Cruising has become more expensive than ever, as strong demand across the industry has sent cruise fares skyrocketing.
Disney Cruise Line is especially known for its higher pricing compared to many competitors, largely because of its brand appeal, thoughtfully designed staterooms, attentive service, and high-quality entertainment offerings.
Still, even after more than 30 cruises across a variety of different cruise lines, Disney remains one of my favorites. That's why I was especially excited to recently sail aboard one of the line's newest ships, the Disney Destiny, on a four-night cruise.
The short Bahamas cruise wasn't cheap, but since we were celebrating my 27th birthday along with several other personal and professional milestones, we decided the splurge was worth it.
In the end, we spent $5,567.87 on the cruise fare, travel-related expenses, souvenirs, and the Rainforest Room pass. Here's a full breakdown on how much my Disney cruise cost and whether the experience was really worth the price.
Our round-trip plane tickets from Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, cost almost $440.
Even before the ongoing fuel crisis, flights from Charlotte to Florida have been on the rise, so I've had to get savvy with finding affordable airfares.
For this trip, I purchased Atmos miles through Alaska Airlines and redeemed them to help lower the overall cost of our tickets.
When I bought my miles, there was an ongoing promotion that offered up to a 100% bonus, allowing me to get significantly more value for the same price.
Unfortunately, there was no award availability for the return flight, so I found two cheap one-way tickets on Allegiant, bringing our total (including checked bags) to $435.70, or $217.85 per person.
We arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, one day before the cruise and spent the day at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach hotel. Our room cost over $200.
Usually, I'm okay staying at basic airport hotels before a cruise, not wanting to shell out a ton of money on a room I'll barely be in. However, since this was a special trip, my partner and I felt it was worth taking an extra day off and splurging on a nicer hotel.
We ended up picking the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach. Our partial ocean-view junior suite came to $503.69 after taxes, but since we used my American Express credit card's semiannual hotel credit, we only paid $203.69 out-of-pocket.
Upon arrival, we were given a complimentary upgrade to a two-bedroom suite, and although it didn't have an ocean view, the extra space was much appreciated.
The initial rate also included a complimentary breakfast for two, along with a $100 property credit to spend on anything from dining to spa treatments.
Since we spent the entire day at the hotel, lounging by the pool and catching up on our "to-be-read" lists, nearly everything, minus the Uber from the airport to the hotel, was billed to our room. In the end, we spent $63.77 out-of-pocket, covering the remainder.
The next day, we took a quick Uber from the hotel to Port Everglades.
Because Port Everglades was so close to our hotel, we didn't have to worry about transportation. We left the hotel around 11:30 a.m. for our 12:00 p.m. arrival time, getting dropped off just fifteen minutes later.
I pre-arranged the ride through the Uber app days in advance to avoid any lengthy waits when we were eager to get to the terminal! The driver arrived promptly, and we felt like giddy kids in the backseat as the iconic red funnels came into view.
The short ride cost $16.93 and was a better alternative than arranging a private car through the hotel's concierge.
Before that, we spent $29.95 on the ride from our apartment to the Charlotte airport, and $21.94 for the Uber from the Fort Lauderdale airport to the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach hotel.
The four-night sailing aboard the Disney Destiny cost $3,125 for a verandah cabin.
We could have saved money on the cruise fare by choosing a windowless inside cabin. However, we prefer balconies, especially on special vacations.
We booked a Category 5C Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah through our travel agent for $3,125, or $1,562.50 per person. This came out to around $781 per night for both of us.
The room was spacious with subtle nods to the magic of Disney, including hidden Mickeys on the lampshades and detailed Hercules artwork above the bed. The private balcony quickly became our favorite place to relax, and we loved the split bathroom design.
The high price tag of the Disney cruise covered more than the room, too — ranging from unlimited meals to all-day room service, basic beverages, high-quality entertainment, and gratuities.
On the Disney Destiny ship, there are multiple pools, character meet-and-greets, an immersive water coaster, a fitness center, three included dining rooms, and Broadway-caliber production shows, among other activities and amenities.
My favorite dining room was Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King, while Frozen, A Musical Spectacular was every bit as whimsical as you'd imagine, reaffirming that you’re never too old to enjoy the magic of Disney.
Although meals and basic drinks were included in the cruise, I spent $259.22 on extra snacks and beverages while onboard.
Disney Cruise Line does not offer any unlimited alcoholic drink packages. Still, I wasn't worried about racking up a large bill on drinks since I began my sobriety journey in January. Instead, I enjoyed specialty lattes and fun mocktails at the themed bars — my favorite was the immersive Haunted Mansion Parlor!
That said, my fiancée did order a few alcoholic beverages during our short four-night cruise. However, because Disney includes soft drinks in the base fare, I was content with soda and the occasional non-alcoholic specialty drink.
