disney cruise line internet cost

Disney Cruise WiFi: Packages and Prices

Internet access and cruising don’t always mix, but if you set sail on a Disney cruise , you have several options to post the occasional picture on Instagram or check your email. Disney Cruise Line offers several internet packages aboard its fleet. All Disney cruise ships have WiFi .

Until recently, all internet packages aboard Disney cruises were priced with a “pay for what you use” model, with data plans based on megabyte usage. With the arrival of the Disney Wish in 2022, Disney announced changes to the Disney Cruise Line internet packages, which are now priced based on the type of internet access you want in a 24-hour period. These changes have now been rolled out on all ships, with the Disney Wonder being the final ship to upgrade to the new system during a September 2023 Dry Dock.

Below, we discuss everything you need to know about how Disney Cruise WiFi works in 2023.

Prices shown below are accurate as of August 2023.

Prefer To Speak With Someone? Get Free Help From Our Favorite Disney Travel Agency!

Disney Cruise Line Internet Packages

WiFi is available in three packages, each with a different level of internet access:  Stay Connected , Basic Surf , and Premium Surf :

These packages are based on usage for a 24-hour period, not a calendar day. If the time of day you use the internet matters to you, you’ll want to purchase a plan at a time that will renew when it’s convenient — and not in the middle of a work meeting.

You can share the plan on multiple devices (as long as you log out of one device before using the other) or pay to connect multiple devices simultaneously. And you can save a little money by purchasing for the entire length of your cruise.

Packages previously varied by ship, but these are now the standard packages across the entire fleet: the Disney Dream , Disney Fantasy , Disney Magic , Disney Wish , and Disney Wonder .

Here’s more information about each package, including their prices:

Stay Connected

The most basic internet package on a Disney cruise allows you to access, post, and engage on social media platforms, specifically Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter/X, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Tumblr.

• $18 for 24 hours of access
• $16 per day if purchased for the entire cruise

This mid-tier internet package allows access to the social media platforms listed above, plus basic browser surfing and email capabilities. Audio WiFi calls are also available with this package.

• $28 for 24 hours of access
• $24 per day if purchased for the entire cruise

Premium Surf

The highest internet Disney cruise WiFi plan gives you all the access included in the Stay Connected and Basic Surf plans (with faster connection speeds). Plus, you can stream music and short-form video on apps like Pandora, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. Video calling through FaceTime and Zoom is also available with this package.

• $42 for 24 hours of access
• $34 per day if purchased for the entire cruise

It’s important to know that none of the packages (not even Premium Surf) supports long-form video streaming such as using Disney+, Hulu, or Netflix.

Free Help Planning Your Disney Cruise

From the small questions such as details on WiFi onboard to the bigger questions about the best time to go on a Disney Cruise or how much it costs , you can get free help planning your cruise by contacting the Disney Cruise Experts at The Vacationeer .

Here are just a few reasons to use this Earmarked Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to book your cruise.

• Free Onboard Credit: Get up to $1,000 to spend while onboard the ship
• No Planning Fees: There’s no cost to use their services
• One Dedicated Agent: No giant call centers or waiting on hold
• The Best Prices: Your cruise won’t cost any more than if you’d booked it yourself
• The Best Discounts: They know all the ways to save and will even watch for new discounts after you’ve booked
• No Pressure: Vacationeers provide free, no-obligation quotes so there’s no risk in contacting them

Does Disney Cruise Line Offer Free WiFi?

There are several ways you can get free WiFi on a Disney cruise:

Use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App

Disney Cruise Line allows guests to access the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App for free.

The app is powered by a free WiFi network (DCL-GUEST) that’s only available onboard the ship.

The app is similar to the My Disney Experience app and includes a host of information about your cruise. You can view your planned activities, excursions, rotational dining assignments, deck plans, entertainment schedules, dinner menus, and much more.

One of the app’s most handy features is the ability to message friends and family who are also on board.

If you want to truly unplug during your cruise vacation, the WiFi access you get through the Navigator app may be all the internet you need during your Disney cruise.

Stay in a Concierge-Level Stateroom

One benefit of staying in a concierge-level stateroom is free WiFi. How much internet you’ll get depends on the type of stateroom you booked. Those staying in Royal Suites get Premium Surf internet for the entire cruise. Concierge Suites get Basic Surf for the whole cruise, too. Other Concierge-Level staterooms get one day of Basic Surf for free.

Use Your Onboard Credit

Many Disney travel agencies offer a free onboard credit that can be used toward purchases you make while you’re onboard the ship. You can spend this on specialty dining, gratuities/tips , spa treatments, souvenirs… and virtually anything else that’s charged back to your shipboard account.

Luckily for you, onboard internet packages are charged to the folio, so onboard credit can be used to pay towards your onboard WiFi package.

The size of your onboard credit depends on the travel agency you pick and the cost of your cruise, but it could easily be enough to cover the cost of your shipboard internet.

Book With The Vacationeer To Earn Credit Toward Onboard Internet and Other Purchases

How to Use the Internet on Disney Cruise Line

Internet packages can be purchased through the Disney Cruise Navigator app once onboard and connected to the ship’s WiFi. To buy a plan, click the “more” tab in the app and scroll down to “connect to the Internet.” From there, you can select a package, the number of devices you want to use, and the number of days you wish to purchase. You’ll then be prompted to review the plan and check out. The package will be charged to your stateroom folio. If you have trouble connecting to the internet, the onboard internet help desk can troubleshoot internet and cell phone access onboard.

Can You Share Internet on a Disney Cruise?

You can share one internet plan on multiple devices if you only use one at a time and log out of each device when you’re done using it.

Multiple-device plans are also offered; choosing one of these will save you a bit of money versus the cost of purchasing two separate plans.

How Much is WiFi on a Disney Cruise?

WiFi plans have starting rates between $16 to $42 a day. The price can vary drastically based on the number of days you purchase and the amount of connected devices. You’ll get a slight discount if you purchase a plan for your entire cruise. You also save for each device you add.

Does Disney Cruise Line Have Cell Service?

Whether your cell phone will work on a Disney cruise depends on your carrier and plan. Cell carriers like AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile provide Cellular at Sea aboard Disney cruises, which allows you to use your plan like you normally would in your stateroom. However, you may need to pay roaming charges (which can get very expensive, very quickly) or purchase a special cruise add-on from your carrier. Your data allotment (cellular internet) also may be much more limited than on land. It’s best to check with your individual cell phone carrier before your cruise to determine how cell phone data usage will work while onboard.

How Good is the WiFi on Disney Cruise Ships?

While the internet speed on cruise ships has improved drastically over the years, it’s slower than the web surfing you’re used to at home.

Disney warns cruise guests that onboard internet may sometimes be slow, interrupted, or completely unavailable. This is especially true on at-sea days; the final sea day of a Disney Alaska cruise is notoriously bad for internet due to the ship’s position and direction of travel.

However, most cruisers will typically find onboard internet sufficient to occasionally check email, post on social media , or make a video call.

Get Free Help Planning Your Disney Cruise

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Disney Cruise Wifi Prices and Packages 2024

By: Author tanialamb

Posted on Published: July 31, 2024

Disney Cruise Line has wifi on board all of their ships, and they all now have upgraded wifi. If you’re sailing on a Disney Cruise in 2024, the wifi increased in price in August 2023. Here’s everything you need to know about Disney Cruise Line internet like how much it costs, how to connect to wifi while sailing, and which data plan is best for you.

How Much Does WiFi Cost on Disney Cruise Line?

Disney Cruise WiFi starts at $18 per day for the entire cruise on all the Disney Cruise Line ships. These include the Disney Wish, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, and Disney Wonder. 

The 2024 Disney Cruise Line Wifi Package Prices Start at:

• Stay Connected – $18 per day for a 24 hour period
• Basic Surf – $28 per day for a 24 hour period
• Premium Surf – $42 per day for a 24 hour period

If you book a wifi package for your entire voyage on Disney Cruise Line, then you’ll receive a discount on the wifi.

The price for Disney Cruise WiFi is per device in the room , not per room. So the price is cheaper per day if you choose wifi for the whole voyage. If not, you can choose 24 hour increments. 

For example, if you purchase internet on Disney Cruise Line on a Saturday at 5:00 p.m., you’d have until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday to use it before it shuts off. 

The graphic below shows how it works, but the prices are before the increase.

Is There Free Wi-Fi on Disney Cruise Line Ships?

If you have an iPhone, you can use iMessages for free even at sea on Disney Cruise Line. I found that I had to be logged in before I boarded, and my party was able to text other people on land with iPhones. 

You can also use the Disney Cruise Line App and Navigator for free while on board.

However, if you want to use the internet and social media, you do have to purchase a wifi package on Disney Cruise Line. 

Disney Cruise Wifi Internet Packages

All Disney Cruise Line ships have upgraded wifi packages for 2024. Knowing Disney Cruise WiFi prices ahead of time will help you factor it into your budget.

The new and improved Disney Cruise Wifi is currently on the Disney Wish, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, and now the Disney Wonder. The Disney Wonder was the last hold out. They introduced the new Disney wifi packages in 2022 and basically coincide with the old wifi packages – small, medium, and large – based on what you can do with them. 

Stay Connected Package

The Stay Connected package says it will allow you to post pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tumblr. However, some guests have reported to not be able to send photos.

You can also try one package and if it isn’t working the way you’d like, then you can upgrade. One of the benefits of the Stay Connected plan is that it’s the cheapest.  The Stay Connected package starts at $18 a day. 

Basic Surf Package

The Basic Surf package seems to work for guests who want to post on social media, check some emails, and use basic internet activity, plus send or receive photos. “Surf the web, read the news, check the weather and visit your other favorite websites, send and receive emails, and make audio calls.” The Basic Surf Package starts at $28 a day. 

Premium Surf Package

The Premium Surf package is said to have faster connection speeds on a Disney cruise ship. “Make video calls, listen to your favorite music streaming platforms, surf the web, view short-form videos like TikTok.” This plan still does not support video streaming like Netflix. 

If you ever used the old Disney Cruise wifi, you know it was a struggle and it was slow. This new Disney Cruise wifi is definitely improved, though you still have to be patient, because you’re at sea. 

Pay-As-You-Use Disney Cruise Internet Prices

The old Disney Cruise Line WiFi  was a pay-as-you-use plan that started at $.25 per megabyte used. The Disney Wonder used to have the old wifi packages, but as of October 2023, the wifi has been upgraded and matches the rest of Disney Cruise Line.

How Do You Connect to the Internet on Disney Cruise Line?

When you board your Disney Cruise, you should be able to use your regular data plan for internet until about 10 minutes or so after you leave your port.

When you’re far enough at sea, your cell phone won’t work anymore.

However, to actually use the Disney Cruise Line app, you need to connect to guest wifi on board and be in airplane mode. The DCL app is where you find information about activities, schedule, stateroom, dining rotation, etc.

You don’t need to purchase internet services to connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi network when used only for the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

If you want to connect to the wifi on a Disney Cruise ship, there is an additional cost. Once you’re on the Disney Cruise Line app, you’ll see the options to Connect@Sea. Then you’ll need to set up an account if you don’t already have one.

