What Is Included on a Disney Cruise and What Isn’t (2027)

Disney cruises often seem more expensive than other cruise lines, but they offer exceptional value for families. Curious about what’s included on a Disney cruise? The base price covers most essentials for a magical getaway, though some extras may require additional budgeting. That bundling is also why a Disney cruise can cost less than Disney World on some trips. This guide breaks down what’s included and what isn’t so you can plan with confidence.

Note: This article was last updated October 2026 with the latest details for 2027 sailings, including Palo’s new à la carte dinner pricing, the Disney Adventure, and current Wi-Fi and gratuity information. Pricing and policies can change, so check with your Vacationeer travel planner before you sail.

What IS Included in Your Disney Cruise Fare

Here is what is included in the cruise fare quoted to you by Disney Cruise Line or your Travel Agent:

✔️ Staterooms: Included

Not surprisingly, your stateroom accommodations (cabins) are included in the price of a Disney cruise. Guests will receive the following standard amenities at no additional cost:

• Split bathrooms (most staterooms)
• Complimentary bath, shower, and spa toiletries
• TV and in-room movies
• Mini-fridge
• Hairdryer
• Plenty of storage space for luggage
• Privacy curtains dividing the primary bed area from the living area (most staterooms)
• Housekeeping services (two times a day)

When you book a Disney cruise, you’re not just booking a vacation; you’re booking an experience. Part of that experience is spending time in one of Disney Cruise Line’s innovative and modern staterooms.

Each stateroom on a Disney cruise ship is designed with your family in mind. Whether you choose a cozy cabin or an extravagant suite, your family will have just about everything they need.

Standard amenities include split bathrooms in most staterooms (privacy curtains make getting ready easier for everyone), ample luggage storage, a refrigerator, a hairdryer, a television, in-room movies, and twice-daily housekeeping with turndown service.

Disney provides premium bath, shower, and spa toiletries in every bathroom (note: H2O Plus products were phased out; current offerings may vary by ship), so you won’t need to pack your own. It’s all included in your cruise fare.

✔️ Dining: Included

Food is one of the best things about a Disney cruise. Lucky for you, food is included in the cost of a Disney cruise. Here are the highlights:

• Meals at one of three themed dining restaurants
• Buffets and quick-service dining options
• Complimentary soda, tea, coffee, and water in the dining rooms and on the deck
• “All-you-care-to-enjoy” soft-serve ice cream
• Room service is available 24/7

You’ll have access to three elaborately themed Main Dining restaurants, quick-service dining, 24-hour room service, and all-you-can-enjoy soft-serve ice cream. Complimentary tea, coffee, and soda are also available on the deck and in the dining rooms. It’s a perk of cruising with Disney, as most cruise lines charge extra. And for a late-night snack, head to the adult nightclubs and lounges.

All of this is “free” because it’s included in your Disney cruise fare. So whether you’re a picky eater or just looking for something different, you’ll find something to suit your taste on a Disney cruise. Enjoy themed dining rooms, casual dining, poolside snacks, and 24-hour room service.

Here is a further breakdown of what’s included when it comes to dining on Disney Cruises:

⚠️ Restaurants and Buffets: Partially Included

All meals in the main dining rooms on Disney’s cruises are free, and you can order as much food as you want. This includes your nightly dinner rotation, as well as breakfast and lunch.

The specialty restaurants reserved exclusively for adults, such as Remy and Palo, are not part of the Disney cruise package. See further below for more details.

✔️ Meals on Castaway Cay Island: Included

The cost of a Disney cruise includes meals at Castaway Cay restaurants and soft drinks at their soda stations. The same goes for Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Disney’s newer destination on the island of Eleuthera. See our Castaway Cay Tips article for more on this exclusive Disney island paradise.

⚠️ Beverages: Partially Included

Disney cruises offer unlimited free soda, coffee, tea, milk, juice, and water at meals. The pool deck also has a few free all-you-can-drink soda stations.

Alcohol, specialty drinks, and bottled beverages are extra (see below for more details).

✔️ Self-Serve Ice Cream: Included

The pool deck features a self-service ice cream machine. You can eat as much as you want, and it’s free. The kids will love this feature, and so will you!

✔️ Room Service Items: Included

You can order room service 24/7 for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks as part of your cruise fare. The one exception is the Disney Adventure, which adds a $5 delivery fee plus an 18% gratuity to each order (continental breakfast ordered with the door-hanger card and orders from Concierge staterooms are exempt).

On every ship except the Disney Adventure, room service meals are free and no gratuity is added, so tipping the delivery staff is customary and appreciated.

✔️ Cruise Entertainment and Activities: Included

Disney Cruise Line’s entertainment offerings are impressive! This is Disney, after all!

The ship features spectacular fireworks, professional musicals, festive deck parties, and the latest Disney movies in 3D. There are numerous activities and experiences included in the cost of a Disney cruise, including:

• Nightly entertainment
• Spectacular stage performances
• First-run and classic Disney movies on the deck or in a state-of-the-art theatre
• Immersive kids’ clubs with well-trained Youth Coordinators on hand
• Bars, lounges, and nightclubs that are exclusively for adults
• Deck parties featuring unique themes and your favorite Disney characters
• Disney Character meet-and-greets at select onboard locations

Let’s take a closer look at what entertainment and activities are included on a Disney cruise.

