There's a lovely myth that once you've paid for a Disney cruise, everything onboard is included. Mostly it is, and that's part of the magic. However, there are still a few things that are an extra cost, including adult-only dining in Palo, the spa, the photo packages, the days out in port and alcohol seminars. These are all a paid-for extra and can be requested before you sail. Obviously you don't have to add any of these on, but here's a run-down of what they are just in case anything takes your fancy.
When Can You Book?
Depending on your Castaway Club status (Disney Cruise Line's loyalty programme), your onboard booking window will open at different times. More on the Castaway Club can be found here. The more you've sailed, the earlier that window opens, and returning guests get first pick of the restaurants, the spa slots and the Port Adventures before first-timers do, which matters, because the popular tables like Remy and Enchanté don't hang around. Especially the infamous Palo brunch, which is very popular, as they generally only do this on a sea day.
Adult-Only Dining
Let's look at the additional extras in more detail. First up, adult-only dining. Onboard every cruise ship you'll find Palo. The smaller Magic-class ships (Magic and Wonder) have Palo only. On the Dream-class ships (Dream and Fantasy) you also have a second restaurant called Remy, and on the newer Triton-class ships (Wish, Treasure and Destiny) you'll find Enchanté. Palo is so named as it's the name of the pole that's used to steer a gondola through the canals of Venice. Remy is named after Remy the rat in the movie Ratatouille. On the Triton-class ships, Palo is themed around Cogsworth and Enchanté is themed around Lumière from the movie Beauty and the Beast.
Palo runs both a brunch and a dinner service, with the brunch usually offered on sea days. The brunch is so popular it can only be booked once per sailing, so if it's on your list, grab it the moment your booking window opens. The dinners are different. You can book Palo dinner or Remy dinner every night of your cruise if you wish. Remy also offers a brunch as well as a dessert tasting option.
Senses Spa and Rainforest Room
The spas onboard the Disney ships offer a wide range of treatments, ranging from a quick haircut right up to a deluxe couples massage in their couples' retreat villas, as well as manicures, pedicures and, for the gentlemen, a grooming and shave. On the newer Triton-class ships the hair and beauty treatments for the ladies are in Tangles Salon, themed around the movie Tangled and Rapunzel, and for the gentlemen these are in Hooks Barbery, which is also a location for some of the alcohol seminars and on some nights turns into a bourbon bar speakeasy. You can also book to use the Rainforest Room. Depending on the ship will depend upon the facilities. On the Disney Magic and Wonder this is a small(ish) room with hot beds, a couple of different showers, a steam room and a sauna. On the Dream class (Disney Dream and Fantasy) you also have two hot tubs which face out to sea, and on the Triton class you have an inside area with hot tubs, saunas, an ice room and hanging swing chairs, plus a whole outside area located in the front bow of the ship with hanging chairs and hot tubs, shaded under a huge hidden Mickey canopy. The Rainforest Rooms are very popular, and you can book a length-of-cruise pass (the price varies depending on the sailing) that allows you to use the room from 8am until 10pm.
Photo Packages
Disney Cruise Line offer a range of photo packages that you can pre-book before your sailing, including the length-of-sailing photo pass, and these are cheaper booked in advance than once you're onboard, so it pays to sort it before you sail. You can view your photos throughout the trip by visiting the photo booth machines by Shutters Studio and also on the Disney Cruise Line app. During the sailing there will be lots of photo options, including pictures with backdrops and photos with characters; they sometimes come round during dinner, and they also do magic shot photos where you do a pose and then, as if by magic, a Disney feature will appear in the photo. If you're unhappy with the photos and haven't downloaded any, you can cancel the package and a refund will be added to your account.
Alcohol Seminars
For the grown-ups, Disney Cruise Line run a range of drinks seminars and tastings, which you'll need to be over 21 to attend. These include Mixology and cocktail making, Stem to Stem wine tasting, World of Old Fashioned where you get to sample a variety of different Old Fashioned drinks, a champagne tasting and a liquor and chocolate session, a tasting where a sommelier explains the different drinks and the chocolate that accompanies each one.
Special Experiences
There are also a few special experiences worth knowing about. Royal Court Tea is a princess tea you'll find on the Disney Dream, Fantasy, Magic and Wonder, while the newer Triton-class ships (the Wish, Treasure and Destiny) have Olaf's picnic instead. Both are bookable in advance if they appeal.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is the little princess (and pirate) makeover, normally something you book in advance. One quirk worth flagging if you're sailing Europe in 2026: on those sailings you can only book it once you're onboard the ship, not beforehand.
Port Adventures
Port Adventures are a fun way to explore a destination and gain local knowledge at the same time. They're the organised excursions Disney offers in each port of call, everything from gentle sightseeing to the more active days out. The big draw is that they're run through Disney, so the logistics are handled for you and you're back at the ship in good time. Like the onboard extras, you book these in advance through your Castaway Club window, and the popular ones do sell out.
How You Pay for It All
When you pre-book your activities there will be no charge at the time you pay. These are charged to your stateroom account once your sailing has commenced (except spa treatments and the adult-only fine dining). This gives you the opportunity to cancel if you change your mind before you sail. Once onboard you can still cancel if you wish by visiting Guest Services or the Port Adventures desk. With Port Adventures, if for any reason the ship is unable to port/tender, or the weather is adverse and these are cancelled, again these will be refunded to your account. It is your responsibility to be at these activities at the specific time. If you are late or miss them you cannot simply demand a refund. Spa treatments and adult-only fine dining are charged once they have taken place. It's worth noting that these come with an auto 18% gratuity.
Our Take
Some of the more popular activities, like Palo brunch, Mixology and the special children's picnics, do sell out quickly, but don't despair, availability does at times appear while you're onboard, and there will be wait lists for you to join at Guest Services. A tip for those of you who are on your first Disney cruise: my honest advice is not to get too stressed about booking too many onboard activities and trips, as there is so much to do on the ship that doesn't need to be booked. We have done over 12 cruises over 5 ships in the fleet now and still haven't done everything.
Disclaimer: all information correct at time of writing. I am not an employee of Disney Cruise Line, nor am I being paid for this content.
