Here’s What You Can Expect to Pay for Your Disney Cruise (+ Ways to Save)

How much does a Disney Cruise cost? I am going to break down the different options for you so that you have an idea of how much a Disney Cruise will cost you.

Disney Cruises are known for being pricey, and they are. So, I’m going to give you an idea of what you can expect to spend for a party of your size, and some tips and tricks to get the most out of your cruise.

The truth is, there’s no ‘easy’ answer as to how much a Disney Cruises costs. It varies greatly, but I have some example prices below to give you an idea of how much the different cruise options cost.

A good ballpark amount to expect to spend on a Disney Cruise is about $1,000 per day. It could be more, or a bit less. $1,000 per day is an estimate, and a good ballpark ‘budget’ to assume you’ll spend on a Disney cruise.

The exact price you pay for a Disney Cruise will depend on:

• where you sail to and from
• how early you book
• the time of year you sail, and how many days you sail for
• the number of people in your party, and their ages (adults are more expensive than kids)
• the type of stateroom you choose, there are so many different cost levels
• any upgrades or add-ons (and trust me, you will likely need to set aside some extra money for add-ons, like premium food, alcoholic drinks, port adventures, and other special experiences)

So, let’s figure out the approximate cost of your Disney Cruise! Find more useful info below.

How Much You Should Be Prepared to Spend on a Disney Cruise

Overall, you should expect that your Disney Cruise cost will be around $300 per person per day ( could be a little less, or much more, depending on where its sailing from, the time of year and the route its taking.)

However, $300 per person per day, or $1,000 per stateroom per day is a good rule of thumb for estimating your Disney Cruise cost.

Disney Cruises charge by stateroom, but it is cheaper to sail with fewer people, and with children. Five people consume more food than just two peope, and Disney realizes this. Children end up costing less than adults, and babies under 12 months are free.

What your Disney Cruise Includes:

The example prices shown below for various Disney Cruise options include:

• All 3 meals, and dedicated server(s) for each of your dinners
• A dining rotation and seating plan. (They will tell you which restaurant you eat at every day, and the seating plan is mapped out. No searching for a place to sit! You will have the same table number each day!)
• Any accommodations for dietary preferences or limitations
• Unlimited ice cream, coffee, water and fountain drinks throughout the day
• Entertainment and activities on board such as a movie theatre, broadway shows, swimming, lots of activities, character meet and greets
• Your stateroom with accompanying toiletries and amenities, and a daily room attendant who tidies it twice per day
• Childcare for kids 3+ (childcare for kids younger than 3 costs $9 per hour)

What The Cost for Your Cruise Does NOT Include

• Specialty coffees (there’s free basic coffees, but there are specialty coffees that cost extra)
• Any alcoholic drinks, whether its at dinner, or in one of the lounges
• Transportation costs. Obviously, your flight will be extra. But also remember to factor in parking at the Disney Cruise Line Terminal, or Ground Transfers to and from the airport
• Gratuities for your dining servers, and your room attendant – you can either prepay them with your cruise booking, or bring cash and stuff in an envelope, which they provide. The general amount is $16 per person in your sailing party, per day to go towards all the people you’re tipping.
• Premium ice cream. The soft serve is free, but some cruises have fancy ice cream parlours with better ice cream and gelato, and it costs extra
• The photo package, which will be very tempting to buy if you meet lots of characters and do all the photo ops. (Book this in advance, as the price goes up once you’re on the cruise)
• Tips for room service. Food for room service is free, but you’re expected to tip the person who brings it to you – about $1 per item is customary. So if you order two coffees, then you should tip $2
• Laundry, washing is one cost, and drying is an additional cost. They also charge for detergent, but you can save money by bringing your own
• Bibidi Bobidi Boutique – such a special experience, and I recommend it. Bringing your own dress (to avoid buying one of theirs) can save you over $100 USD
• Food served in bars or lounges (it’s only free in the restaurants)
• Port Adventures, almost of none of them are free
• Equipment rentals on Castaway Cay (for Caribbean cruises), if you want to rent bikes or snorkel equipment, it will be extra
• Special character interactions, like Olaf’s Royal Picnic on the Disney Wish
• Spa services or a pass for the Rainforest Room
• Souvenirs, they have several gift shops on board, and a lot of high-end jewelry stores
• Concessions for broadway shows and the movies shown at the cinemas. Popcorn and candy is extra.

