Planning a Disney Cruise: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Are you planning a Disney Cruise for the first time? It may seem overwhelming, but I promise it doesn’t have to be! And I’m going to walk you through a step-by-step process for planning your cruise here!

Compared to planning a trip to Disney World, planning a Disney Cruise is a piece of cake. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t certain things you need to be aware of.

I’ve planned Disney Cruises for my family on both the oldest and the newest Disney ships, so here are some of my best tips to be prepared for your Disney Cruise, from when to book (book early!) to what to expect once you’re on board the ship!

Steps for Planning a Disney Cruise

Before we get into all the details, I want to give you a step-by-step process for booking your cruise:

Choose your Disney Cruise itinerary and ship
Book your cruise
Set up the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app
Book port adventures and onboard activities
Check in online
Pack for your cruise
Enjoy a magical time on board!

See? It’s really not that complicated, especially when compared to all the ins and outs of planning a Disney World trip.

But let’s go through all this in detail!

Why Choose a Disney Cruise?

Elegant three-story Grand Hall aboard the Disney Wish cruise ship, featuring a sweeping staircase with purple carpet, a golden chandelier shaped like a swirling star, autumn garlands lining the railings, and a whimsical pumpkin tree centerpiece with carved faces. A bronze Cinderella statue stands at the base of the stairs, adding to the fairytale ambiance. — The beautiful Grand Hall on the Disney Wish (decorated for Halloween!)

Let’s start here, because I know when some people look at the prices they are like why on earth would I pay that much for a cruise compared to other cruise lines?

It’s obviously a personally decision. And maybe you just want to get out on the ocean and don’t really care what cruise line you do it on!

But there are a few reasons that really make Disney Cruises worth it for us:

Level of Service — The level of attention to detail the stateroom hosts and dining servers have, along with everyone else on the ship, is just incredible.
Beautiful spaces — Every Disney Cruise ship, even the oldest ones, are absolutely beautiful and full of incredible details.
Characters – If you are traveling with kids, Disney Cruises can be some of the best places to meet characters (even more so than the parks!)
Disney Fun – We’re Disney fans. So of course we’re going to love all the Disney-themed fun on board!

Choosing Your Disney Cruise

So how should you choose which Disney Cruise you want to go on? There are a lot of factors at play, from which ship to choose to which itinerary you want to go on.

For us, choosing our Disney Cruise usually a combination of factors, from ship to itinerary to price. If we can, we like to have new experiences (like a ship we haven’t been on before or a new itinerary destination) while also being cost conscious.

Which Itinerary Should You Choose?

The Disney Wish cruise ship anchored near Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, on a clear sunny day. The foreground features a pristine sandy beach with palm trees and a colorful row of paddle boats and loungers lined up near the shore. — The Disney Wish docked at Castaway Cay

Disney Cruises literally go ALL over the world! So you have all kinds of itineraries to choose from.

The most popular itineraries are Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, so these are the cruises that are most frequent. These are running pretty much all the time, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one that lines up with when you want to take your vacation.

But Disney also has cruises at different times of the year to other places including Alaska, Australia, Europe, and even Asia with their new Disney Adventure ship. (Although so far the Adventure is not going to any ports except Singapore.)

Most of these are going to be at specific times of the year, like Alaska cruises only running in the summer. The exceptions is the Asia cruises out of Singapore, because Singapore is the Adventure’s home port.

If you’re looking for a fun beach vacation, choosing a Bahamas or Caribbean cruise is definitely the way to go!

The other cruises are also super family-friendly, but focus more on sightseeing and port attractions you are going to.

Which Ship Should You Choose?

Pool deck on the Disney Dream early in the morning before it’s opened.

No matter what cruise ship you choose, you’ll have a great time. I’ve been on the oldest ship (the Magic) and I’ve been on some of the newer ships (the Wish) and I’ve enjoyed them all!

If you want a smaller cruise ship experience, choose either the Disney Magic of the Disney Wonder.

And if you want the newest and most state-of-the-art, choose the newer ships like the Wish or the Treasure.

And if you want the classic charm with a larger ship, choose the Dream or Fantasy. These two are larger than the two oldest, but still have the signature Disney Cruise style (and layout). Honestly, this is probably my favorite combo, and I loved our time on the Dream!

Booking Your Disney Cruise

Ready to book your Disney Cruise? Here are some tips for booking!

First of all, I’d definitely consider booking with a free Disney travel agent. (I’m not one, so I’m not pointing you to any particular service here.) They can make sure you get the best prices, and often they will include some kind of onboard credit you can use for stateroom charges.

When To Book Your Cruise

The best way to save money on your Disney Cruise is to book your cruise as soon as it is available to book. While you can sometimes snag some great last minute deals on cruises, generally prices continue to climb after the cruise dates are released.

