The happiest place on Earth brings smiles to the seas with all the amenities offered on a Disney Cruise vacation. Between the pools, spa, shows, entertainment, and dining options, a Disney Cruise is a vacation with something for everyone.
If you’re considering a Disney Cruise vacation, you’re likely wondering, “how much is a Disney Cruise?” What activities and amenities do the price include, and which will incur additional charges?
Let’s take a closer look at the cost of Disney magic on a cruise.
What’s Included in a Disney Cruise?
A Disney cruise will take you to many ports of call in the Caribbean. The ports include St. Thomas, St. John, Nassau, Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island), and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.
The Disney cruise experience is a good choice because of its many amenities. It also includes all onboard meals, drinks, special merchandise, and activities that are part of the price per person.
With the Disney cruise experience comes many extras that many other lines do not include in their standard pricing. These amenities include:
- The Hollywood Theater: Regularly watch movies during the day at sea or movies, and full-length Broadway shows at night.
- Spotlight: The first stage of Broadway-style entertainment options is where you can see the latest shows and performances at no cost.
- Headliners: The second stage of the Broadway-style entertainment option, where guests will pay to see the big-name entertainers perform their routines
- Kid Activities: Disney offers several programs for children to enjoy, including character breakfasts, themed parties, and interactive activities for kids and teens, and tweens.
- Character experiences: Disney cast members to dress up as different Disney characters and are available for photos with guests throughout the ship.
- Remy: A restaurant celebrating the art of traditional French cooking, including apres’ theater evening specials and presentations on how to make classic French dishes at home.
Base Cruise Fare
To accurately determine how much is a Disney cruise, you must consider all the other aspects of a trip, including transportation, your stateroom, and food.
A passenger’s cruise fare will include a base fare for the Disney ship, taxes and fees, a service fee for Disney Cruise Line, gratuities, and other expenses. Here’s what you can expect regarding how much your base fare will cost per person based on when you sail:
- January 1 – May 31: $1,698
- June 1 – August 31: $1,949
- September 1 – December 21: $2,081
- December 22 – January 1: $2,298
The price ranges above are base fares only. And passengers can expect to pay additional fees and taxes as well. In other circumstances, If a family of four spends three nights on a sailing trip, it could cost between $3,000 and $5,000.
Factors That Impact Cruise Costs
Here are the factors that affect the cruise cost:
Length of the Cruise
The longer the cruise, the more you’ll pay. Longer cruises typically include more expensive cabins, dine-on-board restaurants, and other amenities.
Checking the prices on a per-day basis can help in comparing the prices. For example, a 3-night cruise on the Disney Wish that leaves from Port Canaveral costs $362 per person per day.
Cabin Type
The cost of each cabin on a Disney cruise ship varies with the length of the trip and its location. It includes all the extras that come with your cabins, like a safe, refrigerator, and hairdryer to store in your room.
A stateroom with a balcony or suite offers a bigger room, more space, and a private balcony for viewing the ocean. Floor plans can give you an idea of space.
- A Category 4 deluxe inside the stateroom accommodates up to two guests.
- Three people can sleep in a category 4 family ocean-view stateroom.
A stateroom has a big impact on the price of your cruise. The size of the stateroom, amenities, and view play into the cost.
Destination
Your destination choice can also influence the cost of your trip. For instance, a Western Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas offers:
- 1-2 Day Bahamas Sailings: $232 per person
- 3-6 Day Bahamas Sailings: $286 per person
- 7-9 Day Bahamas Sailings: $314 per person
Many people opt for cheaper Caribbean cruises to the Eastern Caribbean because they are a more budget-friendly option. And that is why a 7-day cruise to St. Barth costs $316 per person, while an 8-day cruise to St. Thomas is $299 per person.
Shore Excursions
Just like destinations, the prices of shore excursions also vary depending on which excursions you choose. For example, an 18-mile bike tour in St. Thomas can cost anywhere from $70 – $100 per person, while an 8-mile beach bike tour goes for $10 per person.
