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Disney Cruise Line Stateroom Categories Explained

Front, back, top, bottom, left, right, somewhere in the middle? There are so many choices when choosing your stateroom (like a hotel room, but on water) on a Disney Cruise. No worries though, I explain all of the various categories and help you choose the best stateroom for your family’s magical vacation!

As of right now, there are 4 Disney ships in their fleet. The Dream and Fantasy are sister ships with the same layout and the Magic and Wonder are sister ships with the same layout. When selecting a cruise itinerary, you want to make sure you know which ship you will be sailing on because the stateroom categories are different.

There are 2 main things you have to consider when choosing a stateroom: what type of stateroom do you want (floor plan) and where on the ship do you want to be (category). The Dream and Fantasy have 9 floor plans and 28 room categories. The Magic & Wonder have 10 floor plans and 22 room categories. That’s a lot! I have broken it down into 4 easy steps to pick your perfect stateroom!

Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy Deck Plans

Disney Magic and Disney Wonder Deck Plans

4 steps to choosing your stateroom:

Determine how many people are in your party. This decides what type of room you need. When you go online to look at availability, select the total number of adults and children (with their ages) the rooms will be filtered down to the ones that will fit your party size.

Dream & Fantasy: If you have 1, 2, 3, or 4 people in your party you have free access to all rooms and categories on the ship. If you have 5 people, you can choose from 5 floor plans on the ships. If you have more than 5 on the Dream & Fantasy you will need 2 staterooms.

Magic & Wonder: If you have 1, 2 or 3 people in your party you can choose between all room floor plans and categories on the ships. If you have 4 people you can choose from 9 floor plans. 5 people, you can choose between 5 floor plans and there are 2 floor plans that can sleep up to 7!

Choose 1 of 4 floor plans. Do you want a room with a view?

1.     Inside: no windows (however, the Fantasy and Dream have Magical Portholes; a LED TV screen over the bed with real-time views of outside)

2.     Oceanview: Dream & Fantasy: 1 or 2 large portholes, Magic & Wonder: 1 large porthole or 2 smaller portholes

3.     Verandah: There are 3 types of verandahs (balconies):

•  The  standard verandah  features an open-air balcony skirted by an acrylic wall, allowing for a full view of the horizon even while seated.
• The  whitewall verandah  offers open-air lounging with a solid wall from the deck to the railing. Most of these staterooms are located in the back (aft) portion of the ship.
• The  navigator’s verandah  is enclosed for greater privacy while still affording a stunning view and sea breezes through a large, open-air porthole above the railing.
• Verandahs differ by size and style depending on the ship and stateroom type, and the view on some verandahs may be obstructed.
• On connecting verandah staterooms, the partitions can be opened to create an even more spacious balcony.

• Concierge: Personalized assistance in planning every cruise detail, including:

Pre-reserve many of your onboard activities and services online, up to 120 days prior to your sail date.

• Port Adventures
• Reservations for  Palo or Remy , spa treatments or nursery stays
• Dining room seating requests
• Special occasions and celebrations
• Any other special requests, from pre-arrival to post-cruise

Shipboard Services

• Priority check-in and boarding at a dedicated check-in station
• Private welcome reception
• Exclusive access to dedicated areas on the ship, including the Concierge Lounge and sun deck via a private entrance.
• Down Duvets
• Choose from pillow options including hypoallergenic, feather and therapeutic memory foam
• Personal robe and slippers
• Access to the media library in the Concierge Lounge
• Complimentary Wi-Fi internet service (length of cruise)

Room preferences to consider:

What specific stateroom type do you want?

• Suite: Royal, 1 bedroom, or 2 bedrooms
• Deluxe family: sleeps 5
• Deluxe: split bathroom
• Standard: single bathroom
• Guaranteed: Disney will select for you your stateroom and guarantee that it will be in the category chosen or a higher category. This is a restricted-fare category.
• Wheelchair accessible

Where on the ship do you want to be? Forward (front), midship, or aft (back)

Do you get seasick? There are different theories to this, but generally, if you get sea sick you will want a stateroom with a verandah so you can breathe in fresh air or a room with a porthole. Focusing on the line where the sky meets the sea can help alleviate nausea. Also, having a stateroom in the middle of the ship helps with the rocking feeling.

Are you on a budget? The higher the deck the more expensive the stateroom is. Also, the closer you are to mid ship the more expensive the room is. You will also pay more to see the ocean. Inside staterooms with no windows on a lower deck either near the front (forward) or back (aft) are the least expensive.

Pick your room

In this step, you actually get to choose your specific room number. You can also select staterooms that adjoin if you are going with another stateroom. If the room connects, you will see an arrow next to the room number. The direction the arrow is going in is the room it connects to. You can still select one of these rooms even if you are not traveling with another party, you just don’t want to unlock the door 🙂

Do you want to be next to the elevators? The elevators midship are generally busier and therefore are louder, but on the other hand, you also have close access to the stairwell & elevators to get to other decks quickly.

When you have made your selection, you will be given a category #. For example, it will look like this: (Category 04E).

You’re done, celebrate!

But what does that number and letter mean?

If you want to dig in deeper to the room categories and find out what the number and letter means, you can keep on reading. I am giving you fair warning, there is a lot of information below.  For planning purposes, my suggestion is to print out the list below and make notes or cross off which ones do not fit your needs.

Disney Dream & Disney Fantasy Category Specifics

These are the larger ships in Disney’s fleet with 1,250 staterooms each. There are 14 decks (or levels); 9 have staterooms on them, with 28 categories and 9 room layouts! 

9 Stateroom Layouts on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy

1. concierge royal suite with verandah.

• Category R: There are only 2 of this type of room on each ship. Both are on deck 12 at the very front of the ship (forward). One is on the left (port) the other is on the right (starboard).
• 1,781 square feet, including the verandah
• One master bedroom with queen size bed
• One wall pull-down double bed
• One wall pull-down single bed in the living room
• Two bathrooms with rain shower
• Whirlpool tub
• Living room
• Dining salon
• Walk-in closets

2. Concierge 1-bedroom suite with Verandah

• Category T: There are 19 of these type rooms on each ship. They are located on decks 11 and 12 near the front of the ship (forward). Located on both sides of the ship. 1 is wheelchair accessible.
• 622 square feet including verandah
• One bedroom with queen size bed
• Living area with double convertible sofa
• Private Verandah

3. Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

• Category V: There are 20 of these types of rooms on each ship. They are located on decks 11 and 12 near the front of the ship (forward). Located on both sides of the ship. 1 is wheelchair accessible.
• 306 square feet including verandah
• Queen size bed
• Double convertible sofa
• Upper berth pull-down bed
• Full bath with round tub and shower
• Additional half bath

4. Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

• 04 A has 128 staterooms with 64 on deck 9 and 64 on deck 10. All are located midship to back (aft).
• 04 B has 62 staterooms all on deck 8. All are located midship to back (aft). 4 are wheelchair accessible.
• 04 C has 64 staterooms all on deck 7. All are located midship to back (aft).
• 04 D has 63 staterooms all on deck 6. All are located midship to back (aft). 2 are wheelchair accessible.
• 04 E has 44 staterooms all on deck 5. All are located near the front (forward) or back (aft). 1 is wheelchair accessible.
• 299 square feet including verandah
• Single convertible sofa
• Wall pull-down bed (in most)
• Upper berth pull-down bed (in some)
• Split bath with round tub (in most) and shower

5. Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

• There are a total of 3 categories each broken down: 05 (A-E), 06 (A & B), & 07 (A)
• 05 A has 168 staterooms on deck 9 & 10. All are located midship to the front (forward) or back (aft).
• 05 B has 78 staterooms all on deck 8. All are located midship to the front (forward) or back (aft).
• 05 C has 82 staterooms all on deck 7. All are located midship to the front (forward) or back (aft).
• 05 D has 88 staterooms all on deck 6. All are located midship to the front (forward) or back (aft).
• 05 E has 29 staterooms on deck 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10. All are located at the very back (aft). All have white wall verandahs. 2 are wheelchair accessible.
• 06 A has 10 staterooms on decks 8 & 9. All are located back (aft). All have white wall verandahs.
• 06 B has 20 staterooms on decks 5, 6, & 7. All are located back (aft). All have white wall verandahs.
• 07 A is a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah. There are 24 staterooms located on decks 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9. Mainly in the front (forward) or back (aft)
• 246 square feet including verandah
• Upper berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)
• Split bath with tub and shower

6. Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom

• 08 A has 12 staterooms located on decks 5 & 6 in the front (forward). The shapes of these rooms are squarer versus rectangular and each stateroom has 2 large portholes! 1 is wheelchair accessible.
• 08 B has 22 staterooms located on deck 9, either in the front (forward) or back (aft).
• 08 C has 44 staterooms located on decks 7 & 8, either in the front (forward) or back (aft).
• 08 D has 30 staterooms located on decks 7 & 8, either in the front (forward) or back (aft).
• 241 square feet
• Split bath with round tub and shower (in most)

7. Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

• 09 A has 10 staterooms located on decks 5, 6, 7, & 8 all either in the front (forward) or back (aft). 4 are wheelchair accessible.
• Things to keep in mind when booking this category: the main lobby atrium is the deck above and the tender lobby is the deck below, so it might be noisy
• 09 C has 10 staterooms located on decks 7 & 8 at the very front (forward) of the ship. 2 are wheelchair accessible.
• 09 D has 11 staterooms located on decks 6, 7, & 8 all at the very front (forward) of the ship. 3 are wheelchair accessible.
• 204 square feet

8.    Deluxe Inside Stateroom

• Category 10 A has 19 staterooms sporadically located on decks 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9

9.    Standard Inside Stateroom

• 11 A has 64 staterooms located on decks 8, 9, & 10. There are some located front (forward), midship, and back (aft)
• 11 B has 40 staterooms located on decks 5, 6, & 7. Most are located near the front (forward) and back (aft) of the ship.
• 169 square feet
• Bath with tub and shower

Disney Magic & Disney Wonder Specifics

These are the smaller ships in Disney’s fleet with 875 staterooms each. There are 11 decks (or levels); 6 have staterooms on them, with 22 categories and 10 room layouts!

10 Stateroom Layouts on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder

1.    concierge royal suite with verandah.

• Category R: There are only 2 of this type of room on each ship. Both are on deck 8 at the mid to front of the ship (forward). The one on the left (port) is the Walter E. Disney Suite and the other, on the right (starboard) is the Roy O. Disney Suite.
• 1,029 square feet, including the verandah
• Two bedrooms with queen size bed the other has two twin beds and two pull-down upper berths
• Two and a half bathrooms with whirlpool tubs
• Media library with wall pull-down bed

2.    Concierge 2-bedroom suite with Verandah

• Category S: There are 2 of these type rooms on each ship. They are located on deck 8 near the front of the ship (forward). One on each side (port and starboard).
• 945 square feet including verandah
• Living area with convertible sofa
• Two and a half bathrooms

3.    Concierge 1-bedroom suite with Verandah

• Category T: There are 18 of these type rooms on each ship. They are located throughout deck 8. 4 are wheelchair accessible
• 614 square feet including verandah
• Two bathrooms

4.    Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

• Category V: There are 10 of these types of rooms on each ship. They are located on deck 8 throughout.
• 304 square feet including verandah
• Pull-down upper berth bed (in most)
• Privacy divider

5.    Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

• 04 A has 32 staterooms on deck 8. All are located midship to back (aft).
• 04 B has 32 staterooms all on deck 8. Located front (forward) and back (aft).
• 04 E has 6 staterooms all on deck 8. All are located near back (aft). 1 is wheelchair accessible.
• Wall pull-down bed
• Pull-down upper berth (in most)
• Private verandah

6.    Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

• This floor plan is broken down into 2 categories 05 (A-C) & 06 (A)
• 05 A has 58 staterooms on deck 7. All are located midship
• 05 B has 106 staterooms: 46 are on deck 7 in the front (forward) or back (aft) and 60 are on deck 6 all located midship.
• 05 C has 56 staterooms 46 are on deck 6 in the front (forward) or back (aft) and 10 are on deck 5 all located near the back (aft).
• 06 A has 32 staterooms on decks 5,6, & 7. All are located back (aft). 6 are wheelchair accessible.
• 268 square feet including verandah

7.    Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah

• Category 07 A has 30 staterooms located on decks 5, 6, & 7 all in the back (aft) of the ship.
• Enclosed private verandah with limited views

8.    Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

• 09 A has 58 staterooms located on decks 5, 6, & 7 in the front (forward). 2 are wheelchair accessible.
• 09 B has 66 staterooms located on deck 2, all are mid-deck.
• 09 C has 80 staterooms located on decks 2, either in the front (forward) or back (aft).
• 09 D has 25 staterooms located on decks 1, all are mid-deck to the front (forward) and on the left (port side). All rooms in this category have 2 small portholes.

9.    Deluxe Inside Stateroom

• 10 A has 19 staterooms located on decks 5, 6, & 7. All are located in the front (forward) of the ship. 1 on deck 7 is wheelchair accessible.
• 10 B has 48 staterooms located on deck 2. Mainly midship.
• 10 C has 17 staterooms located on deck 1. All are mid-deck to the front (forward) and on the left (port side).
• 214 square feet
• Upper berth pull-down bed (in some) Privacy divider

10.  Standard Inside Stateroom

• 11 A has 66 staterooms located on decks 6 & 7. There are some located front (forward), midship, and back (aft). 2 are wheelchair accessible.
• 11 B has 81 staterooms located on decks 6 & 7. All are located near the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship.
• 11 C has 37 staterooms located on deck 2 & 3. All on deck 2 are located near the front (forward) of the ship and those on deck 3 are located in the back (aft).
• 184 square feet

If you made it this far, hi and thank you!

Happy Travels!

Let’s book your magical vacation today!   As an agent with Key to the World Travel , I can help you with everything from Disney Destinations, a cruise, a beach getaway or even a trip to Europe. Contact me today for your free, no-obligation quote at [email protected]   and follow me on Facebook   to hear about the latest Disney updates and travel tips! Or, you can fill out and submit the form below.  I look forward to helping you plan the most magical vacation for you and your family.

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Stateroom Categories: Explained

It’s just as simple as booking a stateroom, right? As you start to shop for your next cruise, options abound and seriously confuse. Let’s make some sense of ‘all that is stateroom’ on Disney Cruise Line.

There are four general stateroom categories : Concierge, Oceanview with Verandah, Oceanview and Inside . Within each category and within each ship, there are different options to choose from.

Inside (Categories: 10, 11)

• Located on the Interior of the ship
• No exterior views *Dream/Fantasy “Magic Portholes”
• 169-204 sqft

Oceanview (Categories: 8, 9)

• One large or two small portholes
• Exterior/ocean views
• 204-241 sqft

Verandah (Categories: 4, 5, 6, 7)

• Private balconies
• Floor to ceiling windows
• 246-299 sqft

Concierge (Categories: V, T, S, R)

• Suites with balconies
• Some with separate living/sleeping areas
• 306-1781 sq ft
• Concierge services

There are now  six stateroom types : Standard, Deluxe, Deluxe Family, Deluxe Family Concierge, 1- or 2- Bedroom Suites, Royal Suite. Your family size and space preferences typically play a major role in selecting stateroom type. Listed below are the stateroom type differentiators:

Standard (Inside Category: 11)

• Traditional bathroom

Deluxe (Inside Category: 10, Oceanview Category: 9, Verandah Category: 5, 6, 7)

Deluxe Family (Oceanview Category: 8, Verandah Category: 4)

• Sleep up to 5

Deluxe Family Concierge (Concierge Category: V)

• Concierge service

1- or 2- Bedroom Suites (Concierge Categories: S, T)

• Split living/sleeping
• Large balconies

Royal Suite (Concierge Category: R)

• Each ship has 2
• Luxurious, spacious
• Large balcony with private whirlpool tub (Dream and Fantasy)

What’s the difference between a Category 4A and 4E? The letters A, B, C, D, and E generally distinguish where on the ship the staterooms are located, with the letter A being the most desired location, for example, midship on a higher deck.

Navigator Verandah’s Category 7A

The Magic and Wonder category 7A staterooms only sleep 3

The Fantasy and Dream category 7A’s sleep 3-4

But what about this Category 8A on the Dream & Fantasy? There are 12 of these rooms on each ship. These are different as they are larger than the average Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom, have a split room set-up BUT no split bath .

Just to keep things interesting, there are a small number of very specific stateroom categories boasting distinct features:

Obstructed/Limited Ocean Views: These rooms have portholes with – you guessed it – partially obstructed views. These rooms are less expensive than their unobstructed-viewed counterparts. Found: Oceanview Category 9C and 9D on the Disney Dream/Fantasy

Oversized Verandah Rooms: Extra balcony space and people rave about these staterooms in our Facebook group discussions. Found: Verandah Category 4E and 5E on the Disney Dream/Fantasy

Navigator’s Verandah: Enclosed verandah with open air porthole. Found: Verandah Category 7A

Whitewall Verandah: The verandah has a solid white wall from deck to railing instead of the standard clear view throughout. Found: Verandah Category 5E, 6A, 6B

Booking with Restrictions? We Got You

IGT = Inside Stateroom with Restrictions OGT = Outside Stateroom with restrictions VGT = Guaranteed Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

When booking these restricted-fare category staterooms, please note the following:

• New bookings only. Existing reservations cannot be modified to these new categories.
• You are reserving a stateroom within the selected stateroom type: Inside, Oceanview or Verandah*.
• Disney Cruise Line will assign your specific stateroom at a later time, based on remaining availability.
• Specific stateroom requests will not be accommodated.
• Full payment is required at the time of booking for all Guests and is non-refundable.
• Sail date and stateroom category changes are not permitted.
• The stateroom offer cannot be combined with any other discounted or promotional offer.
• Full legal names of all Guests are required at time of booking and no name changes are allowed.

* Most Verandah staterooms include a private verandah with a clear plexiglass wall; some may include a solid white wall depending upon location. A limited number of Oceanview and Verandah staterooms may include a partially obstructed view.

Selecting “Choose Guaranty” guarantees the ship, sailing date and rate. A Category XXX stateroom will be assigned by the time documents are received. Selecting “Choose Guaranty” does not guarantee the stateroom will be on a particular deck or, for multiple staterooms, that the staterooms will be located near each other.

GTY reservations have no restrictions as it is a normal booking. Same rules apply as they do to any booking that has an assigned stateroom.

**Also note that you can be assigned an accessible stateroom without a split bath.

Official DCL link:  https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/staterooms/stateroom-categories/

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Types of Disney Cruise Rooms

By: Author Kristi

When you begin planning your Disney Cruise , beside choosing the date & destination of your cruise, you will need to decide on a Disney Cruise Stateroom. There are four different categories of Disney Cruise rooms (and 10 types of Staterooms) to choose from.

For first time cruisers, it can be hard to understand the differences in the rooms. You will want to make sure you are aware of the diffences in each type so that you make sure you have enough space for those you are traveling with.

While all Disney Cruise rooms are a bit different based on category & type, you will be able to find that they do have many things in common.

Interior Stateroom (Disney Cruise Room for 4)

This means that you will have no view of the ocean.

It is the smallest & most affordable of the Disney Cruise staterooms.

Standard interior rooms do not have the split bathrooms that exterior staterooms have.

Interior staterooms on the Disney Dream & Fantasy have a virtual porthole which is really cool!

One of the benefits (besides price) is that interior rooms usually do not have as much sway as other rooms because of where they are located on the ship.

Another perk is that you will no light to wake you in the morning, so you can sleep in as long as you would like without having any natural sunlight letting you know it is morning.

Oceanview Stateroom (Disney Cruise Room for 4)

With this type of stateroom, you will have a view of the ocean, but the window will not open.

There is usually a window seat area so that you can sit & enjoy the view. There are curtains for you to close when you need to have less light or need to get some sleep.

If you tend to get sea sick, having a view of the water may help curtail the symptoms as it is said to help your brain deal with balancing the equilibrium.

Verandah Stateroom (Disney Cruise Room for 4)

Not only will you have a view of the ocean, you will get a small seating area outside of the stateroom.  

We always like this room because of the “extra” outdoor square footage.

Each room has a door that can be propped open to let in fresh air.

Another perk to having a veranda room is that you can place your wet swimwear out to dry.

Family Deluxe Verandah Stateroom (Disney Cruise Room for 5)

These rooms are a bit larger and give you extra seating!

 If you choose this room, you will find that it not only features a couch (that turns into a bed), but also has a chair. The extra seating is a nice addition.

Concierge Stateroom (Disney Cruise Room for 6 or 7)

Talk about luxurious. These fancy Disney Cruise line staterooms have a separate bedroom area, private balcony and have their own private lounge area that is packed with cold water and snacks.

This extra space is great for big families who aren’t easily confined to one small room.

The private lounge gives you a quiet space to get away (without having to be far from your own stateroom).

What You’ll Find in Disney Cruise Staterooms:

• Split bathrooms (in most staterooms) and privacy curtain between bed & bunks
• Throw Blanket
• FREE H20 Plus toiletries (soap, shampoo, conditioner & lotion)
• Post Cards & Note paper
• A refrigerator
• A hairdryer
• Housekeeping services twice a day (morning; typically before lunch & evening turn down service)

*When trying to determine which Disney Cruise fits in your budget, you may find that there is only a small price difference between the inside cabins and those with a balcony on the Disney Dream, Fantasy & Wish ships while a much larger price difference between that on the Magic & Wonder regardless of number of nights or destination.

This is because there are far less balcony rooms on the Magic and Wonder, causing them to be more expensive.

Have you been on a Disney Cruise? What Stateroom Type is your favorite?

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Best Staterooms on a Disney Cruise

Disney Cruise Lines are perfect for families looking to enjoy quality time together. But with so many different categories and subcategories, how do you know which stateroom is right for you? Let’s investigate how to select the best staterooms on a Disney cruise for your family vacation.

Not familiar with the term “stateroom”?  Disney Cruise Line refers to the individual passenger rooms on its cruise ships as “staterooms.”  You might have heard these previously referred to elsewhere as “ cabins .”

The Disney Cruise Line offers four main types of staterooms: Concierge (the most expensive ), Veranda, Oceanview, and Inside (the least expensive). In each category and within each ship, there are different options (subcategories). Category 1 is typically the most costly, followed by Category 2, etc. Category 11 is the least expensive. Within each category, subcategory A is typically more expensive than subcategory B, and so on.

The amenities and size of the room usually correspond to the price, with Category 1 being the biggest and best while Category 11 has the smallest rooms with the fewest features.

Within each numbered category, the letter subcategories typically designate more preferable locations on the ship’s deck plan (rather than differences in stateroom amenities).  For example, a 4A stateroom might be in a better location than a 4C stateroom, but the interiors of both staterooms will be virtually identical. Note that some Concierge staterooms are an exception to this rule; Category 1A is a drastically different stateroom versus Category 1B.

Generally speaking, rooms located on higher decks or the middle of each deck plan (known as midship or mid ) are considered more preferable than lower decks or staterooms that are forward (front of the ship) or aft (rear of the ship). Which side of the ship the room is on (port side or starboard side) generally does not factor into stateroom category.

Also note that some stateroom categories cater to different travel parties. Some staterooms might only sleep up to a family of four , whereas others can hold five or more.

Please note that this guide does not include accessible suites , which offer the same level of convenience and comfort to guests with disabilities. For questions about accessible suites or any of the below-listed rooms, please get in touch with The Vacationeer .

Their team of experienced Disney travel agents will help you find the best itineraries at the lowest price, and there’s never an additional charge for their services.

Now, let’s look at the best staterooms on a Disney Cruise ship .