Disney usually releases cruise dates a few times a year, and they announce the itineraries a couple of weeks before they are available to book. So you will have time to look through the itineraries and decide if there is one you want to book.

Best Time To Go on a Disney Cruise

A woman in a blue sleeveless dress and sunglasses smiles while standing at the port in front of the Disney Dream cruise ship. The massive ship, featuring its signature red and black design with golden details, is docked behind her under a bright blue sky. — Me on Castaway Cay next to the Disney Dream during our Spring Break cruise. It was great weather, but the water was a little chilly!

There are cruises running all the time and I don’t think there is a particularly bad time to go on a cruise. There are a few things to be aware of though.

Summer and especially Fall is hurricane season for the Bahamas and Caribbean Cruise. This means that you do run the risk of your cruise itinerary getting impacted by a hurricane. And while this has happened, it’s also not super common.

We’ve done a Fall Break cruise in October and didn’t have any problems at all. Although we do know people who had an extra day on the ship before because the ship couldn’t return to port until a storm had passed.

Generally Fall Break cruises will be slightly less expensive than Spring Break cruises. And traveling during a non-school break season will give you the best prices.

Winter cruises are great, but even down in the Caribbean and Bahamas the water can get chilly during winter months. And honestly even Spring Break cruises in March can have chillier water temperatures.

Choosing Your Stateroom

Interior of a Disney Cruise Line stateroom with a neatly made queen bed, nautical-themed bedding, a blue striped couch, and a privacy curtain. Light wood accents and maritime decor give the space a cozy, shipboard charm. — Our verandah stateroom on the Disney Dream

When you book your cruise, you will be able to choose your stateroom. There are LOTS of different classifications of staterooms, so it can get confusing.

At the most basic level though, you will have 3 different room types: verandah rooms, porthole window rooms, and interior rooms with no windows.

But my best tip is that even if you are booking with a travel agent, get online and act like you are going to book it yourself, clicking on different stateroom options to see what the best prices are.

If your cruise isn’t available yet, you could find a similar cruise on the same ship (look for the furthest our date for the most available rooms) and play around with it there.

We always book a verandah room because we love being able to sit outside. And since mid-ship rooms are always the most expensive, I usually book a forward room or aft room as close to the center of the ship as possible.

Booking Excursions

After you have your cruise all booked, you’ll want to start looking at excursions.

You will be able to book excursions and other onboard activities when your booking window opens. For first-time cruises, this is 75 days before your cruise, and your cruise must be paid in full.

Start looking at any excursions you may want to do beforehand, so you are ready to book them as soon as you can. Some can sell out fast!

I’ll let you in on something not-so-secret though: We’ve never done an extra excursion on our Bahamas cruises. Because most of our cruises have focuses on Disney’s private islands (Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay), we have felt like we have had plenty to do without paying extra money for another experience.

Now, would I recommend booking excursions for something like an Alaska Cruise? ABSOLUTELY. But if your cruise is mostly going to one of Disney islands, you don’t have to book an excursion to have a great time.

Things To Do Before You Sail

The Disney Dream cruise ship docked at Lighthouse Point, with its iconic red funnels and yellow lifeboats visible against a bright blue sky and clear ocean waters. A curved walkway leads toward the ship, adding perspective to the serene port scene. — The Disney Dream docked on Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

While planning a Disney Cruise can be a lot more simple than planning a lot of other types of vacations, there are still things you’ll need to do to prepare.

Buy Trip Insurance

I always buy trip insurance for cruises!

Since cruises are must more inflexible than other types of vacations, it always makes me feel much better to have some trip insurance in place.

While you can usually buy travel protection when you book your cruise, I usually buy insurance through a third party because it is usually less expensive. (I love using Travelex.)

Make Sure You Have Your Passports

You will most likely need passports and/or citizenship documents for your cruise! If you don’t have a passport, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to apply for one and wait for it to come in the mail before your cruise.

If you are sailing on a Bahamas or Caribbean cruise with kids who don’t have passports, that’s okay. But you will need to bring their original birth certificate.

You can read more about required documentation for your specific cruise here.

Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

You’ll definitely want to have Disney Cruise Line Navigator app downloaded on your phone before your cruise!

It’s doesn’t do a lot before your cruise. You can see your plans and there’s a fun countdown with Disney emojis.

But once you get on the ship, you will 100% depend on this app. It completely transforms once you’re on board and lets you see all the activities on the ship, your dining plans and anything you have booked, and ship deck plans. And it has a chat feature so you can send messages to other people on the ship.

So get it downloaded beforehand so you you’ll be ready!

Online Check In and Port Arrival Times

About a month before your cruise, you’ll be eligible to check in online and choose your port arrival time. When you’re able to do this will depend on your Castaway Club status (i.e. how many times you’ve sailed with Disney before).

