a future podcast. You can subscribe to the Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play Store, Spotify, Stitcher, PodBean, Radio.com, or the plain old rss feed.

Friday Feb 28, 2020

Episode 50: DCL Blog Cruise 2 Live Podcast

On this special podcast episode, we are joined by a live audience during DCL Blog Cruise 2 aboard the Disney Magic we go around Fathoms talking about everyones' favorites and not so favorite aspects of Disney Cruise Line and what we'd like to see going forward with the Disney Wish and Lighthouse Point. Show Notes DCL Blog Cruise III - July 21, 2021 | 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral Ripple Maker coffee printer Scott napping on a bench in Iceland DCL Blog Cruise II Trip Report Day 1 – Miami Day 2 – Nassau Day 3 – Castaway Cay Day 4 – At Sea Thanks again for listening to our podcast. We appreciate your continued feedback. If you have any question, comments or feedback please leave a comment below. We also have a voice mail line (321) 765-3252 where you can call at any hour and leave a comment or ask questions that we might feature on a future podcast. You can subscribe to the Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play Store, Spotify, Stitcher, PodBean, Radio.com, or the plain old rss feed.

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Friday Sep 27, 2019

Episode 49: DCL's Early 2021 Itinerary Announcement

On this podcast episode, I'll cover the latest Disney Cruise Line itinerary announcement for early 2021. Show Notes Disney Cruise Line Announces Winter 2021 Itineraries (January – May) – Featuring New Ports of Call and a Return to New Orleans Thanks again for listening to our podcast. We appreciate your continued feedback. If you have any question, comments or feedback please leave a comment below. We also have a voice mail line (321) 765-3252 where you can call at any hour and leave a comment or ask questions that we might feature on a future podcast. You can subscribe to the Disney Cruise Line Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play Store, Spotify, Stitcher, PodBean, Radio.com, or the plain old rss feed.

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Don’t Be Blindsided By These Disney Cruise Line Changes

By Sara McOmber Leave a Comment

If you’re going on a Disney Cruise soon, you might have noticed that there have been LOTS of changes over the past year or so.

Disney Dream

Policies for health and safety , ship itineraries , activities on board , and more have changed a few different times. So we can understand if you’re a little unsure of what to expect on your next cruise. To help out, we pulled together all the recent changes so that you’re prepared for your upcoming vacation on the sea. 

First, we’re going to look at each Disney cruise ship and where it’s currently going . Then we’ll see what the current schedule is for reservations and bookings — AKA what you need to do and when you need to do it before you set sail. We’ll check out the current policies in relation to COVID-19 and other health and safety rules. And finally, we’ll round up all the other changes (big or small) that weren’t included in one of those categories. That’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

Disney Cruise Ships (And Where They Sail)

All four of Disney’s existing cruise ships are currently sailing, and a brand new one ( the Disney  Wish ) is going to set sail starting this summer. Its official debut will be on July 14th, 2022 .

Disney Magic

The Disney Magic is currently sailing out of Miami and New Orleans , and it’s heading to the Bahamas, Western Caribbean, and Mexico for 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-night cruises .

4-night Cruises to the Bahamas include stops in Nassau, Bahamas, and Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island). On the Western Caribbean itineraries, there are stops in Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico, and Castaway Cay . One 6-night cruise to the Western Caribbean also stops in Costa Maya, Mexico .

A couple of the cruises to the Western Caribbean stop in George Town, Grand Cayman , instead of Cozumel. The Disney  Magic has also started sailing out of Galveston, TX , on some Western Caribbean cruises.

The Disney Magic

Later this year (beginning in July), the  Magic will sail in Europe out of Barcelona, Dover, Copenhagen, and other European cities.

Disney Fantasy

The Disney  Fantasy sails out of Port Canaveral, FL , on 4- to 9-night cruises to Castaway Cay or the Caribbean.

