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10 Disney Cruise Packing Tips You Need To Know

01/09/2015 by Erin 30 Comments

disney cruise ship at castaway cay

We’ve been on three incredibly fun Disney cruises and after each one we pick up a new tip or make a note of something we want to pack (or not pack!) for next time.  Here’s a handy dandy little list of helpful things to keep in mind when packing for your own sea adventure with the Mouse:

1.  Choose Luggage Wisely

When you first board the ship you might not have access to your stateroom immediately since they are still being cleaned and “flipped” from the previous cruise.  This time period could easily end up being several hours, so keep that in mind when choosing your carry-on bags.  It’s your responsibility to lug your stuff around with you until your room is ready.  Disney requires that carry-on luggage be no larger than 22 inches wide, 14 inches high, and 9 inches deep.  I recommend bringing a backpack or a small suitcase with wheels.  You don’t want to be encumbered by an unwieldy bag when you want to explore the ship and start having fun!  Leave the big awkward duffle bags or bulky suitcases at home.  I liken packing for a cruise to packing for a flight – the rules are less stringent, but simplicity is key!  Also, remember that Disney allows alcohol to be brought on board in carry-on luggage (not checked baggage).  Bringing along your own bottles can save you some $$ by not having to purchase booze on board.  If you plan on bringing your own alcohol into one of the dining rooms, however, you will be charged a $20.00 corking fee.  I recommend reading Disney’s official alcohol policy for all the details.

disney cruise terminal Inside the Disney Cruise Terminal – stepping through those golden Mickey ears gets me every time!

2.  Keep All Essential Items With You

Sometimes it can take into the early evening hours to have your checked luggage delivered to your room.  Make sure that you pack your carry-on with all essential items such as:

  • A change of clothing for each member of your group, including your swimsuit.  The pools are immediately available upon embarkation, so if it is your goal to belly flop into the nearest body of water as soon as you get on the ship, you’ll be prepared.
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste for everyone (well, everyone in your group.  I mean, if you want to pack a toothbrush for each of the thousands of passengers, then be my guest)
  • Medications, including motion sickness remedies such as Sea Bands or Bonine/Dramamine.  You can request Sea Calm tablets from the front desk for free.  
  • Cruise documents and identification including passports, driver licenses, etc.
  • Eyeglasses, sunglasses, and/or contact supplies.  How can you fully appreciate the pretty ship if you are stumbling around half blind?  Exactly.  You can’t.
  • Jewelry/valuables, though I recommend just leaving those things at home.  You don’t need ’em.  Some cute costume jewelry and a few hair ties will do you just fine.
  • Sunscreen, and for Pete’s sake make sure you pack more than you think you’ll need – it’s expensive to buy it on the ship!

3. Bring Your Own Drink Bottle

On each ship there are 24-hour soft drink, water, and coffee/tea stations available on the pool decks.  Because the provided paper cups are small, it can be a pain to schlep all the way back up to the top deck just to refill your drink.  I recommend bringing along sturdy bottles suitable for both hot and cold drinks and that way you can fill ’em up and be set for a while.  Matt and I each bring along a Tervis tumbler  and end up using it every single day.  Oh and if you’re traveling with the kiddos, using your own cup will allow you to choose one with a much tighter fitting lid than the standard plastic snap on lids for the paper cups.

4. Pack Clothing Layers and a Light Jacket

If you’re traveling during the winter months, even if you’re taking a warm Caribbean route, bring along some warmer clothes just in case.  Our last cruise sailed in February and it was downright chilly outside until we got down below the Bahamas where the air was nice and warm.  Also, your trip probably includes a stop at Disney’s gorgeous island, Castaway Cay, which is a Bahamian island and will be a bit cooler than the more southern destinations on your trip.  Pack a few extra layers or a jacket so you’ll be comfy cozy no matter what the weather ends up doing.

husband and wife in front of a disney ship

Embarkation day for our Western Caribbean Cruise in February – I needed a light hoodie!  My husband pretty much never gets cold, so….

