disney cruise embarkation breakfast

• Disney Cruise Line / News

What to Expect on Your Disney Cruise: Embarkation Day

by Allison Fricker · March 16, 2024

Your bags are packed, your passport is ready, and the day you’ve been waiting for has FINALLY arrived! Yes, it’s Embarkation Day, and today you set sail on your long-awaited, much-anticipated, magical Disney cruise! 

Photo: Disney

Disney Cruise Line offers a range of exciting itineraries on a fleet of enchanting ships, including Disney Dream , Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Fantasy , and Disney Wish . 

No matter which ship is your (floating) home away from home, Embarkation Day can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you’ve never cruised before. Luckily, MickeyBlog is here to help you sort it all out ahead of time so you can tackle Embarkation Day feeling calm, confident, and totally in control. 

Credit: Disney

Come along with us as we tackle Embarkation Day on the Disney Fantasy!

Make Embarkation Day Easier With Pre-Arrival Services

A seamless and stress-free Embarkation Day begins WAY before you set foot on your Disney Cruise Line ship. In fact, you can begin Disney’s online check-in process somewhere between 30 and 40 days before your sailing date. 

Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club Membership Levels

To determine when your online check-in process begins, refer to your Castaway Club membership level. Pearl Members (guests with 25 Disney Cruise Line sailings under their belts) can begin the online check-in process 40 days before sailing, while first-timers can check in 30 days out.

When your check-in window arrives, you’ll begin Disney’s online check-in process. 

Disney Cruise Line Online Check-In

This involves submitting all required documentation as required by the Disney Cruise Line website . Depending on your itinerary, this may include a valid driver’s license, passport, and/or birth certificate.

As part of the check-in process, you will also enter payment information (for use during your sailing) and your expected port arrival time.

Disney Cruise Line Port of Arrival Time

Disney’s online check-in process also allows you to select your seating time for dining. You’ll choose between an earlier seating time (like the 5:45 PM option pictured below) or a seating later in the evening. 

If an early seating time is important to you, be sure to complete your online check-in as early as possible, as the Main Seating sometimes hits capacity.

Disney Cruise Line Seating Selection

Finally, online check-in allows guests to input information about their traveling party, make arrangements for kids’ clubs, and complete other family-specific forms. 

Disney Cruise Line Guest Information

When the process is finalized, you will receive verification that your online check-in is complete.

Disney Cruise Line Check-In Process

You will also receive a cruise contract along with a Port Arrival Form. Be sure to bring the Port Arrival form with you on Embarkation Day! 

Disney Cruise Line Check-In Finalized

Pack the form, along with your driver’s license, birth certificate/passport, and MagicBand+/DisneyBand+ SEPARATELY from the rest of your luggage.

You will be separated from your luggage during the embarkation process and will need these items on your person as you board the ship.

Health Questionnaire

Another big part of preparing for a Disney Cruise is the health questionnaire! You MUST complete this before boarding — they will not let you board your ship without it completed.

You will typically receive an email prompting you to complete the health questionnaire on the morning of your Embarkation Day. 

The health questionnaire involves three routine questions about the health status of everyone in your party, and it can be completed online.

Cast Members will check at the terminal to see if you completed your health questionnaire. If you don’t, you will be directed to Guest Services.

We recommend keeping your eyes peeled on your email to keep the process moving smoothly!

Navigating Embarkation Day

On Embarkation Day, you’ll arrive at your departure port with your documentation, Port Arrival form, and your MagicBand+/DisneyBand+ in hand.

Disney Cruise Line Terminal

As you step into the terminal, you may be asking yourself…now what?

Hopefully, you’ve heeded Disney’s instructions and arrived no more than 30 minutes before your listed port arrival time. Upon arrival, follow the posted signage and prepare to enter the terminal.

Disney Cruise Line Port Arrival Signs

This is where Embarkation Day truly begins! 

Note that we boarded from the Port Canaveral terminal, so your terminal location may look a bit different, but the boarding process is generally the same for every sailing. 

Disney Cruise Line Embarkation

Once inside, you’ll join another line (sound familiar?).

Have your documentation ready, as you’ll need it at the first checkpoint. This is where Disney Cast Members will check your Port Arrival form, verify your required forms of identification, and link your MagicBand+/DisneyBand+ to your reservation.

Disney Cruise Line Embarkation Day

With your documents cleared, you’ll continue on to security and then head upstairs.

On the second floor, you’ll find Guest Services, where you can address any issues or concerns. This is also where you’ll find the Mickey-shaped entrance to the gangway!

Disney Cruise Line Gangway Entrance

Stop for an Embarkation Day photo op before proceeding through the Mickey entrance! Just inside the entrance, Cast Members will scan your Port Arrival form or your MagicBand+/DisneyBand+.  

Then, you will continue across the gangway.

Disney Cruise Line Gangway

On the other side of the gangway, you’ll join one last line before boarding the ship.

When your turn arrives, your family name will be announced in the ship’s beautiful atrium — and your magical Disney cruise will officially begin!

Disney Fantasy Atrium

Kick off your vacation by exploring the ship or grabbing a bite to eat while you wait for your stateroom to be ready. 

While staterooms are generally ready between 1:30PM – 2:00PM, the timeframe can vary by ship and by day. When your room is available, you’ll find your Key to the World card right outside your door.

Disney Cruise Line Key to the World Card

Be sure to note the letter that appears on your Key to the World card. This letter corresponds to your muster drill station and will be important during your (very mandatory!) muster drill.

Most Disney Cruise Line muster drills occur sometime around 4PM, but be sure to check your DCL Navigator app for an exact time. Once the muster drill is over, the party truly begins!

Disney Cruise Line Sail Away Party

Head to the pool deck to enjoy the festive Sail Away Party with Mickey, Minnie, and all their friends!

Disney characters (dressed up in their best nautical gear!) perform a song and dance, followed by a boisterous countdown to departure. Listen for the horn as your ship pulls away from port!

(Note that the Sail Away Party is a little different on every ship.)

Sail Away Party on Disney Fantasy

With Embarkation Day behind you, you’re free to enjoy all the food, entertainment, and Disney magic your cruise has to offer! 

Thanks for visiting http://MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on  your next Disney vacation , please fill out the form below, and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond-Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!

Tags: DCL Disney Cruise Line embarkation Embarkation Day Embarkation Guide

Get a FREE Quote!

Interested in booking a Disney Vacation? Look no further! The award winning agents at MickeyTravels are ready to help you book a truly magical vacation!

• Name * First Last
• Number of Adults *
• Number of Children *
• Ages of Children *
• Select Your Destination * *hold ctrl or shift to select more Walt Disney World Disney Cruise Line Disneyland Adventures by Disney Aulani Hawaii Disney Special Event Tickets Universal Orlando
• Approximate Travel Dates *

You may also like...

Disney Ambassadors Share Their Favorite Homemade Videos from Disney Fans

April 6, 2020

BREAKING NEWS: Twice Upon A Cupcake Is Double The Disney Magic

November 6, 2020

TV Host Trevor Noah Spends Time At Pixar Pier With Some Incredible Friends

January 4, 2019

Recent Posts

‘Wish’ Finds Second Life on Disney Streaming

What Did Critics Get Wrong About Disney This Week?

Celebrate Mother’s Day With Personalized Mouse Ears in Animal Kingdom

Sign-up for Our Newsletter

Disney+ / News

May 8, 2024

News / The Walt Disney Company

Animal Kingdom / Merchandise / News / Walt Disney World

Disney Business / Marvel / News / The Walt Disney Company

You’ll Need $3,500 for This

Disney Cruise Embarkation and Disembarkation Tips For Port Canaveral

When I was preparing for our first Disney Cruise I was most nervous about the Disney Cruise embarkation and disembarkation procedures. I had never done a cruise before, and the information I found was extremely confusing. Now I realize that the Disney Cruise embarkation and disembarkation procedures are overall very easy, but minor mistakes can turn into big problems. Find out what the Disney Cruise embarkation and disembarkation process is like at Port Canaveral and our tips for making your Disney Cruise embarkation and disembarkation days easy.

Disney Cruise Embarkation Day

The day has finally come for you to set sail on your Disney cruise. Before walking onto your Disney Cruise Line ship at Port Canaveral you must complete several steps.

Check Your Luggage

You cannot carry all of your luggage on board with you on embarkation day. Staterooms, which are your home for the duration of the cruise, are not usually ready until late in the afternoon. If you used Disney Cruise Line transportation, and left your bags properly tagged outside of your Disney World resort room, these bags will magically show up outside your stateroom door.

If you have driven yourself, or taken a car service like Tiffany Towncar, you will need to check your properly tagged luggage. A porter at the port will collect your luggage before you head to the security line.

Please note the porters do not work for Disney Cruise Line, and tipping is customary when you hand off your bags.

Pro tip: Check pricing for private car service to Port Canaveral. Many times using a company like Tiffany Towncar will cost the same as using Disney Cruise Line transportation, but the Tiffany Towncar service is more convenient and pleasant than taking the coach buses. 

Regardless of how you get to the port it is very important that you have all essential items for the day with you. All checked luggage is inaccessible for several hours.

Passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, medications, valuables, and other essential items should be packed in your embarkation day bag.

Check this article for Disney Cruise vacation packing tips and what to pack in your embarkation day bag.

Get Pre-Boarding COVID Test

Starting in June 2022 Disney Cruise Line updated their pre-cruise COVID testing requirements . In the US and Canada, vaccinated guests must still take a pre-cruise COVID test, but the specific rules have changed.

Instead of mandating testing be done immediately prior to boarding, Disney now accepts negative results of certain tests taken no more than 2 days before embarkation. These negative results must be uploaded to Safe Passage before midnight the day before embarkation.

All testing for vaccinated guests is now at the guest’s expense. For kids under 5 years old they must still pretest 3 days before the cruise at your expense and once again at the port at no charge.

Port test results can take up to 60 minutes. Plan ahead and make sure to pack snacks, drinks, and entertainment to help pass the time while waiting. For the most up to date information consult the Disney Cruise Line website .

Go Through Security Screening

At Port Canaveral there is U.S. airport style screening to enter the port. All bags go through a screening machine. Every person entering the port also passes through a metal detector. This process generally moves quickly with our usual wait time under 15 minutes.

Check-in For Your Cruise

After security it is time to get in line for Disney Cruise Line check-in. Most of your check-in process is completed online in advance of your trip. Having most forms completed online makes the embarkation day process move quickly.

While you wait, staff will provide you a health questionnaire. Complete this questionnaire prior to reaching the check-in desk. Sometimes pens are scarce so it is helpful to have your own.

Once you reach the check-in desk a cast member will pull up your reservation information. They will then ask to see your driver’s license, passport or other items that can be used in lieu of a passport. Find out more about documentation requirements for Disney Cruise Line here .

The cast member will review your travel health questionnaire and then take a photo of each member of the group to associate with your on-board account. After this check-in is complete, the cast member will give you a Key To The World Card and boarding group number.

It is very important to keep track of your Key To The World card. Your Key To The World Card is needed for almost everything on your Disney Cruise Line vacation.

Wait For Your Boarding Group

The boarding process is more streamlined now with guests arriving at pre-selected arrival times. This means you should be able to board the ship quickly after screening unlike before when you may have a long wait in the terminal before boarding.

Once your boarding group number is called you enter the gangway to board the Disney Cruise Line ship. Photographers with a background screen of a Disney Cruise ship will take your photo on the way through the gangway.

Please note this character experience may be modified or absent right now. If you have a little time until your boarding group is called you can start the fun by meeting Disney characters in the port lobby. Find out more about meeting Disney characters on a cruise here.

Board Your Disney Cruise Ship

As you approach the doors of the Disney Cruise Line ship a cast member will ask your family name. When it is your turn to enter the ship a cast member introduces you and the staff applaud as you finally enter the cruise ship.

You have now completed your Disney Cruise embarkation, but there is more to do on this first day. Grab something to eat, explore the ship, or go for a swim while you wait for your room to be ready. 

Before leaving dock there is a mandatory safety drill everyone must attend. After that it is time for the Sail Away Party and for your vacation fun to begin.

Disney Cruise Disembarkation Day

The process for Disney Cruise disembarkation begins the night before you depart and continues into the morning of disembarkation.

Place Luggage Outside Your Stateroom The Night Before

On the evening of your last night on a Disney Cruise your stateroom attendant will place luggage tags and a special paper detailing the Disney Cruise disembarkation process on your bed.

Disney Cruise disembarkation day can be very chaotic. Embarkation is scattered over a longer time whereas disembarking happens around the same time for everyone. Elevators are crowded, and it can be difficult to carry heavy luggage down many flights of steps.

To avoid the challenge of lugging large suitcases on your Disney Cruise disembarkation day you can choose to use special tags and place bags outside of your stateroom the night before disembarking. Your stateroom attendant will load the luggage, and porters will have it ready to pick up outside the ship.

It is important that you keep everything you need for your last night and the next morning with you. The luggage you leave outside the stateroom will be unavailable until after you disembark the Disney cruise ship.

We usually pack everything except pajamas, clothes and shoes for the next day, medications, toiletries, jewelry, passports or other important documents. Then on Disney Cruise disembarkation day we pack all of our remaining items in a carry-on suitcase and our personal items like a backpack or purse.

Disembarkation Day Breakfast

The Disney Cruise Line disembarkation day starts early. If you had first seating for dinner your scheduled breakfast time is 6:45 am. If you are the second dinner seating then breakfast is usually at 8:00 am.

Both of these times can be rather early. This is especially true when you consider everyone needs to be up, dressed, and fully packed prior to going to breakfast. We have done a sit-down disembarkation day breakfast and also done continental style breakfast in our room for disembarkation day.

Eating something quick in the room and then disembarking the ship while others are at breakfast is much easier. Room service is not available on Disney cruise disembarkation day, so plan ahead. Order complimentary room service the day before your Disney Cruise disembarkation day. We’ve found the best breakfast supplies are fruit, cereal, and milk.

Exiting The Ship

If you have a quick breakfast in your stateroom prior to disembarking your Disney cruise, exiting the ship is likely to be easier. You can time your exit to occur while others are at breakfast. Right after each breakfast group finishes is the worst time to try and exit the ship.

One time when we went to the disembarkation breakfast we had to wait over 20 minutes in line just to exit the ship’s lobby onto the gangway. The line on the gangway took even longer.

Each passenger is scanned out with their Key To The World Card when disembarking a Disney cruise. Many people leave their Key To The World Card in their stateroom and then have difficulty disembarking. Keep your Key To The World Card with you at all times even on Disney cruise disembarkation day.

Pick Up Luggage

Any luggage that you tagged and placed outside of your stateroom the night before will be in a large area waiting to be claimed. Each section of staterooms is assigned a color and character luggage tag. This helps you to find the section where your luggage is stored. There are lots of bags, so don’t be surprised if it takes a couple of minutes to find all of your luggage.

US Customs and Border Protection

After you have collected all of your luggage, you will enter the line for US Customs and Border Protection. An agent will call you forward and ask to see your passport or other accepted documentation. They will confirm your identity and may ask some general questions before allowing you re-entry in the port.

Final Thoughts On Disney Cruise Embarkation and Disembarkation Procedures

Disney Cruise embarkation and disembarkation procedures are easy once you know what to expect. The most important thing on embarkation day is to arrive with a smartly packed embarkation day bag and all required documents for your trip.

Disney cruise disembarkation day can feel hectic if you don’t plan ahead. Leaving non-essential luggage outside of your stateroom the night before and eating a continental breakfast in your room the morning of disembarking alleviates much of the stress.

Remember to bring your Key To The World Card with you when exiting the ship to avoid delays. The Disney Cruise disembarkation process can take a while, so always check with Disney Cruise Line for recommendations before booking flights.

Find more planning resources for your Disney Cruise here.

Pin it for later:

About The Author

Help Center

How can we help you.

Dining, Food & Beverages – Frequently Asked Questions

Which of the ships’ dining locations serve breakfast and lunch?

Breakfast and lunch are served at various onboard venues throughout our fleet, including:

• Disney Dream: Royal Palace and Enchanted Garden
• Disney Fantasy: Royal Court and Enchanted Garden
• Disney Magic: Lumiere's
• Disney Wonder: Triton's

Breakfast and lunch can be enjoyed at the casual restaurant known as  Cabanas on all ships. In addition, breakfast and lunch are available as quick poolside meals on all our ships.

Hours of operation differ by day and venue, so be sure to check My Plans in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app once on board for specific hours and details.

Discover all the restaurants and dining options aboard Disney Cruise Line.

Did you find this answer helpful?

Related Questions

Is room service available on the ship?

What is rotational dining?

Disney Cruise Line Information

DCL Fan is your source for Disney Cruise Line Information, News, and Discounts

Pro Tips for Disney Cruise Line Embarkation Day

In this episode, the panel discusses pro tips for your embarkation day like skipping the buffet and sitting down for your meal, going straight to the spa, and a lot more.

• 01:56 📄 Ensure you have all necessary documents for embarkation day, even if you uploaded them during online check-in.
• 04:10 🛂 For a one-year-old on a closed-loop cruise, a birth certificate is sufficient, but a passport is recommended for added security.
• 07:08 ✈️ Arrive at the port at least one day in advance to account for potential travel delays.
• 08:16 📱 Download and update the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to complete the health survey and receive important notifications.
• 12:23 💰 Tip the porters at the port to ensure your bags are handled safely and quickly.
• 13:04 ⏰ Arrive at the port at your assigned Port Arrival Time, not boarding time.
• 14:12 🍽️ Consider going to a table service restaurant like Enchanted Garden for embarkation day lunch to avoid the long lines at Cabanas.
• 16:16 🌸 Buy Rainforest Room passes or inquire about spa deals and discounts on embarkation day.
• 17:41 🚢 Visit the Excursion desk or Cruise Activity desk to make last-minute reservations and adjustments for activities and dining.
• 18:18 🍴 If you have specific dietary needs, meet with the dining team and head chef to discuss your requirements and ensure a safe dining experience.
• 21:35 🛡️ Pre-register your children for the kids’ clubs during online check-in and pick up their identification bracelets on board.

About Post Author

See author's posts

Share this:

• ← New Details Released for Disney Cruise Line’s Lookout Cay in The Bahamas
• Disney Cruise Line Shares Sneak Peek of Holiday Popcorn Bucket & More →

You May Also Like

How Does Online Check-In Work for Disney Cruise Line?

Packing Champions: The Dos and Don'ts of your Disney Cruise Line Suitcase

To Sail, or Not To Sail a Maiden Voyage, That Is the Question

Discover more from disney cruise line information.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Sign up for the FREE MouseSavers Newsletter and get a monthly email with exclusive discounts!

Facebook Twitter

Disney Cruise Advice: Tips & Tricks Onboard the Ship

LAST UPDATE: 2/14/24

On this page we have collected some useful Disney Cruise advice, tips, and tricks that can help you save time and have more fun while you are on a Disney Cruise. Read the advice below and you’ll have a much better idea what to expect, even if you’ve never been on a cruise before!

Thanks to Marjorie Treger and to MouseSavers.com readers Jeff Evernham and Aileen B, who contributed some great tips.

Disney Cruise Advice & Important Things to Know

Embarkation, first-day bag packing list, staterooms and what’s in them, knowing what’s going on & planning your day, oceaneer club and oceaneer lab, edge and vibe, port days/shore excursions, useful things to pack, things you don’t need to (or should not) pack, disney cruise wear, phone and internet.

• Spa: Treatments, Products & Fitness Center

Disembarkation

Additional tips & tricks, trip reports.

Other useful Disney Cruise information pages:

• For discounts and tips on saving money on the cruise itself , visit our Disney Cruise Discount page.
• For tips and tricks that will help you plan your cruise , visit the Planning Tips & Tricks for Disney Cruises page.
• For advice that will help you with excursions, tours and activities  while in port, visit the Tips & Discounts for Port Excursions page.

“Embarkation” means getting on the ship for the first time during your cruise; “disembarkation” or “debarkation” means getting off the ship at the end of your cruise.

“Port” is the left side of the ship as you face forward; “starboard” is the right side as you face forward. “Forward” is obvious; “aft” is the rear of the ship.

Cruise lines are required to ensure that every passenger knows the safety procedures and has been physically shown where they need to muster in case of emergency. A mandatory muster drill is held in the afternoon of embarkation day, usually around 4:00 pm. Everyone must attend in order to learn the location of your lifeboat station and other safety information. The drill takes 20 minutes or less and you do not have to bring your life jacket with you.

Make sure you turn off the cellular service on your phone while you’re at sea, so you don’t end up paying through the nose for “cellular at sea” service . There is a Disney Cruise Navigator app that you can use on most iPhones and Android phones without needing to pay for internet access. The Navigator app includes activity schedules and menus, and has a kind of text message feature that seems to work much better these days. We found that notifications were showing up quickly when people messaged using the app (our experience was with iPhone, we don’t know how well Android works).

“Cay” is pronounced “key” by locals – so unless you want to sound like a novice, remember this for Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island).

Disney asks you to select a P ort Arrival Time (PAT) when you do online check-in prior to your cruise. This arrival time was not rigidly enforced in the past, but lately, Disney has been enforcing people’s PATs pretty closely, especially during the early part of the boarding process. If you get to the terminal before 12:30, you will probably not be let in to the terminal until your time arrives. After 12:30 or so, Disney seems to just let people into the terminal as long as the check-in line isn’t completely full.

Bottom line: if you want to get on the ship as early as possible, definitely be ready to check in online on the morning your check-in opens! See below for when you can check in online:

• If you are staying at an official Walt Disney World resort or at Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport the night before your cruise, AND you booked that hotel as a package with the cruise, AND you are using Disney’s bus service to the port, your port arrival time is less important, and you may not even see an option to select one when you check in. From a Disney hotel, they’re going to assign you a bus, and generally you’ll just get there when you get there and the terminal staff will be ready to process and embark that whole busload of passengers. If you’re staying at the Hyatt, there will be multiple buses and you can take the first bus they’ll let you on. In either case, it’s rare to experience much wait no matter what your port arrival time is. But if you are offered the option to pick a port arrival time at checkin, pick the earliest reasonable time, just to be on the safe side. It can’t hurt, and it might save you some waiting.
• If you are staying in a concierge level stateroom or suite , you can check in and receive your port arrival time 40 days before embarkation day. That said, your shore-side concierge will likely offer to check you in on the first day you’re eligible, so effectively you can just let them handle it and they should get you the earliest arrival time (unless they know you won’t be arriving that early).
• If you are a Pearl member of the Castaway Club (25+ previous Disney cruises), you can check in and receive your port arrival time 40 days before embarkation day. 
• If you are a Platinum member of the Castaway Club (10-24 previous Disney cruises), you can check in and receive your port arrival time 38 days before embarkation day.
• If you are a Gold member of the Castaway Club (5-9 previous Disney cruises), you can check in and receive your port arrival time 35 days before embarkation day.
• If you are a Silver member of the Castaway Club (1-4 previous Disney cruises), you can check in and receive your port arrival time 33 days before embarkation day.
• If you have never before taken a Disney cruise, you can check in and receive your port arrival time 30 days before embarkation day.

When you arrive at Port Canaveral, you’ll hand off your bags to the dock workers. Tipping is theoretically optional, but it’s customary to tip them at least $1-$2 per bag, and we tend to tip on the high side for very helpful or friendly porters. Keep your carry-on/day bag with you. Get in line to go through check-in (during which time you’ll show your port arrival document several times), then get in line to go through security (you go through a metal detector and your carry-ons go through an x-ray).

The first people who will get on the ship are Group 1, which will usually be concierge level guests. Shortly after noon, announcements will be made for general boarding by group number. You’ll present your port arrival document as you board, have a family photo taken (or bypass the photo and get on the ship that much faster), and then your family will be announced as you arrive in the atrium of the ship. After that, the ship is yours!

