Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Guide

Ready to set sail on the high seas during the spookiest time of the year? We love Halloween. And cruising during a Halloween on the High Seas cruise has been one of our all-time favorite vacations to date.  So we’ve compiled a guide perfect for helping you plan and knowing what to expect during a Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise with the Disney Cruise Line. 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Details

You’re probably wondering, What is a Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise? Exclusive to Disney Cruise Line, this Halloween themed cruise combines a variety of Halloween activities, treats, shows, and events as part of this specialty cruise. The entire Disney Cruise Ship has Halloween Decorations and transforms into Fall and Halloween everything. From the Pumpkin Tree in the atrium, to the pumpkin faces on the port holes, you can find decorations across the ship featuring pumpkins, spiders, webs and more. 

In addition to decorations, you can also Meet Disney Characters in Halloween Costumes, try Halloween themed Disney Snacks, take part in Halloween events, like the Mouse-querade, and watch Halloween Movies in the theaters onboard. There is seasonal fun that happens all over the ship throughout a Halloween Cruise. Let’s dive in to what you can expect. 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Planning

Planning a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise is really no different than planning most other Disney Cruises.  With a few magical extras, the Disney cruise ships are transformed into a Halloween wonderland. We’ll go into all the spooky details in this post! Halloween on the High Seas is a special event cruise complete with decorations, festive foods, parties, and more. Each ship and itinerary may feature its own kind of fun, but the basics of this special cruise remain the same no matter where you are sailing! 

When Do Disney Halloween Cruises Start?

Just like in the parks, you can count on the Halloween on the High Seas Cruises to start earlier than the holiday. As early as September, in fact. You can typically sail a Disney Halloween Cruise all the way through Halloween. Prices vary throughout those two months, so there’s sure to be something that works with your Disney Cruise Budget. 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Dates for 2024 are September 9- October 31, 2024. This Disney Halloween specialty cruise is available on the Disney Wish, Fantasy, Magic and Dream.

Are tickets required for Halloween events?

As of the time of writing this post, no they are not! Halloween Activities happening onboard your Halloween on the High Seas Cruise are included in your cruise package. If that changes, we’ll be sure to let you know! 

Which Disney Cruise Ships have Halloween on the High Seas Cruise?

Disney Cruise Ships that offer Halloween on the High Seas, include the Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream and the Disney Wish! Previously, we had sailed on the Disney Magic for Halloween on the High Seas and most recently the Disney Wish. The Disney Wonder doesn’t typically host Halloween on the High Seas, but that can change. 

What Ports Do You Visit on a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise?

Halloween on the High Seas cruises are not tied to specific ports but rather offered in the fall months. So ports and Itineraries will change from year to year, and your best bet is to check Disney Cruise Line’s Official site for dates and ports of call offered for Halloween on the High Seas cruises.  Due to the time of year, many itineraries are available so you can sail to places like Jamaica, The Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean or enjoy a cold-weather cruise like New England and Canada.  Once in a while you can even find a Panama Canal sailing during Halloween on the High Seas!

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Cost

There are a lot of things that can affect the pricing of specific cruises. So don’t let the idea of it potentially being more expensive keep you from dreaming of a Halloween-themed cruise. Because that is not always the case!

Are Halloween on the High Seas Cruises more expensive? 

It really depends! Although generally specialty cruises can be a little more expensive, Halloween on the High Seas Cruises are often during hurricane season and that can help you snag a great deal.  Also, some of the itineraries and ships that tend to be a little less popular are less expensive. When we cruised from New York City to Maine and Canada, our 5-night cruise was actually about the same price as our 3 night Very Merrytime in the Caribbean. 

What Halloween Extras Can You Get to Make the Experience Special?

There are always extras available to add a bit of festivity to your stateroom! I surprised my daughter with an onboard gift specific to the season, which costs extra and comes fully assembled in your room upon arrival. Ours included a fleece blanket, pillow, trick or treat bag, and glow-in-the-dark ghosts hanging from our ceiling. During our sailing, the cost of this onboard gift was $75, but the prices do vary from year to year. That is a little bit high, but since we don’t tend to go crazy with souvenir spending, I just factored into the cost of goodies we may have wanted to splurge onboard. 

If you want to see what’s available for your cruise, just link your Disney Cruise Reservation, and you’ll be able to see what is available for your sailing.  

