Following recently updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have updated our face covering requirements for sailings originating from a U.S. port of departure. Beginning March 11, face coverings on Disney Cruise Line will become optional in most indoor locations throughout our ships.
Guests ages 2 and up, including those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, will still be required to wear face coverings in the Walt Disney Theatre. Guests under 5 years of age who are currently ineligible to be vaccinated will be required to wear face coverings in Youth Activities spaces and in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique; and, while not required, we continue to strongly recommend these Guests wear a face covering in all other indoor locations.
Face coverings may be required in ports of call based on local government requirements, including in some areas at Disney Castaway Cay. Masks should also be worn in the cruise terminal during the boarding and screening process, as well as during disembarkation.
The below SeaMail will be sent to Guests on the following sailings beginning at 1 p.m. today:
Disney Wonder – March 11 to April 17, 2022
Disney Magic – March 11 to May 8, 2022
Disney Fantasy – March 11 to May 28, 2022
Disney Dream – March 11 to May 30, 2022
For more information, please visit the Disney Cruise Line Know Before You Go page.
Dear [Guests on Travel Agent Bookings],
All of us at Disney Cruise Line hope you and your family are staying well. Considering recently updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have updated our face covering requirements for sailings originating from a U.S. port of departure, including your upcoming sailing:
For sailings beginning March 11, 2022, face coverings on Disney Cruise Line will become optional in most indoor locations throughout our ships. Guests ages 2 and up, including those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, will still be required to wear face coverings in the Walt Disney Theatre.
Guests under 5 years of age who are currently ineligible to be vaccinated will be required to wear face coverings in Youth Activities spaces and in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique; and, while not required, we continue to strongly recommend these Guests wear a face covering in all other indoor locations.
As previously shared, face coverings are not required in outdoor locations while onboard our ships.
Face coverings may be required in ports of call based on local government requirements, including in some areas at Disney Castaway Cay. Masks should also be worn in the cruise terminal during the boarding and screening process, as well as during disembarkation. Please be sure to review the information available on the Know Before You Go section of our website for answers to many frequently asked questions.
We appreciate you sailing with us and look forward to welcoming you aboard.
Diets be warned! When going aboard the Disney Cruise Line, the belt bucket tends to get a little tighter just by looking at all the amazing cruise food! There are plenty of places aboard to grab a quick meal and an ice cream or two. We are thankful; however, Disney has superb table service restaurants that are part of the rotation dining offered on all four cruise ships. Check out the notes below to help with your rotational dining experience if traveling as a family with young kids in tow!
1 – What Is Rotational Dining?
This concept was new to us before we cruised! Rotational Dining means that each night of your cruise, you’ll have a scheduled place to dine. You’ll “rotate” through the three restaurant venues offered aboard the Disney Cruise Line. This means if your cruise itinerary is longer than three nights, you’ll double up on a few of the restaurants. All rotational dining restaurants are included in your overall cruise price, so no bill comes at the end of your meal unless you’ve purchase alcohol with your meal.
2 – Three Venues on Each Ship
Which ship are you cruising with? Each ship has a different lineup of rotational dining restaurants, including the following:
Disney Magic: Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s, Rapunzel’s Royal Table
Disney Wonder: Animator’s Palate, Tiana’s Place, Triton’s
Disney Dream: Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace
Disney Fantasy: Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, Royal Court
You’ll receive your dining schedule in advance, so you’ll know where to be each evening. You can also find it on the Navigator Cruise App when on board. You may also dine at one or more of these locations for breakfast or lunch. You’ll also have a chance to dine at some of the restaurants for breakfast.
3 – Themed Dining
The best part is that each restaurant has themed dining, which makes for a perfect distraction for the kids! Our kids’ favorite was Animator’s Palate, which is available on all of Disney’s ships. As you enter Animator’s Palate for dinner, the room starts off very plan with a few splashes of color here and there. But as the dinner progresses, the room starts to come alive with color. There are also multiple screens where Crush from Finding Nemo will come and talk with you at the table! It’s a real-time conversation, so prepare your kids that they may be asked a question or two.
4 – Pick the Early Dining Slot
Part of the booking process for the Disney Cruise is to request a dining slot. There are two options, including Main Seating (5:45pm-6:15 pm) and Second Seating (8 pm – 8:30 pm). If your kids are anything like ours, the 8 pm dining time is simply too late. Especially after a full day in the sun with lots of activities, having them sit down to a meal at that time is our worse nightmare! So, be sure to request that early dining slot. Keep in mind this is only a request, so the earlier you book, the better chance you have to get the dining slot you want.