Most people will head straight to lunch, and if you’re hungry, that’s a great idea. If you’ve brought your swimsuits in your day bag, this is a perfect time to enjoy the pool (or AquaDuck on the Dream or Fantasy and AquaMouse on the Wish), because the ship is still relatively empty and a lot of people will not have thought ahead. If you still need to make spa appointments, change your dinner rotation, sign up for shore excursions, book Palo, Remy or Enchanté, or book any specialty character meals or tea parties, now is the time to do that. You can also get your kids’ wristbands for the kids club. If it’s your first time on the ship, this is a good time to get a map and wander around familiarizing yourself with everything.

If you are a concierge level guest, there is a special concierge embarkation lunch, or you can go to the concierge lounge, where you can relax and enjoy a snack. You’ll be personally assisted with any bookings or changes you’d like to make (dining rotations, spa appointments, etc.)

At about 1:30-2:00, your room should be ready. Your bags will be delivered at some point in the afternoon (up until about 6:00 pm).

On the embarkation day, you won’t get access to your room until 1:30-2:00 pm, and you may not get all of your luggage until 6:00 pm (or occasionally even later), so its recommended you carry a bag that contains everything you’ll need between boarding the ship and dinner. If you want to swim or ride the AquaDuck or AquaMouse, for example, you will need all your swim stuff.

Here’s our checklist for packing our day bag. Some people like to use a rolling carry-on, but we prefer a small duffel. It’s your call; whatever you feel comfortable lugging around for an hour or two. You can also pack a small backpack for everyone to spread out the load.

• Flip-flops or water shoes (the deck can get hot )
• Reading material, iPad, videogames or other entertainment
• Camera, if you aren’t using your phone
• Medications you might need between noon and dinnertime
• Change of clothes for dinner, if what you wear to board the ship isn’t reasonable (though it almost certainly is fine, as long as it’s not a swimsuit).

The TV in your stateroom offers limited live TV programming, but a pretty extensive selection of Disney-owned movie and TV content. There is the Disney Channel, ABC and ESPN, all owned by Disney, plus some 24-hour news channels (MSNBC & Fox) and a small selection of basic cable channels. You can watch a huge variety of Disney movies and a few other family-friendly titles “on demand” (no extra charge).

Disney no longer provides the cordless Wave Phones; if you need to contact other members of your party, you are expected to use the Disney Navigator app on your phone. If you don’t have a compatible phone or don’t want to carry your phone, you have to fall back on the tried and true “let’s meet in XXX at YYY” or put a magnetic white board on your room door to exchange messages. Note that the kids club staff will only be able to contact you via the Navigator app, so if you don’t carry it around, you can’t be informed of issues with your kids.

Fire codes prevent cruise ships from having irons in staterooms, but irons are available for your use in the laundry rooms. Speaking of laundry, you can charge the cost of self-service laundry to your room key by swiping it through the readers on the washers and dryers.

Inside staterooms have no window (except the “ secret porthole ” rooms on the Wonder and Magic that are classified as inside but have an obstructed porthole). Inside staterooms on the Dream and Fantasy ships do have the “virtual porthole” that provides some light. It can be turned off with a switch by the bed. Bear in mind that on the Wonder, Magic and Wish (or on the Dream and Fantasy with the virtual porthole turned off), inside staterooms have no external light coming in to wake you up in the morning or give you a sense of what time it is. So if you’re anxious to get up and go in the morning, make sure you set an alarm or request a wake-up call.

A portable hair dryer can be found in a bag in the bathroom or in a desk drawer (call Guest Services if you can’t find it). It must be plugged into a European (220V) outlet at the desk. If you happen to be in a stateroom that also has a built-in hair dryer in the bathroom attached to the wall, we recommend leaving it alone; they don’t work well. Use the one in the drawer.

There is no longer a paper Navigator schedule given out in your stateroom, or even available from the front desk. You can only get the activity schedule via your phone or via the TV.

You can download the Navigator app for Apple or Android devices before you arrive at the embarkation port and then, once onboard, connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network—complimentary for app use only. Downloading the app does not enable general-purpose internet access – you have to pay extra for that. In addition to giving you the ship’s daily schedule, the app has some information that isn’t in the paper Navigator, including menus for the various restaurants and some other useful tidbits. 

The Navigator app also has the all-aboard time and the local number of the ship’s agent, who is your contact if you have an emergency or are running late and might miss the ship (or have missed the ship). It’s not a bad idea to write those things down on a separate piece of paper to carry with you when you’re in port, just in case you lose your phone or the Navigator app gets flaky. If you have an emergency and don’t have your phone or the info on paper, you can call the port and ask them who the port agent is for your ship, and then call Disney’s port agent to let them know what’s happening.

The Navigator app now has a FREE text messaging feature. The messaging feature is available on all five ships. You do not need to buy a data plan to send messages to other people in your party, assuming they also have a device that can run the app. We didn’t really use it much in previous years because there could be 20-30 minutes between sending and message and the recipient getting a notification on their phone, but on our most recent cruise everything worked fine. Also, if you get the newer internet service that you can leave on all the time (currently available on the Wish, Magic, Dream and Fantasy) it will work with iMessage, WhatsApp and other messengers, and it will work with SMS text messaging if everyone’s phone has Wi-Fi cellular enabled.

Onboard Entertainment & Activities Tips

If you’re curious to know what movies will be shown on your sailing before you get on the ship, call  Disney Cruise customer service (800) 951-3532 about two weeks before your cruise and ask.

Want to ride the AquaDuck water coaster on the Dream or Fantasy or the AquaMouse on the Wish? MouseSavers.com reader Bill V has this tip: “If you enjoy the AquaDuck during the day, find an EVENING to ride it as well! Riding it at night, with the red-and-white lights strobing around the tube at each of the supports, is a completely different experience than the daytime, not to be missed! Also, the lines are truly non-existent if you go during dinner or show times, far shorter than even the times when most passengers are ashore when the ship is docked–my daughter rode it one evening over a dozen times in less than 90 minutes, usually walking on with no line whatsoever.” (This advice would apply to the AquaMouse on the Wish as well.)

Some special activities require advance sign-up at Guest Services. For instance, “Tea with Wendy,” (or “Tea with Alice” or some other character) is sometimes offered on some 7-night cruises, but has limited seating, and on cruises near Christmas, there is a build-your-own-gingerbread house activity, but they have a limited number of kits available. Check for those activities (they’ll generally be listed in the Navigator app) and sign up as soon as you can. Certain popular character meetings are also now requiring advance sign-up, usually on the first day.

Theater snacks : the theaters where the movies and shows are presented have concession stands selling expensive goodies such as canned sodas, bagged popcorn and candy, which can be charged to your room key. If you want to keep costs down, go up on the pool deck to the self-serve beverage station and get FREE sodas (or lemonade, tea, etc.) to bring into the show with you. You can also usually get FREE cookies from one of the counter-service locations on the pool deck and bring those along (or order cookies from room service, for only the cost of a tip). Concierge level guests on the Dream and Fantasy can get snacks, including cans of soda and sometimes popcorn, from the lounge. The snack bar at the theater has a refillable popcorn bucket that can be refilled for the rest of your cruise at a much cheaper price, so if you like popcorn, it’s a good idea to get one at the beginning of the cruise. Some people have brought popcorn buckets from previous cruises or from Walt Disney World and had them refilled, though that may or may not be official policy.

Embarkation Day

Once you’re onboard on embarkation day, you can eat lunch in one of three locations (or the concierge lunch if you’re in a concierge stateroom): the buffet, the pool deck food outlets (burgers, pizza, etc.) or a dining room (on the Magic, the primary lunch dining room is Lumiere’s; on the Wonder, it’s Triton’s; on the Dream and Fantasy, it’s Enchanted Garden; on the Wish, it’s been 1923 or Arendelle). The primary dining room lunch is a la carte with a normal lunch menu similar to the menu served on sea days. It has a tendency to fill up pretty quickly, so if you want to eat there, get on the ship as early as possible. There is also a lunch just for concierge guests in a different dining room.

Note that if you head for the inside dining room, you will encounter multiple crew members who will try to herd you to the buffet, which can handle more people. Just tell them you’d prefer the interior dining room. 

Breakfast and Lunch

During the cruise, there are usually two or three breakfast and lunch locations with different hours (check the Navigator app for hours). You can choose from one or more full-service restaurants with open seating (just show up when you want during opening hours, and they’ll seat you), or eat at the buffet.

Dinner Rotations

Your dinner arrangements — meaning your restaurant rotation schedule, and whether you have the early or late seating for dinner — are assigned before you embark on the cruise. You can find your restaurant rotation by checking the “My Plans” section of the Navigator app. It will also show your table number and seating time, as well as the recommended dress code and menu. If you have trouble using the app, Guest Services or any of the dining locations can help you get that information. 

If you want to change your seating or your restaurant rotation, do that as soon as you embark. The location on the ship where changes can be made will be listed in the Navigator app, or just go to Guest Services and they can point you in the right direction.

If you go to your assigned restaurant for dinner each night, your servers will be the same for every night of your cruise. On longer cruises they’ll get to know you, and may even have your “usual” beverage waiting for you at your table. If you are served something you don’t like, tell the servers and they’ll bring you something else. And if you want to indulge, they’ll be happy to bring you two desserts (or two appetizers, or even two entrees)! In true Disney style, if you have a special event you are celebrating, make sure your servers know. You will get appropriate special treatment (usually a special dessert, and perhaps some singing).

We recommend not rushing to dinner. If you show up five minutes or so after they begin seating you’ll walk right in. If you show up early you’ll just have to wait in line! Don’t wait too long, though: in order to get everyone served in a timely manner, each server really needs to get all the orders from all their tables at once. If you come too late, it throws off their timing, necessitating multiple extra trips to the kitchen and long delays for everyone. Also, if you won’t be at the regular rotation dinner one night, it’s helpful to tell your server or head server in advance, so they won’t wait for you to arrive to start service for the other tables.

We also recommend having the Navigator app open to your dinner reservation and table number the first time you arrive at each restaurant, so you can be seated more easily. But if you remember your table number, you can just tell the servers.  

Each restaurant has a “special” menu that is only offered at that restaurant, which will be used on one of the nights you visit each restaurant (the same night as the show, if there is one for that restaurant). On the other nights, you’ll get “standard” menus that are the same at all three restaurants (they change every night, but each of the three restaurants gets the same menu). 

Dinner Shows

The following restaurants have special shows and menus on one night of your cruise . These shows are one of the unique entertainment experiences on a Disney cruise, so try to see them if you can! Ask at Guest Services or ask your server which night it will be for your rotation. Move your Palo, Remy or Enchante reservations or change your dinner rotation if you have to. 

• Animator’s Palate (Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy) — On the Magic & Wonder, this show allows everyone in the family to design a character and see it animated. It’s pretty neat! On the Dream & Fantasy, the show involves interacting with an animated character (Crush the sea turtle from Finding Nemo). On longer (7+ night) cruises on the Dream & Fantasy, they may also do a version of the “draw your own animated character” show on the second night you visit Animator’s Palate.
• Tiana’s Place (Wonder) — A rollicking dinner show with the characters and songs from The Princess & The Frog.
• Rapunzel’s Royal Table (Magic) — A fun musical show with characters and songs from Tangled.
• Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure (Wish) — An elaborate show where you’re a guest at an engagement party for Anna and Kristoff, hosted by Wandering Oaken. Enjoy songs and characters from the two Frozen movies.
• Worlds of Marvel (Wish) — A loud action spectacle involving Ant-Man and the Wasp (and some guest Marvel characters) takes place during dinner. Most of the action is ostensibly taking place elsewhere on the ship (you watch it on screens on the walls of the restaurant), but live-action Ant-Man and the Wasp appear near the end to wave at diners.

Premium Restaurants

If you enjoy fine dining, we definitely recommend making a reservation for Palo, Remy or Enchanté, particularly on a 4-night or longer cruise. There is a small extra cost (larger for Remy and Enchanté) but it is well worth it for the cuisine, the atmosphere, and the opportunity to enjoy a nice dinner without the kids. The Remy and Enchanté dinners are especially elaborate, and are similar to meals that cost much more at Michelin starred restaurants or Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World. Palo can be found on all five Disney ships, though the menu is slightly different (and more steakhouse-oriented) on the Wish. Remy is only on the Dream and Fantasy, and Enchanté is only on the Wish.

Alternatively, consider booking the Palo, Enchanté or Remy brunch (offered usually only once or twice on most cruises). We find the premium brunches particularly fabulous and might even prefer them to dinner in Palo.

Palo, Remy and Enchanté are very popular, so book them as early as you can . If you’re not able to get a reservation in advance, check the Navigator app or ask a crew member to find the location where you can go and request a reservation onboard.

If you want to skip one of the regular rotation restaurants in order to dine in Palo, Remy or Enchanté, our suggestion is to call Disney to find out the dining rotations for your cruise and pick a night that is the second visit to a restaurant, since the first night is very likely to be that restaurant’s special menu (and will have a show, if there is a show at that restaurant). For example, if your rotation is “Enchanted Garden, Rapunzel’s Table, Rapunzel’s Table, Animator’s Palate”, pick the third night, since it is the most likely to be a “standard” menu.

Keep in mind that the dinner rotations and timing of Animator’s Palate, Tiana’s, Rapunzel’s, Marvel or Arendelle shows are subject to change, and in our experience the folks at the Disney call center don’t always have accurate information about when the show will happen. The people actually on the ship know, so if you want to be sure your premium dining doesn’t happen on a dinner show night, go to Guest Services or the dining reservation location listed in the Navigator app on the first day of your cruise and ask. If there’s a conflict, they can either reschedule your premium dinner or put you on a different main dining rotation.

Alternate Dining Options

There are always plenty of options for food: check the Navigator app to know which restaurants are open at what times.

In the past, Disney has opened up the buffet area (Cabanas or Marceline Market) for dinner on most nights of the cruise (usually all but the first night), but as a table-service venue, not a buffet. There’s no specific time, you just show up and choose from a limited menu that includes some of the same foods served in the main dining rooms (but without all the hoopla). Of late they haven’t been doing it, but all indications are that this is a temporary post-pandemic measure because of logistics issues, so it could restart any time. If you’d prefer a quieter dinner at your own dining time, ask if it’s an option on your cruise.

There are fast-food locations up on the pool deck, serving kid-friendly fast food. We think the burgers and other sandwiches on a bun are edible, and the mini-wraps are quite good. The pizza is not a highlight – the toppings are fine, but the crust is sub-par, except on the Wish, where it is pretty good. The Wish also has a barbeque window, and a Mexican food window with choose-your-own ingredient bowls, tacos and burritos (think Chipotle), and both of those options are quite good. The fruit is fruit; nothing wrong with it. The soft-serve ice cream is not very creamy, but it makes a nice snack on a hot day, and they usually rotate in some unusual flavors like mango or strawberry over the course of the cruise.

On most ships, there are some small snacks available most of the day. In the adult coffee bar, there have generally been free mini-desserts available during the day, and little antipasto nibbles during the evening, but we didn’t see them on the Wish. In the adult lounge area on the lower decks, there is usually a (small) hot snack buffet available for part of the evening, either in the pub or the hallway between the various lounges. Usually there’s something like a build-your-own nacho bar, plus some sort of hot savory like pigs in a blanket or egg rolls. Again, this little mini-buffet has not been present on the Wish. In the pub on each ship, there are about 4-6 extra-cost hot snacks & entrees you can order. Typically at least one of the pool deck food stations will be open until midnight, usually pizza. From midnight until breakfast time (6:30 or so) room service is the only food option.

On Alaska cruises, there have usually been some snacks on the front of the ship on the pool deck on the glacier-viewing day , including hot soup in small bread bowls, cookies and hot cocoa. They also usually do a special barbecue lunch that day on the deck behind the buffet, typically sausage, fish, and steak. Sometimes they have been known to serve elk or another Alaska specialty. Make sure you go out to the deck to check it out; we met many people who had no idea the cookout was happening and just ate regular buffet food instead of the fresh-grilled options just a few steps away.

Concierge guests have access to snacks and beverages (bottled water, soft drinks, coffee drinks) in the concierge lounge.

Kids’ Meals

There are kid’s menu options at all the table-service meals , but children are not limited to eating from those menus. Your servers will bring your kids whatever they want, including full adult appetizers, meals and desserts, and in fact if there’s something on the ship they can get or make, they’ll usually try to accommodate you even if it’s not on the menu. In other words, if all your kids want is french fries, that’s not a problem, assuming you’re OK with it.

It’s worth noting that asking your server to bring you something from another restaurant is not a trivial undertaking . They will almost certainly do it, because they really want guests to be happy, but don’t spring a request on them unless you really can’t find anything else for your kids to eat. And if possible, let the service staff know early if your child has specific food issues. If they know in advance that your child will only eat french fries and chicken fingers, they can have those ready each night.

If you have kids in the Oceaneer Club, they will be offered lunch and dinner if they are in the Club at the appropriate time. There are not usually a lot of choices, but what they’ll offer is going to be pretty simple and kid-friendly, like chicken nuggets and apple slices.

Two key things to be aware of: one, they usually don’t serve the kids dinner on the first night of the cruise (the day of embarkation). So if you have Palo or Remy reservations for that night, you’ll need to feed your kids yourself. Fortunately that’s easy: all you have to do is get food for the kids before or after your reservation from one of the fast-food restaurants on the pool deck. Two: be aware of when the kids are served. Meal times may be too early for your liking if you leave your kids in the Club.

Also, keep in mind that the Disney crew members will not make your kids sit down to eat. They will make sure every child is informed that food is being served, but they can’t and won’t make your children stop playing to eat, and there is one opportunity to eat for each mealtime. There are no snacks served in the club between meal times. It’s a good idea when you pick up your kids to check if they ate and if they are hungry.

Dine and Play Program

Please note : The Dine and Play program is temporarily suspended, but may return at any time. Ask about it onboard if you’re interested.

The Dine and Play program allows children to get their meals quicker and adults to check in a child for Youth Activities without leaving the dining room. The Dine and Play program is offered for families assigned to second dining, and is open to children ages 3-12. 

Here’s how it works: You arrive in the dining room and inform the server that your child would like to participate in Dine and Play. The dining room team brings the child’s meal first while serving the adults at a more leisurely pace.

About 45 minutes after seating begins, Youth Activities Counselors arrive in the dining room and sign in the child to Disney’s Oceaneer Club, eliminating the need for you to escort the child to Deck 5.

Adults are then able to enjoy the full dining experience with the knowledge that their children are having a great time in a safe, fun and comfortable environment.

Alternative approach: You can ask your server to feed the kids as fast as possible, and then have an adult walk them over to the kids club and check them in. It only takes a few minutes to get to the club and back. Some parents have told us their kids prefer this method over using Dine & Play, as you can get the kids to the club whenever they’re ready and there’s less waiting around.

Room Service

Room service is not a strong suit on Disney Cruise Line. The food, in our experience, is merely adequate. It is free (though a tip is welcomed) and convenient, though. Selection is mostly very basic and very middle-American: sandwiches, basic soups, chicken wings, a few salads, a cheese plate, burger, pizza or topped flatbreads. 

If the buffet or top deck restaurants are open, we suggest sending someone to the buffet or top deck instead of ordering room service . The selection in the buffet is much better and the food better prepared. The top deck restaurants have a more limited selection, but sending someone to the top deck for food has always resulted in hotter, fresher food when we’ve done it. That said, if you’re worn out, or come back really late from a port excursion, it’s nice to know they will bring you food any time.

Mickey bars (Mickey head shaped ice cream bars) and Smuckers Uncrustables (packaged peanut butter & jelly sandwiches) are not on the menu, but have usually been available on request.

Special orders are limited , but if you want something simple that is not on the menu, but is made with components used in items that are on the menu, such as a grilled cheese sandwich, plain salad without dressing, plain hamburger patty with no bun or just an order of french fries, they will usually make that for you on request.

Room service breakfast in the regular staterooms is a very basic Continental offering of various baked goods, cereal, milk, hot drinks and juice. There is nothing hot and no real protein, so if you like eggs and bacon in the morning, head for the buffet or whichever dining room is serving breakfast (it’s listed in the Disney Cruise Navigator app). We do sometimes use room service to get coffee delivered in the morning. Though lately we just have them deliver hot water, because we prefer the Starbucks Via packets to the ship’s reconstituted coffee product.

Guests in concierge staterooms and suites can order dinner from the rotation restaurants during regular dinner hours . Ask your concierge staff for a menu. All courses of your meal are brought at once, which doesn’t do good things for the quality of the meal, but it’s still better than the regular room service offerings. Concierge level guests can order hot breakfasts in their suites and staterooms during the cruise.

Many common beverages (including sodas) are available FREE most of the time , but there are situations where you could be charged for them. Here are the basic rules:

• The self-service drink station on the pool deck offers milk , juice , tea (hot or iced) , coffee, hot cocoa , lemonade, plain water and fountain sodas  at no extra charge 24 hours a day.
• The dining rooms (including Palo, Remy and Enchanté) offer milk , juice , tea (hot or iced) , coffee , hot cocoa ,  lemonade, plain water and fountain sodas  at no extra charge with meals. All other drinks can be ordered, but cost money.
• Castaway Cay offers milk , juice , tea (iced only) , lemonade, plain water and fountain sodas  for free. All other cold drinks (except iced espresso drinks) can be ordered at a bar, but cost money. No hot drinks are available. 
• Room service offers milk , juice , tea (hot or iced), plain water and  coffee free. All other drinks cost money. 
• All bars (including espresso bars) charge for all beverages , except plain tap water.
• Bottled water, canned and bottled soda and soft drinks , alcoholic beverages , mocktails , smoothies, shakes  and espresso drinks (and related drinks like chai lattes) always cost money no matter where you order them.
• The fountain sodas are all Coca-Cola products (which could change any time, but Coca-Cola has had a strong partnership with Disney for many years). The bars have a wider selection of canned and bottled beverages available, at a charge.

Consider bringing your own bottled water if you think you’ll drink a lot of it on shore excursions, Castaway Cay, etc. Bottled water on the ship or Castaway Cay is expensive. Consider packing a small carry-on suitcase with just bottled water. Then on the way home you’ll have room for all those things you didn’t plan to buy. (If you are staying on concierge level on the Dream or Fantasy, bottled water is provided in the lounge without cost.)

Disney allows each adult to bring up to two 750 ml bottles of wine or six 12 oz beers onboard at embarkation and at each port visited. Bottles must be sealed and they must be in your carry-on luggage.  Spirits (rum, vodka, whiskey, etc.) are not allowed (they will be confiscated and given back to you at disembarkation).

Sealed bottles or cans of non-alcoholic beverages can be carried on in any amount that will fit through the x-ray machines (carry-on bag sized, in other words). As for coolers, Disney officially says that you can only take aboard small (12″ x 12″ x 12″ max) soft-sided coolers for keeping things like insulin and breast milk cold. In practice, soft coolers can be any size that’s small enough to fit through the x-ray machine (again, basically the size of a carry-on bag), but no hard-sided or wheeled coolers.

Disney, like all other cruise lines, does not allow any beverages in checked bags , because checked baggage is stacked up and handled roughly during the loading process, which could cause containers of liquids to break and/or leak onto other people’s luggage. They do screen for those items. If they find disallowed items, the items will be confiscated and given back at the end of the cruise.

Coffee and Tea

Regular American-style coffee on Disney ships is unfortunately not good. The “drip” coffee they serve throughout the ship is made in a machine that looks vaguely like a coffee urn, but actually produces instant coffee on demand by mixing liquid concentrate and hot water. When it’s made in a properly-calibrated machine it tastes like OK instant coffee (not as good as Starbucks Via, but better than Folger’s Crystals). If the machine is out of calibration, it can be really weak or very strong.

