Table of Contents

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 S I X 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

About the Author

Len Testa is the coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland. He lives in Orlando, FL.

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.

Laurel Stewart manages operations and does business development for TouringPlans.com. She is also a contributing writer to the Unofficial Guide series. Before making the move to the travel industry, Laurel worked for a large Redmond, Washington-based software company. She lives in Orlando, FL.

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, AL.