Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy: What is a Very Merrytime Cruise?

Your mid-November to Christmas Disney Cruise Line trip may be a Very Merrytime Cruise. These sailings have festive activities and entertainment for a Very Merry maritime experience (har har). Read on for tips about what to expect on these seasonal holiday-themed voyages, and how to find them.

When you first board the ship, it will be hard to miss the holiday decor in the atrium. Let’s talk religion up front. For the most part, the “Christmas” in these cruises is secular and not religious. Think “Jingle Bells”, not “Silent Night”. (That’s not a promise that Silent Night isn’t in the Very Merrytime playlist.)

The big tree in the ship’s lobby is a good example of this. You’ll also find a menorah and a Kwanzaa Kinara somewhere in the lobby. Sailings that span those holidays will have lighting ceremonies. But there’s a Mickey’s Tree Lighting Magic Ceremony on the first day of every cruise. Get where we’re going here?

The ship will have midnight mass on Christmas Eve and a non-denominational service on Christmas morning. Outside of that, Very Merrytime Christmas theming is strictly a “fun seasonal holiday.” But make no mistake, Christmas dwarfs any nods to other cultures.

OK, back to the atrium. Very Merrytime voyages also have a giant gingerbread house in the lobby. It looks delicious, and you can smell it whenever you’re in the area. Very fun!

You’ll find more trees and holiday decor throughout the ship. Everything is festooned with faux pine garland and ornaments. And as you wander the ship, seasonal tunes play along with the ship’s regular background music.

Onboard activities will have a Christmas twist. For example, trivia sessions might have a Christmas theme. There might be a holiday storytelling activity. This Christmas twist goes for everything, big and small:

• The drink of the day will have a festive name.
• The film lineup will include Disney holiday-themed movies. Expect Mickey’s Christmas Carol and the like.
• Some of the photo backdrops will have holiday theming.
• You’ll see some holiday-themed merchandise in the onboard shops.

Meet & Greets are one of the most popular Disney Cruise activities. On a Very Merrytime cruise, characters will wear holiday costumes. You’ll also be able to meet and grab a holiday photo with Santa Claus.

If your sailing docks at Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay, you’ll find that the private ports are also all dressed up. Look for more faux pine garland, a tree as large as any you’ll see in the parks, and fun holiday photo-ops like the Christmas sand sculptures below. And again, if you’re meeting any characters they’ll be in their holiday best.

Are you ready for some good news? The price of your cruise includes the holiday perks. Even better, Very Merrytime cruises aren’t more expensive than comparable non-themed itineraries. It costs more to cruise over Thanksgiving or Christmas, and these cruises can be very pricey. But sailings in early December can be quite reasonable. If you’re looking to sail, the easiest way to find a voyage is to head to Disney’s Very Merrytime page and tap “Search for a Cruise”. Once you’ve picked a sailing, we always recommend using a travel agent to book cruises.

Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy is for first-time Disney cruisers looking to learn about the DCL experience. Got a question about a term that’s unfamiliar to you? Suggest it in the comments below! Been on a Very Merrytime Cruise? Share your best tips!