Over 150 of the Best Disney Cruise Line Tips and Tricks

If you are either dreaming about or planning an amazing cruise onboard the beautiful Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, Disney Treasure or even the future Disney Adventure and Disney Destiny, I can honestly say that you will have an absolutely incredible time sailing with Disney Cruise Line. I have now sailed on fourteen different cruises and itineraries (including Alaska, the Bahamas, Caribbean, Transatlantic and Hawaii) on all six of the current ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and it has definitely become one of my favourite ways to travel as well as being one of my happy places.

I am very much a believer in the more that you know before you sail, the easier and more enjoyable your cruise will be – the same rule can be applied no matter where you travel to around the world. You definitely do not want to miss out on anything whilst onboard and just by doing a little planning and research ahead of time, you can ensure that you make the most of your precious time on your cruise.

I have sailed pre-pandemic, during the pandemic as well as now in the present day now that we have returned to the cruising experience that we all know and love.

So here is my up to date list of over 150 helpful tips, tricks and hacks for sailing with Disney Cruise Line in 2025 as well as bits of advice that I have compiled over the years since my very first cruise over ten years ago – I hope that you find some of them useful.

1. When booking your cruise, book as early as possible (keep an eye on the Disney Cruise Line website as well as their social media channels for when new itineraries are released) to be able to get the exact stateroom that you want before the prices start to slowly go up.

2. As soon as you book your cruise, make sure to purchase travel insurance and ensure that it includes cruise cover as you never know when you might need to use it. Travel insurance is crucial and is one of the most important things you can purchase not just for a cruise but for any trip that you take.

3. Always check what the normal weather forecast is expected to be for when and where you will sail. It is possible to experience all four seasons of weather on one cruise and you always have to expect the unexpected – remember hurricane season and thunderstorms when sailing from Florida and cold weather and fog when sailing from Galveston in winter.

4. Make sure to check the “Know Before You Go” section of the Disney Cruise Line website frequently to check for any important information that you will need to know before you sail.

5. Check that your passport is valid and make sure you have any necessary visas for any countries that you will be visiting if needed. Also make sure to apply as soon as possible and in plenty of time and only from the official websites for a US ESTA or the Canadian ETA if you need them to travel to the USA or Canada – both of those links will take you to the official websites. Do this as soon as you book if required and do not leave it until the last minute as it is not worth the unnecessary stress if there are any issues.

6. Travelling can sometimes require a lot of documentation so make sure to print everything out as it really is easier once you arrive at the port – and this is coming from someone who loves technology. If travelling with a US ESTA, make sure to print a paper copy of this as they will ask to see it when departing from a US port.

7. Always book your cruise direct with Disney Cruise Line which will ensure that you have full control over your own booking and can make any changes yourself whenever you need to and not have to rely on a third party or travel agent. I recommend this more than anything especially after during the pandemic when we had five cruises sadly cancelled. Each time we were able to contact Disney Cruise Line directly ourselves with no waiting on hold and we received a full refund less than a week later with no added stress. I will not book a cruise any other way.

8. If you want to save some money, book a cruise in the off-season as busy times such as Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving or school holiday times are a lot more expensive.

9. There are different themed cruises throughout the year such as Halloween on the High Seas, Very Merrytime Cruises, Marvel Day at Sea and Pixar Day at Sea.

10. When choosing your cruise, remember travel and journey times and time differences from where you live and how it could affect you once you arrive at your destination where you will be embarking your cruise – you do not want to get on your cruise feeling overly tired and jet lagged.

11. If sailing on a longer cruise (such as a Transatlantic, Hawaii or Panama Canal), remember that you will either lose or gain an hour of sleep on some nights as you travel through each time zone. If in doubt always pick a westbound cruise as you will gain an hour of sleep each time rather than eastbound where you lose an hour of sleep and which I can tell you from personal experience really hurts!

12. Whilst a two, three or four night cruise is an ideal way to see if you like cruising, be aware that these cruises can feel very rushed and hectic and there will not be enough time to do everything that you want to do. If in doubt, longer cruises (such as five nights or more) are always more relaxed and give you much more time to do everything you want to do onboard.

13. Book the stateroom that you want to be in for your entire cruise – do not book an inside cabin when you really want to stay in a verandah stateroom. You can look up stateroom reviews and watch videos online before booking to make sure that you have the right cabin booked for you.