✔️ Disney Movies and Theater Shows: Included

Movies and performances at Walt Disney Theatre and Buena Vista Theatre are free on Disney cruise ships.

Walt Disney Theatre, Disney Cruise Line’s majestic performance venue, presents Broadway-caliber productions every evening. You will experience everything from original Disney musicals to full-feature films to fun variety acts with comedians, jugglers, singers, and hypnotists. This glitzy theatre at sea is the ultimate venue for live performances!

Buena Vista Theatre is a beautiful Art Deco movie theater where you can watch the latest blockbusters during your cruise. Designed in the Art Deco style, the lavish cinema plays first-run films, popular motion picture releases, and Disney classics.

Again, there is no admission fee because your Disney cruise fare covers it.

✔️ Pools and Waterslides: Included

There’s no need to worry about paying to use the pools and water slides on Disney cruise ships because they’re included.

✔️ Fitness Centers: Included

All Disney cruise ships include free fitness centers with weights, treadmills, and other equipment, plus free changing rooms and showers.

✔️ Sports and Games: Included

On Disney cruises, there is free basketball, mini-golf, ping pong, shuffleboard, and board games in the lounges.

⚠️ Character Meet and Greets: Partially Included

You can’t go on a Disney Cruise without meeting your favorite Disney Characters. Standard Disney character meet-and-greets are free on Disney cruises; however, some character meetings require advance booking.

Do you have questions about what’s included in a Disney cruise, or are you ready to book your next family vacation? Contact the DCL experts at The Vacationeer. Their services are 100% free to you and oh-so-helpful!

⚠️ Castaway Cay: Partially Included

If your cruise stops at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, you’ll be happy to know that the lounge chairs, beach umbrellas, and on-island dining are included in Disney cruise fares. Plus, the Castaway Cay 5k race is free.

Most arranged activities, equipment rentals, and specialty beverages will cost extra. See below for more details.

✔️ Kids Clubs (ages 3 to 17): Included

You can find free entertainment for kids, tweens, and teens at Disney’s youth clubs. These themed play spaces include Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab, Edge for tweens, and Vibe (or Hideaway on Wish-class ships) for teens. It’s no wonder Disney is the best cruise line for kids!

What is NOT Included in Your Disney Cruise Fare

Here is a list of extra expenses you may incur on a Disney cruise, not included in your cruise fare:

❌ Airfare and Ground Transfers: Not Included

Disney does not provide free transportation to the cruise ship. The guest must pay for airfare and ground transfers to the Disney cruise port. Some departure ports, such as Port Canaveral and Galveston, are quite far from the nearest airport, so transportation can be a notable expense. If you’re driving to the port, you’ll be responsible for any fees charged to park there during your cruise.

❌ Specialty Restaurants: Not Included

Remy, Palo, Palo Steakhouse, Palo Trattoria, and Enchanté are upscale fine-dining restaurants that aren’t included in cruise fares. On the Disney Adventure, the family-friendly Mike and Sulley’s Flavors of Asia is also a premium restaurant with an extra charge. These restaurants require extra charges for meals, drinks, and gratuities.

Are these specialty restaurants worth the extra charge?

Remy: Besides having some of the most fabulous dining options on a Disney ship, Remy is an adults-only restaurant serving French cuisine on the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy. It’s worth the price if you want an upscale dining experience.

Palo: Palo is an elegant adults-only restaurant offered in one form or another on every Disney cruise ship. On the classic ships, Palo serves traditional Northern Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist. Definitely worth the splurge if you love Italian food (who doesn’t?)! On the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny, it’s known as Palo Steakhouse, with a menu that keeps the Italian flair but adds the highest-quality beef available; on the Disney Adventure, it’s Palo Trattoria. Brunch is a $55 prix-fixe meal, while dinner is now à la carte, so you pay for each dish you order.

Enchanté: Chef Arnaud Lallement, a recipient of three Michelin Stars, helms this world-class, luxurious dining onboard the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny.

❌ Gratuity (Tips): Not Included

Tipping your cruise staff members is expected, but these expenses are not included in the base package. 

Your stateroom attendant and your dining room staff (server, assistant server, and head server) are assigned to you for the duration of your cruise. Concierge Guests also benefit from the services of the concierge lounge staff and an assistant stateroom attendant.

To simplify tipping, Disney sets a suggested gratuity amount based on the length of your cruise and the number of people sailing: currently $16.00 per guest, per night in standard staterooms and $27.25 per guest, per night in Concierge staterooms and suites. You can:

• Prepay this suggested amount before your cruise, or…
• Disney will automatically charge the suggested amount to your room folio on the final day of your cruise.

If you want to use cash instead, or pay more or less than the suggested amount, you can visit the Guest Services desk to adjust the amount charged to your folio.

Bar, beverage, spa, and specialty dining purchases have an automatic 18% gratuity added to the bill. For more information, visit our complete guide to gratuities on Disney Cruise Line.

