Everything You Need to Know About Each of Disney’s Cruise Ships

Disney offers some of the most incredible cruises for people of all ages. They currently have four ships (soon to be five) to choose from.

Each has a unique set of features. If you’re ready to set sail, read on to learn everything you need to know about each of the Disney cruise ships and why not check out our guide to how much it costs to go on one whilst you’re here?

Disney Magic

The Disney Magic is the company’s first cruise ship and has been sailing since 1998. It’s one of the classic ships, along with its sister ship, the Disney Wonder. It’s one of the smaller Disney cruise ships and can hold up to 2,400 guests.

The Magic underwent a significant refurbishment in 2013 and another smaller one for its 20th anniversary in 2018. Even though it’s one of the older and smaller ships, it’s still impressive and offers a wonderful experience for families and Disney fans alike. 

Destinations

The Magic travels to a variety of destinations around the world. It most often visits Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, near the Bahamas. It also goes to Bermuda and the Caribbean. 

If you don’t want an island vacation, the Magic also goes to Canada and Europe. You can travel to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the British Isles, Western Europe, the Norwegian Fjords, and Iceland.

You can take cruises anywhere from three days up to 11 days.

Staterooms

Staterooms on the Magic are divided into four main categories, and there are ten different types of rooms.

Inside Staterooms

Inside staterooms are the Magic’s basic accommodations and are the most budget-friendly. These nautical-style rooms have a porthole mirror and no views outside the ship.

Guests can choose between standard and deluxe options of inside staterooms. The standard rooms are 184 square feet and sleep between three to four guests. They have a queen bed, sleeper sofa, and a pull-down berth. There’s also a living space and a full bathroom.

Deluxe rooms are similar to the standard but have the additional square footage, making them 214 square feet. They also have a separate half-bath, making them a good option for families with older kids.

Oceanview Staterooms

Oceanview staterooms are exactly like the deluxe inside staterooms but have a porthole with ocean views. They’re slightly more expensive but will give guests more of the experience at sea.

Verandah Staterooms

The deluxe oceanview staterooms are 268 square feet in size, which includes the verandah area. The configuration is the same as a deluxe oceanview stateroom with the added verandah. The private balcony has patio furniture for you to enjoy the ocean views.

Concierge Staterooms

Concierge staterooms cater to guests looking for the height of luxury. They have 1029 square feet, which includes a verandah. There are two separate bedrooms, 2.5 baths, an eating area, and more. Each room can sleep up to seven guests.

Concierge guests get lots of exclusive features, like help with planning, onboard services, and access to exclusive areas.

Activities

There’s plenty to do onboard the Magic, including the AquaDunk, a drop-in body slide. There’s also Goofy’s pool for swimming and AquaLab, an interactive splash park. There’s also the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and pirate makeovers for the little ones. 

You can enjoy different deck parties with lots of character interactions, music, and dancing. There are lots of other daily games like bingo and trivia. The Wide World of Sports contains areas to play sports.

Entertainment

Guests can enjoy two theaters. One shows classic Disney films, and the other features live-action productions. Current shows include Tangled: The Musical, Twice Charmed, and Disney Dreams.

Each cruise usually features a Pirates in the Caribbean Party with music, dancing, and more. The show finishes with an impressive fireworks show over the water.

Dining

Cruise packages come with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at no extra charge. There are a variety of quick-service spots offering pizza, burgers, and sandwiches, and you can order room service. The Magic also includes three sit-down restaurants: Rapunzel’s Royal Table, Animator’s Palate, and Lumiere’s.

Unlike other cruises, Disney offers rotational dining. That means you’ll get to try each of the restaurants at least once during your cruise. Your waiters will move with you so that you get excellent service. 

Just for Kids

Disney offers supervised youth clubs for all ages in their package. Kids under three can go to a nursery (for an extra charge) so parents can have a night out. The Oceaneer Club is for kids between three and 12. Several interactive spaces feature favorite characters from the Avengers and Fairies.

