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Which Disney cruise ship is the best? That’s one of the most common questions when planning a Disney Cruise Line vacation, and the answer toadally depends on what kind of experience you're looking for. In this post, we’ll break down the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet: the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and upcoming Disney Destiny. You’ll learn what makes each ship special, how they’re different and which one will be the best fit for your next Disney cruise.
Which Disney Cruise Ship is the Best?
To start, let's take a look at all the ships currently sailing or coming soon to the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Each ship has its own design, Rotational Dining restaurants and entertainment that can make it the best fit depending on what you'd like to experience.
The Disney Cruise Line fleet currently is made up of six ships (with more on the way!). Disney Cruise Line is made up of three classes: Magic, Dream and Triton (also known as the Wish class). We'll first provide an overview of each class and ship and then get into some of the additional similarities and differences below.
Magic Class
The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are the first ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and they are the smallest. Their design is inspired by the golden age of ocean liners, featuring sleek, black hulls with distinctive red funnels with Mickey Mouse silhouettes. The interiors of these are in Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles. This classic design is complemented by modern amenities and Disney's signature storytelling.
Disney Magic (1998)
The Disney Magic is the first ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. It’s a smaller ship but with plenty of Disney touches throughout. Highlights include the AquaLab water play area for tadpoles, the AquaDunk drop waterslide, Animator’s Palate restaurant, where Disney animation comes to life during dinner and Rapunzel’s Royal Table, a Tangled-themed restaurant with live music and character appearances.
Disney Wonder (1999)
The Disney Wonder is the sister ship to the Disney Magic, with a similar size, design and layout. A different feature from the Disney Magic is Tiana’s Place, a New Orleans-style restaurant with jazz music, Cajun-inspired food and visits from Princess Tiana and friends. Just outside, the French Quarter Lounge keeps the theme going with Mardi Gras-inspired drinks and small bites. The Disney Wonder is also known for its unique itineraries. It’s the main ship for Alaskan cruises sailing from Vancouver, BC, and often sails to Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera.
Dream Class
The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are larger than the Magic class and have more features and amenities. The interiors blend classic charm with modern luxury, incorporating newer technology and more spacious public areas compared to the Magic class.
Disney Dream (2011)
The Disney Dream features the AquaDuck, a water coaster that twists and turns over the side of the ship. Kids (and grown-ups) will love the Midship Detective Agency, an interactive mystery game that takes you around the ship. For adults, there’s The District, a lounge area with themed bars such as Pink (a champagne bar) and District Lounge, perfect for a night out while the tadpoles are at the kids clubs.
Disney Fantasy (2012)
The Disney Fantasy is the sister ship to the Disney Dream, with many of the same features, including the AquaDuck and Midship Detective Agency. What makes the Fantasy different is Europa, the adults-only lounge area themed after different parts of Europe. You’ll find Ooh-La-La, a French-inspired champagne bar and The Tube, a British-style dance club. The Fantasy mostly sails 7-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral.
Triton Class
The Triton ships incorporate even more entertainment, attractions and themed spaces, such as the AquaMouse attraction and the Grand Hall, which serves as a froggerific centerpiece of the ship. The Triton Class ships have a different layout from the Magic and Dream Class ships. Instead of feeling like a traditional cruise ship with Disney touches, these ships unfold like a storybook, each space designed to bring Disney stories to life. The theming on the Triton Class ships is truly unmatched.
Disney Wish (2022)
The Disney Wish was the fifth ship to join the fleet and brought a whole new ship design to Disney Cruise Line. It's more character-focused than the earlier ships, with lots of Disney stories woven into the design and experiences. Highlights include the AquaMouse, the first Disney attraction at sea, plus two themed Rotational Dining shows: Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure with live music and characters, and Worlds of Marvel, an action-packed Marvel-themed meal. The Wish sails 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas.
