UPDATED July 15, 2024

Are you getting ready to set sail on a Disney Cruise? First of all… LUCKY YOU!! And second, you may be sailing on a special themed or seasonal cruise, depending on your ship and travel dates!

Let’s take a look at special and seasonal sailings on Disney Cruise Line!

Special Themed Sailings on Select Ships

Marvel Day at Sea on the Disney Dream — RETURNING in 2024

Channel your Inner Superhero… Passengers sailing aboard the Disney Dream on select 5-night cruises (departing January 7 – March 8, 2024) from Miami to The Bahamas and the Western Caribbean can celebrate their favorite SUPERHEROES with Marvel Day at Sea!

The special day will feature the following themed activities on board!

In 2024, Marvel Day at Sea is being offered on 10 five-night Caribbean cruises sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida:

• Departing Jan. 7, Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 18, and March 3, 2024, the western Caribbean itinerary includes George Town, Grand Cayman, and Castaway Cay.
• Departing Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23, and March 8, 2024, the western Caribbean itinerary includes Cozumel, Mexico, and Castaway Cay.

Character Encounters and Photo Ops: Super Hero photo moments will feature characters including Iron Man and Black Panther. Passengers will also see Captain America, Thor, Loki, Doctor Strange, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Star-Lord, Gamora, Captain Marvel and more throughout the ship. In all, appearances of OVER 30 Heroes and Villains will include Disney Cruise Line ship debuts of characters such as Captain America Sam Wilson, Mighty Thor, Shang-Chi, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Kate Bishop,,, and more!

Exclusive Entertainment: 

• Marvel Heroes Unite will provide a signature nighttime spectacular (including special effects and pyrotechnics);
• The Evolution dance club will feature the Star-Spangled USO Show (a big-band show-style tribute to none other than Captain America);
• Mickey and Friends Super Celebration will feature classic characters dressed up as their own favorite Marvel Heroes;
• A brand-new show featuring General Okoye in the atrium called “Warriors of Wakanda” where recruits will get to train with the Dora Milaje in an interactive experience.

MORE Marvel Activities: SUIT UP… because your own Marvel-inspired costumes are welcome! Additional fun includes Marvel movie showings and themed crafts, trivia, and games, and a special Marvel Animation Academy. Special kids’ activities will be available for passengers visiting Disney’s Oceaneer Club (young “recruits” ages 4 through 12).

Click HERE to see MARVEL-themed TREATS for Marvel Day at Sea!

Pixar Day at Sea on the Disney Fantasy — NEW in 2023 and RETURNING in 2024

Select sailings (starting January 6, 2024 through March 2, 2024) on the Disney Fantasy will feature a Pixar Day at Sea! 

Get ready to dine, sing, play, dance, and even make a splash with Pixar pals!

The special day will feature the following themed activities on board!

In 2024, Pixar Day at Sea will be offered on the following seven-night Caribbean cruises on the Disney Fantasy sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida:

• Departing Jan. 6, Jan. 20, Feb. 3, Feb. 17, and March 2, 2024, the eastern Caribbean itinerary includes Tortola, St. Thomas, and Castaway Cay
• Departing Jan. 13, Jan. 27, Feb. 10, and Feb. 24, 2024, the western Caribbean itinerary includes Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.

Character Meet and Greets with Pixar Pals will include Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Bo Peep from Toy Story; Mike, Sulley and Boo from Monsters, Inc.; Joy and Sadness from Inside Out; Dug and Russell from Up; and Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone from The Incredibles, Miguel from Coco, Remy from Ratatouille. (And there will be some ship-wide guest announcements from Dug, Dory, Edna Mode, and Roz!)

