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My Review of Disney Very Merry Time Cruises
- Erin Feldman
- May 8
- 12 min read
Imagine this equation: a generous scoop of Christmas magic combined with a healthy dose of Disney magic. The result is a Very Merry Time Cruise, one of the most festive and memorable ways to celebrate the holiday season at sea.
In my house, Christmas truly is “the best time of the year.” So when I discovered that Disney Cruise Line offered sailings that combined the fun of a Disney cruise with extra holiday magic, I was immediately excited. When we lived in California, we were often able to enjoy the Christmas season at Disneyland, and we were thrilled to find a new way to create Disney holiday memories together as a family.
We have now sailed on two Very Merry Time Cruises. Our first was on the Disney Magic in November 2023, and most recently, we sailed on the Disney Treasure in November 2025. Before our first Very Merry Time sailing, I spent a lot of time researching what to expect, including which special events, activities, and entertainment offerings we should plan around. That information was incredibly helpful as we prepared for our trip, and I hope this review will be helpful to anyone considering or planning a Very Merry Time Cruise.
Here is my review of our Disney Very Merry Time Cruises.
Decor
There is something special about the tradition of putting up Christmas decorations each year. I love sitting in the glow of the Christmas tree lights, sipping hot chocolate, and enjoying the warmth of the season. Boarding a Disney cruise ship and immediately being surrounded by Christmas decorations, sparkling lights, and festive details feels truly special.
The decor is one of the first things you will notice on a Very Merry Time Cruise. From the moment you step into the atrium, you are welcomed by beautiful holiday decorations. The main focal points are typically the large, elaborately decorated Christmas tree in the atrium and a gingerbread display, generally of a life-size gingerbread house, made with real gingerbread.
Each Disney ship features a Christmas tree designed to complement the theme and style of that particular ship. The gingerbread display is created by the crew on board and is always impressive. On our Disney Magic sailing, the gingerbread display was a life size gingerbread house which included lights, a white picket fence, and small Disney character touches that made it especially charming. It also filled the atrium with the wonderful scent of gingerbread, which added even more to the holiday atmosphere.
The atrium is also decorated with garlands along the grand staircase and railings overlooking the main lobby area. When everything is lit, the entire space feels warm, festive, and beautifully designed. We also noticed themed Christmas trees in the rotational dining restaurants, cafes, and other areas throughout the ship.
Both ships we sailed on were beautifully decorated, though the decor did vary by ship. Before our first Very Merry Time Cruise, I had read about the life-size gingerbread houses, and we were blown away by how impressive it was to see one in person on the Disney Magic.
On the Disney Treasure, however, there was not a traditional gingerbread house. Instead, there was a gingerbread Christmas tree. It was still beautiful and smelled amazing, but it was not quite as grand or impressive as the life-size gingerbread house we had seen on the Magic. That being said, the Christmas tree on the Disney Treasure was spectacular, in true Disney fashion. It fit the atrium perfectly and made a beautiful backdrop for holiday photos.
So while the overall holiday atmosphere is consistent, you should expect some variation in decor depending on which ship you sail.
Decor on the Disney Private Islands
On our first Very Merry Time sailing, we departed from San Diego, California, so we did not visit either of Disney’s private island destinations. On our second Very Merry Time sailing, we departed from Port Canaveral and were able to visit both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
We were excited to discover that both islands were decorated for the holidays. Castaway Cay had a large Christmas tree near the disembarkation area, decorated with a tropical beach theme. There were also two adorable “snowmen” designed to look as though they had been carved from sand, along with wreaths and garlands around the island.
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point was not as heavily decorated, but we still enjoyed seeing the Christmas wreaths, garlands, and smaller trees throughout the area. I especially liked that the decorations matched the tropical setting and overall style of the island. These small touches added a festive feel without taking away from the natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere of the destination.
Entertainment
Entertainment is one of the areas where Disney truly shines, and a Very Merry Time Cruise adds several special holiday offerings to the regular cruise lineup. We enjoyed all of the holiday entertainment we experienced.
Tree Lighting Performance
On the first night of the cruise, usually between dinner and the evening performance in the main theater, there is a tree lighting ceremony in the atrium. It is often scheduled around 7:30 p.m., though you should always check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for the exact time on your sailing.
When you first board the ship, the lights on the tree and garlands are not yet turned on. Later that evening, guests gather in the atrium for a festive stage performance featuring Mickey and friends. The show usually includes singing, dancing, and a cheerful show to welcome you aboard your holiday cruise. The highlight comes at the end, when the tree and atrium decorations are lit for the first time and remain glowing throughout the sailing.
The show varies somewhat depending on the ship class. In some versions, Santa and Mrs. Claus are even part of the celebration.
We really enjoyed the tree lighting performance on both of our Very Merry Time sailings. On our Disney Treasure cruise in November 2025, the show was performed on the atrium stage and featured Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy. There was plenty of Christmas music and dancing, and when the tree lights came on, the atrium was showered with snow-like confetti. It was a very magical touch.