Disney Treasure (2024)
The Disney Treasure is the newest ship to set sail in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. It’s a sister ship to the Wish but has its own adventure-inspired theme. You’ll find Disney storytelling from films like "Aladdin," "Coco" and "Zootopia" throughout the ship. The AquaMouse returns with an all-new storyline, and the restaurants include Plaza de Coco, an interactive dinner with music and characters from "Coco," Worlds of Marvel and 1923, a restaurant inspired by the early days of The Walt Disney Company. The Treasure sails 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral.
Disney Destiny (2025)
Set to begin sailing in November 2025, the Disney Destiny will bring Marvel and Disney adventures to life. The Grand Hall will feature a Black Panther statue, and the ship will showcase exciting Marvel-themed experiences, including a Doctor Strange-themed lounge. Guests can enjoy themed spaces such as De Vil’s, a piano bar with a giant nod to 101 Dalmatians, and Cask and Cannon, a pirate-themed pub. The AquaMouse will have a new storyline where Mickey and Minnie face off against Disney villains.
Global Class
Disney Cruise Line will debut its first Singapore-based ship, the Disney Adventure, in December 2025. Here's what we know about the Disney Adventure so far.
Disney Adventure (2025)
The Disney Adventure is being built in Germany at the MV Werften shipyard. This Global Class ship will homeport in Singapore and carry up to 6,700 guests. It will sail 3- and 4-night “Magic at Sea” cruises filled with Disney, Pixar and Marvel dining and activities.
What are the Disney Cruise Ship Sizes?
Disney Cruise Ships by Size
The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are Disney Cruise Line’s smallest ships, each holding about 2,700 guests with 875 staterooms across 11 decks. These ships have a cozy, intimate feel while still offering plenty of dining, entertainment and recreational options. They’re great for guests looking for a more relaxed cruise while still experiencing Disney’s signature storytelling and service.
The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are larger and can accommodate up to 4,000 guests with 1,250 staterooms. The Dream and Fantasy each have 14 decks and a wide range of amenities, including multiple pools, water slides, a larger theater and more variety in dining and entertainment options.
The Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny (2025) are the newest and largest ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Each has 15 decks and around 1,250 staterooms, accommodating up to 4,000 guests. These ships are designed with more space for dining, entertainment and relaxing, including more bars and lounges than earlier ships. The large Grand Hall is a central space that doubles as a gathering place and entertainment with its own stage for character greetings and shows. These ships also introduced the AquaMouse, Disney’s first attraction at sea, and are filled with immersive experiences such as the Haunted Mansion Parlor and Skipper Society on the Disney Treasure.
Disney Cruise Ship Size Comparison
Smaller ships like the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are easier to get around and feel more relaxed. Everything is just a short walk away, which can be great for families with young kids or guests who want a simpler onboard experience. These ships also carry fewer guests, which means fewer people getting off the ship at ports, especially noticeable at Disney's island destinations like Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay. When a smaller ship is the only one docked, the island feels more exclusive and less crowded.
On the other hand, larger ships like the Dream, Fantasy, Wish, Treasure and Destiny have more to explore. They offer more dining options, larger spas and fitness centers and the most variety when it comes to bars and lounges.
Which Disney Ship is Best for Different Age Groups?
Every Disney Cruise Line ship has adult-only spaces, but some stand out more depending on what you're looking for.
Spa Experiences
All ships have a spa and fitness center, but the size and features vary. The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder have the smallest spa areas. The Dream, Fantasy and Wish have larger spa spaces, and the Rainforest Room on the Triton ships are the most impressive. It includes a big indoor area and a beautiful outdoor space with hot tubs and loungers.
Adults-Only Dining
Palo, an upscale Italian restaurant, is available on every ship for brunch or dinner. The Dream and Fantasy also feature Remy, a romantic French restaurant. The Triton ships introduce Enchanté, a "Beauty and the Beast"-themed restaurant with French cuisine. Both Remy and Enchanté were designed in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Lallement. If having more adult dining options matters to you, the Dream and Triton class ships may be the way to go.
Bars and Lounges
The Triton class ships have the most variety when it comes to bars and lounges. They are also spread out across the ship, which is different from the Magic and Dream class ships.