5.  Bring a Pirate Costume

Yeah fine, this one is optional, but every cruise will have at least one pirate-themed dinner and some people really get into the spirit of the whole thing.  All of the characters and dining room servers dress in pirate-themed uniforms, you’ll enjoy swashbuckling menu options (check out our Pirate dinners on the Magic and Fantasy),  and there is even a special show on the pool deck  with lots of fun action, a buffet, lights, and a fireworks display!  If you don’t want to bother with bringing your own costume, don’t despair – there will be a pirate print bandanna for each member of your group waiting for you in your stateroom that morning.  Wear it any way you like or don’t wear it at all – totes up to you.

pirate deck show on a disney cruisePool deck pirate show on our Bahamian Cruise on the Disney Dream

pirate night menu on a disney cruiseFun pirate-themed menu on our Western Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Fantasy

6.  Take a Lanyard

What’s a lanyard?  It’s a cord or ribbon that you wear around your neck to carry small objects with you.  If you are already a member of the Castaway Club, you will be provided with a free lanyard when you check-in.  If it IS your first cruise, you’ll need to bring your own, and I recommend you do so because they are really useful.  If we’re just bumming around on the ship all day the only things I carry are my camera and my lanyard that holds my Key to the World card.  That’s it!  That card is really all you need to have with you on the ship.  Stash your wallet and purse in your stateroom’s safe and enjoy the freedom!

7. Bring Something for the Characters to Sign

This is an especially cool tip that will make your cruise even more magical for your kiddos.  Drop something off at guest services at the beginning of your cruise and before you disembark it will be returned to your stateroom fully autographed by all the characters!  You can leave just about anything – a Disney autograph book, a picture frame mat, a plain pillowcase, a greeting card, whatever you want!  I’ve even heard of people packaging their item with multi-colored markers for the characters to use if you are going for a specific color theme.

8.  Make Some Door Decorations

Not only is this fun, but the hallways on the cruise ship are long, like visible vanishing point long, so dressing up your door makes it easier to spot your room without having to look at the room numbers.  This is great if you have kids old enough to roam the ship by themselves and you don’t want to worry about them being able to find your room.  Disney prohibits using tape or any kind of adhesive on the doors (makes sense, since that would leave icky residue) but the doors are metal (except for the concierge suites) so anything magnetized will work!  Matt and I had fun designing signs in Photoshop and then printing them on InkJet magnetic sheets.  Voila!  Instant matching door decor for everyone’s room in our group!  It’s also fun to wander the halls and see what the other guests have done with their doors, some people go nuts and cover the whole thing in photos and streamers and all kinds of stuff, all attached with magnets.

disney cruise door decorations
Our doors from our Western Caribbean Fantasy Cruise

9. Remember the Wind

On sea days (travel days when the ship is not in port) the wind can be brutal, especially on the upper decks.  Make sure the hats that you pack fit snugly on your lil’ noggin’ or they could blow away and become fish food before you can say “blueberry pie”.  Sundresses are a comfortable and adorable choice for a cruise (it’s practically all I wear) but the wind can turn you into Marilyn Monroe if you’re not careful.  I like to wear my swimsuit or a pair of snug workout shorts under my dresses if I know I’m going to be hanging out on the upper decks.  That way if the wind does decide to whip my dress up over my head it’s a slightly less embarrassing situation than it could have been.  If you have long hair, bring headbands and plenty of hair ties to keep your hair from becoming a mess of knots.