What are the Halloween decorations like on a Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise?

One of the most noticeable and constant- reminders that you are on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise is the decorations! Onboard you will find Disney-themed carved pumpkins, fall foliage garland, and the pumpkin tree! You will also see lots of Halloween magic sprinkled throughout like window clings, fall ribbon, and pumpkin decor. Check out what the Disney Magic Cruise Ship Halloween Decorations looked like in our photo tour. 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Activities

There are many Halloween activities onboard a Disney Cruise at Halloweentime! Here’s a recap of everything we’ve experienced on our Halloween on the High Seas sailings!

• Pumpkin Tree Lighting
• Mickey’s Mouse-querade
• Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream
• Disney Characters in Halloween Costumes
• Haunted Stories by the Sea
• Halloween Movies in the Theater
• Spooky Treats and Fall Flavors
• Specialty Classes
• Kid’s Club Halloween Activities
• Trick or Treating Onboard

Mickey’s Mouse-querade

Mickey’s Mouse-querade was probably our favorite event of the entire Halloween on the High Seas cruise.  A dance party with all of our favorite characters dressed in full Halloween attire, trick or treating, festive character meet and greets, and games, this party is fun for all ages.  Trick or Treat bags are left in guests staterooms the day of the party so no need to worry about bringing your own. 

You don’t have to dress up for this one, but it’s a lot more fun if you do! We ended up being so busy before our cruise that Halloween costumes kind of slipped my mind. So my daughter and I both just decked ourselves out in Halloween attire that we had accumulated from Walt Disney World over the years and it worked out just fine. If you’re looking to save room in your luggage but still want to dress up, you can always double up your Pirate Night costume as a Halloween costume as well! This party can get pretty crowded; but if you want to be where all the action is, head to the atrium. Or head to decks 4 and 5 for a great view with fewer crowds.  

UPDATE: Mickey’s Mousequerade has been seen to be held in both the atrium on the smaller ships, and on deck 11 on the larger ships. On our recent Disney Wish sailing, this event was held on deck 11 and we had a great view from deck 13! Trick or treating was also not involved in this party. Rather, it was held in Hero Zone at certain times noted in the app. We recommend arriving early for the best experience!

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream

The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream is an interactive movie experience. With 3D animation and 4D effects, this is a fun show for any Nightmare Before Christmas fan. Unfortunately for us, there was some sort of issue with the effects and well, it wasn’t really a whole lot different than just watching Nightmare Before Christmas on the big screen.  And during our Halloween on the High Seas cruise, this was actually during Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party and we left halfway through because we knew we’d rather be at the party.  As much as we love Nightmare Before Christmas, we preferred to be where the action is. 

This is, however, your opportunity to meet Jack and Sally, which I know for many people is a big deal. So if you’re excited about that, the meet and greet with Jack and Sally is directly after the Sing and Scream. And with that being said, if it wasn’t held during the same time as the party, and had all of the original effects we had planned to see, we likely would have stayed all the way to the end. 

UPDATE: On our most recent Disney Cruise on the Disney Wish, Hocus Pocus was played instead of the sing along. We haven’t heard yet if this is a permanent change or just one made for the Wish. But wanted to note it!

The Pumpkin Tree Lighting

The Pumpkin Tree may seem like just a decoration but it’s far more than that! On the first night of our cruise, we got to meet the Caretaker, who told the tree’s story. Since we were on the Disney Magic, our tree was named Reap. The caretaker then lights the tree for the remainder of the cruise. This is the only time you can see the lighting of the pumpkin tree, so we don’t recommend you miss it! The pumpkin tree serves as a backdrop for many of the photo ops during the cruise. And he even plays a fun part during the Mouse-querade Party!

The Disney Wish welcomes a new Halloween Tree this year. Known as Boo, she represents the story of Cinderella. If you’re sailing on the Disney Wish, they also light up the wishing star to match the Halloween vibe. 

Haunted Stories By The Sea

On select nights, you can cozy up on the main pool deck and watch this spooky feature on the jumbo screen.  A mysterious sailor tells ghost stories and occasionally the cast members join in on the fun. This was probably one of the lowest crowd events in terms of entertainment, but that could also be because nights were really cold and most people had retired to their rooms at that point. UPDATE: This was not present on our cruise in 2022. 

