Disney Cruise Line Guide

 

Back in 2022, I sailed on my first ever cruise on the Disney Dream which is one of the ships of the Disney Cruise Line. I had a great time and thought on this episode I would discuss my experience on the ship. I sailed out of Miami to Nassau and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay! 

For Disney cruises, the first day offers free wifi to adjust and get you settled until you disembark. The have a Disney Cruise Line app as well which is required if you want to know ship activities during your voyage. You can access the app on airplane mode and connected to ships wifi at no additional fee. You can also buy wifi each day or during your trip, but I do not know the prices for that. 

Disney ships have a different kind of option for dinner which is rotational dining. All ships do it, but just have different restaurants. On the Disney Dream is, Animator's Palette, Enchanted Garden, and Royal Palace. The dining is experienced through starting at one of these places and as you go through your cruise, your wait staff goes with you. That means you have the same waiters every night who can give you recommendations based off your dietary preferences and restrictions and more!

These dining spots on the ship also offer breakfast and lunch if you're not into the buffet option. You have to go within the time offered but you are able too. If going for breakfast, the waiters can also rush your food orders if you have any excursions so you make it!

Disney ships do also make excursions very easy by having a wait area given to you for your excursion. For one I did, we waited in the D Lounge.

All Disney ships offer kids clubs based off of the kids ages. For Kids ages 3-12 they can go to Oceaneer Club or Oceaneer lab. These offer all kinds of fun activities for the kids like making pillow cases or slime with stitch! The kids may also get character interactions. For older kids, they have 2 clubs. Kids aged 11-14, or tweens, can hang out at Edge and teens ages 14-17 can hang out at Vibe. All of these clubs are on every ship!

Other dining options on the ship are the buffet, room service,  other quick service spots, and bars located throughout the ship. The buffet is open for breakfast and lunch and has a variety of options! Room service is at no additional fee and great if you're wanting a quick breakfast. Each room provides door hangers that feature the room service menu and allow you to order coffee and food each day at whatever time you choose. Quick service spots are different based on the ship as well as bars. There's usually pool bars! 

On the disney dream, I loved eating at Flo's cafe over the buffet because I just can't handle buffet food sometimes. I also enjoyed breakfast more at the rotational dining spots like the enchanted garden and royal palace. 

Also by the pool is drink stations and ice cream. Unlike other cruises, Coca Cola products are included in your price and you can get them at the pool deck. The stations also have hot cocoa, tea. and coffee. And near the buffet, is ice cream! Flavors may include vanilla. chocolate, and swirl, or banana, strawberry, and swirl.

Disney cruises do not offer a drink package unlike most cruises, but do still sell alcohol on board. This cruise is more targeted toward families, so I assume it's to keep adults from over doing it. They do have $5 drinks of the day each day and you can get an alcoholic and non-alcoholic option. The adult only clubs on board also occasionally have happy hour.

Disney Cruises also have a variety of souvenir cups that can vary by cruise. I got one pretty much each day on my cruise and here's which ones I got: Disney Cruise Line cup, Tiki cup from castaway cay, and crush cup from animator's palette.

Besides the pools on board on the pool deck. the ship does have activities on board that you don't have to do but can be fun. Some are adult only but most are family friendly. These activities include things like disney trivia, silent disco, and more. I did a few on our day at sea trying not to just swim since I did so much of it. I also liked going out to the clubs on board at night after dinner and hitting up the adult exclusive activities. 

But the pool deck is full of fun for all ages, the main area has the aquaduck, or whatever its called differently on other ships, 2 pools including a more shallow one for kids, a kid slide to pool, and a splash pad area. The rest of the deck is an adult only pool with a swim up bar, and more bars upstairs. This is also near the spa on board.

On disney cruise ships, much like disney parks, you have a room key as your guide. It allows you in your room, is required for turning on lights in room, and make purchases on ship and at castaway cay. You can get a lanyard to carry it around but if you're swimming you won't wear it so your wallet should be fine. You may need your ID for drinks anyway. 

In addition to the on board included dining is adult exclusive dining at Remy or Palo. I have no experience here.

There is a variety on entertainment offered on board as well. You can find musicians performing in lobby or at clubs at different times listed on schedule. Disney themed entertainment such as the sail away party and themed days at sea or pirate night. I had pirate night on my cruise and it was a blast. They had pirate shows, fireworks, and desserts before a party all night! And there's a movie theatre on board playing new disney movies sometimes early!

Disney ships also have broadway quality entertainment in the form of shows each night. You get a show time based off your dinner time which means early if you have late dinner and late if you have early dinner. I've also seen from some vlogs, you can see the show on your tv in your room if you can't make it. They sell popcorn as well which they will fill for you of you sit on floor one.

Thanks for listening to the new episode! You can find the link to listen linked here.