Disney Cruise Line Halloween and Holiday sailings announced for Fall and Winter 2016

Disney Cruise Line has announced 2016 sailing dates for specially themed Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime winter holiday sailings across the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

Disney Cruise Line will treat guests to Halloween on the High Seas this fall beginning Sept. 2. In 2016, Halloween on the High Seas takes place on most voyages aboard the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic from September through October. This extra-spooky celebration features Halloween-themed parties, lively entertainment and elaborate décor, including The Pumpkin Tree, which magically transforms throughout the cruise. Other special experiences include:

• Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party: A celebration with games, dancing and lots of candy! Beloved Disney characters, wearing special Halloween costumes just for the occasion, will join guests for this fun-filled costume party.

• A Nightmare Before Christmas—Sing and Scream: An interactive movie experience where guests are part of the action, followed by a meet-and-greet with Jack Skellington and Sally.

• Haunted Stories of the Sea: Where the bravest cruisers gather under the stars to hear some true—or not so true—tales of the sea told by a mysterious sea captain storyteller.
• Creepy Cabaret: Halloween-themed music performed live in the atrium by a band of ghostly musicians.

• Halloween Isn’t Just For Kids: For adults, the nighttime entertainment district becomes the ghoulish setting for a costume contest and a Villainous Takeover on the dance floor.

• Spooky Movies: To get guests into the spirit of the season, Halloween-themed movies will be shown on Funnel Vision by the family pool and in staterooms.

• Ghoulish Delights: Disney Cruise Line chefs have conjured some very special treats for Halloween, including chocolate cake with pumpkin filling, spider cakes and “Spooky Juice.”

• More spooky fun includes mask-making and a ghostly takeover of ship announcements.

To celebrate Halloween, the Disney Dream sails three- and four-night Bahamian cruises departing Sept. 2 to Oct. 31; the Disney Fantasy sails seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises departing Sept. 3 to Oct. 29; and the Disney Magic sails five-night Canadian Coast cruises, and seven- and eight-night Bahamian cruises departing Oct. 2 to Oct. 29.

Later in the fall and winter, guests may cruise on one of the four Disney ships all decked out with holiday cheer. Starting Nov. 5, Disney Cruise Line adds sparkle to each ship during Very Merrytime Cruises. There’s “turkey day” fanfare, Christmas feasts, “snow flurries” and New Year’s Eve galas.

During these voyages through the new year, special stem-to-stern holiday events include:

• “Mickey’s Tree-Lighting Magic” in the atrium lobby on the first night of the cruise, where Disney characters lead holiday carols and the lighting of the glittering, three-deck-tall tree.

• “Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball” in the atrium lobby, where Disney cruisers welcome the guests of honor, Santa and Mrs. Claus, with a grand celebration featuring Broadway-style entertainment, favorite Disney characters and classic holiday tunes. This evening of enchantment is made complete when a special pair of royal sisters joins the party and causes a flurry of “frozen” fun as a magical snowfall overtakes the atrium.

• Dickens-inspired carolers carrying the spirit of the holidays throughout the ship while singing holiday classics, sometimes with the help of favorite Disney friends. At the end of the cruise, children will have the opportunity to join the carolers onstage for a special farewell show.

• Family holiday activities including building gingerbread houses and meeting Santa Claus.

• Youth holiday crafts such as decorating stockings and gingerbread men cookies, making holiday cards and creating holiday animation cells.

• “Deck the Deck Holiday Party,” a tropical celebration with Disney friends leading games such as hula hooping and limbo under oversized candy canes, along with dances for the whole family like the “Yuletide Slide” and a conga line around the pool.

• A special holiday edition of the cheerful farewell celebration on the final night of the cruise, with beloved Disney characters and the ship’s crew in an engaging musical finale led by Mickey Mouse.

On Thanksgiving Day, guests will enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving Day feast and visits from Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse dressed in traditional Thanksgiving attire. Also during the special Thanksgiving voyages, NFL football games will be broadcast live on the ships’ outdoor, jumbo LED screens – Funnel Vision – located near the family pool.

Christmas morning at the atrium lobby tree Santa Claus and his helpers will have a surprise for all the kids, and guests will delight in a special musical performance from the children. A traditional Christmas Dinner will be served that night in the dining rooms.

Christmas services will be held on Christmas Day with a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Hanukkah services will be held each day, Dec. 24 to Jan. 1.

When the ships stop at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, during the holidays, the celebration continues with “snow flurries,” a decked-out Christmas tree, Disney character meet-and-greets and holiday island music.

For an extra sprinkle of holiday joy, special amenities are available for stateroom delivery. Purchased in advance of sailing, these include holiday-themed gift packages and treat baskets and even mini Christmas trees decorated with ornaments, red berries, mini carnations and a bow topper. Plus, during the holiday cruises, the Disney Cruise Line holiday merchandise collection and ever-popular Disney Cruise Line ornaments will be available in the gift shops.

To ring in 2017, voyages during the holiday include a special New Year’s Eve party, complete with music, sparkling wine in commemorative flutes and a midnight countdown.

To celebrate the holidays, the Disney Magic sails four- and five- night Bahamian cruises, five-, six- and seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises, and seven-night Western Caribbean cruises departing Nov. 5 to Dec. 23; the Disney Wonder sails four- and seven-night Western Caribbean cruises, and seven-night Bahamian cruises departing from Nov. 10 to Dec. 23; the Disney Dream sails three- and four-night Bahamian cruises departing from Nov. 7 to Dec. 22; and the Disney Fantasy sails seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises departing from Nov. 19 to Dec. 24.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500, and watch our recent video tour of the Disney Magic: