Planning Your First Disney Cruise?
Not sure where to start? You're in the right place!
Planning Your First Disney Cruise? Start Here! 🚢✨
Dreaming of sailing with Disney Cruise Line but not sure where to begin?
Between choosing a ship, deciding where to sail, understanding the different stateroom options, and figuring out your budget, planning your first cruise can feel overwhelming!
The good news? You don't need to know everything about Disney Cruise Line to get started. That's where I come in!
Hi, I'm Jen! I'm a Disney-focused travel advisor who has helped over 1,000 families plan their vacations since 2021. I've personally sailed with Disney Cruise Line multiple times and been on every US based ship experiencing the ships, staterooms, dining, entertainment, and onboard activities firsthand.
Before requesting your personalized Disney Cruise quote, here are five things I recommend considering.
1. Decide When You'd Like to Sail
Your travel dates are one of the most important starting points for planning a Disney cruise.
Unlike a Walt Disney World vacation, where you can choose your check-in and check-out dates, Disney cruises depart on specific dates with predetermined itineraries and lengths.
A few things to consider:
Are you limited to school vacation weeks or holidays?
Can you travel during the school year?
Are you hoping to celebrate a special occasion?
Do you have a particular month or season in mind?
Pricing can vary significantly between sailings, even when comparing the same ship and stateroom category.
If your travel schedule allows some flexibility, consider a few possible weeks rather than one specific departure date.
2. Think About Where You'd Like to Sail and for How Long
Disney Cruise Line visits destinations around the world, offering everything from short tropical getaways to longer adventures in destinations such as Alaska and Europe.
Before requesting a quote, consider:
Departure port: Would you prefer to sail from a port within driving distance, or are you comfortable flying?
Destination: Are you dreaming of tropical beaches, exploring new destinations, or simply experiencing a Disney ship?
Cruise length: Are you looking for a quick getaway or a weeklong vacation?
And remember, the departure port matters when calculating your overall vacation costs. Airfare, transportation, parking, and a pre-cruise hotel may need to be included in your plans.
You don't have to select a specific Disney ship before contacting me! Share your preferred dates, departure location, and what you're hoping to experience, and I can help you explore suitable sailings.
3. Establish Your Vacation Budget
Disney Cruise Line includes many vacation experiences in the cruise fare, including your accommodations, most onboard dining, entertainment, youth clubs, and recreational activities.
However, not every vacation expense is included!
Depending on your plans, you'll want to account for:
Your cruise fare
Airfare or transportation to the departure port
A pre-cruise hotel, if needed
Gratuities
Port Adventures and excursions
Specialty dining, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, and other optional purchases
Travel protection
Your cruise price will also depend on your sailing date, itinerary, stateroom category, and the number of guests traveling.
Establish a comfortable budget for your cruise fare before requesting a quote, and remember to leave room for the additional expenses associated with your vacation.
4. Think About Your Stateroom Needs
Disney Cruise Line offers several different stateroom categories, including Inside, Oceanview, Verandah, and Concierge accommodations.
But you don't need to understand every category or compare every stateroom before requesting a quote!
Instead, think about what's important to your family.
Would you prefer to keep your accommodations as budget-friendly as possible?
Is having a private balcony important to you?
How many people will be staying in each stateroom?
Are you traveling with extended family or friends who will need additional staterooms?
Keep in mind that not every stateroom accommodates the same number of guests, and layouts can vary by ship.
If you're traveling with five or more people, don't assume you'll need two staterooms! Some accommodations can sleep five or more guests, depending on the ship and category. I'll help you explore options that fit your travel party.
While some Disney Cruise Line staterooms can accommodate up to 5 guests, that doesn't mean they have 5 traditional beds. Most standard staterooms have one queen-size bed, with additional sleeping accommodations consisting of single-size convertible sofa beds, upper ceiling pull-down beds, and/or wall pull-down beds.
Please consider the ages, mobility, and sleeping preferences of everyone in your party when deciding how many staterooms you'll need. While these additional beds may work well for children, they may not be comfortable or practical for every adult, particularly those who have difficulty climbing into an upper bunk or getting in and out of a smaller bed.
If you're traveling with multiple adults who prefer traditional beds, I recommend considering additional staterooms or accommodations with a different sleeping configuration. Connecting staterooms are available with an interior door connecting between the 2 rooms and some verandahs can have the partiton removed for a larger verandah
You’re Ready to Request Your Disney Cruise Quote!
You're almost ready to start planning your vacation at sea!
Before submitting your personalized quote request, here's what you'll want to have ready:
Your preferred travel dates or general travel window
Your preferred departure port or destination, if you have one
How many nights you'd like to sail
The number of adults and children traveling, including children's ages at the time of sailing
Your approximate cruise budget
The number of staterooms your travel party will need, if known
One more important reminder: International cruise vacations have specific citizenship and travel documentation requirements. Some itineraries require passports, while others may permit alternative documentation for certain travelers. Be sure to review the requirements for your potential itinerary early in the planning process.
You don't need to choose the perfect ship, stateroom, or itinerary before reaching out. That's part of what my experience can help you navigate!
What Happens When You Book With Trips by Jen?
My complimentary Disney Cruise Line planning services go far beyond simply making your reservation!
When you book through me, you'll receive personalized sailing and stateroom recommendations, planning resources, guidance on onboard activities and reservations, help preparing for embarkation, and ongoing assistance leading up to your cruise.
My clients also receive an exclusive onboard credit as a thank-you for booking with Trips by Jen and supporting my Small Business!
What About Onboard Credits?
You may have seen travel agencies advertising onboard credit as an incentive for booking a Disney cruise. While onboard credit is certainly a nice perk, it's important to remember that not all travel advisors offer the same level of experience, personalized service, or planning support!
When choosing a travel advisor, I encourage you to look beyond the onboard credit amount and consider what you'll receive throughout the entire planning process.
When you book with Trips by Jen, you're working with an experienced Disney Cruise Line travel advisor who has personally sailed on Disney’s ships, experienced different stateroom categories, and invested in creating exclusive planning resources to help you make the most of your vacation.
From personalized recommendations to onboard planning guidance and my exclusive client resources, my goal is to provide value throughout your entire vacation experience — not simply at the time of booking or through an Onboard Credit.
My clients do receive an onboard credit as an added thank-you for booking with me! The amount will vary based on the final reservation details
Ready to Set Sail?
My complimentary quote and planning services are intended for travelers who are ready to move forward with booking once we find the right Disney cruise for their needs and budget.
If you're still exploring dates, destinations, or what you can comfortably spend, use this guide to narrow down your options and come back when you're ready!
Ready to plan your Disney Cruise Line vacation? I'd love to help!