It is absolutely impossible to predict the price you’ll pay for your Disney Cruise, as there are several factors that influence this. First (and most important) is the time of year you will be cruising. Spring and fall are typically the best times to find deals.
Your best bet is to book your cruise as FAR IN ADVANCE as possible. Disney Cruise Line offers “tier pricing,” and you can find the best savings if you book early enough. There are also other discounts available on some Disney Cruise Line sailings.
- When to Travel
- Best times of year(price)
- Hurricanes and Atlantic Storms
- Best times of year(weather)
- Saving money on your Stateroom
- Deposits/Payment schedule
- Cancellations
- Travel Insurance
- Disney Cruise Line Transfers
- Making a Reservation
- Transferring a Reservation to a Travel Agent
How DCL Pricing Works
All cruises are priced based on two adults in the stateroom. So, even if you are one adult traveling with a child, the price is the same as two adults in thestateroom. After the two adult prices, the third and fourth passengers in the stateroom are charged a lower rate. If you are traveling alone, DCL will charge you 100% of the second adult’s cruise fare (not including port fees and taxes)in addition tothe full fare for the first adult.
**NOTE**Teenagers will be Charged adult fares (13-17). Child rates apply to ages 3-12. Children ages 0-2 pay 50% of the child rate.
This does not impact access to areas of the ship that are designated as “18 and over” (like the spa, adults-only pool, and the adults-only restaurants (Palo and Remy).
When to Travel on a Disney Cruise
When to travel – This will depend on where you plan to cruise. If you are planning on sailing to the Caribbean, the summer months will be the best. If you are cruising to Alaska, then you will want to travel May-September. Disney typically sails on special cruises during the summer months. They may also offer a Panama Canal cruise during the summer if they need to reposition one of the cruise ships.
Best times of year (price)– There are typically 3 seasons High (Peak), Shoulder, or Low season.
High Season – (Most expensive) If you want to cruise when children are out of school, you will typically find those times more expensive to cruise because of increased demand. You will want to price early for availability because the cruises limit the number of children on a cruise, and the rooms that will sleep a family book early. The Panama Canal cruises are usually priced in this category.
Disney typically offers Europe only during the summer months. Alaska’s high season would be June-August. The Caribbean cruises would be more expensive from June-August.
In shoulder and low seasons – You will find better pricing for locations with year-round opportunities to cruise. The Bahamas and the Caribbean will offer lower prices.
Hurricanes / Atlantic Storms– Hurricane season is June – November. This is a great time to sail, but be aware your itinerary may change at the last minute because of hurricanes and storms. You may miss a port or two because the ship will try to head to better weather to avoid the storms. Trip insurance is a good idea if you plan on cruising during hurricane season. If you are looking to save money on your cruise, you may also find lower prices during the peak of hurricane season.
Best times of year (weather)– For Alaska, June through August are the warmest months. If you are looking to see wildlife on an Alaskan cruise, the later in the year you cruise, the more animals you will see.
In the Caribbean, the warmest months would be late June through August. Sailings for Christmas and New Year’s are very popular, but the water can be a little chilly on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The summer months are perfect. Request a No-Obligation Quote
Saving Money on Your DCL Stateroom
The best way to save money on your cruise is to book as soon as you know your plans. Cruises price rooms by tiers, the earlier you book the lower the cost. If you book close to your departure date, you will find the room prices much higher.
Also be aware that the higher categories sell out quickly. You will need to decide if having a verandah or suite is important enough to your family to spend the extra money.
Discount Disney Cruise Line Rates
Disney Cruise Line occasionally offers special pricing for certain individuals.Florida residents, military personnel, travel agents, and cast members are sometimes offered discounted rates on certain sail dates. Disney sometimes offersdiscounted ratesto the general public on some of its less busy sail dates. They may also offer specials to families with children with a Kids Sail Free offer. Please be aware that the most popular holiday/school vacation sail dates will carry the highest pricing and offer no discounts.
SomeTravel Agenciesrun promotions offering an incentive to book through them. These usually take the form of ashipboard credit (SBC). This means that the agency will place a credit in your shipboard account. While onboard, you can use this credit for spa treatments, merchandise, photos, etc. These credits expire at the end of the cruise.
Check out ourDisney Cruise Line Discountspage to find some great prices.
Disney Cruise Deposits/Payments
Deposits for all reservations will be 20% of the voyage fare. The total voyage fare DOES includeport fees butDOES NOT include insurance, transfers, taxes, or airfare. Also, everyone will be charged a deposit, including children 12 weeks and older.
