disney world cruise cost

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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In this planning guide:

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!

• Disney Cruises 2025 DATES & Guide – Start Planning Your Sailing Now!
• 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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Compared: The Cost of a Disney Cruise vs. Disney World

Is it a better value on a Disney cruise or going to Disney World? Either way, be prepared to open your wallet. Both the cruise line and the resort have a reputation for being pricey.

But while many people complain about the price, most people also feel that they get what they pay for. Disney’s reputation for service is outstanding — and has been for decades. That’s why some folks have no issue paying out extra for an experience that’s second-to-none.

If you’re researching a trip to Disney World, you might have wondered if instead it might be a better deal to take a Disney cruise. Or maybe you’ve seen the prices on Disney cruises and wondered if you can save money by planning a trip to the resort instead.

No matter the reason, while the two experiences are very different, it’s a fair comparison to see if the cruise or the resort will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

Below, we’ve compared several options for both Disney cruises and trips to Disney World to see which comes out as less expensive.

What You’ll Spend on a Disney Cruise

Just like any vacation how much you spend on a Disney cruise depends largely on your own personal budget, below, we’ve provided three options — a bare bones budget, a moderate budget, and a high-end budget.

For our comparison, we created a hypothetical family of four (two parents and two children) all staying in one cabin or room for a four-night cruise . And to make the comparison fair, we selected a cruise departing Port Canaveral (the closest port to Disney World), departing in June when many families head out for summer vacations.

Bare-Bones Budget ($6,861) If you want to simply get on the ship, we found a cruise aboard the Disney Wish departing in June that runs a total of $6,861 for an inside cabin for four passengers .

The cruise departs Port Canaveral, with a stop in Nassau, followed by a stop at Disney’s private island — Castaway Cay — before heading home to Port Canaveral

Keep in mind that this includes four people sharing a small cabin (169 square feet). However, you have full run of the ship. Furthermore, meals and entertainment are included, but extras like alcohol and shore excursions are not.

Moderate Budget ($7,517) The funny thing about taking a Disney cruise is that while most other cruise lines have large discrepancies between what you pay for an interior cabin and a balcony, Disney offers the upgrade for relatively little.

In our search, we found you could upgrade to a verandah (private balcony) cabin for just about 10% more, or $7,517 . In this case, you not only get your own balcony, but you upgrade your cabin space from 169 square feet to 243 square feet with the balacony. If you like, there is also a larger verandah cabin that’s 284 sq. feet for $7,901.

High-End Budget ($11,597) Are you a big spender on your vacation? In that case, you can get a top-of-the-line suite on a Disney cruise. These suites are ideal for families as they offer more space. That said, they will definitely set you back.

The cruise we looked at featured several options. The first was a Concierge Family Stateroom with a Verandah, which at 296 square feet, costs $11,597 . It should be noted that guests who select a Concierge level cabin receive special perks like priority boarding and private sun deck access.

Even higher-grade options include a Concierge 1-bedroom suite with balcony (and a huge 608 square feet) for $16,574 and a massive 1,507 square feet Concierge Royal Suite that runs a rich $33,758.

Other Costs Associated With a Disney Cruise

One nice feature of cruises is that you pay one price and most (though certainly not all) of what you’ll spend is included. This includes things like meals, entertainment, or course your transportation from port to port.

But there are some other costs to consider. This includes anything you spend on shore (excursions, meals, and drinks off the ship aren’t included). Alcohol on the ship is also another cost, as are gratuities for the staff.

With these, you can expect to add a few hundred more — to potentially thousands more (if needing airline tickets) — to the cost of your cruise, depending on your spending level. 

Compared: What You’ll Spend on Disney World

While there is no doubt that Disney cruises are expensive for most travelers, keep in mind that they include nearly everything — all food and entertainment on the ship is included in the price. By comparison, you can buy packages for Disney World that include tickets to theme parks and accommodation, but food normally isn’t included. As well, the packages below don’t include flights or other transportation needed to get to the park in Orlando.

The good news? If you are a budget traveler, a 4-night trip to Disney World is much more affordable than a cruise. For those with a bigger budget, the cruise and similar stay at the resort are more comparable in price.

Bare-Bones Budget ($3,233) To compare apples to apples, we looked at a stay at Disney World for the same four nights offered on the cruise featured above. For the budget family travel, we looked at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, which is a less-expensive hotel within the resort.

The four-night stay also includes park tickets for the family for four days and costs $3,233 . One thing to note — for this price, no dining is included (you’ll have to pay out of pocket for food), and the tickets are the base level that only allow access to one park per day.

Moderate Budget ($5,041) Have a little bit more to spend? There are quite a few options, but for $5,041 you can book at Pool View room at the Caribbean Beach Resort for a family of four, including park tickets . In addition, this price includes an upgrade to a Park Hopper option on the tickets, meaning you can visit multiple parks in one day instead of being limited to just one. 

For this price, we’ve also added in the Disney “Quick-Service Dining Plan” that includes a number of casual meals and snacks instead of spending more out of pocket.

High-End Budget ($13,288) If you have money to spend, what about a suite at the Grand Floridian Resort — one of Disney’s highest-end hotels? This stay features club-level service with a number of amenities not offered to other guests.

In addition, you’ll have four tickets each day with the Park Hopper Plus plan, which includes admission to any park on any day, along with waterpark access. It also includes the “Disney Dining Plan” with a number of meals included.

In total, the suite, tickets, and amenities runs $13,288 — noticeably higher than some suites on a Disney cruise, but within the ballpark.

Other Costs Associated With a Disney World Vacation

While we’ve priced out a hotel and park tickets, there are some considerable expenses that you’ll have to pay that aren’t included in these costs. 

This includes the cost of transportation, including driving or flying to Orlando, meals (if not purchasing a Disney meal plan), and souvenirs. Just like with a cruise, you’ll need to add a few things to the costs shown here to arrive at the total cost of the vacation.

Comparing the Costs of Disney Cruise vs. Disney World

In comparing the prices of a cruise versus a stay at the resort, it’s clear that most people will spend less heading to Disney World. In many cases — though not all — a Disney cruise will cost significantly more than the price of trip to the theme park:

So does that mean it’s not worth it to go on a Disney cruise? Not at all. There are some definite things to like about going on a cruise, despite a potentially higher price tag.

No Need to Fly to Orlando One major part of the cost of visiting Disney World is that you need to get there first. In our comparison, we looked at cruises departing Port Canaveral in the Orlando area. But the cruise line also sails from Miami, San Diego, New York, and Galveston. If you are within driving distance of one of these ports, you don’t have to worry about flights to Orlando. Depending on the size of your family, that can save thousands.

Don’t Have to Fight Crowds & Long Days Let’s face it, heading to Disney World can be anything but relaxing. The parks are big and can be crowded. By the end of the day you can be exhausted. In comparison, taking a cruise is more relaxing. Explore the ship, head to the pool, or simply hang out at the beach. There is no shortage of things to do on the ship, but it’s not as “go-go” as visiting the resort.

No Worries About the Florida Heat One of the worst parts of visiting central Florida theme parks in the summer? The heat. It can be downright dangerous if you don’t keep yourself cool and hydrated. It’s much different when you have a cool air-conditioned cabin on the ship just a short walk away at all times. In other words, if you have trouble handling heat, then a cruise may be a better option.

If you’re a Disney fan, there’s no doubt that you’ll love heading on a cruise or heading to the theme park. If you’re cost-conscious, you’ll likely have a less expensive vacation heading to the Orlando park. But considering the very different experiences between the cruise and the theme park, there is no wrong answer.

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Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, disney cruise line to require vaccines for kids 5 years and older, disney suspends cruises. will other lines follow suit, 20+ orlando hotels near the parks with airport shuttles, disney cruise line building second cruise ship destination in bahamas.

Hello, I’m thinking about taking my family on a Disney cruise, I have about 7000 dollars total to spend, will we really get our money’s worth?

I’ve personally never sailed Disney as I’ve found it cost-prohibitive. I do know that $7,000 on other lines can definitely get you a very high-end vacation (suite cabin, lots of extras).

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Global Munchkins

Travel + Global Inspired Lifestyle

April 26, 2024

How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost? + Money Saving Tips

After sailing on 15 Disney Cruises , I think the most common question we statement we hear is, “I’ve always wanted to go on one, but how much does a Disney Cruise cost? Disney Cruise Lines has some of the most premier ships at sea and with that does come with a premium price.

We are here to break down how much a Disney cruise costs, what’s included, a look at Disney Cruise Prices in 2024, and if the higher price is really worth it.

What’s Included in the Price of Your Disney Cruise

When you are looking at how much a Disney Cruise costs, I think one of the main factors you have to take in is how much “stuff” is included.

Passengers on Disney Cruises can expect the full Disney experience throughout their trip. Let’s take a look at everything that is included in your Disney Cruise sailing.

Broadway Musicals & First Run Movies

All ships have theaters with live Broadway musicals (and these are seriously amazing musicals) along with unlimited access to movie theaters that offer Disney’s & Marvel’s newest movies.

You’ll often find yourself on board seeing the latest Marvel thriller (we saw Black Panther onboard right when it was released) or a brand new Pixar film.

Incredible Meals with a splash of Disney Magic

Meals are included with your cruise fare. Each ship has rotational dining where you will visit one of three restaurants each night. Your waiter travels with you as you dine at each new location, and the waiters on the ship are truly a blast. Many have done magic tricks for our kids and all are the most caring people you will meet.

In addition, there is a buffet, and plenty of places to get food around the clock. There are several quick-service spots where my husband loves to grab a pizza, as well as 24-hour room service, where you can even get Mickey Ice Cream bars delivered to the room.

Unlike most cruises on Disney cruises, Guests can also enjoy endless soda for no additional fee. Tea and coffee are also included while aboard in addition to all-you-can-eat soft serve ice cream with all the toppings. The only food which is extra charge is at the fine dining of Palo & Remy and Vanelope’s sweet shop.

The Best Kid’s Club of any cruise line

If you asked my kids what the one thing that they love about a Disney cruise is, it would be the Kid’s Club. In our rankings of top cruise ships, Disney Cruise Kid’s Club blows every other cruise out of the water (no pun intended).

My kids are not the type of kids who like to stray off and go to a kids club but Disney’s is out of this world. There is no comparison to any other cruise line out there. The themed rooms are amazing and the staff is incredible. 

Character Experiences

There is no other ship at sea that offers the character experiences Disney Cruise offers. You may find yourself casually strolling by Captain Hook or Peter Pan. Characters have several photo opportunities scheduled throughout the day, where you can get your picture taken with your favorite character. 

Plus, in the kids club characters will come and visit and play with the kids. So, if your family loves Disney characters, there are plenty on board to interact with. 

Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay

If you are sailing on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas or the Caribbean, included in your fare, is a visit to Disney’s Private Island, Castaway Cay , or their new private destination, Lookout Cay . In these two amazing destinations you will find beautiful beaches, water slides, snorkeling and so much more.

The best part is all the food, just like on the cruise is included. It will definitely be one of your favorite stops on the cruise. For an extra cost you can get a Castaway Cay Cabana , these cost quite a bit but if you can afford it, they are simply amazing.

If you love running, Disney Castaway Cay has a 5K to start off the day. It’s a fun way to get started on one of the best days of the cruise.

My BEST TIPS to Save you Time & Money when Booking a Disney Cruise

Before we dive into the exact costs, I have to share my tips for saving time and money on a Disney Cruise!

Tip #1 – The #1 thing to do when booking a Disney Cruise is to book early. 99% of the time prices go up as the ship fills up. So the earlier you book, the better deal you are going to get.

We went on a cruise this past summer and paid a little over $4,100 for a verandah cabin on a 7-night cruise, our friends went to book last minute and had to pay $3,000 more for an inside cabin . So, put down the deposit early and then your final payment isn’t due until 120 days before the cruise.

Tip # 2 – This one might surprise you but it is my best tip. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, book directly through the Disney Cruise site, you are wasting time and money!

I know, it seems like you would get a better deal, right? But the fact of the matter is you do all the work and you pay the exact same price (if not more) versus if you went through a travel agent.

Plus, a travel agent is trying to earn your business, so they will have all sorts of perks to have you use them. Here is what you will get:

• You will get the same price, if not better (they know all the specials going on)
• Some sort of bonus like Stateroom Credit = FREE MONEY – Stateroom Credit is money you can use for spending onboard like Spa Services, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Specialty Dining & More – I have received $800 on one cabin in the past
• Plus, they know where the best staterooms are, when you should check in for your cruise, and what documents you need and they send you reminders.
• They will save you hours and hours of planning

Our travel agency Best Day Ever Vacations , specializes in Disney travel. We even have a place on our site where you can find all the unadvertised Disney Cruise Deals !

How Much Will a Disney Cruise Cost in 2024 & 2025? 

So, what we did is break down what a Disney Cruise costs on average for a family of 4 with several different itineraries. These prices are total including all taxes for a family of 4. All of these cruises are priced based on inside, oceanview, and verandah cabins.

We did not include the concierge level , because that’s a whole different ballgame!

4 Night Caribbean Cruise 

A 4-night Caribbean Cruise can range from $3,400 – $6,700. You will find that a 4-night cruise is often a better value because it sails during the weekdays, so if you are able to miss some weekdays, take a 4-night cruise.

A 4-night averages out to $212-$418 per person per day .

7-Night Caribbean & European Cruise

For a family of four, a 7 Night Cruise typically ranges from $5,300 – $10,000. The 7 Night cruises in the Caribbean can be onboard the Magic, Fantasy & the Wonder.  Personally, I would choose the Magic or the Fantasy when in the Caribbean as they have better waterslides.

A 7-night averages out to $189-$397 per person per day .

7 Night Alaska Cruise

The Alaska cruise prices vary much more dramatically by room class, as a Verandah is so sought after. If you are planning to sail to Alaska the prices can range from $5,800 – $17,000 for a 7-night cruise.

That comes to $232 to $602 per person. 

The inside cabins are much cheaper when it comes to Alaska as they are from about $6500-8000 and the Verandah cabins vary the most from $8900 up to $17,000 for the same cruise.

How Much Does the New Disney Wish Cost?

The newest Disney ship to set sail is the Disney Wish!

The new Disney Wish began sailing in July 2022. The ship sets sail from Port Canaveral and sails to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay. Currently pricing for the Disney Wish is slightly higher than the other Disney Cruise ships and we anticipate that to be true for the foreseeable future.

That being said, we absolutely love this ship!

For a Family of 4, a 3-Night sailing will be around $3,000 – $5,000 per sailing which comes to about $250-$450 per person. The 4-Night cruise is typically a better deal as it sails during the week. For 4 nights the pricing for 4 people is $3,400 – $6,600, which comes to $212 – $412 per person.

Need help booking your Disney Cruise? Contact our incredible travel agents at  Best Day Ever Vacations ! They are truly Disney Experts, and not only are our services FREE , but we will save you both time and money. 

Extra Disney Cruise Costs to Keep in Mind

Gratuities run about $40 on a 3-night cruise per person,  $54.00 per person for a 4-night cruise, and $94 for a 7-night cruise. 15% Gratuity is also added to any alcoholic purchases.

Shore Excursions & On Cruise Experiences

You definitely do not need to do a shore excursion at every port, but they are quite fun. I would estimate $100 per shore excursion you would like to do. Most times you are able to book shore excursions off the boat

Spa Services & Bibbidy Boppidi Boutique

If you are in the mood for a little R&R then head to the Senses Spa for a wide variety of services. In addition, you can also make your little one a princess with a visit to the Bippidi Boppidi Boutique. Our girls have always loved this boutique! They love picking out their favorite princess dress and getting the full royal treatment. While these services are extra, they are so worth it because it is truly magical seeing their excitement.

Alcohol and Premium Dining

Alcohol is not included in your fare, so if you are planning on taking in some cocktails, budget appropriately for these expenses. On the Disney Cruises Ships, you can pay a little extra to dine at restaurants like Palo or Remy, which offer top-notch cuisine. Palo is available on 4 Disney Cruise ships, while Remy is only available on the Dream and Fantasy. The Disney Wish also has 2 adult-exclusive restaurants.

How do Disney Cruise Prices compare to other cruise lines

We all see the ads for a 3-night cruise for $299. While that can be great, comparing the $299 cruise to the Disney cruise cost is apples and oranges. If you want to make a fair comparison, take a look at the biggest competitors, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian & Carnival, and look at their newer fleet of ships (less than 7 years old).

There you can see the best that each has to offer. I compared the Disney Fantasy in July to Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. The prices ended up being between $150-$200 more per person for the Disney Cruise.

More Ways to Save Money on a Disney Cruise

How to Find Disney Cruise Deals

You can find Disney Cruise deals on a page exclusively for Special Offers .

At the time of this article, there is a 7-day cruise for only $116 per person per day. They have special offers for different sailings, military rates, Florida resident rates, and Candian-Resident savings. 

*Pro Tip* When you see that special offer, still contact your travel agent because they can get you that offer plus the onboard credit.

Book in the Offseason

If you want to save some serious cash, book your cruise in the off-season, basically any time kids are normally in school. You will find the Disney Cruise cost to be lower in September, October, Early November, January, & February. So, if you can sail during those seasons, do it! You will save yourself a ton of money.

If you know the itinerary you want and it is during a peak season like the summer or holiday, book the room as early as you can. Disney Cruise prices rarely go down, especially on peak sailing so the earlier you book the better the price. 

Book while on a Cruise 

Lastly, if you are sailing on a Disney Cruise and love it, book another one while onboard. You save 10% off the rate, plus give them your travel agent’s info and you’ll still get the bonus 10% plus your travel agent will get you that onboard credit too.

Know what to Pack and Not to Pack!

One of the surprisingly best ways to save money not only on your Disney Cruise, is knowing what to pack. We have a full detailed Disney Cruise packing list , which will let you know everything you can and should bring on board plus things you can’t. (Hint, you can bring some alcohol).

Prices Vary Depending on the Ship!

There are five ships in the Disney Cruise Line . Each ship has its own unique features and base of operations, but they all offer similar services and amenities.

The Disney Wish

The Disney Wish is the newest of the Disney cruise ships and began sailing in the summer of 2022. The wish has some incredible features like the Frozen and Marvel-themed restaurants, their first ever Disney ride at sea, “The Aqua Mouse” and so much more.

The Disney Wonder

The Disney Wonder sails to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The Wonder is the only ship in the fleet that sails on the West Coast, so you’ll see it docked in San Diego every now and again, which is the only port of call for Disney cruises on the West Coast. The Wonder is popular among superhero fans, as it is home to the Marvel Super Hero Academy and Frozen, A Musical Spectacular.

The Disney Magic

The Disney Magic has one of the most unique itineraries sailing to the Bahamas and Caribbean, and it’s the only ship that cruises to Europe & the Greek Islands. There you’ll find several enchanting cruises in Northern Europe and around the Mediterranean with exciting port adventures available to guests. Magic is known for Rapunzel’s Royal Table restaurant, Tangled: The Musical and my kid’s favorite water slide the AquaDunk. (Check out our full review here)

The Disney Dream

The Disney Dream can be seen cruising around the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The Dream typically sails 3 and 4 night trips. The Dream is known among Star Wars fans as it has a play area that resembles the Millenium Falcon inside the kid’s club (it’s pretty awesome), and guests can enjoy Broadway’s hit musical Beauty and the Beast nightly in the ship’s grand theater.

The Disney Fantasy

The Disney Fantasy has 7 night sailings to Castaway Cay and the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Have you ever seen a water roller coaster? You’ll find the AquaDuck water coaster aboard the Fantasy along with the Royal Court restaurant filled with all of the Disney princesses and princes you can imagine, as well as the Star Wars: Command Post for the little ones. Since each cruise has specific destinations, if you want to book a specific ship then you will be limited by that ship’s range of destinations.

Map of Disney Cruise Destinations and Ports of Call

Pin-It For Later: How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost?

Have any questions about Disney Cruises or Disney Cruise Costs? Ask us in the comments OR feel free to message us on Instagram !

If you enjoyed reading about Disney Cruise Costs, you might also enjoy:

Disney Cruise Tips & Tricks [Over 100 of our BEST CRUISE TIPS]

The BEST Disney Cruise Packing List (+ Pirate Night Details)

15 Unique Disney Fish Extender Options For Your Next Disney Cruise

Frequently Asked Questions About Disney Cruise Costs

How expensive is the disney cruise.

Here is how much a cruise would be for a family of 4 – 3 night Caribbean cruise. You can look at paying from $2,600 – $6,300 on – 4 Night Caribbean Cruise can range from $3,400 – $6,700. – 7 Night Cruise will range from $5,300 – $10,000. – 7 Night Alaska Cruise prices can range from $6,500 – $17,000

When is the cheapest time to sail on a Disney Cruise?

Typically January, February, Early March, September & October are the cheapest times to sail on a Disney Cruise.

Is the food free on Disney Cruise?

The food is included in your Disney Cruise cost with the exception of the two specialty restaurants – Palo & Remy as well as treats from Vanellope’s Sweet Shop. Alcohol and specialty drinks are not included in the cruise cost and are an extra charge

Is Disney Cruise worth the extra money?