10.  Consider Dress Codes and Formal Night

In the regular rotational dining rooms the dress code on most nights is “cruise casual” which means no swimwear or tank tops – anything else goes.  There is at least one optional formal night and on longer cruises an optional semi-formal night.  We’ve seen the full gamut of attire on the optional formal nights.  Everything from cocktail dresses and tuxedos to shorts and a t-shirt.  If you plan on dining at one of the adults-only restaurants such as Palo (all 4 ships) or Remy (Dream and Fantasy) then be aware that jeans, shorts, capris, flip-flops, and tennis shoes are not allowed.  At Palo, men are asked to wear dress pants and a dress shirt with optional jacket, while women are asked to wear a dress or pantsuit.  At Remy the dress code is a little more stringent, with men being asked to wear dress pants with a jacket, though ties are optional.  Make sure to pack accordingly depending on where you plan to dine!

 

Do you have any of your own packing tips for a Disney cruise?  Leave ’em in the comments!  Any questions?  Ask ’em in the comments!  Oh heck, just leave a comment about anything and make me feel better about myself.

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Filed Under: Disney, Travel Tips, Vacation Tagged With: disney cruise packing tips, how to pack for a cruise, what to pack for a disney cruise, what to take on a cruise

About Erin

Erin is a mom of two human babies and two fur-covered babies. She loves comfy pajamas, eats too much peanut butter, and watches excessive amounts of Netflix. Make her day and toss her a like on Facebook or follow her on Instagram.

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Comments

  1. Victoria says

    08/22/2018 at 3:40 am

    Door Decorations is a lovely idea and it makes fun for my children, and Essential Items is a good list for packing. Thanks for the nice sharing.

    Reply
  2. Donna Neace says

    07/11/2018 at 4:13 am

    Thanks “Erin” for your awesome informative post. Your all recommended things are perfect for a great vacation. Bring A Pirate Costume and Bring Something For The Characters To Sign tips to help me to take a final decision.

    Reply
  3. stacey lockard says

    04/24/2018 at 10:06 pm

    We’ll be sailing in June and the stateroom in your picture is actually the room we’ll be staying in. Too funny. 9514. We have 4 rooms in a row up on that deck. Any things we should be aware of about the room?

    Reply
  4. Jane Luety says

    04/03/2018 at 4:08 am

    Great article. Lots of good info. Going on our 1st Disney cruise June 30, 2018, 11 days southern caribbean, gramps,gram,mom,dad,4,girls 2,5,7,9. 2 in the group will be celebrating their birthday while on the ship (the fantasy). Does anyone know if anything special can be done?

    Reply
    • stacey lockard says

      04/24/2018 at 10:05 pm

      We’ll be sailing on the same cruise! If you go to your reservation, there is a spot for special requests or you can call them. You can pay to have a delivery of items or just request a special happy birthday song/dessert for that night. Looking forward to the trip!

      Reply
  5. Donna Barbieri says

    02/23/2018 at 12:07 am

    Erin, Love your blog. Our family is taking a Disney Cruise this June (a first for all).
    Thank you for sharing. You are added to my bookmarks to refer to as we prepare for our adventure.

    Reply
    • Martha says

      03/29/2018 at 3:44 pm

      Hi Donna, we are also taking our first Disney cruise this June. Taking a 6 yr old and 2 yr old. I hope our first time cruises go well! This blog was very helpful for me also!

      Reply
  6. Mary says

    02/12/2018 at 10:39 am

    I really like your blog. And this is a great article. However, I have a hard time with you encouraging people to bring their own drink bottle when it specifically says do NOT use your own personal cup. If too many people take advantage, they will take away the free soda like every other cruise ship does.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      02/12/2018 at 10:54 am

      Thanks for the info – I wasn’t aware it was now policy to not use your own cup. That is surprising since the provided paper cups create so much extra waste! Has Disney issued a warning regarding removing the free soda fountains if too many people use their own cups? That’s odd, as reducing the number of paper cups used not only reduces their cost but also reduces trash.

      Reply
      • Katie says

        02/24/2018 at 3:28 pm

        You’re not supposed to use your own cup directly. You use the provided cup to fill your own cup. Pretty much every DCL tip list or packing list suggests bringing your own cup.

