The Pricey Beverage You Can Bring On A Disney Cruise To Save Money

Disney Cruise Line is different from most big cruise companies because it lets each adult bring alcohol on board. If you're 21 or older, you can carry on either two 750-ml bottles of wine or champagne, or six 12-ounce beers. You're allowed to do this when you first board and again at every port stop. Just make sure the alcohol stays in your carry-on, if it's packed in checked luggage, the staff will take it.

If you want to drink the wine you bring at dinner, that'll typically cost you a $29 corkage fee per bottle. But if you drink it in your room, there's no charge. Since Disney charges for bar drinks, beer, wine and bottled water, bringing your own wine or beer is the only way to enjoy your favorites without racking up extra costs. This way, you avoid the high drink prices on board and free up more of your budget for shore trips, Disney character fun, or a fancy brunch at Palo. If you have no choice but to buy on the cruise, note that you can get a 10% discount using the Disney Visa Card on purchases on board Disney cruise ships.

According to the planDisney panel, wine by the glass on board cost $9 to $23 as of August 2024. It becomes a mid-range of $13 per glass, and once you add Disney's automatic 18% gratuity at the bar, it comes down to $15.34. That means five glasses, the amount in one standard wine bottle, cost around $76.70. Domestic beers like Bud Light or Sam Adams are about $6.50 each, as of January 2025, also before tip.

Compare that with two $18 bottles of wine from home, enjoyed in your stateroom with no corkage fee. That's $36 total, less than half the price of buying wine by the glass on board. If you drink your wine at dinner and Disney charges a $29 corkage fee per bottle, two $18 bottles in the dining room comes to $94. That's about $17 more than buying five glasses on board, but the benefits show as you drink more.

Disney's policy lets each adult carry on two bottles at the start and two more after a port stop. If a couple drinks all four bottles in their stateroom, the total cost is about $72. Even if the couple has every bottle served at dinner and pays corkage on all four, the amount spent is still $188. Buying the same 20 glasses on board would cost around $307, based on Disney bar menu prices and the 18% gratuity. That is savings of $235.

As you may not have the net worth to own a private yacht, you need more hack to save on a cruise. One is booking your next cruise onboard the Disney cruise line. According to the flyer on Disney Cruise official site, you can pay a refundable $250 deposit while still on the ship to lock in a placeholder for your next cruise. When you use it later, you get 10% off the going rate on up to two rooms, as long as you sail within two years. The flyer also says you can keep your travel agent. Either choose them when you book onboard or transfer the reservation to them within 30 days and still get the discount.

You also get an automatic onboard credit; $100 for cruises that are six nights or less, and $200 for cruises that are seven nights or longer. If you pick a specific sailing date, your deposit drops too — 2025 rules lower it to just 5% for week-long cruises. Let's say you're eyeing a $5,000 balcony room on a 7-night trip. The 10% discount saves you $500. Add the $200 onboard credit, which you can use for spa treatments or port excursions, and that's $700 in value. You will be a super saver when you combine Disney's bring-your-own drink rule, re-booking on board, while saving money by doing laundry on a cruise.