Disney Cruise Line has an expanding fleet of ships that are all unique and have amazing entertainment onboard. These are some of the really fun things to do on Disney Cruises. A lot of these activities are included with your cruise, but some are extra that you’ll have to pay more for.
Sail Away Party
The Sail Away Party is one of the first things you can do aboard your Disney cruise vacation. This always happens on the first day right as the ship is leaving the port. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their friends will come out and dance on the stage of the top deck and everyone will dance and have fun.
Meet Characters
There are tons of character meet and greets you can do each day of your cruise. Check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for characters, times, and locations. Meeting characters does not cost extra.
Pirates Night
Pirates Night is one of the big highlights of Disney Cruises. It’s a themed night with a pirates deck party, pirate fun at dinner, and a lot of people, including characters, dress up as pirates. Pirates Night happens on most Caribbean and Bahamian cruises.
Fireworks At Sea
Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line that does fireworks at sea. It’s a magical thing to experience! This usually happens on Pirates Night at the deck party.
Eat At The Themed Restaurants
The Disney Cruise ships each have a few sit-down restaurants that you rotate between each night of the cruise. Different ship have different restaurants. Some of the fan favorite restaurants are Animator’s Palate, Rapunzel’s Royal Table, Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, and Plaza de Coco.
Kids Clubs
Every Disney Cruise ship has a few kids clubs that are for different age groups that you can take your kids to. You can go during the open house so you can see the kids club too and make sure your child is comfortable there.
Eat Unlimited Ice Cream
Your Disney Cruise comes with unlimited soft serve ice cream, which is so fun, especially for kids. They have chocolate, vanilla, or swirl. On most ships you go to Eye Scream Treats to get it, but on the Disney Wish you go to Sweet Minnie’s Ice Cream.
Live Shows
Disney Cruises have amazing shows that are comparable to what you see on Broadway. The Disney Treasure has a live show called The Tale of Moana, The Disney Dream and Disney Treasure have The Beauty and the Beast, The Disney Magic has Tangled: The Musical, and more.
Ride The AquaDuck
The AquaDuck is a big water slide that is on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruise ships. You ride in a two person raft and it takes you down four levels of the ship. Guests must be at least 42″ tall to ride.
Swim In The Pools
The Disney Cruise ships all have a few pools on one of the top decks. Some pools are for everyone and others are in adult only areas.
Haunted Mansion Parlor
The Haunted Mansion Parlor is a lounge on the Disney Treasure ship. The theming of it is inspired from the Haunted Mansion attractions in the Disney parks. This lounge is exclusively for adults.
Drink Magical Coffee
At Cove Cafe you can get lattes with characters or ship names on the top. This costs extra, but makes for the cutest magical coffee at sea. See more Disney Cruise tips here.
Eat Mickey Bars
The iconic Mickey ice cream bars you can eat in the Disney parks are also available on Disney Cruise ships. You can order them from room service, which is available 24/7. Room service is not an extra fee, but it’s nice to tip the Cast Member a couple of dollars when they bring it to you.
Spa Treatments
All of the Disney Cruise ships have a spa called Senses Spa & Salon. They offer treatments like massages, couples massages, facials, and acupuncture. You will need to make a reservation for spa services.
Watch Movies
The Disney Cruise ships have movie theaters and they play movies on the pool deck. You can check the navigator schedule for what movies will play and what times. Sometimes they even show brand new movies that come out in theaters while you’re on the ship.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
You can take kids ages 3-12 to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to become a princess or prince. They’ll get their hair done, makeup, ,nail polish, and a dress for certain packages. Make sure to make your reservations 75 days before the start date of your cruise. Bookings fill up fast. This costs extra and the price depends on the package you choose.
Royal Gathering
Royal Gathering reservations are available to book 30 days in advance and get taken very quickly. This does not cost extra, despite needing a reservation. This is where you’ll get to meet a lot of Disney Princesses all in one area.
Draw At Animator’s Palate
Animator’s Palate is one of the dining rooms you rotate between. If you have a long enough cruise to eat here twice, you’ll get to experience something special. You can draw something when you get there and at the end of the meal they’ll put people’s drawings on the screens for everyone to see.
Marvel Day At Sea
Certain Disney Cruise sailings have themed cruises or themed days. One of them is Marvel Day At Sea. Cruises with this will have special meet n greets with Marvel characters, like Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, and more. Mickey and Minnie will also be dressed up like Marvel superheroes. There will also be special Marvel entertainment and activities.
Halloween On The High Seas
Select sailings in the fall have Halloween On The High Seas. These sailings have Halloween treats available, Halloween activities, and Halloween characters to meet, like Minnie, Daisy Duck, and Clarabelle dressed as The Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus.
Very Merrytime Cruise
Very Merrytime cruises are done in December at Christmas time. These cruises have tree lighting ceremonies, Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Party, characters in Christmas outfits, Santa Claus, and more.