Disney Cruise Tips: What Nearly 20 Cruises Has Taught Us

We have taken nearly 20 Disney Cruises. At this point we have sailed on most of their fleet, experienced nearly every standard US itinerary, and a handful of special ones too. We are not casual Disney cruisers. We are the people other passengers stop by the pool to ask for advice. Here is are some of our best Disney Cruise tips.

Book Early and Book Smart

Book as early as possible. You will have better cabin selection and more flexibility in planning. Our preference is midship, and booking early makes that easier to secure. If you are already on board a Disney cruise, book your next one before you disembark. Disney offers a 10% discount for onboard bookings, and if you do not see a specific sailing you want, you can book a placeholder cruise that is valid for up to two years from purchase and still receive that same discount.

Always Use a Travel Agent

We book every Disney cruise through a travel agent and we would not have it any other way. A good Disney travel agent will often have special perks available that you simply cannot get booking direct. They handle communication with Disney so you do not have to. And when something goes wrong, and occasionally something does, having someone in your corner makes all the difference. We have texted our agent from the ship and had her on the phone with Disney within minutes working to resolve an issue. Best of all, using a travel agent costs you nothing. If you need a recommendation, we are happy to connect you with ours.

What First Time Disney Cruisers Get Wrong

Overpacking is the most common mistake and we are guilty of it ourselves even after all these sailings. Pack less than you think you need. More importantly, do not fly in the day of departure. The risk is not worth it. We strongly recommend arriving at your departure port a day or two early. It eliminates travel stress and gives you a chance to explore the port city before you board.

Onboard Activities

There is more to do on a Disney cruise than most people realize, and many of the best activities are free. If you enjoy trivia, prepare to have a great time. Disney offers trivia throughout every sailing covering everything from Disney characters to television and pop culture. The tastings are another highlight. Over the years we have done bourbon, wine, tequila, beer, mixed drinks, alcohol and chocolate pairings, and more. We are not heavy drinkers by any stretch, but the tastings are a wonderful way to spend an afternoon at sea.

The Personal Navigator

One of our best Disney Cruise tips is to use the Personal Navigator app. The Personal Navigator is your daily guide to everything happening on the ship. From activities and trivia schedules to restaurant menus and entertainment, it covers it all. In the early days it was a printed sheet delivered to your stateroom each evening for the following day. Today it lives in the Disney Cruise Line app on your phone. Download the app before you sail and get familiar with it. Checking the Navigator each morning helps you plan your day and make sure you do not miss anything you would have loved. It is an essential tool for getting the most out of every sailing.

Adult Only Areas and Experiences

Most people assume Disney ships are designed entirely around children. They are not. The adult experiences on Disney cruises are genuinely excellent and are a big part of why we keep coming back. We have written about this in detail and encourage you to read it. Quiet Cove is the adult only area of the ship, featuring its own pool, sundeck, hot tubs and bar. It is our home base on every sailing. The bars near the adult dining venues are also worth knowing about. You do not need a dining reservation to stop in for a drink, and they tend to be quiet and relaxed.

Dining on a Disney Cruise

Disney ships feature three themed main dining restaurants that rotate throughout your cruise. All ships include Animator’s Palette, where the dining room transforms from black and white pencil sketch decor to a full explosion of color during your meal. It is a remarkable experience every time.

Your server team rotates with you through each restaurant for the duration of your cruise. This is one of Disney’s best service touches and it is important to understand from day one. Never skip the first night of main dining. Your servers will learn your drink preferences, your dietary needs, and what makes your group happy on that first night. From that point forward they will have your drinks waiting and will anticipate your needs before you even ask. We have had donuts brought to the table every night for dessert on a sailing because someone in our group loved them. They were not on the menu. Disney just made it happen.

If you do not see anything you want on the menu at your assigned restaurant on a given night, tell your server. If you know something is being served at one of the other restaurants, ask for it. Disney’s kitchen will make it appear for you. This level of service is one of the things that sets Disney apart from every other cruise line.

One Disney Cruise tips that not everyone knows about. You can request your own private table rather than being seated with other guests. We love meeting people on cruises and have had wonderful shared table experiences over the years. And sometimes we simply want a quiet dinner together as a family. Both are completely valid and Disney accommodates either preference. Just ask when you board and they will take care of it.

Adult Dining

Palo is our favorite restaurant on any Disney ship and we visit at least once every cruise. The Veal Saltimbocca is one of the most memorable dishes we have had at sea. Palo and the other adult specialty restaurants offer both brunch and dinner service. You can choose one or both. If you are looking for a fine dining experience that rivals any restaurant on land, this is it.

Disney’s Private Islands

Disney’s private island is a genuine highlight of any Caribbean itinerary. A burger or some barbecue on the island is hard to beat. You can rent bikes and explore, or find a beach chair and spend the day doing nothing at all. The adult only beach area on Castaway Cay is worth seeking out.

Here is our insider tip and one of our favorite Disney Cruise tips. Consider going ashore for a few hours and then heading back to the ship. While virtually every other passenger is on the island, the ship becomes a completely different place. Lines disappear, the pool is open, and you can enjoy a half empty cruise ship in peace. It is one of our favorite things to do on any island day.

Excursions

We find ourselves booking our own excursions more and more with each passing year. Disney offers excursions at every port but the selection tends toward large group motor coach tours, which is not our preference. Booking independently gives you access to smaller group and private experiences that are often better and less expensive. In ports where Disney has limited offerings this matters even more. When we sailed to Hawaii, Disney did not offer a luau excursion. We booked our own. Going to Hawaii without a luau is simply not an option.

Favorite Itineraries

We have done nearly every standard US based Disney itinerary and a number of special sailings. Our favorites are Alaska, which we have done twice, the Panama Canal, and a special Bermuda itinerary that Disney is not currently offering but absolutely should bring back.

Alaska is unlike anything else. The glaciers, the waterfalls, and the untouched natural beauty of the Alaskan wilderness put every beach destination in perspective. The Panama Canal sailing is extraordinary on two levels. Watching the canal locks in action is genuinely jaw dropping, and having canal historians and engineers on board to explain the history and mechanics made it even more remarkable. Two weeks at sea with that kind of content is hard to beat.

Bermuda deserves a special mention. It is a perfect island. Beautiful, sophisticated, and with a wonderful touch of Britain given its place in the Commonwealth. Disney docks there for several days rather than a quick port call, which gives you real time to explore. We hope Disney brings it back.

Is Disney Cruise Worth It for Adults?

Without hesitation, yes. There is no casino on board, but that has never been a factor for us. If you feel the need to gamble, they do offer Bingo. What Disney delivers that no other cruise line at this price point can match is service. The attention to detail, the anticipation of your needs, and the genuine warmth of the crew is extraordinary. You will find plenty of space away from children if that is a concern. You will eat very well. You will be taken care of at every turn. That is the Disney difference and it is very real.

We hope our Disney Cruise tips help you find the same enjoyment onboard that we do!