For families dreaming of a magical holiday getaway, a Disney Very Merrytime Cruise is at the top of the list. There’s something truly magical about celebrating the holidays at sea, and our family discovered that firsthand on our Disney Very Merrytime Cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy. From the moment we stepped into the glittering atrium, greeted by a towering Christmas tree and the smell of gingerbread, we knew this was no ordinary sailing—it was a Very Merrytime first-time experience we’ll never forget.
If you’re planning your first holiday voyage or simply wondering what to expect on a Disney Very Merrytime Cruise, here’s a complete guide with helpful tips for families, must-see activities, and a practical packing list to make your sailing merry and bright.
Disney Cruise Line transforms each ship into a floating winter wonderland from early November through December. These Very Merrytime Cruises combine classic Disney fun with heartwarming holiday magic—think Mickey and Minnie in festive outfits, special shows, themed treats, and plenty of twinkling lights.
Take note that these sailings typically cost a little extra and will be full of families soaking in the holiday magic. Plan ahead for shore excursions and allow extra time to arrive early for performances and meet-and-greets.
Guests can choose between 3-night and 7-night cruises, with the majority offered in the Caribbean and on the West Coast. The cruise line even offers special Holiday-themed decor for your room, festive treats to be delivered before sailing, and more! We sailed on the Disney Fantasy for the 7-Night East Caribbean Cruise.
Planning Tip: Hurricane Season is still in effect in November; if something is brewing out there, you could be subject to an itinerary change. Which happened to us! Our Western Caribbean Cruise got switched to an Eastern!)
The first question is, when do you book your cruise?! I recommend two things: follow Disney Cruise Line on social media and sign up for their newsletters. That way, you will receive notifications when they have a sale. The best sale that I have come across is the day after Thanksgiving, when they ran 20% off cruises. If time is on your side, I recommend waiting a few months to see if they offer any specials before booking. However, Very Merrytime sailings do tend to sell out, so I would not wait till the last minute.
Booking Tip: When you book directly with Disney Cruise Line, cruises that include the Very Merrytime Celebrations will be labeled as such during the selection process. Guests will want to book early as the best staterooms and rates go quickly.
Congratulations on booking one of the most magical holiday celebrations at sea! Bust out the eggnog and carols! But before your heart gets completely “Frozen” with joy, there’s still plenty to do before you set sail.
Don’t let the Grinch—or poor planning—steal your joy! The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app lists all the Very Merrytime activities, showtimes, and character greetings. You can even “heart” your favorites so you don’t miss them.
The Navigator App lets you play Santa by booking special experiences, Port Adventures, spa treatments, and more that your family will love. You know that brunch at Palo and Remy is definitely on my Christmas List!
When it comes to making the most of your Disney Cruise Line vacation, planning your shore excursions and onboard activities in advance is key. Once your reservation is confirmed, you can log into your Disney Cruise Line account or the Navigator app to browse and book Port Adventures, adult-exclusive dining, spa appointments, and character meet-and-greet experiences.
Booking windows open based on your Castaway Club status—first-time cruisers can book 75 days before sailing, while returning guests receive earlier access. Popular options like snorkeling at Castaway Cay, Palo brunch, or the Royal Court Tea fill up quickly, so it’s worth setting a reminder for your booking date. Even if something is sold out, check back often or visit Guest Services once onboard, as additional spots sometimes open closer to sail time.
Stop what you are doing and put a reminder in your phone to book the Royal Gathering 30 days before your cruise. The Royal Gathering is when multiple princesses gather together in the grand atrium for a magical meet-and-greet that you don’t want to miss.
To book a Royal Gathering, log into the Navigator App or website starting 30 days before your sailing date, after your cruise is paid in full. Navigate to “My Plans”, select the day of the cruise, and find Royal Gathering under Add Activities. Each person in your party will need a spot.
