The 2 Types Of Disney Cruise Line Ships Explained
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Disney may be a giant in the vacation business, thanks to its many theme park and resort complexes around the world. But in the world of cruising, its a relatively small player.
Disneys 23-year-old cruising arm, Disney Cruise Line, only operates four vessels a small fraction of the number youll find in the fleets of cruisings best-known brands. The worlds two biggest cruise lines, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, by comparison, have 25 and 24 ships in their fleets, respectively. MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line have 18 and 17 ships, respectively.
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What this means if youre thinking about going on a Disney cruise is that its relatively easy to get a handle on your ship options much easier than it is at a line like Royal Caribbean.
At first blush, you only have to figure out the differences between four different ships. But, in fact, its even easier than that. While Disney has four ships in its fleet, the four vessels can be bunched into just two groups of two similar vessels. If you know one member of the group, you know them both.
Disney Signature Experiences Unit
Soon after a March 2018 conglomerate wide reorganization that formed Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment division, Disney Cruise Line and New Vacation Operations was renamed Disney Signature Experiences along with a new president, Jeff Vahle.
Disney Cruise Line purchased in early March 2019 another Bahamas destination, Lighthouse Point property on the island of Eleuthera from the Bahamas Government. The cruise line was looking for another Bahamas location since the announcement of the third ship expansion in 2016.
In February 2020, Disney Wonder moved its home port to New Orleans. From March 14 until further notice, Disney Cruise Line ships have suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sailings resumed in July 2021 in the form of “Staycation Cruises”, closed loop cruises of 2 to 4 nights from the United Kingdom ports of Liverpool, Southampton, Newcastle, and Tilbury for London.
The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy entered service in January 2011 and March 2012, respectively. These ships were built at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. These new 129,690-ton ships are 339.5 m long and 36.8 m wide. They are two decks taller than the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder and have 1,250 staterooms each. The Disney Dream was the first ship to have a water coaster.
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Which Disney Cruise Ship Is The Biggest
Want to know which cruise ships are the biggest in Disneys fleet? Two vessels tie for that distinction. According to Travel Agent Central, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy each weigh in at 130,000 gross tons. Compare that to the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, which weigh 83,000 gross tons each.
Its also worth noting that Disney plans to expand its fleet from four ships to seven. Travel Agent Central reports that three new ships set to start sailing in 2021, 2022, and 2023 are the lines biggest ships yet. These ships dont yet have names, but theyll weigh in at about 140,000 gross tons each.
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South African Crew Member Aboard Norwegian Breakaway May Have Omicron Variant
A South African crew member aboard Norwegian Breakaway is suspected of carrying the Omicron variant, the cruise line confirmed Tuesday amid a larger outbreak aboard the ship.At least 17 crew and passengers aboard Norwegian Breakaway have tested positive for COVID-19, with one South African crew member believed to be infected with the Omicron variant.< img
Disney Parks Experiences And Products
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Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Inc., formerly Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and informally known as Disney Parks, is one of ‘s six major business segments and a subsidiary. It was founded on April 1, 1971, exactly six months before the opening of at in , , just outside of .
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What Are The Differences Between The Disney Cruise Ships
Touring Plans reports that the size and feel of the staterooms are quite similar across all four Disney cruise ships. But other things differ, such as the slides and pools, the youth clubs, the restaurants, the nightclubs, and other activities. And dont forget about one of the most critical factors: the itineraries. Often, if youre trying to figure out which Disney cruise ship is the best for you, you can narrow down your options by checking which ships offer the itinerary you want.
Need to compare your options? Disneys got you covered. On the Disney Cruise Lines website, you can dig into all the details of the attractions and amenities offered on all four of its ships. But all of those details get overwhelming pretty quickly. Need a quick overview? Here are the highlights:
All Four Of The Disney Cruise Ships Lined Up Together In France
Kevin KoszolaPlease note: some posts may contain affiliate links which means our team could earn money if you purchase products from our site
The Disney Cruise Line fleet is showing an impressive display in Brest, France. The ships assembled for an epic family photo of the Disney Magic, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wonder.
The fleet is using the shipyard in Brest, France for dry/wet dock to get the ships ready for the eventual restart. No details have been shared publicly on the work being done, but at this time the Disney Dream and Disney Magic have been out of water in the dry dock berth at the shipyard.
You can see a video of the Disney Cruise ships in the YouTube video below.
