Virgin Voyages, the cruise line that famously markets itself as being for adults only, has launched a new “Kids Sail Free” promotion for cruises in 2024.
The cruise line claims to have “changed its mind” about kids, but there is a trick. The promotion is real, but of course still only applies to adults – specifically, the kids must be aged between 18 and 26, and travelling with at least one of their parents.
There are some other caveats too, in that it only applies to a second passenger in a cabin, so a child travelling with a parent. If you add a third or fourth guest to a cabin, they will pay full price.
While it’s not completely clear in the T&Cs, I did speak to Virgin who confirmed that two parents could travel with an 18-26 year old child of theirs, and between the three of them they would only pay two fares, as the young adult would be classed as “Sailor 2”.
The offer is available for all cruises in 2024, provided they are booked before 23rd August 2024.
And this offer isn’t available online. Instead, anyone who wants to take advantage will need to call up and book over the phone.
While it may not be an offer that applies to a lot of people, it’s a fun way for Virgin to create some PR. And any adults who’d booked the cruise line specifically because it was adults-only can relax, that’s not changing!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Carnival drinks packages are super popular, but as well as the perks, there are some pitfalls. Before you cruise, be sure that you know this essential info to avoid any hidden charges.
1. Purchase the Cheers package before your cruise to save 10%
When planning your Carnival cruise, it’s a good idea to purchase the Cheers drink package in advance. Doing so will net you a $5 per day discount compared to purchasing it onboard. It’s a no-brainer!
Buy on website
Buy on ship
6 days or more
$70.74
$76.64
5 days or less
$82.54
$88.44
2. Compare the cost of a drink package vs. paying for individual drinks
Before opting for any package, do the math. Consider how many drinks you might consume daily and compare that with the cost of the package.
Sometimes, if you’re a light drinker or particular about your drink choices, paying as you go might be more economical.
You can see Carnival’s drinks menus and prices here. But if that sounds like too much hard work, just use my free drink package calculator. It’ll do the sums for you.
3. If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t get the Cheers package
The Cheers package is best suited for those who enjoy both alcoholic and speciality non-alcoholic beverages. If you mostly drink sodas, the Bottomless Bubbles package will probably be a better fit.
It’s virtually impossible to get your money’s worth from the Cheers package if you don’t drink alcohol.
4. Don’t worry about the gratuity!
The cost of Carnival’s drink packages used to be advertised without the gratuity, so they looked a lot cheaper – the lowest price was from $59.95 per day.
However, laws changed in early 2024 which meant that cruise lines could get in trouble advertising prices without extra fees included in certain US states. For ease, they just decided to update all of their prices to include the gratuity.
So the prices above are the prices you’ll pay – there are no extra fees on top that you need to worry about, like there would’ve been previously.
5. Be aware of local taxes when in US waters
When you use the Cheers package while the ship is docked or in US waters, local state taxes may apply. This is usually an extra 10% on the price of each drink whether you have the package or not, so you’ll want to be mindful of this while budgeting.
6. Don’t go crazy on the first night if you’re sailing from Texas or New York
For cruises departing from Texas or New York, the Cheers package isn’t activated until the second day. So, pace yourself on the first night, as any drinks consumed will be charged individually.
Sure, have some drinks and a good time. But know that if you decide to drink 15 beers on the first night, your bill will be about $120. And that’s a lot more than the package.
7. Discuss with the people in your stateroom before you buy
If you want the Cheers package, then every adult in the same stateroom must purchase the same package. It’s crucial to discuss with your roommates and ensure everyone is on board with the idea before purchasing.
8. Don’t share drinks
Sharing is caring, but not when it comes to the Cheers package. Sharing drinks can lead to potential penalties, including the possible deactivation of your drink package without a refund.
9. Know exactly what’s included in your package
The Cheers package includes:
Cocktails
Spirits
Beer by the glass
Wine by the glass
Sodas
Zero-proof frozen cocktails
Energy drinks
Milkshakes
Smoothies
Juices
Specialty coffees
Hot tea
Bottled water (500ml)
Other non-alcoholic bottled drinks
The Bottomless Bubbles package includes:
Fountain soda by the glass (16 oz)
Juice by the glass (10 oz)
If you order anything except for these drinks, you’ll have to pay for it. I’ll explain some of these that you may not have thought of further along in this guide.