©Disney | Disney Fantasy

The  Fantasy stops in Cozumel, Mexico, Castaway Cay, and George Town, Grand Cayman on its 6-night cruises to the Western Caribbean. On Eastern Caribbean cruises, there are stops in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands .

Disney Cruise Line

7-night Western Caribbean cruises onboard the Fantasy also stop in Falmouth, Jamaica . This ship will also have a few special events, like Pixar Day at Sea or Halloween on the High Seas.

Disney Wonder 

The Disney  Wonder has a lot of different cruises, including some out of San Diego, CA, or Vancouver, Canada .

The longest season of San Diego sailings yet  has also been announced for the Disney Wonder!  3-, 4-, 5-, and 7-day cruises  to  Baja, Mexico, and the Mexican Riviera  will begin in the  fall of 2022 and will extend into early 2023.  Ports will include  Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Ensenada, as well as Catalina Island. 

Animator’s Palate on the Disney Wonder

Beginning in May of this year, the Wonder will take guests on Alaskan cruises , which depart from Vancouver and stop at Dawes Glacier, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; and Ketchikan, Alaska.

The Disney  Dream sails out of Port Canaveral, FL , on 3- and 4-night cruises with stops in Castaway Cay and Nassau, Bahamas .

Ready to Get Cruising?

Beginning this year, the Dream will also sail out of Miami for Western Caribbean cruises with stops in Cozumel, Mexico, and possibly George Town, Grand Cayman (depending on the length of the cruise).

Disney Wish

The Disney  Wish is a brand new cruise ship. This ship’s maiden voyage will take place on July 14th, 2022 . You can already book your spot on this cruise ship for sailings this year.

The  Wish will sail on 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas , stopping at Nassau and Castaway Cay .

This new ship has all kinds of exciting new features, like new dining experiences , activities , and the first-ever Disney attraction at sea — the AquaMouse. 

Click Here to Learn More About the Disney  Wish

What to do before you set sail.

As soon as you’ve booked your cruise, take a look at the online checklist that can be found on the Disney Cruise website . This checklist is a good reminder of what you need to do before your trip, as well as requirements for embarkation day. Also, remember to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on your smartphone.

Click Here to Learn How to Use the Disney Cruise Checklist

Up to 120 days before your cruise (depending on your Castaway Cay membership, if you have one), you can make reservations for certain activities on board the ship.  First-time guests can make these reservations 75 days before they set sail.

©Disney Cruise Line

Spa appointments, some character meet and greets, babysitting, and other activities can be reserved at this time. You can also make reservations for restaurants besides the ones that are already scheduled in your itinerary (like adults-only dining).

Activities that require reservations on board ©Disney Cruise Line

You can do this online by signing into your account, finding the “My Plans” section, and choosing activities for each day .

Or you can also make reservations once you’re on board , but the earlier you make reservations, the more likely you are to get the time and activity you want most.

You will need to check in to your cruise online before you embark . (This isn’t new — just a reminder.) You can check in beginning 30 days before your trip . Part of the check-in process is choosing a port time , which is when you’ll be able to board the ship on the day you set sail.

Disney Cruise Line Terminal

You’ll want to check in as soon as you can , because then you can choose the earliest possible port time . An earlier port time means more time to enjoy on the cruise ship! And of course, make sure to double check your packing list to be certain you’re prepared for your voyage.

COVID-19 Guidelines and Changes

Some of the biggest changes are the new health and safety measures on board all the ships. This is an overview of all the adjustments that you’ll need to know about:

Guests 5 years and older must be vaccinated . These guests must provide proof of vaccination. Note that “fully vaccinated” in this case means that someone has received all necessary doses of the vaccine at least two weeks before they arrive at the cruise ship.

Guests 4 years and younger (or others not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine) must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken between 3 days and 24 hours of sailing. Proof of vaccination or of a negative test must be uploaded to the Safe Passage website before you’ll be allowed to embark.