If you like your coffee with cream and sugar or just aren’t picky about coffee, you may be fine with the reconstituted coffee . If you like quality coffee, you may want to order espresso drinks (at extra cost), which are available at most bars and sit-down restaurants and at the bar in the Wish, Dream & Fantasy’s buffets. You might also consider bringing Starbucks Via packets if you like them. In our experience the Via is much better than the reconstituted stuff.

If you’re a tea drinker, the news is better: there are a wide variety of Twinings tea bags (regular and herbal) at the main deck drink stations and in the dining rooms. And in the dining rooms, they almost always serve tea properly, with acceptably hot water and a small pitcher of milk upon request.

The iced tea served everywhere is unsweetened reconstituted iced tea from a soda machine (Fuze brand from Coca-Cola), but you can make your own iced tea by brewing fresh hot tea and adding ice and water, and that is much better. Our recipe: put two regular black tea bags in a cup of hot water, steep three minutes, stir in sugar if desired, then pour over a full cup of ice. Add water to taste.

Most bars on the ship have espresso machines , including the adults-only Cove Cafe on the pool deck and the all-ages Promenade Lounge on deck 3 (Wonder & Magic), Vista Café on deck 4 (Dream & Fantasy), and all bars and lounges on the Wish. Espresso is also available in the main dining rooms, the premium restaurants, and the Dream, Fantasy and Wish buffets. All espresso drinks cost extra, generally about the same price as on land. If you are a regular consumer of espresso drinks, be sure to get a coffee card. Each time you buy a latte, cappucino, etc. they will mark the card. Your sixth beverage is FREE! If you don’t fill your card during the cruise, hold onto it — it can be used on a future cruise, even on a different Disney ship!

Wine Packages and Refillable Beer Mug

Disney doesn’t have any “all you can drink” packages available. You don’t really need one for sodas, since they’re included (except at bars). Alcohol and other specialty beverages are always a la carte. There are, however, two programs that could save you some money (albeit with a few caveats).

Wine Packages

This is an opportunity to pre-pay for a certain number of bottles of wine, which you can enjoy at any of the sit-down restaurants. If you don’t finish one, you can get it recorked for the next night (and they’ll take it to the next restaurant in the rotation, or you can get it brought to you at Palo, Remy or Enchanté), or you can take it with you to your room. If you don’t end up drinking them all, you can take the remainder home. Your server will usually suggest buying one bottle per cruise night, but you can buy more or less if you like. The wines are all from a set list, which changes from time to time, and usually includes about 10-12 white wines and 8-10 red wines. There are two tiers, with the more expensive one including fancier bottles of wine. The wines on the list change regularly, but we think the choices are all pretty good, with a few real winners on each list. Disney pushes these packages aggressively: a brochure will be on the table your first night, and one of your servers will offer a sales pitch the first night.

We went to the trouble a few years ago to price out all the wines on the list and compare to the average cost per bottle from the packages . The price per bottle in the packages was about $2-3 cheaper than the average price of the bottles included in the package. However, the packages typically have only 5-7 selections that sell for more than the average price, and 12-15 selections that sell for less than the average price. So if you pick random bottles from the list, you’re very likely to end up spending more (or at least not much less) by buying the package. To come out ahead, you have to consistently order from the few bottles that are higher priced.

Frankly, our opinion is that it’s not worth the trouble, at least as a money-saving strategy . If buying your dinner wine in advance will help you relax, then go ahead; you certainly won’t lose much money unless you happen to always pick the cheapest wine on the list. And if you really love a particular wine or wines that you know are higher-priced, and you plan to only drink those, the plan will save you a few bucks per bottle.

Refillable Beer Mug

This is a large 21 oz glass souvenir beer mug that you can buy at any bar for $17 (last we checked). When you get it filled (at any bar or restaurant), you get 21 ounces for the price of a 16 ounce draft beer. One nice thing is that you don’t have to cart the mug around; they’ll give you a little token you can trade for a mug at any time. So you give the token to your server and get a mug of beer, and when you’re done you can give them the mug and ask for the token back. At the end of the cruise, just stop by any bar to get a nice clean mug to take home. The selection of draft beers is pretty good, and in addition to the standard American beers, there are always a few craft beers like Widmer or Full Sail and even sometimes a cider like Strongbow. (Disney Cruise Line advertises this as a 21 oz glass, but we heard from a reader who measured it and found it actually held 20 oz when filled to the rim.)

Purely as a money-saving strategy, it’s hard to get your money’s worth out of the mug unless you really like beer. However, if you like the idea of having a Disney Cruise Line souvenir beer mug, and the price seems reasonable, then the extra beer is basically FREE. Make sure to tell your spouse that when you buy it.

Disembarkation Day

Breakfast is served on the day of disembarkation. In fact, you’ll have an assigned restaurant and time for breakfast for disembarkation, or you can choose to eat at the buffet instead. It will be a much smaller selection than during the cruise: welcome back to the real world!

Regular guests do not have access to room service on disembarkation morning. Concierge level guests can order a standard Continental breakfast from room service on disembarkation morning.

Most kids find the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab, for ages 3-10, to be the best part of a Disney cruise. There is a lot to do, with great hands-on organized activities going on all the time.

Signing in and out is a relatively easy process considering what needs to be done to protect the children. However, you may have to wait in line either to drop them off or pick them up. Plan at least 5 minutes for the pick up or drop off process. If your children are 8 years old or older, they can be given the ability to sign themselves in and out on their own.

The Navigator app will tell you what’s happening and where your kids are at any given time. Check the app to see if your children will be out of the Club at the time you want to sign them out – for instance, they could be up on the deck playing basketball. Using the app to plan will save you a wasted trip. Also, when the kids are moving from one location to another, they will not allow you to sign them in or out, so there can be a 10-15 minute window where you have to wait.

You can keep your child signed in to the Oceaneer Club while at Castaway Cay. They will take the kids off the ship to special play areas for supervised games and activities throughout the day. If you do this, be sure to bring your phone with you. The Wi-Fi covers much of Castaway Cay and the app tends to work OK. But if you want your kids to join you for some time on the island, make sure you know their schedule of activities. They eat lunch fairly early, and are taken back to the ship before the beach closes.

Edge is the “tween” club for ages 11-14. Vibe is the teen club for ages 14-17. A 14-year-old can access both Edge and Vibe, but they will have to register for both. Disney will sometimes be slightly flexible about the age groups for these clubs, and will sometimes allow a child that is a little younger than the target age into the older teen club if they have space in the club your child wants to attend, especially if they have a friend or sibling in the older club. This is not guaranteed, but it’s worth asking.

The Disney Cruise offers many opportunities to meet characters . You will see most of the popular characters at some point or another on the Disney Cruise. Greeting times are available in the Navigator app. The lines for character greetings usually start forming about 15 minutes before the scheduled greeting time, so if you can get there 10 minutes beforehand, you won’t have a long wait once the characters arrive.

Some popular character meetings and meals may require advance booking . There’s no charge for the character meetings, but certain breakfasts or teas with characters may have an additional fee. You should book these as early as you can online; the bookings open on the same schedule as  booking excursions and Palo/Remy/Enchanté . You can also call or stop by guest services on the first day and ask about tickets; they may hold back some slots for onboard booking. Thanks to Sarah B and Rachel P for info.

Bring your kids’ Disney costumes, if they have any. The cruise is a great opportunity to get pictures of your daughter dressed as Belle with the “real” Belle herself, without her having to wear the costume all day.

If you’re on a 7-night cruise, you may have an assigned Character Breakfast on one of the days of the cruise. You’ll get a chance for photos with all the main Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie!

Most of the character greetings will include a Disney professional photographer , so if your own photo doesn’t turn out you can still buy a memento from Shutters, the onboard photo location.

Read our tips, tricks and discounts on Port Excursions !

The list below is mostly based on reader suggestions. We have to admit, we have taken Disney cruises at various times without these, and everything went just fine. So don’t go too crazy with overpacking! But some of these are good ideas for specific needs.

• Water shoes – Always a good idea if you’ll be snorkeling or wading where there are coral reefs and sharp rocks. Also handy to protect your feet on hot sand, concrete or the pool deck; the sun can make the deck very hot and you’ll want some of these or some simple flip-flops while hanging around the pool. You can wear water shoes that are secure and not likely to come off on the AquaDuck, AquaMouse and AquaDunk, but flip-flops or water shoes that slip off easily will need to be stowed before riding.
• Safe Sea lotion – This is a lotion that protects against jellyfish, sea nettle, and seabather’s eruption , caused by jellyfish larvae that are sometimes called “sea lice.” There is actual independent research that backs this up – we’ve read it and are satisfied that it works. We want to reassure people that large jellyfish are kept out of the lagoon at Castaway Cay by netting under the water, so we’ve never heard of anyone getting a serious sting there, but people do occasionally get seabather’s eruption. At other beaches in the Bahamas and Caribbean jellyfish stings are not common, but they do happen. The peak season for jellyfish is summer (June-August) and they’re rare in winter. We actually had a very minor issue with seabather’s eruption on one trip to Castaway Cay (on some skin that didn’t have lotion; we failed to note that you need to apply some underneath the swimsuit for full protection), and we can attest that while it’s not the end of the world, it’s quite unpleasant and worth avoiding. Certainly the lotion is a cheap form of insurance, and there are formulations that include sunscreen, which you’ll need anyway. Another option is to bring some jellyfish after-sting gel  just in case, or some sources recommend hydrocortisone cream or antihistamine cream .
• Body Powder – If you’ve ever tried to wipe beach sand off your body, you know it tends to stick in an annoying manner. It turns out it sticks to your skin because of residual moisture, and if you just rub your skin with water-absorbent powder (i.e. scented cornstarch), the sand drops right off. We used to recommend a very useful little mitt that contained cornstarch-based body powder for wiping off sand. Apparently that mitt isn’t made any more, but you can get the same effect by just sprinkling the powder on a towel and wiping with that. Do make sure you’re getting plain cornstarch powder, or at least talc-free powder. Talc is not good to breathe.
• Robe – if you like to wear one in your room, you’ll need to bring your own unless you’re in a concierge room. Some people have had luck asking their stateroom attendant, but it’s not guaranteed they can get you one.
• Pop-up Hamper – We like the rectangular kind with a circular opening on the top, as opposed to the ones that look like a big round cloth-covered spring. The squarer ones seem to hold their shape better. They only weigh 8 ounces, fold down to a small circle, and fit nicely into hotel and stateroom closets.
• Dry box/case – Basically, a small waterproof box or pouch on a lanyard. Used by scuba divers and snorkelers, these are handy for any beach visit, because you can keep your ID and some money around your neck, instead of sticking valuables in your shoe and leaving them on the beach (yeah, everyone knows about THAT hiding place!)
• Clothespins – These have a variety of uses, from weighing down a shower curtain that wants to stick to you, to anchoring your beach towel to a lounge chair. You can clip your curtains together if you want to minimize light leakage in the morning. Oh, and you can use them to hang laundry up to dry, too (there’s a retractable clothesline in the bathtub).
• Night light – Particularly if you are staying in one of the Inside cabins on the Magic, Wonder or Wish, this is nice to have. It’s pitch black in those rooms when the lights are off. If you don’t want to use up a wall plug, you can get a USB light that plugs into an empty USB charger port. (It’ll also work in a laptop USB port, but not all laptops keep power to the USB ports when they go to sleep, so you’d want to check that first.) An LED flashlight or headlamp can also be handy if you need to get up in the middle of the night and don’t want to turn on lights.
• Magnets – The stateroom doors are metal (except for the doors in the concierge section of the Dream and Fantasy). You can stick magnets on them to decorate your door, and it makes it easier for your children (and you) to identify your room. Don’t bring anything you can’t bear to lose: these do get taken sometimes. Please note that you are not allowed to use any type of adhesive on your door, including removable gel adhesives that supposedly come off clean. You will be charged for any damage to the door.
• Multi-USB charger – When we have a lot of things to charge while travelling, normally we bring a  travel power strip , but as mentioned below, power strips are generally not allowed on Disney ships. Now we bring a multi-charger, which can charge 4 or more devices from one outlet. We’ve used Anker brand as well as Amazon Basics, and they’ve both been perfectly fine. You’ll need to also bring the USB cable for each device. We’d recommend getting at least a 40W model if you have anything more than just a phone or two. A 60W model typically has six outlets and might be just the thing if you have a lot of tablets and phones to charge, or you want a spare port to plug a USB night light into. Note that on the Magic and Wonder, they’ve installed a few more USA-type power outlets near the desk, and there are a couple of USB charging ports at the desk and on the alarm clock next to the bed. The Wish staterooms have tons of USB charging outlets at the desk and next to the bed, including two USB-C ports, so you can probably get by without a USB charger on that ship.
• Irons are NOT ALLOWED as they are a fire hazard. Fire is a huge danger on cruise ships. If you take an iron it will be confiscated from your luggage. Irons are available for your use in the laundry rooms.
• Rolls of quarters – In the past, these were needed for the self-service laundry onboard, but now you just swipe your room key for use of the washer, dryer, soap and dryer sheets. The cost is charged to your account.
• Over-the-door shoe organizer – Some people have used these to store toiletries or other small items. Disney now asks that you do NOT use them as they “scratch and/or disfigure stateroom doors and trim.” You will be charged for any damage.
• Seasickness medication – Unless you KNOW you get seasick on cruise ships, don’t bother bringing this. If you do get queasy, the ship’s health center or the guest services desk will give you FREE over the counter medication (generic meclizine, the ingredient in Bonine or non-drowsy Dramamine). If you get super-queasy the health center can get you prescription medication (for a fee).
• Beach towels – They are provided when you get off the ship on beach days.
• Power/outlet strip – These are not allowed on the ship. MouseSavers.com reader Christina N reports: “… they confiscated these from my bag and from others. They do not allow them as it blows circuits in the room.” Technically, they only ban extension cords, and power strips with surge protectors, but in practice people have reported having just about any kind of multi-outlet strip or adapter confiscated, because the people doing the screening don’t want to figure out whether your power strip is one of the “bad” ones. One thing not many people know is that there’s an open outlet behind the TV in most cabins on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy. The TVs are on a pivoting arm, so it’s easy to pull them out and expose the spare plug. Many smartphones and smaller tablets can be charged through a USB cable connected to a laptop, so if you take a USB cable you’ll only need one outlet, to plug in the laptop. Or you might want to pack a multi-USB charger like the ones mentioned above. And over time Disney has been adding USB charging ports to the outlets near the desk, so you might not need a power strip depending on how many devices you have.
• Extension cords – the only extension cords allowed on the ship are ones you can borrow from Guest Services ($50 deposit required; refunded when you return the cord). There are a limited number and availability is first-come, first-served. If you need one for a CPAP or other medical device, one will be made available, but all of the ships now have a plug next to the bed, so you shouldn’t need an extension for a CPAP. On the Wish, there are US-style plugs next to one side of the bed, and a European plug on the other side. So if you have a CPAP or other device that goes next to the bed, and you really prefer to sleep on a specific side, make sure you have the correct plug adapter and your CPAP power supply handles both 110 and 220 volt current (almost all of them do, but you should check).
• Hairdryer (maybe) – Hairdryers are provided, but the ones provided might not be up to your standards. If you’re not picky, don’t bother packing one.
• High chair / booster seat – Both are provided on request in the dining room.
• Pack and play crib – These are provided onboard (request when booking your cruise).
• Stroller (maybe) – There are some strollers available to borrow onboard (deposit required) and on Castaway Cay. However, there are a limited number and it’s first-come, first-served. If you have a little one, it’s not a bad idea to bring a small umbrella stroller along.

During the day and most evenings on the Disney Cruise Line, you can wear casual clothing. At dinner, you are asked to stick to “cruise casual.” Most men wear a collared shirt (aloha shirts and golf/polo shirts are fine) and long pants (chinos or dress slacks) or nice shorts. Most women wear a skirt, dress, nice pants or dressy capris. Disney requests no swimwear or tank tops at dinner, but in practice, dressier tank-style tops will usually be acceptable. People who show up to the main dining rooms in swimsuits are almost always asked to change.

There are times when dressing up to some extent is either required or encouraged:

• When having dinner at Palo, Remy or Enchanté, the dress code is basically “business casual plus.” Men are required to wear long pants suitable for professional work (which could include “nice” jeans), collared shirts and dressier shoes. Some men wear suits or even tuxedos. Women can wear pretty much anything “nice” that isn’t swimwear, casual t-shirts, shorts or sportswear. Semi-formal or even formal wear would not be out of place. At Brunch or Tea at either restaurant, the dress code is “cruise casual,” which basically means no shorts, swimsuits, tank tops or flip-flops.
• On 4-night or longer cruises, there will be one or two “optional dress up” nights that you can interpret how you will. Dressing up is not required, but some folks will make an effort to change for dinner. On our most recent Disney cruises we’ve seen a handful of tuxedos on dress-up nights and a few dozen men wearing jackets. A fair number of women were dressed in nicer outfits. Lots and lots of people were just in normal “cruise casual” outfits, so if you don’t like to dress up don’t feel like you’re under any obligation to do so. On the other hand, if you like to dress up, it’s a great opportunity. The crew and the Disney characters will be in nicer clothes, there will be photo stations where you can get a picture of the whole family in nice outfits, and you won’t feel overdressed in a gown or tux.
• Some people like to wear dressy or semi-formal clothing on the nights when they dine in Lumiere’s (Magic), Triton’s (Wonder) or Royal Palace/Royal Court (Dream or Fantasy), since those are the restaurants with the fanciest theming but this is not by any means required.
• Similarly, a few people like to dress in 1920’s inspired clothes when dining in 1923 on the Disney Wish. This is just a fun thing to do and not in any way required.

Where to Buy Disney Cruise Wear

If you’re looking for Disney-themed casual cruise wear (aloha shirts, etc.), a good place to look is DisneyStore.com . Unfortunately they only offer resort wear on a seasonal basis (usually spring and summer), but even in the winter it’s always worth looking to see if they have anything in the sale section.

DisneyStore.com  carries a significant amount of Disney Cruise Line clothing and other logo merchandise as well.

• See current discounts and offers for DisneyStore.com.

Your phone should still be able to reach a tower on land as long as the ship is in port, but once you are at sea, we strongly advise you to turn off international roaming and data roaming, to avoid having your phone accidentally use the “Cellular@Sea” service, which is very expensive. You can (and should) leave wi-fi turned on, so you can use Disney’s Navigator App to see the current schedules and menus and so forth.

You can also use the Disney Navigator App on your own phone to send messages to other people in your party. To get message notifications as quickly as possible, make sure that notifications are enabled for the Disney Navigator app, as well as background updates. Basically in our experience, the Navigator app needs to have all permissions set to “on,” including Location, Bluetooth, Notifications, and Background Update. You can (and perhaps should) turn those off again once your cruise has ended.

If you absolutely must use your phone to call or text while at sea, service may be available on Disney ships through the “Cellular@Sea” service. It is a very expensive form of international roaming and the ship must be 8 to 10 miles out to sea before you can access it. Most phones will just connect to Cellular@Sea without needing any special setup, but be aware that the service includes phone, text messaging, and data . If your phone is set to auto-update, you could end up on the hook for a large data charge because it decided to download a 100MB game update or something. Definitely turn off your cellular data, or set it to not use cellular data when roaming.

US phones will work in most international ports if you have turned on international roaming. You might need to arrange with your provider for that feature to be turned on in advance, but most providers have it set up by default. Depending on your provider, roaming may be very expensive (potentially over $2 per minute, and $10 or more per megabyte of data). Check with your provider for special international roaming packages, which may save you money if you plan to use your phone a lot.

Wireless internet service is available on all Disney ships . All internet is over satellite, and you shouldn’t expect speeds or responsiveness similar to what you get on land, though it’s usually good enough to send messages and emails and use Facebook and other social media.

Internet service on Disney ships is paid for by the day, and is theoretically “unlimited .” It’s pretty fast for cruise ship internet, but still slower than most land-based systems. You’re sharing bandwidth with all the other passengers and crew, so right after you leave a port, expect the internet to crawl as everyone starts posting pictures of their excursions to social media. If you have cellular internet service that works in that country (and is reasonably priced), you may want to post your pictures before you leave port via cellular rather than via wi-fi. If your cellular is flaky, get to the top deck and walk over to the side of the ship closest to land. Alternatively, wait until dinner time, when the wi-fi speeds will pick up considerably.

Prices are (so far) pretty reasonable for cruise ship internet, with a basic single-device plan that lets you use Facebook and similar apps (but not email or web) for $16/day (when purchased for the whole cruise), a fancier plan that includes email and web (but no streaming) for $24/day, and a premium plan that includes music streaming for $34/day. Video streaming is not supported on any plan , so no Netflix or Hulu. Plans cost a little more if you only buy a plan for individual days rather than the whole cruise, and there is a small discount for adding additional devices.

Spa: Treatments, Products and Fitness Center

Spa treatments are very popular and fill up early , so book them as early as you can . If you’re not able to get an appointment before you embark, go to the Spa when you get onboard and you’ll probably be able to arrange one in person.

We don’t recommend having any spa treatments done on the first (embarkation) day , because people are touring the Spa all afternoon and evening, making it busy and not very relaxing. It’s a good day to set up your future appointments, but not as good for actually having treatments done.

The changing rooms in the spa have fluffy robes for your use. Sadly, the robes are all “one size fits most” and aren’t big enough for many people. You then can choose a locker that contains a clean pair of spa sandals. The lockers allow you to set your own combination for secure storage of your personal items. We don’t find the sandals they provide very comfortable (again, they’re “one size fits most”), so we just wear a clean pair of sandals or flip-flops to our spa appointment.

You can change into your robe in the open locker room or in one of the toilet cubicles. Once you’re in your robe and sandals, an attendant will escort you to a quiet waiting room, where you can enjoy some water while you wait for your treatment. After your treatment you’ll be escorted back to the locker room, where you can use one of the spacious showers if you wish. Basic toiletries, disposable combs, etc. are provided. On the Dream and Fantasy, there is a dry sauna in the locker room that you can enjoy after your treatment for no additional charge.

If you are considering a Cabana Massage on Castaway Cay, here are a few things to consider first:

• The cabanas are rustic. There is no running water in them, so your massage therapist cannot wash her hands during your treatment. There is no air conditioning (there is a ceiling fan) or heat so it can be unpleasantly hot in the summer and uncomfortably cool in the winter.
• Your feet and lower legs will almost certainly be covered with sand by the time you get to the cabana, and there’s really no facility for removing it. (There is an outdoor shower near the waiting area, but you’ll then proceed across the sand to the cabana… you’ll get sandy again, trust us.) So the sand inevitably becomes part of the treatment. How you feel about having sandy oil rubbed into your skin is a matter of preference. And remember, the massage oil dissolves any sunscreen you’re wearing, so you’ll need to reapply it afterward, which enters the mix with the sand.
• When you envision this experience, you might think you would be relaxing to the sound of the ocean waves. Nope. The cabanas are located right above the lounge chairs along the beach (though visually separated by some plants), so you will hear the chatter of people sitting right below you.
• The Cabana Massage is billed as featuring “breathtaking views of Serenity Bay.” Well, that’s true for the massage therapist, but you’ll be lying on a table, and you won’t see the scenery from there.
• The Cabana Massage is more expensive than a regular massage in the ship’s spa, yet in many ways you are getting less for your money. If you have a massage on the ship, you’ll have access to showers, a locker room, robes and sandals, etc. With the Cabana Massages, you get none of that.

The Rainforest

The Rainforest is a lovely, relaxing co-ed spa area on each ship.