To make things simple, I am showing pricesin US dollars, and I am providing prices for a basic stateroom. If you want an ocean view room, or a verandah, then you should add another $100-300 per person to the prices displayed below!)

Cost of a 7-Day Disney Cruise

A 7-night Disney Cruise cost will depend on where you sail from, the itinerary, and how many people in your party. But here are some example prices of what you can expect to spend on a 7-day Disney Cruise.

• 7-day Disney Cruise for 2 people (whether its 2 adults, or 1 adult +1 child): $3,100-$6,500, depending on the destination and time of year
• 7-day Disney Cruise for a family of 3: Anywhere from $4,000-$8,400 per cruise
• 7-day Disney Cruisefor a family of 4: Anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 (We paid more than this, but we chose a deluxe oceanview verandah room)
• 7-day Disney Cruise for a family of 5: Anywhere from $8,000 to $13,000

Approximate Disney Cruise Cost (3-7 nights) for a Family of 4

A family of 4 can expect to spend anywhere from $3,000-$10,000+ for a Disney Cruise, depending on the location and the length of the cruise. Here are some example prices below.

• 3 and 4 night cruises: $3,000 – $4,500
• 5 and 6 night cruises: $6000-$7800
• 7-night cruises: over $10,000

You can do more nights for the same price in other parts of the world, such as Hawaii. Disney Cruises in Hawaii are very cheap compared to Florida.

A family of 4 could do a 13-night Disney Cruise out of Hawaii for $6,780, which is similar to paying for 1/2 of that amount of nights out of Florida. (But of course then, you’d have to make your way to Hawaii.)

Disney Cruise Cost for a Family of 5

A family of 5 will pay approximately $1,000 more for their Disney Cruise than a family of 4, depending on the length of the cruise and where they sail from.

It will cost a minimum of $4,000 for a family of 5 to do a Disney Cruise. Here are some example prices below:

• $4,000-$6,000 for a 3-4 night cruise leaving from anywhere in Florida
• A minimum of $6200 for a 5-6 night cruise leaving from somewhere in Florida

Disney Cruise Cost for a Family of 6

Sadly, the Disney Cruise staterooms can only be booked online for up to 5 people; families with more than 5 people need to call Disney to arrange their travel plans, or you could also work with a travel agent.

There are only a few staterooms that sleep 6-8 people in one room on the Disney Cruise Lines. They are:

•  Concierge 2-Bedroom Suite with Verandah on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder
• Concierge 1- and 2-Level Royal Suite with Verandah options on the brand new Disney Wish. 

If sailing out of Florida, these concierge rooms can cost anywhere from $8,000 – $18,000 for a 3-4 night cruise, so they aren’t cheap (they are beautiful though) and concierge guests are entitled to some special privileges, such as free cocktails, internet, etc.

A cheaper option for a family of 6 on a Disney Cruise is to adjoin staterooms. You can get staterooms in the inner ship, outer (with windows or a verandah) adjoined, so that you have two staterooms with a door in between, allowing you to travel back and forth between them.

You can look at the deck plans of any of the ships to find rooms that are adjoining- and then you call Disney Cruise Lines to book them, since it can’t be done online.

Disney Cruise Cost for 2 Adults

Two people (whether its 2 adults, or 1 adult and 1 child) pay less than a group of any other size on a Disney Cruise. Here are some example prices:

The Disney Cruise cost for 2 people can be anywhere from:

• $1400 – $3,000 for a 3-4 night cruises leaving from Florida
• $3,000 – $6,000 for 5-6 night cruises leaving from Florida

How the Cost of Your Disney Cruise is Determined

Here are the 4 different factors that go into totalling up the Disney Cruise cost for you. Be prepared for how these different things will impact the amount on your credit card statement

1. Where You Sail

Where the Disney Cruise sails from and which stops it makes are a big part of what determines the price. The most expensive Disney Cruises tend to be out of Florida, likely because they’re most popular, as they’re closest to Disney.

