Blog Posts Tagged Disney Cruise Line

Experience Castaway Cay Like a Pro

1/24/2023 • Blog, Cruises, Tips • For many people, the stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, is the highlight of their cruise! Here are some tips to make the most of your visit on this amazing island. You are headed ashore, what should you put in your beach bag? You will want to make sure you do not get off the ship without your Key to the World card and adults will need a picture ID. Throw some sunscreen, your phone or a camera, sunglasses, and some water or a reusable water bottle in your beach bag. If you are traveling with kids you might want to bring a few sand toys. Don’t worry if you forget any of these, you can buy all of this on the island. Outside of the ship, you can pick up some towels for the day. There are more towels by the beach as well. Cast members will have […]

Seeing the World with Disney Cruise Line

9/27/2022 • Blog, Cruises • My family enjoys Disney and the quality of service that is synonymous with the Disney name. So, when we travel, Disney is our go-to company. Because we love to travel and see the world, we hop on a Disney Cruise and explore. The port excursions offer a variety of options that are both family-friendly and also selections that are for adults only. Disney Cruise Line has a variety of itineraries throughout Europe and they will be introducing new ports of call in 2023 and 2024 when they add Australia to one of their amazing destinations. My family always makes sure to add a couple of days to either the beginning or end of our sailing to truly experience one city more in-depth than just a port of call. We plan this in our own, but many of the embarkation/debarkation cities also have Adventures by Disney tour options that can be […]

What to Expect on Embarkation Day

7/19/2022 • Cruises, Tips • Your Disney cruise is booked and the countdown clock is tickin’! You’ve scoured the internet for tips, booked excursions, scheduled a princess meet and greet, and are ready to order your Mickey bar at midnight from room service, but what should you expect on embarkation day? Let’s break it down so you make the most of your first afternoon exploring the ship! Online Check-In - 30 days prior to sailing, you can begin the online check-in. Add your flights, ensure your names and passport details are correct and select a port arrival time. Safe Passage - 15 days prior to sailing, all guests must create their own Safe Passage profiles which will confirm your vaccination status and approve you for sailing. *Pre-Cruise Covid Test - View the Know Before You Go guide for complete details: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/experience-updates/us/ * Fully vaccinated Guests on sailings departing US and Canadian ports must provide proof […]

Is Travel Protection REALLY Needed?

9/7/2021 • Cruises, Tips • When planning your next vacation, your Me and The Mouse Travel specialist will assist you with many details.  We are committed to saving families time, money, and stress. We are dedicated to providing each family a memorable and magical vacation where no detail is overlooked. After all the excitement of planning, it is difficult to consider there would be a need for travel insurance. Protecting your investment is part of the comprehensive service, with attention to every detail, that your travel specialist is here to provide. Prior to becoming a travel specialist, I lacked the knowledge and understanding about the importance of travel protection.  After completing my training, I was thankful that I had never faced a situation that would have required that support. My family was excited to embark on our first family Disney cruise.  Although, we did NOT anticipate there would be anything that would prevent us from setting sail, my husband’s appendix had […]

What is Included in The Cost of a Disney Cruise?

8/27/2021 • Cruises, Tips • The cost of a Disney Cruise includes so many benefits that it truly makes it a great value for your money. One of the most important inclusions is the outstanding Disney service that my family has come to enjoy whether traveling with children or on one of their adult-only cruises. What is included in the cost of your cruise? All meals are included when dining in 1 of the 3 main restaurants, Cabanas buffet, the pool deck quick service locations, and the restaurants on Castaway Cay. In addition, there are locations throughout each ship that offer snacks during the day. Soft drinks and coffee are included with your meals and obtained at the self-service stations on the pool deck and Cabanas. Many of the items on the room service menu are included and available 24 hours/day in case you have a craving in the middle of the night. There are […]

Top 5 tips for Preparing for a Disney Cruise – From the View of a Special Needs Parent!

8/20/2021 • Cruises, Tips • WE DID IT!!!  We accomplished a long-term “goal” of successfully traveling as a family on the Disney Cruise Line.  There have been many factors over the 20 + years since my husband and I went on our first Disney cruise that has stood in the way of successfully accomplishing this goal.  Fear was the biggest hurdle. As I have previously shared, my oldest son is living with Fragile X Syndrome. Would he tolerate the motion of the boat? Would he be able to tell us if he was feeling unwell or would he only display undesirable behaviors?  Would he want to participate in the various activities? Would he want to get off at the various port of call? The following tips are what we did to prepare by hoping to lessen any potential behaviors that might come along with his constant desire to know, "what's next." 5. Research your ship […]

Items Not Permitted on a Disney Cruise

8/17/2021 • Cruises, Tips • Packing for a vacation is an important part of the planning process, but rarely do people think about what they should NOT bring onboard a Disney cruise.  This is a broad overview of some of the items you should leave at home in order to provide a safe environment for all guests. If you have any questions about specific items, your Me and The Mouse Travel Specialist will be happy to assist. What NOT To Bring On Your Disney Cruise Absolutely no weapons or anything that may resemble a weapon. Includes explosives, ammunition, flares, knives or scissors exceeding 4”, or anything highly flammable. If you made a stop at Hollywood Studios prior to your cruise and bought a lightsaber, plan on shipping it home since it won’t be allowed on the ship. Scuba diving equipment, however, snorkeling equipment (mask, fins) are allowed. Air mattresses The only alcohol permitted to be […]

Boarding Day on a Disney Cruise

8/13/2021 • Cruises • You have been looking forward to your first cruise. You have reviewed your packing list a dozen times, booked your airfare but you still are not sure what will happen on the first day of your cruise. This is a quick rundown of what to expect. To make your boarding day easy, It’s important to do your online check-in prior to leaving home. Remember to get select your boarding time, print your documents and sign them. To make a smooth arrival, it helps to have your luggage tags on your bags prior to arriving at the port. A porter will take your bags from you and the next time you will see them will be in your stateroom. However, your stateroom won’t be ready until about 1:30 PM, so it is important to keep any items with you that you may need prior to getting access to your stateroom, like […]

Tipping Onboard your Disney Cruise

8/3/2021 • Cruises • You are ready to set sail on an amazing, unforgettable vacation onboard your Disney Cruise ship. What do I need to know about tipping onboard my Disney Cruise? Gratuities for services given throughout your cruise, including your stateroom hosts and restaurant servers are customarily given at the end of your cruise       Standard Gratuity Suggestions (per person, per night)       Restaurant Server $4.00       Restaurant Assistant Server $3.00       Head Server $1.00       Stateroom Host(ess) $4.00 Gratuities for spa services, room service, etc. can be added to your stateroom bill as you sail. Some Drinks have a gratuity automatically added – any drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, you order from a bartender will automatically have a 15% gratuity added. In addition, if you order a smoothie, bottled water, or alcohol from your server at dinner, they will add gratuity. Tipping your driver and tour guide on excursions is customary. Bring cash with you for your excursion […]

Disney Cruise Line – Express Walk-Off

7/30/2021 • Cruises • It is always a sad day when it is time to disembark from your wonderful Disney Cruise vacation. Even though you don’t want the cruise to end, you may be anxious to get off the ship to spend time at Walt Disney World or to get to the airport to catch a flight. Disney Cruise Line has created Express Walk-Off to allow passengers to be the first off the ship. As a general rule, you will be able to walk off the ship around 7:15 AM if you participate in Express Walk-Off, however, please keep in mind it does depend on when Customs clears the ship, which may cause delays. There are a few important steps to follow in order to use this process:   1. You MUST be able to carry your own bags off the ship, which means you will not be following the regular procedure of setting your […]