Oh boy! Oh boy! Samantha, I am so happy to say, "Welcome to planDisney! And welcome to Disney Cruise Line!" It is the most magical ship that ever sailed.
Gawrsh, planning for your first adventure aboard Disney Cruise Line is so exciting! As you asked, you can work with a travel agent or book a cruise yourself. I work with a travel agent, even though I could do it all myself. My travel agent sends me reminders when payment is due and when I can book Port Adventures and onboard activities. If you choose to work with one, I would encourage you to look online specifically for an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. These agents have extensive knowledge and experience with Disney destinations.
You can also book and manage your Disney Cruise reservation easily on your own, either online or by calling Disney Cruise Line and speaking with a Cast Member. They make it so easy for you to handle everything.
No matter which you choose, I always recommend spending time searching itineraries first.
Where to begin? Find a Cruise. Here you can search by the month(s) you want to travel, with itineraries available through summer 2025; your dream destination; and your preferred departure port. You can include as many or as few criteria to get information on cruises that might fit your plans. The site will return a list of possibilities for you, with itineraries listed by number of nights and destinations. With your ideal itinerary, click "View Dates" to see when the particular cruise sails. Once you find an itinerary and date perfect for you, select "Continue" and "View Staterooms."
Disney Cruise Line staterooms are in four main categories: Inside, Oceanview, Verandah and Concierge. You can select the type of room and follow the prompts to choose your exact stateroom. Do you want to be toward the front of the ship (forward), in the back (aft) or the middle (midship)? On an upper deck (closer to the pools) or a lower deck (closer to the kids' clubs and shows)? You can look at the stateroom map and choose a stateroom that fits your family and how you plan to spend your time on the ship. The good news: there are no bad choices.
In addition to your stateroom, you can also select your dining preference. Disney Cruise Line includes rotational dining. It's one of my favorite features of the cruise. In addition to all the food options onboard, dinner each night is in one of the main dining rooms. And with rotational dining, you enjoy them all. There are two dinner times: Main Seating, which is at 5:45 pm, and Second Seating at 8:15 pm.
To secure your cruise, you will pay a deposit. Final payment is due 120 days before you set sail. You can pay your balance all at once or use flexible payment options to spread it out over time.
Be sure to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. It is helpful once your cruise is booked to plan your cruise and while aboard the ship to make the most of your days at sea.
Please come back to planDisney as you plan your adventure. Selecting a cruise, planning for destinations, what to expect... we are here for all your questions!
SEAS the adventure!
Jana