Top 6 Reasons to Take Your First Cruise

Spending quality time as a family can feel seemingly impossible while trying to keep up with the daily grind. A cruise vacation offers an impressive mix of activities everyone can do together, making it an ideal way to squeeze in that bonding time you’ve been craving. During a high-seas escape, you can catch live shows, live it up at a deck party, watch first-run movies, play group games, share memorable meals, enjoy plenty of pool time and soak up the sights in exotic locations. Disney Cruise Line even offers specially themed sailings like Marvel Day at Sea and Very Merrytime Cruises that feature celebrations, crafts and other interactive family events.

Thinking about a Bahamian escape? You won’t believe the sheer amount of things to do on a tropical oasis. Take Disney Castaway Cay, our private island reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line Guests. Once there, you can roam the sprawling beaches, snorkel in the blue lagoon, feast on barbecue fare, rent a boat and much more.

For even more inspiration and helpful cruise tips, check out our comprehensive guide to Disney Cruise Line for Families.

The average land vacation may be filled with great à la carte options, but they can definitely add up! What’s so refreshing about a cruise is that there are so many offerings that are built-in to the cost of your fare. You can typically expect full meals, live performances, shipboard facilities and recreational activities to be a part of a fixed rate.

With Disney Cruise Line, you get all that and more. All ships feature at least 3 pool areas with waterslides, a full-service fitness center with ocean views, access to youth clubs and adult-only spaces, and top-notch entertainment―think Broadway-quality shows, themed deck parties and photo ops with popular Characters like Mickey and Stitch. If this piques your interest, read more about what’s included on a Disney Cruise.

Let’s face it: attempting to put together an itinerary of vacation experiences that pleases everyone in your family can be daunting, even for the most creative research mavens among us. That’s exactly why uncovering a getaway that meets everyone’s expectations is worth its weight in gold. Or perhaps we should say pixie dust? Cruises offer an amazing variety of things to do at sea and on land. And the best thing about them is that all the heavy lifting has been done for you. You’ll discover everything you need for a fun, relaxing trip all in one place―delicious dining options, cozy staterooms, epic pool areas, diverse recreational activities, exciting entertainment
and tried-and-true excursion ideas. It’s also the easiest way to travel to multiple destinations without long car drives or plane rides (a huge plus when you have little ones in tow).

Want to customize your onboard adventures? There’s an app for that! For example, everyone in your family who has a smartphone can download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for free and use it to manage their own schedules. Seriously, adding can’t-miss events is as simple as tapping a button.

When it comes to cruise itineraries, the choices are endless. You can get a taste of paradise with a short, 3-to 4-night sailing to The Bahamas, Mexico or the Caribbean. Or go all-in with a week-long escapade throughout Europe or Alaska. Either way, cruises provide an easy and convenient way for you to experience several iconic locales without the stress of figuring out the nitty-gritty logistics of getting to and from each destination. Plus, there’s something really thrilling about arriving to a city by ship. Looking for some ideas? Check out some of the unique hot spots Disney Cruise Line travels to throughout the year.

What’s more rewarding than satisfying every whim? When you set sail on a cruise vacation, members of your family can shape their own day at sea―making it all about recreation, relaxation or a perfect combo of the two. With Disney Cruise Line, Mom and Dad can get massages at the Senses Spa & Salon or chill by the Quiet Cove Pool reserved for grown-ups, while the kids make friends at supervised hangout spots designed especially for them. If you need a few more examples, here’s a handy breakdown of activities we offer for Adults, Teens & Tweens and Kids.

A cruise checks all of the right boxes when it comes to creating an unforgettable family vacation. Picture VIP-style hospitality, exposure to different cultures, endless entertainment, gourmet cuisine, access to some of the coolest pools imaginable and the chance to make your friends envious when they see photos of all of the fun you’ve had in postcard-worthy settings. You can even take it up a notch by mixing in a little Disney magic. Our ships offer an array of unique possibilities you won’t encounter anywhere else, like a Pirate Night deck party with fireworks, a Disney’s Oceaneer Club for kids ages 3 to 12, Disney-themed dining and memorable Character Experiences.