Once on board the ship, open the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and go to  “Connect to Internet,” which will open a separate browser for you to view internet plans and purchase internet access.

Again, the Disney Cruise Line wifi packages are per device, and not per stateroom. 

Then you’ll select your package, how many devices, and connect.

Is Disney Cruise Line Wifi Worth It?

If you need to work or want to browse the internet, then wifi on Disney Cruise Line is worth it…if it’s necessary. However, it still can be glitchy at sea. 

If you don’t absolutely need to use it, then maybe wait until you’re in port to do what you need to do. Sometimes it’s also nice to disconnect from the world while on vacation.

You’re not always going to get the fastest wifi while on Disney Cruise Line or at sea, so I wouldn’t schedule an important meeting just in case there’s a glitch. However, the Basic Surf package should be enough to do what you need to do, provided you don’t need to make Zoom calls. 

With the price increase of Disney Cruise wifi, it’s not as cost effective and may not be in your budget. If you don’t have to use it, then save your money and buy Palo Brunch instead. 

I suggest trying it out for a day and then you can increases your package if necessary. If you find that the internet is not working, then you can also talk to Guest Services about their suggestions or request a refund if necessary.

Bon Voyage and have a great cruise!!

For more Disney Cruise Line tips, here is information on the Castaway Cay 5K and these are the Bibbibi Bobbidi Boutique Disney Cruise prices . 

If you’re doing a land and sea vacation, then these are the closest Disney Character Warehouse outlets to Disney World!

For the best deals on Disney Cruises, you can book with my partners at Get Away Today who will help you with every step of the process!

Wednesday 9th of August 2023

I think I remember years ago "one device" meant at a time, so I could log-in on one, log out and then my son could log-in on his. Is this the case on Disney Dream because $42/day is a lot.

I don't think you can change devices and have it still work. However if you're on your device and your son wanted to check his social media or something like that on your device, that would work. I haven't tried the workaround of logging in on another device. But the basic surf plan is usually sufficient for most guests.

Lukas Danny

Tuesday 13th of September 2022

Do you need to buy wifi per device or per room?

It is per device.

Friday 11th of March 2022

Does wifi on the cruise ships allpw vpn?

Thursday 28th of April 2022

@Dan, did you ever get an answer to your VPN question? I've been wondering the same and trying to search online first for the answer before calling.

Wednesday 7th of August 2019

Does anybody have current rates for Connect at Sea?

As far as I know, the packages are still the same price as in this post.

Friday 26th of July 2019

Is the free 50mb per guest or cabin? We are cruising for Christmas and will want to text/exchange photos Christmas Day at sea. Otherwise port WiFi should do.

Saturday 27th of July 2019

Both my husband and I were able to get the free mb. It goes very quickly though, especially if you're sending photos.

Disney Cruise Line Internet Package Pricing and Information

Disney Cruise Line offers internet access to guests through various internet packages that they can purchase. These packages typically come in different tiers, offering various levels of service, from basic web browsing to more premium options that may include streaming and other high-bandwidth activities. Here’s an overview of how it generally works:

• Available Packages : Disney Cruise Line typically offers different packages, like the Stay Connected, Basic Surf, and Premium Surf packages. Each package offers different levels of service at different price points.
• Purchasing Options : Guests can purchase internet access for 24-hour periods or for the entire duration of their voyage. There are usually discounts for purchasing the full voyage package, as opposed to the daily option.
• Access and Connection : Once a package is purchased, guests can connect their devices to the ship’s onboard Wi-Fi network. They may be provided with a login or access code to authenticate their purchase.
• Bandwidth and Restrictions : Depending on the package purchased, there may be limits on bandwidth or restrictions on certain types of activities (e.g., streaming videos). Higher-tier packages usually provide faster speeds and fewer restrictions.
• Multiple Devices : Some packages allow guests to connect multiple devices at a discounted rate. This is useful for families or individuals with more than one device.
• Special Considerations : Guests should be aware that the “days remaining” for a package reset at midnight, and buying a package close to this time will result in being charged for a full day.
• Transitioning Ships : Not all ships may offer the same packages or may be in the process of transitioning to new ones, such as the situation mentioned earlier with the Disney Wonder.
• Connectivity : As with most at-sea internet services, connectivity can vary depending on the ship’s location and other factors. It may not be as fast or reliable as land-based internet.
• Customer Support : Onboard staff are usually available to assist with any issues related to internet access or to help guests choose the best package for their needs.
• Charging : The cost of the internet package will typically be charged to the guest’s onboard account, and they can settle it at the end of the cruise.
• Free Alternatives : Some ships might offer limited free access to specific websites or applications, like the cruise line’s own app, but this varies by ship and itinerary.

Please note that the specifics can vary by ship and over time, so it’s always a good idea to check the latest information directly with Disney Cruise Line or consult with the onboard staff.

Disney Cruise Line Internet Updates

Disney Cruise Line is updating the prices for time-based internet packages onboard, with the changes coming into effect on the following dates:

• Disney Magic – 7/31/23
• Disney Wish – 7/31/23
•  – 8/1/23
• Disney Fantasy – 8/5/23

Currently, the Disney Wonder does not offer these time-based internet packages, but it is set to transition to them in the near future.

The revised pricing details are:

Stay Connected Package:

• $16 per day for the entire voyage
• $18 per day for a 24-hour period

Basic Surf Package:

• $24 per day for the entire voyage
• $28 per day for a 24-hour period

Premium Surf Package:

• $34 per day for the entire voyage
• $42 per day for a 24-hour period

Guests can choose to purchase internet access either for 24-hour intervals or for the entire voyage. A 20% discount is offered on voyage pricing compared to 24-hour pricing, and an additional 20% discount is provided for adding extra devices to an internet package. If guests decide to buy a voyage plan mid-journey, they will be billed only for the days remaining. It’s important to note that the “days remaining” resets at midnight, so buying a package at 11:55 pm will result in a charge for the full day.

Cellular at Sea On Disney Cruise Line

Cellular at Sea, or shipboard cellular service, is a specialized service provided on many cruise ships, including those operated by Disney Cruise Line. It enables passengers to use their mobile phones while at sea, just as they would on land, albeit with some differences in operation and cost. Here’s how Cellular at Sea works:

• Network Availability : Cellular at Sea functions by establishing a partnership with a land-based mobile provider. When a cruise ship is in international waters, it activates its onboard cellular network, which then interacts with passengers’ mobile phones just like a regular roaming network.
• Roaming Charges : Using Cellular at Sea usually incurs roaming charges, which can be significantly higher than standard land-based charges. These charges are billed by the home mobile provider, and it’s advisable to consult with them for detailed pricing information before departure.
• Compatibility : Most modern mobile phones and providers are compatible with Cellular at Sea, but it’s wise to check with the cruise line and your mobile provider to ensure that your specific phone and plan will work on the cruise.
• Operation : When the ship’s onboard cellular network is activated, passengers can make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and access data services, just like they would on land. However, the service may be subject to the ship’s location and other factors, and data speeds may be slower than usual.
• Connectivity : The service connects to satellites and then to land-based networks, providing coverage even when the ship is far from land. Connectivity can vary, and there may be areas on the ship where the signal is weaker.
• Turning Off Roaming : Passengers who don’t want to incur additional charges can usually turn off roaming on their mobile phones. Most cruise lines also offer Wi-Fi packages, which may be a more cost-effective way to stay connected while at sea.
• Emergency Calls : Cellular at Sea generally allows for emergency calls, although the functionality might vary depending on the cruise line and ship.
• Alternatives and Wi-Fi Calling : For those who want to avoid the roaming charges associated with Cellular at Sea, many cruise lines offer internet packages, allowing passengers to use apps for texting and calling over Wi-Fi.
• Notifications and Alerts : Some mobile providers send text alerts to notify passengers when they are connected to the ship’s network and the associated costs.
• Customer Support : If passengers have issues or questions about the service, they can typically consult with the ship’s guest services or their mobile provider’s customer support.

Cellular at Sea provides a convenient way for passengers to use their mobile phones while cruising, but it can be expensive. Checking with both the cruise line and the mobile provider, understanding the charges, and considering alternatives like Wi-Fi calling can help passengers make informed decisions about staying connected at sea.

Cellular at Sea Phone & Cruise Packages

Many of the major mobile providers in the United States and internationally have agreements to provide Cellular at Sea service. Some of these might include:

• Sprint (now part of T-Mobile in the U.S.)
• Rogers (in Canada)
• Telstra (in Australia)

Currently two major service providers offer Cellular at Sea Phone plans for cruise line guests:

AT&T Cruise Line Package & Pricing

At&t cruise plus.

This package has a $100 one-time charge and includes:

• Unlimited talk and text
• 1GB data allowance ($10 per 100MB overage charge)
• Smartphones and tablets are eligible

AT&T Cruise Basic

This package has a $60 one-time charge and includes:

• 100 minute talk allowance ($1 per minute overage charge)
• Unlimited text
• 100MB data allowance ($10 per 100MB overage charge)
• Smartphones only

Verizon Cruise Line Package

Monthly Data Package has a one-time $20 a month charge per line and includes:

Talk and Text Package is pay as you go at the following rates:

• Talk $2.99/min
• Text $.05 received and $.50 sent

The Verizon Cruise Package is available on the following Disney Cruise Line Ships:

• Disney Wonder
• Disney Magic
• Disney Dream
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Wish
• Disney Adventure

These are some of the larger providers that may have arrangements for Cellular at Sea service. It’s essential to check with your specific mobile provider and cruise line to confirm availability, compatibility, and pricing, as not all providers may offer this service, or the terms may vary widely.

Guide to Disney Cruise WiFi: Tips and FAQs

Posted on Published: 02/27/2024

While I typically enjoy unplugging on my Disney cruises, sometimes it’s important to stay connected to the outside world. Disney Cruise WiFi is available for an additional cost, and while it isn’t as fast or reliable as a land WiFi connection, it does work pretty well. It’s a good option if you do need to stay connected at sea.

If you are taking a Disney Cruise and are thinking of purchasing a WiFi package, this post will help you decide what level to purchase and will help you know what to expect from your coverage.

Disclosure: I received complimentary WiFi on media sailings and have also paid for my own WiFi packages. All opinions are my own.

When you are on your sailing, you’ll want to put your phone in airplane mode . While cellular at sea is sometimes available, it can be quite expensive. Purchasing a WiFi package is typically the most affordable option if you want to stay connected.

AT&T and Verizon do have cruise ship packages that are separate from the Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi. I prefer using the ship’s WiFi, however. If you want to use one of these programs, you’ll want to contact them to make sure it’s added to your cell phone in advance. You’ll need to have this feature activated in advance.

IMPORTANT: You’ll want to talk to your cell phone carrier before your trip to make sure you understand how your phone works internationally. They will likely recommend that you put your phone in airplane mode while at sea. Taking it out of airplane mode can lead to some very high charges.

