Most cruise lines boast about offering guests destination-immersive shore excursions, but Celebrity Cruises has figured out a way to bring local experiences aboard its newest Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcel, when she debuts in late 2025.
A unique space aboard the 3,260-guest ship, now under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, will showcase the art, culture, and cuisine of the regions where the ship is sailing at any given time.
The space, dubbed The Bazaar, also will introduce the line’s first destination-focused cooking lessons, called Chef’s Studio, and the new Spice cafe.
The Bazaar, a three-story space, will offer several distinct experiences: a series of festivals, a market featuring local artists, an open-kitchen restaurant called Mosaic, a Chef’s Table dining option, and a new cafe.
Celebrity Cruises is reaching out to the cruise community to help choose the specific experiences The Bazaar will offer through its recently announced “Xcel Dream Makers” program, which rolled out in January 2025.
Under the program, cruisers are invited to offer ideas about the activities, foods, and entertainment the ship will provide in The Bazaar.
When Celebrity Xcel debuts in November 2025, she will be based in Fort Lauderdale for the winter 2025-26 season and operating Bahamas and Caribbean cruises. The theme in The Bazaar will reflect Caribbean elements.
When she repositions to the Mediterranean in April 2026 for the summer season, the theme will shift to European experiences, festivals, and foods.
“The Bazaar is a truly one-of-a-kind space designed to seamlessly blend ship and shore and transform the way guests experience destinations,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.
“Celebrity Xcel intentionally extends the destination experience onboard through a continued authentic offering between ports of call, allowing guests to take the destination with them,” added Hodges Bethge.
Celebrity Xcel’s maiden voyage in North America is set for November 18, 2025. The 5-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale will call at Bimini, Bahamas; and Cozumel, Mexico. The ship will sail 6- to 8-night Caribbean voyages through mid-April 2026 before departing on a 15-night repositioning cruise to Barcelona on April 26, 2026.
Celebrity Xcel will sail 7- to 11-night voyages roundtrip from Barcelona and between Barcelona and Athens. When the ship returns to North America in fall 2026, she will be based at PortMiami for the winter 2026-27 season.
Here’s What to Expect From The Bazaar
The new multi-functional area called The Bazaar will introduce destination immersive elements inspired by the ports Celebrity Xcel will visit.
Four festivals, each one tied to a specific destination, will offer local foods and pop-up entertainment, including performances by local musicians, plus other activities such as dance lessons.
When Celebrity Xcel’s guests are enjoying sea days, The Bazaar will feature local artisans offering their goods for sale. Special foods will be available along with craft demonstrations such as basket-weaving.
Bazaar on Celebrity Xcel
A new restaurant, Mosaic, will debut on the ship, serving up cuisine local to the sailing region in an open-kitchen environment. The eatery also will be the venue for Chef’s Table, featuring a multi-course menu created by Celebrity Cruises’ global culinary team.
Mosaic also will be the venue where guests can experience destination-focused, hands-on cooking lessons, a first for Celebrity Cruises.
A new restaurant will debut at The Bazaar, called Spice. The cafe-style venue will be open during the day and offer foods native to the port destination visited.
On every cruise ship, hundreds – if not thousands – of crew members work hard to make sure guests have a great time and the ship remains as clean and tidy as possible.
But whether it’s out of absentmindedness or entitlement, there are somecruisers who make their jobs harder– and temporarily dim the joy of their fellow guests.
While there are a multitude of ways passengers can breach cruise ship etiquette – from getting too noisy at night to being a chair hog on the pool deck – we’re talking about guests who leave their used plates and cutlery where it doesn’t belong.
“Why do passengers leave cups, glasses, and dishes on the ship’s stairs? Every cruise I’ve been on I see it at least once during the cruise. I don’t take the elevators so the stairs are my go to. I still don’t understand the reasoning for it,”one avid cruiser inquired on Reddit.
“Who would eat while walking through the ship and think ‘hey let me put an empty dish on the stairs?’”continued the post.
Among first time cruisers, this may happen due to a lack of knowledge of cruise ship etiquette. However, not only can this action be annoying, but it can actually be dangerous in the right circumstances.
For example, if breakable plates are left on a railing, they could fall and shatter – potentially hitting another passenger in the process and/or creating a hazard on the stairs.
For plates and cutlery left on the actual steps, an unaware cruiser could potentially slip and fall – risking injury.
“Dishes may not be seen and cause a dangerous fall. I have never seen someone do it in person, just the results. I have always removed dangerous items from the stairs when I see them,”one person wrote in reply.
The best, and most respectful, course of action is to return your plates, cups, and silverware to the usually designated spots around the restaurant, buffet, or quick service venue they came from.
The exception to this is if you order room service. The cabin stewards usually expectguests to leave their cutlery in the hallway when they are done and will collect the remnants of their meals as they spot them.
A Call for Better Etiquette
With the popularity of cruising on the rise and ships often feeling more crowded, it’s become extra important to be courteous of other guests while onboard.
In response to the idea of leaving cutlery on the stairs, the Reddit community felt that the only “excuses” were laziness and entitlement.
“Entitlement. The answer is always entitlement,”one person wrote.
“Let’s not forget laziness, inconsideration, poor upbringing, classlessness, and of course, main character syndrome,”another Redditor added on.
“The first cruise I went on as an adult was with my husband, sister in law and brother in law, and our kids. I had finished a drink and was holding it until we got to a bar or somewhere reasonable to leave it, and my BIL told me to just leave it on the stairs. He is an extremely entitled and inconsiderate person as a rule,”a third chimed in.