• On the Magic and Wonder , the Rainforest includes three tiled steam rooms (each a different temperature), some open showers with different scented “rain” programs and a few heated loungers.
• On the Dream and Fantasy , the Rainforest has a dry sauna, a hot steam room and a hammam (a large, tiled steam room that is less hot than the regular steam room), four scented showers with multiple “rain” programs, numerous heated loungers with views of the sea and two hot tubs on a private deck overlooking the water.
• On the Wish , the Rainforest has a dry sauna, hammam, a cryotherapy (cold) room, showers with rain programs, heated loungers, and a nice sun deck ( much larger than the one on the Dream & Fantasy) with two hot tubs and plenty of sun beds. The sun deck is tucked into the nose of the ship, one deck below the promenade, so there’s no ocean view, but you can see the sky and relax in the sun or the shade according to your preference.

You can purchase a day pass or a longer pass for the length of your cruise. A limited number of passes are sold on each sailing. Tip: the Rainforest Room is closed until around 5 on embarkation day, so you won’t typically get a lot of usage on the first day of the cruise. You may find it’s a better deal just to pay day-by-day, or ask if you can buy a shorter pass. The single-day passes for the sea day(s) will go first, followed by the full-cruise passes. A pass for the Castaway Cay day or other port day might be available same day, and could be a good alternative if you’re not interested in that port.

When you want to use the Rainforest, just tell the front desk staff at the spa and they’ll give you a wristband that opens the door to the Rainforest area. They will hold your room key while you are in the Rainforest. You then proceed to the locker room, where you can choose a locker and get a robe and sandals, if desired. A swimsuit must be worn since the Rainforest is mixed-gender.

Towels and drinking water are provided.

The spas on the Disney ships are operated by Steiner, a huge British spa company that runs spas for cruise lines and resorts. The staff do a great job performing the spa treatments, but Steiner trains them to offer product upsells at every reasonable opportunity. The result is that they almost always give cruise passengers a sales pitch on spa products. The products themselves are fine, but they are expensive and getting a sales pitch after your relaxing treatment can be annoying.

You’ll be given a “health form” before your treatment, asking about various health issues. Any issues you write on that form are used to help them sell you stuff (“Oh, I see you have very dry skin. You should try this cream.”). For that reason, unless you have an allergy or injury that directly affects your treatment , we recommend leaving the form as blank as possible .

Some people have tried writing “no sales pitch” on the form, but that is frequently ignored. Here are some other approaches we’ve used with success:

• A polite and friendly “no thank you” when they start showing the products or going through their list of recommendations is our first line of defense. That’s often the end of it! But if they start offering a second sales pitch, we make a concerned/confused face, pause for a moment, and say, again politely, “I’m really not interested, thanks.” The subtext you want to get across is that by not paying attention to your clear and polite “no,” they’re running the risk of affecting your overall satisfaction, with all that implies about things like tips and guest comment cards. You don’t need to make this explicit; the concerned face and second “no” usually does the trick.
• If they start the sales pitch while we are getting a relaxation treatment such as a massage or wrap, we usually just stay silent. We keep our  eyes closed and don’t respond to questions. Usually they quit talking, because it becomes quite awkward for them. But if they persist, we say politely, “Sorry, I’m trying to relax, and silence really helps me with that. Thanks!”
• If we are getting a haircut or pedicure, it’s harder to ignore the sales pitch. So instead we act very enthusiastic about every product they are pushing. Usually they’ll use one or more of the products on us during the service. If they offer samples we take them, with sincere thanks. When we go to check out, there is always a big stack of “suggested” products at the front desk. When they ask us what we’ll be buying, we say “oh, I want to see how the stuff I tried today works out, so I’m not buying anything right now.”
• Remember that no matter what happens, you can always change your mind about the add-on products when you check out. Until you sign the purchase slip, you haven’t purchased anything. Just say, “after thinking it over, I don’t need any products right now. Could you take these off the bill? Thanks.”

Fitness Center

A well-equipped Fitness Center can be accessed through the Spa on all of the ships. It’s usually open from early morning to fairly late – check the Navigator for specific hours. There is no charge to use the Fitness Center. The locker rooms, sauna and showers for the Fitness Center are shared with the Spa. Towels, robes and water are provided, and you can borrow an iPod shuffle if you don’t have your own iPod with you.

You never are expected to add any extra tip over and above the automatic gratuity amounts, which are listed below . You may , if you wish, add more, and you can even adjust certain tips down if you feel it’s warranted. Many people add extra gratuities purely because the service staff on a Disney cruise are extremely helpful and work very hard, but again, no one should ever make you feel like you are required to tip more.

Disney provides suggested tip amounts for the crew members who will assist you throughout the week: your server (takes your food orders for each dinner), assistant server (takes your drink orders at each dinner and delivers the food), head server (in charge of the overall dinner experience, special dietary requests and special occasions), and stateroom host/hostess (takes care of your room). As on all cruise lines, tips are the primary source of income for people working in these positions.

The suggested gratuities for your servers and stateroom host are automatically added to your stateroom bill. If you want to adjust the amount, you can go to Guest Services. Toward the end of the cruise you will be provided with slips indicating the tip amounts, which you can present to your servers during your last dinner on the cruise and leave in your room for your stateroom host. (They will get the money in their accounts whether you give them the slips or not, it’s purely a symbolic way of thanking them for their service. Don’t feel you need to do it if you don’t enjoy that kind of interaction.)

If you are staying in a concierge room, a separate form is provided to add tip for the concierge staff, with a suggested “average” tip amount. You can use your discretion to adjust it up or down based on how much help they provided your family. 

If you dine at Palo, Remy or Enchanté, many people add an additional tip to the per-person charge, though the basic charge is considered by Disney to cover the gratuity.

An automatic gratuity is added to all beverages ordered in bars and lounges; soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and bottled water from room service; and alcoholic beverages/smoothies/bottled water ordered in the dining room. There will also be a line where you can add an additional tip at your discretion.

You can add room service tips to your room bill. Even if your order costs nothing, you’ll be asked to sign a slip, and there is a space for tips on that slip. A dollar or two per item ordered is pretty common, but entirely optional.

You are allowed to give tips to crew members in cash, if you like, and they’re happy to take it in any major currency. If you have a meaningful amount of foreign currency (more than a few dollars worth) after your cruise that you’re unlikely to use anytime in the near future, feel free to leave it for your room host in addition to the automatic gratuity; they’ll be happy to get it.

As the skippers say on the world-famous Jungle Cruise, “You all have been outstanding on this cruise, but now I need you out standing on the dock!” Sadly, your cruise will eventually have to end, and Disney needs to get a few thousand people and their bags off the ship in the space of about 3 hours, so “efficiency” is the word of the day.

A few days before the end of your cruise you should be reminded to check the disembarkation instructions in the Navigator app , and you might get a paper form listing your specific disembarkation instructions. Disembarkation can feel very complicated and rushed, but it’s not that bad once you know how it works.

The first important decision is whether you want Disney to take your big luggage off the ship for you. If you have a lot of bags, or they’re unwieldy, you probably are going to want to have the bags moved for you, but if you can handle your own bags in one trip, that makes things immensely less complicated. These days we always choose to handle our own bags, but there are times we wonder whether it’d be easier to have Disney do it, usually when we’re wrestling our big roller bags down the gangplank. It’s worth trying it both ways if you go on multiple cruises, because you never can tell which one will feel easiest for you.

Whether or not you handle your own bags, you’re supposed to be completely out of your room on the final morning by 8:00 am so they can start cleaning and resetting it for the next guests (sometimes this time can change depending on the disembarkation port – check the sheet they give you or the app to make sure). This can make things logistically complicated, since if you want to do a table-service breakfast, it will be on a fixed schedule based on whether you are on the early or late dinner seating. The first breakfast seating starts early enough to get done before 8:00 am, but the later one does not. So if you plan to do table-service breakfast and you’re on late seating, you will have to take your luggage with you. Most people on late seating line up their bags in the hallway leading to the dining room. Don’t worry, no one will take your bags; your fellow guests are all far too tired. You can take smaller bags into the dining room and park them next to the table as long as they aren’t in the servers’ way. If you are planning an early breakfast in the buffet or you’re having sit-down breakfast on the earlier seating, you can just leave your bags in your room and then come back and retrieve them by 8:00 am.

Option 1: Disney Handles Your Bags

If you decide to have Disney haul your big bags to the terminal, then you’ll need to put most of your bags out the night before (typically by 10:30 pm – check the app to make sure). You need to hang on to at least one or two small bags to hold the stuff you can’t pack early, like toiletries and your pajamas. Make sure not to pack the clothes you’ll need to wear the next morning! You’ll get a set of luggage tags to put on the bags you’re putting out, and there will be a guide showing roughly when each group of bags will be ready to pick up in the terminal. For example, if you have bag tag “Donald Duck”, the sheet might say that your bags will be ready between 8:30-8:45 am. If you need to leave early to catch an flight or something, make sure you’ve got the earliest time they can give you. You can go to Guest Services to change your bag group if needed. On disembarkation morning, they will make periodic announcements about every 15 minutes, as each set of bags gets delivered to the terminal. They ask that you not leave the ship until your bag group gets called.

If you’re out of the room, but they still haven’t called your bag group, you’ll need to find somewhere to wait . In our experience, the lounges in the adult area of the ship are the most likely to have empty seats available, especially the main adult show lounge on the Magic, Wonder, Dream & Fantasy (Fathoms/Azure/Evolution/The Tube). Those are on deck 3, so you can just walk to the atrium when your group is called. On the Wish, there are fewer options on deck 3, so you may end up needing to go to another deck or sit on the floor. On the other hand, if you’re still in the dining room when they call your bag group, there’s not really any harm in waiting until you finish breakfast to disembark, assuming you don’t have transportation waiting for you. Typically they want everyone off by 9:30 am or so, so that’s your hard deadline.

When you get into the terminal, if you’re in a hurry, it’s not a bad idea to ask for a porter’s help. They’re usually lined up in the luggage area with carts, and they know the terminal well and will know if there’s any shortcuts or faster ways to get you into a cab or shuttle. They work for tips, and a typical tip is $1-2 per bag; more if they go above and beyond.

If you booked Disney’s transfers to Walt Disney World or the airport, then the timing is much more fixed. They will assign you a time to get off, and you really need to get off at that time so they can get you on the right bus. Arrange your breakfast plans accordingly.

Option 2: You Handle Your Own Bags

If you’re handling your own bags, there’s not really much you have to do the night before to prepare . Get mostly packed up the night before. Finish packing on the morning of disembarkation, get breakfast if you like, and then just leave the ship. You can leave any time after the ship is cleared, which will be 15-30 minutes after the ship is docked. They won’t necessarily announce to the whole ship that disembarkation has begun, because it’ll happen as early as 6-6:30 in the morning and they don’t want to wake everyone up with an announcement. If you can see that the ship is docked, just head down to deck 3 and wait for them to start letting folks off.

Skip the talks, except for the nature talks on the Alaska cruises, which can be excellent. The shopping talk is just a “rah-rah” for certain shops that are paying a marketing fee, and you might get a few coupons for free (junky) souvenirs. Both the shopping and disembarkation talks are replayed on the television repeatedly. Don’t waste your vacation time attending these lectures in person.

Read additional tips specific to the Disney Dream (which will also apply to the Fantasy) .

So what’s it really like to take a Disney cruise? Here are a few different perspectives on the experience:

• A look at what’s new and different on the Disney Wish , from a preview sailing in July 2022.
• A comparison of taking three cruises on three different ships in a six-month span between March and August 2014. It was rough, but somebody had to do it.
• Taking a cruise on the Disney Fantasy with a baby and a 3 ½-year-old , May 2012.
• First-hand report on the  Disney Fantasy  from March 2012: what’s new and different? See photos and learn more!
•   First impressions of the Disney Dream , from a preview sailing in January 2011.
• In summer 2007, friends of MouseSavers.com Ann and Danilo V wrote a travel blog about taking their 5 children to Europe for the summer. At the end of their trip they took a Disney Mediterranean cruise (10 nights roundtrip from Barcelona) in a Category 3 and a Category 4 stateroom. Then they did the 14-night Transatlantic cruise on the Disney Magic in the Walt Disney Suite!

Dos and Don'ts for Your Disney Cruise Embarkation Day

Richard Cummins/Getty Images

One of the most important and fun days of your Disney Cruise is embarkation day, when you board the ship and kick off your adventure.

Follow these tips to make sure you start your cruise off right.

Before You Sail

• DO check in online.  You can check in online at least four days prior to your sail date, which will save you time when you arrive on embarkation day. At the same time, you can register your kids for the youth clubs, reserve spa treatments, book shore excursions, and sign up for special activities, events, and dining experiences. If you don't complete everything in one session, you can save your information and come back later to finish.
• DO choose an early arrival time. Disney will ask you to select a port arrival time and give you an opportunity to schedule your transportation to the pier. Your cruise documents may say that the ship leaves at 4 pm, but check-in typically begins at 11 am and embarkation begins around noon. Choosing an early arrival time means you can start your vacation several hours before the ship sets sail, thus getting more fun for your money.
• DO consider which dinner seating is best for your family. Disney's rotational dining system offers two dinner seatings, at 5:45 pm and 8:15 pm. Many families with young kids opt for the early seating because it's closer to their regular dinner time. Yet the later seating allows you to see the shows first, and then enjoy a quieter dinner. Another plus: Parents can check their kids in for evening youth activities without leaving the dinner table. Counselors magically appear partway through the second seating to whisk the kids away to the clubs while adults finish dinner.
• DO schedule a surprise call from a Disney friend.  Before your cruise, you can visit the  Disney Cruise Line website  to arrange a call to your child from Mickey, Goofy, or Mickey and Minnie together. Go to the "My Disney Cruise" tab, then click "My Reservations." Sign into your Disney account and your sailing party itinerary will appear, along with a dedicated box for Character Calls. Click "Schedule a Free Call' to set up a surprise call for your kids before your cruise.
• DON'T fly in the same day of your cruise.  If getting from your home to the port in the same day means waking up at the crack of dawn to catch an early flight, you will be wiped out before the ship even sets sail that afternoon. That's not how you want to spend your first day on the ship. To get your money's worth on your cruise, it's better to fly in the night before so you're fresh and energetic and able to enjoy your first day of vacation.

If you're flying into Orlando International Airport before a cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida, consider staying at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport .

Embarkation Day Tips

• DO attach Disney Cruise luggage tags to your bags. Be sure to fill out the identifying information, including your stateroom number.
• DO have small bills handy. When you get to the port, you'll hand off your luggage to the porters. (It’s customary to tip $1 to $2 per bag). The next time you'll see your luggage will be in your stateroom later that afternoon. 
• DO pack a ready-for-fun carry-on. When you give your luggage to the porters, you'll keep your carry-on purse, tote, or backpack with you. You may not receive your luggage until mid to late afternoon, so be sure to pack everything you'll need for the first several hours, including medications, identification, eyeglasses, sunglasses, sunscreen, and swimsuits. (No need to pack pool towels, which are available onboard.)
• DO download the Navigator app. Before you get on the ship, download Disney Cruise Line's free app and turn on airplane mode on your smartphone. Set your wi-fi to DCL_Guest and you're good to go. The app will give you access to the ship's entertainment and event schedules, deck plans, kids' club activities, and dining menus, plus there's even a chat mode that lets you text your family members—all without racking up data charges.
• DO think through the security checkpoint. When you enter the port terminal, you'll pass through a security checkpoint with a metal detector similar to what you find at an airport. It'll speed up the process if you have placed your jewelry, belts, coins, and other metallic items in your carry-on bag.
• DO have your cruise documents ready. Inside the terminal, you’ll line up to finish checking in and get your stateroom key cards. You'll need your cruise documents, passports, and a credit card handy. This is also when your kids will get special wristbands for the children's clubs.
• DO enjoy lunch. Once you've boarded the ship on embarkation day, you can either head to the top deck for a buffet lunch at Cabanas ( Magic, Dream, Fantasy ) or Beach Blanket Buffet ( Wonder ) or you can have lunch in the ship's main dining room that is open for lunch: Carioca's ( Magic ), Parrot Cay ( Wonder ), or Enchanted Garden ( Dream, Fantasy ). Both lunch options include a copious buffet, but the dining room will be quieter and a server will bring you drinks, whereas it's completely self-service at the top-deck buffet.
• DO reserve special experiences. Once you've boarded the ship, you can reserve any experiences you may have missed during online check in, such as spa treatments, shore excursions, or dinner at the adults-only restaurants, Palo (every ship) or Remy ( Dream, Fantasy ).
• DO start having fun right away. Your stateroom may not be ready until early afternoon, and your luggage may not arrive until hours later, but you can begin exploring the ship and having fun as soon as you board. The pools and other activity hubs will be open.
• DO have your family ready for the muster drill. On the first day of the cruise, typically around 4 pm, all passengers must attend a 10-minute muster drill and learn what to do in case of emergency. Plan to be in your stateroom at least 15 minutes before the drill. You'll find directions to your drill station on the back of your stateroom door. Attendance is mandatory.
• DON'T miss the Sail Away Celebration Deck Party. Just before the ship leaves the pier, grab your camera and head up for a top-deck celebration that includes music, dancing, and all your favorite Disney characters decked out in their sailor uniforms. It's a fun way to officially start your cruise.
• DO kick off your cruise in style. If you're sailing on the Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy , consider indulging in Petites Assiettes de Remy, a special dining event offered on the first evening of your cruise in Remy, the ship's elegant adults-only French restaurant. Sign up as you board for a tasting tour that includes six dishes paired with the perfect wine. ($50 upcharge per person.) 

8 Disney Cruise Hacks for Grown-Ups

What It's Like to Tour a European City With Disney

Kids' Programs With Disney Magic Cruise

Free Printable Packing List for Disney Cruises

Disney Travel Planning: Disney World vs. Disney Cruise

16 Clever Cruise Tips Seen on Pinterest

The Best Disney Cruise Hacks Seen on Pinterest

Download the Disney Cruise Navigator App

How to Save Money on a Family Cruise

A Three-Story Racetrack, Food Hall, and Infinity Pools: Inside the Norwegian Prima

Disney Magic - Western Mediterranean Cruise Travel Log

Disney Dream Virtual Tour

I Sailed on the World's Largest Cruise Ship. Here's What It Was Like

Nationwide Travel Insurance: The Complete Guide

Free Packing Lists for Family Vacations

What's Included in Your Disney Cruise Line Fare?

15 Must-Know Disney Cruise Embarkation Tips

Embarking on a Disney Cruise is like stepping into a fairy tale, but even magic takes a little planning.

That’s where our 15 Disney Cruise embarkation tips come in!

From the moment you check in to the second you step on board, we’ve got insider tips to make your experience smooth sailing. Trust me, you won’t want to miss these game-changing hacks!

15 Disney Cruise embarkation tips:

1. check-in online .

Complete the online check-in as soon as you are able to. The sooner you check in, the earlier you select your port arrival time.

Earlier port arrival time means earlier access to the ship! Win-win!

Anyone arriving via Disney transportation (whether that’s from the Orlando International Airport, the Orlando Airport Hyatt Regency or any Disney Resort) will NOT be able to select a port arrival time. This is a good thing! It means you can check in when you arrive at the port and be given a boarding number.

Disney Cruise online check-in dates are based on what level of cruiser you are. Your Castaway Club status level and check-in dates are the following:

• First-time Disney cruiser – 75 days prior
• Silver (at least 1 cruise) – 90 days prior
• Gold (at least 5 cruises) – 105 days prior
• Platinum (at least 10 cruises) – 125 days prior
• Concierge Class (room type)– 125 days prior

Once you have completed your check-in steps, print off the port arrival form or have it emailed to you. You will need this document at the port. But, don’t worry. It’s not the end-all if you forget it! It just may take a few extra minutes when checking in. They will still let you on the ship.

This is probably one of the most important Disney Cruise embarkation tips because so much can be done ahead of time online. Remember to do this as soon as your window opens.

2. Pack your Disney cruise day bag

Pack your Disney embarkation day essentials in a carry-on bag because you won’t see your luggage again until sometime after 4 pm. Ours wasn’t delivered until we were at dinner, so we didn’t see it until around 7:30 p.m.

Here’s a list of what I packed in the day bag:

• port arrival form
• refillable cups
• fish extender
• cruise door magnets

A lot of people pack swimming suits. I didn’t bother because I really didn’t want to take the time to shower before dinner. Especially because ours was the early dinner at 5:45 pm. There are just too many other things to do.

3. Arrive at your port arrival time

If you arrive via Disney transportation, enter and go through an x-ray machine, then proceed to the main lobby to check in.

If you arrive via other means, drop off your luggage first.

Upon entering the main building, the check-in counter is to your left. Find the end of the line and wind through it until it’s your turn. Special check-in desks are set up for DVC owners and Concierge Level guests. If that applies to you, these lines will be shorter.

Have your port arrival form with you for faster processing.

At check-in, receive your Key to the World cards (one for each person), your boarding number and the weekly cruise Navigator. Don’t forget, if this is your first cruise, you need to bring your own lanyards to hold your Key to the World card. Disney provides them if you have already sailed on any previous Disney cruise.

Have your family picture taken in front of a model Disney ship. Goofy was there, too, for our picture (but it didn’t turn out that great).

Bring money for pressed pennies! The machine is near the front entrance on the right side. There are no pressed penny machines on the ship.

Head to the back of the waiting area and stroll outside for an up-close view of your ship. We got a few good pictures and were able to see just how large this ship is.

Watch the digital displays showing what boarding number they are on. When yours is close, make your way near the line entrance. Your vacation now begins!

4. Review the weekly Navigator

At check-in, you will receive the weekly cruise Navigator. This pamphlet is filled to the brim with handy information.

Notice what restaurants are open for lunch when you board, what first-run movies are playing on the big screen, or what shows will delight you in the evenings. This is a handy brochure to look at before you board. Each day, a new daily Navigator will tell you what events are happening for the day.

5. Reserve activities

Head to Guest Services immediately after boarding if you need to reserve activities you didn’t get during online check-in.

Since we were first-time cruisers, I didn’t get any activity I wanted during check-in. But, I wasn’t too worried because I read numerous places Disney reserves some for on-ship reservations.

Guest Services directed us to a table near the shops (that are closed while in port) that was specifically set up for character experience reservations.

Here, we reserved the character breakfast (on 7+ day sailings) and a princess meet and greet. Just to warn you, it took forever to get through the line. I think we waited for 30 minutes!

If you need special dining or tastings/mixology reservations, ask Guest Services where to go for those. Usually, it’s at one of the restaurants they designate.

You will be doing plenty of this on your cruise!

Choose from the poolside buffet (although there are many tables inside as well), the counter services or a sit-down restaurant.

On our cruise, Animator’s Palate was open for lunch, however, we opted for Cabana’s , the poolside buffet. We were not disappointed! It showed us how much this buffet has to offer and the spectacular views from the aft (rear) of the ship. We mostly sat out here every time we visited Cabana’s.

There are 2 sides to Cabana’s with the same menu, so feel free to enter from either side of the deck.

7. Request anything extra from your cabin host

Rooms are usually ready around 1:30 pm. Go ahead and check yours out, especially if this is your first cruise. It’s exciting to see your cabin and meet your cabin host.

If you need anything extra or changed, let your host know.

8. Check-in at Kids clubs

The kid’s clubs have open houses allowing you to see where your child may spend some free time.

The Oceaneer Club and Lab are designed for 3-12-year-olds. This area is massive! So many different themed rooms from which to choose once inside.

Get your child’s wristband and complete the registration here. They will even put an extra locking mechanism on the band to prevent it from falling off. Little K didn’t take hers off the entire cruise.  Your room account will be billed $12.95 for the wristband, however, when you turn it in at the end of your cruise, the charge is reversed.

The wristbands allow the kids club staff to know which room your child is in when you pick them up.

It also will sound an alarm if the child leaves the kids club without properly signing out with an adult and the ‘secret word’.

Edge is the tween hangout space specifically for 11-14-year-olds while Vibe is dedicated to 14-17-year-olds

9. Attend the Muster Drill

This is mandatory.

Look at the back of your stateroom door prior to heading to your assembly station. The large letter tells you what station you need to report to. It’s also listed on your Key to the World card (it’s the big letter right below Mickey).

One member of your stateroom must swipe their card at the assembly station. This lets the crew know you are in attendance. Or they will come looking for you and you would need to attend a special muster drill later that night.

The purpose of the muster drill is to tell you where to go in case of a ship emergency. From here, you receive further instructions.

10. Attend the Sail Away party

For those of you old enough to remember The Love Boat, the Disney sail away party is nothing like as on the show. Disney performers welcome you to the ship and soon Mickey and Gang are dancing and singing their way into your memories.

Watch the show from the main pool deck or from the one above.

The ship starts to sail away during the show. Take the time to wave and get into the sailing spirit as your ship departs.

11. Connect@Sea

While still in port (applies to US ports only), use your cellular data. This reduces the amount of time using the ship’s wifi.

However, once you sail away, put your phone on airplane mode and connect to the DCL-Guest wifi.

This wifi allows you to use the DCL Navigator app and also to use iMessage (if you have an iPhone) to anyone, anywhere. There is no charge for these services.

There is a connect@sea help area (check your Navigator to see where it’s located) with written instructions on how to use the ship’s wifi. Pick up a printed information sheet for exact details or check out Connect at Sea for specific details.

Purchase data if you plan to remain connected during your cruise. If you do this, I strongly recommend putting your phone into low data mode if you have an iPhone. This ensures you don’t waste your data limits. Helpful instructions can be found here .

Note: you must have iOS 13 installed to use the low data mode feature.

12. Sign up for free 50mg internet

But only until midnight of your first night! So, do it quickly if you want it. The rest of the night flies by. Once you are connected to DCL- Guest, you can launch the Navigator app and sign up for your free 50mg. After that, you must pay for any data usage.

We signed up for this, but never ended up using it. We actually disconnected for those 8 days. However, having iPhones, I could still communicate with anyone else that had an iPhone through iMessage. This is a great benefit for iPhone users.

13. Meet your wait staff at dinner

Whether your dining in the early or late seating, meet your server and assistant server the first night. The buffet is usually closed thereby prodding you to make your way to the main dining areas.

Honestly, your servers work hard so you have the best experience. After your first night with them, they know your drink preferences and any dietary restrictions.

We had a wonderful experience with our wait staff. If you want to change something up on your menu order, they are more than helpful and will go the extra mile. Talk to them about the ship, the ports, their family. Get to know them as a person and just have fun.

Once your bags are delivered, unpack them and store them under your bed as soon as you can. This makes the (small) room look less cluttered.

There are plenty of places to store clothes. Two closets allowed us to store pants and dresses in the longer one with shirts in the other. Read these Disney Cruise stateroom organization tips .

Shelves in the closet are the perfect place for shoes.

The dresser had plenty of drawers for putting everything else.

In addition, because of the split bathroom design of Disney ships, you have two areas to store toiletries.

Honestly, we had more room than we needed. I was pleasantly surprised.

However, if you don’t get unpacking done soon, you are apt to just let it go and not do it. Don’t do this. I used the 30 minutes between dinner and show to get just about everything unpacked – or at least put somewhere so I could store the luggage out of the way.

15. Attend the Welcome Show

Our welcome show, A Fantasy Come True , was the perfect way to kick off our Disney cruise! My daughter said this was her favorite show of the entire week.

Your cruise director will introduce herself/himself and give you important advice about that night and the following day. They will do this each night before the performance so you will get to know who they are.

The Disney performances are spectacular. Our ship was really swaying the first night due to high winds as we left Port Canaveral, but those dancers never missed a beat (or if they did, we didn’t notice it).

Disney Cruise Embarkation Tips Recap

Your first day will be extremely busy – both physically and mentally. It’s important to get a good night’s sleep in a couple of days leading up to your cruise, especially if you are flying in the day before.

Here’s a quick review of our Disney Cruise embarkation tips from above. These are in the exact order we followed.

• check-in online
• pack your Disney cruise day bag
• arrive at your port arrival time
• browse the weekly Disney Cruise Navigator
• reserve activities
• request anything extra from your cabin host
• check-in at the kids club(s)
• attend the muster drill
• attend the sail away party
• connect@sea (Disney’s wifi)
• sign up for 50mb free wifi
• meet your waitstaff
• attend the Disney Welcome show

Click here for more Disney Cruise information

• Disney Cruise Formal Night – What to Wear
• Disney Cruise Lanyards – All the Facts

PIN this to share with others – thank you!

Christine is a Disney World annual pass holder and overall Disney expert and fanatic. She often visits the Disneylands around the world naming Disneyland Paris her favorite. To continue reading, click more about me .

Similar Posts

Disney Cruise Formal Night – What to Wear

A Disney Cruise involves lots of planning – even more so than going to Walt Disney World. You need to know what to pack for your Disney Cruise, what to do first and what to wear. Let’s discuss the basics of the Disney Cruise Formal Night and get you prepared with all you need to…

Take a Peek at the Disney Cruise Room Service Menu

So, you are on a cruise and you want to …. EAT? Yes, you will be doing a lot of that on a cruise. Did you know that room service is free on a Disney Cruise? I don’t know about you, but I never order room service at a hotel due to the outrageous cost,…

How to Read your Disney Cruise Key to the World Card Like a Pro

Imagine this… you just checked in for your Disney Cruise, received your boarding group and the weekly Navigator, and you were starting to slide your Disney Key to the World card into your lanyard… But, wait. What do all those abbreviations on your Key to the World card mean? Are they important? (Hint, most are!)…

How to Connect at Sea using Disney Cruise Wifi

Taking a cruise, but still need to connect to the real world? Take heart, Connect at Sea allows you to plug into your Disney cruise wifi. Here are some important details along with how to use it. What is Connect at Sea? Connect at Sea enables you to access the Disney Cruise internet service. From…

Disney Cruise Lanyards: How to Choose, Use, and Enjoy!

Ever wondered what the fuss is about Disney Cruise Lanyards? Trust me, they’re not just a pretty accessory to dangle around your neck. These lanyards are your key to unlocking an even more magical voyage! From choosing the perfect design to practical hacks you never knew you needed, this guide has got you covered. Ready…

Why a Disney Cruise Placeholder is a Game-Changer

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to make your next Disney Cruise even more magical. But what if I told you there’s a game-changing secret that could save you money on future cruises? Yep, you read that right! It’s called a Disney Cruise Placeholder, and trust me, you’re going to want to…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How disembarkation works on Disney Cruise Line

The process of leaving a Disney cruise actually starts the day before with several things to do prior to exiting the ship.

Here’s what to expect for disembarkation.

In this article

Things to do the day before disembarkation

On this last day, there are a few things you’ll need to do as you wrap up your time on the ship.

If you plan to purchase any of the photos taken by the ship’s photographers, you’ll need to head to Shutters Photography Shop to choose those. They will not be available once you’re off the ship.

Your stateroom attendant will leave envelopes in the room for you to put cash inside as tips for your stateroom attendant, server, assistant server, and head server. Be sure to give the envelopes to your servers at your last dinner.

If you prepaid for tips, you can also tear off the perforated strips on the sheet and put them in the envelopes to give to the servers.

Fill out the survey

A survey will be given to you to fill out about your whole cruise experience. This survey is very important to the crew members and many will be very assertive about asking you to complete it.

Be sure to take some time to fill it out and drop it off as you’re leaving the ship. Drop-off locations include Guest Services, breakfast dining locations, and the desk as you exit the ship.

Do some final shopping

Want some things in the shops? Be sure to snag those items while you’re still at sea as the shops will be closed as you pull into your port.

Settle any charge discrepancies at Guest Services

Check your folio for charges. If there are any issues, head to the Guest Services desk to settle those.

Book a future cruise placeholder

One of the most popular ways to save on a future cruise is to book a placeholder on your current cruise (same idea as a bounceback offer for Walt Disney World ). This is only available on the cruise so you’ll need to book it in the DCL app if you’re interested.

Booking this placeholder will save you 10% on a future cruise and give you a reduced deposit on cruises of 7+ nights. You can choose your exact cruise later, but it must be within 24 months. Get more details .

Put your luggage out by 10 p.m.

If you want your bags transported off the ship by the crew, you’ll need to have your luggage set out in the hallway between 8 and 10 p.m. with the tags attached (your tags will be left in your room by your stateroom attendant).

The character on your tags is also the group you’ll listen for when they call groups to disembark.

If you want to take your own luggage off the ship (called “Express Walk-Off”), you can skip this step. Definitely recommend Express Walk-Off for anybody who wants to exit the ship ASAP.

Watch the farewell show

There’s usually a farewell “Til We Meet Again” show at 10:15 p.m. (check your DCL app for exact times) that includes the ship’s characters in the atrium on the last night. After they parade through, they’ll often spread out and be available to meet and take pics with in various spots in the atrium area.

Order room service breakfast by midnight

If you want breakfast the next morning but don’t want to head to a restaurant, order it the night before by midnight so you can have it on hand in the morning. Coffee will stay hot in the carafe, and cold items can be kept in the refrigerator overnight.

Note: you can’t use the door hanger to order breakfast this night. You’ll need to dial 0 to place your order.

Things to do on disembarkation day

The morning that the ship pulls in and everybody is ready to leave the ship can be a little hectic. Here are some things to do.

Pick up alcohol being held by the ship

If you purchased any liquor at a port during your cruise, it’ll be held by the ship until this day. Be sure to allow time to pick it up this morning.

Eat breakfast

For breakfast before leaving the ship, you’ll have these options:

• Casual Buffet – often fewer options than other days of the cruise, but a limited selection will be available
• Eat in a dining room – you’ll be assigned a dining room where you can have a sit-down breakfast if you’d like
• Room service – ends at midnight the night before, so you can order the night before as mentioned above
• Cove Cafe – fancy drinks will cost extra, but the pastries are included

Keep in mind that you will usually have to be out of your stateroom by 8 a.m. so you’ll need to carry any belongings with you if you’re eating at 8 a.m. or later.

Leave the ship

You’ll walk off the ship with any luggage that you have with you.

If you are doing Express Walk-Off, you can exit the ship as soon as the ship is cleared.

If you’re not doing Express Walk-Off, you can exit the ship when your group is called.

You’ll need your Key to the World card with you as you exit.

Pick up luggage in cruise terminal

If you tagged your bags and left them out the night before, you’ll need to find them in the cruise terminal. They will be grouped together by the character on your luggage tag.

Clear customs

In the cruise terminal, you’ll need to have your luggage and passport available to clear customs.

Get the checklist

Save the checklist below to your phone to help remember during your cruise.

Have any questions or things you’d add? Feel free to let us know in the comments.

Join Our Mailing List

• Date Calculator
• Annual Events
• Vacation Planning
• Vacation Packages
• Money Saving Tips
• Disney Genie
• Magic Kingdom
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Blizzard Beach
• Typhoon Lagoon
• Disney Springs
• Restaurants
• Dining Packages
• Dining Tips
• Resort Guides
• Resort Tips
• Planning Tips
• Ship Guides
• Things to Do
• Cruise destinations
• Dining Options
• Disneyland Park
• Disney California Adventure
• Downtown Disney
• Universal Studios
• Islands of Adventure
• Volcano Bay
• Theme Parks

Disney Cruise Line Embarkation Day

Embarkation Day on Disney Cruise Line is the kick off to an unforgettable vacation at sea! Here you can find all the information you need to know for this first day aboard Disney Treasure , Disney Wish , Dream , Fantasy , Wonder , or Magic . There is much to do before the ship sets sail and the Sail Away Celebration begins!

Check out the incredible offers we have on our Disney Cruise Discounts page and set sail with money in your pocket.

Embarkation Day Terminal Check-In

Disney Cruise Line usually opens their terminal at 11:00 a.m. to begin checking guests in, however when you actually board the ship will depend on your Port Arrival Time. To save time, you can fill out the Port Arrival Check-in form online and bring it with you to ease the registration process. Also make sure you have you DisneyBand+ charged and accessible for boarding.

Before your trip you will receive a Guest travel booklet from Disney Cruise Line, this will hold two luggage tags per person. Luggage tags come with your name, ship name, stateroom number, sail date, and reservation number on them, so all you have to do is attach them to your bags. Once you board your luggage will be in your stateroom waiting for you. However, staterooms are usually not ready until about 1:30 p.m., so be sure to put necessities in your carry on.

If you are flying to get to your Port, be sure to obtain your luggage from the airport before leaving. The Orlando International Airport is the  only  airport that will deliver your luggage directly to the ship.

Each guest is allowed 1 carry-on bag plus 1 personal bag ( such as a purse or back pack). You will want to be sure all of your travel documentation is easily accessible in one of your carry on items so you don’t lose them in your checked luggage. Because the staterooms are not ready until 1:30 p.m. you will also want to put things like bathing suits, sunscreen, cell phone chargers, etc. into your carry on bags.

On The Ship

Once you board your ship guests are welcome to explore all it has to offer! On embarkation day, while you’re waiting for departure there is a welcome buffet at Cabanas to dive in to, or sit down with a menu in the main dining room and order your lunch. If you’re just ready to start that vacation fun, go ahead and dive in to any of the deck pools! Guests can also explore the different games and activities aboard the ship.

Staterooms are usually ready about 1:30 p.m., with your luggage waiting for you. For each room you will have a stateroom host or hostess. This person can assist you with needs like ice for your room, baby/small child needs ( traveling with little ones ), and laundry services.

Sign Up for Activities

When boarding the ship, there are a number of activities you’ll want to sign up for on Embarkation Day. These things include:

• Beverage Tastings & More Adult Activities
• Spa Procedures at Senses Spa & Salon
• Oceaneer Club/Lab
• Specialty Dining ( Palo, Remy, or Enchante )
• Port Adventures
• it’s a small world nursery
• Special Character Meet & Greets

Safety Drill

Before the ship can set sail a safety drill (compulsory assembly drill) must be completed by all crew and guests. Usually after you have been able to check out your stateroom the captain will come over the loud speaker to instruct you on how to begin the safety drill. Once this is done it is time to set sail!

Sail Away Celebration

As the cruise countdown begins your excitement will build! Then, at the sound of the ship’s loud horn you will begin your departure. As confetti and streamers boom into the air the celebration begins. This amazing deck party sets the bar for what is to come on your Disney cruise. Dance with Captain Mickey, Minnie Mouse, and all of their friends.

Disney Cruise Line Free Quote

Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our sponsor, The Magic For Less Travel ! They are your go-to experts when it comes to planning the most magical Disney cruise experience ever! Start planning your dream getaway and embark on a journey filled with enchantment, fun, and unforgettable memories! Services from The Magic For Less Travel are provided FREE of charge and their expert planning advice will help you make the most of your vacation time and money. Receive the best prices, free concierge travel planning & a shipboard credit when you book any new Disney Cruise Line vacation with The Magic For Less Travel Request your FREE No-Obligation Quote Below

" * " indicates required fields

Join our Facebook Community! Our Disney Cruise Line Facebook group is a great place for fun tips and friendly discussion.

Join our group today!

Privacy Overview

Disney Cruise Disembarkation -What You Need to Know

Sharing is caring!

Disney Cruise Disembarkation is not a subject that any of us really wants to think about.

However, the day will come when you have to walk away from your beloved Disney Cruise.

Here are some expert tips to help you deal with Disney Cruise Disembarkation.

Disney Cruise Disembarkation Overview

  You will find lots of tips on how to deal with disembarkation day on a Disney Cruise.

However, some things will vary according to the specific Disney ship and the cruise port.

For example, Disney’s Port Canaveral has different times for your final breakfast and disembarkation in general.

Be sure to check the letter that you will receive in your Disney cruise stateroom .

You can also see our Guide to Disney Cruise Embarkation for more tips about boarding your Disney Cruise.

The Night Before Disembarkation

Unfortunately, you have to start thinking about the end of the cruise on the final day of your cruise!

This is because you have to pack and decide whether you want to deal with carrying your own luggage off the ship or have it done for you.

Your Stateroom Host will have left luggage tags in your stateroom on the penultimate night of your cruise.

All the luggage tags have a different Disney character on them according to which luggage “group” you are in.

Each group has an approximate time that your luggage will be ready to collect in the departure area at the port.

When you checked in online you will have let Disney know how you were getting back home.

If you have an early flight they will prioritize you on the time that the luggage reaches the collection point so that you can get to the airport as early as possible.

If you are simply driving home then you will be at the bottom of the priority list.

This is so that your luggage can be more efficiently processed and Disney can deal with the task of getting thousands of people off the ship and then getting thousands back on!

Here is the official information that is from a Disney Magic Cruise from Miami

If you are asking Disney to deal with your luggage you will have to have your suitcases packed, labeled, and outside your stateroom by a certain time on your final evening.

This is usually some time around 10 pm.

This does mean that you have to be organized on your final day.

Make sure that you do not pack essential items such as your passport or medication.

I usually pack one or two hand luggage bags with essential items so that we can keep these with us and carry them off ourselves.

You also have the option of carrying your luggage yourself.

I sometimes do this, depending on the amount of luggage I have.

The disadvantage is that you have to deal with your own luggage!

If you have large suitcases this can be difficult. The elevators are usually very busy on disembarkation day and it can be difficult to walk around the ship.

It may also be a long walk to the departure hall customs area.

The advantage is that you don’t have to be as organized about what you pack, and you can choose exactly what time you walk off the ship as soon as it is cleared through customs in the morning.

What About Breakfast Time on the Last Day?

You will stay in your rotational dining groups for your final day breakfast.

Just as there is Early and Late Seating for dinner, there is for breakfast.

This is actually one advantage of Late Seating for dinner if you are not an early riser.

Here is the information from Disney Magic that explains the Breakfast Dining Rotation.

As you can see breakfast can be as early as 6.45 am if you have early dining. If you have late dining you will have breakfast at either 8 am or 8.15 am.

This is quite a big time difference at that time in the morning, and may influence your choice of dining rotation!

Breakfast is also available at Cabanas if you just want a buffet.

What Time is Disembarkation on a Disney Cruise?

For Port Canaveral, all guests should have left the Disney Cruise ship by 9.30 am on the morning of disembarkation. 

There will be announcements starting at around 9.00 am asking that you leave the ship.

Cast Members have to turn the ship around very quickly to prepare for the arrival of new passengers.

Remember how you were so anxious to get on the ship on embarkation day? They are now thousands of people outside the ship feeling just the same way!

So help the Cast Members by leaving when you are asked to do so.

And definitely leave no later than 9.30 am. Disney’s San Diego cruise port has a slightly later time.

You need to vacate your stateroom by 8.15 am. Everyone needs to be off the ship by 9.45 am.

Other cruise ports will vary in their times. Check the information which will be left in your stateroom on the day prior to disembarkation.

Remember that all of these times will vary according to the Disney cruise port in which you are disembarking. So always check the information you are given.

Waiting to Disembark a Disney Cruise Ship

There may be some delay between vacating your Disney cruise stateroom, eating breakfast, and actually being able to disembark.

All the luggage tag characters are called out, but if you haven’t heard yours yet you are not yet allowed to disembark.

If you are waiting to disembark you can use the lounges and bar areas to wait.

On the Disney Wonder, I particularly like waiting in the Azure Lounge as it is close to the exit and comfortable to sit in while you wait to be called.

Disembarking a Disney Cruise Ship

Depending upon what time you are leaving, there may be a line to get off the ship.

This usually moves pretty quickly.

On the Classic Ships Disney Wonder and Magic, the lines can back up sometimes towards the French Quarter Lounge.

This makes it difficult for anyone trying to get past that area as the walkway is pretty narrow.

The line always seems to me to move much more efficiently on Disney Fantasy and Dream.

The atrium is so much larger that it can deal with more people without feeling crowded.

You will have your Key To The World Card scanned as you leave the ship.

You can keep it as a souvenir if you want.

Don’t forget to leave your Comment Card in one of the boxes as you leave. Feedback is very important.

Things That First Time Cruisers Do Not Expect

Disney Cruise Lines takes these surveys very seriously.

If you feel that you have been treated exceptionally well by a Cast Member always remember to write this on the Comment Card. Disney Cruise lines read them and sometimes will award Cast Members with extra perks as a result of guest feedback.

If you are disembarking a Disney Cruise at Port Canaveral you will walk into the terminal off the ship.

You then head down the escalators to the luggage claim area.

You will see that there are areas clearly marked with Disney Characters.

So if your luggage label is Daisy Duck, for instance, you will easily be able to see that area. It is usually pretty easy to identify your luggage.

As all bags are out there it isn’t the same waiting game that you play in an airport!

Remember that not all of your luggage will necessarily be together. Try and put a bright identifying luggage tag on it so you can find it quickly.

The only exception is that if you disembark at a port that offers onboard airline check-in and have booked Disney transport to the airport, you will not pick up your bags here. They will already be in transit to the airport.

Disney’s Cruise Port at Cape Canaveral offers onboard airline check-in.

Remember that Disney Cruise Line advises you to book a flight no earlier than 11.30 am on the day of debarkation.

Personally, I think this is really making for a very stressful morning and I would never book it that close in time!

However, I know that many of you have made it in time for a before noon flight – it’s just not for me.

However, not all cruise ports do this. The Port of San Diego, for instance, doesn’t offer this. If you have booked ground transfers to the airport you will pick up your luggage and take it with you.

Whichever port you disembark in you will have to go through customs. Be prepared to show the identification which you used to board the ship.

Make sure you did not pack this in your luggage or you will have a stressful time trying to find this when you arrive in the luggage terminal.

Transportation at Port Canaveral

  Once you leave the Port Canaveral terminal you will connect with your chosen method of transport.

If you have booked Disney Cruise transportation you will exit the terminal and see the distinctive Disney Cruise buses lining up.

You will need to show your Key to the World Card which will note that you have booked Disney transport.

Disney Cruise transportation travels to Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World Resorts.

You will be directed to the right bus.

There are no set times for the buses – it is just first come first served. They will leave when they are at capacity.

If you are traveling to a Walt Disney World Resort the bus will most likely be driving to more than one resort.

This means it can take quite a considerable time to get to your Walt Disney World Hotel unless you are fortunate enough to be on the first stop!

All guests who have booked Walt Disney World transport to a Resort can disembark the cruise ship between 7.30 am and 9.15 am.

If you are participating in the Online Airline Check-in you will receive specific instructions in your stateroom prior to disembarkation day.

If you have a flight that leaves Orlando International Airport prior to 1.00 pm you must disembark the ship prior to 8.00 am. If you don’t do this Disney will pull your bags and you will have to check them in yourself at the airport.

If you haven’t booked Disney transportation you will walk outside the terminal and proceed to your chosen method of transport.

The shuttles to car rental places are available near the Disney Cruise buses.

Taxis and Ubers are also available outside the terminal.

If you left your car in the Port Canaveral Parking Lot you simply walk over from the terminal and find your car.

If you are staying at a Port Canaveral Hotel many of them have a shuttle. Make sure you check this when you book.

Do you have any Disney Cruise Disembarkation Day tips?

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

Disney Cruise Embarkation - Tips Tricks and Hacks - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Sunday 28th of July 2019

[…] By Alison […]

Disney Dream Verandah Stateroom - EverythingMouse Guide To Disney

Monday 22nd of July 2019

[…] […]

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

Main Dining Room Breakfast Menus

These breakfast menus can be found in the each ship’s marquee restaurant located near the atrium lobby during posted lunch hours.