5 – Be on Time
We understand being on time can be super tricky for families with young kids! Try to haul your kids away from the pool or other activities well before your dining time to get them dressed and ready for dinner. If the meal time says 5:45 pm, the service will start at that time. A family was sitting near us that came in closer to 6 pm, and their servers were extraordinarily polite but obviously had to rush through appetizers and entrees. Plan to arrive on time!
6 – Dining Dress Code
What to wear? Swimwear and flip-flops are not allowed in rotational dining restaurants. In other words, don’t expect to run right from the pool to dinner. In general, think of casual wear. Nice jeans or slacks and a polo shirt are appropriate for guys. Girls can wear jeans and a nice top, or dresses/skirts are welcome. There is one night that is an optional dress-up night, and some people really do go all out for this! There is also a pirate night on many of the cruises which allow you to come to dinner in your pirate wear. Our recommendation is that whatever you dress the kids in, remember they will be eating, so make it comfortable. You don’t want it to be something that will make you upset if they spill or get food on it. Each night our little guy kept asking if we were going to church because we kept putting his casual church clothes on!
7 – Same Wait Staff
The best part of the Rotational Dining Experience, in our opinion, is having the same wait staff. Your two serves follow you from restaurant to restaurant. This is such an exceptional experience because they learn your kids’ names and what their preferences are. Our kids started feeling comfortable around them and looked forward to seeing their buddies each evening for dinner! Servers may also perform a magic trick or two if they see your little one needs a good distraction. Our kids were blown away by this! We even saw one server cutting the food for a little girl, so Mom didn’t have to. You can tell they have been well-trained in how to work with kids and how to make it an exceptional experience for them… which makes it all the better for us adults.
8 – Picky Eaters & Allergies Rejoice!
If you have a picky eater or a child with allergies, you’ve come to the right place! The Disney Cruise Line is the cruise for you because Disney knows how to handle these issues beautifully. First of all, the kid’s menu has a fairly good selection each night and does try to change it up for the kids. On the other hand, our little guy wanted Mac and Cheese each night – and that’s exactly what he got. If it’s not on the menu, don’t be afraid to ask for it because the staff may just be able to work their magic. Our daughter is in that awkward tween stage where a kid’s meal might not be enough food, but an adult meal is too much. There were times when she got something small (like an extra bowl of fruit) to make the kid’s meal a little larger. When talking about allergies, the staff is excellent at handling these allergies with the help of the Chef. If you need the Chef to come to talk with you, they will make that happen. Even better, since it’s the same staff that follows you to each restaurant, you don’t have to repeat everything all over again the next night. The staff knows and accommodates beautifully.
9 – Great Atmosphere for Kids
To be honest, we were nervous about rotational dining. We didn’t know what to expect! We were worried that our 3-year-old wouldn’t care to sit to eat when there is a ship full of things to do. We also didn’t know if our 10-year-old would think some of it was too childish. We were pleasantly surprised at how much they both loved it! The noise level was a bit loud, so that alleviated our concerns about our little guy being too loud. From previous cruise experiences, our parents said the later dining slot is much quieter than the first. The only complaint we had is how full it seemed. The tables were close, and there are a lot of people dining at once. On the flip side, our kids thrived off this atmosphere.
10 – Room Service Anyone?
We get it. Sometimes you have great plans to make it somewhere on time, but so-and-so is having an epic meltdown because they have had nothing but sugar and fun in the sun all day. Occasionally you need to regroup, and sitting down to dine just isn’t going to happen. Go ahead and plan to stay in your room for the night and order room service. You’ll miss that rotation of dining, but room service is still included in your package (minus the tip). Sometimes a little quiet time is exactly what kids need.
New enchantment awaits families aboard the Disney Wish, setting sail this July. From indulging in “Inside Out”-inspired treats to going on a picnic with “Frozen” friends to immersive shows featuring Disney Princesses, villains and heroes, the newest Disney Cruise Line ship has been expertly designed to deliver endless fun for the whole family.
“Family is at the heart of everything we do,” said Laura Cabo, portfolio creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “When we set out to design the next generation of Disney cruise ships, we wanted to provide families with more opportunities than ever to make lasting memories together and to experience Disney storytelling in completely new ways. Whether it’s a new take on a guest favorite experience, like our signature sweets shop, or an immersive show in a first-of-its-kind venue like Luna and Hero Zone, there will be no shortage of family fun aboard the Disney Wish.”
