Halloween on the High Seas Review

Item: Halloween on the High Seas Disney Cruise
Rating: 8.5
Author: Famvia Travel

The best event of the year gets even better next to Mickey Mouse

Let’s be honest, guys, Halloween is the best celebration of the year. Sorry, Christmas! I think Mickey might agree with me, too, since Halloween on the High Seas is one of the main events aboard Disney Cruise Line. It’s also one of the few opportunities to see characters like Minnie, Daisy Duck, and a few others dressed as spooky movie characters. Well, they won’t exactly be dressed as Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers - thank goodness, our children don’t need nightmares for the rest of their lives, but they still look adorable as witches and characters from other Disney movies.

Halloween on the High Seas, much like the Very Merrytime Cruises, is one of the few events where your entire cruise transforms for the duration of the trip, not just for a single day. Here, you’ll find a lively party where Disney characters join guests to dance and have fun, themed character meet-and-greets, new activities for kids, themed food and beverages, a completely revamped atmosphere, and a lot more.

Now, are these special cruises worth it? Let’s check it out.

What we like about Halloween on the High Seas

Halloween on the High Seas mickey minnie.webp — Disney Cruise Line©

Most guests tend to agree that the Halloween Disney party is a lot of fun and even manages to surpass their Christmas Cruises. Several factors contribute to this. For one, Halloween on the High Seas always features both a Pirate Night and a Halloween night, where passengers can go trick-or-treating inside the cruise ship. There’s also an adorable pumpkin tree story and tree-lighting event, which doesn’t last very long but is something your kids will probably love.

Your cruise transforms completely, with pumpkins, jack-o'-lanterns, and spiderwebs decorating the atrium. While I believe the Christmas cruise might be better suited for families overall, kids typically prefer the Halloween cruise. One of the main reasons is that they get to dress up and walk around the ship as their favorite characters. There’s also a specific day when everyone is encouraged to put on their best costume and go trick-or-treating in the atrium. There are a few extra shows that are short but entertaining, like the Nightmare Before Christmas Sing and Scream, which gives you the chance to meet Jack and Sally afterward.

Sometimes, you’ll also find someone telling ghost stories in the atrium, followed by Mickey and Minnie making an appearance to wave to the crowd. Trick-or-treat stations are also set up throughout the lower decks, allowing kids to go from station to station collecting treats. Oh yeah, and there’s also a Halloween adults-only dance party, which is perfect for those traveling without kids or even solo travelers.

Some restaurants and bars also offer seasonal treats, including desserts and beverages with pumpkin flavors. This is a definite advantage over the Christmas cruises, as the special Christmas menu is only available on December 25.

What we don’t like about Halloween on the High Seas

Halloween on the High Seas pumpkin disney.webp — Disney Cruise Line©

The main drawback of Halloween on the High Seas is that these sailings are usually more expensive than a traditional Disney cruise. This makes sense, considering the extra shows and events, but it’s still a bummer, especially since Disney Cruise Line is already known for not being very cheap.

Another drawback - much like the Very Merrytime Cruises - is the lack of major new shows. Most of the additional events are fairly short and simple. They’re still cool, especially with the great atmosphere, but don’t expect any big, blockbuster new production onboard. The stage shows remain the same, and while the restaurants may feature a spooky new look, the dinner menu doesn’t change a ton.