On our Disney Magic sailing in November 2023, the performance took place on the landing near the grand staircase and again featured Mickey and the gang in a fun, festive show filled with Christmas songs.
I highly recommend attending the tree lighting performance on the first night. It is a wonderful way to begin the cruise and immediately get into the holiday spirit. If having a good view is important to your group, I would suggest arriving 15 to 30 minutes early. This is especially helpful on the older ships, where the atriums are smaller and the best viewing spots can fill quickly.
Unlike the Broadway-style shows, which are typically performed twice each evening to accommodate both dinner seatings, the tree lighting may only be performed once on some sailings. Disney schedules it between the dinner times so that all guests are available to attend, but that also means many people are trying to see the same performance.
If the show is close to bedtime for younger children, it can be fun to have them wear holiday pajamas. We saw many kids in adorable Christmas-themed pajamas, and it was so sweet to see them sitting together and watching the tree come to life. It also meant they were one step closer to being ready for bed when the show ended.
Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Party
On one day of your Very Merry Time sailing, the ship celebrates what feels like its own version of Christmas Day. This is usually the day with the most holiday-themed entertainment, activities, and character appearances.
On this day, between the two dinner seatings, there is a special holiday show called Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Party. We had beautiful weather on both of our cruises, and both times the show was performed on the pool deck, in the same area where the Pirate Night show is held.
The show lasted about 20 to 30 minutes and was a lot of fun. It featured a heartwarming Christmas story with Mickey and friends, plenty of holiday songs and dancing, and a special surprise for Goofy at the end.
I always enjoy the stage shows Disney creates for both the parks and Disney Cruise Line. They are family-friendly, energetic, and filled with music, dancing, and a simple but meaningful story. This one captures the warmth of the season and leaves you with those classic holiday feelings of family, friendship, and togetherness.
Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Party was a great addition to the entertainment lineup and a wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas-themed day at sea. I would definitely recommend that you attend this performance. It was a lot of fun for the whole family.
Story Time with Mrs. Claus
Another sweet addition to the entertainment schedule is Story Time with Mrs. Claus. On our sailings, this was also offered on the day designated as Christmas Day.
On the Disney Treasure, there were multiple showtimes listed in the schedule. On the Disney Magic, perhaps because it was a shorter sailing or a smaller ship, there was only one scheduled performance.
Story Time with Mrs. Claus begins with Mrs. Claus arriving and taking her seat in a large, beautiful red armchair. She talks with the children and reads two Christmas stories to the crowd. At the end, a couple of special guests arrive to greet the kids.
We really enjoyed this offering. It felt like a more intimate opportunity to spend time with Mrs. Claus, and my kids were excited to see her and listen to the stories. The experience lasted about 15 to 20 minutes and was a lovely addition to the holiday schedule.
Meeting Santa Claus
One of the highlights of our Very Merry Time sailings was the opportunity to meet Santa Claus on board the ship.
Children, and plenty of kids at heart, line up in the atrium for a chance to meet Santa and share their Christmas wishes. Each child has time to speak with Santa, and families can then pose for photos. These photos are included if you purchase a Disney Cruise Line photo package.
The atrium is a beautiful setting for Santa photos because it is already decorated with the Christmas tree, garlands, and other holiday details. The photos we took with Santa turned out beautifully.
On our five-night Disney Magic sailing, I believe Santa was only on board for one day, though there were multiple meet-and-greet times offered. On our seven-night Disney Treasure sailing, Santa remained on board for several days, with multiple opportunities to meet him.
Even with multiple time slots available, the lines were long, so I recommend planning ahead. We chose to attend one of the day time meet-and-greets later in the cruise, hoping the line would be shorter. That strategy worked well. There was still a line, but it was much shorter than the lines we had seen earlier in the sailing. We arrived about 15 to 30 minutes early and were near the front.
Some of the first meet-and-greet times and evening time slots appeared to be especially busy, so it is worth checking the schedule and choosing your timing carefully. You may also want to bring special outfits for your family to wear for Santa photos, if that is something you enjoy.
As an added bonus, when Santa was meeting families, there was a table set up with complimentary hot chocolate and cookies for guests to enjoy afterward. Meeting Santa on a Disney cruise was definitely a highlight for my kids and our family.
Disney Christmas Carolers
I love Christmas music, and listening to Christmas carolers is such a classic holiday tradition. During our Very Merry Time Cruises, members of the entertainment team performed short sets of Christmas carols several times throughout the sailing.
The sets lasted about 15 minutes, and there were multiple opportunities to enjoy them. One evening, the timing worked out perfectly while we were waiting in line to meet Santa. The carolers helped pass the time and added even more holiday spirit to the experience.
Be sure to check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for the caroler performances. We really enjoyed them.