April 2021 | last verified December 2021

August 2019 | Disney Dream

Summer 2019 | Disney Wonder

Spring 2019 | Disney Fantasy [ last verified March 2019 ]

Tritons – Disney Wonder – December 2017

Royal Court Breakfast Menu June 2016 – Disney Fantasy

Lumiere’s Breakfast  Menu Summer 2015 | 11-Night North Norwegian Fjords and Iceland Cruise on Disney Magic

Previous menus found on the ships.

Specialty Coffees and Drinks

• Bloody Mary

Delicious Fruit Yogurts

• Mango Mountain Hike fresh blend of Mangoes, Honey, Granola and L0w-fat Yogurt
• Mornin’ Tug Boat fresh blend of Strawberries, Bananas, Almonds, Raisin Granola and Low-fat Yogurt

Eye Openers

• Coffee Regular or Decaffeinated
• Custom Blends of Breakfast Teas Regular, Decaffeinated and Herbal from “T” Infusions
• Hot Chocolate

Fresh from the Bakery

• Danish Pastries, Assorted Muffins, Croissants, Bagels, English Muffins, White Grain or Rye Bread Jams and Marmalades

Healthy Options

• Buckewheat Crêpe A large Buckwheat Crepe filled with Scrambled Egg Whites, Spinach and Silky Tofu with Herbed Tomato Relish
• Vegetarian Omelet Mushrooms, Broccoli, Spinach and Red Peppers Tortilla Style

Off the Griddle

• Waffle Sandwich Two Waffles stuffed with Dulce de Leche and rolled in Sugar Cinnamon and garnished with Watermelon wedges
• French Toast and Pineapple Stack Layers of French Toast and Grilled Pineapple, topped with Strawberry Coulis, Maple Glaze and Fruit salad
• Disney Cruise Line Breakfast Trio French Toast, Belgian Waffle and Buttermilk Pancakes served with Cinnamon Butter, Syrup and Whipped Cream accompanied with Bacon

From the Cold Galley

• Chilled Fruit Juices Orange, Grapefruit, Cranberry, Prune, Apple, Tomato and V8
• Whole Fruits Apple, Banana, Orange, and Kiwi
• Swiss Bircher Muesli Muesli with Raisins, Shredded Apples and Yogurt
• Fresh Fruit and Yogurt Fresh Fruit selection served with creamy Yogurt and topped with Granola
• Cold Cereal Fruit Loops, Special K, Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Granola and Raisin Bran
• Lox and Bagels served with Chives, Cream Cheese, Capers, Onions and chopped Egg

From the Hot Galley

• Hot Cereals
• Oatmeal with Honey drizzle and toasted Pecans
• Cream of Wheat with Brown Sugar
• Traditional Eggs Benedict Toasted English Muffin with Grilled Canadian Bacon served with Poached Egg topped with Hollandaise Sauce, grilled Roma Tomatoes and link Sausages
• Three – Egg Omelet with your choice of Peppers, Onions, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Ham or Cheese
• Express Scrambled Eggs, Grilled Ham, Bacon, Sausage, and Hash Browns
• The Big Breakfast a large filled Omelet on savory Toast with grilled Tomato, Bacon and Baked Beans topped with Caramelized Onions

Children’s Menu

• Mickey’s Special Combo Platter Mickey Waffle with Scrambled Eggs and a Pancake Tower
• Chip’s Melon Boat on a sea of Strawberry flavored Yogurt
• Dale’s Omelet Two-egg Omelet filled with Turkey Sausage, sweet Corn Kernels and Hash Browns
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Typhoon a large Pancake with Peanut Butter swirl, drizzled with red Jelly, served with fresh Fruit.
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

4 Replies to “Main Dining Room Breakfast Menus”

On the Disney Wonder, where can you get breakfast before 6:00 am?

You can call room service 24 hours a day except the last night of the cruise when it ends at 1:30AM.

Love your site! On the Disney Fantasy – where can I get this Main Dining Breakfast? Thanks and check out my beginner blog sometimes amandasmagicalblog.blogspot.com Thanks!

Amanda, sitdown breakfast is available aboard the Disney Fantasy in Royal Court.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

TRAVEL LOG: Day 1-Part 1 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream

The day has finally come! We’re setting sail on our four-night Very Merrytime cruise on the Disney Dream. Our cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale, and to avoid travel problems the morning of the cruise, we drove from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale the day before. We were very excited to arrive at the new Disney Cruise Line terminal at Port Everglades and get onto the ship. Embarkation (the process of getting on a cruise ship) can be chaotic and a bit confusing for first-time guests. Learn more about our embarkation experience and get some tips for your own future cruise below.

1 – The Night Before

The night before a cruise is filled with excitement. It’s also a time to charge any electronics you want to use for the cruise, and for us, that now includes the new DisneyBand+. DisneyBand+ is just like MagicBand+ (used at Walt Disney World and Disneyland) and is designed to make your cruise vacation easier. We recommend fully charging the bands the night before your cruise so that you’ll have a full battery for your first day! We’ll be charging it every night so we can use all the features throughout the cruise.

2 – The Morning of Day 1

Our drive to the port from our hotel was estimated to be only about 10 minutes, but we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time to get ready and have breakfast. It’s always hard for me to sleep in on embarkation day because I’m so excited. When packing up your items, we recommend a small carry-on bag for valuables, medicine, swimsuits, and a change of clothes. Many people also carry a small bag or backpack. You’ll need something to carry your travel documents, identification , and DisneyBand+, so make sure you don’t pack those in your luggage!

If driving to the port, give yourself time to drop off luggage (see #4) and park. If you’re taking a shuttle or other type of transportation, you probably want to arrive about 10-15 minutes before your scheduled arrival time so that you have extra breathing room if there are any delays.

3 – New Cruise Terminal at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, FL

In 2021, Disney Cruise Line announced the addition of Port Everglades as Disney’s second year-round homeport (with Port Canaveral in Central Florida being the first). The Disney Dream set sail from the port for the first time on November 20, 2024. A second seasonal ship is expected in 2025.

Port Everglades offers everything under the sun, from Caribbean cruises to world voyages to fast ferry getaways — all from the vacation paradise of Greater Fort Lauderdale. Port Everglades’ location in the heart of South Florida and the neighboring Caribbean makes it one of the three busiest cruise ports in the world, typically hosting nearly 4 million passengers annually. Guests enjoy the Port’s proximity to three international airports, including the rapidly growing Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) less than two miles away. For pre-and post-cruise stays, Port Everglades is a short drive to the sweeping beachfront, a vibrant art scene, world-class restaurants, craft breweries, entertainment, shopping, casinos, and family-friendly activities — including the area’s namesake, the Florida Everglades.

4 – Arriving and Luggage Drop-Off at the Cruise Terminal

The first thing you’ll do when you arrive at the terminal is drop off your luggage at the curb. If you’re driving, you’ll be directed to a place to pull over, and you’ll hand your luggage to a porter. If you’ve arrived by a motorcoach transfer, you’ll be directed to where you will hand over your luggage. You’ll want to make sure the luggage tags Disney provided are on your bags so they can be delivered to your stateroom. However, if you’ve forgotten your cruise luggage tags, there will be some blank ones at the curb. You’ll just need to add your information to the tags, so a Sharpie or a pen will be needed.

5 – Parking at the Cruise Terminal

If you drive, you’ll then park your car. You’ll pay for parking when you leave the port . Parking prices vary by port (click here for port addresses and parking information), and you’ll pay a fee per night. Our cruise was a four-night, so we’ll pay the daily rate times four. After you’ve parked, make sure to take a photo or make a note of what level you are on and what row. You don’t want to spend time looking for your car after your return!

6 – Going Through Security

Before you proceed to the check-in area, you’ll need to go through security. The process is much like at the airport. Your identification will be checked, as well as your cruise boarding pass. You’ll have any bags with you scanned, and you’ll walk through metal detectors. In the security area, you’ll want to have your phones put away as you are not allowed to take any photos. Be sure to follow any instructions from the officers.

7 – “Finding Nemo” Themed Cruise Terminal

The new cruise terminal is perfectly themed to the Disney and Pixar’s film, “Finding Nemo.” Favorite friends from the film are displayed on colorful murals. The more than 104,000-square foot terminal was reimagined by Walt Disney Imagineering exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests to provide a seamless embarkation experience. The terminal also has plenty of fun photo backdrops for photos.

8 – Using DisneyBand+ to Check-in

One of the reasons we recommend purchasing your DisneyBand+ is that boarding is made easier (at United States ports only). You’ll still need your boarding pass code, but the crew can scan your band to ensure that the bands are linked to your account so that you can use them with no problems once on board. Since you don’t get your SeaPass cards until you go to your stateroom around 1:30, it was nice to have our bands to use before that. We were able to use them for photos, purchase drinks, and enter our rooms with the bands, all before we had the cards.

9 – Waiting for Your Boarding Group

If you’ve arrived a bit early, you may find you’ve finished the check-in process before you can board the ship. The cruise terminals have waiting areas for those who are quite ready to board the ship. The one at Port Everglades is very large. We only waited a few minutes, and then our group was called! You’ll have the opportunity to take some photos with ship backgrounds before you head onto the ship. For our cruise, we had fun Very Merrytime Cruise props to hold for our photos!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by DisneyLists.com (@disneylists_com)

10 – Stepping Onto the Ship!

It’s tough to wait to get on the ship because the excitement is so high! Thankfully, though, after a short wait, our boarding group was called, and we could board the ship. One of the things that makes Disney Cruise Line so special is that there is a magical moment when your family boards the ship. The crew will announce your family name and will cheer as you board! It’s just another way Disney Cruise Line makes cruising magical!

Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream

Learn about Very Merrytime cruises along with cruise tips and advice in our travel logs below!

Travel Log Articles with Cruise Tips

Follow us on Instagram, where we continue to share more about our cruise!

Follow Along on Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!

TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 1 – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!

TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 2 – Packing for a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!

TRAVEL LOG: Day 1-Part 1 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!

TRAVEL DAY: Day 1-Part 2 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!

TRAVEL LOG: Day 2-Port Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!

TRAVEL LOG: Day 3-Castaway Cay & Pirate Night – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!

TRAVEL LOG: Day 4-Sea Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!

TRAVE LOG: Day 5-Debarkation – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!

Our Review & 13 Tips & Tricks for the Best Very Merrytime Cruise on Disney Cruise Line!

Instagram Story Highlights

Click here for our Day 1 Instagram Story Highlight for photos and videos from our first day! 

Click here for our Day 2 Instagram Story Highlight for photos and video from Day 2 of our Very Merrytime Cruise!

Click here for our Day 3 Instagram Story Highlight with photos and videos from Day 3 of our Very Merrytime Cruise!

Click here for our Day 4 Instagram Story Highlight with photos and videos from Day 4 of our Very Merrytime Cruise!

Click here for our Day 5 Instagram Story Highlight with photos and videos from Day 5 of our Very Merrytime Cruise!

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.

Editor’s Note: Disney Cruise Line provided a complimentary Very Merrytime Cruise and special media-specific events during the cruise. However, as always, the thoughts and opinions about Disney Cruise Line contained in this article are entirely our own.

Chad & Cindy Nykamp

Disney Cruise Disembarkation Time and Options

There’s no doubt that disembarkation day is often the most dreaded time of a Disney Cruise Line vacation. For those first-time cruisers wondering what the term disembarkation day means, this is the last day of your cruise when you debark the ship for the final time.

Not only is debarkation day a huge bummer since it marks the end of your magical journey, but it’s also a super hectic time. Crew members and Disney Cruise Line guests often begin planning for disembarkation the evening before the cruise’s final day, and you can easily feel overwhelmed with the checklist of things to do. From organizing gratuity envelopes to packing to dining, the debarkation process can really put a damper on your relaxing vacation.

Luckily, Disney Cruise Line provides organized procedures to help disembarkation run super smoothly for its guests. If you are looking for tips on managing gratuities, luggage, and the debarkation breakfast, this post will walk you through the whole process of how to disembark your cruise on time and with as little stress as possible!

Disembarkation Process

As mentioned in the introduction, Disney Cruise Line really does a great job of preparing guests for disembarkation. On the last evening of your cruise, Disney Cruise Line will provide specific instructions about each step of the debarkation process. Disney Cruise Line guests will find a letter (similar to the one below) in their staterooms the last night of the cruise.

This debarkation letter details exactly what you need to know about the disembarkation procedures. The letter pictured above is from my family’s disembarkation in Miami, but the process works similarly in Port Canaveral and in other cruise ports. The letter itself is really informative, but I will break it down into more detail below. 

It’s also important to note that your stateroom host, dining servers, and cast members at guest services can often answer any questions you may have once onboard the ship. When determining your Disney cruise disembarkation time, you have a couple different options depending on your travel schedule and preferences.

And, no matter which option you choose, Disney Cruise Line provides specific instructions regarding your luggage. Before we discuss each of your debarkation options in depth, let’s take this step-by-step and talk about the time you need to vacate your stateroom on disembarkation day.

What time do guests need to be out of their rooms?

Since the stateroom attendant needs to clean the cabins for the next guests, Disney Cruise Line asks that your family is out of the room by 8:00 am. Depending on which breakfast option you choose, you may want to vacate your room prior to this.

Debarkation Day Breakfast

If you want to eat a full breakfast on debarkation morning, your options are pretty limited. Most families choose to eat in the main dining room during their assigned breakfast time, although the ship’s buffet is typically open as well. It’s important to note that room service is not available on debarkation morning. 

Main Dining Rooms

You can choose to eat your debarkation day breakfast in the main dining room where you will be served by your serving team one last time. The debarkation letter will specify what time you need to show up for breakfast. Basically, if you had the main dining time during your cruise, you would attend the early breakfast (typically at 6:45 am or 7:00 am) on disembarkation day. 

Guests assigned to the early breakfast time may choose to leave their luggage in the stateroom while dining. Just make sure you are back to the cabin by 8:00 am to collect your things.

If you had the second seating dining time for dinner, you would attend the second breakfast time (typically 8:00 am or 8:15 am) the next morning. Also, note that you will enjoy breakfast in the same dining room you were in the night before for dinner.

For example, my family and I ate dinner at Lumiere’s on our final night of our recent cruise. So, we were scheduled to eat breakfast at Lumiere’s on debarkation day. Since you need to be out of your stateroom by 8:00 am, guests with the later breakfast time will have to take their carry-on bags and/or luggage with them to breakfast. You will not be able to go back to your room to get your personal items.

Buffet Breakfast

Rather than attending a formal breakfast in the main dining room, my family and I actually prefer to eat at the buffet for breakfast on debarkation day. Disney Cruise Line doesn’t really advertise this as an option, but Cabanas has a breakfast buffet available on this final morning as does Marceline Market on the Disney Wish. We usually give our serving team their gratuity envelopes the night before at dinner. This allows us to say our goodbyes and let the servers know that we won’t be there in the morning for breakfast. 

On our most recent cruise, we headed up to Cabanas at around 7:30 am for a quick meal before disembarking the Disney Cruise Line ship. Guests choosing to eat breakfast at Cabanas or Marceline Market will need to either bring their carry-on bags and/or luggage with them to the buffet or gather it from their stateroom no later than 8:00 am.

Disney Cruise Disembarkation Time

As per the Disney Cruise Line debarkation procedures, guests must disembark the ship and make their way through U.S. Customs by 9:00 am . You have several options for disembarking the ship, which we will discuss in detail below.

Express Walk Off

Express Walk Off is the disembarkation option that allows you keep ALL of your bags with you. When it is time to disembark, you carry/roll your luggage off the ship. If you choose to take part in Express Walk Off, Disney Cruise Line will give you a place to meet onboard the ship on debarkation morning. Once the ship has been cleared by U.S. Customs, you will be permitted to walk off the ship with your bags.

↓↓ Visit My Etsy Shop ↓↓

This option is great for those guests who need to be off the ship to catch an early flight in the morning. (Although, make sure your flight isn’t TOO early as you want to allow plenty of time for your family to debark and travel to the airport.)

It’s also important to note that you can choose to keep your bags with you and NOT get off the ship immediately. However, you still need to be out of your stateroom by 8:00 AM. So, you may have to drag all of your bags to breakfast with you depending on your scheduled breakfast time.

Debarking with Luggage Tags

If you would rather not have to juggle your luggage on debarkation day, you can choose to have Disney Cruise Line pick it up the night before. Personally, my family does not like messing with large suitcases plus two little kids on disembarkation day. So, we pack up all of our large suitcases the night before debarkation and set them in the hallway.

This is a super simple process. On the final night of your cruise, you will see luggage tags in your room with the debarkation letter. If you choose to have Disney Cruise Line handle your luggage, you just attach the luggage tags to your bags BEFORE placing them in the hallway. (Just remember the Disney characters on your luggage tags because it is important the next day.)

The debarkation letter pictured at the top of this post states that bags need to be in the hallway between 8:30 pm and 10:15 pm on your last night. This is so your luggage is packed and ready to go when the stateroom hosts start collecting bags during this time slot. 

If you choose this method, it’s a good idea to keep a carry-on bag with items you will need on the last night of your cruise AND on debarkation morning. We usually keep our carry-on bag with us and the following items inside:

• debarkation outfit and shoes
• hairbrush and accessories
• toothbrushes and toothpaste
• medications
• passports and travel documents
• cell phones and chargers
• Key to the World Card

You will not see your luggage until you debark the ship on the final day, so the list above is really important. You don’t want to be walking off the ship in pajamas and slippers because you forgot to set out a change of clothes.

Disney Cruise Line guests who choose to utilize luggage tags do not have to worry about dragging their suitcases with them to breakfast in the morning. Once you are ready to debark the ship, you wait for the announcement of the Disney character pictured on your luggage tags. Once your character is called, you may disembark the ship and find your luggage in the cruise terminal.

How long does it take to disembark?

As mentioned above, once you disembark the cruise ship and enter the cruise terminal, you will see tons of luggage sorted into sections by character. Disney Cruise Line has made it super easy to find your luggage. Guests just need to look for the Disney character that was pictured on their luggage tags.

Once you narrow down the section your bags are located in, it’s really easy to find your suitcases. After you collect all your bags, you walk to the U.S. Customs and Immigration line to officially get cleared to enter back into the country. This is very similar to the experience of U.S. Customs at the airport, and it shouldn’t take very long for your family to be cleared.

You will see lots of employees in the terminal to guide you on where to go to clear customs, so it’s not confusing at all. The entire process of walking off the ship, collecting our bags, going through the Customs line, and boarding our transportation typically takes us around 30 minutes.

After Your Cruise

After you are cleared by Customs, you will head out to the parking lot and transportation area. Again, plenty of employees will be on hand directing cruisers to the different modes of transportation available. If you are utilizing the Disney Cruise Line Transportation , cast members will show you exactly where to go.

The DCL transfer buses will transport guests to the local airport, the Disney Cruise Line partner hotel, or to Walt Disney World if you are sailing out of Port Canaveral. You just join the clearly marked line for your destination. The bus driver will load your larger luggage pieces onto the bottom of the bus. You can take your carry-on bag on the shuttle with you to hold in your lap. If you are not booked on the Disney transportation, you will find ride share options and taxis readily available as well.

Many families book a pre-cruise or post-cruise hotel through Disney Cruise Line in order to have some flexibility with flights. To do this, you call Disney Cruise Line prior to your trip, and they will give you hotel options for your departure port. (Note that if you booked your cruise vacation through a travel agent, you need to ask your agent to call Disney Cruise Line on your behalf.)

Depending on availability, Disney Cruise Line should give you a few different options on hotels to book. If you are flying in and out of the Orlando International Airport, we highly recommend the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. It’s located right inside the airport, which makes it super convenient for travelers. My family and I also love the Hyatt Regency because it offers clean rooms, several restaurants, and a swimming pool. Families can even book a day room at the hotel if you need to kill time before your flight!

In Miami , Disney Cruise Line often utilizes EB Hotel and another option for pre-cruise and post-cruise options. My family and I had the pleasure of staying at the Four Seasons Miami before our most recent Disney Cruise vacation, and it was pure luxury! We were even able to score a great deal on our room through Disney Cruise Line.

Final Thoughts on How to Disembark

The Disney Cruise Line debarkation process may seem to have a lot of moving parts with lots of decisions to make. However, the cast members are super helpful, and the process is well organized. So, the entire morning actually runs quite smoothly.

From managing luggage to eating breakfast to clearing customs, Disney Cruise Line will guide you through each step of the way as you disembark the ship. Our final tip for disembarkation day is to NOT wait until the last minute to pack up your stateroom. It’s never fun to accept that your Disney Cruise Line vacation is coming to end, but you will feel much better knowing your belongings are packed and ready.

In conclusion, although debarkation morning isn’t the most exciting day of your trip, Disney Cruise Line truly does a great job of organizing the whole process. Their procedures for the disembarkation process help this bittersweet morning run smoothly. And then it’s back to reality!

So, what do you think? Do you enjoy the efficiency of Express Walk Off or do you prefer to stay on board as long as possible? What time do you like to disembark a Disney cruise? Comment below to share why you choose this method!

Shari is an experienced planner and organizer for Disney vacations, cruising, and U.S. travel. Her family vacation information, reviews, and tips provide insight for moms and dads everywhere. You can read more about her story, including her journey through breast cancer, in the about me page.

Similar Posts

Castaway Cay – Guide to Disney’s Private Island

Doing Laundry on Disney Cruise Line Ships

Disney Cruise Upgrade at Port: Getting an Even Better Room

Ways to Prevent Getting Seasick on Cruise Vacations

Scheduling a Disney Cruise Character Call Before Your Trip

Best Disney Cruise Activities for Kids

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

25+ Disney Cruise Tips to Know Before You Go

Sharing is caring!

As a seasoned Disney cruiser, I’ve learned a lot of tricks and insider secrets that can make all the difference in your cruise vacation. If you’re planning your first Disney cruise , here are some tips to help you navigate the pre-booking process, pack your bags, and make the most of your time onboard!

This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on these links, I get a small percentage back at no cost to you! For more information see my  disclosure policy .

The Best Disney Cruise Tips

A Disney Cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people that can create unforgettable memories for the whole family. However, planning and executing your Disney cruise vacation requires careful consideration and preparation to ensure the best possible experience.

From packing essentials to insider knowledge, the best Disney cruise tips can help you get the most out of your vacation. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a veteran of the seas, this article will provide a comprehensive guide to help you navigate your next Disney cruise like a pro.

Get ready to set sail and make some magical memories with some of the best Disney Cruise tips around!

Check out prices below or get a free quote by calling 877-510-2929 and let them know Mommy Mouse Clubhouse sent you!

Pre-Cruise Tips

Preparing thoroughly before embarking on a Disney Cruise is always key. This section is all about pre-cruise tips and tricks that’ll have you feeling like a seasoned Disney cruiser before you even climb aboard.

Disney cruises are incredibly popular, and some cabins can sell out months in advance. Decide on your travel dates and book your cruise as soon as possible to secure the best room and any promotions that may be offered during that time.

Get the Best Cruise Rates

Generally, the farther out from the cruise you get, the lower the price is. As the date approaches and demand goes up, so does the price. If possible, book your cruise as soon as dates are available (usually 12-18 months in advance).

You can also get a great deal if your desired cruise date offers a guaranteed rate. These rated can be found by searching for your cruise or by clicking on “Special Offers” on the Disney Cruise Line website.

If you are interested in these rates, they do come with stipulations. Many times Disney will choose your room for you, you must pay in full at the time of booking, and there are no changes or refunds available for any reason.

I booked a cruise for my family of five with a “guaranteed with restrictions” rate and had a great experience. I saved over $2000 dollars booking two of these rooms over booking one deluxe family verandah suite .

