Tag: Cruises

Disney Castaway Club Level Changes

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line just introduced two big changes to its Castaway Club levels, the sailing loyalty club. The check-in day is now staggered for each level and the new Pearl level benefits have started. You will reach Pearl level after you complete your 25th cruise.

You are automatically a member of the Castaway Club after you complete your 1st Disney cruise. You don’t have to manually join anything. Then, you are considered a member of the corresponding level as you book anything for the cruise number indicated below in parenthesis. The different levels grant you different benefits for bookings and more.

New Check-in Days:

Pearl (26th+ cruise) – 40 days
Platinum (11th-25th cruise) – 38 days
Gold (6th-10th cruise) – 35 days
Silver (2nd-5th cruise) – 33 days
1st Disney Cruise – 30 days

Before this change, everyone started checking in for their cruise 30 days before sailing, so that often bogged down their site and many folks were left frustrated, especially if they stayed up til midnight ET to do it. Now, each level starts on a different day, so hopefully, spreading it out will help improve the process.

If you have a sailing coming up in the next 30-40 days, check your reservation to see if it reflects your new check-in date yet. You want to check in as soon as you can, once your window opens at midnight ET of that day, so you can pick an early port arrival time. The more time on the ship, the better!

Activity Booking Days:

The check-in day is different from the day when you can book your excursions and onboard activities. That is already staggered by Castaway Club level.

Pearl (26th+ cruise) – 123 days
Platinum (11th-25th cruise) – 120 days
Gold (6th-10th cruise) – 105 days
Silver (2nd-5th cruise) – 90 days
1st Disney Cruise – 75 days

You have to be paid in full by that day to book anything. Some of the most popular onboard activities like alcohol testings, adult specialty restaurants, and port excursions can fill up quickly, so make your bookings as soon as your window opens.

For details on how the DCL check-in process works, visit my Online Check-in page.

As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you want to chat about booking a cruise.

Bon voyage!

Disney Cruise Line Summer 2024 Itineraries Announced

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line has announced the sailing itineraries for Summer 2024 (late May – late Sept). Bookings begin on different days next week, starting Monday, March 27, 2023, for different levels of Castaway Cay members and other Disney affinity groups. General members (those who have never sailed on a Disney cruise) can book on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

  • March 27 – Platinum Castaway Club & Golden Oak Club
  • March 28 – Gold Castaway Club
  • March 29 – Silver Castaway Club
  • March 29 – Disney Vacation Club & Adventure Insiders
  • March 30 – General Public

Be among the first to drop anchor at Lighthouse Point, a new Disney Cruise Line island retreat celebrating the breathtaking beauty and vibrant culture of The Bahamas. Or set sail on a glorious adventure exploring the majesty of Europe, the wilderness of Alaska or the tropical islands of the Caribbean.

Costs are generally the lowest when you book during this initial release, and some of the more popular itineraries can sell out fast, particularly the initial Lighthouse Point sailings. It is expected that there will be long waits on the phone with DCL. If you don’t need to apply a placeholder or credit to your new booking, it’s definitely going to be faster to book on the DCL website starting at 8am ET.

For complete details, visit the Disney Cruise Line Summer Itineraries page:

If you would like me to help with your bookings, feel free to contact me ASAP. We love sailing DCL, so let me know if you want to chat about them. I have some recaps of our past sailings in the Trip Recap section of this site if you want to see what they’re like.

©DisneyCruiseLine

Disney Cruise Line Silver Anniversary Sailings

DCL Silver Anniversary

Disney Cruise Line is celebrating it’s Silver Anniversary at Sea this summer!

In July of 1998, the Disney Magic embarked on its maiden voyage, introducing the world to a new kind of cruise vacation where families are immersed in Disney storytelling, dazzling entertainment and unparalleled hospitality at sea.

To commemorate the 25 years, DCL will be bringing special entertainment, foods, merchandise, and celebratory experiences to select summer sailings.

DCL was the first cruise line to have a fireworks show at sea. To commemorate the anniversary, they will have a new fireworks show on these sailings. It will be set to a score of iconic Disney music and feature a brand new song created for the anniversary.

The fireworks show will be held on anniversary sailings in the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. They can’t do fireworks on the Alaskan sailings for the sake of the wildlife there.

Fireworks on the ship

There will also be a Captain’s Reception one evening of each sailing to toast this special occasion.

Mickey and Minnie will be dressed in their new anniversary outfits for this fancy event, as seen in the photo above.

In addition, all Castaway Cay members will receive a limited-edition framed art print in their stateroom to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

Visit the Silver Anniversary at Sea sailings page for a list of these sailings on each Disney Cruise Line ship.

As always, feel free to contact me if you want to chat about Disney cruises. We love them so much and hope to do one of these. Can’t wait!

All 5 Disney ships

©Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line Purchased a Ship

Disney ship

Exciting news!
Disney Cruise Line announced today that they have bought a ship that is already three quarters completed and will be able to launch in 2025!

Its previous owner declared bankruptcy and DCL was able to buy it in order to expand its cruise services.

This ship is slated to port outside the United States. The rumor is that it’ll be based in Asia, so that could be really neat, especially if it ports near the Disney parks there.

They will still apply the iconic Disney ship colors and red funnels on the exterior, but no word yet on details for the interior. Can’t wait to hear more! I’ll keep you posted.

Feel free to contact me if you want to chat about Disney cruises. We love them! I still have to catch up and post about our last cruise in October. Any guesses where we went? My pic above is from that sailing.

Disney Cruise Line Testing Change

Disney Cruise Line just sent this announcement that testing is no longer required before cruises.