14. When choosing your stateroom, do your homework as some rooms are much better than others – I loved our stateroom with a giant oversized verandah on the Disney Fantasy when we sailed on her in 2019. There are even giant oceanview rooms with two giant portholes on both the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy if you want extra space in the cabin.

15. Make sure that the stateroom that you book is surrounded on all sides by other staterooms so you do not get noise from above, below or the side of you from either a bar, restaurant, theatre or outside deck as they could cause a disturbance when you want to sleep – you will only ever make this mistake once!

16. Whilst Disney Cruise Line staterooms are larger than on most other cruise lines, they are still a lot smaller than a regular hotel room so make sure you get on with the people you are sharing the room with or else it could feel like a very long cruise. Also if travelling with friends, decide and agree in advance who will be sleeping on the bed, sofa bed, pull down bunk and/or Murphy bed to save any disagreements once onboard. Unlike on other cruise lines, the bed cannot be split into two on any Disney ship.

17. You are able to book two free-of-charge character calls (you can choose from Mickey, Goofy or Mickey and Minnie together) at any time between booking your cruise and sailing.

18. Make sure that you know when your paid in full date is. You can see this on both your reservation online as well as on the email booking confirmation. I would recommend not leaving it until the last minute to pay your final balance in case of any unexpected issues or delays with either your bank or your payment card.

19. Make sure to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store before you sail. You can access your booking, make payments, complete online check in as well as having access to daily activities, menus, your onboard account, entertainment schedules and character meeting times once onboard.

20. You automatically become a Silver Castaway Club member after your first cruise. Once you have completed five cruises, you become Gold and then reach Platinum status after completing ten cruises before becoming Pearl after sailing with Disney Cruise Line twenty five times.

21. You must be paid in full to start booking your onboard activities, adult dining, drink tastings, spa appointments and Port Adventures (excursions). Your booking window opens at midnight Eastern Standard Time 130 days before your cruise for Concierge guests, 123 days for Pearl Castaway Club, 120 days for Platinum Castaway Club guests, 105 days for Gold Castaway Club, 90 days for Silver Castaway Club and 75 days before for first time cruisers.

22. If you are unable to book anything or all reservations have gone when your booking window opens, keep checking back multiple times each day in case of any cancellations as people do change their plans – we have managed to get brunch at Palo this way several times.

23. Online check in for your cruise will open at midnight Eastern Standard Time 40 days before sailing for Concierge and Pearl Castaway Club guests, 38 days for Platinum Castaway Club, 35 days for Gold Castaway Club, 33 days for Silver Castaway Club and 30 days prior for first time cruisers.

24. During the online check in process, add a credit card to your room and not a debit card as this will prevent any money that you have on your card being “held” (and you being unable to have access to that money until it is released) whilst any payments onboard are processed. You can however choose to pay your stateroom bill with another card or even cash by visiting Guest Services once onboard.

25. When completing your online check in make sure to pick the earliest Port Arrival Time available so that you can board the ship as soon as possible, have lunch and make the most of your first day onboard – this is especially important if you are sailing on a shorter cruise.

26. Your online check-in status might continue to say “Pending” until a few days before your cruise – this is nothing to worry about and if the status does not change to “Complete” before your sail date, they can easily sort it out in a few minutes when you arrive at the port.

27. Before you sail, you can contact Disney Cruise Line either online or by telephone and make any dining requests that you have such as a specific dining rotation or even a private table if you prefer not to sit with others. However these are only requests and are not guaranteed especially on busy cruises.

28. Also let Disney Cruise Line know in advance if you have any special and specific dietary requirements – you can do this online in the “My Reservations” section on the website.

29. Do not overpack for your cruise. You will not need half of what you think you will need – I took so much stuff with me “just in case” on my first cruise! Avoid paying for any unnecessary airline excess baggage fees and use the money saved to treat yourself on the cruise instead!

30. Even on a warm weather cruise make sure to bring a cardigan or hoodie with you. From personal experience there’s nothing like freezing cold temperatures and arriving back to snow at the end of your Caribbean cruise – I wish I was joking!

31. You can also do laundry onboard. There are washers, dryers and irons available to use and you can either bring your own detergent and dryer sheets with you or purchase them onboard.

32. With the exception of Palo, Remy and Enchanté, dress codes are not enforced on Disney Cruise Line so you will not need to dress up on formal night if you do not want to and you will not stand out either.

