DCL Duo Podcast: A Disney Cruise Line Fan Podcast

Brian & Sam
  • 4.9 (607)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Semiweekly

DCL Duo is the #1 Disney Cruise Line podcast — your go-to resource for Disney Cruise Line tips, trip planning advice, honest ship reviews, and insider secrets from two of the most experienced DCL fans in the community. Hosted by Brian Flock and Samantha Kanner (Pearl Castaways with 35+ sailings), DCL Duo covers everything you need to know about sailing with Disney Cruise Line — from choosing the right ship and itinerary, to navigating concierge service, dining reservations, port adventures, onboard activities, and the newest ships like the Disney Treasure and Disney Adventure. Whether you're a first-time Disney cruiser or a seasoned DCL veteran, we help you make the most of every sailing. With 650+ episodes and over 1.1 million downloads, DCL Duo is the most trusted voice in the Disney Cruise Line community. We go beyond the glossy brochure with in-depth reviews, candid guest interviews, real listener questions, and the kind of detail that actually helps you plan — from what to pack to which dining experiences are worth every penny. And, we are *not* travel agents! What you'll find on DCL Duo: - Disney Cruise Line ship reviews (Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny, Disney Adventure, Disney Believe, and beyond.) - Disney Cruise Line itinerary planning — Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Bahamas, and more - Concierge and Castaway Club tips for every level - Adventures by Disney travel, Disney Vacation Club, and onboard dining deep dives - Port of call guides and private excursion recommendations - New ship news, DCL announcements, and Walt Disney World sailings Ranked by Feedspot as the #1 Disney Cruise Line Podcast, #2 Cruise Podcast, #4 Disney Podcast, and a Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencer — DCL Duo is where the Disney cruise community comes to plan smarter and sail better. New episodes drop 2-3x a week. Subscribe now and never miss a sailing. The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line, or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

  1. 10h ago

    Ep. 698 - Sailing Alaska on the Disney Magic: A Repeat Guest Tells All

    She's sailed the Disney Magic to Alaska three times, and this trip finally convinced her to skip one of Disney's own shore excursions for good. Repeat guest Shannon joins Sam solo this week (Brian sits this one out) to recap her family's ninth Disney sailing, a group cruise with nine people, two private excursions that beat anything booked through the app, and one Broadway star shoutout her teenager will never stop talking about. In this episode: Why Shannon's group skipped Disney's totem-pole-painting excursion at Icy Strait Point, and what a string of guest complaints had already warned her about The $80 private crab feast with a local Hoonah family that turned into the highlight of the whole sailing A rare bear sighting on a private, Haida-guided tour of Ketchikan's Totem Bight State Park What it's actually like sailing Alaska with a group of nine, and how to plan excursions together without locking your whole trip together The Disney Magic's Broadway Stars Series, including an onstage shoutout for one very starstruck teenager Why "Disney sells it" doesn't always mean "book it" when it comes to Alaska shore excursions "You do run into a lot of the same people, and so you kind of become your own little floating community, which I think is really cool." — Shannon Support the Show: Book your next Disney vacation with our show sponsor - We Do Travel Right! Life is short, take the trip. Let the agents at We Do Travel Right handle the planning so you can focus on relaxing. Subscribe to the DCL Magazine today! Use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off everything in the WDW Magazine store. Support the show by becoming a Patron! Join us over at Patreon. Your support each month allows us to keep putting out great content each and every week. Thanks to our current patrons for their support. Join today! You can subscribe for one annual discounted payment today. Stay Connected with the DCL Duo: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group We're Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot: Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12) The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

    Ep. 698 - Sailing Alaska on the Disney Magic: A Repeat Guest Tells All

  2. 1d ago

    Ep. 697 - Would You Take a Toddler on a 5-Week Disney Cruise to Europe?