Stairs on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Solarisys)
But with the conversation already started about being courteous (and safe) onboard, now is also a great time to revisit other cruise ship etiquette standards – especially if you’re a first time cruiser or it’s been a long time since your last voyage.
For example, saving chairs on the Lido Deck has been a topic of contention for a long time – with Carnival recently cracking downto stop the problem.
Additionally, it’s important to keep an eye on kids – both for their safety and the enjoyment of the guests around them. There have been situations where kids have been spotted sitting on railings or climbing on balconies – which is very dangerous – with their parents nowhere to be found.
And circling back to dining and cutlery – and I say this from personal experience – please be courteous and respectful in the buffet. In addition to washing your hands before handling food and waiting in line respectfully, please do not taste the food using the shared utensils or put your own silverware into the dishes.
I once saw a passenger taste the mashed potatoes with the serving spoon and put it back into the full pot, which ultimately led to wasted food because the side dish had to be replaced. I strongly urge you not to be that person.
Carnival Cruise Line has been updating departure times for multiple ships over the past few weeks, moving up when different vessels are leaving different homeports for hundreds of future sailings.
Now, Carnival Legend and Carnival Venezia are both added to the list, but in more unique ways that booked guests need to be aware of so there is no confusion about their departure times.
While most of the impacted ships – such as Carnival Celebration from PortMiami – are homeported year-round from the same embarkation port, Carnival Legend has multiple homeports for the next two years. Similarly, Carnival Venezia has two homeports in the adjustment period.
Not all itineraries for both ships are impacted by the 30-minute change, however, and booked guests will want to be aware of which sailings are leaving earlier and which remain on the original schedule.
Carnival Legend Departure Changes
Carnival Legend is currently homeported from Tampa, Florida offering Western Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings through April. Beginning with her March 2, 2025 departure, the ship will leave at 3:30 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.
The only 2025 Tampa departure not impacted by this change (other than her upcoming February departures this month) is the ship’s 14-night Tampa-to-San Francisco repositioning sailing. That April 24 departure will still be setting sail at 4 p.m.
None of Carnival Legend‘s San Francisco departures – whether her 4-night Baja Mexico sailings or her 10-night Alaska cruises – are impacted by any time adjustments for now. Future changes may be forthcoming, however, and booked guests should keep updated on any announcements for their sailings.
After the Alaska season ends, Carnival Legend will reposition to Galveston, Texas. That one-way, 16-night sailing departing San Francisco on October 6 remains as originally planned.
While sailing from Galveston, the ship’s 4-, 5-, and 8-night cruises – the October 22, November 6, November 20, December 4, and December 18 departures – will be sailing at 3:30, but the longer 10-night Panama Canal cruises will still depart at 4 p.m.
In 2026, the same pattern continues with the ship’s shorter sailings departing at the revised, earlier time, but the longer cruises remaining scheduled for the 4 p.m. original departure.
This includes all the following Carnival Legend Galveston departure dates that will now leave at 3:30 p.m.:
January – 15, 29
February – 26
March – 2, 26
April – 9, 23
At the end of April, Carnival Legend will move to Europe, first to sail from Dover on spectacular British Isles, Island, Northern Europe, and Scandinavia itineraries. The ship will also spend the later part of the European summer season sailing from Civitavecchia/Rome.
From both of her Europe homeports during the summer of 2026, multiple departures are now adjusted to leave 30 minutes earlier than the original schedule.
This includes every departure from Dover as well as all but her final departure from Civitavecchia – all sailings from June 7, 2026 through and including the October 23 departure. From Dover, this means a new departure time of 4:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m., while from Civitavecchia, the ship will leave at 6:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.
After her season in Europe, Carnival Legend is returning to Tampa and will resume offering Western Caribbean, Bahamas, and Panama Canal sailings of different lengths. Beginning on November 16, 2026 and through and including her December 27 departure, all of those sailings will leave at 3:30 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.
Finally, in 2027, all currently published bookings from January 3 through and including March 28 are likewise adjusted 30 minutes earlier, except Carnival Legend‘s 13-night Panama Canal cruise departing Tampa on January 31. That one sailing is still planned to depart at 4 p.m.
In total, 52 upcoming cruises for Carnival Legend – from four different homeports in three different countries on two different continents – are now setting sail earlier.
Carnival Venezia Departure Changes
Carnival Venezia Cruise Ship in New York (Photo Credit: Mariusz Lopusiewicz)
Guests booked on upcoming sailings of the Italian-style Carnival Venezia have also been notified of similar changes, though not quite as confusing as those aboard Carnival Legend. Carnival Venezia alternates sailing seasons between just two homeports – New York and Port Canaveral.
While in New York, the ship’s departure time is unaffected and will remain as originally planned at 4 p.m.
From Port Canaveral, however, Carnival Venezia will move up her departure times by 30 minutes for most of her cruises. This includes all voyages from the March 9, 2025 through and including the May 4 departure. The ship’s May 11 departure on a one-way trip back to New York, however, will still leave at 4 p.m.
Similarly, the ship’s fall season when she returns to Port Canaveral is also adjusted to 3:30 p.m. departures for all sailings including November 20 and November 23 as well as December 14, 21, and 28.
In 2026, the January 4 voyage as well as all sailings from January 25 through and including February 15, March 8 through and including May 10, November 22, and December 13 through and including December 27 will now depart at 3:30 p.m. These are all cruises from Port Canaveral as well.
The remainder of the changed departure times for Carnival Venezia are in 2027, including the ship’s departures on January 3, 24, and 31, February 7 and 14, and all sailings from March 7 through and including the April 25 departure.
At this time no sailings for the ship are available to book past April 25, 2027.
As with other ships that have had such a significant number of sailings adjusted to an earlier departure time – a total of 46 voyages for Carnival Venezia – none of the longer Carnival Journeys cruises will set sail earlier. Instead, those departures remain at 4 p.m.
Combining all ships that Carnival Cruise Line has so far made these 30-minute-earlier-departure adjustments for, more than 860 sailings have been impacted. Are more to come? It seems likely – all guests booked on upcoming Carnival cruises should be sure to check for email notifications.
I received mine today for Carnival Venezia, and am excited to be setting sail 30 minutes earlier later this year – Guy’s Burgers, here I come!
The suite life is going to get a little sweeter on MSC Cruises in July 2025. That’s when the cruise line will enhance suite bookings under the Aurea Experience across its entire fleet of 22 vessels.
While an MSC Cruises vessel’s price for an Aurea cabin can be 20 to 50 percent more than its basic Bella cabin, the difference can certainly be found when comparing the value of the freebies being offered.
Currently, the Aurea Experience, available for Balcony and Suite guests, offers passengers access to the MSC Aurea Spa thermal area, a welcome bottle of Prosecco, and access to the Top Exclusive Solarium.
It also provides dining any time options, 24-hour room service with free delivery, free continental breakfast in a stateroom (also free delivery), and priority boarding and luggage drop off.
Passengers booking the experience can also opt-in to discounted drink packages at the time of booking, choose a stateroom and its location, make one free cruise change, and receive a 10 percent discount on spa treatments purchased while sailing.
So, what else could possibly be added?
Beginning July 1, 2025, guests who book an Aurea Suite will also receive more freebies in the form of a first set of minibar refreshments on the house, two free ironing services during the duration of the sailing, and an in-suite Nespresso coffee machine with replenished coffee pods daily.
As with the original Aurea Experience, passengers will still get a pillow menu to choose the style of pillow they want to sleep on, and a comfy bathrobe and slippers, but will find premium bedding for their suite’s Italian Dorelan mattress and specialty MED by MSC bath products.
Suite guests will also receive priority tender access and daily turndown with Venchi’s Italian chocolates.
Added the cruise line,“These additional benefits apply to all suites with an Aurea Experience booked for sailings from July 1, 2025 and beyond.”
Enhanced Suite Benefits vs. Traditional Offerings
Whether passengers find the enhancements worth the upgrade will depend on how frequently they take advantage of all the extras.
That said, MSC Cruises still features an even higher tier through its MSC Yacht Club. This ship-within-a-ship luxury option features 24/7 butler and room service and priority embarkation and disembarkation. It is also all-inclusive, meaning drinks, internet, and thermal spa access is included.
Yacht Club guests also enjoy a private sun deck with private pools and hot tubs, the exclusive Top Sail Lounge, and a dedicated Yacht Club restaurant.
MSC World Europa, Grand Suite Aurea with terrace. (Photo Credit: MSC Cruises)
The cruise line’s most basic experience, the Bella, provides guests with guaranteed staterooms, discounted drink packages when booking, and free continental breakfast in staterooms, albeit with a delivery fee.
There is also a chance to request a preferred dinner seating, but it’s based on availability and is not guaranteed.
A step up is the Fantastica Experience, which are available for Balcony, Ocean View and Interior staterooms. This option includes free continental breakfast with no delivery fees and free delivery with no service charge for room service (which is priced based on food items ordered).
It also provides one free cruise change, the opportunity to choose a stateroom and its location, and discounted packages.
Although the new Aurea Suite amenities won’t debut until after the cruise line’s highly anticipated MSC World America sets sail from Miami for the first time in April 2025, those patient enough to wait until its summer is in full swing will get the new offerings onboard the newest ship.
If you’re anything like me, the desire to plan your next Disney Cruise is always on the back of your mind.
Especially with the launch of Disney Treasure in December of 2024 and the upcoming Disney Destiny at the end of 2025, I’ve been jonesing to get onboard and see what Disney Cruise Line’s newest cruise ships have to offer.
But of course, budget is always something to consider – with Disney Cruises costing an estimated $500 to $10,000 per person depending on factors like length of the cruise, region and destination, cabin type, and cruise ship.
Unfortunately for cruisers on a budget, the DCL brand is known for being one of the more expensive family friendly cruise lines. But, that doesn’t mean these magical voyages are out of reach – especially with some proper planning and saving.
How Does the Cruise Ship Impact Price?
Disney Cruise Line has been rapidly expanding. Currently, DCL has six ships in service – with Disney Destiny expected to embark on her maiden voyage in November of 2025 and Disney Adventure launching for the Asian cruise market in December of 2025.
By 2031, the fleet will grow to include 13 ships. So, what Disney ships are prospective guests able to sail on right now?
Disney Magic (1998)
Disney Wonder (1998)
Disney Dream (2011)
Disney Fantasy (2012)
Disney Wish (2022)
Disney Treasure (2024)
Especially when a cruise line first launches a new vessel, demand to experience all the new amenities onboard is at its highest – which leads to higher prices. This means that bookings for Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny, for example, will likely cost more than a new booking on the original Disney Magic or Disney Wonder.
I checked the Disney Cruise Line website to compare the different ships and was able to confirm this theory.
Demand is still so high for these sailings that I was actually taken to a virtual waiting room before I was able to compare prices and dates.
Upon my review, I found that week-long Caribbean voyages on the 4,000-passenger ship in 2025 ranged from $4,431 to up to just over $7,000 for basic, inside cabins for two guests.
Ocean view and verandah, or balcony cabins, tend to fall in the $5,500-$7,500 range – with concierge suites costing as much as $45,356 on her May 3, 2025, sailing.
