Disney Cruise Line is definitely more of a premium cruise experience, and a big part of that is how much is already included once you get onboard. A lot of the things families end up paying extra for on other cruise lines are already covered, which makes the trip feel way more relaxing and easy once you’re there.

Your meals, Broadway-style shows, kids clubs, character meet-and-greets, soft serve ice cream, deck parties, movie nights, and so many activities are all included in your cruise fare.

So before you start budgeting for your trip, here’s a breakdown of what’s included, what costs extra, and a few things that are actually worth spending more on once you’re onboard.

What’s Included on a Disney Cruise

Your Stateroom and Housekeeping

Your stateroom and housekeeping are all included too, and Disney Cruise Line really does a good job making the rooms feel easy and comfortable for families. Most staterooms have the split bathroom setup, which sounds like a small thing until you’re actually trying to get multiple people ready for dinner at the same time. Having the shower and toilet separated makes a huge difference.

Your stateroom host will service your room each morning while you’re out enjoying the ship, and then come back again in the evening for turndown service while you’re at dinner. Coming back to a freshly made room, towel animals on the bed, and little chocolates waiting for you somehow never stops feeling fun no matter how old you are.

And if you need extra towels, blankets, hangers, or things like a bed rail for little ones, all you have to do is ask. Disney really tries to make the whole experience feel easy once you’re onboard.

Dining and Meals

Main Dining Restaurants

One of the things people love most about Disney Cruise Line is the rotational dining. Instead of eating in the same restaurant every night, you rotate through three themed restaurants throughout your cruise, which keeps dinner feeling fun and different each night. But the part that really makes it special is that your serving team rotates with you. Your servers get to know your family really quickly. They remember your drink orders, your kids’ favorite desserts, and all the little details that make dinner feel easy instead of stressful.

Main dining restaurants are included every night of your cruise, plus breakfast and lunch on select days depending on your itinerary. And yes, if you want two appetizers or multiple desserts, you can absolutely order them.

Disney also does a really good job with picky eaters, food allergies, and lighter options, which makes meals feel much less stressful for families.

One thing I always tell people: don’t skip the themed dining nights like Pirate Night. On sailings longer than three nights, Disney usually includes special menus, themed desserts, entertainment, and fun little extras that make dinner feel even more memorable.

Casual Dining, Snacks and Room Service

Beyond the main dining rooms, there are tons of casual dining options throughout the ship too.

Every ship has a main buffet location like Cabanas or Marceline Market, plus pool deck quick service spots serving things like pizza, burgers, tacos, wraps, salads, fruit, chicken tenders, and sandwiches throughout the day.

The soft serve ice cream is included too!

One of the best little Disney Cruise Line perks is that room service is available 24 hours a day and most of the menu is included in your cruise fare. There are a few exceptions like packaged snacks and alcohol, and gratuity for room service is not included, but things like cookies, fries, breakfast, sandwiches, and Mickey bars delivered straight to your room are absolutely part of the experience.

Unlimited Soft Drinks, Coffee and Tea

Soft drinks, coffee, tea, and juice are also included when ordered in dining locations or from the self service beverage stations on the pool deck. This is actually a really nice perk because a lot of other cruise lines charge extra for soda packages.

A lot of people bring refillable tumblers or water bottles to use throughout the cruise, which makes it really easy to grab drinks throughout the day without constantly thinking about extra charges.

Entertainment and Activities

Broadway Style Shows

Every Disney ship has Broadway-style productions in the main theater, and they genuinely feel like full theater productions. The sets, costumes, effects, music, and performers are all really impressive, and it’s such a fun way to introduce live theater to kids without it feeling too formal or intimidating.

The shows are included in your cruise fare and are performed twice each evening so guests with either dinner seating have a chance to attend.

Movies and Screenings

Disney Cruise Line also shows Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars movies onboard throughout your cruise at no extra cost.

Some of the movies are still in theaters on land while they’re showing onboard, which always feels really fun and kind of surreal to experience at sea.

And if your family needs a slower moment during the trip, your stateroom TV includes a huge library of Disney movies and shows you can watch anytime. It’s perfect for winding down at night, slower mornings, or those random little breaks in the afternoon.

Character Experiences

Character meet and greets are included on Disney Cruise Line too, and a lot of families are surprised by how much more relaxed they feel compared to the parks.

You’ll see Mickey, Minnie, princesses, Marvel characters, and other favorites throughout the ship during your cruise, and because everyone is already onboard together, the whole experience usually feels much less rushed.

A few experiences, like the Royal Gathering princess meet and greet, do require a complimentary reservation through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, but there’s no extra cost for it.

Deck Parties and Fireworks

Pirate Night is one of the biggest Disney Cruise Line traditions and is included on most sailings longer than three nights.

The whole evening turns into a themed event with a special dinner menu, pirate outfits, entertainment around the ship, a deck party, and fireworks at sea if weather allows.

And if you’re sailing during certain times of year, Disney also offers seasonal themed cruises like Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime sailings.

