You’ve decided that you want to go on one of those big, beautiful Disney ships, but aren’t quite sure where to start. Am I right? Well, if that’s the case – you’re in the right place!
How to Book
There are essentially two ways to book your dream Disney Cruise. You can contact a travel agent like me who is experienced in traveling with Disney Cruise Line, or you can choose to book it yourself on disneycruiseline.com or by calling Disney Cruise Line at (800) 951-3532.
Choosing Your Dates
One of the most important details that you need to know before booking a cruise is when you want to go and how long you want to go. At least try to narrow it down to a couple different time frames so it is easier to compare and contrast ships, itineraries, and departure ports. Disney Cruise Line itineraries range from 2 days to 14 nights with the majority being 3, 4, 5, or 7 nights. There truly is something for everyone. If you need a starting point, check out my other blog: Choosing Your Disney Cruise.
When You Can Book
Once you know when you are wanting to sail, it is important to know how far in advance you can book your cruise. As of January 2022, sailings are available to book through May 2024. Once the itineraries are announced, there is a sequence in the way they are available for booking. This is based on Castaway Club level. I will use the January through May 2024 sailings as an example. Itineraries were announced December 7, 2022 and here is the booking order:
Platinum Castaway Club Members were able to book December 12, 2022
Gold Members: December 13, 2022
Silver Members and DVC Members: December 14
First Time Cruisers: December 15
Itineraries and Destinations
What itinerary and/or destinations are you interested in? Disney Cruise Line offers sailings to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the Panama Canal, Mexico, Hawaii, the South Pacific, Alaska, Canada, Bermuda, the Norwegian Fjords, Northern Europe, the British Isles, the Mediterranean, and they also have Transatlantic itineraries.
Additional Details
After you figure out when you want to cruise and how early you can book, there are still a few decisions to be made. They don’t necessarily need to be made in a specific order. What port do you want to leave from? Does it matter to you? Some itineraries only leave from certain ports, so this answer may be based on which itinerary you have chosen for your cruise. What ship do you want to sail on? The Triton, Dream Class, or Classic ships? More on choosing a ship here.
Choosing a Room
Cruises offer a variety of different stateroom options. The cheapest option is a Standard Inside stateroom and the most expensive option is the Funnel Suite. Here is a simple breakdown:
Inside Staterooms are the most affordable, but do not offer an outside view
Oceanview Staterooms have a port hole (window)
Verandah Rooms have a balcony (there are various types)
Concierge Staterooms come with extra amenities and space!
The inside staterooms on the Disney cruise ships do not have a view to the ocean. The Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish feature magical portholes that provide guests a real-time view outside of the ship via high definition cameras on the exterior of the ship. You may even see Rapunzel swing by or Scuttle and Flounder peek in as they fly by. Unfortunately, the classic ships do not offer magical portholes. The inside staterooms sleep 3-4 guests with a square footage ranging from 168 to 214 based on the category you book.
Oceanview staterooms offer one or two porthole windows so you can see the ocean and ports from your room without the added expense of a verandah. The Oceanview staterooms can sleep 3-5 and they range from 204 to 241 sq. feet. Oceanview staterooms are typically lower decks (a few on upper decks but not many), and this can be good for motion sickness.
Our most popular stateroom is the Oceanview stateroom with Verandah! The Oceanview staterooms with verandah offer cruisers access to their own private balcony to enjoy scenic views and landscapes while feeling the ocean breeze. These staterooms can sleep 3-5 guests and are anywhere from 246 sq. ft to 304 sq. ft. It is important to note that the verandah is included in the stateroom square footage. For me, sailing with a verandah is the only way to go. So much of the ship is enclosed that when you do not have a verandah it seems as though you have to make a conscious effort to go out onto a deck to hear the ocean and feel the breeze.
Finally, you have the concierge staterooms. Most of the concierge staterooms feature balconies but the four different categories vary greatly in size. The Disney Wish does offer some concierge staterooms without a balcony. Concierge staterooms vary from your general verandah stateroom all the way up to 1- and 2-bedroom suites.
In Summary
As you can see, there are so many variables that go into booking a Disney cruise – and that isn’t even everything you need to decide on before booking! Disney Cruise Line vacations can be completely customized to your wants, needs, and budget to ensure that you have an incredible vacation at sea that you have been dreaming of. If this all sounds like too much, I highly recommend working with a travel agent who has experience in sailing and booking Disney Cruise Line vacations. Your travel agent at Friend Like Me Travel Co. can help you navigate all of the above plus things like pre-night stays, transportation to and from the port, discounts that may be available to you, prepaid gratuities, excursions, cancellation policies, travel protection, and more.
Ready to Plan a Vacation?
Friend Like Me Travel Co. helps busy families just like yours plan the vacations of their dreams and provides services completely tailored to you and your needs. Click below to get started and one of our Genies will be in touch!