There is no secret that a Disney Cruise is very expensive. Worth it, but expensive. The best secret to booking a cheap Disney Cruise is to grab it on opening day.
So in order to snag that said cruise, you need to get all of your ducks in a row.
Below are all of our suggestions for planning and booking a Disney cruise this year.
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Timing is Everything
Like I said above you need to get your details ready for when the releases come out. Disney Interaries are released in advance so you can see where and on what ships, you may want to travel. Disney also posts a list of dates for different Castaway Club levels.
Castaway Club is the rewards program for Disney Cruise Line. Every time you cruise with Disney you receive another point ( per se). These points will elevate you through the levels and allow you to book earlier, among other perks.
Once you have cruised for your first time you will become a Silver Castaway Club member. Like me.
The levels and points have changed over the years but at this time you need 5 sailings to become a Gold member. Then 10 sailings for Platinum. Finally, 25 sailings to make it to Pearl.
If you are interested in more information, check out the link above.
When The Heck Do You Want To Sail?
Finding a good time to take the kids away from school or take a break from work is hard.
Sailing on a cruise ship involves a little more planning than a typical vacation. On a cruise ship, WIFI is available but spotty at times. This vacation will be difficult for you if you need to check in at work. It is best to plan a time when you and your family will be able to “cut the cord”.
If you can swing to book during an off-season time, your price will be much cheaper.
High times are during spring break, summer, and holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.).
We like to take time in February. Being from the midwest, the escape from the cold is really nice and the weather in the Bahamas is beautiful.
How Long Do You Want to Escape?
Disney offers a wide range of itineraries. These cruises can be as short as 3 days or as long as 14 days.
The price obviously goes up the more days you sail. If you have a preference for the ship you sail on, this will also affect the number of days you sail. For example, the Wish is only sailing 3-day itineraries at this time.
Where Would You Like to Go?
Disney sails to a lot of places. Are you looking for a cold-weather cruise or a warm cruise? Do you want to sail to the Western or Eastern Caribbean? Or do you want to venture over to the Greek Isles? The world is your oyster with all of the spots Disney sails to.
Yet, for a first-time cruiser, I recommend one of the cruises that stops at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. I highly recommend these cruises and you will see why as well when you click this link.
So Many Ship, Which One Is Right?
Let me save you time, you can not go wrong no matter which ship you choose.
Yet, Disney Cruise Line has a few unique ships in their fleet.
They have two Classic ships (the Magic and the Wonder).
Then comes the Dream class (the Fantasy and the Dream).
Finally, the newest and most unique offers are found on the Wish class ships (the Wish and the soon-to-be Treasure).
Every ship has a few signature restaurants, kids’ clubs, bars and lounges, pools, and ship-specific water slides.
There is so much offered on these Disney ships that it’s hard to go into port when all you want to do is explore. We didn’t get to half the offers when sailed, so don’t sweat it.
If you have a Marvel fan, or Star Wars fan in your party, you may want to look at what each ship offers before booking.
Final point, and I’ll say it again. You can not go wrong on any Disney ship. So if you have picked your dates and how long you want to go, but the ship isn’t the ship you wanted, book anyway.
I would much rather have the vacation dates and length, than sweat over the ship. Trust me you’ll want to go again. there is plenty of time for more exploring of the Disney fleet.
Which Port Are You Sailing Out Of?
Depending on where you want to travel, what ship you want to sail on, or where you want to sail, will give you your port. Most of the ships sail out of one port. For example, the Wish only sails out of Port Canaveral at this time. If you have your heart set on a ship and time, you will need to be flexible with the port you sail out of.
Click here to find out about our stress-free stay in the Port of Miami.
What Kind of Room Do You Want?
When you book a Disney cruise, they have a pretty standard classification of rooms. There are inside rooms, port view rooms, rooms with verandahs, and concierge rooms. Disney also has several suites designed for a bougier cruise experience.
We sailed in a Family verandah room and loved the fact that we could enjoy the outdoors without the crowd. These rooms do come with a heavier price tag.
Now, that we are a family of 5 we will need to book a room category that accommodates that 5th sleeper. Most rooms are set up for 3-4 guests.
Every class has a 5th sleeper category available, it just takes a little more digging to find the best room.
Now, We Wait…
Disney releases their itineraries over a year in advance. For example, Fall 2024 should be released anywhere from May – July 2023. I use the Disney Cruise Line Blog to help plan estimated dates of releases.
Once Disney announces the itineraries and booking dates, make sure you are ready with all of the little ducks that we have gotten in a row. The morning that your booking window opens, jump online and book that cruise.
If you would like to work with a Travel Agent, make sure to contact a Travel Agent in advance to book your cruise.
Disney Cruises only go up in price as time goes on. The busier the dates (spring break) the higher the prices soar.
What About The Special Offers?
If you’re looking to save a little bit of money and you don’t care about the timing of your cruise, the offers are a great place to look. Disney provides special offers where they will discount cruises that are slow to book.
If you live in Florida you can also get a residency rate, which is usually 25%. If you or your family member cruising are a military member, you can get special promotions. At times, Disney will offer a Canadian residency rate of 25% off cruises.
Disney also offers a rebate for any cruise booked using a Disney Premier Visa Card as well.
Every once in a blue moon, Disney offers truly special promotions, such as the Disney Plus offer. If this happens to come up, snag one. We did not and it was a huge savings missed.
On average you can find a discount on cruises in the next 6 months that offer 20-30% off. Now these cruises are still expensive but can be a savings. The best strategy to grab a cruise at its cheapest price is to book on opening day.
Make It Easy With a TA
If this whole post was a mind-blowing experience and you’re completely overwhelmed, may I suggest using a TA (Travel Agent)? Our TA Melissa would be more than happy to help you plan your next vacation or Disney Cruise. She is amazing and works with a team of agents who specialize in Disney.
You’ll even get a surprise in your room when you board.
SO TO RECAP.
- Ducks in a row
- When, How Long, Where, Ship
- Where + Ship = Port
- # guests + Wishlist = Room Type
- BOOK ON OPENING DAY
Next Step
Follow this link to continue with the next steps of planning your Disney cruise.
If you are a little like me and you want that challenge, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter. Stay tuned for updates on the launch of our planning tool. EEEEK SO EXCITED TO SHARE.