What is the Best Disney Cruise Ship?

What is the Best Disney Cruise Ship?

What is the Best Disney Cruise Ship?

This article is your complete guide to finding the best Disney Cruise ship for your Disney Cruise Line (DCL) vacation! Disney has been bringing magic to the high seas since 1998 by giving guests new ways to enjoy a Disney vacation. Since the inaugural ship, the Disney Magic set sail, there have been 4 additional ships added to the DCL fleet for a total of 5 ships. But that garners the question, which Disney Cruise ship is the best? And while no Disney ship is a bad Disney ship, some ships offer experiences that are catered to different groups of people. This means that depending on what ship you book your next cruise on, you could have more or less to do depending on how you want to vacation!

In this complete guide to finding the best Disney Cruise, we are going to break down each ship and give you our list of Disney Cruise ships ranked. DCL has already announced three new ships on the docket with one in the process of being made. This new ship, the Disney Treasure, is scheduled to set sail in the summer of 2024. So be sure to check back here as we may have a new answer to what is the best Disney Cruise ship.

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Best Disney Cruise Ships Overview

From enjoying an almost all-inclusive vacation, to taking in the sights of open water mixed with the magic of Disney. There is no other vacation like a Disney Cruise Line vacation. Currently, there are 5 ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. From oldest to newest there the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Fantasy, Disney Drea, & Disney Wish. But which ship is the best Disney ship? As a current member of the Disney Castaway Club, I can confidently tell you that the Disney Wish is the best Disney Cruise ship. And not just because it’s the newest!

What is the Best Disney Cruise Ship?

• The Disney Wish gets the Golden Mickey Award for being the best Disney Cruise ship. With its ample adult-only spaces, unique kids clubs, weather-controlled recreation area, and one-of-a-kind Funnel Suite, this ship is hands down the best Disney Cruise.

All 5 Disney Cruise Ships Ranked

• Disney Magic
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Wonder
• Disney Dream
• Disney Wish

Let it be known that while this is an article on all 5 of the Disney ships ranked, it was almost impossible to do so. Each ship is carefully crafted to fit an ideal vacation. So no matter if you want to relax, explore, sleep in, or celebrate a milestone with or without kids, there will be a ship that’s better for you. I’ll break down the reasons why each ship landed where it did and what you can expect out of the best Disney cruises.

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All 5 Disney Ships Ranked – Which Disney Cruise Ship is the Best?

#5 – Disney Magic

Destinations: Caribbean, Bahamian, & Mediterranean Cruises

Length of Sailings: 2 – 10 Night Sailings

Number of Staterooms: 875

Dining Options: On Disney Magic, the main rotational dining locations include Lumiere’s, Rapunzel’s Royal Table, & Animator’s Palate. For quick bites throughout the day, you can enjoy food from Duck-In Diner, Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, Eye Scream Treats, Preludes, & Frozone Treats. Additional add-on dining includes the 18+ restaurant Palo and the character dining experience Royal Court Royal Tea. Other dining options include the ship’s everyday buffet located on Deck 9 called Cabanas, as well as 24-hour room service. 

Entertainment Options: Broadway-style shows including Tangled: The Musical, Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story, and Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic. Other live entertainment venues are the Buena Vista Theater, Soul Cat Lounge, Fathoms, Keys, & D Lounge.

Activities for Kids: Kiddos 6 months – 3 years, kids can enjoy the “it’s a small world” Nursery. Ages 3 – 12 can explore Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lounge. 11 – 14 can hang out at Edge, and 14 – 17 have the Vibe area to enjoy. 

Overview: While the Disney Magic comes in last place on our list of Disney Cruise ships ranked, we highly recommend this ship if it’s your first time cruising or you prefer to have a consolidated vacation experience. Since this is the first ship in the Disney fleet, it is the smallest. Everything on this ship is easy to access which makes for a stress-free, low-planned vacation. This ship can be a great option and should be in consideration for the best Disney Cruise ship for families. While there is another ship that I’ve given that title to, the Disney Magic comes in a close second! 

