Top-of-the-line issues about cruising is that you could pay for a cruise months upfront, neglect how a lot it prices, after which board the ship on embarkation day blissfully unaware of how a lot you paid to get there and prepared for trip spending.
Whereas I am not one to maintain a tally of each greenback I spend on journeys, it is generally good to know precisely how a lot I’ve spent, all the way down to reserving a resort the night time earlier than a cruise, drinks on board the ship and purchases in port. So on one in every of my current Disney Cruise Line sailings on the Disney Dream cruise ship, I saved each receipt to determine how a lot my household and I really paid for the holiday.
Having that data is essential, not only for me once I’m able to plan my subsequent cruise with Mickey and the gang, however so you’ll be able to funds appropriately to your subsequent Disney cruise. Let’s face it — Disney Cruise Line holidays are costly, however the reminiscences made on the ships are priceless.
Is it attainable for households on a funds to afford a Disney cruise? The brief reply is sure, however there may be some technique concerned. Here is how a lot our Disney cruise actually value for a household of three.
For cruise information, critiques and suggestions, join TPG’s cruise newsletter.
How a lot it prices to go on a Disney cruise
Earlier than I dive into simply how a lot my journey value, let me provide you with some background.
The pricing for this cruise is predicated on my household of three adults. A cruise with children will probably have a distinct steadiness of bills.
Our transportation to the embarkation port of Miami will not be included because the expense can range significantly relying on the way you select to get to the port. We drove since we dwell in Florida, however not everyone seems to be fortunate sufficient to dwell inside driving distance of their departure port. I did embody all the opposite prices from our journey, together with a pre-cruise resort keep, the precise cruise fare and eating at specialty eating places on board.
My household and I weren’t tremendous strict with our funds, however we additionally did not splurge on all the pieces. We did deal with ourselves to a couple meals on the adults-only eating places on Disney Dream and some cocktails every day, however we by no means went overboard with extras within the ports of name. Checking our onboard account every morning by means of the Disney Cruise Line app made it attainable for us to have a enjoyable trip with out emptying our financial institution accounts.
Every day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
Associated: 26 Disney cruise tips, tricks, secrets and extra magic to unlock
Cruise reserving
Our greatest value on this journey was the cruise fare as a result of sailings on Disney Dream should not low cost. Even if you happen to keep away from the specialty eating places, skip excursions in every port and keep in one of many cheaper cabins, you may nonetheless spend just a few thousand {dollars} simply to get on board.
For 3 adults sharing a cabin, Disney Cruise Line holidays begin at $1,298, together with taxes and charges, and that is for a fast two-night crusing on Disney Surprise in Australia in 2024. If you happen to’re planning an extended cruise from the USA, it can value considerably extra, particularly throughout peak occasions when children are out of faculty or throughout a themed crusing.
Due to how costly Disney cruise sailings are, I at all times search for offers, both a Florida resident provide or a reduction on a choose sail date.
Associated: 11 ways to save money on a Disney cruise
Our Disney Dream cruise was a five-night Halloween on the Excessive Seas crusing, with a Florida resident low cost for 3 individuals booked in a balcony cabin (which Disney calls a verandah stateroom). The full value of the cruise, together with taxes and charges, was $2,497.28.
Whole for cruise reserving: $2,497.28
Pre-cruise resort lodging
I at all times counsel that individuals arrive of their embarkation metropolis or a metropolis close by not less than the day earlier than a cruise. This relieves the stress of getting to get to the ship on time in case of flight delays or blocked roadways.
The night time earlier than my Disney Dream cruise, my household and I stayed at Disney’s Vero Seaside Resort, which is just a little over midway from our house in Jacksonville, Florida, to Miami.
We used Disney Vacation Club points to guide an “Inn-Customary View” room, which was large enough for the three of us. The room value us 16 factors, so we technically did not spend any cash on reserving a resort the night time earlier than. Until you might have factors to spend, remember to funds for lodging earlier than or after your cruise, as wanted.