It depends. If you love Disney, then yes. If you have kids ages 3-10, I would say it is worth it. Once you get into ages over 10, it really depends on how much you enjoy Disney.

Is their an adults only section on a Disney Cruise?

Disney Cruise Line offers an adults-only section on their ships, called “The District,” which is reserved for guests aged 18 and over. This section includes various bars and lounges, as well as a nightclub and a movie theater.

It provides a space for adults to relax, socialize, and enjoy entertainment tailored specifically to them, while still having access to the rest of the family-friendly activities and amenities on board.

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Reader Interactions

December 22, 2019 at 9:56 pm

Hi wanted to know details for a cruise, I have a family of 6.

January 9, 2020 at 12:41 pm

We are considering a cruise this coming year and have just started getting information. We would have 2 seniors (grandparents), 3 girls ages 9 and 8 with their parents. What would be the best, most economic accommodations for a group like this? Thank you.

January 9, 2020 at 2:26 pm

Hi Anne, I am going to ask our friends over at Tink’s Magical Vacations to reach out to you and give you assistance. They know the ships better than anyone and will be able to find the best offer for you.

February 9, 2020 at 9:26 pm

We are considering a Disney cruise in the last week of June, 2021. We have two senior grandparents, three adults and two teenagers. What would be the most economical package for us for a 7 day cruise.

February 10, 2020 at 5:59 am

Hi Yvonne, We are not travel agents, but we do no some great ones over at Tink’s Magical Vacations. I forwarded your email over to the owner of Tink’s and she will be able to help you find the most economical package for your cruise. Let us know if you have any other questions.

May 5, 2020 at 8:46 am

Hello, my husband and I would like to surprise my family of 35 people by taking them on a Disney Cruise. We would like some information on the best way to go about booking this, along with costs. There are 24 adults and 11 kids. We would need 13 rooms. Thank you

May 5, 2020 at 9:50 am

Hi Jessica,

We are not travel agents, but we know some spectacular ones. I will get you in touch with Kristin over at Tink’s Magical Vacations. They book all of our Disney cruises and they are amazing. She should reach out to you shortly.

July 14, 2020 at 2:37 pm

I an 71 yr old. Love Disney. Traveling solo. Can cruise anytime in late 2021. What you reccomend?

July 15, 2020 at 10:59 am

Hi Michael,

I am going to have someone from Tink’s Magical Vacations reach out to you. They are who we use when booking our Disney Cruise and will know the best options for 2021.

August 2, 2020 at 11:26 am

Want to plan in advance to take my daughter on a cruise for a high school graduation present. Which Disney cruise line is best for young adult children. We are a family of 5. And how far in advance can I start planning to make the trip more affordable?

July 5, 2022 at 7:09 am

How much is to for 2 people

September 26, 2022 at 6:55 am

How much is to for 6 people for DISNEY CRUISE

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Table of Contents

About Disney Cruise Line cruises

Disney cruise line prices, disney cruise line loyalty program: castaway club, what is the best disney cruise line ship.

Disney has a massive global footprint across its theme parks, films and merchandise. And it doesn’t stop there. Among its many offerings is the Disney Cruise Line, whose fleet of five ships sails all over the world.

Family-friendly but with adults-only areas, Disney cruises offer some of the most comprehensive cruise options around. Let’s break down everything there is to know about the Disney Cruise Line, including pricing, destinations and its loyalty program.

You can always expect some magic from Disney, and there is no exception when sailing on Disney Cruise Line. Although its fleet is small, it offers a high-end, family-friendly experience for guests. Here’s a quick overview of Disney Cruise Line’s key features.

Cabin types: Disney Cruise Line offers all the usual cabin types, including inside, oceanview, verandah and concierge-level rooms . Disney Cruise Line’s cabins are larger than average and designed for families, with split bathrooms and privacy curtains. Their largest rooms can accommodate up to seven guests. 

Main U.S. routes: Disney has several departure points from within the United States, including options from San Diego, New York City, Miami, and Galveston, Texas. However, its most frequent departures are from Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida, to the Bahamas and the Caribbean or from Vancouver, British Columbia to Alaska.

Loyalty program: Disney Cruise Line offers the Castaway Club to repeat guests. It has four membership levels — Silver, Gold, Platinum and Pearl. The first level is earned by completing a single cruise. 

» Learn more: Disney Cruise Review — Mickey at Sea Gets an A+

Disney Cruise Line destinations

Although Disney currently operates only five ships, the cruise line still manages to cover most of the world. Here are the locations you can currently sail on a Disney cruise:

New Zealand.

Pacific Coast. 

Panama Canal.

South Pacific. 

Transatlantic. 

Cruises are available in a variety of lengths, from three nights up to 15 nights.

Disney cruises tend to be more expensive than the average cruise. Currently, for example, the cheapest cruise departing from Port Canaveral is a three-night trip to the Bahamas, which costs $1,958 for two guests.

And you’ll pay more to take a "special occasion" Disney cruise. The same three-night Bahamas cruise sailing during Disney's Silver Anniversary at Sea starts at $2,345 for two guests.

When it comes to timing, standard logic applies. The high season will cost more, especially during holidays and the summer break.

The cheapest rate we found — the previously-mentioned $1,958 — is for a cruise in late January, a time when those with school-aged children might have trouble getting away. Meanwhile, the most expensive period for this cruise takes place over the Christmas holiday and rings in at $3,737 for an inside stateroom.

For all destinations, if you’d like to save money, avoid peak periods and search all available dates to find the lowest rates . This is true even on less popular cruises, such as those sailing up to Alaska .

The cheapest cost for two guests to Alaska from Vancouver is $2,983 in mid-September, while the same cruise will cost you $4,607 if you sail over the Fourth of July holiday.

One-way positioning cruises — that is, those that end in a different location from where they started — are often much cheaper per night than standard round-trip cruises.

What’s included in a Disney cruise

Disney cruises are more inclusive than most cruises. You don’t, for example, need to pay extra for soft drinks on a Disney cruise like you would on Norwegian Cruise Line . You’re also entitled to complimentary room service 24/7, unlike on Virgin Voyages, where you'll be charged a $5 fee for each delivery.

Here are more inclusions you can expect.

Live, high-quality entertainment.

Large staterooms (designed for parties of up to three guests).

Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay (on most Bahamas and Caribbean cruises).

Upscale restaurants, quick-service dining, poolside snacks and room service.

Adults-only lounges and pool areas.

Waterslides (on some ships).

» Learn more: How much does a Disney cruise cost?

What’s not included in a Disney cruise

While Disney is fairly generous in terms of what's included relative to competitors, there are a few expenses where you might need to make additional space in your vacation budget. Things that require an additional fee include Disney Port Adventures, spa services, adult-exclusive restaurants , Wi-Fi and specialty drinks.

Specialty drinks can range from hand-crafted lattes at the cafe to mocktails and cocktails at the bars. Sure, the extra charge is annoying, but take solace in knowing that sometimes the cruise line bar ranks among the coolest part of a voyage.

Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge. (Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line)

The company has increasingly leaned into over-the-top, themed bars, often based on Disney's movies or theme park rides. For example, the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge on the Disney Wish allows you to sip on mixed drinks like "Spire Sunset" and "Cloud City" while you admire iconic locales in the “Star Wars” universe — including Tatooine, Mustafar and Coruscant — through a virtual window into the galaxy.

And when Disney’s newest ship, Disney Treasure, sets sail on its maiden voyage in December 2024, it’ll feature multiple adult-exclusive themed bars including the world’s first Haunted Mansion-inspired bar, as well as a Jungle Cruise-themed bar called Skipper Society.

Disney isn’t known for its loyalty programs. For example, there is no frequent traveler program associated with staying at one of its resorts or frequenting its parks. However, Disney Cruise Line rewards repeat customers with various benefits, including a complimentary specialty dinner, free photo downloads and an exclusive terminal check-in area.

Castaway Club levels

The Castaway Club levels are Silver, Gold, Platinum and Pearl.

How to earn : Sail on one cruise.

Best benefits : Book cruises one day before the general public, online activity planning 90 days before sailing, check in 33 days early, exclusive terminal check-in.

How to earn : Sail on five to nine cruises.

Best benefits : Book cruises two days before the general public, online activity planning 105 days before sailing, check in 35 days early, onboard reception, special discounts. 

How to earn : Sail on 10 to 24 cruises.

Best benefits : Book cruises three days before the general public, online activity planning 120 days before sailing, check in 38 days early, complimentary specialty dinner.

How to earn : Sail on 25+ cruises. 

Best benefits : Book cruises four days before the general public, online activity planning 123 days before sailing, check in 40 days early, complimentary unlimited digital photo package. 

» Learn more: Which is cheaper, Disney World or a Disney cruise?

The Disney Wish is the newest Disney Cruise Line ship and certainly its best. It just launched in the summer of 2022. Among its many amenities, guests can find the first-ever Disney attraction at sea. It’s a 760-foot water slide filled with show scenes, lighting, music and more that touches down into a lazy river.

The Disney Wish also has dedicated areas themed for "Frozen," the Marvel Universe and "Star Wars."

In addition, the Disney Wish has all the regular amenities you’d expect on a Disney cruise, including live entertainment, pools and spacious staterooms.

Disney Cruise Line does not offer free Wi-Fi. Instead, it has three levels of packages from which to choose:

Stay Connected: $10 per day for the entire cruise or $12 per day for a 24-hour period.

Basic Surf: $20 per day for the entire cruise or $24 per day for a 24-hour period.

Premium Surf: $30 per day for the entire cruise or $36 per day for a 24-hour period.

These packages are available on the Disney Wish, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream. The Disney Wonder still operates on the old data-usage Wi-Fi packages.

Most of your daily expenses, including your food and non-alcoholic beverages, are included when sailing on a Disney cruise. However, if you’d like specialty drinks or alcohol, you’ll need to pay extra. Gratuities are not included, and Disney Cruise Line's recommended tip is a minimum of $14.50 per guest, per night.

Disney Cruise Line doesn’t offer the standard drink package other cruise lines offer. Drink packages allow you to pay a flat-rate price and drink as much alcohol as you’d like.

Instead, you’ll either pay per drink or purchase bundled quantities onboard. It’s also possible to purchase a specialty beer mug at the pub onboard, which can then be refilled across the ship. Much like Disney’s popcorn buckets, your beer mugs entitle you to cheaper refills on all your beer.

In the past, Disney Cruise Line required that you be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 before sailing, but this is no longer the case. Guests departing from the United States are not required to do either, though the cruise line highly encourages you to get vaccinated before sailing.

Most of your daily expenses, including your food and non-alcoholic beverages, are included when sailing on a Disney cruise. However, if you’d like specialty drinks or alcohol, you’ll need to pay extra. Gratuities are not included, and

Disney Cruise Line's recommended tip

is a minimum of $14.50 per guest, per night.

