Ahoy Elisa!
So happy that you have reached out to your Fairy Godmothers (and Godfathers) at planDisney as you start planning your Disney cruise. What a fun sailing it will be with a large group of family/friends onboard.
Don’t worry, because in Cinderella terms, you are early for the ball! It’s nowhere close to midnight as far as making your reservations for a voyage in 2023. In fact, the 2023 cruises are not yet available for booking, so I would recommend looking at the current offerings for this summer and decide what itinerary looks most appealing. The Bahamas and the Caribbean are always calling my name! For the Caribbean ones, they typically alternate between the Eastern and Western cruises. As for the Bahamas, there are usually some
double dip sailings that stop TWO TIMES at Castaway Cay...double the pleasure and double the fun!
You will likely see the Summer 2022 cruises coming online any day now, and that will give you a better idea of what selections you might have for your sailing year. Granted, itineraries can change from year to year, but rest assured that Disney Cruise Line will keep their tried and true destinations intact.
Once the Summer 2023 itineraries are finally announced (likely in early 2022),
contact Disney Cruise Line to make reservations for multiple staterooms for your party of 11. A Disney Cruise Line Vacation Planning Specialist would be able to reserve all the staterooms for your party and then
link all the reservations together. With a few more flicks of the magic wand, they can “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo” the dining arrangements to ensure all of you can be seated together or in close proximity in the
rotational dining rooms.
My final bit of advice: download the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. It’s an incredible resource onboard for finding showtimes, dinner menus, activities, character greetings, and deck parties. With a large group, it’s also a key tool in keeping your family connected throughout the day. Simply use the chat feature to communicate plans on activities you all might want to attend together and to keep tabs on all of your kiddos who may be busy in the Youth Clubs. Based on the fact that the kids in your party are ages 3-9, they would all be able to stay in the
Oceaneer Club and
Oceaneer Lab together.
I am certain that the cruise you choose will be a perfect fit like Cinderella’s glass slipper, and the DREAM that you wish will come true!
Happy Sailing!
Sherry