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#4 – Disney Fantasy

Destinations: Caribbean & Bahamian Cruises

Length of Sailings: 5, 6, 7, & 10 Night Sailings

Number of Staterooms: 1,250

Dining Options: Rotational dining locations include Enchanted Garden, Royal Court, & Animators Palate. Quick Service dining throughout the ship includes Sweet on You, Flo’s Cafe, Eye Scream Treats, Frozone Treats, & Senses Juice Bar. Like the Disney Magic, the all-day buffet is Cabanas located on Deck 11. Additional fee restaurants on the Disney Fantasy include the adult-only restaurants Remy & Palo as well as the all-ages character dining Royal Court Royal Tea. Complimentary Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Entertainment: Disney Fantasy’s Broadway-style shows include Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, Disney’s Believe, & Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular. Other locations with entertainment include Vista Cafe, D Lounge, & the Buena Vista Theater.

Activities for Kids: Little ones aged 6 months – to 3 years can enjoy the “it’s a small world” Nursery. Ages 3 – 12 can explore Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lounge. 11 – 14 can hang out at Edge, and 14 – 17 have the Vibe area to enjoy. 

Overview: When I mentioned earlier that ranking Disney Cruise ships was like splitting hairs and this is the perfect example. The Fantasy is the sister ship to the Disney Dream meaning it is nearly identical. The second newest DCL ship falls in 4th place because of the entertainment and destination options. However, this ship is still one of the best Disney Ships for visiting Disney’s private island. While its destinations offer a relaxing cruise experience, the ship docks at limited ports. The downfall of Frozen being the main show on the Fantasy is that it is now outdone by the Arendelle dining experience on the new Disney Wish.

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#3 – Disney Wonder

Destinations: Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, & South Pacific Cruises

Length of Sailings: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, & 10 Night Sailings

Number of Staterooms: 875

Dining Options: Rotational dining locations include Tiana’s Palace, Triton’s, & Animators Palate. Quick Service dining throughout the ship includes Daisy De-Lites, Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, Eye Scream Treats, Pete’s Boiler Bites, & Preludes. Cabanas, the all-day buffet is located on Deck 8. Additional fee restaurants on the Disney Fantasy include the 18+ restaurants Palo as well as the character dining Royal Court Royal Tea. Complimentary Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Entertainment: Disney Wonder’s Broadway-style shows include Frozen, A Musical Spectacular, Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic, & The Golden Mickey’s. Other locations with entertainment include Azure, D Lounge, the Buena Vista Theater, & Cadillac Lounge.

Activities for Kids: On the Disney Wonder, little ones aged 6 months – to 3 years can enjoy “it’s a small world” Nursery. Ages 3 – 12 can explore Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lounge. 11 – 14 can hang out at Edge, and 14 – 17 have the Vibe area to enjoy. 

Overview: For a while, the Disney Wonder held the number 2 spot on our list of Disney Cruise ranking solely for its magnificent destinations. This ship hands down gets the award for the best Disney Cruise ship with the best views. An Alaskan Cruise is regarded as one of the most breathtaking cruises anyone can take. And with the route the Disney Wonder takes, it’s no wonder it’s the oldest ship this high on the list which is the best Disney Cruise ship. To make ranking Disney Cruise ships even more difficult, the Wonder will be the first in the DCL fleet to travel the South Pacific!

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#2 – Disney Dream

Destinations: Bahamian, European, Norwegian, & Mediterranean Cruises

Length of Sailings: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, & 13 Night Sailings

Number of Staterooms: 1,250

Dining Options: Rotational dining locations include Enchanted Garden, Royal Court, & Animators Palate. Quick Service dining includes Venellope’s Sweets & Treats, Flo’s Cafe, Eye Scream Treats, Frozone Treats, Senses Juice Bar, & Preludes. Being the Disney Fantasy’s sister ship there is also the Cabanas buffet on Deck 11. Additional fee restaurants include the 18+ restaurants Remy & Palo and the character dining Royal Court Royal Tea. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Entertainment: The Broadway-style shows include The Golden Mickey’s, Disney’s Believe, & Beauty and the Beast. Other entertainment includes Vista Cafe, District Lounge, D Lounge, & the Buena Vista Theater, & Evolution.