Kids can take a private hall from the Club to the Oceaneer Lab. Kids can create, explore, design, and more in this hands-on area. Kids can even have lunch and dinner here, giving parents some time to themselves.

Tweens between the ages of 11 to 14 can visit Edge, a hangout spot where they can play video games, make crafts, and participate in themed activities. Teens between 14 to 17 can hit up Vibe. This room has video games, karaoke, and plenty of hangout spaces for making new friends.

Just for Adults

Palo is a fine dining experience exclusively for adults. There’s also a pool and spa for those 18 and over. Adults can spend their evenings at one of the many nightclubs and lounges that often feature live music and entertainment. These include the Cove Cafe, Cadillac Lounge, and more.

Special Events

Avenger’s fans will love Marvel Day at Sea, where there are shows, character experiences, and activities. For holidays, there are Very Merrytime Cruises and Halloween on the High Seas.

Disney Wonder

The Disney Wonder set sail in 1999 and is similar in size and layout to the Magic, with a carrying capacity of up to 2,400 guests. The Wonder underwent a massive refurbishment in 2016. While it’s one of the smaller Disney cruise ships, guests enjoy the more intimate atmosphere.

Destinations

The Disney Wonder sails to several destinations, including Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Coast. For tropical trips, it heads to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. It also visits the Panama Canal.

Staterooms

The Wonder’s staterooms fall into four different categories, with ten different room options. 

Inside

Standard inside rooms sleep three or four and have 184 square feet. There’s a queen bed, sleeper sofa, a pull-down bed, and a sitting area. There are no outside views.

Deluxe staterooms are slightly larger at 214 square feet. They’re similar to the standard but have an extra half bath. A few of the rooms have obstructed views of the outside.

Oceanview

The Deluxe Oceanview staterooms are the same size and configuration as the Deluxe Inside stateroom but have one or two portholes with outside views.

Verandah

If you want a verandah, there are two options. The Deluxe Oceanview staterooms with verandahs are the same as the Deluxe Oceanviews with the added square footage of a verandah. 

Deluxe Family Oceanview staterooms with verandahs have an extra pull-down bed and can sleep up to five.

Concierge

Concierge is the highest level of room choice, and it comes with a lot of added benefits. You’ll have service from the moment you book your trip until the end. A dedicated crew will help you with anything you need.

Guests have the option of a one- or two-bedroom suite, both with verandahs. The one-bedroom sleeps five while the two-bedroom sleeps seven. There are also Royal Suites and Family Oceanview staterooms. These offer unparalleled luxury and have ample space.

Activities

The Wonder has several swimming areas. Goofy’s Pool is the large pool where most of the kids go. There’s a small water slide, a splash area for babies, and an interactive splash pad for bigger kids.

Many daily activities include Bingo, trivia, dance parties, character meet and greets, and more. You can also check out the Wide World of Sports to play some games with other guests.

Entertainment

The Wonder has two theaters. One shows films while the other is home to Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, and The Golden Mickeys. Guests can hang out with Pixar characters at the Pixar Pals Party or Frozen favorites at the Frozen Deck Party. 

Dining

Your tickets package on the Wonder includes all-inclusive dining. This package includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even room service. Dining includes sit-down meals and quick service meals, and there are also plenty of snack spots around the ship. There are also signature dining experiences for adults that have an additional fee.

The Wonder has three dining rooms for sit-down meals. These operate under a rotating schedule so that each guest gets to sample each restaurant, and your waiter moves with your restaurant. These restaurants are Tiana’s Place, Animator’s Palate, and Tritons.

Just for Kids

Kids under the age of three can attend the It’s a Small World Nursery. Unlike the other kids ‘ clubs, this interactive childcare center is an additional charge, but it’s worth it for tired parents who need a night out.

The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab cater to kids between the ages of three to ten. The Club has several different play areas and offers experiences with Marvel and Frozen characters. The Lab is more educational with experiments, art, and cooking. Kids can move between the two spaces.