10. Ask your room attendant to empty your mini bar
When you first board your Carnival cruise, you may be tempted to dive into the mini bar in your room. But, it’s important to know that the Cheers package doesn’t cover mini bar items. These drinks and snacks come at an additional cost, and they can quickly add up.
To avoid the temptation and any accidental extra charges, consider asking your room attendant to empty the mini bar on your arrival day. This will not only provide clarity on what drinks are covered under your package but also give you extra storage space in your cabin refrigerator. This comes in handy, especially if you’ve brought along beverages, like the allowable 12-pack of soft drinks or your bottle of wine.
11. Try Carnival’s unique speciality cocktails
Carnival offers a range of speciality cocktails unique to the cruise line. With the Cheers package, make it a point to try them out. It’s a fun way to enhance your cruising experience. And if you don’t like one, it doesn’t matter, you don’t have to finish it!
Carnival ships have some really cool cocktail bars like the Alchemy Bar on Carnival Celebration or the Amari Bar on Carnival Venezia. So your cruise is the perfect time to try a cocktail that you’ve never had before. Like this pineapple rum negroni?
12. Order wine by the glass
Wine is only included in the Cheers package if you buy it by the glass. So don’t order a bottle and don’t use the self-service wine machines either as these will be chargeable.
13. Take advantage of the 25% discount on spirits, wine, or champagne over $20.00 and bottled wines
On some cruise ships, if you order a drink that costs more than the package limit you’ll have to pay for the whole drink. Luckily, that’s not the case with Carnival cruises.
If you’re looking to indulge in a high-end spirit or wine, the Cheers package offers a 25% discount for any beverage priced over $20. This is a great way to enjoy luxury drinks at a reduced price.
14. Don’t order fishbowls
Fishbowls or shared cocktails are not included in the Cheers package. Ordering one would mean paying for it separately, so it’s best to avoid them if you want to make the most of your package.
15. Avoid beverages sold in souvenir glasses
Drinks served in souvenir glasses come with an additional charge, even if the drink itself is included in the Cheers package. To avoid surprise costs, stick to standard glassware.
16. Know how to get around the 15-drink limit
If you have the Cheers package, Carnival limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks in any 24-hour period (6 am until 6 am). For most people, this isn’t a problem. But if you start the day with breakfast mimosas and move on to easy-to-drink beverages like bottles of beer, you may find that you want more than 15.
To prevent guests from consuming too much, Carnival’s system means that it’s not possible for them to serve you any more alcohol once you’ve had your 15 drinks – even if you pay for it.
But what if you want more than that? Well, one method that’s discussed on cruise forums is to wait until you get close to the limit, and then buy one of the larger drinks that’s not included in the package. This could be a bottle of wine, bucket of beers or a fishbowl.
17. Drink as many non-alcoholic beverages as you like
One of the benefits of the Cheers package is that non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited. This includes sodas, mocktails, and speciality coffees, allowing you to hydrate and enjoy a variety without worrying about additional charges.
18. Bring your own wine and soft drinks
Carnival allows each adult to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne and/or 12 cans or cartons of soft drinks onboard. Even if you have the drink package, it can be a good idea to do this.
Remember, that the mini bar in your room isn’t included in the package. So if you want to enjoy a drink on your balcony or while getting ready to head out for the evening, it can be nice to grab something from the fridge in your room without having to go out and line up at a bar.
19. Ask the bartender or server for clarification on drink package rules you’re not sure
If you’re ever uncertain about what’s included in your package or have questions about specific drinks, don’t hesitate to ask the onboard staff. They’re there to help and ensure you have a fantastic cruising experience.
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The bottom line
If you’re savvy, a drink package can be the perfect way to enjoy as many drinks as you want on your cruise, while saving money. But, as you’ve seen, there are a few things to be aware of.
If you’re still not sure whether a drink package is a good idea, be sure to grab my Carnival drink package calculator before deciding whether to buy it or not…
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
But what about MSC Cruises? Who owns MSC Cruises, and what other cruise brands do they own?
