Thinking about a Disney Cruise but not sure what’s actually covered in the fare? You’re not alone — it’s one of the top questions families ask when comparing vacation options. The truth is, Disney Cruises pack in a lot of value — from dining and entertainment to world-class kids’ clubs — but there are also a few extras you’ll want to budget for. If you’re still exploring whether a Disney Cruise is the right fit for your family, you may find our guide on why Disney Cruises are the perfect first cruise experience for families helpful. And for families seeking a culturally rich, inclusive experience at sea, our feature on the top five things Black families love about Disney Cruise vacations shares beautiful insight into what makes these sailings so meaningful.

What’s Included in Your Disney Cruise Fare

Disney Cruise Line is famous for its all-inclusive magic. Your fare covers nearly everything you need for an amazing family vacation — food, shows, kids’ activities, and comfortable accommodations.

Dining & Drinks

When it comes to dining, most meals and beverages are included. You’ll experience rotational dining, where you and your servers move through three themed restaurants such as Animator’s Palate and Royal Palace. According to Disney Cruise Line, this setup lets you enjoy variety without losing that personalized touch.

You can also enjoy buffets, quick-service counters, and 24-hour room service (basic items are complimentary). Unlimited soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water are available at drink stations, and yes — the soft-serve ice cream is free, too!

If you’re sailing to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, your beach barbecue lunch, soft drinks, and lounge chairs are also included in your fare.

Entertainment for All Ages

One of the best parts of a Disney Cruise is that nearly all the entertainment is included. Expect Broadway-style shows like Beauty and the Beast or Frozen, movie screenings of new releases from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel, and themed deck parties that end with fireworks at sea.

As Disney Cruise Line’s official site highlights, even character meet-and-greets, trivia games, and themed family events are part of your fare — no extra ticket needed.

You’ll also find live music, comedy shows, and movie marathons onboard, giving everyone in the family plenty to enjoy.

Kids Clubs & Youth Spaces

If you’re traveling with children, Disney truly shines. Your fare includes access to the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab (for ages 3–12), where kids can enjoy themed playrooms, storytelling, arts and crafts, and supervised adventures. Tweens have their own space at Edge, and teens can chill in Vibe, both stocked with music, games, and movies.

Note: The only childcare service that costs extra is the it’s a small world nursery for children under 3 — but everything else is included, making this a great value for families.

Staterooms & Comfort

Every Disney Cruise stateroom comes with thoughtful amenities and top-notch housekeeping. You’ll get daily cleaning, evening turndown service, Disney movies on-demand, and premium toiletries. Many rooms include split bathrooms — one with a shower and sink, the other with a toilet and sink — making family mornings much smoother.

 You can also enjoy 24-hour complimentary room service (for most menu items) and clever storage designed for families.

Disney provides a full overview of stateroom.

What Isn’t Included — Extras to Budget For

Disney is transparent about things that are optional add-ons. It’s smart to plan ahead so your family isn’t caught off-guard.

• Gratuities / Tips – While your fare covers much, gratuities are not automatically included in the base price, though Disney allows you to pre-pay gratuities before sailing. If you don’t pre-pay, the recommended gratuities are automatically added to your onboard account. Disney recently raised the recommended daily gratuity to US$16 per person per night for standard cabins. Concierge or suite-level guests have a higher recommended amount.
• Shore Excursions / Port Adventures – Tours, snorkeling, zipline, cultural excursions — these are generally extra. Disney’s base fare does not include premium port adventures.
• Alcohol, Specialty Drinks & Premium Beverages – Drinks such as cocktails, fine wine, beer, smoothies, and specialty coffees are not included and are billed separately.
• Spa, Salon, Wellness Services – Treatments at the onboard Senses Spa & Salon (massages, facials, manicures, etc.) are optional and incur additional cost.
• Premium / Adult-Only Dining – Restaurants like Palo, Remy, or Enchanté (adult-exclusive, fine dining) require upgrade fees.
• Private Cabanas on Castaway Cay – While basic lounge chairs, umbrellas, and lunch are included on Castaway Cay, private beach cabanas must be booked separately and cost extra.
• Internet / Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi access is almost always an extra cost (purchase packages available).
• Souvenirs, Onboard Photos & Shopping – Photo packages, art, jewelry, Disney merchandise — these are not included.
• Pre/Post-Cruise Hotels & Transfers – Your ship fare only covers the cruise portion. Flights, hotel stays before or after, and transfers are outside that scope.

IMPORTANT: Prohibited Items (Don’t Pack These)

Before you pack, review the official Disney Cruise Line Prohibited Items List so you don’t bring items that could be confiscated or delay your luggage:

This list includes weapons, certain electrical appliances, drones, oversized coolers, and other restricted items. Checking the list in advance ensures smooth sailing on embarkation day.

The Mocha & The Mouse Advantage

Many families compare vacations by raw cost—but the real differentiator is ease, confidence, and maximizing value. Here’s how Mocha Travel adds value beyond “just the cruise”:

• Full-trip planning, not just cruise booking. We help with flights, airport transfers, pre- and post-cruise hotels, visa requirements, travel insurance — making your whole journey seamless.

• Expert budget planning & forecasting. We help you understand what’s included vs what you’ll need to fund, and we build an accurate budget so there are no surprises.

• Advanced reservations and timed logistics. Want a specific dinner time? A must-do shore excursion? A spa booking at just the right hour? We help pre-book and sequence everything.

• Kid-centric tailoring. We assist in matching the right itinerary, ship, and itinerary for your kids’ ages and interests, and ensure they maximise the included kids’ club experiences.

• Upsell support — only when it makes sense. Rather than pushing “premium” add-ons, we guide you on which optional upgrades (spa, speciality dining, private cabanas) genuinely enhance your experience—and which may not be worth the cost.

• On-call support. During travel, if a schedule changes or you need to adjust something, we help handle it — from port to ship to hotel.

Tips to Maximise What’s Included & Minimise Surprises

1. Pre-pay what you can. Many cruises allow “pay everything ahead” (fare, gratuities, excursions) so you don’t need your card onboard.

2. Prioritise “must-do” extras. Pick one or two splurges (e.g., specialty dinner or a must-do shore excursion) and skip the rest.

3. Monitor gratuity changes. Disney periodically updates gratuity amounts — check before you go.

4. Use your included drink/snack options. Take advantage of free soft drinks, ice cream, and snack stations — helps reduce need for specialty drinks.

5. Set a souvenir and photo budget. It’s easy to overspend in the onboard shops; deciding up front helps avoid regret.

6. Book excursions early. Popular shore tours often sell out — securing early ensures you get your preferred times.

7. Review the prohibited items list. Avoid packing items that could be removed at embarkation or delay your luggage delivery.

8. Leverage Mocha Travel. Let us handle the coordination, timing, and insider tricks so you enjoy more and stress less.

Final Thoughts

A Disney Cruise stands out not only for its immersive storytelling and family-friendly appeal, but also for the breadth of inclusions — dining, entertainment, youth programming, and much more. Still, the key to avoiding surprises lies in understanding the extras, knowing what you’re not allowed to bring, and planning smartly.

That’s where Mocha Travel shines — we don’t just book a cabin. We blueprint the entire experience so your family can focus on magic, not logistics.