Disney Cruise Line FAQ
Have you thought about cruising but don't know where to begin? I've put together a short FAQ of the most commonly asked questions!
How long should I cruise?
Disney offers a variety of cruise lengths to fit both your budget and your needs! Lots of first time cruisers will sail on 3 or 4 night sailings out of Port Canaveral. Orlando is an easy airport to travel to and Disney makes it super easy! Plus you can easily add on a short cruise to your Walt Disney World vacation. 3 and 4 night sailings give you a taste of what Disney Cruising is all about.
If you've cruised before, but not with Disney, or if you are a bit more adventurous, Disney offers longer sailings including 5 and 7 night sailings from Florida or even long cruises to destinations like Europe, Alaska, through the Panama Canal or even a transatlantic sailing! Click here to learn more about Disney Cruise destinations!
What's the difference in the 4 ships?
Disney currently has 4 ships; Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy
Disney Magic Class Ships
These are the original ships, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. The Disney Magic started sailing in 1998 while the Wonder started sailing in 1999. They are both almost identical in size holding about 2,400 passengers.
Disney Dream Class Ships
The newer ships, the Disney Dream and the Fantasy began sailing in 2011 and 2012 and are considerably larger than the Magic and Wonder holding 4,100 passengers!
So besides size, what are the big differences? Many people consider size to be one of the biggest differences (no pun intended). A lot of guests prefer the more intimate feeling of the smaller ships. The smaller ships have almost the same amenities, offering adults only spaces, great kids clubs, restaurants and more.
However the larger ships have a little more to offer, expanding the kids clubs, adult areas and even adding a new adult only restaurant on the Fantasy (Remy).
A lot comes down to budget and where you want to sail as not all ships sail to the same destinations. My family prefers to sail on the Disney Fantasy but our favorite location to sail is Alaska, which is on the Wonder. All the ships will offer the same great Disney guest service so whichever ship you pick, you'll get the same great Disney Cruise Experience!
Do I need a passport?
If your cruise sets sail and return from a U.S. port (close looped), currently passports are not required for U.S. Citizens. HOWEVER if you are onboard a Disney Cruise ship and there was an emergency, you can not FLY back to the U.S. without a passport (say if you needed to be airlifted due to a medical emergency). The recommendation is that everyone has a passport.
If you opt to not to have a passport, original birth certificates with drivers licence is required to board.
What room types are available?
Just like sail dates, Disney Cruise Line offers staterooms for every family need and budget!
- Inside Rooms-Disney offers a few different inside rooms; Standard and Deluxe. Standard inside rooms are approximately 184 square feet, have one bathroom and sleep 3 to 4. Deluxe rooms have a split bath are slightly larger at 214 square feet.
- Oceanview Rooms-Just like inside rooms, there are a few different types of Oceanview
- Rooms. All oceanview rooms have a split bath. There are two types of rooms; Deluxe and Deluxe Oceanview (Fantasy and Dream). The rooms range from 204 to 240 square feet.
- Verandah Rooms-Want a bit more space? A Verandah room might be for you! There are a variety of rooms including Navigator Verandah (almost enclosed with a large open-air window), Whitewall (solid metal wall) or Verandah (clear plexiglass railing). Again the size varies from room to room starting at 204 square feet up to 299 square feet.
- Concierge and Suites-Looking for more space or the added extra touch? Try a concierge level room where you'll have your own private team to make your vacation even more magical. On the Dream and Fantasy enjoy a special concierge lounge! Disney also offers 1 and 2 bedroom suites as well as the ROYAL suite!
Room types may vary slightly from ship to ship.
What's included in the cost? How much extra will I spend?
Let's start with what's included in the cost!
-Stateroom
-All your food (except select snacks and drinks from Room Service)
-Most non-alcoholic beverages
-Entertainment (like great Broadway style shows)
-Pools/Ship activities
-Kids Clubs (except the nursery)
So what's extra?
-Alcohol
-Excursions
-Gratuties (see below)
-Spa
-Select snacks and drinks from Room Service
Basically most of the extra's are up to you! See below for gratuitiy information but everything else is optional! You can spend as much or as little as you want. You can enjoy a Disney Cruise Line without spending a lot extra...of course extra's add up. A few drinks here and there, a spa treatment, a few extra's....so budget accordingly!
What should I pack?
Well it depends on where you are sailing! Mostly a Disney Cruise vacation is pretty relaxed! See below for the dress code for dinner but if you headed to the Bahamas or Caribbean be prepared for warm weather, while guests heading to Alaska should bring slight warmer clothes...and rain gear! There is no limit to the amount of luggage your bring aboard....just don't' go crazy!
What's the Dress Code?