(Top photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-3x Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Specialty Cruises

Fireworks cruise.

Fun for all ages, nighttime cruises provide the perfect opportunity to watch Luminous The Symphony of Us or Happily Ever After  right from the water. These brilliant fireworks spectaculars add an amazing "wow" factor to your cruise!

From the comfort of a chartered boat, your party can set sail for International Gateway near World Showcase Lagoon to watch the skies light up over EPCOT . Or, embark on the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake near  Magic Kingdom park —with synchronized audio onboard to fully immerse you in the moment. It’s an incredible finale to the festivities!

Departure Locations Depart from Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts to experience Luminous The Symphony of Us or sail from the following marinas to view Happily Ever After:

• Contemporary Marina
• Polynesian Marina
• Grand Floridian Marina
• Fort Wilderness Marina
• Wilderness Lodge Marina

What’s Included Each cruise is accompanied by a captain and includes assorted snacks and soft drinks. Festive banners and balloons are also included in the cost and can be requested at the time of booking.

Pricing Prices start at $449—plus tax. Prices vary by date. Boats seat up to 10 Guests.

Reservations To reserve a cruise, please call (407) WDW-PLAY or (407) 939-7529. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. Learn when advance reservations can be made .

Please note—in rare instances, fireworks shows may be rescheduled or canceled. Please refer to the entertainment schedule to confirm showtimes 2 weeks prior to your reservation and check again the day of your reservation.

Important Details Before you book, please be aware of the following information:

• Please arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to fireworks start time.
• Boats are not equipped with full-size dining tables. A cocktail table is provided.
• For Guests with limited mobility, wheelchair/ECV transfer is necessary.
• There is a 24-hour cancellation policy. Full price will be charged/forfeited if the Guest cancels within one day or fails to show up for the reservation.

Related Activities

Celebration at the top – sip, savor, sparkle, custom-designed celebrations & gatherings, disney private vip tours, safety, accessibility and guest policies.

I saved every receipt — here’s how much it actually costs to go on a Disney Dream cruise

One of the best things about cruising is that you can pay for a cruise months in advance, forget how much it costs, and then board the ship on embarkation day blissfully ignorant of how much you paid to get there and ready for vacation spending.

While I'm not one to keep a tally of every dollar I spend on trips, it's sometimes nice to know exactly how much I've spent, down to booking a hotel the night before a cruise, drinks on board the ship and purchases in port. So on one of my recent Disney Cruise Line sailings on the Disney Dream cruise ship, I saved every receipt to figure out how much my family and I actually paid for the vacation.

Having that information is important, not just for me when I'm ready to plan my next cruise with Mickey and the gang, but so you can budget appropriately for your next Disney Dream cruise. Let's face it — Disney Cruise Line vacations are expensive, but the memories made on the ships are priceless.

Is it possible for families on a budget to afford a Disney cruise? The short answer is yes, but there is some strategy involved. Here's how much our Disney Dream cruise really cost for a family of three.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Disney Dream cruise costs

Before I dive into just how much my trip cost, let me give you some background.

The pricing for this cruise is based on my family of three adults. A cruise with kids will likely have a different balance of expenses.

Our transportation to the embarkation port of Miami is not included since the expense can vary greatly depending on how you choose to get to the port. We drove since we live in Florida, but not everyone is lucky enough to live within driving distance of their departure port. I did include all the other costs from our trip, including a pre-cruise hotel stay, the actual cruise fare and dining at specialty restaurants on board.

My family and I were not super strict with our budget, but we also didn't splurge on everything. We did treat ourselves to a few meals at the adults-only restaurants on Disney Dream and a few cocktails each day, but we never went overboard with extras in the ports of call. Checking our onboard account each morning through the Disney Cruise Line app made it possible for us to have a fun vacation without emptying our bank accounts.

Related: 26 Disney cruise tips, tricks, secrets and extra magic to unlock

Cruise booking

Our biggest cost on this trip was the cruise fare because sailings on Disney Dream are not cheap. Even if you avoid the specialty restaurants, skip excursions in each port and stay in one of the cheaper cabins, you'll still spend a few thousand dollars just to get on board.

For three adults sharing a cabin, Disney Dream vacations currently start at $2,317, including taxes and fees, and that's for a three-night sailing to the Bahamas in 2024. If you're planning a longer cruise or a European cruise, it will cost significantly more, especially during peak times when kids are out of school or during a themed sailing.

Because of how expensive Disney cruise sailings are, I always look for deals, either a Florida resident offer or a discount on a select sail date.

Related: 11 ways to save money on a Disney cruise

Our Disney Dream cruise was a five-night Halloween on the High Seas sailing, with a Florida resident discount for three people booked in a balcony cabin (which Disney calls a verandah stateroom). The total cost of the cruise, including taxes and fees, was $2,497.28.

Total for cruise booking: $2,497.28

Pre-cruise hotel accommodations

I always suggest that people arrive in their embarkation city or a city nearby at least the day before a cruise. This relieves the stress of having to get to the ship on time in case of flight delays or blocked roadways.

The night before my Disney Dream cruise, my family and I stayed at Disney's Vero Beach Resort, which is a little over halfway from our home in Jacksonville, Florida, to Miami.

We used Disney Vacation Club points to book an "Inn-Standard View" room, which was big enough for the three of us. The room cost us 16 points, so we technically didn't spend any money on booking a hotel the night before. Unless you have points to spend, don't forget to budget for lodging before or after your cruise, as needed.

Total for hotel: $0

Pre-cruise meals

The night before our cruise, we decided to eat out in Vero Beach at American Icon Brewery. Everyone in my family got a local beer to try, then we shared an appetizer, and everyone got their own entree. The meal set us back $106.55.

While Disney's Vero Beach does have an on-site restaurant, we enjoy getting out in the city and trying a local place. American Icon Brewery was fun, and the food and service were both great.

Related: 14 things you should do before every cruise

For breakfast the morning of our cruise, I brought muffins that I made at home for my family to enjoy. The room included a coffee maker and Keurig coffee pods, so we drank that with our light breakfast. Disney's Vero Beach Resort does serve breakfast at its onsite restaurant, but we needed to hit the road early to get to our 11 a.m. port arrival time, so the muffins and coffee were a perfect easy breakfast.

Total for dinner: $106.55

Parking at the port

Parking at any cruise port can add a large amount to a cruise vacation. For five nights, parking at PortMiami was $110. We paid for this as we were leaving the parking deck rather than upfront.

Total for parking: $110

Specialty dining on board

Disney Dream has two adults-only specialty dining restaurants onboard, Palo and Remy. To dine at either restaurant, cruisers should get a reservation in advance through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. If you can't secure a reservation before the sailing, ask about walk-up availability for either restaurant once on board. Just be sure to head straight to the hostess desk outside of Palo and Remy as soon as you board the ship (even before eating lunch) because any open reservations will be snapped up quickly.

My family always eats at Palo for brunch on a Disney cruise, and this time was no different. The meal is a high-end table service option that starts with your choice of a charcuterie board or chilled seafood platter, plus a delightful spread of bread. The menu is also filled with entrees like house-made pizzas, plate-size Mickey waffles, made-to-order pasta and elevated egg dishes like frittatas.

The meal for the three of us cost $170. My dad also ordered Palo's signature bloody Mary, which tacked on another $12.39 to our meal.

Related: The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

On this cruise, for the first time ever, my family and I dined at Remy, a French-inspired restaurant that was worth every penny. To start, we were served a welcome cocktail called The Collette, which is named after the female chef in the Pixar movie, "Ratatouille."

Then we were presented menus that were divided into two prix-fixe options, one that leaned more French and one that leaned more high-end American. I chose the French menu, while my parents chose the American menu. The meal overall was fantastic and was worth the $462.50 for the three of us.

Total for specialty dining: $644.89

Specialty drinks and alcohol

One thing that sets Disney Cruise Line apart from other family-friendly cruises is that it doesn't offer all-inclusive drink packages . Passengers must purchase all beverages on board at the per-drink price, though drink prices on Disney ships can sometimes be slightly cheaper than similar libations on other big-ship lines. Plus, soda is included in your cruise fare.

Disney Cruise Line also allows passengers to bring your own wine or beer on board at every port , while other cruise lines restrict guests to one bottle of wine at embarkation only. Not only does this policy allow you to potentially save money on beverage costs, but you can enjoy interesting brews and vintages from the places you visit.

Every night, my family went to happy hour at the adults-only bar Meridian, which is located between Palo and Remy. This spacious bar has large windows that overlook the sea and two outdoor patios with seating. Cocktails for five nights at Meridian cost my family of three $179.67.

Other places to have a specialty cocktail or coffee on Disney Dream include the Cove Cafe, Skyline, Pink and 687. At these other bars, my family spent $122.16.

While we enjoyed all of the bars and lounges on the ship, Meridian was easily our favorite and not just because of the view. The Cast Members who work in this bar are top-notch and learned our cocktail preferences quickly. By night two, they were shaking up off-menu cocktails that they knew we would enjoy.

Total for drinks: $301.83

Disney Cruise Line allows guests to prepay their onboard gratuities for their stateroom host and their service team in the dining room. This charge came to $72.50 per guest.

On top of the standard gratuities, we chose to give an extra $20 to our dining room server, assistant server and head server, plus our stateroom host , all of whom get a portion of the prepaid gratuities. At the end of our cruise, we also gave the two bartenders in Meridian an additional $20 in cash for all of their hard work throughout the week and for making our vacation special.

Total for gratuities: $337.50

While I'm not normally one to get a souvenir from a cruise ship, I couldn't resist making a few purchases on Disney Dream.

My favorite Disney character, Sorcerer Mickey, is the stern character on the ship, so a lot of the Dream-branded merchandise has this variation of Mickey on it. And since this was a Halloween cruise, I found some spooky souvenirs in the stores, too. I dropped $118.97 on merchandise.

Total for souvenirs: $118.97

Related: 11 things you should never buy on a cruise ship

On most cruises, my family and I opt to explore the port on our own versus buying excursions . It saves us money, and we can head back to the ship whenever we want. On this cruise, our ports of call were Grand Cayman and Disney's private island , Castaway Cay.

Because we've visited Grand Cayman previously and it's not our favorite cruise port, we stayed on the ship that day to enjoy the less crowded pool decks and a nice lunch inside one of the main dining rooms.

On our Castaway Cay port day, we did get off the ship but didn't opt for any of the island's excursions, instead heading to the adults-only beach, Serenity Bay. We also enjoyed lunch at the adults-only beach, which is included in the overall cruise cost.

