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15 Cruise Rookie Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Skipping the main dining room – I often hear of first time cruisers who eat at the buffet every night for dinner on their cruise. While they are more than free to do that if they wish, the food in the main dining room is always several steps ahead of the buffet.  There is also something special about getting to know your servers throughout the week.

Showing up late for dinner  – When you have traditional dining (early or late seating) and show up 20 minutes late for dinner, it delays dinner for you and your table mates.  Your servers like to keep everyone on the same course. They will not get their main entrees until you order and finish your salad and appetizers. Show up at your scheduled time and everyone will be able to make it in time for the show after dinner.

Booking early flights home – Cruise lines recommend no flights earlier than 12:00 p.m. on disembarkation day if you are flying out of a nearby airport.  Even though your ship schedule says that you will be back in port at 7:00 a.m., booking a 9:00 a.m. or earlier flight should never be considered.  Sometimes getting off of the ship is a breeze while at other times, long lines and customs can be a nightmare.  Book all flights after 12:00 p.m. and enjoy a stress free disembarkation process not worrying about missing your flight home.

Using your cell phone like you are at home – After all roaming fees can’t be that bad, right?  Using your cell phone on the ship can cost anywhere from $3-6 a minute, depending on your carrier.  While text message will have smaller charges, data roaming charges are beyond ridiculous.  At $15-20 per mb, uploading just one picture to Facebook can cost you $40 or more. Put your phone in airplane mode and save yourself from a cell phone bill that will cost more than your cruise fare.

Trying to do everything the first day – This is one that I was guilty of on my first cruise.  I spent the first day, and nearly every day running around the ship trying to do everything.  Take time to enjoy your time at sea and come home refreshed, not in need of a vacation to recover from your vacation.

Skipping the muster drill – This one should be a no-brainer, but there are always some on every cruise who think that it isn’t mandatory. Go to the drill and pay attention, your life, and your family and friend’s lives could depend on it.

Think port stops are guaranteed – Cruise lines do everything in their power to stop at all of the scheduled port stops on your itinerary.  However, due to weather and other circumstances that are out of their control, it isn’t unusual for a cruise ship to miss a port stop or two. This is especially true when tendering is involved. Before you plan that wedding in Jamaica on your cruise during hurricane season, realize that there is a chance that you may not stop there.

Bringing alcohol on board the ship – During your first port stop, you get an idea that you can buy a few bottles and save you from buying $8-10 drinks for the rest of your cruise. Everything you buy in port will be x-rayed and alcohol will be confiscated until the last night of your cruise.

Taking food or drink off of the ship – You are not allowed to take any food or drink (sealed water bottles etc. are an exception) off of the ship, not even a coffee on disembarkation day.  There is always a trash can in the customs line that is overflowing with fruit.  If it is on the ship, it should stay on the ship.

Not making reservations for specialty restaurants – If you would like to dine at one of the specialty restaurants onboard the ship, you will want to make reservations on embarkation day.  Prime times fill up quickly, especially near the end of your cruise when places like the steakhouse are normally booked full.  Sometimes you can walk up and be seated, but most times you will need a reservation.

Not bringing ID with you in port – Some ports require you to show a valid ID along with your cruise card to re-board the ship while others do not. It is always a good idea to carry your ID with you, especially when you are in another country.

Over packing/Under packing – The first rule of thumb when packing for a cruise is after your suitcase if full, take out half of the clothes because you will likely not wear them.  Just be careful to not under pack as many restaurants have dress codes that are enforced more strictly than the main dining rooms.

Thinking all ships are the same  – There is a reason why some cruise ships are priced at $40 or less a night, and other are well over $100 a night per person.  As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.  Don’t expect the cheaper cruises to have all of the modern amenities of the newer ships. When you have the right expectations, you are more likely to enjoy your cruise.

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Disney Cruise Line Characters- How to Find Disney Characters on Your Cruise

Meeting Disney characters on a Disney Cruise is one of the most anticipated experiences for families. Each Disney Cruise Line experience will include multiple meet and greet options whether it is Disney classics like Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Disney Princesses with some cruises including a special character focus like Marvel characters.

Disney Cruise Line offers nonstop character meet and greets during their cruises with times that last all day. Guests can even get the chance to reserve free meet and greet options with Disney characters or opt for special paid experiences with Disney characters.

During my recent Disney Cruise, I had the chance to meet plenty of Disney characters and most of the time we just happened upon them at random! Disney character meet and greets are extremely popular on Disney Cruises and I was surprised to see the high demand for these characters as a frequent Disney Park goer. Keep reading for the full overview of all the Disney characters you can find on Disney Cruise Lines including tips on avoiding long wait times.

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Disney Cruise Line Character Tips

Disney Cruise Line character experiences are extremely popular. I am a frequent Disney Park visitor so I have met most of these characters at the park so perhaps the demand wasn't necessarily there for me but I was surprised to see the popularity of these experience!

Lines for character meet and greets were often extremely long and were often cut off quickly if the character's time was limited. Sometimes the characters were only available for 15 minutes at a time and if you weren't at the front of the line, you might miss out.

Based on my experiences navigating a sold out Marvel Day at Sea cruise, here's my tips on navigating Disney Cruise Line character experiences.