Everyone (vaccinated or not) must take a COVID-19 test at the terminal before they board the ship . If anyone in a party tests positive for COVID, no one in the party may board the ship. Guests will also be required to take a COVID-19 test on the day before disembarking the ship. There is an exception to the testing rules for those who have recently recovered from COVID-19.

Learn about the exception to the COVID-19 testing requirements here.

Recent policy changes make face masks optional on most DCL sailings.

For sailings out of US ports after March 10th, 2022, face masks will be optional at most indoor locations on Disney cruise ships.

Masks also will not be required outdoors or on Castaway Cay.

Read more about the changing face mask requirements here.

What else is different.

The changes to itineraries and health and safety measures are the biggest differences. But you’ll see a few more changes before and during your trip. Here are some of the ones you’ll see.

There will only be one party per table during dining . Previously, parties would sometimes share tables and rotate through the restaurants together. Now, servers will still rotate with their groups, but different parties will not be seated at the same table together.

Tiana’s Place on Disney Wonder

Self-serve food may instead be served by Cast Members . Although self-serve buffets have returned to the Disney parks , as of writing there will not be self-serve station on board the cruise ships.

Slushy on a Cruise

Princess Tea Parties are available on the cruise ships , but guests will be seated one party per table and the princesses will be physically distanced throughout the experience.

Activities and Entertainment

And speaking of those modified character experiences , Disney has said that the up-close meet and greets will not resume, but you will still get to see characters in a physically distanced way . Based on some of the pictures, it seems like you can get fairly close to them sometimes, but you can’t touch or ask for autographs.

Pluto on the Disney Wonder

Characters will also sometimes appear during meals, on the decks, or at Castaway Cay.

Inside theaters (like the Buena Vista Theater and Funnel Vision), guests will be seated with physical distancing measures . There will also not be deck parties on board the cruise ships.

Fireworks will be available on two different nights, and guests will be assigned a night to watch the show . (You’ll be able to see which night is your fireworks night before you set sail.)

Pools, water slides, and other activities will operate at limited capacity and have specific queue locations.

Ahhh those pools!

Most itineraries on a Disney cruise ship offer one Broadway-style show. This show is repeated during the cruise with limited capacity, and seating will be physically distanced (like at the movie theaters). Like the fireworks show, guests will be assigned one time to watch this show.

The “it’s a small world” Nursery is unavailable at this time . Some other activities are also unavailable, like ping pong, shuffleboard, and basketball . Parents will need to register their kids for activities at places like the  Oceaneer Club and Lab . Teen and tween clubs are available with no reservations.

it’s a small world nursery on the Disney Wonder ©Disney Cruise Line

A virtual queue will be used for debarkation at all ports of call. This queue operates on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. This includes at all ports of call and at the end of your trip.

More Health and Safety Measures

At Castaway Cay, masks are not required at any outdoor locations . For some indoor areas (on trams, in restrooms, and inside gift shops) masks will be required. Also, there’s a new cavalcade of Disney characters on the island!

Castaway Cay in 2020

Any children who are not vaccinated (4 years old and younger) must have a reserved Port Adventure in order to disembark at ports of call. Port Adventures include scheduled excursions through the Disney Cruise Line, and you can reserve these before you set sail or by talking to a Cast Member once you’re on board .

Castaway Cay

And that’s it for our review of the Disney Cruise Line changes that you’ll need to be aware of before you set sail! Keep following DFB for more updates, because these policies have changed a lot in the past and are still subject to change.

Click Here to Find Out When You Can Book a 2023 Disney Cruise  

What you need to know about disney cruise line, learn all about disney cruise line and its various ships, explore disney’s mega cruise ship – the wish, a full list of what you can’t bring on a disney cruise, these are the best times to book your disney cruise, the best ways to save space in your tiny cruise cabin, 10 things you need on your next cruise (that you won’t think to pack), what it’s like to live on a cruise ship for 6 months, join the dfb newsletter to get all the latest disney news delivered right to your inbox click here to subscribe.