❌ Bottled Beverages: Not Included

Drinks like sodas and water are free with meals and at the soda stations, but bottled beverages will cost extra. If you find yourself ordering bottled water or bottled soda by the pool, be aware that it’s customary to tip your server.

❌ Alcohol, Smoothies, and Other Specialty Drinks: Not Included

Alcoholic drinks cost extra on Disney cruises, as do mocktails, fruit smoothies, and specialty coffees. The soda stations are free, but expect to pay for most drinks at bars, cafés, and poolside venues.

❌ Popcorn, Peanuts, and other Snacks: Not Included

Food items like popcorn, peanuts, and packaged snacks are available for purchase around the ship and outside the theaters.

❌ Royal Court Royal Tea: Not Included

This unique tea party celebration is one of the premier character dining experiences on Disney Cruise Line. It includes two delicious courses, gifts, storytelling, and face-to-face interactions with Disney princesses. It’s offered on the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy, and costs about $275 per child (ages 3-12) and $75 per accompanying adult.

❌ Shore Excursions: Not Included

Disney Cruise Line contracts with local tour guides to give visitors a taste of local life. These shore excursions (also called Port Adventures) cost extra. You may choose to book shore excursions independently if you want a more personalized experience (or to save money). Don’t forget to get back on the ship before it leaves!

Note: There’s no charge to leave the ship at any port of call during the cruise. If you don’t want to pay for a guided experience, you can still freely walk around the port/city, perhaps enjoy a meal at a local restaurant, and do some shopping and sightseeing on the cheap.

❌ Senses Spa & Salon: Not Included

In an elegant spa with ocean views, the Senses Spa & Salon offers a variety of beauty treatments and salon services. You can choose from a wide range of spa and beauty treatments, including massages, facials, body wraps, aromatherapy, manicures, pedicures, teeth whitening, hair styling, and men’s grooming services.

Spa and salon services are not included on Disney cruises. Prices vary by service, and gratuity is suggested.

Note: On the Disney Adventure, the spa is called Infinite Bliss Spa – Elemis at Sea, but the same rule applies: treatments cost extra.

❌ Souvenirs: Not Included

It’s probably no surprise to anyone that souvenirs from gift shops are not included in the price of a Disney cruise.

⚠️ Internet: Partially Included

Guests can connect to Wi-Fi to use the Disney Cruise Line Navigator at no charge; you don’t need to purchase connectivity if that’s the only app you want to use while onboard.

But typical internet use isn’t included in your cruise fare. Checking email, scrolling and posting on social media, backing up photos from your phone, and watching the occasional video all require one of the Disney Cruise Wi-Fi packages.

Packages are now the same across the fleet and are priced per 24 hours based on how you plan to use the internet. A standard package covers browsing, email, messaging, and social media, while a premium package adds video and music streaming. Each package connects one device at a time, though you can switch between devices.

❌ Laundry: Not Included

Self-serve laundry is available (but not included) on every Disney cruise ship.

The machines are small, but guests can do loads in 45 minutes for a few dollars a load. There is a vending machine stocked with soap and dryer sheets for purchase.

There’s no charge to use the irons provided in the laundry rooms; Guests cannot bring travel irons to use in staterooms.

Dry cleaning and laundry services are also available on the cruise for an additional charge.

⚠️ Photography: Partially Included

Disney Cruise Line’s professional photographers will capture your magical cruise moments while your focus is on having fun. However, while it’s free to have your photo taken, purchasing the photo packages can be expensive.

You can save money by having a Cast Member take pictures using your own camera. They will do it for you for free.

❌ Castaway Cay Rentals & Alcohol: Not Included

There are lots of free things for you to do on Castaway Cay, but you can also rent bikes, snorkeling equipment, watercraft, and private cabanas for an additional fee.

Alcoholic drinks, mocktails, and refreshing specialty drinks are available for purchase at any of Castaway Cay’s bars.

❌ Nursery Care (6 months to 3 years old): Not Included

The “it’s a small world” nursery! provides childcare for a fee, typically around:

• $4.50 per half-hour for the first child
• $4.00 per half-hour for any additional children in your family

Note: Availability may differ by ship or sailing date. Please contact Disney Cruise Line or The Vacationeer for the latest status.

❌ Calls to Shore: Not Included

There is a per-minute charge for making phone calls from the cruise ship to home (or any other location on the shore). It’s not cheap (several dollars per minute), but you can use it if you need to.

❌ Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique: Not Included

Every Disney cruise ship has an onboard salon that provides elaborate princess, prince, and pirate makeovers (perfect for theme nights such as Pirate Night). The salon offers hair, nail, makeup, and costuming services. None of these services are free, of course.

Still have questions about what’s included in your Disney Cruise?

Contact The Vacationeer for free assistance with your Disney Cruise.

If you’re looking for a Disney cruise departing from Florida or elsewhere, they’ll share Disney cruise tips and ways to save money on your Disney cruise. They also offer one of the best Disney onboard credit promotions available, with up to $1,000!

Contact them today for a free, no-obligation price quote. You won’t regret it!