Interesting fact: Fort Lauderdale is the cheapest port in Florida by far; you can save hundreds of dollars on a Disney Cruise out of Fort Lauderdale rather than Port Canaveral

In addition to where you sail from, the prices also vary based on which ports the cruise will stop at. The cruises stopping at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, seem to cost a bit more.

For example, if you look at these two Fort Lauderdale options below – the 4-night one is only slightly pricier than the 3-night one that stops at Castaway Cay.

Furthermore, you can find Disney Cruise options much cheaper in these worldwide places:

• Puerto Rico – a family of 4 can do a 7-night Southern Caribbean Disney Cruise from $5,045, which is comparable to only 3-4 nights out of Port Canaveral
• Hawaii – a family of 4 can do a 13-night Disney Cruise for the same price as half of the amount of nights in Florida!
• Australia– there are Disney Cruises for a family of 4 starting for under $3,000 ( the cheapest one I see on their website is $1,600 for a 2-night one-way cruise from Brisbane to Sydney!)

This is just to name a few. The Disney Cruises out of Florida (Port Canaveral on Merritt Island in particular) are the most popular, but are also the priciest.

2. The time of year you sail

There are a few times throughout the year that the costs for Disney Cruises tend to go up a bit:

• Christmas (Merrytime Cruises)
• the month of October (Halloween on the High Seas)
• and Spring Break.

Christmas is the most expensive time to go on a Disney Cruise, by far. Here is a screenshot of the 2024 options sailing out of Port Canaveral. As you can see, the prices jump by about $1,000 each week as you get closer to Christmas!

Based on these prices above, you can save about $2,000 by sailing in early December than the week of Christmas. Once January hits, prices drop significantly!

The prices go up again during the Spring break season (mid-March) but not nearly as much as they do at Christmas.

3. How many days you sail for

Disney Cruises start at 2 nights, and can be as long as 13 nights. It makes sense that a longer cruise will generally cost more. The more days you’re on the cruise, means more food, more services, etc.

3. The number of people in your party

The cost for the Disney Cruise will be based on the number of people you’re cruising with. (Not the stateroom, as some websites suggest.)

The receipt for a family of 4 generally puts adults and children at different price points. However, this is what I have found, from doing a Disney Cruise as a single parent: if you search for cruises for 1 adult and 1 kid, it will be the same price as 2 adults. And 1 adult and 3 kids will be the same price as 2 adults and 2 kids – you get the idea.

Here are the different cruise options search results, from Port Canaveral for a 3-night Bahamian cruise stopping at Port Canaveral.

So, from these above screenshots – you can see that the approximate cost for 2 adults and 2 kids are identical to the cruise options for 1 adult and 3 kids (and I am looking at the prices for the same cruise, on the same dates.)

In addition, we know that the cruise is not by stateroom, but by the number of people (including children.) If if I add one extra child to the results above, then the price increases:

As you can see, it’s about $1,000 for the extra child – this is the same cruise, same dates, same route.

In a nutshell: Disney Cruises do not tend to charge by stateroom, but by the number of people. A family of 5 will pay more than a family of 3 or 4.

4. Any upgrades or add-ons

The price options that I’ve been giving have been for a standard inner stateroom (no windows.) The options that will cost slightly more are:

• a deluxe inner stateroom
• an ocean-view stateroom with a window (around $300 more)
• an ocean-view stateroom with a verandah (around $600 more)
• a deluxe verandah room ($700+ more)
• a concierge room (up to $10,000 more)

Expect to pay hundreds more than the prices I quoted you above for ocean-view room, and even more for a verandah. *Note: these extra add-ons are per cruise, not per person.

In addition, you should consider the things that you may want to spend money on during your Disney Cruise which are not included in the cost, such as spa treatments, speciality meals, alcohol, childcare for babies and toddlers, and others.

Let’s get into that now.

Extra Costs for a Disney Cruise to Keep in Mind

The base cost will get you a basic stateroom in the inner part of the ship. (There are basic inner staterooms and deluxe inner staterooms.)

If you don’t do any extra excursions, don’t buy any alcohol, don’t use childcare for kids under the age of 3, then you’ll only spend the base costs.

