When you board a Disney ship, you’re a star.

You’ll be greeted by a gauntlet of Cast Members who ask your name, then announce to everyone via microphone “Disney Dream, please welcome the Turner family!”. Everyone claps and cheers as you roll your carry on into the atrium and look up at an impossibly gorgeous chandelier and grand staircase. It’s dazzling.

The chandelier in the atrium aboard the Disney Dream. What an entrance!

When we boarded our one and only Royal Caribbean cruise, we were met with a different kind of gauntlet… tables had been set up all through the lobby with people sitting and standing at them, trying to sell us stuff, shoving brochures in our faces and vying for our attention. Excursions, drink packages, spa treatments, you name it. I was like Jasmine in the marketplace, like I don’t want your dates and figs, leave me alone!!

Not all cruises are created equal. This boarding scene always comes to mind when I try to explain why I only cruise with Disney.

Mostly… it’s because they leave me alone and trust me to enjoy what I already paid for. There’s no nickle-and-diming once you are on the ship. The pop is free onboard, and so is the coffee unless you want something schmancy. To me, the ideal cruise is one you pay upfront for, then just enjoy.

The excursion desk is where it always is, so if you want that, wander on over. Want to gamble on bingo? They have that too, but I don’t have to fight my way through a bunch of ads for it before I’ve even seen my stateroom.

For me, Disney cruises are just… better. And worth the money. The shows, the food, the games, activities… there’s too much to do in one trip. They do everything better, but there are also a few things ONLY Disney Cruise Line can do at sea!

During this year’s Disney cruise, I captured a video for Inside the Magic, detailing my top five picks for things you can ONLY find on a Disney cruise. View it above and let me know if you think a Disney Cruise is worth the extra cash!