Choosing Your Disney Cruise Vacation: What You Need to Know about Disney Cruise Ships-Part One

Since its launch in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has established itself as a leader in the cruise industry, providing a setting where families can reconnect, adults can recharge, and children can experience all Disney has to offer. We’ve been fortunate to sail on almost every Disney ship (we just need the Wonder) and have come to love Disney Cruise Line vacations. Each ship offers its own special magic, and with so many to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for your family. We’ve compiled an overview of each ship so you can better understand your options when booking a Disney Cruise Line vacation. Learn more below.

1 – Disney Cruise Line Ships

You’ll quickly notice that while each ship has its own character and exclusive offerings, all Disney Cruise Line ships offer a wide variety of spaces and activities for guests of all ages. Almost an entire deck is dedicated to children, with activities and programs for kids ages 3-17. It’s A Small World Nursery is a full-service nursery for children ages 6 months to 3 years, and there are special clubs tailor-made for tweens and teens. Adults can relax at the Senses Spa & Salon and the adult-only pool area, enjoy fine Italian and French dining, and relax or dance the night away in a variety of adult-exclusive bars and lounges.

Family entertainment offerings include Broadway-style stage spectaculars, deck parties, and more. Pool decks have separate areas for children, families, and adults. The staterooms on board are built with families in mind and feature upscale amenities. Most rooms include Disney Cruise Line’s signature split-bath concept. Each ship offers differently-themed staterooms with custom artwork and spacious, comfortable, and functional rooms that meet the needs of families.

As we review each ship, we mention the maiden voyage dates. Do not be put off if you see a ship that is over twenty-five years old like the Magic and the Wonder. We sailed on the Disney Magic as recently as June 2024 and can assure you she does not show her age. Disney has done a fantastic job keeping the ship looking fantastic, with regular refurbishments and modernization. The only thing we’ll say about the ship’s age is that as time has passed, Disney has had time to listen to feedback on the ship’s design and what guests prefer. When the Disney Wish debuted in 2022, we felt that the cruise line had turned the corner and designed ship spaces so well. The flow of the ship is better, and the adult spaces are not tucked away as an afterthought.

One final thought here is sister ships. The Dream and the Wonder are sister ships, as are the Dream and Fantasy. The Wish, Treasure, and Destiny are also sister ships. That means Disney takes the structural bones of the first ship, copies it, and then incorporates different theming to make each ship unique. So, if you went on the Disney Dream and then the Disney Fantasy, structurally, they are copies, and everything is in the same place. So, sister ships offer the same things, just themed and designed differently.

2 – Disney Magic (1998)

Maiden Voyage: July 30, 1998

Homeport: Varies by season

Sister ship: Disney Wonder

Disney Cruise Line’s first vessel to hit the high seas, the Disney Magic, set the precedent for a fleet designed with families in mind. Signature offerings include rotational dining, Broadway-style shows, themed dining, character encounters, and fireworks at sea. With plenty of activities for families, kids, and adults, guests feel the Disney ‘magic’ every second of their cruise vacation.

Passenger Decks      11

Capacity                     2,713 passengers

Staterooms                875

• 262 Inside Staterooms (30 percent)
• 613 Outside Staterooms (70 percent)
  • 229 ocean view
  • 384 verandah (includes 22 suites)

Main Public Areas

• Atrium Lobby – Deck 3 (atrium spans three decks)
• Walt Disney Theatre – Deck 4
• Buena Vista Theatre – Deck 5
• Preludes theatre concessions – Deck 4
• Shutters photo gallery – Deck 4
• Guest Services – Deck 3
• Port Adventures – Deck 3

Family Areas

• D Lounge – Deck 4
• Wide World of Sports deck – Deck 10
• AquaDunk – Deck 13 launch
• Goofy’s Pool family pool – Deck 9
• AquaLab – Deck 9
• Nephews’ Splash Zone – Deck 9

Shopping

• Sea Treasures retail shop – Deck 3
• Mickey’s Mainsail, White Caps retail shops – Deck 4
• Quack’s retail shop – Deck 9