Whole for resort: $0
Pre-cruise meals
The night time earlier than our cruise, we determined to eat out in Vero Seaside at American Icon Brewery. Everybody in my household bought an area beer to strive, then we shared an appetizer, and everybody bought their very own entree. The meal set us again $106.55.
Whereas Disney’s Vero Seaside does have an on-site restaurant, we take pleasure in getting out within the metropolis and attempting an area place. American Icon Brewery was enjoyable, and the meals and repair had been each nice.
Associated: 14 things you should do before every cruise
For breakfast the morning of our cruise, I introduced muffins that I made at house for my household to take pleasure in. The room included a espresso maker and Keurig espresso pods, so we drank that with our gentle breakfast. Disney’s Vero Seaside Resort does serve breakfast at its onsite restaurant, however we would have liked to hit the highway early to get to our 11 a.m. port arrival time, so the muffins and occasional had been an ideal simple breakfast.
Whole for dinner: $106.55
Parking on the port
Parking at any cruise port can add a big quantity to a cruise trip. For 5 nights, parking at PortMiami was $110. We paid for this as we had been leaving the parking deck reasonably than upfront.
Whole for parking: $110
Specialty eating on board
Disney Dream has two adults-only specialty dining restaurants onboard, Palo and Remy. To dine at both restaurant, cruisers ought to get a reservation upfront by means of the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. If you cannot safe a reservation earlier than the crusing, ask about walk-up availability for both restaurant as soon as on board. Simply make sure you head straight to the hostess desk outdoors of Palo and Remy as quickly as you board the ship (even earlier than consuming lunch) as a result of any open reservations shall be snapped up rapidly.
My household at all times eats at Palo for brunch on a Disney cruise, and this time was no totally different. The meal is a high-end desk service choice that begins together with your alternative of a charcuterie board or chilled seafood platter, plus a pleasant unfold of bread. The menu can be stuffed with entrees like house-made pizzas, plate-size Mickey waffles, made-to-order pasta and elevated egg dishes like frittatas.
The meal for the three of us value $170. My dad additionally ordered Palo’s signature bloody Mary, which tacked on one other $12.39 to our meal.
Associated: The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries
On this cruise, for the primary time ever, my household and I dined at Remy, a French-inspired restaurant that was value each penny. To start out, we had been served a welcome cocktail referred to as The Collette, which is called after the feminine chef within the Pixar film, “Ratatouille.”
Then we had been offered menus that had been divided into two prix-fixe choices, one which leaned extra French and one which leaned extra high-end American. I selected the French menu, whereas my dad and mom selected the American menu. The meal general was unbelievable and was definitely worth the $462.50 for the three of us.
Whole for specialty eating: $644.89
Specialty drinks and alcohol
One factor that units Disney Cruise Line aside from different family-friendly cruises is that it does not provide all-inclusive drink packages. Passengers should buy all drinks on board on the per-drink value, although drink costs on Disney ships can generally be barely cheaper than related libations on different big-ship strains. Plus, soda is included in your cruise fare.
Disney Cruise Line additionally permits passengers to bring your own wine or beer on board at every port, whereas different cruise strains limit friends to at least one bottle of wine at embarkation solely. Not solely does this coverage assist you to doubtlessly lower your expenses on beverage prices, however you’ll be able to take pleasure in fascinating brews and vintages from the locations you go to.
Each night time, my household went to completely happy hour on the adults-only bar Meridian, which is positioned between Palo and Remy. This spacious bar has massive home windows that overlook the ocean and two outside patios with seating. Cocktails for 5 nights at Meridian value my household of three $179.67.
Different locations to have a specialty cocktail or espresso on Disney Dream embody the Cove Cafe, Skyline, Pink and 687. At these different bars, my household spent $122.16.
Whereas we loved the entire bars and lounges on the ship, Meridian was simply our favourite and never simply due to the view. The Forged Members who work on this bar are top-notch and discovered our cocktail preferences rapidly. By night time two, they had been shaking up off-menu cocktails that they knew we might take pleasure in.
