Ahoy Kathleen!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, and thank you for your question!
I'm happy to hear you're planning your very first cruise! I remember the first time we sailed with Disney Cruise Line, and how excited and nervous I was about selecting the best time to cruise and the best itinerary for our family. Since your daughter is not yet school-age, I would definitely recommend cruising in the off-season - during the months when most children are in school. You'll find the best cruise rates during those non-peak times!
Once you've decided
when you want to cruise, then you'll need to decide how many nights you want to cruise. Our first cruise was a three-night itinerary, and I almost feel like it was too short for us. By the time we learned our way around, it was time to disembark! I'd recommend at least a four-night cruise to give you ample time to experience all a Disney Cruise has to offer.
When you've made your decision when you want to sail and for how long, then you can choose your destination. The Disney Cruise Line website has a
cruise search that shows which ships have the sail dates and cruise lengths you desire. You can check out the Port Adventures for all of Disney Cruise Line's ports of call
here.
No matter which ship and itinerary you choose, your daughter will have lots of fun activities and entertainment just for her onboard. The Oceaneer Club is designed just for kids ages 3-12 - a magical place for her to play with friends while the adults have some fun on their own!
I hope this helps - please come back and visit as you plan your adventure on the high seas with Captain Mickey!
Anchors Aweigh! - Diane W.