Ahoy there, Tammy, and welcome to planDisney! It looks like you’ll be sailing with Disney Cruise Line for the first time in forever, so I’d be delighted to help you navigate your magical vacation.
The first milestone to mention occurs before you even step on the ship. Once your online booking window opens (depending on your
Castaway Club membership level), you can
reserve popular activities, such as adult-exclusive dining (including
Palo, Remy, or Enchanté, available on select ships),
Senses Spa & Salon treatments, and
Port Adventures. These reservations can fill quickly, so I recommend logging in right when your window opens to snag your top choices; I’ve even been known to stay awake until the clock strikes Midnight (ET) to ensure I don’t turn into a pumpkin and miss out.
Now, my favorite tool for maximizing every minute at sea is the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. Before your sailing, you can use it as your official cruise countdown and to check in. Once onboard, think of it as your very own Cruise Director in your pocket, showing you everything from showtimes,
deck parties, and youth activities to
Character Greeting times and dining attire themes for the evening. You can even “favorite” events in the app, and it will send you a reminder 15 minutes before they begin.
Speaking of dining, Disney Cruises are known for their
rotational dining that allows you to experience each of the themed restaurants onboard while your servers travel with you. You’ll be assigned to one of two seatings. If, for some reason, you don’t get your first choice, you can always connect with a member of the Dining Team on embarkation day, and they’ll be happy to assist you based on availability.
On certain nights, such as
Pirate Night or Optional Dress-Up evenings, your dining experience will be enhanced with themed menus or extra entertainment. Since you’ll know your schedule ahead of time through the app, you can plan accordingly if you’d like to dress up or book a specialty dining reservation, making sure it doesn’t overlap with a night you’d like to experience with your whole party.
Tammy, I know I’ve given you a lot to plan for and think about, but my best tip might be to balance structure with spontaneity. While it’s helpful to know when the Broadway-style shows and festive deck parties are happening, leave some room for magical surprises too. Some of my favorite cruise moments happen when I’m sitting under the stars watching Funnel Vision with a complimentary ice cream in my hand and dreaming about what the next day holds. And if you dream up any more questions before you set sail, I hope you’ll make your way back to us here at
planDisney!
SEA ya real soon!
Sami