Disney Cruise Line Tastings: What They’re Like (and Which Ones Are Worth It)

A note on photos: All photos in this series are real images taken by our family. To protect our kids' privacy, some have been transformed into anime-style illustrations while staying true to the original moments.

After 27 Disney cruises, we’ve done a lot of tastings.

And we’ve learned two things pretty quickly: tastings can be one of the best adult moments on the ship — and you can absolutely overbook them and end up missing everything else that’s happening around you.

So here’s what I’d tell a friend before their first sailing: what tastings actually are, which ones we’ve tried, what we honestly thought, and how to approach them without overdoing it.

What a Disney Cruise Line Tasting Actually Is

A tasting is typically a small-group event led by a bartender, sommelier, or spirits expert. You’ll sample a few pours, hear some history or technique behind what you’re drinking, and usually walk away knowing exactly what you want to order at the bar for the rest of the cruise.

Beyond the drinks themselves, tastings are surprisingly social. You’re in a small group, you’re all trying the same things, and conversation tends to happen naturally. We’ve met some genuinely fun people at tastings over the years — and we keep running into the same bar staff everywhere after, which makes the rest of the week feel more personal.

Booking Tips Before You Board

Some tastings can be reserved before you sail, and the popular ones do fill up. But if you miss your window, don’t stress.

Once you’re onboard, check the app again. New events get added, people cancel, and spots open up more often than you’d think. Sold out before the cruise doesn’t always mean sold out by the time you’re standing on the ship.

Also worth knowing: not every tasting is offered on every ship or itinerary, and availability can shift when staff rotates. So always check the app and ask onboard if you’re looking for something specific.

The Timing Reality (Especially for Families)

Here’s the honest thing nobody talks about enough: a lot of tastings are scheduled later in the evening. And for us, that’s the single biggest reason we’ve skipped ones we were genuinely interested in — including the Cognac tasting, the Whiskey tasting, and a few bourbon options we’ve had on our list for years.

We’ve even booked something for Papa and canceled it the day of because we had an early excursion the next morning and it just wasn’t worth the tradeoff.

When your kids are early risers, a late-night tasting has real consequences the next day. So we’ve learned to be honest with ourselves: if the timing doesn’t actually work, it doesn’t work. The tasting will come around again on a future sailing.

If you’re sailing without kids, or you’re just not an early-morning person, you’ll have a much easier time with these.

Quick Picks (If You’re New to Tastings)

If you don’t want to overthink it, here’s how I’d choose:

Best starter tastings: Champagne Tasting, Stem to Stern Wine Tasting

Most fun: Tequila & Margarita Tasting, Mixology

Most unique / memorable: Chocolate & Liquor Tasting

Proceed with caution (timing + next-day impact): Bourbon/Whiskey options if you have early mornings

What We’ve Actually Tried (Honest Thoughts)

Bourbon Tasting

Papa did this one once. It runs later in the evening, which is worth knowing going in. On his tasting, someone didn’t show — and the drinks were already poured — so the guys at his table ended up with the extras.

That may have contributed to the rough morning that followed.

If you do the bourbon tasting, plan a lighter day after. And apparently a smoothie from the spa area is a solid recovery move.

Champagne Tasting

I’ve done this one a couple of times. It’s genuinely educational — there’s real history and context behind what you’re tasting, and you come away with a better sense of what you actually like.

That said, we don’t book it much anymore. At this point I know which champagnes I like onboard, so the discovery element isn’t really there for us. If you’re earlier in your Disney cruising journey, this is a great one.

Martini Tasting

We went into this expecting classic martinis and came out with something different — the version we experienced leaned heavily into creative, bartender-driven cocktails, most of which were gin-based. Gin isn’t my thing, so it wasn’t quite what I hoped for.

That said, one of my favorite random trivia moments from any tasting came from this one. The bartender explained why James Bond orders his martini shaken, not stirred: shaking introduces more melted ice, which dilutes the drink — meaning you actually get a little less drunk than you would with a stirred martini. Papa has been pulling that one out at dinner parties ever since.