Inside Out: Joyful Sweets
Inside Out: Joyful Sweets will emphasize the sweeter side of life. In this dazzling dessert shop inspired by the Pixar film, guests will find an abundance of handmade gelato, ice cream, candy and novelty treats for purchase. This brightly colored wonderland, designed to resemble the control center inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind where her emotions guide her through everyday life, will feature sculpted figures of the film’s five main characters and glowing Memory Orb light fixtures.
The shop will offer nearly 40 flavors of gelato and ice cream, with daily handcrafted gelato specials in decadent combinations like peanut butter pretzel and white chocolate raspberry. Whipped cream, fruit compotes and sauces will be freshly made in-house to complement a wide selection of tasty toppings.
Signature treats inspired by the film will include colorful cupcakes that evoke the five emotions — Joy (lemon), Sadness (blueberry), Disgust (pistachio), Anger (red velvet) and Fear (bubble gum) — and chocolate Memory Orbs filled with sweet candy remembrances. Specialty macarons and cake pops will join the assortment of handcrafted truffles, designer cookies, indulgent brownies and vibrant candy offerings.
Olaf’s Royal Picnic
For the first time ever, guests can join their favorite “Frozen” friends for a summertime picnic in Arendelle during a premium entertainment experience specially designed for families with children ages 3 to 12. At Olaf’s Royal Picnic, guests will interact with Olaf, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff like never before and delight in live musical performances of beloved songs like “Let It Go,” “Fixer Upper” and “In Summer.”
Under the expert direction of Baroness Dagmar Birgir — a lively lady-in-waiting to Queen Anna — castle staff will serve up delicious summer treats and picnic fare for the whole family to enjoy. The hall will be decked out in summer splendor just for the occasion, with a canopy of colorful flowers among the festive decor. Children will receive an assortment of gifts and keepsakes, including a reversible troll plush, themed picnic blanket and custom Nordic-style mandolin, which they’ll need for a special “Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People” strum-and-sing-along with Kristoff. What’s more, from royal proclamations to unexpected visitors, the show will be jam-packed with surprises worth melting for.
Guests who have booked a Disney Wish cruise may reserve Olaf’s Royal Picnic before their sailing for an additional fee.
Immersive Storytelling and Interactive Shows
As previously announced, Disney Cruise Line is combining innovative design and technology to create the next generation of family entertainment venues aboard the Disney Wish: Grand Hall, Luna and Hero Zone. These imaginative environments will come to life with immersive storytelling and interactive shows that put families front and center as they play a part in the magic.
Grand Hall
The fairytale castle-inspired Grand Hall will evolve from a gathering space into an enchanting theaterthrough the magic of built-in special effects and the first-ever atrium stage on a Disney ship.
A royal greeting will await families as they enter the glittering Grand Hall for the first time. Every child will receive their very own wishing wand upon embarkation, which they will use to make the “First Wish” of their vacation during a special boarding celebration.
During the sailing, families can attend a royal gathering of magnificent proportions as Disney Princesses descend into the Grand Hall to meet and greet with guests.
The Grand Hall stage will conceal a host of Disney friends during “Who’s Behind the Curtain?”, a playful game show where guests answer questions to reveal the identity of hidden characters.
On the final night of every sailing, cruisers will return to the Grand Hall and raise their wands with Fairy Godmother to ignite a spectacular farewell show featuring favorite characters, special effects and lively performances.
Luna
This brand-new entertainment hub — outfitted with a two-story LED screen wall, stage and bar — will offer a variety of live shows designed for families to laugh, sing and compete together.
“Villains Game Night” is a witty game show where guests will attempt to answer Disney trivia questions amid the jeers and sneers of nefarious Disney foes, including Cruella de Vil, Gaston, Hades, Maleficent and more, who will join on screen.
“Disney Songbook” will put guests in the spotlight as they belt out Disney songs and showcase their star talent for a live camera crew, who will project each performance onto the big screen.
During the live grand finale event for Disney Uncharted Adventure, an all-new interactive experience that uses guests’ mobile devices to unlock hidden adventures aboard the ship, families will team up with other cruisers to battle an infamous Disney villain.
Hero Zone
Introducing a completely new category of active family play to the Disney Cruise Line portfolio, Hero Zone isa futuristic sports arena where physical activity will blend with imagination, offering highly produced show experiences in addition to free-play sports.
