Ahoy there, Patti! Welcome aboard planDisney! I'm so excited that you and your crew are looking to
set sail on a Very Merrytime sailing! Celebrating the holidays - whether that's the winter ones, or my favorite, Halloween - aboard the
Disney Cruise Line fleet, is a tremendous way to add extra magic to the memories you'll make!
I have good news all around, Patti! First of all, When it comes to passport requirements, there are only a few that absolutely require passports as your
Travel Documentation. For closed-loop cruises - also known as round-trip - meaning that your sailing begins and ends at the same port, U.S. citizens can present either an original U.S. Passport, U.S. Passport Card, or Trusted Traveler Card, OR an original or copy of a state-issued birth certificate AND government-issued photo ID (if over 15 years of age).
Now, while "closed-loop" cruises departing and returning to US ports don't require a passport, I always suggest traveling with one if you have time to get one! The reason being, if anything were to happen which would require you to fly home from a
Port of Call instead of completing your cruise, you would need a passport to do so! The choice is yours, though!
When it comes to
official theme nights, the determining factor is not the type of cruise, but the length of the itinerary! If you are on a 7-Night or longer sailing, you can expect three cruise casual nights, a semi-formal night, a formal night, and a
Pirate Night! But if you happen to be on a shorter itinerary, don't fret - you can make ANY night formal night if you wish! I know that personally, my default mode on a Disney Cruise Line vacation is cruise casual, but I've had many tablemates treat EVERY night as a formal night!
Or, if you'd like a chance to dress to the nines, you can always reserve a table at one of the adult-exclusive restaurants! Depending on the ship on which you're planning to sail, your options could include
Palo,
Remy,
Enchanté, or
Palo Steakhouse! While each of these options comes with an additional fee, I can tell you that they are absolutely worth it - especially if you'd like to have a night where formalwear is expected!
No matter what you decide to do, Patti, I'm sure you and your crew will be turning heads as you celebrate your vacation, the holidays, and one another while making magical memories! Thank you so much for your question, and if you have any others as you continue planning, please drop me another line here at planDisney!
Until then, may your anchor be tight and your compass true!
Andrew