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Which Disney Cruise Ship Should I Choose?

Which Disney ship should I choose?

So you have decided you definitely want to sail with Disney Cruise Line. You are ready for the Broadway-caliber Disney shows, Disney characters, themed dining rooms, exciting deck parties, and so much more. But, you are now faced with a choice. A possibly easy but also very hard choice. Which Disney Cruise ship should I choose?!

Overview of the ships

The Disney Magic was the first Disney Cruise Line ship launched back in 1998. The Disney Wonder quickly followed in 1999. These two ships brought Disney Cruise Line to the forefront in the cruise line industry. Then in 2011 and 2012 the Disney Dream and Fantasy set sail joining the other two.

Wall on Disney Cruise ship
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Front of Disney Wonder
Disney Dream back of ship

All four ships are reminiscent of classic ocean liners with their double smokestacks, sleek lines, nautical styling and interiors greatly influenced by the styles of the early 20th-century. Although, you will not mistake them for any other line with their distinctive Disney accouterments–Mickey head logo on the stacks, striking gold scroll and Mickey Mouse head detailing on the bow and stern of the ship along with 3D Disney Characters hanging from the stern. Then, throughout the interior of the ship Disney art is on the walls, crafted into the railings, woven into the carpets, and hidden for your enjoyment. Definitely Disney–so fun but so elegant and classic.

The Disney Magic and Wonder are very similar ships. They definitely have differences but the size, passenger capacity, and general arrangement of the ship are almost the same. These ships are smaller and hold less passengers but the staterooms are a smidgen larger. Both of these ships have been reimagined multiple times so they are as up-to-date as the other ships.

The Disney Dream and Fantasy have more amenities because they are larger ships and have more room. They are 151 feet longer, 35 feet taller, and 15 feet wider. Due to three additional passenger decks, the Dream And Fantasy are able to hold 50% more passengers and crew. These ships added “virtual portholes” in inside cabins, the Aqua Duck waterslide, Midship Detective Agency game, Remy, outside area for teens, and Venellope’s Sweets and Treats.

Note: The larger size of these ships means that you feel the sailing motion a little bit less than the smaller ships.

What to consider when choosing a ship

Destination

For some this will be what chooses the ship. Some destinations only have one ship sailing there so the choice is very easy. But some have multiple ships sailing throughout that part of the world so the decision gets a little trickier.

Where do they sail?

  • Disney Magic — Bahamas, Western Caribbean, Burmuda, Eastern Caribbean, Norwegian Fjords, British Isles, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Western Europe
  • Disney Wonder — Alaska, Bahamas, Western Caribbean, Baja, Pacific Coast, Mexican Rivera, Panama Canal,
  • Disney Dream — Almost all Bahamas, a tiny bit of Western Caribbean, and Eastern Caribbean
  • Disney Fantasy — Bahamas, Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean

As you can see, if you want to sail to Alaska, California, Mexico, or the Panama Canal you will be on the Wonder. If you want to go to Europe then your choice is the Magic. To sail to the Southern Caribbean you will have to be on the Fantasy.

Now, if you want to go to the Bahamas or Western Caribbean you could sail on any ship. So, you might narrow things down by the number of nights sailing, departure port, size of ship, number of stops at Castaway Cay, or time of year you want to sail. Let’s take a look at these options now.

Nights of Sailing and Departure Port

Disney Magic–Since the Magic sails so many different itineraries, you don’t have as much choice of a sailing date if you want a specific cruise destination. Also, the Magic is the only ship out of Miami.

  • 3, 4, 5 Night Bahamian from Miami
  • 5 Night Bermuda from New York
  • 5 Night Western Caribbean from Miami
  • 5, 6, 7 Night Eastern Caribbean from Miami, or one-way from Miami to San Jan, Puerto Rico or New York
  • 7 Night Norwegian Fjords, British Isles, or Northern Europe from Dover, England
  • 7 Night Western Europe from Barcelona, Spain to Dover England
  • 11 Night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland from Dover, England to Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 7 Night Northern Europe from Dover, England
  • 8, 10 Night Northern Europe from Copenhagen, Denmark (10 N from Dover to Copenhagen)
  • 6, 7 Night Mediterranean from Barcelona, Spain
  • 8, 9, 11 Night Mediterranean with Greek Isles from Civitavecchia (Rome) (11N ends in Barcelona, Spain)
  • 13 Night Transatlantic from Miami to Barcelona

Disney Wonder–If you want to sail from somewhere in the US outside of Florida then the Wonder is the ship for you.

