Sailing with the Disney Cruise Line is an adventure offering fun and relaxation for everyone and certainly not one to be forgotten. Whether you are enjoying a family vacation or adult-only getaway, there are events, dining, and experiences aboard each of Disney’s spectacular ships to please all ages and interests.
There are currently four ships in operation: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy with three new ships launching by 2021. The fleet offers destinations and itineraries all over the world including the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Europe, and Alaska, to name a few. In addition, some itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, located in the Bahamas.
When it comes to embarking on a Disney Cruise, there are some very important policies, terms and conditions to be aware of. Below you will find everything you need to know before booking your cruise.
The following “Terms and Conditions” are for residents of the United States:
CRUISE CONTRACT
Your ticket is the Cruise Contract (available at /contracts-terms-safety/cruise-contract/united-states/. The forms needed for your vacation can be completed online by registering and logging into disneycruise.com and selecting “My Disney Cruise” or you will receive this package within 28 days of sailing. Carefully read your Cruise Contract, as it contains important terms and conditions which govern your cruise vacation and affect your legal rights. It must be signed by all Guests prior to embarking any Disney Cruise Line ship. In the event of conflict between the terms and conditions contained in the Cruise Contract, these Terms and Conditions, the terms of any Disney Cruise Line advertisement or offer, and the oral or written representations of any Disney Cruise Line representative, the terms and conditions contained in the Cruise Contract shall control.
MINORS
Minors under the age of 18 not traveling with a parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older in the same stateroom. The parent or guardian of any minor not traveling with a parent or guardian must appoint an adult to have custody and control over the minor and to contract on their behalf in connection with the Disney Cruise Line vacation. An Authorization For Minor To Travel Without a Parent or Legal Guardian Form can be obtained by visiting disneycruise.com and selecting “My Disney Cruise” or is sent when a document package is mailed. The form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to embarkation at the Disney Cruise Line Terminal. After 9:00 PM, adult entertainment districts are restricted to Guests 18 years and older.
BAGGAGE, VALUABLES AND OTHER POSSESSIONS
Each Guest may bring aboard the ship a reasonable amount of clothing and personal effects without charge, not to exceed 2 bags per person. All Guest baggage must be stored in the Guest’s stateroom and must be labeled with the Disney Cruise Line baggage tag. Dangerous or illegal articles such as weapons, explosives, liquid oxygen, combustible substances or nonprescription controlled substances may not be brought to Walt Disney World® Resort or taken aboard the ship. Any such items shall be surrendered to the Master of the ship at embarkation, and may be disposed of at the sole discretion of the Master. You should retain valuables such as cash, negotiable securities or other financial instruments, gold, silverware, jewelry, ornaments, works of art, photographic/video/audio equipment or supplies, laptop computers, cellular phones or other valuables in your personal control as Disney Cruise Line is not responsible for damage to or loss of these items.
ALCOHOL POLICY
Each Guest 21 years and older may bring two bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750ml) or six beers (no larger than 12oz) onboard in carry-on luggage at the beginning of the voyage and at each port-of-call. All wine/champagne and beer brought onboard must be packed in the Guest’s carry-on luggage. Any alcohol packed in checked luggage will be removed and stored until the completion of the cruise. Guests are not allowed to bring liquors or spirits (including powdered alcohol) onboard.
DEPOSIT/PAYMENT INFORMATION
A deposit is required to confirm a reservation. Deposit amount will be determined at time of booking. Vacation and cruise packages are subject to cancellation if full deposit is not received in our office within the option period specified at time of booking. For reservations confirmed in U.S. Dollars, final payment in the form of a check or credit card (Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover® Card, Diners Club®, Japanese Credit Bureau or Disney Visa® Card) must be received on the date determined at the time of booking. For reservations not confirmed in U.S. Dollars, acceptable forms of payment are Visa® and MasterCard®. Payment policy for group travel may vary. Please contact your Travel Agent for complete details. Failure to strictly comply with the deposit and final payment schedules, or any other applicable policies and procedures, will result in the automatic cancellation of pending reservations.
CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS
Cancellations may be made by telephone or in writing. Changes to the vacation commencement date or changes of Guest names will be considered cancellations. For cancellations, amounts paid, minus cancellation fees and other amounts owed, will be promptly refunded. No refunds will be made in the event of interruption or cancellation by the Guest after vacation commencement date. All appropriate refunds will be made directly to the Guest’s credit card account or through the Guest’s Travel Agent if the reservation is made through a Travel Agent. Disney Cruise Line is not responsible for the receipt of refund monies by Guests from their Travel Agents. All travel documents including airline tickets must be returned before refund processing can begin. Certain Travel Agents may withhold an agency cancellation fee. Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to restrict any changes to a reservation. All changes are subject to availability. Please note that changes made to overall party size may result in a change to the rate. For your peace of mind, we recommend the purchase of the Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan, which is administered by Aon Affinity and underwritten by Arch Insurance Company. Premiums for the Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan must be paid by the final payment date, and the Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan is not effective until final vacation payment is made.
GROUND TRANSFER CANCELLATION FEES
A cancellation fee in the amount of the total cost of Ground Transfers will be assessed if Ground Transfers are cancelled 7 days or less prior to arrival date.
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT CHECK-IN/SHIP EMBARKATION
Check-in time for Walt Disney World® Resort hotels is normally after 4:00 PM. For Guests arriving early, luggage arrangements can be made so Guests can visit Theme Parks or enjoy Resort amenities. It is recommended that necessary items including proof of citizenship, valuables, medications (in their original containers) and any other personal items or other items required for check-in or embarkation be packed in your day bag. Walt Disney World Resort check-out time is normally before 11:00 AM. Ship’s embarkation begins at 1:00 PM. Guests are required to be on board the ship at least one hour before scheduled sailing time.
INCLUDED IN VACATION FARE
Cruise vacation fares include shipboard accommodations on a per-Guest basis, and all meals and entertainment as provided on board the ship. For parties staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel and reserving a shipboard suite for more than 5 Guests, an additional Walt Disney World Resort hotel room will be required at additional cost.
EXCLUDED FROM VACATION FARE
The Resort portion of the fare does not include meals, beverages or any other item of a personal nature. The cruise portion of the fare does not include airfare, ground or baggage transfers, fuel supplements, shore excursions, sightseeing or meals ashore in the ports of call, gratuities, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, laundry or valet services, or any other items not specifically included. The fare also does not include Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses, as that term is defined at /contracts-terms-safety/taxes-and-fees/.
CRUISE HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
By boarding the Disney Cruise Line cruise ship, Guests represent themselves as physically and otherwise fit to travel. If you have a medical condition which requires you to take prescription medication or may require you to obtain medical care during the course of your cruise vacation, please consult with your personal physician prior to traveling. For your convenience, a physician and nurse are on call 24 hours a day to provide basic medical services. The physician and nurse are not employees or representatives of Disney Cruise Line and will charge their prevailing fees for services provided at your request. Decisions regarding medical care and treatment are personal and confidential and as such are strictly between the Guest and physician and nurse. Disney Cruise Line is not liable for any death, personal injury, illness or emotional distress caused by reason of any treatment, diagnosis, advice, examination, prescription or other service provided by such medical personnel or by the failure of such medical personnel to provide any treatment, diagnosis, advice, examination, prescription or other service. The ship’s Master has the right at any time to require any Guest to debark for medical reasons, and compliance is mandatory. For your peace of mind, we recommend the purchase of the Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan. Premiums for the Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan must be paid by the final payment due date, and the Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan is not effective until final payment is made.
RIGHT TO CHANGE ITINERARY/DETENTION
Disney Cruise Line may in its sole discretion and without prior notice change, substitute, postpone, cancel or deviate from any scheduled sailing, itinerary or call at any port, and may substitute another vessel for the ship, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage incurred by a Guest as a result of any such change, substitution, postponement, cancellation or deviation. The Guest shall pay any and all expenses incurred if a Guest is detained on board ship or elsewhere at any stage of a voyage because of quarantine, port regulations, prevailing applicable law, illness or other cause.
PETS/SERVICE ANIMALS
No animals are allowed on board the ships except for service animals. Disney Cruise Line must be notified at least 72 hours prior to sailing if a service animal is to be brought on board the ship. Many ports of call have strict entry requirements for animals, and you must ensure that your service animal complies with all requirements of each destination. Disney Cruise Line is not responsible for your inability to visit a port of call due to your failure to comply with any such entry requirements.