If we were going on a cruise to destinations we had never been to before, like a Disney cruise to the Mediterranean or Alaska , we would likely opt to do Disney-sponsored excursions, which are often a few hundred dollars per person per excursion. And if your family has never been to Grand Cayman, you might want to book a tour to explore the island or one of its attractions.

Excursions: $0

Spa services

One of my favorite areas on any Disney cruise is the Senses Spa and its Rainforest Room. This area of the spa features multiple shower experiences, saunas, a row of heated lounge chairs and two private hot tubs. The best part is that the lounge chairs and the hot tubs are in a glass-enclosed space, so you can see the ocean or ports while using the facilities.

On this five-night sailing, my mom and I booked a "couples rate" to be able to come and go from the Rainforest Room as we wanted throughout the cruise. The total cost for that was $187.62. My mom also opted to get a massage on the cruise, which cost $209.42.

Total for spa services: $397.04

What it really costs to go on a Disney Dream cruise

For three adults sharing one cabin on a five-night Halloween-themed sailing on Disney Dream, the total cost came to $4,514.06. That equals out to each person paying $1,504.69 for the trip, or $300.94 per person, per day.

To put that in perspective, our five-night Disney cruise was a similar cost on a per-person, per-day basis to TPG's Summer Hull's three-day trip to Walt Disney World .

Based on our trip, here's the major breakdown of Disney Cruise Line trip expenses:

• 55.3% cruise fare
• 2.4% pre-cruise hotel and meal
• 2.4 % parking
• 14.3% onboard dining
• 6.7% drinks
• 7.5% gratuities
• 2.6% souvenirs
• 0% excursions
• 8.8% spa services

A Disney cruise can be an affordable way to take a Disney vacation, especially if you're willing to forgo upcharges such as concierge rooms and pricey excursions in ports of call. On my family's Disney Dream cruise, we kept our daily expenses to just over $900, though it's very easy to rack up a folio bill for thousands of dollars a day more. If you want to stay within a certain budget, be sure to try as many money-saving hacks as possible to keep the cost in check.

A Disney vacation will never be cheap, but with some planning and flexibility, it is possible to take a Disney cruise without draining your bank account.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I change or modify my reservation?

How Much is a Disney Cruise Per Person 2024?

This article is your guide to figuring out the Disney Cruise cost per person in 2024. Of course, traveling with Disney on land is always fun, but Disney Cruises are another way you can experience the magic. We love Disney Cruises here at The Park Prodigy and think they’re a great way to explore the world, being proud members of the Castaway Club!

But, just like the theme parks, anything having to do with Disney travel comes with a price tag. That’s why if you’re here you might be wondering about the cost of a Disney cruise per person recently. We’ve found that at most, you could be paying upward of $3000 for a Disney Cruise per person, but many things could influence that. Luckily, we’ve been on a few and can help you break down everything you need to know about the pricing of Disney Cruise Line.

We hope you find this post helpful! And if you are planning a Disney Cruise, check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation and find the cheapest Disney Cruise vacation! SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World check out our Disney Crowd calendar!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost Per Person?

Just like any other cruise line, the Disney Cruise Line has a variety of cruises with different destinations, trip length and more which heavily will influence how much you’ll pay for a cruise. The Disney Cruise cost per person varies greatly depending on several factors such as the destination, the type of cabin you choose, and the time of year you plan to travel. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $700 to $3,000 per person for a standard 7-night Disney Cruise. However, this price can go up or down depending on the factors mentioned above.

Our team has been on two Disney Cruises, one in 2018, and one in 2022 on the Disney Wish. Both Disney cruises costed around $1500 per person, $3000 total with the same sailing, just on a different ship. So, we like to take that in mind as we write this that so far for us, the cost of Disney Cruises have been around $1500 per person.

What’s included in the price of your Disney Cruise?

• Buffet and quick service dining throughout
• Meals at one of three main dining rooms
• Complimentary soda, tea, coffee and water – ice cream too!
• 24/7  room service
• Cruise Entertainment

When you’re calculating how much is a Disney Cruise per person, it’s important to know what’s included in the price. Your Disney Cruise price per person includes your stateroom, all meals (except for meals at Palo and Remy, the adults-only dining options), entertainment, character meet and greets, and access to the ship’s pools and fitness center. It also includes the cost of transportation to and from the port of departure.

What is not included in your Disney Cruise price?

• Specialty restaurants (Remy & Palo – adults-only restaurants)
• Airfare and ground transfers
• Bottled beverages and alcohol, smoothies or specialty drinks
• Snacks outside of dining areas (like popcorn, candy, peanuts)
• Specialty Experiences (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique & Royal Court Royal Tea)
• Shore Excursions

Related post:  When is the Cheapest Time to go on a Disney Cruise?

What are Factors That Affect the Price of a Disney Cruise?

The cost per person Disney Cruise can be influenced by several factors. These include the time of year (with peak travel times typically costing more), the length of the cruise, the destination of the cruise, and the type of cabin you choose. For example, a Disney Cruise for a family of 5 may cost more if you choose to travel during peak times or opt for a larger cabin.

Just like in the parks, the cheapest time to take a Disney Cruise is in September. We do have an entire article outlining the pricing of Disney Cruises and when is the cheapest time to go. The main reason September is the cheapest time to do a Disney Cruise is because of the weather. September is historically the start of hurricane season in the Atlantic and this means more delays and potential cancellations. So if a cruise does need to be canceled and is unable to be rebooked, it’s less money lost from the company. Both of our Disney Cruises have been in September, which we specifically booked for the cheaper pricing. 

What affects the price of a Disney Cruise?

• Stateroom type
• Sailing date
• Passenger amount (How many guests are sailing)
• Destination and itinerary

Disney Cruise Costs by Destination

The destination of your Disney Cruise can significantly affect how much a Disney Cruise costs per person. For example, a Caribbean cruise may cost less than a European or Alaskan cruise due to the difference in distance and port fees.

For example, sailing in August 2024 the following destinations were this price:

• 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from $3,309 for 2 guest
• 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from $3435 for 2 guests
• 7-Night Alaskan Cruise from $3728 for 2 guests
• 7-Night Norwegian Fjords Cruise from $5,715 for 2 guests

When looking to book a Disney Cruise , as a rule of thumb, we recommend the Caribbean cruises to those who are looking to save.

Disney Cruise Costs by Cabin Type

The type of cabin you choose can also affect the Disney Cruise 2024 prices per person. Interior cabins are the most affordable option, while verandah cabins and concierge-level cabins come at a higher price point.

For example, the Disney Magic sailing on June 27th – July 1st, 2024 has 4 different room options for two guests:

• Inside – $2979
• Oceanview – $3299
• Verandah – $4147
• Concierge – $8,059

If you break that down even further for a 4 day Disney cruise cost per person for this sailing:

• Inside room starts at $1489 per person ($372 per person, per night)
• Oceanview room starts at $1650 per person, ($412 per person, per night)
• Verandah room starts at $2073 per person, ($518 per person, per night)
• Concierge room starts at $4029 per person, ($1007 per person, per night)

The newest Disney Cruise ship, the Disney Wish also has the most luxurious accommodations, offering 6 different kinds of concierge staterooms. For more than $25,000, guests can cho0ose to stay in a two-story suite with a spiral staircase and hot tub on the Disney Wish. Typically though, the most expensive Disney Cruise Concierge staterooms go for more around $8000 – $12000 for your sailing.

Related post:  The Complete List of Disney World Resorts

How Much Does the Disney Wish Cost Per Person?

The Disney Wish is the newest cruise ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and is one of the largest ships, which offers a luxurious experience. The Disney Wish takes it voyages from Port Canaveral to Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay, offering 3 and 4 night sailings. The cost of a Disney Wish cruise per person can range from $900 to $3,500, depending on the factors mentioned above.

For the Disney Wish, a 3-night Bahamian cruise from Port Canaveral starts at around $1,800 per person for an interior cabin. However, a 7-night Caribbean cruise can cost upwards of $3,500 per person for the same cabin type. For example the Disney Wish has sailings to both Castaway Cay and Nassau with pricing between $977.5 per person and $1494 per person for 3-night sailings in 2024.

• 4-Night Bahamian Cruise – $1,420 per person (Sailing in September)
• 3-Night Bahamian Cruise – $1,200 per person (Sailing in November)

For the Disney Wish, an interior cabin starts at around $900 per person for a 3-night cruise. However, if you opt for a concierge-level cabin, you could be looking at prices starting at $3,500 per person.

For example, a sailing on the Disney Wish to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay from September 30th – October 4th, 2024 would cost the following per person:

• Inside – $2,591 per person
• Oceanview – $2,743 per person
• Verandah  – $3,023 per person
• Concierge  – $5,903 per person

Related post:  Complete Guide to Disney World Payment Plans

How Much Does the Disney Magic Cost Per Person?

The Disney Magic offers a classic Disney Cruise experience, as it was the first Disney Cruise Ship built. This ship is also among the smallest with 11 decks and 875 cabins available for guests to book. The Disney Magic sails in the seas of the Western and Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico and more. The cost of a Disney Magic cruise per person can range from $700 to $2,500, depending on the factors mentioned above.

For the Disney Magic, a 4-night Bahamian cruise from Miami starts at around $1,200 per person for an interior cabin. However, a 7-night Mexican Riviera Cruise cruise can cost upwards of $2,600 per person for the same cabin type.

In 2024 the following cruises on the Disney Magic will cost for in Inside Room starting at:

• 3-Night Bahamian Cruise – $732 per person (Sailing November 2024)
• 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise – $1,144 per person (Sailing December 2024)
• 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise – $1523 per person (Sailing April 2024)

For the Disney Magic, an interior cabin starts at around $700 per person for a 4-night cruise. However, if you opt for a concierge-level cabin, you could be looking at prices starting at $2,500 per person.

For example a 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale in July 2024 would cost:

• Inside – $1465 per person
• Oceanview – $1625 per person
• Verandah – $1989 per person
• Concierge – $4017 per person

Related post:   Guide On How to Get Cheap Disney Tickets

How Much Does the Disney Dream Cost Per Person?

The Disney Dream offers a mix of classic Disney charm and modern amenities. The Disney Dream is among the largest in the Disney Cruise Fleet, with 14 passenger decks that can hold up to 4,000 passengers. The Disney Dream sails to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean, Europe and more! The cost of a Disney Dream cruise per person can range from $800 to $3,000, depending on the factors mentioned above.

For the Disney Dream, a 3-night Bahamian cruise from Port Canaveral starts at around $1,500 per person for an interior cabin. However, a 7-night Caribbean cruise can cost upwards of $3,000 per person for the same cabin type.