Character Meet-and-Greets
All Disney cruises offer wonderful opportunities for character sightings and meet-and-greets, but they feel extra special on a Very Merry Time sailing.
On the Christmas-themed day, many of the characters appear in their holiday outfits. Mickey and friends are dressed for the season, Belle wears her holiday dress from Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, and some of the other princesses wear wraps that give their outfits a festive winter touch.
It was so fun to see the characters dressed in their holiday best. We also wore festive outfits and loved getting Christmas-themed photos with them. Seeing the characters in holiday attire is one of the things we enjoy most about visiting the parks during the Christmas season, and it brings that same kind of holiday cheer to the cruise.
If character photos are a priority for your family, check the Navigator app carefully throughout the day. Meet-and-greet times can vary, and planning ahead will help you make your way to the characters you most want to see.
Photo Opportunities
A Very Merry Time Cruise also offers wonderful photo opportunities. Some of these include the character photos and Santa photos already mentioned, but there are many other chances to capture special holiday memories.
One of our traditions on a Christmas-themed sailing is to take family photos in front of the large Christmas tree in the atrium. We also like to take photos near the gingerbread display when one is available, as it makes a beautiful and festive backdrop.
If you are planning your first Disney cruise, you may not be familiar with how many photo opportunities are available on board. Each evening, there are usually several themed photo backdrops set up in the atrium area, with photographers ready to take family or group photos. Some nights, photographers are also stationed near the atrium statue and grand staircase.
On a Christmas sailing, photographers are often positioned near the Christmas tree and gingerbread display as well. Some of the regular backdrops are also holiday themed. On the Christmas-themed day in particular, we saw several cute and festive backdrops that would be perfect for holiday card photos.
Lines at the photo stations can get long, so it is a good idea to arrive shortly before they open, especially if there is a particular backdrop you want. We also like to plan coordinated outfits that work well with the Christmas tree, gingerbread display, and holiday backdrops.
Before or during the cruise, you will have the opportunity to purchase a photo package. Depending on the package, you can download a set number of photos or all of the photos taken by the ship photographers.
You do not need to purchase a photo package, and cast members are usually happy to help take photos with your personal camera or phone. That said, the professional photos are very nice. The photographers can also capture Magic Shots, where fun Disney touches or characters are digitally added to the images.
For our family, the photo package has been worth it. Photographers are stationed at backdrops each night, with characters, and even off the ship at some ports of call. We always end up with so many beautiful photos that I keep deciding the package is worth purchasing.
Movies, Trivia, Crafts, and Other Holiday Fun
There are also smaller holiday touches throughout a Very Merry Time sailing. One fun detail is the selection of holiday-themed movies shown on board. During our cruises, some of the movies playing in the onboard theaters were Disney Christmas movies. For example, one year Noelle was playing, and on our most recent sailing, A Very Jonas Christmas Movie was featured. Older holiday favorites, such as The Santa Clause, may also be shown.
On the Christmas-themed day, many of the movies shown on Funnel Vision were also holiday themed.
We also noticed that many of the crafts, activities, and trivia offerings were holiday themed on the Christmas-themed day. Throughout the cruise, we enjoyed finding special holiday desserts and drinks at the coffee shops, Cove Café, and the specialty dessert shop. The desserts in the specialty shop are an additional cost, but if you are in the mood for holiday cupcakes, cookies, or brownies, it is a fun place to visit.
Christmas Disney Merchandise
Another fun part of a Very Merry Time Cruise is browsing the Christmas-themed Disney merchandise in the onboard shops. You may find holiday shirts, ornaments, popcorn buckets, mugs, and other seasonal items. There is usually a wide variety of merchandise available.
If there is something you especially want, I recommend shopping early in the cruise. Popular items can sell out, and the shops cannot restock everything in the middle of a sailing.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article gives you a helpful overview of what to expect on a Disney Very Merry Time Cruise. My family has loved both of our Christmas sailings. We enjoyed the festive atmosphere, the added entertainment, the beautiful decor, and the extra holiday touches throughout the ship.
What I appreciated most is that the cruise still felt like a full Disney cruise experience, with all of the regular dining, entertainment, character interactions, and activities we would have enjoyed on any sailing. The holiday offerings felt like an added layer of magic rather than something that replaced the normal cruise experience.
It is worth noting that not every day is nonstop Christmas theming, and I actually think that works well. Guests still want time to enjoy the regular offerings on the ship. Having holiday activities sprinkled throughout the cruise, with one main day featuring the majority of the Christmas-themed entertainment, felt like a nice balance for our family.
So if you are deciding between a regular Disney cruise and a Very Merry Time sailing, and no other factors are guiding your decision, I would definitely consider the holiday sailing. The added Christmas touches make the experience feel extra special. And if you love Christmas like I do, I think you will truly enjoy a Very Merry Time Cruise.
No matter which sailing you choose, the good news is that it is hard to go wrong with Disney.
Happy sailing.
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