What Does it Cost to Book a Cruise on an Upcoming Disney Cruise Ship?
Disney Adventure Cruise Ship
As Disney Destiny gets closer to her launch date, her itineraries are also going up in price – which I again had to wait in a virtual waiting room to see.
The 4-night sailings start at $2,618 for two people in an interior cabin and the 5-night sailings start at $2,916 under the same criteria.
I had personally been eyeing a 4-night itinerary on Disney Destiny that visits both of Disney’s private islands: The original Castaway Cay, and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point that opened in summer of 2024.
When I checked the pricing at the end of 2024, this itinerary was offered for just over $2,000 for two guests. But as of the end of January 2025, this sailing (which is offered several times) now starts at $2,618 for two guests and reaches up to $3,314 for a basic interior cabin.
Her 3-night cruises start at $2,310 for two guests, while her 5-night sailings start at $4,864.
How Much Does it Cost to Sail on Older Disney Cruise Ships?
Disney Fantasy (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
There may be less demand for ships that have been around for at least a few years, such as Disney Wish, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy, which can sometimes lead to lower prices.
That said, the time of year, the length of the cruise, and the destinations on the itinerary can all lead to fluctuations in price.
Below is the cost of booking a Disney Cruise in 2025 onboard one of the fleet’s older vessels. All prices reflect the starting price for two guests as of the time of publication and are subject to change:
Disney Wish (2022)
3-night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: $1,986+
4-night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: $2,506+
Disney Fantasy (2012)
3-night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: $2,031+
4-night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral: $2,141+
Disney Wonder Cruise Ship in Melbourne (Photo Credit: Graham Drew Photography).
Where you sail to, the time of year, and how much demand that destination is experiencing can all impact the cost of your voyage.
For example, Disney Wonder sails to Alaska every summer – with Alaskan cruises seen as particularly desirable in recent years.
The sailings booked during the prime Alaska season (June through August)are usually more expensive than itineraries scheduled outside of peak times, such as at the very beginning or end of the cruise season.
For example, Disney Wonder’s May 12, 2025, 7-night sailing to Alaska starts at $3,914, while sailings with the same itinerary in June and July begin in the ballpark of $4,500 to over $5,000.
Similarly, cruises to the Bahamas are usually cheaper in months like September and October because they fall within the Atlantic Hurricane Season- so the price reflects the added risk of cancelled sailings or changed itineraries due to inclement weather.
Additionally, prices are more likely to skyrocket during the holidays and summer vacation – when it’s easier for families with kids to take vacations. These times of year also tend to coincide with Disney’s seasonal celebrations, such as Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime Christmas Cruises.
Special Event Sailings May Be Priced Differently
Photo Copyright: Disney / Matt Stroshane
In addition to the time of year, some Disney cruises also feature exclusive special events: such as Marvel Day at Sea.
These cruises feature exclusive thrilling activities and opportunities for meeting characters who aren’t necessarily on every voyage, such as Captain Marvel, Thor, Black Widow, Loki, Black Panther, and Captain America.
The cruise cost may reflect the extra entertainment provided on these special sailings.
In 2025, Marvel Day at Sea will be hosted on select 5-night Western Caribbean and 5-night Bahamas sailings onboard Disney Dream – starting at $2,303 and ranging all the way up to over $45,000 for the most luxurious concierge staterooms and suites.
In the past, DCL also hosted Pixar Days at Sea and Star Wars Days at Sea – but these voyages are not currently available to book.
Cabin Type and Category Impacts Cost
Disney Cruise Prices
As with all the major cruise lines, DCL offers different categories of cabins to accommodate guests during their voyage.
While the exact offerings may vary slightly from ship to ship, Disney generally offers four categories of staterooms, listed in order from least to most expensive: Inside cabin (no exterior view), Oceanview cabin (porthole window); Verandah cabin (private balcony); and concierge suite (luxury suites with extra perks).
Within these categories, different types of rooms can be selected. For example, guests looking for an Oceanview stateroom can choose between a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom, which sleeps up to four cruisers, and a Deluxe Family Oceanview stateroom, which can accommodate up to five passengers.
Of course, the nicer the room, the higher the cost – but that’s not to say the bottom-ranked interior cabins aren’t nice.
I most recently stayed in an interior cabin onboard Disney Dream in 2022 with my husband, and the room still felt spacious. It also had a digital porthole screen that could show us a live stream of the current outside conditions and had an animated setting that let our favorite Disney and Pixar characters come visit us.
The exact stateroom pricing will vary by sailing and ship, but just to give a couple examples, I looked at bookings for the upcoming Disney Destiny and the first ship in the fleet, Disney Magic.
The Disney Destiny itinerary I explored was a 4-night Bahamian sailing based out of Fort Lauderdale, which is scheduled to embark on March 19, 2026.
Disney Destiny Booking
For this sailing, standard inside staterooms started at $3,314, Oceanview staterooms started at $3,570, verandah cabins started at $4,026, and concierge accommodations started at $8,194 – with all pricing at double occupancy.
Going from the hottest new ship to the oldest in the Disney Cruise Line fleet again seems to be a bit more budget-friendly.
For example, Disney Magic has a scheduled 6-night Bahamian sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Galveston, Texas, which will set sail on November 14, 2025. Even though this sailing is two days longer, the cruise fare is lower than the Disney Destiny voyage I looked at above.
For this cruise, inside cabins start at $2,280, Oceanview cabins start at $2,556, verandah cabins start at $3,204, and concierge suites start at $6,648.
If you’re looking for an upgrade but are hesitating due to the cost, it may also be worth letting Disney select your stateroom on your behalf. You’ll select a room type and be guaranteed accommodations in your chosen category (or a better one), but Disney will select your actual room.
