Disney Cruise Line Announces Fall 2023 Itineraries – Including Holiday Themed Cruises

Disney Cruise Line will offer enchanting fall vacations that take families coast-to-coast in 2023, including special sailings with spook-tacular surprises, holiday cheer and the fleet’s first-ever departures from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With cruises from Florida, California and New York, adults and children alike will discover the wonder of the holidays aboard Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime Cruises.

Holiday Fun on Disney Cruise Line

“We are excited to provide families with experiences that create lasting memories,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Cruise Line. “With offerings for the entire family, specially curated activities for both Halloween and the holidays and a brand-new home port in South Florida, our guests will have more ways than ever to experience the magic of Disney at sea.”

Halloween on the High Seas cruises will return from mid-September through October 2023. Aboard these not- so-spooky sailings, guests will eat, drink and be scary with their favorite characters dressed in Halloween costumes, celebrate the season at Mickey’s Mouse-querade party, enjoy trick-or-treating at sea and more.

From early November through December, Disney Cruise Line ships will be extra merry and bright during Very Merrytime Cruises that celebrate the spirit of the holiday season. On these sailings, Disney magic will take on a whole new meaning with characters dressed in festive garb from head to (mistle)toe, a special tree-lighting ceremony, holiday décor, and special guests – Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Bookings open to the public on July 28, 2022. More details can be found on disneycruise.com.

New Adventures Aboard the Disney Dream

The Disney Dream has new destinations on the horizon for the fall of 2023.

Following its inaugural season in Europe, the Disney Dream will set sail from New York City for the first time. Families will enjoy four-, five- and six-night sailings from the Big Apple to Bermuda, where they will explore the island’s renowned pink-sand beaches, world-class shopping, aquatic adventures and distinctive blend of British and Caribbean culture. Plus, a special four-night voyage on the Disney Dream will transport guests to the charming Canadian seaport city of Saint John.

Starting Nov. 20, 2023, Disney Cruise Line will find a new South Florida home in Port Everglades, offering four- and five-night cruises aboard the Disney Dream to tropical locales in the western Caribbean and Bahamas. Families will enjoy stops in places like Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Nassau from Disney Cruise Line’s second year-round home port, along with visits to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island oasis.

Mexican Riviera Adventures from California

Beginning in mid-October 2023, the Disney Magic will find its home on the West Coast, setting sail from San Diego for voyages ranging from two to seven nights to Baja and the Mexican Riviera. Guests will experience the sparkling waters and beautiful landscapes of Santa Catalina Island, Calif., Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico. An exclusive seven-night Mexican Riviera sailing will feature the breathtaking ports of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas, which are perfect for recreational water activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving.

Tropical Vacations from Port Canaveral, Florida

In the fall of 2023, the Disney Wish and Disney Fantasy will continue sailing from Port Canaveral to tropical destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

The Disney Wish will sail three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas, including visits to Nassau and Castaway Cay.

The Disney Fantasy will offer families even more time to experience Disney Cruise Line’s world-class dining, Broadway-style shows and spaces designed for the entire family during seven-night cruises to stunning destinations in the eastern and western Caribbean.

Disney Cruise Line Named World’s Best by Travel + Leisure Readers

As the Disney Wish sets sail on her maiden voyage in just a few days, we have more exciting news to share: Disney Cruise Line was named the Best Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Line by the readers of Travel + Leisure!

This year marks the fourth in a row – and sixth time in the past eight years – that Disney Cruise Line sits at the top of this list. To generate its annual rankings, Travel + Leisure asks readers to rate cruise ships on the quality of their service, staterooms, food, entertainment, itineraries and shore excursions.

Cast Members and Crew at Disney Cruise Line are proud to know that our guests continue to love their Disney cruise vacations year after year, and we can’t wait for them to experience the Disney Wish soon!

Infused with more Disney storytelling than ever before, the enchanting ship is filled with one-of-a-kind entertainment and innovative firsts. These include the first Disney attraction at sea, family dining adventures themed to “Frozen” and Marvel, an immersive tour of the Star Wars galaxy, interactive virtual quests that unlock hidden magic around every corner, original Broadway-style stage productions, signature fireworks at sea, a real-life wonderland for kids, an expanded collection of experiences exclusively for adults, and more.

The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage on July 14, followed by a season of three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Disney Wish Shows Off New Children’s Areas

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship sets sail on her maiden voyage on July 14, 2022 and with it, families will embark on the vacation of a lifetime. I don’t know about you, but when I think about cruises, children’s activities aren’t typically my first thought. Disney Wish aims to change that!

Aboard the Wish, children of all ages will find an absolute wonderland waiting for them. With areas from the littlest sailor in your crew to the saltiest sea dog, the possibilities are endless! Ever wondered what it’s like to be an Imagineer? On Wish you can be! Have you wanted to train to be a superhero? Wish has got you covered. Perhaps you’ve dreamed of exploring “a galaxy far far away”? Dream no more because your Wish is granted!