  • 4, 5, 6 Night Western Caribbean from Galveston, TX
  • 6, 7 Night Bahamian from Galveston, TX
  • 4, 5 Night Western Caribbean from New Orleans, LA
  • 7 Night Bahamian from New Orleans, LA
  • 14 Night Panama Canal from New Orleans, LA to San Diego, CA and San Diego, CA to Galveston, TX
  • 2, 3, 4, 5 Night Baja Cruise from San Diego, CA
  • 7 Night Mexican Riviera from San Diego, CA
  • 5 Night Pacific Coast from San Diego, CA to Vancouver, BC
  • 7, 9 Night Alaska from Vancouver, BC

Disney Dream–Most all of the Dream sailings are to the Bahamas. You are limited to only a few sailing dates (November) if you want to sail the Caribbean on the Dream.

  • 3, 4 Night Bahamian from Port Canaveral, FL
  • 5 Night Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral, FL
  • 7 Night Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral, FL

Disney Fantasy–Sails to the Bahamas mainly in October and November and Early summer. The rest of the year she is in the Caribbean.

  • 3, 4 or 5 Night Bahamian from Port Canaveral, FL
  • 6 or 7 Night Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral, FL
  • 7 or 8 Night Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral, FL

Size of Ship and Amenities

Disney Cruise line has only two sizes of ships to choose from which makes decisions a little easier. The Magic and Wonder are smaller and the Dream and Fantasy are larger. Remember, each pair are mostly identical in size and the amenities onboard.

Both ships have:

  • Infant, child and tween clubs (slight differences but all awesome)
  • Buena Vista Movie Theater
  • Live Shows in the Walt Disney Theater
  • D Lounge family nightclub
  • Senses Spa and Fitness Center
  • Outdoor sports court
  • Pool Deck with two family pools and Twist and Spout Waterslide, and Nemo’s Reef (splash area)
  • Funnel Vision screen
  • Palo (adult dining room)
  • Three Main Dining Rooms
  • Cabanas Buffet
  • Counter-service food on pool deck
  • Beverage Station and Eye Scream (complimentary soft serve ice cream) on pool deck
  • Adult night-life, Dance club, Live Music, Sports Bar, Pool bar (different themes on each ship)
  • Adult-only area–Quiet Cove has lounge area, pool, cafe, and bar
  • Coffee Bar
  • Shopping and Shutters photo studio (Shutters not on Dream)

Magic and Wonder

  • 2400 passengers
  • 11 passenger decks
  • AquaLab Interactive Play Area on pool deck
  • AquaDunk (only on the Magic)
  • Concierge-only lounge with 270-degree view of ocean (Wonder only)

Dream and Fantasy

  • 4000 passengers
  • 14 passenger decks
  • Goofy Mini Golf
  • AquaDuck water coaster around the ship (no AquaLab on the Dream)
  • Funnel Puddle Wading Pool in front of forward funnel
  • Better Chill Spa for teens
  • Premium Ice Cream Shop
  • Remy (adult dining room)
  • Champagne Bar
  • Martini Bar
  • Upscale “Craft Cocktail” Bar
  • Satellite Falls (another adult-only pool area)
  • Enchanted Art
  • Midship Detective Agency
  • Magical Portholes in Inside Staterooms

Days at Castaway Cay

Waterslide at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Lines private island.

Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island. At Castaway Cay guests get to enjoy so many beach activities and more. Relax on the beach, swim in the ocean, bike around the island, play volleyball, play on the waterslides and splash pad. There is a children’s area with Cast Members from the Oceaneer Club. And also a special area for teens. Guess what, there’s an adult only area too. Plus, all your food is provided, all day long.f

There are many itineraries that stop for one day at Castaway Cay.