Concierge Staterooms (Most Expensive Main Category)

The stunning Concierge Wish Tower Suite stateroom on the Disney Wish | Image © Disney

The Concierge category offers the most luxurious – and expensive – accommodations on Disney Cruise Line. Each room has a large private verandah and premium amenities and services.

The Concierge Wish Tower Suite and the Concierge Royal Suite are the ship’s most spacious and lavishly appointed rooms. Additionally, the Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite is a more modestly priced option that still offers an incredible experience. For families, the Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom provides plenty of space and convenient access to all of the ship’s family-friendly amenities.

Concierge-level staterooms in categories 1, 2, and 3 include additional perks , such as access to priority seating for excursions and events and exclusive access to the Concierge Lounge, where you can relax with complimentary coffee, tea, and pastries or enjoy evening hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

Here’s a breakdown of the categories found in the Concierge category.

Category 1A – Concierge Wish Tower Suite (Disney Wish cruise ship only)

The Wish Tower Suite on Deck 14 and 15 is the Disney Cruise Line’s most luxurious room. It has two bedrooms, a space for children with two bunk beds, and a library that can convert into two more rooms. Aside from the four full bathrooms and the half-bath off the living room, the suite has floor-to-ceiling windows on both decks, providing a great view of the ship from the suite.

Eight guests can stay in this 1,966 sq. ft. suite. It has a wow factor like no other!

Recommendation :  The Concierge Wish Tower Suite is the perfect choice for families or groups who have the money to spend and won’t settle for anything less than the best. Nothing out-competes the luxury of this stateroom.  It truly is the best stateroom on a Disney Cruise.

The location of the Concierge Wish Tower Suite | Image © Disney

Category 1A – Concierge Royal Suite w/ Verandah (Disney Dream, Fantasy, Magic, & Wonder cruise ships)

The Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah stateroom is the largest and most luxurious suite offered on Disney’s Dream, Fantasy, Magic, and Wonder. The Magic and Wonder ships can accommodate up to 7 guests, and the Dream and Fantasy ships can accommodate up to 5 guests.

The suite features a living area with a formal dining table and sitting area and a massive verandah with a private hot tub on the Dream and Fantasy ships. The decor in these suites is luxurious and tasteful, making it the perfect choice for those looking for the ultimate in luxury and comfort.

Recommendation :  This is the Crème de la Crème of staterooms on the Disney Dream, Fantasy, Magic, and Wonder cruise ships. If roominess and luxury are what you’re after, and you have the money to spend, then Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah is a great choice. 

Category 1B – Concierge 2-Story Royal Suite w/ Verandah (Disney Wish)

The Concierge 2-Story Royal Suite with Verandah on the Disney Wish cruise ship is a luxurious and spacious stateroom that spans two decks (decks 12 and 13). The Suite features a spiral staircase, two large bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a large dining and living area, and two large verandahs with a private hot tub.

This stateroom is an impressive 1,759 sq. ft and can comfortably sleep six guests,

Recommendation:  The 2-Story Royal Suite is another fantastic offering from the new Disney Wish. Perfect for families and groups of six who want to be treated like kings and queens. 

Category 1B – Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite w/ Verandah (Disney Magic & Wonder)

Disney Cruise Line’s Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite with Verandah features two separate bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, and a spacious sitting area.  The total area is 945 sq. ft., including the verandah, and can accommodate up to seven people. A large verandah is perfect for enjoying the views or relaxing. It is an impressive suite, perfect for a large group or family!

This stateroom is only available on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder .

Recommendation:   An excellent choice for families who want plenty of luxury and space. Choose the starboard (right) side if you sail to Castaway Cay because you will have better views of Disney’s private island when docked. 

Category 1C – 1-Story Royal Suites w/ Verandah (Disney Wish)

With a classic elegance inspired by Sleeping Beauty, the Disney Wish’s 1-Story Royal Suites with Verandah are perfect for families and groups of up to 6. There are two bedrooms, a living room and dining room, three full bathrooms, and an impressive 1,507 square feet of living space. The wet bar is perfect for entertaining, and the large private verandah with a whirlpool tub is the ideal place to relax.

Recommendation :  These beautiful and family-friendly staterooms will make your cruise vacation unforgettable.

Category 2A and 2B – Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite w/ Verandah (All Disney Cruise Ships)

Disney cruises offer a 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah for those looking for a little extra space and privacy on their vacation. The suite sleeps up to 5 people and features a separate bedroom, two bathrooms, a living room, and a wet bar.  The main bathroom has double sinks, a rain-style shower, and a whirlpool tub. A large walk-in closet provides plenty of space for storing your belongings.

The main difference between Categories 2A and 2B is location. Magic and Wonder’s 2A suites have a slightly different layout with a longer verandah. Dream and Fantasy’s 2A suites are located between the two connecting Royal Suites and the ship’s front center. The 2A suites of the Disney Wish are located on deck 12 and have a deeper verandah than the 2B suites.

Recommendation:  This is an excellent option if you only need one bedroom but still want plenty of roominess and class. 

A Concierge One-Bedroom Suite on the Disney Fantasy | Image © Disney

Category 3A and 3B – Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom w/ Verandah (Disney Dream, Fantasy, Magic, & Wonder)

The Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on Disney cruises is a luxurious private room that sleeps up to five people. This room is complete with a private verandah with beautiful sea views and an abundance of warm woods and custom fabrics.

The stateroom features a queen-sized bed, a convertible sofa, a Pullman bunk bed, and a spacious bathroom with a shower, TV, and a safe. There are just over 300 square feet of living space. Additionally, families have concierge-level guests access to a private lounge and priority boarding.

Recommendation:   Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom is excellent for families that want the luxury and perks of a Concierge-level stateroom but don’t need all the bells and whistles (and expense) of the Category 1 and 2 staterooms. 

Category 3B – Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom (Disney Wish)

The Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom on Disney Wish offers stunning sea views through floor-to-ceiling windows.

A king bed, a single convertible sofa, and an upper-berth single pull-down bed make up this room, which can accommodate up to five guests. There is also a wall pull-down bed in rooms that sleep five. The 357-square-foot room provides plenty of space for the whole family to relax.

Guests staying in a Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom also have access to special concierge services, including priority boarding and seating at shows and restaurant reservations. If you’re looking for a truly magical experience, book a stay in one of these Little Mermaid-themed spaces.

Recommendation :  These are fun and family-oriented staterooms on Disney’s newest cruise ship. This is a good option if you want a Concierge-level room at a relatively affordable price.

Verandah (Balcony) Staterooms

A stateroom verandah onboard the Disney Magic | Image © Disney

Verandah staterooms are Disney’s most spacious non-concierge accommodations, each with its own balcony outside the ship where you can enjoy the fresh air while watching the ocean go by.

Category four, five, six, and seven are verandah staterooms. Some rooms in this category offer partial views, but all provide a comfortable and relaxing space.

Category 4 – Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom w/ Verandah (All Disney Cruise Ships)

The Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on Disney cruises is the largest stateroom on the ships that are not concierge suites. Roughly 300 sq ft, it sleeps up to 5 and is the only single-room option for a family of 5 on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. The Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah is also the most frequently booked option for families of 5 on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy .

All of these factors considered it’s no wonder that this room type is one of the most popular among families cruising with Disney.

Recommendation : The Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom is perfect for families of four or five who value roominess and want to enjoy the ocean breeze from the verandah . 

Category 5 – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah (All Disney Cruise Ships)

The Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on Disney cruises is a fantastic choice for your family cruise. With enough space to comfortably sleep 3-4 guests and an unobstructed verandah, this room type is perfect for enjoying the beautiful view.

Magic and Wonder’s cabins are 268 sq ft, while Dream, Fantasy, and Wish are 248 sq ft. The Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah come with a queen bed, a sleeper sofa, and a pull-out berth (if sleeping four). This room type also features a sitting area, plenty of closet space, and a private verandah to enjoy the view without leaving your stateroom.

Recommendation :   Among the regular-sized verandah cabins, these are the most common and the most frequently booked for families with four or fewer members. They are an excellent choice!

A Category 5 stateroom on the Disney Dream | Image © Disney

Category 6 – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah – Undersized, Obstructed View, or White Wall  (All Disney Cruise Ships)

Category 6 staterooms are located near the back of the ship’s upper deck. Accommodations are nearly identical to those found in Category 5 but have either an undersized, obstructed, or white wall verandah. Those who book a Category 6 cabin on the Magic and Wonder will have full white wall railings, while on the Dream and Fantasy, the white wall only extends halfway up the railing.

All of these staterooms sleep at least three, and many sleep 4.

Recommendation :  Because these rooms are nearly identical to Category 5 rooms, they are a terrific way to save money on your Disney cruise . We recommend the Dream and Fantasy 6B staterooms because of their stunning views, and Disney Magic and Wonder’s Category 6 staterooms on Deck 6 have more verandah space, as do 5650 and 5150.

Category 7 – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah (All Disney Cruise Ships)

Navigator verandahs on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder feature mostly enclosed balconies with a viewing window cut out. In contrast, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish have a minimally obstructed view from the verandah.

Recommendation:  The rooms in Category 7 are nearly identical to those in Category 5 and 6, so they are a good way to save on a Disney cruise if you don’t mind having a partial view. We believe these are the best values in the verandah category, particularly on the Dream, Fantasy, and Wish.

Feeling overwhelmed?  Working with an experienced Disney travel agent can calm the waters!  Contact the Disney Cruise experts at The Vacationeer !

Not only will they arrange every part of your cruise, but they’ll provide a generous onboard credit you can use towards purchases while you’re on the ship.  There’s never any obligation to book, and there’s no additional charge to use their planning services!

If it’s your first time cruising with Disney , working with The Vacationeer really is the best way to go!

Oceanview (Porthole) Staterooms

The giant porthole featured in some oceanview staterooms on the Disney Dream | Image © Disney

The Oceanview category of staterooms (Category 8 and 9) features rooms with scenic vistas through genuine porthole windows. The Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom is perfect for families, while the Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom provides a more intimate setting.

Category 8 – Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom (Disney Dream, Fantasy, & Wish)

Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish to offer a truly luxurious cruise experience with their Category 8 Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms.

These staterooms are much larger than the standard size (around 240 sq ft), sleeping between 3 and 5 people comfortably. In addition, they feature unique round tub-showers (see the video above for Category 4) and large portholes with seating, making them the perfect place to relax and take in the breathtaking views. The exceptions to this are the 8As, which are similar to suites with two large portholes and plenty of space. Families and groups can enjoy Category 8A even more since many have a divider between the bed and seating area. None of them will disappoint.

Recommendation :  Families looking for affordability and comfort will find the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom is the right choice.

Category 9 – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom (All Disney Cruise Ships)

The Category 9 Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom sleeps 3 or 4 people and is the same size as the category 10’s with a similar layout and features. The Disney Dream and Fantasy Rooms are 204 sq ft, 214 on Disney Magic and Wonder, and 218 sq ft on Disney Wish. Most rooms have a porthole on one of the walls. On the Magic and Wonder ships, the 9D staterooms on deck 1 have two small portholes instead of one large porthole.

A, B, C, and D designations represent Disney’s assessment of the location and view of the room. In Dream, Fantasy, and Wish, the 9C and 9D staterooms typically have obstructed views and are usually located in the front of the vessel.

Recommendation :  If you prefer to save money over having a porthole in your room, opt for Category 10. 

Inside Staterooms (Least Expensive Main Category)

An Inside Stateroom on the Disney Wish | Image © Disney

The Inside category features Disney Cruise Line’s base accommodations, with no window (no exterior view) but still featuring a nautical motif. The Deluxe Inside Stateroom is slightly larger than the Standard Inside Stateroom and provides additional storage space and a sitting area.

Category 10 –Deluxe Inside Stateroom (Disney Dream, Fantasy, Magic, & Wonder)

Rooms in Category 10 are almost identical to those in Category 9, except for being unable to see the outside. These staterooms also have more square footage than those in Category 11.

The Disney Dream/Fantasy Deluxe Inside Staterooms are 204 sq ft, and the Disney Magic/Wonder rooms are 214 sq ft. They can accommodate 3 or 4 people.

Disney Wish does not have a Deluxe Inside category.

Virtual portholes on the Disney Dream and Fantasy ships allow passengers to see what is happening outside (along with a bit of Disney magic thrown in).

There are also a select few unnamed staterooms on the Magic/Wonder ships known in some circles as “secret porthole” staterooms — they actually have porthole windows but Disney decided not to classify them as oceanview rooms because lifeboats or other architectural elements obstruct the views.

Deluxe Inside Staterooms have a split bathroom, with one half having a sink and a shower, and the other half having a toilet and a sink. A, B, and C subcategories are assigned according to their locations, with A subcategories on upper decks or closer to midship, while C subcategories are on lower decks.

Recommendation : Deluxe Inside Cabins/Staterooms are an excellent option for couples or families of 3 or 4 on a budget. 

Category 11 – Standard Inside Stateroom (All Disney Cruise Ships)

Standard Inside Staterooms are typically the cheapest rooms available on Disney Cruise Line .

Standard Inside Staterooms sleep three, and some sleep four.  They’re smaller than other staterooms, but the amenities are the same. The Disney Magic and Wonder rooms are 184 square feet, while the Dream Fantasy and Wish rooms are 169 square feet.

There’s no split bathroom in a Standard Inside Stateroom. The Disney Dream and Fantasy ships feature a Magical Porthole with real-time views, but the other ships do not have exterior views.

Disney divides the rooms into categories A, B, and C based on attractiveness. Category 11A rooms are found on upper decks and near the ship’s middle, while 11B rooms are on lower decks.

Recommendation:  The Standard Inside Statement is a small and cheap option, so you shouldn’t expect too much from it. However, this DCL room offers more space than you would get on other (non-Disney) cruise ships of the same class. It allows couples and small families the opportunity to enjoy a Disney cruise at a reasonable price.

As always seems to be the case, the best option for you may not be the best option for another family.

Ask yourself the question: “what’s most important to me?”  Is it having a balcony? Is it experiencing concierge level service in a suite? Is it having additional beds for kids? Is it saving money and just making sure you’re onboard the ship?

Answering those questions, then reviewing deck plans, photos, reviews, and our guide/tips above will help you decide what’s best for you.

No matter your room type, you’re sure to have a magical experience aboard a Disney Cruise ship.

Thanks for reading our Best Staterooms on a Disney Cruise article.  Happy cruising (and don’t forget your passport)!

Ready to Book your Disney Cruise Line Stateroom?

Working with an experienced travel agent is the best way to ensure smooth sailing, and The Vacationeer is ready and willing to help you. They can help you determine the best staterooms on a Disney Cruise for your family and the best time to go on a Disney cruise as far as cost and weather are concerned.

Their team of Disney travel agents will help you wade through an ocean of option, arranging every part of your cruise and providing a generous onboard credit you can use towards purchases, activities, and gratuity while you’re on the ship.

Whether you’re planning far in advance or looking for a last-minute cruise , they have the know-how to save you money!

There’s never any obligation to book, and there’s no additional charge to use their planning services!

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How to Choose a Disney Cruise Stateroom

Disclosure: This Disney cruise stateroom post contains affiliate links. Read full Disclosure Policy .

By Alisha Molen

Have you decided which Disney Cruise you want to take? Great!

Once you have decided which Disney cruise itinerary is right for you, here is the next step:

Select the perfect stateroom!

Your Disney Cruise stateroom will be your home away from home for a few days and nights. It is also an important factor in the overall cost of your cruise.

What You Should Know about Disney Cruise Staterooms

Disney Cruise Line staterooms are tailored especially to families.

From split bathrooms, to bathtubs, to beds that pop out of the ceiling, to extra storage space and more, Disney has thought of everything!

In fact, their standard cabins are about 25% bigger than standard cabins on other cruise lines. Don’t get me wrong, they are still much smaller than a hotel room, but bigger than the cruise industry average.

Whatever your budget and taste, Disney Cruise Line has accommodations for every traveller. Stateroom options range from cozy and comfortable to grand and luxurious.

What Comes Standard in Every Stateroom?

First, it’s good to know what comes standard in every Disney Cruise Line stateroom:

• A queen bed (not two twins pushed together)
• Seating area
• Desk area with chair and dedicated lighting
• Privacy curtains that separate sleeping and seating areas
• Storage: 2 closets, under bed storage space, dresser drawers
• Hooks for towels
• Hangers (if you need more, ask your stateroom host/hostess)
• A mini refrigerator
• A hairdryer
• Television (satellite) and in-room movies
• Full length mirror
• In-room safes for wallets, passports, phones etc
• Electrical outlets
• “Wave Phones” that allow you to call and text both onboard and at Castaway Cay
• H20 Plus -branded shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion and soap
• Housekeeping services twice a day—Morning cleaning and nightly turndown service
• Life jackets for each person
• Blackout curtains (staterooms with exterior windows)
• Split bathrooms (in most staterooms)
• Bathtubs (in most staterooms)

About those Bathtubs

I love the fact that Disney Cruise Line has a bathtub in almost every stateroom! (Accessible rooms have roll-in showers instead of tubs.)

This is not the norm for most cruise lines.

With little kids a tub is kind of a must so it’s nice Disney thought of it all. Naturally they aren’t as big as your tub at home but they should do the trick for your kiddos.

For adults? I’d probably stick with the shower.

What is Not Included in Your Stateroom

Now that we covered what is in the stateroom, here are some items that are not included :

• Coffeemaker
• Ironing board

The Four Kinds of Disney Cruise Stateroom

The staterooms on Disney Cruise Line ships can be broken down into four types:

Within each of these 4 stateroom types, there are a number of “ categories ” available.

These “categories” indicate a variance within that room type such as standard or deluxe , a type of verandah, or the location - by deck or area of the ship (forward, midship, or aft).

What Do These Category Numbers Mean?

When it’s time to reserve a cabin, you’ll notice each Disney Cruise stateroom has a “category” and “number” assigned to it.

Example: 5A - Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

These can be confusing until you learn these simple rules:

1) The higher the “number”, the less expensive the stateroom

Staterooms start at category 11 (inside staterooms) and descend to category 4 (verandah staterooms). The Concierge is the most expensive and doesn’t start with a number at all.

This is handy to know because if you compare a Category 7 stateroom with a Category 6, you know at a glance that the 7 is less expensive.

2) The “letter” indicates a location on the ship

For example, 9B is a mid-ship oceanview stateroom while 9C is forward-ship oceanview stateroom. Same floor plan, just maybe on a different deck or different part of the ship.  

If there are multiple sub-categories available within a category - such as 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D - then “A” will be the most expensive and most desirable and “D” the least expensive. Of course, “most desirable” is completely subjective so take it with a grain of salt and the price difference between the subcategories is fairly minimal.

How Many Guests Can Sleep in a Stateroom?

Most regular staterooms sleeps 3-4 with a handful that sleep 5. There are also Concierge staterooms that can sleep up to 7. If you have 5+ guests in your party, check out Bonus Tip #1 below.  

How to Choose Your Stateroom

Here are our recommended steps for picking the best stateroom for your voyage:

Now...Find Your Stateroom by Ship

Here's a stateroom guide by ship: >> Disney Magic & Disney Wonder Stateroom Guide >> Disney Dream & Disney Fantasy Stateroom Guide >> Disney Wish Stateroom Guide

BONUS TIPS FOR SELECTING A STATEROOM

1) big family consider connecting staterooms.

If your group has more than 4 guests, you'll have a couple of different options for staterooms.

• A Family Oceanview stateroom or a Suite (sleeps 5 to 7 guests)
• Two connecting staterooms (sleeps up to 8 guests)

Connecting staterooms are two rooms that have a door between the adjoining wall.

You can leave the door always open to keep an eye on the little ones in the other room, or close it for privacy. It’s kinda like having your own little two-bedroom suite but for less moo-lah.

Which brings me to my next point...

Many times, getting two connecting staterooms is cheaper than one Family Oceanview stateroom or Suite. Crunch the numbers and see what will work best for your family.

NOTE: Just remember that you must have at least one adult booked in each stateroom.

How many connecting staterooms are on each ship?

There are 137 connecting staterooms on both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.

On both the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, there are over 500 connecting staterooms.

How do you know which rooms connect?

When selecting a stateroom, look for the little “doors” that open in between the cabins. If there are doors on the adjoining wall, that means it’s a connecting room.

For example, in the photo below, cabins 7064 and 7066 connect.

2) View of Beach at Castaway Cay

Want a view of the beach when in dock at Castaway Cay ? 

Book a room on the starboard (right) side of the ship.

Disney ships will usually back into Castaway Cay’s dock, so the port (left) side cabins will face the dock and the tram area while the starboard (right) side cabins will face the beaches on Castaway Cay.

Just know, this is not a guarantee.

Sometimes there are conditions that will require docking in the opposite direction.

3) If You’re On the Fence About a Verandah

First things first...let's start with this question:

What is a verandah?

A verandah stateroom on a Disney Cruise Line ship is simply a room with a balcony attached.

It is a wonderful experience to stand on your verandah and breathe in the fresh ocean air.

A DCL verandah also offers extra visibility when at port or sailing through a particularly scenic area.

If you’re debating whether to add the additional expense of a verandah (instead of an oceanview) cabin, here are some points to consider in favor of a verandah:

• Verandahs are more valuable on cruises where there is a lot of scenery. Alaska, Panama, and Mediterranean itineraries, for example.
• If you have a young child that will require a lot of naps in your stateroom, having a verandah gives the parent a place to escape to look at the view, read a book, and enjoy some room service while you wait with the little one.

4) To Avoid Noise, Have Staterooms All Around You

By booking a stateroom that has other cabins above, below and to all sides, you're able to insulate yourself from any possible ship noise (laundry, sundecks, engine, restaurants, theatres, etc).  

5) Request a Crib When You Book

You can request a crib for your baby when you book your cruise. If you have already booked your cruise, go to My Reservations to make your request.

PIN FOR LATER

Good article. Thanks for this.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I change or modify my reservation?

What are the Best Disney Cruise Rooms?

If you’re in the process of booking a Disney Cruise Line Vacation , it can be confusing to find the best Disney Cruise rooms for your time on board. That’s why we have created this guide to help you find the best Disney Cruise staterooms for your cruise vacation. Knowing how many people a stateroom can accommodate will be your priority considering the size of your party. But if you have never been on a cruise before, space in your stateroom is an amenity. So something else to take into consideration is the square footage of your Disney Cruise cabins . We cover all this and more down below so keep reading if you want to find the best fit of  Disney Cruise rooms  for you and your family. 

We hope you find this post helpful! And if you are planning a trip on a Disney cruise, be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation and find the best deals on Disney cruises!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World check out our Disney Crowd calendar!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

Types of Disney Cruise Cabins Overview

Choosing the  D isney Cruise best rooms that are the best fit for your family can make or break your time at sea. There is nothing worse for a vacation than having a room too small to enjoy and make feel like your own. Especially if it’s a multi-day cruise! On the Disney Cruise Line , guests have a choice of 4 major room categories to choose from. All of these come in different sizes, sleep a different amount of guests, and have designated floors you’ll stay on. While all D isney Cruise Line staterooms  are designed for comfort, some are more comfortable than others and may be worth the extra expense. Before we dive into the best Disney Cruise rooms, let’s go over some basic knowledge that you’ll need to start planning your perfect Disney Cruise cabin.

What is a Disney Cruise Stateroom?

• The D isney Cruise Line staterooms  will be the rooms you sleep in on board the ship. They are also referred to as cabins or rooms. But for most of the planning process and time on the ship, you will know it as a stateroom. So no matter what stateroom category you choose, your Disney Cruise Line staterooms are your home away from home while on the ship. 

What is the Best Level to Stay on a Disney Cruise?