Disney Wish prides itself on its storytelling. At the ship’s christening, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said, “[Disney Wish] celebrates nearly 100 years of Disney storytelling excellence, bringing fantastic worlds and beloved characters to life like never before through innovative technology and new approaches…”

The theme of storytelling continues into the children’s areas. Brad Yared, manager of youth activities for Disney Cruise Line explains “There is literally storytelling and immersive entertainment around every single corner here”.

Like all other ships in the fleet, Wish sports areas exclusive to children, but does it just a bit differently. Kids ages 3-12 wanting to spend a parent-free day can check in with a Cast Member from the Grand Hall before being sent down the rabbit hole slide into a variable wonderland of activities! From there the sky’s the limit and imagination is encouraged to be set free!

Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck 

Mickey and Minnie Captain's Deck

For the youngest crewmates, Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck awaits!! This nautical playground is chock full of sensory activities to engage the smallest sailors. Little Kid friendly Disney movies will also be shown as well as guided hands-on activities throughout the day! STEAM activities take center stage in this area with a “learning is fun” approach. Kids will become honorary Captains at “Minnie’s Sea Captain Academy”! Here little captains in training will enjoy games, exercises, and imaginative play with an energetic pace that matches an age group that never seems to slow down. This area will be for toddlers beginning at age 3.

It's a small world nursery

Those brand new to your crew, ages 6 months-3 years, can enjoy the “it’s a small world nursery”. While other kids’ areas are complimentary this service does come with a fee of $4.50 for a half hour or $9/hour for the first child with a .50 discount for additional children.

Older sea-faring scallywags will find a treasuretrove of fun waiting once they enter the Oceaneers Club. Each buccaneer will embark on the adventure of a lifetime in themed areas that will appeal to everyone!

Star Wars Cargo Bay

Grab your lightsaber and prepare to explore “a galaxy far far away” at Star Wars Cargo Bay. Kids will find themselves right in the middle of their own galactic adventure as they embark on a first of its kind interactive adventure! Daniel Gallego, guest experience manager of entertainment with Disney Cruise Line explains, “Kids will have a data pad and they will scan these tags and it will give them all the information they need to learn about the creature, how to feed it and how to take care of it, and they learn about all of them. Of course, there is always a challenge with Star Wars, and something is going to happen, and that’s when Chewbacca and Rey will come.” Um, can I be a kid again? That sounds awesome!

Walt Disney Imagineering Lab

Disney Wish Walt Disney Imagineering club

Your creative crew will let their imaginations come alive at the Walt Disney Imagineering Lab! Here Kids will learn the secrets of Disney Imagineering and what it takes to bring a theme park ride to life! They’ll even get the chance to design their own Rollercoaster and then experience it virtually in the Ride Studio!

Disney Wish Ride Lab

Around the room familiar characters and ride sketches provide inspiration to budding imagineers. Who knows, maybe one of Disney’s brightest imagineers of the future will get their inspiration right here!

Marvel Super Hero Academy

Kids training at super hero academy

Calling all super heroes! This is the place to be for young crime fighters! This brand new area makes its debut aboard Wish and brings the Avengers to life in an amazing way! At “Avengers: Mission Training” kids will be recruited to join the elite squad of superheroes alongside well know heros like Spiderman, Black Panther, and Ant Man!

What super hero is complete without a super suit? Heroes in training will be able to use their magic bands to create their very own!

Storytelling truly comes alive here with activities like “Challenge of the Taskmaster” with Black Panther, “The Power of Pym” featuring Antman, and in what’s sure to be a fan favorite, a demonstration with Spiderman!

Fairytale Hall

Disney wish fairytale Hall

Princesses and Princesses-in-training alike will adore this area full of royal activities. With three rooms devoted to some of Disney’s most popular princesses, your little royal can put themselves directly into their favorite story.

They’ll be able to create floating lanterns in Rapunzel’s Art Studio, interact with their favorite stories in Belle’s Library, and visit Anna and Elsa’s Sommarhaus to create ice magic!

Hangouts

Edge club Disney Wish

For those who have aged out of the Oceaneers Club, Wish has a spot just for them! With chill vibes and action packed activities, kids 12-14 will find their very own areas– Edge, Vibe and The Hideaway. Video games and other tech will be offered as well as a chance to just relax and hang out with their peers.

Hero Zone Sports Area

Disney Wish obstacle course

Parents aren’t left out of all the fun! Wish boasts a sports arena where families are encouraged to play together and solve new challenges! Basketball, volleyball, and even giant chess will be available for families so make sure you bring your game face! The highlight of this action packed area will absolutely be the “Incredi-games” where families work together to overcome a blow up Incredibles themed obstacle course.

Are you as excited about these fantastic areas as we are? With so many options for kids aboard Disney Wish, you may wonder if you’ll ever actually see your kids during your cruise (pssst! The answer is no, probably not)! You know what that means right? More time in the spa and Quiet Cove adult only pool for you! When you board the Wish you can let your kids “EEEEEEEK!” while you let yourself “AHHHH”!  Will you be setting sail on Disney Wish? Let us know what your cruise countdown is in the comments!