Disney Cruise WiFi Packages and Pricing

There are three levels of packages on the Disney Cruise Line. These are the Stay Connected, the Basic Surf, and the Premium Surf. Within these categories, you have the option to purchase WiFi for 24 hours, or the entire length of your cruise. Disney Cruise Wi-Fi pricing is based on the cruise period’s length or 24 hours.

If you think you’ll want WiFi just to look up something quickly, the 24-hour option is a good choice. Otherwise, you’ll save money by getting an entire length of cruise package rather than purchasing daily individual 24-hour packages.

The type of package you’ll need will depend on what you are doing. If you want to stream short videos or make video calls, you’ll need the Premium Package, while the Stay Connected package is best if you only want to look up text. Generally, long-form video streaming, like TV shows or movies, is not supported under any of these programs.

When I sail on the Disney Cruise Line, I typically purchase the Basic Surf package. It lets me send and upload photos, but I don’t need the streaming functionality.

The price per day of the WiFi packages ranges from $16 for one day of Stay Connected when purchasing the full voyage to $42 per day for the Premium Package when only buying one day.

So, is the Disney Cruise WiFi reliable? In my experience, it’s somewhat reliable, but not as fast as you’d expect for a land connection, and sometimes drops off. If you require more bandwidth, it’s a good idea to purchase the Premium Package.

What Can You Do Without Disney Cruise Wi-Fi?

So, do you need to have WiFi while on a Disney Cruise? There are still some things you can do without purchasing a WiFi package (or using Cellular at Sea).

The Disney Cruise Line Navigator App works even if you don’t purchase the package. You’ll be able to check schedules, look at your folio, and book experiences through the app. You’ll just need to connect to the DCL-GUEST network (and make sure your phone is in Airplane mode).

In addition, with app access, you’ll also be able to message guests directly through the app. It can make keeping in touch very easy. Everyone will need to have their own copy of the app loaded on their devices.

If you use the Apple iMessage system, you can send text iMessages to other users both on and off the ship. So, if you wanted WiFi just to stay in touch at home, you may not need it.

There are some Disney-owned websites you can also connect to at no cost when on the DCL-GUEST network without needing WiFi. These include:

• Disney Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line Photos
• Walt Disney World
• Disney Vacation Club
• Walt Disney World Resorts
• Adventures by Disney
• Aulani Reservation Management

How to Connect to WiFi

Once you are on the ship, you can put your phone in Airplane mode and then connect to the DCL-GUEST network. From there, you can either stay with free access to the app or purchase a 24-hour or length of cruise internet package. If you purchase a package, it can be charged directly to your room to make it very easy.

International Day Pass/TravelPass

Some cellular phone providers offer an international day pass option. With this, you’ll pay a flat fee for 24 hours and will be able to use your phone just as you use it at home (with the same data, text, and phone package).

It’s important to know that these programs work in participating foreign countries, but do not work at sea. If you are hoping to use this program while at sea, you may find yourself with many unexpected charges.

Check with your cell phone provider directly to learn about these programs, and to find out if you are eligible. Just remember you can only use it at a port (in a participating country) and not when at sea. Your cell phone provider can let you know which countries are part of this program. You’ll need to have it activated on your phone before using it.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you’ll purchase a WiFi package once you are onboard and connected to the DCL-GUEST network.

If you want to do that, you’ll need to purchase multiple packages.

Except for the uses mentioned above, free WiFi isn’t available. You’ll need to purchase a package to use the ship’s satellite WiFi.

In the past, the WiFi was billed by the usage but it’s since changed over to this new system. I prefer paying by the day because it was always difficult to know how many MBs I would use.

Have you ever used the Disney Cruise Wi-Fi?

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Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi Review

Some cruise guests choose a cruise vacation specifically so they are forced to disconnect form the world and just enjoy a vacation with the family. Others like to post about their vacation for others to see. Maybe you need to be able to check video of a pet at home, be able to call parents or adult children if necessary, or you just really really have to get some work done while sailing the high seas. All of those things will require internet connectivity, which is not something that Disney Cruise Line has a stellar reputation for. During my recent (January 2023) cruise, I tested all of the various internet packages so that I could share what worked and didn’t, and how to make the internet package work for you.

Internet Purchasing Options

If it’s been a while since you last cruised with Disney, you are probably used to watching the dreaded data meter work its way toward zero, and frantically turning off the ability for any of your apps to burn through your allotment without your permission.

The good news is that  almost all ships (Wonder is still on the “old” style plans for now) have transitioned to plans that are based on speed and connectivity rather than measured data. Hooray! The bad news is, this generally means you’ll still be paying a lot for connectivity, with often not-great results. But more on that later. Let’s review each of the three new “tiers”, and what Disney claims you’ll be able to do with each.

Stay Connected

The Stay Connected package is the lowest tier available. Not to be confused with Basic, which is the next-highest tier. This is less than basic. You can expect to pay at least $12 per day, or less if you purchase for the entire length of the cruise, or more if you need more than one device to be connected at a time.

With this package, Disney says that you will be able to “Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tumblr”. They also specifically call out “This plan does not support surfing the web, accessing email or video streaming.”

So the intent of this package appears to be posting photos and reels to make your friends jealous, or updating your skills so that you can find a new job that lets you take more cruises. But nothing else.

The Basic Surf package is the next-highest tier, and it doubles the cost of the Stay Connected plan. You can expect to pay at least $24 per day for this access, or less if you purchase for the entire length of the cruise, or more if you need more than one device to be connected at a time.

With this package, Disney says that you will be able to do everything that the Stay Connected package can do, plus: “Surf the web, read the news, check the weather and visit your other favorite websites, send and receive emails, and make audio calls.” The only activities called out as specifically not supported are “long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.”

This is the package that  should allow you to do almost everything. You can call home if you have an app that will allow Wi-Fi calling. You can check your emails. You can read the news in the morning. Just no video streaming. Sounds reasonable. All for about $100 for a 4-night cruise. A little steep, but potentially worth it if it works, and if you need the safety of being able to check in at home with family or with your work.

Premium Surf

Here is where things supposedly get fancy. The Premium Surf package is the highest tier, and it triples the cost of the Stay Connected plan. You can expect to pay at least $36 per day for this access, or less if you purchase for the entire length of the cruise, or more if you need more than one device to be connected at a time.

With this package, Disney says that you will be able to do everything that the Basic Surf package can do, plus: “Make video phone calls on planforms FaceTime, Zoom, and more; listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music; View short-form content on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok; and enjoy faster connectivity speeds.” Interestingly, Disney still calls out that you will not be able to engage with: “long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.”

Odd that the top two tiers both have the same exclusion, so maybe the “Basic” tier isn’t as comprehensive as originally hoped. If you need a soundtrack to your day, or you want to be able to video chat with Grandma at home, you would theoretically need to purchase this package. And the cost is pretty steep.

Pricing Details

As discussed in the description of each tier, you can find a base price per day for a package. But then you are given options for duration and number of devices that can increase or decrease the actual final cost of your internet package.

On the first day of our cruise, I went through and grabbed pricing information for a variety of combinations. In every case, purchasing for the length of the cruise got me a 20% discount compared to the daily rate. So, I could get the Premium Surf package for $30/day instead of $36.

By the third day of the cruise, it was obvious that I needed to purchase Premium Surf for the remainder of the cruise. I assumed that this would knock down my savings, because two days had already passed. No! I was still given the 20% discount on the remaining days of the cruise, instead of the full price. So for my 5-night cruise, I could have theoretically gone without internet the first 3 days, then purchased Premium Surf for two days to catch up on all of the things, and I would have paid “just” $60.

I expected that there would be a similar price break for connecting with multiple devices compared to having individual log-ins for each device. Something like $36/day for the first device and $30/day for the second, etc. But no – each device was a pure multiplication of the per-day or per-voyage cost selected in earlier steps. Two devices for a day on Premium Surf? $72.

Premium Surf Package Performance

I had a checklist of activities to attempt while using each different internet package. The first of which was running a speed test to see what I was getting for my money.

If you know anything about internet connectivity, you know that those results are really sad. Really sad. And this was the best speed I got the entire length of the cruise. It was only downhill from here. I’m showing the best of the best. Immediately I knew that most of my checklist was going to be pointless, and I questioned how the other packages would function at all if this was the speed they were giving the premium users. Ouch.

But, science. I had to run my tests anyway. The first was uploading content to Instagram, so that my followers could do important things like goad me into trying the world’s worst non-alcoholic specialty beverage. To be fair, I was generally* able to post stories, even if they included short video content. Hooray. That’s something.

* Generally is the key word here. We’ll talk about overall reliability later, but there were lots of dead zones and many many dropped connections. Many.

I wanted to test out ability to stay up-to-date with games. The Disney community and video game community have some pretty significant overlap, and Marvel Snap is one example of an award-winning game that rewards those who log in and play consistently. Don’t want to miss those log-in rewards! Once again, on the Premium Surf package, I could almost always log in. But matching and completing an entire game was practically impossible. I would lose connection to my account or the game servers at least once, and that always led to losing (or forfeiting) the game. Boo.

In order to stay connected for work, (which, to be clear, was not  a goal of this cruise. I cruise to avoid work. But science!) I needed to access Outlook, Teams, and Slack. On the Premium Surf plan, Outlook loaded about 50% of the time, and timed out the other 50%. Teams connectivity had a slightly better success rate, because it refreshed appropriately about 75% of the time. And Slack almost always kept itself updated, but really struggled with marking things as “read”.

I was usually able to load web pages, if I was patient for long enough. I successfully read almost the entire Saturday Six that posted before our sailing. I could go seek out the “lite” version of CNN if I felt like news was important. I could use google to search for trivia answers (I kid, I kid) or whatever else I needed to know, if I could wait the 30 seconds it would take to load.

Video and loading/downloading is where things really started to falter. I could view reels on Instagram, but not anything on YouTube. There was absolutely no way I could stay connected long enough to download a podcast episode or even a PDF. And I could connect to Pandora, but was never able to listen to a full song. It kept losing connectivity or buffering too.

Basic Surf Package Performance

This section is going to be nice and quick, because as soon as I tried “downgrading” to the Basic Surf plan … almost nothing worked. I was miraculously able to run a speed test, though!

Okay, so … 30% worse. But I’ll be honest, I expected this difference to be negligible when determining if tasks were ultimately successful or not. Sure, things would take longer. I’d have to stare at my phone and wait more. But probably they would still work.

WRONG. Instagram posting didn’t work. Marvel Snap didn’t work. Web surfing (including the speed test above) worked 50% of my tries. No email, no Teams, no Slack. The conspiracy theory part of my personality assumed that Disney was prioritizing Premium traffic, and when I managed to get web pages to load, I was getting lucky with my timing.

I’m sorry, but paying $24/day to maybe be able to load web pages 50% of the time, but have everything else fail … is not worth it. And the constant griping overheard any time we walked past the Guest Services desk seems to corroborate my feelings.

Stay Connected Package Performance

The Stay Connected Package … did nothing. Couldn’t run a speed test (it is a web page, after all). Could even get Instagram or Twitter (or LinkedIn for that matter) to load at all. I was paying $12/day to frustrate myself with just trying all of the things and failing. Maybe that’s a form of therapy. I don’t know. But it certainly wasn’t keeping me connected.

