I knew a Disney cruise would be unlike any other the moment I first stepped onto the ship in Port Canaveral, Florida. Mickey and Minnie Mouse waved us on board as the ship’s horn blasted the first seven notes of When You Wish Upon a Star, signalling our departure. With themed dining, characters at every turn and extensive entertainment on offer, Disney Cruise Line brings all the magic of its theme parks to the sea. The fleet now includes five ships — with a sixth due in late 2024 — offering itineraries across the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska and Australia, including several that call at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. Here is your guide to each ship to help choose the right one for your family.
1. Disney Wish
Best for fans of Frozen
Launched in 2022, Disney’s newest ship has modernised the cruise line with its swish top-level suites themed on princess movies and immersive dining experiences. There is also a thrilling ride through 230m of winding tubes that culminates with a splash into a lazy river. The ship is also a must-book for any devoted fans of Elsa as it includes the world’s first Frozen-themed theatrical dining experience featuring musical performances, special effects and interactions with the film’s characters. Disney Wish is also the only ship to offer under-12s the chance to share a picnic with Olaf and his Frozen friends, while the on-board kids’ club hosts even more Frozen-themed games in specially designed rooms. Those less keen on princesses won’t miss out. Guests can dine alongside Ant-Man and the Wasp at the Avengers: Quantum Core restaurant, watch new films in two cinemas or cool off in ten pools and water play areas inspired by Mickey and friends.
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2. Disney Wonder
Best for Alaskan sailings
Fancy spotting glaciers, whales and forests rather than white-sand beaches and palm trees? Then you’ll love Disney Wonder, which offers Alaskan itineraries throughout the summer and was also Disney Cruise Line’s first ship to sail in Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Ships sail from Vancouver and cruise along the Stikine Icecap against a dramatic backdrop of snow-capped mountains, waterfalls and glaciers before dropping anchor in ports including Ketchikan and Alaska’s state capital Juneau. The ship itself is a little smaller than most of the fleet — carrying up to 2,713 passengers rather than 4,000 — making it a little less overwhelming for first-time cruisers. It has all the usual DCL touches though, including handy rotational dining which ensures every guest is automatically allocated a spot in each of three themed dining venues on board so no one misses out. You’ll even have the same waiting staff each night. Reservations include Disney Wonder’s two exclusive restaurants, Triton for French fine dining and the lively Tiana’s Palace with its live jazz music, Creole dishes and characters from The Princess and the Frog.
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3. Disney Fantasy
Best for longer Caribbean itineraries
Disney Cruise Line is known for its handy three-night itineraries in the Caribbean and Bahamas, ideal if you’re trying cruising for the first time with kids or relaxing after Florida’s theme parks. If a little more R&R is needed, opt for a sailing on the Disney Fantasy which offers five, six, seven and ten-night Caribbean cruises for extended relaxation. Fancy a little more excitement? Optional shore excursions include all-terrain buggy rides in Cozumel, Mexico; ziplining in Antigua; and even flyboarding in St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. All itineraries also call at Disney’s own private island, Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, with its white-sand beach, water sports, snorkelling lagoon with underwater Disney trail and character appearances (in beach gear, naturally). Tear yourself away from the sunlounger if you can and hire a bike — the flat, easy cycle path winds through the jungle to a lookout tower for panoramic views of the Caribbean and your ship in the distance.
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4. Disney Magic
Best for first-time cruisers
Mammoth cruise ships can be intimidating even for regular cruisers. DCL’s first-ever ship, the Disney Magic, is hardly small by anyone’s reckoning but, like the Disney Wonder, carries 2,713 passengers compared to 4,000 on others in the fleet. There may be fewer decks to navigate but Disney Magic still has plenty the other ships don’t, including one of the cruise line’s best water slides, AquaDunk, where the floor disappears to reveal an exhilarating near-vertical three-storey drop. Just be aware that children need to be at least 1.22m (4ft) to ride, though there is a second gentler slide to keep everyone happy. Elsewhere on Disney Magic, princess fans will be thrilled to watch an exclusive performance of Tangled: The Musical at the on-board theatre before dining at Rapunzel’s Royal Table with its character appearances, musical performances and elaborate desserts including birthday cupcake sundae and Gothel black forest tower.
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5. Disney Treasure
Best for future planning
Be one of the first to sail on Disney Cruise Line’s new ship by booking ahead for December 2024, when Disney Treasure will set sail on seven-night Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral. The 15-deck ship will feature a Broadway-style musical based on the blockbuster Moana, a water-coaster and a theatrical Coco-themed dining experience featuring mariachi musicians and characters from the film. Adults won’t be left out either. They can try cocktails at a lounge inspired by Disney’s Jungle Cruise attraction, visit a pub serving craft beers based on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or even brave the Haunted Mansion Parlor, a “haunted” bar at sea. Staterooms available include lavish suites, inspired by The Lion King and Finding Nemo, with forward-facing views and one palatial option perched high in the ship’s forward funnel with a private elevator, spiral staircase and library.
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6. Disney Dream
Best for European sailings
There’s no longer any need to endure a long-haul flight to set sail with Mickey. Disney Dream launched European itineraries in summer 2023, with voyages from Civitavecchia (Rome), Barcelona and Southampton. Destinations along the way include the medieval port of La Rochelle in France, the fjord-flanked fishing town of Alesund in Norway, and the hip Spanish city of Bilbao with its tiny pintxos bars, walkable old town and Guggenheim Museum. Back on board, there’s plenty to entertain the family including an elaborate sweet shop, Goofy-themed mini-golf, basketball courts and a poolside big screen showing Disney films all day. Mini-Disney lovers get nearly an entire deck of dedicated children’s space to roam, including a vast kids’ club where Star Wars fans can pilot a life-sized Millennium Falcon and a beauty salon for makeovers to transform children into princesses and knights. But it’s the AquaDuck water-coaster that’s the biggest draw, as riders are whizzed down a four-deck drop and 13ft off the side of the ship on an inflatable raft.
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