Edge is the club for kids between 11 to 14. They can dance, watch movies, play video games, and just hang out with others their own age. There are also activities like trivia, a scavenger hunt, and DJ-ing lessons. The Vibe is the hangout for kids between 14 to 17. They can lounge around with friends or take part in guided activities.

Just for Adults

While the kids are at one of the clubs, plenty of areas are designated just for adults. There are several bars, nightclubs, and lounges with live music and other entertainment. Adults can also enjoy their own pool, spa, and fitness center.

For adults who want a top-level dining experience, Palo is exclusively for adults. Please note that Palo does come with an additional fee.

Special Events

Guests can choose to sail on select themed and holiday cruises. Pirate Night includes a deck party and fireworks over the water. You can also book a trip for Christmas and Halloween cruises.

Disney Dream

The Disney Dream is part of the larger class of Disney cruise ships. It entered service in 2011. With 1,250 staterooms, it can carry up to 4,000 guests. It’s 40% larger than the Magic and Wonder. Guests can expect more crowds but also plenty of new features.

Destinations

The Dream travels to the Bahamas to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. It also goes to the Caribbean and Mexico. 

Staterooms

Like the Magic and Wonder, the Dream offers four classes of staterooms for a total of ten types of staterooms. These specifically aim to accommodate different family sizes and budgets.

Inside

Inside staterooms are the smallest and least expensive rooms. The standard rooms are 169 square feet and can sleep three-four. They include a queen bed, sofa sleeper, and a pull-down bed.

Deluxe rooms are slightly larger. They’re the same configuration, but the deluxe is 204 square feet and has an additional half bath. Neither standard nor deluxe feature outside views, but they have a Magical Porthole that shows real-time views of the ocean.

Oceanview

Deluxe Oceanview rooms have the same configuration as the Deluxe Inside staterooms but have an actual porthole. Deluxe Family Oceanview staterooms are even larger at 241 square feet and sleep three to five. They contain a queen bed, sleeper sofa, pull-down bed, and wall pull-out bed.

Verandah

These rooms are similar to the Deluxe Oceanview rooms but have added square footage for a verandah furnished with deck furniture. The pull-down bed features a mural from Peter Pan.

Deluxe Family Oceanview staterooms have almost 300 square feet of space, making them larger than the Deluxe Family Oceanview rooms. They also include the furnished verandah and the Peter Pan mural. 

Concierge

Concierge staterooms are the pinnacle of luxury on the Disney Dream. There are three different types of Concierge staterooms: Royal Suite, One-Bedroom Suite, and Family Oceanview stateroom. All include a verandah. 

Concierge rooms also come with extra amenities, like assistance with almost anything to do with your trip before, during, and after your cruise. Your family will have to worry about nothing but having a magical time.

Activities

There are plenty of on-board activities going on throughout the day, like trivia, bingo, dance parties, character meetings, and more. You can also do a Muppets-themed scavenger hunt. A sports deck has lots of fun for budding athletes.

One of the biggest parties is the Pirates of the Caribbean party. It’s now been split into two parties: one for smaller kids and one for older passengers. The party includes fireworks over the water.

There’s a large family swimming area on deck with two pools, one with a waterslide and another near a large video screen. There’s a toddler splash pad area nearby as well. The highlight of the Dream is the Aquaduck, the first water coaster at sea. Kids will love the ups and downs and twists and turns. 

Entertainment

There are two theaters on the Dream. One shows Broadway-caliber shows like The Golden Mickeys and Beauty and the Beast. The other shows Disney films for both younger and older viewers.

Dining

As with other Disney cruise ships, dining is all-inclusive, with a few exceptions. You can eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks with the option of quick service, table service, and room service. 

There are three main sit-down restaurants on the dream: Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, and the Royal Palace. Guests get to rotate between the three so that they have the opportunity to sample all restaurants during their trip.

Just for Kids

For an additional fee, babies and toddlers can stay at It’s a Small World Nursery. They’ll be cared for by trained cast members while parents enjoy an evening out.

