Everything You Need to Know About Adult Beverages on Disney Cruise Line

If you’re looking for a 24/7 rocking party boat, Disney Cruise Line is probably not the ocean cruise line for you. Nevertheless, there are ample opportunities to relax with an adult libation when you’re onboard with Mickey. Here’s everything you need to know.

I don’t drink alcohol. Will I feel out of place?

Not at all.

As I mentioned, Disney is more mild than wild when it comes to drinking. While alcohol is certainly available in many locations on the ships and on Disney’s private islands, many people choose not to drink while on board. You might be asked if you want alcohol by a waiter or bartender, but I’ve never felt any pressure or hard sell from any DCL employee. Whether you choose to abstain due to health reasons, for religious reasons, to save money, or because you’re just not a fan of alcohol, you won’t feel any pressure to imbibe.

I’d like to visit some of the lounges on the ships, particularly the Star Wars-themed bar on the Disney Wish, is it weird if I go there and don’t drink alcohol?

You are welcome in all areas of the ships, including the bars and lounges, regardless of whether you drink alcohol. Feel free to just order a soda or one of the many fun zero proof beverages (aka mocktails) Disney has added to their menus in recent years. By the way, the Temple Twist (apple juice, pineapple juice, kiwi juice, mint, ginger ale) at the Wish’s Hyperspace Lounge is delish.

That said, if you want to hang out at one of the bars in the evening, say to listen to the piano player at Keys or to watch a game at Crown & Fin, someone in your party should probably order something; a couple of Diet Cokes or club sodas is absolutely fine. Those hours are when the bartenders make their money via tips. Placing an order is not mandatory, but it is polite.

I’m a member of AA, will I have access to meetings on the ship?

Yes, there are AA meeting held most days on the Disney cruise ships. Look for the “Friends of Bill W.” entries on the Personal Navigator app. Meetings typically happen early in the morning. Oddly, most meetings take place in one of the onboard bars. The rationale is that most of these spaces have opaque doors that close for privacy, where other areas of the ship do not. Also note that all alcohol will be placed in locked cabinets during the meetings, as it routinely is stored during non-operational hours.

Is there really no one that gets hammered on the ships?

Any time there is booze around there is the potential for someone to overindulge. And in my nearly two decades of cruising with Disney, I have seen a few folks sloppy singing at adult karaoke. But nothing much worse than that.

Disney Cruise Line caters to a family audience. Most parties  on board will include a child or two and many families with kids around prefer to keep at least one parent mentally available to deal with emergency situations.

If you do want a party atmosphere, you might be better off on an adults-only line such as Virgin or on a line that includes a cocktail in its name (hello, Margaritaville at Sea).

Note: Disney Cruise Line reserves the right to refuse sale and/or service of alcoholic beverages to anyone, for any reason.

Can I bring alcohol onto the ship?

Yes, with some limitations. The official policy states:

• Each guest 21 years and older may carry-on two bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or six beers (no larger than 12 oz each) on board at each port of call. All alcohol must be brought in their original, sealed containers.
• At the embarkation port, any wine or champagne in excess of 2 bottles or beer in excess of 6 beers is prohibited and must be discarded prior to entry with no compensation offered.
• At subsequent ports, wine or beer in excess of the above will be stored and guests may retrieve it at the end of the voyage.
• All liquors and spirits (including powdered alcohol) are prohibited at the embarkation port.
• At subsequent ports, all liquors and spirits will be stored until the completion of the cruise.
• Guests must retrieve any stored alcohol at the end of the cruise. Uncollected alcohol will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.

I’m traveling with my spouse. Can we bring four bottles of wine with us?

Yes, the above rules are per adult, not per stateroom.

I prefer to drink hard cider rather than beer or wine? Can I bring this onboard instead?

I’ve seen people ask about things like hard cider, hard lemonade, hard seltzers, and the like. The technical answer is that DCL policy only allows beer or wine. They are within their stated rights to disallow anything else.

That said, I have heard some anecdotal account of guests bringing allowed to carry on six packs of other beverages. You might be able to bring your cider, lemonade, or seltzer on board with you, but don’t count on it.

Toting around a six-pack is heavy. Why do I have to carry my drink on the ship with me? It would be easier to leave it in the checked bag that gets brought onto the ship.

The rule about carrying on beverages applies to non-alcoholic beverages as well. There are no posted limits on the amount of soda or water you can bring with on board, but here too they must be carried on.

The rule has to do with beverages leaking. They don’t want to have quantities of liquids break open and seep into someone else’s bags.

How can I keep the beer I’ve brought onboard cold?

Every Disney Cruise Line stateroom is equipped with a dorm-sized refrigerator. They’ll hold a six pack, but not much else.