Specialty Classes and Games

Aside from all of the events and entertainment, there are also lots of Halloween activities available onboard! Halloween crafts, Halloween-themed “Anyone Can Cook” demos and Halloween-themed trivia are just a few of the festive activities you can find on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise. 

Kid’s Club Halloween Activities

In addition to regular Halloween fun available to everyone, the kid’s clubs also have fun Halloween activities for little ones. Pumpkin carving, crafts, face painting, and more are just a few things your kids can enjoy. 

Is there Trick or Treating on a Disney Halloween Cruise?

Yes there is! There does seem to be some confusion about it though, since it has changed. If you’re sailing on the Disney Wish, it is held in the Hero Zone on deck 12. It’s only held at specific times, so you’ll have to check the navigator app to find out when it is. Other cruisers from other ships have reported that it has been held in both the atrium and on the upper deck of the ship, so just be sure to check your Disney Cruise app for details. And if you can’t find the info there, just ask someone! The cast and crew on Disney Cruise Line are so helpful and will be able to direct you to the right place.

Halloween Movies in the Theater

You can never have too many Halloween movies. And on a Disney Halloween Cruise, you can be sure to see several playing on a loop! Hocus Pocus, Frankenweenie, Halloweentown, ZOMBIES, Mickey’s Scariest Story and more are all part of the fun. If you can see it on Disney+, it may just end up on the ship during your sail. 

Is there an Adult only Halloween Party onboard Halloween on the High Seas?

In addition to all the other things for Adults on a Disney Cruise, there are specialty things onboard just for grown ups. You can count on Halloween themed cocktails, menu items, and a dance party on the adult deck, among other things. Halloween isn’t just for kids! Adult-only Halloween fun can be had on a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise. So whether you’re a solo cruiser, a childless cruiser, or a parent needing a break, this is for you! There’s a costume contest, music, and dancing. And creepy cocktails of course! So get ready for this Villainous takeover and dance the night away! The location for this event will vary by ship, but you can find all the info in the navigator. 

UPDATE: The Halloween Party for adults seems to be put on pause on our last cruise. However, you can still find spooky fun for adults all over the ship. Halloween themed cocktails and Halloween activities for adults only are still available.

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Characters

Character Meet and Greets happen all throughout your sailing and outfits may change each time. Not all meet and greets during a Halloween on the High Seas cruise will be Halloween-themed, but all of the ones during Mickey’s Mousequerade will be! There are other opportunities other than Party night to find your favorite characters in costume. When you get the Navigator each day, or when you check the app for your daily activities, you can see who will be available for a meeting that day! It will give you the location and time so you can plan accordingly. *NEW* Minnie, Daisy and Clarabell don the iconic Hocus Pocus Sanderson costumes, for their spookiest Halloween meet and greet yet! 

The lines for characters are usually not terribly long, but we recommend getting there close to the start time as Cast Members will “close” the line when the character’s time slot is almost over.  The Sanderson Sisters line gets very long, so we recommend arriving early. They will close this line once it appears to be at the 40-50 minute mark. So plan ahead if you want to see them! We arrived 20 mins early and ended up waiting a total of about 35 mins. 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Treats

If there was one thing we would have loved more of onboard for Halloween on the High Seas, it would be the spooky treats! The treats aren’t really announced or published anywhere; but you can find them at places like Cove Cafe, Cabanas during lunch, and even the occasional seasonal treat during your regular meal.  In addition to all of the spooky treats, you can find pumpkin-spiced everything onboard as well!

And if you’re sailing the largest ships in the fleet ( Dream, Fantasy, Wish) you can head to the sweet shop to see even more treats. These are available to purchase, so do cost extra, but when you really need a chocolate covered Oreo covered with a bat, chances are you can find it there. 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Pirate Night

Pirate Night is a fan favorite and for good reason! Not all cruises have Pirate Night; but all of the ones we’ve been on have, even cruises that are not in the Caribbean. We sailed in the North Atlantic for our Halloween on the High Seas cruise and we still had a Pirates Night. Truthfully I was surprised by this since the event is literally called Pirates in the Caribbean, but I can’t complain because we love Pirate Night!

Is there Pirate Night during Halloween on the High Seas?