33. Make sure to pack a small First Aid Kit with medications for any common conditions (including non-drowsy Dramamine in case of rough seas) as this will save an unnecessary and possibly expensive visit to the medical centre onboard. Basic medications are sold in the shops onboard however they are not cheap.

34. Before getting to the ship make sure to download any movies, music, TV shows, podcasts or e-books if you want to listen to or watch them offline once onboard as the wifi can be every expensive.

35. Always arrive at or near the port at least one day before your cruise. Save yourself any stress at the start of your long awaited trip as you never know when any flight delays or cancellations are going to happen. Even if you have always been fine before, there is always a first time where things can go wrong.

36. On the morning of your cruise you will be sent a link to fill in a short Health Declaration for you and everyone else in your cabin so make sure to complete this before you arrive at the port .

37. You will receive luggage tags in the mail before your cruise however if they have not arrived before you travel, you can also collect them when you arrive at the port from the porters and if sailing from Port Canaveral and staying at any of The Walt Disney World Resort hotels in Orlando, you can also collect them from Bell Services. When dropping off your luggage at the port, remember to tip the porters.

38. When arriving at the port, make sure to have your Port Arrival Form ready – either printed or added to the wallet on your phone ready for the QR code to be scanned.

39. If parking at Port Canaveral, use the official parking lot at the port – there are more than enough parking spaces for everyone. It is a little more expensive but it is a hundred times easier and more convenient than other cheaper offsite parking nearby.

40. If taking your own alcohol, check the limits on what you can carry onboard and remember you can not put it in your checked luggage – you must carry it and take it onto the ship yourself.

41. Make sure to pack essentials or anything that you could need for your first day onboard in your carry on luggage in case there is a delay in delivering your bags to your stateroom.

42. If you collect Disney pressed pennies, you can get these only when departing from Terminal 8 at Port Canaveral – not when arriving back after your cruise. They are currently $5 for all eight different designs.

43. Once you are a Castaway Club member (from your second cruise onwards), you will be given a lanyard for your Key to the World which will be waiting inside your stateroom for you. However you do not need to use it (I never have) – a pocket works just as well.

44. Each time you board the ship or enter a restaurant onboard you will need to either wash or sanitise your hands. I have seen people ignore this but hopefully given what has happened in the last few years, people will now see just how essential and necessary this is. Just wash your damn hands – it’s not rocket science.

45. Once you board the ship, try to eat lunch as soon as you can. You can either eat at Cabanas (or Marceline Market on the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure) which are the buffets onboard or at one of the main dining rooms which will also be open along with all of the quick service counters on the pool deck.

46. If you have any dining queries when you board, there will be a desk set up somewhere onboard which you can head straight to where you can ask any questions about your dining rotation, dining time as well as sort out any Palo, Remy or Enchanté reservations – the exact times and location will be listed on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

47. If cruising for the first time, it will take a day or two for you to find your way around the ship and not feel lost – this is completely normal!

48. If you want to use the swimming pools and slides as soon as you get onboard, remember to pack your swimming costume in your carry on luggage – you can change in the toilets next to the pool and there are towels available everywhere on deck.

49. You will find your Key to the World cards located in a sealed envelope outside your stateroom door. If you wish to charge anything to your account beforehand, all you need is your name and room number.

50. When you can access your stateroom which is normally at 1:30pm, unpack your bags as soon as you can once they arrive. There is more than enough storage in the room and suitcases can easily all be stored underneath the bed out of the way and out of sight for the entire cruise.

51. Try and keep your stateroom tidy throughout the cruise. Not only does it make your room a relaxing place to come back to every day, it also makes life easier for your Stateroom Host when they service your room each day.

52. There is a fridge in each stateroom next to the desk. You can chill any drinks that you brought onboard with you and you can also ask your Stateroom Host for wine glasses if needed.

53. Make sure to bring your own toiletries with you such as shampoo, conditioner and shower gel if you do not like the Disney Cruise Line H2O products provided in your bathroom.

54. There is no need to bring a hairdryer with you as there is a good one located in the desk drawer onboard all five ships – just remember to plug it into the correct socket.

55. Depending on the ship there are a number of plug outlets in each stateroom including US and European sockets as well as both USB-A and USB-C ports.

56. I always see people saying to pack extra hangers for the wardrobe – you do not need to do this as you can simply ask your Stateroom Host if you need more.

57. You also do not need to bring beach towels with you on Disney Cruise Line. They are available to help yourself to at any time on the pool deck and also next to the gangway at Castaway Cay and in other ports.