That’s about all I can say about this package. I ran through my checklist once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once in the evening. And I tried it in different locations on the ship because that definitely had an impact on connectivity while using the other plans. But none of the magic trickery worked. This package was worthless.

Reliability and Troubleshooting

If you’ve made it this far in the post, you already know that connectivity and speeds are not impressive. Reliability was even worse. About 8 hours into the first full day of the cruise, while using and testing the Premium Surf package, everything just died. No posting. No surfing. Malarkey. I went to the Guest Services desk during the second dining service (an excellent time with no lines, if you need to visit that desk), and they walked me through the stereotypical IT troubleshooting steps. Turn Wi-Fi off. Turn Wi-Fi on. Turn airplane mode on, turn airplane mode off. Visit iCafe (the service that manages connectivity) and toggle the purchased package off. Toggle it back on. Restart phone. Toss it against the wall (kidding, again). They couldn’t fix it either.

Then, they had me go into iCafe (the service that manages connectivity), and totally log out of the service. Log back in. Disney magic happened, and I was back in business. That only took up 15 minutes of my cruise to figure out. They also admitted that they were having lots of Wi-Fi issues, and had been for several cruises. So there’s that.

From then on, that was the first step I tried when things stopped working. I kid you not – I had to log out of and into iCafe at least once every 2 hours for the rest of the cruise. I collected the data, because of course, and once I figured out the whole log out/log in fix, I averaged doing that “magic trick” every 90 minutes while awake. It usually kicked my Premium Surf package back into working, but didn’t make anything easier on Basic Surf or Stay Connected.

I know that many people feel like that they absolutely must be able to stay connected to the outside world during a cruise. Whether for home/pet safety, or work, or checking in with family, sometimes internet is just a must. But being forced to pay for the most expensive package, with such low speeds, and such frequent dropping, is totally frustrating in what is supposed to be an escape from frustration.

I recognize that connectivity at sea is tough. It’s a technical nightmare. Especially with that many people trying to utilize it at all times. But you should know what to expect – you’re not going to be video-calling friends or coworkers. You may not even be able to check email reliably or audio call at all. If the safety net of potentially being able to connect is worth the $30-$36/day for you, then go for it. Otherwise, you may be better off skipping the hassle completely.

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Becky Gandillon

Becky Gandillon was trained in biomedical engineering, but is now a full-time data and analytics nerd. She loves problem solving and travelling. She and her husband, Jeff, live in St. Louis with their two daughters and they have Disney family movie night every Saturday. You can follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-gandillon/ or instagram @raisingminniemes

5 thoughts on “ Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi Review ”

What ship were you on and what itinerary?

I am going to be on a couple of 14-15 night cruises in a few months on the Magic and Wonder. I will NEED work connectivity. I am curious if the ship capacity, route, this specific ship technical problems, etc. are factors in performance and connectivity.

This was on the Wonder, and on a San Diego – Cabo itinerary, but I’ve heard that the Wonder had regular issues. Perhaps they’re addressed by now.

That’s good news that the Wonder has converted to the new plans!

Great review.

Maybe sometimes it also depends on route and weather. Rough seas make the satellite connection more difficult to maintain than while docked at Castaway.

Seems like ‘try if you want’ don’t be surprised if it is less than mediocre.

We had the premium package on our cruise over winter break. My kids were able to watch YouTube, but they could not play Roblox. It was slow, but workable.

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How to Connect at Sea using Disney Cruise Wifi

Taking a cruise, but still need to connect to the real world? Take heart, Connect at Sea allows you to plug into your Disney cruise wifi. Here are some important details along with how to use it.

What is Connect at Sea?

Connect at Sea enables you to access the Disney Cruise internet service. From here, you can do whatever you need to whether that’s Facebook (or any other social media platform), Email or just surfing the web.

Enable all of your devices or just one. It’s up to you how much you need, or want, to remain connected. Be warned, though. Disney Cruise wifi is not cheap.

All Disney cruises have wifi. Plus, each Disney cruise ship has a Connect at Sea helpdesk. Stop by and pick up a brochure for current data rates or for any help you need connecting to the internet. Check your Navigator to see where they are located and the hours it is staffed.

Disney Connect at Sea prices

Either pay as you go or buy an internet package.

Disney Cruise Wifi Cost

As of November 2019, wifi on the pay-as-you-go package is 25 cents per megabyte. If you are not certain how much wifi you will use, this could be a good starter. You have the option of purchasing a package at any time.

A small data package of 100MB is available for $19. This would be the optimal choice for someone that still wants to stay connected by checking email every so often.

The medium package provides 300MB for $39. If you plan on posting your vacation photos to Facebook or Instagram, this plan may be for you.

If you need to do more data-intensive work, the 1000MB plan at $89 would be your best choice. Data can be shared, so if there are several of you that want to stay connected, this plan may be sufficient.

Do I need to buy a data package?

Absolutely not! In fact, neither my husband nor I purchased any data. We completely unplugged on this vacation.

It was great not having Little K ask if she could watch YouTube. She was told no internet from the start and just dealt with it.

Is there anything for free?

Yes! Actually, you can get 50MB of Disney Cruise Line wifi for free. There is a catch, you have to claim this data before midnight on embarkation day (your first day on the ship).

Here’s how to get it: – Turn Airplane mode on – Turn wifi on – Select DCL-Guest Wifi – Once in your browser, type dclguest.com – If it’s Day 1 on the cruise, you will see the option for 50MB free, plus the data packages

What is DCL-Guest?

DCL-Guest is the network name for the Disney Cruise Line internet. Besides connecting to this for data usage, there are a few onboard uses of it too.

Disney Navigator App 

The Disney Navigator app works with the ship’s Wifi. No data is needed. Download this while you are still at home to avoid any data charges. See Disney Cruise Embarkation tips for more information.

The Navigator app tells you everything about your cruise. From where you are having dinner that night to where you can find Disney character appearances. Use this app for anything pertaining to what’s happening on the ship.

In addition, there is a chat feature that lets you text anyone once you have their chat id. Truthfully, this is a little clunky, but once it’s set up, it does work.

iMessage usage

Speaking of texting, anyone with an iPhone can use iMessage to chat with anyone else that has an iPhone, whether onboard the ship or not. You must be connected to DCL-Guest. This is a completely free feature on a Disney cruise.

This enabled me to keep in touch with family and friends back home without using any data as most of them have iPhones. Pictures, however, would not send nor could they be received. Text only.

iMessage texts to non-iPhone users will not go through. Both users must be on iPhones for this feature to work.

Personally, I thought this was great. We didn’t have to purchase an internet package, yet I could still text my family and best friend.

Get free wifi in Disney ports of call

While I never paid for wifi on the Disney cruise ship, I did connect to the internet a couple of times in port for free.

Many of the town squares or shopping areas have free internet. Just look for a sign with internet information and connect. I was able to download all my emails and browse through them looking for anything important.

Take advantage of it where ever you can.

Some restaurants and bars also have free wifi. Think Starbucks.

Use this time to your advantage if you are just shopping around in the port and have a few moments to use their internet.

Does Castaway Cay have wifi?

Unlike other ports of call that have free wifi, Castaway Cay does not. You need to use the internet package you purchased or the wave phones provided (see below). 

The Navigator app still works on this island, though, so you can stay up to date on what’s happening throughout the day.

Helpful Disney Cruise wifi tips

If you have purchased a Connect at Sea package or are using the free 50MB, turn off all background downloads or updates. This prevents your data from being used up faster.

iPhones on iOS 13 and higher have a low data mode that automatically restricts any background work such as transferring to iCloud.

Simply tap the ‘i’ next to DCL-GUEST in your wifi settings and click the slider for the low-data mode. Everything else is taken care of in the background.

Another good rule of thumb is to log off the wifi once you are done using it. This will also help prevent any accidental background data from using your megabytes.

DCL Wifi Wave Phones

Disney provides each stateroom with wave phones that can be used onboard or at Castaway Cay.

This is yet another option of how to stay in touch with members of your party, especially if you don’t have an iPhone that can utilize the free iMessaging.

Wave phones allow you to:

• Send and receive text messages
• Access the stopwatch and calculator

If you drop your child off at a kids club, you need to have a way to be contacted and the wave phone is a perfect choice. Plus, this saves on any Disney cruise wifi you may have purchased.

But, be careful to not lose or damage them! There is a $250 fee that will be charged to your stateroom if it’s not turned in on debarkation day.

Carrying your phone on a cruise

Ok, this just may be me, but I hate carrying around things. I gladly check bags on a plane just so I can feel lighter and not have to deal with carrying anything in the airport.

Since I didn’t want to lose my phone on the cruise, I purchased a small, cross-body bag to hold just my phone .

I didn’t need to carry anything else because my Disney Key to the World Card (which acts as your room key and a charge card) was in a lanyard around my neck .

Here’s a few you may consider:

Connect at Sea with Disney Cruise Wifi Summary

Although I didn’t purchase any data, I’m glad my iPhone let me ‘Connect @ Sea’ with people back home by using iMessage.

The free wifi on Disney Cruise was just enough for me, but I know this won’t work out for some people.

Everything else piled up, such as the 1,000 emails I had once I got home, along with all my Facebook notifications. But, in the end, it was worth it to disconnect completely. I was present for absolutely everything – even watching Descendants 1, 2 or 3 before bed with my daughter. Although I now know the words to most of the songs, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Have you ever completely disconnected for a week? Was it worth it? Let me know in the comments!

For other Disney Cruise information, check out the following: – How to organize your Disney Cruise Stateroom – Disney Cruise Embarkation Day Tips

Please PIN this! Thank you.

Christine is a Disney World annual pass holder and overall Disney expert and fanatic. She often visits the Disneylands around the world naming Disneyland Paris her favorite. To continue reading, click more about me .

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What ship were you on? The Fantasy , in an outside cabin did not offer the wave phone that you speak of. We just got off the ship July 16. Was there something that you had to do to get the iPhone to work? I couldn’t do anything other than the DCL App..Castaway Cay, the app definitely DID NOT work. I have Verizon and the wife has AT&T, we both have iPhones (granted only 10’s), but we couldn’t get ours to work without me tapping into the International feature on my phone.

Yes, we were on the Fantasy. It was Christmas 2019, so just before everything shut down. I did some research on your questions. It looks like the wave phones are ‘paused’ because they are high-touch items. I will go ahead and mention that in my post. Now, the question of whether iPhones work or not is a little harder. I read several forums where people said iMessage worked fine, some people said it did not work for them, and others said it worked for a couple of days, then it stopped working. So, I am not sure what to think! At that time, I had an iPhone XR. I had no issues using iMessage with DCL_GUEST wifi to keep in touch with those back home – just couldn’t send pictures. There was a forum where people said last month (June 2022) that it worked perfectly fine for them, but they heard that Disney was upgrading its internet in July. I wonder if you happened to be in the time period some upgrade was happening. It’s frustrating that it works for some people, but others it does not and I can’t begin to think why that would happen. Sorry that it didn’t work for you! If anyone else has any comments related to this, please let me know!

