Disney Cruise Line has built a reputation as one of the best cruise lines out there for a variety of reasons. Some people book because they love all things Disney. Others say the customer service and onboard experience simply can’t be beat. After sailing with Disney Cruise Line, it’s easy to see some of the things Disney Cruise Line does that other cruises simply don’t.
Some of the typical cruise elements are still there, but they feel a little different with Disney’s storytelling woven throughout the entire ship and experience. From how the ships are designed to how the entertainment and dining work, there are several things Disney does that most other cruises simply don’t.
Here are some of the things that make Disney Cruise Line stand out.
Storytelling Is Built Into the Entire Ship
Disney is known for storytelling, and that carries over to its cruise ships, too. On the Disney Treasure, it doesn’t take long to realize the ship isn’t just a ship. Many of the spaces feel designed around a story rather than simply built as restaurants, lounges, or entertainment venues.
You see it throughout the ship. The Haunted Mansion Parlor brings the classic theme park attraction to life as a lounge, while entertainment like The Tale of Moana draws directly from Disney films. On the newer Wish-class ships, much of the inspiration even comes from the Disney theme parks.
You’ll also start noticing little Disney touches throughout the ship. Hidden Mickeys appear in the design, themed artwork shows up in unexpected places, and other small details tie back to Disney stories, almost like little Easter eggs waiting to be spotted.
It’s one of the reasons a Disney cruise feels different from other cruises. Instead of just decorating a space, Disney builds experiences around stories, and the more you look around the ship, the more of those details you notice.
Character Experiences Throughout the Cruise
If you love meeting Disney characters, you’ll usually have a more personable experience with them on a Disney cruise than at a Disney theme park.
Characters appear throughout the cruise in scheduled meet-and-greets, but the lines are usually much shorter than what you’d see in the parks. That alone makes the experience feel a lot more magical instead of stressful.
You’ll also see them at different moments around the ship. Sometimes you’ll just run into them, and they’ll say hello or stop for a quick selfie. They really feel like part of the cruise experience rather than just something you line up for. At one point, we even watched Peter Pan come out to play hide-and-seek with nearby kids. It was one of those small, endearing moments you don’t really plan for, but that made the whole experience feel a little more special.
Another night, we walked into the Grand Hall, and suddenly Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy, and Donald were all out dancing with guests during a late-night party. It turned into one of those unexpected moments that ended up being a really fun memory from the cruise.
Fireworks at Sea During Pirate Night
If there was one thing I was especially looking forward to as a first-time Disney cruiser, it was the fireworks at sea. Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line that does this.
It’s very on brand for Disney. If they can do fireworks at the parks, why not out at sea?
The fireworks are part of Pirate Night, which turns into a full event on the pool deck. Guests dress up, there’s a pirate-themed show, and then the fireworks launch right over the ocean. It’s something you really won’t see on other cruise lines.
Broadway-Style Disney Shows at Sea
Many cruise lines have their own production shows, but Disney Cruise Line takes it a step further with full-stage Broadway-style productions built around Disney stories and characters.
On our sailing on the Disney Treasure, shows like Moana and Beauty and the Beast felt like complete theatrical productions, with talented performers, detailed sets, costumes, music, and storytelling that bring the films to life on stage.
They were honestly so good that I’d sail on other Disney ships just to see some of the shows we haven’t experienced yet, like Aladdin on the Disney Fantasy or Tangled: The Musical on the Disney Magic.
Disney Cruises Aren’t Just for Families
Mention a Disney cruise and most people immediately assume it’s just for families with kids. I know this because every time I told someone we were going on one, the next question was usually, “Do you have kids?”
Nope. I’m the kid. Just satisfying my inner Disney-loving child. A Disney adult eating Mickey bars and chocolate chip cookies, dancing with Mickey and Minnie, and swooning over Beauty and the Beast.