The Royal Gathering is offered multiple times on each cruise. However, if they were completely booked when you went to register, as happened to us, try going to the front desk as soon as you board the ship and request to be added to the waitlist. My family was able to get into a Royal Gathering after being put on the waitlist, which was a Christmas Miracle.
Don’t confuse the Royal Gathering with the Royal Court Tea. Drastically different prices, and I share my candid thoughts on why I won’t do the Royal Court Tea in my review.
One of the most magical places for kids and parents is the remarkable kids’ clubs, included in the cost of the cruise! Getting them out of the kids’ club took more magic than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. With that said, you will want to register them right away.
All children planning on attending any of the youth clubs or Small World Nursery will need to be registered with the cruise line. It is an easy task that can be checked of your list after booking.
Registration can be completed on embarkation day, but who wants to spend time doing paperwork when you could be exploring! At some point on the first day, families will need to check in at the youth clubs to finalize their registration.
Helpful Tip: Your child must be completely potty-trained and at least 3 years old to attend the Oceaneer Kids Club. If they are not, you can register them at Small World Nursery, but you will have to pay the hourly rate.
Beef ragout, cheese soufflé, pie, and pudding on fire! Sample all the culinary delights throughout the ship, with a wide variety of dining options. While buffets, bistros, and snack shacks are always available, it’s the fine dining we suggest.
Disney offers a rotational dining plan, meaning that each night you will have dinner in one of its special-themed dining rooms.
There are two dining times to choose from. The first seating is at 5:45 pm and the second seating is at 8:15 pm. The seating times correspond with the showtimes. If you want to catch the early show, sign up for the second seating and vice versa.
This decision ultimately depends on whether you are traveling with a child and their age. The main seating seems to work best for families traveling with kids 10 and under. With a full day of excursions and activities, it can be hard for them to make it to the later dinner time.
While walking to your stateroom, you might spot door hangers with pockets labeled for each family member—almost like they’re waiting for a special delivery from Santa! These are called Fish Extenders, and they’re part of a fun gift exchange tradition among Disney cruisers.
For those new to the Fish Extender game, passengers in a Fish Extender group will place a door hanger with pockets for each family member. Then the group will exchange gifts and trinkets throughout the cruise by putting them in each other’s fish extender.
When it comes to Fish Extenders, the big question is: to jingle or not to jingle? These gift exchanges are like Secret Santa at sea—each cabin fills little pockets with surprise with treats, trinkets, and pixie-dusted goodies for fellow cruisers. It’s a holly-jolly way to spread cheer and meet other Disney fans, but it does take a bit of elf-level organization before you sail.
If crafting and shopping for small gifts makes your heart grow three sizes, go ahead and join in the fun! But if your suitcase is already bursting like Santa’s toy bag or you’d rather spend that time sipping cocoa under the twinkling lights of the atrium, skip it guilt-free.
I hate to say this, but please do not take anything out of anyone’s fish extender. They are not goodies that someone has put out for you to take freely. Passengers in a Fish Extender Group will go to great efforts and even custom-make items. So no touchy.
How Do I Sign Up For A Fish Extender Group: To sign up to be a part of the Fish Extenders, you will want to join the Facebook Group for the dates and ship of the cruise you are going on. Search for your cruise on Facebook and find the group. The group organizer will start a Fish Extender sign-up and then send out the finalized Fish Extender list of who you will be exchanging with. The lists are often finalized weeks or a month before the cruise departs.
When traveling with a group, we only did a Fish Extender Group among ourselves. However, it was so much fun to get Pixie Dusted with small treats from other cruise-goers.
Missed the Fish Extender Deadline? Parents, you can still put out a fish extender, and then you can be the secret Santa that magically fills it with little goodies for your elves. You never know —someone may come along and Pixie-Dust you!
Start planning your packing list and ordering any special items that you need. Packing for a holiday cruise is part tropical vacation, part winter wonderland.
Here’s a quick Very Merrytime Cruise packing list to help you get started:
Be sure to check out my list over on Amazon, or get my full, detailed Disney Cruise Packing List and Guide on What to Wear!
