You won’t have to worry about giving up the magic while out at sea. With the Disney Cruise Line, the magic goes with you.
Your family will get to experience all of the fun and excitement of the ship with the extra special touches that only Disney can provide.
If you love the Disney theme parks, then you will love your cruise experience aboard one of the ships.
History & Overview:
Disney Cruise Line first set sail in 1998 with only one ship. They wanted to create a cruise experience that the whole family could enjoy together.
Cruising became a popular vacation choice for the family quickly. Today the cruise line has four ships in their fleet, with a few more set to sail over the next few years.
Destinations & Itineraries:
Although the fleet is small, only four ships, the cruise line actually travels to many destinations across the globe.
There are both short and long itineraries for you to choose depending on the destinations and time of year. You can sail in the Caribbean, including a stop at their private island (Castaway Cay), Alaska, and Europe.
Disney Cruise Line is able to cover most of the popular ports of call throughout the year. With more ships on the way, they will be able to visit even more places over the next several years.
Cruise Ships in the Fleet:
Disney Cruise Line has a very small fleet, only four ships. The fleet comes in two different classes. They are:
Magic Class:
The Magic Class features two ships, the Magic and the Wonder, and carries approximately 2,700 passengers. They were built in the late 90’s, but have been refurbished since then and look beautiful.
These are more intimate ships so you will easily be able to find your way around while enjoying all of the activities and entertainment choices onboard the ships.
If you are looking at doing a more unique, longer itinerary then these are the ships for you. They give you the traditional cruising experience with the extra magical moments that you expect from Disney.
Whether you are partying the night away with the characters or enjoying the storytelling atmosphere during dinner, you will not be disappointed.
Dream Class:
The Dream Class features two ships, the Dream and the Fantasy, and carries approximately 4,000 passengers. They were built in 2011 and 2012 and feature unique touches and high-tech experiences with a Disney twist to them.
These are much larger ships with dining, activities, and entertainment options not found on the Magic Class ships.
You will have not only the amazing main dining rooms that each offer a unique theme and experience, but also two specialty dining restaurants that you can enjoy while on the ship.
Please note: The specialty restaurants are high-end dining venues and are for adults only.
Dining Options on Disney Cruise Line:
Complimentary Options:
There are three main dining rooms on each of the ships. All of the dining rooms have set dining times. A unique feature of these restaurants is that you rotate between them throughout your cruise.
Each of the dining rooms has a different theme and experience for you to enjoy. Your servers will rotate with you so they can get to know you and make the dining process smooth and stress-free.
They will get to know both your likes and dislikes. No need for you to worry about explaining things to new people each night.
Like with all things Disney, you won’t be bored while eating in the main dining rooms. There is always entertainment for you to enjoy and special Disney magic that happens each night.
Other dining options include the buffet, the various quick service spots throughout the ship, and room service.
Pro Tip: The buffet is table service for dinner and you don’t need reservations to dine there.
Specialty Dining Options:
There are two specialty restaurants, Palo and Remy, that will give you a more high-end dining experience. These restaurants are for adults-only, so they are perfect for a romantic dinner for two.
Palo is found on all four of the ships and Remy is on both the Dream and Fantasy.
Entertainment Options:
These are large ships so you will have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to entertainment. Each of the ships offers a Disney Broadway-style production show for you to enjoy, from Tangled to Frozen.
These shows are amazing and both children and adults will enjoy them. There are also several other shows and acts in the theater during your cruise.
You also have themed nights (such as the pirate’s night), the sail away party, the special deck parties, you will even get to enjoy a celebration with fireworks out at sea.
You will also have live music in the various venues around the ship, comedy shows, game shows, trivia games, and more.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Disney vacation without character meet-and-greet opportunities. You will have several opportunities for them throughout your cruise vacation.
Pro Tip: There are several special themed sailings throughout the year, such as Star Wars, Marvel, Halloween, & Christmas. These cruises feature special events and activities for you to enjoy.
Activities Onboard:
Disney has one of the best kids club you can find. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone really. Your kids will get to enjoy special events, activities, and character interactions during this time.
You will also find pools, water slides, the fitness center, and the spa. You will also have the opportunity to see Disney films that are still in the movie theater for free onboard the ship.
There are several adults-only areas and experiences that you can enjoy away from the kids. You can also enjoy some wine and cocktail tastings.
These cruise ships offer plenty of options for everyone in the family to enjoy while on the cruise. Please note: There is no casino onboard any of the Disney ships.
What’s included on a Disney Cruise Line Cruise?
- Cruise ship room accommodations
- Complimentary dining options (main dining rooms, buffet, quick service, etc)
- Room service
- Soda
- Entertainment Options
- Pools & Spas
- Fitness Center
- Most activities throughout the day and evening
- Live music and performances around the ship
- Kid’s Club Program (nursery is an additional cost)
What’s not included in your cruise cost?
- Specialty Dining Restaurants (Palo & Remy)
- Gourmet Coffees and Teas
- Spirits, Beer, or Wine Tastings
- Alcoholic beverages
- Internet access
- Spa Treatments & Salon Services (18% gratuity automatically added on)
- Shore Excursions
- Gratuities (Currently $13.50/person per night)
- Tips (A 15% tips is added onto any alcoholic drinks you order, so check your receipts)
What is Disney’s dress code?
During the day the dress is casual throughout the ship. There is usually at least one formal night, and sometimes a semi-formal night depending on the length of the cruise.
On these nights you are expected to dress nice. You also need to dress nice for the specialty dining restaurants. On the themed nights you can choose to dress in costume and participate or not. It is entirely up to you.
Should you choose to sail on Disney Cruise Line?
This cruise line offers you a fun, magical experience that your whole family will love. You can enjoy a cruise vacation that is family-friendly without sacrificing on quality and service.
These ships offer you tons of activities and entertainment options with some Disney magic thrown in for good measure. If you are a Disney lover then this choice is a no brainer for you.
However, if you are going with just adults and aren’t Disney enthusiasts then this might not be the right choice for you.
We recommend Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises as good alternatives for you to check out.
Also, this cruise vacation is more expensive than some of the other cruise lines.
If you are on a budget, but want a cruise vacation that the whole family will enjoy we suggest you check out Royal Caribbean as a good alternative.
Have you been on Disney Cruise Line? What are your thoughts on this cruise line? We would love to hear from you in the comments below.