Onboard booking policy:Guests who book their next cruise while onboard will only have to pay a 10% deposit for categories for cruises of 7-nights or longer. You are not required to select a specific sail date for your booking; you can book what’s called a placeholder reservation.The deposit for these placeholder cruises is currently $250 per stateroom. When you book onboard, you will receive a 10% discount when booking categories 04A-11C.Travel on these onboard bookings must be completed within 24 months to maintain these benefits.If you cannot sail within the time period you booked, DCL will remove the reservation’s onboard booking benefits.
For most itineraries, guests must pay the reservation’s balance no later than 90 days before sailing for concierge categories 1-3, R-V, and 75 days for all other categories 4-12, 4A-11C. Full payment for the cruises 10 nights or longer or cruises less than 10 nights that embark or debark from a non-US port must be received 150 days before arrival for all concierge categories and 120 days before arrival for all non-concierge categories. Changes made to your reservation within 30 days of sailing will incur a fee.
Final Payment
Any cruise reservations which are not paid in full by their balance due date will automatically be canceled.
Blackout Dates when rebooking Onboard:
There are blackout dates for sailings that are booked onboard.When booking onboard, you will still be able to book these dates, but you will not receive the typical 10% onboard booking discount or 50% off the deposit. Request a No-Obligation Quote
Disney Cruise Line Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be made by telephone or in writing. Changes to the vacation commencement date or changes of guests’ names will be considered cancellations.
Changes are not permitted once you’re within the penalty period.You will need to cancel, pay the penalty in effect, and rebook the new date.
Categories with Restrictions: Reservations for Inside, Outside, or Verandah Categories with Restrictions are non-refundable and non-transferable.A 100% cruise cancellation fee applies from the time of payment.
The charts below outline the cancellation policy for DCL Cruises 1 to 5 nights in length:
Payment due on non-suites/non-concierge staterooms 90 days prior to sailing.
| If you cancel within this period: | The cancellation fee is: |
| Non-suites/concierge staterooms:89 – 45 days prior to sail | Loss of Depositper guest. |
| Non-suites/concierge staterooms:44 – 30 Days prior to sail | 50% of vacation price per guest |
| Non-suites/concierge staterooms:29 – 15 Days prior to sail | 75% of vacation price per guest |
| Non-suites/concierge staterooms:14 days or less before sailing | No refund |
Payment due on suites/concierge staterooms 120 days prior to sailing.
| If you cancel within this period: | The cancellation fee is: |
| Suites/concierge staterooms:119 – 90 days prior to sail | Loss of Depositper guest. |
| Suites/concierge staterooms:89 – 56 Days prior to sail | 50% of vacation price per guest |
| Suites/concierge staterooms:55 – 30 Days prior to sail | 75% of vacation price per guest |
| Suites/concierge staterooms:29 days or less before sailing | No refund |
The charts below outline the cancellation policy for DCL Cruises 6 or more nights in length:
Payment due on non-suites/non-concierge staterooms 120 days prior to sailing.
| If you cancel within this period: | The cancellation fee is: |
| Non-suites/concierge staterooms:119 – 56 days prior to sail | Loss of Depositper guest. |
| Non-suites/concierge staterooms:55 – 30 Days prior to sail | 50% of vacation price per guest |
| Non-suites/concierge staterooms:29 – 15 Days prior to sail | 75% of vacation price per guest |
| Non-suites/concierge staterooms:14 days or less before sailing | No refund |
Payment is due on suites/concierge staterooms 150 days prior to sailing.
| If you cancel within this period: | The cancellation fee is: |
| Suites/concierge staterooms:149-90 days prior to sail | Loss of Depositper guest. |
| Suites/concierge staterooms:89 – 56 Days prior to sail | 50% of vacation price per guest |
| Suites/concierge staterooms:55 – 30 Days prior to sail | 75% of vacation price per guest |
| Suites/concierge staterooms:29 days or less before sailing | No refund |
Disney Cruise Line Travel Insurance
If you think there’s a possibility that your vacation plans may change, you might want to consider travel insurance. Travel insurance costs 8% ofeach guest’s(1) base cruise fare and (2) port fees.
- Minimum cost per person: $29*
- Maximum cost per person: $399*
For more information on the Disney Cruise Line Travel Insurance Policy,click here.*Prices are subject to change without notice.
We recommend that you also compare policies/prices throughwww.insuremytrip.com.
Disney Cruise Line Transfers
Disney Cruise Line Transfers from the Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral are $90 roundtrip and $45 one-way.If traveling to/from a Disney Resort, one-way pricing is used.