For example, the following sailings on the Disney Dream in 2024 for an Inside Room starting at:

• 4-Night Bahamian Cruise – $1249 per person (Sailing November 2024)
• 4-Night Spain Cruise – $1385 per person (Sailing August 2024)
• 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise – $1525 per person (Sailing April 2024)
• 7-Night Mediterranean Cruise – $3,307 per person (Sailing June 2024)

For the Disney Dream, an interior cabin starts at around $800 per person for a 3-night cruise. However, if you opt for a concierge-level cabin, you could be looking at prices starting at $3,000 per person.

For example, a 7-Night British Isles Cruise would cost the following for the 4 different room cabin types:

• Inside – $2,221 per person
• Oceanview – $2389 per person
• Verandah – $2634 per person
• Concierge – $8094 per person

Related post:  Complete Guide to Disneyland vs Disney World

How Much Does the Disney Fantasy Cost Per Person?

The Disney Fantasy offers a variety of unique experiences, including Star Wars and Marvel-themed days at sea. The Disney Fantasy is the sister ship of the Disney Dream, making it one of the largest with 14 passenger decks. This ship takes it voyages to the Caribbean, Europe, and even the brand new Lighthouse Point, which is Disney’s new cruising destination resort.

The cost of a Disney Fantasy cruise per person can range from $900 to $3,500, depending on the factors mentioned above.

For the Disney Fantasy, a 7-night Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral starts at around $2,000 per person for an interior cabin. However, a 7-night European cruise can cost upwards of $3,500 per person for the same cabin type. There are shorter cruises, like 4-Night Bahamian cruises for only around $1,200 per person for an inside room.

For example, the following sailings on the Disney Fantasy in 2024 for an Inside Room starting at:

• 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise – $1681 per person (Sailing in October)
• 7-Night Lighthouse Point Cruise – $3,389 per person (Sailing in June)

For the Disney Fantasy, an interior cabin starts at around $1200 per person for a 7-night cruise. However, if you opt for a concierge-level cabin, you could be looking at prices starting at upwards of $4,000 per person.

For example, a 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise would cost the following for the 4 different room cabin types:

• Inside  – $3243 per person
• Oceanview  – $3488 per person
• Verandah – $3908 per person
• Concierge – $9,074 per person

Related post:  The Complete Guide to the Best Disney Value Resorts

How Much Does the Disney Wonder Cost Per Person?

The Disney Wonder, one of the original ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, but also one of the smallest Disney ships with a capacity of 2,400 passengers. This Disney cruise ship sails to Alaska, Mexico, Australia, the Caribbean and more. The cost of a Disney Wonder cruise per person can range from $750 to $2,800, depending on the factors previously mentioned.

For the Disney Wonder, a 5-night Bahamian cruise from San Diego starts at around $1,300 per person for an interior cabin. However, a 7-night Alaskan cruise can cost upwards of $2,800 per person for the same cabin type. Some of the newer cruises for 2024 to places like Hawaii and and Melbourne are around $2,000 per person.

For example, the following sailings on the Disney Wonder in 2024 for an Inside Room starting at:

• 4-Night Cruise to Australia – $1,045 per person (Sailing in November 2024)
• 5-Night Alaskan Cruise – $1,615 per person (Sailing in July)
• 10-Night Hawaiian Cruise – $2,570 per person (Sailing in March)

For the Disney Wonder, an interior cabin starts at around $750 per person for a 5-night cruise. However, if you opt for a concierge-level cabin, you could be looking at prices starting at $2,800 per person.

For example, a 7-Night Mexican Riviera Cruise would cost the following for the 4 different room cabin types:

• Inside  – $1713 per person
• Oceanview  – $2028 per person
• Verandah – $2588 per person
• Concierge – $4625 per person

Related post:  Complete Guide on How to Rent Disney Vacation Club Points

Disney Cruise Cost Per Person FAQ

Q: How much does a Disney Cruise cost per person?

A: The cost of a Disney Cruise per person can range from $700 to $3,500, depending on several factors such as the destination, the type of cabin you choose, and the time of year you plan to travel. There are even cruises that can cost upwards of $10,000 per person, as the Disney Wish, Disney’s newest ship has concierge level rooms for almost $25,000 for the sailing!

Q: What’s included in the price of a Disney Cruise?

A: Your Disney Cruise price per person includes your stateroom, all meals (except for meals at Palo and Remy, the adults-only dining options), entertainment, character meet and greets, and access to the ship’s pools and fitness center. It also includes the cost of transportation to and from the port of departure.

Q: What factors affect the price of a Disney Cruise?

A: The cost per person Disney Cruise can be influenced by several factors. These include the time of year (with peak travel times typically costing more), the length of the cruise, the destination of the cruise, and the type of cabin you choose.

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our   Disney  World Crowd Calendar  is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down   the best time to visit Disney World   based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a   Disney World Travel Agent   for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a   Free Quote   for all  Disney World Vacation Packages .  The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your   Walt Disney World Tickets ,  and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as   Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets   and   Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets .

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at  Theme Park Today ,  as well!

Who We Recommend

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* Your magic rewards program points are automatically calculated into all theme park ticket prices!

Nik Chapman

Nik Chapman is the executive editor and one of the main content creators for The Park Prodigy blog and social media pages. With a lifelong love for Disney and Universal, Nik immersed herself in the Orlando area for three years to fully indulge in the magic of the theme parks. In between going to the parks and creating content for The Park Prodigy, Nik also hosted a Disney themed podcast with her two best friends and helps run multiple Disney-themed social media accounts which help over one million people per year. Drawing from their experience as a local Florida resident, Nik brings a unique perspective to the world of theme parks.

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My family went on a $6,000 Disney World vacation and a $5,900 Disney Cruise, and the latter was a much better deal

• My family of four recently went on a Disney World vacation and took a Disney cruise. 
• On the Disney cruise, we got to see different places and explore new countries.
• The vacations cost about the same amount of money, but the cruise was a better value.

As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels , clients often ask me if I prefer Disney cruises or Disney World vacations.

My family did a split trip where we spent four days at Disney World and four days on the Disney Wish, which gave me a great insight into the differences between the two options.  

Here's why I think the cruise was a much better value.

We started our trip at Disney World with fun in the theme parks.

While in Orlando, we stayed at our favorite resort , Yacht Club, which has easy access to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

Throughout the trip, we explored all four parks by purchasing park-hopper tickets, and my family had a blast riding our favorite rides, eating with characters, and shopping for souvenirs. 

It was a jam-packed four days, and they were long. We woke up early to get to the parks and returned to our hotel late after the nighttime shows.

After factoring in our hotel stay, park-hopper tickets, and all our meals, our total came to $6,000.

We loved the theme-park vacation as much as always, but we were excited to get to the next part of our trip.  

After visiting the parks, we boarded the Disney Wish for a four-night Bahamian cruise.

Stepping aboard the Wish for the first time was breathtaking.

As Disney's newest ship, it's filled with exquisite designs and unmatched attention to detail. It also looked impeccably maintained and offered classic Disney service.

As we settled in and explored the ship , characters greeted us around every corner, which added to the magic. 

Our four-night cruise in a deluxe family ocean-view stateroom with a veranda cost $5,900, including meals. 

Throughout our cruise, we experienced so much of what the ship had to offer.

Disney Cruise Line has an app named Disney Cruise Navigator that shares all the daily activities. Most are complimentary, and there's always something to do . 

My kids hung out in the kids' clubs, saw movies, and played at the pool and gym. As a family, we saw Broadway-caliber shows, participated in family trivia, and ate at fun restaurants (including a Marvel dining experience and "Frozen" dinner show). 

While our kids were supervised, my husband and I enjoyed the adults-only lounges and activities.

The kids were supervised when they hung out in the club, so my husband was able to do a fun beer tasting, and we both loved doing a wine tasting . 

My favorite adventure was enjoying a massage at the Senses Spa, followed by a great glass of wine at the Rose Lounge.

There's also the adults-only Quiet Cove Infinity Pool, where you can have a drink or read a book, and adults-only brunch and dinner available at Palo or Enchanté.

At Disney World, it's almost impossible for us to appreciate adults-only activities when we're with our kids .

You can hire a babysitter or seek out the kids' club at Camp Dolphin inside the Dolphin Hotel . But these services aren't included in your stay, and I find them much more difficult to arrange.  

Another great perk of the cruise was getting to explore different places.

Disney Cruise Line has itineraries all over the world including Alaska, Europe, Hawaii , and the Caribbean. On this trip, we visited Nassau in the Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

We also took a day trip to the Atlantis resort, and my kids had a blast at the water park .

Castaway Cay offers a relaxing and fun beach day. We snorkeled, built sand castles, ate a delicious barbecue lunch, and basked in the sun. 

The cruise ended up being more affordable, and I think it was a better value overall.

A Disney Cruise might look pricier on the surface, but after we factored in the cost of meals and drinks at Disney World, the value of the cruise was more apparent. 

Plus, the number of activities offered — for both kids and adults — made for a relaxing and fun experience.

If you haven't experienced a Disney Cruise , I highly recommend it. 

This story was originally published on October 19, 2023, and most recently updated on January 19, 2024.

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Is a Disney Theme Park Vacation Still Worth the Price?

As Disney has raised the cost of tickets and hotel rooms at its theme parks, and added pricey, difficult-to-navigate tools, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves if they should rethink their vacations.

By Tariro Mzezewa

Earlier this year, Jake Williams, a filmmaker and content creator in Toronto, made his long-awaited return to one of his favorite places on earth: Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. After traveling to Disney World and Disneyland multiple times a year since childhood and becoming an annual pass holder as an adult, Mr. Williams hadn’t been to a Disney park since 2019.

“As someone who went all the time, it’s crazy to me that I hadn’t gone to a Disney park in that long,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s a special place. ”

Before his trip, Mr. Williams heard about some changes at Disney World, but he didn’t anticipate how different things would be, starting at the airport. Since his last visit, the company had gotten rid of the Magical Express, a free bus that for more than 15 years shuttled people from Orlando International Airport to their Disney resorts. Guests must now take a shuttle that costs between $23 and $30 per adult each way, depending on the time of year, use a ride share service or rent a car.

To Disney-goers, the end of the Magical Express speaks to a larger issue: The cost of being at the happiest place on earth is going up while the perks are going away. As the company has raised the price of tickets and hotel rooms, and added costly, difficult-to-navigate tools to book rides as replacements for previously free products, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves if it’s still worth it.

Mr. Williams said that a day in the Orlando parks and a one-night stay at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort cost a “jaw-dropping” $886.34 for two adults. He decided to calculate how much the same trip cost in 2017 — a year when he visited the park several times. The cost: $567.90. Even accounting for inflation, he was stunned.

“It’s hard to justify going to Orlando rather than, like, Iceland,” he said. “When you have a budget like this, you can go a lot of places and see and do a lot of things. You could even do a Disney cruise for less than that.”