You can choose your own stateroom at the time of booking – which is called a guaranteed cabin – but I have had friends and family save up to 35% by letting Disney assign their stateroom.
What is Included in the Cost of a Disney Cruise?
Disney Dream Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)
By now, it’s obviously no secret that the cost of cruising with Disney can be a hefty one – even for a short 3-night cruise. It’s true that Disney cruise costs tend to surpass other family friendly cruise lines.
On brands like Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, or Royal Caribbean, it is usually possible to find week-long itineraries at less than $1,000 per person – and shorter weekend getaway sailings for less.
That said, paying for a Disney Cruise also means you’re paying for an elevated – and dare I say magical – world class experience. Although many do opt to purchase extras (more on those later), the cruise fare covers pretty much everything a vacationer could need to have a great adventure at sea.
Included Dining from Disney Cruise Line
Kid’s counter at Marceline Market, Disney Treasure (Photo Credit: Carolyne Parent)
You’ll never go hungry on a Disney cruise! Included in the cruise fare is breakfast, lunch, dinner, many snacks, soft serve, and 24 hour room service – of which I am personally guilty of using to order ice cream and Mickey Bars to my stateroom in the middle of the night.
Hours may vary based on the sailing and cruise ship, but Disney ships offer both table service and a casual buffet – called Cabanas – for more quick and casual dining.
More quick service venues, which offer American favorites like burgers and pizza, can be found throughout the ships and on the pool deck / Lido deck.
At dinner time, Disney offers both an early and late seating time – with the earlier seating usually at 5:45 p.m. and the later at 8:15 p.m.
Each night, guests rotate to a new themed dining room – such as Animators Palate, Enchanted Garden, Triton’s, and Lumiere’s – for a different, magical dining experience.
Making the dining experience particularly unique is that the same waiters will cater to the same guests during the cruise each night, following their assigned parties to the different venues. This means that the crew members get very familiar with their passengers’ tastes and preferences.
For example, our waiter on Disney Dream identified my husband’s favorite soda and it was always waiting for him on the table when we sat down to dinner after the first night.
Speaking of drinks, water, coffee, tea, and soda is unlimited and included in the cost of the cruise – with no drink package purchases required (or even available). Only specialty drinks, such as alcoholic beverages, come with an additional charge.
Endless Entertainment onboard Disney Cruise Line
Photo Copyright: Disney / Kent Phillips
I could write an entire article just on the entertainment that is included with your Disney Cruise – for both adults and families.
Every sailing includes special themed parties, such as the famous Pirate Night (sometimes even with fireworks at sea), Broadway-style entertainment in the Walt Disney Theater nightly, and special character meetings with Disney princesses, Pixar favorites, and Marvel and Star Wars characters.
Many of the Fab Five, which includes Mickey Mouse and his friends, roam the ship for surprise meet and greets. For example, one night I spotted a sleepwalking Goofy, wearing his pajamas, while sailing on Disney Wonder when I was a kid.
There are also many other interactive activities happening around the ship on a daily basis, including Bingo, both family friendly and adults-only game shows, and my personal favorite to watch: The Disney Diaper Dash (or Jack Jack’s Incredible Diaper Dasher) where crawling babies race in the main atrium.
All Disney ships have themed pools as well, with family friendly spaces and the Quiet Cove Pool for adults only.
While Disney Magic and Disney Wonder have water slides, the newer ships have revolutionized the water slide experience with the introduction of the AquaDuck slide (on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy) and the AquaMouse (Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny).
Starting for kids 3 and up, the youth clubs (the Oceaneer Club, Edge, and Vibe) – where kids have fun under the supervision of trained counselors – are also included in the price of the cruise fare.
That said, the Small World Nursery for babies and toddlers between 6 months and 3 years old requires reservations and charges an hourly fee.
What IS NOT Included in the Cost of a Disney Cruise?
While Disney Cruises are generally regarded as all-inclusive, there are some optional extras and unavoidable expenses to keep in mind.
Getting to the Cruise Port
Disney Dream Docked in Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: denbaim)
First and foremost, don’t forget to consider the cost of actually getting to the cruise port. If you don’t live within driving distance, for example, you’ll need to factor airfare into your budget.
It’s also recommended to schedule flights so that you arrive at least one day before your sailing to lower the risk of missing your cruise ship due to unexpected delays, which means you’ll also need to consider hotel costs for at least one night.
If you are driving to the cruise port, make sure to factor in the cost of parking. Most of the cruise ports have a daily rate for cruise passengers, and some do require parking reservations to be made in advance.
Tipping the Crew Members
Disney Treasure Crew Member at the Kids Club (Photo Credit: Carolyne Parent)
It’s also highly encouraged to add gratuities for the hard working cast members (as Disney employees are called) who work hard to make your vacation magical.
As of January of 2025, pre-paid gratuities for Disney guests is set at $16 per person, per day for standard cabins and $27.25 per person, per day for concierge-level staterooms and suites.
Some cruisers also bring cash to tip the crew members in person for excellent service – either instead of or in addition to pre-paid gratuities, which are usually handled online prior to setting sail.
That said, pre-paid gratuities – and gratuities in general – are optional and up to each guest’s discretion.
Shore Excursions
Disney Dream Passengers Heading Ashore in Nassau (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough)
While it’s often possible to explore the ports on the itinerary without a tour or guide, many cruisers find that shore excursions are the best way to take advantage of their time in the destination.
Disney Cruise Line offers excursions online prior to embarkation day and at the Port Adventures Desk once onboard – with the price depending on the activity and destination.
