The cruise line industry is buzzing with the release of the 2013 itineraries and the return of the Disney Magic to Europe.

Californians are saddened that the Wonder will be leaving the Port of Los Angeles, but east coasters can’t wait to have the two newest ships in their two Florida ports (Port Canaveral, Miami).

Maybe all the excitement has you interested in a cruise, if it’s your first time looking into a cruise you’ve probably already shut down the Disney Cruise Line website out of frustration and confusion. Don’t let your cruise dreams end there! Here are the five basics of cruise planning that will get you started on a path to your magical voyage!

Pick your travel dates: Disney Cruise Line offers itineraries year round based on weather patterns and destination highlights. Everyone wants to know the “best time” for cruising here or there. Disney has already picked the best times to cruise…so just pick the time that works for you, keeping in mind that popular travel times such as spring break and Christmas will have higher pricing.

Pick your itinerary: The 2012-2013 cruise itineraries have been released, you have plenty of options to choose from!

2012:

•  Mexican Riviera (Port of Los Angeles)-Last chance for this itinerary! The Mexican Riviera itinerary will not be offered in 2013.

• Hawaii (Port of Los Angeles)-For the first time ever the Disney Wonder will sail twice to Hawaii on a 15 night (April 29th) and 14 night (October 14th). There are limited number of rooms available for this itinerary.

• Panama Canal Repositioning Cruise (Port of Los Angeles): This 14-night itinerary is offered on December 9, 2012 and is a very popular itinerary. Those who have cruised this itinerary often say it was their favorite cruise.

• Bahamas: Year round itineraries to the Bahamas (3, 4 and 5-night cruises)

• Alaska: 7-Night itineraries departing from Seattle, Washington.

• Caribbean: 7-Night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

• Pacific Coast: 7-night and 6-night cruises (6-night departing from Vancouver and arriving in Los Angeles)

2013

• Caribbean itineraries (Western and Eastern) sailing from Galveston, Texas

• Trans-Atlantic Repositioning Cruise-(May 18, 2013) Sailing from Galeveston, Texas arriving in Barcelona, Spain

• Mediterranean Cruises: Departing and returning to Barcelona, Spain these voyages are 4, 7, and 12 nights.

• Mediterranean with Greece: For the first time ever these two Mediterranean itineraries will include Greece! Sailings on June 15, 2013 and July 13, 2013 only.

• Bahamian: Everyone’s favorite cruise is still on the agenda!

• Panama Canal Repositioning Cruise (Port of Miami): This 14-night itinerary is offered on May 6, 2013

• Alaska: Departing from Vancouver, Canada

Pick your stateroom: There are only a few categories of staterooms, and then there are sub levels within each category.

• Inside staterooms-The most affordable, with the least square footage. The Magic and the Wonder offer no exterior view from their inside staterooms. The Dream and the Fantasy have magical portholes with real time views of the ocean.

• Oceanview staterooms: The next most affordable with a tiny bit more square footage. These rooms offer one large or two small porthole windows, some with window seating.

• Verandah Staterooms: Moderate to high pricing, with the most square footage compared to the other categories. Verandah rooms can offer a range of prices based on location and view.

• Suites and Concierge Level: The most luxurious of them all! The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder offer a variety of suites from 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom with all the luxury you could imagine; some of those suites sleep up to 7. The Dream and Fantasy suites will only sleep 5.

Pick your dining time: There are two dining times on each ship. They are referred to as “Main Seating” and “Second Seating”. There are benefits to both, many people with small children prefer the main seating, as it happens earlier (5:45pm on the Magic and Wonder and 6:00 on the Dream and Fantasy) and second seating is later (8:15pm on the Magic and Wonder and 8:30pm on the Dream and Fantasy). Second seating dining offers “Dine and Play” for kids registered in the kids clubs. About 45 minutes into your meal a cast member from the Oceaneer’s Club and Lab will come to the restaurant and wait at the main entrance for kids who are done eating and want to go back to play.  Let your server know if your child is participating in dine and play and they will expedite their meal.

Make your deposit-The deposit isn’t $200 like your average Disney World or Disneyland vacation package. The deposit is approximately 20% of your cruise fare so it’s a bit more hefty than Disney travelers may be used to. The deposit is refundable and will hold your stateroom on the ship. Keep in mind that the availability on the ship is limited to a specific quantity based on safety regulations and accommodations. There are no roll away beds available and you can’t just “add an extra” person to your stateroom as easily as you may think. Availability is no joke for these cruises. They literally disappear at any minute so if you don’t want your pixie dust to be blown away, ask your Disney Authorized Travel Planner to place a courtesy hold on your stateroom. This will hold your room for 5 days with no payment and no payment information required. It’s simply a courtesy that holds your stateroom while you decide and either prepare to make your deposit or release the room back into the system with no obligation.

Disney Cruise Line offers a vacation experience that’s unparalleled. If you’re considering a cruise vacation, you should contact a Disney Authorized Travel Planner (Michele@PixieVacations.com) for your free quote. There are no fees when working with Pixie Vacations and we’re here to answer all your questions (you’ll have plenty…trust me!) and we offer Pixie Perks like itinerary planning, personalized service and onboard credits. Contact me about your Disney Cruise Line vacation and let’s talk about which Pixie Perks are right for you!

Related articles

• New Disney Cruise Line Ports for 2013 (pixievacations.com)
• 2013 Disney Cruise Line: Magic and Wonder Itineraries and Details (chipandco.com)