Can I get ice/glasses/a corkscrew to use with the drinks I’ve brought onboard?

You can get these items delivered from room service. Just place a call from the phone in your stateroom. If you only need ice, your stateroom attendant will be able to get this for you.

Are there rules about where I can drink the alcohol I’ve brought onboard?

You’re welcome to consume your personal stash of alcohol in your stateroom or on your stateroom verandah. The Disney Cruise Line website states that alcohol you bring onboard yourself may not be consumed in any lounge or public area of the ship.

If you want to pop your own wine or champagne in one of the ships’ restaurants you will be assessed a $27 corkage fee per bottle.

If I’m visiting three ports during my sailing, how many bottles of wine can I bring onboard?

In total, eight. Two at initial embarkation. Two at Port A, two at Port B, and two at Port C.

What is the drinking age on the ship?

In most situations, the onboard drinking age is 21. Disney Cruise Line knows every passengers age from their official boarding documents. Guests under age 21 will have their designation as a minor noted on their Key to the World Card. Young adults will be asked to verify their age.

I’m cruising with my 19 year old. They’ve been able to legally drink in my home country, can they really not drink on the ship?

The drinking age policy has a few exceptions.

• During round-trip cruises departing from any European country that has a drinking age lower than 21, parents or guardians may sign a Beverage Consent Form that allows their 18- to 20-year-old children to consume alcoholic beverages while in the adult’s presence.
• For round-trip cruises from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Brisbane, Guests 18 years of age and older may purchase and consume alcoholic beverages without parental consent.
• For repositioning cruises between Hawaii and Australia, parents or guardians may sign a Beverage Consent Form that allows their 18- to 20-year-old children to consume alcoholic beverages while in the adult’s presence.

I’m traveling with an older teen. They’re of legal drinking age in the port country we’re visiting. Does Disney have rules about them consuming alcohol off the ship?

Disney doesn’t know about and can’t enforce your behavior while you’re off the ship. If your older teen is of legal drinking age in the country you’re visiting, assume that they will be allowed to drink within that country’s rules. However, Disney may disallow re-boarding to any guest it deems unsafe or ill. So be sure that no one in your party is drinking to excess, regardless of age.

Disney’s private islands have the same age rules as the ships.

I’m visiting a distillery during a port excursion. Does DCL’s alcohol policy mean I can’t purchase any of their product?

You’re welcome to buy a couple of bottles of Irish whiskey during your tour of the Jameson Distillery tour in Cork, Ireland, for example. When you return to the ship, declare the bottles to the security staff as you reembark. They will store the bottles until the end of the sailing. In most cases, you’ll collect your bottles at a specified location on the ship where you’ll retrieve them on disembarkation morning.

There are a few other things to consider if you buy alcohol in port:

• Most airlines will only allow a small quantity of liquid in your carry-on luggage, which means you’ll have to place your bottles in your checked bags. Be sure that they’re packed for travel – many distilleries and wineries will bubble-wrap your bottles at the point of purchase.
• Consider whether any potential luggage fees will outpace any savings you’ve gained from buying your bottles from the source.
• Consider whether your purchases are within the rules of your home country’s customs regulations. You can find United States rules about alcohol purchases at the US Customs and Border Protection website.

Can I buy full bottles of alcohol on the ships?

You can buy bottles of wine or champagne in the ships’ bars and restaurants.

Many years ago there were duty-free shops on the DCL ships where you could buy full bottles of liquor. These has been discontinued.

What type of alcohol can I find onboard?

The Disney ships carry everything from Bud Light to rare bottles of Bordeaux. Imagine an equivalent situation on land and you’ll have a good picture of what you’ll find on the ships. For example the onboard sports bar will focus on beers and ciders and the onboard champagne bar will focus on the bubbly. See the menus below to get feel for the scope of the offerings. These are just a few of the dozens of bars on the DCL ships. Note: the menus below are from sailings in the past 24 months; prices can change. If you want to see ALL the DCL menus, Scott Sanders of the Disney Cruise Line Blog has a comprehensive collection.

Click photos to enlarge.

How much will drinks cost on the ships?

I first started writing about Disney Cruise Line about ten years ago. At that time, the drinks were priced at a bit under what you might expect to pay on land. That price break has largely evaporated and you can expect to pay about the same prices on the ships as you would for alcohol at a bar or restaurant in a major U.S. city. Prices are consistent across the ships and on Disney’s islands. Domestic beer and wine start at about $8, cocktails start at about $15, and things go up (and up and up) from there. See the menus for more specifics.

Are there beverage packages sold on the ships?