Online check-in begins at 12:00 a.m., and if you want an earlier port arrival time, I’d definitely recommend doing it as soon as it opens.

Why would you want an earlier port arrival time? Well, we love getting on the ship as early as possible to maximize our time. It gives us time to get lunch, explore the ship, and get settled in our room before the ship has even left port.

A few tips for online check-in:

Have headshots of everyone in your group. You will need to upload these during the process.
Have pictures of everyone’s passports. Also have the passports with you so you can easily enter information.
Have a credit card ready if you haven’t already linked one to your account for onboard charges.
Be patient! The system can sometimes get really clogged and slow. Last time I checked in for a cruise, it took me over an hour to get all the screens to load. But I was still able to get the arrival time we wanted. So just take some deep breaths and be patient!

Packing for Your Cruise

Once you get close to your cruise, it will be time to pack. We actually have a great Disney Cruise packing list you can use that includes some things you may not think of (like magnetic hooks for the backs of your doors!).

Also be sure to familiarize yourself with things that AREN’T allowed on board. Some of them, like power strips, may not be items you would expect.

Tips for Embarkation Day

Me with the Donald Duck statue in the Disney Dream Atrium

So what should you expect on embarkation day? Here’s a step-by-step guide for your first day.

Attach your luggage tags to your bags. You’ll get these in the mail ahead of your cruise.
Pack an embarkation day bag that you keep with you. Make sure you have all your important documents with you including your passports and port arrival form, plus any medications. You may also want to pack a swimsuit so you can enjoy the pool immediately or a change of clothes in case your luggage doesn’t show up in your room before dinner.
Don’t show up too far ahead of your arrival time. Disney will tell you not to arrive before your arrival time or you will be turned away. And while this definitely can happen, you can also just wait outside near the line until your time is called. And sometimes they are running ahead of schedule. For instance, on our last cruise out of Fort Lauderdale we had an 11:30 arrival time but when we showed up (even a few minutes early!) they were already calling for 12:00 arrivals.
Drop your bags with the porters when you arrive. Then the bags will magically show up outside your room later in the day. Make sure to bring a couple of dollars to tip the porters too!
Check your app! As soon as you get on board and connect with the ship’s WiFi, your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app will change, showing your plans and the activities going on. Check to see where your first dining rotation is, and start favoriting activities in the app. They will show up in your plans.
Enjoy lunch on board. If you arrive early enough, you can get lunch at one of the restaurants on board. Most people go for Cabanas (the buffet), but we love opting for the sit-down restaurant for a more relaxed start to our vacation.
Your room will be ready after lunch. You’ll be able to get into your room sometime mid-afternoon. Your luggage may not show up until later though. (Ours has usually been there pretty early though.)
You can enjoy the pool as soon as you get on board. I’ll be honest though, LOTS of people do this and the pool deck sometimes feels the most chaotic to me on this first day.
Explore the ship! Walk around and get to know where everything is on your first day!

What to Expect on Board

Elegant lounge area inside The Bayou bar on the Disney Wish cruise ship, featuring floral arrangements hanging from the ceiling, cozy velvet chairs and woven armchairs, and a stylish wooden bar in the background. The space is inspired by The Princess and the Frog with a whimsical and nature-filled ambiance. — The Bayou on the Disney Wish. Lots of on board activities take place here!

So what can you expect once your on board and sailing away?

First of all, the first day always feels the most crowded to me. Everyone is flocking to the same spots and figuring out where to go. But after that first day, the crowds tend to disburse a bit more and the ship doesn’t feel as overwhelming.

But once you settle in, here’s what you can expect:

Amazing service. Seriously, the cast members on Disney Cruises are incredible!
Rotational dining. This is a system unique to Disney Cruises, where you are assigned a different restaurant each night. Your servers rotate with you, so they get to know you and your preferences, and you have a change to get to know them.
Tons of entertainment. There is ALWAYS something going on from trivia to game shows to movies to Broadway-style shows and more.
Characters. There are characters out all the time! If you have a kiddo whose main interest is seeing characters, I think Disney Cruise Line is the way to go!
Special Events & Themed Nights. Depending on your itinerary, you’ll likely have some kind of special themed night like Pirate Night on Bahamas and Caribbean cruises or Frozen Night on Alaska Cruises.

What’s Included In Your Disney Cruise?

Colorful indoor playground on a Disney Cruise ship featuring a large Slinky Dog slide from Toy Story. The slide winds around a play structure with soft padded elements and space-themed wall decor, including planets and rockets, creating a fun and whimsical kids’ area. — Slinky Dog Slide in the Oceaneers Club on the Disney Magic. Kids Clubs for ages 3 and up are included in your cruise price!