  • All Bahamian Cruises
  • Caribbean Cruises out of Florida

Once in a while the Disney Dream will have two stops at Castaway Cay. If you would like to cruise on one of these itineraries get on a list with a Travel Advisor to alert you as soon as they are available.

How else can you get two stops? Often Castaway Cay lovers will take two shorter cruises back to back (b2b) in order to stop at Castaway Cay twice.

So, when you are trying to decide on a Disney Cruise ship which thing will help you choose? Is itinerary most important? The amenities on the ship? Castaway Cay? Let me know below!

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Other links that might interest you:

Cruising

Disney World vs. Disney Cruise: Which is best for your family?

Of course, the best and the most fun option would be to go on a Disney Cruise and also have a great time at Disney World. But for many families, both is not an option. So, decisions need to be made to figure out which vacation is best for your family. Trying to decide between Disney World vs. a Disney Cruise can be tough but my goal today is to give you some things to think about to help with your decision.

I do give my opinion of which I think might be the winner in each circumstance. But, the winner truly depends on your family’s needs so that is why I say “possible winner.”

At the end of this post there is a link to a FaceBook Live I did on this subject but the opinion slants a little toward DCL.

Let’s look at some aspects that you might want to consider:

Disney World vs. Disney Cruise

Location of the vacation

Disney World is in Florida and it always will be.

But your Disney Cruise vacation can begin in quite a few different locations. Money can definitely be saved being able to drive instead of fly or just have less driving time. Plus, you can save a lot of time in transit before and after the vacation if you leave from a port closer to home.

What are the places that Disney Cruises depart from?

  • Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • San, Diego, CA
  • Galveston, TX
  • New Orleans, LA
  • New York, NY
  • Miami, FL (while only 5 hours from Orlando this port is closer for those near Miami)

Possible winner: Disney Cruise

Vacation Accomodations

At Disney World, there are a host of options for your family. There are possibilities from smaller rooms at Disney’s All-Star resorts to 3-bedroom club level suites at the Deluxe Disney resorts. In addition, these rooms are at all different prices that fit budgets for every family. Need a kitchen for your family? Want extended family to stay with you? Or, just want your family to have a bit of room to move around? At Disney World, you can book suites to accommodate these desires. Disney world has thousands of room options available to suit just about any family and just about any need.

On a Disney Cruise, your choices are limited. There are some staterooms that can sleep 5 but most are only for 4 or less. If you have a larger family you must book multiple staterooms (some can connect which is nice) or a suite. Staterooms are also limited in space and don’t provide much room for a family to move around. Extended families might end up booking rooms all over the ship.

Other special considerations: Children under the age of 17 must be booked in a room with an adult over 21. Children cannot be even booked in a connecting room (inside door) to the parents. So, for instance, if a single parents of 4 children wants to book a stateroom they would need to book a suite. This also means that extra thinking if you want to bring a under-21 childcare provider or childrens’ friends you might not want sleeping in the same room.

Possible winner: Disney World

Ease of Communication

Communication at Disney World is pretty simple if you have a cell phone. You can easily text or call your family at any time (as long as you have the proper cell service and battery life).

On a Disney Cruise, communication is quite costly since you are outside of the United States. In order to use your cell phone for calling you must purchase a plan through your cell phone company or onboard the ship. Through the Navigator App you can text other passengers for free but only while onboard the ship.

Possible winner: Disney World

Childcare

While the Disney World parks are super fun for kids there aren’t really any options for your kids to be taken care of while the adults go out and play.

A Disney Cruise is amazing for childcare throughout your whole vacation. Let me list the ways:

  • During the day children can have fun in the kids club appropriate for their age group
  • At dinner children can eat in the kids club or eat with the adults and then half way through be taken to the club so adults can have dinner together.
  • In the evening, kids clubs are open for parents to enjoy the nightlife
  • On port days kids can stay in the kids clubs while parents go on an excursion or just explore the port.
  • At Castaway Cay there special options for kids too

As you can see there are childcare options almost the whole vacation. Note: for children under the age of 3 childcare is limited and must be reserved ahead of time.