Activities for Kids: Aboard the Disney Dream, little ones aged 6 months – 3 years can enjoy “it’s a small world” Nursery. Ages 3 – 12 can explore Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lounge. 11 – 14 can hang out at Edge, and 14 – 17 have the Vibe area to enjoy. 

Overview: I am partial to the Disney Dream since it was my first ever Disney Cruise.The only reason it is now number 2 on the list to discover which Disney ship is the best is for its newly added destinations. Until 2022, the Dream sailed the Bahamas stopping at Nassau and Castaway Cay. With Disney Wish now taking that sailing location, the Dream has taken on many European and Mediterranean destinations. But the prized possession of this ship is the Beauty and the Beast show. In 2018, the show was named the Best Theatrical Performance by the esteemed International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). It became the first cruise ship production to ever secure this honor.

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#1 – Disney Wish – The Best Disney Cruise Ship

Destinations: Bahamian Cruises

Length of Sailings: 3 & 4 Night Sailings

Number of Staterooms: 1.254

Dining Options: Rotational dining locations include 1923, Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, & Worlds of Marvel. Quick Service dining options are Inside Out: Joyful Sweets, Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods, Wheezy’s Freezies, Keg & Compass, & Cove Cafe. The buffet on the Disney Wish is named Marceline Market. Additional fee restaurants include the 18+ Enchante & Palo Steakhouse and the character dining option Olaf’s Royal Picnic. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Entertainment: Disney Wish’s Broadway-style shows include Disney Seas the Adventure, The Little Mermaid, & Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular. Other locations with entertainment include Nightingale’s, Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge, The Bayou, & Luna.

Activities for Kids: Aboard the Disney Wish, little ones aged 6 months – to 3 years can enjoy the “it’s a small world” Nursery. Ages 3 – 12 can explore Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lounge. 11 – 14 can hang out at Edge, and 14 – 17 have the Vibe and The Hideaway areas to enjoy. 

Overview: I can say with confidence that the Disney Wish is the best Disney Cruise ship. It has an almost endless amount of options to keep guests of all ages busy on its sailings. But it is also by far the most beautifully designed ship in the entire fleet. This is the first ship Disney has veered from the classic “golden age” of cruise liners theme and went with a more mid-century modern interior design. This easily also makes it the nicest Disney cruise ship. It also has many firsts for the cruise line industry. Most notably being the first Disney attraction at sea and the first ever Funnel Suite. That’s right, there is a 2-story almost 2,000-square-foot room in the forward funnel.

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Best Disney Cruise Ship Categories 

If our list of Disney Cruise ships ranked shows us anything is that each Disney Cruise Line vacation has something for everyone. But if you’re looking for a specific type of vacation, I’ve taken some popular vacation experiences and assigned which ship I think is the best Disney Cruise ship for that experience. I enjoy taking Disney Cruise Line vacations for the food and the relaxing experiences a cruise can offer. It all comes down to personal preference! Below you’ll find which Disney Cruise is the best for food, families, adults, & for visiting Castaway Cay!

What is the Best Disney Cruise for Food?

• The Disney Wish is the best Disney Cruise Line ship for foodies. Not only does it have the most restaurants of any Disney ship, but it also has the largest variety of food options to enjoy! The ship has 17 dining options and that doesn’t include lounges that serve snacks! Of those 17 options, you can enjoy almost every type of cuisine you can think of! But I would be remiss to mention that you can enjoy unlimited Premium Mickey Bars on every Disney Cruise ship! That alone makes every ship the best Disney Cruise ship.