Read on for some super-interesting insights into the company behind the MSC Cruises brand…
MSC Seaside in Nassau
Just who are MSC Cruises?
MSC Cruises is a global cruise line based in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in Naples, Italy in 1989. MSC Cruises employs over 30,000 people and has 19 cruise ships, making it the fastest-growing global cruise brand.
MSC Cruises is part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) – the world’s second-largest container shipping operator with 570 container ships.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company has the following divisions:
MSC Cruises – Holiday cruises
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) – Cargo shipping
Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) – Ferries
Società Navigazione Alta Velocità (SNAV) – Ferries
MSC Shipmanagement Limited – Onboard and shoreside crew
Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) – Port operations
MEDLOG – Inland logistics
The MSC Cruises arm of the business is owned by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte and his family, including wife Rafaela, son Diego and daughter Alexa. Gianluigi Aponte is the founder, chairman, and MSC Cruises owner, while his family members all have key roles in the business.
With a net worth of around $17.7 billion in 2022, Gianluigi and Rafaela Aponte are some of the richest people in the shipping industry and the 94th richest people in the world according to Forbes.
The largest privately owned cruise company
This all means that MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company. While other cruise lines are publicly traded and owned by shareholders, MSC Cruises is privately owned by the Aponte family.
Because MSC Cruises is privately-owned, it doesn’t have stock. It’s not possible to buy shares in MSC as you can do with Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line.
The CEO of MSC Cruises is Gianni Onorato, an Italian with 30 years of experience in the cruise industry. He has been the CEO of MSC Cruises since 2013. Prior to that, he was the president of Costa Cruises from 2004 to 2013.
So that’s what MSC stands for!
The ‘MSC’ in MSC Cruises stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company. This is because the MSC Cruises brand is part of the same shipping company that transports cargo around the world.
Shipping containers in Southampton – Can you spot the MSC one?
The timeline of MSC
MSC Cruises was founded in 1988. However, the Aponte family’s involvement in the shipping industry dates back much further. Take a look at the timeline below to learn about the history of MSC Cruises…
1675 – First record of the Aponte family’s involvement in shipping to and from Naples
1970 – Gianluigi Aponte purchases a single ship and founds the Mediterranean Shipping Company
1988 – MSC enters the cruise business with the purchase of the first cruise ship, Monterey
2003 – MSC Cruises invests €5.5 billion on12 new ships to build the world’s most modern fleet of cruise ships
2014 – MSC Cruises invests €5.1 billion on seven new cruise ships and the enlargement of four existing ships
2016 – A further €3.9 billion is invested to build four World-class ships
2017 – A further €2.6 billion is invested to build three more ships
2019 – MSC Cruises’ private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, welcomes its first guests
2020 – MSC Cruises is the first major cruise line to restart thanks to its industry-leading health and safety protocol
Fun fact: Gianluigi Aponte financed the purchase of his first cruise ship, Patricia, without a loan.
An Italian cruise line, but with international flair
MSC Cruises Cruises is an Italian cruise line. It was founded in Naples, Italy in 1989, although it’s now registered in Switzerland with headquarters in Geneva and operations offices in Naples, Genoa and Venice.
MSC Cruises offers cruises all over the world. The cruise line caters to many different nationalities with many languages being spoken on board. Announcements are often made in English, Italian, French, Spanish and German. Entertainment is mainly based around music or visuals such as acrobats and dancers, rather than comedians or lecturers.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Royal Caribbean has announced next year’s President’s Cruise that will set sail in September 2025.
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Royal Caribbean’s President’s Cruise in 2025 will take place on the cruise line’s new ship that just debuted, Utopia of the Seas.
This four night cruise will depart from Port Canaveral on September 22, 2025. It will visit Nassau and Royal Caribbean’s award winning private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. It will also have one sea day.
Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas.
Prices for this cruise start at $965 per person for an inside cabin, $1,062 for an ocean view, $1,268 for a balcony, and Royal Suite Class starting at $3,692.
Royal Caribbean’s favorite leaders will be on the cruise including the cruise line’s president and CEO, Michael Bayley.
Utopia of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s sixth Oasis class ship. It offers three and four night cruises to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise line and they carry more passengers on their ships each year than any other line. They also operate the seven largest cruise ships ever built.