On the other ships, the bars are grouped together in themed lounge districts. The Magic and Wonder has an area called After Hours, home to lounges such as O’Gill’s Pub, Crown & Fin, Keys, Cadillac Lounge, Fathoms and Azure (depending on what ship you're on). The Dream features The District, which includes Pink, Skyline Lounge, Pub 687 and more. The Fantasy has Europa with The Tube dance club, La Piazza and Ooh La La.
If you're looking for the most adult-exclusive spaces, the Triton ships have the largest spa, the most themed lounges and multiple dining options. The Dream and Fantasy also offer a great adult experience with fewer crowds than the Wish.
Which Disney Ship Is Best for Kids?
Every Disney cruise ship has special areas that only guests of certain ages are allowed to access. These kids clubs are a frogtastic feature of Disney cruises. Given the options and amazing details that are included in these spaces on all of the Disney ships, we would say that there is not one ship that is better than the others for kids. All the Disney cruise ships provide wonderful options for the tadpoles.
Hop over to our full guide to the Disney cruise kids clubs and our top tips for sailing with kids on Disney Cruise Line for more info!
Where Should We Start? (Hint: With the Itinerary!)
When deciding which Disney cruise ship is the best, it’s really not just about the ship; it’s about where it goes. Every Disney ship is magical, so you can’t go wrong there. We always recommend starting with the itinerary first. Ask yourself: where do you want to go?
Choosing a cruise based on itinerary helps you plan a vacation that checks off a must-visit destination on your travel bucket list. Want tropical beaches, turquoise water and endless recreation? A Caribbean cruise might be for you. Maybe you’re excited to visit Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, or the brand-new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Prefer cooler weather and rugged scenery? An Alaskan cruise gives you the chance to see glaciers, spot wildlife and even try dog sledding.
Once you find an itinerary you love, check which ships sail those routes. That way, you're picking a ship that gets you to the places you’re most excited to explore.
Some sailings also include special onboard experiences. For example, there are themed cruises such as Marvel Day at Sea or Pixar Day at Sea (returning for 2026!). During the fall and winter months, you’ll find seasonal sailings like Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime Cruises. These cruises add extra fun to your vacation.
Also consider how many nights you want to be at sea. Some ships stick to shorter trips. Right now, the Disney Wish only sails 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral. On the other hand, the Disney Treasure offers longer 7-night itineraries. The length of the cruise can make a big difference in the kind of vacation you’re planning. Start with where you want to go, then match it with the ship and sailing that gets you there!
Which Disney Ship is the Best? Our Top Tips
Here are our top tips to help you decide which Disney ship is right for you:
- Start with the itinerary, not the ship. Your cruise destination matters most. All Disney ships are magical, so focus first on where you want to go and how long you want to sail. Pick the places and ports that excite you, then look at which ships can take you there.
- Think about what matters most to you. Once you’ve narrowed it down, consider what features are important to you. Do you want a smaller ship that’s easier to get around, or a bigger ship with more lounges and activities? Are you all about adult dining, kids clubs or shows? These details can help if you're deciding between two similar sailings.
- Try different ships over time. If you’ve already cruised with Disney, it can be fun to try a different ship next time. Each ship has its own theming and entertainment. For example, if you’ve sailed on the Disney Dream, you might want to check out the newer Disney Treasure or the cozy charm of the Disney Magic or Wonder. Each one offers something special and if you're anything like us, we want to sail them all!
So, which Disney cruise ship is the best? Honestly, it’s tough to choose just one! Each ship has something different to offer, whether it's the size, the dining options or itineraries. Our goal with this post was to help you understand those differences so you can pick the ship that’s the best fit for you and your crew. Now tell us, do you have your eye on a specific Disney ship? And why? When you're ready, don't froget you can book your Disney Cruise with Undercover Tourist and score exclusive Disney Cruise Line savings!
Related: Our Top 50+ Cruise Tips You Need to Know Before Your Next Sailing
Hoppy planning!
