How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost: It’s Not Cheap

If you've never traveled on a Disney cruise, you are in for a magical experience, but prepare yourself for the Disney cruise prices because they aren't cheap. While the experience itself cannot be outdone, it's important to know what you're in for when committing to a Disney cruise, especially if this is a once in a lifetime experience.

The good news is that there are ways to keep the costs down, but by no means will this be a budget vacation. I suggest planning well in advance so that you have adequate time to save and have the most magical time of your life.

How much does a Disney cruise cost?

Disney cruise prices vary by ship, destination and trip length, but here's a sampling of costs for 1 to 3 night cruises in an inside cabin.

The above price ranges put the average cost for a 1- to 3-night Disney cruise in an inside cabin between $1,200 and $3,300 per person. If time on the ocean is important to you, Disney Treasure cruise costs start at $4,200 per person for a 7-night cruise.

However, your final Disney cruise price will vary depending on the cruise ship, length of cruise, port, destination, and time of year. Opting for a more expensive room, such as Oceanview, Verandah, or Concierge, will cost you extra money, ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than twice the price.

Additionally, the longer you cruise for, the lower your price per person, per night will be. However, your overall price may be much higher, as is the case for a 14-night Panama Canal cruise that costs over $17,000 for two guests.

What's included in a Disney cruise?

Disney cruises include everything from sleeping accommodations, dining, and entertainment. You and your family will never be bored when boarding a Disney cruise. Here's what's included.

Dining options

Each ship has three themed restaurants and quick service dining options. You also have access to 24-hour room service. All dining options include soda, tea, and coffee, and you'll also find these options around the decks. You can also enjoy all-you-can-eat soft serve ice cream machines and late-night snacks in the adult-only areas.

Entertainment

All ships have various Broadway-style musicals and live shows, showing every night of the cruise. You can also enjoy character meet and greets around the ship, kids' clubs for kids of all ages, and first run Disney movies across the ship and in theaters. There are also various nights of karaoke, trivia, and other fun games, and live music strewn throughout the decks.

Staterooms

Disney cruises offer a wide variety of staterooms including exquisite suites. No matter the type of stateroom you choose, they all include split bathrooms for ease of getting ready, storage space, a refrigerator, hairdryer, and TV with in-room entertainment. Each stateroom also includes housekeeping twice a day, including nighttime turn down.

Pools and recreation

Each Disney cruise includes water and various sources of entertainment, including:

• A kid pool with kid-sized water slides
• A family pool
• An adult pool for guests 18 and over
• A water coaster
• An adult-only splash pool
• Fitness room

Youth clubs

Each cruise has kids' clubs for kids of all ages. Each club is themed and run by trained Disney staff to monitor your children, while entertaining them.

Sample Cruise Pricing

Let's say you want to plan a Disney cruise for two adults from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the Bahamas. A 3-night cruise will cost you from $1,600 to $5,600. Opting for a cruise during peak season in June will cost the most, as will purchasing a Concierge suite room.

The cheapest option is to sail in September (which is during hurricane season and, therefore, off-peak for the Caribbean islands) in an Inside room. However, it costs only about $100 more to upgrade to an Oceanview room.

Extra costs to anticipate

The cruise price excludes shore excursions (called Port Adventures), gratuities, airfare, personal expenses ashore in the ports of call, ground and baggage transfers, and other items not specified in your itinerary.

Some onboard activities require additional charges, such as spa and salon services, excursions, babysitting services, onboard photography, and alcoholic beverages. There may also be extra baggage fees, since Disney ships allow only up to two bags per person.

If you intend to dine at the adult-only restaurant on board, that also is not included in the cost, and neither are events at any of the adult lounges, such as wine, beer, or bourbon tastings.

Tips for saving on Disney cruise costs

I'm always looking for ways to save on Disney cruise costs. Here are the tips I've discovered that work:

• Book during the off-season: Research the peak and off-season of your chosen destination. For example, Bahamas and Caribbean cruises are most costly during the summer months.
• Book early: Disney cruise prices can fluctuate depending on demand, but the earlier you book, the less demand there is. Typically, the closer you get to the sailing date, the more it will cost.
• Use a travel agent: It's free to book with a Disney travel agent who can help you get great deals, while also ensuring you have the most magical experience on your cruise. They know the ins and outs of Disney and all its destinations and can work with your budget to book your travels.
• Skip specialty dining: Palo (on all Disney ships) offers adults-only dining, but it also costs $50 per guest, not including gratuities. Remy is an adults-only restaurant on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, and dinner is $135 per person and brunch is $80 per person.
• Look for promotions and deals: Disney Cruise Line has special offers for pre- and post-cruise hotel accommodations, air travel, packages for weddings and honeymoons, Florida residents, and more. Other travel websites, like Expedia, have Disney cruise packages that include hotel accommodations and airfare.
• Leverage your travel credit card: You could also save money on travel by using credit card points and miles. Check out the travel credit cards that may offer rewards to help with your travel costs, such as airfare, checked baggage, or hotel stays.

FAQs

Bottom line

If you're looking for a unique vacation experience that will create a lifetime of memories, you can't go wrong with a Disney cruise. While Disney cruise prices can get quite expensive, there are ways to save money on them, especially if you sail during off-peak times.

If you don't have a travel credit card yet, I suggest considering one to help with some of the costs of the expensive cruise packages, or even the other costs, such as airfare or hotel stays before or after your cruise.

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