15 Essential First Time Disney Cruise Tips – For Stress Free Travel

Hi all! Are you a new Disney cruiser? Wondering what to expect on board? Then you’re in the right place! Welcome to your cruising guide, complete with 15 first time Disney Cruise tips! 

In this post you’ll find everything you need to know to have an amazing first Disney Cruise! 

15 First Time Disney Cruise Tips

1: Download the Disney Cruise App

This app is definitely a necessity for your cruise. It allows you to message other cruise-goers while on board – which is so helpful. It also has lists of your dinner locations and all of the day’s activities and shows!

Before your cruise departs, you can also use the app to browse menus, port excursions, and reserve activities. 

2: Pack first-day essentials in a shoulder bag

When you first arrive at the cruise terminal, your suitcases will be taken from you. This is great, so you don’t have to carry them on board yourself. 

However, although you will board the ship in the early afternoon, and probably get access to your stateroom around 1:00/1:30, your luggage may not be delivered to your room until the early evening (sometimes as late as 6:00/6:30.) 

Because of this, it is necessary to pack important items in a shoulder bag to carry onto the ship with you. Be sure to have your bathing suits, camera, medicine, electronics and a change of clothes for dinner (if you’re going to the early seating.) Often your bags will arrive earlier than expected, but don’t rely on it.

3: Go to the late dinner seating

If you aren’t traveling with young kids then I highly recommend the 8:00 seating. If you’re cruising in Europe, the late seating is at 8:30.

The early seating, 5:00/5:30, is packed with young children (of course). Therefore may be less enjoyable for families with older/no children. You’ll also be so busy on the cruise that 5:30pm will feel like the middle of the afternoon and way too early for dinner.

4: Arrive to dinner 5 minutes late

People will start lining up for dinner outside of the dining room about 15 minutes before the doors open. There is no reason to do this. Instead, go to dinner five minutes late to avoid the rush! Your waiter will still meet you at the door and it will be a much more relaxed process.

One of my favorite parts of a Disney Cruise is the rotational dining. There are three main restaurants on board, and throughout the cruise you’ll dine at each one. The best part is, your waiters come with you! You get the same waiters every night, and they are always so kind and accommodating.

5: Alert cruise staff in advance if you don’t want to dine with other families

Sometimes on a Disney Cruise you’ll be assigned a dining table with another group of travelers. This happens most often if your group is small and there is space to seat another small family with you. Since your waiter moves with you from restaurant to restaurant, this means the other family will move with you as well.

While some people really enjoy this, and find that it’s a great way to make friends, it’s definitely not ideal for everyone. Personally, when we travel we prefer to sit with just our own family.

If you do not want to dine with other travelers, be sure to alert customer service in advance! If you forget, and are seated with another family the first night, you can always talk to the concierge or the dining room staff and they can (most often) arrange another table for you.

6: Order room service – it’s free!

Although there is always food available on the ship during the day (in the dining rooms, the pool deck and at the upstairs buffet, Cabanas), room service is another convenient option. It’s especially great at night when all of the restaurants and snack bars are closed. 

Unlike on some other popular cruise lines, on Disney Cruises, room service is free. The menu is pretty extensive and you can get anything from a full meal to dessert to snacks. Room service is available 24 hours a day. This is fantastic for when it’s 2am and you realize you need a pizza and some cookies!

7: Dine at the adult-only restaurants

Cruise guests who are over the age of 18 have the opportunity to make reservations for the ship’s adult-only restaurant. This is either Palo or Remy, depending on the ship.

These meals are not included in the cruise fare, but they are delicious and definitely worth the extra cost once (or twice) during the cruise. 

You can dine at Palo and Remy for brunch or dinner, and I highly recommend both. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get dressed up, enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the restaurants, and have dinner with no kids.

I recommend dining at Palo or Remy on a day that you are not excited about the dinner menu on your restaurant rotation. Be sure to make your reservations before the cruise begins, or as soon as you arrive on board. These restaurants have limited seating and the reservation slots are often taken quickly.

