I know, I know, friend. Choosing the right cruise ship for your next vacation can be really tough. What’s the main difference between them? Which restaurants are on each one? Did Elsa buy a ticket for this cruise, and is she ready to sing Let It Go at least three times in a single night? We always have questions like these before planning our next vacation, and Famvia is here to help you out by answering some questions about each Disney Cruise Line ship.
The good news is that there aren’t (yet…) too many Disney cruises to choose from, especially compared to juggernauts like Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises. Mickey operates five ships as of now - six if you count the Disney Treasure, set to arrive at the end of 2024 - while a company like Royal Caribbean has 26 ships. Yeah, that’s a lot to keep track of, and sometimes it might feel easier to roll the dice and let fate pick one for you. No worries, friend; every cruise has at least one awesome thing you’ll love, I guarantee it.
Two highly anticipated ships are also coming in 2025: the Disney Adventure, setting sail from Singapore in December 2025, and the Disney Destiny, launching from Port Everglades, Florida, in November 2025.
Here’s how the Disney Cruise Line fleet should look by the end of 2025:
- Disney Adventure (December 15, 2025)
- Disney Destiny (November 20, 2025)
- Disney Wish (2022)
- Disney Fantasy (2012)
- Disney Dream (2011)
- Disney Wonder (1999)
- Disney Magic (1998)
We’ll be grouping the ships into different classes: the Wish Class, the Dream Class, and the Magic Class. The Disney Adventure represents a new class we don’t know much about yet, so we’ll save that one for a later date. For now, let’s dive into the other ships and explore the stage shows and specialty restaurants you can find on each. Let’s go!
Wish Class
- Size: 144.000 tons.
- Ships: Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny.
- Main Ports of Departure: Port Canaveral (Florida); Port Everglades (also in Florida, only the upcoming Disney Destiny).
- Main Destinations: Bahamas and the Caribbean.
- Good for: those that want a lot of entertainment options, if you want an even better Kids Club, if you don’t mind paying a little bit more compared to other Disney cruises.
- Additional Info: The Disney Wish is focusing more on short 3- to 4-night cruises to the Caribbean, while the Disney Treasure will focus on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.
The Wish class is the newest group of ships, launched in 2022 with the Disney Wish, which catapulted Disney Cruise Line to worldwide fame. The Wish class ships are slightly larger than the other two classes and come with some exciting features, like the first-ever “ride” at sea - the AquaMouse, a waterslide with a storyline and an art style similar to Hollywood Studios’ Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The Kids Club is also more impressive on Wish-class ships, with a larger space and special access via a dry slide.
These are the blockbuster ships for those seeking high-end entertainment and who don’t mind larger crowds. They represent the party-centric Disney cruise experience, focusing on the Bahamas and the Caribbean, and frequently visiting the private islands of Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
These ships are a lot of fun, even if they tend to cost a bit more than the others. They are a great choice for DCL veterans or anyone wanting to enjoy great shows like Disney’s Aladdin or dine at the Frozen restaurant while listening to Elsa sing.
Disney Wish
Stage Shows
- Disney Seas the Adventure
- Disney The Little Mermaid
- Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular
Rotational Dining Restaurants
- 1923
- Worlds of Marvel
- Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
Disney Treasure
Stage Shows
- Disney Seas the Adventure
- Disney The Tale of Moana
- Beauty and the Beast
Rotational Dining Restaurants
- Plaza de Coco
- 1923
- Worlds of Marvel
Dream Class
- Size: 129.690 tons.
- Ships: Disney Fantasy; Disney Dream.
- Main Ports of Departure: Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Barcelona, Rome, Southampton.
- Main Destinations: Bahamas, Caribbean, Spain, Mediterranean.
- Good for: if you want a traditional (and great) Disney experience; fans of the magical portholes in inside cabins; first-time Disney cruisers.
- Additional Info: The Disney Fantasy often goes to Europe and other unique destinations, while the Disney Dream focuses mostly on the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
The Dream class ships are slightly smaller than the Wish class but still come with impressive features. They include the AquaDuck, a waterslide similar to the new AquaMouse, which some people even prefer for its slightly longer ride. These ships are excellent for families and kids, offering plenty of swimming pools and water parks that young ones will love. The Dream class is versatile and well-suited for everyone, and it’s also a bit more affordable than the Wish class.
One of the main trademarks of the Dream class ships is the magical portholes in the inside cabins. These “windows” display real-time views of what’s happening on the top deck or outside, helping to alleviate any claustrophobic feelings. It’s surprising that these portholes are missing on the Wish class ships.
Both ships in this class feature the Animator’s Palate restaurant, where Crush interacts with the audience during dinner, making it one of the most entertaining dining experiences on DCL. Similar to Epcot’s Turtle Talk with Crush, large screens show the friendly turtle swimming around, answering questions, and chatting with guests in real time.
Disney Fantasy
Stage Shows
- Frozen - A Musical Spectacular
- Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular
- Disney's Believe
Rotational Dining Restaurants
- Royal Court
- Animator’s Palate
- Enchanted Garden
Disney Dream
Stage Shows
- Beauty and the Beast
- Disney's Believe
- The Golden Mickeys
Rotational Dining Restaurants
- Royal Palace
- Animator’s Palate
- Enchanted Garden
Magic Class
- Size: 84.000 tons.
- Ships: Disney Wonder; Disney Magic.
- Main Ports of Departure: Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Galveston (Texas), San Diego, Honolulu, Vancouver, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, San Juan.
- Main Destinations: Alaska, Europe, Oceania.
- Good for: you want to save some money while cruising with Disney; you want to travel to Alaska alongside Mickey; you want a ship that feels a bit more intimate.
- Additional Info: The Disney Wonder is the only Disney ship that travels to Alaska, often visiting Oceania and Honolulu as well. The Disney Magic focuses on the Caribbean and Bahamas and is the only Disney ship that sails from Texas.
The Magic class comprises the original Disney Cruise Line ships, which began sailing back in 1998. While they are smaller than their newer counterparts and may feel slightly more dated, recent overhauls and renovations have introduced several new waterslides and kid zones for the whole family. These ships have a more intimate feel and lack the high-tech rides found on their newer cousins. After all, the Magic class ships are more than 40% smaller than the Wish class ships.
These ships are also great for those seeking unique itineraries that aren’t typically centered around the Caribbean. The Disney Wonder, for example, is the only Disney ship that sails to Alaska, while the Disney Magic often visits Europe for cruises in Spain and Italy. The Disney Wonder also frequently travels to Australia and New Zealand for some very special itineraries.
Since the Magic class ships aren’t as advanced as the Dream class, this also affects some entertainment options. For instance, the Animator’s Palate restaurant on these ships does not feature the interactive encounter with Crush, which makes the experience a bit less exciting.
Disney Wonder
Stage Shows
- Frozen - A Musical Spectacular
- Disney Dreams
- The Golden Mickeys
Rotational Dining Restaurants
- Tiana's Place
- Triton's
- Animator's Palate
Disney Magic
Stage Shows
- Tangled - The Musical
- Disney Dreams
- Twice Charmed
Rotational Dining Restaurants
- Rapunzel's Royal Table
- Lumiere's
- Animator's Palate