Are you setting sail with the Disney Cruise Line soon? Let us know in the comments!

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Top 10 First-Time Disney Cruise Line Tips

Planning to set sail in 2020 or beyond? These first-time Disney Cruise Line tips will help you with things you might not know about the Magic, Fantasy, Dream, and Wonder DCL ships. Most are mistakes we made–and learned from–on our first DCL vacation, but we’ve also updated and tweaked this list with new info, ideas & changes. ( Updated October 31, 2019 .)

If you’re a Castaway Club member or a seasoned Disney Cruise Line veteran, some of these may seem obvious. However, based on our conversations with our guests aboard the Disney Magic, things aren’t always quite as obvious as they might seem. If you’re planning to set sail aboard Disney Cruise Line, these updated tips should come in handy.

Fortunately, setting sail on the Disney Cruise Line is a far less complicated experience than visiting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or other theme parks, so there’s not a ton you need to know to “do it right.” These 10 tips should at the very least set you on the right course…

Note that these tips all cover the experiences aboard the Disney Cruise Line ships themselves. If you’re looking for Disney’s Castaway Cay Tips, read this post . If you want something more comprehensive or less aimed at first timers, check out our 101 Great Disney Cruise Line Tips . That’s more of a deep dive and covers a range of things–including stuff you might not know even if you’re a Platinum Castaway Club Member!

Let’s take a look at the tips for having a great time your first time setting sail aboard the Disney Cruise Line…

Every Restaurant is All You Can Eat

One of the selling points of Disney Cruise Line is that soda is all-you-can-drink and there are places to grab food throughout the day without a surcharge. (As a point of clarification since we’ve met many people who call this “free,” it’s not free–it’s built into the cost of Disney Cruise Line, which costs more than other cruise ships in its class.) However, many people don’t know that meals at rotational restaurants are all-you-can-eat, in a way.

At these restaurants, you can order as many appetizers, entrees, and desserts as you want, make substitutions, etc. If you really like a particular appetizer or entree, order another! We did this at every meal, and always found the servers happy to oblige. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility.

We don’t recommend ordering so much food that you only eat half of what’s on each plate. Ordering a half dozen lobster entrees for yourself might seem like a good idea, but it’s wasteful and probably won’t endear you to your server.

Tipping is Different

We read that tipping was different prior to our trip, and everything we read made it sound super complicated. It’s not. Basically, your onboard stateroom account is automatically charged a set amount towards the end of your cruise for housekeeping, your server, your assistant server, and the dining room manager, with envelopes also provided for the same so you can leave additional cash should you believe they deserve more. You can find out what the exact default amounts will be for your cruise with the Disney Cruise Line Blog Tip Calculator .

Should you want to tip less, you can go to Guest Services to change the amounts. We noticed fairly long lines at Guest Services the last night of our cruise, and assume this was why. We’re not going to get into the controversial area of recommended tips here, but our general advice is “don’t be an ass.” In the cruise industry, these tips are customary, and these positions in the crew depend upon them. If you vehemently disagree with the concept of tipping these positions, maybe you shouldn’t take a cruise.

I know I wouldn’t take a cruise if I hated being on a boat, and this type of tipping is as much a standard of cruising as cruises taking place aboard boats. Personally, I’m not a fan of the social construct of tipping (I feel that what’s now “standard” gratuity should be built into certain wages, as they are in most of the civilized world) for a variety of reasons , but until I can convince the rest of society to agree with me, I uphold my social obligation to tip.

Nightlife is Tame, But Fun

This one varies widely depending upon the Disney Cruise Line ship you’re sailing, and how full your cruise is, I think. On our cruise, “After Hours” was pretty much a ghost town every night after 11 p.m. This is partly to be understood. Unlike other ships, Disney Cruise Line caters to families, precluding many parents from participating in the night life scene.

