Yes, every child’s favorite holiday is a real (ahem) treat on Disney ships. On board, kids and grown-ups alike really put a lot of effort into the costumes, and the whole ship is decked out with pumpkins, jack-'o-lanterns, and other symbols of fall. There’s a haunted story hour, trick or treating at the shops, a costume dance party, and photos with Mickey and Minnie (who, of course, have costumes of their own). There’s even holiday-themed Disney merchandise — with plenty of orange and pumpkin patterns — in the gift shops.

Favorite Feature: Best of all, many of the guests on board our Halloween cruise brought candy and things to hook on to their doors so that passengers could trick or treat at cabins as they wandered down the hallways.

Of course, you’ll get the full holiday meal with turkey and all the trimmings, but that’s not all. In addition, key characters — such as Mickey and Minnie — will be in themed costumes. If anyone in your gang is the type of football fan who can’t imagine pumpkin pie without touchdowns and field goals, there’s no reason to worry that they’ll miss the big game. Disney shows the games on a satellite feed in their sports bars and pubs on board.

Favorite Feature: At the end of the evening, you’ll return to your cabin to find towel animals shaped like — you guessed it — turkeys.

During the months of November and December, all four Disney ships are “decked” out for special holiday “Very Merry Time” cruises with garlands, live poinsettia plants, a giant gingerbread house, and twinkling lights. There are also games of Candy Cane Limbo during the holiday sail-away parties and a tree lighting ceremony to celebrate the arrival of the 24-foot-tall Christmas tree at the beginning of the yuletide season. And you don’t need to wait until you get home to have the kids’ pictures taken with Santa Claus — you’ll get better shots on board than your local mall offers. Plus, in the evening, Mrs. Claus reads stories to children from her rocking chair beside the big beautiful tree.

Favorite Feature: Castaway Cay, Disney’s private Bahamian island, is transformed during the holidays into a tropical “winter wonderland,” with snow "flurries,” a Christmas tree, and photo ops with Mr. and Mrs. Snowman. The island’s tram is also decked out as a reindeer with antlers and a tail.

While November and December feature Christmas-themed activities throughout the month, sailings that take place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have additional festivities. Look for special Noel-themed towel animals (reindeer, anyone?), holiday cookies on Christmas Eve, a proper Christmas dinner, and caroling with the crew and other passengers around the towering Christmas tree.

Favorite Feature: More religious guests don’t have to worry about missing Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services — Disney offers both.

Want to ring in the New Year with the whole family? After a celebratory New Year’s Eve dinner, you’ll find Disney’s New Year’s Eve deck party is fun and festive, with hats, horns, dancing, and fireworks, as well as photo ops with characters in their holiday-themed attire.

Favorite Feature: Teens and tweens get their own private — and age appropriate — celebrations.

We’ve found the week after Labor Day and the week after New Year’s are great times to cruise if you’re looking for fewer children on board.

Favorite Feature: Since the kids who are on board tend to be too young to go to school yet, evenings are quieter as parents put their little ones to bed. Even bars and restaurants are just a little less crowded than usual.

On special longer sailings, Disney offers "Frozen," Marvel, and "Star Wars" Day at Sea with special activities for fans, from costume parties on deck to additional meet-and-greet moments and themed trivia games and activities. There’s also screenings of related movies in the theater and TV shows on deck throughout the sailing.

Favorite Feature: The newest of these — the Marvel Day at Sea —  debuts in fall 2017 with an onboard comic library and even character drawing classes so you can try your hand at creating your own heroes and villains.