Walt Disney Theme Park News & Deals

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Disney Cruise Line -FAQ #1 Where does Disney Cruise Line sail?
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Typically, Caribbean cruises have been the norm for Disney cruises. Guests can regularly book 3 and 4-night sailings to Nausau, Bahamas, and back, and 7-night sailings to either the Eastern Caribbean or Western Caribbean.


Disney Cruise Line - FAQ #2 What and Where is Castaway Cay?
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ular Disney cruises sailing from Florida include a day at Disney's 1000-acre private island playground, Castaway Cay, in the Bahamas. Castaway Cay has a mile-long white sand beach and plenty of watersports. You can also rent bikes and ride island trails.

At Castaway Cay, passengers can walk right off the boat onto a pier, and take a tram to the middle of the family beach. For those who want to walk, strollers are available.

Castaway Cay is getting a major expansion, due to be completed by 2010.

Sample Features at Castaway Cay:

Scuttle's Cove is a supervised play area, for free play and for scheduled activities.
Teens have their own beach, with a rope swing and a jungle gym in the water.
Serenity Beach is the adults-only beach with massage huts; you can take a tram there.
Your day at Castaway Cay includes a barbeque buffet.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is a popular activity and a thrill for many first-time-snorkeler kids. Equipment can be rented for $25 for ages 11 and up, $10 for kids*. (Bring your own!) A net encloses the lagoon so you don't need to fear sharks. You can also rent float tubes and different types of boats.

Shore Excursions
Castaway Cay offers a bunch of excursions that you can book 60 days in advance: Walking & Kayak Nature Adventure, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat, parasailing, and more. The Wild Side excursion is for teens only: four hours includes snorkeling, biking, sea kayaking. (Book early.)

Disney Cruise Line - FAQ #3 Can I Find Discounts for Disney Cruise Line?
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Yes, you can find discounts, especially in fall and spring. Price in October might be half of price in July. Check other types of discounts, too.

Disney Cruise Line: Seasonal rates
The Disney Cruise Line typically offers three seasonal rate specials: Fall Fantasy (September - December), Sunshine Sailaway (January - March), and sometimes a Springtime Magic (April-May).

Booking in advance
Advance booking can save money plus give you a better choice of staterooms. (And typically you can cancel or change your date without penalty until 60 days before your cruise.) You might also find a "reduced deposit" type of deal.

Last-minute deals
Also: according to Mousesavers-- Disney offers last-minute bargains too. Note, however, that "last-minute" in the cruise world means booking three months in advance.

More Disney Cruise Line Deals
DisneyExclusiveOnline.com is a site dedicated to saving you money on all things Disney. Head to the section on Disney Cruise Line to read about current discounts of all sorts:

Early Booking Discounts, Magical Rate List, Special Rates for Florida Residents, Special Rates for Canadians, onboard credits money-saving tips, and more.
Finally: it goes without saying that prices are higher when kids are out of school. Use this to your advantageous if you're homeschooling or if your school marches to a different drummer and takes breaks when the masses are at their desks.

Disney Cruise Line - FAQ #4 - What's included in the price?
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FAQ #4: What's included in the price?

your stateroom
breakfast, lunch, dinner, (including a character breakfast on some cruises), snacks, ice cream
all onboard programming including kids' club and teen activities
entertainment
Not included:

spa or salon visits
phone calls and internet use
official photos
video games
bottled water
alcoholic beverages
Flounder's Reef Nursery (Sign up in advance.)
gratuities, government taxes, fees
travel insurance
transportation to Port Canaveral
shore excursions
special courses for teens
Sodas are not typically included on cruises. Disney had a Soda Package in the past; at time of writing, sodas are free in the dining rooms and also at a beverage station on one Deck. If your family slurps a lot of sodas, check for the current policies when you book.

Disney Cruise Line - FAQ's FAQ #2: What about gratuities / tipping?
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Bear in mind that for cruise ship crew members, tipping is the major source of income; actual salary is very low. Some cruise lines are moving towards adding a flat fee to guests' onboard account, rather than leave the tip optional.

At time of writing, Disney Cruises are not adding obligatory "tips" to guests' accounts. (Always check for updates, though!) Guests are however expected to tip, and near the end of your cruise, you'll be provided with some convenient way to give gratuities. (You might receive envelopes for cash tips, or be instructed how to charge tips to your account.)