58. Instead of bringing lots of different adaptors with you, pack one USB charging hub which you can then use to charge any other items that you have.

59. You can use the chat feature on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app (it works free of charge onboard and at Castaway Cay) to stay in touch with the rest of your party whilst onboard the ship.

60. When connected to the onboard wifi you can send iMessages and WhatsApp text messages (photos will not work) free of charge.

61. When looking at the onboard schedule on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, you can favourite the activities that you want to do on each day of your cruise and fifteen minutes before they start, you will get a notification to remind you that they are about to begin.

62. Ensure that you close and reopen the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app frequently when onboard so that the daily schedules can update if necessary.

63. Before sailaway a full muster drill will take place onboard (it is no longer a virtual muster drill) which you must attend so do not be the person that delays everyone else on the ship. You can find your muster station on your Key to the World, on the back of your stateroom door as well as on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

64. Bring a refillable water bottle and use the included drink stations on the pool deck or water refill machines outside on deck 4.

65. You do not need to buy expensive bottles of water onboard or bring any with you – try to do your bit for the environment and do not use any unnecessary plastic.

66. Soft drinks at the included beverage stations on the pool deck of each of the ships normally include Water, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Seagrams Ginger Ale, Minute Maid Lemonade, Fuse Iced Tea and Açai Blueberry Pomegranate Vitaminwater however this can change depending on what region of the world you are sailing in due to different suppliers. You can also find different fruit juices at Cabanas / Marceline Market.

67. Soft drinks are also included in the main dining rooms however they are chargeable at any of the bars onboard as well as through room service.

68. You can also get unlimited included tea, coffee and hot chocolate from the beverage stations on the pool deck so bring an insulated cup with you so that your hot drinks will stay warm.

69. Speciality teas and coffees are also available for a fee from the adult only Cove Cafe on all six ships as well as the all ages Vista Cafe in the lobby atrium on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the Wishing Star Cafe, Enchanted Sword Cafe and Marceline Market Cafe on the Disney Wish and the Heihei Cafe, Jade Cricket Cafe and Marceline Market Cafe onboard the Disney Treasure. You can collect a coffee card and after purchasing five speciality drinks, your next drink will be free. Most locations (including all of them onboard the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure) are able to do latte art so it’s fun to see what character you get printed on your drink each time – and you can request a specific one too!

70. Pastries and snacks from the Cove Cafe (on the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy) and Vista Cafe (on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy) are included in your cruise fare – there is no separate upcharge for these. There is also antipasti available in both locations on these ships in the evenings which is perfect for a light pre dinner snack.

71. Disney Cruise Line offers “Rotational Dining” meaning that on each night of your cruise, you will dine in one of three different restaurants and your servers will move with you to each one and each time you repeat a restaurant during your cruise, there will be a different menu and experience.

The three main restaurants onboard each ship are:

Disney Magic: Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s and Rapunzel’s Royal Table
Disney Wonder: Animator’s Palate, Triton’s and Tiana’s Place
Disney Dream: Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden and Royal Palace
Disney Fantasy: Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden and Royal Court
Disney Wish: 1923, Worlds of Marvel and Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
Disney Treasure: 1923, Worlds of Marvel and Plaza de Coco

72. There are two dinner seatings every night: Main Seating which usually starts between 5:30-6:15pm depending on itinerary or Second Seating which is normally between 8:00-8:30pm. A top tip is that there are often less children on the later dinner seating which is usually much calmer and a lot more relaxed.

73. You are free to order as much or as little as you would like at dinner. If there are two main courses or appetisers that you cannot decide between, order both of them. However I only ever do this if I know I can eat both meals as I hate to see any food go to waste.

74. If your server offers to get you an Indian curry for dinner one evening, make sure to take them up on the offer – they are delicious.

75. All food is included during the cruise – the only exceptions are Palo, Remy, Enchanté, pre-packaged popcorn and snacks at the theatre/cinema or from room service, some snacks from the bars and lounges and speciality ice cream at Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats on the Disney Dream, Sweet on You on the Disney Fantasy, Joyful Sweets on the Disney Wish and Jumbeaux’s Sweets on the Disney Treasure.

76. Room service is also included in your cruise fare – just remember to tip when your food arrives. And yes, you can order as many Mickey Ice Cream Bars as you want!

