What DVC Members Need to Know about Disney Cruises

Whenever The Walt Disney Company reports its quarterly earnings, one segment stands apart. Disney Experiences, the theme parks division, gains a significant percentage of the company’s operating income. One of the key contributors is Disney Cruise Line (DCL), which has exploded in popularity recently. So, what do DVC members need to know about Disney cruises?

Should You Take a Disney Cruise?

We’re barely halfway through the decade, yet the cruise industry has already overcome an extinction-level event. You may recall that the earliest days of the pandemic included a nightmarish story about a cruise ship. It was among the first super-spreaders of COVID-19, with several passengers dying. At the time, the prevailing belief was that the cruise industry might never recover from the negative headlines of early 2020.

Once the pandemic ended, Revenge Travel became a thing, and one unexpected aspect was the surging popularity of cruises. That was especially true for DCL, which launched its most innovative ship ever, the Disney Wish, in July 2022. Fans quickly remembered all the things they loved about Disney Cruises, with the Wish adding superlative amenities and perfecting the rotational dining experience.

Honestly, many of the upgrades were overkill, though. A Disney cruise is already spectacular in and of itself. You don’t even need to leave the boat to have a fantastic time.

Every Disney ship is functionally a city at sea. DCL has thought of everything in providing you with a sanctuary during your vacation. Your package price is almost fully all-inclusive. When you book a Disney cruise, all your food comes standard with the package, even when you’re on Disney’s private islands. 

If you want to order five desserts as midnight room service, you can do that. If you want to eat five plates of bacon for breakfast, that’s part of the menu, too. Frankly, the whole thing is an exercise in gluttony, and I mean that in the best possible way. There’s a buffet that comprises most of an entire floor of the ship. You can visit whenever you want, just as you can order room service all day. 

More about Disney Cruises 

The only things that aren’t included are alcoholic beverages, some high-end coffees, high-speed internet, and photo packages. Unlike most other cruise businesses, you won’t encounter upsells throughout your voyage. 

What you will experience is a plethora of entertainment options, the likes of which will wow you. By our count, there were roughly 150 activities available daily during our cruise. These options range character greetings to movie trivia to dance parties. There’s even a shockingly well-organized bingo event, which costs to play. However, you can win the grand prize, which is a cash payment of up to $10,000! Imagine going on a Disney cruise and coming back richer than you left! It’s theoretically possible. 

Disney offers other unique onboard entertainment as well. For example, we caught parts of Snow White (2025) and Captain America: Brave New World during our cruise. Both were currently in theaters at the time, yet cruise visitors could watch both films at the ship’s movie theater. It’s a full-sized one akin to what you’d find at the local cineplex, which shocked me.

Disney also owns two private islands in The Bahamas. So, there’s a decent chance your cruise itinerary includes a stop at one or both. That’s quality beach time for you, and I’ll provide a pro tip. Head to the adults-only section if you can! It’s much less crowded and serene. Even parents can do this, as there are plenty of multi-hour distractions (i.e., glorified babysitting) for small children. 

Each cruise ship also hosts Broadway-quality stage shows. There’s a nightly rotation of these musicals, each of which are performed multiple times, giving you ample opportunity to catch all of them. And you should. The production values are incredible!

Are Cruises a Good Use of DVC Points?

I think you can tell by my tone that I’m already hooked. From now on, I’m a cruise person. It’s that simple. Still, my opinion about using DVC Points for Disney cruises hasn’t changed. The value simply isn’t there. 

I’ve never understood the way that DVC structures its pricing charts for its cruises. If anything, Disney should encourage longtime DVC members to take cruises more often. It keeps the parks less crowded and provides new entertainment avenues for longtime members. 

Instead, the current points requirements overcharge so much that you’re spending upwards of 100 DVC Points per night during your cruise. That’s Polynesian Bungalow pricing. 

Thankfully, you have another option. DVC Rental Store offers a Cruise Swap program that is MUCH more affordable. When you click that link, you’ll notice the shocking difference in DVC Points when you book this way rather than directly through Disney.

These savings matter because let’s be honest. You want to take a Disney cruise. Once you do, you’ll probably want to take a lot more. I’m dead serious when I say that I was shopping for my next cruise last night. It’s addictive because the vacations are so relaxing.

You eat, drink, and play in the sun. It’s so much calmer than a theme park vacation. Plus, the sheer volume of top-notch amenities gives you complete control over your itinerary. You can take it easy or go hard throughout your vacation. The choice is yours, and there’s no wrong answer. Disney cruises are exploding in popularity for good reason. They’re incredible!

Access all available Disney Vacation Club resale listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.