A floating Disney bubble: What families can expect on Disney cruises
A floating Disney bubble: What families can expect on Disney cruises
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Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom tour on the new Disney Treasure
USA TODAY took a ride on the brand new Disney Treasure cruise ship. Here's what to know about the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom.
"Family travel' is a six-part series showcasing the best experiences and destinations for young families looking for an escape. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form.
I've been visiting Disney parks my entire life.
I thought I knew what the Disney bubble was.
Disney Cruise Line blew my definition out of (or into) the water. Everything Disney fans look for in a Disney vacation is – as Disney likes to say – plussed up on their ships.
Here's what I experienced on my first Disney cruise and what your family can expect on yours.
What is special about a Disney cruise?
Disney cruises are made for Disney fans.
'We know that when guests get on one of our ships, 40, 50% of them are saying the only reason I'm cruising today is because Disney is here,' Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro told USA TODAY last August, ahead of the cruise line's expansion announcements at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. 'These cruise ships are ways that we can tell all of the amazing stories that we have. We bring them to life in dining; we bring them to life theatrically. We bring them to life through technology and our cast members.'
Many ship venues are inspired by Disney stories. Guests who want to learn how they can take an Art of the Theme Show Tour during their sailing.
Disney characters roam about regularly and unlike in the parks, never have long waits to meet them.
The entertainment on board is truly Broadway quality, not only because Disney is at heart an entertainment company, but it's also produced numerous shows on Broadway. My favorite show on our Disney Treasure sailing was "Disney the Tale of Moana," which Disney developed with Broadway veterans and Polynesian cultural advisors and cast.
The youth clubs, particularly for younger children, feel like stepping into Disney movies. Many kids happily spend hours there, and adults wish they could, too. The closest grown-up guests get is during open houses.
Guests rotate through a variety of themed restaurants for dinner each night of their sailing, and servers rotate with you so they can get to know you and your preferences, as well as any dietary needs.
The level of customer service is exactly what you'd expect from Disney.
Ships are designed with families in mind. Most staterooms have split bathrooms, so multiple people can get ready at the same time, and most feature bathtubs, which are clutch with young children.
You're traveling with fellow Disney families and fans, who share your enthusiasm.
Non-Disney fans can still enjoy sailings, but for those who love Disney, it's the ultimate floating Disney bubble.
Disney parks take to the seas: How the new Disney Treasure makes magic
Is a Disney cruise all-inclusive?
Disney cruises include lodging, most dining, entertainment, recreation, youth club access, and more in their standard fare.
There is an additional fee for childcare for infants and toddlers under age 3 at 'it's a small world nursery.' Extra experiences like adult-exclusive dining, makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Sea, the Royal Court Royal Tea Party with Disney princess, and spa and salon services also have fees.
Is all the food on a Disney cruise free?
Meals at rotational dining restaurants, on-board buffets, and various food stands are included in the cruise fare, as is most room service.
Guests may choose to pay extra for adult-exclusive dining like Remy or Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement.
Treats at smoothie and sweets shops and snacks at concession stands near onboard movie theaters have à la carte fees. Specialty coffee drinks and alcohol are also extra.
Do Disney cruises have good food?
Yes. There are various options at each rotational restaurant. Guests are also welcome to ask for other offerings off menu, but what stuck out to me were everyday dishes like comforting congee at breakfast and a mountain of succulent crab legs during lunch at the Treasure's Marceline Market buffet. Mickey Churro Waffles and Disney Cruise Line chicken tenders are other fan favorites. So are Mickey ice cream bars, which you can order for free through room service.
Italian-inspired Palo and other adult-exclusive restaurants, which cost extra, are so popular that reservations book up well ahead of sailings. Guests who miss out in advance can try to book in person upon embarkation.
Is there unlimited alcohol on Disney cruises?
No. There are no unlimited alcoholic beverage packages on Disney cruises.
You can buy individual drinks and bottles of wine on board or pre-order bundles of hard seltzer, beer or wine. There are also deals like Drinks of the Day and the Beer Mug Savings package, which, for a one-time $15.25 fee, gets you 21-ounce beer refills for the price of 16 ounces.
Upon initial embarkation and at each port, guests of legal drinking age may also carry on up to two unopened bottles of wine or champagne or six unopened beers no larger than 12 ounces. These must be brought in carry-on luggage, not checked, and may not be consumed in lounges or public spaces, aside from restaurants, where there is a corkage fee.
Is there a casino on the Disney cruise?
No. There are no casinos on Disney cruise ships.
The closest thing to gambling is BINGO, which is extremely popular.
Is there free Wi-Fi on Disney cruises?
Yes. Guests can use free DCL Guest Wi-Fi to access the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App and message fellow guests. You can also message folks back home using third-party tools like Apple Messages and WhatsApp.
However, you'll need paid internet service for anything more substantive like making calls, accessing social media, browsing the internet, posting or streaming video, and more.
How much does a Disney cruise cost per person?
Prices vary widely by sailing (ship, dates, itinerary, cruise duration and more), stateroom category, how many guests share the same stateroom and guest age. Kids under age 3, ages 3-12, and 13-17 are charged at different rates than adults, according to Plan Disney.
Limited-time promotions also impact pricing. For instance, Disney Cruise Line is currently offering up to 30% off select summer 2025 sailings from the U.S. Prospective guests can find the latest special offers on the cruise line's website.
Additionally, Disney Cruise Line passengers can lock in 10% off a future cruise when they purchase a refundable placeholder reservation while onboard a ship.
At last check, the lowest priced sailing for a family of four departing the U.S. with two adults and two kids between the ages of 3-12 was priced at $2,620. That works out to $655 per person in an interior cabin on the Disney Wish for a 3-night Bahamas cruise leaving Port Canaveral on Aug. 22, 2025.
Three-night cruises on the new Disney Adventure, launching in Singapore this December, start even lower.
Does Disney Cruise Line go to Europe?
Yes. Disney sails from three European ports:
Barcelona, Spain
Citavecchia, Italy (outside Rome)
Southampton, England
Transatlantic sailings are also offered several times a year.
Do adults with no kids go on Disney cruises?
Yes. Even though the cruises are designed with families in mind, lots of Disney adults sail kid-free. Many enjoy getting to feel like kids again themselves.
Each ship and both of Disney's private island destinations have adult-exclusive areas and experiences.
What are Disney's two private islands?
Disney's has two private island destinations in the Bahamas: Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Is it cheaper to go to Disney or Disney cruise?
That depends on how long you plan to sail versus visit parks, as well as choice of accommodations, dining and time of year.
It can go either way.
What is the cheapest way to book a Disney cruise?
Guests will generally find the best prices the day itineraries are released. This happens a few times a year, about 15 to 18 months in advance of sailings, according to Plan Disney.
Travelers can work with travel agents to keep tabs on when the next batch will be released or sign up for Disney Cruise Line email updates and follow the cruise line on social media.
Are Disney cruises worth it?
They are for many fans.
'They rate us very, very highly, and they tend to want to come back,' D'Amaro said.
But just like any vacation, the cruises may not be worth it for everyone.
The reporter on this story received access to the ship from Disney Cruise Line. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of reviews.
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