Pirate Night On Disney Cruise Line (What Is It And What To Pack)

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This blog post may contain affilate links, which earn us a small commission at no addtional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read full disclosure here

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me! Everyone loves a good pirate experience, and Disney Cruises has found a way to create an entire themed day dedicated solely to these beloved Buccanneers.

Sailing with Disney Cruise Line is magical no matter what sailing you’re on, but some have extra magic touches with themed experiences like Pirate Night. Most Disney itineraries include one pirate night, except Alaska itineraries. Everyone knows there are no pirates in Alaska, so you’ll have a frozen-themed evening instead.

Before my first Disney cruise, I had heard about Pirate Night, and it sounded fun, but I had NO IDEA what a big deal it was and how much the ship, crew, and guests would fully embrace the theme.

Pirate night is a big deal, and I don’t want you to miss out or wish you had known, so read on for all the details.

What is Pirate Night on Disney Cruise

Person posing with Captain Hook and Mr. Smee characters on a cruise ship staircase.

One day and night of your Disney Cruise will be themed Pirate Night. You’ll see exactly which day it is on your sailing by checking your Navigator app once on board. If you’d like to know beforehand, joining a Facebook group for a sailing (with the same itinerary) before yours can give you good information.

The whole day is all about Pirates so you can expect things like:

Pirate themed music
Pirate movies playing in the theaters
Pirate-themed family games and trivia
Pirate-themed activities in kids’ clubs

At dinner, you’ll find your serving team dressed up and a special Pirate-themed menu (no matter which restaurant rotation you are on).

After dinner, though, is when the pirate night really gets exciting. Head to the deck for a full-on pirate party with a few surprises, and then cap off the night with fireworks at sea!

Did you know Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line allowed to set off fireworks at sea? This is due to a specially designed formula of quickly biodegradable materials used in their fireworks that doesn’t negatively affect marine life. You’ll hear it referred to as “fish food” because the particles that hit the water are safe for the ocean’s ecosystem.

Bright fireworks with multiple streaks light up the dark sky.

What To Wear To Pirates Night

This is where I failed my first cruise. I thought the cast would dress up, but was shocked when I left my cabin and saw nearly every guest dressed up as pirates, from toddlers to grandparents and everyone in between. I vowed to do better the next time!

I love an opportunity to dress up a bit, so I think this is fun, but if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. Dressing as a pirate is not required, and you won’t be banned from any activities if you aren’t dressed up. Feel free to go as low-key or fully transformed as you wish.

Every guest will receive a pirate bandana in their state room on the day of pirate night, so if you forget to pack something or don’t want to spend the money on a costume, you can always just don the bandana and call it a day.

I have worn a black corset-style dress for my last two cruises and used the bandana from DCL. This way, I feel like I’m still dressing up and participating but don’t have to pack many extra things.

Watch for Mickey, Minnie, and friends dressed in very special pirate costumes. You’ll even have a chance to meet up with Jack Sparrow, Captain Hook, and Mr. Spee.