    She flew a toddler across the Atlantic and didn't stop there. Emily, a Disney Cruise Line travel advisor based in Denmark, spent five straight weeks aboard the Disney Dream — a transatlantic crossing followed by three back-to-back European itineraries. Four cruises, five weeks, one very well-traveled four-year-old. In this episode: How a "why not, since we're already over here" idea turned into a five-week, four-sailing itinerary The transatlantic crossing itself — booking it, flying in, and what those sea days are actually like A local guide near Civitavecchia who turned one port day into the best day of the entire trip Why hitting the Parthenon mid-morning was the wrong call (and when to go instead) How the kids club experience changes once your toddler ages out of the nursery Real talk on eating the same rotational menus for five straight weeks "There are these waterfalls that you — it's like one of these crazy Instagram pictures you can't even believe is real. And it was free. My son and I just played in the water for like two and a half hours, we got some snacks, we got ice cream, and it was... the best day. It was so great." Connect with Emily: she shares her travel content on Instagram and YouTube  Support the Show: Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our presenting sponsor We Do Travel Right! Life is short, take the trip. Let the agents at We Do Travel Right handle the planning so you can focus on relaxing. Subscribe to the DCL Magazine today! Use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off everything in the WDW Magazine store. Support the show by becoming a Patron! Join us over at Patreon. Your support each month allows us to keep putting out great content each and every week. Thanks to our current patrons for their support. Join today! You can subscribe for one annual discounted payment today. Stay Connected with the DCL Duo: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group We're Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot: Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12) The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

    Ep. 697 - Would You Take a Toddler on a 5-Week Disney Cruise to Europe?

  3. 2d ago

    Ep. 696 - Disney Dream Mediterranean Cruise: A First-Timer's Honest Review

    She'd sailed Disney Cruise Line ten times before — but never across the Atlantic. Jen joins Sam to break down her family's first-ever European vacation: the Disney Dream's Mediterranean season opener out of Barcelona, complete with a canceled excursion that turned into the trip's best day. In this episode: Sailing the very first Mediterranean season cruise out of Barcelona on the Disney Dream, right behind the transatlantic crossing Jen's original Rome excursion got canceled onboard — and the last-minute replacement became the highlight of the whole trip Comparing port days in Florence, Rome, Naples (Herculaneum vs. Pompeii), and the brand-new Sardinia port of call Palo brunch AND Remy dessert on the same sea day — plus a vegetarian dessert mix-up worth knowing about before you book Why this sailing had the best cast member service Jen's experienced since her very first Disney cruise Real talk on train strikes, long port-day logistics, and why late dining is the move for Europe sailings "Our service throughout... the cast members, no matter what, are amazing... on this cruise, I feel like we've gotten the best service we've ever had in the restaurants since our first cruise." — Jen Support the Show: Book your next Disney vacation with our show sponsor - We Do Travel Right! Life is short, take the trip. Let the agents at We Do Travel Right handle the planning so you can focus on relaxing. We Do Travel Right Subscribe to the DCL Magazine today! Use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off everything in the WDW Magazine store. DCL Magazine Support the show by becoming a Patron! Join us over at Patreon (https://patreon.com/dclduo). Your support each month allows us to keep putting out great content each and every week. Thanks to our current patrons for their support. Join today! You can subscribe for one annual discounted payment today. Patreon Stay Connected with the DCL Duo: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group We're Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot: Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12) The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

    Ep. 696 - Disney Dream Mediterranean Cruise: A First-Timer's Honest Review

  4. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    Ep. 695 - Live Bonus Show - Disney Adventure Review + Tauck Japan Tour: A Family's 35-Day Trip

    Adventures by Disney canceled Sam's Japan trip because they didn't have enough people booked — and because ABD's customer service doesn't work weekends, Tauck ended up with her business instead. That gap became a real, lived comparison of the two companies, plus a full concierge-class review of the Disney Adventure sailing out of Singapore. In this episode: Sam's concierge-class review of the Disney Adventure, sailing out of Singapore Why an ABD cancellation sent her Japan tour to Tauck instead A 10-day Tauck Bridges tour through Tokyo, Hakone, Hiroshima, and Kyoto Head-to-head: where Adventures by Disney still has an edge, and where Tauck holds its own Fireworks, Palo Brunch for teens, and the longest rollercoaster at sea Plus: Disney Cruise Line news — a coordinate-decoding itinerary tease pointing to a New York City season "And Tauck does work on the weekend. So Tauck got my money." -Sam Support the show by becoming a Patron! Join us over at Patreon (https://patreon.com/dclduo). Your support each month allows us to keep putting out great content each and every week. Thanks to our current patrons for their support. Join today! You can subscribe for one annual discounted payment today. Book your next Disney vacation with our show sponsor - We Do Travel Right! Life is short, take the trip. Let the agents at We Do Travel Right handle the planning so you can focus on relaxing. We Do Travel Right Subscribe to the DCL Magazine today! Use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off everything in the WDW Magazine store. DCL Magazine Stay Connected with the DCL Duo: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group We're Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot: Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12) The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

    Ep. 695 - Live Bonus Show - Disney Adventure Review + Tauck Japan Tour: A Family's 35-Day Trip