Some private vendors may also offer excursions at a lower rate, but the advantage of booking through Disney is the knowledge that the vendors have been pre-vetted.
Unless there is an unusually extreme delay, the Disney ships will also wait for guests on excursions booked through the cruise line, while they will not wait for late guests who opt to explore on their own.
Specialty Experiences and Shopping Onboard
Disney Cruise Line Palo
While much is included in the cost of the Disney Cruise, there are some optional extras that can make a voyage extra magical.
For families with kids, that might include a makeover experience at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Packages to turn kids into their favorite princess, knights, or sea captains, start at $99.95.
Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy also offer a special Royal Court Royal Tea, where kids ages 3-12 get to enjoy tea with their favorite Disney princesses. The cost for this experience is $250 for kids and $75 for adults.
Meanwhile, adults may want to invest in spa treatments or specialty dining experiences onboard – which are a great way to reconnect and rekindle their romance during their cruise.
Specialty dining venues like Palo, Palo’s Steakhouse, Remy, and Enchanté offer fine dining experiences for guests over 18.
They come with an extra flat rate fee for the meal (between $50 to $200 per person, depending on the restaurant). But any alcohol or specialty cocktails consumed during the meal, and some specialty items on the menu, will also come at an extra cost.
And of course, make sure to leave some budget for shopping! Not only does Disney have some great shops onboard, but there is no shortage of souvenirs to purchase while in port.
When I was most recently on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, I think I spent nearly $100 at one store in under ten minutes.
Onboard Wi-Fi
Disney Magic Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia)
If you want to continue to use devices like cellphones and laptops at sea, you’ll need to invest in an onboard Wi-Fi package.
Disney currently offers three different packages depending on your internet needs, which includes the “Stay Connected” plan ($16 per day), the “Basic Surf” plan ($24 per day), and the top tier “Premium Surf” plan ($34 per day).
It’s also important to make sure phones are turned off or on airplane mode to avoid being hit with huge roaming charges from your cell service provider upon your return.
There’s no denying that Disney cruises are pricey, but that doesn’t mean they have to be out of reach. The following tips can help you save money the next time you book a Disney Cruise – and may even carry over to the other cruise lines.
First, be strategic about when you book. Usually, cruises are at their most affordable when they are booked very far out or just before the sailing when the cruise line may offer deals to try to sell the remaining capacity. After all, it’s better for business to sell some cabins at a discount than to leave them empty!
Similarly, there are certain times of year when the cruise lines might be more likely to offer discounts or extra perks (i.e., lower deposit, onboard credits), such as during the holidays or Wave Season.
For context, Wave Season lasts from January to March annually and is like an extended Black Friday event for the cruise lines – where many brands offer their best deals of the year.
It may also be worth working with a reputable travel agent, who may have access to discounts that are not available to the general public.
Last but not least, consider opening a Disney Visa credit card. Cardholders get discounts while onboard, including 10% off photo packages, 10% off shore excursions at Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and 20% off some spa treatments.
That said, many credit cards do offer the chance to earn points with purchases, which might be redeemable to help cover the cruise or other travel expenses.
The Bottom Line: Is Disney Cruise Line Worth the Cost?
Mickey and Minnie Mouse Welcome Disney Treasure
This is a question that every cruiser will have to answer for themselves, but in my experience, my Disney cruises were worth every penny. I find the quality of the entertainment, food, and customer service to be elevated compared to what I have experienced while sailing with other cruise lines.
Of course, my experience is unique, and others may feel differently from me. For example, I embarked on my first cruise as a big fan of Disney – and my love for the brand has only grown. If you’re not a Disney fan, you might not see the same magic that I do.
That said, if your biggest desire is to take a Disney cruise, it’s definitely possible to save and look for deals to make your dream cruise possible.
A nostalgic final chapter began this past weekend for Royal Caribbean’s former cruise ship, the Song of America, as it reached its final resting place at the Alang Shipbreaking Yard in India – around 6,500 nautical miles from the Wartsila Hietalahti shipyard in Finland where she was crafted.
The vessel, the fourth-ever ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, has been a familiar sight on the high seas for four decades since it debuted in 1982. Now, the ship will go through a meticulous dismantling and recycling breakdown, marking her official end.
Renamed in 2024 as the Bella Fortuna, or Fortu, for short, the vessel embarked on her final journey on January 22, 2025, sailing from Port Ras Al Khaimah in the U.A.E. to the west coast of India, where she arrived around 3:30 p.m. on February 1.
The ship’s pilot utilized the high tide at Alang’s beach on the Gulf of Khambhat, which reached 35.43 feet by 6:58 p.m., to get the vessel as far onto the beach as possible, operating at a controlled speed to purposely push the ship inland.
Once beached, anchors and chains were used to stabilize the ship, as the tide receded to less than 5 feet just before 2 a.m. on February 2.
Measuring just over 703 feet in length with a beam of 107 feet, onlookers were on hand to witness the ship’s arrival, with work immediately underway to dismantle it.
The former Song of America is now undergoing a labor-intensive break down at Alang Shipbreaking, which could take scrappers anywhere from 2 weeks to several months to complete.
Besides removing its steel and metal to be recycled, possibly to be used in the construction of a new ship, workers are draining the vessel of any fuel and oils it contains.
Former Song of America Beached in India
Any other hazardous materials like asbestos and hydrocarbons will be identified, packaged, and safely removed to avoid environmental contamination.
Video of the ship’s interior shows it is fully outfitted with furnishings, like chairs, tables, and beds, which scrappers will remove for resale and reuse. Valuable materials, such as electronics, wiring, piping, and the like, will also be stripped from the vessel and recycled.
