The great thing about taking a Disney cruise is that the professionals associated with this organization are so well qualified that they can assist with virtually anything. While this certainly makes the trip better, you would still be responsible for much of the planning so we wanted to offer some helpful tips to make the process easier and more convenient. After all, the better your Disney cruise is planned the more fun you will have.
Good planning would also help control the cost of a Disney cruise and lessen stress if faced with any unexpected expense while sailing. While you could do a lot of the planning yourself, using search engines, talking to people who have sailed on one of Disney’s cruise ships, reading travel magazines, etc, a better option would be to take advantage of the online planning center provided by Disney Cruise Line. Either way, the time involved to plan a perfect cruise is worth it once you are actually sailing.
If you have sailed before, all you would need is a refresher on taking a Disney cruise, as well as looking online to see differences in fare, activities, excursions, and so on, that changed since the last time you vacations aboard a cruise ship. On the other hand, if this would be your first experience on a cruise ship, a little more time would be needed for careful planning. To help you get started, we have listed some suggestions below that would ensure you have a memorable vacation.
• Packing – To make sure you bring clothing and other items needed, make a list. Now, one of the most common mistakes passengers make is packing too much. Remember, other than nice clothing for the evening meal in the dining room, going to a few shows, and enjoying shore excursions, the majority of your time would likely be spent in casual clothing. For a Disney cruise, choosing mix and match clothes would keep your luggage to a minimum while providing you with the right amount of clothing changes. Keep this in mind when making the list and then follow it to avoid over packing.
• Plastic Storage Bags – The plastic zipper bags found in grocery stores used to keep food fresh in the refrigerator or to freeze food are very beneficial for a Disney cruise. Inside, you could store jewelry, smaller toiletry bottles that would not leak, medication bottles, etc. In addition, using the plastic storage bags for pantyhose, underwear, and small knitwear that can be compressed actually helps save space in the suitcase.
• To pack lighter, check into the various amenities and services offered aboard the different Disney cruise ships. For instance, onboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, as well as fleet getting ready to launch to include the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, you will find things such as an iron and ironing board, self washing machine and dryer, dry cleaning services for a fee, and others. Because of these services, you could pack about 30% lighter and simply wash clothes onboard the ship.
• Motion Sickness Medication – Even if you have never experienced a problem with motion sickness before, some people feel a little nauseated for a day or two while on a cruise ship. In addition to using an over-the-counter product to ease any nausea, we recommend you choose a stateroom on the outside with a window and one located in mid-ship where motion is the least. Of course, if you were to have a serious problem with motion sickness, which is rare, remember Disney Cruise Line comes with a doctor and nurse onboard and available 24×7.
• Gift Shops – Although it is fun to browse items to purchase as souvenirs in the various gift ships found aboard all the Disney cruise ships, if you need to stick to a tight budget you want to purchase these gift items while enjoying shore excursions where prices would be dramatically lower.
