Disney christened their newest ship, the Disney Wish this morning in Port Canaveral and it was great show. It got me thinking, why do people choose Disney Cruise Line ? Let’s set sail – Disney style. Disney does cruising and does it amazingly well, but what sets them apart from other cruise lines?
DCL
Disney Cruise Line started operating as the Magical Cruise Company Limited in 1996 with the Disney Magic. DCL currently has 5 ship, with the Disney Wish’s inaugural sailing (as of the writing of this article) July 14 – 19, 2022. The operate the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Alternately two additional Triton class ships will be joining the fleet in 2024 and 2025.
Disney Cruise Line owns Castaway Cay, a private island in the Bahamas. This island is designed to be an exclusive port of call for Disney’s ships. With snorkeling, a family beach, a water park and so much more, this private island is a great port of call while on your cruise. They even offer a special 5k run on the island for guests that want to add a special medal to their collection.
Lighthouse Point will be joining the DCL family in 2024. Another private destination for guests, this 700 acre property is on the southern end of Eleuthera, Bahamas. Set in the culture of the Bahamas, it will pay homage to the local customs, the people and the ancestry of the islands.
The Fleet
All of DCL’s ships are officially registered in the Bahamas, with different home ports for each. Starting with Disney Magic on July 30, 1998 and then followed by the Disney Wonder in August 1999. These two ships are the first in the industry to be designed as a family cruise liner, to appeal to adults and children on the same trip. Each ship features 875 staterooms and are considered “sister ships”.
The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy joined the fleet family in January 2011 and March 2021, respectively, as the next set of “sister ships”. They are two decks taller than the previous ships and have 1,250 staterooms each. The Disney Dream was the first ship to have a water coaster.
Another magical extra of each ship, the horns, affectionally known as the “Mickey horn”. Playing the opening seven-note theme of “When You Wish Upon a Star”, from Pinocchio. In addition to the traditional horn, each ship has their own unique songs to also play. The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy include tunes on their horns, not heard on the other ships. The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder also have “It’s a Small World” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” When docked in port next to each other, the ships have been known to have a Mickey horn contest, it’s such a fun site to see.
Along with all the Disney touches throughout the ship, each one, on the outside has special characters. They all have a Bow/Atrium/Aft character and a special Godmother/Godchildren.
The Ships
Disney Magic – Passenger capacity of 2,700 in 875 staterooms. Its home port is Rome and the Godmother is Patricia Disney. Patricia was married to Roy Disney, Walt’s brother. The characters are Sorcerer Mickey, Heisman Mickey and Goofy.
Disney Wonder – Passenger capacity of 2,700 in 875 staterooms. Its home port is Vancouver and the Godmother is Tinker Bell. The characters are Steamboat Willie, Ariel, and Donald and his nephews.
Disney Dream – Passenger capacity of 4,000 in 1,250 state rooms. Its home port is Miami and the Godmother is Jennifer Hudson. The characters include Captain Mickey, Admiral Donald, and Sorcerer Mickey.
Disney Fantasy – Passenger capacity of 4,000 in 1,250 staterooms. Its home port is Port Canaveral and the Godmother is Mariah Carey. The characters are Sorcerer Mickey, Mademoiselle Minnie, Dumbo and Timothy Q. Mouse.
Disney Wish – Passenger capacity of 5,555 in 1,254 staterooms. Its home port is also Port Canaveral and the Godchildren are all Make-A-Wish kids. This includes all past, present and future children. The characters are Captain Minnie, Cinderella and Rapunzel.
The Disney Touch
As mentioned before, the Disney Cruise Line is a step above. They not only have the fine dining, the high end shops, and the special shows (that can rival any broadway production). They have amazing kid’s clubs and even movie theaters to watch the newest releases. Water slides, all the free ice cream you can eat, and soft drinks/tea included for all passengers. Hidden Mickeys throughout the ships, and special adventures, like the Midship Detective Agency, are just a few of things that make Disney Cruise Lines stand out. There are different amenities on each ship and this is where your favorite Enchanted Adventures agent comes in. We specialize in Disney Cruises and can help you find the perfect ship and perfect itinerary for magical sailing.