• No matter if it’s the  best deck on Disney Wish , or any other deck on a ship in the DCL fleet, the best deck to stay on is two decks below any of the restaurants. This is typically decks 8 and 9 on most of the ships. This is typically because the restaurants that are open for breakfast start setting up before the sun rises and you can hear chairs and tables slamming on the floor, or rather your ceiling. But staying on decks 8 and 9 offers easy access to upper decks where pools and recreation are. While also just a quick trip away from lower deck theaters and the main atrium. 

Related Post: What is the Best Disney Cruise Ship?

What are the Best Disney Cruise Staterooms?

To discover which is truly the best of the D isney Cruise rooms , we have to cover what kind of staterooms are available to pick from. As we said earlier, there are 4 major categories of staterooms to choose from when sailing with Disney . There is the Concierge level which is the most expensive but is home the the luxury Disney Cruise suites . Then there is the Verandah staterooms which are more commonly known as the Disney Cruise room with balcony. The last two are the Oceanview and Inside staterooms. These bottom two tiers are the smallest staterooms but they’re also the best rooms on Disney Cruise to sail on a budget. 

All of the Best Disney Cruise Line Staterooms

• Concierge Stateroom
• Verandah Stateroom
• Oceanview Stateroom
• Inside Stateroom

No matter what category room you decide to stay in, you will be surrounded by the magic of Disney at sea. Each room is highly themed, well decorated, and makes use of the space it’s given. The  best room on Disney Cruise can be any room if you plan and know what you’re getting into. That’s why we have broken down every single stateroom available on all 5 Disney Cruise Line ships for you to compare what are the best Disney Cruise rooms for your vacation.

Related Post: When is the Cheapest Time to Go on a Disney Cruise?

Concierge Staterooms

Concierge wish tower suite.

Ships : Disney Wish (& Disney Treasure 2024 )

Size : 1,966 sq. ft.

Sleeps : 8 Guests

Price : $30,000+

Important to Know : This first-of-its-kind accommodation, perched high in the funnel above the upper decks makes it top of the list for  best rooms on Disney Wish . Featuring décor inspired by the movie Moana, the sprawling room takes up decks 14 and 15 and is accessed via a private elevator on decks 10 and 12. Guests staying in one of the best staterooms on Disney Wish  can relax in the double-height living room which features a spectacular chandelier and floor-to-ceiling glass windows—ideal for taking in sweeping ocean views.

Related Post: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship

Concierge Royal Suite with Verandah

Ships : Disney Dream, Fantasy, Magic, & Wonder

Size : 1,029 – 1,781 sq. ft.

Sleeps : 5 – 7 Guests

Price : $20,600+

Important to Know : This sophisticated art deco stateroom incorporates original artwork, vintage Disney hallmarks, and lavish marble-and-granite bathrooms to take your cruise to superlative new heights. Every Concierge Suite also includes a private verandah, affording Guests sweeping ocean views and bracing sea breezes. This D isney Cruise room is a great option for large travel parties or families looking to have space and enjoy private amenities.  This room also is home to 2 bathrooms, including a main with double sinks, a rain-style shower, and a whirlpool tub.

Related Post: How Much is a Disney Cruise Per Person?

1-Story Royal Suites with Verandah

Ships : Disney Wish

Size : 1,507 sq. ft.

Sleeps : 6 Guests

Price : $20,000+

Important to Know : Only available on the Disney Wish , guests can escape to sprawling quarters boasting extravagant details and first-class amenities inspired by the classic elegance of  Sleeping Beauty.  The plush furnishings in a soft, dreamlike palette of blue and gold are inspired by Aurora’s time in the castle. There are also dark, rich wood tones and stone accents evoking her life as Briar Rose. With 2 main bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms, including 2 main bathrooms with double sinks and a Guest bathroom with a shower, there is no shortage of space in this  D isney Cruise stateroom. 

Related Post: Complete Guide to a Disney Cruise for Adults

Concierge 2-Story Royal Suite with Verandah

Size : 1,759 sq. ft.

Price : $22,979+

Important to Know : This is another Disney Wish exclusive stateroom where you can enjoy the extravagant details and first-class amenities inspired by the classic elegance of  Sleeping Beauty.  The largest difference that separates this  best verandah room on Disney Wish from the others is that this room is split between two decks by a spiral staircase leading up to the sleeping area. Another notable trait of this room is the floor-to-ceiling windows for guests to look out and enjoy the sights of the ocean as they sail the seas.

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Concierge 2-bedroom Suite with Verandah

Ships : Disney Magic & Wonder

Size : 945 sq. ft.

Sleeps : 7 Guests

Price : $12,000+

Important to Know : Exclusive to the very first ships in Disney’s fleet , this 2 bedroom suite is one of the grandest Di sney Magic rooms . A lavish retreat for up to 7 Guests, these spacious quarters feature deluxe amenities and signature Concierge services. Concierge 2-bedroom Suites with Verandah are classified as Category 01B and are located on Deck 8, Forward. Guests can relax and feel at home in a palatial 2-bedroom suite adorned with original artwork, vintage Disney hallmarks, warm wood finishes with inlaid details, tasteful furnishings, and lavish marble-and-granite bathrooms.

Related Post: What was Disney Cruise Line’s First Ship?

Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite with Verandah

Ships : All Disney Cruise Ships

Size :  608 – 622 sq. ft.

Sleeps : 5 Guests

Price : $9,179

Important to Know : This first-class level of D isney Cruise rooms with a balcony can be found on every ship. However, on the brand new Disney Wish, this cabin comes with an extended verandah which makes it that much more luxurious. While this Concierge level room is the smallest available option, it comes with the title of most affordable Concierge tier stateroom. This is a great option for guests who want to save money while still sailing in style.

Related Post: Is There a Cheap Time to Book a Disney Cruise?

Verandah Staterooms

Family deluxe verandah stateroom.

Size : 299 – 304 sq. ft.

Sleeps : 4 – 5 Guests

Price : $3,000+

Important to Know : Entering the next class of rooms onboard the Disney Cruise Line , the Verandah rooms are the most popular option. Its reasonable price point, access to the ship’s amenities, and private balcony make it the go-to room for many guests. On every ship, this is a serene setting to unwind in while at sea, this room type offers generous square footage and a private place to admire the view. The extra square footage can come in handy for larger families or families with more than two little ones.

Related Post: What is Halloween on the High Seas?

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

Size : 246 – 268 sq. ft.

Sleeps : 3 – 4 Guests

Important to Know : While available on all ships, the Deluxe Oceanview Verandah room is one of the best  D isney Dream cruise rooms . Like the Family Verandah, it hosts enough space for you to feel comfortable while also allowing you a private space on the side of the ship to enjoy the views and fresh sea air. Making it the perfect room to watch the sunrise, bask in ocean breezes and, enjoy your morning coffee or an evening nightcap.

Related Post: Make the Most Out of an Adult-Only Disney Cruise

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah – Undersized, Obstructed View, or White Wall

Important to Know : While not much changes about These  D isney Cruise staterooms , the private balcony for these rooms can vary quite a bit. While you will still have patio furniture and a great view of the ocean, it might be reduced in size or impeded in some way. However, some cruises say it’s a great way to save a couple of bucks while still enjoying everything there is to have in a Verandah room.

Related Post: How Much should I save for a Disney Cruise Per Person?

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Navigator’s Verandah

Price : $2,700+

Important to Know : The least expensive D isney Cruise room with a balcony , the Navigator’s Verandah is a smaller and more enclosed private verandah for you to enjoy. Like the obstructed or undersized verandah, nothing will change about the room itself. I loved my experience with the Navigator’s Verandah as it gave me more privacy when using the balcony. It also adds a sense of security since the only open space is the round port hole. My favorite aspect of this room is that it is less expensive and also has less wind making it easier to enjoy a meal on the balcony.

Related Post: What is the Special Halloween Disney Cruise?

Oceanview Staterooms

Deluxe family oceanview stateroom.

Ships : Disney Dream, Fantasy, & Wish

Size : 237 – 241 sq. ft.

Sleeps : 3 – 5 Guests

Price : $2,900+

Important to Know : Boasting more square footage than a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom, these spacious quarters feature one large porthole as your outlook to the sea. Depending on what room you receive and on what ship, you may even have two port holes in one room! While you can sometimes find these rooms on higher decks like 8 and 9, they are mostly located lower on the ship. The majority of these rooms are located on decks 5 and 6. These D isney Cruise cabins  are ideal for families who don’t need the private verandah. The rooms are essentially the same without the balcony!

Related Post: What is the Best Disney Cruise Ship for your Family?

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

Size : 204 – 218 sq. ft

Price : $2,800+

Important to Know : With the same square footage as a Deluxe Inside Stateroom, this room type includes a delightful porthole window. Be dazzled by incredible sunrises and stunning sunsets through 1 or 2 portholes, all from the plush comfort of your room. If you’re looking to go on a Disney Cruise for a discount , you’ll find comfort in the Oceanview Stateroom. This room is ideal for guests who are just using their room as a place to sleep and want to fully enjoy everything the ship has to offer. While also providing natural light and still breathtaking ocean views.

Related Post: Are there Discounts on Disney Cruises?

Interior Staterooms

Deluxe inside stateroom.

Size : 204 – 214 sq. ft.

Sleeps : 3 – 4

Important to Know : Available on every ship except the Disney Wish, the Deluxe Family Inside Stateroom is ideal for guests looking to use their room simply as a place to sleep and store their belongings. While this room is by no means a  luxury Disney Cruise suite , it still is donned with incredible fabrics and comfortable bedding. On Disney Dream and Fantasy, these rooms also have “Magic Portholes”. These are LED screens in the shape of a circle showing the “ocean” outside. If you keep an eye out, you’ll see some of your favorite Disney Characters float (or swim) by!

Related Post: Which ship is Disney’s newest ship?

Standard Inside Stateroom

Size : 169 – 184 sq. ft.

Important to Know : The smallest of all staterooms, the Standard Inside Staterooms are the best  D isney Cruise rooms  to stay in if you’re cruising on a budget. Although small, it is the perfect size for someone sailing by themselves or with one other person. Personally, even though it technically can sleep up to 4 guests, I wouldn’t recommend this room for anyone traveling with more than 2 people total. The space, while designed usefully, is small and can feel very cramped when getting ready for dinners or other events your sailing might have.

Related Post: What is the best Disney Cruise ship for Adults?

Best Disney Cruise Rooms FAQ

Q: Which is the Best Deck to stay on a Disney Wish Cruise Ship?

A: If you’re not staying in a Concierge-level stateroom, the best deck to stay on Disney Wish  is deck 9. On this deck, you will be only 2 decks below the main dining areas and pools. You could stay on deck 10 which is directly below the main amenity deck 11. But book your room with caution! If you stay directly under high-traffic areas, there is a chance you can hear people running around or the Crew Members preparing the restaurants at odd hours. 

Q: Which side of the Disney Cruise Ship to stay on?

A: This is up to you! There is no “bad side” of a Disney ship nor does it change the price you pay. The biggest difference in what side of the ship you stay on is what view you want to have while docked at ports of call. If you want the potential to see beaches and other ships, I recommend booking a room on the starboard (right) side of the ship. But if you’d like to be able to watch people running to the ship at the very last minute, a room on the port (left) side will be best for you.

Q: What is the Best Part of the Ship to stay on Disney Wish?

A: For all cruisers, but especially if it’s your first time sailing or you are prone to seasickness, the best location on Disney Cruise ship is to stay in mid or the middle of the ship. This is where you will feel less of the ship’s movement and more stability as you sail to your destinations. However, I have stayed in both the Mid and Aft (back) of the ship and had a better experience in the back!

Q: What is the most Luxurious Stateroom in Disney  Cruise Ship?

A: By far the most luxurious stateroom on a Disney ship is the Tower Suite on the Disney Wish and soon-to-sail Disney Treasure. This stateroom is a first of its kind and is a full two-deck room in the ship’s forward tunnel. On the Disney Wish, the room is themed to the animated film Moana . While on the soon-to-sail Disney Treasure, it is going to be EPCOT-themed! This will mark the first room themed after one of the Disney Theme Parks! We can’t wait to see this new ship and all it has to offer so make sure to check back for more updates!

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our  Disney  World Crowd Calendar  is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down   the best time to visit Disney World   based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a   Disney World Travel Agent  for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a  Free Quote  for all  Disney World Vacation Packages .  The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your   Walt Disney World Tickets ,  and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as   Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets   and  Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets .

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at  Theme Park Today , as well!

Who We Recommend

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* Your magic rewards program points are automatically calculated into all theme park ticket prices!

Kurt Gillman

Kurt is a former Disneyland Cast Member and seasoned explorer and is your trusted guide to the world of theme park travel. With countless visits to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, Tokyo Disneyland, and even aboard the Disney Cruise Line, Kurt's expertise and passion make him the perfect companion for your enchanting adventures. As the Multi-Media Manager, Content Creator and Writer for The Park Prodigy, Kurt hopes his experience and knowledge of the theme park industry can not only save people money, but give them the stress free vacation of their dreams. If he isn’t found trying the newest treats in Disneyland, Kurt enjoys relaxing at home with his dog Sam and playing video games with friends in his free time.

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Disney Cruise Rooms: How to Choose the Perfect Stateroom

Jill Robbins

Suppose you’re considering a Disney Cruise for your next family vacation. In that case, you’ve probably clicked around a bit on Disney Cruise Line’s website to find the perfect ship and route that aligns with when you want to go on the ultimate Disney vacation.

Perhaps you’ve made it to stateroom selection, and now you’re stuck. What to choose? Choices can be intimidating and confusing, especially when you’re making decisions about high-dollar vacations, and yes, Disney Cruises are among the most expensive cruise vacations out there. How do you decide what’s the best stateroom – or staterooms – for your travel party? Do you go cheap and put the savings into another part of your vacation, or do you play that YOLO card and splurge on the most expensive?

Only you can decide how much money you’re willing to part with, but hopefully, I can make the decision-making process a little easier by breaking down the different Disney Cruise staterooms.

I’ve sailed on four of the five Disney Cruise Line vessels : The Disney Magic , the Disney Wonder , the Disney Dream , and the new  Disney Wish . My family is booked on the Disney Fantasy  for spring break 2024, bringing us to what’s known in Disney Cruise Line circles as a Grand Slam.

We’ve booked a variety of cabins, from the least expensive inside stateroom to a concierge 1-bedroom suite. I prefer concierge – because of course I do – but our budget doesn’t allow us to drop that kind of money every time we go on a cruise. I’ve found something to love about all the Disney Cruise Line staterooms we’ve stayed in, so let’s take a dive into the different room types.

About the 10 Different Categories of Staterooms

Disney uses numeric categories to classify their staterooms. It can be confusing for newbies who read cruise stateroom reviews to try and decipher what “Category 1A or Category 7 means. I’ll provide a brief key below for reference:

• 1A – Royal Suite
• 1B – Concierge 2-bedroom Suite With Verandah
• 2A or 2B (there’s some variation between ships) – Concierge 1-Bedroom Suite With Verandah
• 3A – Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah
• 4 – Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah
• 5 – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah
• 6 – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah (Undersized, Obstructed View, or White Wall)
• 7 – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom With Navigator’s Verandah
• 8- Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom
• 9 – Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
• 10 – Deluxe Inside Stateroom
• 11 – Standard Inside Staterooms

Essentially, the lower the category number, the more expensive the stateroom. When you’re on the Disney Cruise website browsing rooms, you’ll see the square footage listed, which includes the bathroom space as well as the verandah.

Concierge Rooms

Concierge rooms are not only nicer, more spacious rooms with more amenities but there are also extended services that go along with the extra room. Concierge services include shoreside services, such as assistance with booking shore excursions and onboard activities. Concierge guests also get an early booking window to get their first pick of activities and coveted extras like cabanas at Castaway Cay.

Concierge guests also get access to the ship’s Concierge Lounge. Lounge perks include private sundecks, near round-the-clock access to nibbles, bottled sodas, bottled water, juices, and specialty coffees, and an open bar in the evenings.

Concierge Royal Suite

Each ship has at least one Royal Suite. These luxe accommodations sleep six and have separate living areas and dining areas, and private hot tubs. The newest Royal Suites on the Disney Wish  are Sleeping Beauty-themed. If you want the highest of high-end and are prepared to pay the price, these suites are the ultimate experience on board a Disney Cruise.

I recommend booking with a travel agent who can help you navigate the availability of these suites. Since they’re in limited numbers, they tend to book up fast, so if you’ve got your heart set on staying in a Royal Suite, a travel agent has a better view of availability across the fleet.

One and Two-Bedroom Suites

These suites offer space to spread out at a more affordable price than the Royal Suite, although affordable is a relative term when it comes to concierge staterooms.

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My family and I stayed in a one-bedroom suite on the Disney Dream,  and we enjoyed the extra space and privacy. The king-sized bed had pocket doors that separated our sleeping space from the rest of the room, and we had two full baths, one with an oversized bathtub. Our kids slept on a pullout couch and a Murphy bed in the living room.

Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah

The Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah is the least expensive concierge room. The room is very similar to a non-concierge oceanview stateroom with a verandah and is essentially a category 4 or 5 stateroom with concierge room decor and amenities and access to concierge services, such as the lounge and pre-arrival assistance. If you want the white glove VIP service but don’t need a bunch of extra room, this is the way to go.

Oceanview Staterooms

If you want to see the water from your stateroom, Oceanview is the stateroom for you. There are several categories to choose from here. The big decision to make is whether or not you want a balcony, AKA verandah. If you decide to go with a verandah, there are some nuances regarding views so if unobstructed ocean views are a must, make sure you’re reading carefully when you book or specifying exactly what you want when you talk to your travel agent.

Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms and Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

When it comes to Disney Cruise Line staterooms, the word “family” is going to mean a larger room that sleeps more people.

Think of the oceanview as the middle-of-the-road choice between a room with a verandah and an inside room. The rooms have porthole windows where you can see outside and get that natural light. The oceanview stateroom is more money than the inside staterooms but not as costly as the verandah or concierge rooms, so, if you want to land somewhere between those two options, this can be a good choice.

The oceanview stateroom may also be a good compromise for parents of young children. Sometimes parents have the worry that their little ones are going to try and climb the balcony and fall overboard, so the oceanview sans balcony eliminates that situation.

The verandah staterooms do have high locks on the doors to the balcony, though, so it’s easy for parents to manage, safety-wise.

The balconies are about 45 square feet – not huge, but large enough for three to four people to comfortably stand on to look out. There are two chairs and a small table, quite comfortable to sit in and enjoy a drink or your morning coffee.

Oceanview Staterooms With Verandah

As you can see from the list above, there are many variations and multiple categories listed for rooms with a private verandah. The difference between the verandahs in Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah and Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah is going to be the size of the stateroom and the number of people it can sleep, five versus four people. Categories 4 and 5 have the same type of unobstructed verandah.

When you get into categories 6, 7, and 8 on Disney Cruise ships, you get smaller verandahs, potential obstructions, or a white wall verandah. Most of the verandahs are acrylic, where you can see ocean views even while seated. A Navigator’s Verandah is a mostly enclosed verandah that has a large, circular hole for viewing. The smaller or obstructed view verandahs will be priced lower than categories 4 and 5. The differences are very minor, so if you have an opportunity to save or your selection of verandah rooms is limited, consider how much time you’ll spend on the verandah and decide from there.

Inside Staterooms

Inside staterooms are the cheapest staterooms. Depending on availability, you’ll be able to choose from a standard inside stateroom and a deluxe inside stateroom.

Inside staterooms are exactly that – inside. There’s no porthole window or balcony to let in the natural light or ocean breezes.

Deluxe Inside Stateroom Vs. Standard Inside Stateroom

The big difference between standard and deluxe is that the deluxe has a split bathroom. The split bathroom means a toilet and vanity separate from the shower and second sink. It’s a great feature and allows someone to be in the shower without holding someone up if they need to use the toilet. The extra square footage in the deluxe – about 50 feet – is all the split bathroom.

We stayed in a deluxe inside stateroom on the Disney Magic . We initially booked the standard inside stateroom, but Disney upgraded us shortly before we left for the port, and we appreciated the extra space in the bathroom. Otherwise, I thought the inside cabin was just fine. I thought I would miss the verandah but didn’t. The dark cabin was great for sleeping. Also, many of the inside staterooms are on the lower decks. When we were in an inside stateroom on Deck 2, catching the stairs and bypassing the crowded elevators was easy.

Inside staterooms on the Disney Fantasy  and Disney Dream have a virtual porthole, which is a digital screen that shows real-time views of the ship’s exterior with the occasional visit from a Disney character. You can turn off the virtual porthole if you choose.

Standard In-Room Amenities

The Inside and Oceanview staterooms are all very similar, and the main differences between the stateroom categories are verandahs and split bathrooms versus single bathrooms. Regarding the available beds and storage space, there’s not much difference between non-concierge rooms.

The rooms typically sleep four, with a few sleeping five, so larger families or groups may want to consider adjoining cabins if not comfortable splitting up. When you enter the room, you’ll see a queen bed, a couch, a coffee table, and a combination desk/storage unit. There’s a curtain divider guests can use to close the bed off from the rest of the stateroom.

The couch converts into a bed, and there’s an additional bed housed in the ceiling. The stateroom attendant will convert the couch into a bed and handle the pull-down bed during nightly turndown service. Although the quarters are pretty close, this setup does well for a family of four, with the kids sleeping on the bunk beds and the parents sleeping on the queen bed. The curtain provides a small amount of privacy.

Staterooms have a small flatscreen TV that’s mounted on a swivel so they can be positioned to be seen from the bed or the couch. Although no one goes on a cruise to watch TV, there are a variety of channels that include information about the ship’s route and activities as well as Disney programming and news.

Bathroom Amenities

In addition to towels and soap, standard DCL bathroom amenities include shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, and soap. Concierge staterooms have elevated toiletries. The Disney Wish  provides bathrobes as part of the standard stateroom amenities but on the other ships, they’re only for concierge guests.

Storage Space

Storage space in a Disney Cruise Line stateroom is adequate but tight. If you have four people in a cabin, storage space is more at a premium, but unless you’re big over-packers, everyone has enough space to store their belongings.

There’s a bit of closet space – if you have a lot of hanging garments, I recommend travel hangers – and storage cubbies and drawers in the bathroom and the main part of the cabin. The under-bed area has room for suitcase storage.

Best Advice When Choosing Staterooms

Budget is going to be most people’s driving factor when choosing a stateroom. Depending on the length of the cruise, there’s usually a several thousand dollar difference between an inside stateroom and the cheapest concierge stateroom.

Cruise ships are so filled with activities and other things to do, and guests aren’t meant to spend a ton of time in their stateroom, so don’t think you’ll be shortchanging your experience if you book an inside stateroom. If you have a larger budget and prioritize that extra level of elevated service, concierge is a fun splurge.

I also recommend you look at a deck plan before you lock in a stateroom to see where you’ll be in relation to everything else on the ship. If your cabin is directly below the sun deck, you might be woken early by the sounds of the deck crew setting up the chairs for the day. If your cabin is near the elevators, you might hear lots of foot traffic, although the upside is that being near the elevators means it’s faster and easier to get around the ship.

Midship staterooms on a high deck are generally the most stable, so this might be a necessary choice if you’re prone to seasickness.

Travel Agents Can Be Excellent Advisors

When it comes to choosing a stateroom, a travel agent can be a great resource, especially if you’re a first-time cruiser. They’re familiar with the ships, deck plans, and what the passengers want and need, even when the passengers may not fully know.

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The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

After decades of success making families smile and laugh at its theme parks, Disney dipped its toes into the world of cruising in 1998. Disney didn't just copy another cruise line's model for success or slap its name on the side of an existing ship. It created its own brand of cruising.

