Finding An Affordable Disney Cruise

It’s not cheap and it very rarely goes on sale. Cost is the number one reason families keep dreaming of a Disney cruise instead of living out their fantasy. In this article, we’ll review strategies for finding the lowest cruise fare that works for your family.

Not Your Average Disney Vacation

While a trip to a Disney theme park isn’t an inexpensive vacation by any means, most families figure out ways to keep costs in check. Maybe you stay at an off-site hotel instead of inside the park. Or book a condo with a full kitchen to prep a majority of your meals.

There are tons of budget-saving strategies for theme park visits. But a Disney Cruise is a whole different kind of family adventure. With transportation, lodging, food, and entertainment all rolled together into the cruise rate, there are few options but to pay exactly what the mouse is asking for.

Location, Duration, and Time of Year

First things first. Cruise fares can vary greatly. Choosing wisely here is going to have the biggest impact on the price you’ll pay and how much effort you need to put into the strategy. Shorter cruises during the low season near where you live are always going to be more affordable.

Looking for a 7+ day cruise over the summer break in Europe? That’s going to be just about as expensive as it gets. If that’s your goal, this guide will help you to knock thousands off your out-of-pocket cost, but free isn’t going to happen.

After reading this article, be sure to check out my related article, A Step-By-Step Guide for Earning a Free Disney Cruise for more unconventional ways to significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

Cruise Close to Home

Disney ships are a destination all of their own. Young kids don’t care about what ports they visit. The magic of the Disney ship is more than enough. If you live within a day’s drive of a Disney Cruise embarkation port, that should be the first option to explore. Here’s the list of continental North American ports for 2023:

Miami
Fort Lauderdale
Port Canaveral (Orlando)
Galveston
San Diego
Vancouver, BC
New Orleans
New York City

Short vs Long

Shorter cruises cost less. When your budget is fixed, cruise length can be the variable that allows you to prioritize your budget. Whether that’s a higher category stateroom or spending on special shipboard experiences like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

For instance, one of the least expensive Disney itineraries is a 2-day sailing out of San Diego. For a family of 4, that will start at around $2,500 (including taxes and fees).

That same family of 4 can sail on a 4-day from Miami for just under $3,000 (including taxes and fees).

And 7 days to Alaska? That will start closer to $6,000. (Actually, this one is a great deal. It surprised me when I saw it and I don’t think it will last. June 2023. Contact me if interested.)

I know, I know. The sticker shock is real. Don’t fret too much yet. There are additional ways to reduce your cost.

Cruise in Low Season

Disney is no different than other family travel vendors. Prices are highest during school breaks, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bargain at other times of the year. Disney creates demand in the off-season with popular themed sailings, such as Halloween on the High Seas, Very Merrytime, Star Wars Days at Sea, and Pixar Day at Sea cruises. It makes finding the lowest-priced sailings less straightforward than with other lines.

Kids not in school yet? Other parents are seriously envious of you. You have the freedom to travel whenever you want! Take advantage of that while you can.

It’s bad news for school-age families. Unless you have a non-traditional school calendar, the best option is to take them out of school to cruise on Disney. Either that or pay the premium.

Waiting for a Sale?

All regular Disney cruisers know the best day to book a Disney Cruise is the day the schedule is released. The next best day to book is today. When prices change on Disney, they generally go up, not down. See the below chart obtained from CruisePlum. There isn’t a lot of variation.

Chart courtesy of CruisePlum

Disney Gift Cards

Disney Gift Cards may be applied to Disney Cruises. It’s a popular way to knock a few percent off the overall cost. Discounted cards can usually be found at Sam’s Club and BJ Wholesale. For those with a Target REDcard, the 5% discount does apply to Disney Gift Card purchases. Larger discounts can sometimes be found on gift card reselling sites, such as Raise.

Just a warning: the purchase of gift cards is non-refundable. This usually isn’t an issue for Disney fans. For all others, be aware that if you buy $5,000 worth of Disney gift cards, you’re stuck with $5,000 worth of Disney gift cards. Even if applied to a cruise that you end up needing to cancel, refunds are made back to the form of payment, not cash.

Onboard Booking Offer

Another savings trick Disney Cruisers know is the Onboard Booking Offer. Current passengers may book a placeholder reservation during their current cruise. These reservations save 10% off the prevailing cruise fare and qualify for a reduced deposit.

If you have friends who are going on a Disney Cruise and you want to sail with them the next time, have them book 2 placeholders. One for them and one for you. The catch is that you have to sail together.

Special Rates

If you qualify for a special rate and don’t need to plan more than a year in advance, this is a great way to save. Special rates are generally restricted to just a few categories: Florida, Southern California, Canadian residents, and U.S. Military Personnel. For more information on who qualifies, see Disney’s Help Center.

Only certain sailings will offer special rates and the number of cabins is limited.

Work With a Disney Cruise Advisor

Due to the higher fares Disney demands, cruise agents can earn a bit more on your booking. An advisor who wants to earn and keep your business should be able to provide you with a gift of onboard credit when you book with them.

But don’t just choose any cruise agent. A Disney Cruise is a different cruise experience. To get the most out of your cruise, it’s helpful to book with an advisor who has actually sailed on a Disney ship.

To Wrap it Up

There’s nothing revolutionary with the above advice. Most Disney cruisers follow one or more of these strategies. And they stop here. Nothing wrong with that. It’s solid information that works and will help you save over the less-informed new Disney cruiser.

Interested in doing even better? Jump on over to the next article, A Step-By-Step Guide to Earning a Free Disney Cruise.

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