Family Cruising 101: Everything You need to Know about the Disney Cruise Line
Once upon a time, cruising was reserved for retirees (shuffleboard is a cliché for a reason). Rooted in the luxury travel of turn-of-the-century steamships, cruising was all about luxury entertainment. But it wasn’t until a major player entered the game that cruising went mainstream.
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No, not Disney; the Love Boat. Its 1977 premiere made cruising the brass ring of vacations.
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But you’re right, Disney Cruise Line did change the game. Before its launch in 1998, cruising was mainly reserved for retirees and honeymooners (shuffleboard is a cliche for a reason). It was the Disney Cruise Line that made cruising a family activity. Disney was the first to consider the needs of children and teens, and to make cruising family-friendly, completely redefining the industry, and as Disney always does, setting a new standard in comfort, convenience, fun, and memory making magic.
(Jump ahead to see Disney Cruise Line’s 2024 Itineraries)
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What Makes Disney Cruise Line Different
Did you know that many of the comforts and amenities of modern cruising were pioneered by Disney? Disney Cruise Line was the first to offer ships where the majority of staterooms included balconies. Game changing - and just the first of many innovations that quickly made Disney Cruise Line the Cruise line of choice for millions of people. They were also the first cruise line to include a bathtub in almost every stateroom, making it much easier for parents to cruise with young children.
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Here are a few other things we love about cruising with Disney:
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Cast members from around the world - on our last sailing, the Castmates on our ship represented 66 different countries!
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The service. The ratio of cast members to guests is 2.76 to 1, meaning there was always someone nearby to answer questions, grab us an extra pool towel, or point us in the direction of the spa. Bonus: every Castmember is wealth of Disney information and tips. Just ask!
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You can order off any menu - no matter which restaurant you dine at. Eating at the Animator’s Palate but you can’t forget the entree you had at Royal Court? Your serve can probably make it happen.
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Mickey Bars from Room Service. That’s right. Ring a bell, get a Mickey bar. This might be our favorite perk anywhere.
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Even interior staterooms have awesome views. Disney Cruise Line offers “Magical Portholes” in their interior staterooms, high-definition video that shows what’s going on outside the ship at that moment. That’s not all. You may also spot popular Disney characters - or even the Millenium Falcon.
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A different kind of kids club. Appearances by Disney characters! An All ages Open House! Disney Cruise Line’s Kids Club isn’t about keeping kids busy, it’s about truly giving them a memorable, joyous experience. For example, on the Wish, kids can attend Marvel Superhero Academy where they can train to become the next generation of Avengers with the help of Spider-Man, Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp. How cool is that?
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Castaway Cay Cabanas. Pricy? Yes. Limited availability? Also yes. And why? Because they’re worth it. Make your visit to Castaway Cay, Disney’s Private Island even more luxurious and memorable with a private cabana stocked with your very own hammocks, inner tubes and floats, stocked mini fridge, butler service and golf cart service to take you wherever you’d like on the island. Stay on the beach all day long without packing up and returning to the ship midday.
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A better bar (the bar is higher - get it?) Sip your cocktail while admiring views of London, Paris, St. Petersburg and more - no matter where you are. The backdrop of Disney Fantasy’s Skyline bar changes every 12 minutes, rotating through all of Disney’s European ports of call. Take a closer look and see if you can spot something special about the people walking the streets (hint: they aren’t just average citizens).
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Which is the Best Disney Cruise Ship?
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Disney Cruise Line currently has five ships in their fleet, each boasting delectable world-class dining, exciting night life, action-packed kids clubs, relaxing adult retreats, and array of amenities that make them less a ship and more a floating resort.
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The best Disney cruise ship depends on what you love to do, where you’d love to go, and how you define the perfect Disney cruise.
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Here are a few highlights from each of Disney’s five cruise ships. This is a great way to get a top level look at their size, features, and offerings. For more info, visit our full pages dedicated to exploring the staterooms and dining aboard each ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
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Sail the Disney Dream
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40% larger than the both Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, Disney Dream features the latest in contemporary design, as well as two additional decks and a total of 1,250 staterooms. With all that extra space comes cool amenities like the Aqua Duck, the world’s first water roller coaster at sea.
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Disney Dream docks in the Bahamas and Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island). With shorter cruising itineraries, it’s a great choice for first-time cruisers who want to get a taste of what Disney Cruise Line has to offer.
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Learn more about Disney Dream >
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Sail the Disney Fantasy
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The fourth ship in this majestic fleet, Disney Fantasy is a sister ship to Disney Dream. That means you’ll find many of Dream’s notable amenities, including - you guessed it - an AquaDuck water coaster. As Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, it combines state-of-the-art technology with the elegance and grandeur of old-time ocean liners.
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Learn more about Disney Fantasy >
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Sail the Disney Wonder
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Full of classic old world charm like its sister ship, Disney Wonder epitomizes the attention to detail that makes Disney vacations - and Disney cruises - an experience to remember. Disney Wonder offers a wide variety of itineraries throughout the Southern Caribbean. It also puts in at ports in Alaska, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, and The Bahamas - and that’s not all. Just this year, Disney Wonder announced itineraries throughout Australia and New Zealand!