Disney went so far into charting its own path as to get special approval from the U.S. Coast Guard for its ships' lifeboats to be yellow instead of regulation orange, to tie into the colors of Mickey himself — black, red, white and yellow.

Now, Disney Cruise Line has five ships sailing in those signature colors, along with three more on order. In a normal year, those five ships take tens of thousands of families on sailings to the Caribbean , Mexico, Alaska, Europe, Bermuda, Bahamas, through the Panama Canal and even to Australia and New Zealand.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Having sailed four of Disney Cruise Line's five ships, I can say the experience is indeed special — especially if you have kids. But Disney's not a one-trick cruise line that's only good for one age group. It offers kids clubs and activities to suit babies through teens and has several adults-only areas of the ship . Its newest ship, Disney Wish , provides more cool spaces for adults than any previous vessel.

Disney's attention to detail transfers to its voyages on the sea. But unlike at the Disney theme parks, which can be a bit complicated to navigate, long lines and complex strategies are rarely a part of the Disney cruise experience.

Get the free planning help of a Disney vacation planner via TPG's partner, Mouse Counselors .

What TPG loves about Disney Cruise Line

• Broadway-caliber shows and first-run movies.
• Disney-level service and attention to detail.
• High-quality Disney character interactions and kids clubs.
• Innovative, included rotational dining.

What we could do without

• Disney cruises are expensive.
• The onboard Wi-Fi is not the fastest, especially on ships that haven't been upgraded. And it's not cheap.

Disney Cruise Line fleet

While Disney may be a household name, Disney Cruise Line is actually a small line. It currently sails just five ships, compared to 27 at its family-friendly competitor Royal Caribbean .

Of the five, two are smaller ships, and three are larger.

The largest ships in Disney's fleet are Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, at 1,115 feet long and 14 decks high, and Disney Wish , at 1,119 feet and 15 decks high.

These three ships each have a passenger capacity of 4,000 people spread out across approximately 1,250 cabins. The overwhelming majority of cabins on these ships have an ocean view or private verandah, with only 10%-12% being windowless inside cabins. (On its oldest four ships, these interior rooms have a "magical porthole" that displays a live feed from outside to replicate a window.)

Disney Treasure , expected to join the fleet in 2024, will be in the same larger Triton class of ships as Disney Wish.

Disney Wish is currently a workhorse of short three- and four-night sailings from Port Canaveral , Florida, to the Bahamas, home to Disney's private island , Castaway Cay.

Disney Fantasy often sails weeklong cruises out of Florida. With the addition of Disney Wish to the fleet, Disney Dream now spends its summer across the Atlantic, offering European cruises from May to September, then spending much of the rest of the year based out of Fort Lauderdale.

The smaller two ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet are Disney Wonder and the line's first ship, Disney Magic .

These two ships are 984 feet long and 11 decks high, and each has the capacity for 2,713 passengers across 875 staterooms. On these two smaller ships, 70% of passenger cabins have ocean views or verandahs.

Disney Wonder is often on the move and currently splits its time among Alaska , the South Pacific, Hawaii, California, Mexico and beyond. Disney Magic spends part of its year based out of Galveston, Texas, or New Orleans and much of the rest based out of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Related: Best destinations you can sail to on a Disney cruise

Disney Cruise Line destinations and itineraries

Disney Cruise Line has about 370 annual departures scheduled that range from two- to 15-night sailings. Many new-to-Disney itineraries have recently become available as the line is adding new ships for the first time in a decade.

Disney Cruise Line destinations include:

• New Zealand
• Pacific Coast
• South Pacific

Disney Wish has, by far, the highest number of annual sailings, with 105 three- and four-night cruises departing from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. These sailings all go to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay; some also stop in Nassau, Bahamas.

Some Disney cruises do what's called a "double dip" and make two stops at the private island, where you can step ashore without leaving the Disney bubble.

Pro tip: If you go to Castaway Cay, rent a bike for a little exercise and a self-guided tour of the island. Or, you can run the at-your-pace 5K that morning around the island.

Coming in summer 2024 , Disney will have a second exclusive beach destination in the Bahamas — Lighthouse Point.

This won't be an entire private island like Castaway Cay, but it will be an exclusive beachfront space designed for Disney Cruise Line with many similar offerings to Castaway. Disney Magic, Disney Wonder and Disney Fantasy will call on this new destination for the first time in 2024.

Related: Best tips and tricks for sailing with Disney Cruise Line

Who sails Disney Cruise Line?

Let's start with the obvious: Families love Disney Cruise Line.

The ultimate sweet spot for taking a Disney cruise starts when a child is at least 3 years old and potty trained (the criteria that get them into the included kids clubs) and lasts until they outgrow their love of Disney characters. Remember, Disney now includes the "Star Wars" and Marvel brands and offers themed cruises featuring those characters, too.

A Disney cruise costs more than a similar cruise on a line like Royal Caribbean , so it's easiest to justify the expense when your kids love Disney the most.

So, yes, the stereotype that Disney Cruise Line is full of families is 100% correct.

You'll see many families with kids in those preschool, elementary and middle school years. But you'll also see families with little babies (the minimum age is 6 months on most sailings, 1 year on Panama Canal and transatlantic sailings), tweens, teens, college-age kids and even grandparents who have made a Disney cruise an enjoyable multigenerational travel tradition.

Related: Comparing Disney, Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruises for families

You'll also see cruisers who love Disney regardless of age and are proud to wear their Mickey ears while hearing the first seven notes of the "When You Wish Upon a Star" melody blown from the ship's massive horn.

Just like you don't need kids to have a great time at Disney World or Disneyland, you can happily cruise as adults without offspring on Disney Cruise Line. All the ships have active adults-only sun decks, pool and lounges. Disney Wish especially invested in its adult offerings with an infinity pool, along with more bars spread around the ship instead of being clustered into one main area.

Disney Cruise Line cabins and suites

At a basic level, Disney Cruise Line offers five main types of cabins across the fleet. In its simplified version, the types of cabins on a Disney cruise include:

• Windowless inside cabins
• Ocean-view cabins
• Verandah cabins (with private balconies)
• Verandah cabins with concierge service
• Suites with concierge service

These cabins start at 169 square feet for a standard inside cabin and go up to a two-story, 1,966-square-foot Tower Suite on Disney Wish .

Unless you are OK with the smallest space on the ship or have a budget for the largest, the sweet spot for price and comfort on Disney Cruise Line vessels is probably the cabins that are around 204 square feet and usually come with a queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper-berth pull-down bed and a split bath.

This split bathroom situation places a sink and the shower/tub combo in one bathroom and the toilet and another sink in the other. Each has its own separate door, so someone could use the toilet/sink room while another takes a shower, all in private and at the same time.

You'll find this cabin layout within the Deluxe Inside Staterooms, Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms and Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah categories.

The Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms and Deluxe Family Oceanview Staterooms with Verandah add about 40 more square feet to the equation. If you want the largest within those room categories, search for rooms that can hold five people on the Disney Cruise Line website.

Pro tip: You can ask your cabin host for cartoon bedding for the kid's bed if you think your child will be excited to come back from dinner to one of their Disney favorites.

You can connect many of the cabins on the ship , which is often a much more economical solution for a family looking for more sleeping space (and bathrooms) than upgrading to a multibedroom suite. Roughly speaking, a family of four will pay about 50% more for two cabins than they will for everyone to stay in one cabin of the same size.

Related: 7 nights. 4 people. 1 cruise ship cabin. Can we survive?

If you are going all-out on a particular trip, or are simply working with a larger budget, Disney concierge suites are special.

The smallest available room with this service is the Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, which isn't all that different from the Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, other than the included concierge service. From there, you can go up to the one- or two-bedroom suites.

Be prepared for sticker shock, though, as these suites will almost certainly be near or over five figures on many sailings.

While pricey, Disney concierge service eliminates almost all of the potential pain points of a Disney cruise (not that there are many pain points to begin with).

Disney concierge service gets you access to the Disney Concierge Lounge, which has food offerings multiple times per day and a fully stocked fridge with sodas, juices and bottles of water.

In the evenings, you'll find included beer, wine and spirits in the lounge — which you can also take with you as you head out to dinner or to enjoy the view from the deck.

The Concierge Lounge also has its own private deck, and Disney characters have been known to make a private appearance there during the cruise. (Don't worry, you'll get a heads-up.)

Related: Is Disney Cruise Line concierge service worth it?

You also have your own check-in area at the port and are among the first to board the ship, which can mean extra time to enjoy having the waterslides to yourself. At the end of the cruise, you can have a private elevator that takes you down to be some of the first off the ship — which should protect you from a long line to say goodbye.

There are other perks of the concierge level, too, such as early front-row seating at shows, included popcorn and the ability to submit your request for meal reservations at Palo or Remy, cabanas on Castaway Cay, spa treatments, character meet-and-greets or whatever else you wish before other guests. These can be made for you starting 120 days before your sailing, which is before all other guests except those with the highest elite status tier in the Castaway Club .

Passengers on their first Disney cruise don't get to make those reservations until 75 days out if they aren't in the concierge level. The reality is the hottest items are often booked up by then, especially on shorter cruises when there's less time to do everything.

Those in the concierge level in one-bedroom suites and higher can also order room service from the restaurants to their cabin, which means you can have a hot breakfast on your verandah if you wish instead of the regular continental options available to most guests.

If you are on the fence about concierge service, it's arguably most valuable when you are on a shorter cruise, have some specific popular must-have items on your reservation wish list or want someone else to take care of everything. You can also inquire about discounted upgrades at the port, assuming rooms are left unsold on your voyage.

Pro tip: Regardless of your cabin, bring magnetic Mickey or nautical-themed decor for the entrance, as most of the cabin doors are magnetic. Decorating is a fun tradition on a Disney cruise.

Related: Review of sailing in a suite with Disney concierge service

Disney Cruise Line restaurants and dining options

You will not go hungry on a Disney cruise. From room service to evening dinners, meals are (mostly) all included.

Rotational dining

On each Disney ship, three main dining rooms serve as dinner restaurants that participate in rotational dining. Each ship has its own lineup of themed rotational restaurants, but the concept remains the same on each.

Each night, your tablemates and servers will move from one restaurant to the next as a team. This way, the servers get to know that you always want to start with a glass of red wine, or your kids' food needs to come ASAP so you can take them to the kids club as soon as they finish, or (in my case) your daughter wants a side of barbecue sauce with ... everything.

You must choose between an early and a late dinner time, with your showtime opposite your dining time. Some restaurants, such as Animator's Palate, are found on multiple ships, while others are unique to one ship, such as Tiana's Place on Disney Wonder and all of the rotational restaurants found on Disney Wish .

Included restaurants on Disney Magic

• Animator's Palate
• Lumiere's
• Rapunzel's Royal Table

Included restaurants on Disney Wonder

• Tiana's Place
• Triton's

Included restaurants on Disney Dream

• Enchanted Garden
• Royal Palace

Included restaurants on Disney Fantasy

• Royal Court

Included restaurants on Disney Wish

• Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
• Worlds of Marvel

At these restaurants, you can order whatever you want on the menu at no extra charge, with a few exceptions (for example, alcohol and specialty drinks cost extra).

While many guests dress up a bit for dinner (compared to their afternoon pool deck attire), most stay relatively casual for the rotational dining restaurants. Disney does not impose a specific dress-up requirement.

Disney cruise ships offer many other dining options beyond the three included themed restaurants — most included, some not.

Room service

Room service is mostly free (other than sodas or alcohol), though the menu is limited if you aren't staying in a concierge-level cabin. Still, it's free room service, so I'm not one to complain.

Pro tip: Fill the breakfast card out the night before and hang it on your stateroom to get breakfast exactly when you want it the next morning.

And you haven't lived until your kids learn how to call and order free Mickey ice cream bars to the cabin ... every night (just be sure and add a tip).

Buffet and grab-and-go

Your Disney cruise will also include a buffet known as Cabanas on the original four ships and Marceline Market on Disney Wish. The buffet is usually open for breakfast and lunch, though not in the evening hours.

In addition to the buffet, a few grab-and-go quick-service restaurants on the pool deck serve salads, chili, pizza, barbecue and more, depending on which ship you're sailing.

Don't miss these options, as some are quite good. They are typically open from late morning until later into the evening.

Room service, the buffet and the on-deck food counter dining options don't cost extra and are available to you in addition to or instead of your rotational dining.

You'll also find included ice cream on one of the upper decks. A pro-level hack is to get Mickey churro waffles from the buffet in the morning (only available some mornings) and add vanilla ice cream for a vacation-worthy breakfast.

Extra-cost, adults-only restaurants

At the top of the "costs extra" list are the restaurants Palo (found on all five ships, though it's Palo Steakhouse on Disney Wish), Remy (on Dream and Fantasy) and Enchante (only on Disney Wish).

Remy is a fancy adults-only French restaurant that costs $125 per person for dinner (more if you order drinks). This is the type of place where men need jackets and women are expected to wear dresses, pantsuits or a skirt and blouse. Enchante on Disney Wish is similar — you're dressing up for these meals.

Palo is also fancy, though a notch less fancy than Remy. You'll see jackets and dresses in Palo, but you can also get by with nice jeans if you want. This adults-only restaurant serves Northern Italian fare and starts at about $45 per person for a multicourse brunch or dinner, though you can also order a la carte for dinner, which could cost more or less, depending on your order.

I can say with 100% certainty that if you enjoy a nice meal, this is worth the extra $45 once during your cruise . From the breadbasket to the dessert, it's all amazing. You'll gain 5 pounds, but you won't regret a bite.

These reservations are hard to get, especially for brunch, so you'll want to make them the second you are eligible and keep checking back for cancellations if you miss out the first time.

Coffee shops and snack shops

On a Disney cruise, the snacks and pastries you'll see in the coffee shop or kiosk are all included, but the specialty coffee will cost extra. Drink prices are roughly similar to Starbucks, if not a notch lower. Be sure and ask for the Cafe Fanatic card if you're a regular, as your sixth drink will be free.

In addition to the included soft-serve ice cream and Mickey bars available via room service, your ship may have some shops with extra-fee ice cream. This can confuse kids, so I want to warn you beforehand. On Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish, you'll find an ice cream shop stuffed with candies, gelato and ice cream — all for an extra charge.

Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy also have a juice bar that costs extra.

The exact bars will vary by vessel, but you can expect spots like a wine and Champagne bar, a pub, a laid-back lounge and a bar with live entertainment.

These bars are a lot of fun and are not to be missed if you like live music or a nice drink at the end of the day. Keep an eye out in your app for when and where the happy hours are on board if you want to save a few dollars on your drinks. Some bars also offer a sommelier bin where you get a nice glass of wine at a discounted price — as long as you put the bartender in charge of choosing your drink.

Some of the drink-tasting classes that you book in advance can be a good value if you're a fan of the drink on offer and are interested in learning a little bit while you sip. You'll want to book these before sailing, as many do sell out.

Food on Castaway Cay

If your cruise takes you to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, you're in luck, as there's plenty of included food to eat there, too.

Just like on board, some of the food on Castaway is included, while alcohol and specialty drinks are not. The Cookie's and Cookie's Too lunch shacks on the island are both included, so load up on hot dogs, barbecue, hamburgers, fries and all the fixings. Vegetarian options are available.

While the food options here are somewhat basic, they still make for a fun and free meal.

However, if you don't like what is on offer on the island, you can always hop back on your ship for lunch and then continue your afternoon on the island after you eat.

Entertainment and activities on a Disney cruise

A valid reason to want to sail with Disney is the onboard fun that awaits — especially for those who love Disney characters and stories.

Theaters and shows

Each Disney cruise ship features two theaters. In the massive Walt Disney Theatre, you'll enjoy Broadway-caliber evening shows such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Frozen," "Tangled," "Disney Dreams," "The Golden Mickeys" and more. If you want a good seat, arrive about 30 minutes early since seating is first come, first served.

The Buena Vista Theatre screens first-run Disney films. These will be the same films still showing in theaters on land. If you happen to be at sea when a new Disney movie premieres on land, you'll also get that same first look at sea.

Pirate Night is a staple on many Disney cruises in the Caribbean. On that themed night, expect everyone to be dressed in their pirate-y best for the evening, so pack accordingly. Your dinner will also have a pirate theme, followed by a fun show up on deck, complete with fireworks.

Pro tip: If you plan to stay up late for Pirate Night, try to work in a nap that afternoon so you don't miss out on the nighttime fun.

Game shows, karaoke, bingo and more

The extensive lineup of interactive game shows, trivia, karaoke, dance parties, bingo and more listed in the Disney cruise app are worth checking out. Some of these are adults-only, while others are fun for the whole family. Most are included in the price of the cruise, though bingo does cost extra — and you could win real money.

Other interior attractions and activities

Meeting Disney characters is a fun part of a Disney cruise.

You can make reservations to meet the popular princesses, but most characters are easy to walk up to and meet via a short line. Or, even better, you often see them roaming about the ship at unexpected times.

You can work off some of those treats and drinks at the onboard fitness center on each ship.

The Senses Spa & Salon is a full-service spa with everything from massages to pedicures and hair care. Promotions are available if you book more than one treatment. If you have a Disney Visa card , you can also save 20% on select onboard services.

Pro tip: The showers in this part of the ship are full-size, in case you are getting a bit claustrophobic in the shower in your cabin.

If you like getting away to relax, look at purchasing access to the Rainforest Room for heated stone loungers, aromatherapy showers and even hot tubs on the larger ships. You can buy a one-day or full-cruise pass to this area of the spa, but get a tour first as the layout and inclusions in this space vary dramatically from ship to ship.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Little cruisers can be transformed into a princess or pirate at sea at the onboard Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, which does themed kid makeovers and sells costumes as part of the package. You'll need an appointment; expect to pay $100 to $200 for most packages.

This is a fun thing to do before meeting a princess, before a more formal night or anytime you want to see a huge smile on your kid's face. If you have a princess dress or outfit from home you want to use or reuse, you can purchase a cheaper package at Bibbidi Bobbidi.

Decktop attractions

Waterslides.

All of Disney Cruise Line's ships have some kind of waterslide on board.

The AquaDuck waterslide on Dream and Fantasy takes riders in single or double tubes 765 feet from Deck 12 up and down, through the forward funnel and on a four-deck drop. It's pretty epic. AquaMouse on Disney Wish is also an inner tube-based ride and is not to be missed.

These lines can get long, so I recommend riding first thing when you board if the port is warm enough. Nighttime rides usually have short waits, too.

Disney Magic has the most thrilling waterslide in the fleet, called AquaDunk, and Disney Wonder has its own waterslide in the AquaLab splash area.

Each Disney ship has multiple pools, though if you've never been on a cruise, you may be initially shocked at how small they are — and how busy they can get.

As with the waterslides, we recommend enjoying these first thing when you board if you want to try them without crowds. Otherwise, you won't find so many people in the pools on port days, early in the morning and right before dinner. There are thousands of people on the ship and only a few small pools, so plan accordingly.

Each ship has a pool and hot tub area for adults 18 and up. It can also get busy, but typically less busy than the family area. Select ships also offer an in-pool bar area for adults.

The adult sun deck is a nice place to grab a chair and relax, even if you have no intention of getting in the water.

Splash pads

Your little one has to be potty trained to use the onboard pools. The option for those still in swim diapers is some splash areas, such as Nemo's Reef and Dory's Reef.

Sports deck

If you want to be more active, head to your ship's sports deck to play basketball, foosball, miniature golf and more. You may even have some sports simulator options beyond your traditional in-person fun.

Children's programs

As a parent, my favorite part of a Disney cruise might be the included kids programs that children actually want to attend. If the kids are happy for a few hours, the parents can actually relax, too.

Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab for children ages 3–12

All five Disney ships have amazing spaces for kids in the 3-to-12-year-old range in the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab.

Here you'll find video games, an indoor slide, fun programs and games with the staff, arts and crafts, surprise character visits and more. Your kids need to be potty trained to stay in this club, so use that as motivation for a kid approaching 3 years old before your next cruise.

Your kids don't need an appointment to pop in here; they can come anytime from open to close — and the club stays open pretty late.

Parents can stay with kids and play during open hours on the first day and select times on other dates, but most of the time, the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are kids-only. Your kids will check in and out by scanning a special MagicBand that also tracks where they are within the kids clubs.

Disney Wish has the added perk in the kids club of a slide that takes the kids straight from the main atrium and into the fun.

Know that once your child turns 8, you have the option of giving them self-checkout privileges. While kids up to 12 are welcome in the main Oceaneer Club, they may start moving up to the tween club by the time they are 10 years old.

Edge tween club for children ages 11–14

When your kid outgrows the fun in the main kids club, don't worry. Edge is waiting just upstairs.

Technically, Edge is for kids ages 11-14, but you can get your 10-year-old in with permission — and once they figure that out, it's probably all over for the "little kid club."

Edge is a much smaller space, but tweens have tons of fun playing video games, having dance parties, doing crafts, playing trivia games and more with their newfound cruise friends.

This club does not utilize parent sign-in and -out, so you need to trust your kid if they are coming to Edge. If your 10-to-12-year-old child visits Edge, they can also play at the Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club, so they have options.

Vibe teen club for children ages 14–17

Get ready to be jealous of this one. On Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the teen club has its own set of small pools at the front of the ship.

Inside all versions of the teen club, Vibe, you'll find a tech-friendly world with loungers, dance parties, smoothies and other teen-approved fun. Some of the coolest inside space on Disney cruise ships is dedicated to teens ages 14-17, but you can request for your child to attend this club starting at 13 years old.

'It's a small world' nursery for children 6 months to 3 years old

While the three previously mentioned kids clubs are free and do not require reservations, the nursery operates differently. You will need to make reservations, and the fee is $4.50 per half-hour for the first child and $4 per half-hour for each additional child.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

The specific documents you will need will vary by cruise destination. Having a passport is always a good idea, but it's not technically required on all Disney cruises. For example, round-trip cruises originating in Port Canaveral, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, San Diego, New Orleans, New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico, often do not require a passport.

Passports, when required, must be valid for at least six months. For cruises from international ports, you'll need a passport. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Related: Tips for getting a child's passport

Disney Cruise Line adds a service gratuity of $14.50 per person per day to final bills. If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can lower this amount. Of course, you can visit guest services and adjust it upward, too.

To give an idea of the cost, a four-person family on a four-night cruise would pay $232 in recommended tips. The amount is split among your team of dining room servers who quickly learned your kids' preferences for dinner and your cabin hosts who made your room look like magic while you were out enjoying yourself.

An 18% gratuity is added to onboard spa, bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. You can always add an additional gratuity for any of your services or servers.

While room service is free, it's customary to add a few dollars of tip when you sign the "bill."

While some gratuity is included at Palo and Remy, you'll likely want to add an additional tip if you enjoyed the service. If you stay in a concierge-level room or suite, it is customary to tip the Concierge Lounge hosts at the end of your cruise a recommended amount of $8 per night per guest.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

Disney Cruise Line's Wi-Fi, Connect@Sea, is in the process of being upgraded, so speed, bandwidth and cost vary by ship.

If you are on a ship that charges by day instead of by the amount of data used, expect the prices to vary from $12-$36 per day, depending on the speed you select. There are often discounts for buying Wi-Fi access for the length of the cruise.

If you are on a ship that still charges by the amount of data used, we recommend not doing that and connecting either when you are in port or via a plan from your cellphone provider.

Related: What's the best international phone plan right now?

Carry-on drinks policy

Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 milliliters) or six beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. These beverages must be packed in carry-on (not checked) bags or luggage. You can keep drinks chilled in the small fridge in your cabin.

Guests wishing to consume wine or Champagne that they have brought on board in one of the dining rooms will be charged a corkage fee of $26 per bottle.

Smoking policy

Smoking is permitted only in designated deck areas. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies, and those who violate this rule will face a $250 cleaning fee.