Salons & Spa’s

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – Deck 10
• Senses Spa & Salon – Deck 9
• Chill Spa for teens at Senses Spa & Salon – Deck 9

Youth Areas

• It’s a Small World Nursery – Deck 5
• Disney’s Oceaneer Club – Deck 5
• Disney’s Oceaneer Lab – Deck 5
• Vibe Teen Club – Deck 11
• Edge Tween Club – Deck 9

Adult Areas

• After Hours – Deck 3
  • O’Gills Pub
  • Fathoms
  • Keys
• Quiet Cove Pool – Deck 9
• Cove Café – Deck 9
• Signals – Deck 9
• Promenade Lounge – Deck 3

Dining

• Rapunzel’s Royal Table main dining – Deck 3
• Animator’s Palate main dining – Deck 4
• Lumiere’s main dining – Deck 3
• Palo adult-exclusive specialty dining – Deck 10
• Cabanas casual dining – Deck 9
• Duck-In Diner, Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, and Daisy’s De-Lites quick service – Deck 9

Broadway-style Stage Shows at the Walt Disney Theater

• “Tangled: the Musical” (exclusive to the Disney Magic)
• “Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story”
• “Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic”

Destinations

For the first three months of 2025, the Disney Magic will sail to Progreso and Cozumel in Mexico and Grand Cayman from Galveston, Texas. In April, the ship will set sail on a special seven-night cruise from the Lone Star State to San Juan, Puerto Rico, that will stop at both of Disney’s island destinations before returning to the Sunshine State for a series of three- to four-night sailings from Fort Lauderdale. The Disney Magic will homeport in Port Canaveral in the summer of 2025 for the first time since the summer of 2016, taking guests on four- and five-night sailings to The Bahamas and both of Disney’s island destinations.

3 – Disney Wonder (1999)

Maiden Voyage: August 15, 1999

Homeport: Varies by season

Sister ship: Disney Magic

The Disney Wonder allows families to set sail on one-of-a-kind itineraries all over the world, with signature Disney Cruise Line offerings such as rotational dining, Broadway-style shows, themed dining, character encounters, and fireworks at sea. With imaginative spaces specially designed for families, kids, and adults, guests will feel the wonder of a child, no matter their age.

Passenger Decks      11

Capacity                     2,713 passengers

Staterooms                875

• 262 Inside Staterooms (30 percent)
• 613 Outside Staterooms (70 percent)
  • 229 ocean view
  • 384 verandah (includes 22 suites)

Main Public Areas

• Atrium Lobby – Deck 3 (atrium spans three decks)
• Walt Disney Theatre – Deck 4
• Buena Vista Theatre – Deck 5
• Preludes theatre concessions – Deck 4
• Shutters (Capturing Memories) photo gallery – Deck 4
• Guest Services – Deck 3
• Port Adventures – Deck 3

Family Areas

• D Lounge – Deck 4
• Wide World of Sports deck – Deck 10
• Twist ‘n’ Spout water slide – Deck 9
• AquaLab interactive play area – Deck 9
• Goofy’s Pool family pool – Deck 9
• Mickey’s Pool children’s pool – Deck 9
• Dory’s Reef splash zone– Deck 9
• Edge – Deck 9

Shopping

• Sea Treasures retail shop – Deck 3
• White Caps, Mickey’s Mainsail retail shops – Deck 4

Salons & Spa’s

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – Deck 10
• Senses Spa & Salon – Deck 9

Youth Areas

• It’s a Small World Nursery– Deck 5
• Disney’s Oceaneer Club – Deck 5
• Disney’s Oceaneer Lab – Deck 5
• Vibe Teen Club – Deck 11
• Edge Tween Club – Deck 2

Adult Areas

• Promenade Lounge – Deck 3
• After Hours – Deck 3
  • Crown & Fin Pub
  • Azure
  • Cadillac Lounge
• Quiet Cove Pool – Deck 9
• Cove Café – Deck 9
• Signals – Deck 9
• French Quarter Lounge – Deck 3

Dining

• Tiana’s Place main dining – Deck 3
• Animator’s Palate main dining – Deck 4
• Triton’s main dining – Deck 3
• Palo adult-exclusive fine dining (120 capacity) – Deck 10
• Cabanas casual dining – Deck 9
• Pete’s Boiler Bites, Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, Daisy De-Lites quick service – Deck 9