  5. Aug 26 ·  Bonus

    Ep. 694 - Live Bonus Show - 132 New Disney Cruise Itineraries: Fall 2027 + Spring 2028 Breakdown

    132 itineraries dropped this morning, and by the end of the night three of us had agreed on which ones we would not book. Travel advisor Jamie from We Do Travel Right joined Sam and Brian live for a ship-by-ship walk through the entire Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 release — the Disney Wish's return to New York, the Disney Destiny's move to Port Canaveral, two Panama Canal crossings with brand-new ports, and the full Castaway Club booking ladder. In this episode: The complete booking schedule — Pearl on August 31, Platinum September 1, Gold September 2, Silver September 3, and first-time cruisers on September 8 Why the 6-night Canada-and-Bermuda sailing out of New York covers 1,935 nautical miles, and why Jamie won't recommend it The Disney Wish transatlantic from Southampton to New York City, September 17 to 29, 2027, with an overnight in Reykjavík and a call at St. John's, Newfoundland Sleuthing Sam's prediction for the Disney Believe — Fort Lauderdale, December 2027 — and the terminal math that got her there Only 8 Galveston itineraries in this release, and what Sam turned up looking for a full-year port agreement By the numbers: 33 duo dips, only 4 double dips, 24 Halloween on the High Seas sailings, 43 Very Merrytime, and just two one-night gaps in the whole fleet schedule Jamie's favorites — the 8-night Disney Fantasy overnighting in Bermuda with a duo dip, and the ABC Islands run out of San Juan "So sailing out of New York truly is iconic. And I'm calling it like Broadway to Bermuda." — Jamie, We Do Travel Right (54:16) SUPPORT THE SHOW Book your next Disney Cruise Line vacation with our presenting sponsor, We Do Travel Right! Let We Do Travel Right handle the planning, so you can focus on relaxing. DCL Magazine — your ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line tips and tricks! Join the waitlist and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store. STAY CONNECTED WITH THE DCL DUO Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group We're Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot: Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12) The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

    Ep. 694 - Live Bonus Show - 132 New Disney Cruise Itineraries: Fall 2027 + Spring 2028 Breakdown

  6. Aug 25

    Ep. 693 - Should Your Next Disney Cruise Be in Europe? One Family Says...

    Alexis had sailed every Disney ship except the Dream — until a European itinerary out of Barcelona finally got her there, alongside a promise to her daughter that had been six years in the making: finally going inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In this episode: Dream vs. Fantasy vs. Treasure vs. Wish-class — how the Dream stacked up once she'd already sailed the newer ships A port-heavy European itinerary hitting Cagliari, Naples, Civitavecchia, and Livorno in four straight days The Rome transportation mishap that cost the family their Colosseum tour How dining times, crowd patterns, and daily rhythm shift on a European Disney Cruise Line sailing A dining service mix-up neither Sam nor Brian had heard of before Her honest take on whether she'd combine a cruise and a European vacation again "Now that I've gone on Disney, I feel like I can't go back." Support the Show: Book your next Disney vacation with our show sponsor - We Do Travel Right! Life is short, take the trip. Let the agents at We Do Travel Right handle the planning so you can focus on relaxing. We Do Travel Right Subscribe to the DCL Magazine today! Use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off everything in the WDW Magazine store. DCL Magazine Support the show by becoming a Patron! Join us over at Patreon (Patreon). Your support each month allows us to keep putting out great content each and every week. Thanks to our current patrons for their support. Join today! You can subscribe for one annual discounted payment today. Stay Connected with the DCL Duo: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group We're Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot: Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12) The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

    Ep. 693 - Should Your Next Disney Cruise Be in Europe? One Family Says...

  7. Aug 23

    Ep. 692 - First Time on Disney Cruise Line: Cruising the Treasure With a 7-Month-Old