For an additional fee, Disney ships offer full-service laundry and dry cleaning services that will pick up and deliver clean clothes to your cabin.

Ships also provide 24-hour, self-service guest laundry facilities equipped with washers and dryers, along with detergent and complimentary ironing equipment. You pay for the facilities by using your Key to the World card. These services can get busy during sea days on longer cruises, so plan accordingly.

Electrical outlets

All cabins are equipped with multiple 110-volt outlets, which are standard in the U.S. and Canada. Cabins on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are equipped with a combination of 110- and 220-volt (European) outlets.

Small electrical appliances such as electric shavers, curling irons and flat irons with standard North American plugs will function on board; 110-volt items should not exceed 1,500 watts, and 220-volt items should not exceed 2,000 watts. A hair dryer is provided in every cabin for your convenience, but you may bring your own as long as it meets the guidelines above.

The currency on Disney Cruise Line ships, regardless of location, is the U.S. dollar.

When you are on the ship, you will not need cash or a credit card — all incidentals, purchases and services will be charged to your cabin folio. Your Key to the World card (or your DisneyBand+ on Disney Wish ) serves as your onboard payment method. The only exception is if you want to tip a crew member in cash.

In port, you may wish to carry cash or a credit card to buy snacks and souvenirs or to tip your tour guide.

Drinking age

For most Disney sailings, the drinking age on board is 21.

However, on round-trip cruises departing European countries with a lower drinking age, passengers 18-20 years of age can drink alcohol on board with signed parental consent. For round-trip cruises from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Brisbane, guests 18 years of age and older may purchase and consume alcoholic beverages without parental consent.

During the day, people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach. T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are fine.

During the evenings, dining attire in the three main dining restaurants is "cruise casual," meaning no swimwear or tank tops, but you don't have to put on a party dress. That said, many guests do dress up a bit in the evening, but it's not required unless you are dining in Palo, Remy or Enchante.

Cruises that are seven nights or longer schedule one "formal night" — though even then, it's only encouraged, not required. On that night, you will see suits, sports coats, cocktail dresses and similar from some guests.

Pro tip: Be sure and pack that pirate gear for Pirate Night.

Related: What to pack for your 1st cruise

Disney Cruise Line loyalty program

Disney Cruise Line has a simple loyalty program, the Castaway Club , with four "elite status" levels that you earn based on how many cruises you've taken with Disney. A three-night and 10-night cruise both count as one sailing for these purposes.

• Silver: One completed cruise
• Gold: Five completed cruises
• Platinum: 10 completed cruises
• Pearl: 25 completed cruises

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

This isn't the kind of loyalty program where you earn free cruises the way you earn free flights with airline miles. Instead, as you go up in status, you earn perks and earlier access to booking cruises and activities — which is key for getting those hard-to-snag adult dining or Castaway Cay cabana reservations

Silver members

• Book new cruise itineraries one day before the general public and book onboard activities 90 days before sailing.
• Get a "welcome back aboard" gift (such as a bag), have access to a Castaway Club members-only line when boarding and access to a Castaway Club direct phone number.
• Select port arrival time with online check-in starting 33 days before the general public.

Gold members

• All of those perks, but you can book new sailings two days before the general public and can book onboard activities 105 days before sailing.
• On eight-night and longer voyages, Gold Castaway Club members are also invited to a private reception with special entertainment. There are also select merchandise discounts available to Gold members and higher.
• Select port arrival time with online check-in starting 35 days before the general public.

Platinum members

• All of those perks, but you can book new sailings three days before the general public and can book onboard activities 120 days before sailing.
• Priority check-in at the cruise terminal.
• Complimentary evening dinner at Palo or Palo Steakhouse for themselves and everyone in the cabin age 18 and older.
• Select port arrival time with online check-in starting 38 days before the general public.

Pearl members

• All of those perks, but you can book new sailings four days before the general public and can book onboard activities 123 days before sailing.
• Exclusive cruise terminal check-in (where available)
• Unlimited Digital Photo Package.
• Select port arrival time with online check-in starting 40 days before the general public.

How much does a Disney cruise cost?

Magic ain't cheap, and Disney cruises are expensive. They aren't the priciest voyages out there, but they will cost more than cruises with family-friendly competitors such as Royal Caribbean by a noticeable margin.

For a family of four, the cheapest Disney cruise currently available (not counting the two-night cruises in Australia and New Zealand) is about $2,500. An ocean view will add about $90 and a verandah will add about $500.

On these shortest cruises, concierge-level cabins and access start at a little over $5,000 for a family of four.

Those sorts of prices will only be available during the offseason, such as in mid-to-late January and early February or for repositioning cruises as the ship moves from, say, Puerto Rico to Florida. That same cruise during spring break can cost double or more, so the more date flexibility you have, the better.

A seven-night cruise in the Caribbean will likely start around $5,000 for a family of four. Expect Alaska and Europe cruises to start at $5,000 to $6,000 for inside cabins for a week, and prices go up for longer sailings and upgraded cabins.

You can save money on your next Disney cruise by putting a $250 deposit down while you are at sea on a previous Disney cruise. It's a popular way to get 10% off your next cruise.

Another way to save on a Disney cruise is to look at a one-way repositioning sailing , as those often price lower than other similar cruises. For example, the cruise line may need to end a cruise in a particular port to reposition the ship to do some sailings from there. You'll have to get yourself back home from that port, but you may save on the cruise in the process.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on a cruise

How to book

You can book your Disney cruise directly with Disney Cruise Line either over the phone or online, but I'd argue you shouldn't.

Cruises are easy to enjoy but can be complicated to plan if you are new to this type of travel. This is an industry where a travel agent is still a good call. You want someone who can help you pick the right cabin type and location for your group and keep track of when you can snag those onboard activities you really want.

When the wave of pandemic-related cruise cancellations hit in 2020, I was so grateful to have a travel agent — instead of me — spending time dealing with the cruise line.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

Another reason to consider going through a travel agent is to get onboard credit. Some travel agents will offer onboard credit based on the amount you spend on your Disney cruise. This is credit you can use toward drinks, spa treatments, excursions or anything else you can charge to your room.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR DISNEY CRUISE, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Generally speaking, the sooner you book a Disney cruise after it goes on sale, the better, as prices usually only go in one direction — up.

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card points when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases and maybe even offers some built-in travel protections .

• The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3 points per dollar on travel and dining and an annual up-to-$300 travel credit.
• The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2 points per dollar on travel.
• The Disney Premier Visa Card is also a good option, specifically with Disney Cruise Line, as it gives you access to a 0% introductory annual percentage rate for six months following the purchase date on eligible Disney vacation packages, such as a Disney cruise (then a variable APR of 19.24% to 28.24% applies). The card also gets you 10% in savings on some onboard activities and packages while at Castaway Cay.

Related: How to save money on booking a Disney cruise

Bottom line

Whether you are on a three-night trip to Castaway Cay or a bigger crossing to the South Pacific, a Disney cruise is a special vacation that actually feels like a vacation.

The classic styling of the original four ships, the modern storybook styling of Disney Wish, the vast number of inclusions, the rotational dining, waterslides, private island, fun kids clubs, Disney characters, high-caliber entertainment and Disney service shine through.

You'll certainly pay more for the privilege of sailing with Mickey and Minnie than with some other family-friendly lines. But for those with kids in that Disney age range, or for adults who know and trust the Disney brand, it's hard to go wrong in choosing Disney Cruise Line for your next vacation.

More stories to help you plan your next cruise:

• Best Disney ships for everyone
• Everything we know about Disney Treasure, joining DCL in 2024
• Everything you need to know about Disney Wish
• Best credit cards for booking a cruise

Sign up for the FREE MouseSavers Newsletter and get a monthly email with exclusive discounts!

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Disney Cruise Line – Pre/Post Cruise Hotels and Ground Transportation

LAST UPDATE: 2/22/24

On this page we’ve collected some useful hints about Disney Cruise hotels and where to stay before or after your cruise, ground transportation (limo or rental car) and other pre/post cruise information.

• Where to Stay the Night Before Your Cruise

What to Do If Your Return Flight Leaves Late in the Day

Transportation and parking at the cruise ports, disney cruise hotels: where to stay the night before your cruise, port canaveral hotel options, fort lauderdale hotel options, galveston hotel options, miami hotel options, san diego hotel options, vancouver hotel options.

For those who want to spend the night at Cape Canaveral before their Disney Cruise, there are four hotels very close (5 miles or less) to the port:  Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral ,  Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach , Country Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral  and the  Radisson Resort at the Port .

These hotels are also good places to stay if you also want to visit the Kennedy Space Center .

If you will be arriving at the Orlando airport the day before your cruise (and we highly recommend this, so you don’t have to worry about missing your sailing), you might want to consider spending the night before your cruise at Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport . It is located inside the Orlando International Airport (MCO), so this can be a nice option if you are arriving later in the day. 

Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral

Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral is an all-suite hotel about 2 miles from the Disney cruise terminal.  It’s the newest hotel in the group nearest the port, and has a pleasant modern feel with a few Florida-inspired touches here and there. Your stay includes a FREE hot breakfast buffet every morning. On Monday – Thursday evenings from 5:00-7:00 pm, the hotel offers a FREE evening social with snacks, beer and wine. Rooms feature FREE high-speed internet access .

There are two room types: studios (bedroom with one king or two queen beds, living room area with full-size sofabed but not separated by a wall) and  1-bedroom suites (one bedroom with one king or two queen beds, separate living room with full-size sofabed). All sleep at least 4, but the two-queen 1-bedroom suites can sleep 6.

All room types include a full kitchen with two-burner cooktop (no oven), microwave, dishwasher and full-size refrigerator. Bathrooms have granite countertops.

This hotel does not have a restaurant (just a breakfast room where the complimentary breakfast and evening social is served), but there are several restaurants within a mile of the hotel.

The Homewood Suites offers “Park and Go” cruise packages that allow you to park your car in their lot during your cruise. The packages include two vouchers for the shuttle to Port Canaveral. If you are not on such a package, the hotel offers a shuttle to Port Canaveral for $5 per person each way. If you don’t want to use the shuttle, you can take a taxi to the port from this hotel for around $10. 

Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach

Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach is an all-suite hotel with a nice Florida-style ambiance and a heated pool and whirlpool. Your stay includes a FREE hot breakfast buffet . Rooms feature FREE high-speed Internet access .

There are three room types: studios (bedroom with king bed, living room area with sofa bed but not separated by a wall), 1-bedroom suites (one bedroom with two queen beds, one bath, separate living room with sofa bed) and 2-bedroom suites (two bedrooms, each with a king bed, two baths, separate living room with sofa bed).

All room types include a full kitchen with stove/oven, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator. Beds at the Residence Inn are equipped with high-quality mattresses and bedding. Bathrooms have granite countertops.

This hotel does not have a restaurant (just a breakfast room where the complimentary breakfast is served), but there are several restaurants within a mile of the hotel.

The Residence Inn offers “Park and Cruise” packages that allow you to park your car in their lot during your cruise. The packages include a certain number of vouchers for the shuttle to Port Canaveral. If you are not on such a package, you can pay separately for parking ($6/day) and the hotel offers a shuttle to Port Canaveral for $6 per person round trip. If you don’t want to use the shuttle, you can take a taxi to the port from this hotel for around $10. Thanks to Jamie D for additional info.

Country Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral

Country Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral is located virtually next door to the Residence Inn, so they are about the same distance from the port. Your stay includes a FREE hot breakfast buffet every morning. The hotel has a fitness center, FREE high-speed Internet access , outdoor heated pool, a waterfall hot tub, and a gas grill and fire pit. Shuttle service is offered to the port (for a fee).

There are five room types: standard rooms with one King bed or two Queen beds; family  suites with one Queen bed and a separate kid’s room area with two twin beds; one-bedroom suites with one King or two Queen beds and a separate living room area with a queen sleeper sofa; whirlpool suites featuring one King bed with a whirlpool tub; and Captain’s Quarter suites with King bed, queen sleeper sofa, separate living and dining areas and a larger kitchenette with a toaster oven. All room types include a microwave, small refrigerator (except Captain’s Quarter suites, which have full-size refrigerators) and coffee maker.

The Country Inn & Suites does not have a restaurant (just a breakfast room where the complimentary breakfast is served), but there are several restaurants within a mile of the hotel.

This hotel offers Park & Cruise packages that allow you to leave your car at the hotel while you are on your cruise and take a shuttle to and from the port. If you don’t book a Park & Cruise package, you can still take the shuttle for a fee (currently $5/person). If you don’t want to use the shuttle, you can take a taxi to the port from this hotel for around $10. 

Radisson Resort at the Port

Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral is also close to the port. It gets mixed reviews. It’s an older property than the Residence Inn or Country Inn & Suites. Most rooms include Sleep Number beds and FREE high-speed Internet access .

There are three room types: standard rooms with one King bed or two double beds; King Jacuzzi suites , which include one room with a King bed, a whirlpool Jacuzzi, a separate full bathroom and one room with a comfortable living room area and a pull-out sofa sleeper; and Two King Jacuzzi suites , which are the same as the regular Jacuzzi suites except that they have two King beds in the bedroom. Suites include a microwave and mini refrigerator; regular rooms do not.

The Radisson has an elaborate waterfall pool, a koi pond and beautifully landscaped grounds. There are tennis courts and a fitness room. There is a buffet-style restaurant (extra charge) that has a nice atmosphere, with lots of windows, white-washed walls and high ceilings. The hotel lobby/restaurant entrance has a small lounge for evening drinks.

The Radisson offers some packages that including parking for your car at the hotel while you are on your cruise and a shuttle to and from the port. Alternatively, the hotel will charge you a fee to park your car in its lot while you are on your cruise, and provides a shuttle to the port for $5 per person, or you can take a cab for $10-12.

Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport

The Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport  is an upscale hotel that is actually located in the Orlando International (MCO) airport terminal , so you don’t have to worry about traveling any further. Just collect your bags, take them up on the elevator, check in and you’re ready to start enjoying your vacation! Or, if you prefer, take advantage of their luggage retrieval service; for a small flat fee ($10, last we checked, plus tips for the bell staff at your discretion), Hyatt staff will retrieve your luggage from baggage claim and deliver it to your room. (The rooms are well insulated from the airport noise, by the way — we have stayed there several times and did not hear the planes.)

If you stay at the airport Hyatt instead of going all the way out to Walt Disney World, you are much closer to Port Canaveral. That means you can sleep in a little longer before heading off to the ship in the morning. You can choose from multiple dining options within the airport, or take a swim at the hotel. It’s great way to start relaxing right away.

The Hyatt has a relationship with Disney, so you can arrange Disney bus transportation to the ship from the hotel (or you can book a private car transfer or rental car if you prefer). If you arrange your transportation through Disney, your luggage is transported directly to your stateroom on the ship. Talk about convenient!

The Fort Lauderdale hotel below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a travel agent , contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Pre/post-cruise stays can be added up until 31 days prior to check-in date (after that time, you can be waitlisted). If you stay both before and after the cruise, both portions must be booked at the same hotel. Pre/post-cruise stays that are added to a cruise reservation must be purchased for ALL guests in the same stateroom.

Alternatively, you can book directly with this hotel  through the links below, which may be less expensive and offer more flexibility:

• Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is about 5 miles from the Fort Lauderdale Airport and about a 1/2 mile from the cruise terminal. They offer a shuttle to the beach. There is also a Water Taxi stop just a short walk away, which will take you to shops, restaurants and the beach, or just use it to take a tour of Fort Lauderdale’s waterways.
• Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa is about 5 miles from the Fort Lauderdale Airport and about 5 miles from the cruise terminal. The high-end hotel is on a private beach and has multiple restaurants at the hotel, a full-service spa, an activity center for kids age 5-12 and more. 

We would strongly recommend staying in Galveston rather than Houston pre-cruise unless you book Disney’s Houston hotel (the Marriott listed below) and Disney’s hotel-cruise transportation. It’s an hour or more drive to the cruise terminal from Houston, and traffic can double that, especially on holiday weekends. It’s best to fly in the day before the cruise, take a cab or shuttle to Galveston, and stay overnight at a hotel there. You don’t want to be sitting in traffic at 2 pm on the day of your cruise wondering if you’ll make it on time.

The Galveston hotels below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a travel agent , contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Alternatively, you can book directly with these hotels  through the links below, which may be less expensive:

• The Houston Airport Marriott at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport is right in the Houston airport complex, and is connected by tram to the terminal. If you arrange your own transportation, be aware that G. W. Bush International is a good 75-90 minute drive from the Galveston cruise terminal.
• San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center is a lovely resort right on the beach in central Galveston. It’s about a 10-15 minute drive to the cruise terminal.
• Hilton Galveston Island Resort is a beautiful hotel with extensive amenities, located a very short walk away from the beach. It’s about a 12-16 minute drive to the cruise terminal.

The best deal going in Miami seems to be Comfort Suites Miami Airport North . While it’s not fancy, this well-reviewed hotel offers reasonable rates along with some great benefits:

• FREE transfers between Miami airport and the hotel and FREE transfers between the hotel and the Port of Miami! As far as we know, this is the only hotel in Miami offering both transfers for free, which can save you a substantial amount in taxi or shuttle fares.
• FREE hot breakfast.
• FREE Wi-Fi.

Comfort Suites Miami Airport North  is a non-smoking hotel and rooms include high-definition flat-screen television with cable, microwave, refrigerator, pillow-top mattress, safe, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board.

Official Disney Cruise Hotels

If you prefer something more upscale, the Miami-area hotels below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a  travel agent , contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Alternatively, you can  book directly with these hotels  through the links below, which may be less expensive and offer more flexibility:

• EB Hotel Miami is a 4-diamond boutique hotel near the airport. It’s literally across the street from the airport property, but is about 2.5 miles by road from the entrance (7 minutes or so). It’s about 8.5 miles from the cruise terminal (about 15 minutes).
• Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami is a tower hotel located in the heart of downtown Miami, roughly 2 miles from the cruise terminals. Downtown Miami has a wealth of shopping, restaurants and things to do and see, and the hotel has great views of Biscayne Bay from the rooftop pool deck and many rooms.

The San Diego hotels below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a travel agent , contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Alternatively, you can book directly with these hotels  through the link below, which may be less expensive:

• The Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego is on San Diego Bay between the San Diego Convention Center and the Seaport Village. It is approximately 3 miles from San Diego International Airport and just a few blocks from the San Diego Cruise Terminal.
• The Intercontinental San Diego is a modern 4-diamond tower hotel just across the street from the cruise terminal, with sweeping views of San Diego Bay. It’s about 3 miles from San Diego International Airport.

The Vancouver hotels below can be added to your Disney Cruise Line reservation. If you have booked through a travel agent , contact your agent to add a pre-cruise and/or post-cruise stay. If you have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, call them.

Alternatively, you can book directly with these hotels through the links below, which may be less expensive:

• Fairmont Waterfront boasts a spectacular location across from the Convention Centre and Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal, within walking distance of the city’s many restaurants, shops and galleries. All rooms are elegantly appointed with contemporary, airy deco and feature floor to ceiling windows to highlight the beautiful scenery. If you decide to stay here, be sure to sign up for the Accor Live Limitless loyalty program (free) in advance, which will give you FREE internet during your stay.
• Fairmont Vancouver Airport is the only luxury hotel and spa within Vancouver’s International Airport, located in the suburb of Richmond (20 minutes south of Vancouver). The beautifully appointed guest rooms are spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows offering soundproof views, revealing the serenity of mountain views and plane spotting opportunities. If you decide to stay here, be sure to sign up for the Accor Live Limitless loyalty program (free) in advance, which will give you FREE internet during your stay.
• Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown is an upscale tower hotel in the heart of Downtown Vancouver. High floor rooms have a great view of the harbor and/or downtown. It’s about a half-mile from the cruise terminal, which would be an easy 5 minute cab or Lyft ride.

A hotel that isn’t part of the Disney cruise add-on program, but is well worth considering, is the Pan-Pacific Vancouver , since it is literally in the same building as the Cruise Ship Terminal, and they offer free transfer of your checked bags to the ship, which is a huge convenience. You should tip the bell staff a dollar or two per bag (they’ll take US dollars happily if you don’t have Canadian).

You’ll be getting off the cruise ship early in the morning on the last day. If your flight doesn’t leave for hours, and you don’t know what to do with your day, here are some suggestions.

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Los angeles international airport (lax).

• Get a “day room” at Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport . For a modest charge (typically less than an overnight rate) you can use a hotel room from 10:00 am until as late as 6:00 pm and watch TV, use the hotel pool, etc. When flight time rolls around, you’re already in the terminal! Call the hotel directly at (407) 825-1234 to book a day room. The Hyatt has a relationship with Disney, so you can arrange Disney transportation to the hotel from the ship, or you can book a private car transfer or rental car if you prefer.
• If you have loads of time, you can rent a car for the day and visit the nearby Kennedy Space Center to explore the NASA exhibits, or play in the sand at Cocoa Beach . Allow at least an hour to drive back to the airport.
• Los Angeles Airport Marriott – Day room rates vary by date. They are available from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Call the hotel directly at (310) 641-5700 and ask for the front desk to book a day room.
• Embassy Suites Los Angeles – International Airport South – Day rooms can be booked an “as-available” basis on the day of check-in (no advance bookings). Rooms can be used from morning through 6:00 pm. Call the hotel directly at (310) 640-3600 and press 0 for the front desk. (Do not select “reservations,” as that will send you to a call center that knows nothing about the day rooms.)
• If you have loads of time, you can rent a car for the day and either drive to Hollywood (check out Disney’s El Capitan Theatre  or play in the sand at one of the many beautiful local beaches ( Manhattan Beach and Venice Beach are two great, close-by options, each with its own unique vibe). Allow at least an hour to drive back to the airport.

Disney’s bus transfers to and from the port are convenient, but also pretty expensive, especially for a family:

• In Florida, Disney offers bus transfers between any of the Walt Disney World resort hotels and Port Canaveral, or between the Orlando (MCO) airport or the Hyatt MCO and Port Canaveral. You can also do a multi-part transfer (for example airport-resort-port-airport). The cost is $78 per person round trip or $39 per person one-way for Disney’s bus transfers.
• Only hotels that are offered as pre- or post-cruise options by Disney Cruise Line have transportation available from Disney Cruise Line. If you stay in a different hotel, you’ll need to arrange your own transportation.
• The cost depends on the prevailing transportation rates in that city and the distances between the airport, hotel and cruise port. Remember taxis and car services charge per car , whereas Disney charges per person .
• With a party of two, the total cost for a private car or taxi will usually be similar to the total cost of Disney’s transportation. Lyft will almost always be cheaper, if it is offered in the city in question. A party of three or more people will almost always save money using independent transportation.
• The primary appeal of using Disney’s transportation is that it’s easy; you follow the signs to the bus and it takes you where you need to be. That said, it’s not faster, it usually involves more waiting, not less, and it’s not flexible. If you want to get where you are going as fast as possible, either a taxi, car service (Lyft) or pre-booked private car is always going to beat the buses.

Disney’s transfers must be booked a minimum of 3 days before the start of the trip through your travel agent (or Disney if you booked direct). At the airports, a Disney rep will be at the baggage claim area to help direct guests to the bus. Your luggage will go directly to your stateroom; you just need take your day bag with you to the cruise terminal.

One down side of using the Disney bus system is that you will arrive at the port with a big group of people and at a time dictated by Disney. The result is often a long wait in the check-in lines. You may also miss lunch on the ship, since the buses tend to arrive in the afternoon.

Below are alternate options that may be cheaper and/or more convenient.

• Port Canaveral – Shuttle by Happy Limo

Port Canaveral – Rental Car

Port canaveral – luxury sedan, limo or private van/suv service, port canaveral – cruise port parking.

