Disney Cruise – Know Before You Go

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If you’re like me, you may have been to one (or more) of the Disney Parks and possibly even multiple times. So many times that you can plan a trip with your eyes closed. But a Disney Cruise has a whole new way of planning and different things to think about, so I honestly felt like a Disney newbie throughout the process! These are some of things I wish I had known when planning my Disney Cruise and while on board.

You’ll Be Glued to Your Phone

But don’t worry, it won’t cost you. Before you board the ship, download Disney’s Cruise Navigator app, then set your phone to airplane mode and turn your data roaming off. While you’re on the ship, you’ll be able to access the app to check activities and send messages to fellow cruisers without using any data.

Just note that Navigator messages can sometimes be delayed. We found that particularly true when large events like the Sail Away Party and the Pirate Night Party were happening, presumably as lots of people were messaging to find their friends. And you can’t send photos in the app, which was a bummer because sometimes I wanted to send a pic to show exactly where I was standing and couldn’t.

There May Be Surprises Along the Way

The Navigator app lists all the daily activities, and you can see them for the length of your cruise from the time you board. However, there may be a few surprises along the way! We were at see the day the live-action Lilo & Stitch was released in theaters, and it was added to the schedule while we were at sea. So be sure to refresh your Navigator app regularly, as you never know what surprises Disney has in store!

Characters are Everywhere

As you might expect, Disney characters are everywhere! Check the schedule in the Navigator app to see who will be out and where they’ll be located. Most characters will be out multiple times throughout the cruise, and they’ve got different outfits they wear at different times during the trip! So you can see Captain Mickey, but you’ll want to see him again on Pirate Night when he dons his pirate garb!  

Pro Tip: If a character is listed in the Navigator as appearing from 10 AM – 10:15 AM, you’ll see the character as long as you’re in line by 10:15 AM. Keep in mind that people start lining up crazy early for popular characters! I especially saw this on Pirate Night and later in the cruise as people understood the line rules, and for certain costumes like Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie.

Size Matters

We sailed on the Magic, one of Disney’s smallest cruise ships, which I loved for its small size. The ship holds around 2,700 passengers and never felt insanely crowded or overwhelming to navigate. We also felt like Lookout Cay was very empty during our sailing, and later realized that it was likely because it needs to be large to accommodate Disney’s bigger ships, which meant it felt uncrowded for the smaller ship.

Of course, the larger ships have more amenities and activities, which might be your jam, but we never felt like we were lacking things to do while on the Magic!

You Can’t Do It All

We frequently found that there were things we wanted to do that overlapped. When you board, go through the Navigator app and favorite all the things you’re interested in for easy access. I found that favoriting something that happened multiple times every time it was happening was super useful because if there were overlaps, it allowed me to see what I wanted to prioritize in a particular time slot. Then I would just unfavorite the option I didn’t choose for that time slot. Many things, like character meetings, repeat, so consider that when choosing what you want to do during a particular time.

Smooth Sailing?

Cruises can be smooth sailing. Or not. It depends on a couple of factors, including the size of the ship, the location of the sailing, and the weather. There’s always going to be some motion that you can feel while on a cruise ship, but bad weather will increase the amount of motion in the ocean. In the Caribbean, hurricane season (June 1 through November 30) can bring storms and rougher waters. 

Smaller ships tend to feel the motion more, so consider choosing a larger ship if you’re prone to motion sickness. Cabins in the middle part of the ship (aka midship) also tend to feel less motion. And don’t forget to pack motion sickness remedies, because you’ll pay a premium if you wait and buy them on the ship!

All Aboard means ALL Aboard

Maybe you’ve seen those viral internet videos of people dashing down the pier as their cruise ship pulls up the gangway and sails off into the sunset. Cruise lines take all aboard time very seriously, and they have to because if they’re not out of port when they’re supposed to be, they get hit with huge extra fees and it can throw off the following day’s schedule. So when you’re given your all aboard time, know that you need to be back on the ship before that time or risk being left behind.

Solo-Friendly?

I was traveling with a friend’s family on this trip, however since they had small children which required a lot of nap time and kid-specific activities, I spent a fair bit of time flying solo on this trip (100% fine by me!) and not once did I ever feel excluded or singled out as a solo traveler. Yes, Disney is a very family-oriented cruise line, but many of the activities like character meet and greets, trivia, and animation academy are great for solo travelers! 

Solo cruising, however, is expensive as you’ll pay the double occupancy pricing for your stateroom. Some cruise lines like Virgin Voyages and Norwegian offer solo staterooms, which make cruising solo more affordable, but that’s not something Disney offers.

Crowds

It’s Disney, the crowds are going to crowd. And like Disney theme parks, holidays mean bigger crowds. Themed cruises like Pixar Days at Sea, Halloween on the High Seas, and Very Merrytime Cruises are a big draw and will likely mean sold-out sailings.

The largest ship, Adventure, holds 6,000 passengers, while Destiny, Treasure, and Wish hold 4,000. Disney’s smallest ships, the Magic and Wonder, hold around 2,700. Choose your ship based not only on your itinerary preference but also on your crowd tolerance.

It’s not JUST for kids

If you’re a Disney Adult, odds are that you’re going to enjoy a Disney Cruise. In addition to the great for-all-ages activities and unique Disney-themed dining experiences, Disney ships have adult areas and activities that are perfect for kid-free travelers. There’s also a special adults-only pool where you can soak up the sun without getting splashed (but of course you are welcome to enjoy the family pool if that’s your thing!) 

Get There Early

I think by now we all know that flights can be delayed. Like, really delayed. Which is why it’s important that you always fly to your cruise departure port the day before your ship sets sail. I know that PTO and vacation budgets can be tight, but this is really something you don’t want to mess around with because if you miss your ship, you’re out of luck!

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