    Soshian and his wife brought their 7-month-old daughter on their very first Disney Cruise Line sailing — a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Disney Treasure with his sister's family in tow — and by the end of the week he was already plotting how to stay longer. He came in worried there wouldn't be enough to do. He left wishing he'd booked more days. In this episode: Soshian and his wife's full packing and planning strategy for a 7-night sailing with a 7-month-old The "linked reservations" trick that got them added onto a sold-out Palo Brunch once on board Why booking nursery hours around show times on embarkation day is one of the smartest first-timer moves you can make His honest breakdown of all three rotational restaurants and all three main stage shows What happened when his one-year-old nephew became "cruise famous" at Jack-Jack's Diaper Dash Why Castaway Cay ended up as his favorite port, hands down "I lived in New York for a while and enjoy Broadway shows... I'd say those two were probably comparable if not better than some of the Broadway shows I saw for sure." Support the Show: Book your next Disney vacation with our show sponsor - We Do Travel Right! Life is short, take the trip. Let the agents at We Do Travel Right handle the planning so you can focus on relaxing. Subscribe to the DCL Magazine today! Use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off everything in the WDW Magazine store. Support the show by becoming a Patron! Join us over at Patreon. Your support each month allows us to keep putting out great content each and every week. Thanks to our current patrons for their support. Join today! You can subscribe for one annual discounted payment today. Stay Connected with the DCL Duo: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group We're Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot: Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12) The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

    Ep. 692 - First Time on Disney Cruise Line: Cruising the Treasure With a 7-Month-Old

  8. Aug 21 ·  Bonus

    Ep. 691 - Live Bonus Show - Is Norwegian Cruise Line Actually Cheaper — and Worth It?

    Sara's back — and this time she's bringing receipts. After sailing Disney Cruise Line three times, she just got off a Caribbean sailing on Norwegian's Prima, and she breaks down exactly how it stacked up: the price, the food, the kids club, and whether "half the cost" really means half the experience. In this episode: Why Sara chose Norwegian this time, including the personal reason behind the trip A real comparison of dining, entertainment, staterooms, and service between NCL and DCL The upcharges that added up fast, and where Norwegian still came out ahead on value Her kids' surprising reaction to Norwegian's un-themed kids club Plus this week's D23 Disney Cruise Line news and the debate over the Disney Believe's stern lettering There is something that feels so safe and so comfortable and so much like home for me when I'm on a Disney ship, but at the end of the day, I would still choose Disney. — Sara Support the Show: Support the show by booking your next Disney vacation with our sponsor, We Do Travel Right! Life is short, take the trip. Let the agents at We Do Travel Right handle the planning so you can focus on relaxing. Check out DCL Magazine for your ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line tips and tricks, and use promo code DCLDUO for 10% off at the WDW Magazine store. Support the show by becoming a Patron! Join us over at Patreon. Your support each month allows us to keep putting out great content each and every week. Thanks to our current patrons for their support. Join today! You can subscribe for one annual discounted payment today. Stay Connected with the DCL Duo: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group We're Ranked as a Top Podcast by Feedspot: Top 30 Disney Cruise Line Podcasts (#1) | Top 20 Cruise Podcasts (#2) | Top Disney Podcasts (#4) | Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencers (#12) The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

    Ep. 691 - Live Bonus Show - Is Norwegian Cruise Line Actually Cheaper — and Worth It?
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About

DCL Duo is the #1 Disney Cruise Line podcast — your go-to resource for Disney Cruise Line tips, trip planning advice, honest ship reviews, and insider secrets from two of the most experienced DCL fans in the community. Hosted by Brian Flock and Samantha Kanner (Pearl Castaways with 35+ sailings), DCL Duo covers everything you need to know about sailing with Disney Cruise Line — from choosing the right ship and itinerary, to navigating concierge service, dining reservations, port adventures, onboard activities, and the newest ships like the Disney Treasure and Disney Adventure. Whether you're a first-time Disney cruiser or a seasoned DCL veteran, we help you make the most of every sailing. With 650+ episodes and over 1.1 million downloads, DCL Duo is the most trusted voice in the Disney Cruise Line community. We go beyond the glossy brochure with in-depth reviews, candid guest interviews, real listener questions, and the kind of detail that actually helps you plan — from what to pack to which dining experiences are worth every penny. And, we are *not* travel agents! What you'll find on DCL Duo: - Disney Cruise Line ship reviews (Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny, Disney Adventure, Disney Believe, and beyond.) - Disney Cruise Line itinerary planning — Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Bahamas, and more - Concierge and Castaway Club tips for every level - Adventures by Disney travel, Disney Vacation Club, and onboard dining deep dives - Port of call guides and private excursion recommendations - New ship news, DCL announcements, and Walt Disney World sailings Ranked by Feedspot as the #1 Disney Cruise Line Podcast, #2 Cruise Podcast, #4 Disney Podcast, and a Top 20 Disney Cruise Line Influencer — DCL Duo is where the Disney cruise community comes to plan smarter and sail better. New episodes drop 2-3x a week. Subscribe now and never miss a sailing. The views expressed in this podcast are our own and do not reflect the views of the Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line, or any other travel provider discussed or mentioned.

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