Still, we highly recommend checking out the night life. We found that, while sparsely attended, it can be highly entertaining. Perhaps not in the way you’re thinking, though. While it can be fun in itself, what we found more fun was people watching. (Yes, we were those people in the corner, creepin’ on the people in da club!) Some of the guests who have the most fun in the clubs presumably haven’t been on the party scene in a while.

Pour copious amounts of alcohol on that, and you the fuel for an awesome fire. We had a blast just watching the partying, and we are 100% certain the partiers had fun doing the party. Regardless of whether you want to be a party animal or a creepy lurker like us, we bet you’ll have a good time.

Don’t Miss the Fireworks

If you’re comparing them to the fireworks at Walt Disney World, the fireworks on the Disney Cruise Line are going to disappoint you. They are relatively short by comparison, and not as large in scale.

But take a step back for a second. Walt Disney World fireworks are launched from the land. On Disney Cruise Line, you’re floating in the middle of the ocean, with a private fireworks show over the water. That’s pretty impressive, and watching them explode over the water as other ships blast their horns in the distance is a pretty cool experience.

Research Rooms

Frequent cruisers are very particular about their room, and for good reason: not all of the rooms in the same class are the same! At first blush, choosing a room seems pretty easy, since there’s inside, oceanview, and verandah. However, there are actually several “secret” verandah and porthole staterooms, as well as mini-suites and oversized rooms, all of which are priced in a lower tier.

In our case, we didn’t have the ability to pick a room, as we booked a last-minute, restricted fare “verandah or better” (VGT–there are also IGT and OGT restricted) room. The benefit of this was saving money during the off-season (since the ship wasn’t full, last minute deals were offered) and guaranteeing ourselves a verandah view room. As a side note, you also should give serious thought to which class of room to you want, and whether it’s worth the money to splurge and upgrade.

While a verandah is probably nice on longer cruises, we learned that it was an unnecessary luxury on a short cruise. By contrast, we’ve heard that a verandah is pretty much a must-do on an Alaskan cruise, due to the view of whales it might offer.

Palo is a Must Do

Some guests are likely to balk at the cost of Palo, wondering why they should pay extra for a meal when their normal rotational dining is “free.” Well, again, those meals aren’t free, they’re built into the cost of the cruise. Instead of looking at those as free and Palo as $25 per person, look at Palo as costing about 2% the total of your cruise (give or take depending upon the cruise’s actual cost). For a 2% increase in cost, does it not make sense to upgrade to a superb fine dining experience?!

We have a full Palo Dinner Review you can read if you need further convincing, but suffice to say, we fully believe that Palo is well worth the additional cost and highly recommend it for any couple looking for a romantic meal or foodies wanting a fine dining experience. The incredible service, atmosphere, and cuisine are all virtually unparalleled, and we now cannot imagine doing Disney Cruise Line without a meal at Palo.

Don’t Skip the Nightly Shows

If you look at reviews of the nightly shows, they vary widely. We’ve now seen nearly a dozen different productions aboard Disney Cruise Line, some multiple times. Our enjoyment of these shows has been all over the place–sometimes a show we don’t normally love can be elevated by a stellar cast. Other times, the reverse is true. (About the only show we’ve consistently disliked is Villains Tonight!)

The point is, it seems that no one can agree on which of these shows is awful, good, or great, and the only one who can determine whether you will like the shows is you. That requires you going to see the shows. Besides, if you’re going on a Disney cruise, you really ought to see the Disney entertainment on that cruise. The good news is that, regardless of what you think of the story of the show, production values and acting are top notch in all of the shows.

Use the Personal Navigator

If you’re like me and think your main option for entertainment on a cruise is lying around reading a book (more like falling asleep with a book on your face), boy, are you wrong! There are multiple, simultaneous options pretty much all day long. Granted, not everything is going to appeal to everyone, but you’ll probably never be wanting for anything to do while you’re on the cruise.

You’re provided a Personal Navigator each day with the schedule of events on it, but we recommend downloading the Personal Navigator App and using that. Even though we couldn’t use our phones on the cruise, we still carried them for the clock (who wears watches these days?!) and other apps. Of course, if you’re going to be in the pools a lot, maybe carrying around your phone isn’t such a good idea.

