Walt Disney World Cruises - Great Florida Vacations

Walt Disney World Cruises

Walt Disney World cruises give you the best of two worlds; the magic of Disney World and the soothing tranquility of a Caribbean cruise!

Imagine spending your days basking in the sun by the pool, or maybe stretched out on a lounge chair with a good book. Think of fabulously fun meals, plenty of things to do, and also visiting a Caribbean island or two (or three, or...). Once on the islands, you can shop, take a tour, go snorkeling in warm waters, or more!

Wake from Cruise Ship, Walt Disney World Cruises Walt Disney World cruises, aboard either the Disney Magic or Disney Wonder cruise ships, come in different lengths. With cruises from 3 days to 10 days, you are sure to find one that fits your vacation time and wallet!

Your Florida Vacation and Disney Cruise

All Walt Disney World cruises leave out of Port Canaveral, which is the closest cruise ship dock to Orlando.

For your Florida vacation and Disney cruise, you can choose from 3, 4, 7 or 10 day itineraries. Most of the cruises are 3, 4 or 7 days -- the 10-day cruise is a special that happens a few times a year.

What's the right length for you? If you've never cruised before, you might want to start out with a 3-day sailing. It's enough for you to get an idea of what a Walt Disney World cruise is like.

If you have cruised before, think about the 7-day trip. The extra days help you unwind and relax a little bit more. And after all, isn't that what a vacation is all about? Of course, even if you haven't cruised before, you may decide that it's really for you and jump right in for a 7-day stay.

Disney Cruise Line Tip

The most important Disney cruise line tip is to have your passport ready. Your passport is the most important thing, and it shouldn't be within 6 months of expiring. All cruises require a passport - no exceptions.

Pack as much or as little as you like, since the ships seem to have everything anyway! But purchases onboard the ship are more expensive than what you'd buy at home. You should pack what you think you'll need and only count on the ship's shops for forgotten items.

At any time of year shorts, cotton shirts and warm-weather long pants are good, as is a bathing suit. You will want to get a little dressier for dinner, but no need for evening gowns and tuxedos. For the "formal" dinner, gentlemen are requested to wear a jacket, and ladies a dress or pantsuit.

A friendly tip -- at no time are bathing suits allowed in the dining rooms.

Walt Disney World Cruises - the Ships

Walt Disney World Cruises has two ships -- the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic. Both are alike, as far as deck plans go, so the real difference between the two are the itineraries.

The Disney Wonder specializes in the 3- and 4-day Disney World cruises. You will go to Nassau in the Bahamas, and also to Disney's private island called Castaway Cay.

The Disney Magic does the 7-day cruises. You have two choices:

Eastern Caribbean stops at St. Thomas (shopping!), St. Maarten and Castaway Cay.
Western Caribbean stops at Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel (one of my favorite cruise destinations) and Castaway Cay.

If you really like to shop till you drop, pick the Eastern Caribbean cruise. St. Thomas is world-renown for its bargains. If you like spending days at sea, also pick the Eastern Caribbean.

On the Western Caribbean cruise, you'll still have shopping and sea days, but you will also have more places to visit and things to do. How about a swim or snorkel in Stingray City? Go below the waves in a submarine? Visit ancient Mayan ruins?

Anything Else?

Remember to bring a smile!

There are options for transportation between Orlando and Port Canaveral, from buses to vans to limos. For three or more people, it's cheaper to take a van, and for 5 people a limo.

Hey, there are even land and sea vacation packages, where you can spend several days at a Walt Disney World resort hotel, and then a 3 or 4 night cruise. What a great way to extend your magical time at Walt Disney World.

If you're interested in a Disney World Florida vacation and Disney cruise, check with some of the online retailers for the latest rates -- they can change all the time.

As with everything Disney, though, the farther ahead you book your Florida vacation and cruise, the better price you can get.