• Check the  Disney Cruise Line  app and make note of the times of character appearances. If you showed up earlier to meet characters, you may have a shot at meeting them especially if they were limited to a shorter time frame.
• Check the  location  of the Disney character greetings. If you position yourself just right, you could end up being first in line especially if the character is meeting on the Atrium balcony and all the other guests are still on the main Atrium floor.
• Go to the open houses  for the kids clubs. Sometimes the open houses for The Vibe and the Oceaneer Clubs will include character greetings. This how we ended up meeting Chip n Dale on Pirate Night with no wait.
• Book a ticketed character time  when they become available before your trip. This is especially important if your group cares about meeting Disney Princesses. These lines are often the longest and this is a good way to meet many of them with no wait.
• Be prepared to jump in line  when characters first appear. I happened to meet Jack Sparrow and Rapunzel with a minimal wait just because we happened upon their line when they first arrived. Don't hesitate and get in line!
• Prepare your kids if  lines are long since character attendants will often cut the line short if the character doesn't have enough time to meet everyone. Prepare your kids for this reality and have a back up plan ready.
• Bring an  autograph book  or other souvenir for characters to autograph. I saw so many great ideas for this on our cruise that I rarely see in the parks like kids with small backpacks or photo mates for frames. On Marvel Day at Sea, I saw many kids with Captain America shields and Thor Hammers being signed. Such a cool keepsake! These are good items to add to your Disney Cruise packing list.

Now let's get into all the possible options for characters on your Disney Cruise!

Disney Cruise Line Characters

Disney Characters you may see during your cruise include:

• Mickey Mouse
• Minnie Mouse
• Donald Duck
• Chip ‘n Dale
• Doc McStuffins
• Sofia the First
• Princess Anna

You will also see these characters in a variety of outfits. Some of the most popular meet and greets with Mickey and Minnie Mouse is when they're in their cruising outfits! On the Alaska Disney Cruise , you can meet Mickey and Minnie in their “Alaskan” best which is a fun opportunity.

Nearly all Disney Cruises start off the day with a sail away party that will feature characters to jump start the cruise. There are Disney characters all over the ship to see!

If your cruise includes a stop at Castaway Cay , there will also be chances to meet characters on the island!

Other character meet and greet options include the final farewell party that takes place the last night of your cruise.  This party is held in the Atrium Lobby and is a last moment to get some last minute character meet and greets in before the cruise comes to an end.

Guests also have the chance to see characters during many different live performances depending on your cruise. Disney characters are integrated throughout the entire experience whether it is part of live entertainment or character greetings!

Pirate Night Characters

Nearly all Disney Cruises include a Pirate Night which is a celebration of all things pirate that ends with fireworks on the top deck. You will see some pirate themed characters out and about on pirate night including the popular Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean!

You might also see classic Disney characters dressed up in their pirate gear roaming around the ship. We stumbled upon Chip n Dale in their Pirate Night gear during The Vibe Club (club for teens) open house.

Marvel Day at Sea Characters

Marvel Day at Sea will feature an abundance of Marvel characters available throughout your day at sea. If you pick a cruise with a Marvel Day at Sea, you can expect to see lots of Marvel characters including many families in their own themed Marvel attire!

One great idea we saw many families utilize during Marvel Day at Sea was to come prepared with a Captain American shield or other notable Marvel item and have all the characters sign it. You will also see classic characters dressed in Marvel themed outfits. These will be extremely popular meet and greets!

Marvel Day at Sea meet and greet characters can include:

• Black Panther
• Shuri from  Black Panther
• Captain Marvel
• Captain America (Sam Wilson)
• Captain America (Steve Rogers)
• Okoye from  Black Panther
• Star-Lord and Gamora from  Guardians of the Galaxy
• Black Widow
• Kate Bishop from  Hawkeye
• Mighty Thor
• Ant-Man and the Wasp

These character meet and greets varied from designated line up spots to characters that just roamed the ship.

How to Meet Disney Cruise Characters

All the Disney Character meet and greet times will be listed on the Disney Cruise Line app . You will typically have four main locations to meet Disney Cruise Line characters and this is true for ALL the Disney ships:

• Lobby Atrium
• Disney's Oceaneer Lab
• Disney's Oceaneer Club

On the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy , additional character greetings are available in Donald's Pool Area.

On the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder , additional character greeting are available on Deck 4, Midship, Deck 4, Balcony, and Goofy’s Pool Stage.

There are also the option of ticketed meet and greets at NO additional cost that can be reserved prior to your cruise and on day one once you board the ship. There are also paid opportunities to meet characters on select ships.

Disney Cruise Line Ticketed Character Meetings

Disney Cruise Line also features a variety of ticketed character meet and greets. These ticketed events require all guests to have a valid ticket reservation to attend and this is a great way to meet a variety of characters with a minimal wait time!

To reserve tickets before your cruise begins, visit  My Cruise Activities  within your advance booking window. When reserving tickets, if a specific time is unavailable, try selecting another time and/or day. In addition to booking online, a limited number of tickets may be available on the first day of your cruise. Please check with Guest Services once on board the ship to determine if there is availability.

Children under 8 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to attend.

These ticketed reservations are FREE and are limited in availability. These go quickly so be sure to sign on when you can book to try and reserve a spot! This is the best and easiest way to meet a variety of characters at once with minimal wait.

Princess Gathering- All Disney Cruises

Princess Gathering is available on all Disney Cruises and feature meet and greets with Disney Princesses. This is the BEST way to meet all the Disney Princesses with a far shorter wait time.

Guests may attend each ticketed event once per cruise. Disney Princesses available during this meeting will vary per cruise although past appearances have included Belle, Aurora, Rapunzel, Tiana, Ariel, Cinderella and Snow White.

Heroic Encounters- Marvel Day at Sea

Marvel Day at Sea features the Disney Cruise Line assigned meet and greet- Heroic Encounters. This meet and greet offers the chance to meet Marvel Super Heroes from New York City — such as Iron Man, Spider-Man and Black Panther — and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy.

Guests may attend every ticketed Character event—including the Heroic Encounters – Mission: New York and the Heroic Encounter – Groot —once per cruise.