However, most people are going to spend more than the base cost. Here are some of the ‘extra’ costs associated with a Disney Cruise that you may end up paying for:

• Specialty ice cream or coffee (they provide the simple soft serve and basic coffee, but if you want fancy gelatos or espressos, then that costs extra)
• Any stateroom upgrades, as I mentioned such as having a window or a balcony (base price will get you a stateroom in the inner part of the ship)
• Port excursions, which need to be reserved in advance. They vary by destination, but in Nassau, Bahamas for example, there was scuba diving, and a day at the Atlantis resort
• Spa treatments
• Dining in Remy, the adult-only restaurant on board
• Childcare for babies and toddlers younger than 3 years old (the childcare for kids 3 and over is included in the cost.) But if you want childcare for a baby from 6 months old to a toddler who hasn’t turned 3 yet, then it will cost $9 per hour for 1 child
• Any alcohol, or bottled beverages on board (fountain soft drinks are free)

Are Themed Cruises More Expensive?

Themed Cruises, such as Halloween on the High Seas, Merrytime and other themes they do throughout the year- are not actually any more expensive than other cruises taking place during the same time.

If you’re sailing during the month of December 2024, its actually cheaper to do a Merrytime Cruise than to do a regular cruise. Cruises during the last week of December are pricier than any other time of year.

So if you’re going to go on a Disney Cruise at that time of year, then its cheaper for it to be a Merrytime Cruise than not. Here are the current (at the time of writing) prices for a family of 4 taking a Disney Cruise in late December 2024:

• Merrytime Cruise in late December 2024: $5425
• Regular Cruise in late December: $5963

So, based on the pricing for these particular cruises, its costs $400 more per cruise without the special Christmas theme. This could depend on the itineraries of these cruises and the exact sailing point, however.

The takeaway: You’re not paying any ‘extra’ if you want to do a Merrytime cruise. You’re only paying for the time of year.

Is It Cheaper to Book a Disney Cruise in Advance?

Generally, there are some savings associated with booking a Disney Cruise as far in advance as possible. In fact, if you book your next Disney Cruise while still on the ship during your current Disney Cruise, you can save about 10%.

Its not necessarily a lot to book a Disney Cruise in advance, but it can save a few hundred dollars per cruise.

The Cheapest Month to Sail on a Disney Cruise

After reviewing the prices and analyzing the different options, it seems that the cheapest times to do a Disney Cruise is November, January and February.

It’s after the special themed cruises that take place in October, and before the busy rush and themed cruises in December and March.

So if you’re looking to spend as little as possible, consider the months of November, January and February. Its not guaranteed to be a lot lower, it will also depend on how far advance you book – but generally you can save a little bit by sailing during these times.

Good to Know: Remember that not all cruises during the months of October and December are the special Halloween and Christmas themes, and those themes don’t necessarily cost more – the time of year does.

How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost?: FAQ

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Disney Cruise costs

How much does it cost to go on a Disney cruise?

How much a Disney Cruise costs is no easy answer. It will depend on how many people are sailing, the location of the cruise and any upgrades (if applicable) such as an ocean view room vs a basic inner stateroom. A good rule of thumb is that a Disney Cruise generally costs around $300 USD per person, per day. It could be less than this, or much more, depending on where you’re going and if you select any upgrades.

Are kids free on Disney cruise?

Kids are not free on Disney Cruises. The Disney Cruises charge per person, so every extra kid will add to the total cost, including babies. While babies aren’t free, they are a little bit cheaper than older children. For example, if you have a child under the age of 1, then it will be a little bit cheaper than a 3 year old.

Disney Cruise Cost: Conclusion

As you can see if you’ve gotten this far, the Disney Cruise costs are very diverse and very dependent on several factors. Generally though, they are not a cheap vacation. Everyone’s financial situation is different, but you should expect to spend a premium on a Disney Cruise vs. other cruises or family vacations.

Some cheaper vacations include: other cruise lines, and even Disney theme parks which are cheaper than cruises. Following some good family budget travel tips However, personally, I found my Disney Cruise to be worth the money, and I am planning to travel again.

While this article can’t possibly tell you exactly how much your specific Disney Cruise costs, I hope that it has given you a rough idea of how much they generally are for a group of your size, sailing from the location and during the time that you’re hoping to. I hope that you enjoy your Disney Cruise as much as I did!