Broadway-style Stage Shows at the Walt Disney Theater

• “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular”
• “Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic”
• “The Golden Mickey’s”

Destinations

The Disney Wonder sails a number of unique itineraries all over the world, including exciting voyages to Alaska, Mexico, the Hawaiian islands, Australia and New Zealand. The Disney Wonder will conclude its second season in Australia and New Zealand in early 2025. It will once again embark on adventures to Alaska from Vancouver, Canada, with five-, seven-, eight- and nine-night sailings from May to September 2025. Tropical itineraries await with sailings from the Pacific Coast and Gulf of Mexico in late 2025 and early 2026, and a third season of voyages will embark across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific on the Disney Wonder from October 2025 to February 2026.

4 – Disney Dream (2011)

Maiden Voyage: January 26, 2011

Homeport: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Sister ship: Disney Fantasy

Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream has the perfect recipe for a dream-y family vacation, with immersive spaces perfectly designed for families, kids and adults. From Broadway-style shows to themed dining and fun-filled itineraries, families are met with Disney magic every step of the way and left with memories that last a lifetime.

Passenger Decks        14

Capacity                     4,000 passengers

Staterooms                 1,250

• 150 Inside Staterooms (12%)
• 1,100 Outside Staterooms (88%)
  • 199 ocean view
  • 901 verandah (includes 21 suites)

Main Public Areas 

• Atrium Lobby – Deck 3
• Walt Disney Theatre – Decks 3 and 4
• Buena Vista Theatre – Decks 4 and 5
• Preludes theatre concessions – Deck 3
• Shutters (Capturing Memories) photo gallery – Deck 4
• Disney Vacation Planning Center – Deck 5
• Guest Services – Deck 3
• Port Adventures – Deck 5

Family Areas

• D Lounge – Deck 4
• AquaDuck water coaster – entrance on Deck 12
• Goofy’s Sports Deck – Deck 13
• Donald’s Pool family pool – Deck 11
• Mickey’s Pool children’s pool – Deck 11
• Nemo’s Reef water-play area – Deck 11

Shopping

• Mickey’s Mainsail retail shop – Deck 3
• Sea Treasures retail shop – Deck 3
• White Caps retail shop – Deck 3
• Vista Gallery art gallery – Deck 4
• Whozits & Whatzits retail shop – Deck 11

Salons & Spa’s

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – Deck 5
• Senses Spa & Salon – Deck 11

Youth Areas

• it’s a small world nursery – Deck 5
• Disney’s Oceaneer Club – Deck 5
• Disney’s Oceaneer Lab – Deck 5
• Vibe Teen Club – Deck 5
• Edge Tween Club – Deck 13

Adult Areas

• The District – Deck 4
  • Skyline bar
  • Pink: Wine and Champagne Bar
  • Evolution night club
  • Pub 687
  • District Lounge
• Senses Juice Bar – Deck 11
• Quiet Cove Pool – Deck 11
• Cove Bar – Deck 11
• Cove Café – Deck 11
• Meridian bar – Deck 12
• Waves bar – Deck 12
• Currents bar – Deck 13
• Satellite Sun Deck – Deck 13

Dining

• Enchanted Garden main dining – Deck 2
• Animator’s Palate main dining – Deck 3
• Royal Palace main dining – Deck 3
• Vista Café – Deck 4
• Remy adult-exclusive fine dining – Deck 12
• Palo adult-exclusive fine dining – Deck 12
• Cabanas casual dining – Deck 11
• Flo’s Café: Luigi’s Pizza, Tow Mater’s Grill, Fillmore’s Favorites quick service – Deck 11
• Eye Scream ice cream – Deck 11
• Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats – Deck 11
• Frozone Treats smoothies – Deck 11

Broadway-style Stage Shows at the Walt Disney Theater

• “Beauty and the Beast” (exclusive to the Disney Dream)
• “Disney’s Believe”
• “The Golden Mickey’s”

Destinations

The Disney Dream sails from Fort Lauderdale on three- to five-night sailings to one or both of Disney’s magical island destinations along with Nassau or Cozumel.