77. Dinner at Remy on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy as well as at Enchanté on the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure is completely worth every penny that it costs and is an incredible experience. You should allow three hours for this meal so do not schedule anything else for that evening so you can enjoy every minute of it.

78. Brunch at Palo is amazing but it can sometimes be difficult to get a reservation (especially if there is a high number of Concierge, Pearl or Platinum Castaway Club members sailing) as it is only offered on sea days (or Nassau day on a three night Bahamian cruise). You can keep checking online in case of any cancellations and there are normally some reservations that are held back which you can try to book once onboard.

79. A “Dessert Experience” is also offered at both Remy and Enchanté – if you love desserts, do not miss this as they are incredible.

80. On demand Disney (as well as Marvel and Star Wars) movies and cartoons are available on the television in your stateroom throughout the entire cruise – they are great to watch whilst getting ready for dinner in the evenings.

81. Watching a movie late at night on the Funnelvision on the pool deck is a perfect and relaxing way to finish your day.

82. If a Disney, Marvel or Star Wars movie is released whilst you are onboard, it will usually “PremEAR” during your cruise on the same day that it is released on land.

83. Whilst onboard remember to keep your phone in “Flight Safe” mode (you can still use the wifi) so you cannot accidentally connect to the Cellular at Sea mobile network and incur huge roaming charges.

84. Make sure to watch the Cruise Director Morning Show on your stateroom television after you wake up to find out all the details about what is happening onboard each day.

85. Breakfast and lunch are both available as a sit down meal in one of the main dining rooms as well as a buffet in Cabanas / Marceline Market.

86. If you have a verandah stateroom, you can always bring breakfast or lunch back from Cabanas / Marceline Market or one of the quick service locations on deck to eat on your balcony in peace and quiet whilst enjoying the view.

87. Make sure to do the Art of the Theme Show, Walking the Wish or the Imagineering the Disney Ships tour. They are not a “behind the scenes” ship tour but a look at the different designs, various artworks and hidden details that can be found throughout the ships. You will see details everywhere that you never knew existed.

88. Adults are able to tour the different kids clubs onboard during the “Open House” times – the Slinky Dog Slide on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder as well as the slide from the Grand Hall down to Deck 2 on the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure are great fun!

89. If you get lost in one of the corridors where the staterooms are located, look at the stars on the carpet which will point forward to show which direction you are walking – onboard the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, Mickey heads in the carpet will point forward instead.

90. Character “Meet and Greets” are listed on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app but you might also see any of the characters out and about unannounced around the ship at any time.

91. Make sure to arrive at each character meet and greet location a few minutes early as you will be closer to the front of the line which can get long very quickly. As long as you join the line during the time frame that is listed on the Navigator (usually fifteen minutes), you will meet that character.

92. The characters will be wearing different outfits throughout the cruise – especially on longer sailings – and it’s always fun to see what they are wearing each day. Some outfits are exclusive to certain sailings such as Marvel Day at Sea, Halloween on the High Seas or Very Merrytime or a certain ship such as Mademoiselle Minnie on the Disney Fantasy, Pirate Captain Minnie on the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure and Voyager Minnie on the Disney Treasure.

93. On cruises of seven nights or longer, the lines to meet the characters usually get significantly shorter throughout the cruise.

94. The Princesses onboard can differ on each cruise and from ship to ship and you are not guaranteed to see a certain one. The only exceptions to this are Princess Tiana on the Disney Wonder, Rapunzel on the Disney Magic and Anna and Elsa onboard the Disney Wish due to the Rapunzel’s Royal Table, Tiana’s Place and Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure restaurants

95. Bring your own good camera on the cruise and use it at the character meet and greets and save money instead of buying an expensive photo package – the cast members (but not the Shutters photographers) can help you take any photos if needed.

96. If bringing your own camera, remember to bring at least one spare camera battery (if not more) with you and do not forget the charger as well as extra memory cards as you will take a lot of photos.

97. Always carry a camera or your phone with you no matter where you go onboard as you never know who you might bump into (or even share an elevator with) when walking around the ship.

98. If you cannot make it to the Walt Disney Theatre in the evenings, the main production shows are also shown on the television in your stateroom.

99. The deck parties such as the Sailaway Party, Mickey (and Minnies) Pirates in the Caribbean, Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party and Mickey’s Color Spin Dance Party are great fun so make sure to grab a good spot early to watch and enjoy them.

