The Disney Dream Cruise was an absolute dream for my first cruise! I learned so much about cruisin’ in general and compiled several tips I wish I would’ve known before my cruise. If you have an upcoming Disney Cruise (or any cruise for that matter) take a look at these tips!
Disney Dream Cruise 2019
1. Wear your swimsuit when you arrive at port. You’ll want to get to the fun straight away, but your room won’t be ready when you first board the ship. It’s a good idea to bring a small carry on backpack with things you’ll want with you until you can access your luggage and when your room is ready.
Swimsuit / Sunglasses / Beach Bag / Burts Bees Sunscreen / Water Bottle / Waterproof lanyards /
2. Bring a duffle bag instead of rolling luggage. It’s hard enough trying to navigate around tiny quarters with multiple people. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to bring a duffle bag that can be folded down under the bed so you’re not constantly tripping over suitcases on the floor.
Want to know what to pack on your cruise? Check out my Top Cruise Essentials!
3. Room service is free. Don’t bring snacks! (Unless you want to bring a bag of your favorite candy for evening shows because the candy and popcorn is outrageously priced)
4. Don’t forget cash for tips or spending money at the ports. When we docked in the Bahamas, all of the vendors only took cash.
It’s also a good idea to use cash if you plan on doing an excursion that’s not affiliated with Disney that way you can ensure your card company doesn’t deactivate your credit card for suspicious activity.
5. Take advantage of the self-serve ice cream! Try the banana flavor, it’s the best!
6. Bring a mesh bag for transporting items when you dock at Castaway Cay or hanging out on the beach. It’s easy to just throw your water, phone, towels, and sand buckets in.
7. Speaking of towels, DONT BRING TOWELS. There are plenty of towels on board to take around with you. It would be a waste of space to bring your own, and not to mention a pain to keep track of.
8. Bring motion sickness bracelets and medicines. This is something I didn’t think I would need, but I did end up wearing the bracelets when the water got choppy. Especially at night.
9. Check out the classic Disney cartoons on your TV in the morning and at night. They are old fashion and fun to watch before bed or when you’re getting ready in the morning.
Some of the cartoons are rare and can’t be found on regular streaming services, so watch them while you’re on the ship!
10. Get a good pair of shoes for the ship and walking around. It’s really important to grab a good pair of water shoes (or shoes that can easily get wet) because you don’t want to be slipping on the deck or walking barefoot.
There’s a lot of people that don’t wear shoes while going to the water slide, grabbing ice cream, and playing in the splash zone, and you don’t want to pick up something funky.
Water Shoes // Crocs
11. Go snorkeling while at Castaway Cay. It’s not the most popular activity, but it really should be! We didn’t know about it until we saw the little shack on the beach selling snorkel gear.
There’s tons of fun Mickey wreckage to explore underwater and beautiful fish to admire. It’s so worth it!
11. Collapsable sand buckets are a must if you plan on hanging at the beach in Castaway Cay. The buckets they sell are marked up way too high. These are so small when folded down which saves mega space. (This is where bringing that mesh bag comes in handy too 😉 ).
13. Pack a nice set of clothes if you plan on eating at the nicer restaurants such as Palo or Remy’s. There’s a dress code for these restaurants and you’ll need to abide by the dress code rules.
Don’t be surprised if you’re turned away if you arrive wearing swimsuits
14. Go to the scheduled dinner at night. If you can’t, no big deal, but they are really fun to attend. You rotate every night to a different restaurant, making for a good variety throughout your cruise.
A favorite of mine is Animators Palet. It will probably be one of the most anticipated dinner restaurants on your trip too!
15. Book a room with a verandah. I know you aren’t in your room for the majority of the time, however, it was so nice having our own little private oasis off of our stateroom.
You can hear the water at night, and sit out in the morning while watching the cruise ship dock at your next location. It made all the difference IMO.
Related: Things to Buy Before your Cruise
16. If you don’t live in the area, make sure to arrive one day earlier than your departure date. This wasn’t a problem for us since we only had to drive a couple of hours to the port.
However, if you’re from out of state, it’s really important you book your plane tickets for the day before your cruise date. This allows for extra cushion in case your flight is delayed or traffic is an issue.
Whether it be a Disney Cruise or not, don’t forget to have fun! Knowing these simple tips will help you have the best cruise and vacation!
Related:
Top Things to Pack for a Cruise
Cruise Essentials
Things to Buy Before Going to Disney World
Things to Buy Before your Cruise
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