The Unofficial Guide to the Disney Cruise Line 2019

Len Testa is the coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland. He lives in Orlando, Florida. As a charter member of the official Walt Disney Parks Moms Panel, Erin Foster has researched and written answers to more than 10,000 guest questions about Disney travel. She lives in New York City. Ritchey Halphen is a project editor at AdventureKEEN. His two decades of publishing experience include editing stints at Cooking Light, Southern Living, and Health magazines. He lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

List of Maps and Diagrams


About the Authors


Acknowledgments


Introduction





About This Guide


Why “Unofficial”?



Disney Cruise Line: An Overview


Disney Cruise Line Is Expanding
Is Disney Cruise Line Right for Me?
DCL’s Target Market
Competitors and Prices
Reassuring Words for Reluctant Cruisers



How to Contact the Authors


Reader Survey




PART ONE Dollars and Sense





What’s Included in Your Disney Cruise Fare


Food
Entertainment and Activities
THE 10 BEST BANGS FOR YOUR BUCK (AND ONE FREEBIE) ON A DISNEY CARIBBEAN CRUISE
Kid Stuff
Miscellaneous



Cruising with Kids
Cruising Without Kids
Where to Find More Information


PART TWO Planning Your Cruise





Choosing an Itinerary


Itinerary Recommendations for First-Time Cruisers
General Recommendations



Saving Money
Surf and Turf, Disney-Style


Combining Your Cruise with a Walt Disney World Vacation
Combining Your Cruise with an Adventures by Disney Trip



Back-to-Back Cruising
The Booking Process


Getting Started
Deposit Terms and Cancellation Policies
Age Requirements for Booking
The DCL Planning Center



Other Prep Work


Packing
Electrical Outlets
Passports and Travel Documents
Credit Cards and Payment Methods
Health Insurance
Phone Service
Motion Sickness and Gastric Distress
A Word About the Weather



Castaway Club


PART THREE Staterooms





How Your Stateroom Category Affects the Price of Your Disney Cruise
Our Stateroom Recommendations


Cabin Appointments
Stateroom Categories



Concierge Level—What You Need to Know, and If It’s Worth It


PART FOUR Arriving, Getting Your Sea Legs, and Departing





Transportation to Your Cruise


Choosing a Departure Port Based on Time and Money
Getting to and from the Port



The Day Before Your Cruise


Staying at a Local Hotel the Night Before



Get in the Boat, Men (and Women and Kids)!


Choosing a Boarding Time
Checking In at the Terminal Boarding the Ship
Your First Afternoon Aboard
The Lifeboat Drill



Bare Necessities


The Personal Navigator
Internet
Onboard Services
Airline Check-in for Sailings Ending at Port Canaveral
Laundry Services
Port Adventures
Health Services
Ship-to-Shore Calls
Transfer to Walt Disney World Hotels
Tipping



Checkout and Departure


Your Last Night on the Ship
Express Walk-Off
Breakfast on the Morning of Your Departure
Photo Purchases
US Customs Allowances




PART FIVE Special Tips for Special People





DCL for Singles
DCL “At Large”
DCL for Expectant Moms
DCL for Younger Children
DCL for Older Children
DCL for Seniors
Guests with Disabilities
Dietary Restrictions
Smoking on Board
Traveling with Medication
Friends of Bill W.
Friends of Dorothy


PART SIX The Ships at a Glance





Overview and Our Recommendations


DCL Cheat Sheet
Features Found on Every DCL Ship
Features Unique to Some Ships
Ranking the Ships



The Disney Magic
The Disney Wonder
The Disney Dream
The Disney Fantasy
On Deck: New Ships


PART SEVEN Dining





Noshes, Noshes Everywhere


Rotational Dining
DCL Restaurant Categories
Room Service
Theme Nights
Dining with Kids
Dress Code
Special Diets
Making Reservations
Full-Service Restaurants: Rated and Ranked
DCL ROTATIONAL RESTAURANTS BY CUISINE
DCL ADULT-ONLY RESTAURANTS BY CUISINE



Disney Magic Dining


Counter-Service Restaurants
Full-Service Restaurants



Disney Wonder Dining


Counter-Service Restaurants
Full-Service Restaurants



Disney Dream Dining


Counter-Service Restaurants
Full-Service Restaurants



Disney Fantasy Dining


Counter-Service Restaurants
Full-Service Restaurants




PART EIGHT Entertainment and Nightlife





Live Theater on the Ships


The Magic’s Shows
The Wonder’s Shows
The Dream’s Shows
The Fantasy’s Shows
Other Live Performances



Movies
Live Sports
Themed Events and Holiday Entertainment


Pirate Night
Frozen Days
Star Wars Days
Formal Night
Easter
Independence Day
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa
New Year’s Eve



Nightclubs, Bars, Cafés, and Lounges


On the Magic
On the Wonder
On the Dream
On the Fantasy




PART NINE Activities, Recreation, and Shopping





Family Activities


Bingo
Deck Parties
Family Nightclubs
Sports and Fitness



Children’s Programs and Activities


Special Considerations
DCL YOUTH CLUBS IN BRIEF
Youth Clubs
What Goes on in a Kids’ Club?
Other Kids’ Activities on Board
Children’s Performance Opportunities
Children’s Activities in Port
Children’s Activities at Castaway Cay
Chill Spa for Teens
Where to Meet Characters



Pools and Water-Play Areas


The Magic’s and Wonder’s Pools
The Dream’s Pools
The Fantasy’s Pools



Onboard Seminars
Sports and Fitness
Spas


On the Magic and the Wonder
On the Dream and the Fantasy



Shopping


Onboard Shopping
Castaway Cay
In Port



Religious Services


PART TEN Castaway Cay





What to Bring
What to Do
Where to Relax


PART ELEVEN Ports





Alaska
Atlantic Canada
California Coast
Caribbean and Bahamas
Hawaii
Mediterranean
Mexico
Northern Europe, British Isles, and Norway
Panama Canal
Transatlantic


PART TWELVE Port Adventures





Finding Port Adventures


Evaluating a Port Adventure
20 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A PORT ADVENTURE
Booking Excursions on Your Own vs. Through Disney
Canceling a Port Adventure



Port Adventures on Castaway Cay


Bicycle Rentals
Boat Rentals
Castaway Cay 5K Run
Bottom Fishing
Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure
Float and Tube Rentals
Glass-Bottom-Boat Excursion
Parasailing
Snorkeling
Walking and Kayak Nature Adventure
Watercraft Ski Adventure



Nassau


A Note About Nassau Safety
Nassau Port Adventures



Our Suggestions Beyond Castaway Cay


Dolphin Encounters
Mayan Pyramids
Skagway, Alaska
Walking Tours




PART THIRTEEN River Cruising





River Cruising for Families
Excursions on an AbD River Cruise


Sample AbD River-Cruise Excursions



More Differences Between AbD River Cruising and DCL Ocean Cruising
Traveling with Adventures by Disney
Cost Considerations


DCL vs. AbD
AbD vs. Other River-Cruise Lines



What’s Next for Disney and River Cruising?


Glossary


Itineraries Index


Subject Index