Disney Cruise Paid Character Experiences

There is also the option for two paid character experiences depending on which cruise ship you sail on. These experiences are both tailored towards Disney Princesses and the Frozen film. Despite the high cost of these experiences, these sell out immediately on most cruises!

Royal Court Royal Tea

Royal Court Royal Tea is a “magical tea party” that includes visits from popular Disney Princesses. This event is available for additional fee and is NOT included in the cost of your cruise.

Disney Princesses will visit guests during this Royal Tea and this experience also includes storytelling, singing, and dancing.

Due to the popularity of this event, it’s best to reserve tickets online at  My Cruise Activities within your advance booking window once your cruise is paid in full. This is a luxury experience with a cost of $220 per child ages 3 to 12 and $69 per adult.

This experience is available on the Disney Magic , Disney Wonder , Disney Fantasy , and Disney Dream .

Olaf's Royal Picnic

Olaf's Royal Picnic features Olaf, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and more in a delightful afternoon of treats, merriment and summertime melodies. This event is available for additional fee and is NOT included in the cost of your cruise.

Due to the popularity of this event, it’s best to reserve tickets online within your advance booking window at My Cruise Activities once your cruise is paid in full. This is a luxury experience with a cost of $220 per child ages 3 to 12 and $69 per adult.

Olaf's Royal Picnic is available on the Disney Wish .

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A variety of characters are included such as: Mickey Mouse Minnie Mouse Donald Duck Daisy Duck Chip ‘n Dale Goofy Pluto Cinderella Jake Doc McStuffins Sofia the First Queen Elsa Princess Anna

Yes, there is an abundance of characters on Disney Cruises like classic Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Disney Princesses, and even Marvel.

You can request a free Disney Cruise character call after you book your cruise! You will receive a prerecorded call of a Disney character wishing you the best on your upcoming cruise.

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About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay is a college English instructor and has years of writing experience through various nonprofits, charities, newspapers, and online magazines. As the content director of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disney Parks trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose- you can also view her recently featured posts on Disney Parks travel on Visit Anaheim, Nerd Wallet and SFGate. Lindsay comes from a dedicated Disney family and enjoys taking her son to the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Comparing the Disney Cruise Ships

Posted on Published: 10/19/2023

Disney cruises are popular for many reasons – for their family-friendly amenities, attention to detail, and commitment to providing family magic.

If you are a regular reader here, you know that I’m an avid cruiser on the Disney Cruise Line. After three sailings on the Disney Fantasy , one on the Disney Wonder , seven on the Disney Dream , and one on the Disney Magic , I’ve had the chance to experience Disney’s newest ship – the Disney Wish , twice. If you are considering a trip on the Disney Cruise Line, you may be wondering what is the best Disney Cruise Line ship for your family vacation.

It’s difficult to answer that without looking at the various itineraries as well as comparing the sizes, restaurants, amenities, and more on the Disney Cruise ships. Here are our comparisons.

Disclosure: I’ve been on one complimentary media preview cruise as well as two cruises as part of Disney Social Media Moms. The rest of my cruises were at my own cost. All opinions are my own.

Check prices of Disney Cruise Line Sailings here .

Itineraries on the Disney Cruise Ships

Before deciding which ship to sail on, you’ll definitely want to look at the various itineraries offered. After all, a Mediterranean cruise is much, much different than an Alaskan cruise. Itinerary and ports of call really should be your first consideration when deciding which ship on the Disney Cruise Line fleet you’ll want to sail on.

The Disney Fantasy always leaves from the Port Canaveral cruise port and sails on seven-day itineraries in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Ports include Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Jamaica, the US Virgin Islands, and of course, Castaway Cay .

The Fantasy’s sister ship, the Disney Dream, used to leave from Port Canaveral but now departs from Miami for part of the year. The Dream also has sailings from Fort Lauderdale, San Juan, New York, and Europe.

The other two ships, the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic have typically traveled around a bit more. Itineraries (especially in the winter) change year by year, but the Wonder typically goes to Alaska, while the Magic has itineraries departing from San Diego, Miami, Galveston, New Orleans, and San Juan.

Miami cruise port to Castaway Cay and Key West . That itinerary was so much fun, and the four-day trip was the perfect amount of time for our girls’ trip.

Once you look at the itineraries, you’ll definitely have a good idea of which Disney Cruise Line ship you’ll want to be on, especially if you plan to travel on an itinerary that only one ship offers.

Size of the Disney Cruise Ships

There are currently three different classes of Disney Cruise Ships. The original ships, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are called the Magic class and are smaller. These ships accommodate a maximum of 2,700 passengers.

The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are the Dream class ships, which accommodate a maximum of 4,000 passengers. The new Triton Class ships (the Disney Wish) also accommodate 4,000 but are a bit bigger in Gross Tonnage.

The smaller ships definitely do feel more intimate but don’t have as many amenities.

Restaurants on the Disney Cruise Ships

While all of the dining rooms on the Disney Cruise Line are fun and offer lots of delicious food options, they do vary by ship. Animator’s Palate, as well as the premium, adult-only Palo, are offered on all original four ships.

Each of the original four ships has a French-themed restaurant, although the names and themes are different. There are also three incredibly fun-themed restaurants – Tiana’s Place on the Disney Wonder , Arendelle on the Disney Wish, and Rapunzel’s Royal Table on the Disney Magic. In addition to dinner, you’ll also be entertained while eating at these three restaurants. 

Each of the ships offers free ice cream, as well as a premium coffee bar. They all have various snack options available throughout the day, including pizza, sandwiches, and salads. The Disney Dream also offers a premium ice cream/dessert spot, called Vanellope’s. Everything in Vanellope’s is offered at an additional fee.