I also wasn’t sure how I would feel about sailing on a Disney cruise. I usually try to cruise when school is in session, and I’m a big fan of Virgin Voyages’ adult-only ships. So when other Disney cruisers told me there are plenty of adult-only spaces and activities onboard, I was skeptical. They proved me wrong.
The adult areas on the ship were nicer than many adult-only spaces I’ve seen on other cruise ships, and Disney really does enforce the 18+ rule. Disney may be known for families, but the cruise experience really is designed for all ages.
Kids Clubs That Are on Another Level
Even though I don’t have kids, it’s hard not to notice how big a deal the kids’ clubs are on a Disney cruise. They’re not just a small room with a few activities. Disney builds entire themed spaces just for kids.
One of my favorite details was the slide that lets kids go from the Grand Hall straight into the Oceaneer Club, which immediately tells you these spaces were designed to be fun from the moment they walk in. Inside, the club has themed areas inspired by Disney stories, where kids can play games, interact, and take part in activities throughout the day.
I even noticed cast members waiting outside the dining rooms with signs to pick up kids who were finished eating with their parents and ready to head back to the kids’ club. It’s little things like that that make it easy to see why families love sailing with Disney.
Honestly, if I had kids, sailing with Disney would probably be my top choice for cruising just because of the kids’ clubs and everything they do for children onboard.
Disney’s Cast Members Are Part of the Experience
Disney doesn’t call their employees “crew members.” They call them cast members, and once you sail with Disney Cruise Line, you start to understand why.
The service onboard was excellent, but what really stood out was how much the cast members felt like part of the experience. They genuinely seem to want guests to have a magical vacation and often go out of their way to help. You can also tell they’re trained a little differently than what you see on most cruise lines. It shows in how they speak to guests, the language they use, and the way they approach situations.
From the dining room servers to cast members helping around the ship, you can tell that guest experience is a big focus.
Rotational Dining With the Same Servers
One of the things Disney Cruise Line does a little differently is its rotational dining system. Instead of eating in the same restaurant every night, guests rotate through a few different restaurants during the cruise.
At first, I wasn’t sure how it would work out, but it was actually nice knowing we’d get to experience each restaurant at some point during the cruise. Your main server and assistant server rotate with you, so you keep the same dining team throughout the cruise.
That also means you get to know them, and they learn your preferences. The menus change each night, too, which keeps the dining experience from feeling repetitive even though you’re rotating between the same restaurants.
The only downside is that Disney uses set dining times. We usually prefer more flexible dining, but it makes sense given how their rotational system works. It’s clearly a system that works for them.
Restaurants That Feel Like Part of the Story
Dining on a Disney cruise isn’t just about the food. Many restaurants are designed around a theme or story, making dinner feel like part of the experience.
One example is 1923, one of the rotational dining restaurants on the newer Disney ships like the Disney Treasure. The restaurant is inspired by the year The Walt Disney Company was founded and is filled with animation artwork, sketches, and displays from Disney’s history. It almost feels like dining inside a small Disney museum.
Some restaurants lean even further into storytelling. On the Disney Wish, guests dine at Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, where characters and music from Frozen make the meal a dinner-and-a-show.
It’s another example of how Disney turns something as simple as dinner into part of the overall cruise experience.
First-Run Disney Movies Onboard
Another thing Disney Cruise Line does that other cruise lines really can’t is show first-run Disney movies onboard.
Disney ships have their own movie theaters, and they show Disney films throughout the cruise. If a new Disney, Pixar, Marvel, or Star Wars movie has just been released or is about to premiere in theaters, you may have the opportunity to watch it while you’re sailing.
The theaters only show Disney movies, and the showings are included with your cruise. It’s a nice option on sea days if you feel like catching a movie.
Complimentary Room Service (Including Mickey Bars)
Another thing that stood out to us on our Disney cruise was that room service is still included for most menu items. Guests can order things like sandwiches, late-night snacks like warm cookies with milk, and other simple items to their stateroom without paying an extra delivery fee. And yes, that includes the famous Mickey ice cream bars, which many Disney cruisers quickly realize you can order whenever you want.