Possible winner: Disney Cruise

Variety of Dining Options

Disney World has so many different restaurant options and different types of cuisine. You can find everything from quick-service burgers and fries to five-star meals from gourmet chefs. Do you want Japanese, BBQ, Italian, or African food? It’s all available at Disney World. Also, there are so many snack and dessert choices at the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs. Pretty much anything you could ever want to eat can be found at Disney World.

Food on a Disney Cruise is delicious and of wonderful quality. But the menu is slightly limited and there are only a few different dining locations. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of options to satisfy most any palate but there just isn’t the variety you find at the parks. On the cruise, there are many lovely snacks but they also don’t vary much throughout the vacation.

Possible winner: Disney World

Ease of Dining

At Disney World, there are so many options of where you can eat it can be overwhelming. For table-service restaurants, you need to get reservations ahead and for the really popular ones, you have to do so 180-days before your vacation. That can be stressful! And then you have to figure out how to get to the restaurant from where you are which can take up to 1 1/2 hours on Disney transportation. Easy probably isn’t the correct descriptive word for dining at Disney World.

On the other hand, eating on a Disney Cruise is super simple. You have an already reserved table for your family in the main dining room every night. Even if you don’t want to eat at your assigned restaurant there are only a couple of other options. As I said, super simple!

Possible winner: Disney Cruise

Motion Sickness

At Disney World, you can easily avoid motion sickness. If you are prone to feeling nauseous from movement you can avoid the offensive rides such as the Mountains, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, or Flights of Passage.

On a Disney Cruise if you are prone to motion sickness it is a little more difficult to avoid. The ships are always moving on the water possibly causing a problem for you. There are some things you can do to help like anti-nausea medication or patches, pressure point wristbands, or ginger. For some, taking these precautions, choosing the right ship size or stateroom location is enough for a great vacation. For others, not so much!

Possible winner: Disney World

Access to Health Care

Since Disney World is in Orlando there is excellent health care available within a close proximity. You can easily find an urgent care center or hospital. If you have complicated medical needs you might feel more comfortable being within easy reach of medical care.

On a Disney Cruise they do have medical facilities staffed 24/7 with skilled physicians, but they are not as capable at handling very complicated needs. Plus, since you are outside the United States getting back for medical care can be difficult.

Possible winner: Disney World

Mobility Issues

There is so much walking at Disney World a person should really start training months ahead of their vacation. Those with mobility issues either have to sit and wait a lot for others or get some type of assistance (an ECV or wheelchair). While using an ECV or wheelchair might seem easy the navigation through crowds can prove difficult.

Disney Cruise ships are quite large but there is not nearly as much walking needed. You are always welcome to bring a wheelchair or ECV to make transportation on a cruise ship even easier. Plus, passengers with mobility issues have the option in some ports of choosing excursions created especially for them.

Possible winner: Disney Cruise

Vacation Pace

Disney World parks are very large with a lot of places to go, things to do and see. Most people want to see as much as they can and often find themselves criss crossing the park. This means lots of walking and often hurrying to make the FastPass, restaurant reservation or show on time. By the end of the day they flop into bed with just enough time to recharge for the next day and do it all again.

The pace of a Disney Cruise is quite different. Yes, there are a lot of activities onboard and you could be busy from morning to night but it still doesn’t have the same feel as the busyness of the parks. There isn’t as far to walk and many of the activities wouldn’t be considered active. Not to mention the fact that one of the major activities on a cruise is laying by the pool or sitting on your balcony overlooking the ocean.

Possible winner: Disney Cruise

Pregnancy and Babies

Disney World is a place for all ages and stages. The youngest baby can tag along with the rest of the family for a wonderful vacation together. There will be some rides that baby will have to wait behind with someone while the rest of the family does a rider switch but still a great time. Being pregnant at Disney World is fine at any stage. Granted, all the walking and the heat might not be too comfortable and you might have to miss the big rides but still fun. If you do bring a baby along make sure to take advantage of the Baby Care Center, a quiet respite in the midst of a busy park.