        Reply
    • Km says

      06/03/2018 at 4:13 pm

      I think the fill up your own bottle refers to water not soda…

      Reply
  7. Kalina says

    01/25/2018 at 3:52 pm

    Hello
    Im getting ready for my April cruise and Im interested if anyone can advise me on what to pack for excursions. We planning visit Mexican ruins and in general see ports.

    Reply
  8. Brenda Navarro says

    10/09/2017 at 11:25 am

    First cruise coming up next week! October 2017 on the Magic Wonder! The kids have no idea and I’m trying to get ready without giving any it away. Thanks for all the advice.

    Reply
    • CAtherine says

      10/26/2017 at 1:18 am

      Hi Brenda! I am trying to get ready without giving away our cruise in Nov! Any tips you could share would be great!

      Reply
  9. Julie says

    05/08/2017 at 8:04 pm

    These are great tips! We are going on our first cruise on the Wonder to Alaska, so I have bookmarked your tips for when I pack!

    Reply
  10. Good job says

    04/18/2017 at 10:29 am

    Good post, keep

    Reply
  11. Ria says

    12/06/2016 at 1:25 pm

    Thank you for your awesome tips! What do you recommend for footwear? We will be on the Bahamian cruise for Christmas 2016.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      12/06/2016 at 1:36 pm

      A Christmas cruise! How fun! I recommend a variety of comfy flip flops or sandals, with at least one pair of tennis shoes for shore excursions or exercise on the ship. Fancier heels are fun for dress-up nights, but if the water is choppy and the ship is rocking it’s good to have some flats as a back up for easier walking. HAVE FUN!!

      Reply
  12. Tamika Craig says

    11/09/2016 at 12:35 pm

    These tips are so helpful! This is our first cruise, -!: I had no clue what I would need! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      12/06/2016 at 1:36 pm

      You’ll have a great time!!

      Reply
  13. SDSchulzey says

    09/12/2016 at 9:15 pm

    Good tips, even for an experienced Disney cruise, but I did want to point out that one of the tips is no longer true. The autograph tip (#7). http://disneycruiselineblog.com/2015/07/disney-cruise-line-discontinuing-onboard-mickey-mail-character-autograph-service-in-august/

    Reply
  14. https://collierdressage.wordpress.Com says

    05/18/2016 at 2:41 pm

    Hello I am so happy I found your blog, I really found you by mistake,
    while I was looking on Yahoo for something else,
    Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a tremendous post and a all round
    thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it
    all at the minute but I have saved it and also added
    your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a
    great deal more, Please do keep up the great work.

    Reply
  15. Olivia says

    05/17/2016 at 9:12 pm

    Thank you, Erin! We are going on our first cruise and don’t really know what to expect so this really helps!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      05/27/2016 at 2:23 pm

      I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks so much for visiting the blog.

      Reply
  16. Jaime says

    03/31/2016 at 9:48 pm

    Erin, I had Brownie Bites open in one tab, and Amazon open in another. I’ve added tumblers, lanyards, and pirate costumes to our shopping cart. 🙂 Thank you for all the great tips!

    Reply
  17. Kathy says

    02/08/2016 at 5:19 pm

    We are going on our first Disney Cruise in December 2016. We are so excited! Thank you for the great tips!

    Reply
    • Ivy says

      02/13/2016 at 5:18 pm

      I am going on the Disney Dream December of 2016! This artical is very helpful

      Reply
  18. Lauren Oliver says

    01/30/2016 at 8:34 pm

    My famly is soon going on a Dinsey cruise, these tips were very helpful. Thank you!!

    Reply
  19. Marjorie Steele says

    10/29/2015 at 10:57 am

    Thank you for sharing your own experience, Erin! We are a big family too and we always need to plan the packing one week earlier. Best regards

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Erin, and I blog about fun things! I cook food for my family and share the recipes here. We also like to camp, so there will be a fair bit about that around here, too.

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