What is the Best Disney Cruise Ship for Families?

• Families will find the best Disney ship for their vacation to be the Disney Magic. While it’s important to note that every DCL ship is designed with families in mind, this ship is easier to navigate, sails close to the continental US, and has the benefits of every other ship in the fleet. One of the other main reasons this is the best Disney Cruise ship for families is for the ship-specific locations of Rapunzel’s Royal Table, Tangled: The Musical, and Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story. 

Best Disney Cruise Ship for Adults

• By far the best Disney Cruise ship for adults is the Disney Wish. It has the most adult-only areas and the most adult-designed areas of any Disney ship! I will say that if you’re an adult wishing to enjoy the best spa on a Disney Cruise ship, look into sailing on the Dream of Fantasy. I enjoyed their Senses Spa more than the Wish simply due to the fact the spa on the Wish is located indoors. With the amount of adult-only locations coupled with a more secluded adults-only section of the ship, the Disney Wish takes the cake for the best Disney Cruise ship for adults.

Which is the Best Disney Cruise Ship for Castaway Cay?

• Once again, we have the say the best Disney Cruise ship for Castaway Cay is the Disney Wish. With an extremely close second place to the Disney Fantasy. While about 97% of Disney Fantasy cruises stop at Castaway Cay, 100% of the Disney Wish cruises will dock at Disney’s private island. There will be more options to visit Disney’s private islands with the opening of its new port Lighthouse Point in 2024.

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Best Disney Cruise Ship FAQ

Q: Where is the Best Location on a Disney Cruise Ship?

A: For the best views on a Disney cruise ship, you should aim for the very front or the very back of the ship. But if you’re sailing on the Disney Wonder, you will have no bad view since it is the Disney Cruise’s best ship for views. However, if you are prone to getting seasick and want to minimize movement, the center part of the ship is the best location. For instance, consider reserving Deck 6 Midship on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, Deck 6 or 7 Midship on the Disney Wish, and Decks 7 and 8 Midship on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Being in these midship areas will help reduce the feeling of motion and potential seasickness during your cruise.

Q: What is the Best Deck on a Disney Cruise Ship?

A: The best deck on a Disney ship is going to be two floors below the buffet. There is no doubt you will be heading to the buffet on your cruise. Make life easier by staying closer to the one thing you know you will use every day other than your room! We recommend staying two floors below and getting a stateroom near the stairwell. The elevators will be crowded and usually have a line during peak dining times. So having access to the stairwell will make getting to the buffet easier. It’s also better to not stay right under the restaurant because of the heavy foot traffic and early morning cleaning/set up of the buffet.

Q: What is the Best Side of a Disney Cruise Ship?

A: This comes down to preference on what you want to look at when you’re docked at port. If you stay on the Starboard side or the right side of the ship, you will face away from the dock. If you stay on the left or Port Side of the ship, you will face whatever port you’re at. I enjoy staying on the port side of the ship. This way I’m able to watch the vessel pull in and out of port and also watch people disembark or embark the ship.

Q: Are all Disney Cruises the same?

A: No, all Disney cruises are not the same. While the ships have been released in classes and the classes of ships are built similarly, they are not the same. The Disney Magic and Wonder are one class, the Disney Dream and Fantasy are another, and the Disney Wish and soon-to-be Disney Treasure are one class. The themes of the ships are completely different as well as the restaurants, shows, ports of call, and even themed nights can vary by vessel.

Q: Is the Disney Dream bigger than Disney Magic?

A: Yes, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are larger than the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic. Being the first ships in the DCL fleet, the Wonder and Magic are smaller than the newer ships. The Magic and Wonder come in at a total length of 965 feet while the Dream and Fantasy measure a whopping 1,115 feet long. But all dwarf in comparison to the newest ship, the Disney Wish. The newest ship to the fleet measures a staggering 1,119 feet in length.

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