These cruises include holiday decorations, themed snacks, special entertainment, seasonal character outfits, and extra activities throughout the ship that make the whole cruise feel even more festive.

Kids and Teen Clubs

The kids clubs are one of the biggest reasons families end up loving Disney Cruise Line so much, and they’re included in your cruise fare for kids ages 3 to 17.

Disney really puts a lot into these spaces. They feel much more immersive and thoughtfully designed than a typical cruise kids club, and the counselors are incredible with kids.

For ages 3 to 10, Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab include themed play spaces, games, crafts, scavenger hunts, activities, and character experiences throughout the cruise.
Tweens ages 11 to 14 have Edge, while teens ages 14 to 17 have Vibe. Both spaces are designed more like fun hangout lounges with games, music, activities, and enough independence that older kids actually want to be there.
For little ones under 3, it’s a small world nursery is available for an additional hourly fee and does require reservations ahead of time.

My kids had to be forced out of the kid clubs each day to spend time with me. They love it.

Pools, Waterslides and Sports

All of the pools, splash zones, and waterslides onboard are included too, which is a huge part of why families love Disney Cruise Line so much.

Every ship has family pools, splash areas for younger kids, and at least one big signature attraction like the AquaDuck, AquaDunk, or AquaMouse depending on which ship you’re sailing on.

And while the kids are busy wearing themselves out on waterslides, adults have their own included space too. Quiet Cove is the adults-only pool area onboard for guests 18 and older, and it’s one of the best places to slow down during your cruise. Think quieter atmosphere, loungers, pools, hot tubs, and a much calmer vibe than the main pool deck.

There are also fitness centers, jogging tracks, mini golf, basketball courts, shuffleboard, sports decks, and other recreation areas included throughout the ships.

Some fitness classes are complimentary while others have a small additional fee, but there are plenty of ways to stay active onboard if you want to.

Disney’s Private Island Destinations

If your cruise stops at Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, a lot of your beach day is already included too.

Beach access, lounge chairs, umbrellas, towels, lunch, soft drinks, and transportation around the islands are all included with your cruise fare, which makes these stops feel really easy and relaxing compared to a lot of other cruise ports.

You can absolutely keep the day simple and not spend anything extra if you don’t want to. The only things that typically cost extra are optional add-ons like snorkeling equipment, bike rentals, Port Adventures, cabanas, or specialty drinks.

What’s Not Included on a Disney Cruise

Disney Cruise Line includes a lot in your cruise fare, but there are still a few things you’ll want to budget separately for before you sail.

Alcoholic Beverages and Specialty Drinks

Alcohol, specialty coffees, smoothies, mocktails, bottled water, and fresh pressed specialty drinks are not included.

You can purchase drinks individually throughout the cruise, and Disney also allows guests 21 and older to bring a limited amount of wine or beer onboard on embarkation day, which is a really nice little money-saving perk.

Adult Only Dining

Adult-only restaurants like Palo, Remy, Enchanté, and Palo Steakhouse are not included in your cruise fare and require reservations plus an additional fee. A lot of repeat Disney cruisers consider these meals one of the best splurges onboard, especially for date nights or sea days.

Nursery and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

For little ones under age 3, it’s a small world nursery is available for an hourly fee and requires reservations ahead of time.

And if your kids are dreaming about the full princess or pirate experience, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is also an additional cost experience onboard select ships.

Kids can choose hairstyles, makeup, costumes, accessories, and makeover packages that transform the whole cruise day into a core memory kind of experience.

Spa Services and Port Adventures

Spa treatments, massages, salon services, Rainforest Room passes, and shore excursions are all optional add-ons and are not included.

These can usually be reserved before your cruise or once you’re onboard depending on availability.

Photos, Wi-Fi and Gratuities

Professional photos taken around the ship and during character meet-and-greets are available for purchase separately.

Internet packages are also an additional cost onboard.

Crew gratuities are not included in the base cruise fare either, but Disney makes this pretty easy. You can either prepay gratuities before your cruise or have them automatically charged to your onboard account.

Tips to Get the Most Out of What’s Included

Arrive early on embarkation day so you can start enjoying the ship right away. Lunch is already included, and it’s one of the best ways to ease into vacation mode immediately.
Use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app constantly. It’s basically your cruise schedule, character tracker, entertainment guide, and daily planner all in one.
At dinner, don’t be afraid to order multiple appetizers, entrées, or desserts if something sounds good. Disney wants dinner to feel fun, not restrictive.
Use room service. Late night cookies, breakfast delivered to your room, fries after the pool, Mickey bars before bed… it’s part of the experience.
Go to the shows. Even people who normally skip cruise entertainment are usually surprised by how good Disney’s productions are.
Let your kids actually use the kids clubs. A lot of families are nervous the first day, and then suddenly their kids never want to leave.

A Disney cruise can easily be entirely all inclusive. When you factor in dining, entertainment, kids clubs, character experiences and service, most of your vacation is already paid for before you board.

So much is already done for you. Your main job is basically just to show up, unpack once, and enjoy the magic.

What’s Included on a Disney Cruise?