Ahoy, Juliana! Thanks for sailing by planDisney with another great question. We love hearing from our returning guests. You must be getting so excited for your
Very Merrytime Cruise on the
Disney Wish! I did the four-night version last November, and it was truly magical. By the way, do you have room in your suitcase for me?!
Before you start packing, take a peek at the
Packing List for Bahamian and Caribbean Cruises on the Disney Cruise Line website. It’s really helpful and also lists items you’re not allowed to bring onboard. You’ll definitely want to bring swimwear, since the pools will be open and you’ll be stopping at
Disney Castaway Cay. The water there might feel a bit chillier than in the summer, but it was still perfect for snorkeling when I went. Don’t miss the
AquaMouse onboard, since it’s such a fun and unique experience that you’ll want to ride more than once!
For your three-night cruise, dining attire is “cruise casual,” meaning no swimwear or tank tops in the restaurants, but nice shorts, T-shirts, and sundresses are perfectly fine. There's no formal night on a three-night sailing, but you might see some guests choose to dress up a little more for an optional “dress-up night.” I brought a festive holiday outfit for dinner at 1923 since it's the most elegant of the rotational dining rooms. And of course, you'll likely have Pirate Night (usually on night two), so pack something fun if you'd like to join in. Everyone receives a pirate bandana in their stateroom, but you’ll also see plenty of guests in full pirate gear, and even more pirate attire in the onboard shops. Also, if you’re dining at Palo Steakhouse or Enchanté, you’ll want to bring a dressier outfit (semi-formal, but not overly fancy.)
Since this is a holiday sailing, I also saw lots of families roaming around after dinner in matching holiday pajamas. It made for such cute photos! You can snap your own or take advantage of the onboard photography services. Don’t miss the tree lighting ceremony in the Grand Hall on the first night, as it’s absolutely dazzling. You’ll find the exact time in the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app once you’re connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi.
Another must-pack item is motion sickness medication. The Wish can be a little rocky that first night as it sails into open water, so it’s good to have something just in case. I used a patch prescribed by my doctor, but if you forget, Guest Services has tablets available onboard that work really well. Since this will be your first Disney Cruise, you won’t have your Castaway Club lanyards yet, so I’d recommend bringing your own for your Key to the World card (which serves as your room key and more). And don’t forget your passports or travel documents. Don't ask me how I know, but trust me, that’s one thing you don’t want to realize you’ve left behind at the last minute!
Once you’re sailing, I suggest “hearting” your favorite activities in the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app each night. My family loved doing this together at dinner every night, and the app will even remind you 15 minutes before each activity begins. Just remember, there’s no way to do it all, so pick your favorites and enjoy every festive moment!
I HO-HO-hope this helps, Juliana!
Sea ya real soon,
Eean