Worst Things that Can Happen on a Disney Cruise & How to Avoid Them!

With over 20+ cruises on the Disney Cruise Ships, we have experienced some of the worst possible things that can happen on a Disney Cruise.  I am not talking Titanic, but things that can happen that can ruin your vacation.

I want to share our mistakes with you.  Hopefully this will help you have a magical Disney Cruise vacation.

#5 Forgetting Your Clothes <Insert laugh here> Yes, This Happens!

You would think this one would be a “no brainer,” but it can happen.  With a family, you probably have several suitcases.  It can be easier (than you think) to forget a piece of luggage.

Several years ago, Tim and the kids took a cruise on the Disney Magic.  The family and luggage was packed in the car, as they headed down to Port of Miami (4 hours away.)  Once they got to Miami, Tim realized he left the kids clothes (basically their suitcase) at home.

Tim headed off to Target and grabbed a bunch of clothes and swimsuits on the way to the ship.  Emergency situation resolved, but at a cost of $100!

#4 Flashing the Entire Ship Like Marilyn Monroe

When you are packing for your Disney Cruise, remember you are at sea.  This means it can get windy…very windy.  I remember my very first cruise, I wore a cute sundress.  I thought it was the perfect dress for a cruise, until I walked on deck 9.  This deck is the main desk for the beverage station, snacks, buffet, pool, etc.  You tend to spend a lot of time on this deck during your Disney Cruise.

As I was walking down to the buffet, a gust of wind whipped by and caught my dress.  In a split second, I flashed everyone at the pool.  Since you tend to spend a lot of time on deck 9 and 10, I recommend wearing pants or shorts vs a skirt or dress.  Remember, this is a PG rated cruise.

#3 Forgetting Your Passport or Birth Certificate = NO Cruise for You!

This one is a big one.  You must have a passport or original birth certificate and driver’s license for an adult and passport or original birth certificate for a child.  If you do not have these, you cannot board the ship.

On the Disney Magic (years ago), we traveled with a family member that forgot their passport at home.  They were not able to board the ship.  We had to have another family member fax a copy of their passport.  Since this was a shorter 2 night cruise without any port stops, they were able to accept a copy of their passport.  If there were any ports of call, our family would not have been able to cruise with us.

Double and triple check to make sure you have your passport or birth certificate/ID for your cruise.

#2 Forgetting to Put Your Phone in Airplane Mode

You have a wonderful Disney Cruise and then you get home to a $2,000 phone bill.  What?  It can happen.

Whenever you get on a Disney Cruise, go ahead and immediately put your phone in airplane mode.  Once the ship leaves the port, you may be in international waters.  That is when your international roaming rates can kick in.  Those can add up quickly!  Be sure you always put your phone in airplane mode to prevent any unexpected charges.

#1 Forgetting to Pack Clothes on your Debarking Day

One of the strangest things to learn about a Disney Cruise vacation is the luggage process.  The night before you exit the ship for home, you will leave your luggage outside your room by 10 PM for your stateroom host to pick up.

You will not see your luggage until the following morning in Customs.  This is when you will pick up your luggage and head through Customs.  This means you will have to pack a “day bag” with your morning essentials, including clothing to get off the ship.

This process is a little different than a typical vacation and it can cause some challenges.  I actually sailed with a family that packed everything and I mean everything.  The next morning they woke up and realized, they forgot to pack clothes to wear off the ship.  Yep – they all wore their pajamas to breakfast on the Disney Cruise and then off the ship  It certainly made for some funny pictures!

These are some of the worst things things that can happen on a Disney Cruise vacation.  I hope you can learn from our silly mistakes.

What is the worst or funniest thing that happened during your Disney Cruise vacation?  Leave a comment below.