The Ship is Beautiful

If you’re a fan of these styles of architecture or themed design, take some time to explore the ship. Go in the movie theater when it’s not in use, wander around the main lobby, stare at that handmade chandelier. A big draw of Disney is in the parks’ highly immersive environments, and while Disney Cruise Line doesn’t isn’t necessarily thematically transportive (although it is literally transportive), the ship itself does make you feel a bit like you’re aboard a ship during the golden age of cruise ships.

People Sleep In

This is one of those seemingly obvious ones, but it’s clearly not that obvious given that the ship is particularly deserted in the early morning hours. I know I often harp on being up for the sunrise, and I realize people take cruises on vacation, but get up for the sunrise at least one morning!

There are very few people around, and seeing the sunrise on the open water is really a sight to behold. You can see and do a lot without worrying about other people in the early morning, so why not get up early during your day at sea, and go back to your stateroom in the middle of the day to take a nap?

Okay, that covers the first-time lessons for setting sail aboard Disney Cruise Line. As I’ve said before, I didn’t think I was a cruise person before, but the Disney Magic sold me on the Disney Cruise Line . Since that first cruise, we’ve done all of the ships, and eagerly await our next journey. It’s a totally different type of Disney experience than the theme parks, but the change of pace, relaxing, and service-oriented nature of Disney Cruise Line has us hooked!

Planning to set sail aboard one of the Disney Cruise Line ships? Read our comprehensive Disney Cruise Line Guide to prepare for your trip, plan entertainment and other activities, and learn what to expect from your Disney cruise! For info on specific ships, see our Disney Dream Ship Guide .

If you want personalized recommendations for Disney Cruise Line itineraries, ships, and more, click here to get a cruise quote from a no-fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner . They can find you all of the current discounts, and help you plan the details of your cruise!

Your Thoughts

If you’ve cruised with Disney Cruise Line before, what first time “lessons” would you add so that people avoid common mistakes? Any other tips? Any questions? Do you agree or disagree with our first-time DCL tips? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Your blog is excellent. I will be using this as my reference guide for when we go on our cruise. It will be our first cruise ever. Coming from Australia the tipping thing is hard to get my head around. I always tip when I’m in the USA, but I always worry I’ve missed someone. It’s nice for me that Disney just includes that for me to the appropriate people. However, do I still need to tip the person who brings room service, if we have it? And is there anyone else that I need to tip that Disney doesn’t automatically include? I always just ask anyway, as I want to do the right thing, but any advice would be appreciated. thankyou

I recently went on a Disney cruise for the first time in several years (it was also my first time going as an adult), and I wish I had known about fish extenders/stateroom door decorating in advance!

Because the stateroom doors on the cruise ships are metallic, many people choose to decorate them with magnets, pin trading boards, and other fun things. Additionally, families will put up “fish extenders”– organizers that hang off the fish that displays your stateroom number– for other families to leave small gifts in. In order to participate in an exchange, you often have to join a Facebook group and sign up in advance, but some people are kind and will also hand out items at random.

Although I had seen fish extenders on my previous trips, I never really bothered to consider what they were for, and the system really adds an extra bit of magic to your trip, since preparing for an exchange helps get you excited for the cruise, and receiving gifts seems super fun, especially for those travelling with children. I was unable to sign up in time for an exchange on my last cruise, but I definitely plan on participating next time!

The kiddos will definitely like this. What a fun trip! I’m will surely take the kids on a cruise this time. This great article has truly peaked my interest. I’m going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new details about once per week.

I’m so glad you enjoyed the cruise. We are going on our first cruise on The Magic out of Barcelona next September. As much as I am looking forward to our port days, I am also looking forward to the 2 days at sea. Thanks for the tips!

Hi, Awesome tips we are going on our 1st disney cruise on-board the Magic, next Friday! We cannot wait!