100. You do not need to dress like a pirate on Pirate Night and you will not stand out by not dressing up – a lot of people do not. As long as you are having fun, that is all that matters.

101. There are fireworks on most cruises (except Alaskan and some European itineraries) and the fireworks are launched off the starboard side of the ship weather permitting.

102. The shops onboard are closed whilst the ship is docked at each port. The opening times for each day of the cruise are listed on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app.

103. If you see something you want to get in the shops, buy it straight away as soon as you see it in case it sells out as there is only a limited stock of items onboard and remember that the shops are not open on disembarkation morning

104. Once you are a Gold, Platinum or Pearl Castaway Club Member, you will receive a 10% discount on merchandise in the shops onboard.

105. With the exception of the Alaskan and Northern European cruises, go up on deck at midday on a sea day to hear the ships horn(s).

106. When out on deck during the day, remember to use a high factor sunscreen as the sun is a lot stronger than you think it is (that sea breeze can be very deceptive) and sunburn is not fun.

107. The best and quietest time to use the swimming pools is first thing in the morning or late afternoon just before the first dinner seating and first theatre show.

108. The best time to ride the Aquaduck on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy or the AquaMouse on the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure is late afternoon and throughout the evening when there is little to no wait.

109. If you want to use a GoPro on the Aquaduck or AquaMouse, you must use a wrist, chest or head mount as both of your hands must be free at all times to hold onto the raft.

110. Treatments in the spa onboard are very expensive and they might not be the relaxing experience you want them to be as there is a constant sales push for products for you to buy whilst you are there.

111. Do not waste your precious time onboard and make sure to avoid the shopping talks on the ship as there is nothing like listening to someone who gets paid a commission to tell you where to shop in each port.

112. Check in advance how many ships are due to be docked in each port that you visit so you know what crowds to expect – Cruise Timetables is a handy website to use for this.

113. Do not be afraid to do your own thing or book your own excursions independently in each port and you can save a lot of money.

114. Do not wear your cruise lanyard whilst walking around at the different ports – do not make yourself stand out as a tourist more than you already do!

115. Staying onboard the ship in port is a great way to be able to relax and enjoy a peaceful and empty ship – this is true in most places except for Nassau as so many people stay onboard there.

116. However if you do get off the ship in Nassau (which I do recommend), then I have the perfect free walking tour for you to follow so you can see a lot of places whilst you are in port.

117. Make sure you are back onboard on time as the ship will leave without you if you are late. Aim to be back at least an hour early if not earlier for peace of mind.

118. Watch sailaway from each port either from your verandah or from one of the outside decks – it’s even better with a cocktail in hand!

119. Cruising can be extremely tiring and the days are long (and there is so much to do) so make sure to allow yourself a few minutes each day to have a time out. A quick nap on one of the sun loungers on deck four whilst watching the sea go by is simply the best.

120. One of the best things to bring with you on any cruise are ginger sweets to help with any sea sickness – they work really well.

121. To help work off the effects of all the delicious food you will eat onboard every day, make sure to use the stairs whenever you can and avoid using the elevators as much as possible. You can also walk laps of deck four on the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy to get your steps and exercise in each day.

122. If you do use the elevators, avoid using the midship elevators as they are usually the busiest with the longest waits – the exception to this rule is the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure as it does not have any elevators located midship.

123. Remember to book a “Placeholder” reservation for your next cruise whilst onboard – you can do this using the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app – to take advantage of a 10% discount on certain staterooms and a reduced deposit on most future sailings.

124. Watch sunrise and sunset from your verandah or from up on deck with a warm or cold drink in hand.

125. Make sure to enjoy the scenery (and possibly wildlife) around the ship if sailing in Alaska or Northern Europe as it is truly incredible to see – do not stay inside the ship the whole cruise.

126. Playing Midship Detective Agency on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy is great fun and not to be missed as well as being a perfect way to explore the ship – do not miss the brilliant and hysterical “Case of the Stolen Show” with the Muppets.

127. If sailing on the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder or Disney Fantasy with the Animation Magic dinner at Animator’s Palate, bring a cardboard folder or tube with you to protect your drawings and get them home safely.

128. If sailing on the Disney Treasure and you want to see the adult-only Choose Wisely: An Indiana Jones Comedy Adventure, make sure to get to Sarabi early to get a seat as it WILL be busy!

129. If you walk from the ship to the beaches on Castaway Cay instead of using the tram, there are often characters you can meet along the way as well as some great photo opportunities with the ship in the background.