To sail on a Disney Cruise, Pregnant women cannot reach their 24th week at any time during the cruise. Babies must be at least 6 months old (1 year on some, especially longer cruises). . Keep in mind that staterooms are small and so sleeping arrangements with babies can be a little challenging. Feeding young children on a cruise can also pose some difficulties. Potty training is a whole other ball game I am not sure I would want to tackle on a cruise ship. Oh, and children must be potty trained to go in the pools, hot tubs, spas, or waterslides. No swim diapers are allowed (as opposed to the resort pools and water parks which allow swim diapers).

Possible winner: Disney World

Planning Ahead

A Disney World vacation takes A LOT of planning and way ahead of vacation time. Deciding on which resort to stay at and what kind of room can be just the start of the confusion. Dining reservations can be made 6 months ahead (very necessary for popular restaurants) which means you need to have a rough idea of what parks you want to visit each day (or how much you want to park hop). FastPasses can be booked 60 days ahead (if staying at a Disney resort) which takes a little planning of your day. If you don’t plan you run the risk of standing in a lot of lines or not getting to do what you what.

A Disney Cruise, on the other hand, is a bit easier to plan. Sure it may be confusing and take a bit to figure out which itinerary and stateroom are best for your family but that is really easy peasy compare to Disney World planning. You can take some time to plan what excursions you want to experience on port days. But, if you want to be more spontaneous and just wait until you are onboard the ship that is perfectly fine.

Possible winner: Disney Cruise

Character Interactions

Disney World is home to many, many characters. The variety between all four parks is astounding. But, (and this is a big but) you will most likely be standing in a long line to see them. You also have to find them in all different locations all over the park. You could spend all day just getting autographs and pictures.

On a Disney Cruise, there are fewer characters to see. Don’t get me wrong, there is a very good variety of characters just not as many as in the parks. But, you usually don’t wait in line for more than 15 minutes. Character greetings are in the same locations and are scheduled throughout the day. Princess greetings can be scheduled ahead and you get to greet them all (usually 3 or 4) in a short amount of time. And then, at some of the deck parties, you can get up close and dance and sing with them. So fun! Meeting characters is so easy on a Disney Cruise. If you want to learn more about meeting characters on your Disney Cruise then check out this post.

Possible winner: Disney Cruise

Price of the Vacation

Price is most always a consideration when planning a vacation. But it isn’t always cut and dry. Both vacations can be done on a budget or go over-the-top with luxury. Cost depends on the size of your party, desired accomodations, etc. When comparing be sure to compare apples to apples. Don’t compare a value resort with a concierge stateroom or an inside cabin with a verandah cabin. You probably want to include a dining package and park tickets (activities) to mimick the all-inclusiveness of a cruise.

Another thing to consider is that the level of service on a Disney Cruise is fantastic and cannot be quite compared to Disney World resorts. This is definitely something to think about when you are comparing value resorts with even an inside cabin.

It isn’t always true but generally, a Disney World vacation comes out a little less expensive than a cruise.

Possible winner: Can’t say. Too many possibilities.

I hope that giving you these things to think about will help you with your decision. Trying to decide Disney World vs. Disney Cruise can be challenging but I am here for you if you have any other questions! Please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Here is a link to a FaceBook Live I did on this topic (slants a little to DCL)

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Here are some other links you might be interested in:

Disney Cruise Line

What Makes a Disney Cruise Special–Part One

All cruise lines have some great features and things they do well.  But, today, I am going to let you know all the things that I think Disney Cruise does REALLY well.  Things that set them apart from the rest of the pack!

Rather watch a video? At the end of this post there is a link to a live video I recorded on what makes a Disney Cruise special. The post and the video aren’t identical.

What makes a Disney Cruise special. the pool deck.
The Pool Deck

How Disney Cruise Line Excels–Part 1

Accommodations designed with the family in mind.

