Hi Jennifer!
I'm so excited to welcome you back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! It sounds like you are getting ready to begin packing for a voyage to exotic locations with Captain Mickey! One of the main reasons my family and I love to take Disney Cruises is because we're able to visit so many different ports of call during one vacation! It's really fun submersing ourselves in the cities and cultures from the moment we disembark the ship at each stop of our itinerary.
You asked a great question about beach towels. In order to receive beach towels from onboard your Disney Cruise before disembarking the ship while at the different ports of call, you do need to have a splashtacular
Port Adventure booked through Disney Cruise Line. If you are going on a Port Adventure through Disney Cruise Line involving water, there will be a Cast Member handing out towels at the meeting spot when you check in for your Port Adventure onboard the ship. Then you'll all walk off the ship with your towels in hand, as a group, to begin your excursion! If you are exploring the beaches of an island on your own, not part of an excursion booked through Disney Cruise Line, you will need to bring along your own towels from home.
The exception to this is if your Disney Cruise is visiting
Disney's private island, Castaway Cay! You won't need to be booked on a Port Adventure on Castaway Cay to receive towels! Once the ship is docked and you're able to disembark, there will be towels waiting for you and your family to grab as soon as you step onto the island!
Jennifer, if you have any other amazing questions, please don't hesitate to visit us again!
Bon Voyage,
Beth