130. The walk along the pier from the ship to the tram stop at Lookout Cay is nowhere near as long or as bad as some people make it out to be.

131. To save money at Castaway Cay, you can bring your own snorkel equipment to use in the lagoon and you can borrow a snorkel vest for free. There are different characters and various props that you can find underwater – just look for the floating buoys on the surface of the water which mark where they are all located.

132. Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay merchandise is only at these locations and not onboard any of the ships so if there is anything that you want, make sure to buy it there.

133. All purchases at Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay are subject to Bahamian sales tax and the Gold, Platinum and Pearl Castaway Club merchandise discount cannot be used at these destinations.

134. You do not need to book a cabana on Castaway Cay (they usually all get booked by Concierge guests anyway) – there are plenty of sun loungers, chairs, umbrellas and shade for everyone.

135. Visiting Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay on the Disney Magic or Disney Wonder is the best as you have fewer people on the island as opposed to the much larger Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. When you have sailed on all six of the different ships, you will notice how much of a difference that makes to the crowds on the island whilst you are there.

136. If you wish to take part in the Castaway Cay 5K, you can now do this at your leisure and there is no need to sign up beforehand. You can collect your medal afterwards at the bike rental stand which is located next to the start and finish line.

137. The barbecue lunch on Castaway Cay is not the best if you do not eat meat or if you are a fussy eater. Make sure to eat something before getting off the ship as breakfast is not served on the island and you can also head back to the ship for lunch onboard if needed as the quick service locations and Cabanas / Marceline Market will be open.

138. If you have any dietary requirements on Castaway Cay, you can also speak to your Head Server at dinner the night before who can arrange something else for you to eat for lunch – any special orders like these can only be collected at the first Cookies BBQ location.

139. The post office at Castaway Cay is very rarely open but you can purchase Bahamian stamps onboard at Guest Services and there is a letter box outside the post office where you can drop your postcards – however be warned that they will take a very long time to get to their destination.

140. Remember there is always a chance of missing Castaway Cay (or indeed any port) due to bad weather or unfavourable currents (it has happened to us due to a hurricane) so be prepared for any unexpected last minute changes as they do happen.

141. If you do miss any port, you will normally spend the day at sea and extra activities and character meet and greets are added onboard so remember to refresh the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for the updated schedule.

142. Be polite to the Cast Members onboard as they work very long hours and have very little time off whilst they are onboard. Manners cost nothing and I have seen some shocking behaviour from passengers onboard.

143. If a Cast Member has been amazing, let Disney Cruise Line know (either by visiting Guest Services onboard, contacting the Disney Cruise Line office after your cruise or by filling in the survey you receive on your last night onboard) as recognition is everything.

144. Gratuities are charged at $16 per person per day (including all children and infants) split between your Stateroom Host, Server, Assistant Server and Head Server.

145. With the exception of gratuities, it is possible to cruise without spending another penny whilst you are onboard.

146. Remember that you will have to pay for anything that is charged to your stateroom so be careful if granting charging privileges to anyone else – but especially children – in your party.

147. Do not leave it until the last night of the cruise to deal with any issues at Guest Services as the line is always long on the last day.

148. Do not miss the farewell show in the lobby atrium on the final night of the cruise which is your last chance to see and take photos with the Disney characters.

149. If you want to have your luggage taken off the ship, you will need to leave your bags outside your stateroom by 10:00pm on the last evening of the cruise but remember to keep anything you need with you as well as clean underwear for the next day!

150. If you are sailing on Back to Back (two consecutive cruises onboard the same ship), you will be left instructions in your stateroom telling you what you have to do on your disembarkation/embarkation day.

151. If you want to disembark the ship as early as possible on your last day, you can do Express Walk-Off and carry your own luggage off as soon as the ship has been cleared by customs.

152. With the exception of the restaurants for breakfast and Cove Cafe for speciality coffee, everywhere else onboard is closed on disembarkation morning and there are no characters out.

153. You will have breakfast in the same restaurant that you dined in on the final evening of the cruise however Cabanas / Marceline Market is normally open as well with a small and limited buffet selection.

154. You will be off the ship by 9:00am at the very latest on disembarkation morning as the ship will need to be turned around ready for the next passengers who will be boarding only a few short hours later.

155. Do not book a flight until at least 1pm in case of any delays disembarking.

156. And the most important piece of advice I can give you – have fun!