Exclusive Entertainment: 

• Pixar Pals Celebration — a day-time Deck Dance Party with Pixar characters;
• You’ll “help the Incredibles save the day” in a new nighttime spectacular: An Incredible Deck Party: Celebrate the Supers (complete with a fireworks finale);
• There will also be a “first-of-its-kind theatrical experience” presented by a troupe of storytellers that will bring the story of Coco to life with music and puppetry;
• Crush’s Totally Awesome Pool Party will feature pool-side games and interactions from Crush himself

Pixar Day DINING

Pixar-themed Dining will include an interactive — and musical! — Character Breakfast featuring Toy Story pals!

The Pixar Day at Sea Dinner will serve dishes “inspired by the Pixar Animation Studios’ California locale.”

Diners will also partake in Undersea Magic with Crush (from Finding Nemo) for a TOTALLY RAD meal featuring everyone’s favorite surfing turtle who just might talk with YOU during dinner!

Click HERE for more about the Pixar-themed EATS coming to Pixar Day at Sea!

Pixar-themed Activities

Special Pixar-themed activities will include the chance to meet the Pixar storytellers behind the movies, learn to draw your favorite characters, and watch some of your favorite Pixar movies!

Test your memory during Dory’s Memory Game, get in touch with your emotions at the Inside Out Game Show, become an honorary member of the Green Army Patrol during Sarge Says, make Remy’s favorite dish (Ratatouille) at Anyone Can Cook, or take to the stage with your best jokes during a Monsters, Inc. Open Mike Nite.

Themed activities just for the kiddos kids will include making music with Miguel from Coco, hanging out with Ian from Onward, or building your own Forky from Toy Story 4.

Seasonal Sailings on ALL Ships

Halloween on the High Seas

BOO! It’s time for lots of not-so-spooky FUN on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise! These seasonal sailings are available on ALL Disney Cruise Line ships on most itineraries from late September through Halloween (of course!).

Take in the sight of the stunning Pumpkin Tree in the ship’s Atrium (each ship has its own unique Tree!), setting the whimsical scene and story for the adventures to come… Keep in mind that activities and experiences for Halloween on the High Seas may vary by ship. But special festive experiences include:

Mickey’s Mouse-querade: It’s a Deck Party “scare-a-bration” with favorite Disney friends! (They’ll be wearing their very own Halloween costumes, so don’t forget to bring yours*.)

Character Halloween Meet and Greets: Remember… you’re sailing with FRIENDS on a Disney Cruise. Get ready to meet and pose with Disney pals like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and more in their special costumes. In fact, our pals are getting NEW costumes for 2024!

You may even encounter the Sanderson Sisters (that’s Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle Cow)!

Halloween Activities include trick-or-treating, creepy crafts, spooky parties, elaborate décor, and limited-time food and beverage items.  Adult-exclusive venues may feature “villainous takeovers,” while all guests can enjoy Halloween-themed movies on Funnel Vision, and more “ghostly” touches around the ship!

*Guests are invited and encouraged to bring their own Halloween costumes for Halloween on the High Seas sailings. It’s part of the fun!

Very Merrytime Cruises

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! What better way to celebrate than a Very Merrytime Cruise! These seasonal sailings are available on ALL Disney Cruise Line ships on most itineraries in November and December.

Each ship is adorned with stunning and festive decor including three-deck-tall Christmas trees and fragrant, larger-than-life Gingerbread Houses. You’ll also find garlands, poinsettias, shimmering lights, and more holiday-themed décor throughout the ship.

Character and SANTA Encounters: In addition to Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and MANY more beloved Disney friends (donning their holiday finest!), passengers also sail with SANTA CLAUS who makes appearances during Very Merrytime Cruises. And guests can also see the Mrs. during Storytime with Mrs. Claus.

During these special cruises, there are also themed activities and crafts for kids, holiday merchandise available to purchase, and more.

The holiday fun extends from the ship itself to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. On Castaway Cay, you’ll be able to see some holiday decorations that have a bit of a tropical flair!

Want to learn MORE about Disney Cruise Line?

Visit our Disney Cruise Line page! We also have an entire PLAYLIST on our YouTube Channel, DFBGuide, packed with Disney Cruise Line videos like the one below:

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