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Disney Cruise Internet: Wi-Fi, Policies, and Tips

By Alisha Molen

It’s probably not high on your list when planning your Disney Cruise , but understanding the Disney Cruise Internet is definitely something you will think about when you can’t login to check your email aboard the ship.

Because you don’t want to be totally out-of-reach on your vacation, you need to know about the Disney Cruise internet packages, the Disney Cruise Wave Phones, and access to Wi-Fi on the ship if you want to be prepared.

I’ve pulled together the most comprehensive guide to internet access on Disney cruises, including all you need to know about the Disney cruise internet package and Disney Cruise Wi-Fi.

So, if you’re ready to learn how to get on the internet while on a Disney Cruise, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Is there wi-fi on disney cruises, disney cruise wi-fi package costs, disney cruise wi-fi packages explained, are there other ways to access the internet on a disney cruise, how do i get free internet on a disney cruise.

• How to Minimize Data Usage on a Disney Cruise?
• My #1 Hack to Get Free Wi-Fi on a Disney Cruise

More Disney Cruise Wi-Fi Hacks

• What is a Disney Cruise “Wave Phone”?

Yes, there is Wi-Fi on Disney Cruises!

There are multiple plans for usage of the onboard internet through Connect@Sea, which can be accessed by as many devices as you want, that will be charged to your room. 

Using the Wi-Fi for anything other than the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App (an app which allows you to send messages to members of your travel party while onboard, access your schedule, and view the locations of things onboard the ship and other items of note) is subject to the fees described below.

• Pay As You Go which costs $0.25/MB
• Small Package which costs $0.19/MB for 100MB 
• Medium Package which costs $0.13/MB for 300MB
• Large Package which costs $0.09/MB for 1,000MB
• Concierge guests traveling in Category S, T, and V Staterooms receive 100 free MB
• Concierge guests traveling in Category R Staterooms receive free Wi-Fi access for the length of the cruise

Disney Cruise Wi-Fi is called Connect@Sea and all packages are purchased onboard when you sign-on for the first time. You cannot downgrade or get a refund for unused data, so plan accordingly.

I’ve grabbed as much information about which Connect@Sea package you should get depending on what your usage might be.

Pay-As-You-Go

Get this Disney Cruise WiFi package if you’re not sure you’ll be online very much, especially if everyone that you want to communicate is onboard with you. No streaming movies, though, just basic service, because the bill will be bigger than you think if you go all-out.

If you start with this, you can add one of the other packages later. However, it’s a good idea to really see how much you’re going to use the internet before making a choice, because you won’t be able to downgrade later and you will not be credited if you don’t use the MB purchased.

I’d recommend this package for the person that just wants to check in at work once or twice while cruising. Not to download a bunch of stuff, but to periodically make sure the ship back home is still sailing.

If you’re planning to post a few pics of your time on the ship on Instagram or Facebook, this is the package you want. Allows a little more flexibility for those times you want to show the world what fun times you’re having.

Supposedly, this is the plan you want if you plan to stream movies and really do some heavy surfing. But, those MB are chewed-up quick, so I wouldn’t recommend planning to watch the streaming service all that often. Besides, there are plenty of other things to do on your cruise 😉

There is no longer public computer terminal access on Disney Cruises.

Access to the internet is only allowed through your own personal devices via the above mentioned Wi-Fi plans.

There’s no way to get free internet all the time, unless you are concierge guests traveling in a Category R Stateroom .

However, all guests receive 50MB of data free on the first day of the Disney Cruise.

To get the free 50MB of data on the Disney Cruise, you simply sign-on to the Wi-Fi following the handy instructions left in your room. Simple as that.

Once that data is used up, though, you will be asked to select a plan.

How to Minimize Data Usage on a Disney Cruise

Listed below are a few tips on how you can minimize your data usage so you can maximize the time you have before you have to worry about spending extra money on the internet packages onboard your ship.

• Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App and use it for everything you can
• Log out of everything when you’re done surfing. Don’t let anything be running in the background
• iCloud Backup (look in Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup) *this is a big one and you need to remember to turn this back on if you want backups of your awesome trip photos when you get home
• My Photo Stream (look in Settings > Photo & Camera) 
• Background App Refresh (look in Settings > General > Background App Refresh)
• Software Updates (look in Software Update > Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Uncheck Auto Update)
• Automatic Music/Apps/Updates Downloads (look in Settings > iTunes & App Store)
• Location Services (look in Settings > Privacy)
• Fetch New Data, change to Fetch Manually (look in Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data)
• Auto-Updates (look in Settings > Play Store)
• Wi-Fi Updates (look in Settings > Play Store)
• Background Refresh Apps (look in Settings > Application Manager > Select App > Force Quit)
• Auto-Sync 

My #1 Hack to Get Free Wi-Fi on Disney Cruise 

It’s not really free Wi-Fi, so let me clarify. What you can do is use iMessage on an Apple device to send and receive BLUE messages. Those are only the messages that go between two Apple products. This is reported to be because iMessage is a backdoor that Apple uses that acts as push notifications on both ends, keeping Disney from being able to charge for the Wi-Fi usage.

In order to use this method, simply put your iPhone in airplane mode and turn on the Wi-Fi. When you send messages to another iPhone, you should not (in theory) be charged for internet usage.

• Take a Walk: It’s easy to find free Wi-Fi when you’re in port. Usually just going a few blocks can get you to a store or restaurant that’s looking to attract customers (you) looking for Wi-Fi.
• Your Data Plan: When you’re in port or even near land, within a reasonable distance, you should switch over from Wi-Fi to your phone’s data plan. The only thing about this is that roaming rates will apply if you’re outside the range of your carrier’s limits.
• Maximize Speed: The internet on Disney Cruises is, like the internet on any cruise, notoriously slow. So, if you’re planning to check emails or do anything that you’d like to see load quickly, you should wait until off-peak times. That may be 1am or before 10am, but if it’s your priority, give it a try.
• Push Notifications: Like with iMessage, you can recieve free push notifications. So, if you have push notifications set up, you can receive them (not respond) without incurring charges.

What is a Disney Cruise “Wave Phone”?

Disney Cruise Wave Phones are phones that are left in your stateroom that you can use to call other rooms, text other Wave Phones onboard (and at Disney’s Castaway Cay ), and contact the Cast Members onboard for things like room service and other needs.

It is similar to a hotel room phone, but it also gives you the functionality of text and it’s mobile.

You are not tied to the room with the Wave Phone. Additionally, you are provided with two phones at no cost but, for an additional fee , you can request additional Wave Phones for your party. 

If you are ready to head to your Disney Cruise and want to surf the internet along with the waves, you have to have this guide to Disney Cruise Internet in your back pocket. Now go get out on the waves and enjoy your cruise!

What can I expect for Disney Cruise Wifi Speed?

I wouldn’t expect blazing wifi speed on your cruise. It will likely be fast enough to adequately check email while sipping a drink somewhere or do basic web browsing, but don’t expect to comfortably stream Disney+ movies . (PS – you don’t need to anyways, there are plenty of Disney shows to watch in your room!)

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Internet Package Pricing Update

Disney Cruise Line has increased the pricing on its Internet Packages. The pricing will take effect on the following dates

• July 31, 2023, Disney Magic
• July 31, 2023, Disney Wish
• August 1, 2023, Disney Dream
• August 5, 2023 Disney Fantasy

The Disney Wonder currently does not have the time-based internet packages, it expected to transition to the internet packages after the dry dock this fall.

The new pricing is as follows:

Stay Connected Package

• $16 per day when purchased for the full voyage
• $18 per day when purchased for 24 hours

Basic Surf Package

• $24 per day when purchased for the full voyage
• $28 per day when purchased for 24 hours

Premium Surf Package

• $34 per day when purchased for the full voyage
• $42 per day when purchased for 24 hours

As a reminder, Guests can purchase Internet for 24 hour periods, or per voyage. Guests receive a 20% discount on voyage pricing vs 24-hour pricing, and adding additional devices to an Internet package will receive a 20% discount . If Guests purchase a voyage plan mid-voyage, they will only be charged for the remaining days . Please note: “ Days remaining” change at midnight, so purchasing at 11:55 pm will still charge Guests for the full day .

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest Disney cruise news, like  the new Dance Party  debuting this week on the Disney Dream, the rollout of the  DisneyBand+  across the fleet, try the new flexible planning calculator , and the latest on the Disney Treasure . Don’t forget  to enter to win  a Disney Cruise on the  Disney Wish .

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Guide to Using & Connecting to Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi

by Kristin Sabol · May 27, 2024

Staying connected is more important than ever, and Disney Cruise Line offers plenty of options while on board their amazing ships.

Everything from Internet packages to cell phone services to ship-to-shore phone calls and more are available while on board all of the Disney Cruise Line ships.

Credit: Disney

If you are lucky enough to vacation on DCL in the near future, check out this guide to using and connecting to Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi.

Navigator App

First step- download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. This app is FREE, and the best part? Guests do not have to pay or purchase any internet plan to utilize the app for dining, characters, staying connected, etc.

However, you will have to connect to the Disney Cruise Line Wi-Fi to utilize it while on board.

Internet Packages

Internet Plans

• Stay Connected
• Premium Surf

Connecting and More

Disney Cruise Line wi-fi

If you are connecting to the Wi-Fi alone and do not have an international/cruise plan with your cellular provider, we were advised to turn on AIRPLANE MODE (which automatically turns off your data) and ensure that BLUETOOTH is also off.

Next, we turned on our WI-FI and connected to the DCL-GUEST network. Once connected, you can access all of the itineraries, which will then populate in the DCL Navigator App.

Once you are connected to the DCL Wi-Fi, you can open the Navigator App and tap “Connect to Internet” from the menu to view and purchase your preferred Internet plan.

Set Up and Log In

If you do not have a username set up already, the app will prompt you to create one so you can log in and out as needed.

You can do this if you have an internet package for one device and, for example, are switching between a phone and a laptop.

Otherwise, it keeps you logged in on one device for the duration of your internet package

From here, it provides details on each of the internet packages including price points.

This particular pricing is for a 7-night Sailing on the Disney Fantasy in February 2024. Note that the pricing may vary for each sailing.

You have the option to select your package, followed by the duration. and the number of devices. If you purchase ONE device, you can log in and out of your phone or laptop—it is one device AT A TIME. If you select TWO, you can use it on a phone and laptop AT THE SAME TIME.

The final step is to purchase, and the charge is sent to your stateroom balance. 

Photo: Disney

Note that the cruise Wi-Fi is slightly slower than on land, and there is the potential for dead zones or dropped internet.

That’s it! This guide should help you utilize Disney Cruise Line’s wi-fi on your next adventure. 

Photo: MickeyBlog

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Tags: Cruise Line DCL Disney Internet Internet services Navigator App plans Wi-Fi

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Website & Technical Help – Frequently Asked Questions

Do the ships offer Wi-Fi service?

Disney Cruise Line offers multiple internet packages for purchase based on your online needs. Use the onboard Wi-Fi anywhere on the ship to chat, post pictures on social media or simply stay connected while at sea. Once on board, open the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and select "Connect to Internet," which will take you to a separate browser to view and purchase onboard internet plans.