First Look–Disney Wish Celebrates Walt Disney’s Legacy

The Disney Wish will offer some amazing dining venues for guests. Disney Cruise Line has given details on two new dining options on the ship: 1923 and Marceline Market.

From a Disney Cast Member;

When the Disney Wish sets sail on its maiden voyage on July 14, guests from around the world will have a brand-new way to experience the magic of a Disney vacation at sea.

Our newest ship is a celebration of nearly 100 years of enchanting Disney stories. Filled with one-of-a-kind experiences inspired by Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar adventures, the Disney Wish embodies the spirit of forward-thinking innovation and visionary storytelling heralded by Walt Disney himself.

In fact, Imagineers were so inspired by the creative hallmarks of The Walt Disney Company that they decided to celebrate this legacy in the design of two beautiful dining venues: 1923 and Marceline Market.

Today, I’m thrilled to give you a first look at these very special spaces, each a loving tribute to the heritage and history of The Walt Disney Company.

1923

Animation has been at the heart of The Walt Disney Company from the very beginning. When Walt and his brother Roy started the company on Oct. 16, 1923, it was Hollywood’s first cartoon studio … and it was only a matter of time before their animated films revolutionized the entertainment industry.

Named for the year The Walt Disney Company was founded, 1923 is one of the three main dining venues families will enjoy each night on board the Disney Wish. This elegant restaurant combines classic Hollywood glamour with a dash of Disney whimsy, providing an inside look at the evolution of Disney animation.

Adorning the walls and ornate glass cases around the restaurant are more than 1,000 drawings, props and other tools of the trade showcasing 16 Disney films that embody the ship’s themes of enchantment and wish fulfillment. Many of these stories also hold a significant role in the history and legacy of the company, such as:

    • “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937), the world’s first feature-length animated film ever.
    • “Fantasia” (1940), a boundary-pushing project that introduced Fantasound (the precursor to stereophonic sound).
    • “Cinderella” (1950), which ushered in a new golden age of animated features.
    • “The Little Mermaid” (1989), a generation-defining classic that paved the way for “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), “The Lion King” (1994”) and other animated tales we know and love today.

Even the menu at 1923 pays tribute to the company’s roots in California, with sophisticated dishes inspired by the fusion of cultural flavors found throughout the Golden State. The diverse menu will mirror the region’s unique blend of Asian, European and South American cuisines and a superlative selection of world-famous Napa Valley wines.

Marceline Market

Long before he was a pioneer in the entertainment industry, Walt was a young boy growing up on a farm in Marceline, Missouri. Considered his most formative years, Walt’s time in Marceline inspired many of the stories he would tell later in life. It’s where he developed a love for animals and steam trains, themes that continue to influence Disney films and theme park attractions, and it’s also the inspiration behind Main Street U.S.A. at our parks around the world.

At Marceline Market — the stylish food hall aboard the Disney Wish where guests will enjoy casual, walk-up dining throughout the day — each of the 10 food stalls is themed to a beloved Disney animated story, from classics such as “Alice in Wonderland” (1951) to more recent films like “Zootopia” (2016). This fun design twist presents favorite characters as honorary “shopkeepers,” offering a wide-ranging variety of freshly prepared cuisines for the whole family to enjoy, including American classics, international specialties, comfort foods, seafood, soups and salads, vegetarian and plant-based fare, baked goods, and desserts.

These enchanting new restaurants are just a taste of the incredible experiences and immersive storytelling awaiting guests aboard the Disney Wish. If you want to see more, tune in next Wednesday, June 29 at 11 a.m. EST for the debut and christening of our newest ship right here on the Disney Parks Blog!

Disney Cruise Line’s Newest Ship Arrives in Port Canaveral

The Disney Wish, Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, has arrived home! The Disney Wish arrived in Port Canaveral in Florida and is gearing up for its inaugural cruise in July.

From a Disney Cast Member;

I’m excited to share that our ship has come in! Just yesterday, the fifth and newest ship in our Disney Cruise Line fleet arrived at Port Canaveral in Florida after traveling nearly 4,768 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean from Bremerhaven, Germany.

This historic moment has been six years in the making, and included classic Disney-style fanfare, beloved characters and, of course, the iconic and fanciful “When You Wish Upon a Star” pouring from the ship’s horn as the Disney Wish sailed into port for the very first time.

Our incredible ship of wishes will immerse guests in Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar adventures in brand-new ways, and is filled with one-of-a-kind entertainment including AquaMouse — the first-ever Disney attraction at sea — all-new family dining experiences themed to “Frozen” and Marvel, and so much more.

I can’t believe that we’re getting so close to the debut of this enchanting new ship!

Be sure to tune in for the Disney Wish christening live at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, June 29 on the Disney Parks Blog or on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok.

The Disney Wish will sail year-round from Port Canaveral, offering a series of three- and four-night Bahamas cruises to Nassau and Disney’s private island oasis, Castaway Cay, beginning July 14. For more information or to book a Disney vacation at sea, visit disneycruise.com.