Ahoy there, Daneisha, and welcome aboard planDisney!
I'm so glad you're getting a good head-start on charting your course for an incredible Disney Cruise Line vacation! I'll tell you from experience that my family tends to plan our cruises out as long as possible in most cases, too - so that's a "planDrew-approved" way of going about things. I see you've picked an arrival date in April of next year! With
so much included in a Disney Cruise, it could take that long to explore everything, but I'll give you my top three ways to get started!
Oh, but first thing's first - definitely download the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, so you'll be able to do everything on your mobile device!
No matter when I sail, I always like to start by checking out all the available activities on whichever ship I'll be sailing because it helps me get an idea of which spaces we'll head to on our days at sea! It looks like the date you picked is on the
Disney Fantasy, which has so many spaces to explore for entertainment, shopping, dining, and recreation -
for all ages! If you're traveling with little castaways, this will also be a great opportunity to take a look at everything that awaits at the youth clubs: Disney's Oceaneer Lab, Disney's Oceaneer Club - or, if you're traveling with teens and tweens, Edge and Vibe!
Adults need fun, too, though! Don't forget to look at Adult-Exclusive dining options like Remy and Palo, as well as where your nightlife hubs will be. Plus, the Fantasy has one of my favorite spots to meet and start our nights - and honestly any time - for tons of fun: La Piazza!
Next, I'd suggest checking out
Port Adventures! Your Western Caribbean itinerary includes scheduled stops in Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Disney Castaway Cay - all great places to explore! From cultural activities, shopping, and culinary adventures in Mexico, to parasailing, snorkeling, and bike riding on Castaway Cay, there's plenty of options of what to do while visiting these Ports of Call! Even with all the activities available on the ship, my family and I almost always book at least one Port Adventure to get out there and discover something new! Just be sure to keep an eye on the latest
"Know Before You Go" information for anything that may apply to getting on or off the ship!
Last, but certainly not least, it's important to know when your booking window opens! If this is your first time sailing on Disney Cruise Line, your booking window (when you can reserve activities, adult dining, and Port Adventures) opens 75 days before your embarkation date. Once your cruise is paid in full, and you hit that 75 day mark, you'll be able to log in to the "My Reservations" section of the website and check availability for everything you've dreamed about! So mark your calendar for February 10, 2023, Daneisha, and get ready to make all of that research a reality!
Well, I could go on and on until the seagulls come home, but that should be enough to get you started. Thank you so much for sailing my way with your question, Daneisha! If you come up with any more questions as your departure comes over the horizon, please drop me another line here at planDisney! Until then, may your anchor be tight, and your compass true!
Fair winds and following seas!
Andrew