In addition to Palo, there are other adult-only restaurants on some of the ships. The Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream offer Remy, while the Disney Wish has Enchante.

For breakfast and lunch, each of the four original ships has the Cabanas buffet, with both indoor and outdoor seating. On the Wish, there’s Marceline Market, which is similar to a buffet but with servers plating the food.

Bars and Lounges on the Disney Cruise Ships

While most people travel with kids on the Disney Cruise Line, there are still bars and lounges that adults can enjoy. Since many kids will likely spend much of their time in the phenomenal kids’ clubs on board, adults will have lots of opportunities to visit the adult-only areas.

The Disney Fantasy offers a whole area of the ship called Europa, filled with European-themed bars and lounges. Ooh La La, a champagne bar, is my personal favorite.

The Disney Dream ship features the District, which is similar to Europa. It’s located in the same area of the ship, and has similar bars. Instead of Ooh La La, their champagne bar is called Pink. My favorite bar of all the ships is the Meridian Lounge, which is located between Palo and Remy on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

The Disney Wonder and Disney Magic also have bars and lounges. The Wonder has the After Hours adult area with several lounges. In most cases, the bars and lounges are open to kids during the day, but are adult only in the evenings.

On the Wish, two of my favorite bars are the Bayou, and Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge. These two themed, unique lounges are great for a drink before or after dinner.

Programming at these bars, including games and entertainment, is sometimes offered – check your Disney Cruise Line app for details.

Staterooms on the Disney Cruise Ships

While there are some differences between the staterooms on the ships, for the most part, they are very much alike. They offer similar features, and while they are small, they are also comfortable.

My family of four regularly stays in a Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah, and we find it to be enough room. We don’t spend too much time in the room because there’s so much to do on the ship.

The Disney Wish, Disney’s newest ship, offers even more concierge rooms than any of the other Disney cruise ships.

Amenities on the Disney Cruise Ships

All of the ships offer a number of amenities that families will love. These ships were clearly built with families in mind.

Each ship offers a pool deck with splash areas and the Funnel Vision signature television screen showing Disney movies throughout the day. On the Disney Fantasy and Dream, you’ll also be able to go on the Aquaduck water coaster. It’s so much fun, and you’ll want to go more than once.

While the Disney Magic and Wonder don’t have the AquaDuck, the Disney Magic does have the AquaDunk, a high-speed water slide tube. The Disney Wish has a new coaster, called the AquaMouse.

There are also sports decks with various amenities, depending on the ship. The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy have sports simulators, but you’ll need to make reservations for that in advance.

The ships also all have kids’ clubs, Senses spas , hot tubs, shops, and much more. I also recommend walking around the ship when you first arrive so you can learn about everything that is available to you.

Activities on the Disney Cruise Ships

Each of the ships offers lots of activities, including first-run Disney movies in the movie theater (the Wish has two theaters) and Broadway-style stage live shows in the Walt Disney Theater. The shows do vary by ship, but I’ve seen all of them and everyone is fantastic.

My favorite show is currently Frozen, which plays on the Wonder.  A close runner-up to that is a new Beauty and the Beast show that runs on the Disney Dream. Other newer shows are Aladdin on the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Wish, the Little Mermaid on the Disney Wish, and Tangled on the Disney Magic. 

Other activities include family and adult game shows, beverage-tasting seminars, Bingo, and animation classes. There are also Disney character greetings on every ship. Check the Navigatornapp to see the full schedule of events.

Ships typically have a pirate night during one night of the cruise. It’s so much fun – definitely go to the fireworks if there’s a pirate night during your cruise. 

On the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream, kids will love the Midship Detective Agency. This free game lets you become a detective while finding clues throughout the midship section of the boat. When my kids were younger, we’d accompany them on their quest. Once they were a bit older, they loved the freedom of doing it on their own.  

The Disney Wish has a new augmented reality experience, called Disney Uncharted Adventure. It works with the app, and ends with a live event.

So, what is the best Disney Cruise Line ship?

My personal favorite is the Disney Fantasy, the second-newest ship in the fleet (for now). However, that was the first Disney ship that I traveled on, so I’m not sure if that’s why it’s my favorite.

Others really love the Magic. As a smaller ship, it’s definitely more quaint and it’s easier to walk around. I do love the shows on the Magic, as well as the restaurants.

It’s really hard to say which is the best Disney cruise ship because they are all great!

What is your favorite Disney Cruise ship?

See our Disney Cruise Line comparison story here .

Frequently Asked Questions

All of the ships have teen clubs and other great amenities. My teens loved the Disney Wish, which also has the Hero Zone which is where you can play basketball, ping pong, and other sports indoors. But when choosing a ship for teens, I’d focus on the itinerary first.

As someone who sometimes cruises without my kids, I appreciate the adult-only sections. My favorite adult-only area is Satellite Falls, an outdoor sun deck area that is on the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream. I also really love the Rainforest Room in the Senses Spa on the Disney Wish. While all of the ships have Rainforest Rooms (for an additional fee), the one on the Wish is the largest and has a great outdoor area.

More Disney Cruise Ships Resources: Click to read more about the Disney Cruise Line ships including restaurants, tips, itineraries, activities, and more.

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It’s All in the Details: The Horns of the Disney Fantasy

There is a clear leader when it comes to cruise ship horn battles. Since 1998, with the launch of the Disney Magic, Disney Cruise Line has been a unanimous winner of all such battles with the well-known When You Wish Upon A Star horn.