For kids between three and 11, there’s the Oceaneer’s Club and Lab. A private hallway joins these two areas so kids can go back and forth freely. These two areas allow kids to play, explore, experiment, and more. There’s plenty of time for free play, but there are also structured activities like crafts and cooking lessons.

They also added two new areas, the Millennium Falcon and Disney Infinity. Both areas give kids an innovative way to play with the Force and interactive video games. 

Older Kids

Older kids can visit one of the teen lounges: Edge (11 to 14) and Vibe (14 to 17). These clubs allow teens to socialize with new friends. They can play video games and watch films. There’s also dancing and cast-led activities. 

Just for Adults

While the kids are enjoying the kids’ clubs, there’s lots of fun for adults as well. There’s an adults-only pool, spa, and fitness center. Adults can also hit up both of the adults-only restaurants, Remy and Palo.

The ship has plenty of bars and lounges. Adults can have a drink and enjoy some live entertainment. Those who enjoy beer and wine can participate in beverage tastings.

Special Events

Guests have the option to choose from a few themed cruises for even more magic. You can celebrate holidays like Christmas, Halloween, New Year’s Eve, and Thanksgiving on themed cruises.

Disney Fantasy

The Disney Fantasy is currently Disney’s newest ship. It entered service in 2012 and is the sister ship to the Dream and can carry up to 4,000 passengers.

Destinations

The Disney Fantasy currently travels to the Caribbean.

Staterooms

Like the Dream, the Fantasy has four stateroom categories and ten different types of staterooms.

Inside

Standard and deluxe inside staterooms can accommodate three to four guests. All have a queen bed and sleeper, and some include a pull-down bed. Deluxe staterooms are slightly larger as they have an added half bath.

Oceanview

Deluxe oceanview staterooms are the same as deluxe inside rooms but have one or two portholes for a view outside. Deluxe family staterooms can sleep up to five and have added square footage.

Verandah

These rooms are the same as the deluxe and deluxe family staterooms but have an added verandah for enjoying time outdoors.

Concierge

Concierge rooms are the largest rooms on board. Guests can choose between a family stateroom, royal suite, or 1-bedroom suite. All staterooms have a verandah. This class comes with extra services, like planning before and during your trip and dedicated cast members.

Activities

Activities include deck parties, trivia, games, and impromptu dance parties. There’s a sports area for any athletes in your group. Pirate Night is a fun party for all ages and ends with fireworks over the sea.

Entertainment

The Fantasy features two theaters, one with films and another with live-action shows based on Aladdin and Frozen. 

Dining

Dining is all-inclusive with your package. You’ll get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks from a variety of restaurants and room service.

The Fantasy features three sit-down restaurants: Animator’s Palate, Royal Court, and Enchanted Garden. You’ll get a chance to try each during your cruise.

Just for Kids

As with the other Disney cruise ships, small kids can spend time in It’s a Small World Nursery (for an added fee) while parents enjoy some alone time. 

Older kids can visit the Oceaneer Club and Lab. These areas feature interactive spaces inspired by some of Disney’s most beloved characters and Marvel superheroes.

Tweens and teens can hang out with their peers at the Edge and Vibe clubs. If kids want something a little more structured, there are guided activities. 

Just for Adults

Adults can dine at one of Disney’s signature restaurants, Palo or Remy. They can also visit several clubs and lounges with beverages and live entertainment.

Special Events

In addition to the holiday-themed cruises, one of the highlights of the Fantasy is Star Wars Day at Sea. Fans can enjoy unique character experiences, parties, and events.

Disney Wish

The Wish sets sail in 2022 and is sure to be as innovative as you’d expect from Disney. There are plans for new Star Wars– and Marvel-themed experiences and a Frozen-themed restaurant.

The AquaMouse is a new waterslide that combines exciting drops with a classic video experience. Guests will also enjoy an interactive AR storytelling experience with their phones.

Parting Thoughts

Each of the Disney cruise ships has something unique to offer. The one you choose will depend on the type of experience you want. Whether you choose one of the smaller, classic ships or one of the newer, larger ships, your Disney cruise is sure to be remarkable.