Disney Cruises are not completely all-inclusive, but the cruise fare covers most of the major onboard vacation expenses. Your stateroom, most meals, soft drinks at meals and beverage stations, entertainment, character experiences, pools and most kids clubs are included.
You will still pay extra for things such as alcohol, Wi-Fi, gratuities, Port Adventures, premium adult dining, spa treatments, nursery care and shopping.
After taking multiple Disney cruises, I think the easiest way to budget is to separate the things you can enjoy for the entire trip without spending more from the optional extras that can quickly increase your final bill.
What Is Included on a Disney Cruise?
| Expense | Included in cruise fare? |
|---|---|
| Stateroom | Yes |
| Applicable taxes and port fees | Yes |
| Main dining | Yes |
| Quick-service food | Yes |
| Many snacks and soft-serve ice cream | Yes |
| Soft drinks at meals and beverage stations | Yes |
| Regular coffee and tea | Yes, at meals and beverage stations |
| Most room service food | Yes, although some items or deliveries can cost extra |
| Broadway-style shows and movies | Yes |
| Character experiences | Yes |
| Pools, waterslides and many recreation activities | Yes |
| Oceaneer Club/Lab, Edge and Vibe | Yes |
| Alcohol | No |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Recommended gratuities | No |
| Port Adventures | No |
| Adult-exclusive premium dining | No |
| Spa and salon treatments | No |
| “it’s a small world” nursery | No |
Is Food Included on a Disney Cruise?
Yes, most food is included in your Disney Cruise fare.
Your included dining covers breakfast, lunch and dinner at Disney’s rotational dining restaurants as well as casual and quick-service locations around the ship.
Depending on your ship, that can also include things such as pizza, burgers, sandwiches, snacks and unlimited soft-serve ice cream.
The main thing I like about Disney’s dining system is that I don’t have to budget separately for every normal meal. I can eat in the rotational restaurants, grab something by the pool or stop for a snack without watching a food bill grow throughout the day.
Is Room Service Included?
Many Disney Cruise room-service items are included in your fare.
Disney currently offers room service around the clock during most of the cruise, although service ends earlier on the final night.
Disney notes that fees can apply to certain menu items and deliveries, so I wouldn’t describe every possible room-service order as free.
A gratuity for room-service delivery is also at your discretion.
Are Drinks Included on a Disney Cruise?
Basic nonalcoholic drinks are included in several places onboard.
Disney currently includes:
- Soft drinks with meals
- Soft drinks from self-service beverage stations
- Regular coffee
- Tea
This is useful because you generally don’t need to buy a separate soda package just to have fountain drinks throughout the cruise.
There can still be charges for beverages such as:
- Alcohol
- Specialty coffees
- Smoothies
- Bottled water
- Drinks ordered from bars and lounges
Is Alcohol Included?
No. Beer, wine and cocktails are not included in the standard Disney Cruise fare.
Disney also does not currently sell a traditional unlimited alcoholic beverage package like those offered by some other major cruise lines.
You can buy drinks individually, and Disney offers selected wine, beer and beverage options depending on your sailing.
Our Disney Cruise alcohol package guide explains those options in more detail.
Can You Bring Your Own Alcohol?
Disney currently allows each eligible guest to bring one of the following at the beginning of the voyage:
- 1 unopened bottle of wine or sparkling wine, no larger than 750 ml, OR
- 6 beers, each no larger than 12 oz
For most Disney cruises the guest must be at least 21 years old. Different age rules apply to round-trip cruises from Singapore.
The alcohol must be carried through security in your carry-on luggage rather than packed in a checked bag.
Are Disney Kids Clubs Included?
Disney’s primary kids, tween and teen clubs are included in the cruise fare.
The current age groups include:
| Youth space | Ages | Included? |
|---|---|---|
| Disney’s Oceaneer Club / Lab | 3-10 | Yes |
| Edge | 11-14 | Yes |
| Vibe | 14-17 | Yes |
| “it’s a small world” nursery | Young children, generally 6 months-3 years | No, additional fee |
The nursery is the important exception. Disney provides group babysitting for younger children, but it carries an additional charge.
Is Entertainment Included?
One of Disney Cruise Line’s biggest included expenses is entertainment.
