All About Disney Cruise Line

We just got back from another - yes, another! - Disney Cruise, and you know what? Disney Cruises are very quickly taking the place of the Parks for us. I gave you a rundown of Marvel Day at Sea a couple of months ago, but I've never posted about WHY Disney Cruise Line is special! Before we start, let's get this out of the way: Disney Cruise Line should be compared to Celebrity and Princess, NOT Royal Caribbean or Norwegian. This is like comparing a Moderate Resort to a Deluxe. It's fine if you like Moderates! But Deluxe have different features and amenities.

1. Of course, the main attraction is DISNEY, right? From character greetings, to themed dining, to first run movies in the movie theater, to Broadway style shows like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Moana, and Frozen, Disney Cruise Line is for Disney fans! They even have Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on board! They also have themed cruises throughout the year, including Marvel Day at Sea, Pixar Day at Sea, Halloween on the High Seas (THE BEST), and Very Merrytime Cruises.

   
   
   
   
   

   

   

   

   

   
   
   

2. Going along with the fan aspect, Disney Cruise Line fans love to add some extra magic for each other. You'll see more staterooms decorated, gift exchanges and "pixie dusting" (random surprises for strangers), and even pin trading! Walking the hallways on a Disney Cruise is an experience on its own!

   
   

   

   
   

3. Disney includes more in your fare! On Disney Cruise Line, you don't have to think about Beverage Packages, though you can order a case of water or adult beverages delivered to your room (with an awesome cooler bag) on your embarkation day for an additional fee. You can get soda, tea, water, and coffee on the pool deck 24/7, and during the buffet hours, juice is also available. Plus, Disney still has twice a day stateroom service, no service fee for Room Service, and still some of the lowest daily gratuities in the industry. Those little charges add up!

   
   
   
   

4. While there are no beverage packages for alcohol, Disney allows you to bring your own onboard! Each adult can bring 2 bottles of wine or champagne, or a 6 pack of beer (12oz) in their carry on, and at each port of call. No need for any sneaky containers!

   
   
   

   

   

   

   

   
   
   

5. Disney has some of the longest kid's club hours at sea! I'm firmly in the camp of "a Disney vacation is for everyone" and that means that mom & dad, or solo parents, get some alone time. And if you're firmly in the "Disney Cruise is for a family to spend every waking hour together," the kid's clubs also have plenty of Open House hours. There's no wrong way to cruise!

   
   
   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   
   
   

6. If you're a Disney Adult without kids, or just a regular old adult who wants to know if it's worth it for you to go on a Disney Cruise with your nieces & nephews, I promise there is plenty for you to do in 18+ spaces. This is one area where I think the older ships (Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy) are a bit better, because the adult areas are all on the forward end of the ship, but ALL Disney ships have adults-only dining, pools, lounges, coffee shop, fitness center, and spa. Plus a lot of events throughout the cruise, like trivia, are designated 21+, and there are late evening showings of movies like Deadpool.

   
   

   I could go on for days on Disney Cruise Line, and I can devote an entire post to FOOD (as I know many of you want me to)! I'll be breaking down the highlights over the course of several blogs this summer. Let me know in the comments if you want to hear more about any particular aspect of cruising! Most pictures in this post are from our February and April cruises on the Disney Dream, but I tossed in a few adult area photos from the Disney Wish as well!