Tuesday, April 2, 2024

25 Best Disney Cruise Tips for First Timers

disney cruise tips

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).

The Show is Before Dinner if You Have Late Seating

Did you know that Disney will send you a free Disney Cruise planning DVD in the mail? The stroller can then be stored in your room, under the bed, or even in the closet. If you are cruising with a little one but don’t want to borrow a stroller on the ship, you can grab any of the available strollers or wagons on Castaway Cay to use for free on the island. If you don’t want to bring a stroller from home for your young children, you can borrow one from Guest Services.

Doing Laundry on Disney Cruise Line Ships

Just make sure any food you bring on board is pre-packaged as you are not permitted to carry on opened or homemade items. The seats in the theater fill up during the nightly live shows. We try to arrive minutes before the show starts to make sure we find seats together as a family.

Everything You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Ships - Travel + Leisure

Everything You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Ships.

Posted: Fri, 08 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Not Just for Kids

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. 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. 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.

Disney Cruise Dining Time Considerations

disney cruise tips

Most people will head straight to lunch, and if you’re hungry, that’s a great idea. 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. Disney Cruise Line offers a limited number of themed sailings, including Pixar Day at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea itineraries.

Whatever you do, make sure to leave yourself enough downtime to relax or be spontaneous. At least once during your cruise, watch the ship sail away from a port the highest possible deck. The process is remarkably smooth and gives you a sense of wonder as you observe this skyscraper-sized vessel ease its way into the vastness of the ocean.

Even if the airline can’t get your luggage to you in time, at least you’ll have time to pick up some necessities before you set sail. Disney Cruise Line allows you to bring two (2) bottles of wine and one (1) six-pack of beer PER PERSON in your carry-on luggage. You are also allowed to buy wine and beer while you’re in a port of call and bring it back to the ship with you! This is such a great money-saver for those who want to drink on their Disney cruise. Additionally, you can also bring wine to your dining room if you want to drink with dinner- the restaurant will charge your stateroom $25 for the uncorking fee.

Future Ships

If you see a cool hat, sweatshirt or shirt you adore, buy it as soon as you spot it. The onboard gift shops are only open while the ship is at sea, and the popular items sell out (and generally don't get restocked while you're on board). Depending on the ship's occupancy, it can be cheaper to upgrade your cabin at the port right before you board than in advance.

Naturally, you can change and order whatever you want but it’s a great convenience to not have to ask. As part of Disney’s rotational dining, you will have the same servers every evening. I have been very impressed by the level of service we have received from every server we’ve had. I have stopped at a local grocery store just prior to boarding to pick up some water for very cheap as well as a few other snacks.

If y0u’re sailing out of Port Canaveral, you also have the wonderful option of staying at Walt Disney World, which is about an hour away. Disney World is also closer to the airport and still offers ground transfer with luggage checking from the resort to the port. Disney offers their buses, which are super cute, for ground transfer for a per person fee. These are an awesome option because you can check your luggage into the bus and it will be delivered to your stateroom without you having to lug it around. Trust me, the cruise terminal before embarkation is PACKED. The last thing you want is to deal with your suitcases and carry-ons and children, if you have them!

“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. You can enhance your Disney Cruise Line experience with Adventures by Disney Escapes before or after your sailing. Experience global cities through expertly curated itineraries in Barcelona, Paris, Rome, and beyond. Hook’s Barbery may look like any old upscale barbershop when walking by — but it’s hiding one of the best-kept secrets aboard any Disney ship. Tucked away within the salon is a hidden speakeasy-style bar serving expertly crafted cocktails, including a smoked old fashioned.

All the Disney ships, except the Wonder, have new internet packages. If you use your own cell phone provider data provision you will be paying a fortune. One of the most expensive mistakes that you can make on any cruise is not checking your cell phone coverage. If you need to book any specially ticketed events, such as Beverage Tastings. When you board the Disney Ship you will be asked for your family name. There are many photo opportunities on the ship, but the embarkation photo is one of our favorites.

It’s usually open from early morning to fairly late – check the Navigator for specific hours. 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 can change into your robe in the open locker room or in one of the toilet cubicles.

When you arrive at the port and complete in-person check-in, you will be assigned a boarding group number. By arriving earlier than everyone else (via your Port Arrival Time), you'll be placed in one of the earlier boarding groups. By getting into the earlier boarding groups, you’ll be the first ones on the ship. PORT ARRIVAL TIME - the time you arrive at the terminal port. You'll go through security, drop off your luggage, and physically check-in for your cruise.

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. 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. Enjoy the latest Disney releases at the on-board theater without having to buy tickets in advance.

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