Handy Facts and Tidbits for a Disney Cruise Adventure
Disney Wonder at Port Canaveral, Miami, Florida.
Planning for that dream vacation onboard a Disney Cruise Line may not be as hard as you think. Here are some tips and tricks that may help you.
- Click on the Disney Cruise Line website and check out the and already have a date and destination in mind.
- The availability of your preferred cruise destination can be booked as early as twelve months before the actual trip.
- If you think that it may be tedious for you to book and plan on your own, you can opt to have a travel agent help you to make things easier.
- Depending on visa restrictions and trip itinerary, (if applicable) you may want to know when its best to apply for a Schengen Visa for Philippine Passport holders. The earliest you can request for one is about 3 months before your scheduled trip. When going to the Baltic Cruise, it is required to have a visa to go around Russia, you won't be allowed to roam around on your own without one unless you are accompanied by a certified Disney Cruise tour guide around St. Petersberg. If you’re going through the Bahamas, you won’t be needing a separate visa. You can use your existing US Visa. Should you decide to start your Disney cruise in the UK, you’d also need to affix a UK visa for Philippine passport holders.
- Once you’ve decided and booked your cruise, see what activities need to be booked in advance. There are a lot of activities that you can choose from, but some of them do sell out fast such as the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the Royal Court Royal Tea Party even character meet and greet with Anna and Elsa. So make sure you’ve decided on which ones you’d like to do on board and book them in advance.
- When you’ve booked your Disney cruise adventure, you may want to travel elsewhere and diversify your trip as not to concentrate on the Disney trip alone.
- Choose an airline that will meet your needs. Thankfully, many airline deals won’t necessarily break the bank.
- Speaking of not breaking the bank, in planning your Disney trip, check out these additional saving tips and tricks at mousesavers.com.
- If you’re coming from a different destination from your cruise ship, you can check out registered hotels once you’ve booked and registered online on the Disney Cruise website. There are accredited hotels that will take you to the port where your ship will be docked for a fast transfer. The downside may be the additional cost of staying at this hotel. You may opt to choose another hotel that is close to the port that can quickly take you to your ship. You just need to make sure that a taxi will be available to take you to your desired place.
- There will be a lot of people on board so please be on time when its time to set sail as there will be a queue to check for security and safety during boarding.
- Make sure to know what you’ll need for the trip. Depending on the length of stay during the cruise or the weather, you’ll need clothes and other necessities that are suitable for your trip. Medications and other must-haves are best prepared days if not weeks before the trip. When our family went to the Disney Baltic Cruise last year, it was already June but it there was hale in Finland. That only goes to show that you should never underestimate the weather and clothe yourself properly. I’m a bit of a paranoid so when my family and I pack for a trip, depending on the duration, I usually pack 3 weeks to a month in advance. Should you forget anything, don’t worry, the ship will have most of your needed items on board.
- When it comes to clothes, always have your activities in mind. There will still be a formal night with the captain so make sure to bring formal attire and dress for the occasion. When going to the Bahamas, pack at least 3 swimsuits, so you don’t have to go back and forth from the laundry area. When going to colder climates, dress in layers.
- As much as possible, try to limit your luggage to one person per luggage. You’ll never know when you’ll need that extra space for souvenirs, knick-knacks and other shopping sprees you may have on board or in the different ports. The area under your stateroom bed is approximately 13 inches, enough for you to store your luggage.
- When doing the laundry, I suggest doing this: do your laundry on the first day and about two days before you leave your ship. During the first day, everyone is excited to be on board so no one would think to head for the laundry. If you do your laundry on the last day, you’re sure to find a long queue with irritated people trying to get their laundry done as soon as possible. Also, try to avoid doing your laundry before the formal night, everyone will be going to the machines to do some last minute laundry. The best time to do your laundry is late at night or early morning while everyone else is having breakfast. Another important tip when doing your laundry: make sure to be there when your wash cycle is over. You want to avoid people waiting for you to get your wet clothes, or worse, for a total stranger put them in the dryer. Set a timer on your phone if you have to and be considerate of others.
Inside the laundry area.
- Once you’re set for your cruise, Disney Cruise Line will courier to you a package that you’ll be needing throughout the trio such as luggage tags, itinerary, and general information about your cruise with your names and barcodes that will be scanned in the boat. Keep these documents with you at all times.
- For activities on the different ports of call, you may choose your activities or guided tours while on board. Make sure to book them on the first or on the second day as they too get sold out quickly at the concierge desk.
- Should you want to enjoy more adult time without our children during meals, you may opt to have the staff from the kids’ club pick them up once they’ve finished their meals for some alone time. Another option is for you to drop the smaller kids off in the Nursery for that adult only dinner reservation at Palo. Make sure to make your reservations before going on board. Inform your dinner servers of any special diets, allergies or food restrictions that you may have.
- Do not be surprised that there is a set amount that you’ll be charged for gratuities on board. This will be presented to you a day before leaving the ship. There will be a separate envelope provided should you want to give a little extra for that server who took extra good care of you while on board.
- Make sure to explore the entire ship with your family or have that much needed time alone for yourself basking in the sun on deck nine or ten.
- Choose the right time for dinner according to the needs of the family and or the scheduled activities on the ship. There are two sets one at 6pm and another at 8pm.
- Be sure to wash your hands before meals or sanitize them before entering the dining areas.
- Make sure to attend the deck parties such as the Pirate Night and the Sail Away Celebrations.
Pirate night in 2008 as we were off to the Bahamas on the Disney Wonder.
- Watch live shows such as Tangled: The Musical or Beauty and the Beast. Make sure to go to the theater at least 15 minutes before to show to get good seats.
- Watch the newest Disney film at the Buena Vista Theater.
- Don’t know what to do in each port you’ll be docking? Don’t fret, the room tv has a channel that explains what to do and expect when you dock off to the different ports of call like shopping and places to see and visit.
- Always be aware of any announcements while on board and be abreast with the changes in time, weather, etc.
- Inside the room, there is a walkie-talkie that allows you to communicate with your children more comfortably.
- Security is very tight inside the ship so don’t be afraid to leave your children in kiddie clubs, the staff are more than capable, professional and are trained very well.
- Make sure to be on the board's safety drill. You wouldn’t want to be absent when they call your name.
- During port adventures, make sure to come on board at the given time. It’s rude to keep people waiting.
- Download the Disney Cruise Navigator App and use the countdown.
- If you have a tendency to be seasick, do the necessary measures to prevent this during the cruise. There are also anti-seasickness gadgets on board that you can purchase.
- There is wifi on board, but it is costly.
- No need to worry about changing currencies on board, the concierge will accommodate you.
- Once in your room, take a picture before you unpack, that way the stateroom is still spotless.
- If you are traveling with an infant or small children, there are strollers and cribs available for your perusal.
- You can bring along water bottles with you, so you don’t have to go to deck nine just to get some refreshments.
- During the formal night, you may have your pictures taken before heading off to dinner and avoid the lines.
- Enjoy the ship amenities and try not to do too much while on board.
- Pin trading is a fun way to make new friends and acquaintances, you can even exchange pins or magnets on your stateroom neighbors door or just drop a note to say "hi" using a Disney magnet.
- Make new friends while on board. It’s a great way to meet new people from all over the globe.