Available Hotels Near Cape Canaveral Florida

Use a travel agent.

I always recommend using a travel agent to book your Disney Cruise. They have easy access to Disney and can take care of any problems easily that may arise. And, using a travel agent is completely free!

If you’re thinking about going on a Disney Cruise for your family, I recommend booking with my travel partner, Get Away Today. They can help you find the best ship and itinerary for your cruise vacation. I have used them many times and they have the BEST customer service. Give them a call at 877-510-2929 and mention Mommy Mouse Clubhouse sent you to get the best deals!

Get Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is always a good idea if you’re planning an expensive cruise. Not only can it protect your investment, but it can also cover things like missed flights or medical emergencies that may occur during your trip.

Fly in a Day Early

I highly recommend booking a flight that will arrive the day before your cruise departure. This will give you time to rest up, get acclimated to the area, and avoid any travel delays due to bad weather or airline issues.

Update Passports

You will be leaving the country when you sail on a Disney Cruise , so it is important to have the proper documentation like a passport.

Make sure that your passport is up-to-date and not about to expire. If it is, you’ll want to get one or get it renewed as soon as possible. It can take anywhere from 2-3 months for this process depending on whether or not you pay to expedite.

If you are in a time crunch, I have found that you can contact your local Congressman to help you get a new or renewed passport very quickly. I had to contact our’s before our Mediterranean cruise and they were very helpful and happy to do it!

If you are on a closed-loop cruise (where you start and end in the same destination within the United States) you can use a certified copy of your birth certificate and a driver’s license, but I highly recommend a passport.

If something happens in a port or you have a medical emergency that requires a helicopter, you will have many problems if you do not have a passport.

Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

Disney Cruise Line has their own app that is essential to download before your cruise. A benefit of downloading this app early is that it will give you a fun countdown until your cruise, complete with Disney characters !

Before your cruise, the app will show the countdown, your stateroom number, any balance owed (which can be paid through the app), check-in, maps, future plans, and available excursions.

During your cruise, the app will show the schedule of activities, restaurant menus, dining times, and more! So definitely download the app as soon as you book your sailing!

Join Your Cruise Facebook Group

As soon as you book your cruise, search Facebook for the date and ship you will be sailing. There is almost always a Facebook group that includes other passengers on your cruise.

This is a great resource for your particular sailing and is also the place where you can sign up to participate in Fish Extender groups (more on that later) or magnet exchanges.

Set Up a Character Call

This is a fun one! Before your cruise, you can set up a Character Call from the Disney Cruise Line for free! A Disney character will call your child at home and let them know about their upcoming trip! It’s such an amazing way to build excitement prior to departure.

Sign Up for Fish Extenders (If you want to)

Fish Extender groups are a group of cruise guests that sign up to give each other surprise gifts throughout the cruise. They got their name from the fish-shaped hook outside each stateroom on the Fantasy, Dream, Wonder, and Magic.

Participation in these groups is totally voluntary and whether you sign up for them or not, depends on the type of vacation you want.

I have both participated and not participated in Fish Extender gift exchanges on various cruises and both have been fun! It depends on my mood whether or not I sign up or not.

Book Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

For cruisers ages 3-12, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a really fun experience . Kids can be transformed into their favorite princess, a Royal Knight, Captain Mickey or Minnie, or even a pirate!

One tip to save money at the Bibbidi Bobbidi BoutiqueYou can read all about our experience at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique here .

These appointments can fill up quickly, so if this is an activity you want to do, make an appointment as soon as you can:

• First-Time Guests: 75 days prior to sail date
• Silver Castaway Club Members: 90 days prior to sail date
• Gold Castaway Club Members: 105 days prior to sail date
• Concierge Guests and Platinum Castaway Club Members: 120 days prior to sail date

Cruise Check-In Tips

There are dates to know and procedures that are unique to cruising with Disney, so you’ll want to know these tips below to help you with the check-in process. With these tips, you’ll be ready to tackle everything from boarding groups to make reservations for certain onboard experiences.

Know When to Check-In for a Disney Cruise

Your check-in time will vary depending on how many Disney Cruises you have been on. The breakdown is as follows:

• First Time Guests: 30 days before sailing
• Silver Castaway Club: 33 days before sailing
• Gold Castaway Club: 35 days before sailing
• Platinum Castaway Club: 38 days before sailing
• Pearl Castaway Club & Concierge Guests: 40 days before sailing

Make a Reservation for the Princess Royal Gathering

The Princess Royal Gathering is a popular event on a Disney Cruise where guests get a reserved time to meet and greet the Disney Princesses. Reservations for the Princess Royal Gathering always fill up quickly, so you’ll want to get online and make a reservation for this event right at the 30 day mark (which is Eastern Standard Time)

If you are unable to secure a reservation, you can check with guest services or the Disney Navigator App as soon as you board the ship, to find out if there are any openings.

Get an Early Port Arrival Time (PAT)

When you check in for your Disney Cruise , you will be able to select your PAT or Port Arrival Time. I like to choose the earliest time that I can, so I can maximize my time on the ship!

Tips for Booking Cruise Port Adventures (Excursions)

Port Adventures (also known as excursions) will vary by cruise. The following tips & tricks will help you with making reservations for fun on the land!

Research Port Adventures Ahead of Time

You can find a list of all port adventures for your destinations at www.disneycruise.disney.go.com . I like to go through them and decide which excursions I want to do so that I’m ready when it’s time to book.

You are able to cancel Port Adventures up to 3 days before sailing and once completed, they will be charged to your onboard account.

Book Excursions As Soon As Possible

Some popular excursions sell out quickly, so it’s a good idea to decide what excursions you want to participate in and book them as soon as your booking window opens up. To book, your cruise must be paid in full. Here is the excursion booking schedule:

• First-Time Cruisers: 75 days before sail date
• Silver Castaway Club Members (2nd – 5th cruise): 90 days before sail date
• Gold Castaway Club Members (6th – 10 cruise): 105 days before sail date
• Platinum Castaway Club Members (11th – 25th cruise): 120 days before sail date
• Concierge Guests & Pearl Castaway Club Members (26th+ cruise): 123 days before sail date

Check Excursion Prices with Other Companies

When planning your cruise, it is important to know that you are not limited to the excursions offered through Disney Cruise Line. There are many tour companies that offer similar excursions in most ports of call. Some even have a cheaper price tag!

Before booking, search the internet for your port and compare excursions with Disney Port Adventures to find the right one for you! During my Mediterranean cruise last summer, I did a combination of Disney Port Adventures and private tours and loved all of the experiences.

Explore On Your Own

Often times when you visit a port, you don’t even need an organized excursion. Do some research for your ports of call, but I have had luck grabbing a taxi and heading to the beach on my own.

Skip a Port and Stay on the Ship

Sometimes its worth it to skip a port and stay on the ship! This allows you to enjoy the ship with fewer people, meaning you can use the pools and water slides with no lines!

My family did this when the Disney Wonder was in port in Ensenada, Mexico as well as when the Disney Fantasy was in St. Thomas and we had a great time.

Cruise Packing Tips

When it comes to packing, make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and swimwear. Disney cruise ships have multiple pools and water features, and it’s easy to spend the majority of your time outside. Read my complete Disney Cruise packing list here.

Don’t Overpack

Even though I have an extensive packing list for Disney cruises here, don’t feel like you need to bring everything, especially when it comes to clothing.

The laundry facilities are easy to use on a Disney Cruise , so I often pack half of what I think I need and plan to do laundry if necessary.

You really only need shorts and a T-shirt during the day, a couple of swimsuits and cover-ups, nice clothes for dinner, and pirate clothes!

Pack a Light Sweater

Even in tropical climates, it can get cold on the ship. I always pack a light sweater to wear in the theaters and dining rooms.

Bring a Lanyard

If this is your first cruise, you might want to think about getting a lanyard to carry your Key to the World Card. This card will be your room key, will allow you to make purchases, and will be used each time you get on or off the ship.

A lanyard is nice to help you keep track of your key card, especially for kids. Check out these cute Disney Cruise Lanyards from Amazon . If you will be going on your second Disney cruise or any cruise thereafter, Disney will give you a lanyard.

Cash for Tips

Gratuities will be charged to your card at the end of your cruise for your room attendant and diing service team, but you will need to tip the porters who collect your luggage, room service attendants, and possibly tour guides on excursions. Bring some cash in small denominations so that you can easily provide tips during your stay.

Check the Prohibited Items List

Since you will be traveling on a cruise ship, you want to make sure that the items you bring with you are approved. Disney Cruise Line has a long list of prohibited items here that you should review before packing.

Bring Your Own Pharmacy Kits

Having over-the-counter medication for common ailments can save time and money on your Disney Cruise . I like to pack my own first aid kit with motion sickness medication, ibuprofen, antihistamines, and nasal spray for allergies. This can save you time if you need to grab something quick the ship store is closed. Read my full packing list here .

Embarkation Day Tips

The day you board your Disney cruise ship is called Embarkation Day. There are many things you need to know to have a successful embarkation day, so check out the tips below.

Port Arrival Time (PAT)

Your Port Arrival Time will be assigned to you at check-in. Try to time your arrival to the port around this time to avoid a long wait in the terminal.

Disney Transportation

Disney provides paid transportation to the ports for some cruises. If you choose to use this Disney transportation option, you will not need a Port Arrival Time.

I like to print out my paperwork for Embarkation Day to have a hard copy. To board the ship, you will need the QR code with your reservation number and port arrival time that you get at the time of check-in. It is much easier for me to keep the code printed out on a piece of paper than trying to pull it up on my phone each time I need it.

Carry-On Bag

When you arrive at port, you will give your luggage to the porters and it will arrive outside your room later in the day. I like to pack a carry-on bag to store items that I want to keep with me, including my cruise paperwork and passport.

Ask to Upgrade

You might be able to upgrade your room at a lower rate when you get to the port. I have heard of many people that asked at the port if any upgrades were available and were able to move from an inside room to a verandah room or even to a concierge room for a fraction of the price of booking that room ahead of time.

Wear a Swimsuit

On embarkation day, I suggest wearing your swimsuit under your clothes. That way, you can go straight to the pool area as soon as you board and get the most out of your first day on the ship. Often you can go on the AquaDuck, AquaDunk, and AquaMouse (depending on your ship) with very short wait times.

Carry On Your Own Wine

Disney Cruise Line allows you to bring a limited amount of beer or wine onboard with you. You will need to carry this on with you (do not pack it in your luggage). Check the DCL website for specific amounts allowed an restrictions.

Bring a Case of Water

You can purchase a case of water from the “Onboard Gifts” section of the Navigator App, but it is very expensive. We usually bring a case of water with us onboard in our carry-on suitcase.

Bring Your Own Soda

Soda is included on a Disney Cruise , but it is only Coke products. If you prefer a different brand, you are welcome to bring your own soda with you onboard. Just like with alcohol, and a case of water, you will need to carry it on with you.

Swim First, Then Eat

I already mentioned wearing your swimsuit on Embarkation Day, so this tip works with that. Most people head to the buffet as soon as they board and then go swimming. You can enjoy even shorter lines if you head straight to the water slides and eat lunch when you’re done!

Find a Sail Away Spot

After attending the Sail Away Party, it’s fun to find a good spot to watch as you sail away from port. You can wave at people in port or on a neighboring cruise ship as you set sail. If you want to see some marine life, try to find a spot as far forward on the ship as you can and watch for dolphins to lead the ship out to sea!

Tour the Kids Clubs & Teen Clubs

Embarkation Day is a great time to check out the kids and teen clubs on the ship. All clubs have “open house” time on this day where anyone can go visit and see what they are all about. I like to take my kids to visit during this time so they can know what to expect.

Onboard Disney Cruise Tips

The following tips will help you with experiences while on the ship. These things are good to know so that you can be prepared and understand what is going on while you are on your cruise vacation.

Stateroom Door Decorations

It is a tradition (not a requirement) to decorate your stateroom door with cute Disney-themed magnets. You can go all out and purchase magnets from Etsy, or you can make DIY magnets yourself, which is what I did and have continued to reuse cruise after cruise!

Pirate Night

Pirate Night is one of my favorite nights on a Disney Cruise . On this night, you can dress up like a pirate! Dinner has a pirate-themed menu , and there will be a pirate show up on the pool deck.

You can make the most of this night go all out with a pirate costume (get one on Amazon or check clearance sales after Halloween) or you can put minimal effort in and just wear a T-shirt (this is what I do).

Princess Royal Gathering

For all of the little princesses out there, Disney Cruise Line offers a fun event called the Princess Gathering. In order to participate in this activity, you will need to make a reservation through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, 30 days prior to sailing (which is actually 29 days, 59 minutes, 59 seconds).

This experience is included with the price of your cruise, but making reservations is necessary. Just be aware that reservations can go quickly! But, if you are not able to snag a reservation at 30 days, keep checking the app for cancellations or talk to guest services as soon as you board the ship.

Character Meet & Greets

Another fun tip is to participate in the onboard activities, including character meet-and-greets and trivia games. Be sure to download the Disney Cruise Line app before your trip , as it will show the schedule for each event, activity, or show.

Broadway-Style Shows

On a Disney Cruise , you will experience a different show every night from Magic shows to Broadway-caliber shows like Frozen and Beauty and the Beast. The great thing about Disney is that you do not need a reservation for these shows.

Just check the Navigator app for the show and showtime each night. If you have an early dining time, you will go to the late show. If you have a later dinner time, you will go to the early show.

Daily Activities

Once you board the ship, your Navigator app will change and you will be able to see a list of activities for each day. I like to go through the activities and tap on the heart next to the activities my family wants to do each day. That way we can easily see what activities we are interested in and the app will also send you reminders about activities that you choose. Find an example of the Disney Cruise activity schedule here .

Disconnect and Enjoy your Vacation

Take time to disconnect and enjoy your vacation. This might mean turning off your phone for a few hours or even for a full day. I find that it is so important to unplug from technology sometimes and just enjoy the moments of being with family. You’re spending a lot of money to go on a Disney Cruise so put away the distractions and have some fun!

Use Booster Seat for Shows

If you’re traveling with little ones, there are booster seats available for them to use while watching the shows and movies!

Pop-Up Hamper

I always bring a pop-up hamper to keep in our stateroom closet. This helps keep our room clean and organized and makes it super easy to do a load of laundry during the cruise!

Beware of the Spa

The spas on Disney Cruises are amazing and I enjoy getting a massage from time to time. Just beware ahead of time, that the cast member will give you a heavy sales pitch at the end to try and get you to purchase their products. Feel free to buy them if you want, but don’t feel pressure or guilt to purchase them if you don’t.

If you absolutely need to bring a stroller for your little one (I’ve been there) Disney recommends that you bring your own, but there are a few available for rent on the ship. If you bring one, try to bring a small umbrella stroller. The hallways and elevators are a tight fit!

Midship Detective Agency

If your kids are looking for something fun to do, I highly recommend the Midship Detective Agency game on the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy. It is a scavenger hunt-style game and it’s so much fun!

Buy Souvenirs Early

If you see something you want to buy in the gift shops onboard or at Castaway Cay, buy it. Items tend to sell out quickly (sometimes on the Day 1) and what you want might not be available the next day.

Pixie Dusting

Pixie Dusting is along the same lines as the Fish Extender gift exchange, only a lot less pressure. With Pixie Dusting, you can bring your own small gifts and treats to share with random staterooms. I actually prefer this to Fish Extenders because I can give out these surprises as I please.

Return Kids Club Wrist Band

When your kids go to the kids clubs (Oceaneer Lab & Oceaneer Club) they will be given a wristband to wear for the entire cruise, similar to a Magic Band. You are welcome to keep this wristband as a souvenir, but you will be charged around $12-13. To avoid this charge, return the wristband to the kids club on the last night of your cruise.

Book a Placeholder While Onboard

To save money on a future cruise, you can purchase a placeholder while onboard through the Navigator app. You will pay $250 which can be applied toward the deposit for a future cruise in the next two years and you will also receive 10% off the price of your sailing.

If your future cruise is 7-nights or longer, you will also get 50% off the required deposit. Should you end up not using the placeholder, your $250 will be refunded.

If you use a travel agent to book your cruises , you will want to alert them of your placeholder and have them call Disney Cruise Line to have the placeholder transferred to them within 30 days.

Disney Cruise Dining Tips

Rotational dining.

Disney Cruise Line is different than many other cruise lines when it comes to the Main Dining Room (MDR) experience. Most cruise lines have one main dining room where you will go every night for dinner unless you have a specialty dining experience booked.

With Disney, instead of heading to the same main restaurant each night, your will rotate to a different restaurant. Your dinner time will remain the same and your serving team will rotate with you as well.

Main Dining Room

When you go to the Main Dining Room for dinner, know that you can order as much or as little from each course on the dinner menu. If you want 3 appetizers and no entrée, you can go ahead and order that! Or order two desserts if that’s what you want! Your servers will be happy to get you whatever you’d like.

I also have one drink that I prefer each night (Cherry Coke Zero) so I let my serving team know that I want that each night of the cruise. This cuts down on ordering time when we arrive at the restaurant because my server has our drinks ready for us.

You can also order items from other restaurants (sometimes). On our San Diego Disney Cruise , my kids fell in love with the Strawberry Shortcake Sundae from Lumiere’s and our amazing serving team were able to get that for their dessert for the next to nights. It never hurts to ask! See everything we ate on the Disney Magic here .

Late Seating

There are two different seating times on a Disney Cruise . The Main Dining time is around 5:00 and the Late dining time is around 8:00. I have done both, but I prefer the later dining because I feel like I have more time after returning from excursions, and the dining room is generally quieter because most small children utilize the main dining time.

If you prefer the main dining time but have been assigned the later dining time, you can be placed on the waitlist. If you are not moved before your cruise, make sure to ask once you board if you can switch. It isn’t always the case, but sometimes they can accommodate the change.

Themed Restaurants

One thing that sets Disney Cruises apart from other cruise lines is the themed dining experience. Each night, guests rotate to a different restaurant with a new theme and menu.

For example, on the Disney Wonder , you have the chance to dine at Tiana’s Place, themed after the Princess and the Frog movie and the menu includes things like “Mama Odie’s Creamy Tomato Soup” and “Tiana’s Buttermilk Beignets”!

Request a Private Table

Depending on the size of your party, you may or may not be seated with another family. Some people enjoy getting to know other cruisers, but for others, this is a deal breaker. If this is something you don’t want to do, you can request to be seated at a private table and Disney will do their best to accommodate your request.

Dining with Kids

If your kids have a hard time making it through a long dinner time, you can request that your serving team deliver their kid’s meals with the adult’s appetizers.

Once the kids have finished their meals, have an adult take them to the kids club, and then finish your meal without having them lose their patience. This works well with teenagers too, I know from experience!

Popcorn Buckets

Outside the shows and movie theaters, you are able to purchase popcorn. They have refillable popcorn buckets for sale and a refill will cost around $1.50+tip.

My boys LOVE Disney Cruise popcorn, so we bring our bucket with us each time we sail. You can also bring refillable buckets purchased at Disney World or Disneyland and get the refill price as well!

DIY Ice Cream Sundaes

A perk of sailing on a Disney cruise is the unlimited ice cream cones! One thing you can do to take this up a notch is to bring your own sprinkles, chocolate chips , nuts, and chocolate syrup. Grab a cup from the soda station and make your own ice cream sundaes!

Make a Float

Along with making hour own ice cream sundaes, you can also make your own ice cream floats combining soft serve and soda!

Bring Your Own Soda Cups & Cup Holder

Disney cruises include unlimited soda, which you can get up on the pool deck. I like to bring our own reusable cups, with lids and straws, so that we can take our soda with us. There are small cups available at the soda stations, but there are no cups and straws.

I also like to bring along a cup holder (I get one from fast food restaurants) to make it easy to bring drinks with us to the movies and shows.

Drink of the Day

Each day or your cruise, Disney offers a “Drink of the Day”. You can purchase this for under $7 including tip!

Free Room Service

Room Service on a Disney Cruise is included with your cruise fare, but you will want to make sure to tip the cast member who delivers your order at least $1-$2 per item. We like to order war chocolate chip cookies and milk just before bedtime.

Secret Room Service Menu

Don’t feel like you are restricted to the Room Service Menu on the Disney Navigator App. There is also a “secret room service menu” that includes things like Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars and Uncrustables!

Order a Mickey Ice Cream Bar

Everyone loves a Mickey Ice Cream Bar at the parks, but on a Disney Cruise , you can order as many as you like! They are available for dessert in the dining rooms and also through room service.

Get Uncrustables for Excursions

For port days, I like to order some Uncrustables sandwiches (prepackaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches) to take along with us on excursions. These are great as a snack for kids and adults alike. If you’re going to use this trick, make sure to order them the night before a store them in the refrigerator.

Breakfast & Coffee from Room Service

In every stateroom , you will find a breakfast room service menu that you can fill out and place on your stateroom door at night. You will choose a time for delivery and your order will appear in the morning!

If you are a coffee drinker, many people like to order a carafe of coffee at night and it will stay warm until morning.

Cove Cafe Pastries

Cove Cafe is the specialty coffee shop on a Disney Cruise . The coffee from Cove Cafe is not free, but the pastries are! Get as many pastries and croissants as you want, and you don’t have to purchase anything. I happen to think that these pastries are better than the ones served in Cabanas (the buffet).

Cove Cafe Card

If you do like specialty coffee-make sure to get the Cove Cafe stamp card so you can get a free coffee after your 5th paid one. Also, save your card for the next cruise and use it then, previous stamps will be honored.

Tips for Disney’s Castaway Cay

If you are going on a Caribbean Disney Cruise , you will most likely have a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Below you will find tips and tricks to maximize your time at this amazing destination!

Adult-Only Beach

If you visit Castaway Cay, make sure to spend some time on the adults-only beach, Serenity Bay. We like to drop our kids off at the kids club on the island and take the tram to Serenity Bay. It’s quiet and a great way to start the day. You can also grab lunch, or an ice cream cone, at the BBQ restaurant.

Scuttle’s Cove Kids Club

Scuttle’s Cove is an extension of the kid’s club on the ship. The same counselors from the Oceneers Club and Oceaneers Lab will be there, which helps a lot of kids feel more comfortable. At Scuttle’s Cove, you will find sand castles, games, and a small splash pad.

Cookies BBQ

Cookies BBQ is the restaurant available to guests at Castaway Cay. The food is complimentary and you will find BBQ chicken, ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, and more! Be aware that it closes at 2:00, so be sure to grab lunch before that time.

Complimentary Strollers

We always bring our stroller from home, but if you forget or don’t have one, Disney has complimentary strollers for guests to use on Castaway Cay. These are great for those who need a little assistance getting around the island.

Snorkeling Gear

Snorkeling is really fun on Castaway Cay because there are hidden Disney gems under the water. There is snorkel gear for rent on the island, or you can bring your own. We use our masks from Amazon. You will need to use a complimentary life vest available at the rental shack.

Sunscreen with Sea Lice Repellent

Some times of the year people have complained about sea lice in the waters of Castaway Cay. I combat this by bringing sunscreen that includes sea lice repellent. I use this brand from Amazon.

Disney Cruise Debarkation Tips

The debarkation process is streamlined on a Disney Cruise. On the day you debark from the ship, you will go to breakfast around 7:00 AM if you have an early dining time, or around 8:30 if you have a late dining time. Below are some tips to help you navigate this procedure.

Express Walk-Off

For most guests, you will get a set of character-themed luggage tags on the last day of your cruise. You will fill out the tags and attach to your luggage, then set your luggage outside your room the night before debarkation.

Your stateroom host or hostess will pick up your luggage, and you will retrieve it when you get off the ship. You will be called to debark the ship by the character on your luggage tags.