• Port of San Diego – Rental Car
• Port of San Diego – Luxury Sedan, Limo or Private Van/SUV Service

Port of San Diego – Shuttle

• Port of San Diego – Parking
• Port of Vancouver – Transportation

Port of Vancouver – Parking

Port canaveral – shuttle by happy limo.

Happy Limo , a private car and limo service we have recommended for years, offers a great shared-shuttle option for trips between Orlando International Airport and the Disney Cruise Line terminal at Port Canaveral. The base price per person is $30/person each way ($60 round trip), plus a $20 port fee (each way, per booking, not per person). The minimum booking is 4 people. Tips are at customer’s discretion (conventional tips these days for shuttle drivers seem to be about 15%-20%, or about $4.50-$6/person each way). For shared service for a family of 4+ to Port Canaveral, this is a better deal than Disney, and gives you more control over when you want to travel.

Airport to Port Canaveral

Shuttles leave Orlando International from Terminal B, level 1 (ground transportation), shuttle spaces B-5 through B-9. You must reserve a spot in advance for one of the available times: 9:00 am, 10:00 am or 11:00 am. Your party must have a minimum of 4 passengers to book a shuttle. When you arrive at the shuttle spaces, you will need to check in via phone at (407) 856-1280 . Expect arrival at the cruise terminal roughly 45-60 minutes from the shuttle departure time, depending on traffic.

Port Canaveral to Airport

Shuttles leave Port Canaveral from shuttle space #4, right in front of the terminal. You must reserve a spot in advance for one of the available times: 8:00 am, 9:00 am or 10:00 am. When you arrive at the shuttle space, you will need to check in via phone at (407) 856-1280 . Expect arrival at the airport roughly 45-60 minutes from the shuttle departure time, depending on traffic.

• To reserve your shuttle time , you can book online here: Happy Limo Rates & Reservations , or call Happy Limo at (877) 642-7791 or (407) 856-1280 .
• MouseSavers readers get $10 off per booking each way! That’s $20 off a round-trip booking. Just mention MouseSavers when booking over the phone, or put “referred by MouseSavers” in the comments section when booking online.
• Note: To book a shuttle, your party must have a minimum of 4 passengers. If there are less than 4 passengers, a towncar, limo or van  must be booked.
• Note : when booking online, for one-way trips from the airport or round-trips, use one of the three pickup times listed above as your pickup time, select “Airport Pickup” as your trip type, “Orlando International Airport” as your pickup location, “Port Canaveral” as your dropoff location and select “Shuttle” as your vehicle type (it’s the last one in the vehicle list). For one-way trips from Port Canaveral, reverse the pickup and dropoff locations and pick one of the Port Canaveral pickup times listed above.

Your most economical option may be to rent a car one-way between the airport and Port Canaveral. None of the rental car companies listed below have a one-way or drop-off charge except as noted. Depending on the rental car company, you can either take a shuttle or a cab to the port.

Renting a car gives you the flexibility to stop and grab some groceries or last-minute items, and you can arrive at the ship earlier than the bus passengers, which allows you to board ahead of the crowd and get yourself settled, make Palo and spa reservations, etc.

• See our Rental Car Discounts page for many discount codes, coupons and tricks to help you save on your rental car!

All the  major rental car companies have offices near Port Canaveral. When searching for a location, use “Cape Canaveral, FL” as the location. Alamo, National, Enterprise and Budget are very close to the Port Canaveral cruise terminal (but not close enough to walk). The others aren’t too far away. Keep in mind that between about 11 am and 3 pm on days when a cruise is leaving, all of these locations will be busy, and check-in may be slow. The shuttles to the cruise terminal will fill up fast, so it might take several shuttles before you can get one. Taxis and Lyft will also be super busy, so it may take some time to get one to the rental location. Allow plenty of time to get back to the ship, or get there before 11 am.

• Budget is usually the best bet for transfers to and from the port. For one thing, Budget often has the best prices on one-day rentals. It also has on-site facilities at the Orlando International (MCO) and its office in Cape Canaveral (location code ZC5) is fairly close to the cruise terminal. Budget offers free shuttle service between its office and the port, though several people have reported that they find it easier and faster to take a taxi or Lyft to and from the terminal instead, which costs about $6-$8 each way.
• Avis has a location on-site at MCO and an office in Cape Canaveral (location code P3F), a bit further away than Budget. Avis has free shuttle service between its office and the cruise terminal, or you can take a cab for around $7-$10 each way.
• Alamo , National and Enterprise (all owned by the same company) share the Enterprise office in Cape Canaveral very near the port. They offer a free shuttle from their office to the port, or you can take a cab for $5-$6 each way.

If you want to gas up your rental car on the way back to the airport , exit Florida 528 at Narcoosee Road, which is two exits before the airport exit, and turn right. There is a BP station about a block up on the right, with normal gas prices. Note that this exit is tolled, so you’ll want to bring your own windshield toll pass to avoid exhorbitant rental car toll fees.

The nearest gas station to the airport (“Landing Strip” aka “Suncoast Energy” on Semoran Boulevard, just north of the airport) is a complete rip-off . This station habitually charges nearly TWICE the normal price for gas and does not have signs to let people know the prices before they pull in. You won’t realize you’re paying a ridiculous price unless you look closely at the pump!

A fun, relaxing (and surprisingly economical) way to get from Walt Disney World or the Orlando Airport to the cruise terminal at Port Canaveral is to use luxury sedan, limo or private van/SUV service.

The great thing is, you can schedule the vehicle to get you to the ship earlier than the bus passengers, which allows you to board ahead of the crowd and get yourself settled, make Palo and spa reservations, etc.

A luxury sedan is generally cheaper than Disney’s bus transfers if you are transporting a family. For larger groups, a private van, SUV or limo is definitely the way to go. You’ll save money and time.

• Learn more about towncar, limo or private van service to/from Port Canaveral and a discount code that will help you save money!

Parking at the port is $17 per day (not per night). You are charged for your arrival and departure days, even though they are partial days. The upshot is, this is what you’ll pay:

• 3-night cruise – $68 ($17 x 4 days)
• 4-night cruise – $85 ($17 x 5 days)
• 5-night cruise – $102 ($17 x 6 days)
• 7-night cruise – $136 ($17 x 8 days)

Check the Port Canaveral website for more information about parking and directions.

Be sure to check on deals at the hotels near the port . You can usually pay for one night and get a week of free parking in the hotel lot and often a complimentary shuttle ride to/from the cruise terminal. Usually there’s a special cruise hotel package you need to book to get the “free” parking, which will cost somewhat more than booking their lowest rate, but it’s nearly always going to be cheaper than parking at the port. Some hotels include the parking in the package cost, but charge extra for the shuttle. Even if the shuttle fee is included, the shuttle drivers are not shy about asking for tips, and the wait for the shuttle can be long, so we usually take a taxi or Lyft even if there’s an ostensibly “free” shuttle. From most of the Canaveral hotels to the cruise terminal is about a $5-7 taxi fare.

Port of San Diego – Rental Car

If you will be taking a West Coast Disney cruise and you are also planning to make a “grand tour” of Southern California, with a visit to Disneyland as well as other Southern California tourist destinations , a rental car is definitely your best bet. Taking taxis, limos or shuttles between the major attractions would cost a fortune because the distances are significant. For instance, it’s a 1.5 hour drive between SeaWorld San Diego and Disneyland. Southern California is a very car-oriented culture, with relatively poor public transportation. Trying to get between a number of different attractions without a car can be an exercise in frustration.

If you are flying in or out of San Diego International Airport (SAN) , all of the major rental car companies have locations there. See the Rental Cars page and check the company that interests you for more information.

It is never cost-effective to rent a car at SAN and leave it at the port during your cruise. Parking near the port is expensive. The airport is very close to the cruise port, so it’s better to rent the car at the airport either pre- or post-cruise and return it to the airport so you’re not accruing both rental fees and parking charges during the cruise.

Port of San Diego – Lyft, Taxi, Luxury Sedan, Limo or Private Van/SUV Service

The cruise terminal is very close to the airport as the crow flies, but because of the road layout and potential traffic, it’s about a 5 mile trip and takes about 15-20 minutes. Disney offers bus service, but the quickest and sometimes the least expensive way to accomplish your transfer will be Lyft , a taxi or a private limo service.

• Learn more about towncar, limo or private van service to/from the Port of San Diego .

If you need to transfer between the San Diego Airport (SAN) and the Port of San Diego, your least expensive option is usually  a shared van service . The shuttle will make multiple stops, so allow plenty of time.

However, for the ultimate in convenience and luxury, consider using a private towncar or limo transfer . It may cost a bit more than a shuttle, but it is much more comfortable and efficient.

Port of San Diego – Parking

Parking for a San Diego cruise, is, in a word, messy. There is no official parking lot, just a lot of independent lots nearby that also handle other parking business and can fill up. If you can get a reservation, the parking at the Wyndham across the street  from the cruise terminal is convenient. If not, most of the long-term parking in the area (including many of the airport long-term lots) offer a shuttle to the cruise terminal, or you can get a cab from the parking lot.

Port of Vancouver – Transportation

The simplest way to get to Vancouver, BC is to fly to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). However, there are more flight options available to Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA), which is just 3-4 hours away from Vancouver by train or bus. Airfares to Seattle are often much cheaper, even when you factor in the cost of the extra train or bus ticket and other costs, and the trip from Seattle to Vancouver is quite scenic. Traveling via Seattle can add 5-6 hours to your trip, however. To make the Seattle option work well, it’s really best to stay in Seattle at least overnight, then take the train or bus up on another date. It is possible to fly into Seattle and get onto a ship in Vancouver the same day, but the connections are super tight — there’s not a lot of room for error and we wouldn’t recommend it.

Flying To Vancouver Directly

The closest airport is Vancouver International (YVR). You can get a taxi to the Canada Place cruise terminal for about $45-$60 CAD (plus tip), which takes 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic. Vancouver now has Lyft service, and that’s going to run $30-40 CAD.

You can also book a limo or town car. The official town car company for the airport is Aerocar , which charges a flat $64 CAD (plus tip) for a sedan from YVR to the cruise terminal.

The cheapest and usually easiest way to go is the SkyTrain Canada Line , a light rail train that goes directly from the airport to Waterfront Station. The SkyTrain station is right across from the airport entrance – ask someone to direct you if needed; the signs are not as clear as one would like. Get on any train; the track begins at the airport and all trains head to Waterfront, so you can’t get on the wrong train or the wrong direction. When you reach Waterfront station, take the Cordova Street exit from the station, turn right and walk down about a block and a half to Howe. Turn right and the cruise terminal and Pan Pacific hotel is right there. The cash fare is only $7-9 CAD per person (depending on whether you’re going peak or off-peak). You do not need cash; the ticket kiosks take credit cards. It takes about 25-35 minutes. Keep in mind that the trains don’t have any luggage racks, so if you have a lot of luggage, SkyTrain may be a bit of a hassle.

Flying to Seattle Then Train To Vancouver

You’ll want to fly to Seattle-Tacoma airport (SEA). If you want to make it on your cruise ship that same day, you’ll need to arrive very early, probably before 6:15 am, as the morning train leaves at 7:45 am and there isn’t another until 7:00 pm. If you plan to arrive a day or more early, obviously you can take the later train or the early one the next day.

There are two Amtrak trains per day from Seattle to Vancouver, which you can book in advance on the Amtrak website . Prices start at $34 per person, each way, and the trip takes 4 hours (though allow extra time, as it often takes longer). As seats sell out, only the higher fares remain available, and they go as high as $86, so book early. Be sure you book the Amtrak Cascades  train trip ; Amtrak also books their own “Thruway” bus service which is not usually the best bus option.

You will also need to get from the SeaTac airport to the King Street train station in downtown Seattle, and from the Vancouver Pacific Central train station to the Canada Place cruise terminal.

In Seattle, the taxi ride is $40 (flat rate, plus tip) from the airport to anywhere in downtown Seattle, including the train station. Allow 30 minutes for the trip, longer on weekdays at rush hour. You can also take the Link light rail for $3/person from the airport to the International District station, which is 3 blocks from the King Street Station, but there are no luggage racks, so it can be a hassle if you have multiple bags. Seattle also has Lyft service available.

In Vancouver, a taxi from the train station to the cruise terminal is about $12-$15 CAD (plus tip) and takes about 15 minutes, or you can walk a couple blocks from the train station and take the Expo Line from SkyTrain Main Street station to the Waterfront station for around $2.75 CAD. When you reach Waterfront Station, use the Howe Street exit and you come out right in front of the cruise terminal. Again, there are no luggage racks on SkyTrain, so not a great option for those with many big or unwieldy bags. Vancouver also has Lyft service available.

Flying to Seattle Then Bus To Vancouver

The closest airport is Seattle-Tacoma airport (SEA). To make it onto your cruise that same day, you’ll want to get in before 9:00 am in order to make it on a 10:00 am bus. If you plan to arrive a day or more early, obviously you can take a later bus.

The Quick Coach bus service is the most convenient, since it drops off directly at the Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver. If you book at least 24 hours in advance, you can have them drop you directly at any downtown Vancouver hotel. Fares start at $50 one way or $95 round trip for adults, with discounts available for children and seniors. There are significant charges for baggage over and above one purse-sized personal item. The trip takes about 4.5 hours.

The Seattle-Vancouver FlixBus (owned by Greyhound) goes from several Seattle locations (including SeaTac Airport) to the Vancouver Pacific Central train station, with advance fares as low as $30 each way, including one large bag and one personal item (purse-sized). The trip takes about 4.5 hours from SeaTac or 4 hours from downtown Seattle. You still need to get from the Vancouver train station to the cruise terminal or your hotel. See the section above on train travel to see the various options on each end.

Flying to Bellingham Then Bus or Train to Vancouver

An often-overlooked option that can work for some people is to fly to Bellingham, WA which is the closest major city in Washington to Vancouver, BC. Sometimes it’s only a little more expensive to fly to Bellingham than to Seattle, and a bus or train from Bellingham takes less than half the time (just under two hours) and has a much lower fare than the same bus or train from Seattle. The connections aren’t as tight, and it’s more reasonable to try to fly into Bellingham and get on your cruise ship the same day, though given the vagaries of modern air travel, we still suggest getting in a day early if you can. All of the options from Seattle, including Quick Coach , FlixBus and Amtrak can also be taken from Bellingham. For Amtrak you have to get to the Bellingham train station, and FlixBus picks up at Western Washington University or near the ferry terminal, but Bellingham is so small that the cab to any location is unlikely to be more than 5 minutes and about $10.

If you end up staying in Bellingham, or driving through at lunch time, our favorite fish & chips joint there is the Web Locker ( map link ). Whether it’s a good idea to have a lot of fried fish before getting on a cruise is a judgment call you’ll have to make for yourself. We can never seem to skip it. We also are very fond of the Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro  ( map link ), which is closer to the freeway. It has a bit of a brewpub feeling, but is family-friendly and serves a lot of comfort food like burgers and sandwiches.

Not all cities have good, reasonably-priced flights to Bellingham, but it can be worth checking out. The primary airlines that service Bellingham are Allegiant, Alaska and Horizon.

Parking is available for roughly $27 CAD per day (tax included) at the Port of Vancouver Cruise Terminal (Canada Place). Indigo Neo operates the parking garage, and requires guests parking at Canada Place Parking Garage for anything longer than one day to make a reservation online via their website , or by calling them at (800) 469-4169 . The garage is right there in the cruise terminal; to get to the ship you just take an elevator to the embarkation level and walk a few hundred feet.

Disney Cruise Line Stateroom Considerations for Larger Families

If your family consists of four or fewer people, selecting a stateroom on the Disney Cruise Line ships is a straightforward affair – your party can fit into most DCL staterooms. If you have five or more people in your traveling party, things get a little more complicated. Here’s what you need to know:

Many Stateroom Categories Won’t Accommodate a Party of Five or More

Take a look, for example, at the deck plans for the Disney Dream and Fantasy. A quick skim of the room floor plans at the top will show you that all staterooms in categories 11, 10, 9, 7, 6, and 5 are off limits for your group if you all want to stay together. The same floor plans shows you that if you have a party of six or more, you won’t be able to stay in one room together at all on these ships. (Click to enlarge the image.)

If you’re a party of five, and you want to stay together in one cabin, your only options on these ships are stateroom categories 3, 4, and 8, plus the pricey concierge categories 1, 2, and 3.

If you Have a Party of Five, Even if You Can All Fit into One Room, You Might Not Want To

On the Dream and Fantasy, a category 4 stateroom, which can accommodate five guests, runs approximately 300 square feet, including the verandah. At the full capacity of five guests, that gives each person 60 square feet, some of which is bathroom and outdoor space, and most of which is consumed by the bed and other furniture. Also on the Dream and Fantasy, a category 8 stateroom (an oceanview room with no verandah), which allows five guests, is approximately 240 square feet total, or 48 square feet per person, much of which is consumed by the bathroom and furniture.

And consider that you’ll have five people’s worth of luggage to store, devices to charge, and toiletries to contain, and you’ll soon realize how quickly cozy can turn into cranky.

If you’ve never been on a cruise before, as you make your stateroom selection, one thing to consider is that you may use your stateroom differently than a hotel room at Walt Disney World, for example. I’ve been on plenty of Walt Disney World vacations where I left my hotel room at 7:30am and returned at 11:00pm to just to shower and sleep. I was too far away and too occupied in the parks to go back to my room.

This type of room avoidance is unlikely on a cruise. There’s certainly plenty to do on the ships, but chances are you’ll be in and out of your room much more often on board than you would be at theme parks, even if only to change clothes. On board a ship, guests often find a need to change frequently. On a typical day, you might be in and out of exercise clothes, swim clothes, casual attire, and formal dinner attire, then back to swim or casual attire. If one person wants to nap and another person needs to change, there’s not much room for quiet and privacy with only 48 square feet to call your own.

Splitting Your Party Into Two Staterooms May Save Your Sanity

If you’re putting five guests into one category 4 stateroom, for example, your sleep surfaces will be one queen sized bed, one twin-size sleeper sofa, a twin-size Murphy bed, and a twin-size bed that pulls down from the ceiling. This set-up requires that two of the guests sleep in the same bed. If you’re traveling with adults who don’t want to share a sleep surface this could be problematic. This arrangement might also be tight for any guest who is physically larger than average. Some teen boys may find that the twin-size beds, particularly the top bunk, are uncomfortably small.

I have three daughters who all like to take their time in the bathroom. Even with DCL’s split-bath (shower/sink in one compartment, toilet/sink in a different compartment) arrangement, we have A LOT of grumbles about who is taking too long to get ready. And again, there is often more need to get ready on a cruise ship than their would be in some other vacation situations.

Having more sleep surfaces and more bathroom space could be the key family harmony. This can be accomplished by booking your family of five or more into two cabins rather than one.

Contrast this with putting five guests into two category 11 staterooms. This combination would give the party two queen beds, two twin sleeper sofas, and likely two twin beds that pull down from the ceiling. This gives your group an additional adult-sized sleep surface, which can be helpful if the members of the party are friends rather than family, if the guests are physically larger, or if there is more than one guest with a fear of heights who doesn’t want to sleep in a bunk-like situation. And – while the category 11 staterooms don’t have a split bathroom, they do have two showers, which may be better for some party configurations.

The Finances of Two Staterooms May Not Be Different Than One Stateroom

Note: Stateroom pricing is quite variable. The same room might be a drastically different price depending on your sail date and the date on which you book the cruise. So that I’m comparing apples to apples, the prices I’m about to note were all found on the same date for the same cruise. You might encounter different pricing if you conduct your own search.

For the April 6, 2023 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Miami on the Dream, putting five guests into one stateroom (two adults and three kids, ages 15, 10, and 8) involves a minimum cost of about $7,400 in an Oceanview stateroom, or about $7,850 in a Verandah stateroom. (An inside stateroom is not an option with this party composition.)

If you instead book these folks into two inside staterooms, you can get a price of about $7,900. This is less than $100 different than putting everyone into one Verandah stateroom to get more sleep surfaces, more square footage, and an additional shower.

Losing window or verandah access might be a deal-breaker for some families, but a compromise might be to get one inside cabin and one with outdoor access.

When you’re playing around with different stateroom combinations, be aware that the first two people booked into a stateroom always pay the adult rate, regardless of age. If you have young kids and teens, you may be able to save a few dollars by making sure the youngest child is booked as the third person in a room (rather than the second) so that they get charged the child rate instead of inadvertently forcing them into the adult rate.

You Can Make Two Staterooms Feel Like One Room

Families with young children might worry about putting little ones in a different cabin. Never fear! Break out your magnifying glass for a look at the deck plans and you’ll see that many of the staterooms on the Disney ships are connected by an internal door. (Look for the little V-shaped symbol between the rooms to indicate that the rooms are connected. Seriously, you may need a magnifying glass to see them.) Connecting rooms are available at most stateroom levels, from standard category 11 inside staterooms, on up to concierge suites. There are even a few concierge rooms which allow more than two rooms to be connected.

Connecting rooms are exactly what they sound like, two rooms connected by an internal door. Opening the internal door effectively turns those cabins into a multi-room suite. In addition to adding space, selecting connecting rooms gives you a real door in addition to the flimsy internal “privacy curtains” present in most rooms.

Connecting Rooms are Not All Alike

In most instances, connecting rooms are listed at the same category level. For example, an 11B is connected to an 11B or a 4C is connected to a 4C. However, there are a few unique situations in which staterooms of different categories connected. For example, on the Dream and Fantasy, stateroom 7188 (a 6B cabin) can connect to 7190 (a 5E cabin). These staterooms are quite similar, but a bit of tinkering with various combinations might save you a few dollars.

The most common situation in which you’ll find dissimilar staterooms connected occurs when one of the staterooms has a handicap accessible designation. For example, on the Dream and Fantasy, you’ll see handicap accessible stateroom 6186 (a 9A deluxe oceanview cabin) connected to 6188 (a 6B deluxe oceanview cabin with a verandah). For many parties, this would be a nice balance of economy and outdoor access, with one slightly less expensive room connected to a slightly more expensive room with an additional amenity. Of course, the priority access in this situation should go to guests who need the handicap room for medical reasons, but if theses rooms become available for general booking, it could be the best of two worlds.

If you’re looking for odd stateroom combinations, you may benefit from the expertise of a veteran cruise specialist travel agent who understands the nuances of the various options.

Your Options Expand Further if You Don’t Need Your Rooms to Connect

While parents of small or special needs children will likely want access to them via a connecting door, families with older kids, or a party of friends rather than family, might not need their rooms to be connected. For example, when my daughters were older teens, I liked to have them in a room fairly close to my husband and me, but they were experienced enough travelers that I didn’t absolutely need them to be in a connected room.

If you just want adjacent but not connected rooms, the stateroom type combinations increase dramatically. For example, on the Dream and Fantasy, cabin 9010 is an oceanview stateroom next to (but not connected to) 9012, a stateroom with a navigator’s verandah. This could be a good combination savings and outdoor access for my family, particularly if something like the connecting door handicap room combinations were not available.

There are also many families who put teens in an inside stateroom with the parents in an oceanview or verandah room directly across the hall (for example something like 9521 and 9518 on the Dream or Fantasy). Again, this allows cost savings in one room with better amenities in the other.

Larger Parties Should Get Familiar with the “Add Another Stateroom” Button

A group of six or more will get error messages when trying to book the entire party into one stateroom. Any larger party will want to get familiar with the “Add Another Stateroom” button as they explore their booking options.

Not All Age Combinations Will Work When Booking Staterooms

While getting two rooms for your larger party is often an elegant solution, it may not be possible in all cases. Disney Cruise Line requires that at least one guest age 18 or over be booked into every stateroom. Additionally, all guests ages 17 and younger must be booked into a stateroom with someone 21 or older.