From DisneyCruiseLine.com:
The dress code for dinner varies by the venue or theme night of your cruise. In general, most meals are "cruise casual"—no swimwear or tank tops. Most cruises also have special theme nights with optional opportunities to get dressed up for a special family photo. Here's a breakdown of events by cruise itinerary:
On 3-night cruises:
One cruise casual night—No swimwear or tank tops
One pirate or tropical night (deck party)
One "optional dress-up night"—jacket for men, dress or pantsuit for women
On 4-night cruises:
First night is cruise casual—no swimwear or tank tops
One pirate or tropical night (deck party)
One optional dress-up night—jacket for men, and dress or pantsuit for women
Final night is cruise casual—no swimwear or tank tops
On 7-night cruises:
First night is cruise casual—no swimwear or tank tops
One themed night (pirate, tropical or other themed deck party)
3 additional cruise casual nights—no swimwear or tank tops
One formal and one semi-formal night—two great opportunities to dress-up and take advantage of the onboard photography services. Though optional, we recommend: Dress pants with a jacket or a suit for men, and dress or pantsuit for women
Dress code at Palo:
Men: Dress pants and dress shirt (a jacket is optional)
Women: Dress or pantsuit
No jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops or tennis shoes
Dress code at Remy:
Men: Dress pants with jacket (sports or suit jacket) is required—ties are optional.
Women: A dress, cocktail dress, pantsuit or skirt/blouse is required
No jeans, shorts, capri pants, flip-flops or tennis shoes
Overall Disney is pretty relaxed about the Dress Code on the ship and in the main dining rooms (Palo and Remy are exceptions and are pretty strict).
What am I allowed to bring onboard?
Disney has a pretty relaxed policy toward what you can and can't bring on board the ship. The normal stuff like firearms and knives are prohibited (click here for a full list). But there is no real limit to how many suitcases you bring. Disney even allows alcohol on board the ship!
Please remember to pack alcohol in your Carry-on bags!
- Alcohol brought on board may not be consumed in any lounge or public area.
- Guests who arrive in the dining room with a bottle of champagne or wine that has been brought on board will be charged a corking fee of $20.00 per bottle.
- Beverages must be packed in your carry-on bag—which must not exceed 22 inches wide, 14 inches high and 9 inches deep in dimension
- Coolers filled with personal items (e.g. soda, alcohol, chips, candy, etc.) may not be brought on board.
Why not? Disney is World renowned for their amazing guest service and attention to detail. We have sailed more without kids than with! We love the amazing guest service, delicious food and adult only areas of the ship! Disney has a whole section of the ship just for those 18 and older! These areas include a separate pool, coffee shop and clubs/bars. There are even adult only restaurants (for a surcharge).
How does dining work?
Most food on onboard the ship is included with the cost of your cruise! What exceptions are there?
- Adult dining experiences, like Palo and Remy, which come with a surcharge,
- Select items on the Room Service menu like Soda, Coffee and prepackaged snacks
- Non-Alcoholic drinks purchased from the bar
- Coffee from the Cove or Vista Cafe's.
For breakfast and lunch choose from a variety of buffet, sit down restaurants and quick service food. All non-alcoholic drinks ordered during a meal or from the Self-Serve drink stations are also included!
Disney offers a unique dining experience each evening called Rotational Dining. Basically you are assigned a different restaurant each night that you rotate through. The best part is your servers come with you! Read more about Rotational Dining here.
Basically you can eat whatever and whenever you want!!
Explain tipping to me!
Disney will automatically add select gratuities to your onboard account (you can pre-pay these up to 3 days in advance of your sailing). You are always welcome to increase these amounts by visiting Guest Services but here are the pre-determined amounts
| Per Guest per cruise | 3-Night | 4-Night | 7-Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining Room Server | $12.00 | $16.00 | $28.00 |
| Dining Room Asst. Server | $9.00 | $12.00 | $21.00 |
| Dining Room Head Server | $3.00 | $4.00 | $7.00 |
| Stateroom Host/ Hostess | $12.00 | $16.00 | $28.00 |
| Dining Manager | Your Discretion | ||
| Room Service | Your Discretion | ||
| Palo | Your Discretion | ||
| Remy | Your Discretion | ||
| Senses Spa & Salon | An 18% gratuity will automatically be applied to all spa services. | ||
| Vista Spa & Salon | An 18% gratuity will automatically be applied to all spa services. | ||
| Babysitting | Gratuity not expected | ||
| Port Adventures | Optional; not included in port adventure price. | ||
Will I get seasick?
If you are prone to motion sickness there is a chance you could become seasick. There are several precautions you can take!
- Pack Dramamine...remember to start this at least 24 hours in advance for it to be effective
- Pick up some sea sickness bands at your local drugstore
- Our family's go to remedy is to get a prescription from our Dr. for patches that you place behind your ear. They last up to 72 hours and keep us seasick FREE!
How far in advance should I book?
With Disney the earlier you book the more you save! While last minute rates can often save you money, Disney ships often fill up so there is no guarantee of last minute deals! Plus if you don't have a passport and plan on getting one prior to sailing, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time!
What else do I need to know?
There is a lot that can go into a Disney Cruise Line vacation...so why not take advantage of my FREE services? I'll help you through every step of the way to make the most of your magical cruise...whether it's your first cruise or if you are a Disney Cruise veteran!
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