Epcot’s Italy, or Italy?

He’s not alone. Len Testa, president of Touring Plans , a site that helps travelers organize Disney trips, and a co-author of “The Unofficial Guides to Walt Disney World and Disneyland,” said that he increasingly hears from Disney lovers who are now planning other types of vacations.

“At some point a Disney vacation starts competing with ‘Let’s go see Europe’ and I think that’s what a lot of people are doing,” Mr. Testa said. “I’ve had a number of people in the last few years say, ‘We priced it out and we could take our children to eat pizza in the Italy pavilion in Epcot or for the same money we could actually go to Italy for two weeks. We’re going to go to Italy for two weeks.’”

For Mr. Testa, collecting data about Disney is a passion. In the late ’90s, as a graduate student in computer science he decided he wanted to build a computer program that could help people navigate Disney World as efficiently as possible. That research continued through his Ph.D and the program he created turned into Touring Plans. His team of developers and data scientists model what’s going on at Walt Disney World on a minute-by-minute basis every day. The data they’ve collected in recent years shows that the cost of a Disney World trip, on average, has gone up almost 25 percent since 2019. Seventy percent of that increase is for services that used to be free.

The prices of parking and entry tickets have consistently risen in recent years. In 2022 ticket prices went up two times. In 2023 annual passes saw a $30 to $50 increase, depending on the tier, while multiday tickets also went up. A one-day ticket to either of Disney’s U.S. parks now costs $109 for anyone over the age of 10.

One analysis concluded that between 2014 and 2025, the base price for tickets has gone up 32 percent and increased by 90 percent for the highest-priced tickets. In 2025 the base price for an adult one-day ticket will be $119 and the higher tickets will be $199. Hotel prices have also risen. The cheapest hotels at Disney World now cost an average of $187 per night, according to Disney Magic Guides , a resource for planning trips to the parks.

In an earnings call this week , Disney’s leaders acknowledged that they’ve seen a slowdown at the parks and that, because of the economy, lower-income visitors are financially stressed, while higher-income guests are traveling internationally. And Disney is not alone: Tickets for Universal Studios in Florida and in California often cost as much as Disney tickets. In July, Comcast said Universal’s revenue fell by 11 percent in the prior quarter, with visitors turning to cruises and international travel.

In an email, a spokeswoman for Disney said the company is always trying to offer guests an array of tickets and experiences. To the company, and its most loyal fans, she said, the value of the experiences is worth the price.

“We are purposeful about creating more ticket and hotel price points than ever before to provide guests a variety of opportunities to visit our parks,” she said, adding that “a visit to a Disney theme park is a 10- to 16-hour experience with attractions, entertainment and more.”

Apps overload

For many guests, price isn’t the only hurdle. Visitors now have to navigate several new apps and tools if they want the best chance at getting on the most popular rides. In the past, they could get a free FastPass, which allowed them to go to the front of a line for a ride. In 2021, Disney replaced the FastPass with a digital feature called Genie+ that park goers had to pay for and that was supposed to make booking rides more efficient. Instead, it caused so much confusion that content creators started making videos that showed viewers how to “hack” the tool.

To get the best out of Genie+ guests had to buy the app early in the morning ( avid park-goers recommended doing so at 6 a.m.) and then, at 7 a.m., they would book rides for the day. They could only book more rides after they’d completed their first activity or two hours after making their first reservation. And they couldn’t choose what time they wanted to get on a ride — Genie+ would do it for them. Mr. Testa said all of this led to “Disney complexity fatigue.”

“ God forbid on your vacation, you want to go back to your hotel and take a nap,” Mr. Testa said. Others said having to always be on their phones took away from the experience of being on vacation.

Disney heard the complaints. In July, Genie+ became Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which makes it possible for people to reserve rides ahead of time, instead of on the day they are in the park. The new system, which starts at $30 a day, is an attempt at mixing Genie+ and FastPass, but only those willing to pay extra can use all the features. The Disney spokeswoman said that so far, guests are “very pleased” with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Reviews on social media show that it may be too soon to tell. On Reddit, reviewers lamented the different prices for Lightning Lane passes, with one person saying she “despised the process” of booking in the new system so much she felt like throwing her phone.

Jeremy Sonkin, a Chicago-based content creator who makes videos about theme parks, was at Disney World on the first day the new system was available. He said the new app is less confusing than Genie+, but it doesn’t feel like an upgrade.

“The idea and thought behind trying to bring back the ‘Fast Pass plus’ system is correct, but it’s not a level playing field and I can see this causing just as much, if not more, frustration from guests,” he said.

Greg Antonelle, the managing director of MickeyTravels , a travel agency that focuses on booking Disney trips, said his company is having a great year, with travelers looking to experience new rides like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure , which replaced the old Splash Mountain ride. He said that complaining about Disney is par for the course.

“We’ve been in business for 13 years and we’ve heard complaints about cost for 13 years,” Mr. Antonelle said. “It’s nothing new.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the starting month of the Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disney World. It started in July, not June.

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Tariro Mzezewa, a former national correspondent at The Times, is a reporter who writes about culture and style. More about Tariro Mzezewa

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Provincetown, Mass.:  Located at the tip of Cape Cod, P-town (as locals call it) has overlapping — and sometimes competing — identities : one of America’s oldest art colonies, nature preserve, thriving L.G.B.T.Q. resort and historic Portuguese fishing village.

Lake Como, Italy:  Stars like George Clooney frequent this scenic corner of northern Italy, but you might be surprised by how affordable it can be. Here’s an insider’s guide .

South of France:  Horses, bulls and birds of all types live among the pink marshes of the Camargue, a rugged landscape shaped  by the relentless push and pull of sea and river.

Disney Theme Parks:  As Disney has raised the cost of tickets and hotel rooms at its theme parks, and added pricey, difficult-to-navigate tools, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves  if they should rethink their vacations.

Helsinki, Finland:   Explore the stunning architecture  of the new central library, browse treasure-filled shops in the Design District, sweat in a wood-burning sauna, sip cocktails on a schooner and trek across islands in the surrounding archipelago.

Cheapest Disney Cruises: Magical Voyages on a Budget

As a seasoned Disney travel writer and parent, I’ve discovered that a Disney Cruise can be an unforgettable family experience without breaking the bank. While Disney Cruise Line is known for its premium offerings, there are ways to make this magical adventure more affordable. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share insider tips on finding the cheapest Disney cruises and maximizing your value at sea.

Book with The Vacationeer to Get Credit Toward Onboard Spending

Understanding Disney Cruise Pricing

Before we dive into specific deals, it’s crucial to understand how Disney Cruise Line (DCL) prices its voyages:

• Prices fluctuate based on demand, season, and booking timing
• Inside staterooms are typically the most budget-friendly option
• Shorter cruises often have lower overall prices
• Off-peak sailings can offer significant savings

Cheapest Disney Cruise Options

2-night cruises: the absolute cheapest disney cruise experience.

Typically, the absolute cheapest Disney cruises are the 2-night sailings . This makes sense, as the shortest Disney cruises generally have lower overall prices.

Currently, the most affordable 2-night options are part of the “Disney Magic at Sea” cruises sailing from Australia and New Zealand ports, such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. These cruises offer a unique blend of Disney magic and Oceanic adventure, often starting as low as $800 USD for two guests in an inside stateroom.

While these may be the cheapest Disney cruises available, their location makes them less accessible for many travelers. Transcontinental airfare will eradicate the savings for most people. However, for those in the region or looking for an extraordinary Disney adventure, these cruises offer exceptional value.

It’s important to note that Disney Cruise Line’s itineraries are always evolving, and future offerings may include short cruises sailing from U.S. ports. Always check with The Vacationeer for the latest information on upcoming itineraries and ports.

Other Affordable Disney Cruise Options

For more accessible options, consider these typically budget-friendly choices:

3-Night Cruises

Image © Disney

These short getaways offer a taste of Disney magic at sea:

• Bahamian Cruises from Florida ports : Often starting around $1,700 for 2 guests in an inside stateroom. These cruises frequently sail from Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral.
• Baja Cruises from San Diego : These cruises typically start from $1,600 for 2 guests and often include a stop in Ensenada, Mexico.

4-Night Cruises

Offering slightly more value than shorter options:

• Bahamian Cruises from Port Canaveral : Usually starting around $1,850 for 2 guests in an inside stateroom. These often include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
• Western Caribbean Cruises from Galveston : These cruises, often starting around $1,500 for 2 guests, may include stops in Cozumel or Progreso, Mexico.

5-Night Cruises

For those who can extend their trip a bit longer:

• Western Caribbean Cruises : Departing from ports like New Orleans, these cruises often start from about $2,500 for 2 guests.

Remember, these are general starting prices and can vary significantly based on sailing date, ship, and current promotions. Availability and pricing are always changing, so it’s best to check with The Vacationeer for the most up-to-date information on available Disney cruises for your desired travel period.

For more information on specific itineraries and ships, check out our articles on 2025 Disney Cruises , 2026 Disney Cruises , the Cost of Disney Cruises , and the Cost of Disney Cruise Per Person .

Find a Cheap Disney Cruise Right Now!

Tips for Finding the Cheapest Disney Cruises

1. check for special offers.

• Disney Cruise Line regularly updates its Special Offers page with new promotions
• Current offers may include reduced deposits, percentage-based savings, and resident-specific deals
• The Vacationee r can help you navigate these offers and find the best one for your situation

2. Be Flexible with Dates and Destinations

• Consider international options like Australia and New Zealand cruises
• Sail during the off-season (typically when schools are in session)
• Look for repositioning or one-way cruises for unique, often cheaper options

Learn more about timing your cruise in our Best Time to Go on a Disney Cruise guide.

3. Book Early… or Last Minute

• Disney often offers its best rates when itineraries are first released
• Last-minute deals can provide significant savings, but selection may be limited

For more booking strategies, read our guide on How to Book Disney Cruises and Last Minute Deals for Disney Cruises .

4. Choose Your Stateroom Wisely

• Inside staterooms are typically the most affordable option
• Consider an oceanview room for a slight upgrade without the cost of a verandah

See our Best Staterooms on Disney Cruise Line for more information on these categories..

5. Look for Resident-Specific Deals

• Florida residents can save up to 20% on select Caribbean cruises
• Canadian residents may be eligible for up to 25% off on select sailings
• Always check for deals specific to your place of residence

Check out our article on Disney Cruise Florida Resident Deals for an example of location-based discounts.