Beginning November 14, 2022, for sailings departing from the United States, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests (regardless of vaccination status) to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing. Disney Cruise Line continues to highly recommend that all Guests be fully vaccinated and encourages unvaccinated Guests to take a COVID-19 test two days prior to sailing.

For sailings departing from International destinations, Disney Cruise Line adheres to the local laws, regulations and protocols in place, including those related to health and safety. Guests on these will be notified of any specific requirements closer to their sail date. In addition, we recommend that Guests review and stay up to date with any cruise-specific requirements, restrictions or recommendations that may be in place for travel to destinations outside of the United States. 

As our health and safety protocols and operational guidelines are subject to change, please visit the Know Before You Go section of our website for the latest information and answers to many frequently asked questions.

Guests booked on sailings departing from the U.S. on or after February 1, 2023, may modify or cancel their sailing by November 17, 2022 without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees. Please contact your travel agent for details on how to cancel or modify your booking. Please note that change fees and cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after November 18, 2022.

©Disney Cruise Line

Cruises impacted by Hurricane Ian

Disney cruises impacted by Hurricane Ian

Disney Cruise Lines has confirmed that the Disney Wish sailing currently out at sea will be delayed returning to Port Canaveral. Instead of returning this Friday as scheduled, it will now likely return on Saturday or Sunday, depending on when Port Canaveral reopens.

Unfortunately, that means the Wish sailing scheduled to start sailing on Friday will now be cancelled. If you were booked on that sailing, you should’ve gotten an email from DCL today with details on refunds and credits.

Norwegian Cruise Lines has also cancelled it’s Thursday sailing on the Norwegian Getaway.

Carnival Cruise Line cancelled its sailings out of Tampa and Jacksonville scheduled for Thursday on the Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation.

The sailings of those ships that are out at sea now are going to be extended until their ports reopen as well.

Royal Caribbean, MSC, and Celebrity Cruises have announced route and port changes to several of their ships currently out at sea. I imagine most cruise lines with sailings thru the Caribbean will have route and port changes as well.

Chances are, if you have a sailing into or out of ports in Tampa, Port Canaveral and Jacksonville this week, you will be impacted. Check with your cruise line for the latest changes.

Updates to Disney Cruise Line Health & Safety Policies

Disney cruise ships

Disney Cruise Lines has announced that beginning Oct. 14, 2022, for Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish sailings and Nov. 7, 2022 for Disney Magic sailings, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of sailing, however, it is highly recommended.

All Guests ages 5 years and older who are not fully vaccinated (Unvaccinated Guests) will need to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 1-2 days before the sail date. So, if you are vaccinated, you will no longer need to test before sailing. Guests ages 4 years of age and younger do not require testing either.

To be exempt from testing requirements, fully vaccinated Guests must upload their proof of vaccination to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day. Unvaccinated Guests must upload a negative COVID-19 test result to the Inspire Diagnostics Safe Passage website by midnight prior to embarkation day. Uploading proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test result is a requirement for adults and children, except for those ages 4 and younger. 

Fully vaccinated Guests are not required to be tested between back-to-back sailings anymore. Guests ages 5 years and older who are not fully vaccinated and traveling on back-to-back sailings will be required to complete a COVID-19 test between sailings, arranged by Disney Cruise Line.

If this changes your mind for a currently booked sailing, guests booked on the Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy or Disney Wish October 14, 2022, through January 31, 2023, may modify or cancel their sailing by October 11, 2022 without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees. You should’ve received an email this morning from DCL with this information as well.

Visit the Know Before You Go section of the DCL website for the latest information and answers to many frequently asked questions. These requirements can still change anytime.

If you would like to chat about this or anything related to Disney cruises, or would like me to help you plan your next Disney cruise, feel free to contact me below. We can’t wait for our next sailing!


©Disney Cruise Lines

New Disney Cruises to Hawaii and the South Pacific

Disney cruise to South Pacific

Breaking news!!

Disney Cruise Line just announced that the Wonder will be sailing to the South Pacific and Hawaii from late 2023 to 2024!

Australia n New Zealand cruises
Disney sailings

Booking begins:
– October 3, 2022: Platinum Castaway Club Members & Golden Oak Members
– October 4, 2022: Gold Castaway Club Members
– October 5, 2022: Silver Castaway Club Members, eligible Disney Vacation Club Members and Adventure Insiders
– October 6, 2022: All Guests

For more details, view the Disney Cruise Line page:

Feel free to contact me if you’d like me to help book your cruise. These are going to go fast so book as soon as your window opens!

©Disney

Disney Cruise Line Offer for Disney+ Members

Disney Cruise Line

Beginning September 8, 2022, Disney+ subscribers can a book special offer for Disney Cruise Line.

As a special offer for Disney+ subscribers, third and fourth guests sail free with two full-fare guests in the same stateroom on select Disney Cruise Line voyages! The Disney+ subscriber must be the primary name on the booking.

This offer is available for select staterooms and sailings on the Disney Magic, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy departing Jan. – April 2023 and does not include taxes, fees and port expenses for each guest, which are due at time of final payment. The number of staterooms allocated for this offer is limited.

The following sailings are not eligible for this offer:

Disney Magic: Jan. 2 & March 13, 2023
Disney Dream: Jan. 2 & April 10, 2023
Disney Fantasy: March 11 & 25, 2023

Contact me ASAP if you are interested. Bookings open tomorrow, Sept 8th, and will be limited. This is a great rare deal for DCL!

Disney+ offer ad.

© Disney Cruise Line