Once you have set foot onto the dazzling ship, snag photos with wandering characters, avoid the buffet (it is a madhouse), and explore the ship. Take care of checking in at the kids club, firming up last-minute reservations, etc, because the incredible holiday entertainment starts the second you set sail!
Here are some of our favorites and what families can expect:
Santa makes an appearance for meet-and-greets, complete with a beautifully themed backdrop. Our daughter’s face lit up when she spotted Mickey and Minnie in their red-and-green holiday attire. You can find these times in the Navigator App. Be sure to bring your camera—or use Disney’s photographers—to capture those moments.
Tips:
On embarkation night, the ship’s grand atrium hosts a magical tree-lighting with Mickey, Minnie, and friends. It’s a must-see moment that truly kicks off your Very Merrytime first-time experience. Sing carols and count down to the grand tree lighting with every single passenger on board.
That’s right, sugar cookie, since this only happens one night during the cruise, expect a big crowd. Being unprepared, we arrived only 15 minutes early and got to watch the event from a corner on an upper deck, peering through a wreath.
Best Tip: Get there at least 30 minutes early.
For this event, guests were dressed more casually, with some in holiday PJs.
Families can join cookie-decorating sessions, create ornaments, and make festive crafts together. These activities are included and happen daily, so check your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for times. One of our favorite souvenirs was the ornament we made on board as a family.
Tip: A good chunk of these activities takes place in the morning and afternoon. It makes a great excuse to leave the pool area when you are done roasting like a chestnut on an open fire.
Imagine a high-energy dance party under the stars with Disney characters dressed for the holidays! It’s perfect for families looking to celebrate with a bit of sparkle (and maybe some falling “snow”). We learned our lesson after the Tree Lighting and arrived early to get a good spot to view the party.
Tip: Anytime Disney has a specialty party, make it a point to go because there is always Disney Magic sprinkled in!
Aromas of freshly baked gingerbread fill the lobby, leading you straight to one of the sweetest sights onboard—a life-size gingerbread house crafted by Disney’s pastry chefs. Throughout the ship, seasonal treats like peppermint cheesecake and hot cocoa cookies add even more holiday magic to the experience.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to swing by the ship’s coffee shop for a little extra magic—your morning latte comes with Disney character art right in the foam!
One of our favorite holiday touches was watching classic Christmas movies on the Funnel Vision—Disney Cruise Line’s giant outdoor screen above the pool deck. There’s something unforgettable about swimming while The Santa Clause or Elf plays in the background. It’s pure Disney holiday magic at sea.
Did you come unprepared for all the Holidaymadness happening around you? Maybe you forgot something to put on your door, or you are simply looking for the perfect Very Merrytime Souvenir. The shops onboard the Disney ships will not disappoint. Specialty Holiday Mouse Ears, Hot Cocoa Mugs, light-up jewelry and more!
They even have festive magnets to hang from your cabin door in the event you forgot to bring something to decorate your door. Even if you are not in the shopping mood, it is fun to noodle through the store to see what neat Disney Cruise and Holiday merchandise is available.
Even the holidays get a swashbuckling twist aboard Disney Cruise Line! Pirate Night transforms the ship into a high-seas adventure filled with bandanas, sea shanties, and fireworks that light up the sky. It’s festive fun with a bit of pirate flair—Santa might even trade his sleigh for a ship that night!
Tip: Many guests dress up for pirate night, and many costumes are pretty elaborate. Every guest receives a pirate bandana in their stateroom to add to their attire for the evening, if they so wish.
Costumes can be expensive, especially if you are providing costumes for an entire family. Consider snagging costumes right after Halloween for a discount, or you can try your luck at second-hand shops for dress-up costumes.
As first-time Very Merrytime cruisers, we learned a few things that made our trip smoother (and more magical), and it wasn’t that the Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey, was the Godmother of the Fantasy.
Very Merrytime sailings sell out fast, especially mid-December voyages. Booking early means better cabin selection and often better prices.