6. Consider Military Discounts

• Disney Cruise Line offers special military rates on select cruises
• These rates are limited to one stateroom per military member, per sailing

7. Use a Disney Visa Card

• The Disney Premier Visa Card may offer savings and special Disney experiences
• Check current offers associated with the card when booking your cruise

8. Maximize Onboard Credit

• Look for booking options that offer onboard credit for your Disney cruise (we recommend The Vacationeer )
• This “cash back” can be applied to certain in-cruise expenses, effectively lowering your overall cost

9. Use a Travel Agent

• Agencies like The Vacationeer can alert you to the best deals and promotions
• They may offer additional perks like onboard credit

10. Consider Older Ships

• While the newest ships are exciting, older vessels in the fleet often have lower prices
• The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder typically offer some of the most affordable options

11. Explore International Departure Ports

• Cruises departing from Sydney, Melbourne, or Auckland can offer great value
• These options also provide a unique way to explore a new part of the world

Remember, Disney Cruise Line’s promotions and special offers are constantly changing. The best way to ensure you’re getting the cheapest Disney cruise possible is to work with a specialized travel agent like The Vacationeer . They stay up-to-date on all the latest offers and can help you find and apply the best deals to your booking.

For more money-saving strategies, visit our How to Save Money on Disney Cruises page.

Making the Most of Your Affordable Disney Cruise

What’s included.

AquaDunk water slide on the Disney Magic | Image © Disney

Even on the cheapest Disney Cruises, you’ll still enjoy:

• World-class entertainment
• Character meet-and-greets
• Excellent dining options
• Access to kids’ clubs
• Use of pools and sports facilities

For a full breakdown, check out our article on What’s Included in Disney Cruises .

Budget-Friendly Tips Onboard

Unlimited sodas and juices are included in your cruise cost, no drink package necessary!

• Skip the specialty dining to save on additional fees
• Bring your own refillable water bottle
• Limit or avoid alcoholic beverages (or check out our guide on Alcohol on Disney Cruises for money-saving tips)
• Be selective with shore excursions and consider exploring ports on your own
• Avoid the onboard shops to prevent overspending

Maximize Included Activities

Showtime at the Walt Disney Theatre

• Take advantage of all the free entertainment options
• Participate in onboard activities and shows
• Enjoy the complimentary dining venues

Learn more about onboard dining in our guides about Food on Disney Cruises , Rotational Dining on Disney Cruise Line , and Character Meals on Disney Cruises .

Pros and Cons of Choosing a Cheaper Disney Cruise

• Experience Disney magic at a lower cost
• Shorter cruises can be easier to fit into busy schedules
• Less time commitment for first-time cruisers
• Opportunity to explore international departure ports
• Less time to experience all the ship has to offer
• Fewer port stops and destinations
• May feel rushed compared to longer itineraries
• Limited options for dining rotations

For a comparison with longer options, see our article on Longest Disney Cruises .

Planning Your Affordable Disney Cruise

Research and compare.

• Use The Vacationeer or DCL’s website to compare different itineraries and dates
• Consider the total cost, including transportation to the port
• Factor in any additional expenses like gratuities and shore excursions

For more information about these factors, check out our guides on the Cheapest Month to Book Disney Cruises and Tipping on Disney Cruises .

• If you find a good deal, don’t wait too long – prices can increase as ships fill up
• Consider travel insurance to protect your investment

Prepare in Advance

• Pack strategically to avoid onboard purchases
• Pre-book any must-do activities or dining experiences

For more planning tips, especially if it’s your first voyage, check out our First Time Disney Cruise guide.

Disney’s Private Islands: Budget-Friendly Paradise

Many affordable Disney cruises include stops at Disney’s private islands, which offer complimentary activities and dining:

• Castaway Cay : Disney’s original private island in the Bahamas. Learn more in our Castaway Cay Tips and Castaway Cay, Disney’s Private Island guides.
• Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point : Disney’s newest island destination. Explore it in our Guide to Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Castaway Cay vs. Lookout Cay articles.

A Family Perspective on Budget-Friendly Disney Cruises

As a father who’s experienced both budget and premium Disney Cruises, I can attest that the magic isn’t diminished on more affordable sailings. Here are some personal insights:

• Quality time : Even on shorter cruises, we’ve created lasting family memories.
• Taste of luxury: Budget-friendly doesn’t mean low-quality – the Disney standard remains high.
• Motivation to return : Shorter, cheaper cruises often inspire families to save for longer adventures in the future.
• Cultural experiences : International cruises offer a unique blend of Disney magic and local culture.

Looking Ahead: Future Affordable Disney Cruise Options

Keep an eye out for:

• New itineraries from additional international home ports
• Special promotions celebrating Disney milestones or new ship launches
• Off-season sailings on newer ships as they’re added to the fleet

Stay updated by regularly checking our Disney Cruise Line blog section or by checking in with The Vacationeer .

Ready to Book Your Affordable Disney Cruise?

A budget-friendly Disney Cruise offers a taste of Disney magic without overwhelming your finances. With careful planning and smart choices, you can experience the wonder of a Disney vacation at sea while keeping costs in check.

Remember, the key to finding the cheapest Disney Cruises is flexibility, early planning, and staying informed about current offers and promotions across all Disney Cruise markets. While these cruises may not have all the bells and whistles of the Most Expensive Disney Cruises , they still offer an unforgettable family experience.

Let The Vacationeer Help You Find the Best Disney Cruise Deals

Ready to start planning your affordable Disney Cruise but feeling overwhelmed by the global options? Let The Vacationeer be your guide! As Disney travel planning experts , they can help you navigate the sea of choices to find the best value for your budget, whether it’s a quick trip from Florida or an adventure from overseas.

The Vacationeer , a Diamond-Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, offers a wealth of services at no extra cost to you:

• Global Deal Hunting : They’ll search for the best promotions and lowest rates worldwide
• Budget Optimization : Get advice on how to maximize your cruise experience within your budget
• Itinerary Selection : Help choosing the right affordable cruise option for your family, including international sailings
• Stateroom Recommendations : Guidance on selecting the best value accommodations
• Onboard Savings : Tips for minimizing additional expenses during your cruise
• Booking Assistance : Hassle-free reservation process and support for cruises departing from any port
• Ongoing Price Monitoring : They’ll watch for price drops even after you’ve booked
• Expert Advice : Insider tips to make the most of your budget-friendly Disney Cruise, wherever it sails from

Remember, The Vacationeer’s services come at no additional cost to you. Their compensation comes from Disney, so you benefit from their expertise without any extra expense.

Don’t let the challenge of finding the best deal keep you from experiencing the magic of a Disney Cruise. Let The Vacationeer do the hard work while you look forward to your affordable Disney adventure at sea, whether it’s close to home or halfway around the world!

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Helpful Tips to Add Disney World to Your Next Disney Cruise

Published: August 23, 2024

Contributed By

Tabatha Marks

There’s so much to love about a Disney vacation, and whether you’re setting sail with  Disney Cruise Line  or heading to  Walt Disney World Resort  for the ultimate theme park experience, you’re bound to have an amazing time. 

Why not double the fun and enjoy the best of both worlds?  Port Canaveral  is just an hour away from Disney World, making it easy to adventure by land and sea – all in one trip. Here are some helpful tips to add a Disney World visit to your next Disney cruise.

Pack your best Disney fits – including a MagicBand+. 

When combining a park visit with a cruise, you’ll want to pack an array of outfits, like a snazzy bathing suit, walking shoes, attire for any themed nights, comfy shorts and maybe even matching shirts for your group. My top tip for your Disney fit though is to bring along a  MagicBand+.

Your Walt Disney World Resort MagicBand+ can be used onboard all Disney Cruise Line ships, allowing you to unlock the door to your room, enter our park gates, easily make purchases and enjoy special interactive experiences – all with a quick tap. 

Stay in “vacation mode” and leave the driving to us.

Whether you’re visiting the parks pre- or post-cruise, traveling between the cruise port and our parks is a breeze. Disney can  add a transfer  to and from Port Canaveral, Walt Disney World and Orlando International Airport to your itinerary for an additional fee. 

Once at Walt Disney World, you can easily zip around our parks and resorts thanks to the many fun, quick and complimentary  transportation offerings  available. My personal favorite is a ride aboard the Disney Skyliner. 

Turn your cruise into a full-week trip with a Disney Resort stay.

Turn your trip into a full-week vacation by adding a few nights at a  Disney Resort  to your three- or four-night cruise on the  Disney Wish.

This gives you plenty of time to explore the parks, relax by the pool and enjoy the same legendary detail, service and storytelling of a Disney cruise at the resort of your choice.  Florida residents  can save up to 30% on rooms at select resorts for the rest of the summer and early fall.

Store your bags as soon as you arrive and hit the parks.

No matter the length of your stay at Walt Disney World, make the most of your day by starting early. If you’re staying at a Disney Resort, you get  early entry  to the parks and you can store your luggage with  Bell Services  before your room is ready. They’ll even deliver your bags to your room later in the day so you can focus on your park adventure.

Don’t miss out on the great entertainment options on land and sea.

One of the best parts of a Disney trip is that there’s no shortage of great entertainment options. With a land and sea vacation, you have double the opportunities to catch a spectacular Disney production – or multiple! Between live music, Broadway-caliber shows, fireworks, parades and more, there is something for everyone. 

My top recommendation at Walt Disney World is “ Festival of the Lion King ,” where you can catch dancing, acrobatic hijinks and classic tunes from “The Lion King”   at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Sit down and dive into a delicious meal at a Disney restaurant.

If you’re a foodie like me, your vacations always revolve around what you’re going to eat. I especially love to grab a meal at a sit-down restaurant, trying new ones on every trip. Disney has some of the best restaurants out there, like themed, rotational dining included in your cruise fare, and adult favorites like  Palo  and  Remy  on the high seas. 

There are many incredible options at Walt Disney World too – including immersive picks that put you inside  Beast’s enchanted castle , a  Harambe marketplace , along  Sunset Boulevard  and even  amongst toys  in Andy’s Backyard. Use the  My Disney Experience  app to view dining availability at any given Disney World restaurant for multiple days at a time in one single search.

Take lots of pictures – including with your favorite Disney pals.

Photos are a great way to turn special moments into timeless memories, but sometimes it’s too easy to forget to snap a picture when you’re on the go and having a blast. This is your reminder to take lots of pictures on your next trip – including with your favorite pals. 

There are tons of opportunities to meet many different Disney characters on a land and sea vacation, and if you want to stay focused on the fun, we’ll handle the photos. With  Disney PhotoPass Service  at Walt Disney World and  professional photo packages  on Disney Cruise Line sailings, we’ll capture every hug, high-five and smile for you.

Ready to set sail for the ultimate Disney vacation? Combine high-seas adventure with theme park magic by  booking a Disney cruise  and  a visit to Walt Disney World . These tips above can help you get the best of both worlds on your next trip. Bon voyage and “sea” you real soon!