After this, the ship’s hull will be cut into sections, much as the ship was constructed in sections, for recycling.
The Many Lives of Fortu
Although Bella Fortuna began gloriously as Song of America, it has faced a number of changes over its more than four decades at sea. The vessel was sold in 1999 to UK-based Airtours, where she was renamed Sunbird.
It then joined Thomson Cruises, also based in the UK, in 2005, as Thomson Destiny, and then became a charter vessel for Louis Cruise Lines for two years, even housing Olympic athletes during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.
After which, she found a new home with Celestyal Cruises, once again receiving a new name, the Celestyal Olympia.
The 37,800-gross-ton, 1,664-passenger Celestyal Olympia enjoyed 10 years with the cruise line, often sailing the Greek Isles, before it was sold to an unidentified buyer and receiving her final moniker.
However, Fortu didn’t welcome passengers, instead spending four months docked in Turkey and then another eight months docked in the U.A.E.
Yet another Carnival cruise ship is moving up the homeport departure time for more than 100 upcoming sailings. Now, Carnival Celebration will begin her sail away party celebrations 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled, as her departure times have been changed.
Guests booked on upcoming sailings as soon as March 2025 have been notified of the change, and itineraries are being updated on the cruise line’s website to reflect the new departure time.
“We have revised departure time for your cruise and now plan to sail from Miami at 3:30 PM (instead of 4:00 PM) eastern time,”the notification read.
Guests are advised that they need to be onboard Carnival Celebration no later than the final boarding time that will be printed on their boarding pass in order for the ship to depart as now planned.
Because downtown Miami is often the site of festivals and events, such as the Miami Marathon in early February, the Ultra Music Festival in March, and more, travelers need to be aware of potential traffic concerns or road closures as they head to the cruise port.
Even the 30-minute change in Carnival Celebration‘s departure could make a difference for guests who plan to board the ship later in the afternoon. Allowing enough time to reach the terminal will be essential to ensure travelers do not miss their cruise vacation.
The first impacted sailing that will now have the earlier 3:30 p.m. departure time is Carnival Celebration‘s March 2, 2025 departure – a 7-night Eastern Caribbean voyage visiting Grand Turk, Amber Cove, and Nassau.
Every 2025, 2026, and 2027 that is currently online and available for reservations is changed in the same way, and all of Carnival Celebration‘s future cruises will now be leaving 30 minutes early.
At the moment, this includes a total of 105 upcoming sailings, through and including the ship’s March 21, 2027 sailing.
The 183,521-gross-ton, Excel-class Carnival Celebration offers a mix of Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries, with more Eastern routes on her schedule. Depending on the departure date, the ship visits such top ports as San Juan, St. Thomas, Nassau, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and more.
More Than 750 Carnival Sailings Now Moved Up
Carnival Cruise Line has issued a rush of similar changes to different ships in different homeports over the past few weeks.
Ships so far impacted with earlier departure times include Carnival Firenze from Long Beach, California; Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral, Florida; Carnival Paradise from Tampa, Florida; Carnival Horizon along with Carnival Celebration from Miami, Florida; Carnival Pride from Baltimore, Maryland; and Carnival Spirit from Mobile, Alabama as well as Seattle, Washington.
Each ship has had dozens of departures moved up by 30 minutes. While Carnival Cruise Line has not offered details about exactly why the departures will now be earlier, there could be several explanations.
Carnival Celebration Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Just dance)
The growing use of facial recognition technology at many homeports has dramatically improved debarkation efficiency, which means successive cruises can begin embarkation earlier than ever. Once guests are onboard, the ship can be cleared to set sail.
Similarly, greater efficiency in port operations may permit loading and unloading of supplies, waste, and luggage onto ships more quickly, meaning vessels are ready to go sooner than expected.
When cruise ships can leave port earlier, they may be able to reduce the port fees and taxes, creating savings for the cruise line that can also be passed on to guests.
The real good news for guests onboard any of these now-earlier sailings, however, is that their cruise vacations get to begin just that much more quickly.
Thirty extra minutes of fun onboard a Carnival cruise ship is plenty of time to grab an extra Guy’s burger, enjoy the embarkation-day-only Funfetti cheesecake (have a second slice, you’re on vacation!), take an exciting lap on the Bolt rollercoaster, and much more!
Humid conditions across Florida have created heavy fog at two ports of call on Monday, February 3, 2025, impacting two Carnival cruise ships. Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise have both had delays, but to different degrees.
Carnival Elation is homeported from Jacksonville and is finishing a 4-night Bahamas itinerary. Due to fog that made navigation up the St. Johns River tricky in the early hours of Monday morning, the ship was slightly delayed.
Fortunately, the impact on Carnival Elation was minimal and the ship was able to dock after the fog lightened. While embarking guests will also be slightly delayed, there should be no impact on the ship’s next itinerary, a 5-night Bahamas sailing to both Nassau and Freeport.
Unfortunately, the delay is more extensive for Carnival Paradise, as the fog is much thicker in the Tampa Bay area and the US Coast Guard (USCG) has temporarily closed the port.
“Due to heavy fog, the arrival of the Carnival Paradise has been delayed. The decision to delay the arrival was made in an abundance of caution by the US Coast Guard, due to low visibility in the area,”Port Tampa Bay confirmed.
Carnival Paradise is returning from 4-night Western Caribbean itinerary that visited Cozumel, Mexico. The ship’s next sailing is a 5-night Bahamas cruise to visit Bimini and Nassau.
Carnival Cruise Line has been in touch with guests booked on today’s departure to update them about the delay. At this time, there is no confirmed time for Carnival Paradise to dock at Cruise Terminal 3.