Not all cruises have both Halloween and the High Seas and Pirate Night. However, every Disney Halloween Cruise we’ve been on so far, has had Pirate Night as well. You’ll be able to tell if your cruise includes Pirate Night when you receive your itinerary so that you can plan accordingly. With a special meal, fun entertainment, and appearances from all of your favorite characters dressed in pirate gear, Pirate Night is not to be missed! Many families dress up with the theme, and while it’s not mandatory, it’s definitely fun. One thing that makes Pirate Night extra special on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise is that it gives cruisers the opportunity to dress up twice! 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Merch

Is there Special Halloween on the High Seas merch? Yes, there is! And it is cute! Gift shops are only open on board when the ship is at sea, so I highly recommend purchasing any special merch you want at the earliest possible time. Remember, you’re on a boat. They won’t be receiving a new shipment of merchandise during your cruise, so if something sells out while you’re on board, you likely won’t be able to get it at a later time.  The moral of the story is if you want that special Halloween mug, just buy it. Waiting will only end in heartbreak. 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Shirts

And of course, no Disney Cruise is complete with a souvenir shirt to remember the occasion. While we have loads of Disney Cruise Shirts in the shop if you’re traveling for the spooky season, then why not grab our Halloween on the High Seas Shirt to ear on board and get into the mood? These are soft jersey, unisex shirts. And we always recommend sizing up if you’re unsure, for a more relaxed look. You can also grab a Halloween on the High Seas Stateroom Door Magnet in this collection to match. Check out the links for all our shop collections. 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Door Decorations

We always recommend that you decorate your door when you cruise. Not only does it add a little extra magic to an otherwise boring stateroom door, but it will also help you find your door in the long corridors of the cruise ship. You can make this as simple or detailed as you like. The doors are metal, so magnets are your best bet. We have a Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Magnet we like to add to the decor with our family name and destination. 

When we’ve also made our own in the past, we just grab a pack of magnets from Amazon, design something on the Cricut, and voila! Pumpkins, bats, witch hats, and Mickey heads are all easy shapes anyone can master. And will add a bit of spooky spirit to your door with little effort.  And if you show up unprepared, never fear. Because the gift shops onboard usually have a few options to choose from as well!

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Packing List

Truthfully, there are not a lot of extra things that need to be packed for a Halloween cruise. But, if you want a good list, check out our What to Pack for a Disney Halloween Cruise post. 

What Should You Pack for a Halloween Cruise?

We love a theme! So we say, pack all the Halloween things you can! Ok just kidding. But seriously, there are a few things you might want to pack for a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise. If you want to dress up for the festivities, don’t forget a costume. And be sure to review the rules for costumes onboard. 

Disney Halloween on the High Seas Cruise Tips

Ready to book a Halloween on the High Seas cruise? Here’s a few tips that can help you make the most of your trip! From booking early, to watching the budget, and having the most fun. 

Book Early

This is always a top tip when it comes to cruising with Disney Cruise Line. Booking early can be tough sometimes, but it’s usually when you’ll see some of the lower prices available. Sometimes, the opposite of that is true, and we talk a little about this in our post about cruising on a budget. Seasonal sailings generally tend to sell out a little quicker as well, so booking early will help you secure your choice of the stateroom onboard. 

Dress Up for your Halloween on The High Seas Cruise

Even if dressing up for Halloween isn’t your thing, something simple will do.  Most families and even adults traveling without children will be dressed up.  If costumes aren’t your thing, Halloween shirts, hats, or something as simple as light-up necklaces will work! I feel like every Halloween event I’ve ever been to either on land or at sea, I always hear people say they wish they would have dressed up. So just do it!

Check your Cruise Navigator daily for Halloween happenings

It’s great to be able to read a blog post like this and get all the ideas for what you want to do. But there is nothing that will be more accurate than your Daily Navigator or the app once you’re onboard. The truth is, no matter how many trips we take or how much research we do, things can change quickly and even from sailing to sailing. So be flexible and check daily to see what’s offered. 

Halloween on the High Seas with Disney Cruise

Hopefully, this guide has helped you get a good idea of what to expect onboard a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise with Disney Cruise Line. We love this seasonal cruise and highly recommend it if possible. Let us know what other questions you have about sailing during a Halloween on the High Seas cruise with Disney Cruise Line! Want to book a Halloween on the High Seas Cruise with Disney Cruise Line? We can help you book that! Click here for a free vacation quote.