Almost everything you want or need to do is included on your Disney Cruise, minus some exceptions (we’ll get to those in a minute).

Accommodations. I mean, obviously.
Main Meals. You’ll have assigned rotational dining restaurants for dinner each night that are included, as well as sit-down breakfast and lunch, the buffet restaurant, and the pool deck restaurants.
24/7 Room Service. Yep! Room service at all hours is included, just be sure to tip a few dollars. This is the best way to get Mickey Premium Bars!
Soft Drinks, Coffee, and Tea. While some cruise ships charge for beverages, all standard beverages (i.e. non-specialty drinks) are included.
Entertainment. All the shows and entertainment, including new release movies, are included!
Character Meet & Greets. You’ll have tones of opportunities to meet characters and it’s all included. (Seriously! Characters are out all the time!)
Kids Clubs. All the kids clubs (except for the nursery) are included free of charge.
Fitness Center and Classes. The gym on board is free to use and they usually offer daily fitness classes that are also included.

So, while there are some extra things you may want to do that cost extra money, at the most basic level you can have a great cruise without having to pay extra money (minus the required gratuities).

What’s NOT Included in Your Disney Cruise?

Close-up of a gelato display on a Disney Cruise ship, featuring multiple flavors like Java Chip, Plant Based Vanilla, and Chocolate. The colorful scoops are arranged neatly in metal trays behind a glass case with decorative pink-framed flavor labels. — Some specialty snacks, like gelato in the ice cream shop, are an extra charge.

So what’s NOT included? Here’s a list:

Gratuities. You’ll need to pay gratuities for your stateroom host and your dining room servers. You’ll get a letter about this on the last day of the cruise, and they will automatically add the gratuities to your stateroom charges. If you want to add a bit extra, you can talk to guest services. You’ll also need to pay a small gratuity for room service.
Airport transfers. Even if you use Disney’s transfer services, they will still be an additional charge.
Alcohol and specialty drinks. If you order specialty drinks at dinner or a bar, they will be an extra charge. This includes the specialty coffee from Cove Cafe.
Specialty snacks. Special snacks and ice cream, like the ones in the ship’s sweet shop, are not included. (But soft serve ice cream on the pool deck is included!)
Adults-only restaurants. Each Disney Cruise ship has one or two adults-only restaurants. These are a separate charge and require a reservation.
It’s a Small World Nursery. While the other kids clubs are free, the nursery has an hourly charge and requires a reservation.
Excursions and some on-board activities. Port excursions are an additional cost. There are also some exclusive extra on-board activities, like a special princess tea, that will cost extra if you want to participate.
Bippity Boppity Boutique. Getting your kiddo made-over to look like a princess or pirate costs extra.
Spa services. Disney Cruise line has Senses Spa & Salon on board, and everything here (except using the gym) is a separate charge. You should also know that this is run by a different company technically, so if you have an issue with the spa you’ll have to talk directly to them as opposed to guest services.
WiFi. You’ll be able to connect to the ship’s WiFi for free, but JUST to use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. If you need WiFi to do anything else you’ll need to buy a package.
Photos. There will be photographers all around the ship to take pictures of you meeting characters, enjoying dinner, or exploring the islands. But if you want access to these photos, you’ll have to purchase them.

Some Of My Favorite Things To Do on Disney Cruises

Row of navy blue and wood lounge chairs lined up on the promenade deck of a Disney Cruise ship, with a large yellow lifeboat hanging overhead and porthole windows along the white wall. The deck is calm and mostly empty, creating a peaceful atmosphere. — Peaceful Promenade Deck on the Disney Dream

Ok, so it’s kind of a bummer to end on the stuff you’ll have to pay extra for. So I thought I’d share some of my favorite things about Disney Cruises to end on instead!

First of all, I just watching the ocean. I love a cruise sunset, and sitting on my balcony and watching us move.

As an introvert, I also love finding quiet corners of the ship. One of my favorite spots is the promenade deck (usually deck 4), where it tends to be a little quieter and there are almost always some empty lounge chairs in the shade.

As far as activities on board go, trivia is one of my favorites! I especially love Disney Tunes Trivia, where they play snippets of songs and you have to name the song and what movie it’s from. And while I’ve never won (#lifegoals) it’s super fun!

And all that isn’t even including the waterslides and pool deck, the fantastic dining, and peaceful adults-only areas, and all the entertainment!

What’s Next?

Here are some more resources to help you continue your Disney Cruise planning process!

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A collage-style graphic titled "Ultimate Guide: How to Plan a Disney Cruise" from flyingoffthebookshelf.com, featuring four bright images of a Disney Cruise ship—showcasing the pool deck, promenade chairs, a woman posing near the docked ship, and the vessel at sea.