With the launch of the Disney Dream in 2011, Disney further solidified their rein by adding A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes , Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest, Put Our Service to the Test , it’s a small world after all , Hi-diddle-dee (An Actor’s Life For Me) , Yo Ho, Yo Ho (A Pirates Life For Me) , Makes No Difference Who You Are (the second line of When You Wish Upon A Star), and the full When You Wish Upon A Star – Makes No Difference Who You Are

When we sailed the Disney Dream on a 3-Night Bahamian cruise, we only heard two horns; A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes and When You Wish Upon A Star . On our recent Disney Fantasy 7-Night Eastern Caribbean cruise, we were informed that following the noon announcements, on the first sea day,  all the horns would be played.

For your enjoyment, The Disney Fantasy Horns from Satellite Sun Deck.

I still get goosebumps during the Sail Away Party when it the the horn is first blown. I’m convinced that this a Pavlovian effect, considering it signals the beginning of a new adventure!

I think it is safe to say Disney Cruise Line will continue to dominate all future horn battles.

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3 Replies to “It’s All in the Details: The Horns of the Disney Fantasy”

I would love you forever (well, more than I already do) if you made these into ringtones like you did for the new frozen one.

As of 2017 All the horns are listed A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest it’s a small world An Actor’s Life Yo Ho, Yo Ho Makes No Difference Who You Are Do you want to build a snowman “Star Wars exclusives” Imperial March The Force Theme “may the force be with you” “New York exclusive” Start Spreading the News I’m Leaving Today ” from the Frank Sinatra song New York, New York

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Disney Cruise Ships

The Best Disney Cruise Ships

Disney Cruise Ships    |    New Disney Cruise Ships    |    Disney Cruise Overview     Disney Wish    |    Disney Fantasy    |    Disney Wonder    |    Disney Magic    |    Disney Dream |    Disney Treasure

Introducing my detailed guide to each Disney Cruise Line ship!

In one place, I have brought together everything there is to know about each Disney Cruise ship.

In this complete Disney Cruise Ship guide, you’ll learn about different stateroom categories, dining options, all the entertainment and fun, and so much more.

The Disney Cruise Line fleet consists of five ships: Disney Magic , Disney Wonder , Disney Dream,   Disney Fantasy, and the newest addition, the Disney Wish .

Additionally, a sixth ship, Disney Treasure , has been announced and is expected to be seaworthy some time in 2024.

The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are sister ships, as are the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.  Both pairs of sister ships are similar in size as well as some features but they are definitely not twins.

Even though the sister’s have similarities, each of Disney’s five ships features different designs, deck plans , restaurants, entertainment, and activities onboard to make every voyage unique.

Disney Cruise Line is now well-established as a leader in the highly competitive cruise industry, having set itself apart by providing the most unique sailing experience on the seas.

Now...let's meet the ships!

The Disney Cruise Line Fleet of Ships

Use the following Disney Cruise ships comparison chart to help learn which is the best Disney Cruise ship for your vacation.

How to Use this Disney Cruise Ships Comparison Chart

You can use this handy information sheet to compare Disney ships by size, capacity, tonnage, staff, and age.

While this is all useful information to have, I highly recommend you click through the button on each ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet to get a fully-detailed guide that goes way beyond the sizes of the ships.

Compare Disney Cruise Ships

Disney magic.

Image: Flickr

• Passenger Capacity: 2700
• Staterooms : 877
• Entered Service : July 1998
• Sister Ship : Disney Wonder

Disney Wonder

Img: Flickr

• Passenger Capacity : 2700
• Staterooms : 875
• Entered Service : August 1999
• Sister Ship : Disney Magic

Disney Dream

• Passenger Capacity : 4,000
• Crew : 1,400
• Staterooms : 1,250
• Entered Service : January 2011
• Sister Ship : Disney Fantasy

Disney Fantasy

• Entered Service : March 2012
• Sister Ship : Disney Dream

Disney Wish

• Staterooms : 1,254
• Entered Service : July 2022

Disney Treasure

• Estimated Passenger Capacity : ~4,000
• Estimated Crew : ~1,400
• Estimated Staterooms : ~1,250
• Expected Maiden Voyage : 2024

Three New Disney Cruise Ships

Disney cruise line has announced three new ships.

I nspiring speculation and excitement amongst crazed DCL fans like us, Disney Cruise Line has announced they are building three new cruise ships .

Image: Disney Parks

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The 3 types of Disney Cruise Line ships, explained

Disney may be a giant in the vacation business, thanks to its many theme park and resort complexes around the world. But in the world of cruising, it's a relatively small player.

Disney's 24-year-old cruising arm, Disney Cruise Line , only operates five vessels — a small fraction of the number you'll find in the fleets of cruising's best-known brands. The world's two biggest cruise lines, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, by comparison, have 26 and 23 ships in their fleets, respectively. MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line have 19 and 18 ships, respectively.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.

If you're thinking about going on a Disney cruise, it's relatively easy to get a handle on your ship options — much easier than it is at a line like Royal Caribbean.

At first blush, you only have to figure out the differences among five different ships. But, in fact, it's even easier than that because the five vessels can be bunched into just three groups. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.

Each of these groups — known as "classes" in cruise industry lingo — is made up of ships that were constructed around the same time to the same basic design.

An introduction to Disney Cruise Line ships

As noted above, Disney Cruise Line is a relatively small player in the cruise world — even smaller than it might at first appear.

Not only does Disney have far fewer ships than the big cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian that dominate the cruise business, but Disney's ships also aren't as big as the biggest ships operated by those brands, and they don't carry as many passengers.

That makes Disney Cruise Line an even smaller brand, relative to the big lines, on a passenger capacity basis.

For instance, cruise giant Royal Caribbean has about five times more ships than Disney. But on a passenger capacity basis, based on double occupancy, Royal Caribbean is about 10 times larger than Disney Cruise Line.