If you have an early flight or don’t want to wait for your character to be called, you can do “Express Walk-Off”. To do this, you will keep your luggage with you and then debark the ship at your leisure (usually by 9:30 at the latest).

Breakfast at Cabanas or Marcelline Market

If you do not want to eat in your assigned Main Dining Room restaurant the morning of debarkation, the buffets (Cabanas and Marceline Market) are generally open until 8:30 am on debarkation day. There are fewer options on debarkation day, but it is an option for you if you prefer the buffet breakfast.

Disney Cruise Frequently Asked Questions

A Disney cruise includes a variety of amenities and activities on board, such as dining, entertainment, recreation options, a fitness center, soda, free room service, and unique experiences like character meet & greets.

Alcoholic drinks, spa services, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, shore excursions, and some restaurants.

Yes! Disney Cruise Line offers the Oceaneers Club and Oceaneers Lab for children ages 3-12, as well as Scuttle’s Cove Kids Club on Castaway Cay.

Yes, each ship has several pool areas with waterslides, hot tubs, and other family-friendly water activities.

Yes, you can bring a certain amount of beer or wine. Check the Disney Cruise Line website for current restrictions.

The cost of a Disney cruise varies depending on the length, destination, and time of year. Generally speaking, 3-4 night cruises start at around $1000 per person.

Yes and no, depending on the cruise. If the cruise is closed-loop (begins and ends in the same port) you can use a birth certificate and valid driver’s license. But I still recommend a passport. For all other cruises, a valid passport is required for all guests on Disney Cruises. Be sure to check the Disney Cruise Line website for current passport requirements.

Yes! Disney cruise ships offer a unique experience for the entire family. The ships are full of activities and amenities that you won’t find on other cruises, such as character meet & greets, Broadway-style theatre shows, pool areas with waterslides and hot tubs, kids’ clubs, and more. There is something fun for everyone!

There are actually 5 Disney cruise ships now, and more on the way! Currently sailing are the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish.

Final Thoughts

Getting ready to embark on a Disney cruise can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right planning and preparation, you can make sure that your last morning on board goes as smoothly as possible.

Whether you choose express walk-off or take advantage of breakfast at Cabanas or Marceline Market, following these tips will ensure that you have a stress-free and magical trip!

Good luck on your upcoming voyage, and happy sailing! If you have any questions, feel free to send me a DM on Instagram @mommymouseclubhouse!

Read My Disney Cruise Reviews:

• 4-Nights on the Disney Dream

San Diego Disney Cruise

• Mediterranean Disney Cruise

More Disney Cruise Information:

• Disney Cruise Wi-Fi Packages
• Disney Dream Menus
• What to Eat on the Disney Magic

Disney Cruise Tips

Disney Cruise: What to Expect

Are you ready for your next Disney Cruise? We have all the information you need! From itinerary and cost, to what else is included in your vacation package! 

Disney Cruise Internet (Updated New Plans)

If you’re planning a Disney Cruise, you may be wondering about the best way to stay connected while you’re at sea. Disney Cruise Line offers several different internet plans, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.

Disney Cruise Deluxe Family Verandah Suite (Disney Dream 8614)

I’m so excited to be giving you a tour of our Deluxe Family Verandah Suite on the Disney Dream cruise ship. Our suite was absolutely beautiful and perfect for families. It has plenty of space for all of us to relax and enjoy our vacation.

What is it like to take a San Diego Disney Cruise on the Disney Wonder? You’re about to find out! This article will take you through a quick tour of some of the ship’s highlights, and go through what each day is like on a 5 Night Itinerary to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico. Follow along with us as we learn how this magical cruise works!

Day One on the Disney Dream Cruise Ship

Want to know what it is like to board a Disney Cruise? You are in the right place! I will show you what is required in order to board, how the boarding process works, and all about Day 1 of a Halloween on the High Seas Disney Cruise on the Disney Dream.

Disney Cruise Formal Night

Wondering what to wear on a Disney Cruise Formal Night? I’ve got you covered! See the most EPIC Disney themed suits for men and boys plus where to buy cute dresses for women and girls!

Disney Cruise Activity Schedule

Want to know what activities are scheduled on a Disney Cruise? Here is the schedule from our 4-Night cruise on the Disney Dream including screenshots from the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App!

What to Eat on the Disney Dream

Check out the menus for most Disney Cruise Line Restaurants!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

What to Expect on a Disney Cruise Line Debarkation Day

New cruisers are often aware that they should get prepared for sailing on a Disney cruise ( embarking ), but there is almost as much prep needed to get off a cruise (called disembarking or debarking). Here’s what you need to know.

Tasks to Complete Prior to Debarking

The Disney Cruise Line debarkation process actually starts a day or two before you leave the ship. Here are some things you should consider the day before (or sometimes two days before) your sailing ends.

Read Your Debarkation Instructions The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app includes a section on debarkation. Take a few moments to scan this information a day or two before your cruise ends. Even if you’ve sailed with DCL before, a quick refresher should be on your to-do list – instructions do change periodically. Your stateroom host may also leave supplemental information in your stateroom. Be sure to read this as well.

Check Your Cruise Folio You can view your cruise folio (your bill for onboard charges) on the Navigator app, on your stateroom television, or you may ask for a printout at the Guest Services desk. You should periodically review the folio during your trip so that you may rectify any erroneous charges while you’re on the ship. Lines can be long on the last day of your sailing, so the sooner you can do this, the better.

Buy Your Photo Package If you haven’t already done so, take a minute at the onboard photo kiosks to review your pictures taken during the sailing so you can decide whether to purchase a photo package or individual shots. Once your sailing is over, it’s too late. See our post on Disney Cruise Line photos for more details.

Tip Your Service Crew Disney Cruise Line will automatically charge your account a basic gratuity fee for your stateroom host, dining room servers, assistant server, and head waiter. If you want to add an additional tip, you can do this at Guest Services at any point prior to debarkation, or you’re welcome to give them cash or a gift card before you leave. See our FAQ on DCL tipping for more information.

Check Lost and Found If you’ve mislaid anything during your sailing, stop by Guest Services to inquire about lost & found items. After your cruise, you need to complete an online form via Chargerback .

Return Your Kids’ Club Band The Oceaneer Club/Lab will issue wristbands to young children as means of keeping track of them while they’re in the kids’ clubs. Return this band prior to 11:59 p.m. on the last full day of your cruise or you will be assessed a $12.95 fee per band. (Note: This is not the same as the new DisneyBand+ product.)

Check in for Your Flight If you’re flying home from your disembarkation port, remember to check in for your flight.

Confirm Land Transportation If you’re renting a car at the port, using a limo service, or taking Disney’s bus transportation to the airport or a Disney hotel, confirm your reservations and make sure you understand how your land transportation works. Pro tip: Your Key to the World Card (room key) will have a code on it if you’re using Disney transportation.

Sign Up for a DCL Placeholder If you’re planning to take another Disney Cruise within the next two years, you can save yourself some money on the future cruise by reserving a placeholder before you leave the ship. See the Navigator app onboard for details.

Complete Your Disembarkation Questionnaire DCL asks every party to complete a questionnaire prior to disembarking. See our Questionnaire FAQ for more details.

Check Your Safe Make it a habit to check your room’s safe as you leave on the last day. You don’t want to leave valuables on the ship.

Pack Take a few minutes during the morning of your last full day to do a little pre-packing. Toss any paperwork you won’t be needing later, gather your dirty clothes and put them in your suitcase, pack any shoes you won’t be wearing for the rest of the trip, and corral loose items like children’s toys or wayward hair ties. The last night of your sailing can be hectic with saying goodbye to new friends, watching the last night’s mainstage show, and so on. Putting your luggage out in the evening (see below) will be much less frantic if you’ve done some prep work earlier in the day.

Don’t Take Items from the Ship There are several items in your stateroom that may be enticing to take home with you: the decorative pillow, the cozy throw blanket, and the fabric laundry bag are commonly coveted items. As lovely as they may be, don’t bring them home with you – you will be charged a hefty fee.

Feeding Yourself on Debarkation Day

Even though you’re leaving the ship, you’re still entitled to breakfast onboard. These are your options:

Eat in a Dining Room You’ll be assigned to the same dining room you had dinner in on the last night of your cruise. If you’ve had the early dinner seating, you’ll have the earlier breakfast seating (typically 6:45 a.m.). If you’ve had the later dinner seating, you’ll have the later breakfast seating (typically 8:00 a.m.). The menu is abbreviated, but there are hot and cold meals available. If you’re an early riser, aren’t in a rush to get off the ship, like to have a larger morning meal, or want to say one last goodbye to your serving team, then go ahead an have your assigned breakfast.

Eat at the Buffet The pool deck buffet restaurants (Marceline Market on the Wish, Cabanas on all other ships) will be open for breakfast on debarkation morning, typically beginning at about 6:30 a.m. The offerings will be smaller than on other days, but you will have a choice of basic eggs and bacon, pastries, fruit, cereal, and oatmeal. This is a good option if you’re assigned the early seating and want to sleep for a few minutes more or if you just want to grab something quickly.

Just Grab a Coffee Cove Cafe and one or more of the other onboard coffee bars will be open on disembarkation morning. They won’t have much food, if any, but if you just want a coffee to tide you over for a bit, this can be a good option.

Eat Room Service Breakfast This is a bit of trick advice. Actual room service breakfast is only available to Concierge Level guests on disembarkation morning. However, room service is open to all guests until midnight of your last full day. Some guests opt to order Continental breakfast items to be delivered in the evening – that way your food will be right there when you wake up. Make use of the refrigerator in your room for things like milk or butter. And know that many guests find that the coffee in the room service carafe is still hot many hours after delivery.

Whichever option you choose, remember that you are not allowed to bring fruit off the ship with you. (It’s a Customs rule, not a DCL rule.) You can, however, bring packaged items like a small box of cereal with you off the ship.

Also note that you should bring any hand luggage with you to your breakfast destination. You want to clear everything out of your stateroom as early as possible as a courtesy to your stateroom host who has limited time to turn your room over for the next sailing.

Dealing with Your Luggage

There are two ways to deal with your luggage upon disembarkation: Standard Departure or Express Walk Off. During the last evening of your cruise, all guests will routinely be given a set of disembarkation luggage tags depicting a Disney character on a colorful background. If you’re doing Express Walk Off (see below), you can just throw these away or leave them in your stateroom for your host to repurpose. If you’re doing Standard Departure, you should make note of which character and color tag you’ve been given. It never hurts to take a photo or two as a reminder.

Standard Departure

With Standard Departure, you will complete the name/address information on the luggage tag and affix the tags to any luggage that you don’t want to carry off the ship yourself. Be aware that the ship’s elevators and walkways will be CROWDED on debarkation morning. Multiple bags or anything more substantial than a small roll-aboard bag will be unwieldy. Follow the instructions given by your stateroom host and place your tagged luggage in the hall outside your stateroom in the evening (typically from about 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., but always double check the specifics of your sailing).

BE SURE NOT TO PACK ITEMS YOU WILL NEED IN THE MORNING. Keep aside in hand luggage items like your Key To The World Card, electronics, passport and other identification documents, medications, and – this part is important – clothing you plan to wear off the ship in the morning.

On debarkation morning, guests will be called to depart the ship in groups based on their luggage tag character/color. Your group will be assigned based on your departure needs. For example, guests with earlier flights will be allowed off the ship earlier than guests with later flights home. When you group is called, you’ll collect your bags in the terminal, just before you head to customs (see below). Bags are sorted into areas marked by character/color.

Express Walk Off

Express Walk Off is for guests who want to debark the ship as soon as it is cleared by port authorities, typically around 7:30 a.m. at U.S. ports. You may not use Express Walk Off if you’ve tagged your luggage for transportation into the terminal.

To take advantage of this feature, get to the lobby atrium at your sailing’s earliest debarkation time (this will be noted on the Navigator app) with all your belongings in your possession. Have your Key to the World Card and passport (or other ID) in hand and you’ll proceed directly to Customs and back out into the real world.

If you have an early flight home (say, prior to noon for sailings arriving at Port Canaveral with flights from Orlando), you should plan to use Express Walk Off.

Dealing with Transportation

After you disembark, you’ll obviously need to leave the port terminal. If you’ve driven to the port and parked in a nearby garage, just retrieve your car and be on your way.

Other options include an arranged town car or limo, using Disney’s bus transportation to an airport or hotel, renting a car at the terminal, or calling a cab or ride share. You should arrange the first three of these options prior to embarkation and confirm any details with the service. For example, ask the limo service exactly where at the terminal the driver will meet you.

Ubers and cabs can be a great option if you’re arriving at a port in a major metropolitan area (New York or Vancouver), but they may be scarce or expensive at remote ports like Port Canaveral.

Whichever transportation method you select, be aware that all guests must vacate the ship by about 9:30 a.m.

Clearing Customs

The last step in disembarkation is clearing Customs. The procedure is slightly different depending on your debarkation port and your nationality in regard to that port. In all cases, you’ll need to have all your luggage with you, as well as your passport (or other identification paperwork) before proceeding to Customs. If you’ve made significant purchases while traveling, you’ll need to complete a Traveler Entry Form , but this is no longer required of all guests.

If you’re looking for additional advice and planning assistance with any Disney Cruise Line sailing, be sure to check out the Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line .

You May Also Like...

In Florida, everyone's keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Fred to see where it ends up impacting the state. Meanwhile, on…

On the last evening of your Disney Cruise, your stateroom attendant will leave a questionnaire in your stateroom. Here's everything you…

If you've ever gone on a Disney Cruise, you know that embarkation day is full of excitement, a bit of nerves,…

Alas, the skies are weeping that this is our last day before heading back to Port Canaveral. Actually, no. . .…

• 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Menus
• Disney in a Minute: What is Park Hopping?

Erin Foster

Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. She's been to WDW, DL, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Aulani, DVC Vero Beach, and DVC Hilton Head. She's a Platinum DCL cruiser and veteran of 10 Adventures by Disney trips. Erin lives near New York City, where she can often be found indulging in her other obsession - Broadway theater.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

Disney Cruise Line Sends Final Warning to All Guests With Immediate Effect

in Disney Cruise Line

If you’re a Disney Cruise Line (DCL) guest, past, present, or future, you might have gotten an email that seemed a little scary. Here’s why.

Disney Cruise Line Guests Given Final Warning as Infractions Cause Policy Enforcement

Disney Cruise Line has initiated communication with guests booked on upcoming cruises, issuing a reminder regarding the prohibited items policy . In an email distributed to passengers, the cruise line emphasized the importance of reviewing the list of restricted items to avoid delays during embarkation. The message highlighted an observed increase in instances where guests arrive at the terminal with prohibited items inadvertently packed in their luggage.

Passengers were urged to meticulously assess the prohibited and restricted items outlined on the DCL website before embarking on their vacation. Notable among the banned items are surge protectors, irons and steamers, drones, weapons, firearms, ammunition, as well as illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia, including marijuana, regardless of its legality in the passenger’s place of residence or medical prescription.

In a SeaMail correspondence addressed to individual guests, the cruise line reiterated the prohibition of certain items and emphasized the importance of compliance to prevent delays during the embarkation process. Guests were advised to thoroughly inspect their checked and carry-on bags to ensure the removal of any prohibited or restricted items before arriving at the terminal.

The email underscored the potential consequences of possessing prohibited items, including additional screening, denial of boarding, and legal penalties, particularly for items deemed illegal at the ports of call. Moreover, surge protectors, irons, and steamers were highlighted as posing fire hazards and were explicitly prohibited onboard.

The DCL assured guests that adherence to the prohibited items policy would contribute to a seamless embarkation process and ensure a smooth start to their cruise experience. The correspondence concluded with a note of anticipation for welcoming passengers aboard and expressed confidence that adhering to the guidelines would enhance the overall cruise experience.

Moving forward, DCL guests must carefully review and comply with the prohibited items policy to avoid delays and complications during embarkation . The cruise line’s communication underscores the importance of thorough luggage inspection to prevent the accidental inclusion of prohibited items. Adherence to these guidelines ensures a smooth boarding process and mitigates the risk of facing additional screening or denial of boarding due to non-compliance.

Guests adhering to DCL’s policies ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all passengers . Compliance with prohibited items regulations prevents potential hazards and disruptions during the voyage. By following these guidelines, guests contribute to the overall security and smooth operation of the cruise, fostering a positive environment for relaxation and exploration.

The DCL, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, provides a range of family-friendly and sophisticated cruise options . Its fleet comprises Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, Disney Adventure, and Disney Destiny. These ships offer exclusive Disney activities, Broadway-style shows, sea fireworks, and premieres of new movies, along with nightly live entertainment and kids’ clubs supervised by trained staff.

A typical 5-night Caribbean cruise for a family of four costs approximately $7,760, averaging $1,940 per person, including taxes and additional expenses. Longer, upscale voyages lasting 7–14 nights in deluxe suites and exotic destinations may exceed $20,000 in cost. Individuals can reach DCL’s customer service at +1 800-951-3532 for inquiries and reservations.

Nude cruise and a Taylor Swift cruise: 8 themed ships leaving Florida ports in 2024 and 2025

From swinging to Swifties, there's truly a themed cruise for everything nowadays.

Seasoned cruisers know you can take your travel up a level by boarding a themed cruise, exploring the seas with those with the same passions and interests as you.

Whether you adore the cheesy Christmas movies that come out every year or you're a hip-hop fanatic, here are some of the top-themed cruises sailing out of Florida over the next year.

Big Nude Boat

The " Big Nude Boat " cruise is an 11-day adventure set for 2025 on the Norwegian Pearl, departing from the Port of Miami on Feb. 3 and returns to the same port on Feb. 14 (just in time for Valentine's Day).

"Bare Necessities’ newest nude cruise is a private island double-dip with a brand new travel partner," the company wrote on its website .

The itinerary includes stops at the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Dominica, Martinique and St. Lucia. Rates for an inside cabin start at $2,000 per person and go to up to $33,000 for a top room.

Guests are encouraged to park their bare behinds on towels provided on board in areas including the pool deck and the buffet area, according to the website.

"Passengers can easily follow our rule on nudist etiquette by always placing a towel down before sitting," it reads. "Remember to pack a swimsuit; not all excursions are clothing optional."

In My Cruise Era

The “ In My Cruise Era … ” is a  Taylor Swift-themed cruise  that is set to launch from Port of Miami on Oct. 21,

The cruise, on a Royal Caribbean ship, leaves for the Bahamas the day after Swift's final show of her three-day stop in Miami. According to the website, the cruise fare includes stateroom accommodations, dinner in the main dining room nightly as well as additional buffet and a la carte options around the ship. It also includes entertainment.

All aboard the Taylor Swift ship! Popstar-themed cruise sets sail in Florida next year

"This cruise is for all fans, so bring your besties, your moms and dads, your baby fans, and if you need someone to room with, post on our page and ask," the organizers wrote on the  website .

The itinerary, though not finalized and "subject to change," includes:

• " We can’t make any promises now can we babe, but you can make me a drink " Welcome Cocktail Party
• " Make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it " Friendship Bracelet Swapping
• " I don't wanna dance if I'm not dancing with you " ThemedDance Party
• " Heartbreak is the national anthem, we sing it proudly " Themed Karaoke
• " Can I ask you a question? " Taylor Trivia
• "Lately she’s been dressing for revenge " Nightly eras outfit themes

Halloween on the High Seas on the Disney Cruise Line

Looking for a more family-friendly option? The Disney Cruise line has you covered.

The Disney Cruise Line will offer its " Halloween on the High Seas " cruises in September and October. Patrons can choose from sailings ranging from 3-7 days, most of which travel to the Bahamas or the Caribbean islands. The Halloween-themed cruise is offered on four of the Disney cruise ships, including the Disney Magic, Disney Wish, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

While on board the Halloween on the High Seas cruise, AAA writes guests will enjoy magical, spooktacular entertainment every day, such as:

• Meet and greets with your favorite Disney characters, all decked out in their own Halloween costumes.
• Halloween parties with Mickey, Minnie and the whole gang.
• Ghoulish menus at every meal.

Hallmark Christmas Cruise

In case Halloween isn't your preferred holiday to spend on the seas, why not pretend you're in your own made-for-TV Christmas movie?

The Hallmark Channel, holiday season film factory, will host a Christmas Cruise that will embark on a four-night sailing on Nov. 5 from Miami. According to USA Today, passengers will be able to experience holiday cheer on the high seas, complete with cookie making, “carol-oke,” photo ops with network stars, and an exclusive movie premiere of one of the famed Countdown to Christmas films.

The Christmas cruise will take place aboard the Norwegian Gem Cruise Ship, a 965-foot Jewel-class ship.

The company announced that the cruise has already sold out, sharing to USA TODAY via email last year: "Christmas cheer filled every tier, and now the first ever Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise is SOLD OUT."

Rock the Bells Cruise

Hip Hop Hooray! The Rock the Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience is a four-day jam session founded by LL Cool J back in 2023. After seeing major success last year, the cruise is returning for 2024.

MCs, DJs, and producers will lead nonstop parties and live performances on the Norwegian Gem from Nov. 13 through 17. The cruise leaves from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau.

Some of the acts lined up for the cruise include Busta Rhymes, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Method Man & Redman, Scarface, Kid Capri and more.

Comic-Con: The Cruise

Get ready to join the CCU (Cruise Cinematic Universe). San Diego Comic-Con and Entertainment Cruise Productions have team up for Comic-Con: The Cruise . It will run from Feb. 5 through 9 of 2025.

Sailing on Royal Caribbean's  Serenade of the Seas  from Tampa to Cozumel, participants will interact with Comic-Con icons and attend nonstop activities on board, such as cosplay events, trivia, parties and more

Some of the stars who are slated to be on board include:

• George Takei
• Robb Pearlman
• Mary McDonnell

Star Trek - The Cruise

Live long and prosper! Trekkies can geek out with one another on best cruise experience in the galaxy, according to U.S. News .

Sailing on Royal Caribbean International's Explorer of the Seas, the Star Trek cruise will sail from Miami on Feb. 23-through March 2 of 2025. Passengers will head to Costa Maya, Cozumel and Belize.

"Each night of the cruise celebrates a different dimension of the Star Trek experience and, since the cruise's debut in 2017, guests have knocked it out of the park with show-stopping costumes," U.S. News writes.

Norwegian: Ultimate Disco Cruise

Dig out those old bell-bottom pants and practice your dance moves while you have time!

Norwegian Cruise Line Ultimate Disco Cruise leaves from Miami on Feb. 19 through 24, 2025. During this groovy cruise, you will travel aboard the Norwegian Pearl to ports of call such as Cozumel and Costa Maya. Awhile attending the hottest disco parties along the high seas.

AAA notes these are some of the performers and guests that are going to be on board alongside you:

• Kool & The Gang
• Original Stone City Band
• The Spinners
• Shalamar featuring Howard Hewett, Carolyn Griffey and Jeffrey Daniel

When is the best time to cruise?

Here are AAA’s trend forecasts for the best times to cruise in 2024, according to the kind of cruise you choose:

• The Caribbean  is popular year-round, but spring and summer are the most popular sailing times. 
• Alaska cruise  season runs from May to September. Because this is an abbreviated period, there’s more competition for availability.  
• Weekend cruises  have gained popularity in recent years. Weekend warriors have realized the value an all-inclusive cruise compared to a weekend getaway in a big city resort. Cruise lines have recognized this growing trend and are making weekend cruises more of a priority in 2024, by mobilizing some of their newest ships to accessible ports for weekend excursions. 
• European river cruising  is now operational year-round. Because European travel is most popular during the summer, travelers can avoid the crowds and find lower priced cruises and airfares in the early and later parts of the year.