Found this very helpful for my trip in a couple months! Much needed tips!

Having completed 12 cruises, the Magic sets itself apart because of the Magic’s unique itineraries – Med and Northern Europe. Concierge level rooms go above and beyond the already exceptional service; however, they are quite pricey. But the best cruise has been the B2B (back to back Dream cruise) 3 day followed by a 4 day. I primed the kids and told them that our trip was only a short one – lots of gloomy eyes on debarkation day – day 3. I played along and we intentionally left the ship late that morning. After leaving the ship, I told the kids that i forgot a document in the pre boarding area only to go right back on the ship as they welcomed us back as the first family back on the Dream – Life is too short, enjoy it!!

Haha. What fun! Yes, enjoy life.

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I was on Disney Magic last year for the first time. It was a DVC cruise and I loved it! Going again 2017 for a 7 night and can’t wait to explore more options on the ship. Entertainment was awesome, staff friendly, made fast friends. Nothing but awesome!

Hi Lillian! We are going on our first Disney Cruise and it is the DVC member cruise in 2017. What makes the DVC cruise more special than a regular Disney cruise? I am someone who needs to learn everything before our trip. What should we booking in advance? What are the must sees and dos? Thanks! Melissa

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• Disney Cruise Line / Disney Treasure / Disney Wish / Itineraries / Ships

Let’s Answer Some of Your Questions about Disney Cruises

by David Mumpower · November 23, 2023

Disney Cruise Line has evolved into one of the most popular vacation options in the industry.

As I recently discussed , yet another independent evaluator named Disney Cruise Line the best family cruise company in the world.

Photo: Disney Parks Blog

Since the Disney Wish set sail in 2022, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has exploded in popularity.

You’ve probably heard that these cruises are great, and you are probably looking to book.

Credit: Disney

As a novice, you may not understand some aspects of a cruise, though.

So, let’s answer some questions about Disney Cruise Line and how cruises work.

Does the Deck Matter?

When you reserve a cabin for your Disney cruise, you’ll encounter some oddly specific questions.

Some of them matter a great deal since they partially determine the price of your room as well.

I won’t take this answer ship by ship since the answer varies. Instead, I’ll use the Disney Wish as an example of how this works.

Disney’s latest and most luxurious cruise ship hosts 1,254 staterooms across ten passenger decks.

Overall, the Wish covers 15 decks, but five of them don’t have cabins.

When you book, you’ll primarily decide between a handful of these options.

As is usually the case with cruise ships, each deck comes with pros and cons.

Photo: Disney

You can study the ship’s deck plan here to gain a general understanding of its layout.

The deck you choose will impact your vacation enjoyment, at least somewhat.

Like everything else in life, it’ll seem like a bigger deal on the first day. After that, you’ll probably stop thinking about it.

Even so, your vacation style should determine the deck you choose.

Are you a light sleeper? If so, you should pick decks 7-9 on the Disney Wish.

The cabins here have cabins above and beneath them. You won’t notice as much noise from the entertainment areas of the ship. It’ll be more like an apartment instead.

Do you plan to swim a lot? If so, you may prefer a higher deck that’s closer to the main pool.

Those of you who plan to visit the Grand Hall frequently should choose something lower, such as decks 6 and 7.

Photo: Attractions Magazine

Finally, tourists prone to motion sickness should pick a low deck.

For various scientific reasons, you’ll feel motion more on higher levels of a giant cruise ship.

Does After/Midship/Forward Matter?

At the risk of shaming my late father, who served on a Navy battleship during wartime, I am NOT great with ship terminology.

Still, I know enough about Disney Cruise Line to answer YES to this question.

Aft means the back of the ship, Forward signifies the front of the ship, and Midship is self-explanatory as the middle of the ship.

With the Disney Wish in particular, there’s a peculiarity to acknowledge.

Elevators play a factor in where you should select a cabin. These are both convenient means of reaching your destination AND high-traffic areas.

