Ahoy, Suzi!
Welcome aboard planDisney! I completely understand the wish to step aboard one of those beautiful
Disney Cruise Line ships while she’s docked—after all, they’re just as magical up close as they are when you see them sailing off into the horizon. Who wouldn’t want to take a stroll down those sparkling decks and peek into venues that feel straight out of a fairytale?
The not-so-magical news is that Disney Cruise Line doesn’t currently offer tours to the general public when a ship is in port. The only exception tends to be escorted tours occasionally offered to active Travel Agents when a
ship is in its home port (the place where a sailing begins or ends). For Europe, for example, common home ports include Barcelona and Southampton. Liverpool, in this case, is more of a port of call, meaning Guests onboard are enjoying the stop, but the ship won’t be turning over passengers there.
Even though this may feel a bit like Ursula swiping Ariel’s voice, there are still plenty of ways to experience the magic without stepping foot onboard just yet! The Disney Cruise Line website has a treasure trove of
photos of staterooms,
dining options, activities, and entertainment. The
Disney Parks Blog often features exciting updates and sneak peeks (kind of like Lumiere rolling out the red carpet with a “be our guest” welcome). And since you’ve already discovered planDisney, I’d recommend
exploring the video library, where panelists share helpful tours, tips, and favorites from our own experiences at sea. Social media can also be a treasure chest of ship walkthroughs and first-hand looks that help you imagine your future adventure.
I know this might not be the answer you were hoping for, but think of it this way: your first real step onto a Disney Cruise Line ship will feel a little like Anna opening the gates of Arendelle—pure joy and excitement because the moment is finally yours.
I hope this helps steer you toward the best ways to explore Disney Cruise Line from afar until the day comes when you get to hear the crew welcome your family by name as you step into the atrium. That’s a kind of pixie dust that no video can ever capture!
Sea ya real soon as summer waves goodbye and autumn magic begins to shine,
Dustin