Its a historic moment for Disney Cruise Line since its the first time all of these ships got together in one spot. Its such a rare opportunity to see all these ships. Many Disney Cruise fans are in awe of the amazing opportunity to see these family of ships reunited.
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How Many Cabins Does Each Disney Cruise Ship Have
Cruise ships cabins are a huge subject for cruisers, for some its such a big decision. Which deck, where on the ship and which cabin grade? The rule of thumb is if you suffer from seasickness choose a cabin on the middle of the ship lower down. The cabin grade is personal choice.
However Disney has implemented the virtual portholes in cabins on the Fantasy and Dream, to give inside cabins an extra appeal. Especially when you can expect visits via the porthole from some of your favourite Disney characters.
Disney Wish inside cabins will contain a celestial scene featuring original artwork, where an enchanting message from the Fairy Godmother reveals itself when the upper-berth bed is pulled down .
An Introduction To Disney Cruise Line Ships
As noted above, Disney Cruise Line is a relatively small player in the cruise world even smaller than it might at first appear.
Not only does Disney have far fewer ships than the big cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian that dominate the cruise business, but Disneys ships also arent as big as the biggest ships operated by those brands, and they dont carry as many passengers.
That makes Disney Cruise Line an even smaller brand, relative to the big lines, on a passenger capacity basis.
For instance, cruise giant Royal Caribbean has six times more ships than Disney. But on a passenger capacity basis, based on double occupancy, Royal Caribbean is 10 times larger than Disney Cruise Line.
That said, Disneys cruising division is about to get a lot bigger, fast. After going a decade without adding a new vessel, Disney Cruise Line is in the midst of building three more ships that will debut over the next four years. The new ships will nearly double the lines size when measured by passenger capacity.
The new ships also will give Disney fans an entirely new class of ships to get to know, as they wont be sisters to any of the lines existing vessels. Disney already has come up with a name for the new group: The Triton Class.
Still, for now, Disney has just two classes of ships in its fleet. Disneys two oldest vessels, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, make up its Magic Class. Disneys two newer vessels, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, make up its Dream Class.
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For The Kids: The Oceaneer Club
Children will also enjoy a feature called the Oceaneer Club, which hasn’t been utilized on any of Disney’s previous four cruise ships.
Sticking with the first-of-its-kind theme, children enter through a secret entrance that essentially looks like a small, round portal. Upon entering, it turns into a slide that whisks them into the Oceaneer Club. Sorry adults, it’s not for you. They noted there will also be an adult entrance its called a door.
The Oceaneer Club is for children ages 3 to 12 and has several unique experiences.
The Superhero Academy will allow young passengers to train with some of their favorite characters, such as Spider-Man, Black Panther, Ant Man and The Wasp, and they can also choose and make their own superhero costumes.
In Fairy Tale Hall, they’ll will be able to enjoy the Rapunzel art studio, where they can make their own pictures the Belle library themed for “Beauty and the Beast ” and Anna and Elsas Summerhus themed for “Frozen.”
The third new feature for kids is the Imagineering Interactive Lab. Here, they can design their own roller coaster, then ride it virtually.
Everything You Need To Know About Disney Cruise Ships
Disney Cruise Linefamily-friendly stateroomsCurious about which shipDisney Wonder
As the original Disney Cruise Line vessel, the Disney Magic retains its charm while embracing a collection of modernizations and upgrades to feel good as new.
Onboard Entertainment
Three Broadway-style shows are performed on the Disney Magic: “Twice Charmed,” a twist on the Cinderella story “Disney Dreams An Enchanted Classic,” an original show with cameos by characters like Peter Pan and Aladdin and “Tangled: The Musical,” Disney Magics signature show featuring stunning sets and beloved songs from the film.
In addition to nightly live music, magic shows, comedy performances at Fathoms and karaoke, families can take in Marvel, Pixar, Disney and “Star Wars” films currently in movie theaters at the full-size Buena Vista Theatre. On the outdoor upper decks, the Wide World of Sports offers basketball and ping pong, a selection of pools and hot tubs and the famed AquaDunk waterslide, with a 3-story drop.
Exclusively For Kids
Whisk down a Slinky Dog slide in the “Toy Story”-themed Andys Room area, join the Lion Guard or learn hero-worthy lessons from Thor within a MARVEL Super Hero Academy its all part of Disneys Oceaneer Club, open to children ages 3 through 12. There are even more exciting Disney experiences throughout Disneys Oceaneer Lab, Vibe teen club and Edge tween club, all included with Disney Cruise ship sailings.
