08/19/2026
One of the first questions families ask me about a Disney Cruise is: βOkay...but what are we going to spend once we're actually ON the ship?β π
And that's an especially important conversation when we're talking about a big family trip where everyone may have a different budget.
The good news is that quite a bit is already included in your Disney Cruise fare.
Your stateroom, rotational dining, casual dining and most snacks, soft drinks from the beverage stations and during meals, Broadway-style shows, movies, deck parties, pools, character experiences and the Oceaneer Club and Lab for kids are all part of your cruise fare.
So you absolutely do NOT need to spend a fortune onboard to have a great vacation.
But there are extras you can choose to add.
Things like adult-exclusive dining, alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, spa treatments, internet packages, Port Adventures, professional photos and, of course, whatever damage you decide to do in the gift shops. π
And this is one of the conversations I think is especially important with multigenerational groups.
Before you sail, everyone should know what's already covered and what's going to be an individual expense. Grandma doesn't need to discover halfway through the cruise that she's somehow funding everyone's cocktails and Mickey ears. π
When I'm helping a family plan a Disney Cruise, we're not just looking at the price on the original quote. I want you to understand what the whole vacation is realistically going to cost.
Are you someone who wants to pre-plan your vacation budget down to the dollar, or are you more of a "we'll deal with the credit card statement when we get home" traveler? ππ