Your cruise fare covers Disney’s included:
- Broadway-style stage productions
- Deck parties
- Disney movies and selected first-run films
- Character appearances
- Family activities
- Trivia and games
- Many pools, waterslides and recreation areas
There are paid activities onboard too, so “entertainment is included” doesn’t mean every bookable experience on the ship is complimentary.
Are Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay Included?
If your itinerary stops at Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, much of the basic island experience is included in your cruise fare.
Disney currently includes things such as:
- Beach access
- Lounge chairs
- Umbrellas
- Towels
- BBQ lunch
- Fountain soft drinks
- Soft-serve ice cream
- Character appearances and selected entertainment
- Kids play areas and selected water activities
- Access to Serenity Bay for eligible adults
You do not have to purchase a beach excursion simply to enjoy a Disney island day.
There are still optional extras such as cabanas, alcohol, specialty drinks, rentals, shopping and Port Adventures.
If Lookout Cay is on your itinerary, our Lookout Cay review goes into the island experience in more detail.
Are Gratuities Included?
No. Recommended gratuities are separate from the basic Disney Cruise fare.
Disney currently recommends $16 per night, per stateroom guest, including children and infants.
For Concierge Staterooms and Suites, the current recommended amount is $27.25 per night, per guest.
Those gratuities cover the dining-room server, assistant server, head server and stateroom host, with additional positions included for Concierge guests.
You can prepay them before sailing or have them charged to your onboard account.
Is Wi-Fi Included?
No. General internet access is not included in the Disney Cruise fare.
Disney sells internet access separately, with available plans and prices varying by ship and sailing.
I wouldn’t budget around an old daily price because Disney can change its internet packages.
See our current guide to Disney Cruise Wi-Fi for the details.
Are Port Adventures Included?
No. Disney Port Adventures are optional and cost extra.
You don’t have to book an excursion at every port. You can often explore independently or simply stay onboard, depending on the destination and local requirements.
If you do book a Disney Port Adventure, the price depends on the destination and activity rather than being included in your original cruise fare.
Is Premium Dining Included?
No. Disney’s premium adult-exclusive restaurants charge an additional fee.
The exact restaurant depends on the ship and can include options such as:
- Palo
- Palo Steakhouse
- Remy
- Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement
You don’t need premium dining to have complete meals during the cruise. Disney’s regular rotational restaurants are already included in the fare.
What Else Costs Extra on a Disney Cruise?
Other optional expenses can include:
- Spa and salon treatments
- Some fitness or wellness experiences
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
- Professional photo packages
- Cabanas at Disney island destinations
- Snorkel gear and selected rentals
- Shopping and souvenirs
- Specialty food or beverages
- Onboard gifts
- Transportation to and from the cruise port
- Pre- or post-cruise hotels and airfare
None of those are necessary just to have meals, entertainment and activities during a normal Disney Cruise, but they can substantially increase the total cost if you add several of them.
Does Disney Offer an All-Inclusive Cruise Package?
Disney does not currently offer a standard package that turns the cruise into a completely all-inclusive vacation.
In other words, there isn’t one add-on that bundles unlimited alcohol, Wi-Fi, gratuities, premium restaurants, excursions and spa treatments into your cruise fare.
You can prepay or purchase some of those expenses individually, but they remain separate from the core cruise fare.
How Much Extra Should You Budget?
There isn’t one useful amount for every traveler because many of the extras are optional.
A family that drinks the included beverages, eats at the included restaurants and spends its port days exploring independently can keep additional spending relatively controlled.
Someone booking premium dining, Port Adventures, cocktails, spa treatments and Wi-Fi can spend substantially more.
I would build the budget from the extras you actually plan to use rather than adding an arbitrary “all-inclusive” surcharge.
For the actual dollar side of that calculation, use our separate guide to how much a Disney Cruise costs.
So, Are Disney Cruises All-Inclusive?
No, Disney Cruises are not completely all-inclusive. But the fare does include most of the core vacation: your stateroom, taxes and port fees, most food, basic nonalcoholic drinks, Disney entertainment, character experiences, pools, recreation and the primary kids clubs.
The biggest common extras are gratuities, Wi-Fi, alcohol, Port Adventures, premium dining, nursery care, spa services and other optional purchases.
For me, the useful distinction is that you can board a Disney Cruise and have a full vacation without continually paying for meals or entertainment, but you should not expect the fare to cover every optional experience onboard or ashore.
You can review Disney’s official cruise-fare inclusions before booking. For broader planning, see our main Disney Cruise guide.