  • A heavy privacy curtain divides the room between the bed and the couch/drop-down bed which makes the room feel like two rooms. The curtain is so heavy that it really blocks the light from one side or the other.
  • Ample storage is provided. The bed is a little higher bed for under storage. The closet is nice and large for hanging items with a small drawer unit inside. Another cabinet is provided in most rooms as well as a desk/mirror area with multiple drawers, mini-fridge, and cabinet. There is room for everyone’s stuff!
  • Divided bathrooms (found in most deluxe staterooms) are A…mazing! One bathroom has the toilet and sink and the other has a shower/bath with a sink. Since they both have mirrors over the sink two people can get ready at the same time with loads room to move. They are small but AWESOME!

Dining

  • Rotational Dining! Each cruise ship has three different, fantastic restaurants that you don’t want to miss. Upon check-in, you are given your dining rotation between the three dining rooms for your trip. Your servers will move with you to each dining room which means you don’t have to let other servers know your family’s needs and desires.
  • Kid specific meals that are more than just chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese. Plus, kids can order food off of the regular menu if they choose.
  • Activity booklets are provided each night to keep your child entertained during dinner. Also, the Oceaneer’s club leaders will come partway through dinner time to take the children back to the club and you can enjoy the rest of your dinner.
  • Entertainment in some of the dining rooms. Listen to a jazz band, watch your own cartoons come to life, dance with your servers, or have Disney characters dance by your table. One dining room is quieter and without entertainment.
  • 24-hour room service available.

Family Entertainment

  • Evening shows are all child-friendly. You do not have to ever be concerned that the entertainment might not be appropriate for your kids (always consider your child’s age).
  • Many planned activities for the whole family both in the Oceaneer’s Club and Lab and other areas of the ship. Try a family dance party, family crafts or family trivia.
  • Classic and 1st Run Disney movies playing almost all day long in the Buena Vista Theater and the outdoor Funnel Vision.

Fantastic Service

From your Room Steward to your Dining Room Servers to the cast members you see around the boat, you feel like everyone’s mission is to help you have the best vacation ever!

Special Offerings

  • Pirate Night on most Caribbean and Bahamian cruises. You can don a bandana or bring your own Pirate garb to get decked out for the evening party. You might even be treated to some fireworks at sea. How awesome is that!
  • Frozen Night on Alaska cruises. Join Elsa, Anna, Olaf and friends for a day of adventure on the ship, dine on a menu from Arendel, and sing and dance at the evening deck party complete with “snow”.
  • Star Wars Day at Sea. On 7 night cruises, you can spend the day with your favorite characters around the ship and at special meet and greet opportunities (booked prior to the cruise). Indulge your inner child and bring an awesome costume, catch up on Star Wars movies in the Buena Vista Theater, join in special Star Wars activities such as droid racing, Resistance training, and learn the ways of the Jedi. Top the day off with an epic evening with games, music, and a galactic dance party and some FIREWORKS!
  • Marvel Day at Sea. Similar to Star Wars Day but geared all toward the best Marvel characters. Even Mickey and Minnie get into the action by dressing up in Marvel garb. Marvel movies and activities ALL DAY LONG!
  • Halloween on the High Seas (select cruises in September and October). Bring your costumes to really get excited about all the Halloween activities. Join Minnie and Mickey at the Mouse-querade party, try pumpkin carving, be pulled into the world of Tim Burton during an interactive movie with Jack and Sally, listen to haunted stories and trick-or-treat around the ship. This is only the tip of the iceberg of fun!
  • The Very Merrytime Christmas Cruise (select cruises in November and December) is a holiday wonderland. The ships become transformed with holiday spirit. Regular activities take on a Christmas theme as well as some special additions such as the Wonderland Ball and time with Santa.

Watch my Facebook Live on this subject!

What Makes a Disney Cruise Special! Part 1

Next week I will continue with Part 2. There are 7 more really cool things that make a Disney Cruise worth the extra cost. You won’t want to miss outt!

Click here for part 2!

Other Links that might interest you:

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!