There are beer and wine packages available, but unlike some other cruise lines there is no “unlimited cocktail” package offered. Below are some versions of drinks packages. With the Wine & Dine package you can save as much as 25% compared with buying by the bottle in the main dining rooms.

Similarly, a beer package may be a better deal than buying brews individually; choose from six-packs or a
refillable mug (you present a token at the bar instead of carrying the mug around with you). You can also preorder these packages online in the Onboard Gifts section of the DCL website.

Where can I buy alcohol on the ships?

Every Disney Cruise Line ship has several bars and lounges that serve alcohol. These spaces may be used for family activities during the day and typically don’t start serving alcohol until after 5:00 p.m. Other places where you can find alcohol for sale include:

• The main rotational dining rooms
• The adult dining locations
• The Cove Cafe and other coffee bars
• Room service
• Preludes theater snack stand
• A quick service window or kiosk on the pool deck

Can I bring a drink into the onboard theaters?

Yes. You can bring a beverage purchased anywhere on the ship into the Walt Disney Theater or into the movie theaters.

What are the drinks seminars I keep hearing about?

Every DCL sailing will offer several drink-tasting seminars. The seminars are led by sommeliers or experienced bartenders and include tasting-size pours of four or five different versions or brands of the featured alcohol. There is an educational component where you learn about the alcohol, how it’s made, and how to serve it. Seminars typically last about an hour and cost between $40 and $100 per session, depending on the type of beverage discussed. You may find tastings that cover wine, beer, champagne, tequila, cognac, whiskey, martinis, mojitos, dessert drinks, general classes on mixology, and more.

These seminars are extremely popular. Look for sign-ups in the Onboard Activities section of the Disney Cruise Line website. Registration availability is based on your Castaway Club status.

Are there any bargains to be had?

The best way to save money on DCL drinks is to avoid them altogether or bring your own booze onboard. Also look for domestic beers and wine, which are often priced at $10 or less per serving.

Beyond that, keep an eye out for bar menus that list something called “Sommelier Bin.” This is a way to buy a mystery glass of of wine or champagne for a flat rate price of $11 per glass. The bartender will ask you something basic like “red or white” and then serve you what they have on hand from already opened bottles. Sometimes you get an unimpressive brand and sometimes you get a $50 glass at 20% of the price.

Also look at your Personal Navigator for “Happy Hour” or “Magic Hour” time at one of the onboard bars. There’s no special activity happening, but drinks are served at a discount price.

You mentioned tipping the bartender earlier. How does that work?

A baseline tip of 18% is automatically added to all DCL bar tabs and restaurant alcohol purchases. You will see this on your receipt at the end of your meal or bar visit. There is also a line to add an additional gratuity if you so desire.

What is the alcohol situation on Disney’s private islands, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay?

Disney’s private islands each have several bars that serve adult drinks. There are also cast members that walk along the beach to take orders and deliver frosty beverages to your lounge chair.

Is there way to get free drinks onboard?

There may be some seminars hosted for guests where you can enjoy a complimentary passed cocktail or glass of wine. For example, Disney Vacation Club typically hosts at least one welcome party per sailing where adults drinks are available at no charge. Free soft drinks are available too, but you can get those in many places on the ships.

I’ve been on a few New Years Eve DCL sailings. Waiters have walked around just prior to midnight with serving trays of free sparkling wine and non-alcoholic sparking cider. Be aware that there are many adults who take a sip or two of the bubbly and then leave their mostly-full glass unattended on a table. If you have a teen and you’re concerned about them sneaking a sip, then keep an eye on them at this event.

Also note that some alcohol is included with use of the concierge lounge, but I wouldn’t exactly call that free since sailing in concierge-level stateroom comes with a premium price.

Is there food available at the DCL bars?

Mostly no, but with a few exceptions.

• Most of the DCL bars will offer a free assortment of mini spiced snacks. The bowls they’re served in are tiny, but they can take the edge off.
• The sports bar on each ship sell more substantial bar food, for a fee. Items typically include large soft pretzels, sliders, or bangers & mash.
• Some experience-style beverages include an accompanying nibble. For example, there are New Orleans-style drinks that come with a beignet or French champagne cocktails that are served with a macaron.
• Some bars may offer a free late-night snack buffet featuring items like nacho chips and mini hot dogs.

Anything else?

Each day your ship will have a “Drink of the Day” featured in the Personal Navigator. You can purchase this beverage at onboard bars for a reduced price. There will also be one or two featured drinks each day on the main dining room menus.

The adult dining venues (Palo, Palo Steakhouse, Remy, and Enchante) will all offer specially curated drink pairings with their menus. There may be special pricing for these pairings.

What’s your favorite Disney Cruise Line drink? Let us know in the comments.