Experiences For Adults
Disney Dining
Special Events
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The Leader In Family Cruising Will Grow Its Award
CELEBRATION, Fla. As previously announced in 2016 and 2017, Disney Cruise Line is building three additional cruise ships, each of them showcasing the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and unparalleled service that only Disney can deliver.
The ships will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.
We pride ourselves on the unforgettable vacation experiences we deliver to our guests each and every day, and the expansion of our Disney fleet will allow us to create even more magical memories for families at sea and in incredible cruise destinations around the world, said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company.
The three new ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas and, at approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
First Details on Newest Ship
Disney Cruise Line revealed the highly anticipated name of the fifth Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wish, as well as a first look at the ships elegant, three-story atrium and the iconic Disney character that will adorn the ships stern.
The Disney Wish is expected to set sail beginning in summer 2022.
There couldnt be a better name for our incredible new ship because making wishes come true is part of the Disney DNA and is at the heart of so many of our cherished stories, said Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
Disney Cruise Line
More About The Disney Wish Cruise Ship
All four previous ships began their departures from Port Canaveral, with destinations in the Bahamas, including Disneys privately owned island, Castaway Cay.
The Disney Wish will be in the Triton Class. It will include 1,250 staterooms and 4,000 guests, just like the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, but at 144,000 gross tons, it will be about 15,000 gross tons more than both ships.
One of the most important improvements is that the Disney Wish will be the first Disney vessel powered by liquefied natural gas. This clean-burning fuel significantly reduces emissions over more traditional marine bunker oil, thereby lessening the ship’s environmental footprint.
The Disney Wish is the first of three new ships that will join Disneys fleet by 2025.
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Oceaneer Club And Oceaneer Lab For Children Ages 312
All four Disney ships have amazing spaces for kids in the 3- to 12-year-old range in the Oceaneer Club and Lab. Here youre going to find things like video games, an indoor slide, fun programs with the staff, surprise character visits and so much more. Your kids do need to be potty trained to stay in this club, so use that as motivation for a kid approaching 3 years old before your next cruise!
Your kids dont need an appointment to pop in here, they can come anytime from open to close and it stays open pretty late.
There will be open hours on the first day and select times on other dates that parents can stay with kids and play, but most of the time it is kids-only.
Your kids will check in and out by scanning a special MagicBand that also tracks where they are exactly within the kid clubs.
Once your child turns 8, you have the option of giving them self check-out privileges. We did not quite feel comfortable with that at 8 years old, but it is a choice and youll get a notification on your Wave phone when your child checks in or out of the kids club.
While kids up to 12 are welcome in the main, large Oceaneer Club, they may start hoping to move up to the tween club by the time they are 10 years old.
Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship
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Disney Fantasy Overview
Disney Fantasy the sister ship of Disney Dream was launched in 2012 as Disney Cruise Lines latest ship. Guests can choose between a seven-night Eastern or Western Caribbean cruise. This ship has a length of 1,114.8 ft and a gross tonnage is 129,750, and, like Disney Dream, the cruise ship has an onboard guest capacity of 2.500 and 4,000 with a crew of over 1,400.
We love Disney Fantasy and so do other Guests!
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Disney Fantasy Dining
Disney Fantasy offers Rotational Dining between the always entertaining dinner show named Animation Magic at its Animators Palate restaurant. The ships other dining locations include the magical Enchanted Garden and fairytale dining room of Royal Court while the casual dining options include Cabanas, Flos Café, and snacks at Eye Scream and Frozone Treats. The Northern Italian cuisine of Palo and French-inspired Remy provide a few upscale and intimate options for adults.
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Disney Fantasy Entertainment
Disney Fantasy onboard activities include a water roller coaster called the AquaDuck, the nightclub district called Europa, several pools, pubs, theatres, and more!
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Disney Fantasy Activities for Kids
Like the other Disney cruise ships, Disneys Fantasy cruise ship has plenty of individual and instructor-led activities geared to kids of all ages.
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Second Disney Cruise Ship Resumes Cruises From Florida
Disney Fantasy becomes the second ship in the fleet to resume cruise operations in the U.S. after departing with passengers from Florida.
After being away for eighteen months, the magic has returned onboard Disney Fantasy. The ship sailed from Port Canaveral on Saturday, September 11. It is only the second Disney cruise ship to resume operations in the United States since the industry shutdown in March last year.
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