This article is your complete guide to Disney Cruise Line’s Halloween on the High Seas specialty cruises! During the Halloween season, Disney is known for going all out. From specialty park celebrations like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in Disney World, to original content on Disney+. And the Disney Cruise Line is not immune to the celebration! Beginning in early September through Halloween, you can embark on special Halloween-themed cruises on all of the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. This Disney Halloween cruise is known as Halloween on the High Seas and is full of spell-binding enhancements to the ship!
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When sailing on a Disney ship, you are surrounded by the magic of Disney. From themed rooms and restaurants to specialty characters and even fireworks at sea! But something that makes sailing on a Disney ship even more unique is the themed cruises they offer! Guests can enjoy a Halloween on the High Seas, Very Merrytime Cruises, Pixar Day at Sea, Star Wars Day at Sea, and Marvel Day at Sea cruise. My very first Disney cruise was a Disney Halloween cruise back in 2019! And as a former Cast Member and as someone who loves cheap tickets to Walt Disney World, it was the most magical vacation I’ve ever had. Below are some of my experiences on the Halloween Disney cruise, along with information to help you discover if a Halloween on the High Seas cruise is right for you!
When looking closer at the specially themed cruises, Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime cruises are the only savings that completely change the cruise experience. The other special Days at Sea are just that, Days at Sea. So your entire cruise will not be themed around the day, it will just be one day of the sailing that will be a special theme.
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Now that we know what Disney Halloween on the High Seas is, we can start to uncover more specifics on this spooktacular sailing! The Disney cruise Halloween on the High Seas sail dates are September 9th – October 31st, 2024. When booking a Disney Cruise, one of the first things you should look at is the sailing calendar. This will help determine where you’re sailing from, sailing to, and on what ship you’ll be sailing on. This is also where you can see if your vacation will line up with any specialty cruises!
Disney Magic:
Disney Dream:
Halloween on the Disney Fantasy:
Disney Wish:
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The main way the Disney Halloween cruises are different from non-themed cruises is that the entire ship receives an overhaul to fit with the theme. The only times of the year this happens are on Halloween for Halloween on the High Seas and at Christmas time for the Very Merrytime Cruises. All other sailings throughout the year will have no special theme which allows guests to take in the sheer beauty of the Disney fleet! And when I say complete overhaul for these special cruises, I mean it! Along with pumpkins, bats, and spider decorations, the ships also offer themed activities and specialty characters in Halloween-themed costumes! All of these enhancements are done on every ship that offers the event. Even the Disney Dream Halloween cruise.
The ship is decorated from Bow to the Stern in garlands of autumn leaves, character-inspired pumpkins, and adorable jack-o-lantern stickers on portholes. Each ship gets a full Halloween Disney cruise makeover with tons of beautiful touches that are sure to put you in the Halloween spirit!
You can catch Micky, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto, along with Chip & Dale dressed up in their Halloween Best! In recent years Disney Cruise Line has gotten creative with the character costumes garnishing some much-deserved attention. In 2022, it was announced that Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle were going to dress in costume as the three Sanderson Sisters from the Disney cult classic, Hocus Pocus. This created so much buzz that the trio was also introduced to land lovers at Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash.
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With all of the extra activities and perks of Halloween on the High Seas itinerary, you’re probably wondering if it’s more expensive than a normal sailing. And while themed cruises can be slightly more expensive in terms of cost, it depends on other factors of your cruise. When it comes to Disney Cruise Line, the factors that determine the price of your cruise are your sale date, ports of call, and occupancy. So it could work out that your Halloween on the High Seas sailing could be just as much or a little less than a normal sailing. Not so favorably, spooky season coincides with Hurricane Season. This is typically the time cruises are less booked and you can find a cheaper price.
Almost every ship in the Disney fleet has a Halloween on the High Seas itinerary. The only ship that doesn’t partake in the celebration is the Disney Wonder. This is because, during this time of the year, the ship is setting sail from different ports around Australia.
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Knowing what to pack for a cruise is an essential part of going on one. Not only will you need your typical vacation items, but you’ll also need things like your passport, cash, a waterproof lanyard, and other items specific to a cruise. Now add in going on a Halloween Disney cruise on top of that, and your list can get pretty long! Now we aren’t saying you need to bring an additional suitcase, but one must have in your suitcase for your Disney Halloween cruise is your costume!
Nothing screams Halloween like dressing up in a costume. And that’s no different on the Disney Cruise Line! Guests are encouraged to wear costumes to Halloween events throughout the sailing. If you’re wondering or concerned about a specific costume, you can find the DCL Costume Guide here. If you don’t have room in your bag for two costumes, don’t worry! There will still be a Pirate Night on Halloween on the High Seas sailings. You can wear your pirate garb for both events!
It is tradition to decorate your stateroom door for any Disney Cruise. However, with a Disney Halloween cruise, you can find doors decorated even more than normal! I have three words for you, go all out. If you think you’re doing too much, I promise you you’re not. There are even Facebook groups for individual sailings where you can connect with guests on your cruise to discuss door decor! Make sure to use magnets or bring them for your decorations as the stateroom doors are made of metal.
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A: Almost every ship in the Disney fleet has a Halloween on the High Seas itinerary. You can set sail for Halloween on the Magic, Fantasy, Dream, and Wish. The only ship that doesn’t partake in the celebration is the Disney Wonder.
A: During the Halloween season, Disney Wonder’s new global position is in Australia. September and October are the months this ship sets sail on the newest destinations in the Southern Hemisphere.
A: This is completely up to you and based on individual vacation needs. But in my experience, it is completely worth it! The Disney Cruise Line fleet is beautiful and each ship is unique. There is nothing like having that beauty transformed for a special holiday. If your schedule allows for it, we highly recommend you try a Disney Halloween cruise.
A: Yes! Every cruise will still have a Pirate Night regardless of its theme. On shorter sailings, Pirate Night can sometimes be held on the same night as another main event. For example, short Halloween sailings will take place on the same night as the main Halloween Mouse-quarade event.
Our Disney World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.
Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a Disney World Travel Agent for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a Free Quote for all Disney World Vacation Packages. The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your Walt Disney World Tickets, and we offer promotional discounts for special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets.
Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at Theme Park Today, as well!