It is crucial that all passengers get or renew their passports well in advance of any trip, especially a Disney Cruise. Disney Cruise Lines asks passengers for their passport information at least 75 days in advance of a trip. A United States passport can take up to eight weeks to receive, so do not leave it to the last minute.
It doesn't hurt to start making a list of essential items right away. The sooner you start your list the more likely you are to capture everything that you and your family needs while away from home and in the middle of the ocean. As far as clothing and attire goes, Disney Cruise Lines dinners are "cruise casual." The onboard restaurants do not allow shorts, tank tops or swimwear. Each cruise also includes at least one formal dinner, and diners attending Palo, the adult-only restaurant, will want to wear more formal attire as well.
Planning ahead for transportation to and from the Disney Cruise Lines port is important. If you are traveling into the port city, and depending on what time the ship leaves, you may likely need to book a motel room the night before the ship departs. The same may be true for getting home. If so, you will want to book your hotel room before you set sail so that you know where you are going ahead of time. The Disney Cruise Lines website provides directions to and from each port, and a list of area hotels for the ports at Barcelona, Spain, and Vancouver, Canada. For travelers who will be driving to the port, the Disney Cruise Lines website also provides information about parking at the port and associated fees.
There are unexpected costs associated with a Disney cruise, for instance you may need to book a flight and a hotel room for before and after the cruise. Other expenses include off-boat activities, Palo adult-only dining, Disney Cruise Line's Flounder's Reef Nursery, spa treatments and alcoholic drinks. Make sure that you check out the Disney Cruise Lines website for information about activities that are included with your booking and activities that are extra costs, and plan accordingly. The Disney Cruise Lines website has a section entitled "My Reservation & Message Center" that will help you determine what activities and adventures will cost during your cruise.