That said, Disney's cruising division is getting bigger, fast. After going a decade without adding a new vessel, Disney Cruise Line is in the midst of building three more ships. The first of the new vessels, Disney Wish , just began sailing this summer, and two sister ships are due to begin operating in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The new ships, which collectively are known as the Triton class, are nearly doubling the line's size when measured by passenger capacity.

The Triton class is one of the three classes of ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Disney's two oldest vessels, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, make up its Magic class. Disney's two next two vessels, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, make up its Dream class.

Related: 17 tips for sailing on Disney Cruise Line

Triton Class

Ships in class: Disney Wish (2022); Unnamed (coming 2024); Unnamed (coming 2025).

Size: 144,000 tons.

The Triton class is the shiny new thing at Disney Cruise Line, with the first vessel in the series (Disney Wish) having just arrived in July. At 140,000 tons, Disney Wish is only a tad bigger than Disney's last two new ships, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. But it has a whole new array of Disney wow on board, from a Star Wars-themed " hyperspace lounge " that offers a "window" view of passing starships to Marvel- and "Frozen"-themed restaurants.

First looks: Disney Wish's new 'Frozen' dinner show | Disney Wish's new Marvel-themed restaurant

In addition, cabins on the ship include seven ocean-view rooms located over the bridge, a first for Disney Cruise Line. The rooms have extended living areas with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bow and out across the ocean. If that isn't enough, there also are four Royal Suites with a Sleeping Beauty theme, two of which feature a two-story floor plan.

Designed with families in mind (as is the Disney way), Disney Wish's cabins are built with lots of extra berths for kids. While its 1,254 rooms can hold 2,508 passengers at double occupancy (the way most cruise lines measure passenger capacity), it can sail with as many as 4,000 passengers when every pull-down bunk and pull-out sofa in cabins is filled.

The top deck of Disney Wish also is particularly family-friendly, with such attractions as a new-for-the-line high-tech water ride called the AquaMouse. Other notable new features on Disney Wish are a reimagined Oceaneers Club (the area for kids ages 3 to 12 on Disney ships) where children can enter via a slide. The Oceaneers Club also offers a Marvel Super Hero Academy where kids can design (and virtually fly) in their own super suit.

TPG has posted an extensive array of first-look reviews and guides of Disney Wish in the wake of its unveiling, including:

• Exclusive first look: Peek inside the new Disney Wish
• 7 things about Disney Wish that surprised us
• 9 things you'll only find on Disney Wish
• Yes, there's a $5,000 drink on Disney Wish — but it's more than a drink
• Why Disney Wish isn't just for kids

Disney Wish is just the first of three new Triton-class ships that Disney Cruise Line will roll out by the end of 2025. The ship currently is sailing a year-round series of three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral (near Orlando, Florida).

Dream Class

Ships in class: Disney Fantasy (2012); Disney Dream (2011).

Size: 129,690 tons.

Disney's Dream-class ships — Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy — are not all that much smaller than Disney Wish, and they also feature several over-the-top attractions, such as the 765-foot-long AquaDuck water coaster that encircles the main pool deck of the vessels.

Designed as a ride that parents can do with their little kids (read: fun, but not too scary), the AquaDuck is a two-person raft ride through a transparent acrylic tube raised up above the pool deck on stilts. If you're an engineering type, you'll be amazed as much by its construction as the experience.

Both Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy also are home to a kiddie waterslide, a deck-top kiddie play area and several pools. The ships' insides are loaded with huge children's play areas, family entertainment and even an adults-only zone packed with bars and clubs.

The children's areas include such Disney movie-themed pizzazz as a Marvel Super Hero Academy area and a "Star Wars" command post.

The two Dream-class ships also are known for windowless inside cabins that still have an ocean view, thanks to "magical portholes" that offer a real-time glimpse of the outside. These portholes actually are screens built into the walls of the cabin to give the illusion of a porthole view.

If the above idea sounds a little hokey, it is. But the illusion is surprisingly real. The addition of the screens really changes the feel of the rooms. Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy were the first two cruise ships in the world to offer such virtual windows in normally windowless inside cabins — an idea since copied by Royal Caribbean.

Related: 11 ways to save money on a Disney cruise

For many years, Disney based both Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream in Port Canaveral, the line's main Florida port. But with the arrival of Disney Wish, the line has moved Disney Dream to Miami for most of the year. Disney Dream is operating short sailings out of Miami to the Bahamas and Caribbean, while Disney Fantasy is devoted to longer Caribbean sailings.

Both Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy — like all Disney ships — cater heavily to families when it comes to cabin configurations. In many cabins on the ships, you'll find extra pull-down bunks and pull-out sofas that will allow for four or even five people to stay in a single cabin.

All the extra bunks can make for some confusion when comparing the passenger capacity of the ships to vessels at other lines. Both Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are designed to hold 2,500 passengers, based on double occupancy — that is, with two people per cabin. But with every pull-down bunk and pull-out sofa filled, the total occupancy of the ship jumps to 4,000.

In another major nod to families, most cabins on the Dream-class ships (and on the Triton-class and Magic-class ships, too) have two bathrooms — one with a sink and a toilet, and one with a sink and a shower or tub. This is something you rarely see in the cruise world, and it's designed to make it easier for families sharing a room to get ready in the morning.

Magic Class

Ships in class: Disney Wonder (1999); Disney Magic (1998).

Size: 84,000 tons.

While more than a decade older than the Dream-class ships and more than two decades older than Disney Wish, Disney's two Magic-class vessels still feel up to date, thanks to major makeovers in recent years.

