Ahoy there, Melissa! It sounds like you love cruising at Christmastime as much as I do, so I’m glad you sailed by planDisney with your question.
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Disney Very Merrytime Cruise is my absolute favorite time to set sail. You get to experience the magic of all things Disney simultaneously with the wonder that comes with the holiday season. The Very Merrytime cruises start almost immediately after Halloween ends (I’ve actually disembarked a
Halloween on the High Seas cruise on November 1 before and witnessed the transition start to take place). We typically see Disney Cruise Line release their itineraries 13-18 months in advance, so with that timeline in mind, we can expect to see the 2026 Very Merrytime dates released as soon as this summer.
My last Very Merrytime Cruise was onboard the
Disney Wish that stopped at
Castaway Cay, which was also decked out in holiday splendor, so I highly recommend the 5-Night Caribbean itinerary out of Port Canaveral. I also enjoy the ease that comes from departing out of Fort Lauderdale, so the Western Caribbean itinerary is a wonderful choice as well.
Like any Disney Cruise, it’s up to you just how much you choose to dress up and get involved in all the festive activities offered. When I sailed with some of my planDisney panelist pals this past November, many of us chose to wear Christmas pajamas one night for festive pictures in front of the Christmas Tree in the Grand Hall. We also witnessed many families taking advantage of the optional semi-formal night to take portraits for their Christmas card pictures. And don’t forget to bring your pirate garb if your sailing includes a
Pirate Night. There’s nothing like experiencing fireworks on the high seas!
My best advice is to make sure you’re signed up for email updates from Disney Cruise Line so you’ll be the first to know when those holiday itineraries are released. And if you consider yourself a gumshoe in the
Midship Detective Agency, I also look for clues on the
Disney Parks Blog and Disney Cruise Line’s Instagram page.
Whenever you decide to set sail, I know you’ll have a magical journey ahead of you. Make sure to visit us here at
planDisney again if you have any other questions in the meantime!
Bon voyage,
Sami