8: Pack your own alcohol

Disney allows each adult (21+) to bring up to two bottles of wine/champagne or six beers on board on embarkation day and at each port. To note: Alcohol has to be in your carry on. Do not pack alcohol in your checked suitcase or it will be confiscated. 

Being able to bring your own alcohol is extremely helpful as Disney Cruises do not have an all inclusive alcohol package. There are often many ports of call on each cruise itinerary. Therefore, you will be able to restock your alcohol supply regularly.

Be advised that the drinking age on board is 21. This is true no matter what the drinking age is in the country/port you are visiting. On some cruises parents can sign a drinking waiver, if you have kids over 18 but under 21. This waiver will allow 18-20 year olds to drink with their family, but never alone.

Your ‘Key to the World Card‘ will not allow you to purchase alcohol, or be served alcohol, on board if you are underage and don’t have the alcohol waiver. Read Disney’s alcohol policy here.

9: Take advantage of the Kids Clubs

10: Go to the 18-21 club!

If you’re between the ages of 18 to 21 (really like 25) then there’s a ‘club’ for you too! Disney organizes meet-ups for young adults so that making friends and having fun on the ship is easy.

I’ve been going to these for the past few years and I’ve always made fast friends to hangout with for the rest of the cruise. Definitely go to the first meet-up, because after that a lot of people will break off into groups and not go to the meet-ups on other nights. 

11: You can book your own Port Adventures outside of Disney

On our first cruise we signed up for a port adventure through Disney Cruise Line. Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly what we were looking for. It’s not that it wasn’t fun, it’s more that we’re not huge fans of large group, tour bus activities.

Often, the Disney port adventures are crowded. You’ll likely be packed onto a bus with tons of other families while wearing a Disney Cruise tag around your neck. These adventures can also be pretty pricey.

However, although they aren’t necessarily for me, they are convenient. Especially if you don’t mind the ‘typical’ cruise tour format. There are also tons of adventure options to choose from, so for many families Disney port adventures are preferred.

Besides the one Disney Cruise Line port adventure, we’ve always booked our own private tours/excursions at each port. So far, they have all been fantastic! 

12: Use Tours by Locals and other sites for port tours + activities

I recommend booking private drivers/tour guides though Tours by Locals (or other websites like AirBnb Experiences). With these tours, a driver will meet you at the port and take you to all of the tourist sites, restaurants, shops, museums, etc. that you want to visit.

You won’t be stuck with tons of other families, and you’ll plan your time around exactly what you want to do. These tours are much more flexible. If you’re looking to be able to customize your experience then I highly recommend them.

Additionally, I love that these private tours allow you to connect with a local and learn about their favorite parts of their city!

We’ve used Tours by Local on tons of Disney Cruises, and they’ve been great every time. 

13: You don’t have to get off at the ports

Of course, on a cruise, most everyone will want to get off and explore the ports, but keep in mind that it’s not required.

This is especially helpful if you’re traveling with older or younger family members/friends who may prefer not to leave the ship for extended periods of time. We took a cruise with our grandparents and it was wonderful for them to be able to stay on the ship. They enjoyed the quiet, relaxed, and almost empty ship while we went on a day long tour.

14: Book spa treatments onboard

If you want to get a  spa treatment on the ship, and are flexible with the date and time, then book it on board! There are daily spa specials offered at non-peak times that are totally worth taking advantage of.

Normally, these treatments will be offered while the ship is docked at a port. Head to the spa on the first day of the cruise to see the daily specials and spa treatment offers.

15: Ask for sea-sick medication

You do not need to bring your own sea-sick medication, especially if you aren’t sure if you’ll get sea-sick. Medicine is available on board, and it is free if you need it.

The medicine works great, but it may make you drowsy.

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So there you have it! I hope you found these 15 first time Disney Cruise tips to be helpful!

Disney Cruises are so much fun, and there are so many different itineraries to choose from! Additionally, depending on the length of the cruise and the type of stateroom you choose, they can be very affordable for families.

We highly recommend booking a Disney Cruise for your next vacation, it will definitely be unforgettable!

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♡Kate