6 Tips For Saving Money On Drinks During Your Disney Cruise

Should you’ve ever heard the rumor that Disney Cruise Line doesn’t serve alcohol, let me squash that for you now. This fashionable cruise line is good for households and multigenerational groups, however there’s nonetheless loads of grownup enjoyable on board, together with drinks. 

First, let’s get the unhealthy information out of the best way. Should you’ve sailed on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or any other major cruise line, you’re most likely accustomed to alcohol packages. Passengers pay a set price per day – often about $55 – for as many alcoholic drinks and smooth drinks as they care to have.

Disney doesn’t supply these all-inclusive, discounted alcohol packages, though it does embrace smooth drinks on deck and in eating rooms within the value of the cruise, which can or might not be a comfort. 

Whereas some might even see Disney’s lack of limitless alcohol packages as a con, there are methods to imbibe on board and lower your expenses. I hope the following pointers provide help to get pleasure from your Disney cruise and get extra bang to your bar buck. Cheers!

1. Bringing Your Personal Alcohol On Board

Disney permits passengers to convey their very own alcohol on board. Every passenger (21+) might convey two unopened bottles of wine (no bigger than 750 milliliters) or six beers (no bigger than 12 ounces) of their carry-on bag. Alcohol in checked baggage can be confiscated and never returned.

Be sure to pack your personal corkscrew and bottle opener. Disney Cruise Line fees a hefty $25 uncorking price to get pleasure from your personal bottle of wine within the eating rooms. The alcohol policy additionally states beer and wine introduced on board can’t be consumed within the lounges or public areas. 

2. Look Into Beer Playing cards

Should you get pleasure from draft beer, the Disney Cruise Line Beer Playing cards are an honest deal. You’ll pay a one-time price of round $15 for a 21-ounce beer mug. This mug holds 5 ounces greater than the 16-ounce pour you’ll get on the bar. You’ll nonetheless pay the common value each time you get a beer, however you’ll get that further 5 ounces every time.  

Should you’re afraid you’ll lose your beer mug or don’t wish to carry it round while you’re not actively consuming it, flip it in on the bar in change for a card to maintain in your pockets or lanyard. Once you’re prepared for an additional beer, current the cardboard on the bar and also you’ll obtain the bigger pour in a contemporary mug.

Alternate your card for the mug on the finish of your cruise to maintain as a memento, or save the cardboard for a future cruise — simply put it someplace you’ll bear in mind. Should you assume you would possibly lose your card, it’s finest to go forward and take your mug with you. Should you decide to take your mug house, change it at one of many inside bars or lounges — you’ll get a nicer glass mug. Should you change it on deck, you’ll get a plastic mug.

3. Don’t Overlook The Beer Packages

Disney Cruise Line affords beer packages on embarkation day. You’ll see solid members on the pool deck promoting these packages and in the event that they see you consuming a beer, they’ll probably method you about beer packages.

As of this writing, a six-pack of aluminum bottles is $33.75, which is barely discounted from the per bottle value on the bar. On our most up-to-date Disney Cruise (Might 2022) we bought six beers plus a memento insulated bag for $47.20. We took the bag and beers ashore at Castaway Cay, Disney’s island within the Bahamas, and received ice from the bar on shore to maintain our beers chilly on the seashore. I just like the bag and use it regularly at house and on the street. The quantity we paid for the beers is lower than what we’d have paid for the frozen drinks we’d have ordered if we didn’t buy the beer, in order that was a win.

4. Keep away from The Wine Packages

Should you get pleasure from wine with dinner, Disney Cruise Line affords wine packages within the eating room. Your server will current choices in your first night time. You’ll be able to choose from Traditional or Premium packages. Premium is dearer, with higher high quality wines — though “higher high quality” is relative. We acknowledged a number of names off the listing of white wines from the wine bought in our native grocery store, and none retail anyplace close to what Disney fees.

You should buy wine packages in three-, four-, five-, and seven-bottle increments. On our current three-night cruise, we bought the three-bottle Traditional bundle for $98 (Premium would have been $148.)  An 18 % gratuity is utilized.

I wasn’t pleased with the standard of two of the wines and doubtless gained’t buy the bundle once more. I didn’t evaluate wine listing pricing towards the wine packages, however sooner or later, I plan to convey wine from house or simply order what I do know I like and spend the additional cash.

5. Hunt For Completely satisfied Hours

The most effective methods to save cash on drinks on a Disney Cruise is to scout the joyful hours. Obtain the cruise line’s app, the Disney Cruise Line Navigator, earlier than you sail, and examine the occasions each day as soon as on board. On our final cruise, there have been two to 3 joyful hours each day. Every joyful hour lasted an hour and was at a special bar or lounge. The reductions ranged from 30 to 50 % off all drinks, so it’s undoubtedly price scouting these offers in the event you plan to drink.

There’s no rule that claims you need to keep on the lounge the place joyful hour is going on. We ordered a reduced drink at one lounge and took it to the theater to see a present.

6. Strive The Drink Of The Day

A lot of the combined drinks on the pool bar are round $8 every. There’s a full bar, so passengers can order any kind of drink, however there’s a menu that includes the forms of drinks you’d usually anticipate to sip whereas enjoyable on deck, like mai tais, rum runners, and piña coladas.

There’s a chosen drink of the day every day. The drink of the day can be introduced in your Navigator app, or you possibly can simply ask any bartender. The drink of the day is round $5 every, so this can be a enjoyable manner to save cash.

Splurge-Value Actions: Mixology And Beverage Tasting Seminars

Whereas reserving a Mixology class or beverage tasting seminar doesn’t depend towards saving cash on drinks throughout your Disney cruise, I needed to say these alternatives as a result of they are often enjoyable and ebook up in a short time, often earlier than embarkation.

Mixology courses are hands-on courses beneath the route of a mixologist the place the contributors make the drinks. Beverage tasting seminars are precisely what they sound like — guided tastings the place a sommelier or different skilled guides you thru tasting alcoholic drinks. Champagne, wine, rum, and beer tastings can be found.

These seminars at the moment run $40–$50 per particular person, so that they’re within the splurge class for most individuals, however they’re a enjoyable option to meet different passengers and study a little bit one thing. E book these actions when your window opens for shore excursions and different onboard actions.

Professional Tip: These can be found for buy previous to crusing, though there’s no low cost for advance buy. I like to recommend buying on board while you’ll have a greater sense of what you’ll need.