We also got popcorn twice before the Broadway-style shows in the Walt Disney Theatre. It was impossible to ignore the buttery smell drifting through the hallway while waiting in line for the doors to open.
Finally, my fiancée wanted to try one of the sweet treats from Edna À La Mode, which had everything from Incredibles-inspired Rice Krispies treats to intricately decorated cupcakes, sorbet, and gelato. In total, we spent $259.22 on drinks and snacks on the Disney Destiny.
My fiancée and I decided to splurge on thermal spa passes at the Senses Spa, which cost $478.
Cruise thermal spas have become one of my favorite splurges on vacation. I love escaping the crowds and unwinding in a quieter, adults-only space.
The Rainforest Room was one of our favorite spots on the ship. The four-day pass, which included unlimited visits from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., wasn't cheap at $239 per person, but we definitely got our money's worth.
Between the heated loungers, steam room, sauna, frigidarium, and private sun deck with two whirlpools, we always left feeling refreshed and relaxed. In fact, we completely skipped going ashore at Lighthouse Point and spent most of the morning enjoying the relatively empty thermal suite.
We racked up $496.82 in other onboard charges, including souvenirs, port adventures, and one specialty meal at Palo.
On the first night, we scored a reservation at Palo Steakhouse. This was high on my must-try list aboard the ship, and it was worth missing one of the rotational restaurants. Although pricey at $55 per person for the prix fixe menu, the specialty meal was worth every penny.
Everything, from the fried calamari to the crisp romaine salad, perfectly cooked steak, pennette pasta, and tiramisu, exceeded our expectations and solidified the restaurant as our favorite specialty venue aboard any ship, surpassing spots like Chops Grille, Eataly, and Tuscan Grille. Our server was also incredible, and we gave him an extra tip to show our appreciation for his help guiding us through the meal.
Moving on, since both ports of call were Disney's private destinations in The Bahamas, I knew our spending would be minimal. The only excursion we opted for was the Castaway Cay Getaway Package, which cost $98 for two people. This bundle included a one-hour bike rental, snorkel equipment, and an inflatable inner tube to use while ashore.
Thankfully, we didn't need to buy Wi-Fi since Disney Cruise Line includes complimentary iMessage texting for guests. This made staying connected on the ship easy, though we did spend $12 for cellular service in The Bahamas to check social media and take care of a few urgent emails. Still, this was more affordable than spending $27 per day on Disney Cruise Wi-Fi.
However, we went a little overboard (no pun intended) at Mickey's Mainsail on souvenirs, spending over $290. This included Disney Destiny-specific merchandise like Mickey ears, two spirit jerseys, an ornament, and a stuffed plush for our dog.
Lastly, we bought two professional pictures to remember our magical vacation aboard the Disney Destiny, which came to $47.90, bringing our incidental spending to $496.82.
Before we knew it, it was time to get off the cruise ship and head back to the Fort Lauderdale airport.
Four days flew by way too quickly, and we were watching Mickey Mouse wave goodbye during the "See Ya Real Soon" farewell event in the atrium before we knew it.
After debarking the ship, we took another Uber to the Fort Lauderdale airport, where we were met with a short wait for bag drop and a breezy TSA line. This short ride cost $20.19, presumably since it was a busy time to pick up and drop off.
We took one final rideshare home after landing, which came to $36.66.
Finally, we paid a family friend $380 to watch our dog.
We're lucky that we have a close family friend who might be just as obsessed with our dog, Dexter, as we are. Whenever we drop him off, she is always preparing fresh chicken and vegetables, since his normal kibble isn't "good enough."
Leaving Dexter with her always brings us so much peace of mind, and we try to plan our travels around her availability. We also receive regular text and photo updates, which makes being away from our sweet boy, who is nearing 14 years old, much easier.
Between travel-related expenses, food, shopping, and the cruise itself, I spent nearly $5,600 on my Disney Destiny vacation.
Our four-night cruise aboard Disney Destiny wasn't cheap, but it was an unforgettable, magical experience. For us, Disney cruises will always be worth the money, and we're looking forward to our next voyage in 2027!
The entertainment is easily the best at sea, surpassing lines like Royal Caribbean that have impressive high-diving shows and Broadway-style musicals.
Plus, the service cannot be beat. We were treated like royalty from the moment we stepped aboard the cruise ship and rarely felt like we were on a floating vessel with thousands of other passengers.
Still, there are other cruise lines and ships that definitely offer a better bang for your buck, especially considering our short vacation set us back $5,567.87. But if you are someone who prioritizes immersive entertainment, thoughtfully designed cabins, and personalized service, then you can't go wrong with a Disney cruise.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