“Port of Tampa remains closed due to fog. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide another update by 12:00 PM (ET),”the latest text update read.“Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received our final update. Thanks for your understanding.”
At the moment, Carnival Paradise is holding position outside the entrance to Tampa Bay, as it is not navigationally safe for the ship to proceed into the bay.
Once the USCG determines the fog has cleared enough for the ship to enter the bay, it will take 2-3 hours for Carnival Paradise to reach the cruise terminal. That transit time is normal, and the ship would usually be making that journey in the early hours of the morning.
Passengers Being Kept Busy While They Wait
Guests onboard have confirmed very heavy fog and minimal visibility. They are still permitted to remain in their staterooms, and all onboard systems and activities are proceeding as planned.
The ship’s Cruise Director and Fun Squad team are undoubtedly offering new activities for travelers to enjoy as they wait out the fog delay. Furthermore, many of the ship’s venues – pools, miniature golf, etc. – remain open and available for guests.
At some point, guests will be asked to vacate their staterooms and wait in public areas so the housekeeping teams can begin turning over cabins in preparation for the next cruise.
Carnival Elation in Fog (Photo Credit: SeregaSibTravel / Shutterstock)
Turnover day – when one group of guests is debarking and another group is beginning their cruise – is always chaotic, and the fog adds an extra complication to the process.
Guests onboard should take the opportunity to enjoy their extra time onboard and be patient with the ship’s 900 crew members as they all try to make this difficult situation as smooth as possible.
Fog is a common occurrence for Port Tampa Bay, especially in the winter months when cooler air from the north interacts with the warm waters of the bay, creating very dense fog banks.
Guests with any Carnival Paradise sailings booked in the winter should be mindful of weather conditions and stay in close communication with Carnival Cruise Line in case of delays and itinerary adjustments.
A back-to-back cruise on the same ship can be a great way to build a customized cruise itinerary and enjoy a longer cruise vacation. But what about when there is an illness outbreak onboard? How does that affect guests continuing on the vessel’s next sailing?
This is the situation some travelers are encountering aboard Sky Princess as the ship battles a gastrointestinal illness that is affecting both passengers and crew members.
The impacted cruise is the ship’s January 26, 2025 departure. Homeported from Fort Lauderdale, Sky Princess is first sailing a Western Caribbean itinerary that included stops in Princess Cays, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.
Guests onboard were informed of the illness outbreak through announcements just two days after setting sail. Travelers were urged to be diligent about proper and frequent handwashing and to report any symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea, and to isolate themselves if they were ill.
Furthermore, as the ship was docked in Ocho Rios, Jamaica on Wednesday, January 29, it underwent “a comprehensive ship-wide cleaning and disinfection program” that included stripping all stateroom linens and other strong measures.
Guests were asked to disembark the ship and enjoy their time in Jamaica or else be prepared to vacate their stateroom when requested so the cleaning could proceed most efficiently.
Now, Sky Princess is once again being deep cleaned during her turnaround day in Fort Lauderdale, when one set of guests disembarks at the end of their sailing and another group boards the ship to begin their vacation.
A letter was provided to guests onboard who are passengers for both sailings in a back-to-back adventure.
“As you are aware, a small number of cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported during our cruise. Although most guests have been unaffected, we proactively launched a comprehensive disinfection program developed in coordination with international health authorities,”the letter summarized.
“As a cautionary measure, the ship will undergo additional disinfection while in Fort Lauderdale. To ensure a comprehensive cleaning is achieved during this call, we request your cooperation in vacating the ship from the hours of 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.”
Sky Princess returned to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, February 2, for that deep cleaning and cruise turnaround.
For this round of disinfections, guests were not given the option to remain aboard the ship in public areas, as was possible while in Ocho Rios.
A variety of options were made available to back-to-back guests, however. Princess Cruises provided a complimentary shuttle bus to the nearby beach with drop offs every 20-30 minutes. A variety of shore excursions were also available for booking.
Guests could also choose to wait in the cruise terminal building until the disinfection was complete, at which time they were permitted back aboard.
An onboard credit of $30 (USD) was provided for each guest to compensate for any meals or snacks ashore during the mandatory debarkation.
There was no impact to the ship’s departure from Fort Lauderdale for her next cruise, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary with calls to Princess Cays, San Juan, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk.
Why No Report to the CDC?
At this time, there has been no official report of the Sky Princess outbreak to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This report may be in process, or it may be that the number of cases being reported aboard the ship do not yet meet the threshold for such a report.
Sky Princess can welcome 3,660 guests aboard, so this would mean 110 cases of the illness among guests if the ship is fully booked. Similarly, there would need to be 40 cases reported among the ship’s 1,346 crew members to warrant an official report to the CDC.
CDC Facility (Photo Credit: Tada Images)
Because the most recent letter specifically describes the situation onboard as “a small number of cases,” it is possible those 3% thresholds have not yet been reached. The rigorous cleaning can help ensure any contamination and spread is minimized, and an official outbreak report may not be necessary.
January 2025 has already been a rough month for cruise ships impacted by gastrointestinal outbreaks. Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess as well as Holland America Line’s Volendam have both reported norovirus outbreaks.
Small ships are not immune to outbreaks either, as Viking Cruises’ Viking Mars and Silversea Cruises’ Silver Ray have both reported outbreaks. While the incident on Viking Mars has not yet had a causative agent identified, Silver Ray‘s situation was caused by E. coli.
The first outbreak of the year was aboard Sea Cloud Cruises’ Sea Cloud Spirit and presumed to be ciguatera, a foodborne illness from contaminated fish. That outbreak was confined to crew members.