This is no problem if, for example, two adults are traveling with three kids. Two get two rooms, you would book an adult with one child into one cabin, and the other adult and two children into the second cabin. However, if one adult is traveling with four children, then they would not be eligible to be booked into two staterooms. On the Dream and Fantasy, their only option would be one category 8 room or a one category 4 or higher room, assuming one is available. This is true regardless of whether the rooms are connecting and regardless of the age of the children. A single parent of four teens would have to stay with them in one stateroom rather than two.

This rule has other impacts as well. I once considered taking two of my teen daughters and a friend of theirs on a DCL cruise. While my daughters are quite close with their friend, I didn’t think she would be entirely comfortable sleeping/changing/relaxing in the same room with me (a non-family member) for a week. I wanted to get a room for the girls (again, well-behaved older teens) connected to a room for me to give everyone a measure of privacy, but Disney would not allow me to do this. We ended up scrapping our plans.

You Don’t Have to Sleep Where You’re Booked

I mentioned earlier that some families put their teens in an inside stateroom with the parents across the hall in a verandah or oceanview stateroom. Given the 18-and-over rule, you’ll see that this is not allowed from a booking perspective. However, once you’re actually on the ship, the rule is not enforced. If you’re a family traveling with more than one stateroom, Guest Services at the ship will be more than happy to code your Key to the World Cards (room keys) so that each key opens all the linked rooms. This means that on the ship, family members are free to mix and match their sleeping locations among the reserved rooms. Even though it’s not booked that way, parents can sleep in one room, with the kids in another. Most stateroom attendants will automatically ask you how you want your rooms configured and where people will really be sleeping.

Think About Your Castaway Club Status

In addition to thinking about the ages of who gets booked into which room, your ability to book excursions and fine dining may be impacted by who is booked into which stateroom.

For example, during one family vacation, my twins and I had a higher Castaway Club (DCL loyalty program) rating than my husband and other daughter (lucky us). My kids were all older, so we had no pricing issues with who got paper-booked into which cabin. However, we did run into a problem when trying to book excursions for that cruise. We inadvertently booked me and the higher Castaway status twins into one room, while my husband and lower status Castaway status daughter were in the other room. Excursion and dining booking access dates are based on the Castaway level of the highest status person in each room. Because we had stacked the deck with all the high-status family members in one of our rooms, half of our party was able to make excursion reservations before the other half. If we had arranged the booking slightly differently, booking one of the higher-status kids into the room with her dad, we would have been able to make excursion reservations for both rooms at the same time.

The excursions we were selecting were not in short supply, so as a practical matter it ended up as a non-issue, but if you were looking to book an extremely popular or scarce excursion, then you might be in trouble.

Additional Ways to Save Money on DCL for Larger Families

In addition to tinkering with different stateroom configurations, larger families (and anyone else looking to economize), may want to look closely at their travel dates. Your travel date can be the largest factor in the overall price of your Disney Cruise vacation. The price might be double on the same ship, on the same itinerary, if you choose a Christmas week voyage over one in, say, late September. Choosing a different ship is also something to consider. The Wish may be the hot new thing, but the Dream visits the same ports and is often 10% cheaper (or more) for a nearly identical itinerary.

You may also want to look at other aspects of your trip planning as areas where you can economize. Will driving, rather than flying, allow you to reduce your total budget? Will choosing a different embarkation port change your budget? Can you skip extras like pricey shore excursions?

For more tips on Disney Cruise Line travel, check out The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line .

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Erin Foster

Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. She's been to WDW, DL, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Aulani, DVC Vero Beach, and DVC Hilton Head. She's a Platinum DCL cruiser and veteran of 10 Adventures by Disney trips. Erin lives near New York City, where she can often be found indulging in her other obsession - Broadway theater.

3 thoughts on “ Disney Cruise Line Stateroom Considerations for Larger Families ”

Thanks Erin! This is very helpful. We’re a family of 5 and for our Mediterranean B2B cruises this summer, it was less for us to get 2 connecting Navigator’s Veranda rooms then one bigger room. We’re looking forward to the extra space and bathroom. Kelly

Thanks for this, Erin! We just devoured the 2022 Unofficial Guide as well. We’re a family of 6 embarking on our first cruise since our family grew to that size (we were a family of 4 on our last cruise). We had to juggle this same situation, booking connecting rooms, with my wife and 2 kids (tweens) in one room and myself and the other 2 kids (littles) in another. As you mentioned, sleeping arrangements will differ once we board. We’re also trying it a little differently on another cruise with a guaranteed rate and will see where and how they assign us.

When we called DCL, they did mention that the Wish will have rooms that sleep a family of our size, is that right?

Thanks for reading! Pretty much what we know about stateroom configurations on the Wish can be found in this post by our friend Scott Sanders at the DCL blog. https://disneycruiselineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/StateroomLayouts_Wish_Original-Scan.jpg

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How Does Dining on Disney Cruise Line Work?

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: July 8, 2021  - Last updated: November 21, 2022

Are you planning your first Disney cruise? Cruisers new to DCL often have lots of questions about how dining on Disney Cruise Line works.

I’ll answer all of the most commonly asked questions about meals on a Disney cruise —everything from handling food allergies, to how seating arrangements work, to requesting extra dessert at dinner.

What food and drinks are included in my Disney cruise fare?

All Disney cruise ships offer three Main Dining restaurants that are complimentary for all passengers. But you’re not limited to eating in the MDR if you don’t want to pay extra for your meals and snacks!

You’ll also find quick-service dining options for a poolside meal, a buffet that becomes a table-service restaurant at dinner, and 24-hour room service, all for free!

Every ship also has upscale specialty dining restaurants along with elevated snack options available for an added charge.

To find out what complimentary and for-a-fee dining options will be available on your cruise, check DCL’s dining venue list and select your specific ship from the drop-down menu.

Soft drinks served at meals and at each ship’s beverage station are also included in your cruise fare.

What is rotational dining on a Disney cruise?

If you’ve sailed before on other cruise lines, you’ll notice that DCL does things a bit differently when it comes to dinner. Disney cruises use a concept called rotational dining, where guests receive a personalized dining schedule on embarkation day. You’ll be assigned to either early or late dining, and your schedule shows which restaurant you’ll dine at each evening.

Rotational dining is Disney’s way of making sure each guest has a chance to try each of the three Main Dining restaurants while on board.

Each evening, you and your tablemates will rotate to a different themed restaurant. Plus, your servers rotate with you! This way, the service staff gets to know your preferences while you experience the unique atmosphere of each dining venue.

Disney Cruise Line doesn’t offer a version of “anytime dining” in their main dining rooms. However, if your set dinner time interferes with your plans on any day, you can always eat at an alternative dining venue or make reservations for a specialty restaurant.

Be sure to let your server know if you’ve made other dining plans—they’ll usually delay service for the rest of the table if they think you’re just running late.

Will I have to sit with strangers at dinner? Can I request a private table?

DCL’s standard policy is to seat guests from the same stateroom together at dinner in the Main Dining venues. If you have friends or family sailing with you but in a different cabin, you can absolutely ask to sit together. Just be sure to request this when you book your cruise, or let your travel agent know.

Disney staff aim to fill the dining tables, which generally seat four, six, or eight. If you have a smaller party, they’ll usually seat you with other guests. They do try to match dining groups—seating adults without children together and matching families with other similarly-aged families.

Although they generally do a great job of matching guests for dinner, occasionally they get it wrong and you’ll find yourself sitting with someone you can’t stand. Just let the Head Server know, and they often can make alternate arrangements.

Don’t like the idea of eating with people you don’t know? You can request a private table for dinner. Just call DCL or tell your travel agent, and the cruise line will try to honor your request.

What time is dinner served on Disney cruise ships?

Each evening on a Disney cruise, there are two seatings for dinner, the main or early seating, and the second or late seating. The early seating begins sometime between 5:45 PM and 6:15 PM (exact times vary based on itinerary). The late seating begins between 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM.

Your assigned seating time (along with an alphabetical code for the order of your dining rotation) will be noted on the dining tickets you’ll find in your stateroom on embarkation day.

Want to change your seating time for your cruise? You can submit a request through DCL’s  Planning Center .

Do the rotational dining venues offer entertainment at dinner?

Several—but not all—of the complimentary restaurants offer entertainment at dinner.

Inspired by Tangled , Rapunzel’s Royal Table on Disney Magic features lively singing and dancing from a band of musicians. You’ll enjoy appearances from Tangled characters like Flynn Rider, the Snuggly Duckling Thugs, and of course Rapunzel herself.

At Tiana’s Place on Disney Wonder , the Crawfish Crooners perform New Orleans-style jazz numbers during your meal. Louis the trumpet-playing alligator joins in on the fun, and Tiana is on hand to greet her guests and sing a few of her favorite songs.

Animator’s Palate , inspired by animation from Disney and Pixar films, is available on all Disney ships. Depending on the ship, each Animator’s Palate features a different show during dinner. On Disney Dream , diners can interact with a digital Crush the sea turtle from Finding Nemo .

On Disney Magic , Fantasy , and Wonder , guests at Animator’s Palate are treated to a montage of Disney and Pixar clips. The show’s finale features the theme song from Fantasmic , with a visit from Sorcerer Mickey who dances and mingles with passengers.

Are there other character dining experiences available on a Disney cruise?

Disney fans (especially the littlest ones) love character dining, and you can book even more character experiences to enjoy at mealtime.

Is your kid obsessed with Disney princesses? Royal Court Royal Tea , designed for children aged 3 to 12 is offered on all Disney cruise ships. Adults are welcome, but they must be accompanied by a child! Cinderella, Belle, and Ariel host this beautifully presented tea party, where guests can enjoy small sandwiches and pastries.

Royal Tea is a bit of a splurge, but your child will also receive several high-quality gifts during the hour-long experience (you can choose between princess-themed and knight-themed gifts).

If your Disney cruise is seven nights or longer, the family can enjoy a character breakfast, and it’s free! Disney Junior Breakfasts are usually scheduled twice a week on sea days . Space is limited, so you do need to request tickets in advance through your Disney Cruise Personalizer online or via the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

Geared toward little cruisers, the characters you might see include Sofia The First, Doc McStuffins, Jake, and Vampirina. Of course, Mickey Mouse will also be there to meet the family.

Is room service available on a Disney cruise?

Although many cruise lines now charge a fee for room service, DCL offers complimentary round-the-clock meal delivery right to your stateroom.

You can order meals or snacks at any time, although lunch and dinner options are unavailable during the breakfast hours of 7 to 10 AM. Room service is available until 1:30 AM on the last day of your cruise.

Certain snacks and beverages do have an additional charge, and tips aren’t included (a dollar per meal is just fine).

Do Disney ships have a buffet?

Most Disney Cruise Line ships feature Cabanas , a buffet-style restaurant that offers more than ten diverse food stations for breakfast and lunch. At dinnertime, Cabanas converts to a table-service restaurant with menu options cooked to order.

For breakfast, Cabanas serves classic American breakfast fare to start the day. Enjoy made-to-order omelets, scrambled eggs, sausages, hash browns, Mickey-shaped waffles, muffins, fruit, cereal, and more.

The lunch offerings at Cabanas include salads, soups, burgers, sandwiches, steak, chicken, seafood, and pizza, along with a range of sweet dessert treats.

If you’d like to skip your scheduled restaurant at dinner, you can eat alfresco or choose an indoor oceanview table at Cabanas. The menu features signature dishes from the Main Dining restaurants, plus their own exclusives.

For an additional charge, you can order cocktails and specialty drinks from the full-service Clam Bar .

Cabanas has plenty of kid-friendly options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’ll find classic children’s food favorites to satisfy picky eaters of any age.

The new Disney Wish ship, launched in July 2022, replaces Cabanas with a new buffet concept called Marceline Market .

Marceline Market is a food hall with ten stalls, all inspired by marketplaces around the world. Cruisers can enjoy a variety of food options, including American favorites and comfort foods, international specialties, and vegetarian and vegan fare.

Which restaurants serve breakfast and lunch on Disney cruise ships?

In addition to the buffet and the various quick-service restaurants on board each Disney ship, some of the Main Dining restaurants also serve breakfast and lunch daily, including:

• Disney Dream :  Royal Palace  and  Enchanted Garden
• Disney Fantasy :  Royal Court  and  Enchanted Garden
• Disney Magic :  Lumiere’s
• Disney Wonder :  Triton’s
• Disney Wish : 1923

Check your Personal Navigator daily newsletter or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app on board for specific breakfast and lunch times.

Are all the restaurants on Disney cruise ships kid-friendly?

All of the Main Dining restaurants you’ll visit in your rotation are kid-friendly, along with Cabanas and all of the quick-service food venues. However, the specialty restaurants are all adults-only. All guests at these added-charge restaurants must be 18 or over.

Adults-only dining venues on Disney ships include:

• Remy (on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy )
• Palo (on all DCL ships)
• Palo Steakhouse (on Disney Wish )
• Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement (on Disney Wish )

What’s the difference between the Main Dining restaurants and the specialty restaurants on DCL?

The food served in Disney’s Main Dining restaurants tends to be excellent, with a variety of options for all palates. But the adults-only specialty restaurants on Disney cruises elevate the cuisine, service, and ambiance to a much higher level.

Foodies and those seeking a reprieve from the often noisy atmosphere you’ll experience with rotational dining might want to consider booking dinner or brunch at a specialty restaurant. It’s not cheap—but many Disney cruisers agree that the experience, as well as the food, are well worth the money.

Remy is DCL’s ultra-luxe gourmet French dining venue featuring a menu co-curated by Chef Arnaud Lallement (of France’s three-Michelin-starred L’Assiette Champenoise) and Chef Scott Hunnel of Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World. The décor is loosely inspired by Ratatouille , but you won’t find costumed rat characters—it’s an elegant experience, perfect for a romantic dinner or special occasion.

• Dinner:  $125 per person
• Remy Champagne Brunch:  $75 per person (add $30 per person when you include the Champagne pairing)
• Remy Dessert Experience:  $60 per person (add $25 per person when you include the wine pairing)
• Petites Assiettes de Remy:  $50 per person (includes one wine pairing per course) 
• Remy Wine Pairing Experience:  $105 per person

Palo , Disney’s upscale Italian restaurant, takes its name from the colorful poles lining the canals of Venice. Within Palo’s sophisticated atmosphere, diners can enjoy a memorable experience savoring Northern Italian specialties and classic reserve wines.

• Prix fixe dinner: $45 per person (add $59 per person when you include the wine pairing)
• À la carte menu: Priced by item (add $59 per person when you include the wine pairing)
• Brunch:  $45 per person

Palo Steakhouse takes the well-loved Palo concept of authentic Italian dining and combines it with the refinement of a modern steakhouse. Beauty and the Beast ‘s Cogsworth is the inspiration for this new restaurant.

• Prix fixe dinner: $45 per person. (add $70 per person when you include the wine pairing)
• À la carte menu: Priced by item (add $70 per person when you include the wine pairing)

Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement is another luxurious Disney dining experience curated by the renowned French chef. Inspired by everyone’s favorite candelabra maître d’, Lumiere, diners at Enchanté can expect to be surrounded by elegant, romantic design details.

• Enchanté Dinner Collection: $195 per person
• Champagne Journey: $140
• Passion (six courses): $125 per person (add $115 per person when you include the wine pairing)
• À la carte menu: Priced by item (add $115 per person when you include the wine pairing)
• Brunch:  $75 per person

How do I make reservations for Disney Cruise Line specialty restaurants?

As long as you’ve paid for your cruise in full, you’ll be able to make reservations in advance depending on your Castaway Club level. You can see what dates and times are available, as well as book your reservation, in your online cruise planner.

Here’s how far in advance of sailing you can make specialty dining reservations:

• Platinum Castaway Club (completed at least 10 DCL cruises): 120 days in advance
• Gold Castaway Club (completed at least 5 DCL cruises): 105 days in advance
• Silver Castaway Club (completed at least 1 DCL cruise): 90 days in advance
• New DCL cruisers : 75 days in advance.

Guests staying in concierge level staterooms can always make reservations 120 days in advance. Just be sure to reach out to your shoreside concierge prior to that 120-day mark so they can help you with booking.

Will restaurants on a Disney cruise accommodate food allergies or special diets?

If you have a food allergy or intolerance, let your Head Server know soon after you arrive on embarkation day.

Guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies should contact DCL’s Special Services team at (407) 566-3602 well before sailing.

Servers and kitchen staff on Disney cruises are well-trained to handle food allergies, but they don’t have separate kitchens to prepare allergen-free items.

For guests who follow a special diet for medical, lifestyle, or religious reasons, all of the table-service restaurants offer gluten-free, vegetarian, no sugar added, dairy-free, and “lighter note” offerings on the menu.

Other special diet options, including kosher meals, are available by advance request. Let your travel agent know what kind of special meals you’ll need, or call Disney Cruise Line well before your sailing date to discuss your options.

You may also like: How to Eat Whole30 (ish) on a Cruise

Is there a limit to how much food I can order at the dining venues?

When you’re eating in one of the rotational dining restaurants or at a quick-service spot, feel free to order as much food as you can eat! Maybe you’d like to order an extra appetizer (or two!) for the table so you can all share. And yes, if you have a sweet tooth, you can absolutely order two desserts.

This goes for the main course as well! For cruisers with hearty appetites, you can definitely order two entrées if you’re feeling ravenous.

In the for-a-fee specialty restaurants, you can generally ask for an extra starter or dessert if you’re ordering from the prix-fixe menu. Some cruisers have had luck ordering additional main courses, but many others haven’t. It seems to be a YMMV situation!

However, when ordering from the à la carte menu at any of the specialty restaurants, you’ll be charged for each item you order.

You may also like: What New Cruisers Don’t Know About Cruise Food & Drinks

Do restaurants on Disney ships have a dress code?

In the Main Dining restaurants, the dress code is “cruise casual”, so shorts and tees are allowed. Swimwear isn’t allowed in the dining rooms, and (at least officially) tank tops are banned. However, dining staff don’t tend to turn away women wearing dressy tanks, sleeveless tops, or tank-style dresses. Male passengers won’t be allowed in if they show up in a tank top.

Although cruise casual is the official minimum dress code, most passengers tend to dress up a bit for dinner.

On most Disney sailings, one night will be themed as Pirate Night . That evening the restaurant servers, dressed in pirate costumes, will bring you Caribbean-inspired food. Many guests like to join in on the fun, wearing their own pirate-themed outfits to dinner.

You’ll also have at least one optional dress-up night (seven-night sailings have one formal and one semi-formal night). DCL recommends dress pants with a jacket or a suit for men, and a dress or pantsuit for women.

Learn more: What to Wear on Formal Night on a Cruise

For adults-only restaurants, like Palo, Remy, and Enchanté the dress code is a little more strict to maintain an elegant atmosphere.

Disney Cruise Line used to have very specific dress codes for each adult dining venue. However, in June 2022 the cruise line relaxed the rules.

Per DCL, the new dress code states: “ Formal or semi-formal attire is recommended. Dress casual attire with a polished look is permitted (such as dress pants, jeans in good condition, collared shirts and blouses and lifestyle shoes). Clothing such as T-shirts, swimwear and sports attire is not permitted. “

Can I bring my own food on a Disney cruise ship?

With all the options available for dining on Disney Cruise Line, many people wouldn’t even think of bringing their own food on a DCL ship. But for parents of especially picky kids, or adults who can’t imagine being without their favorite snacks, this is a question that comes up fairly often.

Parents of babies eating solid foods also wonder if they’ll be allowed to take the specific jarred baby food their child enjoys onto the ship.

Disney has specific rules surrounding food items, as well as food prep and storage items that guests can and can’t take on the ship.

You can bring:

• Nonperishable foods in sealed, original packaging. (All items must either be consumed prior to returning to your home port or remain unopened.)
• Breast milk (in your carry-on luggage only).
• Coolers no larger than 12″ x 12″ x 12″ only for storing medications, baby food or items related to dietary restrictions (in your carry-on luggage only).

 You may not bring:

• Homemade, pre-cooked, or perishable foods or open food containers.
• Ice chests or coolers, except as noted above.
• Electrical appliances such as rice cookers, hot plates, coffee makers, blenders, bottle sterilizers, and bottle warmers (each ship has a limited number of approved bottle warmers and bottle sterilizers available—request these through Guest Services)

Ready to book your dream Disney cruise? Find the  best DCL prices  and exclusive bonus offers when you book through  CruiseDirect . Plus, they never charge a booking fee!

More resources for your Disney cruise

• Where Do Disney Cruises Go?
• Disney Wish: Everything You Need to Know About DCL’s Newest Cruise Ship
• How to Have the Best Embarkation Day on a Cruise

What do you think about dining on Disney Cruise Line? Or is your first sailing coming up and you still have questions about how dining works on DCL cruises? Let me know in the comments below!

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Disney Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean: Which family-friendly cruise line is for you?

If you're planning a cruise vacation with kids, you're likely focused on two brands: Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.

While other cruise lines cater to families, these two lines top the charts. Royal Caribbean is known for its humongous ships that are chock-full of family-friendly attractions, from waterslides and ice skating shows to huge kids clubs and adults-only solariums and sun decks. Disney is always top of mind for a family getaway, and the characters, quality of entertainment and family-focused service you're used to in its parks and hotels carry over onto its cruise ships.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

How do you make a decision when your vacation choice falls to Disney Cruise Line versus Royal Caribbean? The cruise lines are different in many ways — discover what sets the lines apart to determine which is the best for you.

Size of ships

Royal Caribbean is known for having some of the largest cruise ships in the world , including the 250,800-ton, 7,600-passenger titleholder, Icon of the Seas . Its Freedom, Quantum and Oasis Class ships are no joke either. Freedom Class ships measure roughly 156,000 tons and carry upward of 4,500 passengers at maximum capacity, Quantum Class ships measure 169,000 tons and accommodate 5,000 passengers, and Oasis Class ships measure a bit more than 225,000 tons and carry between 6,600 and 7,000 passengers.

As befitting their size, these ships are full of attractions and entertainment options, a range of cabins and suites at varying price points and multiple dining and drinking establishments.

The fleet does include smaller ships among its 28 vessels. The Vision and Radiance Class ships carry around 2,500 passengers when full. However, these ships lack many of the family-friendly attractions that Royal Caribbean is known for, and are also the vessels the line sends on longer voyages or based in secondary home ports, such as San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Baltimore. On many of these smaller ships, you'll find more adults, though all will have kids clubs and welcome families.

Related: The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

Disney Cruise Line has a much smaller fleet with only five ships (soon to be six by late 2024). These ships come in three sizes: the 83,000-ton Disney Magic and Disney Wonder carry 2,713 passengers at maximum capacity; the 130,000-ton Disney Dream and Fantasy carry 4,000; and the 144,000-ton Disney Wish (and its soon-to-debut sister, Disney Treasure ) can also accommodate 4,000. That puts its larger ships on par with Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class.

Unlike Royal Caribbean, Disney's smaller ships still bring all the Disney magic, including waterslides, family-friendly dining options and all the Disney character and princess encounters you could wish for.

Related: The 3 types of Disney Cruise Line ships, explained

Cabins and suites

Both Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line ships offer a range of cabin and suite categories, so travelers can choose the amount of space, layout and price point that works for them.

Both cruise lines divide cabins generally into windowless inside cabins (on both lines, certain ships have digital screens that simulate windows, displaying video from outside the ship), ocean-view rooms with porthole or picture windows that do not open, balcony cabins with private verandas and suites with extra space and VIP amenities.