One of Carnival Corporation’s cruise lines has made changes to one of their ship’s itineraries and the vessel will now visit the U.S. for the first time.
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Seabourn, one of the best ultra-luxury cruise lines, has changed Spring 2025 itineraries for Seabourn Encore. The changes were made so the ship could avoid the Red Sea. The original plan to sail westbound from Asia to Europe has been scrapped.
Now, the cruise ship will not only visit the U.S. for the first time, but the vessel will make 18 maiden calls and its first trip through the Panama Canal.
It will sail eastbound from Singapore to Dubrovnik covering more than 20,000 miles. The ship will visit four continents and cross two oceans.
The new voyages will visit 36 ports in 18 countries.
These new cruises will visit the following destinations:
Panama Canal
California
Miami
Hawaii
Mediterranean
Japan
Southeast Asia
There will be extended port visits in Tokyo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cartagena.
The cruises will feature a curated onboard entertainment program, guest speakers and a star-studded line-up of performers.
The cruises will range from seven to 25 days in length and can be combined for longer sailings up to 53 days.
They include the following:
March 2, 2025 – 14-Day Southeast Asia & Japan, from Singapore to Kobe
March 16, 2025 – 25-Day Japan & Hawaiian Islands Pacific Crossing, from Kobe to Long Beach
April 9, 2025 – 19-Day Panama Canal Passage, from Long Beach to Miami
April 28, 2025 – 12-Day Atlantic Crossing, from Miami to Lisbon
May 10, 2025 – 8-Day Western Mediterranean Mosaic, from Lisbon to Civitavecchia (Rome)
May 18, 2025 – 7-Day Amalfi Coast & Adriatic Gems, from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Dubrovnik
Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn, gave the following statement about these new itineraries:
“We are pleased to offer these new and exciting voyages on our beautiful Seabourn Encore to visit and explore a diverse range of destinations. We are proud to mark Seabourn’s maiden visits to two brand-new ports, giving guests the unique chance to experience two enchanting destinations in Japan with our signature ultra-luxury service.”
“We hope guests will take advantage of our special offer and join Seabourn Encore as she sails to a number of destinations for the very first time.”
Guests who book on of these new itineraries by November 19, 2024 will receive 10% off the cruise fare.
The new itineraries are live on Seabourn’s website.
Virgin Voyages, an adults only cruise line, has launched a new promotion where “kids” can sail for free. Well, the cruise line’s definition of “kids” that is.
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By “kids”, the cruise lines means children ages 18-26 who sail with their parents, guardians or caregivers. They will sail for free if you book a Virgin cruise by August 23, 2024 for cruises that depart through December 15, 2024.
“If you’re old enough to vote, you’re old enough to sail” was the thinking that inspired Virgin Voyages’ (cheeky) definition of “children.”
Virgin Voyages is celebrated for their adults-only atmosphere. The cruise line is changing its tune and answering the call of its Sailors (guests) to bring their (adult) children on-board.
Whether your (not so) little ones are about to graduate, head off to college or be bumped from their current health insurance, there’s truly no better way for parents to cruise on an adults only Virgin cruise ship.
Photo Credit: Cruise Fever
Virgin Voyages has made waves since their debut in 2021. They currently have three cruise ships in service with a fourth being added in the near future.
Carnival Cruise Line has announced that it is creating a new class of ship that will be the biggest ever for the company, with three ships set to be delivered.
The new class of ship will measure at “almost 230,000 gross tonnes”, meaning they will be a similar size to the Oasis-class ships sailing for rival cruise line Royal Caribbean, though a little short of the biggest ships in the world, the Icon Class.
The ships will be delivered in 2029, 2031 and 2033 respectively and they are being constructed at Fincantieri, the world-renowned shipbuilder in Italy.
“We are proud to be known as America’s cruise line with tremendous guest loyalty and an outstanding team that has enabled us to deliver memorable vacations to over 100 million guests… For this next generation ship, we are focused on creating innovative guest experiences that will take Carnival Cruise Line into the future with new FUN features and excitement that we know our guests will LOVE.“
Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president
Carnival had already announced earlier this year that two more Excel-class ships would be built for the cruise line, meaning that there will be five brand-new ships joining the fleet between 2027 and 2033.
