Why is Booking a Disney Cruise So Different than Booking a Disney Park Vacation??

 Why is Booking a Disney Cruise So Different than Booking a Disney Park Vacation??

Booking a Disney Cruise is different than a Disney Parks vacation. With both there is Airfare and Ground Transportation to the Park or Port. With the parks you book room, tickets, dining plan (if desired), do you want/need Trip Protection or Insurance, and near the trip date Advance Dining Reservations, and LightingLane Passes.

 

With a Disney Cruise you need to book early to save money. How early??? Anywhere from 15-18 months! Yep, That far in advance! Trust me! The prices go UP not down the closer you get to the sail date of a Disney Cruise. There are very few discounts on Disney Cruises. When will you fly in to the port area? Will you arrive a day or two in advance or on the day of the cruise? How will you get to the port? DCL Ground, Uber, other shuttle service or drive your own car or a rental? Do you want Trip Insurance? Do you wish to Prepay the Gratuities for the 4 main Crew Members who will take care of you, Cabin Host, Head Server, Server, and Assistant Server. (You can always add once on board if you wish.)

 

Once booked you need to watch out for the Pay In Full (PIF) date! Depending on the length of your cruise and if it is a special cruise, like a Maiden Voyage this will be 90 or 120 days before the cruise. That is the last day you can pay before Disney will cancel your reservation. (It is 30 days at the Parks.) The PIF date is also the last day YOU can cancel your reservation without losing any money! Very important date to remember!! There are other dates to be careful about!

 

Your Booking Window Opening date is VERY important!! This is the first day you can book those “extras” like Port Adventure, Adult Dining, Tastings, Spa and other onboard adventures. This date is determined by your Castaway Club Member level and can be between 75-123 days before the cruise. If your cruise PIF date is after your Booking Window Date you will need to PIF before you can book things. For example, if you are Gold Level in Castaway Club you can book at 90 days. If your PIF day is 120 days, you need to pay off by 90 day so you can book.

 

Online Check-In is another important date. This is the day you will go online and upload your Citizenship Documents and Security Photo along with picking your PAT (Port Arrival Time). If you want a early PAT time make sure you do your Online Check-In as soon as possible. When can you do your Online Check-In? Your Online Check-In date depends on your Castaway Club level. The date range from 30-40 days out.

 

You can find all these dates by looking at your reservation on the DCL Navigator App or by logging in on the Disney Cruise website and looking at your reservation. Just make sure you KNOW these dates!!

 

Now there is one more date that is important to know. That is the last day to alter Port Adventures and other booked plans. That is 3 days prior to your cruise. Up to then you can purchase onboard amenities to be delivered to your stateroom, add funds on your shipboard folio or Book those Adventures.

 

Another thing that makes a Disney Cruise different is Facebook Groups. There are Facebook pages for every cruise. Disney has NOTHING to do with these pages. A guest sailing on the cruise will start up a page. On this page you can ask questions, find out information, join a Fish Extender gift exchange and just get to know your fellow passengers before you get on the ship.

 

Clothing for the cruise and parks can be exactly the same, or you can decide to dress up!! Either is completely acceptable. Even on Formal Night with a few guests in Tuxes and gowns, a mix from Simi Formal all the way to just nice clothes and even shorts and t-shirts is acceptable. Some people theme their outfits to the restaurant they will be in or to the show they will see that night. Others decide they just don’t want to dress up at all, they are on Vaca and don’t want to bother. Are you going to dress up for Pirate Night or not? No choice is wrong. All of this takes time to plan.