Families will test their strength, speed and stamina during the Incredi-Games, a high-energy game show featuring an elaborate obstacle course of over-the-top physical challenges, each inspired by the dynamic characters of Pixar’s “The Incredibles.”
Now with more fanfare than ever before, the guest-favorite Disney Cruise Line experience Jack-Jack’s Incredible Diaper Dash will offer terrific tots the chance to compete for the coveted title of Diaper Dash Champion as they speed-crawl across a 20-foot track amid the cheers (and chuckles) of family, friends and adoring fans.
More Fun Throughout the Ship
In true Disney Cruise Line fashion, the Disney Wish will offer a robust menu of world-class entertainment infused with more Disney storytelling, bringing to life the fantastical worlds and beloved characters at the heart of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars adventures like never before. Families will embark on a splashtacular adventure with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse aboard the first-ever Disney attraction at sea; revel in a royal celebration during a theatrical dining experience with “Frozen” friends; team up with the Avengers on a Marvel cinematic dining adventure; travel to a galaxy far, far away in a first-of-its- kind Star Wars experience on board a Disney ship; delight in an original, Broadway-style theatrical production of “The Little Mermaid”; and so much more.
Maiden Voyage and Inaugural Season
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.
To learn more about the Disney Wish or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact their travel agent.
The Disney Wish hit the water for the first time today when it floated out of an enclosed building dock at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Marking the world’s first look at the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the major construction milestone was celebrated in true Disney style with fireworks, musical fanfare, and a special appearance by Captain Minnie Mouse.
It took about five hours and 29 million gallons (110,000 cubic meters) of water from the River Ems to flood the building dock, followed by a breathtaking exit as the ship sailed out with only 3 feet of clearance on either side.
When it sets sail this summer, the Disney Wish will be filled with innovative new experiences steeped in Disney storytelling, including the first-ever Disney attraction at sea, immersive dining experiences themed to “Frozen” and Marvel, and a high-end lounge set in the Star Wars galaxy. The ship will sail its maiden voyage on July 14 from Port Canaveral, Florida.
The Disney Wish is the first of three new Disney Cruise Line ships to be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard through 2025. Each will be powered by liquefied natural gas and weigh approximately 144,000 gross tons.
To learn more about the Disney Wish or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact their travel agent.
Disney Cruise Line has just announced that it is delaying the debut of its newest ship, the Disney Wish, at Port Canaveral this summer.
The newest member of the Disney Cruise Line fleet was first announced in 2019 and was originally to begin carrying passengers in January of 2022, but because of the pandemic, construction of the giant floating Disney getaway was delayed.
The most recent date announced for her maiden voyage was June 9, 2022, but citing delays at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the Disney Wish now has a debut date of July 14, 2022.
“We know how much our Guests are looking forward to sailing on the Disney Wish, and we understand the disappointment and inconvenience this will cause,” said Disney Cruise Line President Thomas Mazloum in a press release. “We treasure the relationship we have with those who sail and make memories with us, and we will work closely with those affected to welcome them aboard in the future.”
The new delay means that the first 12 sailings offered aboard the Disney Wish have been canceled. Now Guests will need to either rebook or request a refund. Disney Cruise Line is offering Guests impacted by the cancelations a 50% discount on any booking through December 31, 2023.
Construction on the giant ship first began in 2020 at the shipyard. The Disney Wish boasts a first-of-its-kind 2,000-foot suite inside one of the ship’s iconic red funnels (as seen below). The Wish Tower Suite can sleep up to 8 Guests on two stories, and it has 4 1/2 bathrooms.
The Disney Wish is bigger than her sisters the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy, which were delivered in 2010 and 2011, respectively. They were the largest ocean liners built in Germany at that time. Both the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy weigh 129,690 gross tons, are 339.5 meters (1113.8 feet) long, and are 36.8 meters (120.7 feet) wide.
The Disney Wish, however, weighs a hefty 135,000 gross tons, is 341 meters (1118.8 feet) long, and is 41 meters (134.5 feet) wide. She stands a Goliath 221 feet tall, and has 15 decks–10 of which have cabins–and 1,254 staterooms, including 53 concierge staterooms and 23 concierge suites, and can accommodate around 4,000 passengers. More than 900 of those cabins connect to one another to make traveling with families and other large groups more enjoyable.
The Disney Wish’s sisters are set to take over from the Disney Dream the three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas. Those sailings include stops at Disney’s Castaway Cay. The Disney Dream will be moving to Miami on June 7, 2022, and the Disney Fantasy will remain at Port Canaveral, offering seven-night sailings to Guests.
