TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 2 – Packing for a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream
We’re getting ready for a Very Merrytime cruise aboard the Disney Dream! We’ve enjoyed themed cruises before, and there’s nothing quite like getting ready for a Very Merrytime cruise. It’s one of our favorite themed cruises because of the extra holiday magic added to an already incredible vacation. While we always use a basic cruise packing list, when going on a holiday-themed cruise, we like to bring along some extra items to make it even better. Learn more below, including some of the must-have items we pack for a cruise!
1 – Door Magnets
Door Magnets are one way guests have an opportunity to personalize their stateroom door! While not all guests do this, it’s a fun way to express yourself and your family. If you head to Etsy, there’s an overwhelming number and variety of magnets to choose from. You can choose any design, and we’ve seen many order holiday-specific magnets for their holiday cruise. Be sure to read the description of the items since many items look identical to what other people are selling. You may also want heavy-duty magnets, not laminated paper, with a magnet glued on. Be sure to order your magnets weeks in advance, as it usually takes 1-2 weeks to receive your items, depending on the seller.
2 – DYI In-Room Holiday Decorations
We also wanted to decorate the inside of our stateroom with some holiday items to bring a little bit of holiday spirit to our surroundings. While you can’t bring stringed Christmas lights on board due to safety reasons, we came up with plenty of other items to decorate our room. First, we purchased magnetic hooks to hang our Christmas stockings on the wall since the walls are magnetic. Then I went through our Christmas decorations and pulled out some items that would pack easily (so nothing fragile) to add a little bit of holiday spirit to our room. For our “tree,” I found a cute Christmas tree tin at Target for only $3!
3 – Onboard Gift Holiday Decorations
Another option is to consider Disney Cruise Line Onboard Gifts. You can purchase an in-room décor package that will give you the holiday feel you want without any of the work! Onboard Gifts offers a variety of different themes and items, from cakes and other food items to decorations. Before you sail, you can find them on the Disney Cruise Line website. You can search for items based on your reservation number or departure port. The packages are only available to order ahead of time (up to three days before your cruise) and will be delivered to your stateroom on Embarkation Day. In 2023, the “Season’s Greetings! Room Décor” package is available. It’s so awesome to walk into your stateroom that’s already decorated for the holiday season!
Here is the description from Onboard Gifts:
Anchors aweigh on a holly-jolly adventure at sea when you transform your stateroom into a festive wonderland. This merry room decor gift set includes a “Goofy on deck” bendable plush, a cozy holiday blanket with some of your favorite Disney pals, a Mickey Mouse-shaped pillow with a sewn-in advent calendar (includes a stick to mark the date), 2 felt ceiling banners with removable felt ornaments and a handy storage bin.
4 – Holiday Apparel and Accessories
Since it’s a holiday cruise, we wanted to have some holiday gear to wear throughout our week. During our last Very Merrytime cruise, many families brought Christmas jammies to wear for their photo with Santa. We opted for two different holiday Mickey t-shirts that we would all wear on two different days. We also have holiday Minnie Ears, a light-up holiday light necklace from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and a Santa Hat to bring along. Like going to the parks, you’ll want to pack some fun items to get in the holiday spirit. Of course, there is exclusive-themed merchandise available during the cruise. Still, having some items on hand is great as the cruise begins!
The rest of the items on this list are not holiday-specific but items we always bring along when we cruise.
5 – DisneyBand+
DisneyBand+ is a new option for Disney Cruise Line guests that debuted in the summer of 2023. They are the same as MagicBand+ at Disney Parks, but Disney Cruise Line calls them DisneyBand+. The technology is the same, and the bands replace the need to carry your Key to the World card with you. The bands can be used to board the ship on embarkation day, access your stateroom, charge specialty food and merchandise, and more. And because it has the same technology as MagicBand+, extra magic will be sprinkled on the cruise during certain activities.
Just like on a Walt Disney World vacation, you can order your bands ahead of time to personalize the bands. There are two cruise line exclusive bands you can order. Make sure to order at least two weeks before your cruise so they arrive in time for you to bring them along. If you don’t want to order cruise-themed bands, any MagicBand+ wearables that you might have from Disney Parks will also work. Finally, a limited number of bands are available for purchase on the ship, but we recommend bringing your MagicBand+ or purchasing one of the cruise-themed DisneyBand+ so you can enjoy the benefits of the bands right from the start!
When packing, be sure to have the bands accessible and not in your checked luggage since you’ll want to wear them during embarkation! We ordered new cruised-themed bands and are excited to use them. Be on the lookout for an article about using the bands on Disney Cruise Line after our cruise.
6 – Pirate Gear and Other Clothing Tips
Most Disney cruises include a Pirate Night, and many guests love to dress up. We have some basic pirate gear that lets us join in on the fun without going all out. However, it is very fun to see some extravagant outfits for Pirate Night.
