Is Palo Worth Paying Extra For? Our Disney Cruise Line Palo Comparison
We've now eaten at Palo on three Disney Cruise Line ships: Adventure, Dream and Wonder. While the restaurant has the same basic premise across the fleet, the experience isn't identical.
So, is Palo actually worth paying extra for?
After all, there is so much included already in a Disney Cruise. The rotational dining in themed restaurants. The quick service joints that have everything from burgers, pizzas and tacos to fresh salads and bowls. The buffet options at Cabanas or Marceline Market.
We've compared our experiences across the three ships across three continents: the food and service, the setting, atmosphere and overall experience. Is what you're really getting worth the additional cost?
What is Palo?
Palo is the speciality dining restaurant you will find on every Disney Cruise ship to date. Why Italy? Well, the first Disney ships were built in the Fincantieri shipyards near Venice. (The name Palo is Italian for “pole”, inspired by the gondolas of Venice.) It’s a premium, extra-cost restaurant that is open for dinner and brunch. It requires advance reservation via the Disney Navigator app, and most sittings book out in advance of sailings. Some bookings may be available on boarding.
See also: There are other speciality restaurants on the ships, including the French-inspired Remy on the Dream and Fantasy, Enchanté on the Wish-class ships and Mike & Sulley’s - Flavours of Asia on the Adventure.
Palo Trattoria on the Adventure
Palo Trattoria isn't just a new location for the same restaurant. Its Luca theming, two-level layout, older kid-friendly dining and Palo Café make it a notably different proposition from Palo on the Dream and Wonder. The theming is impeccable, with little stars, a more obvious Moon Easter Egg and character references worked into the carpet. Massive windows look out over the South China Sea, while an open pizza kitchen sits at one end of the ground floor.
The food is broadly comparable to the other ships, with Italian favourites at dinner and a mix of eggs, waffles, pancakes, pizza and pasta at brunch. Service was fast and friendly, and we quickly settled into old routines.
It's also the only Palo that isn't adults-only: since mid-2026, sailors as young as 10 have been allowed in with adult supervision. The Adventure is also home to the all-ages Palo Café, offering desserts and other food from the Palo menu without a booking.
Palo on the Disney Adventure is split over two decks and based on the film Luca.
Palo on the Dream
Upscale, Italian and sitting at the heart of a multi-restaurant precinct that includes Remy and the bar-slash-waiting area Meridian. The Disney Dream’s Palo is about as classic an experience as they come.
Sailing around Italy and the Mediterranean, we wondered if it was too cheesy eating at a ‘faux’ Italian restaurant when the ‘real thing’ was right there on land. But there’s nothing faux about the food, and the wild mushroom ravioli — paired with Meyer lemon, nut brown butter, and toasted pine nuts — remains our personal favourite dish at sea. We dream about it sometimes.
This was the ship that we first got to try the fan-favourite grape and gorgonzola pizza. Where one of us celebrated a birthday, so they brought out a special surprise. Suffice it to say, this was a brunch where they had to roll us home afterwards.
The woody, decorative style of Palo on the Disney Dream.
Palo on the Wonder
The Wonder was our first and most frequently sailed Disney ship. As such, it’s the Palo we’ve been to the most and may always be our sentimental favourite. Even before you enter the restaurant, the ceiling of the lift lobby has little pointed decorations representing the poles of Venice, as if we’re right there in the canals.
While this is one of the earliest Palos in the fleet, the 2016 refit gave it a Venetian overhaul. The decor is both timeless and modern, with authentic Venetian costume masks lining the walls. Windows wrap around the aft-facing exterior, offering the chance to watch the sunset if you book at the right time. In fact, on one sailing, our server held our food and suggested we step outside to take some photos before we lost the sun.
We’ve dined here for prima notte dinner, multiple brunches and the (not so) secret ‘dessert only’ sitting, where we followed our rotational dining with the divine soufflé and drinks. It’s a less expensive way of enjoying Palo while still getting the same premium service.
The classic Palo experience on the Disney Wonder.
What's different about Palo on each ship?
Adventure vs. Dream vs. Wonder
🍴 Brunch and dinner
🍴 Inspired by Luca
🍴 2 floors of seating
🍴 Ages 10+ allowed
🍴 Dress code for dinner
🍴 Palo Café - separate, no booking required
🍴 Brunch and dinner
🍴 Italian theme
🍴 Dress code for dinner
🍴 Adults only (18+)
🍴 Brunch and dinner
🍴 Italian theme
🍴 Dress code for dinner
🍴 Adults only (18+)
Are dietary adjustments possible at Palo?
Absolutely. Vegetarian, gluten-free, allergy awareness and more are all well understood by the ship’s staff and chefs. We are both vegetarian and have some other allergies thrown in just for fun. (Isn’t the human body great?)
We have never walked away from Palo with empty stomachs. Quite the opposite, in fact: when we let our server know about our dietary requirements, we’ve often received extra plates of pasta or cheese platters. Just because.
How much does Palo cost?
Palo is currently $55 USD per person for brunch and pre fixe (fixed menu) dinner. Some sailings, such at the Australian/New Zealand sailings, have been known to charge more.
You can also order à la carte (off the menu) if you prefer. Dishes range between $8 and $30 USD for the most part, but premium steaks can be up to $78 USD. As vegetarians, this has never come up for us, and the inclusion have been more than enough for us.
A welcome drink is usually included but alcohol and other non-included drinks are an extra charge. After all, what is a brunch without a mimosa or prosecco? We always tip extra at Palo because service is universally impeccable.
NB: Prices regularly change. Platinum Castaway Club members and above currently receive one Palo dinner included per cabin per cruise. Reservations are still required.
Palo Quick Tips
- Missed out on a booking? Check with Guest/Dining Services when boarding. There's often a dedicated table on boarding day.
- Brunch is only on sea days: On shorter or port-heavy cruises, these will book up fast.
- Dessert-only option: You can book just for dessert, with shorter dining times that can be fitted around your rotational dining.
- Order the soufflé: It takes time to prepare, so order it at the start of the meal. Trust us: it's worth it.
- One booking per type: You can book one brunch and one dinner per cruise, but no more than one of each.
- Secret menus: Some items aren't on the menu. Ask if the grape and Gorgonzola pizza is available.
Is Palo worth the extra money?
For us, absolutely yes. We won’t book it on every cruise, because let’s face it: we’re already paying a premium for a Disney Cruise. We’ve celebrated New Years Eve, the special ‘Prima notte’ first night meal, birthdays and ‘just becauses’ at Palo. It’s a special treat that makes a special cruise a little bit more special.
Palo is probably worth it if you want one genuinely special meal during your cruise, you're celebrating something you enjoy, or you're interested in trying Disney's premium dining and you've already done the standard rotational dining experience.
You might want to skip Palo if you're trying to keep your cruise costs down, you don't particularly care about premium dining, you prefer the included restaurants, you're on a shorter sailing where you don't want to sacrifice rotational dining or you don’t like dining without your kiddos.