Many other cruise lines have started charging delivery fees for room service unless you’re staying in a suite or have a certain cabin category that includes it as a perk. Disney Cruise Line still includes it for most guests, which is a nice touch. Gratuity for the cast member delivering the food is still customary.
Split Bathrooms in Most Cabins
One of the biggest differences from other cruise lines is the split-bathroom design in most Disney cruise cabins.
Instead of having the toilet, sink, and shower all in one small bathroom, Disney separates them into two spaces. One room has the toilet and sink, while the other has the shower or tub and another sink.
It may sound like a small thing, but families and groups especially appreciate this setup since more than one person can get ready at the same time. It also helps when everyone is getting ready for dinner or an early port day.
Self-Service Laundry Rooms
Another feature that stood out to me on our Disney cruise was the self-service laundry rooms available throughout the ship. Guests can use washers, dryers, and ironing boards, which can be really helpful on longer sailings. Being able to wash a few things mid-cruise means packing lighter and not bringing home a suitcase full of laundry.
Only a few cruise lines still offer self-service laundry rooms, and Disney Cruise Line is one of them. Most mainstream cruise lines now only provide paid laundry service instead. It may not sound like a big deal at first, but once you’ve used it, I honestly think it’s a bit of a game-changer.
No Drink Packages and Fewer Crowded Bars
One thing that stands out about Disney Cruise Line is that they don’t offer the typical cruise drink packages that many other cruise lines promote and sell.
Instead, guests simply order drinks individually at the bars if they want them. Because of that, we didn’t see the bars being swamped or surrounded the way they sometimes are on other ships, where guests are trying to get their money’s worth from a drink package.
The most we saw were short lines at the cafés for specialty coffee, and those moved quickly. It also leaned more into the family atmosphere on board and less of a party vibe, which I appreciated.
Another difference is that fountain soda is included on Disney cruises. Guests can get soda at the beverage stations on the pool deck and in the main dining restaurants without paying extra. Most cruise lines don’t include fountain soda like this, with Virgin Voyages being one of the few exceptions.
The Ship Horn Plays Disney Songs
Another fun detail on a Disney cruise is the ship’s horn. Instead of the usual deep horn sound you hear on most ships, Disney ships play Disney songs.
You might hear melodies like When You Wish Upon a Star or other familiar Disney tunes when the ship leaves port. It’s one of those small touches that feels very on brand for Disney and always gets guests smiling when they hear it.
Fewer Announcements Throughout the Ship
One thing I noticed on our Disney cruise was how few announcements were made throughout the ship. Announcements were mostly kept to a need-to-know basis, which we really appreciated.
On many cruise ships, you hear announcements for activities and reminders throughout the day, but on Disney, those can always be found in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, and notifications are sent there as well. It keeps the ship feeling quieter and more relaxed without constant announcements playing over the speakers.
Transparent Gratuities That Show Who You’re Tipping
Another thing that surprised me on our Disney cruise was how clearly Disney shows where gratuities go. At the end of the cruise, guests receive a breakdown showing how the recommended gratuities are distributed among the service team.
Disney lists the crew members who took care of you during the cruise, typically your stateroom host, dining room server, assistant server, and head server, along with the suggested gratuity amounts for each. Many other cruise lines simply add a daily service charge to your account without clearly showing how it’s divided. Disney’s approach makes it easier to see exactly who you’re tipping and how those gratuities support the crew members who helped take care of you throughout the cruise.
No Casinos on Disney Ships
One thing you won’t find on a Disney cruise ship is a casino. Most cruise lines dedicate large areas to gambling, but Disney chose to use that space for lounges, entertainment, and other experiences instead.
On most cruises, we usually end up heading to the casino for at least a little while each night, as long as there’s a non-smoking area. Surprisingly, we didn’t miss it at all on this cruise.
It’s another example of how Disney Cruise Line approaches cruising a little differently than most other cruise lines.
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Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she’s become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She’s always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