Some guests desire a cabin near the elevator, while others want as much distance as possible for the sake of quietness.

Photo: Disney Cruise Line

On the Disney Wish, you won’t find any midship elevators. Instead, Disney has placed eight in the Aft section and eight more in the Forward section.

So, that works to your advantage in selecting a cabin. If you want to avoid elevator noise, choose Midship!

(David Roark, photographer)

When you prefer elevator proximity, Aft and Forward will both work. However, I’ll add a bit more science here.

Forward staterooms are more susceptible to motion sickness. If that’s an concern, your answer is obviously to book an Aft cabin.

To a larger point, you should again study the ship layout to determine how far your cabin will be from various destinations.

You may alter your booking should something look too far away from your first choice.

What Does Guarantee Mean?

No, this isn’t an SAT test. We all know what Guarantee means, but it comes with a specific definition with Disney cruises.

First, you must understand the difference between booking a cruise versus a hotel room.

When you reserve a hotel stay, you’re not picking any particular room for the most part.

Sure, you may book the Honeymoon Suite or the Presidential Suite for a big event, but you’re typically just saying, “I need a room.”

When you book a Disney cruise, you’re selecting a specific cabin number as a rule.

Remember how we just discussed boat decks and Aft/Midship/Forward?

Once you answer those questions, you will reach a screen where you pick a cabin. It’ll include the cabin number to avoid any confusion.

That’s what typically happens. However, since Disney cruises sell out so often and no-shows are a thing, the system adds a different option.

You can book a Guarantee instead. In such instances, you’ll reserve a slightly different cabin option.

Disney calls this category GTY, and it works similarly to a hotel reservation.

Disney Cruise Line

You’re not booking a cabin number with a GTY. Instead, you’ll pick a cabin type such as Oceanview Guarantee or Verandah Guarantee.

Disney won’t assign you a cabin number immediately. The company guarantees that you’ll get a cabin that’s at least at the level you pay for, though.

In some instances, guests have reported room upgrades because Disney had availability in a nicer cabin than, say, Oceanview.

Since DCL has guaranteed you a room of at least that quality, it’ll give you something even better.

Image Credit: Disney Cruise Line(Matt Stroshane, photographer)

You SHOULD NOT expect that. It’s more of a demonstration of what Guarantee means.

Disney will assign you a cabin in the appropriate category, if not an even better one.

Is Going on a Cruise As Hard As It Seems?

Absolutely not!

Booking a cruise is always the most stressful part of the entire cruise experience.

Image Credit: Disney

Then, packing and travel are the next most aggravating parts.

Once you board the Disney Cruise Line, all your troubles will fade away.

You’ll quickly discover the joys of cruise life and might even become a cruise person, someone who spends every vacation on a luxury boat.

Still, the initial aggravation could wear on you. That’s why I’d strongly suggest that you contact MickeyTravels.

These Authorized Disney Vacation Planners have booked countless Disney cruises.

They know night and day more about booking a cruise than I ever could.

Image Credit; Disney

Just get in touch with one of them, and they’ll set you up with the cruise of your dreams! And they’ll do it for free!

They probably know more nautical terms than me, too. Sorry, Dad.

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Disney Treasure: Ems River Conveyance – September 18, 2024

Today, the Disney Treasure completed another milestone when it was guided by tugboat down the Ems River from Meyer Werft shipyard toward open water for the first time.

The Disney Treasure departed the Meyer Werft shipyard on the morning of September 18, 2024, and began the  Ems River  conveyance in route to Eemshaven, Netherlands. Leaving the shipyard, the ship passed waving spectators, who lined the river’s shores to celebrate its departure.

During the next few weeks, the ship will go through a series of rigorous tests and sea trials. Captain Marco, will be onboard to help oversee the trials and ensure the Disney Treasure is ready for its upcoming transatlantic journey ahead of the ship’s delivery from Meyer Werft to Disney Cruise Line.

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