I’m planning for my family’s first Disney Cruise! I’m starting to pack and wanted to know are there any items that I can’t bring with me onboard?”

Ahoy there!

How exciting to have your first Disney Cruise Line vacation on the horizon! I'm glad you sailed by with your question – let's get packing!

Before we dive into what not to pack, let's take a minute to chat about what you need to bring along. In addition to your checked luggage, you can bring one carry-on bag and a personal item. In your carry-on items, be sure to pack your Government-issued ID, Port Arrival Form, medications and valuables to make your embarkation day a breeze. I often pack a water bottle, sunscreen and my favorite Mickey-inspired hat in my carry-on, too.

Now, for items you should leave at home, there is a comprehensive list on the Disney Cruise Line website. Most items won't surprise you, but we often receive questions from other Guests about a couple of items I'll share with you. If you usually travel with your favorite hairdryer, it must be 230V and 450 watts or less. So, as much as you may love your Dyson, it will need to sit this vacation out since it is incompatible with the onboard electrical system. I leave my beloved hairdryer at home and use the one provided in my stateroom; it works great! Also, personal ice chests and coolers will have to miss out on vacation unless you need one for items such as breast milk, baby food, or medications. Plus, you can purchase a Disney Cruise Line beverage cooler onboard! It makes a perfect souvenir! 

Of course, be sure to carefully review the list of prohibited items, including the detailed notes, and leave anything on the list at home. Some items that Guests might miss on the list are:

• surge protectors (though multi-port USB plugs are ok)
• Irons and steamers
• Drones
• Weapons, firearms, and ammunition (even props and toys that look like weapons),
• and marijuana (even if legal where you reside or medically prescribed).

If you are like me, you keep a travel bag ready to go, so don't forget to check it for any prohibited items before you leave home. We don't want anything delaying the start of your amazing vacation at sea!

For more ideas on what to bring, this handy packing list is great for first-time cruisers. At planDisney, we go overboard with our best tips for our fellow Guests, so cruise by any time with your planning questions!

Wishing you many magical memories,

Shannon

Ahoy there, friends!

Three cheers for a first cruise! What a fantastic adventure for your family. While packing can be intimidating (especially if you're traveling to get to the cruise port in the first place) this is definitely a time where luck favors the prepared.

In addition to checking out the prohibited items list (so you don't bring anything that will slow your boarding process) and the helpful cruise packing lists, I like to make sure that my daypack is ready for adventure at all times. My "must have" gear includes:

• All of the required personal documents for our cruise.
• Any medications we may need, like pain relievers and prescriptions. I usually toss in a couple of bandages too, for good measure.
• A portable phone charger.
• Swimming suits so my kids can enjoy the pools as soon as they open on the ship. That's often before our luggage arrives at our stateroom, so we carry our suits with us!
• Sunscreen to go with those swimming suits, no one wants to start a cruise with a sunburn.
• Hats, sunglasses, and light jackets, depending on the weather.

My little sailors are old enough now that they like to bring their own backpacks, which really helps! But you should know that while video gaming consoles and virtual reality headsets aren't specifically mentioned in the prohibited items list they are not allowed on your voyage. You'll be having too much fun for a gaming marathon anyway! Handheld video games that do not require a television connection are just fine to bring. Did you just hear the sigh of relief from my 12 year old boy? Whew!

Happy sailing! 

"Waving" hello as you prepare to take to the seas! A Disney Cruise Line voyage is one of my favorite ways to relax and recharge while still enjoying plenty of Disney magic. Embarkation day will be here before you know it so let's make sure you aren't smuggling contraband cargo on board.

You'll want to carefully review the list of prohibited items as you pack your treasure chests. Weapons, Marijuana (medical or otherwise), appliances and small electrical items like irons, electric blankets and power strips, among other restricted items should all be left at home. In fact, I recommend doing a thorough check of your bags before you begin packing to make sure nothing accidentally stows away from a past voyage.

Sporting equipment like bicycles, fishing gear, boogie boards, and inflatable rafts or pool floats shouldn't be on your packing list either. If you'll be visiting Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point you'll find select rental equipment available and plenty of games and activities to enjoy. You'll also need to leave any homemade, precooked or perishable food items in your home's refrigerator or pantry. You'll find enough food onboard to keep the hunger at bay, and you can even enjoy complimentary 24 hour room service which would satiate even the most ravenous pirate. Pro tip: you might want to bring some loose fitting pants to wear on the trip home after feasting throughout your sailing (not that I would know from experience). 

While your stateroom will be your home away from home during your sailing, you also shouldn't plan on any redecorating. Candles, over the door hooks and organizers, strands of lights, balloons and even scissors are all on the prohibited items list. However, my family does enjoy decorating the outside of our door with magnets themed to our favorite characters or our family's interests.

I hope this gives you a good feel for the type of treasure you can safely set sail with. Please come back and see us again with more planning questions!

Bon Voyage,

Amy

A Disney Cruise Line vacation is time to stop and smell the rosé!

Guests 21 years and older are allowed to bring wine and beer on board the ships. There is a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or sparkling wine (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces). With good riesling, these beverages must be in your carry-on bag and not in your checked luggage.

Liquor, however, is not allowed to be brought on board, including hard seltzers and ciders. 

You can also pick up additional bottles (within the same guidelines) at your ports of call. You can purchase liquor at the destinations, but it will be held for you to pick up at the end of the cruise.