Mixology

This one tends to be more hands-on and fun. When we did it in the past, guests actually made the drinks themselves. I believe the format has shifted over time — the server may now prepare the drinks rather than having guests do it — but it’s still one of the more lively, interactive options. Good for trying new flavors and figuring out what you like.

Beer Tasting

Papa did this one with a friend. His honest take: it wasn’t particularly new for him because he’d already tried most of the beers on the ship by that point in the cruise.

This one makes the most sense if you’re newer to Disney cruising, you enjoy beer and want a guided side-by-side comparison, or you’re simply in it for the social experience.

Stem to Stern Wine Tasting

We’ve done this a couple of times and enjoyed it — especially earlier on when we were still figuring out what we liked onboard. It’s educational without being stuffy, and it’s a good way to try things you wouldn’t necessarily order on your own.

Like the champagne tasting, we don’t book it much anymore now that we have our go-to wines. But for newer cruisers, it’s a solid choice.

Tequila & Margarita Tasting

This one is genuinely one of my favorites — and I don’t say that lightly after 27 cruises.

It’s educational and fun in equal measure, and it’s the kind of tasting where you walk away having actually learned something you’ll use at home. Case in point: I now make my margaritas with Grand Marnier because of what I picked up at this tasting. It made that much of an impression.

A bittersweet note though: the bartender who used to run this on the Fantasy was absolutely wonderful, and she has since retired. She was a big part of what made that experience so special.

This is a good reminder that tastings can vary depending on who’s leading them — and sometimes you get lucky with someone truly exceptional.

Availability on this one can be inconsistent depending on the ship and itinerary, so if you see it on your sailing, don’t hesitate. Book it.

Chocolate & Liquor Tasting

This is one of my favorites, full stop.

It covers pairings, it’s fun and relaxed, and it got me into port wine — which I genuinely never expected. There’s also a whiskey included, which I loved. If this one is available on your sailing, I’d recommend it without hesitation.

Prima Notte at Palo

This is a wine tasting with small bites, offered only on the first night of the cruise. We did it on our last Magic sailing and it was a lovely way to start the week — good wine, good food, beautiful setting.

One thing to know: when I asked, I was told it’s the same tasting every time across ships, with no rotation. That’s a little disappointing, because I would have happily done it again. Just something to factor in if you’re a repeat cruiser.

Two Questions We Hear All the Time

“Can my spouse come if they don’t drink?”

Yes — but everyone attending needs a paid ticket. The ticket covers the experience and the education, not just the pours themselves, so a non-drinker doesn’t get a free pass.

If you really want them there, they can absolutely come along and you can handle their glasses. No judgment.

“How many tastings should we book?”

One per cruise. Maybe two if the timing lines up perfectly and you’re genuinely excited about both.

We learned this the hard way — there was one cruise where we booked multiple tastings and started to feel like we were always running off to something instead of just being present on the ship.

Also worth remembering: you can learn a lot just by talking to the bar staff throughout the week. And specialty dining like Palo or Remy often includes wine pairings that feel like a mini tasting in their own right — without requiring a separate booking.

My Wish List

One tasting I’d love to see Disney offer more consistently: a dedicated port tasting.

When we dined at Enchanté on a recent sailing, they brought around a port cart with a cheese plate — and it was one of those quietly wonderful moments. I’d book a full port tasting in a heartbeat if it were available. Disney, if you’re listening.

The Bottom Line

Disney Cruise Line tastings are worth it — especially if you’re earlier in your Disney cruising journey and still figuring out what you love.

Pick one you’re genuinely curious about. Check the app onboard if it shows as sold out before you sail. Be honest about the timing, especially if you have early risers in your crew.

The best tastings aren’t really about the drinks anyway. They’re about the conversation, the people you meet, and the new favorite you’ll keep ordering at the bar all week.

Have a tasting you loved — or one that didn’t live up to the hype? Drop it in the comments. We’d love to hear what you’ve tried.