An overhaul of Disney Magic brought such cutting-edge features as the AquaDunk, a 37-foot-tall body slide that careens over the side of the vessel. Disney Magic also got a new outdoor kiddie fun zone called AquaLab. An overhaul of Disney Wonder brought a new French Quarter Lounge with New Orleans-inspired live entertainment and drinks.

Both Disney Magic and Disney Wonder have multiple pool areas and indoor children's zones that cover almost an entire deck, plus multiple indoor restaurants (in Disney tradition, passengers — and their waiters — rotate each night among three main restaurants) and lounges. They also have large showrooms for nightly Disney-themed shows.

Still, overall, the Magic-class ships have a more intimate feel than the Triton-class or Dream-class ships, in no small part due to their smaller size. The difference in size is quite noticeable. At around 84,000 tons, the Magic-class ships are about 42% smaller than Disney Wish and 35% smaller than the Dream-class ships.

Because they offer fewer and smaller attractions and venues than the newer Triton-class and Dream-class ships, Disney Cruise Line typically uses Disney Magic and Disney Wonder for its more destination-intensive itineraries — trips where you're going to spend much of your time off the ship and onboard amenities are less important.

Disney Magic, for instance, is the ship that Disney sends to Europe every summer for itineraries that are all about exploring cities such as Barcelona and Rome (reached via the port of Civitavecchia, Italy). Disney Wonder is the ship Disney sends to Alaska each summer; it's also recently been assigned to spend much of its time sailing out of San Diego to Mexico.

Both Disney Magic and Disney Wonder hold 1,754 passengers at double occupancy. With every pull-down bunk and pull-out sofa filled, the capacity for both ships jumps to 2,713.

Like the Triton-class and Dream-class ships, the Magic-class ships boast lots of cabins with split bathrooms — a boon for families.

Bottom line

The Disney Cruise Line fleet is relatively small and easy to understand. For now, there are just three classes of vessels with a total of five ships. If you're looking to experience the most advanced, modern, amenity-filled ships in the Disney fleet, you'll want to look at the Triton-class or Dream-class vessels. But the Magic-class vessels are wonderful ships, too. Among their pluses: They offer more intimacy than the other ships and a broader range of itineraries.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

10 Things on the Disney Wish That Are Different from the Other DCL Ships

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Wish, is now in regular service, sailing a full slate of three and four night Bahamian itineraries out of Port Canaveral. This means that Disney fans now have five options to choose from for cruise vacations rather than the previous four.

The Wish has many wonderful qualities, and more than a few characteristics that have me scratching my head. For DCL veterans, here are some of the things you might notice that a different between the Wish and her older sisters – the Dream, Fantasy, Wonder, and Magic.

1. Some stateroom features are slightly different.

If you’ve been on the other DCL ships, the staterooms on the Wish will feel familiar. Most stateroom classifications have a queen-sized bed; one to three twin-sized beds that fold out from the couch, ceiling or wall; a closet; a desk area; and a split bathroom with the shower in one compartment and the toilet in another.

Some things that are different are:

2. Some sports areas are indoors rather than outdoors.

On the first four DCL ships, many of the recreational activities take place on an open outdoor deck, making things like pick-up basketball or even ping-pong inaccessible in poor weather. On the Wish, these activities take place in an enclosed multi-purpose room called The Hero Zone. The Hero Zone can be configured for half-court basketball, for mat-based activities such as chip-it golf or Jack Jack’s Diaper Dash, or for a new DCL activity – the Incredi-Games inflatable obstacle course. All these activities can now happen regardless of the weather.

3. There are lots more places to get fancy coffee.

On the first four Disney ships, you can get fancy coffees at one or two places on the ship. DCL has added machines capable of making lattes, cappuccinos, and the like to more locations on the ship. You can indulge your caffeine addiction at Cove Cafe (deck 12 aft), Enchanted Sword Cafe (Deck 5 midship), Wishing Star Cafe (Deck 4 midship), Marceline Market Cafe (Deck 11 aft), the Bayou (Deck 3 midship), and probably a few places I’ve forgotten.

4. There is no walking track around the ship.

One of the more baffling design choices on the Wish is the lack of the full walking/running track around the exterior of the ship that is part of the original four DCL ships. Instead of being able to take a stroll around the perimeter of deck 4, you have to take steep stairs on either side of the deck to get around the outside of the ship. During several times of the day, we found that the stairs were inaccessible because they were behind a bolted gate.

5. There is no Oceaneer Lab (but that’s OK).

The other four ships call various parts of the kids’ play areas the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. On the Wish, the entire space is called the Oceaneer Club. Potty trained guests ages 3-12 can use the Oceaneer Club and various parts of the club can be open or closed to different age subgroups (including adults) throughout the day.

The Oceaneer Club on the Wish consist of five areas. At Marvel Super Hero Academy, young “recruits” train to be the next generation of superheroes with help from Marvel favorites like Spider-Man, Black Panther, Ant-Man, and The Wasp. Fairytale Hall is a trio of Disney princess–themed activity rooms. Walt Disney Imagineering Lab is space for kids to discover the secrets of Disney Imagineers with hands-on activities and experiments. New Adventures at Star Wars: Cargo Bay teachs kids to be “creature handlers” as they manage and care for exotic beings from all corners of the galaxy, including Porgs, Loth-cats, and Worrts. The fifth area, Mickey and Minnie’s Captain’s Deck, is a playground-like area designed for the youngest Oceaneer guests. The space includes nautically themed slides, crawl-throughs, busy boxes, and other interactive and physical activities.

6. There are two new mainstage shows.

There are three mainstage shows that will rotate in the Wish’s version of the Walt Disney Theater: Aladdin, Seas the Adventure, and The Little Mermaid. Aladdin is a repeat of the show that’s now running on the Fantasy.