REFUSAL OF PASSAGE
Disney Cruise Line may refuse to transport or may debark at any port any Guest who may be suffering from a contagious or infectious disease, ill health or whose presence in the opinion of the Master may be detrimental to the comfort or safety of other Guests or the crew, or who, in the Master’s opinion, might be excluded from landing at destination by Immigration or other governmental authorities. In such cases, the Guest shall not be entitled to any refund of fare or compensation whatsoever. Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to refuse passage to Guests with criminal backgrounds. Women who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of their embarkation date or who will enter their 24th week of pregnancy during the cruise will be refused passage due to safety concerns. Neither a physician’s medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted. In addition, Disney Cruise Line cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage. The minimum age to sail aboard Disney Cruise Line ships is 6 months of age on most itineraries, and the minimum age for Transatlantic, Hawaii, and Panama Canal itineraries is 1 year of age.
STATEROOM OCCUPANCY
Occupancy of stateroom on board the ships is limited to the number of berths in that stateroom. Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to limit the number of berths and single staterooms sold.
GROUND TRANSFER INFORMATION
Guests who purchase flights through the Disney Cruise Line Air Program or who make their own air arrangements may purchase ground and baggage transfers from Disney Cruise Line, which include transportation between the port of embarkation and the airport closest to the port of embarkation. Please note that those Guests who do not purchase the ground transfers from Disney Cruise Line are responsible for all ground and baggage transportation to and from the airport, the port of embarkation and their hotel, if applicable. We recommend that you allow a minimum of 4 hours at the beginning and end of your cruise for travel time, customs clearances and security checks at the port of embarkation and the airport. As of November 8, 2016, the Disney Cruise Line Air Program no longer includes Ground Transfers.
SMOKING/NONSMOKING POLICY
For the comfort and enjoyment of our Guests, Disney Cruise Line ships have been primarily designated as non-smoking ships. However, it is recognized that some Guests smoke. To provide an onboard atmosphere that also satisfies smokers, portions of open-air decks on each ship are designated as smoking areas. Smoking is prohibited in Guest staterooms and private verandahs. Guests who are found smoking in their staterooms or on their verandahs will be charged $250, which will be added to their folio. All Guests must observe the nonsmoking areas and refrain from smoking pipes and/or cigars in any of the public areas. These requests are to provide a comfortable shipboard living atmosphere for everyone.
PERISHABLES
Coolers are not permitted except if needed for medications, baby food or items related to dietary constraints. Coolers containing personal items (e.g., soda or snacks) may NOT be brought on board. Homemade, pre-cooked or other perishable items plus any open snack containers will not be allowed to be brought on board. We regret that we are unable to provide food preparation, refrigeration or storage on board for personal food or beverage items.
INFANT POOL POLICY
For the health and safety of our Guests, parents must observe U.S. Public Health Service requirements by allowing only children who are toilet trained to enter shipboard pools and spas. Diapers and swim diapers are not allowed. However, little ones who are not toilet trained are welcome to enjoy our water play areas and splash zones designed exclusively for the enjoyment of children wearing swim diapers.
PASSPORTS/VISAS
Guests are responsible for obtaining proper documentation to board the ship. U.S. government regulations related to passport requirements are subject to change. Therefore, we strongly encourage Guests of all ages to have a valid U.S. passport for all cruises. Please visit the U.S. Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center at 877-4USA-PPT for the most current requirements. It is mandatory for anyone travelling to or transferring through the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program, to obtain approval to travel no later than 72 hours prior to travel by completing the online Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process. The cost of ESTA is currently $14 per person (subject to change). Additional information can be obtained by visiting https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES/WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE STATEROOMS
Disney Cruise Line offers accessible staterooms and suites, equipped for Guests with disabilities. Features include: ramped bathroom thresholds, open bed frames, added phones in the bathroom/nightstand, bathroom and shower handrails, fold-down shower seats, handheld shower heads, and lowered towel and closet bars. Note: Guests requiring a wheelchair throughout their cruise must make provisions for the use of that wheelchair prior to the cruise.
GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES/ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Transfer tiers are provided at one of our feature pools. Sand wheelchairs are available at Castaway Cay. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available in the shipboard common areas. Assistive Listening Systems are available in the main theaters. Closed captioning is available for stateroom televisions and select onboard video monitors. Sign language interpretation is available for live performances on designated cruise dates. Stateroom Communication Kits containing door knock and phone alerts, phone amplifier, bed shaker notification, a strobe light smoke detector, and a Text Typewriter (TTY) are available.
A complete list of Terms and Conditions can be found online: Disney Cruise
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