Whole for drinks: $301.83
Gratuities
Disney Cruise Line permits friends to prepay their onboard gratuities for his or her stateroom host and their service crew within the eating room. This cost got here to $72.50 per visitor.
On prime of the usual gratuities, we selected to present an additional $20 to our eating room server, assistant server and head server, plus our stateroom host, all of whom get a portion of the pay as you go gratuities. On the finish of our cruise, we additionally gave the 2 bartenders in Meridian an extra $20 in money for all of their exhausting work all through the week and for making our trip particular.
Whole for gratuities: $337.50
Souvenirs
Whereas I am not usually one to get a memento from a cruise ship, I could not resist making just a few purchases on Disney Dream.
My favourite Disney character, Sorcerer Mickey, is the strict character on the ship, so a whole lot of the Dream-branded merchandise has this variation of Mickey on it. And since this was a Halloween cruise, I discovered some spooky souvenirs within the shops, too. I dropped $118.97 on merchandise.
Whole for souvenirs: $118.97
Associated: 11 things you should never buy on a cruise ship
Excursions
On most cruises, my household and I decide to explore the port on our own versus buying excursions. It saves us cash, and we are able to head again to the ship at any time when we would like. On this cruise, our ports of name had been Grand Cayman and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
As a result of we have visited Grand Cayman beforehand and it is not our favourite cruise port, we stayed on the ship that day to benefit from the much less crowded pool decks and a pleasant lunch inside one of many fundamental eating rooms.
On our Castaway Cay port day, we did get off the ship however did not go for any of the island’s excursions, as a substitute heading to the adults-only seaside, Serenity Bay. We additionally loved lunch on the adults-only seaside, which is included within the general cruise value.
If we had been happening a cruise to locations we had by no means been to earlier than, like a Disney cruise to the Mediterranean or Alaska, we might probably decide to do Disney-sponsored excursions, which are sometimes just a few hundred {dollars} per individual per tour. And if your loved ones has by no means been to Grand Cayman, you would possibly need to guide a tour to discover the island or one in every of its sights.
Excursions: $0
Spa companies
One in all my favourite areas on any Disney cruise is the Senses Spa and its Rainforest Room. This space of the spa options a number of bathe experiences, saunas, a row of heated lounge chairs and two non-public scorching tubs. One of the best half is that the lounge chairs and the recent tubs are in a glass-enclosed area, so you’ll be able to see the ocean or ports whereas utilizing the services.
On this five-night crusing, my mother and I booked a “{couples} charge” to have the ability to come and go from the Rainforest Room as we wished all through the cruise. The full value for that was $187.62. My mother additionally opted to get a therapeutic massage on the cruise, which value $209.42.
Whole for spa companies: $397.04
What it actually prices to go on a Disney cruise
For 3 adults sharing one cabin on a five-night Halloween-themed crusing on Disney Dream, the entire value got here to $4,514.06. That equals out to every individual paying $1,504.69 for the journey, or $214.95 per individual, per day.
To place that in perspective, our five-night Disney cruise was cheaper on a per-person, per-day foundation than TPG’s Summer season Hull’s three-day trip to Walt Disney World.
Based mostly on our journey, this is the foremost breakdown of Disney Cruise Line journey bills:
- 55.3% cruise fare
- 2.4% pre-cruise resort and meal
- 2.4 % parking
- 14.3% onboard eating
- 6.7% drinks
- 7.5% gratuities
- 2.6% souvenirs
- 0% excursions
- 8.8% spa companies
A Disney cruise may be an reasonably priced approach to take a Disney trip, particularly if you happen to’re prepared to forgo upcharges resembling concierge rooms and dear excursions in ports of name. On my household’s Disney cruise, we saved our day by day bills to only over $900, although it’s totally simple to rack up a folio invoice for hundreds of {dollars} a day extra. If you wish to keep inside a sure funds, make sure you strive as many money-saving hacks as attainable to maintain the fee in examine.
A Disney trip won’t ever be low cost, however with some planning and adaptability, it’s attainable to take a Disney cruise with out draining your checking account.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
Trending Merchandise