By 2033, the Carnival Group will have 16 cruise ships powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), with half of those sailing for Carnival Cruise Line, meaning that almost 30% of the fleet will be powered by this cleaner fuel type.
As soon as we hear more on the names of these ships and the name of the new class, I’ll let you know!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Carnival Cruise Line has announced an order for a new generation of cruise ships that will be the largest in their fleet. The ships will be 230,000 gross tons in size and powered by LNG.
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These three new ships will be 50,000 gross tons larger than the current largest in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, their Excel class.
Carnival’s order is for three new ships that will debut in 2029, 2031, and 2033. At 230,000 gross tons, they will be the largest in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet and among the top 10 largest in the world.
They will have over 3,000 staterooms and carry almost 8,000 passengers at a time.
The cruise ships will be the largest ever built by Fincantieri and in Italy.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, gave the following statement about this order for new cruise ships:
“We are proud to be known as America’s cruise line with tremendous guest loyalty and an outstanding team that has enabled us to deliver memorable vacations to over 100 million guests. For this next generation ship, we are focused on creating innovative guest experiences that will take Carnival Cruise Line into the future with new FUN features and excitement that we know our guests will LOVE.”
Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ships were the first to feature a roller coaster. It will be interesting to see what the cruise line has planned for this new class.
“We are doubling down on the growth of Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – to keep up with the incredibly strong demand we continue to see for the world’s most popular cruise line.”
“At this point, our newbuild pipeline is just one delivery in each of 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2031 and 2033. We continue to take a disciplined approach to growth, strategically directing new capacity to the areas of highest demand at a rate of one to two new ships per year.”
These new cruise ships will lead the way in energy efficiency, waste management, and emission reduction technologies.
This order is in addition to the new two more Excel class ships that Carnival Cruise Line previously ordered. This gives Carnival five more new cruise ships on order.
Carnival Cruise Line will announce the homeports and additional details on this new class a ships at a later date.
This new order for three new ships is contingent on financing, but Carnival expects that to be completed before the end of the year.
Disney Cruise Line is one of the more expensive cruise options, but the line offers a really authentic Disney experience, so a lot of people love to set sail on their ships. How much do you know about the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet?
How many Disney cruise ships are there? Did you know that the latest ship was launched in mid-2022? Or that the ships normally come in pairs, but the latest class is breaking that tradition? And do you know what features each ship has?
By the end of this article, you’ll be an expert on the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
Names of Disney Cruise Ships
There are currently five Disney Cruise Line ships in the fleet, with another due to launch in 2024, in 2025, in 2026 and then in 2029.
The Disney ships currently sailing are:
Disney Magic
Disney Wonder
Disney Dream
Disney Fantasy
Disney Wish
The next ship will be Disney Treasure, followed by the Disney Adventure and then Disney Destiny. The 2029 ship doesn’t yet have a name.
Disney Wish
Disney Cruise Ships ranked by age
Here’s a list of the Disney Cruise Line ships in the fleet, ordered by age from newest to oldest:
Ship name
Class
Entered Service
Last Refurbished
TBC
Wish
TBA 2029
N/A
Disney Destiny
Wish
TBA 2026
N/A
Disney Adventure
‘Global’ (TBC)
TBA 2025
N/A
Disney Treasure
Wish
December 2024
N/A
Disney Wish
Wish
July 2022
N/A
Disney Fantasy
Dream
March 2012
2017
Disney Dream
Dream
January 2011
2015
Disney Wonder
Magic
August 1999
2019
Disney Magic
Magic
July 1998
2018
When you rank the Disney ships by age, you can see that the cruise line has left around a decade between each new class of ship. However, the company is definitely accelerating its orders for new ships in the future. Check out this list of the newest Disney Cruise Ships being built to see what’s in store for the next few years.
The older Disney ships are refurbished regularly and still offer a fantastic cruise. I cruised on Disney Magic, the oldest Disney cruise ship, and had a fantastic time, as I did when I cruised on the newest Disney ship, the Disney Wish.
You can read my Disney ship reviews here:
The newest Disney cruise ship is the Disney Wish, launched in July 2022. She is the first of the new Wish class of ships, with two sister ships planned to launch in 2024 (Disney Treasure) and 2025/6. She was christened on June 29th, 2022 before a maiden voyage to Castaway Cay.