NOTE:The price of transfers is per person and is subject to change at any time. Disney Cruise Line provides transportation fromall Walt Disney World Resorts except Fort Wilderness.
ORLANDO AIRPORT CAR SERVICE
FL TOURSoffers Orlando airport transportation to the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels and the Disney Cruise Line. Unlike Uber, FL TOURS offers prearranged reservations and a complimentary grocery stop on the way to your resort. Car seats are also available upon request at no additional charge.Check Rates Onlineor call(407) 857-9606
Making a Disney Cruise Line Reservation
Of course, you can call Disney Cruise Line directly for your reservations, but we recommendDreams Unlimited Travel(the Official sponsor of DCL Fan). Dreams Unlimited Travel has many unique programs for Disney Cruise Line guests. Most importantly, Dreams willconstantly check for better ratesand specials to lower your vacation’s overall cost. For example, if you make your reservation now, and in a month, a new promotion becomes available,Dreams Unlimited Travelwill work to convert that reservation to the new program (provided it lowers the cost). While it can’t be guaranteed with every reservation, it’s not an unusual occurrence when it happens. Also, Dreams will run special promotions (likeshipboard credit promotions) regularly. Check the Disney Cruise Line Specials page to see what promotions are currently being offered. For more information on Dreams Unlimited Travel,click here.
Transferring Reservation to a Travel Agent
Disney has a policy for reservations booked directly with them and transferred to a travel agent.This policy includes Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, and Aulani. Disney must approve all requested transfers.
- Reservations paid in full are not eligible to be transferred.
- Reservations that are not paid in full may only be requested within 30 days of the initial booking. (Initial booking date is when the Reservation Center generates a reservation number, not when the deposit is made).
- If you booked your DCL reservation within the last 30 days, you couldemail Dreams Unlimited Travelto see if they can save you money or apply a Shipboard Credit to your booking! *Deposit paid. Not paid in full. Other Restrictions Apply.
As an experienced travel enthusiast well-versed in the intricacies of planning Disney Cruises, I can delve into various concepts and factors that significantly impact the pricing, scheduling, and overall experience associated with booking a Disney Cruise Line voyage. My expertise stems from extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with the various aspects of Disney cruise planning, including timing, pricing strategies, discounts, payment schedules, cancellations, travel insurance, and reservation procedures.
Let's break down the concepts outlined in the provided article related to Disney Cruise Line planning:
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Timing Factors:
- Best Times of Year (Price): Highlighting spring and fall as optimal periods for finding deals due to lower demand.
- Hurricanes and Atlantic Storms: Discussing the impact of weather seasons on cruise availability and potential itinerary alterations during hurricane season.
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Pricing Strategies:
- Booking in Advance: Emphasizing the advantages of early bookings with Disney Cruise Line's tier pricing and potential for better savings.
- Seasonal Pricing: Categorizing seasons into high (peak), shoulder, and low seasons, affecting cruise prices based on demand.
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Stateroom Rates and Passenger Categories:
- Pricing Based on Occupancy: Explaining how stateroom pricing operates, including rates for adults, children, and teenagers, regardless of the actual number of occupants.
- Age Categories and Access: Clarifying age groups and the impact on access to specific ship areas based on age restrictions.
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Traveling Preferences and Locations:
- Best Times for Different Destinations: Providing insights into suitable times for cruising specific regions like the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe, correlating with weather and demand fluctuations.
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Saving Money and Discounts:
- Discounted Rates and Special Offers: Detailing discounted rates available for certain groups like Florida residents, military personnel, and promotional offers by Disney on less busy sail dates.
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Payment, Deposits, and Cancellation Policies:
- Deposits and Payment Schedule: Explaining the deposit requirements, onboard booking policies, and deadlines for payment before sailing.
- Cancellation Policies: Outlining the various cancellation fee structures based on the duration before the cruise.
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Travel Insurance and Transfers:
- Travel Insurance Options: Discussing the availability and costs of travel insurance with Disney Cruise Line.
- Transfers and Transportation: Detailing options for transfers from the airport to the port, along with pricing and conditions.
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Reservations and Travel Agent Involvement:
- Booking Procedures: Advising on ways to make reservations directly or through travel agencies and highlighting the benefits of utilizing agents like Dreams Unlimited Travel.
- Transferring Reservations: Discussing Disney's policies regarding transferring reservations to travel agents and eligibility criteria for such transfers.
This comprehensive understanding of the intricate details surrounding Disney Cruise Line planning and execution showcases a profound expertise in the field, ensuring a well-informed approach for anyone considering embarking on a magical Disney cruise adventure.
