After 27 Disney Cruise Line® sailings, I’ve learned a thing or two about cruising with Disney!

I remember preparing for my first few cruises and having so many questions. What should I book ahead of time? What should I pack? What do experienced Disney cruisers know that first-time cruisers don’t?

Now, 27 sailings later, I’ve experienced different ships, itineraries and stateroom categories. So if you’re getting ready for your very first Disney cruise, here are my top 10 tips to help you make the most of it.

1. Arrive the Day Before Your Cruise

If you’re flying to your embarkation city, I always recommend arriving at least one day before your cruise. Flights get delayed. Weather happens. Luggage gets lost. Traffic happens. Your ship isn’t going to wait because your flight was delayed. Arriving a day early gives you a buffer and lets you wake up on embarkation morning already in vacation mode instead of worrying about whether you’ll make it to the port on time.

2. Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App Before You Leave

Make sure everyone in your travel party who will be using a phone has the app downloaded before your vacation. Once onboard, the Navigator app becomes your guide to what’s happening around the ship. You can see activity schedules, character appearances, entertainment, dining information and more. There is a LOT happening every day, so use the app to favorite the activities you don’t want to miss.

3. Pack Your Carry-On Carefully

When you arrive at the port, you’ll check your larger luggage, and it may be several hours before it arrives at your stateroom. Keep medications, travel documents, valuables, sunscreen and anything else you absolutely need with you in your carry-on. Want to hit the pool as soon as you board? Pack your swimsuits in there too!

4. Don’t Try to Do Everything

This may be one of the most important things I’ve learned. You cannot do it all.

There are character appearances, trivia, live entertainment, Broadway-style shows, deck parties, movies, kids clubs, pools, adult activities and so much more happening every day. Pick the things that matter most to your family and leave some time to simply enjoy the ship. Some of my favorite Disney cruise memories have come from things we never planned.

5. Understand Rotational Dining

Rotational dining is one of my favorite parts of a Disney cruise! You’ll rotate through different main dining restaurants during your sailing, but your serving team rotates with you. That means your servers get to know your family and your preferences throughout the cruise. And here’s another tip: don’t be afraid to order more than one thing! Can’t decide between two appetizers? Ask for both. Want to try a second entrée or dessert? You can. A cruise is a great time to try something new!

6. Don’t Skip the Shows

Even if you’re not normally a “show person,” give Disney’s onboard entertainment a chance. Disney Cruise Line® offers Broadway-style productions with the kind of storytelling and production quality you’d expect from Disney. If there’s a particular show you really want to see, arrive early so you can find seats you like.

7. Book Popular Experiences as Soon as You Can

Depending on your sailing, certain experiences can fill quickly, including specialty dining, spa appointments, beverage tastings, select character experiences and popular port adventures. First-time cruisers may find that some things are already booked when their reservation window opens. Don’t panic. Keep checking. People change their plans all the time, and availability can open before the cruise or once you’re onboard.

8. Disney Cruises Aren’t Just for Kids

This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions I hear. Yes, Disney Cruise Line® is incredible for families, but adults can have an amazing vacation too. There are adults-only restaurants, lounges, nighttime entertainment, spa experiences, adult activities and adults-only areas onboard. If you’re traveling with children, let them enjoy the kids clubs while you enjoy some adult time. The youth spaces are experiences in themselves, and the kids may end up asking you when they can go back!

9. Take the Photos, Then Put the Phone Away

You’re going to want pictures, and you should take them! Get the family photos. Take pictures with the characters. Capture the sunsets. Photograph the little details around the ship. But then put your phone away for a while. Sit on the deck and watch the ocean. Enjoy dinner. Watch your kids experience something for the first time.

After 27 cruises, I can tell you that those little moments often become the memories you treasure most.

10. Explore the Ship on Embarkation Day

One of my favorite tips for first-time cruisers is to spend some time exploring the ship as soon as you board. You’re going to be excited, and it’s tempting to immediately head to the pool or find something to eat, but take a little time to walk around. Find your dining rooms. Check out the kids clubs during open house. Locate the theaters, lounges and adult areas. Walk the upper decks. Figure out where everything is before the ship gets busy and your schedule fills up. It’s also one of the best times to take photos of the ship because many areas are much quieter than they’ll be later in the cruise. And don’t forget to look at the details. Disney ships are full of little touches that are easy to miss when you’re rushing from one activity to another.

One Last Piece of Advice

After 27 Disney cruises, the biggest thing I’ve learned is that no two sailings are exactly the same. I’ve learned not to worry about doing everything. Some cruises are packed with activities. Some are more about relaxing. Sometimes we try something completely new, and sometimes we return to the things we’ve loved for years.

So for your first Disney cruise, do a little planning, know the things you absolutely don’t want to miss, and then give yourself permission to just enjoy being there. Take the pictures. Order the extra dessert. Watch the sunset. Go see the show. Explore the ship. Sleep in if you want to.

And if you don’t get to everything? There’s always the next cruise.

Trust me. I thought I was just going on my first one once, too.

27 cruises later… here we are.