Is There a Military Discount for Disney Cruises?

Disney’s promotional tickets and ‘Armed Forces Salute’ are a great way of showing military personnel appreciation at its theme parks, but what about on Disney cruise ships? Disney Cruise Line does offer occasional military discounts, but they are typically on select sail dates and for select room types, rather than a standing promotion that’s good for a certain percentage off of any travel dates.

These discounted staterooms are offered to active and retired U.S. military employees and their spouses to help them enjoy the Disney experience.  Some other groups may also be able to enjoy discounts (see below) – if you’re eligible, it makes sense to start looking for the best place to book a Disney Cruise.

Depending on the details of the discount plan, these military deals may include offers of cruises to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Europe, and more.

Requirements for Military Personnel to Get Discounts 

Discounted prices typically apply to current service members; their spouses; veterans who were honorably discharged and/or retired; and those who are currently on 100% permanent service-connected disability. Other groups that may be able to enjoy discounts on Disney Cruises and/or Disney Theme Park Tickets include:

• current and retired Public Health Service employees
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps (NOAACC)
• military personnel from other nations and their families (as long as they are assigned to work within the various U.S. military units)
• reservists of the National Guard and Army Reserve
• surviving spouses of ex-military personnel who died while they were still on active duty or while they were on retirement

Check with Disney Cruise Line or your Travel Agent to ensure you’re qualified.

Passengers need to provide proof of service, such as a military ID.  Rates have traditionally been announced within thirty to sixty days before each departure, though lately they seem to be showing up much further in advance.  Regardless, you might find that some discounts may not be available until the cruise has already entered the cancellation penalty window – meaning you’re at some risk of losing money to cancellation fees should your plans change.

The military discount typically excludes other discounts or promotions on the cruise. And additional charges may apply for each individual. Military personnel can only book a single Disney Cruise stateroom when using discounted rates—any additional staterooms are paid for at the usual price. 

Like virtually any other Disney Cruise Line discount, the military discounts are based on expected open space on individual cruises. So if you want a military discount on cruises in this instance, you may have to be flexible about when you plan to travel.

Because these deals come and go, you can check Disney’s official website for new sailings, usually posted on Mondays. You can also sign up to receive military updates about available discounts, or speak to your travel agent or military reseller to find any current offers.

Disney Military Salute Ticket

We briefly mentioned military discounts at the theme parks; those traveling to Florida or Anaheim and interested in discounted Disney tickets should check out the Disney Military Salute ticket.

Current offers for 2022 at Walt Disney World in Florida include a five-Day Disney Military Salute Ticket which costs $349 plus tax, and a four-Day Disney Military Salute Ticket which costs $329 plus tax.

This is especially attractive for those who wish to spend some time at Walt Disney World before or after their Bahamian or Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to keep in mind that military offers for Disney Cruise trips are limited to one stateroom per military member or spouse per sailing, and a U.S. military service member or spouse must be present on the cruise ship to utilize any special military offer. Additionally, military discount offers cannot be combined with any other offers, are valid for new bookings only, and are applicable only to active and retired members of the U.S. military, or their spouses, who can show proof of military service.

We hope this information helps you to plan your trip.  Happy sailing, and we thank you for your service!