When you first see the price of a Disney Cruise, you might wonder:
What exactly am I getting for that price?
The answer?
A LOT more than just a stateroom and transportation to a few beautiful destinations.
One of the biggest things families should understand when considering Disney Cruise Line is just how much of your vacation is already included in your cruise fare.
Your meals? Included.
Broadway-style Disney shows? Included.
Character experiences? Included.
Kids clubs? Included for eligible ages.
Pools and water activities? Included.
Even soft drinks, coffee, tea and unlimited soft-serve ice cream are included!
There are certainly extras you can purchase onboard, but you can have an incredible Disney Cruise vacation without constantly reaching for your wallet.
So, what exactly do you get when you book a Disney Cruise?
Let’s break it down!
Your Stateroom 🛏️
First things first: your Disney Cruise fare includes your stateroom for the duration of your sailing.
Your stateroom becomes your family’s home base while the ship takes you from destination to destination.
And one of the best parts of cruising?
You only have to unpack once.
Instead of changing hotels as you travel, your room travels WITH you.
You’ll also receive twice-daily stateroom service, so you can return from your adventures to a refreshed room throughout your vacation.
Breakfast, Lunch AND Dinner 🍽️
This is one of the biggest Disney Cruise Line inclusions.
Most of your food is already included in your cruise fare.
That includes breakfast, lunch and dinner at Disney Cruise Line’s Rotational Dining restaurants, casual dining venues and quick-service locations.
Disney Cruise Line’s Rotational Dining is especially unique.
You’ll rotate through different themed restaurants throughout your cruise while your dedicated serving team rotates with you.
That means your servers get to know your family, preferences and dining needs throughout the vacation.
And your included food doesn’t stop with your three main meals!
Snacks, Pizza, Burgers AND Unlimited Soft Serve
Hungry between meals?
You’re on a cruise. Of course there’s more food. 😂
Disney Cruise Line includes a variety of quick bites and snacks throughout the day, with options that can include pizza, burgers, salads and more.
And yes…
Unlimited soft-serve ice cream is included, too. 🍦
So when your child asks for another ice cream by the pool?
Go for it.
You’re on vacation!
Soft Drinks, Coffee and Tea
This is another inclusion that can surprise first-time Disney cruisers.
Soft drinks, coffee and tea are included when served with meals and from the complimentary beverage stations around the ship.
That means you don’t necessarily need to purchase a separate soda package just so everyone can grab a drink throughout the day.
Specialty beverages, alcoholic drinks and certain other beverages can cost extra, but plenty of beverage options are already part of your cruise fare.
24-Hour Room Service
Want a snack without leaving your stateroom?
Disney Cruise Line also offers 24-hour room service as part of the onboard experience.
Most room service is included, although Disney notes that fees may apply to certain items and deliveries, and gratuity is at your discretion.
There’s something especially fun about ordering a late-night snack and eating it in your stateroom after a full day onboard.
Broadway-Style Disney Shows
If your family loves Disney entertainment, this is a HUGE part of the value of a Disney Cruise.
Disney Cruise Line offers Broadway-style stage productions onboard its ships, and admission to the regular live Disney theatrical productions is included in your cruise fare.
Depending on your ship, you’ll find different Disney stories and productions brought to life onstage.
And unlike planning an evening around entertainment at a theme park, your theater is right onboard!
Have dinner.
Walk to the theater.
Enjoy the show.
Then head back to your stateroom.
It’s one of the reasons a Disney Cruise can feel so easy for families.
Disney Character Experiences
Yes, you’ll find Disney Characters at sea!
Character greetings and experiences throughout the ship are another part of the Disney Cruise experience that’s included in your vacation fare.
You may have opportunities to see Mickey, Minnie and other Disney favorites throughout your sailing.
Character offerings vary by ship and itinerary, but meeting characters onboard can be one of the most magical parts of the trip—especially for younger kids.
And you don’t need a theme park ticket to do it!
Deck Parties and Entertainment
The entertainment doesn’t stop at the theater.
Disney Cruise Line also offers deck parties, live entertainment, music and family activities throughout your sailing.
Depending on your itinerary and sailing, you may find special entertainment and events happening throughout the ship.
And on select sailings, you may even experience Disney fireworks at sea! 🎆
You’ll want to check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app throughout your sailing because there’s often more happening than you could possibly fit into one day.
Kids Clubs Are Included!
Parents, this one is BIG.
Disney Cruise Line offers dedicated youth clubs with programming for kids, tweens and teens—and the youth clubs for eligible ages are included in your cruise fare.
Kids can spend time exploring themed spaces, participating in activities and having adventures designed specifically for their age group.
Meanwhile…
Mom and Dad can have some vacation time of their own. 🙌
Go sit by the adult pool.
Enjoy a quiet lunch.
Grab a drink.
Have a date.
Or do absolutely NOTHING.
The ability for kids to have an amazing time while parents get some time to relax is one of the reasons Disney Cruise Line can work so well for families.
