Disney Cruise Guests Hit With Surprise Price Hike, 17% Increase Effective Immediately
Disney Cruise Line passengers are seeing another cost increase added to their sailings.
This time, the change affects onboard internet access. Updated pricing went into effect earlier this month, raising daily WiFi costs across multiple plans without advance notice to guests.
The adjustment follows a series of recent price changes tied to cruising with Disney.
While the company continues to expand its fleet and global reach, guests are encountering higher costs both onboard and at certain destinations, often through incremental updates rather than formal announcements.
Internet Access Becomes More Expensive at Sea
According to Cruise Hive, guests sailing with Disney Cruise Line are reporting higher WiFi prices as of January 2026.
The new rates apply to all passengers purchasing internet access onboard.
Standard Internet 24-Hour Access now costs $30 per day. The plan previously cost $26 per day, reflecting an increase of roughly 15% for a single device.
The Premium Surfing and Streaming plan has increased to $49 per day, up from $42.
That change represents an increase of approximately 17%. The premium plan is designed for video streaming, social media uploads, and higher-bandwidth use.
The pricing applies per device.
Disney Cruise Line does not offer multi-device or family discounts for onboard internet access. Guests may log out of one device and log into another, but only one device can be connected at a time.
For families or groups traveling together, that limitation often requires purchasing multiple plans.
Passengers who had already booked cruises were unable to lock in lower internet rates before the change. According to reports, the updated pricing was applied without advance notice.
Disney has not issued a public statement addressing the increase.
Compared with other major cruise operators, Disney’s internet packages now rank among the more expensive options, particularly for streaming-level access.
Internet access has become a standard expectation for many cruise passengers, especially on longer sailings or itineraries with multiple sea days.
The increase adds another variable for guests calculating the full cost of a Disney cruise beyond base fares.
Price Increases Arrive as Disney Cruise Line Expands
The WiFi change follows several other cost adjustments introduced over the past year.
In 2025, Disney Cruise Line raised its recommended gratuities across all sailings. Guests staying in standard staterooms are now advised to tip $16 per person, per night.
Concierge-level guests face a higher recommended rate.
The suggested gratuity for concierge accommodations increased to $27.25 per person, per night, raising the nightly cost for premium bookings.
Additional charges have also emerged at certain ports of call.
As of January 1, the State of Hawaii extended its Transient Accommodations Tax to include cruise ship passengers. The tax applies to time spent docked in the islands.
Guests are now required to pay an 11% state tax plus a 3% local county tax.
That combined 14% tax applies to the portion of a cruise fare associated with time spent in Hawaii, increasing the overall cost of itineraries that include the destination.
These price changes are arriving during a period of rapid growth for Disney’s cruise business.
The Disney Destiny debuted in November, expanding the company’s fleet. The Disney Adventure, originally scheduled to launch in December 2025, is now expected to begin service in March.
Reports suggest four additional ships are currently in development.
Expansion is also moving overseas.
The Oriental Land Company, which operates Tokyo Disney Resort, has ordered a Wish-class Disney cruise ship scheduled to enter service in 2029. It will be the first Disney cruise ship based in Japan.
Discussions are reportedly underway for a second Japan-based vessel.
The continued investment signals long-term confidence in Disney Cruise Line as a growth segment. In its fiscal results shared in November 2025, Disney largely attributed a 9% increase in revenue across its domestic parks and experiences to its cruise ships.
Do you plan on going on a Disney Cruise in 2026?