A cold beverage pairs perfectly with the "All Hands on Deck" cheese and cracker plate from Room Service while getting ready for dinner. You can also check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for the Drink of the Day, which includes special pricing and a souvenir cup.

Cheers!

Welcome aboard, first-time seafarers!

If your family is anything like mine, we sure love our gadgets just as much as our Star Wars gear, which can be sometimes be tempting to bring along on our journeys. However, though remote-controlled devices may be welcome on planets and vessels in a galaxy far, far away - they're prohibited on Disney Cruise Line ships in the interest of safety on board. A few examples of these include our beloved droids as well as any remote-controlled toy vehicles and aircraft including airplanes, helicopters and drones. (You might notice a lot of posted signage ashore with stern warnings prohibiting drone usage at places like Disney Castaway Cay, so it's best to leave our airborne aspirations at home and embrace the views from land and sea instead!)

Padawans and other fellow Force-sensitive seafarers will be happy to hear that store-bought light saber toys are listed as an exception to the prohibited weapons policy! Depending on which ship you'll be embarking on for your family's first adventure, I highly recommend checking out some excellently themed Star Wars spaces on board that you can enjoy together during Open House hours in Disney's Oceaneer Club.

Wishing you and your family a fantastic journey ahead!

Prince

When packing for your cruise, you'll want to consult the Disney Cruise Line "Prohibited and Restricted Items" list. Something that surprised a pal of mine was that personal electric irons and steamers are not allowed on board. While we all want to look our best for Captain Mickey and crew, these items pose a safety hazard and will be confiscated during the screening process and returned on disembarkation day.

The good news is that all ships offer self-service laundry facilities equipped with irons and ironing boards, so no need to fear wrinkles and creases in your clothes. You can also leave your laundry supplies at home, as both detergent and dryer sheets are available for purchase onboard. If you don't want to pause the fun to do laundry, opt for the full-service laundry and dry-cleaning services onboard that will pick up and deliver right to your stateroom. Just notify your Stateroom Host or Hostess or Guest Services by 9:00 AM for pickup and next-day return, and your clothes will be ready for their close-up. Happy packing!

Welcome Aboard planDisney!

Your first Disney Cruise Line vacation will be full of MAGICal memories for the whole family that you'll be sure to TREASURE forever!  Getting ready for your DREAMy voyage starts before you even leave your house!  Don't forget to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App where you can view a fun countdown screen and reservation details.  It's also important to note that you can book Port Adventures and select Onboard Activities 75 days ahead of your cruise.

When it's time to start packing, there is a lot to think about!  You'll want to make sure to keep your required travel documents and a few essentials like any medications, bathing suits, mobile chargers, and maybe a few snacks in a carry-on bag.  Once you arrive at the port, your luggage will be whisked away and magically appear in your stateroom later so you'll want to have any necessary items with you while waiting to board the ship and the first few hours once you're sailing away.  

I always take a few moments to review the Probhibited and Restricted Items list before setting sail so that there are no delays in our luggage and security screening.  As a mom who has sailed with infants and toddlers, I like to especially point out some items that may be of particular interest if you have any young sailors cruising with you.  If you're traveling with an infant, bottle warmers and sterilizers are not permitted on board, but a limited number are available by request from Guest Services.  If you are breastfeeding, you can bring breast milk on board in your carry-on luggage.  Any formula or baby food must be in factory sealed packaging when boarding.  I like using either the individually packaged formula that is ready to mix for single bottles or individual pre-mixed formula as you cannot bring open items off the cruise ship at the end of the trip.  In addition, you can request fresh pureed vegetables from the main dining rooms or room service - perfect for little ones!  There is also no need to worry about bringing your own portable crib or high chair as these can be requested from Guest Services as well.  You can even request a diaper disposal unit for your room!

I'm WISHing on a star that you have a WONDERful Disney Cruise Line vacation!  Please cruise on by to see us again here at planDisney if there is anything else we can help answer for you! 

Sailing aboard the Disney Cruise Line is one of my family's favorite ways to spend quality time together! With fantastic Youth Clubs, world-class entertainment, and adventurous Ports of Call, there are many fun activities for every family member.

Speaking of adventure, Port Adventures are shore excursions at select destinations that Guests can book on the Disney Cruise Line website. Did you know that many items needed to experience Port Adventures are provided for you? This means you can (and should) leave those items at home...which leaves more luggage space for souvenirs! For example, diving equipment, including air tanks, spears, spear guns, slings, dive knives, pry bars, and underwater scooters, are prohibited on board a Disney Cruise. Surf boards, wave boards, and fishing gear also are not allowed. Instead, check the description for your Port Adventures to determine what items will be provided for you. All necessary equipment will be provided for Guests participating in dive, scuba, and fishing Port Adventures. I am a notorious over-packer, so I love knowing that equipment is already provided on some of our Port Adventures!

Additionally, I know the importance of wheeled mobility devices for some Guests, which is why I recommend calling Disney Cruise Line Special Services ahead of time to discuss your needs. The contact information can be found at the bottom of the Prohibited and Restricted Items page. Certain wheeled mobility devices are prohibited on board, such as those with less than 3 wheels or those devices that cannot maintain stability when stopped or unpowered.

One thing that my family always brings on our Disney Cruises are pirate costumes! Many Disney Cruises include a Pirate Night, and my family loves dressing up as characters from one of our favorite attractions, "Pirates of the Caribbean". Dancing together during the “Pirates in the Caribbean” Deck Party and watching the fireworks are always highlights from our Disney Cruises. Just leave the pirate weapons at home!