Disney Cruise FAQ

A Disney Cruise includes accommodations, all meals at main dining restaurants and the buffet, most onboard entertainment (Broadway-style shows, deck parties, movies), use of pools and recreational facilities, kids clubs and youth programs, and most non-alcoholic beverages. Not included: alcoholic beverages, specialty dining (Palo, Remy), spa services, excursions, and gratuities.

For popular sailings (Bahamas, summer Alaska, holiday cruises), we recommend booking 12-18 months in advance, especially if you want specific cabin locations or plan to book specialty dining. Concierge staterooms often sell out even earlier.

Absolutely. Disney Cruise Line has invested heavily in adult-exclusive spaces — Palo and Remy specialty restaurants, adult-only pools and lounges, spa facilities, and evening entertainment that is decidedly grown-up. Roughly 20-30% of DCL passengers are adults without children.

Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point are Disney Cruise Line's two private destinations in the Bahamas, open only to Disney Cruise Line guests. Castaway Cay (near Great Abaco) is the long-time favorite, with family beaches, an adult-only beach, snorkeling, bike rentals, a beach BBQ lunch (included), and island characters. Lookout Cay is the newer island, on the southern tip of Eleuthera at historic Lighthouse Point, and opened in 2024. Both are Bahamian-themed, are included in the cruise fare, and let guests relax on the beach or book optional Port Adventures. Which island your sailing visits depends on the itinerary. Check your sailing's itinerary on VDAWN Cruisers, or ask us.

Inside Staterooms have no windows and are the most affordable. Oceanview staterooms have a porthole or large window. Verandah staterooms have a private balcony — a significant upgrade for watching sunrises, spotting sea life, or simply enjoying fresh air. Bathrooms vary by category: many Oceanview and Verandah staterooms on the older ships have a split bath (one room with the toilet and sink, another with a sink and tub/shower), but Standard Inside staterooms on Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy, and the inside staterooms on Wish-class ships, have a single bathroom. Check your category in the Rooms & Decks guide.

A GTY rate means you're guaranteed a stateroom in a specific category (or higher) but Disney assigns your exact cabin. In exchange, you typically pay less than the standard rate. GTY rates are a good value if location on the ship doesn't matter to you.

Concierge staterooms are DCL's premium cabin category with the best locations on the ship. Concierge guests receive a dedicated concierge team, access to a private lounge with free food and premium beverages, priority boarding, and early booking access for specialty dining.

Disney Cruise Line uses a rotational dining system where you have the same table, servers, and dining companions each night — but the restaurant rotates. Your servers get to know your preferences and dietary needs over the cruise. Each ship has 3 main dining rooms with different themes.

Disney Cruise Line has adults-only (18+) specialty restaurants on every ship, in two tiers.

Palo and Palo Steakhouse: Palo is on the four older ships, and Palo Steakhouse is on the Wish-class ships. Both serve a brunch that is a cruise line favorite and often books up before the ship sails. It is often considered the best value if you want a more refined dining experience and still want to do rotational dining in the evening. Brunch starts at $55 per person.

Remy and Enchanté: Remy is on the Dream and Fantasy, and Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement is on the Wish, Destiny and Treasure. They offer higher-end, Michelin-level cuisine and cost $100+ per person.

All of these restaurants require reservations and have a dress code. Formal or semi-formal attire is recommended, although business casual is acceptable at brunch. T-shirts, swimwear and sports attire are not permitted. Prices can change, so check current pricing when you book.

Yes, DCL is excellent at accommodating dietary needs — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal, allergies, and more. Note your restrictions when booking and they'll be communicated to your dining team. Your servers will confirm your needs each night.

Main dining restaurants, the buffet, and pool deck quick-service locations are all included in your cruise fare. Room service (small fee for most items), Palo, Remy, and Enchante are additional costs. Non-alcoholic beverages are included at meals; alcohol and specialty coffees are not.

DCL's youth programs are world-class. Oceaneer Club (ages 3-10) features immersive themed spaces like Marvel's Avengers Academy and Star Wars Mission: Starship. Edge is the tween club (ages 11-14) and Vibe is for teens (ages 14-17). All youth programming is included in your cruise fare.

Infants must be at least 6 months old for most Caribbean and Bahamian sailings, and at least 12 months old for transatlantic and Panama Canal sailings. DCL has a nursery for infants and toddlers ages 3 months to 3 years for an additional hourly fee.

Using a Disney-specialized travel agent costs you nothing extra — agents are paid by DCL from their commission. A good agent will know about price drops and promotions, apply them to your booking automatically, help you book specialty dining and excursions at the right time, and be your advocate if anything goes wrong.

The required deposit is 10% of the cruise fare, paid at booking.

Sailings of 1-5 nights: the balance is due 90 days before sailing.

Sailings of 6+ nights: the balance is due 120 days before sailing.

A passport is strongly recommended for any Disney Cruise, and it is the safest choice if you ever need emergency travel home.

For US residents, a US birth certificate (plus a government-issued photo ID for adults) is technically sufficient for closed-loop sailings, meaning cruises that start and end at the same US port, such as most Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries.

A passport is required for US residents on Alaska sailings (they leave from Canada), Transatlantic, Europe and Panama Canal sailings.