If you love Christmas and love Disney Cruise Line then a Very Merrytime Cruise could be for you. I sailed on the Disney Wonder out of Galveston on a Western Caribbean cruise back in December 2017 and had an incredible week onboard. For me Disney and Christmas just go together perfectly and create a magical experience – it was a perfect mix of everything I love about a regular Disney Cruise with an extra dusting of Christmas magic.

Very Merrytime Cruises take place on four Disney Cruise Line ships during the months of November and December. Along with the big Christmas tree and giant gingerbread house in the lobby atrium, there are smaller Christmas trees and decorations throughout the ship which are beautiful yet not overdone and are themed to the area they are located in.

So here is everything there is to see and do on a Very Merrytime Cruise onboard Disney Cruise Line:

Mickey’s Tree Lighting Magic

There is no better way to start off your first night onboard a Very Merrytime Cruise than by watching Mickey’s Tree Lighting Magic in the lobby atrium of the ship. Crew members talk about Christmas traditions in their home countries before Mickey, Minnie, Santa Goofy and Pluto sing Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Oh Christmas Tree and We Wish You a Merry Christmas before lighting the Christmas tree and all of the decorations in the lobby atrium.

Mickey’s Tree Lighting Magic was the busiest event during our Very Merrytime Cruise so make sure to grab a good spot early to see it. It takes place between the two dinner seatings on the first night of the cruise so everyone is able to watch it. Don’t miss it!

Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball

Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball takes place in the lobby atrium of the ship and features the Walt Disney Theatre performers who sing Walking in a Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas and Frosty the Snowman before introducing Santa Claus and Mrs Claus. They are soon joined by Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald and Daisy before Anna and Elsa arrive and snow starts to fall in the lobby atrium.

Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball takes place in the lobby atrium once or twice depending on the length of your cruise.

Characters Wearing Christmas Outfits

My favourite part of any Disney Cruise no matter what the time of year is meeting all of the characters and I love seeing what different costumes they are wearing each day onboard. During our Very Merrytime Cruise we saw the characters wearing at least six different outfits during the week including Christmas jumpers, tropical Christmas beachwear and formal Christmas wear as well as Santa Goofy and Reindeer Pluto. They also wore all of their standard outfits you would normally see on all other cruise too such as their sailor clothes, Pirate costumes and Formal night wear.

The Gingerbread House

Each Disney Cruise Line ship features a unique life-size gingerbread house in the lobby atrium which was one the most popular photo spots all week on our cruise. However if you sail on one of the early November cruises, bear in mind that the house is still being constructed at this point so book a later cruise if you want to see it completed.

Gingerbread cookie decorating is also available on the cruise and you can check the times for this event on the Personal Navigator once onboard.

Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Deck Party

I had been looking forward to this deck party for a longest time before our cruise but it was sadly cancelled due to a storm at sea and freezing cold temperatures. Instead we had a Character Dance Party which took place in the lobby atrium.

Meeting Santa Claus

Several times during our week onboard the Disney Wonder, it was possible to meet Santa Claus and add your name to the “Naughty or Nice” list. This meet and greet was always busy whenever I walked past the lobby atrium so if you want to meet Santa on the ship, make sure to arrive early.

Storytime with Mrs Claus

Once or twice on each cruise, Mrs Claus reads Christmas stories by the Christmas tree in the lobby atrium. The children onboard sit around her rocking chair listening to her read “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “The Night Before Christmas’ whilst the adults stand further back. During this time, Cast Members hand out Hot Chocolate and cookies to everyone and there even might be some surprise guests too!

Special Very Merrytime Cruise Merchandise

As you would expect, there is special merchandise onboard that is only available during Very Merrytime Cruises. My advice as always is if you see something you want at the start of the cruise, buy it in case it sells out as there is only a limited amount of stock onboard.

Christmas Movies

Throughout our sailing there were Disney Christmas movies showing on the Funnel Vision including Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Disney’s Christmas Carol, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas.

Christmas Arts and Crafts

There are also various Christmas arts and crafts activities available for both families as well as adults throughout the cruise which are listed on the Personal Navigator.

Disney’s Castaway Cay

The majority of Very Merrytime Cruises make a stop at Castaway Cay – Disney’s private island in the Bahamas which features a Christmas tree, Christmas decorations, Mr and Mrs Snowman, Santa’s sleigh, “snow” flurries as well as tropical Christmas music.

As I sailed on a Western Caribbean itinerary out of Galveston, my cruise did not stop at Castaway Cay – we visited Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Falmouth instead.

The Farewell Show

Every Disney cruise features a farewell show on the final night whether it be ‘Til We Meet Again on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder or See Ya Real Soon on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. On Very Merrytime Cruises, there is a Christmas version of each show featuring the Disney characters as well as Carolers singing an incredible version of Let There be Peace on Earth. It truly is a wonderful way to end the cruise.

My Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Wonder was in the first week of December which was a great time to sail as it was a lot more affordable than travelling over the busy and much more expensive periods of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

I had previously sailed on a Halloween on the High Seas cruise on the Disney Dream and despite loving everything to do with Halloween (which is my favourite time of year), I preferred my Very Merrytime Cruise a lot more as I found there was so much more to see and do. Even on a Very Merrytime Cruise, everything you love about Disney Cruise Line will still be there – Pirate Night with fireworks still takes place and the theatre shows still happen.

I’m so happy that I was able to go on this cruise and right now I look forward to the day when we can cruise once again. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

Since this blog post was written back in 2020, some of the information may no longer be accurate or up to date. Be sure to do your own research and check official websites for the latest details before making any of your own travel plans.

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