Internet
The Royal Caribbean provides Wi-Fi services, and guests can stay at no additional cost in their staterooms. Guests wishing to use the internet on their cruise will have to pay a fee. It has a charge for web browsing when you use your own devices, such as a smartphone or tablet, which is about $29 a day or $174 for the length of the cruise.
Daytime and Nighttime Activities for Adults
Adults have many opportunities to take part in activities and entertainment throughout the sailing, including:
Adult-Only Dining
There are specialty restaurants on Disney Cruise Line that cater to adults only, where you can dine with your family while having a nice relaxing meal and getting to know new people from around the world.
On Disney Cruise Line, adults can relax in a more intimate setting while they take part in a meal and entertainment without the distraction of children. Some ships even have private dining where you can dine with your significant other.
Dining can include the Disney character meals, where sometimes, on Disney Cruise Line, each adult on board receives one free meal per day. The characters will visit your table during the meal to talk about the ship, give autographs and make special appearances.
Disney Cruise Onboard Spa
The Spa at Disney Cruise Line offers a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere to work through your troubles and look/feel better.
Licensed physical therapists, estheticians, personal trainers, massage therapists, makeup specialists, manicurists, pedicurists, reflexologists, and hairstylists staff the Spa. You can choose from the following treatments:
- Reflexology – A foot massage that focuses on the reflex areas of the feet. It allows the practitioner to help patients relieve stress and tension from multiple areas, including the hands, forearms, and back. You can also use reflexology for other parts of the body.
- Lomi Lomi massage- A Hawaiian healing technique that involves using long, bowed fingers to trace specific lines over each part of your body. The therapist then applies gentle pressure to help stimulate and relieve muscle tension throughout your body.
- Hot Stone Massage – This treatment involves draping over a heated rock or stone while sitting on a movable ceramic tile board. Massaging involves using various techniques to stimulate muscle tension and promote overall well-being.
- Hashimoto’s Aromatherapy – This technique combines conventional techniques with aromatherapy for added relaxation.
- Natural Body Care – The Spa offers natural products, including soaps and lotions made with organic ingredients such as almond milk and honey.
Nightclubs and Lounges
The nightclubs and lounges on Disney Cruise Line are peaceful places you can visit to have a good time with your family and friends. It is where you can dance the night away while enjoying the oceanic views from your private balcony.
The nightclubs and lounges onboard each Disney ship play different music genres, popular artists, top 40 hits, or classic party tunes to help set the mood for dancing and socializing. You can dance in one lounge, walk around on the upper deck, catch live performances downstairs in a venue reserved for adults, or play games at an arcade.
You can visit different spots on a Disney Cruise Line ship to enjoy music or socialize. For instance, you can visit the Crown Theatre at nighttime, watch movies on the big screen and hear them with your friends and family while enjoying reserved seating and a full selection of soft drinks and snacks.
When Is the Cheapest Time To Sail on a Disney Cruise?
If you want to take a cruise on Disney Cruise Line but worry about the cost and are on a budget, then it is important to consider your options to find the best time. If you’re looking for an option that gives you the most bang for your buck, then checking out these potential dates might be a good idea:
- The end of May and early June is a good choice because prices are lower around these times. However, there are many people on board during this time.
- The end of March through the beginning of April is also a good choice because the lowest prices are available around these times. However, during this time, the weather is unpredictable and rainy.
- During February, temperatures are cold because of the Polar Vortex.
If you want to avoid crowds and save money, booking your cruise as far in advance as possible is advisable.
Final Thoughts
A Disney Cruise vacation offers something for everyone; from the character meet and greets to the spa and everything in between, countless amenities are included in your base price. But how much is a Disney cruise? If you’re looking for the best time to sail on a Disney Cruise, consider off-peak times of the year, such as February and March. And remember, you can’t put a price on family memories.