Note that there is no cost for connecting to the ship’s Wi-Fi network when used only for the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app .

Learn more about wireless and cellular service on board Disney Cruise Line.

Did you find this answer helpful?

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Disney Cruise Internet Packages – What You Need to Know 2024

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In 2023 Disney Cruise Line introduced new internet packages.

These new Disney Cruise Internet Packages were a welcome change for the ships, which have up to now only offered expensive data usage-based options.

However, not long after these new packages were introduced, there were significant price increases.

Here I will look at what the options are and how much the Disney Cruise Internet costs.

For historical reasons, I will keep the original prices as a comparison.

What Are The Disney Cruise Internet Packages?

Disney Cruise guests can purchase Internet for either:

• A 24-hour period

As you will see from the prices below, there is a 20% discount on per-voyage pricing compared with 24-hour pricing.

If you decide to upgrade to a Voyage plan mid-voyage you will only be charged for the remaining days. However, you do need to be aware that you will be charged for a complete day no matter what time on that day you choose the Per Voyage package.

So if you change your package at 11.59 pm to a Per Voyage package you are going to be charged a whole day, even though you only had a minute of that day left.

Adding additional devices to an Internet package will receive a 20% discount.

When Does This Increase Happen?

The new internet packages are now available on all five of the Disney Cruise Ships.

Disney Wonder was the last one to be upgraded, but this happened in the dry dock just before she sailed for the Transpacific, Australia and New Zealand Cruises in October 2023.

• Disney Magic  – 7/31/23 
• Disney Wish  – 7/31/23 
• Disney Dream  – 8/1/23 
• Disney Fantasy  – 8/5/23
• Disney Wonder -10/23

There are three choices of internet package:

Disney Cruise Stay Connected Plan Cost

The old price was $10 per person per day

New Pricing

• $16/day when purchased for the full voyage 
• $18/day when purchased for 24 hours 

Stay connected on social media with our most affordable internet plan. With this plan, you can:

• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedin and Tumblr

The  Stay Connected  plan  does not  support surfing the web, accessing email, or video streaming

Disney Cruise Basic Surf

The old price was $20 per person per day

• $24/day when purchased for the full voyage 
• $28/day when purchased for 24 hours 

Enjoy all the benefits of the Stay Connected plan – plus, full web access. With this plan, you can:

• Surf the web, read the news, check the weather, and visit your other favorite websites
• Send and receive emails

The  Basic Surf plan   does not  support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.

Disney Cruise Premium Surf

The old price was $30 per person per day

• $34/day when purchased for the full voyage 
• $42/day when purchased for 24 hours 

Experience faster connection speeds and access to music platforms such as Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music – plus, all the benefits of the Basic Surf plan. With this plan, you can:

• Enjoy faster connection speeds
• Make video phone calls on platforms FaceTime, Zoom, and more
• Listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music
• View short-form on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok

The  Premium Surf plan does not  support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.

Guests can select the number of devices that they wish to add to the package.

Avoid These Disney Cruise Money Mistakes

Disney Cruise Internet Packages for Concierge Guests

Disney Cruise Concierge Guests will enjoy an internet package as part of their concierge perks.

The package varies according to the category of concierge stateroom that the guests are staying in.

All concierge guests will have the opportunity to upgrade to a higher internet package category if they wish.

Family Concierge Stateroom Category 3 Stateroom Internet Package

Guest in Family Concierge Staterooms will have the Stay Connected internet package included for 2 guests in the stateroom.

These 2 guests can pay the upgrade price for a higher package.

If any other guests in the stateroom wish to purchase an internet package they will pay full price for whichever level they want.

One and Two Bedroom Suites Category 2 Stateroom Internet Package

Guests in One and Two Bedroom Concierge Staterooms will have the Basic Surf Package included for 2 guests in the Stateroom.

If those 2 guests want the Premium Surf package they will pay the upgrade price.

All other guests in the stateroom will pay the applicable pricing for their own internet package.

Royal Suites and the Disney Wish Tower Suite Category 1 Stateroom Internet Package

All guests in the Royal Suite on all ships and the Tower Suite on the Disney Wish will have the Premium Surf Disney Cruise Internet Package included for the length of their stay.

Is There Wi-Fi on Castaway Cay?

Wanting to connect to Wi-Fi on Disney’s private island Castaway Cay ?

Castaway Cay does not have a free internet connection. You will have to use your Disney Cruise Internet Package to use the Wi-Fi on Castaway Cay.

Really though who needs it on this beautiful island? It’s one of the only places where you really can escape from reality!

What do you think of the new Disney Cruise Internet Packages?

HOW MUCH DOES A DISNEY WISH CRUISE COST?

Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando.  In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.

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How Does Internet Access Work On Disney Cruise Line Ships?

Social Media and the need to have access to the internet on our mobile devices at all times has become a way of life for the majority of us. In fact, most people can do the bulk of their jobs right from their phones if they’ve got a decent internet connection.

While most of the world now offers free WiFi, there is still one major vacation destination that has not caught up with the times and the ever-booming trend of offering free WiFi: Cruising. It is so hard to stay connected to the internet while you are on a cruise ship out in the middle of the ocean without spending an exorbitant amount of money on your cell phone bill.

Let’s look at how the internet currently works aboard the Disney cruise ships .

• Wireless Internet
• Cell Phone Usage

WIRELESS INTERNET SERVICE

For assistance with the internet, visit the Connect@Sea desk, which is located in the Promenade Lounge (Deck 3) on the Magic & Wonder , and on Deck 4 near the midship elevators on the Dream & Fantasy . See rates below (subject to change).

Using the onboard WiFi, you can connect anywhere on the ship and chat, post pictures on social media or simply stay connected while at sea.

Due to the technology involved and satellite connectivity, the onboard internet service will be slower than you may be accustomed to and may at times be interrupted or unavailable. This is particularly true on at-sea days when there are more people onboard the ship who are accessing the service.

You can share a single Connect@Sea package. Just login to your account on any device that you want to use to access the Internet. Multiple devices can use the same package simultaneously. The combined usage is tracked on one meter, which can be monitored via the browser window.

The most important thing to remember is that when you are finished using the internet, you need to go to the page displayed in your browser and log out every time. If you or another member of your party forgets to log out when they’re done browsing, your device will use up all of the data you purchased in record time.

WIRELESS INTERNET PRICING

• Pay as you go – $0.25 per megabyte
• Small package – 100 megabytes for $19 ($0.19 per megabyte)
• Medium package – 300 megabytes for $39 ($0.13 per megabyte)
• Large package – 1,000 megabytes for $89 ($0.09 per megabyte)
• Concierge guests in Cat S, T and V will get 100 free megabytes of internet. 
• Concierge guests in Cat R will get free internet for the length of the cruise.

Internet plans can be used interchangeably on laptops and desktops throughout the ship. Please note, however, that plans cannot be upgraded once purchased, and a credit will not be issued for unused plan minutes, so make your purchases wisely. Prices are subject to change at any time without notice.

DISNEY WISH INTERNET

Internet service on the Disney Wish is completely different from Disney’s other cruise ships. Below are the details on the three plans that are currently available. You can choose to purchase the internet daily or for your entire voyage, but there is no discount when you pay for the entire cruise at once. We should also note that the pricing below is for one device only; there are additional charges to add more than one device.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay connected on social media with DCL’s most affordable internet plan. With this plan, you can:

• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln, and Tumblr

Note: This plan  does not support surfing the web, accessing email, or video streaming .

The pricing on this plan starts at $10/day.

Enjoy all the benefits of the Stay Connected plan – plus, full web access. With this plan, you can:

• Surf the web, read the news, check the weather, and visit your other favorite websites
• Send and receive emails Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln, and Tumblr

Note:  This plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.

The pricing on this plan starts at $20/day.

PREMIUM SURF

Experience faster connection speeds and access to music platforms such as Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music – plus, all the benefits of the Basic Surf plan. With this plan, you can:

• Enjoy faster connection speeds
• Make video phone calls on platforms FaceTime, Zoom, and more
• Listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music
• View short-form on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok
• Send and receive emails

The pricing on this plan starts at $30/day.

HOT TIP: On embarkation day, each stateroom gets a 50 megabyte internet package for free, but you can only sign up for it through the DCL app on the day you board the ship, so don’t forget! It’s only valid for one free package per stateroom.

CELL PHONE USAGE ON A DISNEY CRUISE

You can direct dial, receive phone calls, or text anywhere in the world right from your stateroom. Ship-to-shore rates apply and will be posted in your stateroom.

Cell phone service is also available through most major providers (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.) The ship must be 12 miles out to sea before you can access cell service. NOTE THAT SERVICE IS LIMITED TO THE STATEROOMS. Common areas will not have cell access.

Disney recommends that you contact your cell provider prior to sailing. They can advise what is needed to arrange for access. Pricing varies depending on your wireless provider and international roaming fees will be billed to your account. (These charges vary and can take up to 90 days to appear on your statement.)

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Disney Cruise Line Transitioning to Usage Type Based Internet Plans

Your wish for better internet connectivity onboard a Disney Cruise may be coming true. Reports indicate a new internet service provider and internet access plans are now available on the Disney Magic.

Guests aboard the Disney Magic in Europe are currently offered a new set of Internet options starting at $10/day (a 24 hour period). The new Internet offering are based on type of usage versus a measured data plan such as a 1GB plan. The package tiers are Stay Connected, Basic Surf, and Premium Surf.

Special thanks to DLP Town Square for sharing the details and screenshots shown below. Go check their Twitter feed as they are already tweeting from the Disney Magic’s Mediterranean cruise that departed Barcelona today.

Stay Connected

Stay connected on social media with our most affordable internet plan. With this plan, you can:

• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications
• like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram,
• Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln and Tumblr

The Stay Connected plan does not support surfing the web, accessing email or video streaming

Enjoy all the benefits of the Stay Connected plan – plus, full web access. With this plan, you can:

• Surf the web, read the news, check the weather and visit your other favorite websites
• Send and receive emails
• Post text and pictures on popular websites and applications like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Linkedln and Tumblr

The Basic Surf plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netfilx and Hulu.

Premium Surf

Experience faster connection speeds and access to music platforms such as Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music – plus, all the benefits of the Basic Surf plan. With this plan, you can:

• Enjoy faster connection speeds
• Make video phone calls on platforms FaceTime, Zoom and more
• Listen to your favorite music streaming platforms like Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music
• View short-form on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok

The Premium Surf plan does not support long-form video streaming platforms such as Netfilx and Hulu.

When selecting an option you are presented with a per cruise or per 24 hour option along with the number of devices you wish to connect using the selected plan.

As of today, this is rolling out on the Disney Magic, but guests on the Disney Dream are still offered the previous MB data plans.

Based on the external IP address of a guest I spoke with onboard the Disney Magic, when logged into the Disney Cruise Line internet package, they are connecting through SES in Maryland in the United States. SES is a provider of satellite internet to various sectors including the cruise industry .

