Disney Cruise Alcohol Rules To Know Before You Go

Let’s face it, sometimes you just need a cruise. And if you’re used to sailing on other cruise lines, you may be wondering what the Disney Cruise Alcohol Rules look like. Whether its bringing your own beer and wine, or just wondering what drinks are available onboard we’ll go over it all in this post. Here’s everything to know about drinking on a Disney Cruise. 

There is No Disney Cruise Alcohol Package

There’s a reason you haven’t found anything about adding a Disney Cruise Alcohol Package to your trip. It’s because Disney Cruise Line does not offer drink packages. In fact, Disney Cruise Line does not offer any type of drink package. Most likely because they are generally considered a family cruise, and not party boats. Plus, it makes for less issues overall when most of your guests are at least slightly sober. 

Alcohol on a Disney Cruise 

Luckily, even without the added perk of a “drinks package,” you can still count on loads of alcohol options onboard. Everything from craft beers, to exquisite cocktails featuring smoke bubbles, and fine wines are all on the menu. In fact every cruise ship has several themed bars and lounges solely for the purpose of relaxing with drinks. In fact many ships have a sports bar, a champagne bar, and a variety of places featuring drinks specific to a Disney film too. 

Disney Cruise Alcohol Cost 

While you can’t buy a Drinks Package on a Disney Cruise, you can still buy plenty of alcohol. From the $5 drink of the day to the $5000 drink at Hyperspace Lounge, there are plenty of options if alcohol is part of your cruise life. You just have to pay for each drink separately. Drinking on a Disney Cruise can get expensive. So we are going to share everything you need to know about alcohol on a Disney Cruise so you can plan accordingly if you choose to drink. 

Bring Your Own Beer or Wine on a Disney Cruise 

If you’re hoping to save some money and want to bring your own alcohol on a Disney Cruise, you have options! Disney Cruise Line guests can bring up to 2 Bottles of unopened Wine or Champagne OR 6 beers onboard. Guests must be 21 years or older to do this and it must be packed in your carryon luggage. Under no circumstances should you pack this in your checked luggage. If you do, it will be taken out and you won’t be reimbursed for it.

Being able to bring your own alcohol onboard means you can save a good chunk of money on drinks. Especially if you’re someone who has a specific type of wine or beer you like. Or if you’re someone who likes to start your day with mimosas having your own champagne can save some money. Just grab some orange juice from the upper decks and voila! You can read Disney’s full alcohol policy here.

Happy Hour Drink Specials

In recent years, many of Disney’s ships have started offering Happy Hour Specials. Now these are never guaranteed, but on our last three Disney Cruises, we saw them pretty often. You can generally expect to save 30-50% off drinks during happy hour on a Disney Cruise. So this can save you a good amount of cash. You can find these deals in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. And sometimes they’ll also announce them on the Cruise Director’s Morning Show, which is shown every morning in your stateroom. 

Disney Cruise Drink of the Day $5 Specials

One of the best things about a Disney Cruise is the Drink of the Day! And they typically only cost about $5. Many times, these drinks are a little “watered down” if you will, so they aren’t going to be top shelf but it’s a great way to grab a drink, without blowing the budget. This drink changes each day, so you can try something new each day of your trip. They also offer a non-alcoholic drink of the day as well for the $5 charge.

And the best part is that you can also get the drink of the day on Castaway Cay. So if sitting on the beach with a drink in hand is on your Disney Cruise Vacation to do list, you’re golden. You can find the drink of the day specials in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. Just scroll all the way to the bottom of the home page in the app, and you’ll find it featured there. 

Disney Cruise Refillable Beer Mug 

Another perk if you’re a beer drinker is that you can grab the Disney Cruise refillable beer mug. You can buy this from the onboard gifts and amenities page before your cruise, or you can buy it once onboard at any bar. The refillable mug is 21 ounces, and it allows you to get refills for the price of a 16 oz.

You can refill it with beers and hard ciders throughout your trip onboard. And if you don’t want to lug around the hefty 21 oz glass, you can also ask the bartender to exchange it for a token that you can redeem next time you’d like a refill. This is a great way to save money if you plan to drink beer or hard cider onboard. 

Disney Cruise Drinking Age in International Waters

Another of the Disney Cruise Alcohol Rules is regarding drinking age. Sailing out of ports in Europe and Australia can be a little different than sailing from the US. If you’re sailing from a port in Europe or Australia (or any international port for that matter), the drinking age is flexible. Note that Disney Cruise Line’s drinking age is always 21. But when sailing from an international port with a different drinking age, guests can sign a waiver to be allowed to drink at the age of 18. This usually does need to be signed by a parent or guardian. And comes with a few restrictions.

Generally, the parent or guardian needs to be with the young adult who wants the alcohol. And they do make it very clear that they can stop serving you at any time. The exception to this is when sailing out of Australia and New Zealand, guests who are 18-21 don’t need parental consent to purchase or drink alcohol. 

Disney Cruise Alcohol Carry On Rules at Port

Disney Cruise Alcohol Rules also apply for anything you Carry On from a destination port. Much like the initial boarding process, guests can bring up to 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne or 6 beers from each port of call. And yes, you can drink it onboard! Again you must be either 21, or 18 if sailing out of the Australian ports.

The only thing to note here is that while you are also allowed to purchase liquor at ports of call, but you cannot consume it onboard. You actually have to turn it in when you get back onboard and they’ll hold onto it until your journey is over. So feel free to buy duty free rum in the Caribbean. Just know you’ll have to save it until you get home. 

Order Alcoholic Drinks for Your Room Before You Board

Don’t want to deal with bringing alcohol onboard? Though Disney Cruise Line doesn’t offer drink packages, they do offer the opportunity to order select drinks from their onboard gifts and amenities. You can choose from beer, wine, champagne and even non-alcoholic champagne. And you can also get bottled water while you’re there too.  

Your Stateroom Host Can Lend You a Bottle Opener

With so many things to pack, know that you are allowed to bring a bottle opener. But if you forgot, you can count on your room host to lend you one. And this is helpful, whether or not you plan on bringing your own alcohol. Especially since you may also want to order champagne or wine for your room. 

There you have it, everything you need to know about Disney Cruise Alcohol Rules, and drinking onboard a Disney Cruise Ship. Hopefully this post has helped with all the options available to you for your next cruise.