Many families wear matching Holiday PJs for photos by the tree or on the balcony. It’s festive and makes for adorable memories—guests are often seen walking around the ship in their PJ’s and slippers during the Very Merrytime Cruisings.
One thing that is different on a Disney Cruise than other lines I have sailed with is that passengers decorate their stateroom doors. I would have been clueless if I had not read about it before going. While not every door is decorated, a good portion of them are.
The creativity is quite astounding, as many families have gone to great lengths to customize door hangings, make fish extenders, and even add lights! The decorations were actually helpful, as they helped my daughter find our room easily.
Tip: You can custom-order magnets and fish extenders on Etsy.
The Disney Cruise Line Navigator app lists all the Very Merrytime activities, showtimes, and character greetings. You can even “heart” your favorites so you don’t miss them.
Shows like Mickey’s Tree Lighting Magic and ’Twas the Night Before Christmas fill up quickly. Arrive early to get good seats, especially if you’re traveling with little ones.
If your itinerary includes Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, you’ll find it transformed with wreaths, garland, and a tropical Santa! Spend time there early before the crowds arrive.
For silent nights and peace on earth, it often means you may have to forego some of your best-laid plans. Overstimulation is easy to do on board, with endless activities, pools, movies, and shows, then add in the Caribbean heat to create a true Nightmare Before Christmas. There are times when the family will have to choose one activity over another or miss out because exhaustion has set in. It’s okay; amazing memories are still being made, and they will cherish them forever.
We missed the entire pirate deck party and fireworks while our little gal slept because she was spent after a full day at the beach and doing activities onboard. To this day, she still claims the Very Merrytime Cruise was her favorite trip we have ever taken.
I’m going to shoot it to you straight: if you don’t want to have to visit the ship doctor for things you could buy over the counter, then pack them. They do not sell stomach medicine at the gift shops. Sickness is never on the radar, but because we forgot to pack cough syrup, we ended up dropping $400 to see the ship doctor and left with Dimeatap.
Things you will want to have on hand are:
The dining rooms join the celebration with festive menus and themed desserts. We loved the special holiday dinner on the final night—complete with turkey, cranberry sauce, and an elegant yule log for dessert. Don’t miss the seasonal drinks like peppermint mochas and frozen hot chocolate at the Cove Café.
Even casual dining areas like Cabanas add little touches—gingerbread cookies, eggnog, and cocoa bars—so there’s holiday cheer at every meal.
Our Very Merrytime Cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy was everything we hoped for and more. Watching our daughter dance with Mickey under falling snow in the Caribbean was pure magic. It combined everything we love about Disney—the storytelling, the entertainment, and the family focus—with the joy of the holiday season.
If you’re wondering what to expect on a Disney Very Merrytime Cruise, expect laughter, lights, and lasting memories. From decorating cookies to watching fireworks light up the ocean sky, this experience offers the perfect mix of festive fun and Disney enchantment.
Whether it’s your first cruise or your fifth, these Very Merrytime tips for families will help you make the most of every moment at sea. Just don’t forget your Christmas pajamas and your sense of wonder—you’ll need both.
Looking for more Information on Disney Cruises? Check out these related articles:
Disney Cruise Concierge Level Upgrade: A Mixed Review
I Took My Two Year Old On A Disney Cruise And It Was Amazing
Halloween on the High Seas; The Cruise Everyone Is Dying To Get On
Save This Post For Later
The holiday season in Cincinnati is a magical time for families, filled with twinkling lights,…
Louisville, Kentucky, perfectly blends history, culture, and hands-on family fun. When fall rolls around, the…
If there’s one destination that blends Midwest charm, family fun, and stunning natural beauty, it’s…
Known as the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies,” Townsend, Tennessee, is the quieter gateway to…
If you’ve ever road-tripped along I-70 through Indiana, chances are you’ve seen the giant candle…
As the golden hour cast a warm glow over Cincinnati, I found myself perched atop…