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Learn more about Disney Wonder >
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Sail the Disney Wish
The newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet (until the Disney Treasure opens in 2024) Disney Wish takes you into the heart of the Disney experience. Make memories with the first-ever Disney attraction at sea; dine with a bevy of Frozen friends or team up with the Avengers on a Marvel cinematic dining adventure. You can even travel to a galaxy far, far away in a first-of-its-kind Star Wars experience.
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Inside the Disney Cruise Line Staterooms
Among the largest in the industry, staterooms on the Disney Cruise Line offer something for every party size and every budget (note: while your family can book multiple staterooms for your comfort and convenience, your reservation must be one adult per stateroom).
Disney Cruise Line offers 7 categories of stateroom, all of which can be found on each of Disney’s five ships. These include:
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Suites
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Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah
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Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah / Navigator's Verandah
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Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms
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Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms
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Deluxe Inside Staterooms
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Standard Inside Staterooms
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The size, amenities, and views differ with each ship. Learn more about the staterooms available on each ship here:
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Disney Magic
Disney Wonder
Disney Dream
Disney Fantasy
Disney Wish
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(We get it - it’s overwhelming for us, too. Need help choosing a ship or stateroom for your family? Get free travel planning support by contacting our friends at the Willow & Wand and telling them we sent you)
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Dining onboard Disney’s Cruise Ships
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What would a cruise be without the food? Dining is part of what makes the cruising experience great, and Disney - as Disney always does - takes it to a whole new level, raising the bar for the entire cruise ship industry.
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We’ve dedicated an entire page to dining aboard the Disney Cruise Line where you can explore the different restaurants, character dining experiences, and other perks of dining with Disney. But first, here are a few of the highlights - your must-know, frequently asked questions about Disney Cruise Line dining.
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Disney Cruise Line uses Rotational Dining. When it comes to sit down dining for dinner, you’ll rotate between three imaginative restaurants over the course of your cruise. However, when it comes to snacks, breakfast, lunch, and anything else you can think of, the possibilities are (almost) endless.
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But You’ll Always Have the Same Servers. Every party onboard has their own dedicated service team that stays with them throughout the cruise. This enables the highest possible level of service, one where your team gets to know your preferences, and provides a friendly, personalized (and fun) experience.
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Disney Cruise Line Seating Assignments and Requests. Like most cruises, you’ll share dinner with other passengers aboard the ship. Yes, private tables are available, but limited. Ask your travel advisor about reserving one for your party. However, Disney takes great care in planning your dinner reservations, so you may find you have even more fun sharing your experience.
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Traveling with Large Parties or Shared Reservations. Good news: if you’re traveling with other families or a large party, your travel advisor can make reservations for your entire party to dine together. Like all Disney dining, on the ship or on dry land, the further in advance you book, the better. Be sure to request your preferred seating time and table size when you make your cruise reservation.
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To learn more about dining options on each of Disney’s five ships, click here:
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Magic Wish Dream Wonder Fantasy
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Visiting Disney’s Castaway Cay
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Admit it: You’ve waited your whole life for your own private island - and you deserve it.
While Castaway Cay isn’t yours alone, the serene setting and stunning natural beauty will make you feel as though you’re the only person in the world.
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Unlike most (nearly every) port of call you’ll encounter while cruising, Castaway Cay naturally has its own private dock. No tendering (taking a smaller boat from the ship to the shore); you simply step off the boat onto Castaway Cay’s breathtaking white sand beach, abutting the Caribbean’s clear blue tropical waters.
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As if that weren’t enough, once you’ve arrived on Castaway Cay the island is your oyster - with everything from secluded, quiet, adult beaches for an afternoon of relaxation, to snorkeling, the popular stingray adventure, shopping, and more.
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This vacation-within-a-vacation is one more magical element in a cruise experience different from all others.
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Get the ins and outs of Castaway Cay, including what to see, what to do, and definitely what to eat, here. > [link to Castaway Cay page]
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Why a Disney Cruise May be the Perfect Vacation
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While it’s true that no vacation is perfect for everyone, the Disney Cruise Line has done an amazing job of ensuring that this vacation truly has something for everyone.
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It’s rare to find such a huge range of family-friendly activities - not just kid-friendly. Where else can you spend the morning dining on Mickey waffles as a family and the afternoon creating your own perfect vacation itinerary? The mix of activity and leisure, family time, kid fun, and mom and dad time sets a cruise above all other vacations, bar none.
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And just like Disney theme parks and resorts raised the bar on atmosphere, magic, wonder, and those little details that truly make you feel you’re in a world all your own, so does Disney Cruise Line give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s nothing short of magical.
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Like any Disney trip, the details of booking a cruise can be a load of fun - and a load of work. Mention Let’s Go Park Hopping to our friends at Willow + Wand and receive complimentary travel planning services - and some cool, referral-only tips and treats to make your next Disney Cruise the best one yet.