As the sun sets, passengers post snaps of the day’s excursion, others stream live news before dinner. Below deck, a crew member video calls his daughter a bedtime story, starting his shift happy that he’s said goodnight. Not one of their screens, and the thousands of others on board, suffer from delay, drop out or poor quality. It is the difference between a five star and a four-star review. O3b mPOWER , the industry’s most advanced satellite constellation, enables this new era of guest connectivity with unrivalled performance, flexibility, resilience and scalability.

At this time, Disney Cruise Line has not made any public announcements, or updated their website to reflect any of these changes – currently they are still referencing Connect@Sea on this page . However, this very will could be a slow roll out across the fleet and culminate with the launch of the Disney Wish this summer.

Have you tried the new Internet packages onboard a Disney Cruise? Let us know what you think about the revised offering in the comments.

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22 Replies to “Disney Cruise Line Transitioning to Usage Type Based Internet Plans”

I hope it rolled out this summer on the Fantasy and Wish

The Wish will launch with these types of plans.

Still seems expensive for what you get. I enjoy no service, you actually get to meet and talk to people. I guess soon enough I will long for the day that people didn’t have their face stuffed in their cell phone all the time.

I’m curious. Can I choose different options each day or do I have to use the same plan for the entire length of the cruise?

It appears you would sign up for the length of cruise with a specific plan which I believe is upgradable, but I don’t believe you can go up/down plans during the voyage. In this case, I’d recommend going with the a la carte option and picking a plan that fits your needs the best each day. This is still new so details are just surfacing.

You can pay for 24 hours or for the duration of the cruise.

Better Internet service wound be great but these new plans are another money grab from Disney. The old plans our family could share a package with but these new plans, one is paying per device. Yeah it is similar to other cruise lines, why does DCL want to be like the others?

This must have just started yesterday. We were on the Magic from may 21st – 28th and only had the standard packages. I would have loved to have had this!

Scott… would you mind if I put the link to this article in my FB group for our November Magic sailing? It looks like this might be the wave of the future. Thanks.

I wonder which plan would be needed to use imessaging.

If you have a 1-device plan, can you connect multiple devices 1 at a time like you could with the old plans an like you can with RCL’s plans?

This is my understanding that the device limit is simultaneous devices. Simply logout of one device and log in on another. I will have a full rundown shortly once I am able to test the new offering on the Disney Wish.

Were you able to test it out? Did you post an article? If so, I missed it.

I have tested it out over 2 sailings, but I have not written up my thoughts on it yet. I made a note on my list of outstanding topics.

Any more news about this, Scott? Specifically can you log out of one device and into another?

Working on an article now.

I’ll be on the Fantasy in January if you need me to test anything.

Curious which bundle would be needed in order to use the Disney Collect, Marvel Collect, and Star Wars Card Trader apps by Topps?

Has the new Wi-Fi rolled out beyond the Magic and the Wish yet, or is it currently limited to those two ships?

Wondering the same. I’ll be on the Fantasy in 4 days and will update if there’s no new info by then.

Just got off the Fantasy. We were the last cruise with the per MB packages. They will have the new per day packages moving forward.

The info supplied by DCL uses “voyage” not “cruise”. Are they using the words interchangeably?

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How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost? 2024 Pricing Explained

Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of Disney-themed ships with all-inclusive cruises traveling all over the world. Disney Cruises often Broadway-caliber dinner shows, Disney lounge-themed experiences, character meet and greets, and other themed experiences. Disney Cruises also offer amazing amenities and luxurious upgrade options for guests looking to sail in style. So this also begs the question, what does a Disney Cruise cost? 

If you're new to the experience of cruises, it also helps to understand how cruises are typically priced and what cruise lines mean by all-inclusive voyages. Keep reading for our full breakdown of Disney Cruise costs including amenities, inclusive options, and optional upgrades. We have experienced a variety of Disney Cruises plus we have the experience of helping guests budget for their Disney vacations whether it's for Disneyland, Walt Disney World or a Disney Cruise Line experience. 

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Disney Cruise Cost Pricing Explained 

Let's start by covering the details of how Disney Cruise costs are calculated between room pricing and cost per person. 

Disney Cruise Room Pricing

All Disney Cruise costs are priced based on two adults in the stateroom (room on the ship). This means that one adult traveling with a child (ages 3-12) is the same price as two adults (13 and up) in the room. Children ages 0-2 pay 50% of the child rate.

After the two adult prices, the third and fourth passengers in the stateroom are charged a lower rate. If you are traveling alone, Disney Cruise Line will charge you 100% of the second adult’s cruise fare (not including port fees and taxes) in addition to the full fare for the first adult.

Pricing Per Adult

It is simply impossible to determine exactly how much a person will pay without looking at several different factors. We are going to break these factors on Disney Cruise cost down for you.

Then, we will help you gauge pricing on a budget to pricing with no limits, and everything in between, so that you have an accurate idea of what you can expect to pay for your Disney Cruise itself. We will also show you a full Disney Cruise Scenario with estimates on what you may need to include for a Disney Cruise. Finally, we detail some ways to save money if you are interested in sailing on a Disney Cruise.

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Which Disney Cruise Should I Do?

The first couple of factors to consider when deciding to book a Disney Cruise and cost are where you want to go and what ship you want to sail on.

Disney Cruise Ships

Disney currently has 6 signature cruise ships with more on the way.

The newest cruise ship available right now is the Disney Wish, but the Disney Treasure begins sailing in December of 2024, and it is almost time to start booking!

Each Disney ship is decked out from bow to stern in immersive Disney experiences. The experiences are going to differ depending on the ship, where it is sailing to, and if it is a themed expedition or not.

Ships Sailings

• Disney Magic : Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Panama Canal
• Disney Wonder : Alaska, Mexico, Caribbean, South Pacific, New Zealand & Australia
• Disney Dream : Caribbean, Bahamas, Europe, Bermuda, Transatlantic Cruises
• Disney Fantasy : Caribbean and Bahamas
• Disney Wish : Bahamas
• Disney Treasure : Caribbean

Disney Cruise Cost Factors

There are a few factors that will impact the cost of a Disney Cruise like time of year, location of the cruise, plus the Disney Cruise ship chosen.

Time of the year

Disney prices their cruises based on peak seasons. The more in-demand the cruise sailings are, the higher the pricing.

The first peak season is the most expensive. Think about when children are out of school, June – August. There is an increase in demand for ships and sailings, so the pricing also goes up. Alaska, and the Caribbean, are usually priced high during this time. Europe and the Panama Canal are usually only offered during these peak seasons.

Holidays are another popular peak season. The Bahamas and the Caribbean are going to be more expensive during these times because families will want shorter cruises, which are offered to these two locations.

Off-season bookings will be cheaper, but keep in mind, that the weather may not be as cooperative depending upon the location you are sailing to.

When choosing locations for your cruise, a cruise to the more remote destination Alaska is going to cost more than sailing to the Bahamas from Florida.

Europe and the Panama Canal are usually only offered in the summer, which can drive up the price of the cruise.

When deciding on what you want out of your cruise, guests can choose from different night lengths.

Disney currently offers cruises in 1-3, 4, 5-6, 7 8-13, or 14+ lengths. The longer you cruise, the more expensive the cruise is going to be because more amenities are included and paid for in the cruise cost.

Specialty Cruises

Disney offers specialty cruises throughout the year. Each of these specialty cruises is going to include extra events, entertainment, dining specialties, and more that are factored into the higher costs.

Guests can book a Pixar Day at Sea, Marvel Day at Sea, Halloween High Seas, and Holiday-themed cruises.

Stateroom type

There are four different types of staterooms guests can book on the cruise ships. A stateroom is the cruise equivalent of your hotel room.

The most luxurious accommodations on the cruise and the most expensive. Each room has a large private verandah (balcony) and premium amenities and services included. Prices for this type of hotel room will be the most expensive out of all rooms on the ship costing upwards of $6,000 for a trip.

The most spacious non-concierge staterooms are in the Verandah category. Each room comes equipped with a private verandah (balcony), some with partial views of the ship and ocean. The space and balcony are worth the price increase if you are sailing on a longer cruise. This category is the second most expensive type of room to choose from and also tends to sell out the quickest. Pricing tends to start around the $3500 total mark for most cruise lengths and destinations. 

The oceanview room has more space than an inside room and also includes a porthole or two to be able to see the ocean. This is a great middle price on the cruise where you can still see the ocean passing by, but you don’t have the balcony to walk out on. This type of room falls in the middle pricing category. The cheapest cruises will come in around $2800 total but can go much higher depending on the length and destination.

The base accommodations feature no outside viewing as the rooms are on the inside of the ship. However, Disney provides a scenic porthole display of different images to make it not feel as claustrophobic. These will be the absolute cheapest rooms due to not having an actual window or balcony. If you want to go on a Disney cruise, but your family is on a strict budget, these rooms will be the cheapest, averaging around the $2,000 – $4,000 range. 

Transportation To Port

By far the biggest factor that will vary for each family going on a Disney cruise is the transportation to the Departing Port.

You will need to provide your own flight, take a train, or drive to the port that you are leaving from. This cost is going to vary widely depending on where you live versus where you need to leave from.

We also recommend arriving the day before the cruise is set to depart so there are no delays in boarding the ship at your arrival time. This is going to cost a night at a nearby hotel, which adds to the overall budget for your cruise.

Disney has ports in the following locations:

• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Port Canaveral, Florida
• Vancouver, Canada
• Auckland, New Zealand
• Barcelona, Spain
• Honolulu, Hawai’i
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Melbourne Australia
• Southampton, England
• Brisbane, Australia
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Sydney, Australia
• Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
• New York, New York
• San Diego, California
• Galveston, Texas

Certain cruises only depart from specific locations. You can filter this when you are searching to book your cruise.

When planning your destinations for your cruise, it is helpful to know where you are going to sail from. The majority of the Bahamas and Caribbean cruises are going to leave from the two ports in Florida, but they also depart from Texas. The Alaskan cruises sail from Vancouver, Canada.

The cheapest way to book transportation is to filter the cruises by which port is closest to you and see which destinations are available. Or, you can filter by destination and then see which ports are the closest to you to help keep costs down.

Keep in mind that if you drive to the port, this will be an additional cost to park your car at the port as well. The fee will be nightly similar to an airport.

What is Included in the Disney Cruise Cost Base Price?

A big question is what do I get for the price tag I see on the Disney Cruise Line website?

When booking your Disney Cruise, you are not just paying for a hotel room like many other vacations. You are paying for an all-inclusive Disney Experience . For every Disney Cruise booked, you can expect the following accommodations, activities, and amenities.

Room type chosen

Guests can choose from 4 different stateroom types:

• Concierge – Most expensive and most luxurious
• Verandah – Popular and mid-level pricing
• Ocean View – Mid-level pricing
• Inside – Cheapest book and smallest rooms

Three rotational table-service dining restaurants Buffet (for breakfast and lunch) Quick service bites

24-hour room service Unlimited soft serve ice cream Unlimited coffee, tea, and soda available on deck and at table service restaurants

On Ship Activities

Broadway-quality shows (original Disney products or live acts) Fireworks at Sea (available on most itineraries) Character meet and greets Movie screenings (first-run and popular Disney movies) Pools, waterslides, splash zones, and wading pools Gym and fitness center

Kids’ clubs

Disney’s Oceaneer Club (3 to 12 years old) Disneys’ Oceaneer Lab (2 to 12 years old) Edge (11 to 14 years old) Vibe (14 to 17 years old)

What is Not Included in a Disney Cruise?