Longer cruises will have a Formal Night, and many guests also like to go all out for that. Adults dining in adult-exclusive restaurants will want to be aware of the attire rules for these places. The only strict attire rule is for adult-exclusive restaurants. Below is the following guideline:
Adult-exclusive restaurants aboard Disney Cruise Line ships are elegant dining experiences. Guests are requested to dress in a manner consistent with the restaurant’s sophistication. Formal or semi-formal attire is recommended. Dress casual attire with a polished look is permitted (such as dress pants, jeans in good condition, collared shirts and blouses and lifestyle shoes). Clothing such as T-shirts, swimwear and sports attire is not permitted.
The great thing about Disney Cruise Line is you can be totally comfortable and often wear what you might at the parks, the pool, or the beach!
7 – USB Charging Hub
We’ve always been impressed with the number of plugs and USB ports available in Disney ship staterooms. We tend to bring a lot of electronics with us during our cruises because we are working. Since power strips, extension cords, and surge protectors are not permitted, we always bring with us a USB charging hub. This hub will enable us to charge up to four devices simultaneously and save a lot of space. You can find a wide variety of power delivery and prices by searching Amazon.
8 – Small Portable Phone Charger
While a Disney Cruise Line vacation is the perfect time to unplug, you may find yourself using your phone a lot more than normal. From taking photos to using the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for all kinds of things, you may be thankful to have a small portable phone charger so you don’t have to go back to your stateroom to charge your phone during the day.
9 – Basic Medicines & Anti-Nausea Medicine
While it’s true that you can visit the Health Center or purchase basic medications in the gift shops, we prefer to have those medications on hand. Usually, you can purchase these items at home for much less than on board or in port. We typically bring Tylenol, antacids, cold medicine (just in case), and motion sickness medicine.
Seasickness is something most people worry about, and the vast majority of people never experience it. I suffer from motion sickness the most, but after cruising many times, I have been surprised at how well I can do without medication. However, it’s always good to be prepared just in case. We bring a handful of options. Since certain medications like Bonine, Dramamine, and a patch cause users to feel “off and icky,” I always wait to see how the waters affect me before taking any medication. However, I still bring these if the seas get too rough.
Another item we highly recommend is ginger. You can purchase this as an herbal supplement in tablet or capsule form. Remember drinking ginger ale as a kid when you weren’t feeling well? That’s because ginger helps to settle stomachs. I always start with ginger first as it’s the mildest, and it usually takes care of any motion sickness I have.
10 – A Small Bag or Tote
Another item I always bring on a cruise is a small bag or backpack or small tote bag. Whether you’re going to hang out on the pool deck or head down to Castaway Cay, it’s great to have a bag to carry all of the items that you want with you. Disney sells reusable shopping bags if you want to go with a cheap option, but I like to have a small bag with me from the beginning.
11 – Water Bottle or Drink Container
Another item I see a lot of guests bring with them is a water bottle. One of the great things I love about Disney Cruise Line is that all beverages are included with the cruise fare. There are beverage stations on the pool deck and at Cabanas or Marceline Market on the Disney Wish. While they provide cups, we find that it’s nice to have our own water bottles to refill, so we don’t have to go back and forth to the beverage stations too often. Chad also likes to keep his coffee hot in his Tervis cup to drink from throughout the morning. Again, you’ll find a variety of containers sold on the ship at the merchandise locations, but you may not want to have to purchase anything if you don’t want to.
12 – Carry-on Bag
Keep in mind that you may want to have a carry-on bag for valuables (such as electronics), medicine, swimsuits, and a change of clothes. You’ll drop off your luggage when you arrive at the port, and it will get to your room by 5:30 pm. A carry-on will allow you to have some items for your first afternoon on the ship.
Click here for more ideas on what to pack for a Disney Cruise Line cruise.
Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream
Learn about Very Merrytime cruises along with cruise tips and advice in our travel logs below!
Travel Log Articles with Cruise Tips
Follow us on Instagram, where we continue to share more about our cruise!
Follow Along on Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 1 – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 2 – Packing for a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 1-Part 1 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL DAY: Day 1-Part 2 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 2-Port Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 3-Castaway Cay & Pirate Night – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 4-Sea Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVE LOG: Day 5-Debarkation – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
Our Review & 13 Tips & Tricks for the Best Very Merrytime Cruise on Disney Cruise Line!
Instagram Story Highlights
Click here for our Day 1 Instagram Story Highlight for photos and videos from our first day!
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Editor’s Note: Disney Cruise Line provided a complimentary Very Merrytime Cruise and special media-specific events during the cruise. However, as always, the thoughts and opinions about Disney Cruise Line contained in this article are entirely our own.