So you want to take a Disney cruise...

Embarking on a Disney cruise, like any other vacation, starts with planning...and lots of it.

Unlike other Disney vacations, a Disney cruise requires a little more attention to detail during the planning stage.  From deciding on main or second seating for dinner to getting select character meet-n-greet tickets to booking off-ship excursions, you need to know what you don't know in order to be in the know.  Clear as mud?  Let's begin...

First Things First

Do I need a Passport?  This is the most asked question of our agency and the answer is...maybe.  Depending on your port of departure, your country, your destination and such, you may need a Passport.  Up-to-date information can be found here.  Scroll down to find your destination and read about Passport and other documentation requirements.

Where To Go

Well, duh.  You need to know where you want to go before you can figure out everything else.  It's not an easy choice...Disney Cruise Line destinations include the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, European destinations, Mexico, the Pacific Coast, the Panama Canal, and even Transatlantic.  So where will you go?

When To Go

Unlike a typical Disney, you can't just go on a Disney cruise whenever you want.  The Disney Cruise Line has a schedule.  Typically, their sailing schedules are made available over a year and a half in advance.  This gives people time to pick a date that best meets their own schedule.  And with sailings ranging from 3 days or more and some even including special events like holiday sailings, we're sure you're find a Disney cruise that to your liking.

Which Port Do I Leave From?

This very much depends on the sailing you choose.  Disney has departure ports in New York, Galveston, Port Canaveral, Miami, Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Copenhagen, Dover, Quebec City, San Diego, San Juan and Vancouver.  Be mindful of what sailing you choose, because it could mean that the port you'll be leaving from is not a hop, skip, and a jump away.  You may find yourself needing to leave earlier than expected or even needing to book a flight.

Which Ship Do I Pick?

You don't pick the ship, the ship picks you.  Not all of Disney's fleet of ships offer the same sailings.  Your ship will depend on the sailing you choose.  Disney assigns its fleet to the destination best fit for the ship.  If you have your heart set on the Disney Dream, for example, you may need to be a little more relaxed on your destination or even the length and departure date of the cruise.

Why Is A Disney Cruise More Expensive?

Have you ever found, when it comes to vacations, you get what you pay for?  No exception with a Disney cruise.  You will get that level of professionalism and attention to detail that only Disney can offer.  From broadway shows to onboard movies, to character meet-n-greets and so much more, you'll understand the Disney difference after you cruise with Disney and you'll forget you even asked this question to begin with.

So with those basic questions out of the way, lets focus on getting you booked on your next Disney Cruise Line vacation.

You know where you want to go.  You know which ship it will be on.  You know where the ship is going and where to meet it to board, but what's next?

CONTACT US!!!

Seriously, contact us.  We are here to help you make the most out of your Disney cruise and make the process of booking it as smooth as the vanilla pudding you'll be enjoying on board.  And don't wait to contact us until you've figured out the stuff up above.  CONTACT US TODAY!  We can help with that stuff and guide you to the right cruise for you.  We're passionate about what we do and we're good at it...not to toot our on horn.  Give us a shot.  What's to loose?  You don't even have to pay for our services.  Yep...we do all of the work for FREE (echo, echo, echo, echo)!  We won't charge you a dime and the cost of your cruise will not be a dime more than what you can book it for on your own; and it may even be a little cheaper.  Ok, enough of the sales pitch...on to the good stuff.

During your initial consultation with us, we'll gather all of the pertinent information we need to book your cruise.  Here is the information we'll need:

• Full name of everyone going
• Date of Birth of everyone going
• Address of everyone going
• Phone number of everyone going
• Email address of everyone going
• Passport number if you have one and if you need it for your sailing
• Your Disney Cruise Line ID number if you've sailed before
• How many staterooms do you need and who will be in each
• Do you prefer the main or second seating for dinner?
• Do you need a hotel room for the night before and/or after your cruise?
• Do you need a flight?
• Do you need any airport transfers?

Unlike other Disney vacations where you book a hotel room and don't find out which one you'll get until you get there, you can actually choose your stateroom on a Disney cruise, but which one?  Here are some pointers if that helps:

• The middle of the ship both from forward to aft and top to bottom is the best location if you're prone to motion sickness...you tend to feel less of the motion of the ocean from this location.
• Choose a deck that is between two other sleeping decks.  While Disney ships are made well, you can still hear noise coming from the clubs and stage shows if you're on a deck above or below one of those.
• Keep in mind where the elevator banks and stairs are located.  These areas tend to have more noise as people are moving about the ship.
• Be mindful of room size and layout and whether or not it is a connecting room if that sort of thing is important to you.

Once all of the initial foot work is out of the way, the actual booking process is pretty straight forward.  Here's the information you'll need for booking:

• Credit card information for the deposit.  The amount of deposit depends on your cruise, but is generally around 20%.  Of course you can always pay in full at time of booking.
• Remember all of that information from the consultation I mentioned above?  Well...you'll need all of it.  And it is important that this information be entered correctly.  It will be used to verify your identity when you check-in on embarkation day with your passport, ID, birth certificate, etc...

The final payment for your cruise will be due 90 days prior to your cruise date.  This 90 day date is also significant because it's also the last day to add trip insurance because after this date, cancellation fees start to apply if you have to cancel for any reason.  Also this is the date that online check-in becomes available and the date you can begin reserving off-ship excursions if you're a new cruiser.  Past cruisers can reserve off-ship excursions a little earlier.

Speaking of online check-in, this is where you'll complete your cruise documents and print them out.  These documents are all of the legal mumbo jumbo Disney requires to cover themselves.  It is important to do this before embarkation because it will speed up the check-in process.  You'll thank yourself and others will thank you too.

Here's a special something you can do if you're traveling with kids, or if you're a Disney fanatic like me...you can schedule a phone call from a character about your upcoming trip; icing on the cake.

If you don't have a Disney account, go to disneycruise.com and create one.  From there, you'll be able to link your reservation, make payments, book off-ship excursions, and more.  And don't forget to download the Disney Navigator app prior to leaving.  It will only work while on board and is a great tool while on the ship.  It will tell you the day's activities and more.

I hope this this gives you a general idea of what to expect when planning your next Disney Cruise Line vacation.  If you still have questions, please don't hesitate to post them on this blog or otherwise contact us.

HAPPY CRUISING!