What is Included in the Cost of a Disney Cruise?

Disney Cruise Line is a bit different from other Disney Destinations because more things are included in the price of your vacation. In this post I break down what all is included in the cost of a Disney cruise and share a bit about what you DO need to pay for.

Stateroom

Of course, the big item and a bulk of the cost of your cruise is going to be your stateroom accommodations. That price will vary depending on the stateroom you book and also when you book. Did you know cruises are typically cheapest when itineraries are released? It’s true! The closer you are to the sailing the more expensive the staterooms will be. I recommend booking as soon as the itinerary is released.

In the stateroom, you can also use the toiletries and amenities provided like body soap, shampoo and conditioner, hair dryer, in-room safe, laundry bag, etc. Be sure to use that beautiful blanket on your bed, but do not take it home! I hear you are charged for it, and it is NOT cheap. Check out said expensive blanket turned into a crab:

If you are staying Concierge, this also means you can access the lounge as part of the cost of your cruise and the upgraded amenities in the stateroom like restocked bottled water and sodas.

So, what is not included? Laundry and dry cleaning services are an additional charge. It is $3/load to wash and $3/load to dry, plus $1/item if you need things like detergent and fabric softener sheets. If you would like for your stateroom host to do your laundry for you, it is rather expensive like $3/shirt and $1.50/undergarment.

Gratuities for your stateroom host are also not included. Disney gives you the opportunity to pre-pay your gratuities, part of which goes to the Crew Member in charge of your stateroom. If you choose not to pre-pay it, it will be charged to your onboard account.

Pirate tip: I highly recommend leaving an extra tip for your stateroom host if they do a great job. They really do go above and beyond to make your stay comfortable.

Food and Drinks

Most of the food you eat on the ship will be included in the cost of your cruise! This includes the rotational dining restaurants in the evening, which are fantastic! The rotational dining is not just a meal, either. Many restaurants have a show or character of some sort. For example, you will see Sorcerer Mickey at Animator’s Palate. And, join your Frozen friends on the Disney Wish for a theatrical dinner experience.

Also included in the price are buffets, sit-down breakfast and lunch, the quick-service snack stands on the pool deck, ice cream, soda, coffee, tea, most room service items (although you should still tip), and snacks that you can find in the lounges/bars.

What do you need to pay for? Gratuities for your servers are also not included. Disney gives you the opportunity to pre-pay your gratuities, part of which goes to the Crew Members who serve you. If you choose not to pre-pay it, it will be charged to your onboard account.

Alcoholic beverages, adult specialty dining like Palo and Remy, and specialty coffee are an additional charge. If you plan to drink a lot of specialty coffee, make sure you get the punch card! Once you purchase 5, you can get your 6th drink for free!

Snacks and drinks outside the movie theaters also cost money. Consider purchasing a refillable popcorn bucket so you can get refills for $1.75 and fill up your refillable mug with your drink of choice to save you some money there. If you are participating in a Fish Extender exchange, candy/snacks are a great gift to share!

Entertainment

There is so much to do on a Disney cruise, and most of it is FREE! Deck parties, character meet and greets, Broadway-style shows, the Royal Gathering (requires a reservation), and movies are all included in the cost of your cruise.

There is a whole theater dedicated to playing movies on your cruise, and most of the time they are newer movies. On my September 2024 sailing, I saw Inside Out 2 and Wolverine and Deadpool.

Did you know Disney Cruise Line is the ONLY cruise line that offers fireworks at sea?! And, they are completely free!

What costs money: the WiFi. Although I recommend fully unplugging for your cruise vacation, WiFi may be necessary. You can purchase this daily or go ahead and purchase it for your entire trip. If you want to buy WiFi just to check in for your flight, I recommend skipping it and going to Guest Services. They can check in and print your boarding pass for you.

Youth Clubs, Night Clubs, and Lounges

Along with entertainment, there are so many clubs and lounges to enjoy during your cruise. From the tiniest tots to 18+ venues, these are all free with the exception of it’s a small world nursery, which is for babies 6 months old to 3 years.

it’s a small world nursery is NOT included in the price of your cruise. It costs $4.50/half hour, or $9.00/hour for your first child and then $4.00/half hour, or $8.00/hour for every additional child. You must make advanced reservations.

Even the food in the pubs and lounges are free! The only thing you need to pay for is your beverage(s). Enjoy karaoke, trivia, and football games during your cruise and don’t worry about paying a cover fee!

Private Islands

Disney owns two private islands in the Bahamas: Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay. These are beautiful islands with clear water and soft sand! You can enjoy all the food and amenities here, which are included in the cost of your cruise vacation. Lunch is free on the island as are soft drinks and ice cream.

Kid’s club activities also move from the ship to the island on these days, and your children can participate in those if they want! The waterslide and kid areas are also free to use. Be sure to meet some characters and watch the shows!

There are some extras you will need to pay for, but they are completely optional. Port Adventures and rental equipment are not included in the cost of your cruise. If you want to participate in a guided tour of the island or rent some snorkeling gear, you will need to secure that ahead of time and pay for it.

Cabanas are also an additional cost, and they are quite expensive. But, they are a luxury and probably money well spent if you would like your own personal space and extra service during your time on the island. Alcoholic beverages are also an additional expense that you should prepare for if you wish to drink on the islands.

Pools and Recreation

As with entertainment and food, just about everything you need to have a good time is included in the price of your vacation! Both the kids pool and adult-only pools are free. Games and activities on the pool decks are free, like shuffleboard and daily games.

Some recreational activities onboard and all Port Adventures cost money. Alcoholic beverage tastings, the Royal Court Royal Tea Party, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, arcade games, merchandise, spa/salon services, and onboard photography packages are expenses you will need to cover.

Pirate tip: definitely plan to attend the spa/salon tour and enter to win an onboard credit to use toward services! Find the raffle times in the DCL Navigator app.

Port Adventures also cost extra. As mentioned previously, this includes things like rental equipment and tours on Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay and whatever you choose to do off the ship when you dock. These can be pricey, so I recommend reading up on reviews and discussing your plans with your travel party to ensure it is something you will truly enjoy.

Can you enjoy a Disney Cruise without paying for extras?

In short, YES you absolutely can enjoy a Disney cruise without paying for extras! Each Guest over 21 years of age can bring up to 2 bottles of wine/6-pack of beer with them on the cruise. You do have to carry it around with you, however. This will save you money on alcohol, but do note there is a corkage fee if you bring it to dinner.

Head to the pool deck and grab some chicken tenders, fries, and soda before heading to see a movie! Sign up for the Royal Gathering to meet the princesses at no extra cost. Give your child their own makeover instead of paying for it.

Kate has a really great post about enjoying a Bahamian cruise without purchasing Port Adventures, which you can read about HERE. Bring refillable mugs/water bottles instead of purchasing expensive bottles of water and cans of soda.

Disney Cruise Line is very transparent with pricing, and there is already so much included that you can be sure that when you board you will have a magical time without having to pay for a lot of extra things.

What questions do you have about the offerings included with a Disney Cruise Line vacation? Ask them below, and I will be sure to answer them! And, share this post with someone who is considering a Disney cruise.