While Disney Cruises is great at including a lot of amenities in the total trip cost, there are a few extras that you may want while sailing on your ship.

• Port Excursions
• Premium desserts
• Premium coffee (at the Cove cafe)
• Meals at the adult-only Palo and Remy
• Gratuities – can be prepaid
• Wireless Internet Access
• Baby Nursery (6 months -3 years)

All of these items should be considered when pricing out your Disney Cruise so that you do not have any unexpected costs.

Menus for restaurants are available on the Disney Cruise Line Website, so you can see if you want to eat somewhere not included in the base price.

Port Excursions are also booked ahead of time, so you can prepay these items and include them in the final cost of your cruise.

Gratuities Explained

On a cruise ship, it is customary to give gratuities in recognition of exceptional service. Disney recommends a gratuity amount of $14.50 USD per night, per stateroom Guest, including infants and children or $15.50 USD per night, per stateroom Guest for concierge and suites.

Pre-Paid Gratuities are distributed to the Crew Members who take care of you in the following roles:

• Dining room server
• Dining room assistant server
• Dining room head server
• Stateroom host

Easily pre-pay gratuities online to create a carefree, all-inclusive experience by visiting My Reservations in your Disney account and following the prompts for Pre-Paid Gratuities. If you do not pre-pay before boarding the ship, Disney automatically charges your onboard account the suggested gratuity amount. Once on the ship, you can adjust the amount of your Pre-Paid Gratuities by visiting Guest Services prior to the end of your cruise.

Pre-Paid Gratuities do not include the following gratuities, which are either included in the charge or based on your discretion:

• Extras added to rotational dining meals such as alcoholic beverages
• Adult dining locations such as Remy, Palo, Palo Steakhouse and Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, which are not part of rotational dining
• Food or drink in shops and outdoor or poolside eateries
• Room service
• Port Adventures
• Senses Spa & Salon
• Concierge Lounge Team—Guests staying in Concierge accommodations are recommended a gratuity amount of $8.00 per night, per stateroom Guest
• Any other additional services
• An 18% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine, deck service tabs and spa services. All gratuities can be charged to your onboard account.

Disney’s Private Islands

When sailing on a Disney Cruise, one of the locations you will visit on your travels during a Bahamian cruise is one of Disney’s Private Island’s Castaway Cay and coming soon Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

Castaway Cay is the perfect beach getaway. Amenities on the island include

• A family beach
• Serenity Bay (18+ beach)
• Teen Hideout
• Game Pavilion
• Sports Beach
• Snorkeling Lagoons teeming with sea life
• Water play areas
• Walking trails
• Open-air BBQ dining locations serving complimentary meals
• Free transportation around the island
• Character appearances
• Boat rentals

Disney’s new island, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point will have similar amenities to Castaway Cay! We can’t wait to see what the island holds.

Breakdown of Pricing

This section of our article is going to take a look at the specific pricing of specific cruises to help estimate Disney Cruise cost. The three most popular Disney Destinations are the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Alaska, so that is what pricing we are going to focus on.

Disney Cruise On a Budget

If you really want to go on a Disney Cruise and stick to a budget, the 3-night and 4-night cruises are going to be the best option. Depending on how far from your destination you are traveling, the amount of time on the ship versus in a port will vary. The Bahamas destinations are going to offer more time in ports where Caribbean cruises will be more time on the boat.

The cheapest room option on a cruise is always the interior room. However, these rooms don’t have actual windows and can make a very tight space for a family of four, which we are basing all of our pricing on. If possible, spring for at least an Oceanview room where you are guaranteed at least one actual window.

Another way to stay on budget is to adjust the dates. In the tables below, you will see different dates and different ships will provide cheaper options. Cruises during February, August, and September tend to be cheaper, similarly to a Walt Disney World Vacation, whereas cruises during holiday seasons (Spring Break, Christmas, New Years, Halloween, etc.) are going to be more expensive.

3- Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale

• 4 Guests – 2 adults, 2 children
• Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point & Nassau, Bahamas

4 – Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale

• Disney Castaway Cay & Nassau, Bahamas

4-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston

• Sailing to Progreso, Mexico

4- Night Western Caribbean Cruise from New Orleans

• Sailing to Cozumel, Mexico

5- Night Western Caribbean Cruise from New Orleans

• Sailing to Cozumel, Mexico & Progreso, Mexico

The cheapest Alaskan cruise is about the price of the Concierge Level for other Disney Cruises.

7 – Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver

• Sailing to Glacier Viewing (Stikine Icecap), Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Ketchikan, Alaska

Mid-Range Disney Cruise Pricing

A 5 – 6 day cruise is a great mid-price range budget. Typically with these cruises you will have enough time to explore the ship while also getting at least two, if not three days in a port of call to explore your destination.

For the longer 5-6 day cruises, we recommend the oceanview or verandah rooms. To keep the budget down and get to experience more for your money, avoid booking the concierge rooms at these middle price points.

Another great way to spend your money is to book one of the themed cruises. Guests can book the Marvel Day at Sea, a Halloween Cruise, or a Merry Christmas Cruise. The prices are going to be higher for these themed cruises even if they are only 5-6 days long, but you get a lot more special activities.

5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Galveston

5- Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale

• 4 guests – 2 adults, 2 children
• Sails to George Town, Grand Cayman & Disney Castaway Cay

No Restrictive Budget Pricing

The longer cruise you book, the more ports you can stop at and the greater chance you have to stretch your days at sea to fully explore all that the ship has to offer.

The longer the cruise, guests can also experience more themed Disney nights and formal nights as well. This can make the cruise an extra special vacation due to all of the extra magic you are receiving.

Our recommendation for rooms on a cruise any longer than 5 days is to book at least a verandah room if not the concierge rooms. This is going to provide the most space for the times when you need to escape from the hustle and bustle of the ship.

In addition to the longer cruise, specialty cruises can also be booked during peak times if you don’t have an incredibly restrictive budget.

7 Night Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Inaugural Cruise from Port Canaveral

• 4 Guests, 2 adults, 2 children
• Sailing to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point; Nassau, Bahamas; Disney Castaway Cay; Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, 2 Days at Sea

7 – Night Western Caribbean Cruise from New Orleans

• Sails to Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman & Falmouth, Jamaica

7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Pixar Day at Sea)

• Sailing to Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica; & Disney Castaway Cay

7 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

• Sailing to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; & Disney Castaway Cay

10 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral

• 4 Guests, 2 adults & 2 Children
• Sailing to St. John's, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point; & Disney Castaway Cay

9- Night Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver

• 4 guests, 2 adults & 2 children
• Sailing to Ketchikan, Alaska; Glacier Viewing (Stikine Icecap), Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Icy Strait Point, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; Victoria (British Columbia), Canada

Sample Disney Cruise Pricing

With so many options, numbers, and things included, it can be difficult to tell what a cruise actually costs.

This section is going to show a sample scenario to give you a better idea of what a cruise would actually cost your family.

Cruise Picked: 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale

Destinations: Disney Castaway Cay & Nassau, Bahamas

Dates: May 13-17, 2024

Ship: Disney Magic

Guests: 2 Adults, 2 Children (ages 6 & 3)

Stateroom Type: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom

Deck: Forward, Deck 5 Room: 5018

Total Stateroom Price: 4,011.72

Ship Highlights

Entertainment.

• Live Shows: Tangled: The Musical, Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic, Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story
• Fireworks at Sea
• First Run Movies
• Character Greetings
• Daily Activities – karaoke, game shows, bingo

Main Dining

• Animator’s Palate – Unique Dinner show starring Disney characters
• Lumiere’s – American and French Cuisine
• Rapunzel’s Royal Table

• Duck-In Diner
• Pinocchio’s Pizza
• 24 hour room service
• Palo (Adult Only Restaurant) – extra cost

Recreation Kids

• Marvel Super Hero Academy – Disney Oceaneer Club
• Edge – club for tweens
• Vobe – club for teens
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – extra cost
• Pools: AquaLab, Goofy’s Pool, Nephew’s Splashzone, AquaDunk

Recreation Adults

• Keys- nightclub with live music
• Fathoms – late night dancing
• Quiet Cove Pool
• Full-service Gym
• Senses Spa and Salon – extra cost

Extra Costs on Ship & Ports

• Alcohol Gratuities: $14.50/ per night/ per person
• WiFi: $16-$42/ day
• Castaway Cay Rentals : Snorkel Gear, Floats, Rafts, Bicycles, Kayak, Paddle Boat

Extra Costs Outside of Cruise

• Hotel Room in Fort Lauderdale: $180-$230
• Parking at Port : $20/ per day

For the oceanview cruise stateroom, gratuities, hotel, parking, and WiFi, you would pay $4,621.72.

Disney Cruise Line Discounts

Disney cruises can be expensive, but there are ways to save money.

The best way to save money is to book as soon as you know when you want to sail.

Cruises price rooms by tiers – the earlier you book, the lower the cost.

Special Pricing

Sometimes Disney will offer special pricing for Florida residents, military personnel, travel agents, and cast members.

They may also offer Kids Sail Free to families with children.

Travel Agencies can also offer promotions if you book through them in the form of Shipboard Credit. While on the ship, you can use this credit for spa treatments, merchandise, photos, and more. Be aware these credits expire at the end of your cruise.

Final Thoughts

A Disney Cruise is an exceptionally personal vacation that allows your family to customize the trip that fits what you want and need. With each ship featuring new shows, themed restaurants, amazing kid areas, and specialty adult-only sections, there is a multitude of opportunities that a Disney Cruise ship offers for a vacation – not to mention the amazing destinations. 

Unfortunately, because Disney provides so many different ships and opportunities, it is difficult to narrow down the exact price that a cruise will cost your family. One thing for sure is that you can't put a price on the magical memories that will be made on your Disney Cruise vacation. 

Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!

Are you ready to plan your Disney Parks or Disney Cruise Vacation? Make sure you are subscribed to our FREE newsletter for up-to-date planning information, exclusive offers and deals, and news about your upcoming trip! For now, also make sure to check out our other related articles!

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• 2023 Disney Cruise Packing List: Essentials to Pack & What Not to Bring
• Disney Cruise Line Christmas Entertainment and 2024 Itineraries
• Your First Disney Cruise: Top Ten Tips to Enjoy a High Sea Adventure with Disney Magic
• Disney Cruise Line Shares New Announcements Regarding Future Growth

The cost of a Disney Cruise varies depending on the time of year, the Disney Cruise ship, and location.

Yes, only alcohol and some adult only dining experiences are not included.

Yes, all your meals are included in the cost of your cruise!

Kids are charged a cheaper child rate on Disney cruises.

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About Jessica Miller

Jessica is a full-time high school teacher and a part-time writer. She is also a full-time mom! When she isn't working, she loves to take vacations with her family to Disney.

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