One important distinction for families with very young children: Disney’s “it’s a small world” nursery offers care for children ages 3 and younger, but nursery care is an additional charge.
Pools, Waterslides and Recreation 💦
You don’t have to pay extra every time the kids want to do something onboard.
Disney Cruise Line ships offer pools, water play areas, recreation and activities that are included with your cruise fare.
Specific offerings vary by ship, so your exact experience will depend on which Disney Cruise ship you’re sailing.
But you could easily spend a huge portion of your sea day swimming, playing and exploring without adding another activity to your bill.
Movies—Including First-Run Disney Films!
Disney Cruise Line also includes movie screenings onboard.
Depending on what’s currently playing, guests may have the opportunity to watch Disney movies—including first-run films—during their sailing.
There are also Disney movies available to enjoy from your stateroom.
Rainy afternoon?
Tired kids?
Need some downtime after a busy port day?
Movie time!
Adult-Exclusive Areas
Disney Cruise Line might be designed with families in mind, but that doesn’t mean everything onboard revolves around kids.
Adults can enjoy dedicated spaces and experiences, including adult-exclusive pool areas, lounges and nightlife.
Some adult experiences—like premium dining, alcoholic beverages and spa treatments—cost extra, but simply having spaces onboard designed specifically for adults can make a big difference for parents who want some downtime.
Your Disney Island Day May Include More Than You Think 🏝️
If your itinerary visits Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, many of the basics for your beach day are included as well.
On most Caribbean and Bahamian sailings visiting Disney’s island destinations, guests can enjoy included offerings such as BBQ lunch, beverages and beach activities.
At Disney Lookout Cay, for example, Disney currently includes access to beaches, lounge chairs, umbrellas and towels, BBQ dining, soft drinks, soft-serve ice cream and select water-play areas.
There are additional experiences and excursions you can purchase, but you don’t necessarily HAVE to spend extra money to enjoy your day ashore.
You can get off the ship, grab a beach chair and simply enjoy being in paradise. 🌴
So, What ISN’T Included on a Disney Cruise?
While a LOT is included, Disney Cruise Line isn’t completely all-inclusive.
There are optional experiences and purchases that will cost extra.
These can include:
- Port Adventures and excursions
- Alcoholic beverages
- Specialty beverages and certain specialty coffees
- Premium and adult-exclusive dining
- Spa and salon services
- Nursery care
- Professional photo packages
- Merchandise
- Certain special experiences
- Some room service items or deliveries
- Gratuities
Disney currently recommends gratuities for the dining room serving team and stateroom host, which can be prepaid before your cruise or added to your onboard account.
You’ll want to factor these potential extras into your vacation budget depending on how your family likes to travel.
But here’s the important part:
You don’t have to add every extra to have an incredible Disney Cruise.
There’s already SO much included.
Why Knowing What’s Included Matters When Comparing Vacation Prices
This is why we always encourage families not to look at the price of a Disney Cruise and immediately assume it’s expensive.
You have to look at what you’re getting for that price.
Your accommodations.
Your meals.
Your snacks.
Many beverages.
Your entertainment.
Your kids clubs.
Your pools.
Your Disney Character experiences.
Your activities.
And transportation from destination to destination aboard the ship.
When you start looking at the entire vacation instead of simply the initial cruise fare, the value can look very different.
And that’s especially important if you’re comparing a Disney Cruise with another type of family vacation where accommodations, meals, entertainment and activities may all be separate expenses.
Could a Disney Cruise Work for YOUR Family?
Maybe!
The answer depends on your travel dates, family size, preferred itinerary, cruise length, stateroom category and budget.
And that’s exactly why you don’t have to figure it all out yourself.
Let an Academy Travel Agent Price Out Your Disney Cruise
If you’ve been curious about Disney Cruise Line but assumed it wasn’t in your budget, let an agent actually price it out for you!
An Academy Travel agent can help you compare:
🚢 Disney Cruise ships
🌴 Itineraries
📅 Travel dates
🛏️ Stateroom categories
👨👩👧👦 Options for your family size
💰 Pricing and available offers
✨ And the overall vacation experience you’re looking for
Academy Travel agents can also help explain what’s included, what you may want to budget extra for and which Disney Cruise Line vacation could make the most sense for your family.
And the best part?
Academy Travel agents are completely FREE to use! 🙌
There’s no additional cost to have one of our Disney vacation experts help you plan.
So instead of spending hours trying to understand ships, itineraries, stateroom categories and cruise terminology on your own, let someone who knows Disney Cruise Line help you navigate it.
Ready to See What a Disney Cruise Could Look Like for Your Family?
A Disney Cruise is so much more than a room on a ship.
It’s your accommodations, dining, Disney entertainment, character experiences, kids clubs, pools, activities and SO much more wrapped into one vacation.
And when you realize how much is already included?
That Disney Cruise you’ve been dreaming about might make more sense for your family than you thought.
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