Both lines offer top-level cabins and suites with access to exclusive lounges and deck space and the services of a concierge. You can find these Concierge-level rooms on all Disney cruise ships, but Royal Caribbean's Suite Class is only offered on its newest classes of ships (Icon, Oasis and Quantum).

All of Disney Cruise Line's cabins were designed with families in mind. Most have a split bath design, with a sink and toilet in one room and a tub-shower combo and sink in another. They have room-dividing curtains and plenty of extra berths, with sofabeds and pulldown bunks. Royal Caribbean does have some family cabins fleetwide, especially on Icon of the Seas, but the majority of its rooms were not created with families of three and four in mind.

Royal Caribbean is your line if you're looking for over-the-top suites on the biggest ships. The collection includes stunning two-floor suites, including the Ultimate Family Townhouse and Ultimate Family Suite on Icon and Oasis Class ships which are a kid's dream accommodation.

Royal Caribbean also has some quirky cabins you might find fun, including ocean-view and balcony rooms that look onto the open-air, interior "neighborhoods" on Oasis and Icon Class ships, such as the fun-loving Boardwalk, leafy Central Park and kid-friendly Surfside. Icon of the Seas has new Infinite Balcony cabins, which have extra interior space and a glass wall that rolls down halfway (like a car window) to bring fresh air into the room.

Related: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide: Everything you want to know

Food and drink

Neither Royal Caribbean nor Disney Cruise Line is known for amazing food across the board; however, both have restaurants that will wow you.

When comparing Disney Cruise Line versus Royal Caribbean on dining, Royal Caribbean is your best bet, especially on its larger ships, if you want a lot of dining variety and don't mind paying extra for certain meals. Disney Cruise Line is the winner for family-focused restaurants and some amazing adults-only restaurants.

All Royal Caribbean ships include three meals a day in its multideck, banquet-style main dining rooms and Windjammer Marketplace buffets. Ships will also have a couple of additional included venues for snacks and fast-casual meals, such as cafes (with extra-fee coffee), Sorrento's pizza and El Loco Fresh for Mexican fare.

If you're willing to pay, you'll find nearly everything you could wish for: sushi and hibachi, steak, seafood, Italian, Southern, Johnny Rockets, pub fare and inventive dishes created using molecular gastronomy. Suite Class guests have access to an elevated, intimate dining room called Coastal Kitchen.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

Disney Cruise Line takes a completely different approach to dining. Each of its ships features three included sit-down restaurants, and passengers are given a schedule of which venue to visit on which night. Your waiters rotate through the dining rooms with you, so they can get to know your preferences. The eateries are often themed to Disney movies or characters and might have a stage show or other entertainment as part of the fun.

In addition, a buffet is open for breakfast and lunch, along with all-day dining at poolside, grab-n-go venues for things like pizza, burgers and sandwiches.

Adults can seek a quieter, more romantic meal in Disney's various adults-only, extra-fee restaurants, including the Italian Palo and the French Remy or Enchante. At $50 per person, Palo is a great value for brunch and dinner with all-you-can-eat options from an extensive menu, all of very high quality. On the flip side, Remy and Enchante are among the most expensive specialty restaurants at sea.

Both cruise lines offer room service , but Disney's is included in the fare, while you have to pay extra on Royal Caribbean.

Kids activities

Both cruise lines excel at entertaining kids (especially on Royal Caribbean's bigger and newer ships), but the lines take different approaches here as well. To start, both Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have large kids clubs on their ships, with separate spaces for kids and teens, as well as extra-fee nurseries for the littlest cruisers.

Disney's Oceaneer Club and Lab are expansive play spaces themed to Disney, Pixar and "Star Wars" characters. You can play in Andy's Room from "Toy Story" or fly the Millennium Falcon in a "Star Wars" simulation. Activities range from arts and crafts and science experiments (like making goop) to playing video games or digital entertainment on the Magic Play Floor. Tweens and teens each have separate hangouts with lots of games and hangout space.

On Royal Caribbean ships, teens and tweens share a hangout, and the cruise line is experimenting with new programming to host activities around the ship for this picky age group. Kids still congregate in Adventure Ocean with multipurpose spaces for sports, games and crafts and plenty of high-tech entertainment. Newer ships have separate artist's studios, theaters, science labs and game space.

And, of course, both cruise lines plan kid and family activities around the ship, outside of the drop-off kids programming in the clubs. On Disney Cruise Line, families can take photos with their favorite characters and princesses, enjoy family trivia and karaoke, and attend events like a Pirate Night deck show or dance parties in the main atrium. Royal Caribbean might offer a family festival with games and face painting or field day-style competitions.

Related: 5 best cruise lines for families

Onboard attractions

Disney might be a wiz at theme parks, but no cruise line does onboard attractions better than Royal Caribbean. Look to its biggest, newest ships for wow-factor attractions, including a FlowRider surf simulator , waterslides (including a six-slide water park on Icon of the Seas) and giant dry slides, escape room, ice skating rinks, laser tag pop-ups, bumper cars (on Quantum Class ships), zip lines, rock climbing walls and sky diving simulators.

However, its Vision and Radiance Class ships take a more traditional, pared-down approach to onboard attractions, focusing on pools and hot tubs, the casino and the spa. Choose your ship carefully if you have certain whiz-bang attractions on your to-do list.

Disney Cruise Line ships will have a water ride or slide or two, indoor and poolside movie theaters and a spa, but don't expect the over-the-top attractions of a Royal Caribbean ship. The line focuses more on activities than attractions and lazy days by the pool.

Related: The 10 wildest attractions you'll find on a cruise ship

Entertainment

When you compare the entertainment of Royal Caribbean vs. Disney Cruise Line, you're not going to get a clear winner. Both lines excel at entertainment but — this won't surprise you — the two lines have different strengths when it comes to onboard shows.

Disney Cruise Line knows how to turn out high-quality shows, and each ship will offer three original Broadway-style musicals in its onboard theater. Some of them are musical versions of favorite animated classics, such as "Beauty and the Beast" and "Tangled." Other shows combine characters and songs from the Disney playbook to create original shows, like "The Golden Mickeys."

Disney is also known for captivating top-deck events, such as its Pirate Night shows, complete with fireworks, rappelling pirates and Mickey and friends dressed in their pirate best. Its ships run classic Disney movies on its poolside screen and first-run shows from the entire Disney portfolio in the indoor movie theaters. Adult entertainment in the lounges at night might include interactive game shows, karaoke, live music or even a solo show from a cast member.

Royal Caribbean also gets high marks for its stage shows, which range from shortened versions of Broadway musicals to original song-and-dance revues. Some ships have separate clubs where guest comedians perform, ice rinks for original Ice Capades-style shows and AquaTheaters for innovative acrobatic-diving-dancing performances. Expect high-tech effects, including the use of robotics, to enhance the entertainment.

The cruise line employs numerous musicians, including pianists who perform at the Schooner Bar, Dueling Pianos bar and even in the elevator and other unexpected locations (you never know where the Stowaway Pianist will appear). Ships with Royal Promenades host festive parades, dance parties and midnight balloon drops.

Who is on board?

Disney Cruise Line unsurprisingly attracts a lot of families, especially families with little kids in that princess-worshipping sweet spot, as well as multigenerational families. However, the line also attracts its fair share of adult couples, friends and families with grown children. It's not uncommon to find couples celebrating an onboard wedding or their honeymoon.

What most of these Disney passengers share is a love of the brand, whether that's the characters and movies or Disney's obsession with high-quality entertainment. Also, Disney cruises don't come cheap, so families tend to be well off, or they've saved for years for a special trip.

Related: 5 reasons why Disney cruises aren't just for kids

Royal Caribbean sees a larger variety of passengers across its fleet due to multifaceted ships and a wide range of cruise fares. You'll find families with kids of all ages (including adult ones), couples celebrating milestones from weddings to retirements, and lots of bachelor and bachelorette parties, spring breakers and girlfriend getaway groups. Who is on board will vary depending on the ship, the time of year and the length and destination of the cruise.

If you want a more adult environment, look for smaller or older ships, longer itineraries and off-peak travel times. If you want to find families, look for weeklong cruises sailing during school breaks. The party crowd and younger friend groups gravitate toward the super-short three- or four-night or weekend itineraries.

Related: The best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for every type of traveler

Itineraries and pricing

Disney Cruise Line ships mainly sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas on weeklong or shorter sailings. Three- and four-night cruises from Florida home ports, especially Port Canaveral, are ideal for tacking onto short visits to Disney World in Orlando.

Disney Wonder is the cruise line's Pacific-based ship. It sails to Mexico, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific and Hawaii (the latter as repositioning cruises). Disney Dream is the line's transatlantic ship. It sails to the Caribbean and Bahamas from Florida, but also crosses the ocean to offer European cruises (Mediterranean, Norwegian fjords, Western Europe).

Disney has previously offered Bermuda and Canada/New England cruises from northeastern U.S. home ports but does not currently have any on its schedule.

Related: The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

With a much larger fleet, Royal Caribbean has a much more diverse itinerary roster, but its focus is mainly the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Europe. In the summer, the line might base a dozen ships in the islands, half as many in Europe and four in Alaska, with the rest sailing to places like Bermuda, Canada and New England, Mexico and Asia. It can offer ship and itinerary options within one cruise region at the same time, whereas Disney might only have one ship sailing one route.

Royal Caribbean also offers cruises to the South Pacific, Pacific Northwest, Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii and Panama Canal, as well as transatlantic and transpacific crossings to move ships to new home ports.

You'll also have a wider selection of departure ports in the U.S. with Royal Caribbean. Its ships sail from secondary home ports, such as Baltimore, Boston, Cape Liberty (Bayonne, New Jersey), Galveston, New Orleans and Tampa, as well as the major Florida ports, Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver.

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries

Perhaps because Disney Cruise Line has far fewer ships to fill than Royal Caribbean, its prices are generally much higher on similar itineraries. For example, at press time, the cheapest seven-night Caribbean cruise you can book on Disney Cruise Line starts at $1,449 per person, based on double occupancy and not including taxes and fees. Royal Caribbean's cheapest weeklong cruise starts at $377 per person.

However, Royal Caribbean's newest ships are very much in demand, and pricing can rival Disney's. The cheapest seven-night cruise on the line's recently debuted Icon of the Seas starts at $1,723 per person; its 2025-arriving sister Star of the Seas isn't much more affordable, with rates starting at $1,677.

Bottom line: Disney Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean

If you're looking at Disney Cruise Line versus Royal Caribbean for your next vacation at sea, you can't go wrong with either line.

Choose Disney Cruise Line if you're a huge Disney fan or are traveling with kids who are. Choose that line if you prefer smaller ships that are still kid-focused but offer plenty of adults-only spaces. Finally, book a Disney if you can afford the high fares and if your preferred destination and travel dates match up with the line's more limited schedule.

Choose Royal Caribbean if you like big ships and cruises that appeal to all ages and interests or if you're looking for smaller ships and are fine with older ships and more traditional onboard activities. If you need a wide variety of itineraries to choose from, are looking to cruise to more far-flung destinations or need options for affordable rooms or a wide selection of suites, Royal Caribbean is the line for you.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

This article may contain affiliate links that Microsoft and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.

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Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship Room Service Menu — Everything You Need To Know!

By Wendy Leave a Comment

Is there anything more relaxing than a Disney Cruise ? Well, I might argue… YES.

The Disney Fantasy

Because I can’t think of anything more relaxing than enjoying a meal in the comfort of your very own Stateroom thanks to Room Service on a Disney Cruise ! Room service is available 24 hours a day with most menu items INCLUDED in the price of your cruise. While this is true of any ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, today we’re taking a look at the kind of eats you can enjoy from the comfort of your cozy stateroom on the Disney Fantasy !

You can access the Room Service menu from the free Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and the menu in your stateroom . Oh, and speaking of FREE, I’m going to say this again… the vast majority of items on the Room Service menu are included with your cruise! (Any item that is available for an extra charge will be designated as such on the menu.)

Room Service Breakfast

Do you love the idea of breakfast coming straight to you? Are you envisioning starting a wonderful day at sea by relaxing on your verandah with a few breakfast bites and sips?

Disney Cruise Line Verandah Stateroom

Or perhaps you have a fun Port Excursion planned for the day that you need to be on time for so you don’t plan to partake in the full breakfast buffet at Cabanas. Well, it’s Room Service to the rescue for you!

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah

The Room Service breakfast menu is typically available from 7AM to 10AM . Room Service Breakfast items consist primarily of continental breakfast style options such as juices, coffee and tea, pastries including muffins and donuts, toast, and cereals.

Find Room Service Request Cards in the Stateroom Desk

The process for ordering Breakfast is a bit different than other times of day. You’ll find Room Service Request Cards in your stateroom (typically tucked in the drawer of the stateroom’s desk as seen above). Fill out the Request Card with your desired items, then leave it outside your stateroom door BEFORE 3AM of the morning you would like your Room Service breakfast delivered.

Additionally, you can order a continental breakfast by calling room service (the Room Service button is designated on your stateroom’s phone) between 7AM and 10AM.

Lunch, Dinner, and Late Night Snacks… The Other 21 Hours

Outside of the designated Breakfast hours of 7AM to 10AM, the lunch and dinner options are available for the rest of the day, evening, and night!

©Disney Cruise Line — Inside Stateroom with Virtual Porthole

Up for grabs are items such as custom-made sandwiches, fresh salads and appetizers (like cheese plates!), burgers, pizza, hot dogs, and chicken tenders and even “chef specialties” like grilled salmon. My personal favorite is a mid-afternoon BLT … YUM!

Room Service Pizza and BLT

Craving something sweet? Desserts include cookies and ice cream.

How to order? It’s easy-peasy! For Lunch and Dinner service, simply pick up your Stateroom phone and select the button for In Stateroom Dining . A friendly crew member will assist you with your order from there! Though it may not take the full time allotted, it’s good to allow 30 minutes for delivery.

Here is EVERYTHING You Need to Know About Cruising on the Disney Fantasy!

Room service: good to know.

A few things to note before we say “SEA you real soon…” First, keep in mind that menu items can vary for your specific cruise.

Disney Cruise Line Towel Animal and Nighttime Chocolates

And here’s a tip for tips : Have a stash of singles at the ready for room service, as gratuities are welcome for your room service delivery.

As mentioned above, the Disney Cruise Line website states: “Please note that an additional fee will be added to your stateroom for certain snacks, wines, beverages and beverage packages.”

Oh, and you won’t see this on the menu, but DON’T FORGET THAT THIS IS A THING !

Order Mickey Bars through Room Service

YES! Mickey Ice Cream Bars can be delivered directly to your Stateroom! Just ask 🙂 !

And it’s as simple as that! Ok, NOW we’ll say it… “SEA You Real Soon!!”

Find our entire Disney Cruise Line Video Playlist HERE!

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So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you 🙂

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Second Disney Dream cruise employee hoarded numerous child porn videos, officials say

Another Disney Cruise Line employee possessed “numerous sexually explicit” photos and videos of young children, federal officials said. He is the cruise line’s third worker to be arrested for child pornography this year.

Back in December, Tirso Neri arrived on the Disney Dream at Port Everglades and was promptly greeted by United States Customs and Border Protection, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Conducting a border search on his room, officials confiscated two of his phones to examine. Numerous sexually explicit photos and videos of children of varying ages were found.

Neri, a 44-year-old Filipino man, told officers he was in several group chats where he downloaded and bought files containing adult pornography, the complaint read.

Asked specifically about the child sex abuse material, he said he obtains folders and saves them to his phone without looking at their contents, before later deleting them.

The videos included several children aged from approximately 9 to 16 years old, according to the complaint.

In response to an email from the Miami Herald seeking information on the individual and the company’s hiring and training practices, Disney Cruise Line said: “In accordance with our zero-tolerance policy for this kind of alleged behavior, this individual is no longer with the company.”

The cruise line did not respond when asked if the company does any background screening before hiring employees or crew members, whether there’s training for individuals once they’re hired, or if there is anything else the cruise line does for its staff to prevent such behavior from happening.

Two other men were arrested earlier this year for similar charges, one of whom had their case dropped.

Amiel Joseph Trazo, whose case is still being tried, was also a crew member on the Disney Dream when a January border check was conducted and the alleged materials were discovered.

A criminal complaint read officers found two videos of child sexual abuse on his phones after they received nine tips about him from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.

Neri was charged with transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography, records show. As of Tuesday, he remained in the Broward Jail.

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See Four Seasons' upcoming ultra-luxury cruise with a $350,000-a-week suite bigger than most homes

• Four Seasons says it will begin sailing an  ultra-luxury yacht cruise in January 2026.
• The 222-guest vessel would have 95 spacious suites and 11 dining options — but food wouldn't be free.
• The largest suite would have four floors and bedrooms, a spa, and a price of $350,000 per sailing.

Four Seasons plans to expand its high-end hotels and resorts portfolio with a luxury 222-guest cruise ship.

The company says the 95-suite vessel will debut in January 2026 and cost a minimum of $20,000 per weeklong sailing.

For that price, the luxury hospitality giant says travelers would enjoy a one-to-one guest-to-staff ratio and massive suites spanning as many as four floors. If all goes as planned, the 679-foot-long Four Seasons I could become one of the most expensive and opulent options in the cruise industry.

The ultra-plush 14-deck Four Seasons I is scheduled for 19 voyages in 2026 to more than 130 Caribbean and Mediterranean ports.

Reservations opened two weeks ago. Those interested can register to join a waitlist or book through a travel agent.

So far, "sales have been very encouraging, and the demand is exciting to see," Thatcher Brown, chief commercial officer and head of joint operations for Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings, told Business Insider in a statement. The company is a joint owner and operator of Four Seasons Yachts.

Renderings make the Four Seasons I look as opulent as the brand's land-based properties.

Four Seasons says its vessel will have 95 suites ranging from 537 to 9,975 square feet, some with three bedrooms.

The smallest suite starts at $19,700 for a five-night roundtrip voyage to Athens, Greece.

No windowless interior cabins here: Like other ultra-luxe cruises, the suites would all have terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Customers could expect upscale amenities like a walk-in closet, down-filled duvets and pillows, and marble dual vanity bathrooms, per Four Seasons.

The most premium suites would also feature additional accommodations for "personal assistants," such as au pairs or security personnel.

Some options, like the 7,952-square-foot Loft Suite, could be adjoined with seven other cabins to accommodate up to 20 people.

Without connecting cabins, the Loft Suite would already have three bedrooms and bathrooms, a powder room, and a sauna.

Others, like the largest Funnel Suite, would have its own spa and kitchen.

Four Seasons says the 9,975-square-foot mansion, partially perched in the ship's glass-lined funnel , will span four floors, four bathrooms, three bedrooms, and three powder rooms.

Not to mention the private elevator, pool, and $350,000-a-voyage price tag.

Accommodations of this price and size are generally unheard of in the cruise industry.

Luxury operator Silversea says the largest suite on its upcoming 728-guest Silver Ray will be 1,324 square feet. Competitor Regent Seven Seas' new Seven Seas Grandeur debuted in 2023 with a more expansive six-guest 4,443-square-foot option.

Both suites' sizes and prices — Regent's starts at $42,000 per person for a total of $252,000 at maximum occupancy — would be stunted by Four Seasons' promise of a 9,975-square-foot, $350,000 floating mansion.

But cabins with six-digit prices aren't unheard of.

While not a luxury cruise line, Royal Caribbean's popular three-floor townhouse on the new Icon of the Seas is being booked at an average of $100,000 a week — although it's about four times smaller than Four Seasons' largest.

Royal Caribbean and other mass-market cruise lines are beloved, in part, for their unlimited complimentary food options.

Regent Seven Seas' all-inclusive fare also covers caviar, foie gras, and Champagne.

But don't expect any of these to be free on the Four Seasons I.

Breakfast would be complimentary. Lunch, dinner, and booze would not.

The vessel's 11 restaurants and lounges would be priced similarly to Four Seasons' on-land properties. (A dinner entrée at its resort on the Caribbean island of Nevis — also one of the ship's destinations — ranges from $34 to $163.)

The pricing structure may sound odd to most cruise traditionalists. (Hey, at least WiFi would be "free.")

But some of the ship's amenities could look familiar: Like most cruise liners, the Four Seasons I would have a pool, spa, and clubs for children and teens.

The company also promises a lounge and marina that will open onto the water, giving guests direct access to activities like snorkeling or windsurfing.

Four Seasons Yachts plans to take delivery of its $399 million vessel, now being built by famed Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, in late 2025.

A second Fincantieri-built ship would join the hospitality company's fleet the following year. The next vessel would cost more than 400 million euros, about $429.2 million, Four Seasons says.

This isn’t Four Seasons' first foray into itinerary-based vacations.

The company has also found "tremendous success" in its private jet-based "cruises," Alejandro Reynal, the president and CEO of Four Seasons, told BI in a statement.

Its 2024 vacation-by-air itineraries started at $135,000 for a 16-day Asia tour. Demand has been growing, he said, "signaling that luxury travelers are looking for immersive, exclusive, end-to-end travel journeys that allow them to explore the world with their favorite brands."

But its new ultra-luxe cruise arm would be entering an increasingly crowded luxury market, soon to be dominated by like-minded hospitality giants.

High-end Aman Resorts and Orient Express plan to launch their own luxury cruises in 2027 and 2026, respectively.

Staying ahead of the competition, Ritz-Carlton debuted its first 149-suite Evrima yacht cruise in 2021, with a second 224-cabin ship scheduled to begin sailing later this year. Its least expensive itinerary is currently $5,100 per person for a six-night voyage from Barbados to Puerto Rico in early 2025.

Interested in a hotelier-owned vacation at sea but don't want to pay the luxury price tag? Margaritaville's cruise is an affordable $75 for two nights.

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This Small-ship Cruise Line Just Announced 2 New All-suite Vessels Will Join Its Fleet

Windstar Cruises is scheduled to launch Star Seeker in 2025 and Star Explorer in 2026.

Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Boutique small-ship cruise line Windstar Cruises is growing its fleet, adding two 224-passenger vessels — both acquisitions from Mystic Cruises —  in the next two years. Star Seeker is slated to make its debut in December 2025 and Star Explorer is scheduled to follow a year later in December 2026. 

Star Seeker is under construction, while Star Explorer is currently sailing as Quark Expeditions' World Explorer. B oth ships will be reworked to include signature features of Windstar ships, from a watersports platform to Owners Suites with wraparound balconies to a whirlpool on the bow. 

Dining, in particular, will be a main focus on the ships, as Windstar has a partnership with the James Beard Foundation. The ships' dining options spaces will be expanded to include the on-deck Star Grill, the casual Yacht Club café and lounge, and a re-imagined Amphora main dining room, which will now have outdoor seating.

“Our goal was to ensure these ships are unmistakably Windstar, and a significant amount of effort has gone into achieving this,” Christopher Prelog, Windstar Cruises’ president, said in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure . “We are thrilled for this expansion, building on the success of our game-changing Star Class in small-ship cruising with guests and travel partners, while offering new experiences. This growth reflects the dedication of our incredible crew and team, allowing us to broaden our destination portfolio and even bring one of our Wind Class sail ships back to Tahiti.”

Though both ships have ice-strengthened hulls capable of sailing in the polar regions, Windstar doesn't currently operate such itineraries, focusing primarily on the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific Islands. But these new ships may open doors to adventures in the years to come.

“As part of our company’s expanding portfolio, Windstar Cruises is poised for remarkable growth and an exciting future ahead," Andrew N. Todd, president and CEO of parent company Xanterra Travel Collection, said in a statement. "We’re excited about the possibilities of where Windstar will sail and the opportunities it brings our officers, crew and staff, and our guests.”

Itineraries and booking information for Star Seeker will be announced in June 2024. You can sign up for updates at windstarcruises.com/newships .

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