Galactic Starcruiser to take final voyage

The closure doesn’t come as a huge surprise, as the company was reportedly struggling to fill rooms at the expensive resort, recently offering 30 percent off on select bookings for company employees, Disney World annual passholders, Disney Vacation Club members and Disney Visa card holders. Disney also offered significant discounts if you booked a stay at select Disney hotels as a package with a voyage on the Galactic Starcruiser.

In a statement, Disney chalked the experience’s brief lifespan up to a learning experience.

“This premium, boutique experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms, and, as we prepare for its final voyage, we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans,” the company said.

What is Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser?

The two-day, two-night experience is best described as a cruise that doesn’t actually go anywhere, where guests onboard all have access to the same amenities and activities, but every person gets a personal, curated experience that makes them an integral part of a story set in the “Star Wars” universe.

Comparing Galactic Starcruiser to a hotel — as some online have — is like comparing a swimming pool to the Gulf of Mexico. From the moment you step onboard the Halcyon — the starship on which the whole experience takes place — you’re truly immersed in the legend, lore and fun of “Star Wars.”

While many aficionados can only dream of aligning themselves with their favorite factions, be they on the Light or Dark side of the Force, and helping them accomplish missions, the imposing issue for many people was the price of a stay on Disney World’s Galactic Starcruiser. Rates for two people in a standard cabin started at $4,809, and go up to $5,999 if you opted for a standard cabin with three adults and one child. Because the cost was so high, many people were curious if the experience could possibly be worth the price.

If you’d been thinking about booking a voyage on “Star Wars”: Galactic Starcruiser, the time to do so is obviously now. Keep reading to find out more about the experience, including tips to help you determine if you should finally book that voyage before it’s docked for good.

What’s included in the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser price?

From the moment you leave your car with the valet to the moment you return to your vehicle at the end of your voyage, you’re immersed in storytelling and live-action role-playing. Guests participate in activities like lightsaber training, bridge training and missions that involve the onboard characters and move their stories forward throughout the trip.

Among the inhabitants are original characters that were created just for the experience, like Capt. Riyola Keevan and the droid SK-620. There’s also Sammie, the Halcyon’s mechanic, and Lenka Mok, the cruise director. First Order Lt. Harman Croy is also aboard the ship to observe the happenings. And, no cruise is complete without live music. Galactic Starcruiser features live performances from galactic pop star Gaya and her accompanist,  Ouannii.

All the meals served onboard Galactic Starcruiser and one meal at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are included with the cost of the trip. The only thing not covered in the overall cost of the trip are specialty nonalcoholic drinks and cocktails. Meals on the Halcyon are served inside the Crown of Corellia dining room. At breakfast and lunch, guests could create their own bento box-style tray of pre-arranged dishes, all themed to fit the story, of course.

Dinners are served as table-service meals, where a server takes your order from a selection of dishes that feel unusual yet familiar. A few menu options that got a lot of buzz included shrimp cocktail served with blue shrimp, a sci-fi take on pimento cheese spread and filled spiral dumplings. In the atrium and the Sublight Lounge, guests find snacks available throughout the day.

Just like on an ocean cruise, each voyage on “Star Wars”: Galactic Starcruiser includes a port day. The time is spent at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, aka the planet Batuu, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From the Halcyon, guests will board an in-theme private transfer that takes everyone right to the heart of Batuu.

Guests are encouraged to ride both Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, even if they’ve done the attractions before, since both attractions align with the role-playing and storytelling aspects of the Galactic Starcruiser experience. Galactic Starcruiser guests also get a lunch credit for a meal at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo in Galaxy’s Edge.

What add-ons does Galactic Starcruiser offer?

While the base experience on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser includes plenty, there are also add-ons that can make the trip even more memorable (and expensive). The Halcyon has an onboard merchandise shop that sells costumes, trading pins and more items that will now undoubtedly appeal to collectors. Guests can also book a private photo session with Disney PhotoPass while onboard Galactic Starcruiser. The 30-minute session also includes downloads of the photos.

Those who want to have a drink at Oga’s Cantina while stopping at Galaxy’s Edge can do so by making reservations through their Galactic Starcruiser specialist. The specialists can also book times to build a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop or a droid at the Droid Depot, all at an extra cost.

Is Galactic Starcruiser worth the cost? It depends.

Because Galactic Starcruiser encourages guests to dig in and interact with its characters, storyline and other guests, the perceived value of the trip may not be known until you actually get into the action. Depending on how much you are willing to suspend your disbelief and participate in the experience, your perceived value can vary greatly. Guests on Galactic Starcruiser are always busy doing something, whether it’s taking the missions that pop up on the Disney World app, spending time with the characters or dining on spiral dumplings while Gaya performs in the dining room.

If you’re the type of person who wants a relaxing vacation that doesn’t involve much more than sipping space martinis and playing games of Sabacc in the Sublight Lounge, you will likely feel overwhelmed by the experience.

For “Star Wars” fans who have long dreamed of an opportunity to dress up, play and be part of the action of a themed adventure, the high cost will likely be worth it — especially now that it’s closing. Adults traveling without kids may find the experience worth the cost, too, especially since they can take the voyage at the lowest rate. For the average family, however, with only a passing interest in “Star Wars,” the price is steep, especially since it doesn’t include airfare or ground transportation.

If you decide to book a place on one of the final voyages of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, know that you will be part of a very small group of Disney fans who got to experience everything that the Halcyon has to offer, and play a role in what Disney has called “one of our most creative projects ever.”

This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at [email protected].