5 – Disney Fantasy (2012)

Maiden Voyage: March 31, 2012

Homeport: Varies by season

Sister Ship: Disney Dream

The Disney Fantasy lives up to its name, bringing Disney fantasies to life with entertainment and dining experiences specifically designed with longer cruises in mind. In true Disney Cruise Line tradition, the Disney Fantasy has something for everyone, with activities and areas just for kids, families and adults.

Passenger Decks           14

Capacity           4,000 passengers

Staterooms       1,250

• 150 Inside Staterooms (12%)
• 1,100 Outside Staterooms (88%)
  • 199 ocean view
  • 901 verandah (includes 21 suites) 

Main Public Areas

• Atrium Lobby – Deck 3 (atrium spans three decks)
• Walt Disney Theatre – Decks 3 and 4
• Buena Vista Theatre – Decks 4 and 5
• Preludes theatre concessions – Deck 3
• Shutters photo gallery – Deck 4
• Guest Services – Deck 3
• Port Adventures – Deck 5

Family Areas

• D Lounge – Deck 4
• AquaDuck water coaster – entrance on Deck 12
• AquaLab water play area – Deck 12
• Goofy’s Sports Deck – Deck 13
• Donald’s Pool – Deck 11
• Mickey’s Pool – Deck 11
• Nemo’s Reef water-play area – Deck 11

Shopping

• Tiffany & Co. – Deck 4
• Mickey’s Mainsail retail shop – Deck 3
• Sea Treasures retail shop – Deck 3
• White Caps retail shop – Deck 3
• Bvlgari retail shop – Deck 3
• Whozits & Whatzits retail shop – Deck 11

Salons & Spa’s

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique – Deck 5
• Senses Spa & Salon – Deck 11

Youth Areas

• It’s a Small World Nursery – Deck 5
• Disney’s Oceaneer Club – Deck 5
• Disney’s Oceaneer Lab – Deck 5
• Vibe Teen Club – Deck 5
• Edge Tween Club – Deck 13

Adult Areas

• Europa – Deck 4
  • Skyline
  • Ooh La La
  • The Tube
  • La Piazza
  • O’Gills Pub
• Quiet Cove Pool – Deck 11
• Satellite Sun Deck – Deck 13
• Cove Bar – Deck 11
• Cove Café – Deck 11
• Meridian bar – Deck 12
• Waves bar – Deck 12
• Currents bar – Deck 13

Dining

• Enchanted Garden main dining – Deck 2
• Animator’s Palate main dining – Deck 3
• Royal Court main dining – Deck 3
• Bon Voyage atrium lobby bar – Deck 3
• Bon Voyage atrium lobby bar – Deck 3
• Vista Café – Deck 4
• Remy adult-exclusive fine dining – Deck 12
• Palo adult-exclusive fine dining – Deck 12
• Cabanas casual dining – Deck 11
• Flo’s Café: Luigi’s Pizza, Tow Mater’s Grill, Fillmore’s Favorites quick service – Deck 11
• Eye Scream ice cream – Deck 11
• Frozone Treats smoothies – Deck 11
• Sweet on You ice cream shop – Deck 11

Broadway-style Stage Shows at the Walt Disney Theater

• “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular”
• “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular”
• “Disney’s Believe”

Destinations

The Disney Fantasy sails out of Port Canaveral on three, four, or seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, and every cruise includes a stop at either Disney’s private island paradise, Castaway Cay or the new island destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

The Disney Fantasy will spend its first summer season in Europe in the summer of 2025, visiting incredible European destinations from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean from May to late July. Five– to 12-night sailings from Barcelona, Spain, and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, will call on picturesque ports of call throughout the Mediterranean, while one special 12-night sailing to the Greek Isles will feature three stops in Greece, two in Italy, and the season’s only stop in Valetta, Malta. From late July to September, the Disney Fantasy will sail from Southampton, United Kingdom, to numerous destinations, including Spain, Norway, and the British Isles.

In Part Two, we’ll take a look at the newer ships, including a look at the future of Disney Cruise Line.