One thing that makes Disney Wish unique is that, rather than a Godmother, she instead has Godchildren – officially, all of the children that are a part of the Make-a-Wish charitable foundation. They were represented by three child ambassadors at the Christening event.
Disney Wish float out
It’s also worth noting that, when first announced, the Disney Wish was to be the first of the ‘Triton’ Class. This was later changed, and now the ships follow the same tradition of having their class named after the first ship – so it’s the Wish Class.
Future Disney Cruise ships
While Disney Wish is the first of the Wish-class ships, she won’t be the last. Another three Wish ships have been ordered by the cruise line, with delivery expected in December 2024 and then sometime in 2026 and 2029.
Disney has also announced a new bigger ship, also coming in 2025. The cruise line has purchased the Global Dream from the now-defunct Dream Cruises, and with it will become only the third cruise line in the world to have a ship over 200,000 gross tonnes. Exciting!
The oldest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet is the Disney Magic. She first entered service for the cruise line in 1998 and has undergone multiple refurbishment dry docks since then, the most recent in 2018.
Disney Magic was the first cruise ship in the world to be built specifically for the family cruise market, rather than being primarily aimed at adults. She was also the first ship to feature the famous Mickey Horn, with the horn playing the opening seven notes of ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’.
Disney Magic
Disney Cruise Ships ranked by size
OK, so we’ve covered Disney Cruise Line’s ships by age, now let’s take a look at the sizes, from largest to smallest. Unsurprisingly, the order remains similar:
Ship name
Class
Gross Tonnage
Length (feet)
Decks
Guest Capacity
Disney Adventure
Global
208,000 TBC
TBC
TBC
6,000 TBC
TBA
Wish
144,000
1,119
14
4,000
Disney Destiny
Wish
144,000
1,119
14
4,000
Disney Treasure
Wish
144,000
1,119
14
4,000
Disney Wish
Wish
144,000
1,119
14
4,000
Disney Fantasy
Dream
129,960
1,114
14
4,000
Disney Dream
Dream
129,960
1,114
14
4,000
Disney Wonder
Magic
84,130
964
11
2,700
Disney Magic
Magic
83,969
964
11
2,700
Disney Cruise Ships side-by-side
In the image below, you can see the size of several of the different Disney cruise ships together…
The biggest Disney cruise ship currently sailing is also the newest – the Disney Wish. She was designed to be a more spacious ship, larger than Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, but catering to a similar number of passengers so that guests benefit from that extra space.
The three other Wish-class ships that are due to launch for the fleet in the next couple of years will be a similar size to the Disney Wish, and are expected to have a similar guest capacity too.
The idea is that, while the ships can be slightly bigger, the Disney Wish capacity of 4,000 guests is the right level for now in order to provide Disney’s signature guest experiences.
However the Disney Adventure will be even bigger – so we’ll see how that compares when she launches.
The smallest Disney cruise ship is also the oldest – the Disney Magic. She has a guest capacity that’s around half that of the newest and biggest ships, the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. Along with Disney Wonder, she also has the fewest decks of the fleet with just 11, compared to 14 on the newer ships.
The differences between Disney Cruise Line ships
There are four classes of ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet – Magic, Dream and now Wish, with a fourth currently named Global.
Previously, the ships have been launched in pairs for each class, but the Wish Class breaks the mould slightly since there have been several ships announced.
Here’s how the ships compare:
Size
The Disney Wish of the Wish Class is the current largest of the fleet, being slightly longer and wider than the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, although her guest capacity is the same.
Those ships are significantly larger than the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, which have two fewer decks, are around 150 feet shorter and can only host around two-thirds of the total guests that the larger ships can.
Here’s me with the Disney Wish
Facilities
Each of the Disney Cruise Line ships has unique features, including their own themed restaurants, their own shows and their own water parks.
Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are the smaller ships and so have slightly less to see and do, but you’ll still have multiple water play areas, various restaurants, exciting kids clubs and more. They also offer, on some cruises, themed days where you may enjoy a Pirates night, or hang out with Marvel superheroes.
Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream are bigger and have extra features including more places to grab a unique snack, and the AquaDuck – a water coaster that takes you around the deck.
As the newest ship in the fleet, Disney Wish has the widest choice of facilities to enjoy. As well as the permanent Marvel features and unique Star Wars bar, she has interactive experiences with Disney Uncharted Adventure, the Imagineering Lab, more unique dining venues and the AquaMouse – considered the first true Disney attraction at sea.
Destinations
Here’s a rundown of where each ship sails throughout the year:
Disney Magic – spends the winter season cruising the Caribbean, before crossing the Atlantic to sail itineraries around the Med and northern Europe during the summer months
Disney Wonder – offers cruises to Mexico during winter, and then moves to Vancouver to offer sailings around Alaska in the summer
Disney Dream – Similar to the Disney Magic, she offers Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries in the winter and then cruises around Europe and the Med in the summer
Disney Fantasy – She stays in the Caribbean throughout the year. While other ships tend to offer 3-night and 4-night itineraries, Disney Fantasy offers longer cruises in the region, from 7 to 9 nights.
Disney Wish – The Disney Wish offers sailings in the Bahamas for 3-night and 4-night itineraries
In the Bahamas, the highlight of each cruise is a visit to Disney Cruise Line’s private island – Castaway Cay.
Disney Magic at Castaway Cay
Price
It’s hard to offer a direct comparison of the prices of Disney cruise ships, as they all offer different itineraries over different lengths.
As a guide though, here’s a rough idea of the per-person cost per night on a ‘typical’ itinerary that each ship offers – although remember that this can vary depending on the dates, the stateroom and how many guests are in your party.
Disney Magic – £150 ($180) per person, per night
Disney Wonder – £150 ($180) per person, per night
Disney Dream – £160 ($190) per person, per night
Disney Fantasy – £160 ($190) per person, per night
The best Disney cruise ship that you can book is Disney Wish, but she is also the most expensive and so you need to balance that. She’s the newest ship, and she has some really exciting features to enjoy.
The other ships are also great and have plenty that’s worth exploring too, so it’s not a completely one-sided decision. But Disney is known for its innovation, and so a ship launched 10 years after the next most recent ship in the fleet is bound to have some cool new things to see and do.
Disney Wish has a suite in the funnel!
Other useful Disney ship info…
No Disney ship has ever sunk
One did suffer damage in 2008, when Disney Dream crashed into the pier due to not being positioned correctly to dock. The nearest Disney has come to a sunken ship is the loss of a boat on their Jungle Cruise ride at Magic Kingdom.
Several ships offer Star Wars attractions
The newest ship in the fleet, Disney Wish, offers multiple Star Wars experiences including Cargo Bay, a fun area where kids can ‘feed’ lifelike, interactive galactic creatures and an adults-only Star Wars bar. Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream also both offer Star Wars experiences for kids since their most recent refurbishments.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Norwegian Jade suffered an unknown problem with her propulsion systems which caused her to be late back to Port Canaveral by an entire day.
While this may sound like heaven for those onboard – an extra free day of cruising – instead it was likely to be a significant cause of stress as guests had to rearrange travel plans at short notice.
Guests who had booked flights and transfers through NCL were having changes arranged automatically although there was no guarantee guests could be flown out that day – with plans put in place to accommodate guests who would have to stay overnight in a hotel before being flown home an extra day later.
Other guests who had not booked via NCL were given free internet access onboard the ship to allow them to make their adjustments, as well as up to $300 per person to cover any cancellation or adjustment fees with airlines that weren’t already covered by travel insurance.
Guests onboard were also offered a 10% discount on future cruises as an apology, to be used before 31st December 2025.
This also had the knock-on effect of shortening the next cruise by one day. Guests on that cruise are to be given a pro-rated refund for the day they’re now missing, but the impact was more significant than just shortening the cruise by a day.
The shorter time also meant that the original itinerary was completely changed, with Tortola and San Juan removed from the plans, to be replaced by Nassau. The ship is still set to visit Puerto Plata and Great Stirrup Cay as per the original itinerary.
Guests on that cruise were also given a $100 non-refundable credit to spend onboard the ship along with a 20% discount on a future cruise booked before 31st December 2025.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