Seas the Adventure is a jukebox style musical revue of classic Disney songs. The story, such as it is, involves Captain Minnie letting Goofy take the helm of the ship. Needless to say, gentle mayhem ensues. With an assist from Tinker Bell, Goofy sails through scenes from the canon of Disney classics. Among the songs you’ll hear are “Go with the Flow” from the Finding Nemo stage show, “Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2, and “Almost There” from Princess and the Frog. DCL has resisted their typical turn toward the maudlin and the overall vibe of this show is upbeat and silly. We left the theater in a great mood.

I was a little less enthusiastic about the Wish rendition of the Little Mermaid tale. The vocals were good, but I had trouble getting past some of the staging elements that were served with more than the usual amount of Disney cheese. Cast members entered the stage clad in costumes that would be equally at home during a 1970s community theater production of Godspell – lots of flowing harem pants and ombre silk scarves. As the show progresses, cast members pull additional costume elements, props, and puppets out of a giant onstage treasure chest, adding to the “let’s put on a show” ethos of the production. The mermaid characters, including Ariel, are clad in dresses that stop mid-calf, fully exposing their legs and feet – an odd choice for a character whose entire raison d’etre is to acquire human appendages.

Modifications to the story’s text included lines about climate change, conservation, and consent. I am strongly supportive of these messages in other contexts, but, in my opinion, these clumsily shoehorned PSAs give a less than buoyant tone to the festivities.

There are some bright moments: the performers are hard-working and talented. Crabby Sebastian steals the show. And, as with all Disney’s live renditions of this tale, bubbles inevitably fall from the sky. The end is happily ever after, but you have to swim through some murky waters to get there.

7. The fish aren’t fish.

On the first four ships, each stateroom door is marked by a small figurine of sea life – either a fish or a seahorse. The figurine is set back from the wall a few millimeters and serves as a shelf for small papers or to display a Secret-Santa-like “fish extender.”

On the Wish, there are some door figures shaped like a Nautilus shell (keeping in the realm of sea life), but others are shaped like Cinderella’s carriage, an owl, a sun, or for a handful of suites – a crown.

Given the array of images here, some folks are now calling the Secret Santa game “Wish extender” rather than “fish extender.” I’m curious about whether this new terminology will spread to the other ships.

8. There are no trays at the buffet.

The Wish’s pool deck buffet is called Marceline Market, but it’s so much like the Cabanas buffet on the other ships that my daughter and I ended up calling it Cabanas as a form of shorthand. Rather than self-service, at each station cast members serve you whatever you’d like to eat and hand you a plate with your choice. The food is excellent, you’ll want to try items from every station. But, unfortunately, there are no trays. So if you want to eat, say, eggs, fruit, and a croissant, you’ll end up with three different plates and no elegant way to carry them. If you’re a parent alone with several children, you’ll be balancing even more. Cast members can help, but you’ll have to ask.

New plates at every station:

9. Several spaces are split in two.

Several places that exist as single spaces on the other DCL ships are bisected on the Wish. Rather than one movie theater, there are two smaller theaters. Rather than having one salon, there are separate spaces for men and women. One of the main dining rooms, 1923 is separated into two halves: the Roy Disney room and the Walt Disney room.

These divisions don’t appreciably impact the guest experience, but it does mean you might have to work a bit harder to figure out where you’re going. If you’re meeting family members at the theater, you’ll have to specify which one.

10. There is more Star Wars onboard the Wish than other ships, but not as much as you might want there to be.

The Dream and Fantasy each have a small Star Wars area in their kids’ clubs. The Star Wars room at the Wish Oceaneer Club is significantly larger than on the other ships (photo above), with more interactive elements. This space can be used by adults during open house hours and is used for Star Wars character meet & greet opportunities.

Additionally, the Wish has the Hyperspace Lounge, a Star Wars themed bar. The centerpiece of the bar is a giant “window” screen that changes every 7 minutes or so, leaping through hyperspace and stopping in a different planetary world each time.

Disney discontinued its Star Wars Day at Sea sailings, likely to push Star Wars fans to book the Wish. Other than the window screen, Hyperspace Lounge is not as highly themed as Oga’s Cantina at the Disney theme parks. The drinks are fun, but when I sailed, the cast members weren’t doing anything special in the bar – there was no discernible backstory or patter related to space. Without Star Wars Day at Sea as an option, I’d love to see Hyperspace Lounge given a little more oomph.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the Wish coming soon.

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Erin Foster

Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. She's been to WDW, DL, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Aulani, DVC Vero Beach, and DVC Hilton Head. She's a Platinum DCL cruiser and veteran of 10 Adventures by Disney trips. Erin lives near New York City, where she can often be found indulging in her other obsession - Broadway theater.

3 thoughts on “ 10 Things on the Disney Wish That Are Different from the Other DCL Ships ”

Thanks for this write up Erin! All the reports and videos of the Wish have made me REALLY want to go on her but the itineraries on the Dream are much more appealing to our family. I think this helps me not feel like I’m missing anything enormous (even though my kids would spend the entire cruise on the Incredibles inflatable course) by skipping the Wish for now. Maybe someday!

I think you missed one of the most important change. The location and poor design of the adult pool area. The location is a huge difference than other 4 ships. To get to quick service food, sodas and ice cream, you need to go down two decks and go to opposite end of ship. And if pool is too crowded, no satellite falls. In my opinion, the ship design is really a huge disappointment and I really hope next new ship is not the same!!!

I think you’ll see some small changes between the ships, but the superstructure is likely going to be the same. So the issue with the deck 4/5 walking track will not be fixed. There might be some changes to the pool situation. Maybe some crowd and flow issues will get resolved, but much is constrained with the steel that is cut.

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